LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3273, 9 August 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Major Edwards and Hunta camo into town last night. Tho latter will see thejDefonco Minister to-day about the dispute with Major Kemp. From all wo can learn the matter is likely to receive a quick aud pacific solution. Entertainment. — St. Paul's schoolroom was crowded last evening, notwithstanding the exceedingly uncomfortable state of the weather, the object for which tho concerts are being given imposing upon the parishioners a duty which even the discouraging effects of a drizzling rain did not form a sufilcient excuse for disregarding. Aa stated in our report of the parish meeting, the school funds have for some time past been in a languishing condition, so much so, at any rate, as to necessitate a very forcible reminder in the report of the treasurer of tho parish. The entertainment of last evening was a most enjoyable one ; though the schoolroom is hardly roomy enough for the purposes of a meeting of tho kind. Without -wishing to criticise any part of the programme, there are certain compositions in music which, if attempted at all, should be done with as much core and attention at these semi-public concerts as at a fully public one, and of such a class is the lovely little duel " I've Wandered in Dreams," in which there was a want of acquaintance with (he piece which mado those who knew it wish it had not been attempted. But wo will not further detract from Mr Mowbray's laudable indefatigability, because after all the correct rendering of theso things with him would bo only a matter of time. Thero were many delightful little harmonics during the evening in tho shape of choruses, and not by any means the least creditable of these was tho National Anthem at the termination of tho evening.

Mobning Stab Company. — A lengthy meeting of this company was held lash evening at Barrett's Hotel, Although really little actual business was transacted, the meeting assumed tho form of importance from tho fact that v useful discussion took place nnd a great amount of information of a practical nnd valuable nature was elicited. Mr S. Levy wob in tho chair. The report stated that sinco tho lust mooting tho works had procoeded satisfactorily, a tender to tho amount of £197 having been accepted for tho purpose of carrying on tho works of tho company, tho drive having now reached the distance of 195 feet. Only twenty-four of the £2 10s sharos that had been offered to tho shareholders afc £2 had been taken up. The directors required £460 within two months, and as the amount received from ordinary sources amounted to £170, they still required £290 to pay the

balance of the account for machinery for the claims afc Terawiti and Baker's Hill, To meet these claims the directors recommended that the limit of timo in which to purchase tho £2 10s shares afc £2 by tho present shareholders only should be extended to Monday, tho 14th iuat, and that in the ovent of tho shares not boing taken up by tho present shareholders they should be offered to the public. A shareholder inquired how it was tho working of tho leader, which had been proved to contain a yield of nine or ten ounces to the ton, had been discontinued. Mr Q-ell replied that his object was to continue tho sinking of the shaft, so as to be able to put in drives at whatover part proved most payable Tho question of amalgamation witli the other companies was brought up by Mr Dixon, and upon this question a great amount of discussion ensued, Mr Gell stating that rather than amalgamate ho would find tho money required himself. As to tho purchase and erection of machinery another lengthy discussion arose, two or thvee shareholders, who seemed to possess a good deal of knowledge of tho subject, advising tho company to send to tho West Coast diggings for information, the Charleston workings being stated to be very similar to those at Baker's Hill. On the motion of Mr Bennett, a committee consisting of himself, Mr Mas* lem, Mr Mitchell, and Mr Gell, wore appointed to examine the mine and report tho result to a meeting of the shareholders. A very conQdent opinion was expressed on all sides as to the future of the Baker's Hill cluims, Mr Bennett exhibiting a fino specimen of gold weighing nine grains, which had been obtained from 100 lbs of stone taken from tho ground in the possession of tho Try Again Company. Some rather severe animadversions were passed by one or two of the shareholders upon the conduct of the manager, whoso actions, they suid, were founded on the maxim, "Words not deeds." Some unploasant remarks were made with reference to tho workings of the rival companies, but at tho termination of tho meeting a general feeling was expressed that the result of the meeting wns most beneficial in raising tho drooping prospects of the mining interest in Wellington. A shareholder, who stated to tho meeting that he was in communication with a person at Charleston, undertook to procure all the desired information with reference to tho con> struction of tho boxes for washing, and a resolution having been passed to continue the workings as at present, the meeting broke up. Absent Sailors. — The remainder of the sailors who had exceeded their shore leave were taken aboard yesterday morning. As they were being taken to tho boat one of them pullod out his knifo and made an attempt to stab the Sergeant of marines in charge. We are informed that a. slight wound was inflicted, and it is likely that tho case will be the subject of inquiry before a court martial. Subscription to Fire Bell. — Tho subscription of Mr John Knowles should have been £1 instead of 10s as announced in our yesterday's issue. Tug Towers Family. — In consequoneo of the inclemency of the weather very few persons visited the Odd Fellow's Hall last evening. Finding the encouragement was not sufficient, Mr Towors came before tho curtain and announced that there would bo no performance, but that they would open this evening with a new bill. R.M. Court. — One case of drunkenness was heard at tho R.M. Court yesterday morning. Later in the day some civil cases were heard, but they were of no public interest. The Stekl Sand. — Tli<: new furnace and tho steel sand will soon bo tested fully. Tho powder is no\f nearly all removed from the jbRZ~~~* s ,' ni3( £ Vflien that is completed opora■fctons will 1 1 l *■ • Tf . l jo commenced. jiANTHELt, Again!— Alfred George Mantholl, broker, has been brought before the Sydney polico court, charged with stealing 10 cases starch, valued at £11, the property of John Hughes. After hearing evidence, the prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of tho Quarter Sessions. Bail allowed, himself in £80, and two sureties in £10 each. Poet Nicholson Mining Investment Company (Limited). — This company held its fourth half-yearly general meeting on Monday evening. The chairman of the company took his seat at hr.lf-pasfc seven, and after the minutes of tholast mooting had been confirmed, the secretary road the directors' report for tho half-year ended on tho 30th June. From this wo gathered that the company paid in dividends during the half year 30 per cent on tho paid-up capital, and carried forward a sum nearly equal to 5 per cent more, besides providing a reservo fund of £150. The working expenses were about £30. The company holds shares in nine companies carrying on business at the Thames, some of them amongst tho best and most promising on that goldfield. The report was unanimously adopted, tho proposal to invest tho reserve fund, instead of letting it lie idle, being especially well received. Considerable discussion arose on the request of the Board that tho meeting would express an opinion as to the advisability of again commencing the monthly calls. Ultimately, a resolution was carried to the effect that the directors should resume them if they saw good opportunities for investment. Captain Sharp was unanimously re-elected a director, and Dr Johnston was elected in place of Cnpfc. Johneon, who has retired. Mr Stuart was elected auditor for the ensuing year. Honoraria were voted to him and to the secretary for past services, and after the usual complimentary votes to the directors and chairman, the meeting broke up, the numerous shareholders who attended apparently well pleased with the success of tho company's operations.

The Weatiier.— The first fall of an6\r this winter in the Wairarapa district occurred on Thursday night.

Native Land Comrr.— Judge Smith, with Ropata as Assessor, opened tho Court at G-reytown on Thursday. The bad weather has prevented tho Maoris attending.

McDonald's Confession. — The following is the confession handed in my M'Donald : — -T was in the Caledonian Hotel on Sunday the 16th July lust. ; I saw Henry Elliott coming into the hotel about 11.30. I saw him with some keroseno in his hand, it was in a bottle. He said he was going to do it. He took his knife and ripped the bags under tho paper, poured the kerosene in and set fire to it. Ho then ran out of the house, and they all, found him in bed at Mr Watt's bouse. Immediately on the room going on fire, I ran into my room and gave Frazer the alarm. We all gob out with the exception of a man that was lodging in the hotel. I saw the remains of somo one next morning amongst the ruins while in company with Mr Owen. When I heard the kitchen door opened, I left my room with a candle in my hand. On entering the kitchen I met llenvy Elliott. Eoderick M&nion was in my employment for about three weeks. Ho always slept with Elliott, at Mr Watt's house. On Saturday, Islh July last, he slept in the hotel, and on Sunday, the 16th July, ho slept in the same room with the deceasod, watching that no one would como down stnirs. The house was £1,000 in debt, and I told Henry Elliott my circumstances : Mrs Allison £500, my brother £300, Messrs Taylor and Watt £200, moro or less. He (Elliott) told mo that he would lay mo on a plan that I would got me out of it. I asked him what, I asked him what, he said to insure tho stock and furniture, and then do away with it. I asked him if ho would do it. He eaid, ' Yes. He said then that it would be better to build on our own leased land, and that would clear a lot of debts, and rise funds to put stock on tho land for us. I had no ready cash. Signed — J. M'Kenzie M'Donald.

A Kebosene Company. — The property of the New South Wale 3 Hartley Kerosene Company ha 9 been sold by auction, and realised £19,000. Tho company will now wind up.

Bone Crushing. — A bone- crushing mill is being started at Mount Gram bier, Adelaide.

ORAKGEisar.—Ten thousand persons attended the Orange special services at the Sydney Exhibition iJuilding on July 17th. .Dr. Barry preached on the occasion.

The Wellington Artillery Volunteers held their aunual dinner last night, at the Empire Hotel. Captain Pearce occupied tho chair, Lieutenants Brandon and Pilcher tho vice chair 3. On the right of the Chairman wo observed the Hon. the Defence Minister, Colonel Header, E. W. Mills, Esq., Dr. France, &c, &c, on the left the Yen. Archdeacon Stock, Colonel Harrington, &c. The Chairmau, in proposing the usual loyal toasts, when he came to the Prince of Wales, remarked that on the occasion of the marriage of H. R. H. to the Princess Louisa, he woro the uniform of a Volunteer Artillery Corps. (Applause). After the loyal toasts were duly honored he proposed tho Defence Minister. The thanks of the Volunteers were, he said, due to the present Government for the large and liboral support they had given to tho volunteer movement. He remembered well the Colonial Treasurer stating in the House last session that it was the wish of the Government to encoarage volunteering in every way, until New Zealand Volunteers had attainod tho efficiency, and rivalled the reputation'of the Swiss and tho Belgians, and shewed the sincerity of his words by concluding with proposing that the vote ol £1000 be incieaaed to £2500. The presence of the Defence Minister to-night was a further proof, if proof wore wanting, of tho interest evinced by tho Government in the success of the volunteering movement. The Defence Minister, in reply, expressed kis pleasure in being present, as he viewed the volunteer movement as a great national movement. The country was young, but not too young to make preparations for its defence, and the development of this movement was but the development of a nuscent nationality. Recent events in Europe had shown what could bo effected by a nation in arms, and the success of the artillery branch of the snuie hnd been most marked, as bringing citizens together freely, and without the restraints of social distinctions. The volunteer vnovomont wci3 useful in a civil as well a3 a military capacity, and he was sure any Defence Minister would feel very proud at looking round at the company assembled before him, not as a sham, but as reul defenders of their adopted country. He had heard of the efficiency with pleasure, and the meeting to-night convinced him that for enthusiastic devotion they were not easily surpassed in any Province in the colony. Beforo sitting down he begged to propose a toast which he was sure they would cordially receive. The most experienced military commanders had told him often that the efficiency of any corps in tho Imperial service greatly depended upon thoir oflicors. He thought this was especially truo of volunteer corps, and in a remarkable degree of the captain of the Wellington Volunteer Artillery (tumultuous cheering). It was impossible not to see that the success of tho company had been largely owing to Captain Pearco (continued cheering). In his presence ho would forbear saying what otherwise ho would esteem a pleasure as well as a duty, and renewing the assurance of the Government support in the future, he concluded by proposing the health of Captain Pearce (long and enthusiastic applause). Captain Pearce said that while he would have preferred to reply by simply offering thanks to the Defence Minister for so kindly proposing, and to tho battery for so kindly responding to the toast, he felt it was but due to himself to state that he disclaimed, in a great measure, the compliments paid him, if they implied that to him the success of the battery was due. On the contrary, Lieut. Brandon had from tho first rendered most able and willing support, and Lieut. Pilcher had, with great devotion, applied himself to his duties, and had learned the art of gunnery, theoretically and practically. In every difficulty Lieut. Pilcher was appealed to, and his decision was always supported by drawings and calculations made by him on the spot. The non-commissioned officers were not behind, either in enthusiasm "or perseverence. They showed their readiness to discharge their duty in a truo soldier-like spirit by carrying out promptly every ovder given them, although in many cases they knew them to be mistakes. He confessed on several occasions that ho had given orders which were nothing but blunders, but they wore carried out most promptly by tlieso faithful and 6oldier-like volunteers. Indeed the success of the Artillery lay in the fact that in the officers, commissioned and non-commissioned, and in the privates, he had most excellent material to work upon and he wa3 prepared to Btand by the corps as long as they wore willing to stand by him. (Great cheering.) Lieut. Brandon, in a neat and eulogistic speech, proposed Col. Harrington, Inspector of Volunteers, who replied by saying that as he hud lighted his cigar he had thought nothing bnt social duty was before him. He cordially sympathised with the chairman's idea that they were met rather in a convivial way than to hear speeches. He could only say that so he viewed his duty on the present occasion, and he felt happily relieved at once from ungenerously finding fault or bestowing unmerited praise. He hoped his duty would never be more difficult or less pleasant. He viewed social gatherings like the present bb useful auxiliaries to the movement, and concluded by stating that the Defence Minister had anticipated all he would have felt disposed to say if it had been necessary. Lieutenant Pilcher nest craved a toust. It was a maxim in gunnery to fire straight, and as Lieut. Brandon had shot straight beforo him along his table, and brought up Colonel Harrington, so he would shoot straight before him and bring up Colonel Reader. (Grest applause.) Colonel Reader, in reply, expressed his pleasure at being at this, their third, annual gathering. Ho made an interesting, humorous, and suggestive speech (beyond our limits to report) lamenting, in conclusion, that although in a time of peace the ranks of tho company bad been thinned by tho loss of the Attorney-' general and Mr Gilligan. (Groat oheering.) The health of Drill Instructor Corliss was next neatly proposed by Sergeant-Major Lyon and eloquently responded to. Gunner Fox next proposed ' the Chaplain' (Archdeacon Stock) in a short and punning speech (the pun being too atrocious to be reported), and tho Chaplain responded in his usual happy stylo. Tho Honorary Surgeon was next proposod and Dr. Franco briefly responded. The toasts of the "Non-Commissioned Officers," and " Our Brother Volunteers," were next duly honored, and suitably responded to. " The Pross" was proposed by Sergeant-Major Lyon, and responded to by Mr Hay, editor of tho Independent. He remarked that as a private citizen he had always supported tho volunteering movement, and felt great interest in its success. Tho sincority of one's feeling had very often, and doubtless vei'y properly, been inferred from tho reruliness with which ono was known to contribute to tho cause they professed to espouse, and he could say that the first subscription he had paid in Wellington was for their prize fund. Without going over ground already travelled by tho Hon. the Defence Minister and Colonel Harrington, ho would say that tho volunteer movement eminently fostered the social inslinet and tho patriotic rentiment. Love of country naturally implied a readiness to defend it, and tho joining together in learning tho best means of doing so infused an affectionate regard for tho country, the object of their common euro. In the capacity in which his name had been mentioned he always esteemed it a pleasure, as he felt it a bounden duty to advance the cause of volunteering by enlisting for it popular sympathy and support. It would be out of place to make any further remarks on that occasion, but he had just been reminded of a toast which should now be proposed. They had already drunk the toast of the non-commissioned officers, but ho fult 6uro, without any disparaging reflections on them, ho was now going to mention those most properly entitled to that title, " The Ladies," the really effective non-commissioned officers, the stay of the battery. After a few further remarks, ho proposed the toast of " Mrs Pearce," to which Captain Pearce made a suitable reply. Some excellent songs were then sung, and the com*

pany dispersed about twelve o'clock.. It is impossible to conceive a happier evening, or a gathering that reflected more credit alike on the officers and the pri rates. Tho enthusiasm with which tho names of the officers was received, was a genuine out-burst of feeling, eloquent above the power of words. It was at once evident that the corps had been happy in their officers, and the latter had been mainly successful through the co-operation of the members. We should like to see many more meetings of the kind, as they are calculated to advance the volunteer movement. Might we not suggest that all the volunteer corps in the city should unite in getting up a grand volunteer ball during the meeting of the Assembly, and so include in their festivities the ladie?, now so unjustifiably left out of bo many social gatherings. Mutuai. Provident Society.— At the halfyearly meeting of the Australian Mutual Provident General Assurance Company held in Sydney, a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent, was declared. Dr Nathan .was' elected a director.

The Poet Darwin Telegraph.— lt is stated that the Adelaide Government hare promised Mr Patterson a bonus of £1,500 if the lino of telegraph to Port Darwin is finished by the end of year. Mr M'Minn, who was overseer of the first telegraph party at Port Darwin, and who cancelled the contract and returned to Adelaide, has finally declined to go with the new telegraph party under Mr Patterson.

An Emigration Company — The Hon. Colonel Fielding has sent proposals to the Adelaide Government on behalf of an English emigration company, for a grant of 250,000 acres of land in the Northern Territory, on the condition of his placing upon the land 6,000 settlers.

Slavery. — Captain Longmuir, of the Challenge, has been committed for trial at Sydney on two charges of slavery in the South Seas.

The new Governor of Queensland — The Marquis of Norraanby, the new Governor of Queensland, has had an extremely rough welcome to Australia so far as regards weather, the Lincolnshire — which entered the Heads early on Sunday morning — having had to cast anchor in the South Channel and remain there for nearly two days. At one time it seemed very likely that the ship would have been wrecked, as she broke away from one of her anchors, and dragged on the other for several miles, until she came to within a quarter of a mile o£ the sandbank offSchnapper Point, where she brought up. The weather, however, moderated yesterday morning, and the Lincolnshire was towed up in tolerable good water by the steam-tug Resolute. The agents of the vessel, Messrs W. P. White and Co., also despatched the steam-tug Mystery to meet her, and Lieut. Rothwell, his Excellency Viscount Canterbury's aide-de-camp, went down to see the Marquis of Normanby, with the invitation for him to Toorak House. The mayor of Melbourne, with Councillor Gatehouse and Mr Fitzgibbon, also went in the Mystery to welcomo the marquis to Victoria, and after the tug had gone come nine or ten miles down the bay ib met the Lincolnshire, and transferred them, together with Lieutenant Rofehwell and some other persons on board. Welcomes were then offered to his Excellency, aud after he landed he proceeded to Toorak House with the Marchioness and Lord Hervey Phipps, his son, in Viscount Canterbury's private carriage, which had been at the railway pier waiting for him. The noble marquis appeared in the best health, and is stated to have enjoyed the passage well, — " Argus."

A Valuable Nugget. — A nugget weighing sixty-two ounces has been found at Wood's flat, Victoria-

Presbyterian College, Sydney; — The Council of the Presbyterian College, Sydney, have negatived a motion to send home for a principal. An amendment to confer the appointment on Dr Lang was also lost.

The Suez Mail.— Tho Suez July mail, with the telegrams up to July 10 or 11, and detailed advices to June 16, was due at Melbourne on August 3. The New Zealand portion will be brought on by the Claud Hamilton, advortisod to leave Melbourne for Hokitika on August 3. The telegrams may be looked for on Wednesday.

A Helichco-Politico Society. — A large meeting of the Catholic laity of Sydney was recently held, when it was decided to form a political association. The Vicar-General was present, and has denounced the movement. Notice was also given in the Catholic churches that the clergy opposed the proposed society. Telegraphy. — One great drawback in tele^ graphic communication throughout the colonieß is the want of a uniform method of transmitting messages. Thi3 evil it is sought to remedy, and the Postmaster- General of Victoria, Mr Duffy, has placed himself in commu* nication with Ministers in other colonies, so that Morse's code for telegraphing messages might be universally adopted throughout the colonies. If this attempt be successful, the task of operators will be rendered much easier, and the convenience of the publio will be increased.

Sheepstealing. — A wholesale "case of sheepstealing to occur so near Melbourne is thus mentioned in the "Police Gazette:— Samuel Ritchie, manager of the Melbourne Meat Preserving Company, reports stolen from Tea Tree Creek, near Maribyrnong, between tho 7th and 11th inst, 722 sheep, various brands.

Rather Red-Tapey.— To show -what we may come to in the course of a short time, we give the following extract from a letter dated at Hobart Town, 12th July, 1871 :— Wo duly received yours of the sth instant, with posters for the (a large and popular vessel, now daily expected), upon which we had to pay duty at the rate of 4s per cubio foot." The parcel contained 25 posters and 25 dietary scales, and would measure about six cubic inches. Before the one could be displayed on the walls, and the other handed to intending passengers, a series of entries had to be passed at tho Custom House, and 2s duty paid.

The Old and New Ministries op Victoria. — The reception of the new Ministry at tho Sandhurst banquet was a most hearty one. Mr Duffy, in his speech, made some effective allusions to his opponents, and " brought down the house" by saying that it would be as impossible to restore Sir James M'Culloch to power at the present time as to replace Napoleon on the throne of France.

Paying the Way fob Telegraphs.— A step that will prove a great boon to those who live in localities where there are post offices, but no telegraph offices, will be taken by Itfr Duffy as Postmaster-General. It is his intention to provide that any persons living at a distance from a telegraph station may post their message in an envelope to tho postmaster at the nearest town where there is a telegraph station. A shilling stamp placed upon the envelope containing the message will not only carry the letter to the postmaster at the telegraph station, but will also cover tho cost of the transmission of the message, providing that there are not more than ten words in tho message sent.

A Valuable Oake.— A very fine cake of retorted gold was exhibited in the "window of Mr Brush, jeweller, Melbourne, on July 2jfcgw Tfc ia the product of 560 loads of quartz froiu the North Garden Gully Company, Sand- i hurst, and weighs 17940z. It is statod that this is the largest cake ever produced by any company in Sandhurst in a single crushing.

Queensland Diamonds. — A diamond of very pure water was found the other day by a shepherd on the Manumbar run, Burnett district, Queensland. The "Brisbane Courier" states:—' Mr 0. O'D. H. Aplin, late geological surveyor for Southern Queensland, showed us the gem. We do not profess to be connoisseurs in the matter of precious stones, bufc the one in question is sufficiently remarkable to attract the attention of any one who savr it. It only weighs two grains. It is a perfect octahedron, with curved faces, and is remarkably bright and sparkling. Mr Aplin, like the lapidary to whom it was submitted in Sydney, hns no doubt whatever as to its being a true diamond. Its value is between £2 and £3,'

Gramic. — A vigorous description of some woman that is wanted is thus given in the terse language of the Victorian "Police Gazette" :— ' Emily Eobinson, alias Taylor alias the Flying Engine, is charged, on warrant, with vagrancy, by the Avenal Bench. ; English (the calling is here given but we omit it), r 35 years' of age, 5 feet sor 6 inches high, slender build, brown hair, face blotchod and bloated from drink, apparently from her conversation to have been well-educated. Bhe is notorious, when excited, for knocking people over the head, with the Orst weapon she can pick up. .Gone to Seymour and Kilmore, amongst the men working on the railway." GREYHOUNDS. — The ship Borrowdale which arrived in Hobson's Bay recently from Liver.pool, has brought out- three fine thoroughbred v greyhouudß, with first-class pedigrees. The Pope —The " Pall Mall Gazette" reports that the Pope is very ill with a fresh attack of gout, which is defined by his physicians a3 ascending paralysis. The Sacred College has hold a secret meeting to consider the' crisis, and has decided in case of the .Pope's death to remove to Malta. Cape Colony. — The "Argus" has Natal papers to the 30th May. The " Friend," an Orange Free State paper of the 2nd, thus comments ou the dispute between the Cape Government and tho Freo State : — ' The British Government, though it has by the convention formally guaranteed our independence, never seems fully to realise the idea that we aro in reality a separate nationality, and will laugh at the plan of referring our (in their idea) petty quarrel to the Emperor of i Germany, or to any other foreign potentate or president. This is, at any rate, tl.e general -^fesstfug here, but still people are very apt to be mistaken. Tho feeling of the Government aud Volksraad here is unquestionably that it is useless to expect justice at the Cape, or rather of the Colonial Government. A TniKLY Vacation. — The Melbourne 11 Telegraph" says :— The tusk of providing for the deficit left the Treasurer of the colony by the late Ministry assumed a severer aspect the more the financial position of tho colony is studied. It transpires that in addition to the sum of £300,000 which Mr Berry will have to obtain from some source or other for the purpose of wiping out the debt of the colony, a sum of £100,000 will have to be provided for tho recouping of certain loau funds, and for which purpose there are no funds available. It really begins to look as if the late Ministry was afraid to face the difficulty they had created, and had taken the first opportunity that presented itself for relieving themselves of the task. Place aux Dames.— If the visit of the Marquis and Marchioness of Norinanby be productive of no higher result than the making fashionable the attendance of ladies at banquets, it will not bare been in vain. Hitherto the gentlemen of Mclbourno havo partaken of their vianda in a selfish way. The ladies, if present, have been relegated to the galleries, and permitted only to gazo upon tho feast, instead of sharing in it. When the dance was on, then the presence of Indies was an indispensable necessity, and their favor was courted ; but at the banquet they were excluded as rigidly as the Mussulman screens his favorites from the public gaze. The Town Hall recently was quite brilliant, and the charms of womanhood lent grace to the scene. The beneficial tendency of giving place ai'.x dames at theso social gatherings will be found ,in a variety of ways. At somo banquets, gentlemen—so called— have indulged in scones ttiafc, had a lady been present, would never have taken place, Decorum at public gatherings will be all the higher because ladies share in the enjoyment j and he must bo a crusty old curmudgeon who would not find in his banquet great enjoyment when shared in by ladies, than if all present were of tho sterner sex. A Breach of Privilege.— The sitting of the Legislative Council of Victoria was enliTened by a discussion on a question of breach of privilege introduced by Mr W. A. C. A'Becfcett. That gentleman informed the House that having been unfortunately connected with a mining company, which did not turn out satisfactorily, a winding-up order was made and'a verdict obtained against all parties concerned', himself included. Not having paid any attention to this verdict, Mr Heron, tho warden afc Castlexnaine had isueed a warrant against him ordering his incarceratian in Castlcmaine gaol for one month with hard labor, in default of his not paying the amount, with coats. Armed with this document a policeman appeared at his house, and was going to arrest him, when ho escaped the inrliginity by paying tho required amount. Thi3 was the breach of privilege he complained of, and which he considered should be taken notice of by the House. After some discussion, he moved that Mr Heron, the warden who signed the warrant, Mr Hooper tho official liquidator at whose suite the warrant was issued, together • with the constable that had executed it, should be ordered to be brought to the bar of tho House, to answer for the breach of privilege committed by them. His motion was, howN ever objected to by somo members, aud ultimately the names of Mr Hooper, and the constable were expunged from the motion, which was then carried. Mr Heron will ac cordingly bavo to attend at the bar of the House on Tuesday next, to answer for having issued a warrant against the person of a member of Parliament. Ah International Commercial Question. — A disadvantage under which importers of American goods have been laboring for some time, has been brought under the notice of the Victorian Commissioner of Customs by a deputation of merchants. In sending to this and other countries consignments of American goods the shipments are invoiced at so many dollars worth, and in calculating the dolar have to be turned into pounds. For some time the dollar has been reckoned by the Customs department here as being worth 4-3 (currency value), or 2d below par. It was Bhown by the deputation, however, that the currency value of a dollar in America and Europe is now ouly 3s 9d, or 5d below par, so that a dollar's worth of American, goods when brought to this market, represents a value of only 3s 9d. Duty is therefore charged on more than the actual value of tho. goods, and it was asked that in future the dollar should be reckoned at 3s 9d instead of 4s. Mr Berry, after somo hesitation, consented <o have the alteration made, but intimated that as the depreciation in the value of the American dollar, which had been brought about by various disturbing causes might not continue, the arrangement must not be considered as a permanent one. Attention was called to the fact that an American vessel, tho Gamecock, whb now discharging iavgo, and it was asked that the reduced rate mi^ht be charged on the goods which she had brought. As the cargo had been partly discharged, MiBerry did not see his way to comply with the request, but in the case of a vessel which had arrived that day from New York, it was stated that only the reduced rates would bo enforced.