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New Zealand Mail, Issue 422, 13 March 1880, Page 14

In the recent change of the proprietorship of this journal, and in the personnel J'of the staff, we ought ere this to have noticed the retirement of Mr. J. C. Yorke, who for some time previous to the change had filled, and most worthily, the editorial chair. In that capacity, and none the less as a private citizen, he won " golden opinions from all sorts of people," and we feel sure that we but re-echo the wish of all who know him, when we express a hope that his literary talents and culture will soon again find a scene of usefulness. Mr. Yorke, since his retirement from this office, has been suffering from seeere illness, but we are heartily glad to know that he has now nearly recovered. In connection with his name we may also mention Mr. Muir, who has been connected with this journal from an early stage in its history. The best proof of the esteem in which he was held as overseer of the office is the many enquiries made daily for him by old clients and acquaintances, and regrets that he has severed his connection.

A curious charge of robbery from the person was partially investigated at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. It appears that a girl named Mary Bowen went to the Government House guard house between 2 and 3 o'clock yesterday morning, and told one of the A.O.'s, Constable Monement, that Maggie Baker, a well-known resident of Wingfieldstreet, had just been robbed of her gold watch and chain. The constable went towards Wingfield-street, and on the way met the fair owner of the lost property, who accompanied the constable to John-streefc. In the latter street a man named James Friar was met, and Maggie at once accused this man of robbing her._ Friar denied the soft impeachment, but as his accuser persisted in her statement, the constable arrested Friar and took him to tne lock-up. On being searched at the station no trace of the property he was charged with stealing was found upon him. The statement of the prosecutrix was to the effect that the man had been conversing with her at her door at about 2 a.m., and that he took the watch and chain from her and refused to return it, whereupon she sent Mary Bowen to the guard-house for a constable. The case was remanded.

At the meeting of creditors of Mr. W. Berry, held on Wednesday, an opinion was expressed by the accountant in bankruptcy present, that even if any one then were appointed to act as trustee in the estate, he could decline to serve. Mr. Dimant, however, held the opposite opinion. It might be stated that Mr. .Justice Johnston some two years ago laid ifc down in Christchurch that certificated ac-

eountants in bankruptcy must servo when called upon to do so by the Registrar, whether there was any estate or not, saying they must take the good with the bad as it came. And as these gentlemen are appointed in rotation according to a list, it would seem to bo somewhat unfair that they should have the power to refuse to administer to bad estates on the chance of the next bankruptcy being a very good one. As was stated by Mr. Dirnant yesterday, these accountants being gazetted, are undoubtedly officers of the Supreme Court, and have no power to refuse to act when nominated by the Registrar. Beiug chosen in regular rotation it is as fair for one as for another.

Wellington is now left without a Judge of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice is at the Sydney Exhibition, Mr. Justice Richmond is in Auckland, and Mr. Justice Johnston took his departure South by the last steamer.

Wednesday was the day appointed for the journed sitting at the Lower Hutt of the Hutt Quarterly Licensing Court. Messrs. T. A. Mansford and W. Beetham, Commissioners, were on the Bench at the appointed time, but no business was brought forward, and the Court adjourned. Mr. Page, the hon. secretary of the Irish Relief Fund, informs us that the following subscriptions have been received since the last return :—Hon. Major Atkinson, £1 ; Hon. RHart, £2 25.; Mr. C. McKirdy (contributed by himself and workmen), £l7 3s. 6d.; Armed Constabulary, Wellington, £l9 ss. Mr. A. J. Burns, formerly M.H.R. for Roslyn, and one of the promoters of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory, and recently intimately connected with the business affairs of the Westport Colliery Company, has been appointed member of the Commission on Native Industries.

The examinations under the Law Practitioners Acts for admission to the New Zealand Bar will commence on Monday, the 15th instant, at 10 a.m., throughout the colony. The examination for the Wellington District will be held at the Supreme Court House. The mysterious disappearance of a man named Mair was touched upon by us a few weeks ago and as the air has been thick with rumors upon the subject, a searching investigation of the late residence of the man has recently been made by the detectives with the view of either silencing or verifying the rumors of foul play which were so numerous, and which we are told took their origin from the fact that the missing man and his wife lived a " cat and dog" life. The investigation so far show 3 that there was no justification whatever for the rumor, no trace of human remains having been found upon the premises and probably the unsuccessful search that has been made will have the effect of silencing the reports hitherto in circulation. As some of the Artillery Cadets were practicing at the range on Tuesday, one of them named R. Grigg had a very narrow escape from a severe accident, if not from losing his life. His carbine (one of the old-fashioned Enfields) burst a few inches from the muzzle, and the pieces flew in all directions, one of them grazing his shoulder, but fortunately doing him no harm. Surely precautions should be taken to thoroughly inspect these arms, in order to see if they are safe before they are entrusted into the hands of youths. It is a notorious fact in Wellington that the holding of creditors' meetings is a perfect farce, but never, perhaps, was this better exemplified than on Tuesday, in the case of the first meeting of creditors in the estate of Mr. W. Berry, the accountant, who is well known himself as a trustee of considerable and unenviable experience in this city. It was felt that great interest would be taken in the proceedings, and that such interest was taken was apparent from the fact of some five-and-twenty creditors putting in an appearance. Among these were no less than six lawyers, some of whom attended on their own behalf, and some of whom represented creditors. The reporters present looked forward to a heavy task, and spread themselves out for it, sharpening their pencils, producing quires of paper, and preparing themselves generally for two or three hours' hard work. They might, however, have saved themselves all this preliminary labor. The deputy Registrar, Mr. Hall, took the chair in the first instance, and then called upon the meeting to elect their own chairman. And then it was found that out of the five and twenty gentlemen present not one would accept the honor. In vain did Mr. Hall look at his watch and appeal to them to appoint someone to preside, informing them that the time was fast slipping away, and that if nothing was done by the end of the half-hour the meeting would lapse. Then commenced a scene of good-humored badinage not often witnessed at meetings of this character. To while away the time one of the legal gentlemen put his terrier dog through a series of clever acrobatic and gymnastic feats, to the delight of all beholders, particularly of another legal gentleman who seemed inclined to back his dog against the other. And so the half-hour slipped pleasantly by, and the meeting would have terminated but for the arrival of a new creditor, who, having proved for the large sum of one pound eight shillings (he is a corn-dealer) was induced to take the chair. The appointment of a trustee was the next business ; and an effort to obtain this official was simply a repetition of the effort to obtain a chairman. It will hardly be believed, but the modesty of these five and twenty gentlemen was so great that one and all refused point blank to act, and so after wasting exactly one hour the meeting was adjourned until next day. Anything more approaching the conduct of a lot of schoolboys than the conchact of those five and twenty men it would be difficult to conceive, unless it were to wonder why they attended at all. At the meeting last Wednesday, the proceedings were a little more businesslike, and Mr. Dimant was appointed trustee.

Messrs. Poster and Grant, the Lincolnshire delegates, arrived on March 5, per Arawata, from the South. As they were desirous of seeing the Hon. Mr. Rolleston upon certain matters, the plan of their routo through the North Island was altered. Instead of going direct to the West Coast, and leaving to-day, as originally proposed, they started for Napier by the Arawata yesterday afternoon, and after interviewing the Minister of Lands at Napier, they will make for Palmcrston, and thence to the West Coast. That they saw so little of Wellington and its surroundiugs is, wo think, to be regretted. The following tenders woro received at the Public Works Office, Wellington, for the Wangarei contract of the Wangarei-Kamo Railway: Accepted—Pierce Lanigan, Auckland, £12,054. Declined—J. Brett and W. Bridge, Auckland, £12,973 ; Darrom and Foughey, Auckland, £14,427 ; A. Reese, Wangarei, £14,626 ; Thorn, Farrell, and Co., Grahamstown, £14,723 ; W. C. Breakall, Auckland, £17,120 ; J. S. Smith, Auckland, £21,919.

We have ascertained the names of three of the members of the Commission that is to take up the Local Industries question. They are— Messrs. J. W. Bain, E. Wakefield, and W. Murray, M.H.R.'s. Two others are required to complete the Commission, and the names of several gentlemen are mentioned as having been approached, but compliance on the part of either has not been given. The Government is using every endeavor to provide w©rk for the unemployed, both in this district and others in the Middle Island. Yesterday Mr. Blackett went to Masterton to arrange for the construction of another section of the railway, upon which a number of the Wellington unemployed will be at once placed. Work upon terms similar to those in force in this district is aLo to be provided in the vicinity of Dunedin and Christchurch for the unemployed of those places.