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Otago Daily Times, Issue 851, 13 September 1864, Page 4

In the Council last session, a resolution was carried requesting the Superintendent to ask the Authorities at Auckland to extend the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, to cases of debt of £100. No proclamation to this effect has yet made its appearance in the Gazette, but we observe by the last Gazette to hand, that the jurisdiction of the Kesident Magistrate's Courts of Clyde, Dunstan, and Queenstown (Wakatip), has been extended to £100. Why has this not been done to Dunedin ?

Mr A, M. Johnson, a passenger from England to Canterbury Province by the ship British Empire, attempted to bring out a variety of fish by that vessel, with a view to acclimatising them in the rivers of New Zealand. The mode by which he proposed to effect this, as well as the causes of failure, are detailed in the following extract from the " British Empire Gazette" of 3rd August, published during the voyage, with a copy of which we have been favored by Mr Johnson. In an accompanying note, he briefly states thafc his plan combines " the three most important requisites in the^ transmission of fish, viz., a constant stream of water, suffi-

cienfc oration, and low temperature.'* The extract is as follows :—" There is on the quarter deck a square built frame work, surrounded by matting, which has been tho scene of another enterprise of about as much importance as MrPrinceV and equally or perhaps more unfortunate— i.c, the fish establishment of Mr Johnson. One ofthe grand features of New Zealand is its immense and beautiful rivers, many of which, short in their course, yet contain a most incredible body of water, and have been deemed as very suitable for the English fresh. water fish. Ifc is a most serioas lapsus on th& part of old Dame Nature that those rivers should be destitute of fish of any importance, but we believe the fact is established that: except eels, scarcely any other fish of value is to be found in them. Here was a praiseworthy effort to supply the deficiency. Mr Johnson brought on board no less than 800 j'oung salmon, 600 trout, 200 perch, and 200 carp, with a fine sprinkling of tench, royal, rudd, roach, gudgeon, minnows, bleak, and gold fish, the greater portion of which had been reared for the purpose in the artificial manner, some under the immediate care of Dr Buckland, of fish culture notoriety. The tanks in wliich they were placed were nearly all lined with slate, and so neatly contrived that by means of perforated partitions a constant running stream was kept- up from one portion to another with each agitation of the ship. Troops of snails^. water lilies, and weeds of various kinds were introduced, to afford food as well as to keep the water purified ; and in addition other contrivances for aerating the water, that the proper supply of oxygen might be kept up. The whole was surrounded wifch a frame work case, with double cane matting which was kept constantly wefe during our progress through the tropics, in order to keep up evaporation and lower the temperature. The matter of the greatest importance prior to starting with those fish was the vegetation of the tanks which was duly provided for, but unhappily during their transit to the docks in London, the wood-work warped, and some of the ! cement attaching the slates gave way, thus rendering repairs necessary, and diminishing largely at the very outset the chances of success. The fish did not thrive well from the [ beginning, hut some seemed to do pretty welF when in some unaccountable manner a lump of lead got into one of the principal tanks and deprived Mr Johnson of his last chance of success. He still retained a few gold fish, but all the rest have vanished. Mr Johnson ' feels confident, and we are disposed to agree wifch him, that with another effort arid taking advantage of the experience gained by this failure, he would be able to succeed in bringing out a supply of those fishes in good condition, and we sincerely hope that we shall be so far able to influence the Government of Canterbury on our arrival that they will encourage and facilitate his doing so. If the tanks were placed on board the ship at least i a month prior to leaving dock, in order to be properly vegetated, and nofc to have them disturbed at this important time, a conical roof to the fish house, and such a contrivance as would admit of wet cloths being so placed that the dripping would escape outside the tauks to keep up evaporation and preserve a uniform temperature; then in order further to . ensure this a few hundredweight of ice iis small pieces put on board, carefully secured, I a little to be used when heat was intense; a water-tank containing the most desirable water set apart, only to be handled by the care-taker, and we believe by procuring good healthy fish, failure need not be anticipated* No ship could be more suitable for such a trial than the British Empire, her steadiness and good sailing qualities being of the, first order ; and v/e trust thafc she will return to Canterbury, and with her a good supply especially of the familiar trout aud salmon,, and that we may be able hereafter in the streams of New Zealand again to resume our acquaintance with an old friend, Isaac Walton."

We publish iix another column further correspondence thafc has taken place afc Home relative to the Imperial Guarantee of the New Zealand Loan. Ifc will be observed thafc Mr Header Wood distinctly stated that the Colony offered only the security of its ordinary revenue, and the Treasury and Colonial Ofiice both acquiesced in the proposal. How the territorial revenue came to be included ia the Bill, is still a mystery. There is however every reason to hope thafc Mr Reader Wood* as soon as his attention was called to it, would manage to get that, as well as the other objectionable condition giving the loan precedence over previous loans, expunged.

The Medical Board Ordinance passed last session has heen disallowed by the General Government. The Provincial Government has got itself rather into a mess. It has appointed a Board of Medical Officers, who^ acting on the strength of the Ordinance, have levied contributions all round. Fortunately several prosecutions ifc was designed to institute were not commenced. The Government will have to bear the expenses, the £5 registration fee will have to be returned, andL the Medical Board will die a natural,, or sonu»; may term ifc, an unnatural death. The Ordinance was no doabfc calculated to be of great use, but very little study of ifc Iss; sufficienfc to show that its provisions arete beyond the power of the Council to enact.

Tha Auckland press notices in teruis of high commendation the opening perforr.nancr.3r at the new Theatre Royal, opened in tbf at; city by Mr George Fawcett.

We notice that Mr Hugh Carletau, Ch .airman of Cbmmifctees ia the General Asser ably, lias returned from England in the Portland, wliich arrived at Auckland on tb'3 31st

August,

His Excellency the Governor has appointed the following Crown Solicitors fo.r the conduct of prosecutions, under the re gulations of 23rd February, 1864 :—Frederic 7* Ward Merriman, Esq., of Auckland, in fue Province o£ Auckland ; Arthur Standish , Esq., of NevF. Plymouth, in the Province o'i Tarauaki j John

Nathaniel Wilson, Esq., of Napier, in the ..Province of Hawke's Bay ; Charles Beard Izard, Esq., of Wellington, in the Province of "Wellington ; Hugh Ross, Esq., of Wangan ni, .in the Province of Wellington ; Henry Adams, Esq., of Nelson, in the Province of Nelson ; Thomas Smith Duncan, Esq., of Christchurch, iv the Province of Canterbury ; 'Jsmes Howorth, Esq., of Dunedin, in the Province of Otago; and Thomas Morell Macdonald, Esq., of Invercargill, in the Province of Southland.

By the Lord Ashley we have later news r from the Northern Provinces. Our correspondents' letters appear elsewhere. An important discovery of coal has been made in the north?™ portion of the Auckland Province. The Southern Cross says .—" On Wednesday morning, the 24th ult., a native discovered a seam of excellent coal, on native land, cropping out of the bank of the Wan,garei river, close to Mr Francis Wood's house. The seam is four feet thick, and may be easily worked, being close .to, ; the road, and within four miles of Wangarei wharf. The coal has "been tested, and is found to burn brilliantly."

The following is an extract from a communication from a miner at the Twelve Mile :-" Business is still pretty quiet here, ■but mining operations are being, carried on more briskly by the slaicsrs, now that the weather has moderated a-- little. ..We have, therefore, every prospect of a more plentiful supply of gold, within a few weeks. Two newraces have just been started to work fof the first- time. One of them was commenced •about sixteen months ago by Bush and party. They were some nine or ten mouth employed in tunnelling through two hills. ' To give you an idea of the settled feeling that prevails amongst our population, I may mention that fifteen different parties, all miners, have taken up land, from half an acre upwards, for the purpose of cultivating potatoes, cabbages, and other vegetables, between this place.and the Eight Mile. I also hear of a dairy being established here. So it would seem that a a considerable number of our population have made up their minds not to be interfered with by either the Nelson, Canterbury, or ■any other .diggings.

Ever since the success of the recent Ploughing Matches, at the Taieri, Green Island, and Waikouaiti, there has been an earnest desire, amongst several of our leading agriculturists for the founding of an Annual Champion Match. Three or four private meetings have already been held, in furtherance of the idea, and there is to be a muster this evening, at 7 o'clock, at the East Taieri Hotel, of those interested in establishing, at an early day, so desirable a contest as a competition between the best ploughmen now in the Province of Otago. Liberal subscriptions '.are already promised, and the prizes will well tempt the skill of all men who have ever been awarded * trophy for the best rigg, whether at Home er on this side of the line. We are glad to learn, also, that the same parties who have initiated this meeting of the best men "in the stilts," intend to embrace the present opportunity of forming an "Otago Farmers' Association."

At the opening ofthe Civil Sessions of the Supreme Court yesterday morning, his Honor Mr Justice Richmond, announced that the special jurors summoned for the present Session will not be required to attend the Court until ten o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, next.

The Pigeon Match, for £20 a-side, which we announced as having been made after the late shooting at Port Chalmers, is to come off on Thursday, between Messrs Dyason and: Boutcher. The rivals at trigger pulling are to meet at noon, at Do^son's, Provincial Hotel] and the ground selected is an open paddock, just a pleasant distance down the bay. The terms are 11 birds each ; 21 yards rise; 80 yards boundary, each party finding pigeons for his opponent. - Mr Dodson has also provided plenty of pigeons for an open sweepstakes to fill out the afternoon.

We have been requested by Mrs Skinner to acknowledge the following further contributions collected by her towards the Bazaar Fund: — Heymanson, Esq, £1; Police Department, £28 18s. Total amount collected £64 17s.

The following extract was accidentally omitted from the letter of " Dpg-bury," which appeared in yesterday's number of the Daily Times:—"The Dog Mania at Liverpool—A considerable portion of the time of the Magistrates in one of the Liverpool Police Courts is daily taken up (and occasionally a tpecial court is held for the purpose) in disposing of summonses against persons for allowing their dogs to go at large. The Head Constable has published the following official return: —'Liverpool Constabulary Force, Central Police Office, 31st May, 1864.—-Ke • turn of the number of dogs destroyed by the police in the borough of Liverpool, for the month of May, 1864 :—North town division, -430; south do, 232 ; north dock division, 17; south do, 20; total, 699. Also, during the fame time, 1219 informations were laid against persons for permitting their dogs to be at large.'" .*- The Civil Sessions of the Supreme Court commenced yesterday morning before His Honor Mr Justice Richmond. Ihe first case •on the Common Jury List, Marshall v. Greenwood, was stated to have been settled out of Court. In the case of Keown v. Mansford, the plaintiff accepted a nonsuit before any witnesses were called, in deference to the expressed opinion of the Court. The solicitor in the next case obtained permission to have it put at the foot of the list. The record in the following case was withdrawn. This sudden disposal ofthe first four cases, which were expected to have occupied the entire day's sitting of the Court, evidently took the members of Ihe legal profession by surprise. Case after case was called on, and in -seven of these applications for postponement were made. One legal gentleman pleaded as an excuse that he had come to Court without his brief, while another had brought his brief, but had sent his witnesses home. In others £he plaintiff's counsel was present, but no one

to represent the defendant. At last the twelfth case on the list was come to—Mallen v. Bullock—and in this case both the solicitors were present. The defendant's counsel asked delay, as he was not prepared to go on, hut this was opposed by the plaintifl's counsel, and the Judge ordered the case to be proceeded with. The defendant's counsel (Mr Wilson) then stated that he would not defend the case. The amount claimed was LGS 15s, as wages for work done on plaiutiff's account at Stewart's Island, and travelling expenses. Judgment was given for L 55 los, the amount of the wages claimed. As none of the other cases on the list were ready for hearing, the Court adjourned at an early hour to this morning at 10 o'clock.

A lecture on Phonography will be delivered in the Class-room of the Athenaeum-this evening, at 7 o'clock, by Mr G. Diack. The srnallness of the room renders it necessary to exclude allbiit members of the Athenasum. It is intended to form a class at the conclusion of the lecture.

A meeting of the Otago Building Society took,place last evening in the Oddfellows' Hall, George street, for the disposal of the cash in hand. There was a large attendance of the members of the Society, and the bidding was very spirited. The money sold realised premiums ranging from £5 to £8 17s per shaye of £25.

It was announced at the service in the Baptist Church on Sunday evening last, that the Rev. J. L. Parsons intended giving a lecture on Macaulay's "Lays of Ancient Rome" to-morrow (Wednesday) evening. Admission free, but a collection will be made in the course of the evening in aid of the building., fund. ... Last evening a meeting was held in M'Cubbin's Otago Hotel, for the purpose of forming a Kilted Volunteer Company in connection with the Dunedin Regiment of Volunteer Rifles. About twenty gentlemen were present, and Mr M'Leod was called to the chair. After stating the object of the meeting the Chairman called on Mr Cumming, who said that before anything was mentioned about raising the Militia several gentlemen present had [canvassed for the raising a Highland Corps. He wished it to be distinctly understood that the Company about to be raised was to be a kilted corps, so that there could be no misunderstanding among the members afterwards. He proposed—" That the gentlemen present agree to form -themselves into a Highland Corps, to be called the Dunedin Highland Volunteer Rifles." Mr Steven seconded the motion, which was put to the meeting and agreed to. A list, was then handed round the meeting, and nearly every gentleman present affixed his signature. Mr Campbell then moved—" That a Committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs M'Leod, Grey, Cumming, Steven, Murray, and the mover, to confer with the Adjutant as to the days of drill, to make arrangements as to the uniform, and to report to the next meeting." Mr Grey seconded the motion, which was adopted. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated^the proceedings. . His Excellency the Governor has appointed Wilson Gray, Esq., Gold Fields, Otago, to be one of the Justices of the Peace for the Colony of New Zealand, and Resident Magistrate of the Province of Otago. The jurisdiction of the Kesident Magistrate's Court at Queenstown and Clyde has, by proclamation of his Excellency the Governor, been extended to sums not exceding one hundred pounds. The regulation to take effect from the lst September inst. By a notice in the New Zealand Gazette, J. E. Brown, Esq.., is appointed Deputy Returning Officer for the Electoral District of Tokomairiro. .* We understand that Captain F. Moss has' resigned the captaincy of No. 1 Company of Rifle Volunteers, which he has held since the enrolment of the company. Captain Cargill of the No. 2 Company, has been promoted to the rank of Major. There aire thus two vacancies. The New Zealand Gazette of the lst Sept. contains a proclamation by his Excellency the Governor, annulling a former proclamation, bringing the Dunedin Savings' Bank under the operation of the Savings' Bank Act, from the 23rd of December of last year, and appointing the lst September last the date of its coming under the provisions of the Act. By proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette, under date August 22nd, the native title to the Waitotara; block of Land in the province of Wellington, which is estimated to contain about 40,000 acres., is declared extinguished. By the last mail from England, Captain Wing, the Pilot at Manakau, has received from the Royal Humane Society four medals, to be given to his four native boatmen, who were so useful and daring in trying to save life at the wreck of the Orpheus. Their names are Nehana, Timeona, Kuki, and Roma 5 this last has since left Captain Wing's service and joined the rebels.

The Auckland Weekly News, oi the 3rd instant, says :—" Two of the defaulting captains in the Militia legiments have had their commissions formally cancelled by the Governor. This may be a warning, not yet too late, to some others; but it is to be feared that the evil had spread beyond these narrow limits before any steps were taken to stop it. Of course the cashiering process will not prevent other steps being taken to punish the offenders, but it seems very probable that nothing more than a civil action can lie against the defaulters on account of their deficiencies, and that the criminal prosecution must prove a failure." The following despatch from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies was published in the New Zealand Gazette of the lst inst.:—" Downing street, 27th June, 1864. Sir —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatches Nos. 47 and 52, of the sth and 6th of April, the former enclosing a letter from Sir Duncan Cameron, containing a report of operations which have been successfully conducted by Colonel Warre

at New Plymouth, resulting in the capture of the rebel position ; and the latter enclosing copies of letters and communications which had reached you relating to an important engagement which had taken place with the rebel natives at Orakau on the Upper Waipa. I have to express to you the satisfaction with which I have read these accounts, and I notice with great pleasure the high terms in which Sir D. Cameron speaks of the gallant conduct of the officers and men under his command, and your own expectation that this engagement may aid materially in bringing this lamentable war to a conclusion. I take this opportunity of observing that the inconveniences to which the Australian colonies are exposed from the continued absence of the small detachments of troops allotted to them have been strongly urged upon my attention ; and I must express my earnest hope that in case your anticipations should be realised, you will not fail to take the earliest possible opportunity of restoring to New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Van Diemen's Land, the troops which have been withdrawn from those colonies.—l have, &c, Edward Caldwell.—Governor Sir George Grey, X.C.8., &c."