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Evening Star, Issue 6700, 7 September 1885, Page 2

At the Police Court this morning some amusement was caused by the familiar manner in which the parties interested in a summons case addressed each other. The prosecutrix and her witness were examined by the defendant, and the invariable answer to each question was : " No, I didn't, Mary Ann." The defendant frequently grew excited, and His Worship had more than once to insist on silence.

A compensation case, Hunter v. the Wellington City Council, in which LIO.OOO damages we're claaimed, was heard before Judge Richmond and assessors last week. Mr Martin (city clerk), who appeared for the Council, offered L 2,000, or one-third of the reclaimed land facing the claimant's property, in satisfaction of the claim; hut the Attorney-General, who appeared on the other side, declined the offer. A majority of the Court awarded the claimant L' 2,500, hut cast him in costs.

At the presentation of diplomas at Auckland the other day Professor Tuckor remarked that " three were about to take diplomas, but only two were present, and he was very sorry that the lady who was to take the degree of B. A. was absent. He was particularly sorry, as she was the first material on which the College had to act, and she was an honor to it. She was the first lady student with whom he (Professor Tucker) had ever been brought into contact, and he felt nervous, but he had never met with a more thorough, earnest, and cheerful student than Miss E. M. C. Harrison. The two gentlemen who were that day to receive the degree of B.A. deserved quite as much praise, and that praise extended to all the students." Miss Clementine Harrison is second mistress of the Girls' High School; Mr M'Dowall is a member of the 'New Zealand Herald's' literary staff; and Mr Gilford is a son of the Kev. Mr Gilford, of Oatnaru,

Mr A. Thomson, J.P., presided at the Port Chalmers Police Court this forenoon, when Michael for dritnkenness, was fined i) 8, in default tWenty-four hours' imprisonment. Our AVellington correspondent wires:— "To-day was the last day for reociving tenders within the Colony for the San Francisco service. All the local companies l have declined to tender on the terms offered by the Government."

Information was received by cable to-day of the death in London, on the 4th iuat., of Sir Charles Whetham, at the age of 73 years. The deceased was elected alderman in 1871) sheriff in 1873, and Lord Mayor of London in IS7B. He was father of Mr F. G. Whetham; of the reporting stall'of this paper. There are sixty-three applicants for the position of valuer to the Government Insurance Association, the Board of which (says the ' Post') have reduced the number whom they deem eligible to nine, from whom the valuer will bo selected, if any appointment at all is made, which it is rumored is still doubtful.

By a fire at Auckland yesterday morning, resulting in the destruction of three shops in Franklyn street, the Colonial Office lose L 230, the Northern Office L.S'IO, and tho South British LI 75. The premises destroyed were occupied by F. W. Hargreave (grocer), Charles Chambers (greengrocer), and Dennis Holland (bootmaker), the latter being uninsured.

The last exhibition of the Zulu War Diorama, on Saturday evening, was well attended. This evening Mr Thompson shows for the first time his Egyptian War Diorama, painted by Messrs G. Gordon and G. R. Ashton, of Melbourne. Tho 'Argus' thus concludes a long notice of this panorama : " Viewing the panorama as a whole, we can confidently assert that its workmanship is equal to anything of the kind that could be produced by the scenic artists of London or Paris, and it is a pity that some of the pictures of which it is composed should only havo been painted with perishable materials to serve a mere temporary purpose." A correspondent writes: "A funeral sermon was preached yesterday by the Rev. William Grant, of the First Free Presbyterian Church, frem the words : ' And I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed arc the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that thoy may rest from their labors ; and their works do follow them.'—Rev. xiv., 13. The preacher referred specially to the need of preparation, that all men should be ready for death when it does come ; and made special reference to the late Mr James Smith, who was a member of the congregation, speaking of him as having been an excellent Christian, his whole life and conversation having been in harmony with his profession."

A demonstration on Saturday at Nelson in favor of the East and West Coast Railway, is said to have been attended by 5,000 (?) persons. Every place of business in Nelson was closed for two hours. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed. The chief resolution expressed appreciation of the action of the Government, and of those members of the House who are loyally supporting the construction of the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway, and called upon every member of the Legislature having the welfare of the Colony at heart to support by every legitimate means the construction of the railway. A resolution expressing thanks for the loyal support received from Canterbury and the West Coast was also carried with cheers.

'There was au unusually large gathering of ladies at the Parliamentary Union on Saturday, attracted no doubt by the belief that tho question of the eligibility of ladies to be admitted as members of the Union would bo discussed. Tho Premier (Mr Chapman) was not in his place when his motion was called on, but it was intimated that tho nominations of the two ladies whose names Were mentioned at tho previous sitting had been withdrawn. There was, therefore, no occasion to proceed with the motion, but it is understood that the question will he raised either next Saturday, when Mr Wathen is prepared to move the second reading of a Bill giving the franchise to women, or at the annual meeting of the Union, when it will be endeavored to amend the rules so as to allow of tho admission of ladies.

At the Gospel Temperance meeting on Saturday evening Mr Brunton referred to tho possible conclusion of an arrangement with Mr Glover and the friends of temperance throughout the Colony for a lecturing tour. So heartily have the temperance workers endorsed tho invitation, which emanated from Auckland, that there is now a certainty of Mr Glover coining to New Zealand under a three years' engagement. Mrs Dicks >n addressed the meeting, urging the young men and women present by example and effort to do all in their power to disseminate temperance principles. MiAndrew Thomson, of Port Chalmers, also addressed the meeting, urging that no uncertain voice should be heard in tho impending strnggle. The campaign contemplated by Mr Glover was to be a political one, and constituencies should see to it that those seeking their favor should aid legislation to the suppression of the drinking customs and traffic. Mr D. R. Eunson presided, and Mr Brunton's choir again rendered good service. At tho Wellington Police Court on Wednesday, Constance Nieholls, a young married woman, was charged with having committed a breach of the Public Works Act on the 18th of August, by placing her child on the rails at the Upper Hutt station. William Page, inspector of the permanent way of the Government railways, stated that on the evening of the day in question ho was on the railway platform of the Upper Hutt station and saw the husband of the plaintiff purchase a ticket and get on the train. After a time the man got off the train and walked up the line and was followed by the defendant, who was carrying a child, which she dropped on the line between two rails, fifty yards in front of the train, just as the driver had received the signal to start. Witness sang out to the driver to stop. He did not know whether the defendant dropped the child designedly or< by accident. The child, who was just able to walk, got up by himself and moved off the rails. Defendant then went into hysterics, and had to be held down by her husband on the bank. When the defendant dropped the child her husband was getting over the fence, as if to leave the railway yard. John Johnson, railway porter at the Upper Hutt, corroborated Page's evidence so far as seeing the child between the rails, but he did not see defendant drop the child. The Bench, considering the act of defendant was one of carelessness merely, dismissed the information.

Of the Wellington Band's performance on Saturday night the ' New Zealand Times' says :—"The Wellington Band is a purely brass one, compared with those of Nelson and Dunedin. The band's programme was a fairly good one, though not by any means so fine as that of Oamaru. The first item, an overture, 'Talavera,' was very nicely given, the instruments, with one exception, being excellently tuned. Next came a cornet solo cavatina, ' Anna Bolena' (Donizetti), which was tastefully performed, though somewhat marred by the valves of the soloist's instrument persistently sticking. However, the piece was well received. Next came the test selection, ' Notre Chcre Alsace' (H. Koenig). This item must bo l<sft to the judge. Then followed Spohr's ' Last Judgment,' which, although creditably played, cannot be fairly compared to the excellent performance of one of the first competing bands. The next item (fantasia ' Emira ') will be remembered as being the Nelson band's test piece. Itwas spoiled by the tenor horn-player, who failed to get through the solo allotted to him; otherwise, the piece was nicely executed, the euphonium part being quite a feature. The test sight piece followed. The music was similar to that given to the provious competing bands, an arrangement which caused considerable comment. A descriptive glee ' Hours of Beauty,' and a fantasia 'Concordia,' both excellently interpreted, brought the performance to a close." Our correspondent adds: —" I need only add to the above that when the Band commenced to play the same sightpiece as the public had heard by three previous competing bands, remarks concerning the unfairness of the arrangement were heard from all parts of the building, a political acquaintance close by me observing that it was merely another instance of the evil results of the centralising system."

Another warning to members of publiO bodies is given from Palmerstou North, where a member of the Borough Council has been fined LSO for selling goods to the Council in the ordinary way of business. The five-roomed house of Mr Henry Nott at St. Leonards was burned down at four o'clock on Saturday morning. The people who rented the house had left it the previous day, and a woman hired by them to olean it out had left in an open fireplace some live coal umbers, which probably were the cause of the flrci. A lad who went into the house at nine o'clock on Friday night states, however, that he did not see any fire in the grate thou. If this was so, the only cause that can be assigned for the lire is that there was a defect in the chimney, which Mr Nott states was not the ease. The building was insured in the National Office for L'2oo, and the owner considers this considerably below the value of the property.

Alberts Cricket Club's meeting to-morrow evening. South Duucdin Rifles to - morrow evening.

Volunteer Artillery ball at Port Chalmers on the IGth inst. Mr Arthur Morrison in a candidate for Middle Ward, Cavereham. Members of tho Amalgamated Society of Carpenters attend funeral to-morrow.

Ada Mantua's consultation on tho Hawkesbury Grand Handicap filling fast. Apply early. [Advt.] Messrs Maoandrew, Johnston, and Short address North-east Valley ratepayers to-morrow evening. Mr J. B. Taverner meets ratepayers of North Ward, Caversham, to-morrow evening in tho Town Hall. Sacred concert on Wednesday evening in Dundas street Church. For programme see advertisement. Thomas Deviny, a lad, was received at the Hospital on Saturday afternoon, with his shoulder-bone fractured while playing football at North Dunedin. The Naval Brigade's ball on Friday -was attended by 175 couples, and the M.O.s were P.O. Price and Gunners Jack, Woolett, and Wallis. We took tho names from tho programme. The admissions to the Dunedin Hospital last week were twenty, and the discharges therefrom eighteen. On Saturday there remained 128 inmates. The deaths were three (Henry Balm ex, W. Murphy, and James Mayne). The usual monthly of tho Otago Institute will be held at the Museum to-morrow evening, when Mr Hocken will give the fourth of his series of lectures on " The Early History of New Zealand." There will be a Council meeting at 7.30, the lecture commencing at eight o'clock. The gymastio exhibition being organised by M. Oscar David and his pupils wvth. the object of supplementing the funds of the Benevolent Institution has been fixed for Ootober. The programme is a very attraotive, and, judging from the energetio way in which the affair is being worked up, it should prove a genuine success.

An unfortunata blunder crept into Mr Blair's report on tke Seacliff A*ylum. Under the heading drainage. Inspector Grabham Is made to say that "a portion of tho floor taken up for my inspection in an attendant's room revealed a body of water some four miles in depth, and reaching about the bottom of the joints. It need hardly bo said that four irwha was written.

The following patents have b»en applied for:—D. Thomas, O. BMdelL and C. Bay, of Ashburton, for invention for street-watering and fire extinguishing; J. H. Dalton, of Auckland, for Invention for "Nurse's Friend;" C. Walkden, of Christchurch, for a sub-aqueous excavator; A. J. Williamson, of Dillmanstown, for patent medicine called " Cougkkiller;" W. Fawkes, of Auckland, for an invention for building purpo»es called " Patent Volcanic Trass."

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Hebrew congregation was held yesterday morning, and was largely attended. Tho treasurer's report showed tho finances of the congregation to be rather worse than they were last year, owing to tho withdrawal of a number of members ; but there was every roason to believe that lost ground would be made up during the curront year. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows '• Prcsidont, Mr J. Hyman; treasurer, Mr A. Silvcrston ; committee, Messrs L. Mendelsohn, M. Moss, S. Jacobs, S. Solomon, and D. Theomin. It was decided to eroot a marble tablet within tho Synagogue, in recognition of the great sorvicos rendered to tho congregation and community by the late Mr E. Nathan, and to forward to Lord Rothschild a latter congratulating him on his elevation to the peerage