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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 170, 23 July 1867, Page 2

The following cases were heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday, last, the 20th inst.: — Ludwig v. Murdoch, an action brouget by the plaintiff, a watchmaker. &c, residing in Trafalgar-street, for an assault committed by defendant. From the evidence adduced it appeared that the defendant had taken offence at some " chaffing" remarks made at table by the complainant in reference to a relative, and he had afterwards induced the complainant io accompany him to the Nelson Hotel, in order, as he .stated, to decide a bet; on the complainant entering a room at the hotel the defendant struck him in the lace, causing profuse hemorrhage, and the present actiou was brought to recover damages for this assault. Mr Keon appeared for the complainant, and Mr Pitt for the defendant; and the assault having heen fully proved the defendant was fined £3 and costs. Jasper Crago v. George Potter. In this case the plaintiff sued the defendant fpr damages, amounting to £15 ss, sustained by reason of the defendant neglecting to employ the plaintiff in pursuance of agreement. It appeared that the defendant had authorised Mr Arthur Fiveu, traiuer to H. H. Stafford, Esq., to engage a stableman for him in Auckland, offering 30s a week, and to pay his passage aud fiud him in board and lodging. On tbe strength of this arrangement the plaintiff was engaged, and came down, to Nelson wheu the defendant .was* in Sydney. - The plaintiff was dismissed, as he asserted, because there was no work 'for; him, about a fortnight afterwards, and paid £5 on account. According to the defendant's statement,, the plaintiff had himself-pro-posed to give, up his engagement, diftbhad

offered 16' compromise the matter, and the defendant had paid £5 in consequence. Mr Pitt appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Kingdon for the defendant, who was adjudged •£4 and costs. On Monday the 22iid inst., the following cases were heard:— C. Lawson v. H. Ruff. This was an action brought by the plaintiff, a tailor, to recover £1 Bs., the amount of a debt, with costs, due from the defendant. Judgment for £l 4s. with costs, payable in 14 days/ Pollock v. George. An action for trespass committed by two horses in .the charge or possession of the defendant, who admitted the offence, and was fined £1 and costs. Our readers will perceive from an advertisement which appears elsewhere, that a meeting will be held this evening at the Bank Hotel, to take into consideration the prospectus issued by the lessees of the Aorere coal-field at Collingwood, to which we directed attention last week, and also to initiate measures for the practical realisation of the project. We may observe that the opinion expressed by Dr Hector, on his visit to the mine, was highly favorable as to the quality of the coal, and as the project is unquestionably one of a thoroughly bona, fide character, we trust that the public wili show, by their attendance at the meeting this evening, their interest in an undertaking which is likely to prove so advantageous to our interests. We. have lately inspected a handsome set of dining and drawing-room furniture, made for Mr R. Burn's new residence in the Wood, by Mr Bee, cabinetmaker, of Hardy-street West, which affords a very satisfactory indication of the steady-ad-vance of our local industries. The fu'rrii^ ture alluded to is made of rimu pine, the"* doors, fronts, plinths of the sideboard and cheffoniu-s being of the shape known as " serpentine^'', aud veneered throughout. The general effect, both as regards design and execution, is particularly good, and reflects much credit on the taste and workmanship displayed in its production. A correspondent is desirous of ascertaining, if possible, the number of lives and vessels lost, and also the amount of cargo destroyed on the bars of the West Coast during the past year. We are not aware of any means by which these data may be arrived at, but it is possible that some of our. readers may be able to furnish some information which may enable our correspondent to arrive at some approximate conclusion on the subject. The City Council of Christchurch have decided on erecting a public fountain, to be placed as nearly as possible in the centre of the city. Competitive designs having been called for, that by Mr C. Cuffe was accepted. The fountain is to consistof an. octagon stone tank, constructed of stone from the quarry of Messrs Ellis and Co. The tank is seven feet in depth, and placed upon a foundation of concrete, eighteen inches above ground. On the exterior will be placed two drinking fountains for public use, and two troughs of stone for watering horses. The tank is to be fed by five artesian wells. The centre-piece for the fountain consists of a atone pillar, surmounted by a basin, in which the water obtained from the centre artesian well will play to a height of about six feet. It is intended to keep the four quter artesian wells plugged, except in the case of fire, when the full supply can be made available. The pillar stands upon a carved pedestal, also of stone. The tank will be ten feet in diameter, the pillar seven feet in height, and the width of the basin will be three feet six inches. This basin will be either o|( stcne or iron, whichever may be found?] less liable to discolouration. Around tiie fountain will be placed an ornamental iron railing inserted in a parapet of ashlar stone, with carved plinths. The Wanganui Herald of the 13th inst. says that the Waipara arrived that day from Taranaki, and brought 32 passengers. The whole population of that province will soon be there ; scarcely a steamer arrives or a day expires without bringing its quo'a of Taranakites into the town; the influx more than counterbalances the emigration to the gold-fields. The Waipara was unable to cross the Patea bar. The Gazette pulished on the 18th inst. contains a report on the wreck of the steamer South Australian on the east coast of Otago: The cause assigned is the incorrectness, of' the deviation-card supplied by.the authorities at Melbourne, and Capt. Mackiois acquitted of all blame in connection with the catastrophe. The New Zealand Examiner (published in London) contains the following encou-

raging statemen t :— The strides made duHng the last, seven years in the production of New Zealand wool are worthy of special notice. In 1858 we find that the land under crop was 141,007 acres, whereas in 1864, 381,526 acres were under cultivation. In 1858, 3,818,3721bs wool were exported from New Zealand, while in 1865 the exports were four times and a half greater, that is, 19,1 80,5001 bs. The report of the Taranaki Petroleum Company states that a five gallon of.the oil has been sent to Dr Hector, F.R.S., Director of the Geological Survey Office, with a request that it might be analysed in the Government Laboratory, and in acknowledging the receipt of it by the last mail, Dr Hector states that he agrees with the anticipations of the Directors, that this oil will prove a valuable lubricator, as "it is remarkably free from impurities that would oxidise metails, has no tendency to dry up or clog when exposed to the atmosphere. If if should prove that in its crude state this oil is, available as a lubricator, or can be made so by an inexpensive process,- it will compete successfully with castor and colza oil, both of which are largely imported into the colony for lubricating purposes. The weekly cost of the works is about £10 Bs. The cost of putting down the new bore had been about 3s 6d a foot. This bore was 91 feet deep at midday on the 14th instaut. A woman says what she chooses without being knocked down for it. She can take a snooze after dinner while her husband goes to work. She can go into the street without being asked to "stand treat " at every saloon. She can stay at home in time of war, and get married again if her husband is killed. She can wear corselets if too thick, and other fixtures if too thin. She can get divorced from her husband whenever she sees one she likes better. She cau get her husband in debt all over until he warns the public not to trust her on his account. But all these advantages are balanced by the great fact that she cannot sing bass, go sparking, pr climb a tree with auy degree of propriety. — Yankee Paper.