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Otago Daily Times, Issue 3243, 28 June 1872, Page 2

The 101 st monthly meeting of the Permanent Building Society of Otago will be held this evening at 7.

A great future is in store for the Company's operations if all-goes on w-ell as at present offered, and the parties are of high respecta-

bility that are connected with it. The invention is applicable to the New Zealand flax, the aloe of the Cape, and the plantain of British Guiana. The patent is now being extended to those Colonies, and operations will be commenced in New Zealand at an eai-ly date by the inventor in person." Mr M'Lean informed a deputation that waited upon him in the Waikato the other day, that the Government intend to organise the Militia upon a new system, though they have not decided upon any definite plan for doing so. It is proposed to wind up the Wellington Brewery and Distillery Company, Limited. "JEgles," writing in the Australasian, says :—" The Hustler's Tribute Company, at Sandhurst, has, since November last, paid 21,000 per cent. In other words, it has, in seven months, returned its paid-up capital 211 times. We notice that a special performance will take place at the Princess Theatre on Wednesday next, the 3rd July, under the auspices of the Otago Licensed Victuallers' Association, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the Benevolent Institution. This performance, we understand, will take the place of the usual anniversai-y supper of of the Association. The attendance at the Princess Theatre last night was rather sparse, probably through the miserable weather. To-night being announced for the last representation of " .no Thoroughfare," there should be a better attendan ;e. The ball under the auspices of the Masonic Lodges holding under the Scottish Constitution, will take place in the Masonic Hall this evening. Dancing will commence at 9 o'clock.

Mr John Tinline recently furnished* the Marlborough Express with the following interesting extract from a letter received by him from his brother ia London :—" I send herewith a prospectus cf a Limited Company now in course of formation in London, for working a patented invention of the highest promise for cleaning fibres, and bearing directly on your New Zealand flax industry. The samples shown hive astonished and pleased all who have seen them, Mr Buller of your Colony included. lam taking considerable interest in this matter, and cannot doubt you will also do at an early date. . . .

The Mercury Bay correspondent of the Southern Cross writes :—" A few nights ago Mr A. Hunter, of Mercury Bay, was awakened by the pitiful cries of his little girl, and on proceeding to the room where she slept, he found to Ms great astonishment the little girl's face covered with blood. On examination it was found that a rat had bitten her through the upper eyelid, and also severely in the foot, which, caused her to walk lame for several days. Similar instances of the ferociousness of rats have been frequently recorded."

A.company has been, fbtined to work an extensive coal seam on the side of the Firth of Thames opposite the Goldfields. The capital is £40,000, of which three-fourths are held by English capitalists. Arrangements have been made ffith, the natives to allow of a tramway ten miles"ih length being constructed from the »mines to a convenient shipping place. ——^_c:;----250 men are employed in erecting the telegraph line to Kesfton. A Westport publican has been fined £10 and costs for allowing euchre to be placed for drinks in his hotel. Good prospects of alluvial gold are reported to have been found near Tauranga, and some j promising quartz specimens in the Ohinemuri ranges. Laudable exertions are being made to work the coal mine at Ngakawhao, near Westport. A wharf has been constructed, and 30 men are employed in the pit, in which a tramway is being made. At present about 30 tons . only of coal can be raised daily, but in a short time the daily production will be largely increased. Arrangements have also been made for the conveyance of the coal to Westport. The streets of Grahamstown are reported to be covered with mud so deep that carts sink in it up to the axles. The rails for the Manawatu tramway have been received at Wellington from England. Speaking of Mr Halcombe, the New Zealand correspondent of the London Times, the Evening Post says that no one would dream of accusing him of being the possessor of an average amount of brains. At Nelson, according to the Examin-r, hundreds of tons of fruit rot in ib» settlers' gardens every autumn, and yet preserved fruit is largely imported. The New Zealand Herald asserts that " the postal subsidy to Mr Webb is rapidly injuring our coasting trade," At the District Court, yesterday (says the Southern Cross of a recent date), the four jurymen empanelled to try the case of Glenny v. Morrison consisted of two bulls and two bullocks. That is to say—two who were called answered to the name of Bull, the other two to Bullock. Two others were called who answered to the name of Bullen. The whole of the names had quite a beefy sound. It was a case in which land, cattle, docks, and thistles were in dispute, and the names did in some degree appear to be suitable to the nature of tba case.

At Timaru, coal has lately been quoted at £4 a ton, and' at times has been so scarce that, according to the Herald, ". a king's ransom would not buy a ton."

The Municipal Council of Auckland have resolved to endeavour to obtain from the General Assembly an Act authorising them to borrow £150,000 for the purpose of supplying the city with water.

A telegram we publish to-day refers to a legacy left to the Wellington Hospital by Mr George Martin, formerly of Martin's Hotel, Stafford street. Mr Martin's death is thus recorded by the Independent, in its issue of the 2lst inst. :—-"A well-known and very worthy citizen—Mr George Martin, one of the proprietors of the Pier Hotel—died last night after a painful illness of twelve months' duration. The deceased was wellknown in New Zealand for many years, having been in business in Duuedin for some time ; but for the last seven years he was a resident of Wellington. During his management of the Pier Hotel, which, in conjunction with his partner, he built, he won many friends by his tact and genial and happy disposition. The deceased had, by prudence and economy, succeeded in attaining a moderate competency, and was thinking of paying a visit to his friends in another land, when the hand of death cut short his aspirations at the early age of 38."

The last of the United Evangelical Services was held last night in the First Church. The Rev. Mr Sutherland presided, and conducted the opening devotional exercises. The Rev. Mr Gow, after referring to the danger of prophesying smooth things to those who attended church, as if they were necessarily all converted and saved, spoke of the efficacy of Christ as the only Saviour of men. The Rev. Mr Williams spoke on Christ's words to Nicodemus, " Ye must be born again," showing the necessity of this radical change of heart for all men of every character and condition. Prayers were offered by the Rev. Messrs Reid and Roseby. The attendance was fully larger than at any of the previous, meetings, notwithstanding the very unfavourable state of the weather. Mr J. H. Holland, Invercargill, and Mr Thomas Hughan, Tokomairiro, have been appointed Assessors of Pastoral Lands, in terms of the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1866..

We understand that arrangements have been made at the Post-office for fumigating the contents of the San Francisco mail bags ,prior to commencing the sorting. It is not expected, however, that the correspondence will be delayed more than about half an hour in consequence.

Mr Robert Burns, surgeon, has been appointed a public vaccinator by His Excellency the Governor, and will vaccinate gratuitously all persons who present themselves for that purpose at his office, Princes street, at 1 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday, or at the Court House, Port Chalmers, at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month. He will also distribute, gratuitously, pure lymph to the medical profession.

The Otago Acclimatisation Society held their annual meeting yesterday. The report of the Council of the Society—a voluminous and exhaustive one—is published in another column. Mr W. D. Murison was re-elected chairman, and Mr J. T. Thomson vicechairman. Town and country committees were also appointed.

The petition forwarded to the Resident Minister for the Middle Island on the 27th ult., by a number of settlers in Otago from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, praying that emigration from those places might be placed on a similar footing to that from. Scandinavia, has been rejected.

A meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand, S.C., was held yesterday evening for the installation of office-bearers. Bro. W. H. Reynolds, R.W.S.P.G.S.M., presided, assisted by Bro. Hislop, P.G.S.W., and Bro. Gore, P.G.J.W. The following Brethren were installed into their respective offices :—Bro. A- R. Livingston, P.Gr. Secretary ; Bro. J. B. Park, P.G. Chaplain; Bro. J. H. Leary, P.G.S.D.; Bro. H. M'Donald, P.G. J.D. ; Bro. Hammond, P.G.R.8.; Bro. Beissel, P.G.D.C. ; Bro. Burton, P.G. Jeweller; Bros. Fergusson and Macandrew, P.G. Stewards; and Bros. Chapman and G. Smith as P.G. Sword-bearer and Tyler.

We understand that a petition, numerously signed, is about to be presented to His Excellency the Governor, praying that a free pardon may be granted to Ewing, who, at a recent sitting of the Criminal Court, was found guilty of shooting a Chinaman, at St. Bathans, with intent to do grievous bodily harm. It will be remembered that at the trial the accused's counsel moved the arrest of judgment. The matter was referred to the Court of Appeal, when the proceedings of the Court below were upheld, hence the petition for a free pa- don.

The usual half-yearly meeting of the Dunedin Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., was held in the Royal George Hotel last evening. The officers elected for the ensuing six months were :— Bro. Hamilton, N.G. ; Bro. M'Alister, V.G. ; Bro. Lawson, Sec. ; and Bro. M'Phersor, Warden. The newly-elected brethren returned thanks for the honour conferred on them; and after several new members were proposed, the meeting adjourned until Thursday, the 11th prox.

The offertories in St. Paul's Church on Sunday next will be in aid of the Episcopalian Church at Portobello, and the sermons on the occasion, will be preached by the Rev. R. L. Stanford, of Tokomairiro. The pieces performed on the organ will be as follows ; —Morning Service: Introductory, March from Costa's " Eli " ; Offertory, Adagio, Op. 31, No. 1, Beethoven; Concluding, Viviani'a "Silver Trumpets." Evening Service : Introductory, " Waft Her, Angels," from Handel's "Jeptha"; Offertory, Prayer from Meyerbeer's "Huguenots"; Concluding, Beethoven's " Hallelujah " and " Mount of Olives."

Notice was lately taken by us of a steam crane imported by the Promoters of the Port Chalmers Railway. The crane has been converted by Messrs Easton and M'Gregor, engineers and boiler makers, at the Port, into a handy contractors' locomotive, to be used in taking ballast trucks, rails, &c, along the line, instead of using horses as heretofore. This embryo engine was started yesterday afternoon, by Mr M'Gregor, from the Port end proper of the tunnel, with at least 30 people on the truck or luggage carriage on which it has been placed. After starting it gained considerable speed, ran through the tunnel, and on to the embankment in Mussel Bay, where it was stopped, and the machinery heiag

reversed, returned to its starting poiht. without the smallest hitch, much to the satisfaction of its passengers, who during the journey gave some vociferous cheers, as also did the spectators along the line of route. The juveniles especially seemed to be greatly astonished at the iron horse, which will in future save a considerable amount of money to the promoters.

A pro re nala meeting of the Dunedin Presbytery was held yesterday, in the First Church, to consider .application for moderation in a call from Kaikorai congregation. The Presbytery delayed granting moderation, in order to comply with the Synod regulations, which requires that the Sustentation Fund Committee be iirst satisfied. The Presbytery expressed their own satisfaction with the application, and transmitted it with their recommendation to the Sustentation Fund Committee.