LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2235, 22 July 1865, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Tiie Wairarapa Nomination. — From a notification elsewhere it will be observed, that a writ has been issued for tlr.s election, and that the nomination will lake place at the school-houso Greytown, on Thursday, the 27th inst, and that the poll, if necessary, will be taken on Saturday, the 29th. Resignation of the Native Minister. — There is now no room for doubt that the Hon. Mr Mantoll, the Native Minister, has resigned. No particular cause can bo assigned for this, because no disagreement of a political character existed between him and his colleagues in the Ministry, though otherwise there probably was some incompatibility which prevented them pulling well together. We do not think it probable that any new appointment will be made to the ouicc of Native Minister till the meeting of the Assembly. The Assembly. — The Assembly is convened for Monday, but as it is just possiblo His Excellency tho Governor may not return from Wanganui in time, the meeting may, therefore- be postponed for a few days. Lecture. — Yesterday evening Mr Deck delivered a fourth lecture in tho Mechanics' Institute on Inspired Prophecy which was well attended. Mr Deck will also conduct Divine Sorvico as usual in the Odd Fellows' Hall to-morrow ovoning. Resident Magistrate's Court.— Tho examination of the crew of the barque Mary and Edith in tho caso of assault brought against the chief mate, took place at the Eesident Magistrate's Court yesterday. Pressure of space will not permit of our giving all the cvidouce taken, suffice it to say Mr Jackson was fined £2 for one assault and £5 for the other. Yesterday the man Cronin who on a previous occasion had accused the Captain of an assault, was himself charged with refusal of duty. In defence he urged that ho had refused to go aloft on a stay that was stranded. Captain Coutts called Captain llalliday the harbor muster, who deposed that tho piece of rope in question was sound enough to bear tho weight of four men, so tho defence fell through and tho man Cronin was committed for 48 hours. The caso caused an intense amount of interest, the court being densely crowded throughout tho jji-occcdings. Tho Bench was occupied by J, Carter, Esq, J.P, A. Ludlam, Esq, J.P, and VV. Dorset, Esq, J.P, in tho absence of Mr Ward who is still an invalid. Professor Busiiell. — Those who liko to sco scienco made popular in tho performance of somo of tho most striking experiments, connected with Electricity and its wonders, will no doubt visit Professor Bushell to-night at the Californian Circus. A complete expose of Spirit rapping will bo niado, and tho modus operandi explained. Tho Professor will also givo a scries of practical demonstrations in Electro-Biology; all of which go to make a very attractive entertainment which will no doubt have a good house. Wellington Voltjn teer Fire Brigade. — We observe that our Fire Brigade require tenders for tho orectiou of two Alarm 801 l Towers, and in thoir advertisement to bo found elsowhoro, it will bo noticed that the plans and specifications are to be seen afc the residence of their Captain, Mr L. Moss, who is open to receive tenders up to 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon.

TnE General Assembly. — Monday next is the appointed clay for the meeting of the Assembly. Tho question of the stability of the Ministry has for some time past been debated in the Auckland journals, who apparently at last havo arrived at tho conclusion that Mr Weld and colleagues are likely to have a fair majority. Mr Stafford, who professes uneasiness at seeing the Government of the Colony carried. on without him, is said to bo the loader of tho opposition. The Auckland members have at last determined on attending the Session, we presume, acting on the consideration, that if they havo little chance of effecting tho great object of their desire, which as every one knows is tho regaining the Seat of G-overnincnt, by going, they have still less chance of doing so by staying away. Wellington Rifle Volunteers. — The annual General meeting of the No 1 Company Wellington Ride Volunteers will be held at 8 o'clock on Thursday evening next at Barrett's Hotel, when a Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee for the ensuing year will be elected. General Government Gazette. — A Gazette was issued yesterday evening. Its contents are not of general importance. It contains a notice that the writ in the Eangitikei election has been j retained, with a certificate to the effect that Eobert Pharazyn Esq., has been duly elected. Raffle. — We would remind such of our readers as are given to aquatics, thatthey will have a splendid opportunity this evening of trying the extent of their good fortune in a raflle for a boat ; as at 8 o'clock sharp, the celebi'ated racing gig Faugh a Ballah, with fittings complete, will be put up at Miller's Commercial Hotel, to be competed for, by 50 members at 10 shillings each. The Faugh a Ballah may now be seen in Mr Wills' ahed. OA r ERLAND Hokitika Mail. — "From the Canterbury Press'vre learn that at last overland communication between Canterbury and its West Coast gold fields is tin fait accompli. The Press in announcing the arrival of the Hokitika mail in Christchurch on the 15th inst, says : — " The mail which started on Tuesday from Chrisfcphurch reached Hokitika in four days atid a half, and the return mail took four days. Considering tho desperate weather and the state of the roads, this is very good work ; and as tho track is being rapidly improved, affords a good promise that in about two months we may hope to see the journey accomplished in two days.". The East Coast.— Our files from Napier by the s.s. Rangatira arc to the loth inst., but they give no fur( her particulars relative to tho emeute between Morgan's people and the Hau Haus, beyond tho baro fact that ;H.M.S.S. Eclipse, Com mandcr Freemantlc, steamed from Napier for Waiapu, East Cape, about dusk on Tuesday, tho 11th inst., having on board his Honor Mr McLean, and 5S of No. 9 Company of military settlers, under the command of Captain Fraser. A llouse Divided Against Itselt?.— ln the above quandary, what, says a well-know proverb, is the result ? For tho information of the Provincial Council of Marlborough, we give the reply " cannot stand." Such must be tho fate of a legislative body, wlien every individual inembor pulls a different string from every other member, and wo would strongly recommend the representatives of the people of that province to sink tho sort of Montague and Capulet warfare they are engaged in, to shake hands and make friends. It appears from tho Marlborough Press of the Bth iust., that on the 26th ult., a motion was carried by a majority of three, that the Council should* meet at Blenheim. The minority protested that the resolution was illegal, and consequently not only refused to attend, but met at Picton under the authority of the Superintendent, while tho oleven receding members met at Blenheim, formed themselves into a Council, proceeded to business, passed estimates, and in short, assumed all the functions of legislative action. Such a proceeding was in itself extraordinary, to say tho least of it, but on the sth inst, greatly to tho surprise of the legitimate Council in Picton, eight of tho Blenhcimitea walked into their places, proposed, seconded, and carried the following motion, viz.; — "That the minutes of the Council met at Picton be not confirmed, but thoso at Blenheim substituted in their place." | This motion was pretty strong, considering that the Pictonites had met by the sanction of His Honor the Superintendent, but not satisfied with tho triumph gained, one of the majority, Mr Godfrey moved the following resolution :— " That the Superintendent having totally ignored the resolutions of this Council, passed on the 27th ult., has thereby forfeited the confidence reposed in him, and this Council expresses its dissatisfaction with tho course pursued by his Honor, and requests that ho will at once resign his office." Some sharp skirmishing naturally followed, and one orator addressed tho members for ton hours and a half until out of sheer exhaustion, a member proposed that the Council should adjourn until the 3rd of October, a motion that was carried «c;« con, as well it might be. Apart from the ridiculous position in which tho Superintendent, his executive, and the wholo Council now stand, it must be a very painful thing for tho people of Marlborough to find that tho mon who they fondly hoped would exert every energy to further Provincial interests, have sunk every consideration in a party squabble, alike injurious to their oavu reputation, and the unfortunate province, the interests of which they were elected, to further. Colonial Peers.— The Dunedin correspondent of the Canterbury Press writes : — The creation of a new batch of colonial "peers" has elevated three of our local celebrities to tho Upper House, viz., Mr Strode, R.M. ; Mr Prendergast, Provincial Solicitor ; and Mr 11. J. Miller, lato Secretary for Public Works. In its issue of Saturday, the Daily Times indulges in a number of speculations with regard to approaching political changes in the General Government, and hints that there is a probability of Mr Prondergast becoming Attorney -Generd, vice Mr Sewell, who, according to tho same authority, will possibly be raised to the Bench as Chief Justice. Mr Prendergast bears the reputation of being a very clover lawyer, but it is very questionable if he would bo a good Attorney-General. Ho is, or was, a scparationisfc, and was one of the several speakers at the great meeting in the theatre connected with the agitation, and at which so many of tho orators (Mr P. included) betrayed such delightful ignorance of the political history and condition of the colony.