LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3223, 12 June 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

» Rating —Mr W. T. L. Travers gives the following opiuion to the City Council on tho question of rating ministerial residences : — Roforring to your lotter of the sth instant, I am of opinion thafc any residence, whether tho property of a religious denomination, or of a private individual, which, at the dato of making a rato, is occupied ns an exclusive dwelling by a minister of a religious denomination, must bo excluded from tho rale. Tho act does not merely exempt such property from rates, but declares it shall not be deemed rateable property whilst used as a residenco. If a minister goes into occupation of a property which, at ihe time of the making of a rate, was not so

occupied, he is no more exempt from payment than any other person. The effect of this opinion is that only one residence for each minister can in each year be exempted. — Wir. Tnos. Locke Trwebs. Retoets. — Our evening contemporary of Saturday is not so felicitous as is his wont in " retorts." Referring to the operations going on at Bakor's Hill, he says :— " Clearing up was going on to-day, and the stuff [of which there is a ton] will shortly be retorted. Some littlo delay has ensuod, in consequence of its being difficult to obtain a retort, but that will be gotj over." No doubt; it might still; we would like to see a retort at Baker's Hill put through a ton of stuff (amalgam). Jockey Club.-— A meeting of the Wellington Jockey Club will be held this evening at Moeller's Empire Hotel at 8 o'clock. We hear that some of our young sportsmen complain that there is alukewarmness among the old ones in coming forward on committee nights. We would suggest that the remedy is in their own hands, "Go a-head" is the motto for a new colony. The Man Morris, who somo weeks ago was brought before his Worship for some insane proceedings, the result of his peouliar monomania, has again found his way into the hands of the police. It appears that last night he made himself outrageously demonstrative during the evening service in St. Andrew's Church, much to the astonishment of the congregation. We presume his Worship will keep_ his word, and give the idiot a month this time. A Farewell. — A considerable number of the friends of the Hon. John Johnston and of Mr Thomas Kebbell assembled on the wharf j early yosterday morning to wish both of those gentlemen a farewell ou their voyage to the old country. Mr Johnston left by the eastward t route in the s.s. Wellington, Mr Kebbell going by the s.s. Ahuriri, having to transact some business at Nelson. Baker's Hill.— The Baker's Hill Company have been employed the greater part of last week in crushing a small quantity of stone. As the machine has only two stampers, and is so small as to be worked by two men (though tbe work is exceedingly heavy on them) , the process has of course been tedious. By Saturday evening the whole lot had been put througli, but the retorting of the amalgam was put off till to-day. The Company tested a similar quantity of stone some time ago, so that they are enabled to mako a comparison from the relative bulk of amalgam obtained. The former return, we believe, yielded some* I thing like au ounce per ton, and that obtained on Saturday promises still better. No doubt the Company will gladly make known in a day tho exact nature of their prospect* A Runaway. — On Saturday a horso and trap, laden with some plants to bo placed on board ono of the steamers at the wharf, came bolting down Sydney street at a furious pace. The horso had takon fright, and, being a young one, the person in charge could not hold him in onco ho had started: The horse cleverly turned the comer at Molosworth street, bul having too much curvelinear way on could not fetch himself up in time to resume a straight track down Molesworth street, and the cart wheel, after effecting a very close shave round the lamp post, ripped away two or throe sheets of the corrugated iron fence round tho grounds of the Government House. Luckily neither the horse nor the trap v. as injured. The wheel became securely locked in i the fence, and tho horse seemed very indignant at so sudden a termination to his impromptu trip down town, and began to show his displeasure by plunging and kicking. Had not the Hon. Mr Gisborno opportunely arrived on the scene and secured the animal by tho head, in all likelihood there would havo been something moro serious happen than the conversion of a portion of the corrugated iron fence from Vandyke into frill. The Ciyil Sittings of the Supreme Court will bo opened al ten this morning. A Meeting- of persons interested in tho Wellington Theatre Company will be held at four this afternoon at Messrs Bethune and Hunter's offices (N.Z.S.N. Co.'s). The Stbeets. — In weather such as we are enjoying just now the time and attention of the City Surveyor and his workmen must bo pretty well employed, but we feel bound to call attention to the footpath in Hill street. On ono sido the passage is completely blocked up by the excavation for tho new culvert, so that tho traffic, which is vory largo, is all thrown on tho other. Ou this side there aro two holes where tho ground has given way. ancl from their size and their unpleasant contiguity to the middle of the path are positively dangerous. A great many complaints were mado last night by persons passing the place ou their road to tho Catholic Chapel. The holes are partly covered iv with boards, but through further encroachments the gaps last niglit were rather unpleasant looking onc_. The Choral Society meet for rehearsal ■ to-night at the Hall, at 8 p.m. Death of Me Ritchie. — Inits account of this lamentable occurrence, tlie "New Zoaland Herald" says :— Mr Ritchie left town on horseback for his residence at Remuera between five and six, and was seen proceedingat a handgallop near the junction of the Kyber Pass with the Parnoll Road. A few minutes afterwards the horso was observed without a ridor, and Mr Ritchie was seen on the ground. Examination provod that hia neck was broken. Mr Ritchie was fast rising to a high position in his profession, was unmarried, and only 26 years of age. After Te Kootl— Tho " New Zealand Herald" learus from Wbakatane that William King, Ngaitai and his party, accompanied by Lieutenant Rushton, have started in search of Te Kooti. The party are supplied with rations by Government, but receive no pay. Telegraphic Extension. — Coromandel wants an extension of the wires from Grahamstown, so as to be placed on a fair footing. The " Herald" says there can bo no doubt that as far as the likelihood of such a piece of work being remunerative is concernod, a yery large amount of employment would be given to such a line. Coromandel is at present making suoh rapid advancos in the faco of great difficulties as entitlo her to call for as much consideration and help as possible. Land Transfer Act. — An Otago contemporary in calling attention to the sale of the township of Nevada, points out that as the township is registered under the Land Transfer Act— of itself no inconsiderable advantage, as good titles are obtainable on almost nominal terms, and can be transferred, in need, equally cheaply ; and adds : — " The advantages of this Act are becoming manifestly greater every day, as through its provisions, with benefit both to seller and buyer, somo of thebest properties in Otago aro becoming attainable on moderate torms," Gold in Canterbury.— Tho " Press" says that the existence of gold in Canterbury is a question on which it is perhaps as well to say as little as possiblo. Notwithstanding this, an old resident in Canterbury, who has just returnod from the Thames, and who has great experience in goldmining in New Zealand, has stated that he is about to tost the gold-bearing appearance of a certaiu district (the precise locality being for the time withheld), and so sanguine is he of the result of his undertaking that ho announces it as his firm belief that beforo Christmas he will bo enabled to prove conclusively that the precious metal is to be obtained in paying quantities in this province. Public Works and Immigration.-- Tho Superintendent of Marlborough, in opening tho session of tho Provincial Council, spoke as follows on the above : — On the subject of the railway, I havo from timo to time communicated with the Geueral Government, bringing under their notice its advantages, and I am happy to say that tho project has been favorably entertained by them. Sir Charles Clifford also, wbo lately left for England, has interested himself iv it, and has kindly promised me to uso his best endeavors in England to forward its construction, and tho marked success which has attonded the first financial operations of tho Hon. the Colonial Treasurer leads to the hope that this most desirable undertaking will ere long bo commenced It lins beeu said that

the sum of £3500 per mile set apart for it js not sufficient j but narrow gauge inexpensive lines aro what are wanted herej and looking forward as I do to the extension of such lines in various directions supporting each other, and opening up outlying portions of the provipoe for profitable settlement, I do not wish to see tbis sum exceeded, On the question of immigration, tbe Colonial Government has been asked to co-operate with us in introducing immigrants upon the Bystem of assisted passages which bas hitherto been adopted in the • provinoe. The Caledonian Gold Mine.— The " Lyttleton Times" says it would be a strange coincidence if the quarrel between the manager and shareholders of the above named — reported in our last telegram from Auckland — shonld prove, as in the case of the Long Drive, the prelude toa " rush downward" in the value JB of shares. If we remembor aright, the Long Drive shares had reached just about the same figure as the Caledonian when the shareholders and manager quarrelled. Pisciculture.-- The Otago " Times" says : — A few years ago Mr Clifford liberated some trout in the rivor running into Boat Harbor. | A person who has watched their movements I for some time states that they have attained 'an astonishing growth since then, as well as . increased rapidly in'numbei 1 . On calm evenings fine large trout'are to be seen rising after the white moth which is so abundant in that locality. Lieut. Woods, says the Levuka " Times," is about surveying the Nanuka passage, and he has been busy with his staff in choosing a site and fixing the spars for the lights wbich are to mark the way into Levuka harbor. Acclimatisation. — The Hawaiian "Gazette" says efforts are being made to reciprocate the generous contributions of the Auck« land Society, by forwarding some of the rare plants and birds found here. Mb Haughton's Last! — In a recent debate Mr Haughton, speaking of Mr Donald Reid, said :— " As for the honorable member at the head of the Government, he had only ono tune to sing, and that was the Old Hundredth !" A Litebabt Cockpit. — Our evening contemporary flouted the " Advertiser" the other day by telling it tbat nobody read it. The " Advertiser," with practical irony, is determined that, if no ono else reads it, the "Post" shall, at all events, and accordingly attacks him in capital style on two several points. Our morning friend apparently has a new man-at-arms, who handles his weapons with considerable skill. Indeed, he displays such ready dexterity in thrusting at the weak . parts ef the armadillo covering of his evening contemporary as to lead to the conclusion that he had once worn the armor himself. With cruel delight, in Saturday's issue, he prioks the " Post" very deftly under that part of his anatomy commonly known as the fifth rib. From the well kuown gallinaceous courage of the evening journal, wo anticipate for the readers of both that their daily dish of news will be seasoned with more than the usual piquancy. We are almost inclined to sympathise with the pitiful position of the " Post" in its desponding and regretful looks at former consistency on the one hand, and the openeyed hungry-looking way it sniffs at the provincial flesh-pot on the other. We much think, after all, that the "Post" is but a badly bred bantam, that, instead of fighting it out, will in this instance be found to be a " wheeler." With the serenity of a bystander we shall await the result of this pleasant passage of arms. Conditional-pardon Men. — The " Canterbury Press" says : — lt is rumoured m Christchurch that the Captain of the Queen of the South will be prosecuted by ordor of the General Government for having brought over tho conditional-pardon men recently brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lyttelton: