LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3214, 1 June 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Native Commissioner. — "If there ia an ill verse in a' the Bible that creature's sure to get a baud o't," was tho sapient remark of one of Dean Kamßay's old Scotch women. With the necessary alteration wo may well apply it to the " Evening Post." If there is a malicious rumor afloat about the present Government, no matter how ridiculous, wo are sure to Bee it quickly find a place in its columns. Tho " Napier Telegraph" having circulated a report that " tho Native Minister is to be removed to the Upper House with the permanent appointment of NativeCommiasioner," the "Evening Post" with avidity seizes upon it as ft fitting pretext for abusing the Ministry. Wo are in a position to state that such a proposal never entered into the head of a single member of tho Ministry 1 The report is simply the invention of the writer of tho paragraph. Wo siacerely regret to see from tho remarks of the " Evening Post" on this subject that it has relapsed into its old habit of attacking the ' : Yogel-cuin-Fox" Ministry, and insinuating that " fearing their tenure of office will be short, they want (sic !) in the meantime to foist each other into permanent billets." Eecent articles led us to entertain the hope that this miserable spirit of detraction would no longer disgrace it, and that its general tone would henceforth bo altered with its opinions on the state and prospects

of the province. We expected that the arrival of the Nevada, the pioneer ship of a new service that was " never to be established," its crossing the bar tbat " no man but Yogel thought practicable," and the intelligence it brought of a loan that " Yogel would never dare to raise," had no opened the eyes of our contemporary to the political quagmires he has been floundering in since the dissolution of parliament that he would not again fall into the first filthy puddle that fell in his way. Kecent leaders — greatly improved in tone and style— confirmed us in this hope, and we regret to see co hasty a relapse. We can assure our contemporary that hia "sudden conversion" gave us as much pleasure as this " backsliding" has given us pain, although we must not be misunderstood as admitting that either way wo were much affected. "Otrn Own." — A satirical writer in last night's " PoBt" takes exception to an item in the letter of our Wairarapa correspondent anent certain of the inhabitants of that district, and endeavours, for his sake we hope with some success, to create a little fun at our correspondent's mannerism. Of course it must be apparent at a glauco to the most unsophisticated literary tyro that our corres< pondent has not the ars in arte which is evidently possessed in the highest degree of culture by our magnanimous friend. His style may be prolix, and wanting in nicelyturned sentences ; but, in the absence of these adornments, lie is remarkable in possessing what the " Post" is notoriously wanting in — a rigid adherence to facts. But our friondhasstrucka bright. He suggests the establishment of an edition of " Men of the Time." We cordially agree that the suggestion is a good one. There cannot be the slightest difficulty in the matter, as we already have a nucleus in the " Men of the Post." We believe they could furnish the most interesting chapters of the work, and throw some light on the interesting subject of " keyhole enterprise," and "the science of rumors." This would prove far more acceptable to their readers than twaddle and ghost stories, the movements of loafers, history of celebrated criminals, and such like peculiar items as our contemporary ha 3 lately sought distinction in. The sand battery has evidently fallen to pieces through its very rottenness. Baker's Hill. — It appears that the Baker's Hill gully has not yet been entirely abandoned by seekers for alluvial gold, as we are informed that an old man has been working in a branch gul'y, "off aud on," as he says himself, since the first rush to the spot over twelve months ago. It would be a stretch of imagination to suppose that the most easily satisfied of men could work for that period, even " off aud on," for nothing. The old fossiker takes things easy, and seems perfectly satisfied. Tee Beach.— All up tho beach pedestrians may pass dry footed, even on the darkest night, until coming to the narrow right of way next to Lowes' saddler's shop. Efforts were made, a very short time ago, to improve this insigniGcant, but most aggravating crossing place, but the shingle has almost disappeared through subsidence, and it is now almost as bad as ever. The putting in of a few feet of box culvert to carry off the storm water seems to be all that is necessary to remedy the matter. • To-Day's Police. — Two adjourned cases come on £ov hearing this morning at eleven o'clock — the charge against tho General Manager of tho Telegraph Department and the assault case, Maher Bros. t. Mantell. Choral Society. — A full and final rehearsal of the Society took place last night. The " May Queen" was gone through in a way that promises a complete success, not a hitch occurring during the whole practice. The rehearsal of the miscellaneous portion of tho programme was equally promising. A consideration that always takes a loading place in such matters — the weather — is now the only one on whjeh any solioitation is experienced, all othey' matters promising a treat for tho public #f Wellington. Wellington Jockey Club. — We have been requested to remind members that a meeting of this club will be held at Moellor's Empire Hotel, this evening, at eight o'clock. Dunkdin. — A traveller gives the following description of Dunedin : — Like all other British towns, Dunodin has many grog-shops, and, as a natural consequence, muoh drunkenness ; for if there wore few drinkers, there would be few places for the sale of the fiery fluid. In every colonial town that I have visited, I think I am safe in saying there are double the number of places for sale of strong drink that would be found in American towns of the same size. So, too, with breweries ; it must indeed be an insignificant place that cannot support a brewery. Dunedin, with a population of 13,000, has four ; and also imports large quantities of English beer. The imports of wine, spirits, and beer prove that New Zoalanders are hard drinkers. Dunediu, however, is a very orderly city, thanks to the police, and comparatively little drunkenness is seen in tho streets. Sunday is as quiet as in a country village. Hotels and all places of business must be closed on that day, or rather the law says they must be closed ; but I suppose, as in other places, every grog-shop has a j private door through which thirsty mortals slip in quietly and get their drinks. Churches are well attended and liberally supported, while the education of the young is looked after by a high school and several grammar aud private schools. An Editor in the Fijis. — It is well known that in the Fijis there is no law but that of the strongest, King Tbakumbau only undertaking to govern his own race. Tho tribunal to which everyone appeals is the newspaper, the only one published in tho islands. But it appeors that the editor has not only to arbitrate, i but to maintain his point by personal encounter. In reference to this difficulty, n correspondent of the " Sydney Empire" says tho editor of the " Fiji Times" has had rather a bad time of it. He has been thrice assaulted in three weeks— once by the Consul's secretary, once by a sea-captain, and once by the postmaster. In fact, to use his own expression, things have been " warm" vrith him. A New Mode of Obtaining Employment. — " A party hailing from Dunedin," so says the "Herald," called at the police camp, Milton, and tendered against himself the charge of vagrancy. The police hesitated to act upon the information thus given, whereupon the I would-be criminal intimated his intention of | adopting the necessary course of procedure to enable tho sergeant to give him free board and lodgings upon some other charge. This hint had the desired eficct — ho was appehendod. [ On Monday, ho was brought before Mr J. L. G-illies, J.P., charged with vagrancy, upon the original information, when he explained the cause of his leaving Dunedin — rather a melancholy one : his travels in search of work j his want of success ; hia three duys' fast, and consequent inability to proceed further, &c. Mr GHlließ having learned his position, remanded the case for a day — not to enable the police to make further enquiry, bul to enable him (Mr Gillies) to find a situation for the man. Before the case was ngain called, a comfortable situation had been found, and the poor fellow oxpressed his sincere gratitude that he had found a friend on tho bench, where he hail least expected it. Fire Brigade Concert. — Tho people oJ Cbristchuroh have just performed tho sime kind offico for their Fire Brigade that a | a number of gentlemen have brought to so successful an issue in this city. The "Lyttelton Times " says that if anything were required to prove the popularity of the Chrißtchurch Fire Brigade it was fully afforded by tho immense audience which assembled at the drill shed. We have seen many crowded assemblies at benefit ontertainments in Christchurch, but none equal to that which answered to tho appeal of the Brigade. The great holding capacity of the drill shod is generally regarded as an objection rather than an advantage in ordinary undertakings, but last night it was tested to the fullest extent. Instead of being uncomfortably large for the audionco, it was not largo enough, many having positively to be refused at tho doors. There must have been 1100 persons present, and a j

very large proportion of these were in the reserved seats. SjOEEpebs. — The Provincial Government of Canterbury have accepted the tender of a Wellington firm for totara sleepers afc 5s 6d. None of the tenders from Oxford, the timber district nearest to Christchurch. were lower than 6s, aud after accepting the Wellington tender tho Q-overnment wrote to Oxford offoring to take further supplies from that district at the price to be paid for tho Wellington timber. The majority of the Oxford tenderers have since, as we are informed, exprossed their willingness to accept such terms, and the sleepers will thus in future be supplied frem Oxford. Donation. — A sum of £8 13s 6d has been received as a donation to the Christchurch Hospital from a gentleman in Greymoufih, and the following extract from his letter will explain the circumstances leading to it : — " I must trouble you with some explanation of tho circumstances under which the sum is sent. In 1863-4 some passengers by the ship Indian Empire, from London to Lyttelton, published a MS newspaper on board, and a subscription was made for the purpose of having it printed for private circulation when we arrived at Lyttelton. The MS and funds were handed to me for that purpose, but I found the sum insufficient, even on sending to England. Soon after this I was removed to the West Coast, and lost sight of many of the subscribers. I have returned to them as much of the sum received as I could. I now hand you the balance. — 0. W. S. Chambeelain. H.M. Customs, Greymouth." Tho Government have directed that the money shall be applied to the purchase of books for the amusement of patients in the Hoßpital. The Cost of the Wak. — The "Times" does not regard payment of £200,000,000 as impossible, taking into consideration tho actual wealth of France. Deducting mountains and wastes, there are in Franco more than 100,000,000 acres of land, the greator part of it good, and the whole of a higher average value than tho soil of these isles after a light deduction. Tho fine exacted by tho Germans would bo met by a mortgage to the amount of £2 sterling on every acre. But, in fact, it is only a small proportion that will fall on the land. The burden will bo shared by othor kinds of real property, estimated at more than half the aggregato value of land. Thus, in its total incidence upon all property and income, the sum, immense as it may seem, dwindles very much. Indeed, wore tho obligation distributed equally upon all property and income, it would only amount to a few shillings an acre on land, and could be met by tho tax of a few pence per acre. Tho practical question has nothing to do with these statistical imaginations. There is only one difficulty, and that is the possible unwillingness of France to take tlie only right course. But if France will be content with her old very respectable position in the world, she may reduce her expenditure by a sum which will go far to pay the interest both on the war indemnity and on her own war costs. Aechbisiiop Manning on the Vices op tiie Day. — At the Roman Catholic Church in London, lately, a pastoral letter wns read on the due observance of Lent. The Archbishop warned those he addressed against dwelling on tho sins of those of other countries on whom calamities had fallen, but to look at homo. Tho chief sin of England was the " pride of life." No nation possessed sucli self-gratulation, and she was deluded by insular security, tradition of success, and exceptional prosperity, into the belief that these things would last for ever. He next referred to the great increase of luxury in domestic society, in which splendour in furniture, exquisite wines, costly banquets, sensuous music, and endless pleasure were to be found. Elaborate self-indulgence had invaded the higher ranks of men, There had also crept in "habitual excess in wine, by which (even without drunkenness) the mind and body beoame inflamed and diseased. This often arose from mistaken kindness or imprudent advice. The excess was covered by refinement ; was intolerable ; and altogether without excuse. The Archbishop also i spoke of the extravagant fashions that prevailed in female dress. Men had improved sinco the last century in this respect, but the attire of women had become more costly, ostentatious, and singular j even to strangeness ; and thus much money was wasted which would clothe the naked, feed the poor, or educate children. A Femaje Gtmnast. — The following is an account of tho performance of a young female gymnast, Mdle. Lulu, who is now creating a great sensatian in London : — The Amphitheatre, London, was crowded on Monday last by an audience anxious to witness the astounding acrobatic performance of a young, pretty, and wonderfully clever lady with tho above name. After tho customary entertainment in tho circle, she made her appearance, and her charming, intelligent countenance, graceful, symmetrical, slender form, modest demeanour, and ladylike bearing afc once constituted her a favorite with the audience. Her feats are unique and astounding, and accomplished with so much ease and self-possession as entirely to do away with all apprehension of danger. Standing upon an elastic platform only eighteen inches wide, whioh issuspondod from the ceiling at a giddy height from the floor, she springs ten feet upwards to a flying trapeze, upon which she performs all manner of curious and arduous evolutions. Shejumps backwards and forwards from bar to bar, and takes the most astounding leaps, sometimes alighting upon tho narrow bridge beneath, and occasionally flinging herself into tho not which is spread under tho platform, and which effectively preserves her from the possibility of I injury. Tho audience are amazed and for a moment terrified, fancying that her foot has slipped, and that she has narrowly escaped coming to grief, whereas there is only tho semblance of a misadventure, the plunge into tho not being part of the performance. Then she stands upon terra fiima, or appears to do so, and is suddenly seen to bound perpendicularly, bolt upright, to a distance of twenty-five feet in the air, coming gaily upon her feet, Finally, she indulges in a succession of somerseults, springing fearlessly from her platform, and making three distinct revolutions in tho air before again darting into tho net be> neath."