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Press, Volume XIV, Issue 1824, 16 February 1869, Page 2

The Duke op Edinburgh.—On reference I to our report of the proceedings of the City Council last nigl t, it will be seen what share of the expense that will be incurred by his j Eoyal Higness's visit to Canterbury will be j borne by the General Government. Flßß.—On Saturday evening the Sneyd's Arms Hotel, near Kaiapoi, caught fire. It appears the back of one of the chimneys, which is wholly in the house, was the worse for wear and the fire found its way through, setting one of the rooms partially on fire. Assistance being plentiful it was extinguished and but little damage done. Stjpeeme Coubt. — Mr Justice Gresson will sit in the Court Chambers at 11 o'clock this morning. The following is the public Hat:—ln bankruptcy and re William Whyte, for order of adjudication (Mr W. Williams) ; re will of Snrah Beattie, deceased,.for probate (Mr Nalder) 5 re will of James Patterson, deceased, for order for leave to issue probate (Mr W. Williams) ; re will of Charles Baker, deceased, for order for leave to isßue probate (Mr Bamford). Fatal Accident.—On Saturday last, a farmer, named Alley, residing at Papanui, came to town as usual on business, and left at 5.30 p.m for the purpose of returning home. He was missing on Saturday night, and on the following day at noon, was found lying in his paddock speechless from tetanus. His pony was found close beside him with its leg broken. The poor man Was conveyed home, but he never spoke afterwards, and died' the same evening. He was unable to give any account of the occurrence, as he never recovered his speech, and was apparently suffering intense pain. It is supposed that his death was Caused by a kick from the animal, which was so much injured that it was found necessary to destroy it. Mr Alley has left a widow and three children, one of them almost an infant. An inquest will be held on the body to-day, at Papanui. Heathcote Eoad Boaed.—The Board met yesterday at their office, Ferry road, when all the members were present. Mr Kennamay (the chairman) occupied the chair. A letter from Mr Harris, was, read, requesting permission to drain the overflow of an artesian well into the side channel. in Hanmer street. Permission was granted; subjected to the surveyor's direction. A letter from Mr Hopkins was read, drawing the Board's attention to the state of the canal reserve drain, and requesting the Board to direct the same to be cleaned out during the present dry season. The surveyor was directed to inform Mr Hopkins that the Board had been at considerable expense in making the drain in question, and cannot take upjn itself to keep the same clear, but must leave it in the hands of those who are interested in the matter to do so. A letter from Messrs Wilson and Smithson was read, drawing the attention of the Board to the condition of Jackson's oreek running through section 48a. The surveyor was directed to communicate with those gentlemen, and to inform them that the Board cannot entertain their request to clear out the creek refrred to in their application. The Board then considered the question of the tolls at the swing bridge, and resolved " That the Board having thoroughly considered the question of altering the tolls on the swing bridge, and having studied the statistics they have caused to be taken, have decided that they can make no alteration in the tolls oharged." The salary of the surveyor was then considered, and reduced by £50 per annum. The surveyor's report was read and considered, and the Board directed him to communicate with Mr J. S. Williams, and request his immediate attention to the state of the gorse fence bounding his section on Wilson's road, and request him to have the same cut down. After passing accounts for work done, the Board adjourned until Monday, the 29th inst. The Provincial Museum.—Tenders for the erection of a provincial museum are to be sent in by the Ist March. The plans prepared by Mr Mountfort show an unornamented stone building having an outside length of about 90 feet Dy SO feet in breadth j the height of the walls from the ground to the eaves being 20 feet; and the distance from the ground to the apex of the roof 42 feet. The entrance will be through a porch measuring 11 feet by 8 feet 6 inches, eituated in the front of the building, there being inner and outer doors. The exhibition room measures 70 by 30 feet. Above is a gallery 1Q feet in breadth, which runs all round the room. Lighting is provided for by windows placed at the back and front of the building, and by skylights in the roof, the Ught from which will pass through a ceiling of ground glass. Suitable provision has also been ' made for \ wwmhjg. One end of the building will be partitioned on" into two rooms, one of Which, measuring 14 feet square, is intended for a geologist's room ; and the other, 14 feet by 19 feet, for a workman's room. This portion of the building, together with the porch, will , only be temporary erections ; the remaining ■ portion, it is proposed, shall at some future 1 time form part of a larger edifice. The struc*

turo has been designed with a view to obtaining as much room as possible for the money available for its erection—about £1500—-and ornament has been sacrificed to utility. The site chosen for the Museum is a Dortion of the Domain near the College. Presentation.—Yesterday afternoon a testimonial was presented to the Rev E. A. Lingard by the children attending St. Luke's school, on his return from Nelson. At halfpast three p.m. the children assembled in the schoolroom, in number about 120. Three of the elder boys and three of the elder girls stepped forward, and presented the rev. gentleman with a beautifully bound and handsomely illustrated copy of Thomas a Kempis' exquisite treatise, "De Imitatione Christi." The following address was read by George Ritchie, the book being given by Rosa Perkins:—"To the Rev Edward Atherton Lingard—Rev Sir, we, the children of St. Luke's school, wish to tell you how pleased we are at your coming amongst us again, and we hope that it has pleased God to restore you to health. Please to take this as a small token of our love and respect. That you may long be spared to us is the prayer of your loving children." The addresß, which was gratuitously illuminated on vellum by Mr J. C. St. Quentin, with his usual skill, was signed on behalf of the school by fifty-four of the pupils. Mr, Mrs, and Miss Lingard were present. Mr Lingard, who appeared highly gratified with the gift, returned his acknowledgments in a few graceful words. He expressed the pleasure it had afforded him whilst in Nelson to peruse the accounts of the progress of the school in the local journals. The proceedings terminated with three cheers for Mr Lingard and three more for Mrs Lingard. Theatee Royal.—The sensational play of v Under the Q-aslight" was represented last night, and it well merits the designation in every sense of the word. It is a sketch of American life in all its phases, from the highest to the lowest grade. The part of the heroine was most efficiently taken by Miss Cas&y Matthews, who relinquished for the nonce her usual roles of elderly ladies. The villain Byke and his equally villainous female associate mother Judas, found fitting representees in Mr Joyce and Miss Jenny Graham respectively. The representation of both these characters were fine pieces of acting, their make-up being remarkably good. Miss Herberte acted the good-natured drudge Peachblosßom in an easy and natural style, while the piece was enlivened by the broad humour of Messrs Simmonds and Howard. Mr White took the character of Trafford with more spirit and vivacity than he usually displays. Mr Roberts, as Snorkey, was a most useful accessary to the success of the drama. The scenic effects were ! well." managed, but a slight hitch rather destroyed the illusion of the railway scene. The house was crowded, especially in the pit I and stalls, which were densely packed with a highly demonstrative audience, who were loud in their manifestations of delight. Our limiied space prevents v's from giving an outline of the complicated plot. We would advise such of our readers as are admirers of exciting dramas to go and judge for themBulves. The piece would be improved by a little judicious pruning. Cantbbbtjby Auxiliary Bible Society. —The usual quarterly meeting of this society was held in the side-room of the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, at three o'clock. Present —Revs L. Moore (in the chair), W. Habens and J. Aldred; Messrs Twentyman, Booth, Ingles, and Jameson. The last-named gentleman, in the absence of the treasurer, announced that no subscriptions had been received since the last meeting. It was stated that the report of the Auxiliary, together with an abstract of the report of the Parent Society for 1868, would be printed and ready for distribution in about a fortnight. A few rrports of the Parent Society for 1868 were distributed amongst the members of the com* mittee in the room. A letter from the Parer.t Society was read, acknowledging the receipt of a remittance for £240. The letter stated that it was hoped the Society would be able to take possession of its new offices by the end of 18fi8, although the building would not be quite finished by that time. , It was stated by the acting secretary that the Rev Mr Cannell recommended that the case of Bibles intended for Hokitika should not be sent there at present. At the suggestion of Mr Jameson, the Rev Mr Habens was requested to ask Mr Newton, who is about proceeding to Greymouth, to make enquiries with a view of ascertaining whether it is advisable for the Society to extend its operations to that place. Accounts to the amount of £2 13s Id were passed. Some conversation took place about a suggestion of Mr Jameson's that ministers should, from their pulpits, just before the annual meeting of the society, draw attention to its usefulness. It was re-, solved /that ;the secretary be requested to furnish to the next meeting a statement of the number, &c, of books at the depot and elsewhere, and also of the position of the account with the Parent Society. Mr Booth was requested to see : the Rev. Mr Fisher, and urge the immediate despatch of an order home for books' in accordance with" the resolution come to by the committee on July 30 A letter from Mr Fisher was read, apologising for his absence, and stating that it would be necessary to hold another committee meeting in about a month, for the purpose of making arrangements for the annual general meeting. The meeting, which was opened and closed in the usual manner with prayer, then adjourned until called together by, the secretary. The Ceops atWaikouaiti.—The " Herald " says the .general appearance of the crops throughout the district do not promise the usual average yields, the long drought which prevailed when rain was most needed having greatly retarded their growth. On the average, however, we believe the crops will compare favorably with other distrists. Oamaeu Stone. —A species of yellow limestone which, like the Oamaru stone, may be easily cut and which hardens with exposure to the atmosphere, has been discovered near Geelong. The ** Advertiser " asserts that it is quite equal to that obtained at Oamaru, to which,„if this be the case, it will prove a formidable rival in the Australian markets. Wellington Philosophical Society.—- i The annual-meeting of this society was held on the 9th inst. The Secretary read his report, according to which it appeared that j there are now 117 members of the Society, i and that the balance in hand from last year was £48 8s lOd. The following is a list of j the office-bearers for 1869:—President, Sirj George Grey; Vice-Presidents, his Honor the! Superintendent and T. 0. Crawford, J\G.S.; Council, W. L. Travers, SVLS, Dr Hector, [F.R.S:, *. Kebbeli, W. Mantell, F.G.B.J R. Pkarasyn, F.R.G S., hon. sec.

The Province of Maelboeough.—Mr Eyes, at a publio meeting recently held at B'enheim, said:—"At the next, and most probably it would be the last session of tho Provincial Council, he intended to propose a resolution to the effect that the provincial system in Marlborough should be abolished, and a more economical form of government introduced ; and if it was carried they would then memorialise the General Assembly. He looked upon it "that a Superintendent here was in office to do something, but finding, in a manner of speaking, comparatively nothing to, he was led into more expenses than pay amounted to." (Hear, hear.) The TtTATTJBA. —Various animals of considerable interest to the naturalist, says the "Illustrated London News," have recently made their appearance for the first time in the Zoological Garden's, Regent's Park. One of them, which it is supposed had never previously been brought alive to Europe, is the tuatura lizard, of New Zealand, a reptile which has hitherto been considered extremely rare, and is but little known. It seems to belong to the agama family of lizards, but has some remarkable anatomical peculiarities, which are to b» made known in a paper announced for the next scientific meeting of the Zoological Society. Blasting op a Rock—-Singulae Cibcttm:STANCE. —An extraordinary circumstance is reported in connection with the blasting of the " Whirlpool Rock," in the River Tamar, Launceston. By one of the blasts, a pinnacle of rock—a mass weighing, it is supposed, about forty tons —was thrown a distance of twentyfive feet on to the top of another pinnacle, where it remained projecting about eighteen inches above the surface at low water. It is not determined whether it.will, be removed by blasting or by floating it off. Due notice has i been given of the position of this obstruction ; but the masters of some of the coasters, who went up the river subsequent to the occurrence, were in no small degree astonished to find the well-known " Whirlpool Rock," instead of two or three fathoms below the surface of the water, actually protruding above it. The Wab on the West Coast. —The following communication, forming part of a private letter from an officer of distinction at the Front, has been placed at the disposal of the " New Zealand Advertiser"—Nukumaru, February B.—l believe the back of the insurrection is broken here, and that with good natives Titokowaru may he hunted down and peace re-established. The colony cannot afford a reverse, it should be avoided at all hazards, And you must understand that if Whitmore seems not to be enterprising there is good reason for it, and that it chafes him more than it can the public to be compelled to be so cautious. Titokowaru appeared to have retreated up the Waitotara, but after a prolonged search we did not find any traces of him to-day on this side, but saw his horsemen beyond the river. Captain Hawes, of Wairoa, who had been temporarily reinforced, has burned Putahi, but cannot strike the trail— on the other hand men and fires have been seen behind Manutahi. Colonel Lyons is placed in charge of the posts from Waitotara to Wanganui river in order to check any attempt on Tito's part to work back. On the arrival of the Sturt, Whitmore intends to move forward again towards the Patea. Singulae Cause of Death.—A young woman named Jane Elizabeth Tipler met her death at Timaru last Thursday in a singular manner. The circumstances appear in the following evidence given by Sergeant Neill:— " About a quarter to twelve yesterday morning, I found the body of deceased lying on the ground with her face downwards, her knees and feet were inside a closet, the hands and arms close down her sides. The door of the closet through which she. was lying was only 2H inches wide. Her arms were jammed by the door closing upon her, and the skin was bruised in consequence. The weight of the body was on the breast and neck; her right jaw was on the ground. The ground outside was five and a-half inches ' lower than the, floor of the closet where her legs rested. Her chemise was buttoned close up to her throat, and was partly sunk into her skin through being so tight, I raised her from the position she was in, and put her on her right side. She appeared quite dead at the time. The face was swollen and discoloured. Dr McLean came fourteen minutes after I found her, and pronounced her dead. I have seen the deceased during the past two months frequently. She appeared a very, proper person, and of steady habits. By a juror—l don't think she.could have relieved her arms without turning her body. Dr Butler said the position in which she must have fallen was quite sufficient to account for the suffocation; He inferred that she must have fallen in the position she was found in while in a fit. The jury returned the following verdict i—" That Jane Elizabeth Tipler came by her death from suffocation, caused by falling on her face, but how she came into that position the jury have not sufficient evidence to show." Conspibacy.—Aylmer, Sayers, and Mc3_enzie, who were indicted for. conspiracy at the last criminal sittings of the Supreme Court at Invercargill, got off oil a demurrer to the indictment. The case alleged against the defendants was that on the night of the 30:h of September last they obtained possession of the keys of a box in the Government buildings, in which a number of tenders for a certain work were placed, and opened the tenders with a view of ascertaining; the amounts. The box was in the custody of Mr Aylmer. Mr j Justice Ward, in giving judgment-on the demurrer, said :—"I give this judgment with regret, inasmuch as it by np means impugns the decision come to, after a long and careful investigation by the Grand Jury.and the com- j mitting magistrate, but merely declares that the charge in its present form does not impute an indictable misdemeanour. The question of the guilt or innocence of the accused remains in precisely the same position as before, saving in so far as by demurring in lieu of pleading " not guilty" they-may be considered to have admitted the truth of the accusations brought against them. Had they been convicted thereof, after a trial before a petty jury, I can only say that of all the crimes in" the Statute Book there are few of which the commission would more utterly unfit them for all future association with honest and honorable men." It seems probable that fresh proceedings wilj be instituted. The Drought in Victobia.?—The "Australasian" of the 30th ult says:—" The weather is, of course, the paramount topic wherever Britons congregate. But with us this old familiar subject has approached an interest far deeper than that with which the most nervous farmer in the British isles regards it. The drought is terrible. - Water is in some places

sold at prices that bring back tho memories of old times. But this is a trifling inconvenience compared with the condition of those more inland districts where there is no water to buy or to sell. Most distressing tales aro told of the sufferings of the sheep and cattle in the Northern districts, and the losses of some of the squatters are said to be enormous. Great mobs of wild horses, tamed by thirst, flouk to the water-holes, and are there trapped and killed, not for their own value, but to save the precious element. Birds fly into laborers' tents, in the hope of obtaining some relief from a friendly pannikin. Emus and other birds, rarely seen but in the solitude of the bush, now throng to rivers and waterholes, regardless of the presence of man or of his belongings. Tho rivers have never been so low; the local journals assert that, unless a change comes quickly, the Murrumbidgeo will have ceased to exist. Happily, within the last few days, a change to some extent has come, and a good deal of rain has fallen, apparently over most of the colonies. But even if it were in time to repair the mischief that has been already wrought, the quantity that has fallen is insufficient for our wants." Poisoning by Tutu. —The following account of poisoning from eating tutu berries ia from the " West-port Times" of the 6th inst:: —On Saturday morning the ferryman at the Ohika river, on the Buller road, observed a man in a frantic state on the opposite side of the river. The ferryman, Moore, made all haste to get him over to the house, when it was found that he was in a state of the most abject insanity. After a good fetd and resting for an hour, his -recollection to some extent returned. He could then remember that four days before, he left Charleston in company with another man whom he called 'Little Tommy j' that they arrived at Packers' Point by coach, and proceeded up the road towards the Lyell; that they called at the Junction Hotel and had each a glass of ale j and then they proceeded on their journey. He remembered walking some miles when they sat down to rest in a place where there was an abundance of tutu, the berries of which they ate freely, as ' Tommy' said they were good for food. Alter eating these berries the poor fellow could remember nothing beyond walking on for some miles. Both of them falling very sick they put up their tent, when Tommy was seized with violent fits. He was lying on his back and frothing at the mouth. The other became alarmed, and in his delirium rushed off for assistance, and for three days and nights was rushing through the bush until Saturday morning, when he happened to arrive at the ferry in a deplorable state. He was perfectly mad, without a hat, his face scratched and bruised all over and his tongue swollen and covered with sores, presenting a dreadful spectacle. When it is taken into account that he was wandering for three days without food he was not so exhausted as might have been expected, but he was in such a state that if he had lain down it is very likely that he would, never have risen again. A party started the next morning iv search of the missing man, and after some time his body much decomposed was found lying in a creek with the head resting on a boulder. Sand-cut Stones.—At the last meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society, a paper was read by Mr Traverse oncertain curiously formed stones, found on the isthmus between Lyall's and Evans' Bayß. These stones, which had a strong resemblance to the works of human art, occur in great abundance, and of various sizes, from half an inch to several inches iv.length. A large nnmber were exhibited,.. showing all the various forms, which resemble wedges, arrow heads, knives, &c., all with sharp cutting edges. Mr Travers explained that, notwithstanding their artificial appearance, these stones were formed merely j by the cutting action of wind-driven sand, as it passed to and fro over the exposed boulderbank that forms the higher part of the isthmus. He gave a minute account of the manner by which the peculiar varieties of forms are produced in this simple way and referred to the effect which this erosive action thus indicated; would have on railway and other works executed across sandy tracts. Dr Hector made some, .remarks on., the archiological bearing of these discoveries, and stated that although, as a group, the specimens on the table could not well be mistaken for artificial productions, still the form and edges in a few of them were so perfect that if they were discovered associated with human works in other countries, there is no doubt that they would have been referred to the so-called stone period.. ' He further pointed out that the ancient Maori Urms (the "Ejdkkenmoddings" of this country) were most likely places for favoring the production of such sand-cut stones, as they are generally on rising hillocks among sand dunes, and are formed of hard rounded stones, heaped up by the natives, and exposed to the action of the driving sand, considerably above the natural levels at which they would otherwise occur. It is obvious that on this account antiquarians who may in future explore such Urms must, be on their guard against being deceived by similar specimens into the belief that they are ancient implements. ' Sbbious AccrDENT eeom Blasting.— An accident, which nearly'proved fatal to two men named Joseph Bethel and Wm. Button, occurred lately in the Duke of Edinburgh Claim, on the Moanatairi. It appears that the two men, who are both wages men working for Mr Meyers of Auckland, were employed in a drive which is some six feet in, and previous to the accident they had put in a shot, which did not go off. Both the men then left the drive and returned in threequarters of an hour, thinking that by that time all danger had passed, and proceeded to drill out the hole, using a plentiful supply of water. While they were thus engnged, the charge exploded, throwing Button into a small copse of bush about eighteen feet from the spot where he was working. Bethel, who at the time of the accident was holding the drill, and therefore nearest the explosion, escaped with the least injury, although hie face and arms were very much burnt, and a piece of fuse had gone through the fleshy part of the palm of his hand, one of ln;8 eyes also being severely injured. When Button was picked up he was found to have sustained a severe wound, extending from the under lip around the chin, reaching nearly to the throat ; besides which he also was severely burnt, as wpH as being a good deal shaken by the fall.' Both men were, at last account?, progressing favorably, the wound on Button's face having been sewed by a medical man, while Bethel's mates washed his wounds with a plentiful supply of sweet oil, had the effect of allaying the agony rom which he was suffering, until such time 8 medical assistance was obtained.

Acclimatisation.—By the RuaVt""* arrived a beautiful pair of y 0lln „ ,*?M** the first I understand which have l lope »» in the colony. They «ro eon s i Rnc(1 C '* **** care of Captain Wheeler, of th o 8 6 m, l ho who ia open to sell them. There ino 9 a , • matisation Society here, so that it i 8 norn they will remain in this province. Mn.t ? hably they will go to Auckland or oS Pf °* Wellington correspondent " Wostport Tim""^