LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3285, 24 August 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Motueka Election Petition Committee.—The committee appointed by the House of Representatives for the bearing of the petition of Mr Parker against the return of Sir David Monro for the electoral district of Motueka held their first sitting yesterday in No. 1 Committee Room. The members of the committee are Messrs Brandon, Fitzlierbert, Gillies, Pearce, Studholme, McGillivray, and Bunny, Mr Brandon being the chairman. Mr Allen appeared on behalf of the petitioner, Mr Parker, who was also present, and Mr Travers appeared on behalf of Sir David Monro. Mr Travers, relying upon tho authority of Cushing, protested against the jurisdiction of the committee, it not having been constituted according to the strict requirements of the Act. The committee decided that this question having been dealt with on two occasions by the House, it was not for them to entertain the objection. The ruling of the Speaker ou two several occasions as to the proper mode of electing a committee having received the formal approval of the House, their j appointment had been made after the objection noiv raised by Mr Travers had been disposed of by " the competent authority." Note of the objection was, however, taken by the chairman. An adjournment was then applied for by Mr Allen, for the purpose of procuring witnesses. There were, he said, two witnesses who could be procurod at once, to prove the merely formal part of the petition, but the essential witnesses lived in the electoral district, and these could not be procured without the warrant of the Chairman of the Committee. The rule was, that tho committee should not adjourn for more than thirty hours, but, with the leave of the House they could do so. Several of tho witnesses resided at the Moutere, and one was in the Grey district, so that he did not anticipate that they would be able to bo in attendance before the second of September. According to tho practice of the House of Commons, it was usual to hand in a list of witnesses to be called, with particulars as to the cases to be investigated, and he handed to tho chairman a list of witnesses, two of whom would bo examined as to personation, and ten or eleven of whom would be examined as to bribery and treating. Mr Travers consented to the presentation of an affidavit from one of the witnesses, Mrs Hagan, the mother of James Hagan, provided it were in the ordinary form of pedigree proof, and it was agreed that the committee should adjourn to September the 3rd, after an interim adjournment for thirty hours until the leave of the House should be obtained. New Bills. — The Legislative Council have already before them five new bills, the second reading of which is appointed to take place during the ensuing week. These are tho Bakers and Millers Bill, the Contractors Debt Bill, the Insolvency Bill, tho Deceased Wife's Sister Marriage Bill, and tho Intestato Estates Bill. Besides these a bill for regulating the sale of poisons, and another for amending the law of evidence were to be introduced into tho Council yesterday, but were withheld, as the bills had not been printed. Tiie " Settlement" of Tito Kowaru. The Hon Mr Scotland, in the Legislative Council, yesterday, gave notice of a motion to the effect that, in the opinion of the Council, in order to establish peace on the -West Coast, it is a duty to set aside land for Tito Kowaru and his followers to settle thereon with as little delay as possible. A Question op Costume. — The question raised iv the Legislative Council by the Hon Mr M'Lean as to the costume to bo worn by the Hon the Spenker of the Upper House has been referred to the standing orders committee of that House, who are instructed to consider whether the costume should not bo so altered as to resemble that worn by the presiding peer of the British House of Lords. The committee have also been instructed, with a view to promote the cornforfc and convenience of members of the Council, to consider the propriety of adopting an appropriate robe for members on such special occasions as they may be expected to appear in full di'ess. The late Mb Dayis, Geologist. — Mr Charlea O'Neill, in the House of Representatives yesterday, while presenting a petition from Mrs Davis, widow of the late Mr Davis, F.C.S., F.G.S., assistant geologist for New Zealand, stated that he considered the death of Mr Davis was a serious loss to the whole colony. Reduction of Gold Duty. — Yesterday Mr Charles O'Neill, the member for the Thames, gave notice that next week he would move that tho duty on gold should be reduced to one shilling* on each standard ounce, and that tho " miner's right fee" should be reduced to ten shillings. The present duty on gold is 2s 6d per ounce, and the miner's right fee is 20s. Gueymoutii Coal mine and Railway. — The joint report of Dr Hector and Mr Blackett is one of the papers included in the reports and correspondence on railway construction which have just been placed before the General Assembly. Considerable interest has been taken both in the Nelson province and in Westland, with regard to the recommendation of the report upon a much discussed question, namely, whether the proposed line of railway should bo on the north or the south side of the river Grey. It has already been stated that the suoth Hide has been preferred by the Commissioners, and we find that this preference is expressed in one of the three recommendations with which the report concludes. These are — " First, that a light bridge should be thrown across the Coal Gorge, adapted for curving the small waggons that are used in tho coal mines, and also for foot and horse traffic. 2nd, that the line on the south side of the river should be adopted. 3rd, that the wharfage at Greymouth should be improved in such a manner that while it affords facilities for shipping coal, it will also render permanent the channel of the river, and increase the depth of water on the bar." The Commissioners calculate the cost of the south line to be £30,37 a, and of the north line to be £27,687, and with regard to their choice they say : — " In adoptiug the line on the south side of the river, there is another but remote consideration that should be taken into account, and that is tho future extension of the line of railway up the valley of the Grey river. From our acquaintance with the features of tho country, we are of opiuion that such an extension must follow along the south side of the valley, whether it bo, considered as a line leading direct to Nelson, or as a branch line to connect with v main line from Nelson to the cast side of the mountains by the head waters of 'Waiau or Hurumii. At the present time, however, no requirement for any such extension exists, as Ihe Grey river affords facilities for lighterage at a rate of freights that it would be difficult fora railway to compete with, unless the trade were extended by some unforseen cause." The disadvan-

tage of tho north line, they state, "is the limit to the extension of the wharf accommodation which it presents, while at the same time the expenditure for that purpose will not assist to preserve the channel and improve the outlet of the river. To connect Greymouth with this line would requiro an additional expenditure for the lower bridge, while at the same time, the same harbor improvements would ultimately be required, as in the former case, and would increase the cost of the works by this route." Wellington Choral Society. — It w.ill be seen by an advertisement in our columns that this Society will give a special concert on Thursday, 31sfc inst., in aid of funds for the reward of certain of its officers. These officers for a number of years past have performed satisfactorily the duties assigned to t'lein without having received that recognition which they would have received had the funds of the Society been sufficient. It is due to the subscribers to this Society ■ to state that tho Concert now proposed should have been given last year, but circumstances unforeseen prevented this. The officers to be remunerated are, we believe, the late Conductor, tho Secretary, and the Librarian, the performance of whose duties cannot be too highly appreciated, and we feel sure that the subscribers to the Society and tho general public will testify their appreciation of the services performed by those gentlemen, in a willing and substantial manner. The Maori Mkmbers. — There is a motiou on the notice paper. for to day by one of tho Maori representatives, Mr iiori Kerei Taiaroa. The motion is, "That, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that a council of Native chiefs should be formed for the Middle Islnnd, whose duty it will bo to devise measures for the better administration of affairs relating to their lands which may or may not at present be held under Crown Grant, and to their property generally. Such measures to bo i submitted to the General Assembly for | final approval." ! Odd Fellows.-— The annual district I meeting was held on Thursday for the election of district officers for the ensuing year and transacting other business. From the annual report, compiled from the returns of the several lodges by the corresponding secretary, P.Gr. E. Bannister, it appeared there were 507 members good on the books ; 59 new members had been initiated durinc; the year, and 47 had left the order; 43 sick members had received £326 18s Gd, exclusive of medicine and medic/il attendance, and £90 had been paid in funeral donations. The total funds of tho district amounted to £5,867 Us lid, being an increase of £118 15s 9d. During the year two now lodges havo been opened — one at Meanee, Napiei*, and the other at Greytown, Wairarapa, with every prospect of success. P.G. Thos. Weiuleley was elected Grand Master; P.G. N. Valentine, Deputy Grand Master ; and P.G. Edwin Bannister retained the office of corresponding secretary. Applications were received for the 'opening of two new lodges, one at Featherskm and the other at Masterton, which were granted. After the disposal of some other routine business, a vote of thanks was unanimously given to the retiring Grand Master, P.P.G.M. _E. Lewis, and tho quarterly district meeting was then adjourned uutil October next. The Heathen Chinese. — Matters in connection with the Chinese question appear to bo coming to a head in the Wakatip district. Indeed, if our (" Daily Times ") Queenstown telegram is to bo believed, a "scrimmage" between the miners and the "heathen" is not unlikely. j " Money is forthcoming freely," " the organisation is proceeding rapidly," and excitement prevails ; the crusade is about to begin. A petition has been got up by the Arrow District Miner' Association against tho further iuflux of Chinese into the province. A letter on the same subject, by Mr James Miller, the President of the Association, appears in tho "Arrow Observer." It contains tho following startling passage : — " Wo are freemen — they are slaves ! We are Christians — they are heathens ! ! Wo are Britons — they are Mongolians ! ! !" Tree Planting. — An effort towards planting forest trees on a large scale is about to be made by a gentleman residing near Timaru, who calls for tenders for planting 150 acres with blue gums, and who purposes planting another 100 acres with the same trees in tho course of a year. Westland County Engineer. — We notice by the " West Coast Times" that the County Council balloted for an engineer, the result being to reduce the choice to two, viz, Messrs Campbell and Wylde, but as some dissatisfaction was expressed with the modo adopted, progress was eventually reported. The vacancy was created by Mr O'Connor, tho County Engineer, being appointed District Engineer by the General Government. The Ohristciiurch: and Hokitika R'AD.— ln the Westland County Council the following resolution was carried :— " That this Council is of opinion that the overland road from the mouth of the Arahura to Arthur's pass is a Colonial work, and that tho some should be maintained by the Colonial Government out of Colonial revenue." Hall's Line of Steamers. — According to a paragraph in the " Argus" of the sth instant, Mr Henry Parkes had an interview with the Chief Secretary, and on behalf of Hall's line to San Francisco made certain proposals for constituting Melbourne the final port of arrival and departure for that service. Mr Duffy promised that the Government would consider tho subject. The Sydney correspondent of the " Argus," writing of this line on tho 28th ult, says : — " The City of Melbourno has disappointed expectation in both her passages, and tho saving of time by the American route has still to be demonstrated. Leaving Sydney on the fourth of May, the pioneer vessel did not reach San Francisco till tho seventh of June, but she encountered strong head winds all tho way from Honolulu to California. Neither was the return trip accomplished to time, for leaving San Francisco on the2oth June, she did not make Port Jackson till the 24th of July. The Wonga, which was the second boat, will notshow anyimprovementon this speed, as far as the outward passage is concerned, for she had strong head winds the whole way to Honolulu, and had to lie to for two days, but she may be more lucky on the downward trip. The City of , Adelaide promises to be the fivst to achieve tho expected success." The same correspondent, on the 3rd of this month writes : — Tho City of Melbourne left on Wednesday for California with a fair number of I passengers. Sho was unavoidably detained for three days, as through arriving three days lato there was not time to givo her a proper overhaul so as to allow of her departure on the Ist, an important fracture was discovered in the machinery which could not be repaired hurriedly. Her old three-bladed screw has been put on, and it is to bo hoped that this time

she will make a good run. The Government makes no sign as to what it intends to do in the way of subsidy, but the company that owns the vessels is being inevitably drawn into taking a larger share of the risk. Congregational.-— The Rev. James Maxwell has arrived from Sydney to undertake the pastoral charge of the Congregational Church at Port Chalmers. The Eev Mr Eoseby, of Sydney, has accepted the call recently forwarded him from the Congregational Church, Moray Place, Dunedin, and is expected to leave Sydney in about a month. The " Notobious" Captain Hayes.— The following-telegram in reference to the notorious Capt Hayes is published in the " Argus" of the 10th instant :—" Sydney, 9th.-— The Restless, from Bangkok, brings 4-284 bags of rice and 1232 bags sugar. The notorious Captain Hayes had arrived at Bangkok with the brig Leonora, formerly an American vessel called the Waterlily. He had a cargo of rice on freight from Saigon to Hong Kong. He had the brig thoroughly refitted, and then sailed suddenly, leaving the cargo as payment. He also chartered a schooner from a Mussulman by the mouth, and placed his mate in command, with instructions to join him at a rendezvous in the South Seas." A Centenary Yet to be Celebrated. — Referring to the' Scott and Caxton centenaries, a would-be witty correspondent of the Melbourne " Argus" writes :— On the 31st of August, Sir, exactly— according to Bishop Usher and the revised edition of the Targum— at 12 noon, 5,875 years ago, my relative (I trust .1 may, without impertinence, Sir,, say our relative), Adam, opened his eyes upon that earth which, under more favorable circumstances, was to produce Darwin and Huxley, L. L. Smith and Napoleon Bonaparte, the great gun of Athlone Puritanism, Popery and wooden shoes. What, Sir, are the miserable claims of a Scott or a Caxton. compared with those of this great man ? Where, Sir, would have been the haughty scions of our nobility had it not been for his unselfish paternity? Where would have been our strawberry leaves, our red tape, our Magna Charta, our back stairs, and of our Pour Georges, had it not been for his prudent forethought P Where would have been our poetry or our prose, our Court of Chancery and of Bankruptcy ? — where, indeed, all that lends a charm to existence without this forgotten patriarch ? Why, Sir, iv that dismal region— as yet unexplored even by the daring Swinbourne — the Womb of Time. Draught Stock. — The annual horse show at Messrs M'Culloch, Campbell and Co.'s bazaar, Melbourne, came off on the 9th and 10th inst. The highest price offered was for the imported five year old draught horse Marquis of Lorn, who was bought in at £800. Of those sold, Merry Bob, a three year old Clydesdale colt, brought the best price, being bought by Messrs Officer Brothers, Murray Downs, for £700. Among the colonial bred horses, a very fine three year old was sold for New Zealand for £310. Mountain Chief, a splendid bay colt, rifling three years old, standing over sixteen hands high, with great power and excellent action, was sold to Captain Haimes, of Colac, for the moderate price of £450. Count Bismark, a powerful dapple bay, was purchased by Mr Robert Lennox, of Kilmoro, for £380. The colonial bred horse Prince was sold to Mr W. Thompson, of New Zealand, for £180.