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Otago Daily Times, Issue 270, 31 October 1862, Page 4

The Caledonian Society of Otago has issued a programme, by which it appears that the objects of the Society will be the Promotion of Benevolence, National Literature, Customs, and Accomplishments. The first object, benevolence, is to be promoted by contributions to the funds of charitable institutions, by giving advice, and information to newly arrived immigrants, and by relieving special, cases of destitution ; the second, literature, is to be promoted by offering prizes, and by procuring and disseminating iuforma'rioa regarding the poetry, history, and archaeology of Scotland ; and the third object—the promotion of national customs and accomplishments—is to be effected by dfferiug prizes for excellence in the performance of national feats, games, and exercises, at the annual gatherings of the Society.

There was a capital house at the Theatre Royal last night. • The programme was the same as on the previous evening, and the performances passed off without a'drawback. The Nautical drama " Our Village " with its striking scenic effects was received with the applause it deserved. It is certainly the most striking thing that has hitherto been placed on the Dunedin stage. -

Yesterday afternoon witnessed the completion of the contract for forming, pitching and metalling Manse-street. Before the work Avas duly "passed," it was tried by Mr Chevannes, the inspector oveT the contract, causing a dray, heavily laden with weights and filled with the laborers employed on the works, to be drawn several times over every part of the road. It stood the test, and Manse-street is now unquestionably one of the best thoroughfares in the town.

A young man was yesterday bronght before the Resident Magistrate's Court, charged vrith attempting to commit suicide by taking poison; but, as it appeared by his statement that he was in the nightly habit of taking laudanum or morphia, and that he Jiad merely taken an over-dose, he was released, with a warning to be more cautious in future

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We learn that the total amount of the Escort which will arrive from the diggings to-day, will be about 15,425 ozs., the quantities being as follows :—Dunstan, 9053 ozs. 5 dwts.; Teviot, 8.5 028. ; Tuapeka, 438S ozs.; Waitahuna, say 1398 ozs. ;• Woolshed, say 500 ozsl

W? learn, from our Auckland Correspondent, that the Auckland Chamber of Commerce has been taking the subject of the Panama Route into consideration, and that a committee has been appointed to report upon it. Great stress appears to be laid upon the feet of two mails, despatched via Melbourne, leaving here too latedbr the home mail steamers, from that port.

The English version of Bellini's beautifully melod.ous and most popilatjopera "La Sonuam•bula.' was given at the Princess' Theatre last evening, to a very good house; it being the"first attempt here to present to the public, in am-i shape, a work of an Italian composer. We most sincerely sympathise with M§dame Carandini, who, evidently partial to the music, and capable of doing it full justice, had last evening to struggle against the depressing effect upon mind and voice of a strong remainder of a severe cold. Mr Sherwin was similarly afflicted; and to this cause alone, we presume, must be attributed his omission of the most finely-written and best-known portions of the music assigned to Elvino—we mean the •' All is lost now," " See these looks," and « Still so gently o'er me stealing.', Madame Carandini, as Ainina, despite her cold, sang very expressively and with fine feeling, while, trance-bound, she enters the Count's bedchamber, murmurs her love, and pleads as with Elvino to forget the slight estrangement that has arisen between them. "lam not guilty," was given with real pathos ; and both Madame Carandini and Mr Sherwin, in the excitement subsequent .to the discovery of Amina's equivocal position, almost triumphed over the plague of catarrh, and sang with their ordinary sweetness and power. Madame Carandmi was again excelleut in acting arid expicssion during the after trance in which she crosses the ruined bridge, and stands amidst the hushed villagers, kissing and apostrophising the faded flower which had been a gift by her lover. The glorious "Oh! do not mingle!" ("Ahnon giunge") was, for the reason before stated, wanting in brilliancy and finish of execution. The opera was capitally put upon the stage; the torrent mill-stream and the ruined bridge being, with the addition of the surrounding hills and cottages, a -very pleasant piece of painting and setting. Hereafter, "La Sonnambula," we are certain, may be given with an amount of finish and effect which will be highly creditable to the Princess's. The concluding piece was " Sketches in India;" Miss Emma Neville and Mr John Dunn taking the principal characters, and ensuring success by their clever singing and acting. This evening, the performance in aid qf the Eire Brigade will take place.

Attached to the London and some of the larger provincial English Post Offices, is an official termed the " bliud clerk," who receives his appointment from the peculiar aptitude or faculfcv he possesses for deciphering indistinctly- written or singularly mis spelled adddresses. It was one of these gentlemen who discovered that "Thorn Hoodless 3 St Ann Cfc Searhoo Skur " was intended for " Soho Square," and that " Mr Weston Osburn Cottage Ilawait" was meant for "Isle of Wight." We have been led to wonder whether one of these gifted individuals is stationed at the Duncdin Post Office, and if so, whether li« managed to forward to its proper destination a letter which was posted on Wednesday afternoon, bearing the following address :— " Kia ri a ha " ta he ke "apa ri ma " ti ka pu tara Wa." The person posting the letter with so remarkable a superscription, was a Maori, and only for a Maori could it have been intended. The abundant supply of fish in the Duncdin market, suggests the idea whether the carriage and exportation of fish might not be carried on profitably, in this Province. Fisheries are large sources of wealth to ninny countries, and we see no reason why they should not be equally valuable to New Zealand.

In the New Zealand Gazette, 10th October, it is notified that his Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Vincent Pyke, Esq.. J,P., to be a Resident Magistrate, under the Resident Magistrates' Ordinance. The appointment dates from 6th September, last.

The now celebrated case Teschemakcr and Another v. M'Leau, was partly heard in the Supreme Court yesterday, the Court rising before the evidence for the plaintiff had been completed. It will be resumed this morning, and no other case will be taken until ten o'clock on Monday morning. We were, we find, misinformed as to the pending case having been twice tried before a jury. It has been three times before the Court previously—first on demurrer to the defendant's pleadings, then it went to trial, and then there was a motion for a new trial, on the ground that his Honor had insufficiently directed the jury. As a result of that motion, the cause is now being tried a second time.

John Graham, better known as the Postman, or Red Coat, was yesterday brought up before the Dunedin Bench, on remand from Tokomariro, charged with obtaining a horse under false pretences. It appeared that the horse in question had been his property originally, but had passed to the prosecutor aboub two years ago?, under a bill of sale, and that the accounts between Graham and the prosecutor had lately been submitted to Mr Strode for arbitration. Mr Strode being absent at the Supreme Courfc the case was adjourned to to-day, Graham being in the mean time released on his own recognizances. Some amusement was occasioned in Court by the great difficulty the prosecutor seemed to have in defining the ownership of the animal. According to his evidence the pony would appear to have belonged to himself, a.id yet to have been sold to some one else, to have'never been out of his possession, and yet to have been fraudulently obtained from the posession of one Edward Martin. Possibly the evidence of Mr Strode,'the arbitrator between Graham and M'lndoe, may tend to throw some light upon this obscure subject. ,

Captain Beckham, the Resident Magistrate at Auckland, has latsly made a decision of an important character in respect to the recovery of commission by agent 3 and auctioneers. Colonel Balneavis placed in the hands of an auctioneer named Rigg some property which he wanted let. Rigg succeeded in getting )a tenant, who leased the property. In the lease was a purchasing clause, of which the tenant shortly after availed himself, and he bought the property, Rigg demanded 2\ per cent, commission on the sale, which demand was resisted by Colonel Balneavis,J and the matter was taken before the Resident Magistrate, who decided that, inasmuch as Rigg gave a receipt for his commission on the letting of the property, he had thereby determined tlie extent of his services, and bad no claim for commission on the future sale. , '

It will be seen, by an advertisement which appears elsewhere, that in connection with the movement for the'formation-of a Congregational Church in this city, public worship will be held in the Odd Fellows' Hall on Sunday, iv the morning and evening The advertisemen*,which apppered yesterday, was erroneously headed Congregational School. The error is corrected in our paper of to-day.

'In a paragraph in yesterday's paper mistakes were allowed to remain uncorrecied, which somewhat obscured the meauing intended to-be conveyed. The seutences/as printed, were as follows :—" Still we cannot but concede that it was in ill taste and unduly ."unjust b.>th to the females on the diggings, and those who may be tempted in future to make them their home. We" are glad ifc was not even allowed to pass without contradiction. The comparing the mijorityof women on the gold fields to Mrs Smith was iti itself au insul\" It should have been :•< Still we can not but concede that it was in ill taste an 1 widely unjust, both to tho females on the diggings and those who may be tempted in future to°mako them their horns. We are glad it was not allowed tJ pass without contradiction. The comparing even the majority of woman on the gold fields to Mrs Smith was in itself an insult."

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COUIIT. Wednesday, 29th October. (Before A. G. Strode.. &.q., 11. M.) Drunk ENNESss-James Smith. George Daniels, and Win (j ndenvood, were fined 20s aud costs or the usual alternative. Stealing a Watch—Thomns Edhouse, charged with stealing a watch from the tout of David Duubar was reniand2d. ' Suspected Thieves.—Two men named Burnes and Bennett, arrested on suspicion, were discharged. CIVIL CASES. Parnell v Bruutoa—Claim for L2O. Judgment for plaintiff, with costs. McKiaier v JialUntine.—Claim for L 3 10s Judgment by default for plaintiff with costs. & Solomon v Meikie-Claim for L 1 0; a disputed Hour transaction. Judgment for defendant with costs. S.nifh v Arnold.—Ll3 for money lent. " Jud-ment ueierreu. a • Fox Z Broadhcnt.—Claim L 3 for a meerschaum pipe, iim c-.ase was oue of disputed title fc> the pipe in question, and was arranged by plaintiff havin.' the pipe hiven up to lum. ° Johns >;i v Court.—dsim L2O for damages to a box Judgment ior plaintiff for L 2 and costs Hudson y Th)niis n.-Li Ilk Judgment by default for nkuntiu, and costs. Henderson v Martyn.—Claim Ll7 2s 6d. Judgment for plaiutiff by default, together with costs. * THURSDAY, Oci'OBKR 30xit. Attempt to Commit a Pelokv—Robert Guiddle was Drought up, charged wirh being on the premises of David Munsim and Co., wi'h intent to commit a telony._ Some cvi.lence having b»en taken, audit appearing that the prisoner was drunk at the time he was fined 20s. or 4S hours" imprisonment. ' ATTKjrraxa to commit suicide. Ro'icrfc l Jettul!o -was brought up charged with having attempted to commit suicide, by takiuy; poison on tlie presorting evening. Tiio prisoner stated that it was not true that he had attempted to take his own lift. He was in the hahir. ot taking a dose of morphia or laudanum every ni,»ht anil he had lie believed taken rather an overdose. 0 ' The constable who had arrested him stated tliat at about a quarter past 2 .a.m., he v.\-u in duly in Rlac-la£r«au-b»reet. when a woman named Florence Hallid»y caoic to him an-1 sail that a man had taken poison. Witness accompanied her t ; a house, and there saw the prtso.ier writhing convulsively, and two or three men holding him down. Witness S'jnt for Dr Ilocken, who shortly came and attended the man' After about an hour had elapsml. lie was sufficiently recovered to bo taken to the wafch house. The doctor was at first unable to say, wl>at th« prisoner had taken, but it appeared that it wan morphia. Witness pro]uced a bottle that had been found. The prisoner in his struggles had torn his (the witness's^ coat "'

Iho prisoner was discharged with a caution, but was informed that he would have to pay ior the damage to the constable's coat.

Stealing a Watch and Chain.— Thomas Adams, a boy apparently about eleven years of a^e was charged with stealing a watch and chain, the property of Alexander Dunbar.

David Du.ibar deposd that he residod with his brother, Alexxuder Dunbar, in a tout (iff Mad<i»-g'in-strcet. On Tuesday last, about 4 o'clock, the prisoner came to the teat for the purpose of conducting him to the residence of a Mrs Johnstone. Witness w<-ut with the boy about a mi'e and a half, and they then separated. Un returning to the tent about htllpast o, lie found footmarks on the bed, and thejwhole place, turned upside down. He then missed the watch and chain which belonged to his hiother, and which had been left in the chest. There had been no one left in the tsrit when he went out with the boy. From information that he had received lie wont iti search of the accused, and found him on the Jetty Told him that he would take him to a erasable and he then gave up the watch. The watch (produced) wai the property of witue-^'s brother. Alexander Du.ibar identified the watch and chain produced a.s his property. The prisoner stated t' at "it was not the watch."

Constable Cttneys was on duty at the works at Bell Hill about U o'clock on the evening of the -2Sth inst and saw the accused running from tlie direction or the Cutting aci-osi Bell Hill, towards the beach. Alexander Dunbar was in pursuit of him, and over* took him at. the bottom of Bell Hill. The buy said to-ritnees that he had taken the watch out of the chest, but had given it back to the prosecutor's brother. Witness then took the boy into custoiy Alexander Dunbar, (the prosecutor), informal'the Court that the prisoner had come out in the same ship with Lira, an! that he believed it was necessity that induced Jiim to take the watch, as he had been out of employ for some weeks. The prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. CUAHUE 01' OBTAINING A HOJISIi UNDKK FALSE IMIKTENCKS. John Graham was charge! oa remand, from Tokomairiro, with obtaining a liorse from Janiss Mclndoe under fa'se pretences. Mr M'Gregor appeared for the defence James ftL'lndoe, a storekeeper at Tokomairiro, depose! that the horse in question, a small piebald pony, under .thirteen hamU high, came into his poshession under a bi:l of sale from Mr Graham (the accused), about two years ago, and had been in his possession since that time without intermission, except for ;\ mouth or two, when Graham took it away bef >re, without his consent. Cross-examined: The- bill of sale was conditional upon the accused paying him a certain sum of money, it was an absolute bill of sale. Considered an absolute bill of sale to be one in which there was no condition that the property should be redeemed within a certain period ; or, if the condition was for a certain time, and that time expire], the bill would become absolute. It was so in this instance. Graham had seen him (witness) since tlie bill of sale. All the accounts between witne-s and Graham had be?n referred for.arbitration ahout three months a?o, and the papers were in the hands of Mr Strode. Had sold the pony previous to the arbitration. Hadboldthe pony to Mr John Thorn Gillies, at Tokomairiro. Had a great regard for the pony. Had never re-pur-chased it. The pony was in witness's possession. Did not in the accounts, as against Graham, make any charge lor the keep of the pony. Mr Gillies paid £25 to witness for the pony, not in cash, but by an acceptance. Had not sworn before that the pony was the property of John M'lndoe. Mr M'Gregor here produced the information by which, it appeared that the name was James M'lndoe The witness (=aid he was not paid 'for keenine Mr M'Gregor right. • v B Examination continued : Said to Gillies conditionally llemnuibered receiving a letter from Graham to the e/reob that the award of Mr Strode w-is that he (M'ladoe) was to pay Graham Ll3 10 3 , and rive up the pony. Never said that he A -ould give the Ewird^ °ne' Sale Mr-G! illie9 ™» •**>«»

reply to the Bench, witness said that fcl.o sale to S redemption * ' but condiiionill; object Mr M'tfregor then produced the original informaturn; also the award of Mr Strode in tlie arbitration case. la the information it was stnted that the prisoner had obtained the horse by feUe pretence? froi Edward Martin, and the horse was also positively stated to be the property of James M'lndoe He urged, therefore, that there was no caseHis Worship said it would be more satis&ctorv if the evidence of Mr Strode could be ootained ilr M'Gre^or agreed that it would be, as tendimr to vlaar the character of his client. X The case was, therefore, adjourned until the next day at noon, the accused being released on his own recognizances. Stiuy: House.;■ Coiliags, for allowine a horsa to stray, wa^ flued 24 6d and costs. OWIDg a norsft