Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 361, 11 January 1879, Page 16

Town News.

Near!y 20,000 persons travelled on the Wellington tramway line during the New Year s week. . __ The elections for school committees in the Wellington educational district take place on the evening of Monday, 27th inst., at 7 p*m. The Hinemoa left Kawau at 9 30 p.m. on Saturday night, and arrive 1 in Wellington shortly before 4 a.m. on Tuesday. Among other passengers were the Hon. Sir George Grey and Mr. Win. Mitchell, his private secretary. The Suez mail, which arrived on Thursday consisted of :-660 letters, 74 books, and 708 papers, via Brindisi ; 331 letters, 126 books and 164-4 papers via Southampton.. Ibe mail was brought from Lyttelton by the Ladybird, except t>liG Continental letters. For the information of jurors it may be mentioned that the grand jury being taken from the special jury list are no more exempt from serving on the common jury by the Amending Act of last session, which has just come into force, than the special jury are. The Union Steam Shipping Company, in consequence of the extension of. their business, and the importance of the Wellington branch, have decided to appoint a local manager to take the place of the agency at present existing. It is understood that Mr. David Mills, brother to Mr. Mills, manager of the company, will fill the newly-created office. It is understood that the Government are organising a detective department for the whole colony. It is probable that Inspector Ihomson, of Auckland,"will be Chief Inspector, and that there will be three detectives in each of the principal towns, and that the Government will endeavor to prevent their identity being known to the public. Friday’s Gazett-e contains the new scale of fares and charges for the conveyance of passengers, and for the carriage of goods and parcels. They will come into force on the 6th instant, and so far as a cursory examination of the list goes, present but few salient of difference from the old scale. The only special exemption from ordinary rates in the Wellington District is the charge of Is. 6d. per ton for sand and gravel from Petoui to Wellington. A notice is given in the Gazette that the Corporation of Napier proposes to borrow £70,000,. and that a resolution in favor of the proposal was carried ou Monday, 23rd ult. The security offered is a special rate of Is. 6d. in the £, which will be an annually recurring rate till the loan is paid off; 315 votes in favor of the loan, were recorded, against it 121. £17,000 is for the consolidation of the waterworks and reclamation loan, £62,000 being for drainage and sewage. The erection of permanent railway workshops has been commenced at Petone, and a laroe steam lathe has already been put into working order. This lathe is capable of doing all the work required for the largest engines and rolling stock in the colony. Formerly a great deal of the work required for the Wellington section of constructed railways had to be done in Auckland and Dunedin, and it is stated that the cost of its conveyance to and fro will more than defray the cost of the work itself when done on the spot. The statement that the Government had resolved to issue one free pass to every newspaper in the colony was, to say the least of it, premature. No determination has yet been come to on the subject. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works ha 3 received certain representations from newspaper proprietors, but as he promised in Parliament that all free passes, except to members of the Legislature, would be discontinued at the end of last year, he does not feel disposed to give contrary instructions on his own responsibility. Therefore the matter will remain in abeyance until there is a full Cabinet meeting, when a definite course of action v/ill be decided on. The Wellington-Foxton Railway project seems to be in a much more hopeful position just now than it has hitherto occupied. A newer and easier route than any previously discovered, is under the consideration of the Railway Department, and the Hon. Mr. Macandrevv, according to his public utterances on Friday, seems enamoured, not only of the proposed new route, but of the line itself. In another column we publish all the information I at present obtainable on the subject of the new route, contrasting it at the same time with the other routes hitherto proposed. Mr. Climie, C.E., it may be briefly stated, has discovered a comparatively easy line, which will only cost £6OOO a mile, including a substantial permanent way, rollingstock and stations, while all previous estimates have been £IO,OOO per mile at leaßt, with such gradients as that o£ the Rimutaka.

The immigration officer at this port, Mr. J. B. Red ward, received about 90 nominations of Government immigrant® for transmission by the San Francisco mail, which left on Saturday The following gentlemen- have been reappointed Governors of the N.Z. Institute, who had retired from office but are eligible for re-electiou The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, W. T. L. Travers, Thos. Mason. From Port Chalmers we hear of the arrival of a valuable Clydesdale entire named Kilbowie by the ship Norval. Another entire named. Bonnie Scotland, which was valued at £ISUO, died on the voyage. Privately we hear that the drought is being severely felt so far South as Whareama and Csstlepoint. No rain has fallen for months in the locality, the Tararua ranges attracting all the moisture, which has the effect of keeping the western part of the valley well watered. An analysis of some samples of the newly discovered hlofcan coal brought to the Colonial Laboratory gives 87T per cent, of combustible matter, and 2‘5 per cent, of ash. The evaporative power is such that lib. of coal will convert into steam 71bs. of water. The case of Samuel John Hill, committed to gaol for contempt of Court in having broken an injunction of the Court, _ was ou Friday brought before the Chief Justice on a petition by defendant. An order for Hill’s release was granted, and during the day he was released. In the Supreme Court, on Tuesday, his Honor the Chief Justice, while summing up ia a money robbery case, remarked that in England the banks took a note of all notes issued by them above £5, and he saw no reason why the same practice should not be followed in New Zealaud. During the trial of Charles Schmidt on Tuesday in the Supreme Court his Honor the Chief Justice required information in regard to a Post Office Savings Bank book, and the Crown Prosecutor sent for an officer in the department. The reply was exceedingly curt, “ No one can be spared.” His Honor remarked that banks in their own interest, and in that of the public, were at all times anxious to render the Court every assistance, and he did not see why Government officers should not be. The Appointment of Teachers Committee or the Board of Education held a meeting at 11 a.m. on Monday. It was resolved that Mr. Gordon be recommended to the AssistantMastership of the Masterton School, and that the Te Aro School Committee be communicated with on the subject ; also to advertise for the following :—Assistant master for Featherston school, assistant master for G-reytown school, teacher for Gladstone school-teacher for Mongaroa school, teacher for Waihekeke school, and a teacher for Taueru school. The committee recommended the appointment of Margaret Cook as pupil teacher for Mount Cook girls’ school, Margaret Brown as pupil teacher for IVlount Cook infant school, and Emma Archer pupil teacher Te Aro school. A. curious memorandum is published in Thursday’s Gazette, from which it all animals imported into the United Kingdom will be slaughtered at the place of debarkation, except in the case of countries specially exempted by the Privy Council from the operation of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act. The Privy Council will require from any country applying for exemption—l. A statement of the laws which regulate the importation of animals into that country. 2. Of the methods adopted to pievent the spreading of any contagious disease when it exists there. 3. A periodical report on the general' sanitai’y condition of their animals. ° The Council desires the information referred to before the Ist of November next. The following additional particulars respecting the recent sale of land at Kairoi may be of interest. It will be remembered that the land sold comprises SSOO acres, the price being £35,000 cash. It is considered a favorable purchase, and it is the intention of the buyers to lay off a little township in suitably-sized building allotments. From the vendor’s point of view the price represents £IOO an acre for about 180 acres of level land, ,£3O an acre for 200. acres hilly, and £2 an acre for the remainder, which is very rough and rugged land. We believe the original cost was ss. an acre, but a good deal of money had been spent on improvements, -ft; is expected tlicit the land will very shortly be surveyed and thrown open to the public. The name of the new township will probably be Brighton. The proposal has been entertained to sell only alternate allotments iu the first place, the enhanced value of the intermediate sections enabling the owners to fix a lower upset price for the land first offered. No doubt in time the tramway will extend up to this place, as the distance from the Post Office to the property is only about three miles. . . . The District Court will sit again on the 17 th instant, and summonses may be taken out up to the 7th, but unless the Government do something in the way of giving additional clerical assistance and better accommodation, they may as well close the Court. Air, Edward?, solicitor, on Friday complained to the Judge that he had applied to the clerk, Mr. Baker, for a summons, and had been told in reply he had no time to issue a District Com o summons. He really must protest against this, though at the same time he did not blame Mr. Baker, who had insufficient assistance, and no room in which to do the work .expeditiously, if he were ever so willing. Judge IMansford said he was extremely sorry that Mr. Edwards had been put to inconvenience, but really he could not help it. No doubt the whole profession had to put up with a good deal of loss of time in consequence of the small staff and want of accommodation, and he would be glad if the jirofession would represent the matter in such a form that he could send the representation further on. He believed the whole of the burin ei-s of the court was to have been moved to the old provincial buildings, but now some new difficulty had arisen, and he did not know when the Court would be transferred.

The districts affected by the ravages of the Hutt River when iu flood have been declared a river district within the meaning of the Wellington-Rivors Act. The number of conservators is fixed at five. The boundaries of the Hutt river district are defined in Thursday’s Gazette. The following appointments of interest to Wellington readers have been made and are gazetted Mr. R. McAlister to be auditor of the accounts of the County of Wairarapa East; Mr. John Sperry, of Wellington, to be J.P.; Messrs. J. C. Brown, M.H.R.. and Jonas: Harrop, to be visiting justices of the prison, at Lawrence. It is understood that Mr. E. Stafford, formerly a member of the firm of Moorhouae and Stafford, at present Assistant LawOfficer of the Crown, will join the well known firm of Hart and Buckley. . Mr. Hart hinoselt intends to. retire from practice. Probably Mr. Henry Fitzherbert will join the new firm. The Commission on Higher E lucation commences its sitting? on the 15th February. The Rev. James Habeas, Inspector-General of Schools, one of the commissioneery will be secretary, and Mr. W. -Drake, a member of the Hansard staff, has been appointed shorthand writer to the commission. Most of the other provincial districts will be visited, and also Wanganui. As statements have beeu made respecting the original cost to Mr. Hunter of the land recently sold being ss. to 10s. per acre, it may be as well to mention that nine sections of 100 acres each, selected under land orders issued by the New Zealand Company, in their first and principal settlement, cost 51r. Hunter from £2 10s. to £3 10s. an acre, upwards of twentyyears ago. A meeting of the "YY ellington 1 ootballers was held in the Star Hotel on Monday- night ; Mr. Welsh in the chair. Mr. Bates, the secretary of the Wellington Football Club, read a telegram from the secretary of the Auckland Club concerning the proposed visit of an English, football team. The telegram stated that Auckland could guarantee £250. It was resolved that Mr. Bates should telegraph to Auckland stating that Wellington could guarantee £2OO. If, however, an additional £SO was wanted therß is no doubt that it could be obtained. As the Hutt County Council considers that the reclaimed land is provincial property, and that they are entitled to a twentieth part of the proceeds of the sale, they have submitted the matter to Mr. Travers for his opinion thereon. Mr. Travers is to report his opinion to the next monthly meeting oE the Council, which will be held on Tuesday next. Council also considers that they were entitled to a twentieth of the amount realised by the sale of the Court-house, and it is expected that Mr. Travers’ opinion will apply to all property which formerly belonged to the Provincial Government before the Abolition of Provinces Act came into operation. Mr. Henry Varley finished his course of services on Sunday evening when there was a very large congregation at the Imperial Opera House. °Every part of the building was completely filled, even to the stage. „ Mr. Varley delivered a most impassioned address. The services, which have been under the auspices of the Wellington Young Men’s Christian Association, have been very largely attended all through, and must have been productive of much good, especially among the classes who are not reached by the ordinary religious ministrations in our city. On Monday JMr. Varley left Wellington for the South, and very shortly will leave* the colonies for England. Mr. Mansford, accompanied by Mr.E.Baker, proceeded to the Upper Hutt on Wednesday, for the purpose of holding the usual periodical sittings of the Resident Magistrate’s Court. There was very little business to be disposed of. On the criminal side there were cross actions set down between Rachael Sykes and Emma Sykes, for using obscene language. It was evidently a family dispute, but as neither of the parties appeared, both cases were struck out In two of the civil cases set down, the parties did not put in an appearance, and the cases were accordingly struck out. George Wyrtk summoned William Hannam to iecover ffne sum of £5 15s. fid. Judgment was given for the plaintiff, and defendant was ordered to pay the amount and costs in instalments of 20s. per month, the first instalment to be paid on the Ist of Mar eh next. There were the usual incidents on Monday in connection with the grand and common jurors. Mr. O’Shea, whose name was called on the grand jury, represented that he was a surety for the appearance of one of the prisoners, and said perhaps the Court would on that account release him. His Honor thought the point not of much moment, but said Mr. O’Shea could go. When the common jury was being called, Mr. F. Sidey failed to appear. It apoeared that Mr. Sidey had been summoned asa grand jurymaD, not as a petit juryman, and that on finding the panel completed without his name having been called he had left the Court. His Honor said as Mr. Sidey had not been served nothing could be done in the matter. “Joseph Henri Pascoe, brewer, of Tory-street,” failed to answer to his name, and the serving officer stated that when serving the only Mr. Pascoe he knew, Mr. Pascoe said he would not attend. His Honor : “ You know no other Mr. Pascoe ? ’ Officer : “ No, and I have been here for years. His Honor . “Then Mr. Pascoe is fined £10.” Mr. Siever* claimed exemption ou the ground that he was over age, being 64. He was discharged. Another gentleman having been called said he had been summoned in the wrong name. His name was not Edward “ William, Gibbs but Edward Washington Gibbs ; nor was be a “ clerk,” but an ironmonger, and the address Wellington” was rather vague. His Honor said it was evident the jury list was not properly kept, and he felt so much in doubt whether he had the proper Mr. Gibbs before him that he would relieve Edward YS ashingtou Gibbs from service.

All the immigrants by the Fernglen are now landed. - Tie last of them were landed on Wedneeday forenoon. Fifteen were forwarded by the steamer Taiaroaon Thursday; somego ashore at Nelson, and the rest at Taranaki. The remaining portion, 35 in number have left for the West. Coast by the steamer Charles Edward.

We have received the December number of • ‘ Coo-e-e,” an illustrated shorthand magazine, published in Melbourne. The venture has now survived six months, and from its appearance it ought to attain a permanent place in reporters’ literature. The characters are very clearly lithographed, and the specimens of different styles of shorthand writing seem to be in keeping with orthodox rules. The illustrations are portraits of Sir Redmond Barry and the late Edward Wilson, of the Argus.

The Building Committee of the Board of Education met at 11.30 am. ou Monday. It was resolved to send plans similar to those for Mongaroa school for schools at the Small Farms Settlement at Pahaucanui, for Eketa* huna and Park Vale. It was also resolved to modify the plans for the Upper Hutb school, in accordance with a sketch handed in by the secretary. It was resolved that the question of the new school buildings for Thorndon and Te Aro be brought forward before the Board at its next meeting. .

The question as to the injustice ox Maoris being exempted from the payment of rates was brought under the notice of the Wellington District Highway Board at its monthly meeting ou Wednesday. Mr. Smith stated that the Hon. Wi Parata had obtained a grant for the Taupo Block at Pahautanui, arid had advertised it for sale. The owner had refused to pay rates, whereas if a European —be he ever so poor, and his family ever so large—rented a couple of acres from the Maoris, the rate collector pounced upon him at once for his rates. It seemed to Mr. Smith to be very unfair that Maori proprietors. should be allowed to use the public roads without contributing a penny towards their maintenance. The Chairman said that under the existing law there was no power given to recover rates from .Maori owners.

When the Supreme Court sat on Wednesday morning the jury which had been locked up all the previous, night in Sweetie’s case, were brought in and discharged, still being unable to agree. Sweete will be tried again this sitting of the Court. Kate Dawes pleaded guilty of having attempted to destroy herself, and recognisances were entered into to secure that she should come up for judgment when called upon. The ca.se of Mackie was then taken. He was found guilty of forgery after a long trial, bnt the jury recommended hind to mercy on the ground of his youth, the laxity of the bank as to inspection, and the smallness of the salary attached to the responsible position held by prisoner. Mackie was defended by Mr. Forwood. Prisoner pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing money, and was remanded till this morning for sentence. There are two cases of assault yet to be tried, one against P. J. Murtagh and the other against FallooL, and also the forgery charge against Sweete.

The land revenue for the month of December, so far, shows a great falling off. The returns are as follows :—General, £5; Ellesmere and Forsyth reclamation, &c., £674 45.; Westport and Ngakawau Coalfield Railway, £2 13s. 4d.; Ashburton, £1493 Us. 3d.; Ashley, £1493 Bs. 5d.; .Akaroa, £486 ; Bay of Islands, £274 55.; Bruce, £4Bl 16s. lid.; Buller, £37 7s. 3d.; Clutha, £635 Is. 4d.; Coromandel, £278; ColJingwood, £3l 19s. 6d ; Grey, £56 2s. 6d.; Geraldine, £597 ; Inangahua, £ll3 Bs. 6d.; Bake, £945 15s. Bd.; Manukau, £978 55.; Manawatu, £75 135.; Maniototo, £2BO 25.; Marlborough, £5 Us. Sd.; Patea, £1 ; Sounds, £1 Os. lOd. ; Southland, £9156 Us. 3d. ; Stewart’s Island, £2l 17s. 6d.; Sehvyn, £6B 9s. lid.; Taieri, £144 10s.; Taranaki, £1790 ss. 6d.; Thames, 7s. 6d.; Tnapeka, £I4OB 4s. 5d.; Vincent, £65 75.; Wairarapa East, 10s.; Wairarapa West, £44; Waipawa, £6O Ps. Bd.; Waimea, £69 Is. 4d.; Waimate, £/42 75.; Waikouaiti, £362 17s. Ud.; Wallace, £742 125.; Whakatane, £ls ; Westland, £l7 12s. fid ; total, £23,661 9s. Bd. The following land has been sold on deferred paymeuts : .Lake, £6 ; Southland, £3 ; Selwyn. £4S ; Wallace, £2B 10s.; total, £SS 10s. This gives a gross total of £24,746 19s. Sd. for December.

Mr. Gordon Allan, solicitor, brought before the Resident Magistrate on Friday a matter which he said he considered involved a good deal of hardship. When sailors got into trouble the masters of the vessels on which they were serving, when prosecutors, refused to give up the money due to the tneu to enable counsels’ fees to be paid. The result of such a practice, if not checked, would be to place men almost entirely at the mercy of the captains, because naturally enough counsel would not appear unless paid, and the men would be deprived of legal assistance. He might mention that he had defended some sailors, and had received an order for his fee on the captain, who held large sums of money for the men, but he would not recognise the order, stating that the money was not due until the voyage was completed, and had used moßt improper language to him (Mr. Allan). The Resident Magistrate said he had no power in the matter. In such cases he had always recommended the master to pay men’s counsel’s fees out of wages in hand, if there were any; and he generally found that masters followed that advice, as a matter of fairness. Of course legally nothing could be claimed until the voyage for which the men had shipped was ended. Captain Roberts, who had been referred to by Mr. Allan, said he was quite willing to pay over anything that was left after he had paid- his own counsel's fees and expenses out of the money he had in hand. He was bound to take that course, because the owners of the ship -would not pay the expenses ; but he thought there would be very little left after these expenses had been paid. The matter then dropped.

The Hon. John Martin has purchased the Hon. G M. Waterhouse’s station at Waihenga, in the Wairarapa, about seven miles from Featherston, with stock and improvements, for £85,000. The estate contains about 34,300 acres freehold.

At the meeting of the Wellington District Highway Board, on Wednesday, one of the Wardens, Mr. Taylor, remarked, when the question of wages was under the consideration of the board, that during his experience in this part of New Zealand, extending over a period of thirty-nine years, laborers were never so scarce as they are at the present time. At the committee meeting of the Chamber of Commerce held on Tuesday afternoon, the deficiency of the present wharf accommodation at Wellington came on for discussion. No notice had been given of the question being debated, but it was considered sufficiently urgent to justify some steps being at once taken by the committee. Mr. Levin pointed out that the steamer Wakatipu had recently been delayed a whole day from the cause referred to, and that he had suffered heavy loss in consequence. It was generally agreed that'the proposes! railway wharf at the Thorndon reclamation will not meet the wishes of the Chamber or the requirements of the city, and many members expressed their opinion strongly to the effect that the treatment the Chamber and the City Council had received from the Government was far from liberal, and was likely to repress rather than advance the interests of the city. The shifting of the proposed site for the railway station to the back of the Government buildings was also severely censured. Mr. Levin pointed out that if the present delay which took place in the transhipment of cargo here was not obviated, the Union Company might soon be compelled to seek some other port for that purpose. A deputation of the •whole committee was then arranged to meet the Mayor. The deputation attended upon the Mayor at 3 p.m., and he expressed his readiness to further the wishes of the Chamber to the utmost of his ability. The efforts made bv the officers in charge ef the wharf to expedite tho business were fully recognised by all parties. Suggestions were made that a public meeting should be called, so a 3 to lay these matters before the citizens, and to show them how completely their wishes had been ignored; and by this means to bring the pressure of public opinion to bear upon the authorities. With the onerous duties now attached to the office of town councillor, the advisability of a harbor board being appointed to devote their undivided attention to the advancement of the interests of the port becomes daily more apparent.

On Saturday morning Edward Henry McElwaine, who stood committed to take his trial on a charge of setting fire to a cottage in Ingestre-street at the sittings of the Supreme Court, which commence to-day, but who was out on bail, died suddenly. It is said that he had been drinking heavily for some time past, and that he had been in the habit of giving way to habits of intemperance periodically. At such times the effect of drink upon him was to upset his mental equilibrium, so that he became almost insane. On Saturday morning McElwaine complained of being sick, and as he appeared to be getting worse Dr. Harding was sent for, but he was unable to attend, and therefore referred the messenger fcc» Dr. Kesteven. The latter at once attended upon the deceased, and found him in a high state of fever, and suffering from cramping pains. It was impossible for him to decide what form of disease the patient was suffering from, but the most probable complaint was intestinal inflamation. The next news that was received by Dr. Kesteven was that the man was dead, and under the circumstances he expressed himself unable to state positively what was the cause of death. He therefore could not graut the certificate applied for. A post mortem examination vvas made by Dr. Kesteven cn Sunday afternoon. At that time we were informed that he. thought it possible that tho stomach would have to be analysed, but in this case the inquest will be adjourned, as the analysis will take some time, and will not be undertaken by Dr. Kesteven, because in the first place an expensive apparatus is necessary to make a thorough analysis, and in the second the time required for the work is more than. a doctor in active practice can generally afford. We understand that, under the present system the fees payable to the doctor - for making a post mortem examination, and for attending at the inquest, may be allabsorbed by thepricehe has to pay for having the stomach analysed. At the inquest on McElwaine, held on Monday, Dr. Kesteven said deceased had died literally from a broken heart. The doctor’s evidence was to the following effect :—On Saturday morning, about 11 o’clock, he was called upon to attend deceased at his residence in Ingestre-street. He found deceased in bed, and complaining of pains all over his body, particularly in his stomach, and he was in a state of fever. Deceased said he had been drinking and fretting over his troubles. The symptoms present pointed to excessive drinking, and he thought it possible that inflammation of the bowels would ensue, and he sent deceased a simple mixture. In less than an hour after witness had visited deceased he met the son, and he told witness his father had died before the medicine arrived. It could not ' therefore have been more than a quarter of an. hour after he first saw deceased that he died. Witness then examined the body externally, and there were no signs indicating the cause of death. Witness told his son to report the case to the police, as he could not certify. Witness made a. post mortem examination yesterday. On opening the head and stomach, he found all the organs healthy. Ou opening the chest he found rupture of the left ventricle of the heart, and the pericardium filled with suffused blood. The lungs were healthy. This would be sufficient to cause instantaneous death, and it was witness’s opinion that it was the cause of deceased’s death. Before he discovered this cause of death he preserved the contents of the stomach for analysis if necessary, but he did not think any further exami-

nation necessary. He thought the rupture had been brought on by emotion or drinking. Deceased died literally from a broken heart. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. This is a very sad case, the more ao, as many of the friends of deceased—some of them of twenty years’ standing—declare that had he taken his trial facts would have been brought forward which would have proved his innocence. The City of Sydney, with the London mails of st.h December, sailed from San Francisco for Auckland on the 23rd ulfc., contract date.

A convocation of the Wellington Union Chapter of Roval Arch Masons was held at the Masonic Hall, Boulcott-streefc, on Thursday for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing twelve months, and for the transaction of other business. There was a full attendance of members, and the following companions were elected :— principals : Z , C. J. Igglesden ; H., T. J. Mountain ; J , Thomas McKenzie. Treasurer, Thomas J. Ladd, Scribe E., Edward D. Butts ; Scribe N., F. Binns. P. S., Nicholas Marchant. Sojourners, H. Lyon and J. Griffiths. Janitor, E. Buck. In the Supreme Court on Thursday James Allen Mackie, convicted of forgery and of embezzlement, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to rua concurrently. James Falloon was then tried on a charge of having assaulted with intent one Philip Murfcagh. Murtagh himself stood committed for trial on a similar charge with respect to Falloon. The evidence showed that a quarrel had occurred between the parties, arising out of some business transactions of an involved character, and the Crown Prosecutor decidod in the middle of Falloon’s case to go no further, and to offer no evidence in Murtagh ? s case. The prisoners were therefore both acquitted. Swete, in whose case a jury had failed to agree, was again placed at the bar. He pleaded not guilty, bnt the jury after deliberating for an hour on the evidence convicted prisoner, and he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. This concluded the criminal business of the Court. Yesterday the civil cause list was commenced.

A daring robbery, from the offices of the Anchor Line of steamers, on Custom Housequay, was discovered on Tuesday, ft appears that on Monday afternoon Mr. Brind, tho purser of the steamer Murray, brought into the office a sum of £265 iu bank notes, which he had received on various accounts during the round trip of the steamer, and for which he is accountable to various persons. Mr. Brind requested Mr. Clouston, who was in charge of the office, to lock up the money in the office safe. Mr. Clouston promised to do so, and instructed the clerk accordingly. The notes were wrapped up in a piece of white paper, one of the steamer shipping forms, and during the office hours were placed on the top of the safe, by the side of the cashbox, where the roll remained until the office was closed, shortly before 6 o’clock. At that time it was supposed to have been put into the safe with the cashbox. The safe was locked up, and everybody left the office, the door of which, however, was not locked, while it was also easily accessible by the window, which was unfastened. On Tuesday morning the money was gone. The affair has been placed in the hands of the police, but as the numbers of the notes are not known serious difficulty is apprehended in tracing the robbers. The money, £265, lost in the Anchor Shipping Company’s office, has been nearly all recovered, and the culprit apprehended. On Wednesday evening some lads were playing in Tory-street, and discovered beneath the house of Mr. Bacon, a respectable resident, a MartiniHenry x’ifle, 200 cartridges, a small aachel, and a rug strapped up into a neat bundle. In the sachel were found £206 in notes. Mr. Mil ward, father of one of the boys playing, having been informed of the discovery, communicated with the police on Thursday morning, and in consequence of what was stated, Inspector Atchison directed Acting-detective Smart to arrest a son of Mr. Bacon, a lad of 15, in the employ of the Anchor Shipping Company. The boy was immediately arrested, and brought to the police station, where he volunteered a statement to the effect that he had taken the money, and also informed the police that £45 more would be found in a particular spot about a mile from Wadestown. The boy took the detective to the spot indicated, and sure enough the money was there found. It seems that lad had read and re-read sensational articles* about the exploits of the Kelly gang, till he worked himself up to such a state of excitableness that he longed to imitate their deeds. The rifle had been bought at Messrs. Dawson and Co.’s , but the shopman who served him had been put off his guard by reason of the boy having lately made repeated applications as to the price of various arms, and then gone away as if to report to his parents or some one iu authority over him, so that the suspicion ordinarily attaching to a youth buying firearms was removed. When eventually he purchased, he did so in the name of Godfrey. It seems clear that the youug scamp intended to get hold of a gun if he could, and the money being placed in his way, offered a temptation too alluring to be resisted. It certainly is a most remarkable case, and the precocity of the boy is shown by the fact that on the day the robbery -was discovered he several times recounted to inquiring strangers the whole of the circumstances attending the loss of the money without the slightest hesitation, giving no sign of inward discomfort. Indeed, it may be mentioned that on Thursday morning a few minutes before he was arrested, a gentleman who visited the office had occasion to lay down some money, when the boy, with the most perfect nonchalance observed, “ You had better be careful and mark your money if you leave it here, because we have just had a robbery.” As may be easily imagined, Bacon is a smart intelligent lad. He was brought up at the Police Court on Thursday morning, and then remanded till Tuesday, but was subsequently bailed, his father and the Rev. Mr. Coffey ent-ering into the necessary recognianmees.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Williamsou (Miss Maggie Moore), of “ Struck Oil ” notoriety, will arrive in Wellington from America by the May mail, with new attractions. It is not yet known at which of the theatres they will appear. Tt is* understood the Government have decided to modify their original plan as to the arrangement of the Thorndon reclamation, by changing the site of the now Supreme Court to Block 111., fronting Whitmore street, instead of on the corner block next St. George’s Hail, which block will bo thrown open for sale. We are informed, with regard to the proposed new railway terminus, acting on tho advice of Mr. Blackett, engineer, that the Government will not set ap *rt the two blocks next- the Lion Foundry, suggested by the deput >tion for that purpose, but will place fcho station fronting the breastwork at the rear of the Government Buildings.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Waste Lands Board was held at il a,in. on Thursday Present—Messrs. Holds worth (chairman), H. Bnnny, T. Mason, E. Pearce, and W. W. Johnston. The chairman reported that there had been no land sales since the previous meeting of the Board. A letter was read from the Under-Secretary, suggesting an alteration re the sale of lam! at Wairoa. It vvas resolved that the sale should take place at Wairoa, and that it should bs conducted by Mr. Wray. A memorial vvas received from the Mauriceville settlers, praying that they might be allowed to have another section allotted to them under the same regulations as before. The Board referred the memorial to the General Government, with a recommendation that it should be carried out. An application was received from Mr. Liverton for 1500 or 1600 acres of land in the Akiteo block, East Coast district, under a depasturing license. After consideration, the Board declined to entertain the application at present.

On Monday evening last an interesting ceremony took place at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, when the following past officers were presented with testimonials for long and faithful services, viz. P.P.G.M. Marriott, P.P.G.M. McKenzie, P.P.G.M. Duck, and P.P.G.M. S. Levy. The testimonial took the shape of large photographs of the several officers in full regalia, enclosed in very handsome frames, two copies of each being taken, one for hanging in the hall, and the other for presentation. P.P.G.M. Marshall was appointed to present the testimonials. In doing so he alluded to the valuable services the several officers had rendered to the order in general, and the Britannia Lodge in particular, during the period of thirty-six years the society had been in existence in New Zealand ; and wishing they might long be spared to go out and in amongst them. 'The several officers returned thanks, reviewing the past history of the order since its introduction into Wellington, pointiug out the great advantages that Odd Fellowship conferred upon its members, and trusting that even a larger Dumber of persons would avail themselves of the benefits it conferred.

We congratulate Mr. Mansford on having at last been accommodated with fit and proper quarters in which to carry out the administration of justice as Resident Magistrate. On Thursday he sat for the first time in that capacity in the Provincial Hall, and the contrast it presented to the unhealthy den in which he formerly presided was quite refreshing to behold. The atmosphere was purer, and there was a smaller attendance of the genus loafer than was the case when the Court was held on Lambton-quay. We have unpleasant and unsavoury recollections of the old courtroom, filled to suffocation day after day by the same set of skulking loafers, upon whose natures laziness had so thoroughly engrafted itself that the most ordinary observances of cleanliness, in the form of use of soap and water, were left unattended to. It is a matter of surprise that while work is so plentiful and’ laborers so scarce as they are at the present time, so many able-bodied men have been known to frequent the Police Court out of idle curiosity. The erection of a new and more pretentious hotel over the ruins of an old one has been known to drive away numbers, of undesirable patrons, and if the cleanly appearance of the new Resident Magistrate s Court has no other effect than to rid its precincts of a number of unclean, idle, and worthless mortals, who are a disgrace to any civilised community, Mr. Mansford and every other person having business to transact there, will have equal reason to congratulate themselves.

Mr. Thomas Wilson, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, waited upon on Thursday morning with a memorial he is taking round for signature by the ratepayers of the city. Tne document will be brought before the City Council as soon as a sufficient number of signatures have been obtained. The objects set forth by the brigade in the memorial are as follow : “ That, taking into censideration the rapid increase of large blocks of buildings in this city of Wellington, it is desirable, in the event of fire, that the means of communicating the alarm should be of the utmost despatch. That it is expedient that the Municipal Corporation should establish direct communication by tele-o-raph between the Wellington and Central Fire Brigade stations and the police stations in the city, with a bell and battery at each station, so that when struck at any one station, the alarm will ring at the other stations immediately. That the sum of £IOO per anuum be granted to defray the expenses of the night watchman stationed by the Wellington Fire Brigade in their tower in Manners-street. That the sum of £l5O, paid by the above brigade for the said watchman’s services for the past eighteen months, be reimbursed them, the same to be applied to the purchase of new uniforms.” It will be remembered that not long ago a fire escape was ordered by one of the brigades. The esprit de corps lately shown, and the efforts now being made to make the service thoroughly efficient, deserve every recognition. As to the condition of the old uniforms, a glauce at them upon gala day# will convince the most sceptical that a new rig-out is much wanted.

The Tramway Company was proceeded against by two persons on Thursday, whosi vehicles had been damaged owing to collisions alleged to have been caused by the negligence of the company’s servants. The Court heard evidence and the addresses of counsel, but reserved its decision.

The following telegram, addressed to his Worship the Mayor by the secretary of the Seamen’s Union, has beeu kindly handed to ns for publication:—“ Sydney, 3rd instant. The strike has ended in our favor, Please stay further subscriptions. We tender our grateful thanks for the a-sistauce rendered.—(Signed) J. F. POOLB.

On Wednesday afternoon or night plans and specifications of the work to be done, in connection with one of the city streets, were stolen from the Corporation offices. It is supposed the culprit was a tenderer and wanted to getßome advantage over bn fellow tenderers, or keep out tenderers: if so. he would be disappointed, for the Council on Thursday decided to call for fresh tenders.

There are not a few persona ontside the immediate di-trict of Wellington who will lea>n with regret the demise of Mr. -Tames Giliigan. For several week* past Mr. Giliigan had been staying at the Occidental Hotel, settling some business prior to his departure for Canterbury, to reside permanently in that part of the colony. A few weeks ago he was se zed by a severe illness, and lately he was nnder the care of Dr. Von Mi r At an early hour on Monday morning Dr. Von Mirbaeh attended a summons to the Occidental and he administered 3ome medieme to his patient to relieve the pain from which he was then suffering. Mr. Giliigan shortly afterwards fell asleep. The person who was waiting upon him returned to h’s room between eight and nine o’clock, and discovered that Mr. Giliigan was dead. Dr. Mirbach arrived shortly afterwards, and stated that the deceased must have expired about eight o’clock. An inquest was notdeemed necessary. A more genial, and kindhearted man than Mr. Giliigan did not exist, and his death will be deeply regretted not only by a large circle of friends in Wellington, but in other parts of the colony where Mr. Giliigan was known. A short time ago he parted with his interest in the Taneru estate, "Wairarapa, and purchased Mr. Delamaine’s estate, about eight miles from Christchurch, on which it was his intention to reside permanentlv as sjon as he arranged his affairs in this district. The funeral took place on Tuesday. The cort&ye left the Occidental Hotel, and was followed to the grave by Messrs. George Crawford, R. J. Duncan, H. Travers, and several other influential citizens. The remains were interred in the Church of England cemetery, and the funeral service was conducted by the Venerable Archdeacon Stock.

An accident which might have been attended with very serious results occurred to Mr. and Mrs. Travers and two ladies whom he was driving on Saturday afternoon. It appears that as Mr. Travers approached the Nghauranga bridge, on his way to town, a singlehorse cart was coming towards it from the other side. There being ample space to pass each other on the bridge, Mr. Travers did not think it necessary to pull up, especially as he reached the bridge first ; but the driver of the cart, instead of drawing towards his own side of the road, kept the centre of the bridge. Seeing this, it would appear that Mr. Travers, not having time to pull up, thought he could pass between the cart and the rails, although he oould see that there were only a few inches to spare. Unfortunately the off-side trace broke, and the horse on that side at once began to gallop, which was taken up by the other horse, rendering it almost impossible to steer the carriage. We understand that Mr Travers did all in his power to pull up the horses, but after going about two hundred yards something caused the near horse to ewerse to one side, and the carriage was at once upset. Providentially the horse b became immediately detached, and the carriage was therefore not dragged at all, otherwise the ladies would have beeu in great danger, as they were necessarily entangled with it. Mr. Travers himself was nearly buried in a muddy ditch under the carriage, from which, however, he at once dragsred himself and proceeded to extricate the ladies, who were all much shaken. With the assistance of some persons who then came np, they were taken to Mr. Clapham’s public-house, where it was ascertained that no bones had been broken ; and from thence they were brought into town by Mr. Andrew Young in his buggy, which fortunately arrived at Nghauranga immediately afterwards. We regret to hear thot two of the ladies have sustained severe bruises, but Mr. Travers, though a good deal cut in the face, has escaped without much further injury.

A WARNING NOTE. (by a c jntrtbutor.) While disclaiming any intention to act the part of alarmists, or to throw doubt on the general soundness aud probable durability of our prosperity, we cannot overlook the possibility of a considerable check in the apparent accumulation of wealth we see taking place around ns. We say apparent accumulation of wealth, because it is well known that many of onr large land purchases especially are being effected by borrow capital, bearing heavy interest, which, if not judicioudy iuvesfced, must sooner or later embarrass the borrower. We are informed on the best authority that money on good freehold security is in great demand at ten per cent, por annum, a rate of interest, when we take into account the high price all good land has for some time pad commanded when placed on our market, we can scarcely be warranted by the general productiveness of our soil. The prices now realised for all kinds of agricultural products, and its consequent value to let at rack rent, which is a fair and legitimate test of its real value. By way of illustration, take a farm of one huudeed acres, purchased at £2O an acre, a price of late very commonly given for land of but ordinary prodnetivenesfl. The purchase money at ten per

cent, represent a rental of £SKK) per annum or £2 per acre to cover the present current interest on the money invested. This, together with local rates and taxes, must he considerably in excess of what such land will generally let at, or what a tenant xarruer could pay, after deducting a moderate consideration for his own labor and capital. Our object in thus referring to this matter is not to discourage persons in investing in land as one of the best and safest articles in which money can be invested ; but to point out the fact that the market price «f land just now is in excess of its intrinsic or real value, and the consequent danger of loss to men purchasing at prices above what it is worth for actual occupation or practical purposes. There are two exceedingly .sensitive elements that rule, to a great extent, the market or speculative price of land, viz., the cheapness or dearness of money, aud the general demand for land, both of which are becoming unfavorable to that claos of persons who have purchased at high prices with borrowed money, by 10 per oent. being freely offered on landed security, and by landed estaten being withdrawn from the market in some cases without an offer, and in other instances from the fact that there are no purchasers but at a considerable reduction of the price demanded. We give the note of warning against the idea that land must continue to advance in price, irrespective of its productive power, and to lessen the surprise and panic that may take hold of the public mind at any considerable reaction in the pi ice and demand for landed property, which would be in great danger of being accepted as a turn in the tide of onr prosperity, while in point of fact it might give increased facilities for legitimate investment, and consequently additional securities for steady but healthy progress. In consequence of the general tightness of the money market, we think it by no means improbable but that our colouial land revenue for the current year may fall considerably short of the Treasurer’s estimate, which will not be any great cause for regret, beyond the fact that it will create a deficiency in the estimated revenue, and perhaps slightly shake the too sanguine expectations of Mr. Macandrew as to the ease with which he can draw large sums of money from the Land Fund for hi 3 great railway scheme.

NEW POSTAL AND RAILWAY GUIDES.

We have received copies, both of the “ Bradshaw’s Guide” and of the “ New Zealand Postal Guide,” for the month. These publications maintain their usual high character for careful compilation, and for the excellent general get-up. The Bradshaw publishes as a supplement a time-table of the Wellington - Wairarapa Railway, in a very neat and handy form, and we only wish that department could see its way to a more frequent service, and oould manage to run a Sunday train to the Wairarapa. At the same time, the fact that the service will now be performed in three hours twenty minutes, instead of four hours ia a great boon, and one worthy of due acknowledgment. We hope that some day it may be found that a higher rate of speed may be found compatible with safety. The “ Postal Guide” publishes a supplementary sheet, showing the new offices opened, and those which have been closed since October last. We notice that since that date suburban letter-carrier deliveries have been established at Wellingten, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland, to commence in the three first places on the 2nd, at the last named on the 14th instant.

We make the following extract from the Guide of general interest :—A branch post office will bo opened at the Constabulary Barrack*, Taranaki-street, Te Aro, Wellington, on the 13th instant. This office will also be a money order and savings bank office. It wid also be a receiving and distributing office for telegrams. Telegraph stations have been opened at Driving Creek (Coromandel) and Hal combe (Wellington). The telegraph station at Tokatea (Coromandel) has been closed. The new inland mail contracts throughout coth islands commence from the Ist instant. Increased frequency of communication ha 3 been established along several of the more important mail routes, notably Hawera and New Plymouth, thrice weekly instead of twice weekly as formeriy. This service is now performed via the Mountain road connecting with the railway at Inglewood. Palmerston North and Kopua thrice weekly instead of twice weekly. There is now therefore thrice weekly communication over and between Wellington and New Plymouth and Wellington and Napier. A weekly service by coach has been established between Auckland and Waiwera (the Hot Springs). In connection with the Sheffield and Hokitika service a branch service has been arranged between Goodfellowa and Kumars, which will considerably accelerate the arrival of Christchurch mails at Grey mouth. With regard to the first-named, it may be remarked that arrangements have been made whereby the coastal mail Bteamer will await at Lyttelton the arrival of the Friday express train from Dunedin. This will give the Dunedin and Invercargill offices the advantage of nearly another day in the time of closing their outward mails. The time occupied on the homeward voyage via Suez has, under the new time table, been reduced by two days. From the Ist January the post offices at Wanganui, Timaru, and Oamaru have been constituted chief offices. The offices which have beeu made subordinate to the respective chief offices above mentioned will be found duly noted in the Guide under their new head offices. In this connection it is considered desirable to state, for the information of savings bauk depositors, that accounts now open at any office which has been made subordinate to one or other of the newly-constituted chief offices cannot be operated on until they have been transferred to such new district offices. Depositors should, therefore, forward their passbooks, so that the accounts may be promptly transferred. The railway time table for the Invercargill aDd Dunedin section could not be

made available for this issue of the Guide, but the through running of the Invercargill aud Dunedin mail-train is, however, shown. Travelling post offices have bnen established for the convenience of the public on the Dunedin and Christchurch'line of railway. An officer of the department accompanies each through mail train, and correspondence posted in the van is disposed of in transit. A travelling post office will also be established on the Dunedin and Invercargill section when the line is opened for traffic.

The practice of publishing a table of alterations made recently might well be copied by the publishers of Bradshaw’s Guide. On the whole, the efforts made by both departments to meet the wishes and requirements of the public, deserve every recognition.

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. (contributed). In the Australian colonies all material progress has been of an almost unprecedented character. The engery of its people, their freedom from the tyranny of superstition, together with the broad liberality which characterises their institutions, point clearly to the fact that they are destined at no very distant period to rival in wealth aud every other element of greatness the country from which they have sprung. They have, it is true, and no doubt moot wisely, adopted the general features of the Constitution of the mother country. A Constitution, the progressive character and far-reaching influence of which has long excited the wonder and admiration of impartial and intelligent foreigners. There are, however, not wanting men whose opinions are entitled to great consideration ; who, in the face of all this progress and prosperity, are bold enough to affirm that representative government, in its present form in the colonies, is not only on its test, but is also in many ways unable to maintain that peace, order, and good government on which the permanent progress of society and the Bteady advancement of a nation so much depend. While it is a very easy matter to find fault with our present form of government, and to point out many and most grave defects in its operation, it is the remedy of those defects rather than any radical change in the constitution that should be the aim of all practical statesmen. That any constitution in its entirety, however excellent in itself, can be adapted to all peoples and to all stages of civilisation, is an axiom that will hardly be concurred in by any man whose mental vision is not darkened by the cloud of prejudice or superstition. The wisdom of any Legislature is therefore displayed in so moulding and adapting any constitution they, may have to deal with, as to best meet the particular phase of society in which they live. In England this has been done with the eminent success ; at the same time the old constitutional lines have been most religiously preserved. Both in Victoria add in New Zealand the call for radical constitutional reform is being loudly trumpeted forth by their respective Premiers. In New Zealand the cry scarcely finds an echo save in the ranks of the more immediate or personal f ollowers of Sir George Grey, and in one or two of his subsidised newspapers. The lack of public interest shown furnishes unmistakable evidence that the public are generally well satisfied with the constitution as it is. In this the people of this country act wisely, as they should be slow in accepting any radical change in the constitution, and should confine the operations of the Legislature to the necessary expansion of its principles, to meet the growing requirements of the State. In doing this they should most jealously guard the lines of that noble old oonstitution, of which ours is a copy, —a constitution that has stood tire test of ages, and contributed so much to European liberty and European civilisation. As all is not gold that glitters, so all is not liberty that bears. the name. We read of wolves in sheep’s clothing; there are also public men calling themselves patriotic statesmen, with the words liberty, equality, and fraternity ever on their tongues, but with the word tyrant indelibly stamped on their hearts. Our people will therefore do well not to be seduced by fair words and specious promises, remembering that flattery and word patriotism is as cheap as is meaningless, and is only used for the purpose of catching the unwary.