WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2165, 18 February 1875, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(From a Correspondent of ihe " LgUelton Tints.")

Feb. 15,

A rage for going borne seems to have set in amongst those of our citizens who are able lo afford it. Last »eek, Mr Turnbull tho wellknown merchant left with hia tamilyon a vi.-it which it is understood will last for a couple of years. With hira went Mr F. A. Krull, another merchant, and for many years Consul for tho German Empire Prior to his depa -ture, fcho German residents in tho city gave nun a dinn< r which pa-.-ed off very satisfactorily. The ship llowrah, which sail.nl on Saturday, took away Dr Hector and his family, and Mr S< well and Mrs Sewell. On Tuesday Mr John Martin and Mr deed. Secretary of Customs, leave by -ho 'Fri<co Mail. A dun er is to be given to Mr Martin to-nighfc. Mr deed is going home partly on pleasure and partly on official business, lie has a \ ear's leave cf absence, and is to v.sit Canada and report to the Govern ment on tho constitution and institutions of the dominion, with a view, it is suppose!, cf affording hints in drawing up our o«n promised new constitution. The LPost s.ijs that the " barrister of colonial reputation " having jibbed, Mr Seed is to be sent in search of wisdom in Canada, instead of the barrister being sent on a like errand to our own Road Board chairmen. In return for t c Canadian report, Mr Seed is to have all his expenses defrayed by a grateful country. Rumours ot many other intended departures tor hngland are also current, and it is said that, so many heads of departments hare asked for n year's leave, that the Government has been obliged to make it undersOiid that no more such implications will bo enteriaimd for eomo time to como Of general ntus there U little or imiie ring. The only excitement is in reference to municipal matters, the public feeling b. ing very strong indeeo against those who have so umuianaged matters in tho past as to bring tho city into its present condition. At a very largo public meet ing held a few evenings ago —somo six or seven hundred people, chietly ratepayers, beinu present— a resolution of no con fidence in tho Council (tbo Mayor excepted) was carried, with Jn addition that they bo requested to resign. Tbis meeting was called by tlie Mayor at the request of a deputation from a previous meet ing, and the councillors had been invited to attend, but none of them put in an appearance. Tnis so " riled " tho meeting that tho resolution in question was carried with cheers, although tho promoters of the meeting bad no intention of bringing forward any such proposal. A

resolution declaring thafc tbo prosent Municipal taxation was ns heavy as could possibly bo borne, and that tho existing revenue, if properly administered, is amplo forall legitimate purposes, wns ulso curried. Nest, day there who an election of a Councillor for To Aw word, Iho mocfc populous in the oily, when Mr Gilloo, tho editor of tho Post, who, although unconnocfod with tho ward, hnd been strongly urged to stand, and hnd somewhat reluotiiutly complied, was returned by a majority of 88 abovo tho number polled by his two oppononts put together. Ono feature of fchis election - wa«, that thero wero no cabs ampl yed, Mr Gill on having from tho first delated that he did not intend to go to any cxptmo in contesting fcho election. His opponent,?, Mr Young and Mr Moody, followed his example in Iho mattor <f cabs, bufc did a Utile in tho matter of bill P'stingThere is now another vncancy in tho City Council, fcho member for Thorndon ward having resigned, ns ho U going homo. Whethev (ho others will take any notice of the public meeting's resolution, I do not know. 'In fcho Council this week, thero io to bo a grand discussion on tho financial condition of flic city, tho Mayor having given notico that bo will movo fcho" Council into oommitteo for the purposo. A good deal of curiosity and oven anxiety ia frit, as to fcho means, which Mr Moorhouse will suggest, for getting ua out of our difficulties.

Fnr many years buck our Chamber of Commerce hns been dormant, if nofc defunct, A stronp and successful effort hns howover just beon mado to revive ifc, and already about 7i' nan es aro enrolled on tlio list of members Mr W. 11. 1 ovin is } rovisionnl ohairman. The entrance) ioe has been fixed nt £1 In, nnd the subscription afc £2 2s. Ifc is probable fchafc the number of members will soon reach 100. Much a body as tho Chambor is urgently needed in this city, tho business of which ia very rapidly h,oreasing. A somewhat novel importation was stopped on fche wharf the other day Owing to something suspicious in tho invoice, fche landingwaiter opened a cnso from Melbourno and found it to contain a large assortment of bottle lubelp, being eh bo imiintionn of all the best known labels from Martoll's branny to Tennnnt's ulo. Tho landing-winter refused to puns it, and fche collector was appealed fco, and bo, after communicating with tho Commissioner, allowed fcho box to pass, Tho importers admitted thafc tho labels had been printed in Melbourno. Tho ealo of tho leaso of the Queen's wharf and warebouso for ono year, altraotod a good deal of competition, and realised a very high prico. Thrco years ago, ifc wns let for fchafc period, afc whafc wns th n thought tho vory high prico of £4000 por annum, fcho lessees being Messrs Jackson and Graham. How woll thoy must have dono out of ifc may bo judged from tho facfc fchafc this year Mr Jackson became fcho purohaser for £8100, jusfc £80 moro than doublo, than whafc ho pai .) previously. Tho want of whnvf accommodation is, howover, vory muoh folt. A fow days ago wo hnd no loss than nine largo English vessels, fivo steamers, nix colliers, and a wholo floofc of coasters in harbour, afc fcho samo timo

Tho progress of harbour reclamation is now vory rapid. Tho fllling-in has commenced all along Lambtoti quay, and noarly fche wholo of fcho outer lino of piles for fcho breastwork aro driven. Tho addition of this fifty aoros of lovol land will vory muoh alter tho appcaranco of fche oity. Unfortunately fche doctors aro having rather a busy timo of ifc here ndw. Measles aro vory common indeed, nob only amongst ohildren, bub also amongst adults, and a sort of low'fevor, coupled with a throafc nffeotion resembling diphtheria in a mild way is also prevalent, A considorablo numbor of tho unfortunate Borar passengers are still in quarantine. There aro only aome twelve or. fourteen acfcunlly in hospital now, bufc fcho members of thoir families and of fchoso who havo had fcho scarlatina, number in all about 80, who will havo to roinam until heiilth is restored to all. Three or four deaths havo occurred sinco tho paescngers woio landed 5 one, that of a man of 55 years of ago, tho head of a family of twelve. He died from tho after effects of this disease A Boyal Commission, consisting of Mr G. 8 Coot or, Dr Johnston, and Mr Heed, safe lust, wi ok fco inquire into fcho condition in which the iinmigianta woro shipped by this unfortunate vessel. Ifc was clearly proved fchafc fcho ship's doctor did object to Dr Humphries passing one littlo girl, who tho day after showed unmistakeablo signs of scarlatina. His objootion, however, was ovorruled, and fcho girl passed with what results wo all know. Wo havo had quito a plethora of amuao ments hero latoly. To-night, Mr and Mrs Bates bring to a cloao a highly successful nine weeks' season at fcho theatre, which will now bo, closed for a short, timo to enable certain alterations fco bo made in fcho interior, on as tooxtond and improve fcho accommodation M r and Mrs Bates take the company fco Napier for a short sons n, Maker's Hibernicon hns hnd a capital season afc the Oddfellows' Hall, fche sonas of fcho Messrs Ba or and tho Irish character acting of Mr John Moran briny really excellent;, Lasfc, bufc oerfcainlv nofc least, wo have had fche Rev Charles Clark, who has given us fchroe of his admirnblo lectures and (yesterday) two excellent sermons. Ho is a man of extraordinary eloquence and rare descriptive power It is a trout, to hear him, and his lectures aro really delightful, As he will soon visit your city, you will have an opportunity of ju.di/ing for yourself.