LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3287, 26 August 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

- Native Intelligence. — We are authorised to state that intelligence has been received from Captain Preece to the following effect : — On tho 18th instant fires were seen on the Waipaua river, a branch of the Ruakituri. Tho tracks of Te Kooti's party were found, and shortly afterwards a woman was taken prisoner, who gave information that Te Kooti was camped close by. Arrangements were made to surprise the camp, which was accordingly rushed. Four meu were killed aud eighteen stand of arms with everything elso in the camp fell iuto our hands. Te Kooti and most of the men escaped by swimming a river which bounded the camp. The force under Captains Preece and Mair were at the timo the attack ou Te Kooti's camp was made, destitute of I supplies, and had after his escape to return for provisions. They were ready when the messenger left camp to starfc agaiu in pursuit. JMajor Ropata had not been communicated with since his force went into the bush. The Education Bill, we understand, will bo in the hands of hon. members this day. Sir Charles Clifford. — Our readers will be pleased to learn from our parliamentary report thafc to-day the portrait of Sir Charles Clifford will adorn the walls of the House of Representatives. This kind attention on tho part of its first Speaker was evidently fully appreciated by the House. We regret our report ia so condensed as not to do anything liko justice to the graceful tributes paid to Sir Charles by the Premier, and the Hon. Messrs Fitzherbert and Hall. According to the former, the portrait is a striking likeness, and the work of no mean artist. The Reolaimed Land Bill. — We are always ready to acknowledge any mistake, I and as we have several times expressed a doubt as to the support Mr Brandon might give his Wellington colleagues, we I cannot allow his able advocacy of this bill in committee lasfc night to pass without; acknowledgment. It is tho merest justice to say that his assistance was as valuable as it was cordially rendered. The Government while anxious to protect the colony, as in duty bound, have shown by the attention aud supporfc they have : gi^en to the bill that Wellington may at least have worse " enemies." Parliamentary Debates. — We report ' at a length beyond that of our usual summary of parliamentary proceedings the remarks of the Hon JDr Buchanan and the Hon Mr Waterhouse on the subject of reporting parliamentary debates, as a means of directing attention to a subject of importance both to members of the Assembly and to the public generally. 11. M. Court. — Yesterday, in this courfc, there were only a few civil cases heard. An application for the transfer of jhe license of the Exchange Hotel from Walter W. Johnston to Peter Fotheringham was opposed on behalf of the police, and adjourned till Monday. Soiree. — Wo notico that the Primitive Methodists of this city intend holding a grand soiree in the Odd Fellows' Hall, on Monday evening next, and from what we learn extensive preparations are heing made so as to ensure its success. The tea and its accompaniments, which are to provided by the well-known caterer Mr Donnecker, is to be on the tables from half-past five till seven, after which the tables will be cleared away for the entertainment which will commeneo afc halfpast Beven. We expect the audience will enjoy a rare treat ; they will hear speeches by our most popular speakers, choice selections of music by tbe Choral Society, and several solos and duets by the accomplished clarionet players JMJessrs Hunter and Mackintosh. The i object for which the soiree is to be J held — the reduction of the churoh debt — I should be sufficient to induce many to | purchase tickets, tho price of wbich is only two shillings each ; but, from what we hear, the evening's entertainment itself I will be moro than worth the chargo for admission. Journalistic. — We notice that a Wesfc Coast journal, the " Grey Valley Times," wliich ceased to exist as a broadsheet some months ago, and which, a fortnight ago, was reproduced in a modified and improved form, is advertised for sale — type, presses, and " copyright," whatever that may be worth.

Thb Basilisk Minstrels. — Anofcher performance was given lasfc evening on board H.MJ.S. Basilisk bythe company of, amateur Christy Minstrels formed by tfie crew. Boats left tbe wharf for the ship at half-past six o'clock, and we understand that a large number of guests availed themselves of the opportunity of being j present at an entertainment novel in its situation and very pleasing in its character. Our representative was unable to avail himself of tbe invitation which was courteously scut to this ofßce by the officers of the ship, bufc we believe that, both by the musical and terpsichorean portions of the programme, the spectators were very much amused and gratified. By the officers and men everything was done to contribute to the success of tbe entertainment and to promote the comfort of their visitors from shore. The only absent Member.— From our telegraphic columns we learn thafc tbe hon. member for the Buller who got leave of absence yesterday, has been called upon by his constituents to resign or proceed at once to Wellington. They evidently think his illness is not a sufficient excuse for not taking his seat. The new Members. — The deplorable exhibition made by Mr Collins yesterday in putting what bo thought a very smart question to the Premier about Mr Yogel's mission, was the most amusing thing of the session. No new member has been guilty of such mingled folly and indecency. Perhaps the most ludicrous parfc I of the whole affair was tho self-compla-cency of the interrogator, who evidently thought he was doing a great strobe. JSTever did any member commit so egregious a mistake. After his performance anything that wo havo found fault with in the new members seems absolutely unexceptionable. The latter, by the way, yesterday rather distinguished themselves. Mr Stewart's clear and intelligent speech on the JReclaimed Land Bill excited much admiration among the critics in the gallery. Ifc showed thafc the hon. member gives a faithful attention to the questions before him, and can discuss their merits with much promptitude and power. The evident attention given by Mr Murray to tho same bill also excited considerable remark. As we bave shown ourselves ready to censure any undue waste of time by useless speech-making, so we have great pleasure in according these members the meed of praise so justly due to them. The Canterbury Caucus. — The absurd rumor that the Canterbury members had a meeting yesterday, and thafc " their deliberations were not iv favor of maintaining tbe existing order of things " scarcely requires to be contradicted. If by " tbe existing order of things " is meant tbo Fox Ministry, we can state on better information that thej r were never more likely to bo "maintained." Tliey are getting stronger every day. We havo been assurred that the deliberations were entirely confined to Canterbury matters, and had nothing to do with " forming an opposition." To-day an Auckland caucus is to be held for the consideration of purely Auckland questions. We suppose wo shall hear next that tbo fate of the Fox Ministry is to be settled thero! Surely the members from any one district of the colony can mcot for the consideration of special business without being considered plotting against tho Ministry ! Wo repeat that tho Ministry is getting stronger every day — many of tbo new members discovering, to their agreeable surprise, that Ministers are not the political ogres they have beon represented in certain journals. The Hey. Me Lewis.— We understand that the Rev. Mr Lewis, of Johnsonville, who has lately suffered from severe illness, is still unablo to leavo bis bed, though he is now somewhat better, and his health is giving symptoms of improvement. Though thus recovering, however, we hear that his medical advisers have come to the conclusion that the stato of his health is such as to warrant them in ordering him to abstain from active duty for somo months to come. They are hopeful thafc a thorough change of climate and scene, together with a sea voyage, may bring about a restoration of his lost strength and health. Imprisonment for Debt. — We have received a letter from a correspondent who signs himself "Amor Virtutis," in reply to thafc of " Debtor and Creditor," which appeared in theso columns a few days ago. Tbe letter is not written with sufficient perspicuity to warrant its insertion. Breacii or Promise. --The recent extraordinary marriage between an heiress aud a betting man in Melbourno is not to bo allowed to pass altogether away from our remembrances. A young Hebe who had been employed to dispense glasses of wine and nobblers of brandy in a hostelry much frequented by the " talent," considers that her young affections have been trifled with by tbe bappy bridegroom, and has accordingly instructed her solicitor to bring an action for breach of promise of marriage. The absence of the defendant in Sydney, on business not unconnected with the Randwick Spring Meeting, will prevent the matter being proceeded with at o.nce, but rumor has it that a strong bar is already retained, and tho whole of the circumstances connected with the case will bo investigated in a court of law. Starving a Jury into a Verdict. — A correspondent of a New South Wales paper, who signs himself " One of the Twelve," gives tho following account of the manner in which the jury on tho perjury case tried afc Toowoomba last week were treated :— " For nearly fifteen hours they were locked up witb only a sperm candle and a jug of cold water for refreshment, in a dreary, draughty cell, on a bitter cold night, and no fire, and three men sworn in to prevent thoir friends or acquaintances providing them with warm clothing or personal comforts of any kind. Wben the morning sun shone oufc they asked to bo allowed to bask in its rays, but were informed by these keepers that such a proceeding could not be allowed. But what appears most strange of all to mo is, that the Chief Justice left the Court and mado no provision forrelievingthenaugbfcymenwho couldn't agree, supposing they had como to a decision early in the nighfc. A verdict would bo more likely at 10 o'clock than the next morning. If impartial verdicts are required — ' verdicts acoording to tbe evidence'— don't lock juries up all nighfc, for the prospect of passing fifteen hours in company with a jug of cold water, I am sure, induces most men to consider themselves absolved from their oath. If tho jury were refractory, the jurymen's horses had dono no wrong, but they too were leffc, for tho space of twenty-four hours, to feed on posts and rails."