The Evening Star TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1885.

Evening Star, Issue 6869, 7 April 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 1885.

The champion totalisator dividend, so far as this Colony is concerned, was paid yesterday at Auckland, where three individuals who put their LI on Kalo in the Shorts Handicap received L 251 15s each for their investment. Ten convict prisoners, of three years and upwards, were transferred from Dunedin prison to Lyttelton prison yesterday. They consisted principally of men who were not physically fit for the work at the Otago Heads breakwater, and who, by length of sentence and character, could not well be employed at the Botanical Gardens. At Timaru the other day, when receiving a deputation re defences, Sir Julius Vogel gravely told them that " there was a place about a mile and a-half from the Ocean Beach called White Cliff's, and it was a common joke in Dunedin that, although the place had been fired at times out of number it had never been hit." From Napier to Christchurch in fortyeight hours is quick travelling, and that was accomplished last week by Remenyi and his company. Leaving Napier by train at 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday, they accomplished eightyfive miles to Tahoraite. Thence to Masterton, ninety miles, was done by coach, and the trip by rail to Wellington was seventyone more. They just succeeded in catching the Hawea there, and were landed in Lyttelton on Friday morning, thus doing the total distance of 4*20 miles in about fortyeight hours. The monthly meeting of the City Fire Brigade was held last evening ; Captain Murphy in the chair. The resignations of Messrs Harvey and Cranna were accepted. Mr B. Hindle was granted one month's leave of absence. The South Dunedin Brigade wrote thanking this Brigade for the loan of plant during the late competition ; also trusting that the same good feeling that had hitherto existed would continue. A cheque for L 5 was received from the Railway Department for services rendered at the fire at the blacksmith's shop. The secretary was instructed to acknowledge the same, with thanks. The following appointments of licensing committees are gazetted : Hawksbury Donald Grant, Thomas Pratt, Thomas Smith, James Stevens, Donald Southcrland; Kaikorai—Henry Harioway, Thomas Howorth, James Loudon, William Martin, J.P., William Thomson; Otokia —James Alkm, James Cullen, Thomas Christie, John Irvine, Richard M'Kogg; Clinton—William Carlton, Fredrick Longc, Allan Low, Charles Redpath, David Wallace ; Wairuna—William Cawthorn, Daniel Clark, William Dellow, Hugh Tohnie, Joseph Turnbull; Cromwell—James Cowan, David Howell, Edward Murrell, Richard Olds, Judah Solomon ; Roxburgh—Thomas Saniuol G rover, Hugh K. Maclachlan, Robert James Pitches, William Telford, William Smith; Queenstown, Kingston, and Greenstone —Robert Davidson, James Douglas, J.P., Frederick Evans, Francis M'Bride, George Mico Ross. Concerning Angus Buchanan, who died recently at Sydney, the ' New Zealand Herald' makes the following observations, which will bo read with interest by the comrades of the deceased :—" He was a native of Canada, and arrived in Auckland early in 1801. On the advance of General Cameron into the Waikato country and the opening of that river by tho iron-plated s.s. Avon and gunboat Pioneer, Buchanan, then a youth, took charge of the s.s. Koheroa on that river, conveying rations and ammunition to the field force, lie was present at several engagements, notably that of Rangirlri, where many valiant soldiers bit the dust; als<» on the Waipa and Horotua Rivers, and took part in the capture of Tc Awamutu, RangiawhU, and Orakau. He then resumed work in the s.s, ITohitea at Te Rori, proceeding down the Waipa and up the Horotua, meeting General Cameron and his forces at Pukerimu. We remember him as a youth some seventeen years old arriving with the Koheroa at Tuakau fort the day after the battle of Camerontown, whore the gallant Captain Swift and others fell under the deadly fire poured upon them from the trees overhead. Buchanan was a faithful comrade, and whatever his faults may have been, let then) be buried with him. Truly, Jie served and fought for his adopted country, fte fras gone home, but he only sleeps. His was a familiar name amongst the brigade, then comprising the 12th, 14th, 40th, 65th, 70th, Jaeksons's and Von lempsky's Rangeis, Royal Artillery, and Naval Brigade. When other steamers would not venture toTe Rore, Buchanan, the Canadian, always went to the front with the words ' Tucker's wanted at the front, boys. Let go the hawse,!- and Btjeam ahead,'"

The oriminal sittings of the Supreme Court commence at ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

The Duuedin Naval Baud are to be permitted to play in the Botanical Gardens on Sunday afternoons between three and. five o'clock, during the pleasure of the City Council. The touvist who met with ao sad an accident on Ben Lomond, and died from ita results in Qncenstowu, was Miv G. A. Bowman. He was only twenty years of age, and was a native of Tunbridge Wells, in Kent. He had attended the Cambridge University, and had set out on a tour from England for the benefit of his health. A largely-attended meeting of delegates from the various Good Templar lodges, Blue Ribbon Missions, and other temperance bodies was held, in the D.Y.M.C.A. Rooms last evening; the Rev. J. Beckenham presiding. The business was to make arrangements for the reception of Mr Burnett and the carrying on of his mission in our city next week. Various sub-committees were appointed. From the hearty way in which the matter has been taken up there is every prospect of a successful mission. The traffic on the City tuam-lines during the holidays was particularly heavy, and it is gratifying to be able to state that no accident occurred. On Good Friday 9,049 fares were collected; on Saturday, 9,625; and yesterday no less anumber than 13,850 persons travelled—the majoi ityof coursegoiug to Tahuna Park. This is even a larger number than the trams took to the Easter review at Forbury Pack three years ago.

Mr Henry C. Salter, a member of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Sydney, has been appointed to the position of superintendent of the Adelaide Fire Brigades. Mr Salter, who is a native of New Zealand, is only twenty-six years of age. He served for some time under Captain Shaw in London, and lately under Superintendent Bear, of SyiVncy, -wYio speaks highly of his qualifications.

A fact of interest in connection with the Volunteer Review, which we omitted to mention yesterday, was that General Fulton was on the ground in uniform, and inspected the men with Lieutenant-colonel Stavely, expressing himself very favorably about their appearance. General Irvine was also present, though in plain clothes, and he joined in General Fulton'B complimentary allusions.

The name of the person who committed suicide near Pleasant Paint (Timaru) on Friday was Jacob R. Capps, a farmer. Doceased and his brother had returned in the afternoon from Timaru, and shortly afterwards he was found suspended from a cabbage tree near his house. He had been much depressed since threshing, as the crops had not como up to expectation.

A singular disease, according to an Ashburton paper, is devastating the cats in the Methven district. The first symptoms are bloodshot eyes and loss of condition, which are followed by rapid decline and ultimate death. A similar disease is said to have attacked the cats in the Opawa district some years ago, when its ravages were not confined to the feline species, but several children were infected and succumbed to the malady.

Major Cautley this morning visited Lawyer Head and Forbury, and this afternoon he wen* to Taiaroa Heads with a view of ascertaining the most suitable positions in which to place the big guns, which arc to form the principal defence of our port. The chief points to be considered in choosing the positions for the guns are the height from the water and breadth of range, so that the guns may be made to cover any position from which the guns of an opposing vessel might be effectively used against the town, and to protect those points where landings might be eft'ected. While in Auckland, the Hon. Mr Bryce was interviewed in reference to the defences, and is reported to have said that it was not probable a man-of-war would risk entering a port where submarine mines were known to be laid. Precautions would have to be taken to have the electric light, in order that small boats might be prevented lifting the mines at night. Mr Bryce had during his term of office many conferences with His Excellency the Governor on the defence question. He regards the Governor as probably the highest defence authority in Great Britain. He understands His Excellency's views as an Imperial officer to be to strongly fortify one port in thcColony.so that British war vessels might come in and coal, victual, and refit, if necessary, and while there be safe from attack by a superior force. The Colonial Treasury might be removed to this fortified town. The Imperial authorities held this view, but never supported it in a practical way by offering to assist in carrying out the fortifications. Mr Bryce was highly pleased with His Excellency's frankness and the attitude he took in discussing these questions. On some points he had to differ from His Excellency. He regarded it as presumption, and told His Excellency so ; but Sir William would not admit it, and said after all the question resolved itself into one of common sense. Mr Bryce is inclined to concur in the opinion expressed by Commodore Erskine in his evidence given before a Royal Commission at Sydney. Commodore Erskine, referring to the success with which powerful merchant vessels may attack ironclads by ramming them, said the Union s.s. Rotomahana, which was lying at the Sydney wharf at the time, could be employed, and with great chances of success. Mr Bryce points out that in the event of the chief ports being defended a cruiser could coal and levy blackmail at open roadsteads such as at Napier.

Lodge Otago Kilwinning, 417, S.C., meet to-morrow evening.

Lodge Otago, 844, E.C., visit Lodge Otago Kilwinning to-morrow.

Hiram Lodge, Green Island, 2,008, E.G., meet on Thursday, the 13th inst., instead of on the !)th. „ , "Ada Mantua" and "Dolly Varden have sent us the names of the committees who superintended their drawings.

Nominations for the handicaps at the forthcoming meeting of the 'JJokomairiro Jockey Club to bo made by Thursday next. Mrs Leavitt will speak at the Independent Church to-morrow evening. Subject: " Tho AVomen's Christian Temperance Union of America,"

At the adjourned meeting of the Otago Trades and Labor Council to-morrow evening, the subject of "Land Co-operative Settlement" will again be taken into consideration. All those interested are invited to attend. Dr J. L. York, an American lecturer, lifts arrived in Dunedin, and will commence a course of lectures in the Lyceum Hall on Sunday next. In Auckland he had a most successful season, extending ovar fourteen weeks, and his audiences were numerous and appreciative. •'Ada Mantua" has supplied us with the names and addresses of principal winners_ in her last consultation (Great Autumn Handicap):—lst, L3C6 net, to a station hand, Ida Valley Station, Otago; 2nd, LIBO net, to a well-known farmer, Milton, Otago ; 3rd, Ll2O net, to a well-known consultationist, Christchurch. Her committee comprised citizens of good standing and repute. The programme for the Provine'al Handicap (Queen's Birthday meeting) at Forbury, Dunedin, 6,000 members, now open. See advertisement.

The following applications for patents have been received:—For amalgamating apparatus, by Adam Miller, of London, Englantl, engineer ; for an invention for working tramways, fire-engines, torpedo-boats, tricycles, aerial machines, etc.. by portable compressed gas, to be called "The Portable Explosive Motor," by William Archibald Murray, of Fiako, New Zealand; for a wire-straining machine, called "The Acme Universal Wire-strainer," by Adam Hamilton, of East Taieri, fencer ; for an invention for a supply of fresh water, to a limited extent, for use of cattle, sheep, and other animals, to be called "The Animals' Friend," or "The Automatic Tank and Trough," by John Isaac Adams, of Amberley, Canterbury.