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Press, Volume XIII, Issue 1796, 14 January 1869, Page 2

The Mebhaid Immxgbants.—Nearly the whole of these immigrants have beett engaged All the single men have obtained employment} and only five single women are open to engagement. ...%.... . Flax Dressing.—We observe that the mill lately occupied by Mr Woodford, ; of Kaiapor, has been turned into a flax dressing factory. Similar operations are carried on at the Kaiapoi mills near the girder bridge. Meetings of Cbbditobs. —The meetings of the creditors of Thomas N. Bobeon, and John V. Glaeson, which were to have been held yesterday, lapsed through non-atten-dance. : —:-.■■ New Suprekb Coubt Hoitse.—The foundation atone of this building will be laid by Sir George Bowen, at 12 o'clock on Friday next. Immediately after the ceremony, hie Excellency will, we hear, be entertained by Mr Justice Greseon at a dqeuner in the refreshment room of the Provincial Government Buildings. Entertainment. — The society of St. Vincent de Paul will give the third of a series of entertainments, consisting of readings, epngs, &0., in the Roman Catholic schoolroom, Barbadoes street, this evening. The proceedings are to commence at eight o'clock. Proposed Bulb Match.—An attempt is being made to get up a rifle matoh between the Volunteers and the officers of HMS Challenger. The terms proposed are—fifteen men a side; fire shots ; ranges, 300, 400, and 500 yards; Hythe position and regulation target. The Races —An additional event has been put on the card for to-day in the shape of a two mile hurdle race, for a sweepstakes of 25 BOVB each; to be run at twelve o'clock punctually. The entries are—Centurion, Trump, and Don Pedro, the three horses which ran such a magnificent race yesterday, and as the conditions of yesterday's and to-day's fcurdle race are the same, an equally exciting contest may be anticipated. It will probably be the race of the day. Pbesbytbby op CAHTEBBtTRT.—The Presbytery met in the vestry of St. Andrew's Church at noon yesterday. The Revs — Hogg I (moderator), Fraeer (clerk), Kirton, Molntosh, Grant, and Campbell were present. Mr Hogg I was elected moderator for the ensuing year. Mr Grant stated that on account of the circumstances of the congregation and the opposition shown to the call by same persona in the district, he would. decline to accept the call from Banks' Peninsula; and the consideration of the call was therefore postponed sine die. Mr Fraeer asked leave to postpone the coreidtration of certain resolutions about church union, of which he hud given notice, until the next regular meeting, which was granted. Mr Kirton reported tbat a certain amount of debt on the Kaiapoi Church had been paid off, and Mr Mclntoeh made a similar statement relative to the ohuroh at Bicoartosu Some bueinee* of a 'private character wss «l*o transected.

Baoeteldeb's Dioeama..—This entertainment will tonigM be unde* the patronageof His Excellency the Governor, who has promised to witness it. The Governor.—About half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning Sir George Bowen, accompanied bytheHon J. Hall.Mr Kolleeton, Mr W. Montgomery, Captain Smith, A.D.C, Wi Tako, Mete Kingi, and Tamilian* te Bauparaha, visited Mr Anderson's foundry in Cashel street. Hie Excellency was ehown over the establishment, where everything was in full work, by Mr Anderson, and expressed himself muob pleased with what he saw. The Governor then proceeded to inspect Mr Jenkins' steam saw-mille in Ferry road, and Mr W. Wilson's gardens in Manchester street and Ferry road. Some two hours were spent in this way, and his Excellency afterwards went to the racecourse, where he passed the remainder of the day, returning to town in the evening. It is understood that: he will visit Kaiapoi and Rangiora to day. Suitable preparation* are being made in these places for his reception. Our Kaiapoi correspondent, relative to that place, writes— ,, A triumphal arch over the swing bridge ie m course ol erection* Ladies desirous to witness the J dejeuner can be introduced by gentlemen holding tickets."

The Brigade at Gbeymouth.—A volunteer fire brigade is being organised at Greymouth. West Coast Goid.—The Hokitika " Daily News" is given to understand that the price of gold has been raised, the increase in its mone- j tary value ranging fcom 9d to Iβ fid per ounce. HoKiTiKA.—-The " West Coast Times" reports that the shingle bank in the river at Hokitika ie faefc assuming alarming proportions, and, what is worse, it is fast commg home to the wharf. Thie is attributed to the number of wing dame further up the river ; be that as it may, there is no doubt of the fact etated, and it is one that should be looked to by the Corporation, and, if possible, remedied. There is also another matter connected with ttie above, that every fresh but tends to the increase of this bank. A West Coast Township.—The township of Mohikinui is gradually being removed to Westport piecemeal. The cutter Volunteer, which lay stranded on the beach there for a long time, hae returned, " recuperated, ,, and she has brought as cargo the wood and iron which composed some half-dozen eforee there. She has also brought a large number of porter caeee filled with empty bottles, -which were collected by an enterprising speculator in the deserted highways and by-ways of Mokihinui. The consignment is one sufficiently large to prove profitable, and it is in itself an interest-, ing relic of the prosperity and "drouth " of. Mohikinui in ancient timee. — " Weetport Times." Remaekablb Discovbby.—A short time ego two lizards, one 5i inches long and Ihe other 3£ inches, were discovered in an iron mine at Brixbam, Devon. They were found in a fragile earthy substance, close to limestone, at depths of 80 feet and 60 feet from the; surface. The mine is about 800 yard* from the sea. For several days the lizards were preserved in a small box, partly filled with soft mine debris, and afterwards placed in a globe of water. Both now appear to be well. The colour on the back is black with small white spots; the belly is of rich gold oolour with black etripes.--" Times. , ? Ajt Agbbbablb PiiAOK oir Abode.—The "Daily News" thus describee the olfactory charms of Hokitika —"Horrible stenches of a character entirely unknown in other towns abound ,1 in Hokitika. Nearly every street has in some part a nuisance of this description peculiar to itself, but differing little in degree from those of other thoroughfares. It was the poet Wordsworth, we believe, who, writing from Cologne to a friend in England, mentioned the circumstance of his having diecovereij eleven distinct arid different kinds of effluvia in that eminently filthy city, and added that Be lived in hopes of making vp f the dozen within a few days. Had the poet lived at the present day in Hokitika he would have bo difficulty in gratifying hie-taste for-auch whimsical research tp ■; the fullest extent. There is nothing to prevent at least two dozen intense and utterly abominable smells being noted down at once in this undramed tpw'iv "^ WESTI-AND DEBIBOtrS OF A VIBIT PBOM the Govebnob.—The "West Coast Times/ in commenting upon hia Excellency's reception here; remarke:—We—in - Weatland are desirous of according to the: Governor a .like hearty and loyal - We kjaow that circumstances over which Sir George Bowen had no control will necessarily shorten his stay, .but still we think his visit would be incomplete did he not cross the mountain en route such magnificent Alpine scenery as is' rarely to Be met with, descend County of Westland, and there see what in the short space of four years has been effected by the indomitable energy and perseverance of our hardy eons of toil, whose rich discoveries of auriferous wealth have attracted not only men of capital to our shores, but men of skill and ability to direct the investment of* that capital, so as to change, as if by .magic, what was once a wilderness covered by an almost impenetrable forest, into the home of a large, an industrious, and happy population. • • We have much, to show Sir George—much well j worthy of hie attentive and serious enaideration. Will he, can be visit us ? If he does, right royally will he be welcomed by the people." The writer concludes by recommen* j ding that immediate steps be taken for ascertaining whether his Excellency will be able to visit Weetland before he returns to the seat of Government. Gsoas lupostubs.— -A case of gross imposture has just been made public in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Hokitika. The well-known mesmerist, Dγ T. G. Carr, has been for several weeks past entertaining the public at Hokitika and Boss with what he called "mesmeric seances" but what they ought properly to have been called may be gathered from the fact that one of his 44 subjects," Mr J. C. Kerr, has sued him for £19 19s wages for simulating being under the operator's influence. During the plaintifFs cross-examination the; following evidence is reported by the *' West Coast Times " to have been given:—"Mr Harvey: Do you mean to say that Dr Carr engaged you to simulate that you were under the influence of mesmerism? Plaintiff: Yes, hj hie agent, Mr Leigh. He said if I was any sort of a subject I should travel with Dr Carr. Dγ Carr was perfectly aware that I wa* only shamming. I never went to him for my eyes. He wanted to treat for them, but I "did not care about it. I certainly have ft nervous affection of the eyes, but I h*v* had Ibat ease ehildlwod. Dr Oanr paaefcowd mc <m

the forehead for my eyee. Mr Harvey : And so, in return fafcjrbat Dr Carr did to your eves, you aeeisted in throwiog dust in the eyes of the public? Plnint-a : les. (Laughter.) I was not in a poeition to refuse. I mean I was out of employment, and so could not help myself. Mr Harvey: So if the publfo chose to be gulled, you were willing lo assist him in pulling them. Plaintiff: Yes. But I consider I have more pluck than many to come here and expose it. I did not know that it was illegal, and that I could be prosecuted as a common cheat. I thought it a lark I had another motive in coming here besides that of recovering what I consider I am justly entitled to; that motive is, to prevent Dγ Carr from continuing his entertainments." The Besident Magistrate, in delivering the judgment of the court, said there could be no doubt for a moment what the verdict should be. The plaintiff had systematically deceived the public by his own evidence, and could not recover under any alleged contract. Judgment for defendant, with costa.