DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 19, 26 August 1843, Page 3

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Geology. — A lecture on the above subject was delivered on Wednesday evening by Mr. M' Donald, in the largo .room, of the Crown Inn, to a respectable meeting of mechanics and others. After treating of the general principles of the science, the lecturer proceeded to give a short sketch of the Geology of New Zealand, and concluded by an animated, hopeful, and eloquent address, expressive of the future prospects and destiny of this colony. We were much pleased with tho lecture as a whole, and we very much approve of this praiseworthy effort on the part of the mechanics to exchange with one another their ideas on subjects of science , or general knowledge.

We insert as required the following report from our correspondent, because we wish to give all parties fair play in this as in every other case. Police Office, — Friday, Aug. 25, 1843. Captain Cook of the " Alligdior." and Mr. John Rich, applied before F. Mathtw, E*q , C.L.M , for advice and redress in the following matter . — The applicants had recently imported several head of horned cattle, and determined to avail themselves of the new market, for the purpose of disposing of some of them at such prices as would affoid them a fair remuneration, and secure the public from the extortion, which has been hitherto practised by the retail butchers. These gentry however, a.c not vwl-

ling quietly to surrender the monopoly they have so long enjoyed, and accordingly on Wednesday morning they stationed in the market place several " touters" to declare that the beast whose carcase was then offered, had died of disease, and that the meat was unwholesome. The result of this proceeding was, that although the beef was aB fine as ever was offered at Liadenhall, it was refused by a great many intending bui ci s ; at leas.t for that day, and if the we.ither had betn unfavourable the meat would of course have been spoiled, to say ! nothing of the disadvantage to the ciiiz^-ns. The Government had 2ent this place for a market, and bad encouraged the settlers and others to bring their pioduce to it, [or the good of Ihe community ; but this assistance was worse than useless, if some prosection was not afforded by Police regulations against such schemes as these. Mr. Rich said that he hoped to bring home the offence to some of them, and in that case would know how to act. But against the instruments themselves, an action at law would of course be but poor retribut on. The Chief Police Magistnte said, that he was well aware of the combinations among the butchers, to keep up high prices to the disadvantage of the public, as well as the settlers ; and he was extremely sorry, that in the absence of a , Local Act for the regulation of the market, he had no ! powar to assist the applicants. The Statute law against ' fore-stalling, he thought, was hardly applicable 10 the , caae ; but cv( n if it were, the course of proceeding would be by indictment, and not summary jurisdiction. If the gentlemen before him could by legil assistance discover any process by which he had power to help i them, he would most earnestly do so ; but at present | he thought, the only useful proceeding to adopt, was j to make the scheming tricks of " the fle&hers" as public as possible, that every one might understand ' the thing properly. Here the matter was dropped ' for the present Sheriff. — It is reported that Mr. Cpafes has resigned the office of Sheriff; we trust that the Chief Justice will look after the filling up of the vacancy, and see that no needy, or improper person is appointed to so responsible a situation. j