The Evening herald. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1873.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 16711, 6 February 1873, Page 2

The Evening herald. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1873.

Cr Brown was justly severe upon the Mayor at the Council meeting last evening, and effectually stopped the nice little arrangement of employing one of Mr Watt's Wellington friends at such a reasonable (?) rate of remuneration. The Council have had enough of Mr Watt's bargains in Wellington, and paid, and will have to pay, dearly enough for them. Perhaps it is not known that hints have been given by His Worship that the Council slioTild contribute something towards Mr George's last visit to Wanganui. Where is the quid pro quo for the money 1 Echo answers, where 1 The Mayor, arranged with Messrs Hart and Buckley for the preparation of the Wanganui Bill, came back to Wanganui, and eloquently urged, the claims of that firm above any Wanganui office. Result—lawyer's bill, £239 ; for what ? For a Bill which was virtually of no use to the Corporation. If this is not enough •to destroy any confidence in the Mayor's administrative ability the ratepayers are patient and long suffering; The Mayor would rather pay Mr George 2\ per cent on the cost of the works, than pay a thoroughly qualified and practical engineer a moderate salary for his undivided services. Verily, a penny wise and pound foolish policy. Following out the Mayor's economical plan, the Council would pay Mr George a large sum for professional service's in connection with water works, another heavy charge for gas, another professional gentleman for a drainage scheme and probably others for the reclamation of the foreshore, all necessery works, whereas by the employment of Mr Millar, these united charges, amounting in the aggregate. : tp something startling, would be saved, and one specific sum only expended. ■ We are glad the majority of the-Council1 "decided the way they did.

•■"■ The jSTew Zealand Reformer ' is the name of the newspaper which is about to make its appearance at Marton, under the auspices—save the mark—of Dr. Curl. It is anticipated that this publication will spread its wings over the Colony, and illuminate the dark corners of 'every mind that does not.plainly see its way to txim everything upside down. The financial ideas are pecitliar. The shares are put down at'2ooo of £1 each, and, the only prudent thing we notice about the affair, the company is to.beZmi/erf. Our old friend Mr Parkinson has , been engaged as practical : manageiv and the. projectors are in treaty for the inevitable ' Times ' plant. At a meeting a few evenings ago, 300 shares were taken Up by a number of unfortunate people, and it has been cal-

culated that the settlers of Rangitikei are willing to pay £1 per annum to read Dr. Curl's nonsense. Does any sane person believe that so heartless and selfish a person as Dr. Curl has one speck of sympathy for his fellow-colonists ? If he does his faith is greater than the grain of mustard seed. Since the capital is so liberally stated at £2000, the directors will be able to declare large dividends from the beginning— out of capital.

Councillor Brown made a very excellent speech last night in the Council, characterised by good sense and accurate reasoning. We have to thank him for it, in the belief that he has expressed the opinion of the ratepayers.

Edward Stafford, Esq., Examiner of Titles under Torrens's Act, has been appointed Deputy Commissioner of Stamps for the province of Wellington.

Since the Council are obtaining the services of an engineer, why should not the work of reclaiming the foreshore be set about at once 1 The Council have the power of borrowing under the Municipal Corporations Act, and it is morally certain the reclaimed land would more than pay the interest on the expenditure. This is the direction in which the ideas of the Councillors should tend.

The Post says:— There were 58 births and 21 deaths during the month of January in the Wellington district, and certificates for 11 marriages were issued. The number of deaths is unusually large, and it is remarkable that 17 of the number are those of children two years old and under.

The Marlboroiigh Press of the 29th ult says:—The "Eyes Commission "commenced its sitting on Friday last, and between that date and the present a large number of witnessess have been examined. In consequence of the manner in which the enquiry is conducted, no report can be given of the proceedings, nor will the tenor of the report to be returned by the Commissioners be made known until the General Government is in receipt of it. The Commission have sat day by day (except Sunday) from Friday last until to-day, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ; and the number of witnessess examined to sustain the charges amount to twenty-four, being, Archdeacon Butt, Rev. Father Seauzau, Dr Muller, Messrs G.Henderson, D. Watzon, T. M, Huniffreys, T. Williams, R, M'Artney, J. Watson, H. Gate, R. Rothwell, P. Lawrence, S. Lawrence, J. Smith, C. Redwood, C. B. Taylor, J. Oonnal, A. G. Fell, J. Ward, Mrs Moore, Mrs Lawrence, Mrs H. Pitchard, Mrs T. Warner, Mrs W. Clark. Itisprobable that the case against Mr Eyes will be closed to-day; there will then remain only the witnesses on his side to be heard before the Commissioners can terminate their sittings.

Mr Tennyson and Mr Gladstone met the other night at a party for the first time, and immediately had a long and practical consultation. The subject was Homer, and the time covered four hom-3. They were both much at home on Homer.

In the Turakina Cavalry Volunteers, Felix O'Sullivan McCarthy has been gazetted Lieutenant, and Frank Yates Lethbridge Sub-Lieutenant.

The Governor has been pleased to form the Union Rifle Volunteers, the Marton Rifle Volunteers, the Royal Rifle Volunteers, and the Marton Rifle Volunteers Cadets, into a Battalion under the designation of " The Rangitikei Rifle Volunteer Administrative Battalion."

Mr Bromley and Miss Jfeilson will give another entertainment this evening. These performers have returned from Marton and the country districts where they had a pretty fair reception.

The Post questions our statement about the Provincial Government having arranged about security for the Wanganui-Eangiti-kei railway. Our authority is of the very best, bat as the information was conveyed in a private telegram, we cannot disclose it. The matter will shortly take an official form.

The nomination of candidates to represent the Waitotara aud Kai Iwi district will take place at the Industrial School House on Monday the 10th inst. and the polling if necessary, on Thursday the 13th inst °

Three race horses arrived yesterday from Taranaki for the meeting on Wednesday and Thursday next. The names of the horses . are Black Eagle, Maori Weed, and Minnie. Lochinvar is expected hourly.