LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 23 November 1867, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

. + The English News. — Tho arrival of the | English Mails via Panama and Suez, together with steamers from tho New Zealand Provinces, all on the same day, has made it no easy task to compress tho news within the space at our command. On our sixth page will bo found a very full and carefully arranged summary of tho news j via Panama. Our London correspondent's letter via Suez is held over till Tuesday, but we publish to-day the one sent via Panama, together with some interesting extracts from our English files. The English Mail. — Much to the astonishment of everybody, the Mataura mado her appearance in the roadstead about five o'clock yesterday morning; and was followed, three hours afterwards, by the Taranaki, with the Suez mail. We believe this is tho first occasion, since the establishment of the Panama service, that the two mails have arrived at Wellington on the same day. The rapid passage made by the Mataura is exceedingly gratifying, as it show* that the voyage can be made within the contract time ; and no doubt, as soon as the coaling arrangements which are necessary to put a lino of ocean steamers in thorough working order are completed are fully regulated, we shall find tho Panama steamers a? punctual to time as tho P. and 0. Company's have been lately. Armed Constabulary — We hear that Lieut. - Colonel McDonnell has received the appointment of Chief Inspector of the Armed Constabulary. Anniversary Fete. — The sub- committee appointed by the Anniversary Committee to draw up a programme for the forthcoming regatta met at Osgood's last night, and framed a programme, which will be submitted to the General Committee for approval at their next meeting. The Hon. J. C. Crawford. — Wo have been informed on good authority, that tho Hon. J. C. Crawford, our esteemed Resident Magistrate, has resigned his seat in the Legislative Council. We shall have something to say upon tlm subject by and bye. Customs Revenue. — The Customs revenue received at this port during the last two daye amounted to £913 6s 2d. Naturalization. — Letters of naturalization have been issued to Leopold Griebel, of Wellington, tobacconist. Deputy Judge. — Henry John Perham, Esq,, has been appoiontud Deputy Judge of tbe District Court of Wunganui. Native Lands Surveyor, — George J. Winter, Esq., has been licensed to act as a surveyor under tho Native Lands Act. Willis street Church. — A congregational meeting was hold in Willis street Church last evening, the Rev, Mr Duncan in the chair, for the purpose of considering the proposition of tho Commissioners in .reference to the resignation of the Rev. Mr Moir. The other members present were the Revs. Mr Elmslie, Mr Moir, Mr Ross, Mr Allsworth and Mr McMiohael. The propositions of the Commissioners were, that tho Rev. Mr Moir resign his charge, and that ho be granted a retiring allowance of not less than £100 per annum, with the uso of the manse; or of £150, should ho prefer to live out of town. Mr Wilson moved that matters be allowed to stand in statu quo ; to which an amendment was moved to tho effect that the congregation do acquiesco in tho proposition of the Commissioners. Tho motion was finally withdrawn, and tho amendment was carried unanimously. Court op Appeal. — In a Gazette published yesterday, there appears an order from Mr Justice Johnston Unit, all onses stnnding under tho fourth section of " Tho Appeals from Justices Act, 1867," shall be transmitted by the appellant under the provisions of the said Act : — 1. Whon th« justice or justices against whoso adjudication tho appeal is made, were at the making thereof, sitting within the province of Wellington, to one Registrar of the Supremo Court at Wollington. 2. When the justice or justices against whoso adjudication the appeal is mado, were at the making thereof, sitting within tho province of Hawko's Bay, to tho Deputy-Registrar of tho Supremo Court at Napier. Financial Rrfoujt. — A large public meeting was held in the Old Town Hall, Clmsfcehurch, ou Wednesday evening, for the purpose of taking stops for the formation of a Financial Reform Association. Amongst those present were the Hon. J. Hull, Postmaster-General, and Mr E. V. j J. Stevens, M.H.R.. A number of resolutions wcro passed almost identical wiih those passed by the Nelson Reform Association, and a provisional committee was appointed to draw vi rules for the management of the Association which will bo submitted to a public meeting ! called for that, purpose, and for definitely forming tho Association. ,

Presbyterian Chtjboh Mission.— A meetingof the members of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church Mission was held in the Temperance Hall last evening for the purpose of considering certain matters connected with the resignation of the Rot. Mr Moir. Tho Rev. Mr Duncan, who occupied the chair, opened the meeting with praise and prayer, after which tho Rev. Mr Elmslie, of Wanganui, gave a succinct narrative of thecircumstances connected with the resignation, and the proceedings which followed it, and he also informed his hearers of the position the Presbytery had taken in the affair. It was then moved by Mr Smith, and seconded by Mr Swain, that theproposU tion submitted by the Commissioners be adopted,, and the resolution was carried unanimously* After a fow remarks from Messrs Grey, Turnbull,, and Taylor, and a vote of thanks to the Rev. Mr Elmslie for his clear exposition of the affair, and to tho chairman for the able manner in which he had conducted the meeting, the proceedings wer« brought to a close with the benediction. Wellington Volunteer Fire Bbigadb.—- > A special meeting of the members of the Wol--lington Volunteer Fire Brigade was hold at the Engine House, Te Aro, last night, £ov the purpose of considering the proposed enrolment of the brigade as a volunteer corps, with a view to ob--taining the capitation allowance. Capt. Whits* ford stated that he had made an application totho Defence Minister for the corps to be enrolled under the Volunteer Act of 1866, to which & written reply had been sent to the effect that tha corps could entitle itself to the capitation allowance by being armed and drilled in accordance with the Volunteer Regulations j but os no provision had been made for the services of the corpa by the Generally Assembly, it could not in any event, receive the allowance, during th.e_ current financial year. A great deal of discussion 1 took place, resulting in a resolution being passed by a show of hands, that tho brigade should be immedately enrolled, if such could be done without necessitating the arming and drilling of the bn* gade, even at the risk of forfeiting the capitation* allowance. The meeting then adjourned. Caledonian Gathering Committee. — A meeting of persons interested in holding a Caledonian Gathering for 1868 was held on Thursdayevening, in tho hall of tho Athenreum. G. Crawford, Esq, occupied the chair. A deputation from the Anniversary Committee was in attendance and stated thai; the Committee desired the Culedonian Committee to take into consideratioa the advisability of the two Committees amalgamating, and also whether it would not bo better to postpone the joint celebration until the arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh. After some discussion, Mr Sidey moved, " That the Committees of the Caledonian Gathering and Anniversary should amalgamate, for tho purpose of carrying out theunited sports during the visit of the Duko of Edinburgh." Mr Gilligan seconded the motion h which was carried unanimously. Mr Buchanan requested the presence of the Caledonian Com* tnittee at a meeting to be held in connection with. tho Anniversary Celebration on Tuesday evening next, at 8 o'clock. The meeting then adjourned till 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening next, at the Empire Hotel. Matauba Amateur Theatrical Company. — The voyage of the Mataura from Panama to Wellington was greatly enlivened by the Mataura Amateur Theatrical Company, who gave two dramatic performances in aid of their widows and orphans, besides several readings, the latter beingdiversified with vocal music. The programme of the first performance, which was given on the night of the 31at Oct., consisted of the farces of 11 Little Toddlokins " and " Sent to Darlinghurst." The prices of admission seem to have been extremely moderate, as all that was asked for the 11 pit " was " nothing," and for the " boxes" " leos> Tho regulations for the good conduct of the theatre were of a very Bcnsitle charactor : — " Thepublio are requested to bring no small change for reserved seats, as none will bo demanded. Overcoats and crinolines may, if convenient, be loft with the policeman at the door. Tho balcony is reserved for musical specimens of domestic happiness. No dawgs allowed." On the 12th Noy.> "Box and Cox," and "Whitebait at Greenwich" were acted. The carle for the evening states that " admission for the evening only " will be by " free tickets, for the benefit of King George, Opara Island. All cheques to be made payable to the sole Lessee and Director, Hugh Milman, E6q., or to tho Stngo Manager, W. F. Wheeler, Esq." The playbills, for a sight of which we aro indebted to Mr Wheeler, the pui^er of tho Mataura, were got up in a very artistic way, being illuminated in blue, green, and gold, and headed by a drawing of tho vessel, with tho Union Jack and Company's flag. They were, as an imprint informs us, " Printed at the ' Maiaura Press' office, Saloon Avenue." Stamp Duties Act Amendment Act. — A notico has been issued from the Stamp Office, calling tho attention of tho publio to the fourteenth section of the Stamp Duties Act Amendment Act, 1867, which enacts that if a document bo presented to tho Commissioners to be stamped more than one month and less than three months after execution, the person offending shall pay a fine of twenty per cent, upon the value of tho stamps to be nfllxed ; nnd if tho document bo presented moro than threo months after execution, tho fine shall be at the rate of 100 per cent, upon the value of the stamps to be affixed ; but in no case shall the last mentioned fine bo less than £5. Claimß for Compensation. — The report of the committee appointed by the House of Representatives last session, to consider claims for compensation for. losses arising oub of the war, is published in yesterday's Gazette, and a noticd is appended to ifc, stating that the Government considers itself bound by this report with respect to all claims made after the 6th September, 1867, tho date of the report. Probable Arbivals. — Private lettors received by tho Mataura state that tho Hon. A. G. Tollemacho, an old Wellington settler, intends to leave England for this port in January. Mr W. Foxy wa3, when the mail loft, residing at Durham with liis brother, the Rev. G. Fox, Canon of Durham Cathedral, and would sail for New Zealand in the November Bteamer. . ■ - Lieut. -Colonel Elliot. — Lieutonant-Colonel Hllliot, of the 18th Regt., arrived in -Melbourne from England on tho 81st ult.,.by the chip SomerHe was te proceed to New Zealand to ■oin his regiment. ... Nelson Cadet Corps.— -The Nelson Gade fc Corps have been presented -with a color.

Muhdek at Takanaki. — A man named Roby has been murderod at. Manutahi, Taranaki, by Inia, a Maori, who was aftorwarda given up to justice by the natives. The Bishop of New Zealand. — Wo notice in the report given by tho Home News of tho proceedings of the Pan-Anglican Synod, that tho Bishop of New Zealand delivered an address on September 21st, at the closo of which the rev. prelate informed the congregation that tho offertory would be applied to tho endowment of a bishopric in JN T ew Zealand, for, as matters now stood, his successor, in tho event of his own death or resignation, would not have moro than £80 a year for tho support of his sacred office. The total amouut realised by the offertories during the ■week was between £300 and £400. TnE Deadman's Creek Murder. — James Wilson has been condemned to de6th for the murder of Jpines Lennox, at Deadman's Creek, in August last. Nkw Settlement in Otago.— The Provincial GoYcrnment of Otago will shortly despatch a steamer to Preservation Inlet and Martin's Bay, or other parts of the coast, with the object of forming a new settlement there. Thr IStii Regiment.— The 18th Regiment are to be immediately armed with the converted Snider rifle. The Atlantic Cable. — The repair of the 1866 Atlantic cable has been effected at a distance of 88 miles off Heart's Content, in spito of serere gales. Penny Readings at Sarom. — In the Schoolhouse on Wednesday evening last, Mr J. B. Reading in the chair, Mr W. Sutherland read from Wilson's "Tales of the Borders," tho laughable story of " Tho Hen-pecked Husband," and Robert Burns' " Tarn O'Shantcr.' Mr Fawcett read " The Husband who had to mind the House," a parody on " Nothing to Wear," and a tale called "Alnasar's Day Dream." Tho , pleasures of the entertainment were increased by the introduction of several pieces of music played by tho young ladies present. The whole of the readings wore well received, and frequently applauded by the audience, who at the closo gave a hearty vote of thanks to their entertainers. Tho meeting was then informed that G. E. Eliott, Esq, had promised a reading for next Wcdnosday evening. Chief Justice Akney. — The following paragraph is taken from the Home News, of October 2 : — " Sir George Arney, Chief Justice of New Zealand, and his brother, General Charles Arney, who commanded the English troops in New Zealand against the Maories, have been visiting their nativo city, Salisbury, in Wiltshire, after an absence of a great number of years." The Social Evil. — The growth of the " social evil" in Canterbury is attracting attention there, and a public meeting was to be held in the Christchurch Town Hall on Thursday ufternoon, for the purpose of taking measures for checking and suppressing the evil. Repbesentative. — On Nov. 12, Mr Armstrong, M.H.R., met his constituents in Okaina Bay, in the Reading-room of the Okaius Bay Circulating Library, to explain tho principal bills that had been passed, and tho changes effected during the recent session of tho General Assembly. Ho dwelt at considerable length on tho various estimates for the current year, explaining tho reasons for his opposition to certain portions of them, and also upon tho Local Government Bill which had been rejected. A vote of thanks was passed to him at tho closo of the meeting.