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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 3630, 16 October 1872, Page 2

According to a telegram received from Dunedin yesterday, the "Otago Daily Times," in commenting upon the position of affairs in the House of Representatives, says that if tlie Opposition should attempt to refuse supplies, tho country and tlie press would join in a unanimous support of tlio present Government. A Tory street "Ratepayer" writes to us that he is sorely troubled with a plague of soapsuds, which seems to be ever flowing past liis premises, and lodging in poisonous pools, that fill tlio air with such an unwholesome effluvia as to make him tremble for the health of himself and family, unless he shifts his dwellingplace. It appears that he has neighbors who have a great deal of washing to do, and as they "have the hill of him," he is constantly deluged with soap-suds. We recommend him to take liis grievance to the City Council, though it is to be feared he will not got much relief. If he did, it would at once be tlie signal for hundreds of applicants like himself to lodge similar complaints. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning Elizabeth AVhite was fined 20s for drunkeuness ; in default of payment she was ordered to be impri- , soncd for forty-eight hours. A fow civil cases were disposed of. We understand that a requisition has been sent to the Provincial Grand Lodge, at Canterbury, for power to open a Masonic Lodge at Mr Tone's private hotel, Masterton, under P. P. Masters, who had the honor of installing the first Master of the first lodge in New Zealand (Pacific), now thirty years ago. Tlie Wellington race meetings wore formerly attractive enough to bring together a largo gathering of tlio country settlers of this province, as well as sportsmen with their liorses from the other settlements. Why tliey have been allowed to dwindle into insignificance, and at length die out altogether (as last season) it is useless to speculate upon now. No doubt the races at Wairarapa, and perhaps one at Wanganui, fluctuate in quality of sport and attendance of visitors, exactly as the Wellington races deteriorate or flourish. But Wellington should naturally take the lead in such matters. Our sister provinces know full well the advantages of promoting and sustaining such social gathering, and value and appreciate the kindly feelings engendered thereby. Sportsmen with their race-horses are continually passing and re-passing through Cook's Strait, sometimes coming to the end of our wharf only to meet with a cold reception, and our citizens accordingly are liable to lay themselves open to the charge of being churlish and inhospitable, when it is well known that such is far from being their true character. We think that those who are endeavoring once more to start our races deserve the support of tlie public, and we cordially wish them success. In saying this we do not forget that the last were not quite up to Newmarket quality, neither are we going to predict that those now projected will rival Ascot or Goodwood in brilliancy, but to discontinue them altogether is not the way to mend matters. If thoso who think as we do will rally to the meeting this evening and lend their assistance we have little fear as to the result. Mr Chambers, from Melbourne, has arrived at Westport, for the purpose of inspecting the Ngakawhau coal mine.