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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6273, 20 May 1881, Page 2

Owin» to an unusual pressure of late telegrams we have been compelled to hold over the report of last night’s meeting of the City Council and other matter.

The Secretary of the Benevolent Institution acknowledges the receipt of a subscription of £2 2s. from Mr. J. E. Hayes, of Lambtonquay.

Mr. Samuel Lighten and Mr. Edward Walter Puckey have been appointed judges of the Native Lands Court.

By a notice, dated May 17, and published in the Gazette, the North Auckland Cattle District has been proclaimed free from disea-e. The committee of the Wairarapa Institute has decided upon holding fortnightly entertainment-, consisting of readings, music, &c., during the winter months.

Messrs. James Donald, J. McKenzie, M. J. H. Jackson, A. Matthews, and H. C. Wilkinson are gazetted as having been duly elected trustees of the Featherstou Rabbit District.

Several streets which required repairs are now being attended to, among them being the upper section of Cuba-street, which is being reinstalled and almost reformed, some portions being raised as much as fifteen inches. A proclamation which appears in yesterday’s Gazette declares that certain lands in the Lower Hutt, Wainuiomata, and Lowry Bay Districts have been taken by the Corporation of the City of Wellington under the Municipal Corporations Act, and the Public Works Act, and the Public Works Amendment Acts. The land is described in eleven separate parcels. At the inquest on the body of a man found lying dead in Abbot’s Creek, near Featherston, a few days ago, the jury returned a verdict that the deceased had been suffocated by falling into the Creek while in a fit of apoplexy. He appears to have been a stranger in the district, as all efforts to ascertain his name have proved fruitless. Elder Eerris, a Latter-day saint, has been lecturing at Gisborne, and the local evening paper has come to the conclusion that he does not quite understand his business. He opened and concluded his meeting with a prayer for the welfare of the district, and expatiated considerably on its future in the matter of soil, and then asked them all to abandon it and go to the new Zion. The funeral of the late Captain Garrard, of the ill-fated Tararua, will take place at Christchurch to-morrow, Saturday, the body having been conveyed there from its first place of temporary interment. We understand that the Union Shipping Company have expressed a wish to defray the entire costs and charges of this melancholy duty. Members of the Wellington Athemeum are elsewhere notified that the library and reading room are closed from to-day until Wednesday, Ist June prox., they being occupied by the ensuing Industrial Exhibition. The large room belonging to the Chamber of Commerce has been prepared as a temporary reading room for the convenience of members.

At the Academy of Music this evening, Mr. Robert Stout will deliver a lecture in aid of the library fund of the Working Men’s Club, the subject chosen being “ The Irish Question, and its Lessons for Colonists.” Mr. Stout’s ability as a lecturer - , the interest which is at present taken in the Irish question, and the small charge made for admission, should secure a large attendance. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Wellington Gardeners’ Mutual Improvement Society was held last night. Mr. Gibb, gardener to Mr. P. Cooper, exhibited a bunch of “ Mrs. Prince’s muscat ” grape, weighing 21bs. 3oz, also a magnificent spike of Yucca gloriosa. The evening was occupied with discussions on the relative merits of different grapes for late use, and blight on apple tress. During the proceedings of the City Council last night the Council held a special meeting and passed the following additional by-law : “ That from and after the date of this by-law coming into operation, it shall be lawful for any police constable or any officer of the City Council, or other person duly authorised in that behalf, to destroy any goat or goats found wandering at large in the streets of the city,”gj During the hearing of a civil case in the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, wherein the Corporation sued a person named Compton for unpaid rates, the defendant put the question to the Bench—whether, if he paid the amount sued for, he could recover again from those whom he considered rightful parties interested. His Worship, with a merry twinkle, declined to express an opinion gratis, and advised Mr. Compton to consult his solicitor. By an Order in Council, the existing rates of fees payable to Registrars of the Supreme Court under the Land Transfer Act Amendment Act, 1870, Amendment Act, 1880, have been rescinded, and the following fees in addition to the registration fees will be levied in place thereof ;—lf not exceeding £2OO, 1 per cent, on the purchase money expressed in such transfer ; if exceeding £2OO, 1 per cent, on £2OO, and pec cent, on the remainder of the purchase money.

In another column will be found an advertisement of the Wellington Young Men’s Christian Association, intimating the temporary change of its place of meeting from the Athen®um to the old Supreme Court House, and in consequence of such removal the postponement to 31st May of the commencing of the educational classes under the tuition of Mr. Wilson, M.A. Thanks of the Association are also conveyed to the friends who contributed to the success of the conversazione held on Tuesday and Wednesday last. It will be seen by our advertising columns that Mr. W, McKeever, the well known butcher and produce dealer in Manners-street, has started in another Hue of business, he having taken over the bottled beer stores lately carried on by Mr. Alex. Eddie. From the known energy and enterprising business spirit shown by Mr. McKeever in anything he undertakes there is little doubt but what his latest venture will prove equally as successful as the other branches of trade in which he is primarily interested. Captain Mclntyre has goodnaturedly undertaken to provide the children attending the Terrace School, together with their teachers, with a treat which they are certain to appreciate, by placing the steamer Moa at the disposal of the committee for to-morrow, or, should the weather prove unpleasant, fertile first fine Saturday. It is intended to start at 9.30 a.m., and after a trip round the harbor to land at one of the sheltered bays, where ample time will be given for lunch, which the children will have to take with them. The committee will, however supplement private supplies, so as to make sure that nothing is wanting.

A largely attended meeting of the Star Boating Club was held yesterday evening at the Pier Hotel, the captain of the club, Mr. Knapp, being in the chair. Messrs. Greatrex and Galwey were elected members of the club. The captain’s prize for scullers, won by Mr. H. C. Roberts, together with other prizes for club races, were presented. It was resolved to purchase the racing outrigged four, built by Swaddle and Winship of New-castle-on-Tyne, offered to the club by Mr. Thomas Henderson, of Auckland. This is the boat which won the champion outrigger race at the Auckland Regatta in January last. Mr. Johnston Thomson was appointed an auditor to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. A. W. Budge. Sir E. Osborne Gibbes gave notice that he would move at the annual general meeting to be held in October next that the name of the club be changed to the Wellington Rowing Club. A committee was appointed to co-operate with others interested in aquatics as to the desirability of moving the Harbor Board to set aside a permanent reserve for aquatic purposes. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair. The Waste Land Board held their usual tornightly meetiug yesterday. Present— Messrs. Holdsworth (chairman), Thomas Mason, Henry Bunny, and E. Pearce. Schedule No. 82 of land sold since the Board last met was read and approved of. The area of land applied for was repotted to be 1327 acres 3 roods 2 poles. The amount of deposit received, £640 ss. The value of the land is £1425 Os. 6d. The following correspondence was dealt with :—A letter from Mr. T. U. McKenzie on the subject of an island in the Rangitikei River, and requesting that he might he permitted to purchase the same at a nominal price. The Board decided, after a short discussion, not to comply with the request, and that the island would not be offered for sale at present. The Chairman placed before the Board a report from the Chief Surveyor showing the surveys completed since last month. Mr. T. O. Lattorff wrote requesting that section No. 41, block 10, Mangaone district and selected by H. Kenger under the deferred payment system might be transferred to Fritz Fritz. Agreed to.—A letter was read from C. S. Gatton, asking that a period of four years from the date ot his application might be granted him before he is compelled to reside upon section 1612, Kairanga.—The Secretary of the Wanganui Harbor Board wrote to the Board on the subject of the upset price of land to be offered at auction.—The Under-Secretary wrote requesting that all documents relating to deferred payment sections within the West Coast district might be handed over to Mr. Commissioner Werry. This was all the business and the Board adjourned.

Mr. Sydney Wolf, R.A.M., has been entrusted with the conductorship of the “Pirates of Penzance" operetta, now in rehearsal by Mr. Cary’s new company, and under his guidance there is every assurance of the first per* formance in this colony being a triumphant success. The new piece will be produced as speedily as possible consistent with careful preparation, and may be looked forward to as the chief coming event in musical topics. The Wellington Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society held its usual weekly meeting last night, vice-president W. J. Helyer in the chair. After the preliminary business had been transacted, Mr. B. W. Brown read a very humorous paper on “ American Humorists,” giving a rap at Mark Twain, Artemus Ward, Fanny Fern, and others, following with some specimens of “Down East witticisms. The essay was then criticised by the members. The Chairman summing up concluded the meeting. The society will hold its annual meeting next week, when the half-yearly report will be presented, and the election of officers for the ensuing term will take place. Members are requested to attend, as most important business will be brought up for discussion.

There was another successful performance last evening by the Baby Opera Company, and an increased attendance in the lower part of the house. The little people again won well deserved applause, and there were numerous encores. Miss Annie Smith, as Fredegonda, and little Miss Schlerake —Baby Schlerake as she is styled in the bills—shared with Lena Robinson the honors of the evening. Master Harry Marshall as Fatout was exuberant in his funniments, and created at times roars of laughter, especially by his grotesque poses and dexterous motions in a pair of veritable seven-leagued boots. This young gentleman, however, must be careful not to overdo his part and raise a laugh just when others on the stage are claiming the attention of the audience. He nearly spoiled the effect of a well sung duet between Fredegonda and Chilperic by provoking a series of guffaws in the part just when he should have been at rest. Young Smith, as Divitiacus, the Arch Druid, sang the somewhat heavy solo in the charming Druidical scene very well, and throughout the performance aided a good deal in ensuring its success. To-night the performance will be repeated, and to-morrow afternoon there will be a matinee performance for the special delectation of the juveniles of Wellington, when aeduoed prices of admission will be charged, and if fine weather prevails, the Theatre will be thronged with a merry audience.