Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5917, 3 November 1880, Page 4

Our cable message from Melbourne, giving an account of the events of the Spring Meeting of the Victoria Racing Club yesterday, is one of the longest that has as yet come over the line between New Zealand and Australia. As the tariff rate to Victoria is 9s 6d for the first ten words, and lld for each additional word, our readers will see that to procure such a message involves large outlay. The changes in the arrangements connected with the Department of Justice in Auckland, will accomplish considerable saving. The Registrar's and Sheriff's offices are handed over to Mr. Hudson Williamson and Mr. Basley, who are appointed Registrar and Sheriff, Deputy-Registrar and Undcr-Sheriff. The appointment of Mr. Loughlin O'Brien to the office of Native Judge, affords an instance of the desire of the Government to utilise the available professional talent not incapacitated by age or infirmity. In effect it may be stated that through the death of the late Mr. Outhwaite, the retirement of Mr. AVillcocks, and the appointment of-Mr. O'Brien, the salaries of a very responsible office have been saved, without impairing the efficiency of the service. Mr. G. M. Reed, late immigration agent for this colony in Ireland, is a passenger by the Te Anau, from Australia, having come by the Orient line from England to Sydney. The mission of Mr. Reed is to form an important settlement for British farmers with capital, and to introduce a number of settlers who are likely to be highly valuable to the colony at the present time. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of a new periodical, published in Sydney, entitled Monthly Notes of the Young Men's Christian Association of New South Wales, and intended as a medium of communication between members, subscribers, and kindred associations. It contains a considerable amount of general news interesting to those connected with such institutions.

The question of a new and larger dock came before the Harbour Board at its fortnightly meeting yesterday in a double form. A report was read from the Works and Endowments Committee, in which thfiy recommended that steps should be taken to obtain full information on the subject. Mr. Compton moved an addition to the resolution of the committee, that the Engineer to the Board should be instructed to take borings and soundings for a first-class dock at Calliope Point. This addition was agreed to. Mr. Aickin moved that a dock suitable to the requirements of the port should be undertaken, and, after some discussion, the mover agreed to defer the further consideration of his motion for two months. The Chairman moved a resolution, "That the differences between the Harbour Board and the City Council should be determined, and that the Board should not contribute any more of its funds to the maintenance of the reclaimed streets." The motion was carried.

His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond proceeded yesterday, accompanied by his secretary (Mr. Fitzgerald), to Taranaki, en route. for Wanganui and Wellington. He will hold a circuit sitting of the Supreme Court in the first-mentioned place, but there is very little business. At Wanganui, however, the calendar is very large, no less than nineteen cases (criminal and civil) being set down for hearing. His Honor will thence proceed to the Court of Appeal, which is announced to hold its first sitting on the 15th of November. Some half-dozen candidates have been nominated for the vacancy in the Education Board, caused by the resignation of Dr. Campbell. The period up to which nominations could be made closed on Monday last, but the names will not be disclosed until the meeting of the Board to-day, when the ballot papers will be examined. Mr. Edward Smith Willcocks retired on Monday from the office of Registrar of the .Supreme Court, a position which he had held in the public service of the colony for a great many years. He was in point of fact one of the oldest of the Government servants. His relations with the Government, the legal practitioners, and the general public, have always been very satisfactory. He was a courteous gentleman, and many will miss him.

To-night a meeting of the residents in Newton is to be held in the Excelsior Hall to discuss some business connected with the district. For a long time past the extension of Pitt-street, from the southern side of Karangahape Road on to Newton Road, has been in a very indifferent condition. Immediately south of Karangahape Road there is a sharp and disagreeable turn in the road which could be rectified if the road at that point were cut down to its full width. At the bridge across the Cemetery Creek at the junction of Canada-street with Upper Pittstreet there is a considerable depression, which makes traffic on that line of road rather difficult. It is proposed to fill up this hollow, and otherwise improve this main thoroughfare, and plans have been prepared of the proposed works by Mr. Boylan, the Engineer of the Road Board. Were the improvements proposed carried out, which would bo quite within the means which the Board has at its disposal, this line of road would become one of the main lines of communication through this suburban district. It is alleged, probably untruthfully, that certain interests on Karangahape Road are afraid the improvement of Pitt-street would divert a considerable portion of the trade of the district to this central line of thoroughfare, and that in consequence opposition to the proposed improvements has been made. The meeting to - night is to afford a public consideration of this matter, and owing to the clashing interests, and the generally outspoken manner in which the Newton people discuss questions in which they take an interest, the meeting to-night will probably not be what is called a dull one. It is evident, however, that the road trustees of a district should aim at having all the roads in their district put into good repair, and not spend the rates in one particular district. The uneven surface of the Newton district would point out the necessity o£ bringing the main lines of roads to their permanent level as soon as possible, so that the future form of the other streets or roads may be attained with as little inconvenience to the ratepayers as possible

At the last sitting of Mr. Just" jv mond in chambers, an application Q'l- - his Honor that he should 'ive a ?^ e opinion in respect to the rigto/of the^l"^ 1 to expenses out of pocket when call l riff to levy execution at a distance from * Up ? n land. The case referred to arose <^t? Ck " action—Kuminer v. Clark—a writ of °J an having been issued against the eoodinfi? - defendant, who resided at Tauran''a writ was given to the bailiff, wno accordingly to Tauranga, but when l l there he found that the <'oods worn i *= rjt covered by a bill of was therefore abortive. His Honor pronouncing any opinion until l le p iT , have looked through the authorities mm. Mr. E. Hesketh. Yesterday. b4or e ' • )y South, His Honor caused" 4hefSl r 8 ? n 3 memorandum to be sent to the Sheriff am of opinion, after looking thron-'h n, authorities referred to by Vjr. Heelcc'th the last sitting in chambers, that the S! *» cannot charge even his expenses < t - pocket where the execution i 3 ahorti/" There is no doubt this is a practical <Tiev which requires a remedy." Fronfthi- >' e manifest that something will have to Iμ 1 U to recoup expenses out of pocket to T, Sheriff in such cases, as the pouiuh™ nf :? e Sheriff is when the property is soT.l m i execution paid into the Colonial Treasury

A little scene, enactod as the s s Hi, „ rooma was about to leare for Sydney day afternoon, caused some excitement i" person named Park, whose friend ha,] a through passage ticket to London for h,\!! about a quarter of an hour before the t of sailing, was arrested for a debt of r™ £100, at the instance of Messrs Sv >Cr Brothers. The action of the bailiff in'plaei, 1 ?, a legal document inside the debtor's vest means of serving it upon him, after he 'C ii declined to accept the paper, caused ton siderable amusement. Finally M r . p ar ' r -,, j his luggage were placed on the wharf a'-i in About an hour afterwards Mr. Park" had apparently partaken liberally of s ,>'•' thing to keep his spirits up, was seen m'r ambulating the street with a friend, \r\\\\\ the bailiff and his friend followed do'v behind. Mr. Garrard has received a reply from th ■ Colonial Secretary's Department "to his ]-Jr communication relative to the claim* c>? *i\ unemployed on the consideration of t ! le Government. The receipt of his letter is simply acknowledged, and according to'his request is enclosed a paragraph which he tail forwarded (cut out of an Auckland journal) for the perusal of the Colonial .Secretary and the return of which he had particularly , requested. Mr. Garrard will ailiress "a meeting at the wharf entrance this rnomin* on tile general situation. "

On Friday, the 29th October, a destructive fire occurred on the farm of Mr. .la me . s Wallace, Hillside, Papatoitoi. About S o'clock in the morning he left home to come to Auckland, and the two men employed on the farm were also absent on business at places some distance from the house. About half-past 9 o'clock a man working on a neighbouring farm came and reported to Mrs. Wallace that a stack of oaten ami wheat hay, situated about 300 or 400 yank from the house, was en fire. The stack contained about sixteen tons, and was insured in the South British Company foraboutUalfits value. Near to the burning stack were two stacks of grass hay, which were in imminent danger, but, by the timely help of several neighbours, the fire was prevented spreading to these. Mr. Wallace knew nothing of his loss until he returned home, about 0 o'clock in the evening. S o f ar as enquiry has as yet been made, there appears to be no means of accounting for the origin of the fire. No one, so far as is known, was in the neighbourhood of the stack that morning previous to the fire, and no fire had been in the neighbourhood of the stack for over a week. Care is also exercised in reipnl to the matches used, only safety matches Wing allowed on the premises.

The only case before the Police Court yesterday was .1 charge of drunkenness preferrul against a Chinaman. He pleaded guilty, and was fined us and costs, or, in default, to suffer 24 hours' imprisomneut with hard labour. A public meeting was held at Waiwera on Monday last to consider the high charts made for passages to and from Waiwera ami Auckland. The meeting was influentially attended, and it was unanimously resolved, " That the minutes of this meeting Ire forwarded to Captain Casey, and that he be requested to give the matter his consideration." We learn that Captain Casey has, with his usual liberality and go-aheailism, promised to comply with the request, and to give the reduced scale a fair trial, commencing at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Taylor, of Mount Albert, and family will be passengers for Australia to-morrow morning by the s.s. Te Anau. They will visit Sydney, Melbourne, and the principal cities of the Australian colonies before their return to Nev." Zealand. In consequence of the impending departure of Mr. Taylor the opening of the Mount Albert Hall was brought on earlier than was at first intended. The natives at Slotiti Island are ereetiuja native church for the accommodation of "the followers of the Old Testament," a sect which includes a considerable number of Maoris in that place. Arrangements are being made for a grand opening ceremony, at which the Maoris will have supplies of alcoholic and teetotal drinks.

The Native Lands Court is now sitting in the Government Buildings, Whakatane, before Judge Symonds and Hone Pete, Native Assessor. Mr. Swausou is acting as Native Interpreter, and Captain Hair is watching the proceedings on behalf of the Government, there being some fine land ready for settlement, which will likely fall into the hands of the Government.—Bay of Plenty Times. A meeting of the trustees appointed to obtain subscriptions on behalf of Mrs. Kees, whose husband was so foully murdered by the South Sea Islander Joe, was held yesterday forenoon in the office of Mr. F. 0. Ewingtou. Present: Messrs. A. K. Taylor, B. Fry, C. Atkin, and F. G. Ewinsrtoii." It was agreed that Mrs. Rees get the Mioney collected at the newspaper offices, and hand it over to the trustees, and that Mr. J. B. Russell be requested to draw out a trust deed. It -was also agreed that the trustees purchase, subject to Mrs. Rces's approval, Mr. McDonald's house at Momingside, and that it be repaired and insured out of the funds in hand, and that she Iμ allowed 6s a-week for her maintenance. All the moneys collected are to be paid into the Auckland Savings Bank after the house is paid tor, and arrangements are to be made with the manager to pay the weekly allowance agreed upon to Mrs. Rees; but that in the mealtime all the moneys collected be paid into the Bank of New Zealand. It was also agreed to give the thanks of the trustees to Mr. P. Doran for the trouble he has takeno.n behalf of Mrs. Rees. During Mr. A. K. Taylors absence from Auckland, Mr. C. Atkin was instructed to act as chairman, and to sign cheques conjointly with the treasurer. Mr. Ewington stated that £50 Is had been sent to his office, £42 13s Sd had been received at the newspaper offices, and Mr. P. Dorau's entertainment at the Theatre Royal had resulted in his having in hand £51 10s ready to hand over to the trustees. The various subscription lists are requested to be sent in during the present week to Mr. F. G. Ewington'e office.

Tlie discontent which pei-vades all ranks j,i the New Zealand Telegraph Department is not so great a mystery after all. A straw shows the way the wind blows. \ short time back some of the operators irere dismissed on the score of retrenchment, •mil amongst these were some ollieials conCL .nifd in the late strike. They went to Vev South Wales to obtain employment at their profession. One nf them in a letter to ~ friend, gives the following astounding naiTitive :—" Mr. Walker, the manager at toldir.e I would have to.start at a Vihrv" of iMO4, if Mr. Cracknell would accriil'my services, but that the Superintendent lv.ul reeeiveda letter from Mr. Maginnity, ivirticubrly asking him not to take on any J,f t''i- men who had struck in Xcw Zealand. 'Walker said he would do his best for , IR . " It was bad enough to dismiss oliieials ~ jth seam i-ourtesy -"in some cases with ri • at all —but to follow them over two t|i''i'is.i!!d mill" of '"'can is, we think, utterly wvou■'. ami onnlit to be inquired into. A Kiviioii writcrsaid of the presentation of tli> froedom of tlie City of Berlin to a (.Y'-m.in General, in a gold snutV-box, tint the gift was a most appropriate vlv iiusinnch us ;\ snuft'-lnix would i-mi'fortibly Iwlil nil "the freedom" there uis in '.VvVm. It nv,vy lie etyrtallv s-.iiely .-liv.lieto.i t/iar .1 snutfWin.v would lie nil too '•■mi. to hold the freedom obtainable in 'In' Telegraph i.'i'parfi.i'jiit under the .Uaginiiitv lviiimi.-. ">° ] I;! '>lie °f Xew Zealand will I* ei:rio::s to know if Mr. M.-igminty i< >:,>'.<■ f> :,| 0 authorities of "New South \\"ales '(■(;,■ iti><-;iirii; soiree of tlie Mount Eden !vipti"t "Chapel took place last evening. \; tl .. ;i >-.ilist.-int.:il ten, to which a large | i n ,,,,!,..■■ ,->• iriends sat. down, the move int.ll- ■■''■■I! portii'ii ' 'Ithe evening's programme I ;..,V,'-Hr.l. The P.ev. A. NS". \\Vl>l>. who ;;.;:;;!,;. tiKuio a brief mtrodur!..ry speed.. I ,', u-r.' lie •Iw-e.lr mi the nceessitv of librrtv .; ,','.,;,.|v;iii,l the supremacy of the Bible", I'!,;", red his ln-lii'l that'the linptists -iwuily true to these principles. 31-'" C;.:!."d-I>- the., made a lii.ai.cial -t.itc:::-!i:. showing that tlie chapel ~)"<! i"."i.'i(». of which t'27o had been raised, !,'.n ',::- the balance still upim the building. \dii:'i-----i'> w 'vro given by Mr. Ifenius on •■]"■<.' I'r.tii'S of Parmis in relaiinii to the Rev. .1. Loim on •■True Mr. Wood, on "The Duties ni IV.-.. !-..-rsV" and Mr. Driver. mi the) ~<.,-....,; : v i>; h'lp from residents to i:i:i);c the ~•':!■.!■: :•.;" Mouii; K.k-.i a success. The choir, i;!i'i.-r the ciMi.l'.ictnrship nf Mr. Theophilus roller rendered very eti'eetively several ;.,:iu-ii.< and eh.irusrs". Miss Cooper gave t'li-S''!- , . " Children's Voices." inaverv plea--in ■ ; ::a;;u,v. Mrs. -I'avlor and Miss Cooper .!.-.'. extviirt'.i the dut-r.' " Low at 'I'liv feet." :» tasto. At t\ic close of the mcetiiu ;•.;;>:■.••< rar collected which h.-id ),een .iistvibuteii duriiii: the evening, and it was ■tiiiioiu'.Cf.i th.-it llicv I'om-ninei) promises -,-. f-.war.is tlie U-.iil.liug t'unil 11 t'u- :ii:'.ount of XlV>.

A pijvr n.-.:i!od the Bulletin is now puhlUic.l in McUnnuv.c. Tiie success of -.he | pai>«.-r of ;h.it name, we presume, has called tins latest venture, whicli is well printed, and cleverly written. At a meeting of the Board of Covernors of the Canterbury College, the Museum anil Colic 'c Committees were appointed to confer wit!: the Education Board, with the view of the contemplated Schools of Art nii'i 'foeli:iio:il Science upon .•> hro.id hasif. This action was consequent upon a letter from the Chairman of the Industrial AssoeiaTiic lar-est trout :ha: lias been taken in the Avo;i~siiKe the opening of this season w:us caught a few days ago. It weighed :!.-.'i.s.. a:ii[ afi'ordcl i-'inc excellent sport before it was secured. An Otago paper records that a trout (male*, measuring S.">in. in length, and weighing close on 121b., was taken from Shag River. I':i;t of tiie plant for Messrs. Nelson Hri'i.' (ielatino Manufactory, now in course •if erection at Hastings. Hawke's Bay. has Ji-rivcii. Tiie jilant was transhipped ex the i:.ik:iia from London. A number of native chiefs resilient in the Bay of l'lentv and inland districts, feeling dissatisfied with the manner in which the government of the colony has been administered, some months ago'transmittc.l a petition to her Majesty the Queen eallinu' her attention to the wrjugs which they believed v. c:e beim; perpetrated towards the Maoris. The eompkuius were levelled against the i;iiver:ier of the colony as the head of the K\ecutive and not against his Kxccllency's •idvisers. he beinu' considered the responsible person. They had no doubt that when the mutter was laid before her. her representative here would be called to account for his conduct. Our native friends have not yet, it appears, receive 1 any reply, but they are jubilant that the prayer of the petition has. they believe, been acceded to. and they ii!,':ini* the appointment of Sir Arthur I ijn'ton as consequent on their action. They hiive !:f-ai\t sr.eli favourable repons of his •idmmistratio:] in the Soutii Seas that they tinnly bvlitve his appointment will introduce a chaVein t!:-j colonial policy towards the native "race in New Zealand, which from their point of view will be an improvement ou the p:ist. ~:\~<i believe the idea of getting up the petition was mooted about the time -o many redv.-.-tions in native oliicers' salaries we're bcii:u made, and if Sir Arthur lioi'.lon be a (iovenior after their own lieart we abill regard it as a favourable omen for the speedy settlement of the native difficulty.—Bay of Plenty Times.

The following is the weekly report ending October 30 of the Auckland Lunatic Asylum and Old Hospital Auxiliary :—Remaining last week, 23!J ; admitted since, 3; discharged since, 4. Remaining : Males, 171 ; females, 67 : total, -2MS. Miss Maggie Knight, who has just completed a successful theatrical engagement in Australia, is about to return to Auckland. l:\ noticing her benefit at Adelaide the Ad-vertlv.-r says .—" Miss Maggie Knight had a most gratifying benefit tendered to her on U'ednesiay'ni.i/ht at the Theatre Royal, the hou.se being crowded, and her reception most flattering. The popular comedy 'Caste.' whic"n"has become such a familiar favourite here, was played, with Miss Maggie Knight in a character she was well fitted to sustain—the lively Polly Kccles. Miss Magiie Knight was more than usually successful in her acting, and was the life of the pby; her natural vivacity and sprightly uuisufcv served her in good stead, and she looked a charming little maiden, full of life and spirits enough to excuse the devotion of tht blunt but honest Hani Uerridge, and the •id miration of his more pretentious rivals. When the cr.rtain fell the calls for Miss Maggie KniL'ht were imperative, and when she appe.iredViie "'as bombarded with bou- • luet'-i. In response she said, 'I would so much like to thank you properly, but 1 feel .10 inujh overcome. I cannot well express tht pleasure I feel at seeing so many kind friends assembled here. I am really at a ki»s t-'j show my sense of your kindness, but Ido thank yo-.i for it with all my heart. I feel very sorry at leaving, but hope that at some future time I may return and appear before you again ; and now I say, farewell.' This little speech was greeted with cheers and a further cannonade of flowers. The performance closed with Buekstone's farce of 'Nan the Cood-for-Xothing,' in which Miss Maggie Knight made herself very amusing as the gay K.in, with song and ■dance.'"'

Advices from Norfolk Island, to October 2, state that the Mission vessel Southern Cross arrived on the 15th .September from her seeoiul cruise, nil well. Santa Cruz was visited, anil a landing ell'ected a short distance from the place when; Commodore Goodenough was killed. The Bishop went ashore alone, and was kindly received by the natives, who consented to receive a teacher. One was left under the protection of the cliief. All the other stations of the Mclaiiesian Mission are fairly prosperous. The Bishop was left on Torres Island. Sugar making is going 0:1 in great activity in the Mauritius, in country districts. Although the crop will not l>u a large one, still the pi inters do not work without good prospects, as the prices are hiijli, which will compensate them for the short yield. We understand that the Bishop of Waiapu is about to pay a visit to Xortolk Island, where he will open a new church. Prior Horn, William S. Knox, and .1. Michael Kiuix, three youths almut Ir> years of age, were arrested yesterday on the grave charge of breaking and entering a store, and xtailing from it :i telescope ami other articles, value in all £10, the property of William Atkinson, deorgu Cox, another youth, iivi.s arrested on :-. eha'vge of stealing hi in notes :iinl five h:i)f sovereigns from his employer, Mr. W. liallen. of Queen-street; and Colin McDon:ih] ir.is lockc) up on ;i charge of receiving U>e money, knowing it to lie stolen. The onlv other arrest.; were two. on charges The Ser*emt-'.n-,ijors in the Xuw Zealand Police Force will be reduced to the rank of Kirst-c.lass Sergeants. There are at present four Sergeant-majors in the New Zealand Police, v,z.., Sergeant-major Mason, at Lyttelfrm: Sergeant-major Bevan, at Uunedin ; Sergeant-major O'< Jrady, late of Lytte'.toii. at Auckland—one of the oldest olticers in Canterbury, having joined the force immediately after Mr. Shearman came over froiu Victoria to re-organise it ; and Sergeant-major Fare, editor of the Police liazette, at WeUington.

The Tasmanian Presbyterian Magazine thinks that Mr. Proctor's " ill-advised attempt" in Sydney "to break down the Sabbath la«- lias had the effect of alienating the sympathies of the law-abiding and Christian portion of the community." Lady 'oekevs form the latest innovation in the"States." The Minister of Railways in Victoria has nbout a thousand tons of old rails on hand, which he intern Is to use in making tramways in the agricultural districts, to act as feeders to the lines of railways. If the experiment prove as successful as"it is anticipated that it will, the system of tramways will lie carried out on a more extensive scale. '/'lns is an idea w'lra might with ;u\vaut;v.<e W- copied in .Yew Zealand. It appears that the AgentAieneral of South Australia allowed sk ship-loads of defective rails to leave England alter his attention had been called to a fraud having been committed. Mr. Ueo.ge V.Uolt. of. IV.iueuin. paid the admission fees of fifty pupils of the Industrial School of that city, in order to enable them to hear one of Professor Proctor's lecture?. The smu-lin- of tobacco is being largely engaged inlli T.'.j'.nania, and two Melbourne firms are alleged t> be manufacturing tobacco for the, purnn-c of getting it smngglec: into T.ism.uif'.-i. The Christehurch Echo strongly denounces Mr. John Lamb tor his reeomineiidations as to the reduced price of labour. Such proposals, it asserts, could not 'do safely made in Christehurch. A bullock-driver in Poverty Buy has tiled his sc!io.!::le.