RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (Before J. Gillies, Esq., R.M.)

Otago Witness, Issue 522, 30 November 1861, Page 5

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. (Before J. Gillies, Esq., R.M.)

.FRID.VY. 20ttl NoVKMBUK.

J. Kirkpatrick, and J. Stuart were fined 20s. or 46 horn's imprisonment, for drunkenness. J. Salmond for a similar offence was fined 10s. A charge against J. Johnstone for exposing his person was disinisfe'l. A charge of the same nature against W. Breckmore Aras met by a fine of 2s. fid. and 7s. 6d. costs. A charge against Messrs. Jones and Williamson of obstructing the thoroughfare was postjjoned. An information against Eliza Dobin for having an unregistered dog, was dismissed. J. Matthews, and A. Hastie were each fined 2s. 6d. costs, for having horses unlawfully at large. Win. Collins, and j Winkfield were each fined £2 and costs for furious riding. \V. M'Lee for throwing rubbisfl in the street, was fined 10s. and costs. J. Diwsnn for having a horse unlawfully at large, was fined 2s. 6d.- and costs. Wm. Grey was fined £oO for a breach of the Licensing Ordinance. If science has its victims, it has also its successful votaries; and, probably, hs who conquers ona fact from the boundies* realms of fhe unknown, deserves more of his kind, and experiences more true delight, than the victor of n. hundred battle-fields. For many centuries it has been supposed that the atmosphere we breathe is composed of oxygen and nitrogen, and that the constituent gasses of water are oxygen and hydrogen. It has been reserved for onr contemporary, the Colonist, to explode this doctrine. With the modesty that always accompanies true knowledge, he docs not parade bis discovery ; on the contrary, under the transparent disguise of a simile, he indirectly intimates a fact that will revolutionize science. "As the oxygen and hydrogen," sa}'S our author, "in the natural atmosphere, must be duly blended- in their proper pioportions, to sustain animal life, so capital and labour," &c, &c. But if hydrogen and oxygen form the natural atmosphere, what is water composed of, or is it v a fish out of water" who writes, who considers the briny his natural element. A sale of lots in the Clarendon Township was held during the week at Tuapeka and Waitahnna, by 'Messrs IT. E Nathan & Co. 1 Over two hundred allotments were sold at very | fair prices. The competition for some of tlu best situations was very keen, and tha attend- j ance numerous. j

Amongst the improvements in Dunedin one of the most noticeable is the splendid coveredin sale yard and range of stables now nearly completed, erected by Messrs. Jones. Bird & Co. They will be the Tattersalla of Dunedin. The Daily Times comments on the absence of any amusements in Otago, and suggests that money-making should not be constituted the pole business of life. A Caledonian Society, for the promotion of Scottish games, boat racing, horse rac : .ng, a promenade, with an afternoon band (a militar}' one, a fair correspondent suggests), a cricket club, and an athletic society, are all recreations as innocent as they are promotive of health and enjoyment. We are glad to sec that in regard to in-door relaxation a step in the right direction has been taken in the formation of the Young Men's Christian Association. We look to great success for thH institution. A scries of lectures is announced to take place immediately. Ilis Honor the Superintendent will open the bill on Wednesday evening nest, with an addres3 on the general purposes of associations of the kind. The following lecture will be giveu by Mr. Fon=aith, and the next by Mr. Richmond. In another column the suggestion is thrown out that a Fancy Bazaar should be held, to provide funds lor (ho csiablishmeut of a benevolent asylum. Here i.s an opportunity not often afforded of combining amusement with usefulness. , Mr. Archibald Cnrric, formerly in the Customs' service, was found dead in his bed, on Monday morning List. lie hnd retired the previous evoning in his usual health. An inquest was held, from which it appeared that death resulted from natural cauren.

The Superintendent, finding a difficulty in filling the vacancy caused oy the resignation of Mr. Cutten, has deemed it necessary to cor;. one another session of' the Council. Tiuusday iuxt is the day fiv -d, when the Superintendent will op^n the .-.e* -ion in person. Several other matters besides the vacancy in th." Executive are l'koly to bo Ivotr^hr before honorable members. Amount these, the obitrujtive policy puisiioJ by ihc General Government will occupy a pro::iin.:iif position It is to be hoped that a movement in the interest of the separation of the two islands will be initiated. Resolutions affirming the dehirability of the same should be passed, and a committee appointed to take steps to form a federal alliance with the several provinces of the Southern Island, to urge, at the foot of the throne if ncce3sar3', claims to be constituted into a distinct colony. An Old SKTTi.na's Opinion* or tiik Diggi.vgs. — We are in receipt of the following. We purpose!}' omit names: — ;> Dear Sir, being under mob law, they have taken possession of my property here, in so far, that they drive and travel through it night and day, either breaking down, or leaving open gates to such an extent that I have had to inform all parties intending to send mare? to the horse that I cannot receive them. Under such a very agreeable state of matters, I have to requeit that you will withdraw the advertisement at once. A little more and I shall^ have to give up my place to the public, and seek quiet and repose Go:l knows w.'iere. I tru*t the diggings have made your fortune, its more than they have done mine. They have taken my sheep run. and now, as nearly as possible, my property here has passed into their hands draying and carting goods from the ve.-sels to the diggings. The CarperUcrs in the early part of the week struck for a rise in their wages. Twelve shillings a day was the amount they were receiving, and fifteen shillings was what they stipulated for. We believe the employers conceded in mea c ure to their demands. We understand negotiations are in progress Avich a private firm for the immediate construction of a line of Telegraph to Tort Chalmers. It is to be hoped the interests of the public will be protected in the arrangement come to. The Dailii Times has written a very strong article on the subject of providing Mrne precautions in the the event of fire. Dunedin at present would be quite at the mercy of a fire. A practical exemplification of this was nearly being made apparent j'esterda}'. Some goods in the shop, an extremely small one, occupied by Mr. Fogel b\ Princes Street, caught lire ; lucidly it was di covered in time to be extinguished. The prospect us appears in another column of a company formed for the purpose of purchasing rural lands from the Crown, and reselling or letting them to the shareholders "in OAlcr to give the small capitalist an opportunhy of acquiring a freehold without being compelled to purchase sit an exorbitant price, or leasing at a usurious rate of interest from private individuals." The shares are to be of £10 each, £1 paid up to commence with. The laud is to be let at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum, or when sold, an advance of 10 per cent is to be charged. By the " Heund," from London, o valuable addition to the stock of the Province has been made by Mr. Nimmo. She brines a pure Ch'desdale entire horse, two mares of the same breed, a short-horn bull, and two cows. It appears that if the General Government doen not, within a period of three months, disallow the Harbour Endowment "Bill, the Provincial Government will be entitled by law to consider it in force and act on it. Accounts from "Wethcrstone's represent th.it the population ahvajdx_.n.uinber.s 5000, and i? fast increasing." The IJills and Gullies in the neigh hour! lood arc yielding astonishingly well. A report was in circulation that a large nugget was found, but the information is not reliable. Much inconvenience is felt at Waitahuna owing to Captain Baldwin's not heiug gazetted to a commission of the peace.