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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5544, 4 January 1879, Page 2

The Wellington-Foxton Eailway project seems to be in a much more hopeful position just now than it has hitherto occupied. A newer and easier route than any discovered, is under the consideration of the Eailway Department, and the Hon. Mr. Maoandrew, according to his public utterances yesterday, 1 seems enamoured, not only of the proposed new route, but of the line itself. In another column we publish all the information at present obtainable on the subject of the new route, contrasting it at the same time with the other routes hitherto proposed. Mr. Climie, C.E., it mayjbe briefly stated, has discovered a comparatively easy fine, which will only .cost £6OOO a mile, including a permanent way, rollingstock and stations, while all previous estimates have been £IO,OOO per mile at least, with such gradients as that of the Eimutaka.

It is officially notified that a mail leaves Batavia for Singapore this (Saturday) evening.

The land tax valuators have . commenced their duties in the city.

It is currently reported in town that Mr. G. E. Barton, M.H.R., will shortly remove to Auckland to commence practice there. W. J. Pallant, bootmaker, of Lambtonquay, yesterday, filed a declaration of insolvency.

The Rev. G. M. D’Arcy Irvine, M. A., Head Master of the Napier Grammar School, is now in Wellington, and staying at the Occidental Hotel.

It may be interesting to members of_ St. Paul’s congregation to hear that the surpliced choir of boys is permanently to form a part of the general choir. At the request of the regatta committee an application is to be made through the Mayor to the Colonial Secretary asking that Anniversary Day be proclaimed a general holiday in Wellington.

The dry season having now arrived the Corporation has issued instructions to its officers to prosecute persons found using water for other than domestic purposes, unless specially authorised to do so.

The following gentlemen have been reappointed Governors of the N.Z. Institute, who had retired from office but are eligible for re-electiou The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, W. T. L. Travers, Thos. Mason. Brora Port Chalmers we hear of the arrival of a valuable Clydesdale entire named Kilbowie by the ship Norval. Another entire named Bonnie Scotland, which was valued at £ISOO, died on the voyage. Instead of the cricket match between the Rising Stars and United Club, a scratch match has been arranged by the Rising Star Club, which takes place at two o’clock to-day in Mrs. Leach’s paddock at Polhill’s Gully. Mr. H. Varley will deliver two farewell addresses at the Opera House to-morrow ; in the afternoon at three, and in the evening at seven o’clock. Mr. Varley arrives from Nelson to-night by the Claud Hamilton, leaving for Christchurch by the Wakatipu on Monday. Privately we hear that the drought is being severely felt so far South as Whareama and Oastlepoint. No rain has fallen for months in the locality, the Tararua ranges attracting all the moisture, which has the effect of keeping the western part of the valley well watered. An analysis of some samples of the newly discovered Mokou coal brought to the Colonial Laboratory gives 87T per cent, of combustible matter, and 2’5 per cent, of ash. The evaporative power is such that 11b, of coal will convert into steam 71bs. of water. The case of Samuel John Hill, committed to gaol for contempt of Court in having broken an injunction of the Court, was yesterday brought before the Chief Justice on a petition by defendant. An order for Hill’s release was granted, and during the day he was released. At a full meeting of the Anti-Chinese subcommittee held last evening at the Athenssum, Dr, Newman in the chair, it was decided that Mr. Capper should call on all persons holding subscription lists and receive all moneys collected on behalf of the said committee. The districts affected by the ravages of the Hutt River when in flood have been declared a river district within the meaning of the Wellington-Rivers Act. The number of conservators is fixed at five. The boundaries of the Hutt river district are defined in Thursday’s Gazette. The following appointments of interest to Wellington readers have been made and are gazetted : —Mr. R. McAlister to be auditor of the accounts of the County of Wairarapa East; Mr. John Sperry, of Wellington, to be J.P.; Messrs, J. C. Brown, M.H.R., and Jonas Harrop, to be visiting justices of the prison at Lawrence.

We publish elsewhere a full report of the interview with the Minister for Public Works on the railway station question. The result may be shortly stated to be this—that the Minister tor Public Works has promised that there shall be a passenger station in close proximity to Mills’ foundry. The Commission on Higher Education commences its sittings on the 15th February. The Rev. James Habens, Inspector-General of Schools, one of the commiasioneers, will be secretary, and Mr. W. Drake, a member of the Hansard staff, has been appointed shorthand writer to the commission. Most of the other provincial districts will be visited, and also Wanganui. A notice is given in the Gazette that the Corporation of Napier proposes to borrow £70,000, and that a resolution in favor of the proposal was carried ou Monday, 23rd ult. The security offered is a special rate of Is. fid. in the £, which will be an annually recurring rate till the loan is paid off; 315 votes in favor of the loan were recorded, against it 121. £17,300 is for the consolidation of the waterworks and reclamation loan* £52,000 being for drainage and sewage.

While the deputation were assembled at the Government Buildings yesterday, Mr. Barton complained that he bad npt received any notice of the meeting. Mr. Graham, the Town Clerk, sent round a circular to members of the deputation, setting forth when • they were to interview the Minister. The messenger got all the members but two to initial the circular, showing they had been apprised of the meeting. TlTe two who did not attach their initials were the Hon. Randall Johnson and Mr. Barton, both of whom, he was informed, were eut of town, and would be unable to attend.

A curious memorandum is published in Thursday’s Gazette, from which it appears that all animals imported into the United Kingdom will be slaughtered at the place of debarkation, except in the case of countries specially exempted by the Privy Council from the operation of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act. The Privy Council will require from any country applying for exemption—l. A statement »f the laws which regulate the importation of animals into that country. 2. Of the methods adopted to prevent the spreading of any contagious disease when it exists there. 3. A periodical report on the general sanitary condition of their animals. The Council desires the information referred to before the Ist of November next.

“ Henry V.” has had a capital run at the Imperial Opera House, and for a city with the population of Wellington, the attendances have been exceedingly satisfactory from the commencement. His Excellency was again present last night, and, as usual, all parts of the house were well patronised, and the principal features in Mr. Rignold’s masterly impersonation, were rapturously applauded. The deep pathas he displayed in the scene where the conspirators are consigned to death, was highly appreciated by the audience, and the wooing scene was, as it has always been hitherto, a masterpiece of high-class comedy acting. We understand that there will only be three more representations of this grand historical and spectacular play, as it will give place to a new attraction on Wednesday evening next. We would therefore recommend all playgoers who have not yet witnessed the performance «f “ Henry V." to avail themselves of the opportunity of doing so before the play is withdrawn from the stage of the Opera House. “Amos Clarke or the Bar Sinister," written by Watts Phillips for Mr. Rignold. A four-act drama, and played by Mr. Rignold in London several months. This will be its first presentation in the Australasian colonies.

The following additional particulars respecting the recent sale of land at Kairoi may be of interest. It will be remembered that the,land sold comprises 5800 acres, the price being £35,000 cash. It is considered a favorable purchase, and it is the intention of the buyers to lay off a little township in suitably-sized building allotments. From the vendor’s point of view the price represents £IOO an acre for about 180 acres of level land, £3O an acre for 200 acres hilly, and £2 an acre for the remainder, which is very rough and rugged land. We believe the original cost was ss. an acre, but a good deal of money had been spent on improvements. It is expected that the laud will very shortly be surveyed and thrown open to the public. The name of the new township will probably be Brighton. The proposal has been entertained to sell only alternate allotments in the first place, the enhanced value of the intermediate sections enabling the owners to fix a lower upset price for the land first offered. No doubt in time the tramway will extend up to this place, as the distance from the Post Office to the property is only about three miles.

TheWairarapa combined cricketing team will probably arrive here on Sunday. The first match will be played on Monday, most likely against a scratch team. On Tuesday, the Wellington Club will try conclusions. There is nothing, however, definitely settled regarding the first day’s match. The members of the Wellington (Club are requested to meet at the railway-station to proceed to the Hutt for practice by the 1 o’clock trsis to.-4ay,

The immigration officer at this port, Mr. J. B. Redward, has received about 90 nominations of Government immigrants for transmission by the San Francisco mail, which will despatched to-day by the Tararua,

It is understood that Mr. E. Stafford, formerly a member of the firm of Moorhouse and Stafford, at present Assistant Law Officer of the Crown, will join the well known firm of Hart and Buckley. Mr. Hart himself intends to retire from practice. Probably Mr. Henry Fitzherbert will join the new firm. The following telegram, addressed .to his Worship the Mayor by the secretary of the Seamen's Union, has been kindly handed to us for publication:—“Sydney, 3rd instant. The strike has ended in our favor, Please stay further subscriptions. We tender our grateful thanks for the assistance rendered.—(Signed) J. F. Poole.

The Wellington monthly price current tor January reports that the harvest prospects are good, and the hay season, which has just past, has been upon the whole a highly successful one. The land market is quiet, although values remain unaltered. In Christchurch some depreciation in the value of land has been noticed. The complaints that have been made in regard to the slow rate of progress in the railway works between Masterton and Featherston, which has been mentioned in our columns, is remarked in the trade report. The epitome of receipts and expenditure on this line, set forth by Mr. Carroll, proves that the prospect of the line showing a remunerative return is very good. The extension over the Wairarapa Plains is certain to add to the balance of receipts over expenditure. The export and import trade is declared good, and the tightness of the money market alluded to in our yesterday’s monthly commercial report is made the subject of comment. The Customs duties for the month of December, 1878, were £14,704; for the corresponding month of 1877, £15,146. The publication maintains its usual high character, but we fail to notice any quotation of the price of wool in Wellington, probably because hardly any sales have been effected.

The District Court will sit again on the 17th instant, and summonses may be taken out up to the 7th, but unless the Government do something in the way of giving additional clerical assistance and better accommodation, they may as well close the Court. Mr. Edwards, solicitor, yesterday complained to the Judge that he had applied to the clerk, Mr. Baker, for a summons, and had been told in reply he had no time to issue a District Court summons. He really must protest against this, though at the same time he did not blame Mr. Baker, who had insufficient assistance, and no room in which to do the work expeditiously, if he were ever so willing. Judge Mansford said he was extremely sorry that Mr. Edwards had been put to inconvenience, but really he could not help it. No doubt the whole profession had to put up with a good deal of loss of time in consequence of the small staff and want of accommodation, and he would be glad if the profession would represent the matter in such a form that he could send the representation further on. He believed the whole of the business of the court was to have been moved to the old provincial buildings, but now some new difficulty had arisen, and he did not know when the Court would be transferred.

Mr. Gordon Allan, solicitor, brought before the Resident Magistrate yesterday a matter which he said he considered involved a good deal of hardship. When sailors got into trouble the masters of the vessels on which they were serving, when prosecutors, refused to give up the money due to the men to enable counsels’ fees to be paid. The result of such a practice, if not checked, would be to place men almost entirely at the mercy of the captains, because naturally enough counsel would not appear unless paid, and the men would be deprived of legal assistance. He might mention that he had defended some sailors, and had received an order for his fee on the captain, who held large sums of money for the men, but he would not recognise the order, stating that the money was not due until the voyage was completed, and had used moat improper language to him (Mr. Allan). The Resident Magistrate said he had no power in the matter. In such cases he had always recommended the master to pay men’s counsel’s fees out of wages in hand, if there were any; and he generally found that masters followed that advice, as a matter of fairness. Of course legally nothing could be claimed until the voyage for which the men had shipped was ended. Captain Roberts, who had been referred to by Mr. Allan, said he was quite willing to pay over anything that was left after he had paid his own counsel’s fees and expenses out of the money he had in hand. He was bound to take that course, because the owners of the ship would not pay the expenses ; but he thought there would be very little left after these expenses had been paid. The matter then dropped.

A consignment of fruit will be sold to-day by Mr. Sidey, which was only picked at Nelson yesterday afternoon at half-past two o'clock, shipped by the s.s. Taiaroa, and landed hero this morning early. Messrs. Leary and Campbell, lata Beauchamp, Campbell, and Co., to-day will offer a quantity of fruit, vegetables, poultry, &c. Messrs. Dawn and ICirtonViand sale to-day, which will be found advertised in another column, is worthy of special attention from capitalists and investors. The whole of the sections to be sold are situated in most favorable positions in townships than which no others have more promising prospects, such as Woodvilie, Hutt, Featherston, Carterton, and Waverly. We would call attention to an advertisement of Mr. McColl’s in another column in regard to Mr. J. C. Crawford’s estate at the Peninsula, Evans Bay.