LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2567, 5 September 1867, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Recall of Sib George Grey.—Members of the Ministry have given notice of motion in both Houses of the Legislature, of their intention to move the adoption of an address, expressive of the regret of the General Assembly at the recall of his Excellency. The address recites the manifold services which Sir George Grey has rendered to the colony, and concludes by tendering him thtf hearty wishes of the Legislature for his future happiness and welfare. A series of resolutions on this subject is also to be moved by the Government. The Debate on tfe Budget. — After four nights' discussion, the House have not yet come to a decision upon the Budget, and the debate will be resumed this afternoon. The general temper of the House seems to be in favor of the financial proposals of Ministers — the main objections being against a fresh issue of debentures under the Three Million Loan Act of 1863, and the remission of the payment of the portion of the loan allocated to the Northern provinces. Upon the former point the Government have announced their willingness to yield, and Mr Yogel has, in consequence, intimated his intention of withdrawing his amendment ; but upon the latter, they do not seem disposed to give way, the opposition offered, indeed, not being very strenuous. House or Representatives. — On Tuesday evening, Mr J. O'JS'oill suggested that it would expedite the business of the session if the Government would consent to the House meeting at two o'clock on Wednesday, instead of at five, as at present. Mr Stulfbrd expressed his willingness to accede to the arrangement after the next day, upon which it would bo inconvenint to carry the proposal into effect, as the change had not been anticipated. The Conviot Tbickkb. — Wo notice with satisfaction that Mr W. H. Watt has carried his motion for a Select Committee to consider the Rm Mr Stock's petition relating to Tricker's cuse. The whole matter, together with any freßh facts that may have transpired, will now bo investigated. We believe Mrs Trioker has arrived in town from Rangitikei, with the object of being on the spot while the enquiry is going on. We have numerous letters from correspondents in all parts of the province, all strongly expressing their belief in Tricker's innocence, which are unavoidably held over for want of space. Payment to Supreme Court Witnesses. — Never is there a criminal sitting of the Supreme j Court held in Wellington without a strong feeling of dissatisfaction being expressed by many persons who have to come from distant parts of the province as witnesses, at the meagre and ever-varying r»to at which payment is wide to them for truvoJling cxpensos. That the scale of payment is too low, has been generally admitted ; but, besides this, several of the witnesses who have como down on tho present occasion from Wanganui, Rangitikei, and Manawutu, allege that it is made on no equitable plan. For example, one gewtleman who came from tho extreme boundary of Western R'angitikei, was tendered £3 7s 6d, while another ! j who lived on tho river bank, about thirty miles nearer town, got £3 ss, and a third who lived sixteen miles nearer Wellington than tho first I mentioned, got £3 16s. Again, a person coining from Wanganui got. £6, and 'another in tho same rank of life, who lived at Rangitikei, and had only some twenty- (bur miles less to travel, gol £3 la. We certainly think that this system — or rather n» system — of paying witnesses is eadly in want of amendment. Either some witnesses are paid too much, or others too little, a shito of things which of course produces general diusatis- | faction. Besides tin's it should be remembered I that ns tho allowance given never covers the ex- ! pensea incurred, people* naturally enough feel disinclined (o prosecute in some cases of crime, when so doing involves a certniu loss both of time ar.d money. I Soiekks PaNßantkß. — Wo avo requested to state that tho npxt ball will fake place on Thursj dny, the 12lh of September, at the Odd Followb' I Hall. ! Mail von England. — The mail for America : and Europe via Panama, will close on Sunday next, for transmission by the Royal Mail steam* ship Mataura. Our usual monthly summary of news, political, social, and native, will bo published on Saturday morning.

Nathan Tboupb.— -These talented juvenilej hare again visited this city, and last night delighted a large and entbwiastic attdjei»*,..i?i the Odd F«llow»' Hall, bj one of their elrfn entertainments. To-night little Marion and her friends will again appear in " Andy Blake," and "The Colonial Servant," and we are sure will meet as many friends as on her previous visit. Penny Ebadings.— Mr Nicholas Marchant will deliver a lecture at the Tamperance Hall this evening— Subject, "The names we bear, or what's in a name." Tempbrancb Bazaah.— The Ladies' Committee met at the Temperance Hall yesterday evening, when a number of articles were contributed for the object in view. Fire Beioadb. — We understand that, in reply to a communication from the officers of the Fire Brigade, the Insurance Agents stated they would continue their pecuniary support and give the use of their engines, on the understanding that the corps would appoint three of the honorary members to act aa trustees. At a meeting of the members of the Brigade, convened in the early part of the week for the purpose of considering the letter of the Insurance Agents, it was resolved that the offer should be accepted, and that Messrs Fearce, Hunter, and the Chairman of the Town Board, whoever he may be, should be appointed trustees. Benevolent Society. — The usual weekly meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Society was held on Tuesday afternoon, in the Board of Works Offices, Lambton Quay. The Chairman reported a balance amounting to £222 16s lOd. The following sums were paid in:— Mr E. W.>. Mills, £5 ss. Employe's of the Panama Company, £8 lls 6d, and £1 from a lady, per favor of the Rev. P. Hay Maxwell. Several cases of distress were then enquired into and relieved, and the meeting adjourned. The "Advertiser's" Fihanoe. — Thefollowing frank expression of opinion on money matters appears in the opening sentence of the Advertiser's leading article yesterday : — " Wo utterly despise the man who deliberately sets about to convince us of the propriety of living upon our income. Any fool can do that — it is the simplest thing in the world— but, we confess, that we have the most sincere regard, nay more, the most profound admiration, for the man who cannot live upon his own income, but who can manage to get a decent living out of his neighbour's." On this financial creed we offer no comment. Another sentence of the same article is however worth quoting :— " We are staggering almost to exhaustion, under aa overwhelming load — defend us from a single additional pound weight. If we go on as wo havo gone we thall peiform the unheard of feafc of devouring ourselves and posterity to." Land Sale. — We have been requested to direct attention to Mr J. H. Wallace's land sale, which takes place to-day, at his land mart. The properties to be put up to auction comprise town and country lunda in the Wairarapa. Depbavity. — However much Wellington may in the last few years have advanced in the march of civilization, recent disclosures show that she has made uu equally rapid progress in depravity^ The evidence yesterday advanced in support of the prosecution of the prostitute Elizabeth Pepper was melancholy, as showing tke unblushing manner in which she carried on her ©bnoxious trade, even in tha presence of her own Bon, not quite seven years old ; but far more to be regretted are the painful disclosures made in the Resident Magistrate's Court, so seriously affecting the moral characters of two, hitherto considered respectable members of society, as the depositions lead to the belief that indecency of which even a barharian would be ashamed, has not been confined to the outcasts of society. Native Lands Court.— The above Court con» tinued its sittings yesterday in the Athenssum. The Prisoner Glover. — We understand that the young woman, Fanny G-lover, sentenced on Tuesday to undergo nino months imprisonment, is in un advanced state of pregnancy, <iud that: she mny be expected to be delivered of a child long before the expiration of her sentence. Colonel Weark's Slanders. — The Houoe of Representatives have adopted, with some slight amendments, the resolutions and address to Her Majesty drawn up by the Committee on the allegations of Colonel Weare. The resolutions, as umended, run thus: — (1.) That the thanks of this House are due to his Excellency the Governor for the prompt and decided manner in which his Excellency replied to certain despatches from the Hight Honorable the Secretary of State for the Colonies, conveying grave imputations against the Government of New Zealand by Colonel Weare, C.8., which imputations this House deliberately repels, and declares to have been most unwarranted and calumnious. (2.) That this House is of opinion that the courpo adopted by tho Right Honorable the (late) Secretary of State for the Colonies of receiving and investing with official importance private communications, wholly unsupported by evidence, such as those of Colonel Weare, gravely reflecting upon the honor and Christian character of tho people and Government of New Zealand, is calculated (notwithstanding that tho charges themselves have been completely refutfd, and which have been acknowledged by Colonel Weare to have been without foundation) injuriously to affect the reputation of the colony, to eiubarass the position of his Excellency the Governor, to impair the good understanding which ought to subsist between the colonists and the mother country, and to prove hurtful in a di^greo to the interests and relations of both races. (3.) That the foregoing resolutions, together with ii copy of tho " Papers relating to statements by Colonel Weare, C.jS.," as laid upon the table of , this House, be forwurded to the Secretary of .State ; and that a humble address be prepared and forwarded from the House of Representatives I to her Majesty tho Queen, praying that her Mnjifsty would be graciously pleased to direct that such papers bo luid before both Houses of tho Imperial Parliament ; and that her Majesty 1 would furthor be pleased to cause to be issued and unforced such instructions as may provent private communications, containing grave but unsupported accusations against the Governor and people of New Zealand, being officially entertained and acted upon for the future by any of her Majesty's Departments of State. — C. lleaphy, Chairman. Fibks. — An attempt has been made to burn down tho pile of buildings in Eden Crescent, Auckland, known as the Royal Hotel and Auckland Club. Fortuuiitely tho attempt was frustrated, but the intending in ecu claries havo not yet been discovered. A small house in Ponsonby Road, Auckland, has been destroyed by fire. A hotel in Tarnnufci hits narrowly escuped destruction by fire. It appeared from the circumstances that an ince.idiary had been at work. A cottage in New Plymouth has been burned down.