LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2388, 14 July 1866, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Signal Station, Mount Victoria. — We porceivo that in future ttio arrival of Teasels will be signalled at the above station by the usual descriptive signals ; namely, on the north yard-arm denoting a vessel from the north or west, and on the south yard-arm from the south or east. The private flag of eacli Stonm Company will bo hoisted at the mast-head when the vessel is passing Poncarrow Heads. The P.N.Z. and A.R.M. Company's flag and Union Jack will denote the approach of Panama steamers j the white flag and Union Jack, the English mail. Two blue pendants at the mast-head will denote, for the information of the pilot at tho Heads, tkat a pilot is ou board of the vessel going out. Two blues and the first distinguishing pendant will denote to the pilot at the Heads that his services are required in % harbor. In addition to the above, Marryat's and the commercial code of signals will be used when required.

Thb Pbebent Session op Pabliament.— P Another day of the present Session, making twelve ( in all, and yet little or nothing has been done. The House of Representatives, on the one hand, seems to be conscious that a fierce struggle, in--1 volving the stability of the Ministry, is approaching, and it wonld appear that it hesitates to pro--1 cipitate that conflict. Tho reason for the passive conduct of tho members of Government is not so 1 obvious. It may, with justice, bo attributed to one of two causes, either the Government is afraid to take any steps to initiate a policy, feeling unI certain, or rather unpleasantly certain, as to tho results which would follow ; or that it really has j not a policy, and is compelled to exist, as it were, from hand to mouth, taking each day, and wait- ' ing each day, for ideas from the House, and ! referring everything which could be so treated to j Committees. The latter cause a stranger in tho | House might well be excused from thinking tho I correct one. Ono gallant member of the Govcrnj ment may usually be seen sitting in his corner Beat, rarely absent, rarely speaking, rarely rising, i oiceptj to mane some tormal statement, or to go : through the dumb show understood to represent , tho seconding of a motion. A second, who ; might be first, sits, rises, and speaks alternately, relying on the application of elegant expressions of approval to fend off dangerous questions and acknowledging his inability to grasp large subjects, |by shifting tho responsibility on the shoulders lof various members of the House. A third unit of the Government may bo seen at any sitting quietly resting ono, if not two of his legs, in elegant attitude on tho.aettee, in a style which conveys to tho spectator, an idea that if he cannot be useful, he, at all events, tries to be ornamental j an idea ' whicli a constant attention to the state of moustache and whiskers would strengthen. A fourth.-anember the spectator would have litttle ohanco of seeing, as he appears to think that too much; publicity might render him a vulgar object, or is. he deeply immersed, in the recesses of his official den, in a policy with which he is to startle the House by-and-bye. - The Maungatapu Muedehs. — There is evory "probability that the gang of murderers who have cent so many to their long account on the West of the Middle Island, will bo brought over -anti triedlafc Wellington ; for in reply to a question put by Mr. A. Richmond, in the Lower House on Thursday. last, the lion, the Premier said that tho Government without having actually come to any final determination, were strongly of opinion -that it'was^dcsirable that thoso persons should bo brought to Wellington to be tried. This conclusion they had arrived at for several reasons. In tho first place, it was deemed that tho trial .could take place at an earlier date here than at Nelson, and this was to be secured if possible in order not to interfere with Courts to bo held elsewhere. There were besides this other' reasons which would no doubt suggest themselves to hon. members why this should be done, and one of these was that it would tend to allay the natural excitement into which the people of Nel-. son must have fallen in consequence of the mystery which had hitherto existed with regard to these murders, and which was day by day changing into the knowledge that a series of crimes of the most diabolical character had been committed. In the second place, it would be well to remove these men to Wellington for safe custody. Tho gaol at Nelson was not of sufficient strength to secure them there without putting tho Provincial Government to a great expense, which would be scarcely fair, as they had already expended a good deal upon the matter. Tho General Government had also thought that for the proper j administration of justice the venue ought to be changed. These considerations had almost induced the Government to take steps to enable them to carry out such measures, but the final decision was not yet arrived at. He might say that tho Government had not done anything without consulting tho Judge of the Supreme Court before whom the trial would take place. There would be no committal of the men until after the decision of the Legislature was known. They would be merely remanded from time to time. Sheopshiee Down Rams. — We notice an advertisement in another column, announcing some of these valuable rams for Eale. As many of our readers may not know this particular breed of sheep, wo have made enquiries and find that they are looked upon as a first-class description of sheep in England, and have taken the silver cup for three years' running, at one of the largest Agricultural Shows. Tho sires of these rams were purchased by W. L. Lucena, Esq., at the Royal Agricultural Show held at Worcester, and took the gold medal, and were imported by that gentleman, in the Wild Duck, in 1864. The sheep are pure Downs, with improved carcase and long wool ; and are both prolific and hardy. - St. Andrew's New Cnuncn. — At a meeting of the Managers and Building Committee of this Church, a vote of thanks was unanimously given to the ladies of tho Congregation for their unwearied and successful exertions in getting up the Bazaars, lately held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, for the purpose of increasing the Building Fund. A well finished painting of lake scenery in tho neighborhood of the Manawatu was also presented by the Committee to Mr. John Hammond Homer, as a small acknowledgment of his services in promoting the same good case ; the tact, good taste, and management of Mr. Homer having greatly contributed to the success of both Bazaars. At the same time, tho thanks of the liadies Committee and Managers were given to the City Band, who so handsomely came forward, at the last Bazaar, to enliven the proceedings with their nmsical performances. A Painful Case. — In tho Wellington Police Court, on Thursday, Mrs. Harrington and her daughter, Mrs. Downes, were brought up before the Resident Magistrate, charged with stealing a cash box containing eight £1 notes, one sovereign, eight half-sovereigns, fourteen various coins, a cheque, and an IOU from Barrett's Hotel, on Tuesday last. Both prisoners are respectably connected. After hearing the evidence, they were committed for trial to tho Supreme Court — bail being accepted for their appearance — themselves in £100 each and two sureties of £50. The report of the case will be found elsewhere.

■ I Colonial Lunatic Abtivxl.— lt will bo re i membered that ut the last crirninul sittings of tht Supreme Court, his Honor Mr. Justice Johnston in liis address to the Grand Jury, made some lengthened observations as to the necessity thai existed for. some improvement being effected iv\ the accommodation for lunatics, and expressed o desire that something should be done in the mat; ter. We were glad, therefore, to find that on ' Thursday, in the Legislative Council, the Hon. Mr. Crawford asked — "Whether it was the intention of the Government to take any steps, during the present session, towards the establishment of a colonial lunatic asylum," In reply, the Hon. John Johnston said, that the Government and the ! lion, gentleman at its head, was fully alive to the . necessity of such an establishment, but it was not I the intention of the Government to take any steps in the matter during the present sessionl Manawatu Smai.li Fakm Association. — A public meeting of the members of the Munawatu Small Farm Association was held in the Market Hall, at o'clock, on Thursday evening last. From the Treasurer's report, it appeared that there remained a balance in hand of £6 12s 4d. The number of shares taken up from the 12th of March to the lith of July, was 1782 at 2s 6d each, which amounted to £222 15s. Of this amount, £181 Is 6d ha 3 been deposited in the Mutual investment Society, and the remainder (not including the balance in hand) has been expended on advertising, printing, . hire of Odd Fellows' Hall, books and stationery, <fee, &c. A report of the meeting will be found in another column. Hutt Public School. — In another column will be found a report of an adjourned public meeting in connexion with the above district. Dr. Samuels and the Iron Sand. — A rather amusing scene took place on Wednesday evening in tho House of Representatives, on the motion by the Hon. Mr. Stafford, "that a Select' Committee be appointed to enquire into and report upon the claims of Dr. Samuel and Mr. Moorshead, with respect to the leasing of the iron sand in the Province of Taranaki." The Hon. Premier spoko of tho iron sand grievance (for such it would appear to have become) in torms which really worked a miracle — they excited commiseration for the head of the Government — and almost begged the House to sanction tho Committee, if only to release him from a horrible lete noire. Several members whom it is proposed to place on the Committee, appreciating the Premier's motive, appealed for pity to the House, and represented themselves as victims. One member — a committeeman elect ergo a victim — rose "just to mention to tho House that Dr. Samuels had asked him whether, in the event of the Committee being granted, a porter would be allowed him to bring I up the papers, they were so voluminous;" and j another, with apparently a lively idea of the torI ments awaiting him, fought hard against tho j Committee, and even threatened a division. Eventually, courtesy to the Government prevailed over pity for the Committeemen elect, and the motion was carried. The Chatham Islands. — In the Legislative : Council, on Thursday, the Hon. Mr. Ackland asked, "If it is the intention of the Government to take any steps with regard to the extinction of tho native title in the Chatham Islands. Also, whether the Government will recognise any agreements which may have been entered into between the natives and the European settlers iri those islands respecting the sales or leases of native lands." The Hon. Mr. Johnston said that as tho Chatham Islands were an integral part of tho Colony, it was the intention of the Government to leave them to the operation of the Native Lands Act.