Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 271, 15 November 1878, Page 2

The District Court was formally opened for the first time this morning, the old Provincial Council Hall being transformed into a Courthouse. The fittings are all in polished white pine and kauri, and give the Court a light and pleasant appearance. The Judgo had his desk at the further end, under the full-length portrait of Dr Featherston In front is a smaller desk for the Clerk of the Court, the witnessbox beiog at his left hand. The solicitors' table occupies its us-ual position in the centre of the Court, the jury-box being 1 to the left, and the Press are accommodated with a raised table on the opposite side, above the fireplace. The bottom of the hall is railed-off for the public. The Judge appears in wig and gown, and the clerk and bailiff, as woll as the barristers engaged in the cases, wear gownsv The election of an auditor to the Equitable Building and Investment Company resulted as follows:— W. H. Warren, 161; J. W. Stevemon, ICO; G. M. Kebbell, 38. Mr. Warren is, therefore, elected. His Excellency the Governor, in accordance with the provisions of the Tramways Act, 1872, ncently instructed Mr. Hales, District Enff'neer, to inspect and report on the rolliagstock in use on the Wellington City Trnmwa" aud also as to the system Uijrier which it Is being worked jtf r . Ha]es mado his ; nspection a any or two ago, and we understand tbat his report to his Excellency is now in ciurse of preparation. What the nature of that report will be Ins not been allowed to transpire, but various rumours are current on the subject, one being to the effect that Mr. Hales has discovered the tramcars to be 8 inches wider than the Act permits, and thpt he also condemns the u«e of steam as a motor in the narrower thoroughfares, notably \Villis-street and Manners-street. We do not, of course, vouch for the accuracy of this rumor, indeed, we state explicitly that we give it as a mere on dit, but where ifiere is smoke there is generally some fire (especially in tramway engines), and the mere circulation of such a conjecture lias had the effect of eliciting some strong expressions of feeling against any action that might tend to disarrange or impede the working of the tramwayj which has proved so vast a convenience to the general public of all classes. The prohibition of the use of steam as the tractive power practically would amount to the abolition of the tramway, or, at any rate, to fettering its workiug, and rendering it dangerous to so serious an extent, as to come very much to the same thing. We hope, therefore, that the rumor alluded to will prove to be unfouudcd. Dr. Tripe writes :— " In the case of Jacobs, in your issue of yesterday, I wish to comet him iv part of his evidence. lam made to say I have got no stomach pump ; it should be, I have not got my stomach pump at home. I lefc a cave of instruments at a patient's; it contained my stomach pump, aod was not returned until after Jacobs came for me. I have never attended a case of poisoning unless armed with this instrument." As great complaints have been made during the last day or two of the use of coal in the tramway engines instead of coke, thus producing volumes of uuplea>nnt srnoko in the streets, we imy explain that this was an unavoidable temporary inconvenience caused hy the impossibility of obtaining auy coke in VI ellinirton Tor love or money. Owing to the foundering of the Wild Wave with one cargo of coke, and the delay of the Luna with another ; also to the fact that the Gas Company having stowed a large quantity in the holders, have discontinued gas-making for a few days while their new holder was being finished, this city ran completely out of coke, and if the Luna had not put in her appearance last uight, we uuderstand that several manufacturing establishments in town would have had to suspend operation until fresh coke supplies arrive. Fortunately the Luna did turn up and the coke famine now is over. D. Toohill, of Wellington, butcher, to-day filed a declaration of insolvency. The following tenders havo been received at the Public Works Office for the Maruwhenua Bridge Contract (Awamoko Branch Extension) of the Waitaki-Invercargill Railway :—: — Accepted — Allan aud Sbumbles, Timaru, £2077. Declined — Barclay and Kay, Oaraaru, £2117; Charles Abbot, Dunedin, £2522; Hendrrson and Fergus, Dunedin, £2655; John Barclay, Oamaru, £2300; John Whittaker, Duuedin, £2885; Blair, Stevens and Co., Oamaru, £3113; Meikle and Campbell, Dunedin, £3752; Gwen and Watson, Oamaru, £4625. Sir George Grey is gazetted Minister in charge of the Marine Department and of the administration of " The Shipping and Seamen's Act, 1877." The following appointments are gazetted :—: — Andrew Seaton, Esq., to be an AssistantSurveyor in the Surveyor- General's Department. The appointment dates from Ist July, 1878 William Henry Sfiaw, Esq , to be a Land Application Clerk in the SurveyorGeneral's Department, from sth July, 1878, vice J. F. Miles. Frank Watkins to be a Cadet in the Surveyor' General's Department. The appointment to date from the loth October, 1878. It is stated that the Mount Cook powder magazine is to be removed immediately, and that the site on Point Jerningham being considered too exposed, it is intended to excavate a portion of the hill and place the magazine in the cavity. Dr. Diver, at the request of Mr. M*ansford, R.M , yesterday visited the Asylum for the purpose of examining Miss Wood, the Wainui-o-mata lunatic. Dr. Divor found the unfortunate woman suffering from idiotic lunacy, whicb, from appearance, he believes to be congenital. The patient appeared to have been well cared for, but was so violent that it was found impracticable to make a thorough examination. Dr. Diver is consequently unable to say whether she has been subjected to ill-usage. The Bishop of Auckland and Archdeacon Harper, Canterbury, have been elected members of the Council of the Victoria (Philosophical) Institute. Australia will be visited by an English team of football players next spring. Sir Julius Vogel has written to the Tim«B, urging a reform in tho present telegraph tariff. The conversion of the Provincial Hall into a District Court has necessitated the removal of the Hutt County Council from the offices it has occupied in that building for tho past two years. Should Mr. Mansford succeed in getting the Resident Magistrate's Court transferred to the Provincial Hall, other alterations will be rendered necessary. By permission of tbs Post Office authorities, Mr. M. B. M'Donagh, of Taranaki-street, grocer, has erected at his store a postal receiving box for letters, which will be cleared twice daily, vas , at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. This will be a gTcat convenience to the public, the want of a letter hox in the neighborhood having been long felt. Mr. M'Donagh is also agent for the Evening Post. *•"' Madame Tasca's benefit -and farewell musical recital will take place at the Imperial Opera House this evening. We hope that the gifted artiste will meet with the substantial support she deserves. The Kelly and Leon Minstrels repeated Wednesday night's programme at the Theatre Royal last night. There was a good attendance, ani the performance was, as usual, greatly appreciated. Mr. Hutchison will address a meeting of ratepayers at the Schoolroom, Newtown, this evening. An essay on " The Early History of Astronomy " was read by one of the members, at a meeting of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Society last night. Next week the subject will be " An Evening with the Newspapers/ and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance. Operations were commenced yesterday for lowering Upper Willis-street at the crown of the hill to its permanent level. The Hart Company arrived from Wauganui by the Manawatu yesterday, after a very successful trip round the West Coast townships. We believe they intend paying Picton and Blenheim a visit. The fifth of the series of lectures in connection with the Young Men's Christiao Association will be delivered by Professor Kirk, F.L.S , on Monday night, the 13th instant* Subject, " Minute Life." Sir James Fergussoß, who was recently defeated in his candidature for the representa.