LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3096, 10 January 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

* Representation of the City. — Yesterday afternoon a deputation waited on G. Hunter, Esq, of the firm of Meßßrs Bethune and Hunter, requesting bim to allow his name to be pufc in nomination as a candidate for the representation of the city. Tbo deputation consisted of the following gentlemen, viz :— The hon. Dr. Featheraton, Sir Charles Clifford, Hiß Worahip the Mayor, W. W. Taylor, M.H.R., Hon. Dr Gruce, M.L.C. E. Pearce, C. J. Pharazyn, W. Dorset, N. Levin, W. Johnston, W. Lyon, G. Moore, J. H. Wallace, W. B. Rhodea, J. Kebbell, L. Levy, S. Levy F. A. Krull, G. Crawford, D. Anderson, A. F. Halcombe, Captain M'lntyre, T. M'Kenzie, J. H* Marriott, &o. Sir Charles Clifford made a few appropriate remarks, introducing the business of the deputation, alluding to bis long acquaintance with Mr Hunter, and expressing his confidence thafc if he acceded to their request the city would be well represented. Mr Hunter thanked fche deputation for the honor they had conferred on him by asking him fco stand, and for fche flattering terms in wliich Sir Charles Clifford had been pleased fco mention his name. He had only expected fco see five or six gentlemen, bufc a deputation so influential he was nofc prepared for. ' He would ask . them, as a further favor, to give him till Wednesday to think over tho matter, when he would be able to give fchem a decided answer. In reply fco a question put by one of the deputation. Mr W. W. Taylor stated ifc waß nofc his intention to seek re-election. Mr Borlase stated fchat he was authorised fco explain fchafc if Mr Hunter acceded to fche wishes of tho deputation — Major M'Barnet would not contest the election. A committee wa9 appointed to wait on Mr Hunter on Wednesday and receive his answor : and the deputation then withdrew. Death. — We are sorry to inform our readers that Mr Edward Owen died, afc his residence, on Sunday morning last. Mr Owen had been known to the public of fche city in his capacity as merchant and auctioneer, and his early death ia muoh regretted by very many. We understand fchafc the funeral takea place this day afc half-pasfc fcwo o'clock. Cricket. — The crioket match thafc we announced in our last iaaue wbb to come off between eleven of the Star Club and a like number of fche Government printera ; but was altogether in favor of the Star eleven, who had it all their own way. We reccommend the typos to go in for aome practice, then try again. , Caledonian Society. — We are informed by the Seoretary of fcbe sooiety that all olaims for prizes and accounts bave been discharged, in accordance with resolutions passed by fcho directors. An Accident. — We regreb fco have to report a rather Berious accident fchafc occurred yesterday morning. Robert Craig, a laborer employed in pumping water out of the excavation made for the gasometer, was suddenly seized wifch a fife, to which he is subject, and fell into fche hole. His injuries were considerable, and required his removal fco fche hospital. Courts-martial.— Sfc. John Branigan, Commissioner of the New Zealand Armed Constabulary, haß been authorised fco convene courts-martial for fche trial of any offences committed by the forces under his comm&nd. Cadets.— We see by tbe last " Gazette" fchafc' His Excellency the Governor bas been pleased to accept; tbe services of the. Crofton (Wellington) R.V. Cadet Corps, and also of fcho Marton R.V. Cadet Corps. Volunteer Appointments. — The following appointments are notified in last Friday's " Ga* zette" :— ln the Wellington Artillery Volunteers' Charles France to be Honorary Assistant Surgeon. In the No. 1 Oompany, Wellington Rifle Volunteers, Nathaniel William Werry to be Lieutenant* Wellington Horticultural Society.— The second and third exhibitiona of the above society, will be beld on Thursday, Maroh 2, and Thursday, August 31. Copieß of fche prize sohedules can be seen afc this office. Ifc appears fco us that the premiums if reduced in number T and increased in amount would have had greater attractive power, bufc doubtless the society bave -vreU considered this point. As ifc is, no fewer than 244 prizes are to be competed for, and fche early publication of tbis encouraging fact musfc draw oufc competitors by the hundred. We hope the other arrangements will be proportionately liberal, and tbat a large marquee will bo erected and a first class band engaged. The exhibitions ought to attract everybody and bis wife, and we look forward to them as becoming eminently popular and useful, encouraging a taste for fche beautiful, and habits of observation and industry which cannot; fail afc once fco elevate the tone and promote fcbe comfort of sooiety. Flax Exhibition. — Dr Hector announoes that an exhibition will beheld hore during next session of the flax prepared in fche colony. Manufacturers are, therefore, invited to forward to the Flax Commissioners, through the Superintendent of their Province, samples of material prepared by tbem from tbe New Zealand flax. The samples should nofc be less than 201bs weight;, and 10 or 15 fathoms of each rope will be suffioient;, together with the partioulars and cost; of preparation. Land Sale.— The " Wanganui Herald" of fche 7th contains the following account of the Waitotara land sale :— The Waitotara" land sale yesterday of sections in the township of Maxwell,

and of surburban and rural land, the property of R. Pharazyn, Esq, was held in a large bircus tent at the Brighton Hotel. Towards one o'clock a large number of settlers arrived, and were re* galed with an excellent champagne lunch, provided in the most sumptuous manner by Mr O'Hanlon, The seofcionß were first offered for salo. The name of the new township, Maxwell, was given in honor of the gallant Sergeant George Maxwell, who fell fighting in front of Tauranga Ika pa, in December, 1868. Mr Finnimore, after arjappropriate discourse on the quality of the land and the special advantages offered for aettlers in acquiring farma, pufc up the first section in Herschell street, which brought £9. The bidding was keen and spirited, and sixteen eections were quickly disposed of afc prices ranging from £9 to £24 each. The suburban and rural blocks were in fair demand, some of them being disposed of afc from £4 to £4 10s an acre. Tho land sold amounted to £1029, and several parties aro in treaty privately for the remainded. The sale waß a complete success, and shows the faith of our settlers in the future of the district. The land is among the best in the colony. Tho Carlyle sale and thia Waitotara sale are conclusive as to the eagerness of bona fide settlers to acquire land in the district, and we hope shortly to see Maxwell the centre of many blooming farmß and comfortable homesteads. The plans are in Mr Finnimore's office, whero they can be seen. Immigrants for the Colont. — A correspondent of an Auckland paper recommends the introduction of " fche ten, fifteen, and twenty- acre men of Ulster, who hold their own ploughs and do without hired labor," into the Colony aa immigrants. He concludes his letter as follows : — " The laborers tbat 'do the field work in England measure their expenditure to keep pace wifch their day's earnings. They have no experience of the frugality required to hoard up to meefc fche payment of rents, assessments, &c. The Ulster men is a financier in auch matterß ; and it iB astonishing how he can keep up an air of comfort and prosperity under hia many burdens. Whatever portions of landß may be laid off for immigrants will, I presume, bo given in tbe firßt instance free of purohase. The Ulster aen could in some instances bring with them some little capital, and this with employment by the making of railroads and highways, would set fchem woll on fcheir legs from the commencement of fcheir oocupancy. Neither England nor Scetland possesses men of thiß grade, aa fche farming community in both these countries is divided between large landholders and day laborers , the one quite beyond fche temptation of any attraction thafc can be held oufc for them here, the other incapacitated from detrimental habits tbafc make fchem altogether unsuitable for the responsibilities of a farm. I venture to say if the Government make choice of fche latter olass as occupiers of land, they will commit a serious mistake." Effects of Lightning. — Tho "Wanganui Herald" says thafc on fche 6th fche lightning did considerable damage afc Turakina. Two telegraph posts were destroyed, hut the wires were not injured ; a man was knocked down, but did nofc receive any serious injury, with the exception of the shock ; a woolshed was also destroyed. Colonial Manufacture. — The "New Zealand Herald" says :— We^have been shown a splendid sample of spirits of wine made afc the distillery in Official Bay. It is so good tbat we should imagine the chemists will never import anything of the kind in future. Ifc is free from Bmell, and entirely colorless. Latest from Waikato. — Tho "New Zealand Herald" of fche Sth says :— " The telegrams received from correspondents in the Waikato showed thafc some uneasiness existed at Alexandria, relative to reported movements of natives in thafc neighborhood. Ib -waa said thafc Tapihana was at Mangamaira, with forty men, and thafc Whitiora was at Hauturu, with twenty men, and that they meant to attack Alexandra. Hauturu and Mangamaira are places near fco each other, both being on fche line of road to Kawhia, and afc a considerable distance from Alexandra. Some weeks since it waa reported that Tapihana, with forty men, had come to Hauturu, to protect Whitiora's people againsfc an attack which they expected fco be made upon them, and ifc is fco be hoped fchafc this ia the afcory revived: which has caußed fche uneasiness we have mentioned. No additional news had been received up to the time of our going to press." An Anti-Requisition. — Ifc would save considerable trouble and expense if constituencies generally would caution those whom they did nofc want to go to the poll, as well as sending requisitions fco candidates whom fchey think eligible, as in the following style, from tbe eleotors of Marsden, apparently a Highland settlement :—" To John Munro, Esq., M.H.R.— Sir,-— We need not; inform you that, after a careful and impartial review, of your past political career, we can see no reason why we should plaoe any confidence in your personal integrity (politically considered) j and ifc would be a mere mockery of your established publio character fco speak in favorablo terms in reference fco your intellectual qualifications. Though your actions are sometimes closely imitative of the dictates of disinterestedness, yet long experience has taught us to be always suspicious I of your motives wben you perform a ' good turn,' ' and as your habitual and harmless opposition to the comprehensive, pacific, and progressive policy of the present Colonial Ministry, clearly indicates fco everyone but yourself that you have now arrived afc that wayward and vacant period of political dotage which cannot discern the attributes ■which distinguish tho men o£ genius, it is au.rely not to be expected thafc we, or any otherß conoerned, should have any confidence in your legislative talents. Therefore we, tho undersignod, electors of the County of Marsden, beg to request that you will nofc allow yourself ' fco bo put in nomination at the forthcoming election to represent us in the next Parliament of New Zealand, and should you still persist in your intended attempt to force your way into Parliament; as our representative, we hereby pledge ourselves to exert all legitimate means to secure your defeat. We are, sir, yours, &c, Duncan M'Kenzie, Roderick M'Kay, sen., Roderick Frasor, jun., Duncan M'Kaj, sen., WiUiam Lang, Hector M'Konzie, Kenneth M'Kenzie, John Fraser, jun., Roderick M'Lean, R. Ambson, Neil M'Grogor, R. M'Kay, Jamea M'Kenzie, William M'Kenzie, Robert Campbell, Donald M'Kay, R.S., William M'Kenzie, John M'Kay, Roderiok Fraser, H. M'Donald, Donald M'Kay, Kenneth M'Kenzie." Panorama. — Last nighfc, the Panorama of the Pacifio mail/oute waa exhibited to a good house, under the patronage of His Honor Dr. Featherston. As we understand, the Panorama, is aboufc to be shown in the Middle Island, we tak o occasion to say ifc is well worthy of fche patronage of fche people of the Colony, fco whom it bears a peculiar and direct" interest. The explanatory

lecture is a pleasing and instructive one ; and the various scenes, oi they pass before .the eye of the spectator, cannofc fail fco ; elicit pleasurable emotions. The musio and the working figures ending fche entertainment with life and spirit. Dr. Featherston and family, and Sir Charles Clifford were present on fche occasion. Mr Gillon on the Stump.— Mr- E. T. Gillon addressed fche electors of Kaiwarra in the schoolhouse last nighfc. Mr Pickering occupied fche chair, and aboufc twenty-five persons were present. Mr Gillon spoke for aboufc an hour and a half, and was listened to with attention. His views were ,'a mere amplification of hia address, with fche exception of an admitted hostility to Mr Yogel as a public man, and one whom he would not trust either in a private or public capacity. He offered himself to the electors as an independent candidate. He did not seek fco be sent fco fche Houso as a mere delegate ; he could only consent to go as a representative. If his views were not in accord with the views of the electors, they would nofc haye fche least trouble in getting him to resign his seat; he should be only too willing to do so if be felfc ho was nofc representing a majority of fchem, and he only offered himself for fche Wellingfcon district afc the request of a number of electors, and because Mr Brandon had sadly neglected his public duties. He was utterly opposed to the system of Provincial Government, -which, however necessary .it might have been at one fcime, had long ceased to be so, with the facilities afforded by steam and telegraph. The colony should be governed entirely from one centre, and that ahould be Wellington. It wbb preposterous fco suppoße thafc 250,000 people required nine governments or could not bo governed afc a less cost than the present enormous expenditure. Ha waß opposed to fche present lax system of education. Considerable discussion ensued, and several point blank queßfcionß were put fco Mr Gillon, after he had given his opinion on the financial policy of Government; and he admitted he was'in favor of publio works and immigration ; and of borrow ing as many millions as could be got, if we could only realise out of ifc a half per cent more than . the interest we were paying for ifc 5 bufc he was opposed fco fche management and control of suoh an enormous loan being left unchecked in fche hands of the ministry fco uee as a means of patronage and of bribing for votes . and he contended there was nofc fche slightest provision in fche act fchafc afforded any security thafc fche money would be judioiously expended. The huge and expensive system of native polioy he wanted fco see ewepfc away entirely, and the Maoris treated as rational beings, and fchey would then perhaps act rationally. He did nofc believe in first bribing the Maoris and then baying to fight them. Afc the close of his speeoh, on being questioned on fchis point, and when asked if it was not better to spend £1 in - bribing tbem to peace than fco have to spend £100 in going to war with them, he admitted that' it was fche best policy to bribe them ; hut he denied tbafc ifc had been done, or fchafc ifc could he done, judging from past experience. He was strongly opposed to any further increase of taxation, beoause, even with fche present resources of fche colony, it was possible to raise still more money by more fairly equalising fche taxation — making, for instance, the absentee proprietors boar a larger incidence of the taxation. Mr Gillon avowed himself in principlo a thorough freetrader, and though he admitted fche necesity for developing local industries, ifc should be done by a system of bonuses, not. by raising it from Customs dutieß. The civil service was ridiculously large and expensive, nofc because fcheoivil servants were paid too highly for their time, but because there were too many of fchem. The principal adopted in commercial houses should be adopted, of paying men a good salary, but making them render a good equivalent; in labor. As regarded relations with home, he thought; the Imperial Government should in fairness contribute at leaßfc half of fche Governor's salary. The attitude as* sumed by the . present Government fcowardc fche other Australian colonies in the lafce Intercolonial Conference was to be deprecated in the present aspent of affairs throughout the world ; fchey should as much as possible draw toward each other. Ho was opposed to the new postal contract, Ifc was subsidising foreign steamers to interfere with our own coastal steamera in our local traffio. The Legislative Counoil was sadly in need of remodelling, so fchafc it might; be made to represent in some degree the interest; of fche colony as a whole. The electors who principally • questioned Mr Gillon were Mr Chew, who was an advocate for fche present policy, and Mr Greer, who was in favor of a ohange ; bufc nothing very material was elicited. The meeting gave a unanimous vote of thanks to Mr Gillon for coming to address fchem. No vote of confidence waa proposed, as Mr Gillon said he did nofc wish any man fco pledge himself, nor did he wish fco seek their suffrages individually. Ifc was vote by ballot, and they could exercise a free and unfettered choice. The Meteor at the Thames. — The "Cross" of fche 6th oontains a correspondent's account of the meteor, in which he likens ifc to a bar of heated iron; wedge shaped, 15 feet in length, and varying from 18 inches afc itß base fco some three or four inohes at its point. He saya : — Of course I only mention its size aa ifc would appear fco au unscientific gazer. This strange meteor traversed fche heavens from north to south, at an angle of about 45 deg from Wharekawa, near Sandapit Passage, until it eank from view apparently a Bhorfc distance beyond tbe telegraph turrets afc the mouth of the fiaio. To carry out my simile of a bar of iron, I musfc state that; at its base ifc appeared 'red hot,' and fchis color gradually darkened towards fche point; to fche color observable in a bar of iron one end of which has been immersed, in water. It 'occupied about half a minute in its transit, and whilst passing along, its appearance, as ifc occasionally buried itself in the dim transparency of dark clouds and anon reappeared, in bold relief against the patohos of olear sky, was magnificienfc in the extreme. Immediately on its disappearance, the olouds which had hitherto obscured fche sky cleared away, and fche moon shone forth in double brilliance. Why is it P.— Why Kis ifc that educated men oan be found fco maintain fchat a slaughter-house in the midst of a greafc oity is rather a good thing than otherwise P Thafc mothers persist in exposing the greatest possible amount of surface of their children to the cold by the absurd style of dress fchey adopt and then marvel afc fche peculiar dispensation of Providence which removes their infants by bronchitis and gastric fever ? Why ia ifc that quackery rides rampant over the land, and that not long ago one of the largest publio rooms in this greafc oity (London) could be filled by an audience who gravely listened to fche reverend expositor of the doctrine fchat the simple physiological phenomena known as spirit-rapping, table- j

tummg^ magneiMm^d ;Lkh^ fc# 2wh%^mmM abßurdfanviinajpjpropiriate njimelj:,^e^dtf^ t(@]fa|||p direc^h^persphal agifa^ ioi^tsraf^^KyJ|.l|^^ this, except from the i^pro^|'^\#^M«.^ simplsßt/'lawß , of their" '-.pway.ak^^/mf^W^M^ prevails among; even 1 the r most 2hi^\y-e^noei '2y2 persons in this 'country ? ' '■ [2] 2-2yryy2 Protection.--" Esprit" writes as follows in: contemporary, :r-« The foreign modi^^^^iy^ our gains ; for bim we toil, oonteivej,take^pi^B|^vl wifch idle men by hundreds in our Bfcroefcs, having , •; no work and scarcely bread to eat.' The >■ for#ig^ ; 'i workman we prefer to pay, let our own want and ; .3 send fche cash away ; as if we had no use for caißb, Lg make haste to aend it off for foreign trash ; thenar cry, alas ! we are so very poor, our wealth is gone, * and will return no more. But do we ask what is the cause,, the answer is, " Our fiscal latfs ;" too much we buy, too little bave to sell. Th 6 mer* chant cries pooh pooh, hut knows full well it is ,fche truth, the unanswerable truth we tell, and he ' fco feel and fco declare ifc will be made, as tradesmen fail, and bills return unpaid, then in his day of gloom and sad dejection, with trades and settlers he will cry protection— protection for mechanics that fchey may earn their bread ; pro* tection for the settlers fchafc tradesmen may ; be paid ; protection for fche tradesman that he may meefc his bill j protection for our industries, bur smithies,, works, and mills ; protection for New - Zealand to keep our money here; protection for our character from debt fco keep us olear ; protection for all olasses againsfc foreign competition j protection for the masses to better fcheir, position ; protection for our families that fchey employ may find ; protection for our working trades of every sort and kind, to keep the money in fche land,' and lessen our dejection, to turn t' oount each .head and hand; protection, yea protection. The Game at Billiards.-— A Frenoh' artist, Henrique Devigne, has the credit; of being the invenfcor of billiards. But as be flourished? in the reign of Charles IX, a.d. 1560-74, and aB the game was undoubtedly known to the English- in the reign of Elizabeth, it is provable fchafc he -only improved and modified a game popular in both countries. Oould ifc be clearly proved: that he was fche absolute invenfcor of tbis fascinating pastime, billiard players of all countries ahould combine to erect an ivory statute' to his honor, whereon might; be inscribed the names of the famous players of all ages. , Bufc we cannofc give fcbe ingenious Frenchman the entire oredit, and some people have even asserted that; fche Frenoh gofc fche game, from -fchis country. Dr Johnson held tbis opinion, possibly because he h made a curious blunder aboufc fche derivation of fche word " bilbards." Ifc comes of course from "pila»" a ball, whence " bilio" and " billiard' ; and not aa\ several authorities assert , from the halyards, or sticks with which the balls were driven along fche table. Additional reason for supposing fchafc we owe the game as now. played to the French, may be found in fche fact; thafc most of the termß used in the game, as well as "billiards" itself as we have seen, are of Frenoh origin. "Bricole," "coup," or "cou", and "carombole," the old naihe for a " carom," or " cannon," are instances of this j while a " crow," or " fluke," haa had a : a double derivation given ifc. "Crow," or "raocroo" ia from the French "faccrober," to recover; and fluke has been derived from .the . flook of an anchor,, seeing thafc ifc is a ohance by which fche arm of an anohor holds fche ground — rather a fanoiful .derivation.— " Temple Bar."