LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3149, 16 March 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

-♦- Anomalous.— ln balloting for the select jury yesterday in the case Morgan v. Richards, Mr Holmes, when called on, stated to his Honor that he was a witness in the case, and asked to be exempted from serving on the jury to try the case. His Honor pointed out that it did not at all follow that because be was a witness in the case that it was incompetent i for him to serve as a juror ; it would only necessitate his being sworn twice. In accordance with this ruling, Mr Holmes took his seat lin the jury box, neither side objecting. Pesj sibly Mr Holmes may be able to separate the bias of the witness from the impartiality of tho juryman, but to say the least of it, the practice is a very objectionable one. Occupation foe Women. — According to a Ballarat paper, a lady in that city, cai'ries on somewhat extensively the rearing of silkworms. She has now, it is said, 12,000 cocoons ready for winding. The Convict Nobel, the night before his j execution, eaid he had experienced great spiritual and moral change ; but by way of antithesis to this he demanded after his con- | yiction beef steaks and bottled porter, and I said tnat he thought a man in his position should have whatever he desired. Colonial Pkize Firing. — The "Cross" attributes the want of success of the Auckland representatives to the distance andunsuitableness of the bults at Point Chevalier, and says •. — The possession now of a rifle range in proximity to tho city will afford the oportunity of the great bulk of our Auckland Volunteers to fit thenselves for working out the black marks I recorded against thorn, and trusts on a future occißion they will sustain the honors of the province. I Human Remains.— The "Napier Telegraph" of the Bth says: — Information reached the Coroner to-day that portion of human re» mains, viz., a leg with a canvas boot attached, was found floating down the Tukituki River last evening. An inquiry was held as to tho circumstances connected therewith, when tho remains were identified as those of tho lato Mr M'Nalty, who was drowned on tho 20th November last. A Postponment. — In consequence of tho Provincial Council being in session, tho usual weekly meeting of the City Conncil has been postponed until Friday neet. Dividend.— A dividend (tho third) will be payable to shareholders in the Port Nicholson Mining Investment Company, to-day (Thursday). National Reunion.— A number of gentlemen hailing from the " Green Isle" will commemorate the anniversary of their patron saint by a dinner at Donneeker's Club Rooms to-morrow evening. J. E. FitzGerald, Esq., will occupy the chair. Edith Palmeeston will arrive by the next steamer from Napier. Congregational Onuses: Meeting-. — Tho advertised tea and public meeting in connection with the recognition of the Rev. W. H. West, 8.A., which took place last evening, was ft decided success, notwithstanding the inclement weather. About three o'clock in the afternoon it began to rain, and a steady downpour continued until long after the time advertised for the commencement. Although this had a decided tendency to keep away many of the fair sex, tho attendance at tea was more numerous than on any previous occasion, and during the public meeting the church was entirely full. At a quarter past seven, Mr Holdsworth took the chair, ia tho absence from illness of Mr Burne, and called on Mr Knowles to read a statement of tho circumstances which led to Mr "West's settlement in Wellington. After the statement had been read, and a subscription (that had been made to defray the expenses which had been incurreaching hither) had been handed to Mr West, the Rev. J. Moir offered up the recognition prayer and an appropriate hymn of welcome was sung by the congregation. The Revds. Messrs Buddie, Deane, and Patterson spoke respectively on the following subject. " Past and Present, or tho Religious history of New Zealand, " Religion in the Colonies" and Christianity as effected by modern enquiry," all of them encouraging Mr West by giving him a hearty welcome. Mr Woodward followed, speaking on the early history of the Congregational Church in Wellington, and its prospects in the future ; tho Rev. Mr West concluding by a quiet and tolling speech, pointing out the relative duties of pastor and people. An expression of thanks to the ministers and frienda who had contributed so much to the success of the meeting, was given by the Chairman, and the meeting closed with singing and the benediotion. The proceedings wore most interesting throughout, and terminated at 10 o'clock, the rain having fortunately held up meanwhile. The tea, which gave great satisfaction, was provided by Mr Dixon, of Cuba street. His Honor tiib Superintendent loft yes • terday morning for Wanganui on business of the province, and is expected to return on Monday. Patent Slip Meeting. — The Committee appointed to take steps to form the Wellington Patent Slip Company are requested to meet at the office formerly occupied by the JS.Z.S.N. Company to-day at 3 p.m. Queensland All-Hallows Liquidation Fund. — Some time ago a Bazaar and Grand Drawing were arranged for the purpose of liquidating the debts of the All-Hallows Convent, Queensland. Lists of subscribers were opened in all the colonies, and necessarily the event was a lengthened time in being brought to a termination, but the kind and generous effortsof the Australasia?) public havemadethat termination a gratifying one, and one much to be proud of. The receipts, from all sources, amounted to the grand sum of £3201 16s 4d, after defraying all the expenses, which | amounted to £1578 11s 6d. The Chairman of the Committee deputed to raise the fund, Mr M. C. O'Connell, acknowj ledges the thanks of tho committee to all persons wko contributed, and Mr G-.C. Horst- ! Mann supplies an elaborate statement of accounts, in which is acknowledged the receipt I of £124 13s 6d through Mr Charles Russell, of Wellington. Labor in Victoria.— The " Benalla Ensign" draws tho following gloomy picture of tho state ef labor in that district :—" Scarcely ever perhaps in the history of Victoria has there been such an absolute want of employment for the laboring classes as exists at the present moment. Able-bodied laboring men of every class are going from station to station, utterly unable to find employment, and subsisting on such rations as tbe squatters give them, One gentleman informs us that he had 14. to feed one dny last week, and that he has an averngo of five per day, or rather more than 1,500 men a year, to supply with rations. Through *he long continutmte of

rain, the winter has been a disastrous one for the laborer, and at the same time an expensive one for the employers, causing them a great outlay in repairing fences, dams, &c. Then followed a bad harvest, and hundreds of men who 'had been accustomed to make a small sum at this time of the year found themselves without money and without employment. No doubt if the men would take lower wages a great deal of this might be remedied, but as long as the rate of wages is 15s a week and board and lodging, no more men will be entployed than is actually necessary to get along with. The cry for immigration in the face of this now continually-recurring-dearth of employment is one of tho greatest follies that tho public or G-ovornmont cau bo guilty of, and can only bo accounted for by an utter ignorance as to the real state of tho labor market in the interior." The Chessboabd op Life. — "The chessboard," says Professor Huxley, " is the world, tho pieces are phenomena of the universe, the i rules of tho game are what we call the laws of nature. The player on the other side is hidden from us. We know that his play is always just, and patient. But also we know, to our cost, that lie never overlooks a mistake, or makes the smallest allowance for ignorance. To the man who plays well, tho higheßt stakes are paid, with that sort of overflowing generosity with which the strong Bhows delight in strength. And one who plays ill is checkmated — without haste, but without remorse. M y metaphor will remind some of you of the famous picture in which Eotzach has depicted Satan playing at chess with man for his soul. Substitute for tho mocking fiend in the picture, a calm, strong angel who is playing for love, as we say, and would rather lose than win — and I should accept it as an image of human life." A VAiiiJABLE Invention. — The " Otago Daily Times" of last week, says :—" Mr J. T. Thompson's model of a machine for utilizing the currents of rivers to the purpose of raising water on the river banks, in order to carry on sluicing, supply towns, and provide mill power was tried at tho water of Leith on Saturday, in the presence of members of the Otago Institute, and worked well."