LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3234, 24 June 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Our Members.— Yesterday afternoon the Provincial Council passed the most important resolutions of the present session in the thinnest house. One hon. member accounted (or the paucity of members, and the shortness of their speeches, by the fact that there was no diisentients in the Council. Wo honor tho esprit de corps which prompted this explanation, although wo can hardly admit it was altogether successful. An hon. member lately showed great concern for the privileges of the Houso ; wo regret that he and other country members have, by their laxity of attendance, displayed so little anxiety about its duties. Tho day before, tho Provincial Council had actually to wait some time for a quorum, and the first ten days of the session were altogether lost in waiting for the arrival of certain country members. We claim the fullest liberty of making these animadversons in bohalf of all the constituencies of the province ; and would remind hon. members that their punctual and regular attendance in the Provincial Council is a duty, fov neglecting which a very special case must be made out. Never was their a session so important, and never, we beleive, was their 'greater diligence used by an executive in bringing forward and ox pediting business. If it were only out of deforence to the Government, we think hon. members should see to it that they are in their places, especially when the moat important business is submitted to their consideration. While we are on this subject, we would also remind hon. members, that in speaking to any motion, they are not only addressing the chair but tho Council; and not only tho Council, but through the printed reports the constituencies of the province. We are sure that the very great difficulty under which their speeches aro taken down, would be greatly lessened if hon. members would imitate the Provincial Secretary and Mr Ludlam in speaking " loud and clear." The Provincial Council.— The dull and cheerless weather of yesterday was well reflected in the meagre attendance of members. Mr Bunny, however, determined that tho Council should have no cause to withdraw the large amount of confidence the Council, as a whole, seem to repose in the Executive, was ns ravenous for work as usual. With the exception of the resolutions to enable the Superintentendent, without calling an extraordinary session of Council, to take advantage of the Public Works Act in furthering tho railway projects of this province, there was nothing on the order paper of such importance as to substantiate a charge of negligence against absent members. Success, in Mr Bunny's case, seems to have begot conGdence, as there was less than his usual display of tact and suavity while in Committee on the Education Bill. Mr Hutchison could not allow the last opportunity to pass without recording a parting proteat against some of the details that have been a heie noir to him from the introduction of tho measure ; but the Provincial Secretary, we were sorry to see, rather chafed under tho remarks of the hon member, and laid himself open to the caustic tongue 3of hon members, had they been in a critical mood ; but there is an evident desire all round, now that tho principal bills have been virtually disposed of, lo get back to their home 9. The Council meets on Tuesday at 3 o'clock. The Provincial Treasurer (Mr Halcombe), we regret to say, is still absent from his place in tho Council through indisposition, and that his malady is of so serious a nature as to probably deprive the Council of his services for the remainder of the session. Mr Halcombe's eyesight is in such a delicate stato that he is confined to his roonj, from which light is almost excluded. We sincerely trust the infliction may be but of a temporary nature. The City Council. — There was not a great deal of business to be done at the meeting of the City Council yesterday afternoon, but what there was was got through in a businesslike manner, and in a very short time. Tho Council, feeling themselves in want of some ready means of reference in the matter of tho understanding with the Provincial Government as to the maintenance of the main roads which pass through the City, Councillor Carpenter generously offered to make the Council a present of the transactions of the Provincial Council for twelve years past. Councillor Borlaso, in thanking Councillor Carponter, said ho hoped the present would form the nucleus of what the Council had long been in want of— a proper library, suitable to tho requirements of such a body as the City Council. Tub Business op tiie Session will, in all probability, be disposed of Borne time during next week. The Provincial Secretary, in reply to a question from Mr Ludlam, said that ho would give notice on Tuesday of his intention to bring down the estimates, in order that the Council might go into Committee of Supply without delay. Supreme Court —The Supreme Court was occupied yesterday in the hearing of argument in a Napier case, Buchanan v Watt. The Attorney- General appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Tiavers for the defendant. J. 0. Crawford, Esq. — In consequonco of the indisposition of this gentleman he was unable to take his Beat at the Residont Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Osoood's.— By advertisement Mr Osgood announces that he will be prepared to welcome his friends ovor a glass of wino at luncheon to-day between the hours of one and five. A Brilliant Rainbow.— Yesterday afternoon a slendid and unusually brilliant rainbow was visible on the span of water between Jerningham Point and Soame's Island. The arc was very broken, but the vivid glow of color at the base came out in such " splendor bright" as to call forth expressions of admiration from all who witnessed it. Football, — At a mooting of tho committee of the club held on Thursday night it was decided to adopt the Rugby rules, The club will meet for practice to-day, at Thorndon, at half-past two, when the last game under the Melbourne rules will be played, At its conclusion a general meeting will be held for the purpose of ratifying tho rules adopted by tho committee, Tho adoption of the Rugby rules has boon decided upon principally for tho reason that tho clubs of adjoining provinces play under those rules, and as the club contemplate playing a match with the Nelson club before long the necessity of such a course is apparent. Accident.— Tho Hawko's Bay Herald" Ba y ß : — a. severe accident accurrcd on board tho Government p.sj Luna. As some of tho men were 6teamiug out a tallow-cask, tho head of tho cask suddenly burst, enveloping tho men in tho steam. Mr J. Massoy, tho second engineer, and one of the stokers (Nolan) were scalded, tho latter so severely that he had to bo removed to the Provincial Hospital,

Annual Services.— The Annual Services in aid of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society will bo hold in the Sydney street Church to-morrow, when two sermons will be preached by the pastor, Rev. W. J. Dean. The annual meeting; will be held, under the presidency of tho lion. Mr Fox, in tho same plnce on Monday evening, when the claims of the society will be advooatod by several ministers and other gentlemen. Wo learn that the society is successfully extending its labora in Fernando Po, South Africa, Canada, Australasia, and other parts of the world. _ To sustain these missions will require increased liberality on the part of its supporters, for while lust year reporting a large increase in its annual income, there remained a large balance due to the Treasut »r. The Pbess Amateurs.— A full programme for next Monday's entertainment appears in our advertising columns, from which it will appear that tho amateurs fully intend to win the reputation of sparing no pains to win the public approbation. The bill for the evening is sufficiently diversified to suit tho tastes of all purties. A rehearsal ef the pieces will take place at half-past two this afternoon, at which all members are requested to attend. The Approaches to the Bridge. — These have been commenced, and are being proceeded with rapidly. The difficulty of proI curing tho irou bark timber on account of the floods in New South Wales has considerably retarded the work. — " Wanganui Herald." R. M. Court. — There was uo criminal business at this Court yesterday morning. The afllihation case, Scnnox v. Wyeth, hi s at last been settled amicably by the parties, £26 8s having been paid into court, and accepted in full of all demands. A case was heard, Williams v. Styles, and resulted in delightful uncertainty, the plaintiff being nonsuited, each party paying his own costs. The case was one resulting from disputed boundaries, the plaintiff alleging that tho defendant cut wood from off his land, the parties in the case being neighbors. Masters and Sertants Acr.— lt is not very often that cases are tried under this act in the colony. One, however, occurred the other day in the Wairarapa, a man named Greorgc Parker, alias Cavanagh, having beon charged with committing a breach of the act while in tho employ of H. S. Wardell, Esq., R.M. of the Wairarapa, the defendant having been engaged to serve for a stipulated period. Parker arrived in town yesterday, and was placed in the charge of Mr Read. Nelson Coal. — We observe in our shipping column?, that the Wellington Gas Compnayhavo imported some7otons of Collingwood coal, and we understand that it is the intention of the company to give it a fair test, and, if found suitable for making gas, they intend giving all the encouragement they can in order to assist in developing colonial industry. Consignees' Names. — The other day we noticed the faot that tho Melbourne papers had agreed to omit from thoir import and export announcements the names of consignees. However satisfactory this arrangement may havo proved to tho publishers of the morning journals, some of the importers regard it as a disadvantage. Tho complication of interests seems now to have been adjusted by a now device. We accordingly notice beneath the " import" head the announcement — " A special charge is made for consignees announcements inserted iv this column." Australian Maize. — Tho Indian newspapers say that Australian maize has been introduced into the presidency of Madras with great success. New Zealand Flax — A correspondent of the "European Mail" writes :— With regard to New Zealand (lax, I may remark that during Easter time little thought has been given to it, and that tho demand for it, as well as other fibres, has been very quiet. I may mention that Mr Yogel is busying himself with inquiries iv connection with this flax. The Manufacture of Flax. — A correspodent of the " European Mail," says : — " I had tho honor of erecting works for the manufacture of flax on a large scale, for the late John Fergus, Esq., M.P., and I found that, by causing a small stream of water, at a certain temperature, to pass thro igh tho steeping vats during the fomenting process, I greatly hastened and perfected that process, so that I was enabled, by this simple means alone, to greatly increase the value of the flax produced, as much, indeed, as to nearly double its value." Features of TnE Late War. — A reremarkable feature of tho late war, which must have puzzled many, is thus adverted to by " Tho Times" of April 1 : — " If wo were asked to point out the conclusion most naturally to be drawn from the melancholy events of which the country nearest to our shores is now the theatre, it would bo one totally subversive of all our preconceived notions respecting the ascendancy money exercises on all human affairs. Everybody in France seems always to havo money enough for everything. Tho wonder began with M. Garobetta, who, when all tho military powpr of Imporial France seemed to have utterly foundered, had apparently only to stamp his foot upon the generous soil of his country to elicit myriads of warriors, and never gave himself a moment's thought as to the sources from which tho 'sinews of war' were to spring. One-fifth of tho most flourishing French departments paid their revenues into the hand of the German invader ; tho collection of taxes and tho receipt of customs were greatly interfered with by the disorganisation of the service in other provinces, and by the stagnation of trado and industry in almost all of them, yot M. Gambetta was never at a loss for the cash necessary to make largo purchases of arms and ammunition abroad, and for tho outfit and equipment, as well as for the daily maintenance, of his improvised armies at home. He was, indeed beaten in the end, but not on economical or financial grounds ; and tho only new burden he seems to have inflicted on France is that ten millions loan which his friend M. Lauricr negotiated for him on very reasonable terms in the London market. After Gambetta howevor tho deluge might have beon expocted to set in. M. Thiors engaged to pay Prince Bismarck two hundred millions of winindemnity M. Thiers, who was said to bo unable to pay the first instalment of £20,000,000 war indemnity to tho Germans, duo this day, and to have sued for smd obtained a respite of a fortnight, found the means hi effecting the payment last evening. Somehow, money and time are matters about the possible want of which a French statesman never seems to entertain tho slightest fear." Bismarck Generous.— There has for some time been a rumor current that Prince Bismarck is going to bo genorous j if, indcod, nn act of bare justice can be bo styled. Ho is, report says, going to give back North Schloswig to Denmark, in accordance with the Treaty of Prague. It is four and a half years since tint treaty was signed. Triumph.— Tho triumphal entry of tho Prussian troops into Berlin, we are informed, is postponed until August 3, tho birthday of the Emperor's father. On that day last, year, the monument of the Konigs Blatz, in commemoration of the war of 1866, was to have been unveiled, but the outbreaks of hostilities with France necossarily deferred it. Shocking Scene in a Theatre.— The " Diritto" of Florence gives an account of a shocking accident which took place the other night at tho Prince Humbort Theatro in that city. A ballet pantomime was being performed, in whioh an encounter takes place between brigands and soldiers. One of tho former, who was fired at, fell mortally wounded, a bullot having entored the forehead and ponetrated the brain. At first the audienco applauded the iucident. It soon, howevor, became apparent that a terrible tragedy had really occurred, and tho audienco were worked up to a pitch of tho highest excitemont. Women sobbed, men shouted, and many leapod upon the stage to see if the man was really dead. Tho performance, at which tho King was present in his private box, was immediatoly stopped 5 and shortly afterwards a magistrate came upon tho stage and took the names of all performers engaged in tho piece. It is not thought that tho occurrence wns ncci-

dental. The deceased was not a regular performer, bub a printer engaged by the night as a supornutnary. Ho was only seventeen yonrs of age. Fenians. — A return published in England of the Fenian convicts recently released, shows that nine were liberated in Australia. Useful Invention. — Perhaps ia no country in the world is greater consideration given to the economising of time and labor than in America ; and we are perhaps doing good service in drawing the attention of housekoepors to an article lately manufactured by Enoch Morgan's Sons, of New York, under the title of "Sapolio," which cleanses windows, knives, tins, brass, painfc, dishes, &c, better and easier than any other article that has come under our notice. Billiards. — The match iv which William Cook,jun., undertook to give John Roberts, 200 points in 2000, for £100 a side, was playod on April 17, at St. Jamos Hall, on a table by Burroughes and Watts — the same whioh wns used at the University matches. Cool: won by 409 and nine points. The play was very slow — the game occupying five hours and a quarter. There is not the least doubt that the spot stroke wou the gamo, for the allround play of Roberts was far the superior and certainly most interesting, the spot stroke being exceedingly monotous. Still, there can bo no doubt Cook is a beautiful player, and the next match for the championship between him and young John Roberts, on May 25, will be a most exciting game. Telegraphy Extraordinary.— On the day of the marriage of the Prince Louise and the Marquis of Lorno, press messages of all kinds made up of close upon 55,000 words wore forwarded from the central station of the Postal Telegraph Department in Telegraph street. Some idea of the amount of labor this represents may be formed from the fact that this enormous number of words would make on a rough calculation, twenty-seven columns of the " Times" newspaper, and, if sent over a single wire, would have taken close upon thirty hours to transmit. The " Rings" of New York.— The " Alta California" in the following paragraph shows how the " rings" of New York contrive to get influence over the press as they do over the courts and the Legislature : — " It seems that the corrupt Tammany ring that rules New York is reaching out its obscene convolutions to strangle the independent press of that city. It has long owned a small horde of journals thankful to pick up the crumbs which fall froai the rich thieves' tables ; and oven the Cl World," which did aspire to be independent and fearless in its rebukes of corruption, was silenced somehow, and now praises where it once condemned, if it dares to speak at all. The "Times" has waged a fierce war upon the shameful combination of plunderers which roosts in City-hall, and has boldly gone for the Erie swindlers by name. But the con spirutors have managed to buy a few shares of the " Times" stock, and the holders of these shares throaten to have a recoiver appointed, by the aid of some such convenient court as that which Burnard rules, and so control the editorial columns of the paper. This kind of trickery is the congenial business of the Tarn* many thieves, who hate nothing so much as an outspoken press. The "Times" managers will have the sympathy of honest journalists all over the country in their war upon muni« cipal roguery and chicane."