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New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3870, 8 April 1874, Page 2

The criminal session of the Supreme Court commences this morning, "when all jurors and those interested should be in punctual attendance at 10 o'clock. There are nine charges on the sheet, a list of which \ve have already given. Further improvements are being effected by the I'arncll Highway Board at I'arncll rise. The roadway is being widened in the vicinity of the railway bridge, and when liuished, the footpath will be diverted through the side arch of the bridge. A stone culvert is being formed at the expense of the City Council, to carry away ti' e water from the stream running from the old taimery. The earth used in the filling-in is being taken from the reserve facing the rise, which, when levelled, will bo planted with trees. The Work is being carried out unclcr the able superintendence of M r. John Straugc. Yesterday one of the workman employed on the job ran a narrow escape of being buried alive. A large portion of the earth cutting on the reserve gave way, and foil where he was at work, tit: was enabled, however, to run out of the way before the heaving mass fell, although he did not escape scatliless. We believe he was only slightly bruised by the mishap. The piece of a small vessel's hatch has been picked up at Cox's Creek by a lad named Weston, residing in the neighbourhood. On the hatch is pencilled the following words : —" No hope for poor Ben. Ben Punt." The piece has been handed over to the Water-police by the lad. Whether the hatch with the few words in pencil on it has any conncction with the skeleton of a young man which was found a few days ago at Kauri Point, it is hard to conjecture. A horse attached to a light spring-cart, heavily laden, yesterday backed 011 to the lamp-post in Alton Road, opposite Wynyardstrect. The glass of the lamp was smashed, and the post driven out of its perpendicular. The occurrence was observed by one of tiki employees of the City Council, who took the name of the owner of the cart, otherwise the cause of the damage would have remained unknown. The Waiuku people received the Volunteer Representatives of their district on their retur.'.i from Napier right heartily, as will be seen 'by the report to be found elsewhere. The champions and their comrades were received with thunders of applause, a band of music, military honors, wero marched under triumphal arches, and finally entertained at a dinner, to which about 130 persons sat down. The two silt-basins at the entrance to the wliarf are so far completed as to allow the roadway to be once more thrown open to its full extent' to the convenience of all using the wharf. The unsightly hoarding which has been sucli a disfigurement and an eyesore to the proprietors of tlie hotels opposite will disappear in a day or so. The Harbour Board held its usual sitting yesterday,—Captain Pakly presiding. Several matters of business were disposed of, and a number of financial statements „ laid upon the table by the secretary. A detailed report will be found in our columns - elsewhere. Another pleasing entertainment was given last night at the Prince of Wales Theatre, by the dramatic company. The attendance was good, and the performance gave satisfaction. A change iu the programme will take place to-night. An inquest will bo held at two o'clock this afternoon upon the body of the lad Joseph •John Garty, who was accidentally shot at Titirangi ranges on Easter Monday. The i'niuest will 1" • lnld.it the Wellington Hotel,

James Lick, the wealthy Californian, who has recently delighted the scientists of that State with his nobion of erecting a model observatory in the higher Sierras, has now set those gentlemen fairly beside themselves with joy by promising a: million, dollars to furnish it with the champion telescope of the world. The new Clark telescope at "Washington, which has been the theme of so much descriptive writing, of late, cost only a matter of 30,000 dols., and will compare with this proposed monster as the pocket spy-glass of the tourist with the mammoth instrument of the observatory. Just how large the now telescope can be made, it is impossible at present to say. Experiments must be made with glass, and the most careful investigation will be needed in order to determine the feasibility of constructing a lens of the extraordinary diameter and focal length required. The Scientific American points out the capability of a twelve-foot objective with a focal depth of 120 feet; which, with an ej'e-pieeo of 1-20 inch focus, would give a magnifying power of 25,500 times the linear dimensions, or over 500,000,000 times the surface of a body. This would bring Mars, so to speak, within 4,000 miles of us, and make it appear 100 times as large as the moon. As for the moon, let the reader seriously tliiuk of having that satellite within eight miles of him ; so near that, if inhabitants there be, he can see them. Even if no more astonishing discoveries be made, the effects of volcanic action upon the surface will form a prolific field of study.

A meeting of the men working on the wharf was held at the Foresters' Arms Hotel, Albert-street, last evening,—Mr. Buckingham in the chair. There were about eighty present. The business of the meeting was for the purpose of forming a union for the protection of the men. Such a union was formed last evening, to be called "The Wharf Labourers' Union." The entrance fee was fixed at (id, and a weokly subscription of 3d. About seventy of those present entered their names as members. A committee was elected, whose duty it will be to draw up a code of rules for the guidance of the members. The meetings of the Union are to be held fortnightly. It was resolved to give notice to a number of men who were working under the scale of wages, that unless they sent in their names as members of the Union during the week they wouldnotbeallowedtojoin. Thescaleof wages was fixed, for general cargo, at 10s per day of eight hours. If under one day, to be per lioxir, Is Gd. Over time, pei- hour, 2s. Nothing under one hour. For coal, from S a.m. to 5 p.m., Is Gd per hour; overtime, 2s per hour. A wish was expressed by the meeting that the men at the Thames would not engage themselves at a less rate than that fixed by the meeting. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting closed. A fashionable wedding took place yesterday at Bishop Gome's chapel, Pamell, the " happy" ones being Miss Katie Hobson and Nikorima Pototara. Miss Hobson is a Maori protege of Lady Martin's, and is a highly accomplished and educated young lady. She is also a daughter of a native clergyman named Porimona, who was drowned some years ago in the Kaipara. The bridegroom is chief of the Ngatimaru tribe, of Hauraki, and is a large landed proprietor. The wedding was a very gay proceeding, and in honor of tlie affair the proverbial "merry marriage bells" were rung out. Mr. and Mrs. Pototara proceeded to the Thames by the 11 o'clock boat. The annual meeting of the Isew Zealand Agricultural Society was held yesterday afternoon, when officers and a managing committee were elected, and several notices of motion considered, and a report and balancesheet adojited. Mr. Woodward also took occasion to withdraw a statement made by him in a political speech, to the effect that Mr. Gillies had not the slightest sympathy •u-ith the fanners. Mr. Gillies acknowledged that lie was satisfied with the course taken by Mr. Woodward in withdrawing what had proved to him a somewhat painful insinuation. A full report appears in another column.

Mr. Woodward has announced, by advertisement, liis -withdrawal from the Franklin election contest. The polling takes place tomorrow, commencing at S a.m., ami closing at 4 p.m. The following arc the polling places appointed :—The Public ll,ill. Otaluiliu; the Post-ortice, I'okcno: the Courthouse, Howick; the Public Hall, Wairoa; the Court-house, Papakura; Mr. Buckland's ilax-mill, Pukekolie; the Resident Magistrate's office, Waiuku; the Post-office, Bombay Settlement; the Volunteer Hall, Patumahoe. The Carandinis gave another successful entertainment last evening. To-night tlioy will again appear in the City Hall. To-morrow is a " Vicc-JRcgal command night," on which cocasion the entertainment will be held in the Choral Hall, under the patronage and in the presence of his Excellency Sir James Fergusson and lady. A special programme has been prepared, and a thoroughly enjoyable evening'may be anticipated. Colonel M'N~eill, V.C., who served on the staff of General Cameron during the late Xew Zealand war, and who lias just returned home from the Gold Coast in consequence of wounds, is reported to have been appointed to the vacant aide-de-campship oil the stall' of the Field-Marshal Cominaniling-in-Chief. Tlie police took charge of the poor demented woman, Alice Mills, yesterday, whilst roaming about the wharf and amongst the shipping. She will be examined this morning by medical gentlemen to ascertain the state of her mind. A person named Will. Moody Brooks was in custody last mglit upon a charge of larceny of a tin of salmon. Two or three drunkards, vvl a person charged with assault, were also in custody. They will be brought up at the Police Court this morning. A dividend will be payable on the 15th instant in the "\Yhau Gold Mining Company. Mr. W. Woodward announces that he has withdrawal his name from the list of candidates for the seat for Franklin. A teacher is wanted for the Papakura School.