Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6063, 23 April 1881, Page 4

We have files to hand of the Messager de Taiti, but they are principally filled with decrees of the Government, and possess no news of local interest. His Honor Mr. Justice Richmond sat in chambers yesterday, and disposed of some important public business. There was an important application under the Land Transfer Act, and under the will of the late Mr. Potter, of Epsom. The proceedings will be found reported in another column. Mr. Thomas Hill, Collector of Customs at this port, proceeded to Wellington yesterday, to act in a similar capacity there for some time, the Wellington collector, Mr. H. S. McKellar, being acting secretary to the department. Mr. D. McKellar, sub-collec-tor, will take charge here during Mr. Hill's absence. The sitting of the Police Court yesterday was somewhat prolonged. There were four cases of breaches of the Licensing Act. In three instances of Sunday liquor traffic the prosecution failed to establish cases. The fourth was a case of not having sufficient bedrooms furnished in tha Edinburgh Castle Hotel, but after the explanation that the house was under repairs, and that the proprietor had merely failed to apply to the I Licensing Bench for a necessary permit, no penalty was inflicted. In the case of a man who was charged under the Public Works Act with travelling in a railway carriage without paying his fare, it was clearly shown that lie had paid his fare, but that the ticket clerk had issued to him a single instead of a return ticket, and the prosecution was withdrawn. The case in which the greatest amount of interest centered was the libel case, Hurst v. Wickham. After hearing the evidence, the defendant was committed for trial, and admitted to bail in his own bonds of £200 and two sureties of £100 each. Messrs.' Linabury and W. F. Buckland signed the nocessary bonds. The proceedings are reported elsewhere. 'Yesterday the remains of the late Mr. Morton were interred in the graveyard at the North Shore. The f uueral was attended by a large number of the most respectable residents of Devonport. The Rev. Mr. Bates read the funeral service in an impressive manner.

A statement has been thoughtlessly given currency to which has caused cousklerable iudiguation among the members of the police force, who are of opinion that, though it may be immensely facetious in the view of its author, it is a serious matter to them. It is to the effect that, on the night of the fire, two constables were observed dividing a till of money, and wander is expressed as to whether the circumstance had been reported to Mr. Pardy. The following narrative explains the conduct of the constables satisfactorily, and shows that so far from Mr. Pardy requiring to be informed of the affair, he was the officer by whose orders the contents of the till were counted. It appears that during the progress of the fire Mr. Pardy lacked up out of a heap of goods thrown out of Mr. Whitehead's premises, a small till divided iuto compartments, and containing petty cash— silver and coppers. He handed ir. to Sergeant Fleming, directing him to count its contents in the presence of another constable, and this was done, the Sergeant and Constable McCormick counting, the money, which it wa3 found amounted to Ss in silver and -ts 3d in coppers. Sergeant Fleming handed the sum over to Constable Kennedy, till inquiries could be made in the morning as to its ownership. In the morning Sergeant Fleming made inquiries, and, from the description of the till given, and the amount named by Mr \Vhitehead, was satisfied that he was the rightful owner. The money was accordingly handed over to him, and he gave the police the requisite receipt, Mr. Whitehead, at all events, is satisfied that the active and intelligent constables did not divide the contents ? Sγ * i ' bufc, ou the contrary, he is grateful for the care taken of his property. As showing the mischievous effect of such, careless jesting, it may be mentioned that yesterday, while a constable was on duty in Queen-street, two gentlemen passed by him in company, one of whom remarked to his companion as they went on, "I wonder if that is one of the policemen who took the coppers." The remark appeared to be made in all seriousness. Last night the settling for the races, bets, &c, should have taken place, but no doubt the settlements had been previously made, for thore was no attendance at Tattersall's. The Hon. S. D. Hastings, of Wisconsen, whoa few years ago iyjsited. Auckland upon a mission in connection vvith Good Templary, is expected to visit this colony during the course of the present year on a lecturing tour. The Sydney Herald states that Mr. Hnrens, G.W.C.T. of the order in New South Wales, is endeavouring to arrange matters so that Mr. Hastings may visit that colony for a similar purpose. "We are informed that Mr. Paterson' stock was insured in the Colonial Office for di ° , i," ? re £ 5 3°°' a3 SUt downin ourycstdi-

Justices of the Peace are particularly re. quested to attend the annual meeting to be held at noon on Tuesday next, the 2eth inst. A Chairman has to be elected in the room of Colonel Nation, deceased. As to the fire in Queer-street experts are now of opinion that the fire originated in or from a fireplace at the back of Mr. Harris's tobacconist's shop which was used for the purpose of steainiug tobacco, and not at the back of Mr. Whitehead's establishment. I hose who were burnt out have lost no time m providing temporary premises. Three of the newly-invented American chairs imported by Messrs. Mason Brothers were saved. The firm have started operations directly opposite the old stand. Mr. Payne, watchmaker, has also taken temporary premises in Mr. Ford's tailor's shop, a little lower down Quecn-steet. No new facts hare been ascertained regarding the origin of the fire.

The man Fidgett, with many aliases, who ■was sentenced in 1879 to a long term of imprisonment for incendiarism, died at tho gaol on the 21st, and an inquest was held upon his body yesterday. A verdict was , returned, " Died from natural causes." An Onehunga correspondent writes :—A party of Auckland gentlemen — Messrs. Plumley, Bevan, Masefield, Sloane, and two boys—who had been out for a day's shooting to Sir. Smith's farm at Mangere, were returning home on Thursday evening in a waggonette, and had reached the foot of Mangere mountain when darkness overtook them, and the road being very narrow in this particular spot, the horses swerved off to the side, overturning the vehicle with, its freight of men, doge, and guna, and casting all out in a heap on the roadside. Strange to say, however, none of the occupants were hurt. The vehicle, which is the property of Mr. Lendrum, of Auckland, had the off hind wheel broken, besides some other slight damages. The sportsmen, on rogaining their feet, and finding that the whole of the party were as sound as ever in _ wind and limb, set to work, and assisted the driver to retackle his horses to the damaged vehicle, after which they made another start, the Jehu leading, and tho gentlemen, preferring to walk rather than risk a repetition of what had just occurred, bringing up the rear. All went well till they had got about half-way acros3 Mangere Bridge, when they were again brought to standstill by one of the horses, a young and restive one, kicking so violently that it had to be taken out, and led to a stable close by, where it remained all night. After this, a fresh vehicle was procured from Mr. Codlin, and the party mounted, aud again started for home, which they would reach about 10 p.m., providing they met with no further mishap. A boy named Mulhern, formerly an inmate of the Industrial Home, but who for the past two years has been placed out at service with Mr. G. Wyatt, of Tauhoa, Kaipara, levanted this week with a horse, saddle, and bridle, belonging to that gentleman. Tho horse has been recovered, and the boy has taken to the bush. Subsequently it was discovered that he had taken a gold ring, sealskin rug, and a tomahawk. Special Constable Inger and oth«r constables have been making search for Mulhern, but hitherto without avail. In our yesterday'e. paper, in the case of Napier v. Cailliau, &c, the words occurred in Mr. Burton's evidence, "Mr. Peltzer told witness to call a meeting of his creditors. " Mr. Peltzer states that he was acting as co-editor and manager of the Muse, and aiiy arrangement to be made was with the creditors of the partnership existing between Messrs. Cailliau, Peltzer, and Villeval.

The offer of Capt. Fairchild to supply pieces of obsidian to any one who might desire to have a specimen, has created a good deal of interest in this mineral. Many who knew nothing of it before have asked " "What is obsidian ?" It may therefore be stated that obsidian is oftentimes known by the name of pitchstone, pearlstone, marakanite, &e. It is a hard mineral found in large masses in veins and beds traversing rocks of various characters. The general mineralogical character of this substance arc : Clcvage, none; fracture, conchoidal, sometimes highly perfect, sometimes less distinct; in the granular masses, the fracture is more or less uneven and splintery; lustre, vitreous and resinous; colour, black, bro.Tii, red, yellow, green, grey, and white; hardness, between that of feldspar and quartz; specific gravity, 2-3. As to its chemical composition, it consists of nearly three parts of silica, a percentage of alumina, potash or soda, oxide of iron, and manganese. Before the blow-pipe it melts with more or less facility into a vesicular gloss, or an enamel is yielded, according to the fusibility of the ingredients. It is the outcome of volcanic action, and is found in Iceland, in the southern countries of Europe, Taneriffe, Ascension, Mexico, Peru, and New Zealand. In Mexico, and in the Island of Ascension at the present time, very sharp pieces are used as tools and weapons. In the olden days, before the introduction of. iron and steel tools, the Maoris used it for many purposes of cutting. In the Museum a splendid block of this mineral may be inspected by those interested in it. The block lies near the entrance to the main hall, on the left hand side of the doorway. The only prisoner in the police lock-up last night was Mary Burtenshaw, on charges of drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and ob-; scene language. This is one of those "frightful examples" of a passion for strong drink. Yesterday she neglected her baby, two months old, and went on the spree, the result being that she found herself as usual in the station-house. As soon as she was sufficiently sober to suckle and take care of her infant, it was brought to her in the lockup, thus on the very threshold of life being unavoidably familiarised with the associa-

tions of crime and intemperance. Special Constable luger has brought down from Port Albert a Maori female lunatic, named Miriam, who has been sent to the Whau Lunatic Asylum. The natives, through the Rev. Mr. Gittos, Weslevan missionary of the district, intend to defray all the costs of her maintenance and safe keeping. In one of the rooms at the Police Station are two exhibits, which, though not the most attractive in the world, have in their day not been without their uses. One is the skull of a Maori, found in a cave at Mount Eden; and the other is that of a European settler, who was murdered many years a<»o near Mahurangi. The body was found minus the head, which could not be got notwithstanding a diligent and painstaking search. A few years back some fencing was being erected near the scene of the tragedy, when the fencers, in digginc a post-liole, came upon the long-missing liead, of which the fleshy parts had long since disappeared. Ihe skull bore all the marks of violence and a hole in the side of it told the silent tale of a deed of darkness which may never bo reyealed till the secrets of all hearts are made known.

I Mr. Gillies' Industrial Exhibition at; the Albert Hall is being patronised bv numbers of persons who take an interest "in matters of a mechanical and artistic description. In Ivapier some gentlemen were so highly pleased with the inspection of the mechanical products of Mr. Gillies , skill that they charged themselves with the cost of the admission of a number of the children at the public schools. The erection of the models, &c, has not been undertaken so much as a moans of making money as to show the young people how many adornments they can"imiko to their homes, and how many articles of beauty and artistic value, with the simplest tools and the humblest materials, such as the bottle corks thrown away by the roadside. He believes that if the young folks would give their minds and their spare hours to such labour, they would not only be developing; their physical and intellectual faculties, but that we would have less larrikinism in our midst. Tho exhibition is open daily, and the mechanical toys are a never-failing source of wonder and pleasure to the youngsters, while the models of engines, steamers, tools, &c., afford food for thought to those of riper years. One of the exhibits is a steel cap and chain armour neckpiece, found on the body of a rebel chief, at the storm-Ing of Delhi, during the Indian Mutiny, and which with the chiefs sword, fell into the possession of one of the English officers. His Worship the Mayor has extended his patronage to the exhibition, and in addition to other attractions, the band will, this evening, perform some choice selections of music. The weekly meeting for United Prayer and Bible Reading will be held tiiis evenin?, at 7.30, in the lecture hall of the Young Men's Christian Association, when the Kev. C. M. Pym will give an address. The rev. gentleman will also give an address at the •Sunday Evening Theatre Service. The monthly Service of Song will take place at thoHospital to-morrow, >-.t 3 o'clock. Mr. Ryan will conduct the choir. Tho boy Percy Freer denies that he threw down Walter Pullman, with *he nf breaking his collar-bone. . LCsmt . oi

along the line. TfcS ™a Taylor and Danahe^W a fekeA S ; k p oWn « and the contractors a** 1 pushing it to completion! ' the connection has be™ line will not be ready V. e some time yet. Messrs. Tavloran A^ 0 for satisfied with the way the tSn£ ' " I^ l * executed hitherto. The W*? 01 * ,3 . l *** the line is expected to of distant date. There aro 2 \ On a not miles of railway in the Auckllfl^° Ut - 15 ° District. Guiana Provincial

The annual meeting of th* m i. the Ponsonby Bowing Cmb w~Tu", ° f night, at eight o'clock, in the 18 * Hotel. Mr. Stodart occupfed £, ub the opening of the aSffi Xt*,^ '* quently Mr. J. B Gral»™ ? oee " The balance-sheet was read 1 'T" 3 * 1 - There «, credit M? o f shown. Tho report dciH ~tu 9s M with the club, Ert W^S I *?* ngU y Stanford, Messrs £ and A? Stodart, Mr. A. E Lewi. m- « y, • Mus ana to an anonynTouTSd tKSS , Se d d n \i a r nd A S^ l^*^^ field, J B. Morpeth, W. P. Jones W StoT ford. Von Stunner, J. Waymouth, sen £d buoy, back round the Daphne, thence up th| again. The boats will be sailed by linS crews, and two workin? sails omvareto hi .used. There will be a flying star? Thomas Henderson, jun., ii b> act m rtaSr' and umpire. »ewiier It is proposed to hold a.fareweU meetine on Monday evening, in tho rooms of thf : : Young Men f Christian Association, t<, » "Good-bye " to the Rev. Charles M. Pym' who leaves by the mail steamer for 'EneCi on Tuesday. Archdeacon MannseU and others will take part. It is hoped that .many of those who have valued Mr Pv~V ministrations will attend. A collection wiU be made for the Debt Fund. ■ A sale of lauds declared open for selection was to have taken place ye&terday The lands are principally in the Taurangaand Opotiki distnets, and uo doubt the applications were lodged at Tauranga. .No applicafaons were received at the principal Land Board office, and no conimuuication has been received from the Taui-auga district office.