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Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 3999, 12 January 1874, Page 2

The suggestion made in these columns that an exhibition of colonial products and manufactures should be held in 1875, as marking the progress of our industries during the ten years which have elapsed since the exhibition in Dunedin, has naturally found favor with contemporaries, and in an eminent degree with an Auckland contemporary, the " Herald," but, while approving of the project, the ' ' Herald" takes exception to Wellington as the city in which the exhibition should be held. In an article characterised more by sarcasm than an accurate statement of facts, the " Herald" deprecates the proposal to hold the exhibition here, and, of course, selects Auckland as the most suitable locality, on the plea of its possessing a "magnificent climate," "most beautiful scenery," and a variety of industries associated with agriculture and mining. While admitting all that has been said of Auckland in these respects, it is not so easy to discover in the description sufficient argument for a preference being given to the northern capital, or for an abandonment of the proposal originally made. Unquestionably, either Auckland or Dunedin can with fairness boast of being a centre of industries such as Wellington can only hope to become at some distant date, but there are other elements to be considered in connection with holding an exhibition than the fact of a city being an industrial centre, and these will readily suggest themselves to anyone who appreciates what a colonial exhibition should be. Its object is certainly not to give prominence to the products or industries of any one district, as compared with others, but to assemble illustrations of the country's material prosperity in the situation most convenient for exhibitors from all parts, and for the population of the colony as a whole. Having those considerations in view, there is certainly no situation equal to Wellington for an exhibition such as is now proposed. Its central position, the facilities of carriage to it from the North and South, and the readiness with which it can be reached by the inhabitants of both islands, point to it as pre-eminently the place to be selected for the holding of any exhibition intended to be representative of the colony, and to be made a Bource of information to the greatest possible number of colonists. It may be safely asserted that in no other situation could there with equal ease and expedition be congregated exhibits, exhibitors, and visitors, and, with every appreciation of Auckland's lauded climate and surroundings, we are not aware of Wellington being so peculiar in these particulars as to alarm or deter any person from paying it a visit should the exhibition prove to be. as it certainly would be, worthy of inspection. Apart altogether from the additional fact that the city is the seat of the Colonial Government, Wellington might claim to be selected on the system of selecting by rotation the cities in which the colonial exhibitions should be held, but most particularly does its geographical position point to it as the most likely locality for a successful gathering of products, illustrations of industries, and people.

When Westland was converted from the condition of a wilderness to a settled and prosperous portion of the colony, much more was done in the achievement of that result by private enterprise than by Provincial expenditure. Canterbury was not then, as now, in possession of a large fund for the execution of public works, and roads, bridges, and ferries were, in a majority of cases, provided by private speculators, under a system of protection which is yet common on the West Coast. One of the works so undertaken was the construction of a tramway from Hokitika to Stafford Town, as a section of a line which it was contemplated to carry as far as the northern boundary of the province, the river Grey. The original design was never executed, but a socalled Hokitika and Greymouth Tramway Company constructed a line of tramway for a certain distance, and in consideration of its obvious advantages to the public, the County Council granted to the company concessions which at the time seemed to be justifiable, but which have since, by the undertaking of parallel public works, proved to be more a burden than a blessing to the district. The roads undertaken at public expense were, because of their convenience and the freedom of using them, more patronised than the tramway ; and, fortified by hastily considered resolutions of the County Council, the tramway proprietors have sued for compensations for losses from that cause, and, so far as the verdict of a jury at Nelaon has gone, they have gained their point. By the constructors or the present proprietors of the tramway in question, an action for damages to the tune of

£20,000 was brought against the County Corporation ; the evidence relative to the matter in dispute was taken at great length in Hokitika ; a»d last week it was submitted to a Nelson jury, who assessed the damages sustained by the company at £15,347, reducible to £5227, if the Judge should, upon argument, consider that the plaintiffs were not entitle^ to compensation for prospective loss. Argument upon that point, and upon others involved, it would now appear, will occupy at some time the attention of the Court of Appeal, for to that Court, on account of the magnitude of the interests involved, Judge Richmond has recommended that the argument should be referred. This recommendation was made on the granting of a rule nisi in arrest of judgment, the grounds for the motion for such a rule being these:— "(l.) That the contract sued on in this action is void for want of certainty. (2.) That if not it is void under the Statute of Frauds as being a contract not to be completed within a year from the making thereof, and, not being set out in words in the plaintiffs' declaration, must be inferred to be a parol contract only. (3.) That the County Council has no power to make the contract sued upon, which is therefore not binding, as being ultra vires. (4.) That the maintenance of the tramway by the company is a condition precedent to the recovery of compensation, and that, as the action is commenced before the termination of the time during which it was to be maintained, some excuse for the non-perform-ance of the condition precedent should be alleged."

His Honor the Superintendent has struck a hard blow at an evil we have on several occasions of late referred to — that of badly-regulated public houses. It has been notified that the licenses held by Mr Kells, of Karori, and Mr Carmont, of Otaki, have been cancelled. It is stated that this action has been taken with reference to the Karori hotel in consequence of the disclosures made at an inquest recently held there, and of further knowledge obtained by inquiries made as to the manner in which the house was conducted. Mr Carmont's license has been cancelled owing to the way in which Maoris drank at his house, and it may be inferred that statements made nt the late sittings of the Supreme Court relative to two natives who were charged with horse-stealing had the effect of causing the mode of carrying on business by Mr Carmont to be closely scrutinised. By closing both houses a public good has been done, inasmuch as a serious evil has been lessened, and the decisive action of the Superintendent cannot fail to be a warning to those publicans who do not manage their houses in an orderly manner. We understan4 that a direct caution has been given to at least one holder of a license to the effect that if he does not at once change the character of his business he will be treated in the same way as Messrs Carmont and Kells have been, and the knowledge of the cancellation of their licenses will show all publicans that the Superintendent is in earnest. The Provincial Government may rely upon having the sympathy and good wishes of the people in the crusade entered upon against disorderly and disreputable houses, and although every hotel shut up decreases the revenue, yet anything that checks excessive drinking and prevents the waste of money and loss of time consequent thereon must add to the prosperity of the people, and any trifling diminution of income will be more than counterbalanced by increased industry in a district in which a public-house of a low class may be shut up. This remark applies especially to localities in which there are large numbers of Maoris, for a house in which they are induced to squander money in payment for semipoisonous compounds sold as spirits is a curse to them, and directly and indirectly to the whole community. It is to be hoped the provincial authorities will act with a high and determined hand in this matter, and will not hesitate to cancel the license of any man who neglects to conduct his house in a reputable manner. The recent disturbance at Horowhenua is not likely to lead to any further internecine strife or to any dispute between the Native and the Pakeha. The excitement amongst the Natives in the district having subsided, an opportune moment has been seized to set the law in motion, and "Governor" Hunia, the j hero of many a peaceful scene during the visit of Dr Featherston and Mr Kennaird to the Manawatu when the large block of land in that district was purchased, has been summoned to appear at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on the 20fch inst. to answer to a charge of arson. The burning of a number of whareß constitutes the offence with which Hunia will be charged, and unless he be successful in setting up Native custom as a legitimate defence to the charge, he will probably have an opportunity of pouring out his grievances to Koero, who was sentenced to two years' hard labor at the last criminal session of the Supreme Court. The supporters of both candidates in the municipal election to be fought today have omittod no preparation for a hard contest. The town was placarded yesterday with announcements in favor of one of the candidates, who seems to have taken time by the forelock, and liearly the whole of the cabs in the town have been engaged for the conveyance of voters. Numberß of ratepayers are in doubt as to whether their names are on the ratepayers' roll. It may be some information on the point to state that the names of those who received copies of Mr Young's address on Saturday are duly registered, as the addresses were obtained from the roll itself. There was a sudden change in the weather last evening. The day had been beautifully fine, but after sunset some heavy clouds gathered in the south. 4bont eight o'clock the wind went round to the south and soon blew with great violence accompanied by driving rain. A thunderstorm passed over and flashes of lightning were frequent, and at times brilliant. The rain did not last long and the atmosphere was delightfully fresh and clear after the squall. Not many days ago a sailor, named James Campbell, made a vicious assault on the officers and all others on board the s.s. Ladybird, and for that offence he was sent to gaol. On Friday he was discharged, and, under the plea of poverty, obtained from Inspector Atchiaon an advance of £1 to keep him in food, &c, tmtil he went on board a ship again. He, however, spent the money in drink, committed a violent assault on a woman, and was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning. He was remanded to Tuesday, when the charge against him will be gone into. An adverfcis«ment announces additional special prizes to be given at the summer show of fthe Horticul'ural Society, which will he held in the^Odd Fellows' Halljon Thursday next. ,

The list of cases for trial at the Supreme Court to-day is a blank, and i it is to be presumed that the business will be nil. It appears that Miss Rosina Carandini (Mrs Palmer) is about to retire from the position in which she has for years delighted audiences by her vocal powers. She, with Madame Carandini and her sisters, is at present in Dunedin, and the citizen,* have resolved to give her a special and farewell benefit on Wednesday next. We acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the " New Zealand University Calendar" for 1874. Neither the place of publication nor the name of the printer appears in any part of the volume, but we presume that it emanates from the Christ- ; church press, of which it is a very creditable production. Besides the calendar, the volume contains a variety of informai tion relating to the University, affiliated 1 institutions, scholarship examinations, and kindred subjects. An impudent robbery was committed at , a house in Howe street, Te Aro, on Satur- > day night. Some time between 12 o'clock at night and 6 in the morning, the dwelling was entered, ahd a ham, a side of bacon, some bottles of beer, and two pairs of boots were taken away. The door by which the thief entered was not secured, so that he had no difficulty in ■• curing his booty. The occurrence should act as a caution to those who usually do not take the precaution to avail themselves of the security afforded by lock and key. Frequent visitations to the performances of The Star Variety Troupe do not in any way lessen their attractiveness. It is not surprising, therefore, that the attendance on Saturday evening was greater than on any of the preceding entertainments. The performance throughout was both varied and vivacious, and the efforts of the performers were rewarded by an amount of applause which indicated complete satisfaction on the part of the audience. Miss Lizzie Watson sang several songs of the style which have made her famous, and subsequently she sang some Irish ballads, which were very tastefully executed. The character representations of Mr Braham, which were entirely new and exceedingly clever, added very considerably to the opinions which had been formed of his ability. One song, which cari only be described as an admixture of facial contortions and gestures, with a touch of something resembling ventriloquism, kept the audience highly amused from the beginning to the end. Mddle Blanche and Mons Hamew performed a number of feats on the trapeze with an ease and gracefulness only equalled by Lottie and her brother Frank. Mddle Blanche possesses a wonderful development of muscle which she displays in a number of feats that none but those who have witnessed them could believe a woman capable oi performing. Mons Hamew is also a clever gymnast whose tricks, like those of Mddle Blanche, are notable principally for the muscular power which they exhibit. The trapeze performance was one of the greatest features in the programme, and at its conclusion the two artistes were loudly applauded. Messrs O'Brien, Baker, and Riley contributed their quota to a most satisfactory entertainment which was brought to a close by an amusing farce played by the three. On Saturday evening, in the Odd Fellows' Hall, Mr W. A. Chapman, a conjuror — a native of America, but wellknown in the Australian colonies — gave an entertainment, assisted by Ida Bonifond in the second sight portion of the business. Mr Chapman arrived in the colonies with the well-known Heller, whose assistant he had been for years. He remained in Melbourne, however, when Mr Heller sailed for India, and has since visited New South Wales, Queensland, and New Caledonia, where the French colonists, free or bond, were found but indifferently able or disposed to patronise conjurors. Mr Chapman is now on a New Zealand tour, begun at Auckland, where he was well received. So little notice had been given of his visit to Wellington that few people knew of it, and thus the attendance, though good, was leas than otherwise it would have been. The performances were begun with some smartly-played tricks with cards, the dancing cards especially creating amusement. These were followed by tricks with half-crowns, which he appeared to gather from the most extraordinary positions, as one would catch flies ; with handkerchiefs ; a tin of rice, the contents of which were transferred in certainly a most magical way to the top of a hat placed at some distance; with hats that produced juvenile hats, &c, &o ; and the entertainment was not lessened by one or two pleasant "sells," which kept the audience in good humour. Some drawing-room i trickß followed, and then came "A man in a sack full of ghosts." A simple framed screen was placed on the stage. Two gentlemen from the audience assisted in what followed. Having been securely handcuffed— his hands behind his back, and his dress-coat on — by a gentleman of Wellington well acquainted with that business, Mr Chapman was placed in a sack, which was pulled over his head, tied, sealed, and marked with the signet ring of one of the audience. He was then led to the screen, the drapery of which was let down, while the ~ two gentlemen referred to sat on the stage to see that no human "ghost" lent help to the wizard. In a few moments his hands, unshackled, were shown above the screen, a horn was blown, and a bell rung. Then the dress-coat was thrown over on to the stage ; and the cur- \ tain being lifted, Mr Chapman walked out, the sack on the floor with the seal unbroken, and his hands again cuffed behind his back. The trick was cleverly done, and much applauded. The "second sight" followed, in which Miss Bonifond acquitted herself quite as well as did Miss Haidee Heller. There was an excellent pianoforte accompaniment to the entertainment, which should be well patronised this evening, Mr Chapman's tricks are infinite, and therefore a fresh selection is promised nightly during his short stay. A settler in Riverina (N.S.W.), of a scientific turn of mind, lately discovered that a valuable oil could be made from the Mallee, which settlers in that country consider such a nuisance. He set Tip a still in the scrub, and in two months he has been able to send down two dray loads of the oil to Melbourne for shipment to London. The Mokihinui reefs are about to be practically tested. The " Westport Times" of January 6th states that tools and provisions are already on the way up, and a party of men will at once commence work, under the guidance of Mr 3. H. Gibson, who, as a miner of 20 years experience, will soon show what can be done by vigorous and well-directed enterprise. The Wallaroo mines (South Australia) have declared a dividend amounting to £20,000 being £100 per share.

• The Perseverance Company, at Colling- ** .wood have had a return of from 90 to lOOozs of gold from their first crushing under their new manager. The Lynch family of Bellringers, who arrived at Nelson from Auckland on Wednesday, sailed-, for Greymouth and other West Coast towns. Mr George Fawcett has written a drama which was produced at New York in September last. The new play is called *• The Geneva Cross." Moreton Bay (Queensland) has a beet sugar-producing manufactory which i» conducted under the protection of . the Government. It has proved a succesM A shipment of sugar, the produce of tss colony, was lately forwarded home to the English market, where it at once founct buyers at remunerative prices. The cost to the Colonial Government of" effecting the telegraph extension from Tteefton to the Lyeli will not be less than £4000, and very nearly the whole of this, says the "Grey River Argus," will be expended during the ensuing three months, chiefly in labor. There is no doubt, says the "Southern Cross," that the formation of a railway corps at Ngaruawahia i 3 a wise proceeding ; but it is questionable if { the same wisdom is exhibited in drawing 'men from the railway works at Fort JBritomart in Auckland city to furnish this contingent. The Melbourne • ' Argus" of December 17th, reports the discovery of coal in the Sale district (Victoria). It says;— "A splendid block of coal from the Excelsior mine, near Hazelwood, six miles from the proposed railway line was brought to Sale on Monday. The seam commences thin, widening to 2ft at a depth of Bft. There are several seams. The main: deposit is, a seam of hard coal 31in thick resting on clay and sandstone. Above this are Bft of inferior shale, with numerous thin seams of coal making into thicker seams. There is every probability that a seam of coal Bft or 10ft thick will be struck, as all the seams dip one way. The quality of the coal is very good, especially for gas purposes. It gives a much greater heat than charcoal.. It is intended to place the mine on the market. Several banks of rich iron ore have also been found. Twelve tons of coal have been raised to the surface.