News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1228, 12 June 1875, Page 15

New s of t he Week.

During the week ending June sth, sixteen new boarders entered, and thirteen left, the Sailors' Home, leaving twenty-five inmates at present.

We aro authorised to contradict the rumour telegraphed by our Wellington correspondent and the Press Agency, that Mr Vogel has pliced his resiguation iv the hands of his colleagues.

We hear that the Taiori Lake Station, with 42,000 sheep, has been sold by Messrs Saunders Brothers to Mr Charles Stewart, late of the firm of Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co., Mr F. D. Rich, of Bushy Park, and Mr Mackenzie, of Maniototo.

If, says our Clyde correspondent, the demands of the rival townships of Clyde and Cromwell, each for the possession of a gaol, are to be complied with, a criminal population in the Dunstan district instead of being ©bjectionable will be at a premium.

The Clutha Leader reports that last week two (juarter'acro pectioos, sold at Kaftan,

gata, realised £280 sterling. The rapid rise in the value of property at this place may be gathered from the fact that three years ago they were purcased tor a sum of £14 cash.

Mr John Barr, of Cragielee, poet to the Caledonian Society of Dunedin, wa3 entertained at a supper in Mr Jones's Hotel, Manse street, by the Directors of the Society on Tuesday, prior to hia departure for Scotland on a visit. There were about forty present. Our Clyde correspondent telegraphed on •Thursday as follows: — The news received here of the new Executive gives very general satisfaction. Mr Mackellar's reinstatement as Goldfields Secretary inspires confidence that the gold fields interests will receive the attention their importance merit. We hear that a match at foot-ball between Engineers of the Public Works Department aud the Dunedin Club is arranged, or nearly so, to come off on Mr Pitt's ground at Warrenton, on the 17th inst. The Dunedin players are to come out in coaches. Should the day be favourable a pleasant game with plenty of fun is anticipated. Mr Wm. Grant, the contractor for the building of the new bridge across the Molyneux at Clyde, is proceeding in a very satisfactory manner with his work. The stone abuttnent on the eastern bank of the river is well nigh completed. On Tuesday last the workmen commenced the work of preparing the foundations for the abutment on the western side of the river. During the week ended June sth, twentyono patients were admitted into the Dunedin Hospital, and niueteen were discharged therefrom. Two deaths occurred, William Auld, labourer, aged 60, native of Scotland, died from disease of the heart ; John Fisher, seaman, aged 42, native of Scotland, died from consumption. The number of patients at present in the Hospital is 175, of whem 42 are females. Our Naseby correspondent telegraphed on Monday that a heavy fall of snow commenced on Friday afternoon and continued till Saturday night. It is a foot deep. The nights are frosty. Yesterday James Lungford was brought to the Hospital with a broken thigh. The same man was recently discharged from the Hospital after recovery from two fractures of the same thigh. Everything is very dull. A seaman named Frank Fincher afiai M'Ne'll, was arrested on Thursday, after a vigilant search by Constable Bain, on a charge of stealing three silver war medals from the Munster Arras Hotel, the property of James M'lCeane. M'Keaneisanold soldier belonging to the 78th Highlanders, and received one medal for service in Persia, the other, with two clasps, for Lucknow. and the third for long service and good conduct. A meeting of the Committee of the Dune din Canary and Poultry Association was h^ld at the Bull and Mouth Hotel on Thursday. Sub Committees M'eie appointed to prepare the programme for the next show, which it is expected will take place during the month of August ; to revise the rules, aud to canvass the City for special prizes. From the amount of interest already taken, the- coming show bids fair to be a great success. On re-entering the bailiff's office in the Resident Magistrate's Court buildings on Monday last, Mr Barnes discovered that the desk had been wrenched open and rifled of, it is believed, £130. It is conjectured that the supposed burglar or buiglars obtained an entrance by the window facing Water street, which had been left unlocked. The Police were at once put on the alert, but so far have not succeeded in obtaining any clue to the perpetrators of the robbery. A meeting of the Committee of the Euphrosyne Relief Fund was to have been held at the City Council Chambers on Thursday afternoon, but only the Mayor and Captain Farnie put in an appearance. Tbe Mayor, who is hon treasurer, informed the reporters present that the amount paid into the Bank up to date was £268 12s, that several lists had yet to come in, and that it waß likely that the whole sum collected would be about £400. A sum of £90 has to be sent from Oamaru. The price of stock up country has very much increased in value lately. Cattle are worth exactly 50 per cent, more than they were twelve months since, and for fat and dairy stock. there is a decided upward tendency. At two sales of cattle held lately by Mr George Fache at the Teviot, also at a sale held by Mr Charles Colclough at Cromwell, the biddings were very spirited. So many eager buyers have not been present at any 1 cattle sale held on the Goldfields for some j few years past. A special Gazette, published on Thursday, gives the names of the members of the new Executive, as follows : — Mr lleid, Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Lands and Railways j MrDavie, Provincial Treasurer; Mr Green, Secretary for Works ; Mr Mackellar, Secretary for the Goldfiolds ; Mr Lumsden represents Southland, and Mr Steward the Northern district. Though Mr Stout is not gazetted as Provincial Solicitor, it is generally understood that when the Executive Ordinance is amended, he will hold that office, From the correspondence laid before the Provincial Council, we learn that the Acting Home Agent, Mr S. Andrew, has eugaged the following gentlemen to proceed to this Province as teachers • — Messrs R. Petrie, M. A., Jate master of tho parish school, Carnoc, Dunfermline } Mr Alexander Stott, late master of the burgh school, Girvan i and Mr T. W. Grant, t 0 be assistant teacher, High School, Dunedin. The two first-mentioned were to sail by the Aldergrove, from Glas--gow, on April 29 ; and Mr Grant, about the beginning of July. We regret to learn that Mr Stuart Hawthorne, lately Rector of the High School, died at his residence at Maori Hill at about eight o'clock on" Tuesday evening, after a painful and protracted .illness. Mr Hawthorne had a dangerous illnesß in December and was scarcely recovered, when he was attacked by the disease to which he succumbed. His death will cause regret among a numerous circle of friends to waom his I geniality and kindly nature endeared him. Mr Hawthorne leaves a widow and several young children, The funeral will take place tO'morw. *

The Western Star understands that "Mr D. Proudfoot has purchased £1000 worth of Riverton Corporation debentures, at 95 per cent., redeemable in ten years, with the stipulation that, should the Municipality ever require to raise further amuunts, they must be negotiated at the same rate, and through Mr D. Proudfoot. Should such be their desire, say, in a hundred years' time, it strikes ns forcibly that 'it will give them some trouble to fto it.' So much for the imbecility of Town Councils." The Waste Lands Board, at its meeting on Wednesday, leased the mill site at Matiura Falls to an Invercargill Company as a site for a paper manufactory. The Company, it was stated at the meeting, intends to use every despatch in the erection of the works in order to turn out within the specified time the quantity of paper that will entitle them to the Government bonus. The plant is being made in Sydney, and the manager of the proposed factory is already at the mill site. The Company consists of — Messrs Calder (merchant), Harvey (solicitor), and Bain (of the Southland Times), all of Invercargill. The present capital is £5000, to be increased if necessary. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphed on Monday :—": — " That it is reported, on good authotity, that Mr Vogel has sent out his resignation, to be used at the discretion of his colleagues, and in case they wish to get anyone else to join them before the session. The Civil List Amendment Act, 1573, restricts the number of Ministers to seven. £0 uo one could join the Ministry now unless some one else resigns, Mr Vogel's resignation, however, as Premier would involve that of the Ministry. Sir Donald M'Lean has not yet arrived. The date of meeting of Parliament will be determined immediately he arrives. It is certain to be about July 20th. The Dunstan Times remarks :- -"No little annoyance has been caused amongst resident shareholders in the Sub-Marine Gold Mining Company at the peremptory demand received for a certain sum alleged to be due to the Company, backed up by a further demand of £2 12s Od, in each case for costs of writ, which, it is stated, will be placed in the Sheriff's hands, if the full demand is not paid by the 31st ''nstant. To our unsophisticated mind, tho whole affair bears a strong impress of rough riding on the part of (we mast presume the liquidator) the company being in course of liquidation, and we iully concur in the stand taken by the shareholders to contest its legality. There was some exciting work in the I Council on Tuesday afternoon. The motion that " It is not advisable that the official department in connection with f;oldlields should be outside of Dunedin," whioh was moved by Mr De Lautour, gave ris« to an exceedingly personal debate, during which the Speaker had to adopt the rare and extreme course of " naming" a member and appealing to tho House. The member was Mr Fish. Subsequently, an explanation from Mr Fish was accepted. It was evident that Mr Mackellar was more the object of attack than the "official department," Mr Mackellar being frequently referred to while the latter was hardly mentioned. The motion was carried by sixteen votes to fourteen. We have been lequested to state that the Directors of the Guardian Printing Company have given up the name of Mr James Smith, solicitor, as the author of the abusive letter signed "Pudor," which appeared in the columns of our contemporary on the 10th ult. The letter at the outset purported to deal with the question of the Widening of i Princes street Arbitration, but the sum and substance of it was a grossly uncalled for and unfair attack upon a well-known member of the Dunedin bar. A copy of the letter from the Acting-Manager of the Guardian Printing Company, in which the authorship of the letter signed " Pudor " is disclosed, has been forwarded to each of the Judges, and the members of the legal profession. A meeting of the Committee appointed at the public meeting recently convened to consider the propriety of establishing a mission for evangelising the Chinese in Otago was held last week in tie First Church. There were present Archdeacon Edwards, the Revs. Dr Roseby and Copland, Rev. Messrs Stanford, Davis, and Penny, and Mesara R. Glendining and E. B. Cirgill. The following resolution waa propo ed by Dr Roseby, seconded by Mr Stanford, and uuauimously carried: — "That this meeting, while nob deeming it feasible to unite in the c itablishment of a new Chinese mission in Otago, rejoices in what is being already done by the Presbyterian Synod of Otago, and warmly commends its mission to the support of the other Churches." A deputation, consisting of Messrs James, Ansell, and M'Keuzie, M.P.C. for VVaihemo, from] West Hawksbury, Waikouaiti, headed by Mr Pratt, the Mayor, waited upon His Honour the Miperintendent on Wednesday, at noon, to urge the vesting of two reserves —one, forming a portion of the lagoon, for a 1 ace-course; and the other for recreation purposes — with the Corporation. • It was their object to secure both to the district at large permanently. His Honour replied that a numerous and influential deputation had requested him, a few d»yß previously, not to allow the reserves referred to to beoome' vested in the Council. A_ minute had also been passed by the Executive to a like effect. However, he would consult his advisers on the subject, and lay before them the request of the deputation. Neither in the Palmerston nor Tokomairiro districts was there very much sport afforded to those who went after the pheasant* on Tuasday. The best day's sport we have heard of was obtained by Mr Robert .) ohnston, who shot five brace of pheasants at Puketapu, near Palmerston. Others were were out in the same quarter, but we have no report of their day's work. In the Tokomairiro district but few birds were brought down. Of three sportmen who went out into the wilderness, one shot a pheasant, the second missed one, and tha jV-4 did not fire a shot. Many birds, however, were seen, but they were very wild. AtKaitaugata a gentleman, who was out reports that he got no birds, that he saw quantities of hens, and that before dark he saw a "mob" of about; fifty cockfy but could oofc get at them.

Our Auckland correspondent telegraphs : Mr Justice Gillies is very severe in dealing with bankrupts. He subjects them to a searching examination, even when unopposed. To-day, he suspended one certificate for three months, when no opposition was offered, for not having accounts sufficiently clear. In another case— D. O. Murphy, described as a gentleman — His Honour said he had looked at the accounts, which were of such a character that he could not accede to a discharge. He found that the bankrupt was described as a gentleman, and against the assets, £20, lie admitted liabilities, £696, due to gentlemen, bill discounters, hotel-keepers, tailors, &c. His Honour said he would adjourn the case sine die, as he considered the case one which required investigation. It was an abuse of the Act for a man to seek protection of the Court under such circumstances. An almost incredible story of cruelty to animals has reached the Bruce Herald from the Puerua district. It is said that some time ago a settler was about to leave the district, and held a sale of his stock and other property. Some difficulty was experienced in getting the sheep out of the bush, and a number were left behind, and, consequently, not sold. The owner, determined that no one should have the sheep without I paying for them, and to revenge himself upon the unfortunate animals, managed, with the assistance of his dog, to catch them, aud then tied them up to trees, where he left them to die a lingering death of starvation. The skeletons of the sheep, it is said, were discovered by some children the other day. If there were any possibility of proving the facts aud bringing the case home, we should like to see the Police take action in the matter. . Our Blueskin correspondent writes :—: — " Complaints are made here about the paucity of police attendance, a second officer now tbat there aro so many strangers about being wanted. Sometimes disturbances occur when the present constable is in Dunedin or elsewhere attending to duty, and it was only a day or two since that a madman was brought by persuasion to the lock-up, and by a ruse secured, Constable Rooney being absent in Dunedin. If anything serious happened among a body of men, Rooney would be, so to speak, isolated here — quite different to a constable's position at Caversham, Green Island, &c, where officers are within easy call. Another reason why there should be another officer always at hand to support the present one, is that there is no telegraphic communication with the city, so that considerable mischief might be done before assistance could be rendered. Our Palmerston correspondent telegraphed on Saturday that a public meeting was held at Palmerston on Friday evening, to consider the advisability of establishing a local newspaper there. His Worship the Mayor, Jas. Arkle, Esq., on the motion of J. Douglas, Eaq., Mount Royal, presided; and Meßsrs Douglas, Mount Royal, D. F. Main, John Muir, Haynes, Keen, Fagau, W. ■Robertson, Little, and other prominent residents, were present. A series of resolutions was moved, and carried unanimously, the result being that alargeand influential committee were appointed io canvass the town and district, and in the event ot the general feeling being in favour of such a project, a company is to be formed with a nominal capital of £5000, in shares of £1. About 700 shares were applied for in the room, and it was stated that nearly an equal number would be applied for at once. The remainder aro certain to be allotted in the district. The Wanganui Herald is responsible for the following :—": — " There is a township and pore somewhere in the North Island of New i Zealand where marriages are few, and where not many vessels arrive during a year. For some reason beet known to the authorities, the officea of Registrar of Marriages and Harbour Master and Pilot were combined in one individual, and this, about two jeirs ago, placed a couple about to be married in a curious position. They preferred the simple ceremony in the Registrar's office to the blessings of the parson, and just while the Registrar was busy tying the connubial knot, in rushed a messenger with the news that a vessel was being thumped to pieces on the bar, and the pilot's services were immediately required. The Registrar rushed off precipitately, leaving his work unfinished, and proceeded in a boat to see what was to be done with the vessel. He stayed away so long that the half-married couple grew tired of waiting, and at last departed. Whether they subsequently returned to have the ceremony completed is not known, but report says they did." Our Auckland correspondent telegraphed on Monday that news from Tairua is very favourable. Gold bearing reefs have been discovered in almost every part of the district where the prospectors have penetrated. The large areas taken up, as permitted uuder the new Act, have discouraged miners, but many are pushing work into the bush with great success. — The Auckland Steam Packet Company is extending business under increased capital. The Llewellyn, which is to be purchased in Sydney for the Fiji trade, will do the trip in much shorter time than the Star of the South. It, is currently reported that the Company are endeavouring to purchase the steamship Hero, the only regular trader between here and Sydney, in order to secure the trade between Auckland and Australia. — Serious complaints are made relative to the disorderly proceedings on Sunday afternoon trains. The last train yesterday oame in crowded. Many men were drunk, singing, shouting, and behaving otherwise in a most unseemly manner. Id was quite dark, but there were no lamps in the carriages, so that females who oame by the train had no protection from any insult that might be offered them. A very bitter feeling prevails regarding the general railway mismanagement, Our Auckland correspondent telegraphed last Tuesday that it is rumoured that Mr Vogel contemplated bringing doyvn nex^ session a gigantic scheme for developing the coil resources of the country "by working them under a Government guarantee, something similar to the plan proposed in relation to the South Seas scheme. — A Singular case, involving the rights of landlords, has arisen at the Thames. The landlord, unable to get out au obnoxious? tenant jn possession, took

a party of men in the day time and forced open the door and carried the man's furniture out and placed it on carts. He then ejected the occupant. The tenant has laid a criminal informationagainst thelandlord and one of his party for forcible entry, and both are committed for trial in the Supreme Court.— Sir G. Grey's letter to the Wairarapa Standard was virtually a hit at Governor Bowen, based on a despatch by Governor Bowen during his Queensland Governorship. The letter takes this despatch as an illustration of Sir G. Grey's favourite subject of the anomaly presented by the position of Governors paid by the Colonies but entirely dependent on the Colonial Office for promotion, and consequently ever ready to court its good graces, comparitively regardless of the solid welfare of the people over whom they are temporarily placed. Mr A. M'Donnell desires us to state the following : — The local in the Daily Times of Monday states that Mr Sly has been expelled by the Canary and PKiltry Association, and people might think from this that the first prize for "black-reds" had been given to Mr Pell. Mr M'Donnell wishes it to be stated, in order to prevent any misapprehension, that he (Mr M'Donnell) was awarded the first prize for black-reds, that he still retains possession of the said fii^t prize, that no one has dared to lay claim to it, and that he will not give it up till some one takes him to Court and gets a judgment ; that his blackreds are better than any other competitor's black-reds ; and we believe, in proof of the same, he is not averse t-» match his blackreds against those of any other member of the Eociety, so that the birds can settle the question by wager of battle. This important question of the relative superiority of Mr M'Donnell's and Mr Pell's black-reds has been long in suspense, and it is a pity that it cannot be decided in some way or another. We believe that the Society will soon be in the throes of a violent internal agitation by an attempt being made to reinstate Mr Sly, whose expulsion is deenifl by some members to be rashly unconstitutional and totally unprecedented. We await further action with interest. The usual monthly meeting of the Portobello Road Board was hell on Saturday, sth inst.— Mr M'Cartney in the chair. The minutes were read and oi» firmed. A letter from the Conference of Hoad Board Delegates, communicating th>- several resolutions adopted, was received, and read. A discussion on the several matters contained in it was commenced, but ha I to bo postponed to the next meeting. Letters from the Governrreut were read — nne intimating that the subsidy had been paid into the National Bank to the credit of the Board ; and a second, requesting ceitiin returns for the years 1871, '72, '73, and '74— to which the fullest return possible whs directed to be made. The surveyor's teport and account for certain surveys were received. Tho former was adopted, and the latter passed for payment, subject to certain deductiorß of hotel and part travelling expenses. Messrs Dickson, of Portobello >aw-mills, wrote, requesting leave to cross the Hooper's Inlet; beach track with a tran.w-y. _ The request was granted, subject to 'lie stipulations that public convenience be n« t interfered with, and to remove it it nq'iircd by the Board. The returning officers for the several subdistricts reported — That Mr Wm. Geary, senior, had been elect* il in place of Mr J. M'Cartney, for Poitobello; Mr Green, re-elected for Broad Bay } and Mr Riddle, in place of Mr Diok, for Sandy Mount. Mr W. A. Wilson was appointed to confer with and settle with Mr M 'Donald as to Riddle's Road, and the Clerk was instructed to write to the solicitor for the arbitrator*.' account for the same matter before next meeting. Accounts wero passed for payment as follows : — Hooper's Inlet Road, £5 Ss ~sd (J. Muir) j Arthur's Seat Road, £37 (R. Dick) ; Broad Bay Road. £55 17s 3d. Ihe thanks of the Board were recorded on the minutes to Mr M'Cartney for the care and attention he had bestowed in the exercise of his functions as Chairman during his term of office Our Clyde correspondent telegraphs that a heavy snow storm was veiy generally felt all over the northern and north-western goldfields on Saturday. Oobb and Co's coach, from Dunedin on Friday last, did not arrive at Clyde until 1 p.m. on Sunday. Pigroot, Mount Ida, and all tho country as far as Blackstone, is covered with snow. The coach driven by that * xperbneed whip, Mr Henry Nettlefold, only arrived at Beck's, Blackstone Hill, two hours after nightfall on Saturday. — Shortly after midnight on Friday, the store and buildings connected with Mr Jones's establishment at Cambria, old Dun. stan Creek, were totally consumed by fire. No lives were lost, thnn 411 one man escaped with difficulty. Thooiijin of the fire was the bursting of a kernsi-ne lamp. — The snow storm was also felt severely at the Wakatipu. The Arrow Flab and all the flat country around Lake Hayes is corered nearly a foot deep. Ord's coach, had great difficulty in making the up journey on Friday as well as the down journey on Saturday. The rain, which preceded the snow has seriously damaged the road between the Arrow, Bluff, and Morven Ferry. Only light traffic can pass.— Tim I) merlin coach via Tuapeka to Dunedin, owing to the darkness and fog at 8 on Saturday morning, roeb with au accident scarcely one mile from Clyde. The driver, Mr Hugh Craig, was unable to distinguish the road, and the coach going over a roc*, ho was thrown on the ground from his seat and trod on by- one of th» hors^-H. Craig was hurt in the face and chest. He resumed his journey about eight o'clock. — The Knubby, Carrick, and Remarkable Ranges are thickly covered with snow. The weather is now fine and frosty. —Considerable excitement existed at Clyde on Saturday, owing to a rumour that Mr James Hazlett, M. had signed a petition from Cromwell for the establishment of a Gaol aud removal of Warden and the neceaßary Government establishment to that town. Upon receipt of telegrams from, Messrs H. Mandera, D- Mackellar, and J. Hazlett, M.P.C.'s, that Mr Hazlett had signed thepetition under a misapprehension, not being put in possession of its contents, the- public excitement was a -little allayed, but the Cromwell people felt indignant, and expraaaed, their opinions very strongly or the matter *