SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 784, 18 June 1864, Page 10 (Supplement)

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC

On Sunday, the 22nd May, some fishermen espied "from the Heads what they supposed to be a vessel floating bottom upwards. They proceeded in their boat towards the object seen, and discovered it to be a fine sperm whale, which had apparently been killed by some of the marine enemies of those mammalia, the head being smashed in and destroyed. They took it in tow, and have been successful in teaching it about two miles to the northward of the Heads. It is described as measuring over forty feet in length, eighteen in breadth, and twelve in height as it now lies on the beach.

Tuesday, the 24th May, being the anniversary of the Queen's Birthday, a Royal Salute of twenty-one guns was fired by the Police at 12 o'clock at noon, under the direction of Mr Commissioner Branigan. The Salute was fired from the cannon on Bell Hill, and the rapidity with which the corps vent through their duties is evinced by the fact, that the time occupied in the firing was exactly ten minutes. The day was kept as a general holiday. The weather was delightful—a really warm sunshine and a moderate breeze, combining to make outdoor exercises most pleasurable. The streets were thronged with diggers from up-countr}', who seemed to be wisely hesitatiug before proceeding further Wakamarinawards, or by holiday seekers. The Volunteers, including the No 1 Company; No 2, or Scottish; the Artillery, and the Naval Brigade, assembled during the forenoon at the drill shed, and marched thence, in companies, to the Recreation Ground, where "command was taken by Captain and Adjutant Graham. There was a goodly gathering of spectators, iucluding many of our up-country friends; and as no provision was made for keeping the ground, the Volunteers were closely surrounded, and nothing could be satisfactorily seen by anybody We shall be safe in saying that line was formed, and that a feu-de-joie was fired, tolerably well, except that in each round there was that inevitable odd man who would pop off his rifle some twenty or thirty seconds after everybody else. Then came three cheers for the Queen, and three for the Prince of Wales, the fife and drum band of the Naval Volunteers play-

ing the National Anthem. Subsequently, the order for marching past was iormed, and there was a short march and a wheel. Line was then again formed, and a good volky was fired, it being followed by another round fired by companies. A few simple evolutions followed, and the Volnnteers moved off the ground. Tenders for the erection of a new Post Office in Dunedin have been received at the office of the Secretary for Public Works. We described the approved plans some weeks ago, and it will no doubt be remembered tnat the}'have been prepared for the General Government by Messrs. Mason and Clayton, of this cify. The amount appropriated for the work-by the General Government was L 20,000; but none of the tenders being so low as that nothing will be done in the matter until the Postmaster-General has returned _to town and there ha 3 been a consultation with him.

Mr J. G-. S. Grant has employed himself for some time past in the trade of political agitation, and on Monday, the 6th June, he convened a meeting in the Octagon, which was somewhat numerously attended, to whom he expounded his peculiar view of the political and social state of the colonj'. The result war) that an address was got up purporting to erabody resolutions adopted at a meeting of upwards of 1000 men, and presented by that assemblage to his Honor John Hyde Harris, Esq., Superintendent of Otago. The resolutions, which were.couched in language equally inappropriate and dictatorial, affirmed that, in the opinion of the meeting, all the Government officials ought to be dismissed in order to place them on an equality with the officers in the Provincial Engineer's Department, whose services, it was expected, would bo dispensed with. That all future appointments should be by election, as a matter of course, at very low salaries, and that the I money "thus saved" should be appropriated to the "opening up" of public works for the special benefit of those who could not work. This extraordinary document wound up with requesting his Honor to transmit the resolutions to the Provincial Council. Wisely or unwisely, his Honor acted on this request, and on Tuesday, the 7th, transmitted a message, accompanied with a copy of them, which after due consideration and a determination to preserve intact their dignity as a deliberative Assembly, the Council returned for the consideration of the Superintendent and his responsible advisers. During the debate which followed the reception of the Message, in accordance with the closing resolutions, Mr Grant " watched over the conduct of the different members in regard to the matter;" being present in the Hall, and taking notes of the proceedings ; and on tho following day at one o'clock the so called " working men" reassembled in the Octagon to receive his report. As the manner in which the resolutions were disposed ol did not coincide with the meeting's view of their deserts, on the opening of the doors of the Council Hall they forthwith proceeded to pack the space allotted to strangers, and scarcely had the proceedings commenced when Mr Grant rose, and turning to those in the Hall observed he was going to present their " most peaceful and respectful memorial." Whatever else he might have said was cut short by the Speaker ordering him to sit down, which refusing to do, he was immediately, by direction of Mr Speaker, taken into custody by the Serjeant at Arms. It seems probable that Mr Grant had in his mind Cromwell's success in dismissing the Rump Parliament, for he turned round to his companions and called upon them to protect him in the pursuit of his duty. Tne appeal was, however vain, for after a few hisses and groans, which were promptly suppressed, his former supporters left him to his fate. At a subsequent stage of the proceedings he was placed at the bar of the House, and after making a full acknowledgment of the folly of which he had been guilty, and an abject apology he was set at liberty.

A very graceful compliment has been paid to a lady who, in her late professional career, secured not only fame, but the respect and esteem of all who had the privilege of her acquaintance. On Friday evening, June 3rd, a deputation, acting on behalf of the Roman Catholic congregation of this city, presented Mrs W. H. Mumford with a gift than which nothing could have been more appropriate—an elegant and excellent pianoforte, by Collard and Collard, accompanied by a handsome prayerbook. The pianoforte bore the following inscription, engraved on a silver-plate:—"Presented to Mrs W. H. Mumford by her Catholic friends, as a slight testimony of their appreciation of her valuable services in connection with St. Joseph's Chapel choir. Dunedin, May 18th." The gift was suitably acknowledged on behalf of the recipient by Mr. Mumford.

A shepherd named M'Crae, well known in connection with the Fullarton's, a deep sinking rush, on Saxton's run, had his tent burnt down last week, and one of his children narrowty escaped being burnt to death. Mr M'Crae, who, with a man also on the station, was the only one in the hcaise at the time, exhibited a great deal of presence of mind, on the occasion.

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES. At Hindon, during the last visit of Mr. Warden Broad, on the 19th inst., an inquest was held by that gentleman on the body of a storekeeper there named M'Shane. The particulars are as follows : —Deceased had a store, but in the slackness of times had taken to digging within call—he had been puddling, when the earth came in upon him and completely crushed in his head, which presented a frightful appearance. A witness was called who was mining a short distance off, and evidence in court disclosed an instance of wonderful sagacity in a dumb animal. He felt a little dog, which hs knew belonged to the deceased, biting at his trousers aud whining, at which he wondered and ordered ifc off; it continued to pull at his legs, and thinking there was something in the pertinacity of the animal, he followed the delighted dog, now wagging its tail, and was by it led to the paddock where he found the earth had fallen in on his neighbor, and on his digging him out found him dead. The poor man left a widow, who was thoroughly paralysed with grief, and two children to mourn his loss.

A few days ago Mr Bell, the shipping clerk to Messrs Gargill and Co, whilst stepping from the steamer Scotia to a lighter alongside, fell and broke his leg. Hopes were entertained that the accident would not prove more serious than such injuries generally do, but we regret to state that Mr Bell died on Saturday.

A miner of the name of George Fuller, living on Moonlight Flat, on the Lower Shotover, after drinking in company with his mates, on attempting to reach'home rolled over a precipitous bank about 250 ft. in height and although when reached by his mate

he was alive and continued to live for 36 hours afterwards, he ultimately satik and died. The medical testimony was to the effect that had proper professional aid htcn rendered in the first' instance,, he would probably have recovered. At Qaeerstown, shortly after ten o'clock p.m., when the majority of the out-door sports in honor of Her Majesty's Birthday, were ended, as Mr Samuel Miller, accompanied by his brother, was proceeding home, after amusing themselves with firing off pistols around the principal bonfire, one of the most frightful accidents took place which it is possible for humanity to realise, occurring at the very door of that gentleman's residence. It appears that the two had arrived in the right-of-way between his, Mr Miller's, and Mr Grindley's premises. Mr Miller's brother had a loaded pistol in his hand (but containing only the cartridge, though unfortunately heavily charged], and was on the point of letting it off when Mr Miller ran into Mr Grindley's house for the purpose of telling them to look out for its being fired. He had scarcely reached the right-of-way again when his brother accidentally fired off the pistol, the contents of which completely blew in a large piece of the skull over Mr Miller's right temple, and he fell immediately bleeding profusely. He was at once carried into his residence, and Drs. Morice and Nesbitt were quickly in attendance, but the unfortunate man expired forty minutes after the accident. The melancholy occurrence has created a most painful sensation, Mr Miller' bein;; so well known and universally respected by all classes of the community. He leaves a wife and two young children to deplore his untimely end. A terrible accident occurred at Arthur's Point on the 12th May last. A large piece of rock fell upon a store inhabited by a Mr Ryan, 'smashing the roof' and carrying away everything that lay in its course. Two men were sleeping in the store at the time, one of whom named Bohan was killed by its rolling upon him; and the other, named Gleeson, had his foot crushed. The weight of the rock was such, tint four men could not remove it from off Italian's body, which was therefore dug from under it.

A miner on his way back from the Arrow township to the Twelve-Mile had a narrow escape of his life under the following circumstances:—He was proceeding on foot, and while passing a sideling on the high range, nowc .veied with snow, he siipped his foot and fell, twisting it under him; not being able to rise, he gradually slid down the narrow track, and rolled some 200 feet down the mountain side, lacerating his hands terribly in attempting to check himself. At last he succeeded, but remained helpless, lying in the snow for eighteen hours—from 4 p.m. until 11 the next forenoon, when some packers fortunately came to his assistance. Strange to say, though greatly exhausted., and for some time almost paralysed, he has received no permanent injury from the cold and exposure, not even frost bite of the extremities, which might have been considered a certain result of being in the snow so long, without any protection beyond his ordinary dress.

Three prisoners named Peter Burns alias John Wilson, Edward Shirlaw alias Teddy Cine, and Mary Murphy, were, on the 20th May, charged before the Resident Magistrate with having assaulted and robbed a digger named Thomas Graham, and taken from him ten £5-notes, in a right-of-way off George street, on the night of the 19th inst. From the evidence it appeared that the two male prisoners had enticed the complainant to a house kept by the female prisoner in George street. There they had all some liquor, and in consequence of tha female putting her hand into his pocket the complainant, ran out of the house. He was followed by the prisoner Burns, who threw his arms round Graham's neck and garotted him, taking from him at the same time ten £5-note3, and ran away. A constable, having been informed of the robbery, watched the house for three hours, when he saw -Burns coming through some flax near the house, and he immediately arrested him. When taken into custody the prisoner had in his hand a handkerchief with a large stone tied up in it. The prisoners were committed for trial.

On Tuesday evening, the 17th May, the township of Hindon was visited by a heavy gale of wind, which increased on Wednesday to a perfect hurricane. From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. it was at its height; it was deplorable to see the storekeepers running from one store to the other for shelter, property flying about in all directions. The first store that succumbed to the gale was the Victorian, the property of Lyons and Co.. which was lifted bodily three feet out of the earth, with great destruction of property. The next was Hillier's store, the roof of which was completely carried away into Blacksmith's Gully. The next was' the Game Cock Hotel, which was completely torn to atoms. The Provincial Hotel was saved by the assistance of the police and a few inhabitants. The Victorian Hotel suffered slightly; and j several other places have been more or less injured. The greatest praise is due to constables Scanlon and Campion, for their great exertions in saving life and property. It is the opinion of all who experienced the former gale, that this was muih more violent. The township is a perfect wreck. RELIGIOUS. On the 20th May, a lecture was delivered by the Rev. Richard Connebee, in the Oddfellows' Hall, descriptive of " The Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus." Notwithstanding the boisterous state of the weather, the Hall was crowded before the advertised hour for the lecture. Mr Bathgate occupied the chair, and in a few brief remarks introduced the lecturer to the meeting. Mr Connebee, who was received with loud applause, alter a few introductory remarks, related with minuteness, the "varied causes which led to the final revolt of the Jews, and the overthrow of Jerusalem. The reverend gentleman illustrated the subject by reference to a large painting of the city of Jerusalem as it appeared before its destruction by Titus, which had been painted for the occasion by Mr George Bell, of this city. The delivery of the lecture was frequently interrupted by loud expressions of approbation from the audience.

On Thursday, June 2nd, the Reverend Michael Watt was ordained pastor of the congregation of the Presbyterian Church at Green Island. The Commission met in the Church. Sederunt, Rev. A. 11. M'lSTaughton, D. M. Stuart, D. Meiklejohn, — Johnston, — M'Nicol, Mr J. Gilties, Elder. Mr M'Naughton presided, and preached an appropriate discourse from Psalm 78, and 3rd verse. After the sermon the President put the usual questions to; Mr Watt, gave the charge, and he was thereupon solemnly set apart hy prayer and laj'ing on of hands, and afterwards received the right hand of fellowship. The Rev. D. M. Stuart then ad-

dressed -the Congregation, and at the close of the services, which were of the most imprrssive character, Mr Watt received the usual token of recognition from his people, as they retired. . The bazaar in aidof the building fund of the First Congregational Church in Dun-. edin, was opened on Thursday afternoon, the 19th May, in the long room in Rattray street. Booths were ranged along both sides of the room, upon which were displayed the goods which had been so liberally contributed by all classes of the community. As might be expected, the goods were of the most miscellaneous' assortmen which have ever been brought j together in the city. The stalls were presided ever by ladies connected with the congregation, and through their sweet; persuasions a brisk trade ,was kept up during the day. In the evening the hall was brilliantly lit up, and crowded with visitors. The Bazaar was continued on; Friday and Saturday, and auction sales were held each evening. During Saturday the attendance of the public was rather better than on the previous day, and in the evening the long-room was crowded during the auction. The amount realised on the. latter day was close upon LIOO, bringing up the total for the three days of the Bazaar to nearly L3OO. At the: close of the sale on Saturday a large quantity of goods still remained unsold, and in consequence, the Bazaar was continued throughout. Monday and during the evening. For some time past, the ladies belonging to the congregation attending the Wesleyan chapel, Port Chalmers, have been busily engaged in organising a bazaar in aid of the chapel debt, some L 250 still remaining due to the building fund. They have already done a great deal in pi-epar-ing needlework and other articles of isale. The chapel at Port Chalmers has now been erected about eight or nine months, the present minister the Rev. R. S. Bunn, having since been ordained therein. Its cost was L7DO, and, as mentioned there remains a debt of L 250, which it is hoped, will soon be reduced. Through exertion, of the pastor a Sunday school has been attached to the church, and has progressed most satisfactorily under the r superintendence of Mr W. Cook, 7.the average weekly attendance of boys and girls being 130.

On Saturday evening, 21st May, Major Richardson delivered an inaugural lecture to the Port Chalmers MechanicsMnstitute, in the Masonic Hall. A large and respect--able audience, composed of the general public as well as the members of the Institute, showed by their presence the interest taken in this attempt to elevate the intellectual condition of the residents of- Port Chalmers, and their appreciation of the talent and kindness of the honorable and gallant lecturer. The chair was taken by the President of the Institute, Mr Mansford. The lecture was a great success, and augurs well for the prosperity of the Port Chalmers Mechanics' Institute. EDUCATIONAL. The fifth of a series of lectures was delivered on Monday evening, the 23rd May, in the rooms of the Young Mens' Christian Association, Stuart street, by.the Rev. J. L. Parsons, the subject of lecture being "Modern Heroes." Mr Thomas Dickoccupied the chair, and in a few brief remarks introduced the reverend lecturer, who was listened to throughout with marked attention.

At the rooin3 of the Dunedin Young Mens' Christian Association, Monday evening, 30th May, the Rev. Richard Gonnebee delivered his promised lecture, detailing his personal recollections' of eminent preachers. Notwithstanding the unfavorable state of the evening, the room was respectably filled, and the Rev.--D, M. Stuart took the chair. The Rev. lecturer, after relating the circumstances which led to a somewhat intimate personal acquaintanceship with those celebrated ministers of the Gospel, the Revds. R. Hall, Drs. Jay, and Leifchild, reminiscences concerning; whom he purposed detailing, confined his subsequent remarks principally to a biographical sketch of the Rev. Robert Hall. He gave a very graphic account of his parentage and early training, interspersed with anecdotes illustrative of the bent of mind which seemed even then to presage his future fame. The lecturer was frequently interrupted by expressions of approbation, and it appeared to be with almost a feeling of regret that his announcement was received that in consequence of the lengthened sketch he had given of the Rev. Robert Hall, he could not enter upon the notice which he intended to have given, of the other eminent men, and that he should be compelled to defer it to a future day. NEW BUILDINGS. The recent fire in Stafford street, and its consequent enormous destruction of property has at last awakened our merchants to the urgent necessity of erecting stores more suitable for the protection of their merchandise than the flimsy inflammable structures of which the majority of business premises in this town is composed. It is not long since we had occasion to notice the erection of Mr Casper's Bond, on tne ruins of the old building. Simultaneously, Messrs Paterson and M'Leod commenced a similar building in Moray place, near its junction with the lower end: of Stuart street. This building, which is now finished, with the exception of some slight ornamentation to the fagade, is cer-. tainly the most commodious, and for a, bonded warehouse, the finest store in the colony of New Zealand. The length is IS3 feet by 82 feet in breadth. A cellar 8 feet 6 inches high, extends the Jwhole area of the building, entrance to which is obtained by means of street traps at either side of the building. The entrance to the upper floor is on the main entrance, and is of such width as to allow of the ingress' and egress of drays, should such be found necessary. This .floor is on strong beams, supported at intervals of ten feet on stout timber story .posts;. The roof, which is of one epan, is'on .the selfsupporting principle, and we are,informed has not its equal in the Australian colo*' nies. In the centre of the roof, floor has been constructed 33 feet by 133 feet, and which the proprietors intend using as a free store at present. It is calculated that the cellar will contain from four to five thousand casks, while the room for stowage above would amount to nearly four thousand tons altogether. This building, henceforth to be known as the Queen's Warehouse, is a credit to the town and to its proprietors. The architects for Messrs Paterson and M'Leod's building are Messrs Mason and Clayton, and the builders Messrs Somner and Gunn. AMUSEMENTS. The engagements made by Mr S* Jones, while in Victoria, are of great interest to all classes of society in Otago»: Amongl them are the engagement of the Lyster Opera Troupe (who will give twenty-four performances in Dunedin, commencing early in August) and of .Miaa Cleveland,

who lins ci-eated so gi eat a sensation in Victoria and New South Wales, in " Leah" and othef celebrated impersonations;- -Mr ,Jone9 hassj.alao entered into articles;with the -agent of -;Mr KoberM, r the champion billiard player/ : for: •» visit; to\New Zea*; land. Lady iDon-may < also, be expected to make her appearance at; the-. Princess Theatre. The engagement of the Lyater Opera Troupe, the whole of the!members of which will appear, entails considerable riskj and it is to be -hoped the enterprize will be liberally supported. The. programme comprises some twenty of the; most popular operas, and especial arrange-; ments; are made Noplace them upon the stage'in a complete: and effective: manner. It -is :Contempla|ted to issue season tickets for the.. twenty-four nights, which will doubtless; be eagerly; taken up.! pn^,the 'anniversary! of.; thei "Queen's birthday, .races were -run at Waikbuaitiy which;, afforded,:-a great .treat to ths in> habitants: of -that township. ..The sports: continued for two days. Liberal ~auW : scriptionshad- been made, which, afforded prices of such .value a3 to cause several horses to contend,-and the races were well contested. ■:-;■-■.• '■■> ;; LAW ANO POLICE. ; : The lasolyency business, which ■ was appointed-to be 'heard before the SupremeCourt on Wednesday.,-the 25thj May, wa3. adjourned, to the 4th of July, in consequehce of the pressure of busiiiess caused by the hearing of the Special Jury cases.'. I On Saturday morning, the 9th June, |Mr Joseph Tuck well, with, the assistance of two Customs ofiicers, succeeded in findind and destroying :a large illicit still near; the farm of Mr Allan M'|^aster r at-Saddle Hill. Everything was found in full work-' ing jorider, and the still had evidently been in operation for some. time. ; ; It was capable of producing lOO'gallons per week; and the illicit whisky has been sold to the keepers of different public houses iw town. Owing to the dense bush surrounding the hut,iproperty to a considerable.value had to be burned, as it was not possible to bring it,to town; but• ,the still-head,and,.the worm were secured, as it will be necessary to,produce them > hereafter in the Resident Magistrates's Court. Certain persons have long- been suspected ~of being connected with an illicit distillery somewhere in the Saddle Hill district; and the revenue must have suffered heavily by their operations. ;.:'... ;

The Criminal Session of the Supreme. Court was brought to a close on Wednesday,' Bth June, and the jurors were discharged. The list of .cases was not, on the whole, heavy, and although: there were some serious charges, the more abhorent were.not proved. . ; .. ; . THE NEWZEALAND-E^HIBITION. During the past montbr.the Local Com -■ mittee have continued their exertions^ and with such Buccess,:that applications' for a considerable area'of space- have been Sent • in for Dunedm.alone;: while the outlying districts are also preparing to send exhibits of their varied products. The applica* tious for floor and: wall space are nume-' rous, and there is every reason to antici^ pate the Exhibition will be a complete success. ■ '.-. ■.'•,■: -•.'■■:; i:^---; • j FREE MASONRY. ■■ ;■■ A meeting of the Freemasons under the Grand Lodge 6f Scotlatid^was held recently at which it was "resolved to apply for a Commission for.the erection of the;. Middle; Island of New Zealandinto a (rfaffd Lodge"" District. We understand./that Vincent Pykej Esq.j hasbe^n nbminatedas Proyift- , cial Grand: Master; 'and. tfiat the petftibri was forwarded liy thfe'last nTail,;and'ihe commission may-^therefore be expected'in October next; .;'.1':),: