LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXV, Issue 3087, 20 December 1870, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

♦ The Suez Mail is due at Melbourne on the 22nd inst., and we may therefore expect to receive the European telegrams via Hokitika on or about the 27th inst. Agricultural Statistics. — By a Gazette published on Saturday, we see that collectors will obtain the necessary information for compiling the agricultural statistics for 1871 in February next. Census Enumerator.— J Woodward, Esq., has been appointed census enumerator for thi» province. The census is to be taken in February next. The Government and the Telegrams. — By an omission the source of the article reprinted from the '" Lyttelton Times" " on Hon. Mr Yogel at Dunedin," was not acknowledged. We regret this the more as the lying charges made by the editor of the " Otago Daily Times" were freely commented on, and the Government vindicated by this journal, which we were lately boastingly told by the " Evening Post" was in connection with " tho Preßs Association." Has our Canterbury contemporary at last discovered that we correctly described all their statements as lies ? Has he withdrawn from the action they threatened to bring against the Government, or ia this threat tho greatest lie of all ? The Reform Association.— Twenty-two persons attended the meeting on Friday evening ; but as their names, with one exception, are not known out ot Wellington, we need not print them. That exception is Mr E. T. Gillon. From the secresy that characterises their proceedings, one would imagine they were conspirators rather than reformers. When will they see the light of day? A Slight Shake.— -On Sunday night, about twenty minutes to eight a slight shake was felt. It not sufficiently severe, however, to be noticed by thoße who happened to be in motion at the moment, but was felt by those who happened to be quiescent or •with their attention disengaged at the time ; and as it happened during tho time of ■evening service a great many people were enabled to enjoy or disagreeably experience the sensation as suited their humor. Coming too in the middle of a sermon on the primal duties of man, it seemed like a heavenly admonition both to the pious and those " who can hear the decalogue and feel no self-reproach." The religious attention of the congregation of the Rev. Mr Buddie, in tho Wesleyan Chapel, Manners street, was disturbed for a moment, especially in the galleries where the shake was felt very lively, and several women of the congregation uttered a few sobs, one younglady in the choir going off into a faint. Mr Buddie however, quietly stopped his sermon and called on the congregation to sing the second verso of the |12th hymn—" The God that rules on high," &o, and at the conclusion of the verse went on with his sermon. Mr Yogel at Dunedin. — The second meeting reported in our telegraphic columns last issue was held in answer to the following requisition :•<— To his worship the mayor of Dunedin. — Sir, — We, the undersigned, beg to state our entire disapproval of the disturbance whioh took place at the meeting at tho Princess Theatre on Thursday evening, held_ for the purpose of hearing Mr Vogel'a views on the present atafce of public affairs 'in the colony. , We feel convinced that the disorder emanated from a few only, and that the great mass of the meeting in question and the public generally, are desirous of hearing the explanations which Mr Yogel was desirous of giving and of according him fair play and an impartial hearing, We therefore requeab your Worehip to

convoy this assurance to Mr Yogel, and ask him to address another meeting before leaving Dunedin. To which the hon. Mr Yogel mada the following reply :— To his Worihip the mayor of Dunedin, — Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, through you, of a Kequisition signed by over 700 of the citizens of Dunedin, asking me to address another public meeting before leaving the city. A requisition so numerously Bigned has confirmed my impression that the disturbance made the other evening was not sanctioned by a large seotion either of those present at the meeting, or of the citizens of Dunedin. I confidently rely, on this occasion, your Worship will be well supported in keeping order, both by those who desire only that a fair hearing shall be given to what I have to say, In that reliance I accept the invitation, and I trust that the requisionists and others will grant me a patient hearing. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant. Julius Voenir. Koad Boaeds. — The "Lyttelton Times" says : We are authorised to state that the General Government have approved of the scheme laid before the Provincial Council at |ita last session for the apportionment of the £8,000 voted by the General Assembly to the Eoad Boards of thiß province, and that its payment, in accordance therewith, may be expected to be made almost immediately. Gymnasium. — The third quarterly meeting of the members of the Gymnasium is convened for this evening. The principal part of the business will be to deoide whether the institution is to be carried on. We hope there will be a large attendance of members, and tha fc so useful an institution will not be allowed to collapse. Colonial Phizes.-— A Canterbury contemporary of the 16th, says :— Yesterday morning the bead quarters squads competed for the seleotion o men to represont their respective corps in the firing for the colonial prizes in Auokland. The weather was fine, and there was a very strong wind from the north-east, and the result again was that none of the men reached the minimum of points. The highest score was made by Lieut. Pevitt of the Engineers, who made 38, only two points short of the required number. Only one man now remains to fire — Gunner Johnstone of the Artillery— and it is thus impossible for Christchurch to send more than one representative, even if that is accomplished, for Johnstono may not be more fortunate than his comrades. New Volunteer Corps. — A meeting was held on Saturday evening last at the Bainbow Hotel, Kaiwarra for the purpose of forming a Rifle Volunteer Corps. But owing to the very short 1 notice given, the meeting was not so well attended as was expected. After the volunteer regulations had been ready Mr Nelly, a committee consisting of the following gentleman was appointed : — Mr Alex Cameron (chairman), Messrs Nelly, Street Yeatt3, and Beal. The meeting was then adjomrned till Friday next, when no doubt a strong oompnny will be formed, as the Kaiwarra company of militia is the strongest in the Wellington district. Thirsty THiETBi.— Two men, named John Gill and Thomas Daly, were charged with breaking into the Coach and Horses Hotel on Sunday,' during the absenoe of the landlady, and stealing a bottle of old torn and one of wine. The men were seen in the bar making their selection of beverages. Their plea that they were so drunk as not to be aware of what they were doing was not admitted, and they were fully committed for trial. Friendly Societies Pionio.— The site chosen by the combined Friendly Societies for their annual picnic (Mr Wright's farm), is one of the most picturesque of the many picturesque and charming spots ' around the ctiy. Wellington, from its natural configuration, is yet but partially known, even to many Wellingtonians, and as an illustration, we may say, that many of our citizens have never yet seen this charming little retreat, where many little nooks are peculiarly adapted for private picnic parties The approach is more formidable in appearance than in reality. It needs no " stout heart" to be set to it, and he or she must be a very curmudgeon whose heart does not rejoice at the beauty of the scene when reached. We only hope that the weather will be propitious, for the expenso made by the Brethern, acting together, as they should, in unity, added to the natural attraction of the chosen site promises an entertainment of no ordinary kind, and a social commingling, calculated to draw out all the better feelings of the heart. Wellington has too few of these. We hope, therefore, to see this one a success indeed. Auction Sale. — We direct the attention of purchasers of land to Mr J. H. Wallace's advertisement announcing a sale thie . day of three very eligible properties — one in the Lower Hutt , and two in the Wairarapa. These lands are atf improved, fenced, and cultivated. Will no one Tby ?— The " Grey River Argus'* sa y 8 : — As it ib now over five weeks since Mr Twohill, of Greymouth, challenged any person in the Colony to run him for a certain sum of money and the championship of New Zealand, he now claims the honor of being the fleetest runner in . the colony. Chueoh and State.— The " Melbourne Argus'' ropovfcs with the exception of two congregations, all tho Presbyterian Churohes in Victoria have now become united with the United Presbyterian ■ Synod having been last evening consummated by the General Assembly. The last obstacle to the union with his body was removed by the abolition of state aid to religion, the late "United Presbyterian Synod holding extreme views on that subject, and not being willing to treat it as an open question. The other business transacted at the meeting of tho Assembly yesterday was unimportant. An overture was submitted for the adoption of a uniform burial service somewhat after the manner of the Church of England, only not to be compulsory. It was, however, rejected by a large majority as savouring too much of the introduction of a liturgy into the church. Wide-awake Trading. — The "Melbourne Argus" sayß : — A practice has sprung up lately in reforence to bills of sale, whioh may. give rise to some litigation. The Instruments and Securities Statute requires bills of sale to be registered within a cortaiu number of days from the date of their being sworn, otherwise they will be void against assignees in insolvency and execution creditors. In order to prevent the publicity and consequent loss of credit through registration, it has lately been customary to give a bill of sale every ten days, each preceding bill being treated as useless. The point was brought before the Supreme Court, in Hedriek v. the Commercial Bank as to the right of certain property. Plaintiffs olaitned it under a bill of sale from one Alexander M'Donald j the defendants olaimed it under an execution. Two bills of pale bad been given to the plaintiffs ; the, first was not registered, and, was consequently void as against the bank, and' as to the second the defendants submitted that it

could give no title to the plaintiffs, as M'Donald had previously given them the 'same property, by the first biU of sale. The Court reserved its I decision. ; - '■ \ ' An Oix> Editob.— -John Saxon, the editorial , chronicler of the fall of Napoleon at Waterloo lives to chronicle the fall of JSTapoleon HI, at Sedan. The " Repository" asltß, "Ib there in the world another editor who in the aotive exercise of his profession has had the good fortune to dispatch by his own paper the first and the last of the Napoleons? . There are probably others living who were editors in 1815, but we doubt if another can be found who has been continuously in the business to this time