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New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 7777, 8 May 1886, Page 2

We are compelled $o bold over a number of letters, They will appear as soon as possible.

His Honor the Chief Justice will hold a sitting of the Divorce Court to-day, By the Oamara, which arrived yesterday, a battery of six P-pounder Armstrong guns arrived, consigned to the Colonial Secretary. On the voyage out of the ship Oamaru from England, on the 9th April, a steerage passenger hamed William Wilson died of consumption. He was buried at sea. The Hou Mr Larnach arrived by the Te Anau from the South yesterday. Hi* Honor Mr Justice Johnston and Dr Hector were also passengers by tfie same steamej?, Mr F. Crook is announced to deliver his second lecture at the Lyceum to morrow evening, entitled, “Money and Misery.” This lecture has been delivered by him in all the principal southern towns, and be ia highly spoken of, both as a humorist and original lecturer.

The Theatre was again well attended last evening, the extravagancies and mirth-provok* ing situations in ** Confusion ** keeping the audience in almost a continuous state of laughter from tbs rise till the fall of the curtain. Its successful ran w{U be brought to a close here to-night. It will be succeeded by Bartley Campbell’s comedy, “ My Partner,” Many persons lu Wellington will read with regret the following notice of the death of Captain Whitson, of the ship Dunedin, from the Otago Daily Times ;—“ We regret having to record the death at Oamara on Tuesday evening of Captain Whitson, of the Sbaw, Sarille, and Albion Company’s ship Dunedin. Captain Whitson was in delicate health when the Dunedin arrived at Port Chalmers on March 1, and has since been under medical care. Indeed be wa* in so precarious a state that it was not deemed advisable he should proceed Home in the Dunedin ; and bis death occurred within 24 hours of the departure of that ship from Oamaru. He was on the wharf when the vessel left, and a slight accident which occurred affected him prejudicially. Captain Whitson has for many years past been intimately associated with the passenger between Great Britain and the port of Otago, and his kindness of heart, manly demeanor, and general courtesy won him tbo respect and esteem of & very large circle of friends. Captain Whitson was a widower, and leaves two daughters,, who are at present in Scotland. He was a native of Montrose.” It may be remembered that the first cargo of frozen mutton sent from New Zealand to London was by the Dunedin, which wa» under the 'command of* Captain Whitson. . The shipment was lauded In perfect condition, 1 and drew forth leading articles froiSn the Times and other Important English newspapers,

“ Aamodeus’ ** items will bo found on our fourth page. There was no usws of tho arrival the San Francisco mail at Auckland, when we went to press.

The meeting of creditors ia the estate of Messrs J. H. Wallace and Co , yesterday, was exceedingly lively, and lasted nearly an hour. The result of the m etiog was that a resolution was passed recommending the discharge of the bankrupts. It is satisfactory to see that the Mount Cook School Committee have again atarfced heir night school, for lessons in general subjects and drawing. This is a chance of which the youths of the city who are engaged duriog the day ought to avail themselves. Capable teachers have been engaged, and the scheme deserves every success. One of the simplest telephones in existence is in operation in an American village. It is an old telegraph wire, each end fastened to a thin sheet of wood, and its total distance is about a quarter of a mile, extending from the hotel office to the livery stable. Yet, rude as it L, it serves its purpose admirably, carrying the voice over the wire with clearness, though one has to use some considerable lung power. Judgment for plaintiffs was given in the following cases at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday :—Scott Bros, v Newland, £l7 10s 6d ; Flocktoo v Kelliber, I3s 6d ; same v McCarthy, £7 4s 9d ; E, W. Mills and Co. v Adams, £ls 14s 6d ; Chirnside and Scott v T. R. H. Taylor, £3 17s Od ; Gear Meat Company v Hebbeu, £1 16s 61; same v Kelliber, £7 0s 4d ; same v G, Budge, £5 13s 6d.

At a special meeting of the Board of Governors of Wellington College yesterday morning, the result of the conference between the committee appointed by the Board and Mr Mackay, Principal, in reference to the reorganisation of the teaching staff of the College, was reported. It was stated that the saving effected in salaries and expenses would amount to £270 ptr annum. Mr Kenneth Wilson was appointed head classical master at a salary of £430, There ia one more vacancy yet to be filled, that of assistant master, for which a salary of £l5O per annum ia offered.

Mr Robert Barrett, whose death was an Dounced in these columns yesterday, was 56 years of age, and a very old resident in this city. He arrived in New Zealand in 1863, and resided at Invercargill for two years. In 1865 he came to Wellington, and very shortly afterward opened a bookshop in Mannersstreet. Later on be occupied the shop now in the occupation of Mr Watt, and a few years ago he shifted again to the premises held by him at the time of his death, at the corner of Thorndoo-quay and Charlotte-street, where he carried on an extensive business as a bookbinder, lithographer, &c. Mr Barrett's many good qualities and genial habits made for him many friends, and bis decease will be widely regretted in this city, as well as in other parts “f the Colony. A few weeks ago we alluded to the probable establishment of a Presbyterian Church in the neighborhood of Kent-terrace. It appears now that it will not be long before this will be an accomplished fact. At a meeting held last evening, at which there were present between CO and 70 persons, it was announced that the Wellington Freethought Association bad generously granted them the use of the Lyceum for their services on Sundays, both morning and evening, for the space of three mouths from Sunday next, and that the Rev, J. Kennedy Elliott bad acceded to the petition of a largely-signed requisition requesting him to become their pastor. It will be gratifying to Mr Elliott’s friends and admirers to learn that his services are not to be lost to Wellington, and that the efforts made to retain him in this city have been successful. There was a full choral service at St. Mark’s Church, Sussex-square, last evening, in celebration of a derivation festival, which was postponed from St. Mark’s Day, as that day fell on Easter Day this year, There was a very large congregation. The officiating clergy included the Van. Archdeacon Stock, Rev. j. Still, Rev, R. Coffey, and Rev. O. D. de Castro. The Rev. O. D. de Castro preached from the , text, Ist Cor. x., 31. The processional hymn was “ Onward, Christian Soldiers,” to Sir Arthur Sullivan's fine time, surpliced choristers marching up the nave. The canticles were sung to Garrett’s service in F, and the anthem was “ A Day ia Thy Court*,” by Sir G. A. Macfarreu. The choirs of St. Mark’s and St. Pater’s Churches numbering over 70 voice*, were combined for the occasion, under the direction of Mr Hautrie West. Mr E. T. Morsbead presided at the organ. The 41 Hallelujah * chorus, from the 4< Messiah," was sung duriog the offertory, the proceeds oi which were in aid of St. Mark’s choir fund.

Writing of the race for the Autumn Stakes, “ Augur'* aaya “Nelson was not cherry ripe,” and gives the following description of the race : —Me Devlin despatched them to an excellent start, Nelson at once made play, but not at strong pace, Silver King on the outside lying next, with Prince Imperial third, Sheet Anchor on bis quarter, Tempd and Sandal bringing up the rear. Much the same order was preserved past the stand,-and after rounding the turn Nelson increased his lead past Cutts, and at the seven furlongs' po*t he was four lengths in front of Prince Imperial and Malua. At three furlongs from home Prince Imperial died away, and entering the straight Malua made an effort to get on terms with the New Zealander, and as be drew up his victory seemed certain, but Nelson at once responded to Brown’s call, and, drawing away again, he won cleverly, if not easily, by a length and a half, from Malua, with Sheet Anchor, two lengths off, finishing a dead heat for third placi. Silver King was fifth, Sandal sixth, and Prince Imperial last. Time, '2min 46^seo, John Sunnex was charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning with failing to satisfy an order made against him for the payment of 5s a week for the maintenance of his mother, the sum of £lO 5s being now due on the order. A letter was received from the mother, asking that her son John should be leniently dealt with, as he had bad bad luck; but that her other sons, Thomas and William (against whom summonses were also issued) should be made to pay, because they were in a position to do so. Mr Stratford made an order for the payment of £1 a week off the arrears, in addition to the 5s a week. It was stated that Thomas Sunnex had p id the amount of his arrears into Court. William Sunnex was charged with being in arrears £2l 3s 4d on the 17th April on account of a similar order. Mr James, the Clerk of the Court, having given evidence as to the default, the accused was sentenced to a month's imprisonment, and ordered to give surety for future payments, himeelf in £25 and one surety of a similar amount. In default of finding the surety the accused to be imprisoned for six months. An invention of some interest to heads of household* has been perfected |by Mr W. J. Rout, tinsmith, of Manners-street, It consists of an apparatus for extracting coffee by means of steam in such a manner as to preclude all possibility of the beverage being thickened by the refuse or grounds of the cofiee. Thp apparatus, which is made of tin, consists of swo compai|ments or reservoirs, one above the other. The upper one is perforated with small boles at the bottom, through which the cold water intended for coffee passes into the lower reservoir. The dry coffee is then placed in the upper reservoir, and the lid placed on top. A gas jet or other heat is then applied to the bottom of the apparatus until steam comes from a vent in the upper compartment. This vent is then closed, and the boiling water rises from the bottom in a few momenta. The sound caused by the bubbling water announces that the coffee is made. Tfie apparatus is then removed from the beat, the vent opened, and a clear liquid, without a trace of grounds is found in the bottom compartment. The pure coffee is then ready for drawing off by means of a tap at the bottom. The extractors are made iu tin copper, or brass, in sizes ranging from one pint and a half to three gallons. The prices vary from 3s 9d to £2 15s. Mr Stratford, K.M., gave judgment yesterday morning in the oase Mills v Fitzberbert. His Worship held that Mr Fitzberbert could not have bean, at the time in question, an agent or a principal as far as an existing Company was concerned, since the Petone Naval Brigade did not at that time exist. But, presuming the defendant to have been a sub ordinate officer of the Fetone Contingent of the Wellington Naval Brigade, he did not appQ&i; to have bad any authority to incur on behalf of the Wellington Naval Brigade, to which he was attached, from the commanding officer, There was, in fact, no expressed* constructive, or Implicit ratified authority, This being discovered by the plaintiff, he had the right of election whom be would sue. The evidence as to the first item pointed to the fact of a written authority from one Lieutenant Bennett, and oonld not, therefore, be allowed as against the defendant. The person who gave the order should be asked for that sum. His Worship said he would therefore deduct, first the interest, which be could not allow, leaving & sum of £/ Is Id, £nd from that sum be deducted the first item *of Is, aq a debt incurred by some other person than the defendant, This left a som of £6 Is fid, of which the defendant had already paid into Court, £3 2s fid, leaving a sum of £2 19*. Judgment would therefore be given for £6 Is fid, including the amount paid into Court. Mr Fitzberbert said be bad been placed at a disadvantage in not being able to get Lieutenant Bennett’s evidence, which would prove that authority bad been given to him (defendant). Hia Worship said if Mr Fitzberbert felt that he bad suffered an injustice be would stay judgment in order that a re-heating might be : applied for. Mr Fitzberbert accepted this suggestion.

Mr O. W. Palmer, who passed 11th on the list of the Junior Civil Service Examination, is resident in Wellington, and not in Wanganui,

. The voyage of the Oam aru appears to have been rather an eventful one. Four days after leaving London she came across a diemautlrd ship, and on the 9th April a passenger died of consumption. After this thi vessel expertenced a series of terrific gales, in which she lost three masts, some of her sails were torn to ribbon?, a boat was smashed, and the deck* cleared of everything movable. On Thursday night, when in the Straits, the chief steward met with a nasty accident, having two of his riba broken, A full report of her trip appears in onr shipping column.

Weather permitting, the Wellington Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Cimino, will perform the following selections of music on the Basin Reserve to-morrow (Sunday) after noon, commencing at 3 o’clock : —l. Overture, “Talaveru,” Battraan ; 2 Slow march, 4 ‘Apollo.” Linter ; 3. Yalae, 44 The Mikado,” Bncvllossa ; 4 Quick march, 44 Raging Flames,” Moss; 5 Overture, " Golden Heart,” Marie; 6. "Mow march, 41 Cornelius,” Mendelssohn ; 7. Quadrille. St George and the Dragon,” Round ; 8. Quick march. " Spring Drill, ’’ Rappey ; 9. F-ntaaia, ‘‘Concordia,” Bleger ; God Save the Queen.

The fifty-second annual report of the Bank of Australasia, with the account* for the halfyear ending October 12tb, 1885, is published in our advertising columns. The net profit amounted to £127,843, in addition to £14.293 brought forward. From these sum* the Directors transferred £IO,OOO to the reserve fund, ard declared a dividend amounting to £120,000, leaving £12,137 to be carried forward to next account. Notwithstanding the general depression of trade the Bank’s business showed no material diminution, and examination of branch returns proves the Directors’ confidence in the efficiency of the colonial administration.

A meeting of the representatives of the friendly societies of the Colony was held at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lambton-quay, last evening, Mr H. J. Williams in the chair. The following representatives were present : Messrs Clark, Hill, Fraser, Chappie, Riddick, Webbe, Knapp, Webber, W. K. Bishop and A. L. Levy (secretary). The RegistrarGeneral of Friendly Societies wa*also present. A code of rules was adopted for a Society to be named the New Zealand Friendly Societies Mutual Fidelity Guarantee Association. These are to be at once submitted to the whole of the friendly societies of New Zealand, with a view to enlisting their co-opera-tion, in order that the Association may be established by July next. The object of the Association is, as its name indicates, to insure the fidelity of the officers of the various societies. A saving of 50 per cent, will be effected on the present rates paid.

A trial with a model of what is known as CasseTs patent electrolytic gold saving apparatus was made yesterday afternoon on the back premises of Mr J, J 5, Hayes, Lambtonquay. The apparatus consists of an oblong box or reservoir, in which another reservoir of a circular or polygonal shape revolves. The inner reservoir forms the anode or positive compartment in which the auriferous ore previously pulverised, is placed. This inner reservoir is provided all round it* periphery with porous plates, which admit of the passage of the eleotrio current, but prevent the liquid and ore contained therein from escaping. It is further provided internally with carbon rods, which are electrically connected together, and form the anode, placed against the inner surface of the porous plates, and extending all round at abort distances apart, so that as the reservoir is revolved the ora is thoroughly stirred up and brought into contact with tbs carbon rods. Both compartments being now filled with a solution of chloride of sodium (sea water) to about the same level, and a current of electricity passed from the inner to the outer compartment, the chloride of sodium solution in the inner compartment decomposes, chlorine gas being evolved at every carbon rod in contact with the solution, and the chlorine, having a strong affinity for gold, immediately combines with every particle of that metal iu its immediate vicinity, and forms chloride of gold, so that at the end of the operation the solution of chloride of sodium has been transformed into a solution of chloride of gold, from which the gold in the metallic state may be precipitated by means of the usual re-agents. In the test yesterday a Bunsen battery was used. A small quantity of gold was mixed with sand and thrown into the reservoir together with the necessary quantity of salt water. The aperture of the reservoir was then closed, and the contents subjected to a rotary motion sufficiently protracted to allow of the particles of gold to come ia contact with the carbon rods. The liquid (chloride of gold) was then drawn off, and precipitated by means of sulphate of iron. The invention, although well known and extensively used in the United States, U new to this Colony, where it should prove of great value in extracting gold from auriferous sand, of which immense quantities abound on the West Coast of the Middle Island. It is probable that some tailings from the Terewhiti mines will be tested by means uf this process.