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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5550, 11 January 1879, Page 2

Wo very much regret that we are unable to give our readers a complete abstract o£ Mr. Stout’s speechjinthis morning's issue. Atl a.m. the telegraph operators refused to supply any more of the message, although a distinct offer was made to pay for the extra time and trouble of letting us have the remainder. We are informed that the whole of the speech has been given to our morning contemporary, and should this prove to be the case, we can only say that it is another instance of the gross favoritism which is on all occasions displayed by Government in their dealings with their own favored “ organ.” The public will, we feel sure, acquit us of all blame in this matter, and will attribute our shortcoming to the right cause.

A meeting of the Regatta Committee was held at the Pier Hotel last night. There was a large attendance, and Mr. Allan was in the chair. The various subscription lists were handed in to the Secretary, and showed a gross total of .£230 10s. In addition to this the New Zealand Shipping Co. gave a donation of £ls 155.; Shaw, Saville, & Co., a Cup ; Messrs. Kohn & Co., a Cup ; Jacob Joseph & Co., a Cup; Mr. Cohen, a Cup ; Mr. Hislop, a Cup; Mr. Shaw, a Silver Salver; Union Steamship Company, £lO 10s. On the motion of Mr. Hill, the committee passed a vote of thanks to those gentlemen who had made the above presentations. The committee then arranged the prize list. Nearly all the prizes are higher than those of last year, and from the enthusiasm displayed at the meeting, the forthcoming regatta bids fair jto be the best ever held here.

As the dates get nearer, the interest increases in the forthcoming annual race meeting at the Hutt racecourse, which is expected to be more attractive and successful than in former years. The fact that the tickets in North’s £2OOO sweep on the Wellington Cup have nearly all been disposed of, shows that money is by no means so scarce in Wellington as some alarmists would endeavor to make out. Some persons would like to have the sweep drawn as soon as possible—bookmakers especially—but Mr. North has wisely determined that it shall not be drawn until about a couple of nights before the races, and those who draw horses will have themselves to thank if the result is made known. If secrecy be observed, then bookmakers and unscrupulous owners of horses will be set at defiance, because those who draw probable winners will not have to hand over £2OO or £3OO in order to get a start for the amount they are likely to get out of the sweep. Therefore if those ticket holders who are fortunate enough to draw horses will only keep their own counsel until the race is over, .in vulgar parlance, the bookmaker fraternity will be completely euchred. The Wesleyan Church, Molesworth-street, celebrates its anniversary to-morrow (Sunday), when, in addition, the new schoolroom will be formally opened, The names of the Revs. J. Crump, president of the Conference, D. MoNicol, and W. Morley, are announced as the ministers expected to conduct to-morrow’s services, and will doubtless prove sufficiently attractive to bring together large congregations. The annual tea meeting is announced for Tuesday next, when various ministers are expected to give addresses, and selections of music will be rendered by the choir of the Manners-street Church.

A meeting of the anti-Chinese immigration committee was held in the City Council Chamber last evening. There were present his Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Messrs. Newman, Fisher, Capper, Boppiwell, Harrison, and McColl. The Hon. Mr. Gisborne, by invitation, attended, and gave a summary of two Queensland Acts of Parliament dealing with .the Chinese immigration question. By one of these it appeared a penalty of £lO per head was imposed' on Chinamen landing, to be paid by the captains or owners of the ships, if not paid the vessel carrying the immigrants might be estreated. The money would be returned in three years in respect of every Chinaman who in the meantime behaved himself well. The other Act compelled Chinamen to pay £3 for every miner’s right and £lO for a business license, sums considerably higher than those payable by Europeans. Both these Acts had received the Royal assent, and Mr, Gisborne suggested that they should be pubfished. It was proposed by Mr. McColl, and agreed to, that a committee be appointed to draw up a report on the matter, such committee to consist of the Mayor, Messrs. Newman, Fisher, Warcup, Poppiwell, and the mover. Mr. Poppiwell took the opportunity of denying that honajkle working men had anything to do with the attack on the two Chinese on _ New Year’s night. This opinion was shared in by all present. The meeting then adjourned.

A cricket match will be played on the Basin Reserve this afternoon between the Wellington C.C. and the Telegraph C.C. The following are the names of the respective teams Wellington Club—Messrs. Armitage, Cowie, Fordham, Godber, Hickson, Johnson, Knapp, Leckie, Hansford, Speed, and Werry; emergency, Norton. Telegraph Club-Messrs. Willis, Sunley, Keefe, Mountier, C. Gannaway, F. Gannaway, McGirr, Wylie, Northcroft, Hampton, and Crowther. Wickets will be pitched at 1.30 p.m. sharp.

One point is noticeable in the proceedings of the regatta committee, viz., that they have given this year far more encouragement to the sailinf and rowing races most suitable for this harbor. Without doubt Wellington is the best harbor in New Zealand, but the light outriggers are not adapted for it, because no sheltered courses can be found if a strong wind is blowing. By encouraging sailing races and a better class of boats, the inhabitants of the city will further their own interests, because the great advantages of the place wm be the more widely spread. Lyttelton and Dunedin, without one quarter of our capabilities, as far as the harbors are concerned, cap us m their prizes and regattas, owing mainly to the supineness of the Wellington people, who seem to be too slow to see that by advancing healthy and honest sports of this description, they are in reality showing the importance of the place. We shall be happy to receive subscriptions from any that have the real interests of Wellington at heart.

The only case which came before his Honor the Chief Justice and a common jury day was that of Houghton and others v. Moody and another—an action for possession of certain land—which resulted in a non-mut. The case of McLean v. Nicholson—action for defamation of character—will come on for hearing before his Honor the Chief Justice and a special jury on Thursday next. <

The aass of O’Neil v. Brown is set down for trial by Special Jury on Monday next. The District Court sits next Friday. There is only one case set down for hearing.

We understand the licensed victuallers have challenged the brewers to play a cricket match on the Basin Eeserve next Thursday.

A musical entertainment, in aid of the funds of St. Peter’s choir, will be held in the schoolroom, Ghuznee-street, on Tuesday evening next.

At the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the N.Z.S.N. Co. Limited, held at the company’s offices yesterday afternoon, it was unanimously resolved that the company should be wound up voluntarily. A meeting of the Philosophical Society will be held at the Colonial Museum this evening, when papers will be read by Dr. Hector, Professor Kirk, Mr. A. Hamilton, and T. W. Kirk. .

“ Henry V.,” produced for the last time last evening, drew a large attendance to the Imperial Opera House, To-night, “ Amos Clarke,’ the most impressionable drama ever placed on a Wellington stage, will be reproduced.

The Board of Governors of the Wellington College had a meeting yesterday afternoon, when the report of the Committee appointed to consider the question of reconstruction was brought up. It was resolved to discuss the report on Tuesday afternoon next. Notwithstanding the recent arrivals of immigrant ships, the domestic servant labor market is still as bare .as ever. Female servants of any value cannot be got; indeed it is difficult to get any, good or bad. We hear of ladies in high position in Wellington having to turn to and do their own house work, simply because labor is not available.

We are requested to state that in consequence of the great success attending the production of “ Amos Clarke,” at the Imperial Opera House, the drama will be played on Monday evening, instead of the "Lady of Lyons,” as previously announced for Mr. Kignold’s benefit, which will take place later in the week.

An interesting meeting of representatives of Wellington city school committees took place last evening. Several important practical questions were debated, and agreement arrived at as to recommendations to be made to all the school committees in the city. An abstract of the proceedings will be found in another column.

The two Misses Johns took a benefit at the Theatre Royal last night, when “Struck Oil” was produced. There was a capital downstair house, but the dress circle was not particularly well patronised. The piece was well mounted, and elicited frequent and hearty applause from the audience. Mr. Wilkinson particularly deserves a word of praise for his rendering of, the part of John Stoefel. The remaining characters were well sustained by the other members of the company. The same piece will be produced this evening. Some little regret was felt at the meeting of the Regatta Committee held last night that none of the masters of the ships now in port were present. It must, however, be borne iii mind that all the masters now in harbor, with the exception of Captain Todd, are strangers here. We might, however, inform them that they are all appointed honorary members of the committee. There are several little matters in connection with regattas wherein masters of vessels could render invaluable assistance. We hope to see some of them present at the next meeting on Monday night. We would draw attention to the advertisement of the Wellington Horticultural Society, announcing the summer show for Wednesday next, in the large hall of the Athenroura. -Besides the prizes mentioned in the lists already published, a special prize of a silver cup, presented by Messrs. Kohn and Co., for the best twelve stove or greeonheuse plants will be competed for. This altogether, with the “ specials” offered by various gentlemen, in addition to the’ very liberal “list” offered by the society, should ensure a good display.

The following, which we clip from the Press of the 7th instant, is well worthy of attention: “We trust that the remarks of his Honor Mr. Justice Johnston, on the prevalence of the crime of forgery and uttering, will not be allowed to pass altogether unnoticed. As was pointed out, this great crime will never be fully eradicated until the community awake to a just sense of their responsibilities. If opportunities are afforded —nay, invited—to the commission of this crime, men will be found to risk the consequences of detection and punishment for the sake of present gain. It is quite true, of course, that it is almost impossible to conduct business in these colonies without accepting cheques in payment for goods, But it is surely possible to do so without running the risk attendant upon receiving such documents from entire strangers. Yet this appears to be constantly the practice among some of our tradesmen. As his Honor justly remarked, it is very difficult to draw the line between the culpability and stupidity of such persons. That they are more than stupid in many instances few will deny. It is not only that they suffer themselves by their act; they impose a heavy burden upon the colony The apprehension and conviction of every criminal involves a considerable expenditure out of the public treasury. That expenditure might be largely reduced were tradesmen to exercise more caution and prudence in their dealings with customers. Let them forego the small profit attaching to the sale of an article when payment for it is tendered by a stranger in the form of a cheque. By so acting they will be gainers in the long run, they will save the colony a considerable expenditure, and they will avoid the possibility of some day being publicly charged with being participators in the crime of forgery. Mr. George Thomas will sell at 2 o’clock this day at Meech’s slip, Te Aro pa, a yacht and dingy. Mr. Francis Sidey will sell at 3 o’clock this afternoon, in the Arcade buildings, two valuable freehold cottages. One is situated in Newtown, the other in the South-road. They are both comfortable four-roomed houses, obtainable on easy terms, and are well worthy the attention of persons looking for a dwelling.