WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2043, 24 September 1874, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(From a correspondent of the Lyttelton Times.) Sept. 22. Just now the current topio of conversation here is salvage. The inspiring cause is the Vice- Admiralty suit how pending between the owners, captain and crew of the s.s. Stormbird and the ship Strathnavar, one of tho Shipping " Company's vessels. This vessel, when coming in, got unpleasantly near a reef, known as Barrett's, and was, it is said, sailing right on to it. The Stormbird, on her way to Wanganui, observing her danger, signalled and bore down to her assistance, but before getting near, the Strathnavar was boarded by the pilot. The pilot says that he at once altered the vessel's course, and that Bhe was out of danger before the Stormbird approached, but that aa the wind was unfavourable for getting into port that night, he availed himself of the Stormbird's services to tow the ship in. On the other hand, tha Stormbird people say that had it not been for their aid the vessel would inevitably have gone on tbe rocks, and been losfc. They demanded £1000 as salvage, and fche agents offered £36 as towage. The demand was probably as excessive aa the offer was too small. No settlement being come to, Meßßra Turnbull and Co., the owners of the steamer, instituted a salvage suit, claiming one-fourth of the total value o£ ship and cargo, the latter alone being valued at £25,000, and in order to bring matters to a crisis, they arrested the ship and cargo. The consignees were of course indignant, and after a delay of a fortnight, things began to look eerious. One firm of drapers — M'Dowell and Co. — had on board £8000 worth of spring goods, and the delay involved heavy loss. A meeting of consignees was called, and some very hard things were aaid regarding the Messrs Turnbull's action. In the end, it was determined to release the cargo by giving the necessary security, and within the nexfc two days the required bonds were executed, and the discharge of the vessel ia now going on.- The agents for the vessel have refused to give security, and she therefore remains in custody of the marshal of the Vice-Admiralty courfc. Messrs Turnbull and Co., have very few sympathisers here in the action they have taken, and the general idea is that they are not at all justified in what they have done. The costs in tho case will be something enormous, the demurrage, while the vessel remains undischarged, being estimated at £400 per diem. The Government were large consignees by the Strathnavar, and several vessels, under charter to take railway iron and other goods to fche West Coast, have been detained of course, on demurrage, for more than a fortnight. The appointment of Mr Kennaway, your late Provincial Secretary, to be Secretary to • the Agent-General, at a^ salary of £800 a year.

has paused a good deal of surprise and comineht lu-re.., . Mr Kennaway's claim? are noi .quite, understood, and doubts are expressed as to' whether he is quite the best man who could haveb'een selected to reorganise Dr Feafcherston'sestablishment. The appointment will, ifc is thought, be very distasteful to the Agent-Ge-neral himself, as he has often very strongly expressed hia disinclination to have assistance sent him from the colony. In the meantime it is said ! that he ha 9 been instructed to do nothing more than routine work until Mr Kennaway and Mr Yogel get home. ■ MrHalcombe, fche manager of fche Manchester settlement, established by the Emigrant and Colonists' Aid Corporation, has managed to induce the Government to advance him a sum of £5000, at five per cent, interest, to be. spent in various works on the block, and in providing employment for the Corporation's tenants, It will be remembered thafc during the late-'s'easion, Mr Halcombe tried to get the security amounting to £7500 depoeited as a guara tee of the Corporation's good faith and for the fulfilment of the conditions under . which it acquired its land, returned, but that the Provincial Government refused to assent to thia course, and thafc the General Government could not act without that assent. The advance of £5000 is of course an indirect way. pf getting over the difficulty, bufc ifc is nbb'clear what claim this company has on the Government to supply capital for doing what its '.agreement requires ifc to do. Mr Fox's influence is said to have been brought to bear to' get the advance. 1 One of the effects of the late session has heen to inspire the Provincial authorities hero to convert their land into money as quickly as possible. A 100,0 0 acres in various parts of the province is now advertised to be Bold afc a monater auction on Ocfc. 26, and other large sales will probably follow as quickly as the Survey and Land Office can prepare for them. In addition fco this, the unreclaimed land lying between the present reclamation and the railway station at Pipitea block, is to be sold by auction on fche 2lat of December. It iB to be sold in a single block, as it is already mortgaged, and a local company will probably be formed for its purchase. The block contains some fifty acres, bufc fche General Government has ten acres, as the railway is to be continued through it, and the central station is to be on it close to the present- reclaimed land. The new Government buildings are also to be erected on it. The portion to be sold is between 39 and 40 acres. The whole is under contract for reclamatioh, but the work has not yet been commenced, aa the jarrah piles for the breastwork have not arrived from Western Australia. The cost of the reclamation will be about £60,0C0, whioH sum is lo como out of the £100,000 for . which the land is mortgaged to the Trust and Investment Company. wThe directors of the N.Z.S.S. Company have abandoned all intention of breaking up their fleet and retiring from the inter-provincial trade. Instead of doing this, they are going to make fresh efforts to provide increased facilities for the growing requirements of that trade. Several of their vessels are, as soon as the xnaohinery can be obtained from home, to be supplied with compound engines, and one or two new vessels of improved construction will also probably be ordered as an addition to the company's fleet. The weather continues to be absolutely dreadful, and there is a great deal of sickness, low fever, diptheria, "and mumps about. Several very serious caaea of the latter complaint have been reported, and it has been more or leas prevalent amongst adults as well as children for several months. Our City Council has, for the laat year or two, been rather remarkable for the disorderly character of its proceedings, owing chiefly, it is said, to the lack of a respectable well conducted chairman in the Bhape of a Mayor. As the election of this officer now rests in the .handß of the citizens inatead ot being in the hands of the Council, a very general desire exists to obtain the services of some gentleman who will fill the situation with dignity, raise the tone of the body over which he presides, and efficiently represent the city. The .person almost unanimously designated is Mr George Hunter, and a requisition, asking him to accept the office, is now in circulation and is being eigned by almost every ratepayer in the city. It is understood that Mr Hunter is very much disinclined to accept the civic chair, but the requisition will probably be of such a character that he will not feel justified ia refusing to accede to its prayer. At least this is what is hoped. Considerable changes are announced as about to be made in the staff of the New Zealand Times. The directors, prior to Mr Vogel's departure, "gave notice " to the whole Editorial staff, and engaged Mr Creighton, now Editor oi the Qtago Guardian, to assume editorial charge and reorganise the department. The financial success of the Times Company is said not to have been great under existing arrangements. The Opera Company opened here laat night at million priceß to an overflowing house. The opera chosen was "Satanella," and the general impression ia tbat the various members of the company have rather improved in voice during their northern trip. After playing here for a fortnight, the company pays Wanganui a visit and then goes south. Our city members are to addres3 their constituents to-morrow night, and a good deal of curiosity is felt as to what Mr Pearce will say. At present he enjoya the distinction of being the only member of the House who has not publicly, by voice or vote, expressed any opinion on the question of constitutional changes. It will be remembered that he oarefully avoided committing himself last session, but I presume that he haa now made up his mind, or he would not have called the meeting. . The Watts' Bicentenaby. — Being the two hundredth anniveraary of the death of Dr Watts, who was a native of Southampton, the Nonconformists on July 17 celebrated the bicentenary by a special service at Above-bar Chapel, a lecture on the life, character and work of the sacred t>oet being also delivered by the Rev. H. H. Carlisle, pastor. This chapel ia built upon part of a freehold originally belonging to the Watts family, who worshipped in it for a century ; while Dr Watts himself waa the first person whose came appeara in the registry of baptism kept by the congregation. It was for this chapel, too, that Dr Watts, at the age of 15, composed his first hymn, and it was sung there while he vro& present. The house in which the Doctor was born, in French-street, is still standing, but ub special care is being taken of it. The Grammar School, in Bugle-street, where, at an early age, he commenced the study of Latin, has been latterly rebuilt, and its management ia now under the consideration of the Endowed Schools Commissioners, whilst, in connection with the bicentenary, it is proposed to. enlarge it.