LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3227, 16 June 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Provincial Council. — The debate last night on the Highways Bill will convince every unprejudiced thinker of the excellence of tho bill. We have tried by direct demonstration to show its justice and advantages— the debate last night is a splendid example of what mathematicians term " indirect demonstration" as it shows that the principles advanced by its opponents are contradictory and absurd. Some of them oppose the bill because it is anti-provincial — some because it is provincial. One says the bill is too hard upon tha small settlor — another says it is too favorable, giving " the man with the Bmall shop" the same say as " the man with the largo estate." Some say the bill will raise a large revenue ; others as roundly assert that it will not raiso any more than the present bill. A large number seem to think that the principle of rating by valuation for roads is something new and dangerous : whereas it is the principle that pervades all legislation on the subject outsido of Wellington. We know of no place in the colony where the principle of a uniform acreage rate is adopted except in Wellington. The present system is novel. It ia altogether unknown in provinces whore road boards have done the niosb effective service such as Canterbury and Otago. Had it been adopted where would have been their loads ? Mr Brandon strangely enough thinks that it ia preposterous "to give a man with a small shop as much say in tho election" of those who will administer the funds raised by local taxation as " the man of largo estate." We should like the lion member would explain on what principle boards at home are elected for tho very same purpose. Was tho hon member himself elected for the Council and Assembly on any other principlo of voting ? Mr ilutcheson would " draw a line somewhere !" He stops at five ncres. Beyond that area a valuation rate is injustico ; in other words, a man with five acres is fairly assessed by taxing his land only ; but if he has only four and three-quarter acres, ho ought to be taxed on both house and land. He and somo others tell us the time will come when this valuation principle will be a just one, but they do not explain very clearly nt what point of time a principle passes from the just to the unjust;. Want of space forbids us to enlarge on this and other absurdities that crropped up in tho debate. Suffice it to say, that no two members ot tho opposition eeom to agree in the reasons for their opposition. They may all go into tho lobby, as an opposition party, but it is b} r different paths. ad they to bvmg in a road bill there would be as many bills before the Council aa present opposition members. "So many mon ;so many minds."

Mr Andrew and Mr A. Milne took their seats yesterday in the Council.

Supreme Court.— Tho long ponding case, James v. Blaker, was terminated late last night. The facts of the case, compendiously stated, are these. In 1852 the plaintiff leased from Mr Fitzherbort the site on which Mr Blakor'e boot and shoe ahoj} stands on Lambton quay, at a yearly rental of £8, with the right to purchase the fee simple at any timo within twenty-one years for £170, or to buy it at onco for £70. The plaintiff chose the higher figure and the longer term ; and, making up his mind to leave Wellington at the timo of the gold exodus to Australia, ho left the management of the whole transaction in the hands of Mr Brandon, with directions to make the best he could of the matter, but with vague instructions aa to the absolute disposal of the freehold. Acting upon this, Mr Brandon, who was acting as agent for all parties connected with the land, sold the building which James had left partly finished. The lee simple of the property in the meantime had changed from Mr Fitzherbert to Captain Daniel, who in turn sold to Blaker, James' intorost becoming merged in such a way as fco be almost entirely left out of sight, Mr Brandon considering that ho would be best consulting his interest by applying any proceeds accruing from that interest to the extinguishment of a mortgage held over the property by Mr Dorsott, and there Mr Brandon held James's interest ceased. On James becoming aware of these facts he carae down to Wellington in 1860, and commenced an action, but from causes unexplained that action foil through, and nothing more was hoard of it till the commencement of tho present action, when James sued Mr Blaker, who had never previously known anything of him in connection with tho purchase of the land, for sixteen years rent at £13 a year. To this the defendant put in ploas of never indebted, which were amended during the course of the trial by the putting in of set-off ploas, and ultimately the debt was reduced to £3 ss, which amount his Honor directed tho jury to find for plaintiff, with discretion to find to the amount of £80. After an absence of an hour and a half the jury found for the plaintiff to the amount of £3 ss. This verdict carries costs and sustains Mi 1 Brandon's action in tho conduct of tho transactions on behalf of tho plaintiff. It must be understood that this action in no way affected the validity of Blnker's title, although it goes a long way towards sotting at rest a matter that has been Burrounded with doubt and vexation for a long period of years.

Annual Inspection. — Colonel Harrington arrived yesterday in the Taranaki, for the purpose of making his annual inspection of the volunteer forcos of tho Colony.

Resident Magisteate's Court. — Criminally there was a clean sheet at tho Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Only one civil caso was down for hearing, Wylis v. Marchant, claim £26, for surveying in connection with the water works scheme, which was quickly disposed of, the plaintiff being noneuited.

Fatal Accident at Ngaiuja-w"iiaia ( — A correspondent of the " Herald" says : — I regret to have to record tho death here by drowning of a bushman named Patrick Keano, on the night of Wednesday last. It appears that the deceased and his mate were pulling a largo canoe up the Waipa river, when from some unknown cause the deceased fell into the water, .»nd whilst his mate was getting the canoe turned tj get him on board he sank. Alarm was immediately given, but nothing could be seen of tho body, which up to this time has not been recovered.

Subscription Close on £10 was subscribed yosterday for Mrs Lawrence. Tho P.A.D.C. are going to work with a will in tho cause, with every determination to mako tho performance a groat pecuniary success. The amateurs wish to direct tho attention of the public to the fact tliut their performance will be given at tho Odd Fellows' Hall on Monday week, and every exertion will bo made on their part to make the performance as successful as their last.

Tub Theatre. — The directory of the new Theatre Company have decided that one of two sites on the reclaimed land would bo suitable for the theatre, and intend waiting on the Provincial Government to ascertain the price at which they could obtain thoin bofore deciding on purchasing.

A Railway Hint. — A new ' wrinkle' in tramways has been introduced by Mr Hadden, C.E., for the purpose of traffic across some of the interior regions of Turkey. It is not without interest in relation to communication in this country. It is a single rail tramway, of which tho following is a description ; — 'Imagine a bicycle lot into a longitudinal aperture in the centre of the bottom of a cart, and tho cart nearly touching vhe ground, so that only about six inches of tho wheels would bo visible j next, a kind of balancing polo run through the sides of tho cart at right angles to tho single rail on which tho bicycle is to run. The two ends of the polo aro to project about three feet on either side of the cart, and rest upon and bo harnessed to tho backs of two mules. The animals will thus be one at each side of the load, instead of being in front in tho ordinary way. It would be impossible for tho curt to turn over, because, in order to do so, it would force ono mule to the ground and to life tho other into tho air ; and, moreover, as its floor would only be six inches above tho rail, an overtip would bo of no icconnt. All tho weight in the cart, if evenly distributed, would bear upon tho rail, and tho auiaials. having no load on the backs, would bo able to exert considerable traction power Mr Hadden does not consider that the utility of his invention will bo limited by the precise conditions that first called for it. Ho not only suggests its employment for military purposes, but also for tramways in largo cities; and he says that, where space is very valuable, a horae or mulo on only one side of tho curt would be sufficient. In towns, ou bridges and other important places, the rail might for a short distanco be dispensed with j and passenger vehicles should bo fitted with small friction wheels on either Bido, so that if a horse should fall down, tho balance of tho carriage should remain undisturbed. We are not aware whether there ia any noav pvospect of tho idea being realised, even in Tut- key ; but it seems sufficiently ingenious to deserve at leust publicity. Wellington Volunteer Artillery. — A district order announces that tho Artillery will parade at Pipitea Point on Saturday, at two o'clock, for shell practice and inspection by Lieut-Colonel Harrington. Tho battery will assemble at the drill shod at; one o'clock, and inarch from thenco to Pipitea. Wo learn that the Groyerntnent prizo of £9 will be competed for at the same parade. Six shots — three solid and three shell— will bo firocl from eacli gun. Earl Belhore, Governor of New South Wales, says the " Now Zealand Herald," accompanied by the Countess Belrnore, will shortly visit his Excellency Sir Georgo Bowen, at Auckland.