Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3624, 23 June 1873, Page 2

The charge against Messrs. MacfFarlane and Lamb, for alleged conspiracy, oocupied the attention of the JKesident Magistrate at the Police Court the whole of Saturday. The case was dismissed by Mr. Beckham, on the ground that he was unable to understand the evidence as given by I,he plaintiff. We are compelled to hold over our report of the proceedings until to-morroir.

Tbe barqne Thames, Captain Couren, arrived from Sydney yesterday, being the bearer of the Auckland portion of the Suez mail, which, however, the Post-office authorities did not commence to distribute until after midnight. We are indebted to Captain Couves for full files of Sydney papers, extracts from which (including English, French, American, Spanish, and Australian items,) will bo found elsewhere ; together with markets, shipping, &c. In consequence of the pressure which this necessarily entails upon our space for local matter, we are compelled to hold over police business and several other reports, which will appear in our to-morrow's issue. The following somewhat exciting altercation occurred in the Police Court on Saturday morning, between His Worship the Resident Magistrate aud Mr. W. L. Kees, barrister, who appeared for Mr. Machatlie, in the case Mauhattie against Thos. Macffarlane and John Lamb, for conspiring to prove a false debt. Mr. Machattie was under cross-examination by Mr. Heeketh, when his Worship said he wished the witness would give his answers without causing so much difficulty to the examining counsel. He should give the answers more direct. Mr. rices: The witness, does give his answers correctly, it is the counsel's fault. The Bench : The witness does not give; his answers directly. Mr. Rees : He does! The Bench : X will not be contradicted in Lliat coarse manner. It' you do not conduct yourself properly I shall not permit you to appear. I will not be spoken to in that way. No gentleman would do so. Mr. Rees : I shall not come to your Worship for an opinion of a gentleman. The Bench: Remember, sir, you are only here on sufferance, and I shall not allow you to insult tbe Bench. I shall commit you if you continue that conduct. You have several times insulted the opposing counsel. Mr. Bees -. I did not contradict your Worship. You may commit me if you think propor. You are judge, and I must bow to your decision. I do not. wish to enter into un altercation with the Bench. Mr. Hesketh : I say that Mr. Rees did distinctly contradict tiie Bench. Mr. Bees: I did not. The Bench : It is not the first time Mr. Kees has done it, but it is not worthy of further notice.

We have to apologise to the Coromandel hotel-keepers. Tbo following appears in Saturday's Mailt — " I'he .New Zealand llekald, in an article ou our drinking laws and customs, alludes to tlie want of family hotels in Lhis province. 1 Auckland,' it Bays 'is decidedly behind any other colonial town in this particular.' So far our contemporary is, we dare say, perfectly correct; but when lie goes 011 to say ' that Coroumudel is at least its equal/ we must take exception. Small place as Coroinandel is, we could name, were it not invidious to do so, at least two family hotols in Coromandel wbieli are iu every respect family hotels, and which are iu extent of accommodation in advance of the requirements of the community, while, at the same time, they are replete >vith every comfort."

The committee of the School Teachers' Association met on Saturday afternoon, at Mr. Fraser's High School, Symonds-street, when Dr. Kidd was elected President, and Mr. Wortlm ;»ton, Secretary, and Messrs. Fruser and Watkin J. Ktlwards were appointed joint '.treasurers. A report of the proceedings at the preliminary meeting on the 14th was directed to be printed and circulated among teachers and others interested in education. The lirst rceeting for mutual improvement will be held on Saturday, 19th of July, when Air. Worthington, of North Shore, will read a paper, entitled " A Day's Work in School." Discussion will be invited. It iB hopod that these meetings will take place at least monthly. The next committee meeting will be held on the sth of July.

The Bay of Plenty Times devotes n loading article in reply to the letter cfa Nelson settler which appeared in the Kelson Evening Mail of the 26th ultimo. Mr. Crupper—Buch is the writer's name—made a speculative journey to the Waikato and East Coast districts, and pronounced them decidedly inferior to the Waimeas. Happy Nelson with such a gaper. To show the general credibility of this person, wo may state that he avers thut there is no land between Otahuhu and Alexandra, in the Upper Waikato, "that would grow anyLhin-; threuhable." Mr. Gapper must have walked abroad with open mouth and closed eyes. We advise him to "thresh the Waimeas" for the rest of his natural life. A very melancholy mining accident occurred at the Golden Fleece Company's mine, Sandhurst. Mr. Patrick Hugo M'Hugh, of the Admiralty survey, was visiting somo of our mines, and was down the Golden Fleece Company's workings. At the shaft at the 300 ft. levol he made an attempt to get into the cage, which had not however, reached the levol, and he fell to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of 160 ft. Ho was picked up terribly mangled, and quite dead. Madame Corn gave a morning performance on Saturday to a very lurge assemblage of children and young people. The house was crowded on this occasion, and was well attended iu the evening, notwithstanding what are usually called "counter attractions elsewhere." There was the same eagerness and interest in the results of the present distribution. Tho young folks were highly delighted and not a little astonished at the sleight-of-hand tricks of this clever lady. State of Her Majesty's Gaol, Mount Eden, for the week ending June 21, 1873 : —On remand, 2 males, 1 female; awaiting trial, 14 males ; sentenced to penal servitude, 3G males; sentenced to hard labour, 54 males, 25 females ; sentenced to imprisonment, 3 mules; default of bail, 3 males; debtors, 1 male; received during the week, 12 males, 2 females ; discharged during the week, 9 mules, 3 females. Total in gaol, 113 males, 26 females.

Mr. Alfred Ladd, who exhibited two very handsome inlaid table, at the new Markethouse on Saturday, was awarded a first-class price. Mr. Bobertson, for his bacon, received a ilrat-cluBS prize; and Mr. A. Donald a second-class prize. Mr. Waymoutb, senior, for a modol yacht and drawing, received a first-class prize; and Mr. Waymoutb, junior, was awarded two firßt-class prizes—one for the model of the Mission schooner, the other for the model of a four-oared gig and drawing.

Aa a proof of the progress of tbo country aud the success of the native policy, we point to an announcement in our telegrams, to the effect that a contract has been entered into with tho Government for runniug a stage coach, carrying the mail, between Tauranga and Napier, by way of Taupo. This fact is worth any amount of declamation againßt the Native Department and Mr. McLean's native policy. The firing of the first of the competition for Captain Burnett's star, by tbo members of the No. 2 Company Rifle Brigade, took place at the Mount Eden riflo - range, on Saturday afternoon last. The ranges were —400,500, and 600 yards: five shots at each range. Volunteer K. McDonald made the top score of 45. There are to be two more competitions for the prize before it is finally decided. With a view to prevont any similar accidents to that which occurred at the rifle-range on Friday lnß|, we understand that Major Gordon has issued orders to have pits made at each range for the men to discharge their rifles into, instead of, as they now do, fire them into the stones. A football match was played in the Albert Barracks, on Saturday afternoon, between twelve members of the North Shore Club and twelve members of the Auckland Clubs. After a very spirited game tho Auckland men obtained a goal and a toueh-down. Notwithstanding the attraction at the new Market-house, the Total Abstinence Society's meeting was well attended on Saturday evening. Speeches were delivered by Messrs. J. Hemus, 0. Kobinsoa, Wait, Caley, and White. Mr. E. Carr oocupied the chair. It will be seen that Mr. Douglas, the member for Franklin, representing the East Coast in the Provincial. Council, has resigned. Three candidates are announced. The election will be held under th« old election law.

The Waikato Times complains of the want; of competent medical practitioners in the oat.lying districts. It says : — H We some timo .ago called attention to .the unsatisfactory position in which settlers in country districts are placed as regards medical attendance. It in. not that there is an insufficient number ot" medical men, but that very often these men are given to over indulgence in alcohol, and their existence in the district often keeps good men away. We trust that at tho next sitting of the Assembly some member will introduce a bill to deal with imbibing doctors. If the master of a vessel drinks to excess he is liable to have his certificate suspended. Ijives and property are entrusted to his care ; it is therefore rery proper that such should be the case. The lives of her Majesty's subjects are almost, equally at tho mercy of drunken doctors. We are not prepared to suggest the best means of dealing with these men, but think the power should vest in two Justices of the Peace to temporarily suspend the certificate of any medical man guilty of drunkenness whilst on duty, and that after two temporary suspensions it should be competent to bring the guilty party before a superior tribunal, in order to bin prohibition to practice in the colony. We have had more than one glaring instance of the evil above alluded to in this district."

Speaking of the New Zealand Insurance Company, tho Thames Advertiser says : —" A brief glance at the half-yearly balance-sheet or the New Zealand Insurance Company, jnst published, will show that the success of tho company continues to be almost unpuralleled. The profits during the past six months must have exceeded the aniicipations of the mosl sanguine of the shareholders, but so large an accumulation of wealth only tends to prove that the premiums charged to insurers are excessive, and that there is a wide margiu for lowering them. Capitalists can scarcely see the large profits of the insurance companies without desiring to become possessed of such stock, and the result will be that the demand thus created must lead to other companies being floated, and consequently to a keen and severe competition. * * * The ' period of great depression' to the New Zealand Insurance Company has never yet come, although its visitation has been more than once predicted. The career of the company hs.s been one of steady and rapid progress from the day it started, and we sincerely hope it may continue to prosper. But we cannot refrain from urging upon the attention of insurance companies generally that the time has arrived when a substimtiul reduction might be made in fire rates, without seriously affecting the position of the companies."

The following, from tho Waikaio Times, will be read with interest at the present time : — "The Waikato river, iu consequence cf the lowness of the water, is almost unnavigable between Naaruawhia and Point Russell. Every steamer that has attempted lately io pass up and down, has stuck on some sandbank or tho other for a greater or less period. It iB true that the water is exceptionally small in quantity for this time of the year, yet no lower than was the case for some months (luring the summer. It is clear to us that unless something is done to remedy the washing away of the banks, the river will become totally unnavigable in a few years. If our surmise be correci, and if to protect the iianks would co3t a large sum of money, we are of opinion that the river should be left to its own devices, and the construction of the railway pushed on with all possible speed. The Waikato river is navigable at all times from Ngaruuwhia to Cambridge ; not so the Waipa from the same place to Alexandra, the town from which a lirge section of our formers draw their supplies. This, of course, is an additional argument to those already urg;d for the construction of the line as nearly as possible through the centre of the Delta."

Our Coromandel correspondent says:— " With respect to the mistake in the telegram about the Green Harp specimens, the officer in charge of the telegraph here says that tljo error is not his, and, I must say, that I believe he is right. I know enough of the working of the department to know that when a message is received, the number of words contained therein should be counted and checked by the receiving operator and repeated back. Had this been done with my message the mistake could not have occurred, as it consisted of 48 words, whereas the substitution of " 58 lbs." for " 5 or 6 lbs." would reduce it to 46. Press telegrams, I know, are often long and tedious, and operators do not care about counting them to make sure, and so errors occur, for which correspondents are blamed as a rule. For my part, Ido object to suifer for the laziness or carelessness of any official who may choose to misrepresent what I say."

The Coromandel Mail says : —" Subsequent events prove that the excitement respecting the find in the Green Harp during the early part of the week was fully warranted, and that even the error made by the Herakd in reading the telegraphic message of five or iiix, as fifty-six pounds of specimens was, after all, a departure not far from the mark. Now that shares are not to be picked up, except at a price, the truth iB leaking out, and we learn that the find was even a more important oue than the public was at first permitted to know." The Mail is in error. Tho mist-ike occurred in tlie Coromandel telegraph office. It was printed precisely na we received it.

The West Coast Times records a somewhat remarkable case of sudden death -which occurred last Saturday at Woodstock. The report brought in states that the deceased, who was named Thomas Edmond Hughes, had been chopping some wood and was observed by a miuer named James Irwin to be leaning against the garden fence. Irwin, went on and finding on returning that Hughes was still in the same position, called to him, exclaiming, " You are taking a long look at your cabbages !" Getting iio answer, Irwin went over to deceased and found his head was between two of the palings of the fence. On lifting up the head deceased fell down, and then Irwin perceived that he was dead, of which he waß unaware previously.

A singular accident happened to a little girl in the Shoalhaven district, New South Wales. It appears tbe mother, in order to pacify the child, put into the fire an egg to roast, and went about her household duties, leaving the child watching the process of roasting the egg. She had been absent but a few minutes (says the j\ r cius) when she was alarmed by a loud report like the discharge of a pistol, followed by Bcreams. The mother ran to the fireplace aud found that the egg had exploded, blowing the red-hot ashes into the eyes and face of the poor infant. The intense agony the child must have suffered can be imagined. It has since been ascertained that the little girl is recovering. Mr. Gumming, of East Hamilton, Waitato, has established a brewery. Mr. Joseph Browne will give another of the aerie 3 of Monday popular concerts* at the Choral Hall, this evening. The annual meeting of the shareholders of the Coronet No. 1 Gold Mining Company is convened for the 30th inßtant. A meeting of the trustees of tho Auckland Savings Bank will be held on Wednesday, at 3 o'clock p.m. A dividend of seven shillings and sixpence per share will be payable in the Bright Smile Gold Mining Company on Thursday. A meeting of the ratepayers of South Newton will be held to-morrow evening, at the York Hotel, East-street. A meeting of the shareholders of the Morning Star Gold Mining Company is convened for the 16th of July proximo. A call of sixpence per share has been made in the Pride of Tokatea Gold Mining Company.

A call of 2s 6d per share has been macle in the Lincoln Castle G.M. Co.