Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4731, 15 January 1877, Page 4

In anticipation of sentence of doath being passed upon him. Martin Curtiu, on th-j 23rd December last, duly convoyed his property and worldly effects to his sister Mrs. Elizabeth Kenny. Had such a course not been pursued, the belongings of the prisoner would have been forfeited te the Orown, as in the eye of the law a person upon whom the sentence of death has been pronounced is to all intents and purposes a dead man. Tho property comprises 126 acres, but some time ago was mortgaged to Messrs. William Hunter and Joseph Newman for £40. Messrs. Dignan aud Armstrong prepared the conveyance, and are at present acting as the legal advisers of Mrs. Kenny. A petition praying for a reprieve or commutation of Curtin's.sentence ia now lying at the office of Messrs. Rees and Tyler, awafting signatures. Not a few names have already been secured, aud it is rumouredthat in a day. or two the mattter will be brought more prominently before the public.

Eliza Lestrange, an unfortunate creature, well known to the police, iu. consequence of her frequent appearances before the magistrates, to answer charges of a more or less trifling character, was again in custody last night for drunkenness. She had been brought before Mr. Barstow on Saturday morning and punished with a fine or 24 hours' imprisonment. She did not pay the Hno, and her term of imprisonment expired at about two o'clock, when she was allowed to go about her business. She seems to havo lost nc time in reverting to her old practices, for at six o'clock in the evening she was cauf-ht in the acb of smashing the windows of the Police Court house with the avowed intention of breaking the head of the reporter who bad cast a slur upon her reputation by informing the public that she was the mother of "Little Japhet," described a3 being in search of his father. Eliza was detected by Constable Sampson busily engaged in hurling large stones against the windows fronting High-street, where they remain lying between the perforated wire curtains and the gliss panes. The enraged womun was promptly arreeted:

The Rev. Samuel Bdger delivered last evening, iu the Lome-street Hall, his annual sermon on "Temperance: thegreat approaching conflict; its possible issues." The rev. gentleman, in introducing the subject, showed the great importance it ought "to occupy for the good and welfare of the human race. He then proceeded to speak of the crime, unhappiucss : aud death that alcoholic drink was so mixed up with, and the oriaiuator of. If this state of affairs were allowed to continue, it would be easy to predict the result—the general demoralisation of mankind. Mr. Edger, during his discourse, pointed out some of the good the different societies were capable of doing, and the immense numbers that were daily.awelling the ranks of those who were prepared to face the evil. He impressed upon those present the necessity of thinkiug the matter over for themselves, and looking at the different aspects of the subject. During the service, Mr. Edger notified that there would bo no worship in the Lome-street Hall for the next two Sundays, owing to his necessary absvnee. We believe that a request will bo mado to Mr. Edger to have the sermon printed and circulated. ; .

We understand that Lieut.-Colonel Hazlitt Irvine, Koyal Artillery, retires on full pay, with the honorary rank cf Colonel. This gentleman is a brother of Mr. J. O. Irvine, of Howick. -

Bro. W. Johnson, G.W.C. (Wellington), presided on Saturday evening at the entertainment given at the Temperance Hall under the patronage of the Grand Lodge of Deputies. ; ■

As the Negro "question in connection with the Good: Templar has caused some-discussion, and as some erroneous notions on the subject have been set afloat, a few facts more fully .explaining the condition o£ the question; in America and elsewhere may be of service to those who take an interest in the movement, ajid in the fundamental principle which is connected with this coloured element. The rcal.ques: tion discussed at the late meeting at Auckland was, whether the Negro should :be admitted to the order at all; not whether he should be con lined to a lodge of his own. The English section contended, and ju3tly, that the Negro should be admitted to all the benefits of the order,'not in consideration of what the Amoricau section.themselves called their "prejudice ;" the fiiends of eqnal rights to all men made as a. compromise the proposal to form the Negroes into lodges by themselves, with such whites as choose to mix with them ; and not to force the Negro into white lodges against the inclination of the white members. The ; law of the order has always laid down plainly the equality of the races as far as membership in the order was concerned; but in certain of the Southern States of America the law -has been for some years practically ignored, J and 'the Negro excluded from the, order. This setting aside of the law has been'the action of the Grand Lodges of the States alluded to ;' : and the Supreme Governing Lodge of the Order—the It. W.G. Lodge—having failed to enforce the law, the British and other Grand Lodges, New Zealand North included, felt it incumbent that action should be taken to enforce its observance. Accordingly at the last session of the R.W.Cr. Lodge a provision was introduced to the effect that when any particular Graud lodge excluded people of a race because of colour, then any other Grand Lodge, or the It.WVG. Lodge itself, might step in and organise lodges amongst the excluded people. • This legislation was refused in consequence of the great voting power at the session being hold by the representatives from the Southern States, although the members voting in the minority (the British and others) actually represented by far the greater portion of numerical strength of the order throughout the world. Finding themselves thus over-matched, the British organised the K.W.G. Lodges, after withdrawing from those who failed to uphold the admitted law of the order, and as a term of distinction added the words "of the world " to their title ; in explanation of their intention of working the order on truely cosmopolitan principles. The action of the Grand Lodge assembled here a few days since was to strengthen the hands of tlio British Grand Lodges, and to sever the connection of the Templars of Mew Zealand North from those who failed to uphold the well-kaown principles of "tho order, which knows no creed, nationality, or colour.

The following is the return of the Auckland Provincial Lunatic Asylum for the week ending January 13, 1877 :—Kemaiued last week, 16G ; admitted since, 2; discharged since, 0 ; died since, 1 ; remaining at present, males, 104; females, 63 : total, 167. Thanks are returned by the matron to Mr. T. Aicken, of the Whau, and "also to Mrs. Mbnaghan, for several quarts of strawberries for the female patients ; also to Mrs. Goodacre, for a collection of fashion plates and periodicals. Thanks are due to P. A. Philips, Esq., for a collection of periodicals and illustrated papers for the patients.

The civil sittings of the Circuit Court will commence this morning. There are two cases set down for trial, both before special juries, namely, Ferris v. Wallis, which comealfrom Poverty Bay, and McGarrigle v. the Standard Insurance Compauy. Special summoned jurors should be in attendance at 10 o'clock. There is yet remaining a criminal case, which, will be taken on Thursday next, namely, the charge (new trial) against Louie Pierre Degleaux, in whose casa the jury were discharged ivithout being able to find a verdict.

On Saturday evening the Mayor of Thames and several members of the Borough Council au<r County Council came up to Auckland to have an interview with Mr. Whitaker in reference to the maintenance of the Big Pump. There has been a good deal of discussion on the subject at the Thames ; and as nil parties are anxious that the pumps should be kept going, and tho Government are willing to assist in every way in their power, it is hoped something inay be done.

The Presbyterian services in the Ponson'oyHall yesterday were conducted in the 'morning by the Rev. D. Bruce, and in the evening by the Rev. D. XV. Bunciinau. The last named gentleman is on a visit to New Zealand, with the. hope that the mild climate will restore, him to health. In the course of Mr. Bruce's address, he announced to the congregation the fact that Mr. Runciman would in the meantime conduct their services. : ..'...•:...

The missionary schooner Dayspring, from tho New Hebrides, arrived at Ounedin'on the 7th. The Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Inglis were passengers by her. They have been on the Island of Aneifcyum for 25 years. The Kev. Mr.' Watt and his wife also are passengers, who havo been on Tanna Island for seven years. The Dayspring is open for the inspection of the Dunedin public.

An extensive swamp fire is burning at the back o£ Hammond's bush, between Hamil ton and Ohaupo. The peat in the swamp is burning to some depth, and our Waikato contemporary draws attention to the danger which these swanip firee will, cause to Fhe railways, as many of them pas 3 over re claimed swamps, which may be burned away, and the line thus come to grief. On Thursday last a lad named John Pickup was drowned in the Waikato, opposite the house of Mr. Shirley, Rangiriri. The boy went to bathe, and it is supposed he had gone into deep water, aud was not able again to regain his foothold. The funeral of Mrs. P. Gorman, wife of the lessee of the Star Hotel, Albert-street, took placejyesierday afternoon. There wae a large attendance of mourners in carriages and on foot. The body wag interred at St. Sepulchre's Cemetery, Parnell. A concert takes place this evening at Hamilton, tue proceeds of which will be devoted to Mrs. fjeatham, of Poke no, whose husband was struck by lightning in November last. • Iu the lock-up last night were three women and one man charged with drunkenness, and one woman charged with petty larceny.

To-day, duties will be resumed in all the city and suburban schools under the eontrol of the Board of Education. Fifty starlings have been sent from the Auckland Acclimatisation Society to Gisborne, where they have been liberated. The Rev. J. Selwyn- is at present pi-each-ing at Dunedin. . . ■ . . Te Kooti has sent the f ollowi ng letter to the editor of the Napier' Telegrat-h: —"Te Kuiti, 21st Dec, 187(5: Friend,—Salutations to you and to your tribe. Our son has arrived in the Valley of Waikato, .and I have seen him like an unclouded sun. I have received your loving letter, and of your letter of cantion on aocount of our son. It is good; lam not dark on the subject. Your words are not new that too much must not be said of big chiefs. - ■ He travelled here oil my invitation and that of a man of low birth, but your word is good. My love is strong for our son, and all the tribe on account of witchcraft. That is why I sent for him. This is all. . From Tf. Koim." [This letter refers to a visit paid by Areta Apatu, of Wairoa, to Te Kooti, to see if he could remove the spell of witchcraft supposed to be over the Wairoa''chiefs, aud has been

handed over to us for publication. Areta, who has just returned from his trip to see Te Kooti, professes to have derived much benefit therefrom, and states that the King has adopted a new religion, but that Te Kooti prophesies his downfall in the event of another outbreak. (Rather a safe prediction of T. K's.) Te Kooti was formerly whaling for Tohua, and has a great respect still for hisold masfer. Te Kooti also stated

that ho had visited both Te Kapu and Poverty-Bay. but that no one recoguised him.—Ed. i>. r.]

A singular accident is reported from the

neigbourhood of Hilton. A Kaffir, while walking across the veldt, received such a severe blow in his left eye as almost to knockhim over. He clasped his hand to his eye and caught a large grasshopper, which'hail leaped from the grass, and struck him with all the vehemence a grasshopper is capable of—and that is not a little, when they are hot weakened with rheumatism ia the teudec pupil of the Kaffir's eye. The wound will probably result in partial blind, nosa, -rCajit Mercury. " ■

The Melbonrne Argus says:—The■ master, and surgeon of the s-s. Nestor, on amying at; ShanghS,. made:'statutory, declarahons, Tβspectmg the enormous marine 'creature tney : afserb they met with on. September 11, at, -half-past'. 10 'a.m.-, when in Malacca Straits Captain Webster compares the creature to. a gigautio-pig...-- The greaterpart-of its .body was out of view, but from the parts that were visible it was evident that the creature was j of immense size. The head, which was of. a i pale yellowish colour, -was-about 12ft., in.] length, and 6ft. of the crown was above the water. Neither the eyes nor mouth were made out The head was immediately connected with the body, without any indication of a neck. The body was about 45ffc. or : 50ft. in length, end of an oval shape, and the tail was 150 ft. in length. The master states that he distinctly saw the tail from its junction with its body to its extremity. It seemed cylindrical, with a very slight taper, and he estimated its diameter at 4ft. The body and tail were marked with alternate bands and stripes, black and pale yellow in colour. The stripes were distinct to the very extremity of the tail. No fins or paddles were observed; but the monster eeeined to progress by means of an uudulatory motion of its tail. _ It seemed to bave no difficulty in keeping up with the vessel,. i which was going nine g.nd three-quarter kuots an hour. - Captain Webster at _ first thought of running ic down, but dismissed the idea for tear of endangering his screw blades.. The creature showed no signs of fear, and finally dropped astern. ' It seemed ■ to exude an oily matter as it moved. Mr. Anderson, the ship's surgeon stated that the creature reminded him of an enormous salamander in shape and colour. Its backwas higher some eight or ten feet at times than the head or tail. .It was apparently of a gelatinous or flabby substance. Its mover ments were lethargic. He should not for a moment compare it to a snake ; the only creatures it could be compared to were of the newt or frog tribe.

Mr. Hutchinson, the Mayor of Wellington, in an address to young men, made the following reference to the late Sir D. McLean: : —To-day (the lecturer said) the dust of, one who was amongst New Zealand's leading men has been committed to its kindred dust amid general regrets. The death of Sir | Donald McLean he regarded as a lo3s to this new country. The lesson of hi 3 life is another example for our young men. Sir Donald lauded on these shores a young man from the Highlands of Scotland, fresh and heathery as his native hills. He had no advantages beyoud a stroug arm aud a stuut heart, the remembrance o£ a loving home, and the determination to do it credit. He was ready for any honest work. His intellect, although good, was neither high nor cultured, yet see the position- to which industry and probity can lead. He set himself to study the native character, aud he studied it till he could read it like a book. He was employed to deal with natives, and being nobly truthful, thorough, brave, ad : venturous, and determined, these characteristics . soon won for him. an undisputed supremacy over the Maori race. How his influence was used to advance the interests of this colony has not yet been fully understood or appreciated; but when the mists of party politics have passed away, it will be found that, so far in her history, New Zealand has had no faster or better friend among her public men than Sir Donald McLean. There are touching things take place around us every day—human life is full of pathos— but there are few things more tonching than that which Saturday's telegram told us of this worthy man lying in only a half-con-scious state, and repeating, evidently, texts of Scripture in the old language he had learned at his mother's knee. He.was'manifestly far away from the. scene of his triumphs,- and living over again his dreaming childhood in his native glen, proving how much truer than all our'philosophies is the intimation that the innocence of childhood is the fit preparation, for that paradise which onco lo3t Iβ novr again happily -regained."/.

' Sir John L. Richardson, on behalf of the Committee of Management of the Dunedin Hospital, has had an interview with the Hon. G. McLean, with the view of ascertaining what the Government intend witii reference to the future maintenance of tbe institution. The Guardian, has the following as to the statement made by Mr. McLean :— * "The reply received was that the present committee would have the management and control of the hospital in the meantime, and that the Government had arranged to provide sufficient funds for carrying on the institution till June next. After that he was not in a position to say distinctly what would be done, but he understood that the citizens would be called upon to contribute to the support of the hospital, the' Government allowing a subsidy of £2 for every £1 contributed. Mr. McLean considered that the Dresent state of the Treasury would prevent the Government from supporting these charitable institutions in the same way'as the Provincial Councils had done, and the burden would have to be partly borne by the' local authorities." '. ; .:

The Wellington correspondent of the Otdgo Daily Times has the following :— " Ever since the Hinemoa arrived, the Luna ha 3 been auchored lying in the Bay. It is.understood that she is for sale at £4500, but although one or two parties from Melbourne have been looking at her, the price is considered too high. An offer has, I believe, been made but declined* and it has not transpired what the figure was. She originally co3t the Government £3000, I think. Certainly she will not increase in value being left long as she now is."

The Lyttdton Times of the 6fch says :— " Up to the present time only two lets of young salmon have, besn turned out—one of 500 in the Avon, above Wood's mill, and another of 1000 below the mill. It the salmon are allowed to remain in the hatchingboxes much longer, they will suffer by it, even if they have not already done so, and, therefore, it is to be hoped the Garden Committee will take . prompt measures for liberating them in the various rivers to which they have been allotted."

The Otago people seem to have appreciated the benefit of wanting the big steamer at last mail srip. The Otago Daily Times of the sth says :—" The mail for Southern ports was brought up right smartly by the Taupo, the time, including stoppages, being three days 13 hours, whilst its delivery here was attended by no inconvenience or delay —a marked contrast to the trouble incidental to its delivery by the large steamers."

The Taranaki News states that a prisoner named Horopapera has escaped from the New Plymouth gaol, " and has probably became a member of the band of red-handed brothers in that asylum of villainy, the King country." Horopapera was undergoing imprisonment for a murderous assault on a Maori woman. £100 reward has been offered for his capture.

The" valuation list for the Parnell Highway District,-for the year 1877, is now open for inspection at the District Board office. " Ob jections must be lodged by the 15th day of February, addressed to the Assessment Court. .■-....

The valuation list f oc the Graf ton Boad District is now on view at Mr. Sawkins s store, Graf ton Road. Objections must be left at the District Schoolroom on or before the 15th February, addressed to the Assessment Court. ~: . "."'.-'

A number of forfeited shares in the Shannon and Fergus Gold Mining Co. are to be sold by auction on the 24tU inst., without the second and third calls of 3d per share are paid to the manager before that date The road trustees of the suburban districts of Auckland are requested to meet at Newton Hall at 7.30 this evening, "to consider future relations of these boards to the Counties Act."

A number of shares iu the A jax Gold Mining Company are to be sold by auction on tlie23rd mat, unless paid before that day with interest and expenses. All accounts against the ship City of Auckland must be rendered in duplicate before noon to day to the agent of the iS cw Zealand Shipping Company. The valuation list of the Panmure Towuship Highway Board is now. open for inspection at the residence of Mr. Peter <.rariley,T,iiimuie. . The training class for assistant and pupil teachers will re-assemble on Wednesday, the 3J 8 * "latant, at 0 p.m., at the residence of Mr. Worthington. . Tenders are required for additions to the. Auckland repairiug shops of the Kaipara and Puuui Railway Air. Robert Home gives notice of removal to. Hobsou's Buildings, Shortland-strcet. Tenders are required' for the erection of a ooucreto residence at Kemuera.