News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 982, 24 September 1870, Page 14

News of the Week.

An Episcopal churoh is about to be erected at Lawrence. His Honour the Superintendent will address his constituents at Balolutha, on Friday, the 30i;h inst., at 7 p.m. Total abstinence is the order of the day in Lawrence. The temperance society lately established there now numbers 75 members. The number of men at work on the road between Tokomairiro and Waitauuna is stated by the Tuapeka. Times to be 250. A Wanganui paper reports that typhus fever has broken out among the Maoris at Ofcaki, and that eight deaths have already taken place. We learn from the English papers that ■ despatches were sent to His Excellency the Governor on the 18th July, three days after ! war was declared between France and Prus» sia. Cn Tuesday, Mr Justice Chapman heard counsels' argument on the question of costs of the rule lately obtained in the case of ; Regina v. Bagley, and ordered defendant to pay the costs. The construction of the line of telegraph I from Invercargili to Riverton was com. menced a few days ago. If poles can be procured readily, it is expected that the line ! will be completed and ready for use in the course of a few weeks. | A miner named Robert Richardson, who ' was about 25 years old, was killed at Naseby on the 7th inst. by the fall of earth whilst working in his claim. The deceased was ft native of bush Mills, Co. Antrim, Ireland, where his mother lives. Mr Birch desires us to intimate to those j interested in the manufacture of flax that he has some copies remaining of the Flax Commissioners' report, and that he will be glad to send them free by post to such address as may be sent him. The trial of Messrs Watson and Gow's double-furrow ploughs came off at Caversham on Wednesday afternoon last, in the presence of a large concourse of spectators, many of whom were from Dunedin. The ploughs worked admirably, and gave general satisfaction. We learn with much pleasure from our Wellington telegrams that Captain and Adjutant Atkinson has been promoted to the rank of Major. We feel sure that the announcement will be received with much satisfaction by all, whether Volunteers or not, in Dunedin. On Friday, the 9th instant, a very successful tea meeting and soiree was held in the School house, Roxburgh. The attendance was unusually large, and the proceeds, after deducting expenses, left a clear balance of L 27 for the benefit of the school funds, on behalf of which the soiree was held. The recovery of the notes stolen from the lock-up at Clyde seems to have been a happy release from anxiety to the storekeepers at St. Bathans, who had suddenly refused to give change for notes. Since the announcement of the recovery of the stolen treasure, however, they as suddenly found themselves in possession of plenty of change. A whale was caught off Waikouaiti oe Thursday last week by Bradshaw's Bay Whaling Company. Three boats were out after it ; that in charge of George Robertson, the well known half-caste, fastened to the whale at 7 o'clock, and it was killed at 9. It was 50 feet in length, and will, it is estimated, yield seven tuns of oil. A gentleman residing in Napier recently performed the unusual feat of catching a conger eel sft. Bin. in length, and 15in. in girth, with his umbrella. After pelting the creature with stones, which it " ravenously attacked," he offered it the handle of his umbrella, which it seized, and was forthwith dragged on to dry land and secured. It appears, says the Evening Post, that the officers of H.M.S. Galatea, from the Royal Commander downwards, are disgusted at the prospect of a two years' cruise in Australian waters. Letters from the vessel denounce the cruel fiat which has for so long a j time postponed the return of the writers to j their native homes, in the most vigorous and expressive language. The complimentary benefit to Mr John B>irr, of Craigielee, in aid of publishing his " intended new work,'' was given on Tuesday at the Masonic Hall, under the auspices of the Mutual Improvement Associations in aud around Dunedin, and the patronage of the Mayor and Corporation, and the Caledonian Society of Otago. His Worship the Mayor presided, and the Hall was filled. The selections of music were generally well chosen, and gave great satisfaction. The weekly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society took place on the 14th. Present — Messrs F. Fulton, Kenyon, Carrick, Shennan, Eccles, Murison (in the chair), and Clifford. Ths manager reported that the ova were progressing favourably, and that he had turned 17 perch into the reservoir. It was reported that a pair of partridges were flushed last week in the Green Island district. A subscription of Ll was received from Mr G. Matthews. Two counter petitions, both numerously signed, from the inhabitants of Hawksbury, have been forwarded to the Seat of Govern, ment, praying for the removal of the Post Office and. Telegraph Buildings to more ! central situations. The petitions recommending separate Bites, as each being the more

suitable one. If the Government, however, allow the buildings to remain where they are, the larger portion of the community will, no doubt, be satisfied. A St. Bathans correspondent writes to us as follows : — "Sir— l am at present learning to play the violin, but there being no teacher of music in the isolated locality in which I reside, I take the liberty of esquiring through your columns if there be in use an instrument of any kind by wbioh accurate calculation of ' time' can be made. If there should be no such instrument, perhaps one of your musical readers would kindly inform me, through the Daily Times, of some plan for calculating relative time in music." A fine specimen of the Carcharias glaucus, or blue shark, was brought to Dunedin on the 14th, having been caught by a couple of fisherman » m lo or two north of Waikouaiti on the previous afternoon. It measured 7ft. 3in. in length, and about 4ft. 6in. in girth ; had three rows of sharp conical teeth in each jaw, the front row projecting outward ; dorsal and pectoral fins large and strong ; ventrals thin and flit ; tail of the usual heterocercal shape. The animal was a male. It has been secured for the Museum. A gang of prisoners is now employed in digging, trenching, and otherwise preparing the land adjoining the Hospital for a recreation ground, which has long been urgently needed, as the convalescent patients have hitherto been compelled practioally to sit and walk in the street when taking the air. The ground was neatly fenced in a short time ago, and the whole work, when completed, will not only be useful for the purpose for which it is designed, but will likewise much improve the appearance of King street. As already announoedin our columns by telegraph, the Governor of Victoria has appointed a Royal Commission to consider and report on the necessity of a federal union of the Australian colonies. The commission consists of Sir Francis Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly ; the Hon. T. H. Fellows, the Hon. C. Gavaa Duffy, the Eon. Captain M'Mahon, the Hon. John Macgregor, the Hon. J. F. Sullivan, the Hon. Edward Langton, the Hon. J. J. Casey, the Hon. G. B. Kerferd, the Hon. Graham Berry, M.L.A 's, and the Hon. J. Graham, M.L.C. Mr Duffy is chairman of the commission. As a Mr Joyce was crossing the Waitaki River at Awamoko on the 6ch inst., he came upon the skeleton of a man lying upon a shingle bank in the river. Constable O'Neill, j upon being informed of the fact, went to the spot, and h d the body carried to the nearest hotel. It appeared to have been dead about j four months, and there was nothing found upon it that might lead to its identification. An inquest was subsequently held, at which the verdict returned by the jury was — ! "Found dead, but how deceased came by his death the jury are unable to say." A committee meeting of the City Council was held on Saturday to take into consideration a letter from the City Solicitors, in answer to one from the Council requesting them "to review the decision given by Mr Justice Chapman, as to what constitutes a valid vote under the Municipal Ordinance, prior to the Council coming to any resolutions as to defending Mr Bagley in any proceedings which may be taken on the part of Mr Woodland, with the view of unseating him." After the letter had been read and discussed, it was resolved not to take any action in the matter. At a large and influential meeting of the congregation of the English Church, Tokomainro. held on the evening of Monday week, the following motion was mo^ed by Mr R. R. Jones, seconded by Mr Dewe, and carried: — "That the Vestry be authorised to issue L 5 debentures to the extent of L3OO, bearing interest at 10 per cent, per annum, payable half year y, the interest to be one of the first charges upon the Church revenue." It appears that a debt to the extent of L3OO hangs over the Church, and this method has been adopted to dispose of it in the meantune. The following telegrams, addressed to the Consul of the North German Confederation for Otago, Mr H. Houghton, have been handed to us for publication : — ■•• Point de Galle, 18th July, 1870. To the North German Consul. Dunedin. The following telegram received from London, is forwarded for your information : — ' Draw attention of German shipmasters to risks in case of war with France.'— 'Bombay, 20th July, 1870. Announce war of Franca against Germaay to German Consuls in all directions, especi'Uiy to Straits, China, Japan, Australia, to warn all masters of German vessels. — By order of Bismarck.' " The immigrants who arrived at Lyttelton a few days ago by the ship Monarch, from London, were speedily engaged at the following rate of wages :— Married couples (agricultural labourers), L 56 to L6O ; single men (agricultural labourers), L2O to L3O. Single women, good cooks, L 25 to L3O ; general Bervants, L2O to L 25;2 5; housemaids, Lls to L2O ; nursegirls, L 8 to Ll2. The Immigration Officer reported that he believed that double the number of single women would have readily found good situations. Only nine out of 30 single men remained in the barracks on Friday, and only 16 out of 26 families. Evangelistic meetings were held in the j Waikouaiti Presbyterian Church on the evenings of the 14th and 15th inst., having for their object a revival of religion in the district. The services were conducted by several clergymen and others, and were well

attended. — On the following evening, in the same place, Mr Gilbert, missionary- at Port Chalmers, delivered an excellent and,instruc« tive lecture on " Copper and Tin Mining," illustrated by diagrams. There was a good attendance, and a satisfactory collection made at the door in behalf of the Seamen's Mission. The lecture waa well handled and highly appreciated, During the month of August 3 men, 3 boys, and 1 girl were admitted into the Otago Benevolent Institution, and 1 man and 1 boy were discharged. Out-door relief waa afforded during the Bame period to 13 old or disabled men, 65 women, and 196 children, making a total of 279 persons. Of these 75 belonged to the Church of Enaland, 116 were Presbyterians, 47 Roman Catholics, 20 Wesleyans, and 21 of other unspecified denominations. The weekly sum disbursed was L 25 lOe 6d. The inmates of the Institution at the commencement of the present month were 15 men, 3 women, 46 boys, and 28 girls ; total, 92. We do Bot know why the Chamber of Commerce fixed upon LIOO as the precise sum which the General Grovernment ought to grant as a subsidy to a steamer for the conveyance of the next Suez mail. They must have known that the amount would be considered inadequate by the owners of the steamer, and consequently that it would probably be rejected. We have reason to be'ieve that, unless the sum is increased, the mail will not be brought on " within fifteen hoars of its arrival in Melbourne." The Chamber of Commerce would have done better, we think, had it left the responsibility of making terms in the hands of the General Government. The new grounds at Forbury Park were enlivened on Saturday afternoon by two pigeon matches being competed for by two well-known shots, Mr Edwards and Mr Scott, both of Caversham. The arrangement was that Edwards should have nine birds *o Scott's seven. Edwards, who opened the ball, missed his first four birds, but killed his next five. Scott missed his third bird, which fell out of bounds, but killed six within bounds, thus winning by one bird. In the second, match, Scott laid Edwards two to one, Edwards giving two dead birds out of seven. The match resulted, after some excellent shooting on both sides, in a tie, and the shooting off was post* poned. for lack of birds. A small wooden building has lately been built on a mudbank in that debatable ground between land and water, off the Anderson's Bay road, and the " reason why," a building has been put up in that uninhabitable quarter has, no doubt, been pondered by the curious. This building is a branch of the powder magazine on the other side of the bay, and from it are to be drawn supplies of powder as required. Not more than two tons of powder at most will be stored in it, and it has been erected in the locality in question with a view to obviating the necessity of landing powder at the Rattray street jetty. A channel about nine chains in length, has been cut to it, so as to allow of boats being brought alongside ; and & pathway, with a wooden tramway, on which runs a truck for the conveyance of the barrels of powder, has been formed from the building to the road. A large flour and saw mill is about to be erected in Kaitangata Bush by Messrs Lawson and Macfarlane. The want of suoh au establishment has long been felt in the neighbourhood, and the erection of the 'mill is consequently hailed by the settlers with satisfaction. Messrs Davidson and Co. 's flax mill at Kaitangata Creek, is also an important feature in the local industries of the district. It is Baid that some of the finest-dressed fibre offered in Dunedin has been turned out at this establishment, which has consequently obtained a well-deserved reputation in this respect. The establishment of a pottery, either at Kaitangata or Coal Point has also been mooted, but as yet no active steps have beeu taken in the matter. The probability of the river service being resumed has caused great rejoicing in the district, as much inconvenience and delay, as well as loss, have been experienced since the service was discontinued. The firing for No. 1 Company's Belt took place on Saturday morning and afternoon, at the North Dunedin Rifle Range. Only 14 competitors put in an appearance. The shooting, on the whole, was very good, takiug into consideration the fact that no previous practice had t een had, and that this was the first match of the season. The match was a very exciting one, as several members at different times took the lead, when an unfortunate miss put another man to the front. At the commencement of the last range, some half-dozeu were about equal, when Corporal M'Gregor, Corporal Treseder, and Volunteer Creagh gradually took the lead, closely followed by Volunteer Hamilton, who unfortunately failed ro get the range at 700 yards, and did not get on the target, when he ran up the fine score of 17 at 750 yards, and 8 at 800 yards, giving him the fourth prize. The scores of the winners are as follows :—

A number of agricultural implements were recently imported from America by Captain Baldwin, which cannot fail to be of the greatest interest to all persons connected with farming. The implements are at present on Tiew afc the store of Mr W. Can? Young, Eattray street Amongst them v a

double-farrow plough, known as Treadwell and Cob G-ang Plough, whioh differs in many material points from any other plough we hava seen. It is fitted with a seat for the s)loughman or driver, who by means of a ever can regulate the depth of the furrow, or set the shares to or from the land, whilst set screws enable him to widen or narrow the gauge of the furrows. Captain Baldwin has seen these ploughs in use in various parts of America, and speaks in tho highest terms of their superiority over otheis. He also shows a hay rake made to be dr *wn by a horse, and so arranegd that when one set of teeth is full, it oin be turned over, leaving the hay ia a ridge, and another set brought into operation. He has also brough 1 a shingling maonine, which, not only splits the shingles, but planes the side edges, so as to make them fit compactly. The implements are fitted np at the place indicated, and are well worth a visit of iuepection.

The undermentioned prisoners were received into the Gaol at 2 o'clock on Saturday morning, per escort from the Dunstan, committed for trial at the ensuing sessions of the Supreme Court :— James Neill, Richard Fellows, James Anderaon alias Maori Jack, and Thomas Hewton, for that, on or about the 30th ultimo, at Bannockburn. they did feloniously steal, take, and carry away thirteen sheep, of the value of L 4 11s, the property of William Snelling Graham and Henry Walton, of Hawksburn station ; James Muir, for that, on or about the 6th uliimo, at Pembroke, he did violently assault one Ellen Primiate, and then and there, violently and against her will, feloniously did ravish and carnally know her ; William Walsh, sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour, for that he did, on the 23 rd ult., at Alexandra, unlawfully assault Mary Ann Clifford, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided. James Wilson alias William Jackson, was received on Saturday, from Tokomairiro, sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour, convicted of having on the 13th inst., at Milton, imposed on William Sturrack, and obtained the sum of 5a by false and fraudulent pretences, contrary to section 4, clause 3, Vagrant Act. 1869.

Daring the past few days a large number of very interesting articles have been added to the collection in our local Museum Among these may be mentioned a large model of a wire suspension bridge, presented by Mr Haworth, zincworker, Princes street ; ten fine stone implements, of various shapes (Maori), found lately near Coal Creek Station, Shag Valley, by Mr L. Moore ; a collection of 56 sorts of fibre from India, by Dr Hector ; a volcanio bomb, from Manukau Heads, and a large collection of minerals from the Thames, Coromandel, and other places in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and eteel sand, also by Dr Hector ; a piece of timber belonging to H.M.S. Orpheus, wrecked on the Manukau Bar about 8 years ago, by Capt. Fairchild of the p.s. Luna, per Mr C. Smith ; and last but by no means least in interest, a specimen of the Euplectella aapergillum, from the Philippine Islands, presented by Dr Symes of H.M.S. Galatea. It is a most interesting object, and very worthy of inspection, particularly by the ladies, as preseuting a natural piece of the finest lace or crochet work. It consists of a hollow cone, Blightfy bent like a horn, closed at the wide end, and begins at the narrow end in a great number of very fine silk-like filaments, from whioh is produced a beautiful raised pattern, superior to anything ever done with knitting pins and needles.

A meeting of directors of the Caledonian Society was held in Wain's Hotel on Friday evening. The chair was occupied by Mr Kirkcaldy, Vice President of the Society . The report of the Sub-committee on the " Prize Poem and School Competition," was laid before the meeting, and after discussion the following resolutions were adopted :—": — " 1. That the subject of the Prize Poem for the present year be — The National Rallying Cry — "Guallin a Chiel," " Shouther to Shouther;" and that the poem be limited to one hundred and fifty lines. 2. That the School Competition be in the following subjects :— (1.) An examination, partly viva voce and partly written, on Scottish History during the period from the acccesion of James "VI. (1603) to the death of Queen Anne. (2.) A grammatical analysis of a portion (to be prescribed at the examination) of "The Vision" by Robert Burns. (3.) Recitations from memory from the works of writere in the Scottish language. (4.) Recitations from memory from the works of English writers The pieces selected for recitation to consist in every case of not less than twenty lines. Separate prizes to be awarded in each of these four divisions, and a prize or prizes to be given for excellence in the whole of the subjects. After a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting separated.

The English telegrams informed us of the deadly effeot of the new French cannon, the mitrailleur, in the late conflict at Weissenburg. The following description of this gun, from a London publication, will be of interest : — The mitrailleur (which derives its name from mitraille, the French word for a case (hot), *'is a light 37- barrelled gun, arranged ■o that its barrels may be discharged simultaneously or consecutively. The 37 cartridges, intended for one charge, are contained in a small box. A steel plate, with corresponding holes, is placed on the open box, which ia then reversed.and the cartridges fall points foremost into their respective holes. They are prevented from failing through by the rims at their bases. The loaded pMte to then introduced into the breech-slot,

, and when the breeoh la olosed by a lever, a number of steel pine, pressed by apiral springs, are only prevented from striking the percussion arrangement in the cartridges a pbite in f -ont of them. When thi3 case is moved slowly by a handle, the cart* idges are frn d one by one. If the plate be withdrawn rapidly, they follow each other so quickly that their discharge is all but simultaneous. The invention seems very well adapted for use in forts or other permanent places of defence or offence, but its carriage and management in the field would present many and insuperable obstae'es to its general use."

A point of some importance was dfcided on the 14th by Mr Justice Chapman in Chambers, on a question of costs. laßeginav. Fulton, a rule nisi was obtained to quash a conviction. The rule nisi was argued, and Mr Justice Ward was of opinion that, on the merits, the conviction was bad, and that the rule should be made absolute ; but he reserved a case for the opinion of the Court of Appeals, as to "whether a conviction could be quashed without a writ of certiorari." The Court of Appeals decided that a certiorari was not necessary, and therefore directed that the rnle should be made absolute. The successful party proceeded to tax costs against the magistrate and the substantial party, without drawing up the rule. The Judge decided that the course adopted was premature, and therefore wrong. The certificate of the Chief Justice sitting in the Court of Appeals is not the judgment ; it is mei m ely a direction to the Registrar as to what judgments shall be entered up. But the summons in Chambers went beyond that. The original rule nisi asked for costs against the magistrate or the informant. The learned Judge decided that aa the rule nisi asked for costs in the disjunction, the rule absolute could not be drawn up without ambiguity ; that the learned Judge who heard the case should hav6 been asked to award costs, and then the rule abßolute could have teen drawn up with certainty. The Court of Appeal had not mentioned costs — indeed they had no power to do so j nor bad he (the learned Judge) any power to vary the rule as to costs. The summons was therefore allowed, and the taxation of costs was set aside. Mr Macassey in support of the summons : Mr Stewart showed cauße.

In the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Tokomairiro, on Tiusday w eik, Mr Maitland gave judgment in a case Dunn v. Bruce, and winch is of considerable importance to Wardens, Licensees, and all having an interest in depasturing Btock within Hundreds. The point has perhaps never before been raised xn a court of law, and, we believe, the decision arrived at by Mr Maitland is contrary to the popular conception of the meaning of the Waste Land Regulations, and the practice which has hitherto been adopted in carrying them out The fol lowing is the decision, which sufficiently explains itself : — "This is an information hid by the complainant against the defendant for harassing certain cattle, to wit, about ]00 sheep, within the limits of the South Tokomairiro Hundred, contrary to sec. 2 of the Regulations for the Management of Depasturing within Hundreds, made by the Waste Land Board under the provisions of the Otago Waste Land Act, 1866, Amendment Act, 1869. It appears that the driving or harassing of the cattle referred to in the information, took place on the defendant's freehold land, lying within the limit b of the Hundred, and it is contended on the part of the complainant that the defendant, having made a certain return to the Waste Lands Board of his land within the Hundred as unenclosed, that the same should be considered as a cession of his right to exclusive depasturage of his land, and that the land would, in fact, thereby become a part of the commonage of the Hundred, and that he himself, as far sb regards that land, must be held to coma under the operation of the regulation referred to above. I cannot, however, hold this to be the case. The authority of the Waste Land Board to pass the regulation under a section of which the present information is laid, is derived from sec. 6 of the Waste Land Act, 1866, Amendment Act, 1869, which, after authorising the Board to make regulation for providing for the safety, &c, of the cattle within the Hundreds, provides that the Bame shall be applicable to any person offending against the same, and be applicable not only to persons to whom licenses are granted, but to those to whom no licenses are granted and to all unenclosed lands within the limits of the Hundred, with the important exception, except as regards the owners of such unenclosed lands. lam therefore of opinion that under the cironmstanoes, the regulation cannot be held to apply to the defendant."

The Victorian hangman, William Batnford, having received his fee for the exeoution of Cusack, proceeded to enjoy himself, by holding a sort of "lawn party" on the grass behind the Immigrants' Home. Bamford, when out of gaol, usually lives amongst the scrub in this vicinity, and on the present festive occasion his guests were fellow outcasts who also inhabit the wilds between the Yarra and the Observatory. Four bottles of rum were procured, and having held a noisy orgie, the boon companions separated, Bamf.O"d proceeding to the Immigrants' Home, where he began to use disgusting language towards the schoolmaster ot the place. He was taken to the lock-up, and yesterday, having recovered the effeot of his debauoh, he was taken before the City Court and fined L 5, or two months' imprisonment, for disorderly conduct;,

Corpl. M'Gregor „ Treseder. Vol Creagh „ Hamilton 700 13 10 12 0 750 800 Tl. 13 12-38 13 10—33 10 9—31 17 8—25