NEWS OF THE BAY.

Press, Volume XV, Issue 1948, 13 July 1869, Page 2

NEWS OF THE BAY.

,mv , /y , ( A second popular entertainment at Kaiapoi will take place this evening. : A very good programme has been provided. In our leader yesterday we erroneously stated that Dr Hector pointed out the existence of quartz on the Peninsula. Dγ Haaat ! indicated their position in his map of the province long ago. - An inquest was held yesterday at Merivale before Dr Coward, coroner, on view of the body of George Bee, who died suddenly on Friday night. After hearing the evidence of the witnesses and Dr Turnbuli, who made a post mortem examination of the body, the jury returned a verdict that deceased died from natural causes—to wit, apoplexy. Yesterday about noon two horses which were harnessed to a dray bolted near Manchester bridge, and dashing up Colombo street passed into Cashel street, where the dray was upset and the horses stopped. Neither the horses nor the dray sustained injury of any importance. The following are the principal prizes drawn at Mr Mundy*s Art Union yesterday': —Mr Cathcart Wason, twenty-four pictures ; Messrs G H Saxton, J V Boss, E Giraud, C Kenrick, H Westmacot, twelve pictures each ; Messrs Reginald Foster, J Waddington, R C Paeley, A Hawdon, — Packard, Bayfield, Paton, A Straohey, A J White, six pictures each. ; Another large audience assembled in the Town HalL last evening, when _the_Gourlay Family gave another of their drawing room entertainments. The piece selected was "Mrs M'Gregor's Levee," the performance of which was loudly applauded- The " Indian Basket Trick " passed off most This evening there will be a, change of performance. The Melbourne. " Daily Telegraph" states that the conference of representatives of the several colonies, first suggested by the ment of New Zealand, to consider various eobjects of intercolonial interest, is likely to fall through. New Zealand hae now suggested J the month of October, which would certainly ,be inconvenient for South Australia,; as the Parliament will then be sitting, and the Adelaide Government have intimated this to.the New Zealand Government. Quite a unique petition was brought, before the Avon Shire Council at its last Bitting. The inhabitants of North Gipps Land prayed that the Hon. the Commissioner of Trade and Customs would establish a branch immigration dep6t in Sale, " because all the male servants were investing their savings in land and becoming settlers under the 42nd section, and all the women servants were getting married. , ' Upon this the ** Gippa Land Times" comments: —" Wβ believe the statements made as the basis of the petition, though starting and novel, to be substantially true." A meeting of the Hospital and Chaplaincy Committee took place yesterday afternoon at four o'clock at the City Council Chambers. Present—the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurch in the chair, Messrs Bealey, G.: Hart, Kennaway, W. Wilson, and G. Gordon. A - letter was read from the Rev. Canon Wilson apologising for not being able to attend the meeting. Several subscription lists were handed in, and the Chairman stated the total amount contributed to be about £211. Mr W. Wilson suggested that the subscription lists should not be called in for a short time, as he believed that additions would be made to the subscriptions. Tne Chairman said that he would call the next meeting by advertisement, and he trusted that by that time considerable additions would be made.:: After the transaction of some further business the meeting terminated.

Yesterday morning at eleven o'clock a deputation consisting of Messrs W. Wilebn, Ollivier, L. B. Nathan, J. A. 33ird, and H. B. Alport, waited upon the Provincial Government in pursuance of a resolution passed at the public meeting held on Friday to request that""the reward offered in a vote of the Provincial Council for the discovery of a paying goldfield in the province might be increased from £200 to £1000. The members ef the deputation were received by Hie Honor the Deputy Superintendent, the Provincial Secretary, the Provincial Solicitor, and Major Hornbrook, and having urged

I snmc lrnjfth tho desirability of the increase us pointed oat, werr informed that theG-oyern-inent aid not feel justified at present in com* plying with the request of the deputation, but that. !\t the next session of the Provincial Council they would recommend .that the vote for the discovery of a paring gold field in the province wouli be considerably increased.-"

A meeting of the commitee of the Prospediiflg Company wass held afternoon, Mr Oliivier in the chair. All the members were present. The following resolutions -were carried : —"That tho name of the company bo tho Canterbury Prospecting Company (Limited). ,, "That there be 200 shares of £5 each issued. ,, <s That the proposed company be registered under the Limited Liability Aot, and that a memorandum of association be prepared." "That five of the committee form a quorum." "That a call be made of £1 per share forthwith." " That the solicitors of the company be Messre Garrick and Cowlisbaw, and that the bankers be the Bank of New Zealand. ,, "That a cub-committee be appointed to prepare a report for the consideration of the committee as to the rules and regulations to be laid down for the contract of prospecting parties, and that it be an instruction to that committee to ascertain the desirability or otherwise of providing outfit, provisions, and what wages, &0., should be given, to such parties ; and that such sub-committee coneiet of Messrs W. R. Mitchell, W. F. Warner, and M. B. Hart, to report at a meeting to take place at four o'clock on Thureday, July 15th. The resignation of J. C. Brooke as secretary, was handed in, that gentleman stating that as the company was now organised, he would no longer be able to devote sufficient time to the affairs of the company; but he, : afterwards consented to act till his successor was appointed.

.It having been agreed upon by the EUesmere Farmers Club, at a former meeting, that a ploughing match should beheld on August 4th, the following gentlemen belonging to the club) met at Loe's hotel, Leeston, on July 9th, for the purpose of hearing the report of those members appointed to examine the respective merits of the several pieces of ground offered for the purpose, and to make all other necessary arrangements. There were present — Eev Mr Bluett (chairman), Messrs Bridge, Washbourne, Rennie, Barnett, Mawson, ley, Hepworth, Johnston, Lockhead, Woods, Bullock, and Lawrence. A field belonging to Messrs Dudley and Lawrence, presenting all the necessary features for a match, and being also in a very central position, was, upon the proposition of Mr Lockhead* seconded by Mr Hepworth, approved of. A proposition that there should be two classes for swing, and two for wheeled ploughs, was made by Mr Lockheed, seconded by Mr Mawson, and carried, said proposition also providing that there should be several prizes in each class. A class for boys under eighteen, with a certain number of prizes, was proposed by Mr Bullock, seconded by Mr Lawrence. Mr Law; rence proposed, seconded by Mr Bluett, that the rules of the champion match held last year near Christchurch be adopted. Proposed by Mr Bullock, that an entrance fee of 10s for the men's classes, and 5s for the boys' class be. charged. Mr Hepworth moved as an amendment to the last proposition, that teams without the bounds of the district pay £1 entrance" fee. Carried. Proposed by Mr Bluett, seconded by Mr Lawrence, that all entries must be addressed to the secretary, at Loe'e hotel, not later than Monday a August 2nd, and must contain the name of the owner of the team, the name of the ploughman, and the number of the class in which he desires to compete, and be accompanied by the entrance fee.' ,■,■":.■...'.■.. ; - ■ ■ '.., -

The following account of the Land Titles Offices in Sydney ia from the " Morning Herald." The orator is Mr Dignam, a meniber of the Legislative Assembly, which he is supposed to be addressing :-—*• I don't know," said the honorable gentleman, " whether hon. members have ever been in the shop in Eliza-, beth street. If they haven't, they ought to. My word ! it'll stun 'em. There they are, as comfortable as you like, in a fine large room, as large as this chamber —sitting in state, and las big Q9 bull beef—with their assistants round 'em reading parchments and papers to 'em, and they taking it easy in their big arm-chairs glistening to it all, There they go with * This indenture" "witnessetH, 'and whereas' ~*and moreover,' ' and executors and admihistrators,' and ' so" on.' And then every now and then, when they're a-most knocked up with listening, they pull up, and ask their chaps to pass .over the sherry. And when they've had their nobbier, on they go again with the reading * all that piece or parcel of land, , and ' the aforesaid' and 'nevertheless' and so on. - Why it's just fun to 'cm —them chaps a-reading is as good as a hovel to 'em. Why all the examiner's got to do is to sit in his chair, listen to the cove reading, and take objections—and precious clever they are at that too. I never see such out-and-outers at it. Talk of Torrens Act making things easy, why them examiners make 'eni harder than they was before. I never knew anything more difficult in my life than to get [titles through their claws. Why, they are always wanting to know why some son wasn't alive, Or why sotne daughter wasn't married, or why some wife wasn't dead, or why somebody nobody never heard of, had done something or other, or why he hadn't done. it. Why that very office kills off a dozen lawyers a year—breaks their hearts —-finding objections they can't answer. There's my friend here, the member for East Macquarie—he ain't the same man since he had some business of mine to do with these coves. These precious examiners nearly drove him to despair, and he was getting quite thin on it, thinking of the precious lot of foolscap i it took up, answering their objections. He regular begun to jib on it and he comes to mc one day, and says he, * Dignam, I must give up this job, it's wearing mc to a shadow. , ' Well, what <lid I do. I tells him, says I, ' Just do as I tell you. Take no notice of onehalf, and answer the other.' He took my advice, and only the other day he meets mc and he says, * Dignam, I did as you said, and I've settled that precious business at last.'"

The Melbourne " Age " says :—" We' are informed on good authority that when the ship Blue Jacket lately burned at sea on her voyage from New Zealand to Europe, wa& about leaving port on her fatal voyage, a sailor who had been engaged for the trip absolutely refused to go on board, because the wool was packed in such a damp condition that he believed it was enre to catch fire. The man was laughed at, but Jβtuck to his determination. Wβ believe it is no uncommon thing for New Zealand skippers to take wool that is palpably damp, U> the extent of several bales in a cargo: The damp ones are placed pn top of the rest, ready to be put smartly over the side if tljey fly on fire."

San Francisco has had a wedding that, for extravagance in dress, wealth of outfit, and value of presents, sustains her ambition to rank second only to New York among the cities of America. The bride wa? the daughter of a merchant prince, Mr Friedlander, known «s the " Grain King." The bridegroom was the eon of Dγ Bowie, a leading physician. The trousseau cost 10,OOOdole, and was full and magnificent beyond that of any former Californian bride. The presents, besides 150,000 dol from the father, amounted to 30,000 dol in jewellery and gold, and silver service.

Wβ " Argus " are assured, upon the authority of the "New York World," that the age of miracles has not passed. There has been a free trado meeting in Philadelphia—the first gathering of the kind in that city for twentyfive years—and a protest against the so-called protective system ; and a free trade league has been formed in that city, which declares that " the tariffs of the United States are all baeed upon temporary expediency, passing rapidly, modified rapidly, repealed rapidly, and continually tinkered in the attempt to harmonise conflicting home interests." This expression from Philadelphia is light from darkness. Boston, too, is to have a " reform league," to devote itself "to resumption of specie payments, reform in the civil service, the negotiation of reciprocity treaties, and hostility to class legislation, as well as to the reduction of duties on imports ;" and Brooklyn has a freo trade league, which has called a meeting, when Henry Ward Beecher will preside. This is significant. No man knows better than does Mr Beecher when the tido is turning,; and when to take the tide. Free trade is exciting a vast deal of attention »hroughout the country, and the formation of leagues in all the cities is the first result. Deserted by the Fnited States, by Bussia, and by Spain, protection before long will be unable to find any country in which to hide her crazy old head but the oolony of Victoria.

A meeting of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board was held in the Survey office on Wednesday, Bth July met. Members present-4 Messrs Waeckerle (chairman), Garwoodj Saxton, and the Engineer.' A letter was re? ceived from Mr David Brown, tho poundr keeper, stating that through ill-health he was compelled to resign his situation. The Chair* man informed the Board that Mr W. Green having offered his services to act as pound? keeper, he (the chairman) had recommended him for that appointment, which recommenda* tion had been accepted by the Government The Board confirmed the chairman's recommendation. Several applications were rei ceived from ratepayers stating that they were wishful of having footpaths formed to their dwellings. The Board having taken everything into consideration, and deeming the main roads to be of the greatest importance, deoided that from financial reasons these applications could not be entertained. In reference to a letter received from Mr Thomas Brough on the subject of forming a continuation of the Wainui road round the head of his sections for which ho was willing to pay half the cost, the Board instructed the engineer to form an estimate of the same and report upon it at the next meeting. The Chairman informed the Board that he, in conjunction with the engineer, had made a contract with Robert Steward to repair, and keep in the first portion of the Little River road for twelve months for the sum of £25, which contract the Board now confirmed. The Board decided to accept the tender of John Cullen for the repairs of the bridge in Jollie street north, lately washed away by the flood, for the sum of £12. The Board adjourned till Wednesday, 21st instant, at cix p.m.

The usual meeting of the Heathcote Eoad Board was held yesterday, when all tho members were present. Mr Dunlop and Mr Sandford had an interview, and requested the Board to grant a free pass over the swing bridge to the residents of the Heathcote valley* and after they retired the Board considered the matter, and agreed to grant a free pass for two months, while the condition of the Hills' road prevented the inhabitants from using it for heavy traffic. /Mr Hopkins also waited upon the Board relative to the drainage of his property near tKe canal reserve, and the Board, directed certain worts to be done, which they considered would in. a great mea* euro remedy the evil complained of. Mr Campt>iell also waited upon the Board to support a petition which J ad been sent from residents of Avqnville referring to the artesian well in Hanmor street, and urged the Board to have abrancli pipe, placed by Mr Palairet, removed. A letter from Mr Wood on the same subject was also read, in which the writer complained of the action taken by Mr Palairet in the matter. The Board after due consideration resolved to request the Chairman to see Mr Walker's agent, Mr Hanmer, and others interested, and endeavour to ascertain the teraos upon which the artesian well in Avonville was sunk, and upon what understanding a connecting pipe wasaffixed to Mr Palairet'e house. A letter from Mr Hopkins was read, asking the Board's permission to remove the bridge placed across the Ferry road drain by the School Committee to the new road laid out opposite the school. The Board resolved that as it would greatly inconvenience the inhabitants of the neighborhood to have the'bridge removed, they would willingly subscribe the sum of £2 towards the cost of erecting another at the site named. A letter was read from Mr Britfan relative ,to the drainage of his farmland the Surveyor was instructed to report thereon, and also upon the drainage of part of Colombo road, referred-to ia a letter from the Spreydon Boad Board. A letter was read from Mr Hicheijs, informing: the Board that certain damage had been ; done to the willow trees near hie pi?o'pertyVon the Avon road. . A letter from MathesoriV Agency was read, wherein they ask the Board if it will take over the roads j on seotlon 69if the samei are formed. The Board decided to take'them over on the*.terms of the letter. A letter from Mr Lock wood, of the Spreydon district, was read, complaining of*the' quantity of water on his eec'ion duringthe recent rains, when he was referred to the Spreydon Boad Board. TheSurveyor'e report wae read and considered, when he wae in; structed to apply to the Secretary for Public Works.for assistance to repair the Dyers , pass road, and to inform him that the Board will be compelled to caution the public against using this road in its present state. He was also directed to apply to the same officer for permission to uee the Railway drain for the purpose of draining Colombo street south. The Surveyor waa also instructed to apply to the City Council for permission to «clear oufe and deepen the side drain on the east side of the east belt, so aa to give an outlet drainage to the properties and street? adjacent to the belt and in this district. After passing accounts for work done, the Board adjourned until Monday, the 26fch met.