The Evening Star THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1886.

Evening Star, Issue 6895, 6 May 1886, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, MAY 6, 1886.

Messrs J. M. Scott, R. M. Taylor, S. P. Andrews, and S. G, Jolly have been nomi nated for the Sydenham seat.

The clerk of Kaiapoi Borough has been missing for ten days, and the Council last night decided to apply for a search warrant for the Borough books that are not available. At Hokitika yesterday Heinrich Dencer, a miner, was committed for trial on a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy; and David Curie, proprietor of the 1 Hokitika Guardian,’ committed on five charges of libel. Leon and Cushman’s Minstrels drew a fairly good house at the Princess’s last evening, when the opening programme was repeated. Another performance will be given to-night.

By a firo at Ashburton on Tuesday, Messrs Quinton’s brewery, in the Alford Forest road, was destroyed. How the fire originated is not known. The building was insured for L2OO in the South British, and the plant for LI 50 in the Victoria,

The ‘ New Zealand Herald ’ states that Sir George Grey is looking forward to the session with the hope of getting something useful done. He intends to bring in his Land Bill with some amendments, and anticipates, from the interest which the scheme has lately evoked, that ho will have it fully discussed by the House. The Dunedin Presbytery met yesterday in the First Church and proceeded further in the matter of the call of the Mosgiel congregation to the Kev. Mr M‘Kerrow. That gentleman having notified his acceptance of the call, the Presbytery agreed to meet at Mosgiel on the afternoon of the 18th inst. for the purpose of inducting Mr M'Kerrow in the pastorate. At a sitting in Bankruptcy in Christchurch, before Mr Justice Johnston, an application was made to have G. W. Ell declared a bankrupt. The adjudication was refused as asked for, a rather novel point having arisen—viz., whether in a case in which two creditors joined in a petition, and one was paid, as in this case, on the morning of the application, the adjudication could be granted. His Honor (says the ‘ Press ’) held that the words “ is indebted ” precluded him from granting the application, as the money having been paid into Court in satisfaction of the judgment, it could not be said in the words of the Statute that the debtor “is indebted.” Notice of appeal was given. Referring to the recommendation to present the Mather medical bursary of L2O at the Aberdeen University to Mr James Johnstone, B.A. (Otago University), the writer of a note in the ‘ Presbyterian ’ says “In a letter which the writer received by the latest mail, written by a clergyman resident in England, but who is well acquainted with New Zealand, he says; ‘Your educational standard is higher than in the Old Country. There is a danger before the Old Country of the colonists coming Home, and by their superior gifts and acquirements taking the lead. America drops now and again one of her citizens into her public life. One recent M.P. is a son of the Unitarian minister Channing, who is married to a daughter of the poet Whittier. So, instead of the New Zealander coming Home to muse on the ruins of St. Paul’s, he will come to infuse fresh life into the worn-out frame of ofd Englant},’"

The North of Auckland settlers arc agitating for the railway extension in that direction.

Mr Bryce is to have a public reception on his arrival at Wanganui, and will be entertained at a banquet. It is probable that Madame Albani, the celebrated vocalist, will shortly make a professional tour through the colonies. Sir George Grey cautious persons about to proceed to the Kimberley (W.A.) goldfield against using spirits, as the climate will not admit it.

The Christchurch police yesterday arrested A. B. Renton, who is wanted on a charge of forging a cheque for LOO on the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. All the cases set down for hearing at this morning’s sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court were either settled or struck out. Messrs C. S. Reeves and J, P. Jones were the presiding Justices. On the voyage of the s.s. Orawaiti from Russell to Auckland, Robert DttdloW, a coal trimmer, fell overboard while engaged cleaning the ash-shoot. As he was never seen afterwards, it is sUrmlsed that he was struck by the propeller.

At the Blenheim criminal session John Rose was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for assault. The Grand Jury threw out the bill against James Judge for horsestealing, and the petty jury acquitted Philip Yates, indicted for indecent assault. Mr J. Allardice, the newly-appointed rector of the Port Chalmers District High School, was formally introduced to the staff and pupils this forenoon by Mr F. G. Downes, chairman of the School Committee, in the presence of the members and a number of leading townspeople. The * Argue ’ gtvoe a very different reading of a cablegram published by us a little over a week ago. It says that Mr Chamberlain, speaking at Birmingham on April 21, declared that he would rather retire from politics altogether than vote for Mr Gladstone’s Irish land purchase scheme. A daring fraud was committed on one of the Sydney banks on the 21st ult. In January last an individual opened an account for a small amount at the Federal Bank, and operated on it by small sums until the amount was reduced to Ll7. On the day named he handed to the ledgerclerk a cheque for Ll2, which was initialled in the usual way and presented, the amount having in the meanwhile been altered to L 1,200. The man received L6OO in notes and L6OO in gold. It is said that the alterations were clumsily made, and ought to have aroused the suspicion of the paying clerk.

A telegram from Townsville states that during the recent trip of the schooner Elsie she touched at an island on the south-east coast of New Guinea, and on the beach found a deserted hut, on one of the boards of which was written ; “James Collins, 1877 ; look for bottle.” A bottle was found on the ground containing documents, but owing to the paper being mouldy the writing was illegible. Another board was discovered on the beach, on which was written: “July 30, for Willis’s Group.” There were three graves, which appeared to be those of white men, near the hut, in which were a number of wheelbarrows and portions of the wreck of a vessel, the name of which was indistinguishable. The English Judges have decided that it is ultra vires, unreasonable, and repugnant to the general laws of the land for civic authorities to attempt to limit by municipal legislation the natural privileges of the Queen’s law-abiding subjects. The authorities of Croydon, like those of Napier, passed a by-law, aimed specially at the Salvationists, prohibiting them from using instrumental music in the streets on Sundays. The Salvationists defied the municipal authorities in botli cases. Police Court proceedings resulted, and in both cases the offenders were convicted and fined. The Napier Salvationists’ appeal is still under the consideration of Mr Justice Richmond, who will most probably be guided by the dicta of Judges Hawkins and Mathew in the Croydon appeal. These Judges held that the by-law was “most unreasonable and cruelly oppressive, and therefore could not be enforced.” Salvationists’ and other bands could now play on Sundays to their hearts’ content. The capabilities of the Victoria channel were fairly tested yesterday, when the ship Lyttelton, drawing 18ft Sin forward and 17ft 9in aft, and carrying a general cargo of close on 1,900 tons, was towed up without difficulty to a discharging berth at the Rattray street wharf. Three of the Union Company’s ocean-going steamers were also at the City wharves. The Te Anau, bound northward, lett punctually at 2.30 p.m., proceeding direct to sea; at five o’clock, after a short detention to allow of the Lyttelton being brought up, the Hauroto steamed away for Northern ports; and this afternoon, at 3.40, the Waihora, having embarked her passengers, left the wharf in tow of the Plucky and proceeded direct to sea, drawing 17ft Sin on an even keel. Now that the wharves are being so extensively used, it is high time that the City Council put the approaches in a decent state. To gain access to Rattray street wharf just now one has to wade through inches of mud. At this morning’s sitting of the Police Court, Mr Carew, R.M., who occupied the Bench, addressed Mr Inspector Weldon as follows: —“ In dealing with the case of assault against a constable the other day, I gave it as my opinion that the effect of section 38 of the Police Offences Statute was to repeal section 35 of the Offences Against the Person Act. However, shortly after sentencing the prisoner it came to my recollection that there was a general provision of the Police Offences Statute, section 45, which did away with any implied repeal that there would have been without that general provision. The Police Offences Statute is something in addition to any law already in force. This case might have been brought better under the Police Offences Statute, and dealt with by summary conviction, or under the Offences Against the Person Act as an indictable offence. However, as the man is undergoing a cumulative sentence of seven months I dare say he will be sufficiently punished. He will not be likely to repeat the offence. Of course it is not possible for one to keep in his memory every section of Acts like these, although I certainly regret not having done so,”

Imperial Building Society’s payments to morrow.

District Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, 8.C., meet to-morrow evening. Volunteer officers are specially interested in a district order published in this issue. Lectures on “Medical Jurisprudence,” etc,, in connection with the University, commence to-morrow evening.

Members of District Grand Lodge, S.C., re] quested to attend annual meeting of the D.G.L , E.C., to-morrow evening. Musical entertainment and ball at North Dunedin Hall to-morrow evening in aid of North-east Valley Brass Band. The employds of Messrs Ross and Glendining’s Clothing Factory to-day presented Mr John Wyldo with a handsome black marble clock as a -wedding gift.

The manner in which the Worthcim Sewing Machine Company have decorated their now premises in Princes street, near the Octagon, is deserving of notice. A most commodious apartment has been most neatly fitted up for the display of goods, and .also adorned with much artistic taste and skill. On the walls are to be seen dados, picturing interesting Roman and Egyptian scenes; and there are also portraits of the Queen, Oliver Cromwell, and Henry VIII. The entrance has a tiled pavement, and at the further end of the building is a handsome stained-glass window. On one side are offices, with black fittings, relieved with mirrors; and the premises altogether have a unique appearance.

A meeting of ladies and gentlemen took place last night in St. Matthew’s schoolroom, for the purpose of forming a club of a social character. A report from a provisional committee previously appointed was read, and the following items adopted That the Association bo called St. Matthew’s Club; the object of the Club should be to promote good fellowship among the members of the congregation ; the methods employed to bo games of skill, lectures, essays, debates, music, readings, recitations, etc. ; members of the Club to consist of members of the congregation and their friends; the officers to be president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, and committee of five. Officebearers elected were as follows :—President, Rev. F. M. Powell; vice-president, General Fulton; secretary and treasurer, Mr Percy Proctor; committee—-Messrs C. Davis, A. C. Kirnbell, M. Kilroy, 0. Turton, and F. Hamel. Thu Club will meet every second Wednesday, and give thuir first entertainment, this mouth.