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North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 43, 15 December 1864, Page 2

A meeting was held in the Court House on Monday evening last, for tlio purposes of instituting a Mechanics' Institute in this place, when resolutions were passed with that view. The report of the meeting will be found in another column.

A meeting of tho committee of the Building Society was held in Mr Suinpter's office on Tuesday last — Present: Msssis Parker (in the chair). Locke, Filleul, France, Gibbs, J. Lemon, Koxby, Ingram and Sumpter. The meeting was called principally for tho appointment of another trussteo in the loom of Mr Hassell, resigned. Mr Hassell's letter having been read and accepted, it was carried unanimously that John Allan, Esq., be requested to act as trustee in his room. It was also uuanimously agreed that the first sale of tho funds of the Society should take place on Tuesday, the 3rd January next, at 9 o'clock, of which an advertisement will bo found in another column. No other business of importance came before the meeting.

The usual weekly meeting of the Local Committee of the New Zealand Exhibition wis held on 7th inst., on loutine mattois. A letter was read fiom the hon see to the Royal Commissioners in answer to a communication from the secretary to the Committeo, informing them that the Royal Commissioners have granted exhibitois free admission to the building at stated times, the hours to be hereafter fixed. The hon sec was then authorized to write to the Royal Commissioners to know what dccoiations would be employed in the building. At the suggestion of the hon sec, Mr Webb, the days of meeting of tho Committeo are to be in future on Mondays and Thursdays at four o'closk.

In termt of the Licensing Ordinance, 1864, a meeting of Justices was held in the Resident Magistrate's Couit here on 13th inst., to consider applications for licences. Present—Messrs T. W. Parker, John Allan, and A. M'Master. Licences were granted to Mr G. R. Taylor, Thames street, and William Roy&e, Tyne street, Oamaru, and a tian&fer of licence from John Piosser to Henry Newey, Clyde Hotel, Ilampden. These licences were gianted ''ad interim" for ten days, pending receipt of the requisite foinis, which have not yet been forwaided fiom Dunediu,

It has boen lemarked that the telegraph wires on the Southland line aie loose and hanging down, in consequence of the posts being too far apart. It is easy to see at a glance that the same thing will probably follow on our lino al&o, as the posts aie at a most unusual distance fiom each othe>\ Wo also observe that the stiain is so great that ono of the posts in Thames stieet, staudiugin the angle, is completely bent over.

The plans and specifications of the poition of the Chinch of England about to be erected here, are to be seen at Mr Ward's office. The woiking plans, which aie beautifully executed, repiesent the wholo of the fine budding in tho old Engli Ji style which will ultimately be built. We have to correct an error in a paiagraph last week : the aichitects are Messrs Rumsey and Jack&on, Dunedin not Messrs Mason and Clayton.

Seveidl exhibits have- been forwaided to the Exhibition from this quarter, and others are to follow. Among thorn there is n, table composed of a number of New Zealand woods; a sun dial in white marble, the pedestal an lonic col mm of Oamaru &lone ; four difleient lciuds of building t,tone, and one of limestone, of the distiict; specimen.') of wool, <.Ye. .\c. Although it is stated that some little additional time is to be allowed beyond the 12th inst , o> hibitoio should foi >\anl then goods without delay, Mi J. S. Webb, hon. secietaiy of the Local Committee (lo be addiessed at the office of the Commibbioneis), is the gentleman authoi i&ed to take chaige of, unpack, and anange geodt. for exhibitors at a distance. . ' Some lime sinco, the seveial steamboat companies enteied into an .iiiangpinent to leiuce thoir faies, to enable to visit the Emulation ; and it is understood that from the noitbun coastal poits to tho Exhibition by tno steameis City of Dunedin and Geelong ■wdl bu cauied t,o and fioin Dunc.hu iluring the season for --n ->le fares—that is, return tic'tets will be issued at a single faie, commencing, we pie&ume, in

Jamuuy.

In the "Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday last, two fictions were biought by Mr R. Hunter, Ardgowau, against Sir M. Noble, Casanova, under the Impounding Oulinance —first for excessive or illegal damage sustained by plaintiff, levied on two sheep at the Moerald pound; secondly, under section 12th of said Ordinance, for illegally impounding three sheep at Fortification, near Oamaru, there being at the time no regularly constituted pound at that place. Iv the first action there was judgment for the plaintiff for the sum sued for, £5 10s ; and iv the second the defendant was fined Is and costs.

"We observe by an advertisement in our present issue that the sale of the tiiangulated lands is about to cominonco. The list of the triangulated distiictb in which sales are now to take place, appears in the advertisement, among which are the following:— Otepopo, Moeraki, Hawke&bury, Waikouaiti, &c.

Our readei swill learn with pleasure that Mr Thatcher, so famous in both Victoria aiid New Zealand, is about to pay a visit to this place with his musical company. They will peiform for two lights, and the time fixed will be duly notified. Mrs Charles Fanshawo Evereste also adveifees tnat she will shortly give some of her popular and amusing lectures heie.

We learn by an advertisement in our present issue that a ck3& will meet in the District School House every Thursday evening at 7 o'clock, for tho practice of sacred music, with the view of improving the psalmody iv church. We observe by the report of a late meeting in Queenstown, by Messrs Olapcott and Cargill, two of the Ministry, with the Improvement Committee, that among the subjects mooted was the important one of having district land offices established throughout the Province. Mr Clapcott stated that this matter had been under the consideration of tho Government, and that they had determined to establish such offices in the different districts. In fact, he said that a sum had been placed on tho Estimates for that purpose. The subject is an important one for this district, where much inconvenience has been experienced fiom the want of aland office. The amount of loss and inconvenience experienced by individuals fiom having to go to Dunedin when they wish to make enquiries in regard to saleable lands, is very great, and they labor under many disadvantages fiom being at a dibtance fiom the Land Office. It is gratifying, therefore, to see the Government beginning to think of remedying tho evil; and it is probable that they do so because convinced that it is for the advantage of tho revenue as well as indh iduals that district land offices should be established throughout tho Province—especially where there is a large quantity of land likely to be taken up.

It is stated by the "Dunstan Times" that considerable excitement had prevailed there in consequence of a robbery of £500 worth of gold from tho police camp, and the consequent arrest of several of the police. Tho suspected person is a man who has been acting as cook at the camp. Tho Commissioner of Police, who went up to investigate the matter, haa suspended the Inspector in chargo and the Sergeant, for neglect of duty.

Tlie Rev. Mr Watt, of Green Island, is at present officiating in the Presbyterian Clntrch in the absence of the Rev. Mr Connor. On Sabbath last he preached ia the forenoon and evening, the school house being well filled on both occasions. He will also officiate there on Sabbath first.

Our readers are apprised that Oobb and Co. are now performing the journey between Christchurch and Timaru in one day thus the journey between Dunedin and Christchurch is reduced to two days.

In the " C4azette" of the 7th inst. a return is published, showing the number and condition of the sheep in this Province for the year ending the 30th September la&fc. This return gives a total number of 1,205,451, including 955,20S ewes and 220,243 wethers, exclusive of this year's lambs. Since the end of September, 1863, there have been brought into the Province 117,811 sheep; about one third the male sheep were sold as fat, the remainder stores. Comparing the returns of this year with last, there appears to be a considerable docrease in the consumption of mutton. About 165,000 sheep last year were killed, while duiing the past twelve months the Inspector estimates the number at 120,000 only. Ho consideis that the clip of the year will be equal in quantity and quality to any of the best yeais, and he states that the lambing has been equally good, many stations having obtained 80, 90, and 100 por cent. The report says—"The yearly returns show 115,075 diseased. This laige number may be accounted for from the fact that many of the settlers are in the habit of purchasing newly-imported sheep, and on arriving afc their stations, diessing them in the most careless manner, making it a mere foim. Every sheep faimer must or ought to know how difficult it is to detect disease upon newly-imported sheep, particularly amongst those which have been heavily dressed before shipment. It is a matter of no consequence by whom the examination may be made; although a clean certificate may have been obtained, I would stiougly urge upon all parties purchasing such sheep to dress them with as much care and attention as if they were diseased, otherwise they may as well leave them alone. As an instance of tLis I may mention that neaily 80,000 have broken out in one district within the la3t few months, which would have been prevented had the measures I have already pointed out been taken. I have given instructions to the officeis of my department to make every endeavor to reduce this number, and I trust before the end of summer (should no new importations arrive) to be able to report a comideiable decrease of infected flocks." The Inspector's return of cattle imported shows a total for the year of 9032—viz., fat, 2874 ; store, 6158.

It is quite lemaikable how much sympathy has be on shown towards John Gibson Skinner, formerly age at for the Bank of Zealand at the Dunstan, who has been twice put on his ti ial lately—Hr&t for theft, and in the second place for forgery. A violent sympathetic deincuetiation took placo when he was acquitted of the fiVst chaigo, and a similar scene occurred the other day at the second ti ial, bhowing that the feelings of the audience were strongly with the prisoner—or, shall wo scy, with the flaud 9 Ccitain it is that cases of theft, embezzlement, n,nd fraud aie becoming alamdngly common Ifc gives a very peculiar idea of the morale of the audiences m the Dunedin Criminal Courts when they sympathi&e so strongly with the perpetrators of suoli offences. On the 7th instant, the Supreme Court was mainly occupied by the trial of James Myles for the wilful mmder of John Russell, at the Sowburu, on the Ctli ult. The prisoner was found Guilty of Manslaughter, and recommended to meicy on the ground of the great provocation he received from the deceased. John Hurst was indicted for forging a voucher for the pajment of money with intent to defiaud the Government, and a'so for utteiing the same. After the case for the prosecution had been closed, Mr Wilson, for the prisoner, to )k the objection that a " voucher" was not a document known to the law; that the document in question ought therefore to have been set out in the iudictmt-nt or descubed theiein; and that, as neither was done, the indictment was bad. The Judge sustained the objection, and directed an acquittal. On the Bth, John Hurst aad John Ciossley Kent were found Guilty of conspiring to defraud John Hyde Hams, Superintendent of the Province. Objections were taken to the sufficiency of indictment, and the ease will probably go before the Com t of Appeal. His Honor took time to consider wLat comse lie should adopt with respect to sontencing the prisoneis. Alexander John Johnston was found GuL'ty of bigamy, and John Jones of larceny by a btiilee. Tle Grand Jury returned "No true bill" in the well-known case of Alexander George M'Combe, charged with libel on the Rev E. G. Edwards. On Friday last, James *Iyles, convicted of manslaughter at the Sowburn was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with hard labor. John Gibson Skinner was convicted of forging and utteiing a deposit receipt. Certain legal objections raised in this case may probably be discussed in the Court of Appeal. On Monday, the sentence was recorded against the prisoner of two years imprisonment with hard labor. This concluded the criminal business. The civil business is now going on. The list comprises 18 common and 6 grand jury cases.

Some conversation lias taken place in the Geneial Assembly on the subject of the affairs of the family of the deceased Mr John M'Lean, formerly of the Kaurut Station, in this neighborhood, and whose widow (now Mrs Gray) and family still reside here. Although Zilr Gillies tried to defend the system by which this famJy has been kept in a state of destitution, while large funds belonging to thorn have been lying in the bank in the name of the Registiar of the Supreme Court, and aiso tried to color the facts, he was quite unsuccessful. The system is indefensible by which such delays are interposed in making up titles to intestate estates, and by which f imilies or other representatives are kept out of their inheritance for an indefinite period. As to the facts of the case there can be no dispute. During close upon thiee yeais they have received jusfc £100! and but for the assistance of a party in Oamaru, they would absolutely have starved. We are glad that this subjf cfc is likely to be fully discussed in the Assembly, and it will be well if the abuse hi this case leads to a reform in the law.

The nomination of candidates for the vacant seat in the Provincial Council took place on the 12th inst., at Dunedin. After the several candidates had been pi oposed and seconded, the Ueturning Officer called for a show of hands, and announced the result of his scrutiny to bo as follows:—Bastings, 109; M'Leod, 29; Mrddock, 5; Bair, 185. Some confusion arose in consequence of Mr Bastings challenging the statement of the Returning Officer, who replied that if he was wrong it would be easy to set the matter right at the poll. lie had done the best he could, and declared, from the show of hands, that the election had fallen on Mr J. H. Barr. The poll takes place to-morrow.

The Post Office return of mone}' orders issued and paid in the Piovince during the month of Novembir, shows that 535, representing £2195 Os Bd, were issued, and 205, amounting to £832 6s 2d, were paid. The total issued since the commencement of the system is 12,16G, representing £61,224 9s 3d; and the total number paid is 35*2, amounting to £17,387 3s.

The " Gazette" contains the following list of peisnns applying for relief under the "Debtors and Creditors Act, 1882 :"—Frank Alfred Orbell, of Dunedin, stockov,*ner; Francis Waltei Scott, of Invercargill, gentleman ; Alfred BoxalL of Invercargill, Soutliland, stoiekeeper and lighterman.

The Melbourne papers just to hand contain full particulars of the intelligence from America via San Fr.*n« ciseo. The most important additional piece of infoimation is the btatement made by the " Alta CalifoyuU' J that the City of Mobile had surrendered unconditionelly to Farragut's fleet. f