NEWS OF THE DAY.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 3037, 17 May 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Paeish of Kaiapoi.—lt is understood that Archdeacon Harper, of Westland, has declined to accept the care of Kaiapoi, to which he was invited by the nominators. Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton.— It is understood there is a strong probability that the Rev de Berdt Hovell will be nominated to the vacant cure of this parish. The Southern Railway.—The tiaffic manager announces that on and after Monday. 24th May, trains will cease to stop at the Racecourse (platform) Station. A new station has been erected at Racecourse Junction. Telegraphic.—The Tararua is expected to leave Hokitika at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Telegrams for the Australian Colonies or Europe, via Java cable, will be received at the telegraph office for transmission to Hokitika up till 2 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday. St John's Church.—The usual monthly service for children was held yesterday afternoon in St John's Church, Latimer square. The incumbent (the Rev H. C M. Watson) officiated, and chose as the subject of his address, " Sicknees and Death." St. John's Juvenile Society.—The second entertainment given by the members of the St John's Juvenile Society, will take place this evening, in St John's schoolroom. An attractive prosrramrae has been prepared, in which the Excelsior Christy Minstrels will take part. The Education Bill.—Tbe debate on the financial statement of the Government being concluded, the second reading of the Education Bill will probably be moved by the Provincial Solicitor to-morrow evening. Synod of Canterbury.—The Presbyterian Synod of Canterbury will open its session in St Andrew's Church to morrow evening, when the retiring Moderator, the Rev G. Barclay, will preach the opening sermon. On Thursday evening a conversazione j will take place in the church.

LyttELTOn.'Fibk Police.—The first quarterly meeting of this body was held on Friday night last. Present —Captain Bnrnip in the chair, Lieutenants Forbes and Packard, and Messrs W. Pierce, G. Ayere, Allwright, Hobbs, Willcox, Milne, Cribb, and Jacobson. The minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed, and the captain then made a statement relative to the orphanage fire, and also t_ at there had been several members in attendance at the fire at Captain O'Brian's. Eleven members were present at the orphanage fire, and they had been publicly thanked by Captain Giraod. Mr Packard proposed, and Mr Milne seconded—"That ten more badges be purchased." Carried. Mr Jacobson proposed, and Mr Ayera seconded, — " That the fire police turn out for drill at tbe next practice of the Lyttelton fire brigade." Carried. Mr Forbes proposed, and Mr Jacobson seconded—" That a copy of the rules be posted at the fire brigade office*" Carried, The meeting then adjourned,

Foresters* Scholarships.—We remind those who intend to compete for the scholarships offered by tbe Ancient Order of Foresters, that the district secretary will be in attendance this evening at the Foresters' Hall to receive their names Canterbury Tradesmen's Athletic Club—A special meeting of this club will be held this evening at the Garrick Hotel, when it is probable that arrangements will be made with Young Delaney. who has lately arrived ftorn the West Coast, to run a match against time on the day of the club sports. The Cabmen.—During last week many both of the owners of cabs and drivers have taken out licenses at the City Council office. We think they have acted wisely in so doing, as there has been enough of litigation in this matter. Now that the cabs ply under the bye-laws of the City Council, the pnblic be able to understand the fares to be paid for each set down. Found Drowned.—A man named Joseph Betts was taken ont of the river by Sergeant Wilson on Saturday afternoon, between Victoria and Colombo street bridges. He was first seen entangled in the water cress by a Mr McWilliams, who gave information at tbe depot. On being removed to the Oxford Hotel, Sergeant Wilson found a tradesman's account on him for a small amount, with deceased's name on the envelope. He could not have been more than two days in the water, as he was last seen on Wednesday or Thursday. Betts was at one time an inmate of the Inebriate Asylum, and had been drinking heavily of late. An inquest will be held to-day, at the Oxford Hotel. Entertainment at Papanui.—The first of a series of winter entertainments took place in the new schoolroom, Papanni, on Friday evening, and despite the unfavourable weather, was largely attended. Mr G. Harper presided, and the following programme was successfully gone through:— Duett pianoforte—Misses M. Jennings and Norman; reading (Mrs Brown's Opinion of the Royal Russian Marriage)—Mr Phillips; song (When we were boys together)—Mr Comerford (encored); song (Come back to Erin) —Miss Jackson; reading (Handy-Andy) —Mr Morgan; Irish song in character—Mr Whitley, (encored); pianoforte solo—Miss Norman; song(lnchcape bell) —MrStansell; song (When the kie comes hame) —Mr Low; trio (Kiss mc mother ere I die) —Mrs G. Harper, Messrs Comerford and Stansell : reading from Pickwick (Middle-aged lady) —Mr Phillips; Irish comic song in character —Mr Whitley; pianoforte solo—Miss Tombs; song (Captain de Wellington Boots); song— Mr C. C. C. Duncan; finale—" G-cd save the Queen." Papanui Saleyakds Company. — A meeting of the promoters of the proposed Papanui Saleyards Company was held at the Sawyers' Arms Hotel, Papanui, on Friday evening last, when there was a good attend ance. The chair was occupied by ttlr Chas. Amyes. Resolutions were passed having for their object the establishment and registration of the company under t.he Limited Liability Act, and providing that tire capital of the company should consist of 1000 shares of the value of £2 10s each, and that the registered office of the company should be at the office of Messrs Joynt and O'Neill in Christchurch. It was also determined to secure by purchase three acres of land belonging to Mr J. Rossiter, and adjoining the land to be leased by the company from Mr Wild for the erection of yards, buildings, &c. A share list was opened in the room, and 130 shares were subscribed for by those present. The meeting then adjourned to Friday evening next at seven o'clock at the Sawyers' Arms Hotel, for the purpose of considering the draft articles of association and other business of importance. Theatre Royal.—The play of "Lucrezia Borgia" formed the first piece of the bill at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, when there was a capital house. As the representative of the infamous Duchess, Mrs Bates showed great dramatic power, especially in the scenes with Gennaro and the Duke. Mr Bates was the Gennaro, and played with great care and effect. In many of the scenes he gave a very spirited rendering, and he deserves very great credit for the representation as a whole. The other parts were well filled, and the piece capitally put on the stage, both as regards dresses and appointment!*. In the farce, " The Toodles," which followed, Mr and Mrs Bates showed their versatility by the thorough mannecin which they entered into the fun with which the piece abounds. Mr Bates, as Toodles, was especially good, keeping the audience in roars of laughter throughout. To-night, " The Red Pocket Book," a sensation drama, which had a great run in Sydney, and in which Mr and Mrs Bates are spoken very highly of, will be played. The piece has been rehearsed with great care. Inquests. —An inquest was held on Saturday at the City Hotel, before J. W. 8. Coward, Esq. on the body of Mr Austin Fussell, who died from the effects of a fall off a ladder in his warehouse on Monday last. Mr C. Bonnington was chosen foreman of the jury. From the evidence of George Main, a boy employed in the shop, and Alfred Wright, assistant, it appeared that a few minutes after three o'clock that afternoon Mr Fussell, after returning from dinner, went to an upper room to change his coat, and on coming down went into the back warehouse, where he was found shortly afterwards by the first witness, lying upon the asphalte in an unconscious state, with blood on one side of his face, and some on the asphalte. The ladder and a basket he had evidently been removing from a landing were lying alongside of him. The witness at once gave the alarm. No one was present at the time of the accident, and the ladder, which had slipped "on the pavement, was an old one, and not generally used. Dr Prins, who was called for at half-past three that afternoon, stated that he found deceased lying in the warehouse on his back; he had been bleeding through the nostrils, and was insensible. Had hira conveyed to a room and applied the usual remedies, and seeing the case a very precarious one, called in Drs Turnbull and Syme in consultation. Deceased remained insensible until his death. At the request of deceased's friends he had opened his head, and on removing the scalp he found over the seat of injury (left temple and eyebrow) that the integuments were very much braised. On removing the skull, found a large clot of blood resting on the brain. The whole of the brain was in an inflammatory state, and all the blood-vessels were gorged with blood/ Deceased died from the effects of the injury and from concussion of the brain. His head coming into contact with tbe asphalte would be likely to cause the injury. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." An inquest was also held at tbe Hospital on Saturday before the coroner on the body of Joseph Thompson, who met his death through injuries received at the Dunsandel station on Thursday last. The evidence showed that the deceased and two other men were engaged in the afternoon of that day loading logs of timber into a waggon by means of a steam crane. Deceased, who was at the winch, raised the logs to the required height, and left the platform to assist the other men to cant the jib of the crane. The lower end of the logs canght in the waggon, and in the efforts to disengage them they were suddenly jerked, causing one of the links of the chain to snap, the logs falling on the men, deceased, who was immediately under, receiving most injuiy. After the medical evidence had been taken, the jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death."

A correspondent of the Leeds Mercury states that the rumors about the new daily paper to be established in opposition to the Times become more and more defined. It is stated that American money will be found to start the paper, and that the American system of obtaining information at any cost will be followed. Among the persons named in connection with the scheme are Mr Edmund Yates, Mr J. Gordon Bennett (Nem York Herald), Mr Labouchere, and others. It is probable, also, that the great feature of American iomnaliem known as " personals," the absence of which in our newspapers is so frequently deplored by Americans in this country, will be pmninent in this new enterprise. A name, The Planet, has been suggested for ths paper.

The first planetary discovery of the present year was made on the 13th January by M Paul Henry, at Paris. It will reckon as No 141 of the small planets.

The following statistics of the five great exhibitions have been collected by the Times—"The Great Exhibition of 1851. held in London, was opened on the lat of May and remained open for payment for 14 f'days The number of visitors was 6.039,195, aQd [ £424,322 was received for admissions.' The Exposition Universelle of 1855, at Paris was opened on the 15th of May, and remained open 200 days, Snndavs included* The number of visitors was 5.162,330 and £128,099 was received for admission. The International Exhibition of ISK2, it! Lo_ don, was opened ou the Ist of May and remained open 171 days. The number of visitors was 6,211.103, and £408,530 "was received for admissions. The Exposition Universelle of 1867, at Paris, was opened on the Ist of April, and remained open 217 days, Sundays included. The number of visitors was no less than 8.805.969 an( j £420,735 was received for admissions.' The Universal Exhibition of 1873 at Vienna was opened on the Ist of May, and remained open 186 days. Sundays includedthe number of visitors was 6,740500 and £206.478 was received for' admissions. thus the total number of visitors at the five great International Exhibitions was 32,959.097, a greater number than the entire population of the United Kingdom enumerated at the Census of 1871 and £1,588,164 was received for admissions The Progress Medal, as it was termed at Vienna, for the greatest number of visit orß in one day belongs to the Exposition o_iverselle of Paris in 1867, when 173,923 persons passed through the turnstiles on Sun* day, the 27th of October. The Vienna Eshibition was a good second with 135,674 oa the closing day, Sunday, the 2nd of November; Paris in 1855 comes next with 123 017 on Sunday, the 9th of September, fheu comes the London Great Exhibition of 1851 with what was then thought the extraordi. nary number of 109,915. on Tuesday, the 7th of October, four days before the close- and lastly, London in 1862 with 67,891 on Thursday. the 30th of October. We wait now for the Great Exposition at Philadelphia in

The chief commissioner of the Railway Commission, Sir Frederick Peel, has delivered a most important judgment. The Midland Railway is bound, by agreements with many Companies, and especially with the Great Western, not to lower its fares between places where competition exists without the consent of its rirals, It has Devertbeless lowered first class faxes from 2d to lid a mile, and the Great Western has tried the question.' The Commission has decided that such agreements being in rastriction of competition must be construed strictly, that general reductions cannot be held to be reddc* tions between competing stations, and that the agreements do not bind except as to stations where there is actual competition. Thai although the Midland could not charge £d a mile from London to Birmingham, because the Great Western has stations at those places, it could charge it from Kentish Town to Birmingham, and could also charge it over its whole system. The application to restrain the Midland -must, therefore be digmissed. The effect of this judgment is, that agreements between railway companies' to prevent low fares are worthless, unless they cover the entire extent of the territory served by those who agree, and that any railway with the courage to adopt low fares can compel its rivals to imitate its example. That is good for the public, but we had rather the benefit had been obtained without a decision, which, though of course correct, might under some circumstances involve a legal sanction to breach of faith.

It appears that slaves on the Gold Coast, like slaves in India, prefer to be free. Consequently, when told by Governor Strahan, with the consent of the native chiefs, that they, were free to go, a good many of them went. The chiefs thought this very inconvenient, and have accordingly, in a petition to the Queen, obviously manufactured by Europeans, requested that slaves shall be free only when cruelty can bAproved against" their masters. They say vLat consent to Governor Strahan's plan was wrung front them, that their plantations are being deserted, and that the slaves will all turn highwaymen. In fact, the regular slave-ownerV arguments are all % reproduced, and we only wonder that the chiefs did not add negro race is visibly, and by the law of nature, unfitted, for freedom, and offer to go into slavery themselves. It is quite impossible, of course, for the Government to recede in any way whatever from a policy whose success proves how necessary it was, and how false was the old argument that slaves on the Gold Coast cordially approved the institution. Tbe chiefs must put up with freedom, and congratulate themselves that tbey are not carrying Ashantee litters, as but for the British Government would have been the case. As to disturbances arising from emancipation, they are most improbable, bnt if they occur Governor Strahan has only to make emancipation absolute, on conditionof each freed man doing soldier's service foraix months if called upon,

The Home Secretary has introduced his long-promised Bill for " improving the dwellings of the working classes in large townsi" t in a very dry but earnest and sensible speech. We have described his measure, which is really one for allowing the municipalities in the great towns and the Metropolitan Board, in London to pull downhouses in diseased districts and replace them, by Peabody buildings elsewhere, but may add here that it was well received by the philanthropists in the House, that it is considered only too moderate, and that in the great towns the first objection, raised is as to its probable cost. Mr Cross expressly repudiated State grants for rehousiug the people. It was not the duty of the State to find them good houses any more than good food. All it can do is to remove obstacles, and this he has striven to do by enabling Municipal Councils in great cities, with the consent of tbe Home Oflice, to acquire and to sell a Parliamefitary title to the condemned districts. That power will limit expenditure, bat we do not see that the dread of State interference need prevent the House from sanctioning cheap loans to the municipalities engaged in the work, if such loans will make them more ready to attempt it. The local ratepayers will not be liberal till they are convinced that the clearances are not costly, and not very liberal then. In London, do doubt, the Metropolitan Board is very strong, but JLondon does not present the worst cases in England.

Although the ingenuity of counsel and judicial misinterpretation of the law pro* - cured the discharge from custody of Mount and Morris, those South-Sea marauders, saya the Leader, stand a fair chance of returning to the Melbourne gaol at an early date, to expiate the crime, of which they were found guilty. It will be remembered that his Honor Judge Stephen, who was at that time Attorney - General, and Mr Kerferd, who was Solicitor - General, maintained that there was sufficient vitality in the law under which these men were triecLtg, hold them in custody. This view, -*ro ever, waa not held by the Bench, ata Mount and Morris were accordingly set » liberty. The Government of Mr Franci* appealed against this decision to the Privy Council and that tribunal has declared that the prisoners were illegally discharged," and that their position now is that of escaped convicts, who are liable to be apprehended - if they are anywhere in the British domi* nions, or in any country having an extra* dition treaty with Great Britain. This decision of the Privy Council is not only * satisfactory proof of the soundness of th* legal view held by both Crowri law but is a vindication of the justice of w* B case. No act of the judicature in the colony ever brought the law into such contempt «* the release of these kidnappers andmaTa-ders; and to the world beyond Australia it must have appeared that we have got up a mock trial solely to throw dust iv the eyes of the European public, whose opinion upon acts ot great injustice and oppression no coloni" community can afford wholly to despise. I» now rests with the Government to take to* step. Mceuarj for their i«*ppa«naMf

According to accounts from Port-au-Prince, received at San Francisco, the fire at that on Jannary 12th was still more dj- ß--•Ltnwß than the telegraph announced. The Sire northern portion of the city was mcept by the flames. Four hundred houses £_ye been consumed, and the loss of property £ estimated at 2,000,000d01. The property Sas chiefly owned by foreign residents, JlJnposed of English, Hollanders, Gerfflans, Frenchmen, and a few Ameri--ans, and was insured in companies in varopeao cities, mostly Amsterdam, where th- loss falls very heavily. No American company lost anything by the _r» The combustible nature of the structures and the high wind caused tbe flames _, spread with great rapidity. A dozen separate fires occurred. In seven hours from the time of the breaking out of the fire a space * about half a mile square had been MVered by the flames. By blowing up the buildings and leaving nothing for the fire to feed upon it was finally stopped. J. P. Hepburn an American merchant, lost his life. w e had rescued his wife and children, and —ent back into his bazaar to endeavor to I_Te some of his goods. While there he was garrounded by the flames. His dead body «_i f o _nd after the fire in a well in the rear of his store. The operations of a smuggling ring are tteae described by the New York Times of vE£«t 29th :—" Some time since the firm of Brannin, Summers, and Co, of Louisville, sent a petition to the House, asking to be reimbursed for duties on imported sugars, which they were compelled by fraud to pay. fhe petition was referred to the ways and means committee, where the whole subject was thoroughly investigated, and to-day the committee agreed upon a bill granting the relief prayed for. The amount involved is between 60,000d0l and So,ooodol. The investigation brought to light the following facts .—ln 1868, while Perry Fuller tisb collector of the port of New Orleans, a rm S was forcued for the purpose of smuggling sugar, composed of jTs. Clark, a notorious gambler, of that city: W. C. Gray, special deputy collector of the port; J. C. White, deputy naval officer; 8. H. Brown, storekeeper; and R. L. Reams, gnperintendent of warehouses, all of New Orleans. The mode of procedure was to import sugar and place it in bonded warehouses, whence it could be taken only upon payment of duties in gold or upon transportation bond, setting forth that it was to be transported to some interior port of delivery, where the duty would be paid. Tho sugar ■wonld be taken out of warehouse by means of the transportation bond, but instead of being shipped as stipulated in the bond it wonld be sent to the store of one Soria,a merchant of the city. The transportation bond, and all papers connected with the im porta- i tion were then destroyed, and tbe sugar sold in the regular course of trade passed to dealers in Louisville, Cincinnati, St Louis, Chicago, and other interior cities. The iewlt was that in many cases revenue detectives, following the matter up, would compel the purchasers in these interior cities to pay the duties that should have been paid by the New Orleans importer. The ring continued its operations for a year or more, till in April, 1869, Casey took charge as collector of the port, and a change in the minor ofScere destroyed the facilities for carrying on the business. During the time that the ring flourished they made a great deal of money. Subsequently Clark, Grey, White, Brown, and Soria were indicted for their fraudulent acts, but the cases have never been pushed. Brown and Soria made a full confession, hoping thereby to escape punishment. Brown is now dead. The case against Clark was ' nollied ' on the ground that he was dead, while, in fact, he is now a ta_-col-lector of the first municipal district of New Orleans, and Kellog's chief political manager. The office he holds is by appointment of Kellog, and is variously estimated to be worth from 50,000d0l to 100,000dol annually.