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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5556, 18 January 1879, Page 2

Ministers are again on the wing. The Hon. Mr. Macandrew and Hon. Mr. Ballance leave Wellington for Port Chalmers direct this evening in the Hinemoa. It is stated that Mr. Macandrew goes hom* for a little rest, in consequence of bad health for the past week or two, but Mr. Ballance’a trip is in connection with official duties. It is stated that at a Cabinet meeting held yesterday the question of free passes was discussed. It was resolved to issue no free passes except to members of the Legislature, and one to each paper in tht colony. It is understood that another batch of J.P.’s will shortly be gazetted by the Government. Of course the political opinions of these gentlemen will be found to be quite sound. A private letter recently received from London conveys the information that when Sir Julius "Vogel, the Agent-General, heard about the burning and scuttling of the Piako at Pernambuco, he immediately went to the Foreign Office and requested that steps should be taken through the consular service to see that the passengers’welfare and comfort were at once seen to, no matter what the cost. The Foreign Secretary at once complied with the request, and a telegram was written out, and was about to be Sent, when the N.Z. Shipping Company came to hear of what was proposed to be done, and said they were prepared to do whatever was necessary, and asked that no telegram should be sent. The telegram was thereupon cancelled, and the company left to see to the matter. It is stated that nothing further was done, the company perhaps relying on the captain’s knowledge of the ordinary condition in thft charter party to meet cases of this kind. The incident caused a good deal of discussion, and it is said that the London agents of the compeny were disposed to be very angry with Sir Julius Vogel for not having sent them long memoranda on the subject before going to the Foreign Office. Colonists, especially those who have gone down to the sea in ships, will be disposed to take a different view, and regard it as another proof of the watchful interest taken by Sir Julius in everything that affects the welfare of New Zealand and New Zealand people. The special wire business is not an unmixed benefit. The principal newspaper offices in the colony are being nightly flooded with a quantity of matter, to no purpose, while the calls on the department are more than it can bear. Business men, indeed people of all classes, whfl have to send private messages, are at present loud in their complaints, and we venture to say that in two or three months’ time the dissatisfaction will be so great that fresh arrangements must be made. We warn the Commissioner of Telegraphs that the service is rapidly becoming disorganised, and cannot possibly bear the present strain. As will be seen from our report of the deputation yesterday to the Minister for Public Works, the plans for the railway wharf are ready, and the specifications are being pushed on with a view to tenders being invited for the work in ten days or a fortnight. This assurance will be hailed with satisfaction by all who suffer inconvenience from the present insufficient wharfage accommodation at our port. The Education Commission met again at the General Assembly Buildings, when there were present all the members except Messrs. O’Tlorke and Tole. It was announced that Mr. O’Rorke, who had been nominated for the post of chairman, had, on being .telegraphed to, accepted the position, and he was therefore duly elected. A committee appointed the previous day to report on the best mode of going to work brought up a report recommending that four sub-committees should be appointed to suggest what form enquiry should take in the several branches. These committees were appointed as follows: A university committee, a committee on secondary schools, a committee on professional and technical schools, and an endowment and financial committee; and were requested to report as to the manner in which the enquiries of the commission could best be conducted on the general subject remitted to it, institutions affiliated to the University of New Zealand to be considered by the university committee in so far as they supply university or superior education, and secondary schools in so far as they supply intermediate or secondary education.

There was but a short sitting of the Kesident Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Henry W. Smith, an apprentice belonging to the ship Hermione, was charged with desertion. Prisoner was ordered on board his ship, but cautioned not to desert again, or he would be imprisoned for a lengthened period. Ernest Wagner was charged with obtaining goods from James Smith by means of a valueless cheque. On the application of the police the case was adjourned until Tuesday. Prisoner was allowed bail, himself in £2O and two sureties in £lO each. The lad William W. Baker was called on, but did not surrender to his bail. At 1 o’clock he appeared, and hia father stated that there had' been some misunderstanding regarding the time of attendance. Mr. Connelly asked for a remand. His Worship said that the bail would have to be increased. He would now have to find two sureties of £IOO, his father not to be one. Prisoner was then remanded until Tuesday at 1 o’clock. This was all the business, and the Court adjourned. More interest appears to be taken in the forthcoming race meeting than has been the case for many years past. The club ‘itself are working harder, and doing all they can to render the meeting a success. About twenty new members have been added to their number; and should the weather prove favorable there is very little doubt but that the next Wellington Cup will be witnessed by more people than oil any proceeding year. Already several horses are at work in training at the Hntt. The three jumpers—Eversley, Agent, and Greymouth, owned respectively by Messrs. Buttler, Prince, and Mclvor—are all doing good work; also J. W. Delamaine’s Maritana. Sailor, the Wellington horse, is doing good work at the other end of the town, and is having his gallops on the beach at Lyell’s Bay. Bob Bay is evidently bringing down a big team, as he has engaged seven loose-boxes at the Hutt. Several of the horses will arrive by the next steamers both from the North and 'South.

At the United Methodist Free Church, Courtenay-place, to-morrow, sermons will be preached by Rev. J. S. Macfarlane in the morning’and Rev. J. White in the evening, both of Christchurch. On Monday a tea and public meeting is to be held, and various ministers are expected to speak. The district meeting in connection with this communion will take place next week, and as the gentlemen attending the district meeting will take part in these religious and social gatherings, no doubt the proceedings will be enjoyable. “Struck Oil” was performed by Messrs. Baker and Barron's company at the Theatre Royal last night to a capital house, the downstairs parts being crowded. An entirely new programme will be presented to-night on the occasion of the farewell benefit and last appearance of Messrs. Baker and Barron, Every person visiting the theatre will be presented with a photograph of the linificiaircs.

Mr. John Studholme has been member for the district of Gladstone. Thursday’s Gazette contains the notice sent by the Department of Trade in Melbourne of the Victorian drawback regulations. The Gazette states that his Excellency has been pleased to accept the services of the Palmerston North Eifle Volunteers. The case of McLean v. Nicholson terminated at half-past 11 o'clock last night in a verdict for the plaintiff for £250 on the first count. Two post offices in the Auckland district have been re-named. Walton will henceforth be known as Morrinsville, and Woodside as Papatoitoi. A meeting of the creditors of William Tonks was held at the Supreme Court House on Thursday. It was decided to recommend the bankrupt’s discharge. Lucy Hickey was lodged in the lock-up last night on a charge of abducting two girls named Mary and Isabella Hebley, they being unmarried, and under the age of sixteen. The programme of the Amateur Athletic Clubs sports, to he held on Easter Monday on the Basin Reserve, is published in another column. A scratch match between members of the Rising Star Cricket Club will be played this afternoon in Mrs. Leitch’s paddock, at 2 o’clock sharp. Auditors for the accounts of School Commissioners and for the Education Boards have been gazetted. For Wellington Mr. Robert Macalister has been appointed; he will also act as auditor for Wellington College. A number Jof small reserves have been gazetted t&onghont the colony for educational and other purposes. Only one,is named for the Wellington Provincial District ; it is situated at Featherston, and consists of 57 acres for recreation purposes. The immigrants at Somes Island are rapidly recovering under careful attention, and will soon be convalescent. One family further advanced than others was brought over yesterday, and all expect to leave the island by Monday. There are now about twenty persons in quarantine. A proposal has been carried to borrow £7OOO, to be secured on a special rate on the annual value of the property within the borough of Hamilton, for the purpose of erecting a cart bridge over the Waikato River. Eighty-eight ratepayers voted for the proposal, and three voted against it. Several pure-bred shorthorn cattle arrived here by the steamer Ringarooma yesterday from Melbourne. They come here consigned to Messrs. Simpson and Co., Manawatu, and are very valuable animals. They comprise two prize bulls, two stud cows, and ten head of pure-bred shorthorn three-year-old heifers. The return of land sold and depositsteceived for the district of Wellington during the mouth of December shows that 90 acres were sold, which fetched £ll9. A sum of £1097 was also received in payment of sections in the Okotuku district, sold on behalf of the Patea Harbor Board.

Three more valuers for Wellington district have been appointed under the Land Tax Act, mading a total of 212 for the whole colony. I’he following are the names gazetted :—John Maysmor, Feilding, Manchester Highway District, No. 7 Ward, Manawatu Highway District ; Francis Greer, Tawa Flat, Forirua Riding ; Ernest Edward Edmunds, Carterton, Carterton Riding. The Taiaroa having met with rough weather between Manukan and New Plymouth, and having also had a head wind to contend against all the way to Nelson, she is not expected to arrive here with the ’Frisco mails until late this afternoon. Having delivered the Wellington mail, she proceeds with the Southern mails down to Lyttelton, where she tranships the Otago mails into the Hawes, which takes them on to Port Chalmers. The Taiaroa returns to Wellington on Monday, when she will resume her usual running between Nelson and this port. The farce of talking against time in the City Council, in order to avoid an inevitable result, commenced shortly after midnight on Thursday. Several amendments to Councillor Fisher’s motion, “ That Mr. Climie be retained as drainage engineer," were moved and negatived, and then Councillor Thompson moved an amendment traversing the original motion, and placing in the hands of Mr. Baird the supervision of the working out of Mr. Olimie's scheme, and referring to a committee of the whole Council Mr. Climie’s claims for compensation. If this were carried, the original motion would at once be done with, and no further discussion be possible. The minority— Councillors Logan, Fisher, Greenfield, Young, and Maginnity—wanted the adjournment of the question for a fortnight, so that they might have the vote of Councillor Miller, which it was alleged had been promised them. It was pointed out that as the Mayor was against them this could not affect the result, and that further delay was undesirable, and the answer to this was that Councillor Logan was put up to speak against time. He addressed the Council in a very leisurely manner, quoting “ copiously,” as he himself observed, from various books and papers, and continued till about half-past two. Councillor Fisher then commenced, and adopted the same line. The majority had to keep a quorum, but there was no compulsion on them to listen to arguments; and therefore they constructed impromptu couches, and slept as comfortably as was possible under the circumstances. Refreshments were provided in the Town Clerk’s room for those who did not sleep. At half-past three the Mayor, who of course had been unable to leave the chair for an instant, appealed for mercy, pleading a sick headache, and asking the minority to give in, as their opponents were evidently determined to sit it out. The dreary twaddle, however, still proceeded, and at four o’clock it was endeavored to effect a compromise, the minority agreeing to allow Councillor Fisher’s motion to be negatived at once, conditionally on the amendment not being pressed. Councillor Thompson, when appealed to, said had the minority agreed to that compromise when he proposed it two hours before there would have been less time wasted, but as matters had gone so far he would see the thing out. Councillor Fisher then sat down, saying he supposed the inevitable must be accepted, but he warned the majority that they would be punished at election time. Councillor Greenfield and Councillor Young added a few words, and the amendment was put and carried at a quarter after four a.m. On the whole the debate was conducted with good feeling and good temper. Work at the new Presbyterian Church is being pushed forward vigorously by the contractors, Messrs. Archibald and Secular. The whole of the heavy framework is completed, and in a very short time the roof and walls will have all been covered in. The church stands in one of the most prominent positions in the city, and must always be a central object in the first view a visitor gets of Wellington ; therefore it is gratifying to note that the exterior will be of a handsome character. The elevation is Italian in style, and a highly ornamental steeple rises up to a height of 85ft. The interior of the church occupies a space 42ft. wide by 96ft. long, but there are to come off this choir, vestibule, aisles, &c., leaving a clear space of 60ft. by 30ft. for seating accommodation. There is to be a gallery on each side of the church, supported by fourteen columns, carried out with Corinthian capitals, and surmounted by cornices and ornamental festoons above the gallery. The choir is raised Oft. in a niche, and beneath it are class rooms, &o. The internal ornamentations are to be in Keen’s cement, and the walls are to be plastered, so that the place will have an air of solidity. The contract price, irrespective of seating, was £IOOO. It is to be hoped the greatest care will be exercised in keeping the Imerial Opera House free from objectionable characters. On Wednesday evening last one of the demimonde eluded the vigilance of the doorkeepers, and sat in the dress-circle a considerable time before the attention of the management was directed to her presence in that part of the house. She was immediately told to leave, and did so without making any fuss. On Thursday night another of these creatures found her way into one of the private boxes in the family circle, and was suffered to remain there throughout the performances. It will do no good to the place if such liberties are tolerated in future, and if women of bad character are not restricted to that part of the house where their presence may be found to be less objectionable than in the stalls or circles.

Mr. Morton’s academy on the Terrace opens on Monday, the 20th. On the evening of the same day at 7.30 o’clock an evening class will be held. The proprietor is well-known in Wellington, as he was for four years the second master in the English High School. As a teacher both in England and Kew Zealand he has had twenty years’ experience. TTia prospectus sets forth a, liberal and sensible curriculum for his pupils.

A sailor belonging to the Huia fell overboard and was nearly drowned yesterday afternoon. He was brought ashore in a waterman’s beat, when Mr. Baker, of Baker and Farron, attended to him, and rolled him in a cement cask in order to relieve his distress. A constable then placed him in charge of an expressman named Holms, who conveyed him to the Hospital. He was to have sailed yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Geddes, the business manager of the Hoskins’ Dramatic Company, who passed through Wellington yesterday cm his way to Christchurch, has requested us to state that the telegrams published from Napier about the financial condition of the company were very much exaggerated. Mr. Geddes says the business in Napier was very bad, indeed. There were three members of the company left behind in Napier—two of whom would not have been taken South in any case, and the third, whose passage would have been paid, did not put in an appearance up to the tiu; • of the steamer’s departure. Mr. Geddes for many years’ connection with theatres in New Zealand has been known as a most upright business manager, and it is to be regretted that his recent sojourn in Napier was not attended with financial results of a more satisfactory nature. There are more ups and downs in the theatrical profession than in any other, and Mr. Geddes can only hope for bettor Inck in his next venture.

The following are the names of the team who have been chosen to represent the Star Club in the match to be played with the United Club this and next Saturday afternoons ; —X J. Salmon, Hamilton, Mason, Robinson, J. A. Salmon, Speed, Mansford, Gray, Bishop, Haughton, and Howe. Flay will commence at two sharp. Mr. Francis Sidcy will auction this day, In the Arcade Buildings, at half-past 2 o’clock, some valuable acre sections in the township of Carnarvon. Instead of the usual long and easy terms that have been general of late, this sale will bo conducted on the cash principle, and without reserve.