LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3326, 23 October 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

General Assemble hall. — A ball is to be given this evening, in the House of Representatives, by the members of both Houses ot Assembly. In anticipation of this event carpenters, upholsterers, and decorators have been busy since Friday last, in converting the Representatives' hall into a suitable ball room, and it is understood that neither trouble nor expense have been spared in this work, while much taste has been exhibited in the decoration of the hall, the lobbies, and refreshment and card rooms. Guests are requested to present at tho enclosed door their cards of invitation. Correspondence. — We are compelled to postpone the insertion of several communications, including some poetical contributions by a fair correspondent who lias adopted the norn deplume of" Silver Pen." The Clutha Railway. — Mr Carter stated at the meeting on Saturday night, that by employing colonial contractors a saving of £350,000 had been effected on this Hue. Where did he get his wonderful figures? Wellington Fire Brigade. — The members of tho Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade are ordered to assemble for practice at the Willis Street engine station ou Wednesday evening, at halfpast seven o'clock. The Late Mr Thomas Feaser.— The funeral of the late Mr Thomas Fraser took place yesterday, and was numerously attended by citizens of Wellington and by friends of the deceased from different parts of the province. It is said that, by his will, the property of the deceased gentleman has been bequeathed to five of his relations in Scotland. Golden Crown Mining Company. — We aro informed by the manager of the Golden Crown claim that the drive is now in for a distance of 125 feet. Gold bearing stone was struck at 117 feet, and the prospects have since improved, the vein apparently dipping at an angle of 35 to 40 degrees. Football. — A good game was played at Thorndon Fiat on Saturday oftornocm. Sides were chosen by Isherwood and Arthur, about nine pluying on each side. There was a fair attendance of spectators, including the Hon Major Richardson, M.L.C. There was one good kick and several trials made. Arthur's side won. A meeting of the club was afterwards held, when the affairs of the club were wound up for the Reason. Hansabd. — We have received the fourteenth number of the reports of Parliamentary debates. It contains reports of the proceedings of both Houses to the 11th instant. Copper Ore. — Captain Bishop, of the barque Guiding Star, which has arrived at Port Chalmers from Hong Kong, re ports that at Koepang a Scotch gentlemao gave him a fine sample of copper, nearly pure, obtained on the island. The gentleman said he was unable to avail himself of the discovery of this ore, owing to the ignorance of himself and the natives of raining operations. It is the intention of Captain Bishop to submit tho sample to the Chamber of Commerce of Dunedin. Press Dramatic Club.— A meeting of the Press Dramatic Club, for the purpose of making arrangements for the performance which they intend to give on Monday next, was held on Saturday evening. At this meeting the club was asked to permit thp presentation of the bat and mallet to Mr Bromley at the performance, which is to be in aid of the improvement of the cricket ground— a matter in which Mr Bromley had prominently interested him self— and the request was at once complied with. The Governor and Lady Boweri, as well as a large number of influential citizens, have promised their patronage to the performance, and the members of the club are themselves industrious in doing everything to ensure its success. Boat Race.— The Electric Spark, the Faugh -a Ballagh, the Titokowaru, and the Empire City started on Saturday after noon for a spurt round the harbor. Starting from Hunter's wharf, the course was round the Bally rock and back to the Queen's wharf. A pretty good race was made for home by the Empire City and Titokowaru, the former reaching home first. The crew of the Electric Spark rowed well, but, having missed the buoy, were out of the race. The Chinese Question.— A new feature, the "Arrow Observer" says, has sprung up in connection with the A.ntiChinese petition. The Chinese them selves are wishing to sign the petition, as they say they consider there are quite enough of them here already. Not only are they anxious to sign, but willing also to contribute to the expense incurred by the Arrow Miners' Association in its circulation. Hitherto the liberality of the Celestials has not been put to the test. Immigration in Qtago. — The returns of immigration and emigration at and from the pert of Dunediu during the quarter ending on the 30th of September, show that during that period 1,903 persons (1723 males and 180 females) landed from places outside New Zealand, and 264 persons (213 males and 51 females) left for places outside the colony. The details are as follows :— Immigration : From the United Kingdom, 182 males and 132 females ; from the Australian colonies, 205 males and 48 females ; from other British ports, 1,328 males ; from Foreign States, 8 males. Emigration : To tho United Kingdom, 19 males and 10 feraalpß; to the Australian colonies, 171 males, and 40 femnles ; to Foreign States, 23 males and 1 female. The balance in favour of immigration is thua 1.639. Of the immigrants, 1,400 were Chinese, who arrived as follows:— By the Jean Sands, from

Hong Kong, Sl6 ; by the Golden Sea, from Hong Kong, 478; by the Tien Esser, from the Mauritius, 5 ; by the Noord Brabant, from Hong Kong, 348 ; and by the Taranaki, ex Joshua Bates, from Hong Kong, 253. This does not include the 199 (of whom 9 have died) who arrived by the Guiding Star, as that vessel came into port after the expiry of the quarter. The Thomson Road Steamer. — The Canterbury Government steamer has been j tried between Rolleston and the Selwyn with very satisfactory results. A load of twenty tons was attached, and the distance between the two points named was satisfactorily accomplished. The alteration to the tubes— according to the suggestion of Mr Nancarrow, the General Government Engineer — appears to have effected a great improvement, and the only apparent obstacle to the working of the engine now is the ignition of the grass by live coals dropping from the fire box. The Government have received several applications for the engine, and if the fault referred to could be overcome, it is believed that no difficulty would be experienced in utilising the steamer. The Fifty Thousand Acre Sale. — The Mount Benger correspondent of the "Tuapeka Times" writes: — "The engrossing topic here is the sale to Clarke of 45,000 acres on the Moa Flat Runs. The worst feature of this act is, thai a block of 5000 acres, which had been lately cancelled from one of these runs, surveyed into sections of about fifty acres each, and promised to be thrown open for sattlement under the previsions of the agricultural leasing system as soon as the survey plans were ready, is included iv tho sale, clearly showing that no trust whatever can be put in the good faith or honesty of our public men. I have never seen such intense disgust and indignation exhibited here before; not even on the occasion of the Island Block job." A public meeting, to consider tho action of the Provincial Government in the matter, was held on Thursday, the sth instant, when the following resolutions were carried : — .« That it is the opinion of this meeting that the sale of 50.000 acres of land to Mr Clarke of Moa Flat Buns, including the 5,000 acre block recently surveyed and promised to be opened for occupation under the provisions of the agricultural leasing system, is an unparaU leled breach of faith on the part of the Provincial Government, and calculated to destroy settlement in this district for all time to come." " That in the opinion of this meeting the sale of land on runs 212 and 215 to the pastoral lessee by the Provincial Government is destructive to the best interests of the country, and calculated to destroy all confidence in the honesty of public men." " That this meeting is of opinion the Provincial Government, in the recent sale to Mr Clarke of 50,000 acres on Moa Flat Buns, havo acted iv defiance of all law and the provisions of the Waste Lands Act." Theatrical.— We notice by the Christ, church papers that a new theatrical company is to be formed there. Mr Baylee, of tho Criterion Hotel, left for Dunedin, by the Tararua, to complete the negotiations which have been pending for a considerable time past, and we are informed that the new company will make its debut before a Christchurch audience sometime about the first of next month. Miss Dolly Green will be directress ; Mons. A. Fleury, leader of orchestra ; Mr Charles Massey, scenic artist; Mr T. Woods, mechanist; Mr George Ward, property master ; and Mrs Woods, wardrobe keeper. The latest London sensational plays will be produced in succession, and engagements have been made with Mr J. PI. Holloway, Miss Lena Carey, Mr Harry Power, Miss Henrietta Grainger, Mr Robert Douglass, Miss Maggie Macfarlane, Mr J. Alexander, aud Misa Salome Lloyd. Engagements are pending with the Zavistowski Sisters and Mrs George Darrell and Mrs Mary Gladstane. Trial by Jury. — In tho course of an argument in the Supreme Court recently, Mr Justice Chapman expressed an opinion that the knowledge of the fact that a judge could only detain a jury for twelve hours after they had retired to consider their verdict, had had the effect of causing juries not to agree, and mentioned some of the means adopted by them for whiling away the hours of their detention, instancing in particular a recent case in which a refractory juror amused his companions for some time by singing songs. To this may be fairly added tho case which occurred not many months ago, in which several of a jury that had been locked up passed away the time by cardplay ipg. '