Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5316, 9 April 1878, Page 2

Notice is given by the Town'Clerk that any person using the Corporation water after thD date for other than strictly domestic purposes yyill have the water service cut off at once without further notice.

7 .The- adjourned inquest touching the death of Mr. Stephenson, late mate of the Hawea, will be held at the Hospital at two o’clock this afternoon.

The following tenders have been received at the Public Works office, Wellington, for the Carterton contract of the Wellington-Master-ton railway : —Accepted : Richard Dickson, Auckland, *‘51,95-1. Declined;—J. Jay, Wellington, £53,501; A. Tawse, Wellington, £51,657; H. Reid and Co,, Dunedin, £59,587 ; Davies and Co., Wellington, £59,717 ; W. Stocks, Christchurch, £59,879 ; D. Fallon, Auckland, £61,182; M. Lake, Christchurch, £62,192 ; Deuliy aud Rowe, Wanganui, £62,199; E.- O’Alalley, Wellington, £63,997; Collie, Scott, and Wilkinson, Wellington, £65,167; Loclde and Dunn, Wellington, £67,077; Taylor and Dannaher, Auckland, £67,322; Proudfoot and McKay, Dunedin, £67,800; J. Brown, Wellington, £71,000; D. Ross, Auckland, £73,607; Toph’am and Angus, Invercargill, £77,018 ; Scoular aud Archibald, Wellington, £81,072. An alarm was rung by the Central fire-bell shortly before -noon yesterday, and almost simultaneously there was a general rush of citizens to the scene of the fire, a sixroomed house on the Terrace, below the Boul-cott-street school. It belongs to Mr. Compton, and was occupied by a widow lady named Mrs. Carpenter and her family. The building, which is a two-storey one, had caught fire in the roof, add Mrs. Compton, who was the first to observe it, at once gave the alarm. Both fire brigades and the fire police were promptly on the spot, but for a time the efforts of the former were futile, attributable to the fact that the water was not on. Fortunately, it was a dead calm at the time, and the fire being confined to the top of the roof by a cement ceiling, willing hands were enabled to remove all the furniture, though a deal of damage was done by-fire aud water, which could not be prevented. A hose was quickly run down to the street below, but some minutes elapsed before it produced any water, and at no time was there much force on. The fire was in the - meantime kept from spreading by means of buckets of water, and when at last the hydrant was brought to bear, a very weak stream sufficed to extinguish the source of danger. With reference to the origin of the fire, there is very little doubt that it was accidentally caused by a spark from the chimney of Mr. Compton’s saw-mill. On several previous occasions the root of the same house has been slightly burned by sparks from the mill. The building was insured in the Standard office for £4OO, and the furniture in the South British for £350. The whole of the damage caused by the fire is estimated at £IOO.

The Karori-Makara Highway Board met on Saturday last. Present—Messrs. Graham (chairman), Bowler, and Page. A letter was read from the Hutt County Council, stating that the roads in the district would be placed in. the hand) of the Board until 31st March, 1879. The various contracts having expired, it was decided to pay Messrs. Ihugnan, Leary, and Hooper in full. The Board voted £2O towards the new culvert and filling in the road opposite the Botanical Gardens. A letter was re A from Mr. Pinnimore, complaining of the nuisance created by Mr. Toohill’s boiling-down establishment, and the chairman was authorised to take steps to have the nuisance abated at once. Mr. J. Thompson’s tender for 300 yards of metal at 4s. lid. per yard was accepted. Mr. Bowler was authorised to have a handrail put to the bridge across the Makara stream ; and the chairman was empowered to have about twelve panels of fencing placed on the new road at Baker's Hill.

The “Man with the Iron Mask,” and a farce entitled “Two Heads are Better than One,” constituted the programme presented at the Theatre Royal last evening. There was a tolerably good attendance below stairs. The piece was well represented by a strong cast and excellent accessories. The Man in the Mask was impersonated by Mr. Dillon, who gave a correct and able delineation of the part. Mrs. Walter Hill appeared to advantage in the character of Marie D’Estanges. Mr. Graham is to be complimented for his careful representation of the arduous part of D’Aubigne, and Mr. Clinton was also letter-perfect, and acted well the role of St. Mar. The other characters found suitable representatives. In the afterpiece Miss Lilly May, Messrs. Musgrave, Poole, Huntley, and Alexander appeared, and kept the audience in roars of laughter. “East Lynne” is announced for to-night.

Mr. Hilleu, of the Fahantanui Hotel, notifies in our advertising columns that he has secured the right of shooting during the season over a large tract of country, which is now open to visitors from town. Mr. Hillen’s new hotel, which has been recently completed and fitted with every convenience, offers an excellent opportunity far sportsmen and others to make this their head-quarters for a time. A coach travels daily between Wellington and Pahautanui.

It has been reported to us (says the West Coast Times) that steps have been finally taken by the Catholic body here to carry out a project which has been contemplated in Hokitika for several years past, viz., to establish a nunnery for the education of Catholic children. Some years ago the Bishop took steps towards this end, and signified that if four Sisters of Mercy were sent out from the old country, the neces-sary-means would be provided for an establishment of this kind. The matter was left in abeyance for some time ; but recently a communication was received from Ireland stating that ten Sisters of Mercy were willing to emigrate together. The Bishop recommended that the opportunity should not be lost, and the sum of £3lO was subscribed yesterday towards the object. The expense for passages alone from Ireland to Hokitika via Melbourne, will be £7OO, and it is estimated that the total cost will reach £3OOO. Of this amount the Bishop and clergy are to find one-half, and the Catholic people the other half. Steps are at once to be taken to have suitable buildings erected here, and instructions are to be forwarded by telegraph and first mail, completing all the arrangements. The arbitration case of Smith and partners v. the Government of New Zealand (says the Auckland Star), has been under investigation during the past week in the office of Mr. Tyler, and a large amount of evidence was taken. The arbitrators are Messrs. R Graham, W. Brrington, and R. Dickson, who are men of experience in contract works of this character. Messrs. Tyler and Hesketh appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Brookfield for the Government. The case arises out of a claim for extras on No. 2 section of No. 2 contract of the Thames water-raee, the contention of the Government, who are represented by Mr. Aitken, Resident Engineer, being that many of the extras claimed for were in the original contract. The arbitrators and the counsel engaged in the case have held long sittings during the past week, aud displayed much patience in the investigation of a mass of conflicting evidence. The case stands adjourned for a- fortnight, and meantime the arbitrators will carefully examine the works. We have been requested to inform subscribers to the Choral Society that the ticket issued with the form for voting is to be retained by the subscribers, and used as one of their admission tickets, to be delivered up upon the evening of the concert. At Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co.’s sale yesterday Mr. Toxward was the purchaser of a section, of freehold land, with two cottages, in Sydney-street, having, a frontage of 87 links by a depth of 300 links, for £llsO. The Timaru Herald says that Mr. H. Miller, of Longbeach, has this year harvested a total of 1640 bushels of oats from twenty-eight and a half acres of swampy virgin land. In some spots the yield was over 100 bushels per acre, the average all round being something like 50 bushels.

It seems (says the New Zealand, Herald of April 3rd) that there is a second Miss Flite {vide “Bleak House), and that she is in Auckland. ' At the rising of the Supreme Court qp Monday, this lidy, who appears to be a regular attendant, came and demanded to'know, from a medical man and his friend, if it was right that the “ crier of the Court ” thus she phrased it—should be a Roman Catholic, declaring emphatically that this was “ against the laws of Queen Victoria,” and she would continue to ask the question until it' was answered. The energy of her speech was such that it was evident she considered, a Roman Catholic crier a crying sin. It appears (observes the Daily News) that a series of scandals of unusual character and magnitude is likely to engage the attention for some time to come of the political world both in China and in the United States. There are few names so well known and respected in American diplomacy as that of Seward ; and' we regret to learn that the gentleman bearing that name, who was for 14 or 15 years, consulgeneral at Shanghai, and who now occupies the responsible position of American Minister at Pekin, is charged with having committed various acts of corruption in his , official capacity. These charges- have been preferred against him by Mr. Myers, late United States consul-general at Shanghai, and have been preceded by the trial and conviction of Mr. Bradford, vice-consul at that place, for offences of a serious character. Unless Mr. Seward resigns, and his resignation is accepted by the Senate, lie will in all probability, according to precedent, be impeached before that body. Mr. Seward has enjoyed so high a reputation in China that his friends are naturally reluctant to believe that he will not be able to , make a complete answer to the accusations which his late colleague has brought against him. As a nephew of the eminent statesman whose public services form part part of American history, Mr. Seward appeared marked out for diplomatic preferment, and we hope that he will yet justify the confidence'which his Government have hitherto placed in his integrity. It is said that tome of the disclosures which have been recently made at Shanghai have relation to the Woosung railway—that mysterious project which during the last two years has done so much to embitter the relations of the local Chinese authorities with Europeans. Mr. Bradford was one pf the original promoters of the railway, and no doubt the American Government will take pains to ascertain whether there is any truth in the allegation that the influence of some of its representatives has been improperly exercised in connection with that undertaking.” The Melbourne Argus of the 26th ult. says : —“Two applications for letters patent were heard and granted by the Attorney-General yesterday. The first was that, of Mr. Alexander Stuart, of Sydney, M.L.A, for certain improvements in those descriptions of rockboring machines which have a hollow drill rod, the essence of which consists—First, in a hinged frame for supporting the hollow rod which carries the drill; second, in an annular spring core-lifter ; third, in a revolving guide for the drill and barrel, which guide is armed with diamonds, and has grooves cut on its outer surface ; fourth, in an internal barrel for preserving the core from injury by water or friction; fifth,in a safety device for preventing the fall of the drill whilst being hoisted up out of the bored hole in the event of the breakage of the hoisting rope ; and sixth, in a hollow coupling and loose outer ring so as to admit of the use of a drill-rod of'smaller diameter than the cutter. In this case the grant was made subject to certain other previous patents for inventions of a similar description.. The other application was by Messrs. J. and W. Ewing, of Franklin-street, Melbourne, coachbuilders, for improvements in the doors of those kinds of carriages (such as landaus) which, cannot be opened until the window-frame forming its upper half has first been lowered. The improvement consists in so connecting the win-dow-frame with the lock of the door that in the act of opening it the window-frame is automatically lowered, thus preventing the straining of the doors and their framing, which happens when the door is attempted to be opened without the windows having been first lowered. The invention is now in successful

The Court of Appeal at Aix, before which are heard all cases arising out of the disputes between French citizens resident in the east of Europe,, has recently had to give judgment upon a somewhat complicated point of law. Several years ago,” delates the Daily News, ‘‘Mdlle. Caroline Durand, a young lady of French origin, was married at Constantinople to Prince Karadja, a member of the Greek faith, but a Turkish subject, formerly Minister of the Porte in Holland. One or two children were the issue ,of the marriage, which does not appear to have been a very happy one, for the husband obtained a divorce from his wife, who, soon afterwards, contracted an engagement witli Comte de Vandosuvre, one of the attaches to the French Embassy. The French Consul, however, refused to marry them, . upon the ground that the law of the country to which the contracting parties both belonged did not recognise a divorce, and that the lady was still the Princess Karadja. Against this decision M. de Vandosuvre and the Princess Karadja appealed to the Court of Appeal at Aix, and the case was argued at great length by the advocates for the two appellants, who pleaded that as Prince Karadja was not a French subject he was entitled to obtain a divorce, and that as it had been accorded to him by the Turkish tribunal, the lady from whom he had been put asunder was in a position to marry afresh. The Court, however, without calling upon the Consul’s advocate for a reply, decided that he was justified in refusing to celebrate the marriage, and cast the appellants in costs. It is stated that the case will be carried before the Court of Cassation, but whatever may be the ultimate issue, there can be no doubt that the lady is in a very unpleasant dilemma at present, for according to Turkish law she is plain Mdlle. Durand, with no claims upon Prince Karadja for maintenance, and yet by French law she is still the Princess Karadja, and incapacitated from contracting a second marriage.” , One of the St. Petersburg journals, in an article on the new Russian loan, says that it is the third loan which has been rendered necessary by the present war and the mobilisation which preceded it. First came the fourth etnisdon of bank notes to the amount of 100,000,000 roubles ; then, the Eastern loan of roubles; and now the Foreign loan of 152,000,000 roubles ; making 450.000. roubles in all. To this must be added a portion, if not the whole, of the 240.000. roubles of credit notes paid by the Imperial Bank for the interest on previous foreign loans. The seven months of the war have°cost at least 280,000,000 roubles, and the mobilisation 100,000,000 more ; so that the three loans can only cover the cost of the present campaign, as, when the necessary deductions are made for expenses, they will probably not realise more than 350,000,0U0 roubles. The short interval of two months within which the bonds are to be paid up in full, too, gives reason to believe that if the war should be prolonged another foreign loan may follow the present one. “We do not doubt,” proceeds the writer, “ that our financial administration, if it had been able to see in 1876 that the present war would break out, would not only have avoided the expenditure of about 70.000. roubles in gold for the purpose of raising the rate of exchange, but would have endeavored last year to raise a foreign loan in order to supply the amount required for the payment of Russia’s foreign creditors. A loan in 1876 would have been more profitable by from 10 to 12 per cent, than the present one. To conclude a loan abroad, after the declaration of war, is to place oneself at the mercy of the foreign bankers, especially as England has, for the last twelve months, attacked Russian credit, and striven, by depreciating our stock, to ■ make it as difficult as possible for our financial administration to effect any operation on the European exchanges.”

The Indian Government has under consideration the creation of a Native Civil Service, for which a certain proportion of the posts at present held by English officials would in future ha reserved.

The Auckland Star says: “Notwithstanding the very lucid instructions given as to the filling up of the census papers, there are some people who will make mistakes. We have heard of a man who wrote as follows in the ‘ agricultural and live stock’ returns ; ‘ Won kat, won dorg, an’ rats ad lib.

The Christchurch Press of April 3rd says ; —After the business connected with the Wesleyan quarterly meeting at Rangiora had been transacted on Monday last, Mr. Thomas Wilson of Waikuku rose and said, that as that was the last meeting at which the Rev.,J. A. Luxford would be present as their junior minister, he bad great pleasure, on behalf of his circuit friends, in presenting him with a puree of 20 guineas, as a mark of the esteem in which he was held, and wishing him every happiness in Christchurch circuit. Mr. Luxford replied feelingly, aud said he would gladly have remained another year* had the Conference so directed him, and so long as he lived he would have very sunny memories of Rangiora circuit aud friends. Speaking of the late accident on the South line the North Otago Times says :—“The cab of the engine is smashed, and a number of the pipes and cocks are twisted and broken, but it otherwise, at a first glance, did not appear to be seriously injured. The truck next the engine is badly, smashed, and about half a chain of the road is torn up, a dozen or so of the sleepers being smashed into pieces. The escape of the passengers is marvellous, and is due largely to the fact of there being five heavily-laden trucks and the engine, and also in some degree to the circumstance that at the time the train was on an ascending grade, and was travelling slowly ; and doubtless also to the promptitude with which steam was shut off and the brakes applied.” Mr. J. H. ‘Wallace’s sale of valuable properties at the Lower Hutt, to which attention has previously been directed, will take place at two o’clock this afternoon at the mart. Hunter-street,