The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1892.

Evening Star, Issue 8774, 15 March 1892, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1892.

Captain Falconer has wired to the Hon. Mr Seddon that the work of improving the entrance to Nelson Harbor has been carried out moat successfully. His Honor Mr Justice Williams is expected to return to Dunedin on Wednesday evening, and probably there will be a sitting in Binco on Thursday, and in Chambers on the following day. A man named W, G. Morris alias Philips has been arrested in Wellington for an alleged assault on a girl in Tasmania six years g£o, The accused, who has been remanded for a week, was engaged as an extra clerk iu the Property Tax Department. The remarks made by Mr Justice Richmond when the Hutchens case was before him yesterday ought to be carefully noted by those excellent institutions the friendly societies. His Honor said : “In all these bodies one man is selected to do the work, If he is honest it is all right, if he is not it is all wrong. Instances of this are continually coming forward.” The first general meeting of the New Zealand Fire Brigades’ Accident Assurance Association took place at Christchurch yesterday. The secretary, Mr Cummins (Wanganui), was elected president, and Dsputysuperintendent Gillberd (Napier) secretary and treasurer. Rulca were adopted and ordered to be registered under the Friendly Societies Act. The society have over 300 members and LBO in hand. The Executive of the Civil Service Association, in their annual report, record their great appreciation of tho courtesy and attention which their communications have received from Ministers. Regret is expressed that the departure of Lord O ialow has deprived the Association of the patronage of the Governor as head of the Civil Service, but hope is expressed that Lord Glasgow will consent to occupy the same position as his predecessor. On 31st December last the number of members on the rolls amounted to 1,070. The balance-sheet shows a credit of LI 15 5s 4d. Tho report says :—“The Association will mainly devote its energy to passing into law a Civil Service Bill acceptable to all parties, and based upon the principle that a loyal, efficient, and contented service is essential to the progress and good government of the colony. In such a Bill the great questions of classification, promotion, and retiring allowances will occupy the chief places.” The monthly meeting of the Athenceum Committee, held last evening, was attended by Messrs W. S. Fitzgerald (in the chair), D. White, W. A. Sim, J. H. Chapman, G, P, Farquhar, R- Martin, G. P. Clifford, J. G. Moody, W. B. Harlow, and Dr Macdonald. The report of the House Committee respecting the renovating and paintjng of the library, reading rooms, reference library, eto., was read and considered, when it was decided to Leave the carrying ,oi?t pf the suggested improvements to the Hogae Committee. The secretary was requested to acknowledge with thanks the following presentations; ‘ Results of a Census of the Colony of New Zealand, 1891,’ ‘Statistics of Tasmania for 1891,’ second copy of Dougal’s ‘ Index Register,’ volume of ‘Peno logical and Preventive Principles,’ and • Victorian Acts of Parliament for 1891.’ A letter frpm Mr George M. Thomson, hon. secretary Technical Classes Association, asking the use of the lower hall for cooking and wood-carving classes, was referred to the House Committee.

The Property Assessment Department is determined to disallow “ houseson country properties as improvements. The Otekaike case is not singular. The Napier ‘Telegraph ' has afieertauxed that the action of the Assessor in Otago is similar to what is held to be the rule in Hawke’s Bay. This rule applies to country properties, and hot to residences, stores, or shops in town. It is held tGrt if on a country estate an expensive mansion has hpen erected, the value of that building cannot ha regarded as an improvement to the land, for instance, there is a certain estate in Hawke's Bay provincial district which has not been very highly urn proved, hut upon it there is a Mansion lha| cost several thousand pounds to build. Is that house an improvement to the land? Does it add to the value of the property 1 The answer is that it is not an improvement to the estate, and in the event of sale F°uld be regarded if anything as a drawback. The Land and Income Assessment Act, "however, distinctly asserts that improvements include houses and buildings, etc., the benefit of which Is unexhausted at the time of valuation. Our contemporary mamtains that, whether instructed from head* quarters or not, the law does not allow pf an assessor to exercise his judgment on the question, “ When is a feogse not a house ?

By to-day's mail Mr F, Curtis, of this City, was advised that he had been awarded a gold medal at the Tasmanian Exhibition for hia non-mercurial plate powder.

The sacred cantata 1 The New Jerusalem was produced at Wellington last night under the conduotorahip of the composer, Mr Alfred P. Hill, the young New Zealander who has lately returned from the Royal Conaervatorium of Music at Leipsio, The .cantata was enthusiastically received,

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court at Oamaru opened this morning before Judge Williams. There was only ona case of forgery and false pretences against W. Spencer, who is serving two years for a similar charge committed in another district at the same time. Accused pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, concurrent with his present sentence. The civil case, Genge v. the North Otago Agricultural Pastoral Association and Cooper, a claim of L3OO damages for the loss of plaintiff's son through being shot by a bullet from C toper’s gallery at the agricultural show in November last, is now proceeding, and is expected to last two days. The Rev, H. T. Robjohns, M.A., of the British and Foreign Bible Society, met with the members of the Board of the Otago Bible Society on Monday. The varied aspects of Bible work in Otago and elsewhere wore brought under review, and the necessity was apparent for the formation of branch societies in the country townships. Mr Robjohns drew attention to the striking development of Bible translations as indicated by the recent publication of a work of special valuo on the subject by Dr Cuft, The meeting was also gratified to learn from Mr Robjohns that a legacy of L 9,000 had been left to the funds of the British and Foreign Bible Society by a gentleman recently deceased in Sydney. Mr Robjohns is giving ten days during bis present visit to the advocacy of Bible work in connection with the Otago Bible Society. A committee meeting of tho Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon, Canary, and Dog Society was held last evening in the Chamber of Commerce, and was attended by Messrs Carlton (president), Loasby, Kerr, Hides, Fox, Marsh, Bhney, and Dodds (secretary). Letters from the Mosgiel, Tuapeka, and Otago Club societies, intimating the dates fixed for their respective shows, were received. The schedule as amended for the forthcoming show was approved. Mr Loasby (the treasurer) intimated that he had received a number of special prizes, including the silver cups promised by various friends at last show. It was unanimously resolved that the annual show this year be beld on the 30;h June and the Ist and 2nd July next. A new departure will be made this year in the gift prizes, the principal one being intended to be a valuable piano instead of a suite of furniture, as formerly.

la tho course of a favorable review of Mr G. M. Thomson’s ‘lntroductory Class Book of Botany for Use in New Zealand Schools ’ the ‘ Chemist and Druggist of Australasia ’ of the Ist inst. says: “ Ibis little book of about ICO pages is profusely illustrated and well printed, and it fairly meets an ideal we have long cherished of the first book on botany to be placed in the hands of colonial boys and girls. That such a book was really wanted is proved. During the years that it has been privately talked of in Australia it has been written in Dunedin by Mr Thomson. The took will certainly be of great use in teaching the elements of botany and in fostering a love of science in New Zealand. We should welcome a similar book adapted to Australia,” We aro aware that Mr Thomson’s work has been found most useful to a gentleman in this City in preparing a class of students for the Pham icy Boards examination

There was a very largo attendance at the Rev. G. C. Grubb’s mission service in the Garrison Hall last night, when the speaker dwelt at length upon the betrayal of Jesus, There were, he said, Judases still in the world. That man deliberately betrayed Christ’s interests who knew that he ought to make use of his business and do what ho could to advance the interests of Christ and yet failed to do so, This afternoon, instead of the usual Bible exposition, a missionary meeting was held. The Rsv. Mr Grubb, the first speaker, gave an address, in which ho referred to the three occasions on which Paul said that he was ambitious—the word “ambition” being the proper translation of the words used in the passages referred to. Tho first was 2 Cor. v., 9 : “ Wherefore wo labor (or are ambitious) that whether present or absent we may be well-p’easiug to Him.” The second passage was in 1 Thess., iv., 11, in which Paul said that he was ambitious to be quiet and do bis own business ; and the third was his ambition to preach the gospel, spoken of in Romans xv., 11, There was a very large attendance.

There was a sharp passage-at-arms the other day a- the Pahiatua Police Court between a bench of justices and a local barrister, the latter having characterised a decision of the Bench of Justices as the most scandalous thing he had ever heard of. According to the local paper, the following passage at arms then ensued Mr Reese: You had better withdraw that statement, Mr Tosswill : I shall do nothing of the sort. It is a scandalous thing to make us pay for the negligence of the justices, Mr Reese : The Court will stand adjourned until 1.30, and if then, Mr Tosswill, you do not withdraw the statement we shall taka other steps. On resuming at 130 Mr Reese said the Court desired to afford Mr Tosswill an opportunity of withdrawing the statement he had made about the last judgment. Mr Tosswill: I see no reason to withdraw anything I said, I might state that 1 shall not Appear in tho other cases that are coming on this afternoon, as I decline to appear before the Bench as at present constituted. If you wish to know what I did say I will repeat it. I said “It was a scandalous thing that a person should have to pay costa through the negligence of the Bench.” Mr Reese: The Bench are quite certain that you did refer to the last judgment, and you now cast a further reflection on the Bench by saying you decline to appear in Court as at present constituted. Mr Tosswill: Yes ; I have a perfect right to take this course. It is a free country. Mr Reese ; The Court will stand adjourned for five minutes to allow the Bench to consider the matter. On resuming, Mr Reese said the Bench had carefully considered the seriousness of the offence Mr Tcsswill had been guilty of, and his explanation, and they were prepared to allow the matter to pass. Mr Tosswill then left the Court.

Dunedin Presbytery meet In First Church tomorrow mornitg.

To-night ji the laat night cf Rev. Q. 0. Grubb's mission in Oarrisap'Hall. Tha Myra Kemble Comedy Compmy opened to a pasted house at Invercargill last night. Annual meeting of Oksgo Society for the Prevention o* Cruelty to Animals on Friday, March 19, at 4. SO p.m , in Town Hall. Sportsmen are reminded that the season for deer shooting opened to-day. Fallow deer may be shot till April 31, and red deer till May 15. A meeting of shareholders in the Mount Highlay Consolidated Qrartz Mining Company will bo held in the Criterion Hotel to-morrow afternoon, The annual meeting of the Oavereham Presbyterian Literary and Debating Society will be held in the pub ij schoolroom on Thursday evening next.

Mr Hay, dental surgeon by exams., desires to announce that he has secured and equipped with the most approved appliances la death try suitable offices atTl2 PriucCk street, —(Advt.