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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5666, 28 May 1879, Page 2

His Houor the Chief Justice held a sitting in bankruptcy yeoterday, when the following persons received their discharge : —Thomas Bi attic, of Wellington, plumber ; J. Silvery, of Wellington, carpenter ; J. N. Bell, of Wellington, porter ; Robert McAllister, of Wellington, salesman ; W. M. Bill, of the Hutt, builder. In the case of H. J. Edmonds, of Greytown, builder, the deed of assignment was declared to be completely executed. In the matter of D. and A. Blyth, Mr. FitzGerald moved for the discharge of A. Blyth, and the application wAs granted. The case of George J. Farmer was adjourned until Tuesday next. In the oases of Mr. G. W. Dutton, bookseller, of Wellington, and F, J. Chatheld, cabinetmaker, the deeds of assignment were declared to be completely executed. A verv narrow escape from a dreadful fatal accident in connection with the tramway occurred last evening in Willis-street. The tram stopped to pick up a man, when a passenger took the opportunity of the tram’s stopping to alight. He could not see where the incoming passenger was going to ascend the tram, and made the best cf his way to the nearest door. On the platform, as usual, there was a crowd, and in pushing his way through he either missed his footing or received a push from behind just as he reached the steps, and was shot forward off the car, coming into contact with and carrying with him the man who was ascending the car. Both fell heavily into the street, but the latter was by some means, caught by the traraoar and carried a short distance. An alarm was raised, and the engine-driver pulled up within a very short distance. The man, who proved to be James Turner, a chimney-sweep, was, when the tram was stopped, lying right across one of the rails, and a wheel had already begun to pass over him, bat the engine was immediately reversed, and he was extricated from his dreadful position. On being taken into Mr. Fife’s chemist shop. Dr. Kesteven attended the sufferer, and found he had, in addition to a considerable shook to the system, sustained a fracture of three ribs. He was removed home with all speed, and it is to be hoped will get over the accident speedily. The usual weekly meeting of the Wellington Literary Association was held last evening in St. John’s schoolroom, when there was a large attendance of members. A very excellent paper on the subject “ Money ” was read by a member of the association, which was ably criticised by the members present. Next Tuesday evening the association will ooeu their quarterly session by an exhibition conversazione, to be held in the schoolroom, Willis-street, when, as a large number of valuable exhibits have been promised, the meeting will doubtless be a great success. We would advise all those who desire to visit the exhibition to make early application to the members, as the number of tickets is limited. During the sitting of the Court of Appeal yesterday a loud, hammering prevented Mr. Travers being heard while arguing for the defendant in the case of Kawatina v. Kinross. Mr. Justice Johnston said he should like to have the Inspector of Police before the Court, to find out whether some decent order could not be kept. Counsel said the smells were even a worse nuisance, and expressed surprise at the apparent love of the police for cabbages and onions. The Chief Justice said he was afraid the nuisance was going to be continued in the new Court House. He could not understand why police barracks should necessarily be in the same building as the Courts of J ustice. Mr. Justice Johnston said that in all his experience he had never sat in a Court so disgracefully unfit in every respect for the purpose. The continual discomfort and annoyance were unbearable. Lawyers, reporters, and indeed every person whose business takes him to the Supreme Court House, must heartily concur in the opinions of the Judges. It is a scandal to the whole colony that its highest Court should have to hold its sittings in a dirty barn resounding with nil the varied noises of a police barrack, and foul with the unsavory odors of a kitchen.

“East Lynne” was given before a very large audience last night at the Imperial Opera House. Mr. Darrell had a part, Sir Francis Levison, which thoroughly suited him, and he looked and acted the aristocratic “hawhaw” swell to perfection. Mrs. Darrell gave a most excellent representation of Mrs. Carlyle, the jealous wife, who is afterwards divorced from a first husband because of her flight from her own home with the unprincipled seducer, who has long striven to upset her faith in her true and faithful husband. Miss Annie Mayor gave a most successful rendering of the part of Joyce, the lady’s maid, and her acting was so thoroughly natural that she more than once earned the hearty applause of the audience during the course of the play. .A little amusement was caused by a very hearty “ hear,hear,”' from one of the “gods,” which was given with such force and emphasis that it quite upset the gravity of the actresses, and the whole audience joined in the hearty laugh which greeted the unexpected merriment. Among the other ■ actors, Mr. Stirling White’s careful and faithful pourtrayal: of the rich and kind noble relation of the heroine, and Miss Solange Novaro’s ; conception of the part of Barbara Hare, deserve especial mention. The piece went capitally, and was very well received. The case of Eeg. v. Kinross occupied Mr. Mansford yesterday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mr, Kees opened a formidable case in his speech, and proceeded to call evidence in support, on the merits of which it would be improper to say anything. There were one or two points of general interest which deserve an allusion. At an early stage of the" proceedings Mr. Travers raised a technical objection, when Mr. Mansford said he should scarcely take it upon himself to stop a case like that on a technical objection, preferring to let things go to the grand jury, when a doubt arose. Mr. Travers said a magistrate could rid himself of his responsibility by accepting any evidence, whether legally admissible or not, which might be tendered. Mr. Mansford wanted to know when opposing counsel disagi'eed as to the law, what the unfortunate magistrate was to do. Mr. Travers said if a man had not the necessary ability and training for the performance and duty of a magistrate, he should not accept the honor. It was a great scandal that men every day were accepting such offices, knowing hothin<r whatever of the duties that would be required of them. Of course these remarks did nor apply to his Worship, who was a, lawyer, and therefore knew his business. After some discussion the preliminary objection was overruled. The next subject for discussion was the fixing of a day for the adjourned hearing, during which it transpired that Mr. Mansford next day had a case coming on involving the examination of thirteen witnesses. _ On Thursday he had eighty civil cases to dispose of, on Friday he had criminal business which could not be postponed, and on Monday he had one hundred. civil cases on his list. The only day at command was Saturday, and he would give from nine till one for the case. This was accepted. The Court adjourned in the middle of an argument as to the necessity _ of taking the depositions of Maori witnesses in both the native and English language. if Archdeacon Stock writes to say that the cuttlefish was first seen by three youngsters, two sons of Mr. . Morrah, and one son of his. He considers that the names of all the three ought to be mentioned, so as to give honor to whom it is due, and to encourage other lads to use their eyes.

The ordinary meeting of the Education Board takes place to-day.

The Kaiwarra arson case comes on for hearing again to day at the Resident Magistrate's Court.

A man named Robert Cntliffe was locked up last night on a charge of stealing a pet poodle belonging to Mrs, Mcßlwaine. A meeting of the United School Committees was held last night in the City Council building. A number of suggestions were brought forward concerning the amending of the Education Act. A report appears elsewhere.

The Kaiwarra Local Board elections took place yesterday. There were three candidates to fill two extraordinary vacancies, and the polling’ resulted in all three getting an equal number of votes. Under these circumstances, the duty of giving a casting vote devolved on Mr, C. Thompson, the returning officer, and he gave his vote in favor of Messrs. Thomas Hawkins and Robert Yates, whom he declared duly elected. The preliminary announcement of the inauguration of Messrs. Hiscocks, Hayman, and Co.’h dramatic season appears in our advertising columns to-day. The opening “bill” here, a* in Dunedin and Christchurch, will be the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher’s moral and temperance drama, “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” with scenic effects, vision, tableaux, &c. The piece has just concluded a nine weeks' continuous season in Melbourne, and has evidently, therefore, merit in it. Mr. George Darrell takes a well-deserved benefit at the Opera House to morrow night, on which occasion the performance will he under the . patronage of his Excellency the Governor, Lady Robinson and suite, the Ministers of the Crown, his Worship the Mayor and City Councillors, and a large number of leadinir citizens. The performance is tendered to Mr. Darrell in recognition of his enterprise in introducing to. New Zealand a number of artistes' of acknowledged merit, and of the manner in which, he has seconded those artistes by producing the various pieces performed by them with appropriate surroundings, and supporting them with first-class companies, as well as in recognition of his individual merits as an author, an artiste, and a manager. Mr. Darrell has done much for .the success of the drama in New Zealand, and for the improvement of the public taste. His Shakesperian enterprises have been risky undertakings, and somewhat less successful than they should have been in the Southern provinces. Nevertheless, in the spirit of a true artiste, he has preferred to encourage legitimate high class art, rather than to pander to less cultivated tastes, and it is a worthy compliment that his benefit performance to-morrow night should be given to an overcrowded house. “The Struggle for Freedom,” a piece from Mr. Darrell's own pen, has been appropriately selected by the beneficiaire for the bill on the occasion.

Bell's Life in London in an article on the position of cricket in England thus refers to the doings of the Australian team during their recent tour:—“lt is an old saying that a horse runs very fast past a tree, and we in England have in our opinion played very good cricket so long as no foreign opponents came in to enable us to ‘draw a line.’ But the great measure of success which attended the tour of the Australians last summer—an eleven of cricketers selected from a community with a population less by one-half than that of London, who exchanged glowing skies and lively wickets for the gloom and damp of the ‘ old country,’ travelled and played throughout the whole season with scarcely a day’s rest, and yet succeeded in lowering the colors of nearly every one of our crack counties, teaching us lessons in bowling, fielding, generalship, and endurance such as have never been taught before, should convince us that with us here at Home all is not as well as it might be. The deductions to be drawn from the Australian tpur ought not to bo destitute of good fruit. The tour has taught us this—if nothing else—clearly enough for the very dullest understanding, that it may be no certainty five years hence that the best eleven •ricketers in the world are Englishmen ; in fact, if Australian cricket advances in that space of time as rapidly as it has advanced since Mr. W, ,G. Grace’s twelve were out in 1873-74, there can be no question that England will have to play second fiddle.” Colonel Haywood, the engineer to the City of London Commissioners of Sewers, has reported on the experiment in lighting the Holborn Viaduct by electricity. He states that the total cost of the experiment for sixty-four nights was £785. The sixteen electric lamps were lighted from sunset to midnight at a charge of £5 per night, averaging seven hours. The cost per lamp per hour was over lOd. A gas lamp on the Viaduct, including lighting, extinguishing, and cleaning, cost £i 17s. 6d. per annum. It was alight 4800 hours annually, and the cost of each lamp per hour was but little over one farthing. The cost, therefore, of lighting the whole Viaduct during the winter months by electricity would be 14s. 3Jd. per hour, and by gas Is. 11 Jd. per hour, or by night of fourteen hours’ duration, £lO by electricity and £1 7a. lAd. by gas Applying these rates to a whole year, electric lighting would cost about £3072, and gas lighting £419. Electric lighting at the present charge was, therefore, about 7,V times,: as dear, as gas lighting. As to illuminating power, Colonel Haywood estimates approximately that it is about seven times that of gas. The correspondent of the Nelson Colonist writes “ There exists in the Aorere Valley good timber, good laud, and it is supposed undeveloped .mineral treasure, so when the .bridge is constructed, and speculators can travel with safety; .no : doubt exists of the extension ot settlement, and of important mineral discoveries. As a proof of this, Captain Roe lately went in search of marble—which was supposed to exist on the top of Mount Burnett—and he found pure white marble one thousand feet: below where Mr. Marchant found it before. From that gentleman’s report of this stone one would imagine that the place would become a centre of attraction to capitalists. At a point not far distant from the site of the late Phoenix mine, Mr. Thomas Adams and Mr. John Allen have been at work for the past six months. Their labor has been,rewarded by ‘a find 1 of a very good looking reef, yielding rich specimens, with a fixed course and dip. It is believed that the owners will endeavor to work it on their own resources. The adjoining ground has been applied for. With its healthy situation, its beautiful scenery, and its geological value, Collingwood may yet rise to such a position as nature seems to have intended her for. It is to be hoped that the Government will shortly do justice to this and the Takaka district by giving the numerous settlers telegraphic communication with the rest of the colony.”

The Dunedin Morning //craWsays : —“lf the powers that be are determined that we shall have as few engines as possible on the Dunedin section, we think we . are fairly ,en-. titled to ask that those they give uS should be as big as possible. , With this view we bring under notice of the authorities the following extract from the American Exporter: —‘ Uncle Dick weighs 65 tons, and he is 60ft. long from his head-light to the rear end of his tender. He is the biggest in the world, and has just been turned out of the Baldwin Locomotive Works for duty on the precipitous inclines of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad. A boiler 21ft. supplies steam for cylinders 20in. by 26, and gives motion to eight 42in. drivers; while a large tank surmounting the entire structure not only carries a water supply, but helps to give Uncle Dick a tighter grip on the rails.’ If we had some of the Uncle Dick’s sort about here, our few would then be able to equal Canterbury's many. At any rate, there would not’be so many complaints of want of engine power.” We clip the following from the Melbourne Herald of the 6th instant :—“ A man named Allen Dicker was brought before the St. Hi da Bench to-day, charged with forgery. The prisoner had been arrested at Sale on a telegram, and remanded thence ‘ to St. Hilda. This morning, when the case was called on, the prosecutrix, a Sirs. O’Keefe, did riot put in an appearance, although she was in Court shortly afterwards. Sergeant ' Holmes applied for a remand in order that she might be produced, stati ig that there was quite a long list'Of charges against the prisoner, and that a miscarriage of justice would occur unless his application were granted. The Bench refused the remand, and the case was dismissed. Messrs. Tullett, Moore, and Hughes were the presiding justices.” An exchange says Mr. C. BUls has just returned from Stewart’s Island,' where he has liberated by order of the : Otago Acclimatisation Society a number of English song and game birds. He left Dunedin on Friday, pthinstant, and arrived ■ at Stewart's Island* <Sh; Sunday, 11th instant. The birds consisted of 13 chaffinches, 70 skylarks, 6 blackbirds, 3 hedge sparrows, 22 starlings, IS cirl buntings,' 32 yellowhammers, and-5 pheasants. They were all liberated in good condition, and Mr. Bills reports that the island is' a very suitable plac* for all sorts of English birds. Most of the

island is covered with dense bush, but there is a considerable exteut of open grassy country also. Mr. Bills was directed to inspect the streams and rivers of the island, and report as to their suitability for salmon and trout. His report on this is also very favorable, there being several fine large rivers running over rocky and gravelly beds. The Society is much indebted to Mr. Charles Traill, of Stewart's It laud, for furnishing every assistance to Mr. Hills, and providing him with a boat and crew for tiie purpose of inspecting the various rivers and streams Mowing into Patersou’s lulet.