Untitled

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2262, 31 October 1864, Page 11

Public Buildings. —Among the various public buildings at present being erected in this town, there is none more deserving of a passing notice than the residence now in the course of erection in Shortstreet for the commodore of tho station. In every respect tho site selected is a most judicious and convenient one, embracing at one and the same time tho great detiderata of convenience, healthiness of situation, and cheerfulness of aspect. The building is being erected, or rather, we should say, has been, it being almost finished, at tho cost of the Provincial Government, under the department of the Engineer-in-Chief, the direct supervision being left in the hands of Mr. Derrom, the designer and architect. Its exact situation is on an allotment of rising ground on the left-hand side of that street, and at the corner of Jermyn-street, commanding a splendid view of a large portion of tho harbour and North Head, the back front (if we may so term it) of the building exactly overlooking the Wynyard Pier, from which it is only some 50 yards distant, thereby at once exemplifying the convenience we allude to as it not only completely overlooks that portion of the harbour in which the navy vessels that enter this port invariably take up their station, but it also affords easy and accessible means of traffic to officers from and to the various vessels in communicating with the commodore on shore. The whole character of the external appearance of the building at once conveys the impression of the convenience afforded within, an impression by no means lessened after a careful inspection of the internal arrangements. Before noticing more minutely the building itself, we may premise our observations by saying mat tha original contract for its erection was taken by Mr. Cameron at £1,238, since which, however, there have been several additions and alterations made in the plans, which will necessitate the expenditure of a further sum, making in all something like £1,500, a sum which may certainly be considered to have been well spent, when the character «f the bnilding is taken into consideration. Round the whole of the lower story there it a verandah, running 6 feet in depth and some 12 fact in height, which is approached by a flight of steps on each side, and at either end. The verandah is supported on wooden pillars, having a curved corrugated iron roof. The main entrance to tho building is in Jermyn-street, through a neat pair of folding doors, leading into a roomy, airy, and well-ventilated hall, opposite the entrance, there being a handsome wooden staircase leading to the upstairs department. There is a suite of four rooms below, all of which are capacious in dimensions, the chief being the drawing-room, which, in addition to a handsome bay window of three divisions at the end, overlooking the harbour, contains at the side overlooking Shortland-street, two others of handsome proportions. These window* can be best Gc.lLi ILwJ na J— nrlfKnilh tflA llfil)orKf« The whole of the windows in the house form one of its greatest ornaments and conveniences—the introduction of one, and in some cases only two, large panes of glass, according to the size and depth of the window, surrounded by a bordering of narrower panes, giving to the whole a very handsome appearance. The size of the drawing-room is 18ft. by 20ft., and is separated by folding doors from another room, 18ft. by 17ft., meant to serve the purpose of a dining room, also overlooking the harbor. There are in all four rooms down stairs, one of which has been arranged to serve the purposes of a kitchen, it being in contemplation, we believe, to erect a kitchen detached from the main building. The rooms are all neatly papered. Upstairs there is a suite of six rooms very convenient, both as regards size and arrangements, there being a capacious landing at the top of the stairs from which they are entered. It i* now about fourteen weeks since the erection was commenced, and the building is expected to be completed in another week’s time. Every credit is certainly due both to Mr, Derrom, the architect, for the very careful supervision with which he has watched its progress, and also to Mr. Cameron, the contractor, for the very workmanlike manner in which he has fulfilled his contract. —“ New-Zealander,” Oct. 28.

Free Land Grants —A question was brought before the Resident Magistrate yesterday of considerable interest to immigrants. Mr. Wynn, solicitor, took occasion to recover from Mr. Haselden, the Waste Lands Commissioner, a Crown Grant for 80 acres of land in the parish of Toka-toka, Marsden. alleged to to be unjustly withheld from him, or in lieu thereof £SO as damages, the land being worth that amount As the plaintiff is a lawyer, and as Mr. Merriman was also engaged, the suit was most ably conducted. The defence on the part of the Government was entrusted to Mr. Crawford, a gentleman evidently well versed in the law and perfectly read in the Colonial Ordinances. The defence therefore was also very skilfully conducted, Mr. Wynn’s argument is this : —Under the Provincial Waste Land’s Act, 1856, he was entitled to 80 acres of country land “ Free of cost.” On applyieg for his Crown Grant after the required residence in the Colony £1 13s. 6d. was demanded as fees. This he objected to paying as being contrary to the meaning of the Waste Lands Act, that it should be “free of ex pensc.” He considered it was not keeping faith with with immigrants and determined to test the legality of the question. As far as he was personally concerned, it was a matter of indifference ; but he viewed it as a public question, and as such brought it into a Court of law. The defence on the part of Mr. Crawford was, that a fee of £1 was imposed by the “Fees on Crown Grant’s Ordinance, 1846,” and the 13s. fid. by the “ Deed’s Registration Act, 1863.” Mr. Beckham reserved judgment until next Thursday. However the question may be decided, Mr. Wynn is certainly to be thanked for putting the matter to the test. —“ New-Zealander,” October 28. Conditional Amnesty—A proclamation was issued yesterday, signed by his Excellency the Governor, holding out an offer of pardon to all natives who have been in arms, with certain exceptions therein stated, on conditions to be complied with—the proclamation in English and Maori will be found elsewhere. The proclamation is not coutersigned by any member of the present Ministry.—“ Hew-Zealander,” October 27. Bay of Island’s Coal.—A sample of the coal

from the Kawakawa Mine was yesterday kindly forwarded to this office from His Honor the Superintendent. We are glad to learn that the coal is of a valuable kind for steam purposes, and that it is a more speedy steam generating coal than that of Newcastle mins. We have already reported the result of the experiment on board the ‘ Wonga Wonga,’ and we shall test and report as early as possible so far as our own trial goes.—New-Zealander,” October 28. Practical Joking.—We reported in yesterday’s paper a most shameful practical joke. We have since received further particulars. A youth of the name of Conway having put a quantity of gunpowder into a pipe banded it to his companion aud asked him to light it, he complied, and the result was that it exploded, burning his face and eyes in a fearful manner. The unfortunate young man’s name is Finlay; he is a son of Mr. Finlay of the City Board. Both youths are about 19 years of age.—New-Zealander,” October 25. Tomahawking.-—A quarrel arose between two women in West Queen-street, yesterday evening. As well as we have been able to ascertain, a Mrs. Chamber assaulted a Mrs. Sainsbury, with a tomahawk, and inflicted a severe wound on the head, with that very nnfeminine weapon of offence. Mrs. Sainsbury was conveyed to the Provincial Hospital, not so much on account of the danger of the wound, as because the doctor thought better to have her put under restraint, as she could not be kept from irritating" the wound bj touching it. Her assailant is lodged in the “ lock-up.’ —“New-Zealander,” October 25.