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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3901, 4 September 1873, Page 2

As might be expected from the circumspectness with which the Governor handled the Tapscott case, he has neglected no legal formality which, if neglected, might be taken advantage of by the prisoners. Immediately after the men were sent to the gaol, his Excellency proclaimed the Wellington Gaol a house of detention under the Extradition Treaty. The counsel for the captain, it appears, also displayed a like caution, for it is said that as soon as they saw there was a probability that the points of law raised by Mr Travers and Mr Izard were likely to be tested in the Supreme Court, they at once pie vented the defence from obtaining the assistance o£ the Attorney-General by securing him with a retaining fee. It will be seen by advertisement that £1500 on a bottomry is wanted upon the ship William Tapscott. The tenders, if there should be any, are to closo on Saturday. They are to be received at the office of Captain M'lntyre. Mr Keogh md the Royal Comique Variety Company are making a rural season in the Wairarapa.

A largo quantity of kauri timber was auctioned- yesterday by Mr Thomas at his* business place, in Brandon atreet. The sale was brisk and brief, the bidding being spirited and the prices very satisfactory. Rough boards . fetched 16s 6d per 100 feet ; plain tongued and grooved, 18s to 20». There wa. 65,500' feet in all. The cargo was per Mary Webster, from Mercury Bay. Yesterday was ne exception to the usual silence of the Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. Not a criminal case of any kind cropped up, while the civil business was merely of a formal nature. The Wanganui collector for the Education Board has recovered against several defaulters, in spite of a host of objections raised by counsel. A Wanganui paper says that the £600 voted for the repair of the Wanganui wharf was to be forwarded by yesterday's coach. We have to acknowledge the receipt of one guinea from J. J. Evans, as a subscription towards the Tapscott Defence Fund. The shares in the new National Insurance Company, which have been allotted to this province, are being taken up rapidly. About 8000 have been applied for already. On Sunday next Bishop Moran will open the Catholic Chapel at Makara Junction by Mass, and will afterwards deliver a sermon. Mozart's Grand Mass will be sung by the Sisteis of the Convent. • It will be seen by advertisement that M/ Fairclough gives an entertainment at the *Hutt this evening. We can only say that the people of the Hutt will have an opportunity of witnessing the performance of the best tragedian in this hemisphere. The last batch of papers received from the Government Printing Office contains one giving a statement of the expenditure under the vote " Legislative departments" for the financial year, commencing Ist July, 1872, and ending 30th June, 1873. The total amount expended ib set down at £20,420 10s lOd. The subscription lists for the Tapscott Defence Fund are being filled up in a satisfactory manner, and there is no doubt that by the end of the week, when it is proposed to call in the lists and advertise the amounts collected, a sufficient sum for the requirements of the case will have been collected. As a great many people have hesitated to contribute because they entertain doubts whether the points of law raised in favor of the prisoners are likely to be maintained, we may state, on very good authority that there is strong reason to believe the objections will hold good at least as far as two of the men are concerned. We have been favored with a copy of the Directors' Report for this year of the Australian Mutual Provident Society. It ia a most voluminous and elaborate compilation, and was prepared for presentation to a special meeting of members which was to have been held on the 26th of last month. The chief object to be attained by its publication was to facilitate the consideration of certain proposed alterations in the by-laws. Appended to the report is a case for opinion and opinions thereon by the actuaries consulted, together with a report to the directory by the actuary on the business regulations of the society. We understand that Mr Fuller, of Greytown, intends erecting a first-class hotel in that township, and will commence building shortly, the necessary plans and specifications being already prepared. There will be ample room to accommodate from thirty-five to forty persona, with private apartments for families. The want of such a building has been greatly felt in Greytown, and we have no doubt the speculation will prove a highly remunerative one. " Limejuicer" writes in reply to " Odd Fellow's" inquiry regarding Mr Seymour's holding two certificates, that "a local board does not take away the previous certificate, if" that was granted by the London Board of Trade." He presumes the same practice applies to certificates from other large ports, as he holds a Bombay local certificate and a London certificate — one as second mate and the other as first mate. His original London certificate as second mate was returned to him at Bombay when he passed his examination. A settler in Carnarvon writes to us. in pitiful terms of the unjust way in which that district is dealt with as compared with Palmerston. He wonders how it ia that the latter district should obtain main roada and tramroads," while Carnarvon cannot get a road although the Government have received £25,000 out of the block. He says that the difficulties of struggling through eight miles of mud behind a pack horse makes him appreciate the position of Palmerston people, who can ride twenty-five miles to Foxton on a tramway, and causes him to wonder why Palmerston should be so favored a locality. The Wesleyan Church at Adelaide mad having been opened a year, it was decided to hold the anniversary during the current week. The usual sermons were preached last Sunday — that in the afternoon by the Rev Mr Smalley, and in the evening by the Rev Mr Morley. The the and public meetings were held on Tuesday evening ; the tea was placed on the table shortly before six, and large numbers attended and regaled themselves, the church being literally crammed, necessitating two or three sittings. After tea the public meeting commenced, the Rev Mr Morley in the chair, which he occupied with great pleasantness, thus tending greatly to enliven the proceedings. Mr It. M. Oleland, the treasurer, read the report and financial statement. The general progress of the church haa been most satisfactory, and the debt remaining only amounts to £130. Mr Hammond then addressed the meeting, urging upoii his hearers to attend seduously to the week-day services of the church, as well as the Sabbath. Interesting and profitable addresses were afterwards given by the Rev Messrs Smalley, Moir,andMessrsMoxham, Dixon, and several other gentlemen. The address was very humorous, and at times fairly convulsed the audience. It was stated during the evening that the proceeds of the present anniversary would be applied to painting and fencing the church. The whole passed off most successfully, and though the church was densely packed the utmost good humor prevailed throughout. We cannot omit mentioning the decorations, which, considering the season of the year, were extremely good, the appropriate mottoes and other devices telling very pleasantly. The proceedings were brought to a close, after the usual vote of thanks, by the pronouncing of the benediction, all having enjoyed themselves most thoroughly. The locomotive can now run from Auckland to Onehunga. The Wanganui Rifle Association has resolved to send two representatives to the intercolonial competition at Melbourne, provided funds sufficient to defray their expenses be raised.