LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3233, 23 June 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Provincial Council. — The chief interest of yesterday's proceedings centred in tbe Education Bill. Contrary to expectations, after tbo result of the debate on tbe second reading, Mr Hutchison, nothing daunted by his failure on the previous day, made another gallant assault on the outworks of the bill, in order to establish a medium between the parents and the central board. Unfortunately, the gentleman who had charge of the bill (the Provincial Treasurer) was, through indisposition, prevented from being in his place, a fact which elicited sincere expressions of sympathy from the hon. member from Wanganui, as well as from several other hon. members j but the bill did not on that account suffer from the want of a defender 1 , as tbe Provincial Secretary stopped into the breach, and though in one instance speaking against time, while some absent supporters were being whipped in, he spoke both eloquently and forcibly, and ehowed an ability to do buttle against all comers equal to his prowess on the Highways Bill. It was very apparent, however, that were it not for tho intrinsic merits of tho bill us a whole, the sympathy evinced with the opinions of Mr Hutchison might very easily have been swelled into such an opposition as to be fatal to the measure for this session. From the very principles of the bill, tho amendments had to be rejected by the Government, and their supporters felt bound to set aside any leanings they might have had in the direction of the proposed amendments, in order to save at once the bill and the children of tbe province from another long lapse of the present cheerless aspect of the educational affairs of the province. The Council did not meet in such strength as on previous sittings, and as some hou members were not in such working humor as has latterly been the case, an early adjournment was agreed on, and the Council rose about ten o'clock, to meet again to-day at the usual hour. Tjik City Council will meet at halfpast three o'clock this afternoon. The Electba. — Messrs Levin and Co. have heard from Messrs Shaw, Saville and Co. this mail to the effect that the report of the Electra having arrived from Wellington was incorrect, inasmuch as it' was an American vessel of that name which was spoken. The Break of Day. — A meeting of this company was held at Barrett's Hotel last night, at which it was resolved that a trial crushing of five tons of stuff should be made previous to resuming active operations. The Press Dramatic Club. — Mr Parker, pianist, has kindly offered his services to the Club for their next performance, and will play one or two solos during the evening. St. Paul's Enteetainment.—Mi' Mowbray is making every exertion to ensure an enjoyable entertainment for the next of the series at St. Paul's, Thorndon; Several gentlemen are at present hard at it, working up glees, readings, &c, and wo hope an overflowing house will reward their indefatigability. New Zealand University. — Wo have great pleasure in directing attention to two advertisements in this day's pape>-, in connection with the University of New Zealand, by which it appears that the sum of £1,500 has been appropriated by the University for the aubsidising in affiliated scholastic or collegiate institutions of professorships, r the precise nature of which will bo'^determined hereafter ; and, also, that £ 1,080 will be awarded for twenty scholarships Jin several different branches of education. A noteworthy feature in tho regulations is that proficiency in any one branch will bo rated as of higher value than a superficial knowledge in several branches. We shall take an early opportunity of commenting on tho arrangements (is a whole. Government Annuities Scheme, — The " Otago Daily Times" of the 14th says :— We are led to believe that tho Government Annuities scheme is being very largely availed of throughout the province, judging by tho reports which reach us from time to time. This is, no doubt, greatly due to the vigorous and systematic mode of operation adopted by the Government in bringing tho scheme before the public. In tho up-country papers, we find Captain Baldwin's lectures spoken of as very popular, and his exortiona roferred to as being mainly instrumental in inducing numbers of persons to take up insurances. His selection was no doubt a good one, as his knowledge of the country and his other qualifications peculiarly fitted him for the position to which he was appointed. Tho Government, we understand, have appointed Mr M'Ftwlane to a position in the province of Auckland similar to that held by Captain Baldwin in Otago. The Latest Dodge. — A new way of paying old debts has beon discovered in Wanganui. AMr Chadwich, an auctioneer, in announcing a sale of stock, invited his creditors to attend and make purchases to the amount of their accounts. The Queen of the Thames. — We publish tho following extract from the " Australasian" : — ' Captain M'Donald's pragmatic selfsufliciency in connection with the clearance of his vessel from this port, when Mr Gossett made it a sine qua non that he should provido her with a long-boat, is not forgotten ; and we shall bs curious to learn the part which that boat played in the salvation of the passengers and crew of the Queen of the Thames.' The Graphic. — The " Graphic" by last mail, has given its readers a picturesque engraving of a New Zealand war canoe. Cost of the Census. — It is estimated that tho cost of the late Census in Britain will bo £100,000. Roman Catholic Consecration. — The consecration of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Armagh, Ireland, took place on the 11th April. " The Bishop," writes the Dublin correspondent of the "Times," "afterwards entertainod his friend b at dinner in tho College of St. Mcl, and proposed the healths of the Pope and Cardinal Cullen. His Eminence, in responding, echoed tho sontimont of the Bishop, who said, in referonce to him, that they had all miled their colors to the mast on the education question. He declared that they would not bo satisfied with anything less than a Catholic University." New Zealand Immigrants. — The " European Mail" says Mr A. O. Ottywell, tho Emigrant Agent in London for tho province of Canterbury, advertises, under the authority of the Agent- General of New Zoaland, for tenders for four vessels prepared to convey emigrants from London to Lyttelton. The ships will bo required to sail at intervals of about six weeks, the first between May 24 and June 7, as may be appointed. The Founding of Rome. — On the 21st of April — which people did not omit to notice was the anniversary of the foundation of the oity — Princo Pallaoini-Rospigliosi was formally installed as Civic Pontiff or Syndio of Rome, amidst great festivities. Dollars and Dimes. — By the Gothenburg, which arrived at Port Chalmers from Melbourne on Thursday, the various Banks in Dunedin received 30,000 sovereigns, besides a quantity of silver. j Salaries. — A Bluobook lately issued by the Queensland Government shows that out of a total revenue of £743,058, that colony pays annually £315,000 in salaries and wages.

A Successor to tiib Pope. — Prince, Sigismondo Chigi, the official guardian of the Conclave, has beeu called to the Vatican, and installed there to await tho course of events. Ifc was rumored, however, that the conclave of cardinals would meet in Malta whenever called upon to elect a successor to the roigning Pontiff. Pio Nino was elected on the 16th Juno, 1846 ; and it is a remarkable fact that no Pope of Rome has ever occupied the Papal see for the full term of five-and»twenty years. Two have filled it 21 years, two for 23, and three for 23 years each. In April last Pio Nono only wanted two months to complete the full term of a quarter of a century. Johnny Hall. — We learn from a private letter received in Port Chalmers from a former resident in Otago, that Mr J. H. Hall, who was formerly connected with tho Princess Theatre, Duuedin, is at Portsmouth, U.S., with a comedy and burlesque troupe, composed of " stars," and who are well patronised. The Value of a Raffaelle. — Tho Communal Council of Perugia is contemplating the purchase of Raffaello's " Madonnina del libro" and some other pictures belonging to Count Oonestabile, for the sum of £16,000.. The Empress of Russia has offered £12,600 for the Raffaelle, alone wishing to present it as a birthday giftto the Czar. Black Swans. — From Tiniaru exchanges, it appears that these birds are increasing very rapidly on the lagoons to the south of the township. Lately no less than 200 were counted in one flock. It is said that wild ducks, formerly numerous in tho same lagoons, have almost entirely disappeared. City Rates — According to a report made by tho Fnancial Committee of the Christchurch. City Council the outstanding rates for 1868, 1869, and 1870 amount only to £504. This cannot be deemed a large sum when ifc is considered that the annual assessment is a little over £4000. The council have decided that the amounts outstanding shall be collected on commission. Knightiiood.— We learn that His Majesty the King of Spain has conferred on Mr J. J. Marshall, vice- consul of Spain, for Melbourne, tho title of Knight of the Order of Ysabel tho Catholic. Lome. — A grand dinner was given at the British Legation, in Florence, to tho Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lome, who left on the same evening for Rome and Naples. City Works.— ln tho Christchurch City Council a motion respecting the purchase of land and the borrowing of money, was defeated by an amendment which merely affirms tho desirability of obtaining extended borrowing powers, together with an extonsion of the term for which loans may be obtained from thirty to fifty years, The feeling of the Council was evidently in favor of publicly consulting the ratepayers before entering upon any work involving a larger outlay than is permitted under tho present Act. Pius IX.— Tho Pope is stated to be suffering from dropsy, and it was geneiVly feared in .Rome that his malady would have a fatal termination.