Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 671, 11 February 1864, Page 4

At the Resident Magistrate'^ Court yesterday there were no cases of particular importance. A man named Baker, for riding an unmanageable horse down thej street, and thereby endangering the public' safety,-was fined 30s and costs. The hearing of the civil cases brought about some hard swearing in connection with a trifling debt, so much so that ifc was evident perjury had been committed on one side or the other. A case of some interest to the mercantile community was heard, whereby the liabilities of servants to account for the loss of property put under their charge was established. Cleve and Casper had some ale stored with them which had been broached whilst under the care of their storeman, M'Gee. The latter alleged that some carpenters working for Mr Casper were the guilty parties, but as he did not point out who they were, he was summoned for LB, that being the value of one hogshead. The magistrate considered M'&ee liable for damage done to goods in his charge, and gave a verdict for the amount claimed.

We understand that Mr J. H. Pope, who has had considerable experience as a teacher iv Victoria, has been appointed temporary assistant master at the High School in place of Mr Malcolm. Mr Pope will enter npon his duties at once.

The residents in Qaeenstowri will be pleased to hear that, as speedily as possible, an addition is to be made to the substantial buildings of which their young town can'boast, by the erection of premises for the Bank of Otago (Limited), on a plot of ground adjoining the Bank of New Zealand. The new Bank will have a frontage of 22ft., and will be two storeys high. It will be of wood, but the safes will be built into stone work. On the ground floor will be a large telling office, a gold office, parlor, kitchen, &c.; the second storey being devoted to a dining room and bedrooms. A clock will be placed on the top of the building, surrounded by ornamental woodwork ; and there will be a flagstaff at one corner. It will be seen from our advertising columns that tenders for putting up the build-, ing are called for ; and that the plans are at the offices of the architect, Mr D. Boss, Princes street.

Some few months ago it was reported that gold had been found in Canada, and in such quantities as held out a promise of Canada becoming an important gold-producing country. It would appear, however, that the earlier reports were much exaggerated, although the diggings would seem to afford ordinary remuneration for labor. A long official report has recently been published upon the gold diggings recently discovered in La Chaudiere, in French Canada. The drift of the information collected by Mr F. T. Judah, clerk to the crown domains, is that the average out-turn per man does not much exceed 8s per day ; but in exceptional cases, and for limited periods, the miners' receipts have risen to L 5 a day. The extent of the gold-field eeem3 undetermined, and as the miners are all habitans, perfect order prevails. A Canadian paper says: " There is a great rush to the gold mines in the connty of Beauce, about thirty-five miles from Quebec. There are about a thousand persons at the ' diggings,' which are said to be exceedingly rich. The gold district extends over a distance of about fifty miles, part of it running through the suburbs of Quebec."

In another column appears a letter from a correspondent at the Cardrona, respecting the discovery of a good lead of gold down on a large flat on the Cardrona creek.

We extract the following from the " Mount Ida Mail and Hamilton Advertiser :"—These diggings, "Hamiltons," have now been in active operation about two months, and notwithstanding the promises made us by a fostering and paternal government, ljave neither court house, gold receiver or lock-up. It is anything but creditable to the Provincial Government, the neglect which they have shown to a place which they have already recognised, and by the appointment of a Warden and Eesident Magistrate, have evidently attached much importance to.

The funeral of George Hutchinson, who was killed by a sudden fall of earth at the cutting in Moray place, S.E., on Monday, took place yesterday afternoon. The coffin was followed by the men engaged on the contract, numbering over 70 ; most of them wearing white hatbands.

A large meeting of the Iron Trades was held at the Shamrock Hotel last evening, for the purpose of taking steps for taking part in the procession on the laying of the foundation stone of the Exhibition Building. A'mistake having occurred in the advertisement b_y the insertion of the word "millwright" for "wheelwright," some little confusion resulted, but' ultimately Mr K. Dmiglass was elected chairman; and Messrs Buchan (smith), Blackadder (engineer), Wilson (millwright), M'Queen (boiler maker), and Bain (iron moulder), were appointed a committee for the purpose of carrying out the object of tiie meeting, which was adjourned to Monday evening next, at eight o'clock.

The bakers of Dunedin will hold a meeting at Moir's Hotel on this evening (Thursday), at 8 o'clock, to make final arrangements regarding taking part in the procession at the laying the first stone of the Exhibition building.

The Local Committee for the Province of Otago for the New Zealand Exhibition, 1865, held its weekly meeting yesterday afternoon, at the Athenaeum. The principal subject of discussion was the want of funds. The Superintendent, when he presided at the inaugural meeting of the Commj^tee, clearly led the members to conclude that there would be no difficulty as to a sum being placed on the Estimates to be submitted to the Council at its coming session, towards the expenses of the Committee, and that, pending the meeting of the Council, the Government would advance a sum for current expenses. But the Secretary having applied for information on the former point, and for something more solid on the latter, the application was discussed at a meeting of the Executive during the absence of the Superintendent; and the Provincial Secretary has replied that the Government know of no promise, nor of any available fund except the L4OOO voted by the Conncil towards the general objects of the Exhibition, and the administration of which has been entrusted to the Royal Commissioners. It was resolved that both the Government and the Commissioners should be applied to at once, for definite answers, the Committee being at present able to do little or nothing, owing to want of funds.

The Choral Society will meet this evening for practice iv the Masonic Hall at half-past seven o'clock.

An adjourned meeting of the Caledonian Society" was held yesterday evening in M'Cubbin'e Hotel. Present—Messrs Fargie, Dick, Edmonds, A. T. Campbell, Allen, Somner, M'Leod, Findlater, and D. Campbell. Mr Murray in the chair. The minutes of former meeting were read and agreed to. The Theatrical Committee reported that the benefit for the benevolent objects of the society was to take place on Friday, the 12th inst. The committee appointed to report on the distribution of prizes for the best scholarship in the Public Schools of the Province brought up their report, which stated that they had waited upon the Rev. Dr Burns and Mr John Hislop, secretary of the Education Board, in order to obtain as much information as possible from those gentlemen. The committee learned that there were now thirty District Schools in the Province, with, an average attendance of fifty pupils; but the committee were unable, without, further information, to propose a detailed plan for the practical working of the schemej but would in the meantime suggest that LIOO be voted for that purpose, and that a Committee be appointed to cany it out. A letter from Mr Hislop was read, acknowledging receipt of letter from the SubCommittee of the Society, and expressing a desire to co-operate in any scheme calculated to advance the Educational interests of the

Province. He also suggested, that " the best arrangement for carrying out the wishes of the Directors, would be to organize a plan for holding an Annual Competitive Examination, in Dunedin, of the pupils who might be sent from the different schools throughout the Province, for the purpose of compating for Prizes, to be awarded to those who should .acquit themselves best iD the. different subjects proposed. For example, there might be a Ist, 2nd, and 3rd Prize, for the best, second-best,- and' third-best reader of English Prose ; the same for the reading of Poetry ; for Eecitation ; for grammar, arithmetic, and so on. Much good might reasonably be expected to result from such a scheme. At the same time the directors need not be prevented from supplying prizes to each school, to be competed for by the pupils of the school, if such an arrangement should be thought desirable." The report was adopted, and the sum of LIOO votedjwith the suggestion that the Government should be written to, requesting that a similar sum be granted by it for the above purpose, seeing that the Government had never yet so far as the Society were aware, given any encouragement for good scholarship in the public schools of this Province. The committee appointed to carry out the above object were Messrs Dick (convener), Fargie, Murray, M'Lsod, and D. Campbell. A sum of L 5 was voted for a charitable object. A sum of money was set aside as a fund f&r relieving special cases of destitution ; the committee appointed for this puvpose being Messrs Fargie, Edmonds, and Findlater. There being no Humane Society in this Province, a sum of L 5 was voted for a silver medal to be presented to the person who shall perform the greatest act of heroism and daring in saving human life in the Province of Otago during the current year. The names of Messrs Edmonds and Findlater, were added to the Tilting Committee, and the meeting adjourned to the 24th inst., at 7£ o'clock.

A special meeting of the Dunedin Volunteer Fire Brigade will be held at the Provincial Hotel, this evening, at eight o'clock.

A general meeting of the members of the Hebrew Congregation will be held at the office of Mr H. E. Nathan, Eattray street, on Sunday next, the 14th instant, at half-past eleven o'clock, to receive the report of tho building committee.

The Otago General Road Board has appointed a meeting to be held at the Government Offices, Dunedin, on Thursday, the 18th of this month.

A general meeting of the members of the North Dunedin Cricket Club wiU be held at the Albion Hotel, Great King street, at eight o'clock this evening.

The Dunedin Volunteer Naval Brigade, after having been sworn in on Tuesday evening, proceeded to the Otago Hotel, for the purpose of electing the officers and passingrules. It was determined that the captain and first and second lieutenants should be at onci> elected. For the captaincy, Mr Robt. Paterson, of the firm of Pntcrson and M'Leod, was unanimously elected ; while for the first and second lieutenants, the result of the ballot showed that the choice of the corps had fallen on Messrs Wm, .Stavely and W. 11. Mumford. The late secretary, Mr Dickinson,

consented to act again as permanent secretary. The rules were then submitted by the committee and passed,

The "hurch building for the use of the Con" gregationalists, the erection of which has been contemplated for sometime, and which has been rendered urgently necessary by the rapid growth of the congregation, is about to be at once commenced. The sifco selected is in Moray Place, S.W., at the corner of View street. The stylo of the building will be perpendicular Gothic; its size, 7it't. by 37ft., with a gallery at tiie end; and. it is to seat 650 persons in all. The facade- to Moray Place will be in two heights; the steep incline of View street having led to the placing of a schoolroom 33it. square under the fcre-pavt of the church. Tiie entrance to the school will be from Moray place; the church beiDg entered from side porches. The walls will be of stone and brick, and the roof ol slate. Inside'there will be dado lining and plaster on the walls; and the roof will be open-timbered, stained and varnished. The clear height to the wall plate will be 20fr. ; to the apex.. 42ft. A vestry will be added in the rear of the church; and a residence for the minister, the Rev. E. Conncbee, will be erected on the upper part, of the ground. The architect.is MiDavid Ross, and the builders, Messrs. Anderson and Lambeth. Tiie amount of the contract is slightly in excess of L 2000; and the work is to be completed in three months. Ths seating and the pulpit have not yet been contracted for, but they will be shortly. The church will be a very acceptable addition to the architecture of the city; and we ate sure that the members of the congregation will indeed be glad when they poss ess n place of

their own in which to meet for worship, instead of being compelled to use the Oddfellows' Hall. • •'■■■

We are informed, as an incident connected with the great fire, that before it occurred, men would in all probability, have been on the ground for the purpose of substituting a building of stone and brick for the wooden erection known as Cavpn-'s bond could the consent of the Collector of Customs have been obtained at once. Mr W. Pole, who had negotiated the purchase, had caused plans to be prepared, and had instructed his architect as to the acceptance of a tender ; several applications had been made for permission to commence the work ; and on the Monday, and again on the day of the fire, the Collector or his representative went to the spot. But difficulties were seen by the offioi .Is, as regards the safe custody of the goods in bond ; and the energetic assurances of Mr Pole and the architect, that their arrangements would secure safety, failed to bring conviction. The locker .had official hours ; and—although, it was admitted that it would be a capital thing if done—consent to put up a building of stone and brick had not been obtained before the woodea one and its contents had been burned down. The contemplated work would have cost £2000. As we have already stated, Mr Casper is about to erect such a building as Mr Pole proposed to erect. As the-bonded goods have been burned, the Customs authorities have no objection to offer to the work.

Six members of the Town Board, have to be elected to-morrow: but the fact creates little or no interest amongst the ratepayers. It will be remembered that when one member changed his opinions, so as to transform .the opponents, of Mr Millar, the City Engineer, from a majority to an eren number, with those of his supporters, the former became disgusted, left it to the latter to appoint a chairman and reverse tho dismissal of the Engineer, and then resigned. They were— Messrs Jeuldnson and ii-M, W<g\ Ward; Messrs Henderson, Blank, aiv.i F-u'.vi'k, Bill Ward ; anil Mr G. Dunca>, L>ifti Wurd. These are the gentlemen whoso; places have to be filled to-morrow. For the two vacancies in High Ward, three candidates have announced themselves — Messrs Horace Bastings, John Grey, and James Johusfcone (of the Melbourne Hotel), so that a contest is pretty certain. For Bell Ward, the candidates who have issued addresses are Mr II; B.iyliss and Mr Jabez Ham; and for the single vacancy in Leith Ward there are two candidates, Mr Graham, well known as "red-coat," and Mr Robert Murray. . .

" The Somnambulist" was played a third time at the Princess Theatre, last evening ; but. Byron's burlesque, "The::, Bride of Abydos," had to be withdrawn..during the afternoon, in consequence of the indisposition of a member of the company. In its place, a song by Miss Marion Dunn, and the farce, "The Loan of a Lover,"'were substituted. Miss Dunn was deservedly encored, and gave " I'll be no submissive wife," which" was the better sung of the two songs.

A return has been issued by the. Chief Postmaster of the money orders issued and paid in the month of January, last. The numbers of orders issued was 595 amounting to L 2983 6s ;'and the number paid was 164 representing LBSS 10s Id. Since tho commencement of the system, Ist September, 1862, there have been 6590 orders issued, amounting to L 33.944 4s 5d ; and 1554 paid, amounting to L 7947 7s Bd.

In the Magistrates' Court, on Tuesday last, a curious instance of what'may happen to a man in Otago, was sho\vn. A person named Donald M'Kay, was brought, up with'other prisoners, and, after the drunken ca?es were disposed of, was charged with being of unsound mind. The police stated that he hud been given into custody by his wife, on the preceding day, and asked for a remand, in order that he might be subjected to a medical examination. The presiding Magistrate was at first inclined to grant tlio remand ; but subsequently, at the request of a representative of Mr Barton, put the case back, in order that Mrs M'Kay might be produced and some evidence taken as to the prisoner's state of mind. After some time, Mrs M'Kay appeared, and in answer to the Magistrate, said that her reasons for believing her husband to be insane were: first, because he was jealous, and took her character away; secondly, because he brought her from Invercargill without telling her where he was taking her to ; and thirdly, because he took her child from her for a week and "left her at Bedford House. Mr Barton, who had by this lime arrived, and who appeared for Mr M'Kay, stated that Mrs M'Kay, with a person named Coots, had tied his client up, and handed him over to the police in Invercargill, on the same charge as the present. Ho was at once released on examination, and had then come to Dunedin. An action in connection with Coots and Mrs M'Kay, was pending in the Supreme Court .at the present time, but that Mrs M'Kny instigated, as was supposed, by Coots, look this cxtrnorilfnary methml of disposing of her husband and ('•'<' •■«■'<•■" lo°Mrs M'Kiy coolly ;>.d:uil!cd that, she and Coots had tied her husband up as allege!, and

could give r.o other reason lor doing ro Ihan what she had already slated to (lie Magistrate. As may bo supposed, Mr Strode at once released M'Kay, and read the woman a severe but well merited lecture on the conduct she she had been guilty of.