News of Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1243, 25 September 1875, Page 15

New s of Week.

The Invercargill, the next immigrant vessel to arrive, has nearly 800 immigrants on board, The body of a man named Win. Taylor was found in the New River, Southland, on the 11th inst. On Saturday, September 18th, the Ssilors' Home contained twelve boarders. Ten en» tered and five left during the week. Our correspondent at Wellington tele, graphs us that tbe Government Boards of Works and Education Boards Bills will not be proceeded with this session. We have pleasure in acknowledging the receipt, from "AFrienii," of £1, in aid of the deaf mute who so pluckily saved a boy from drowning a few days ago. Nominations were forwarded on Monday from the Immigration Office, Dunedin, to Wellington, for transmission to Britain, for 117 immigrants— equal to 102 statute adulta. We are informed that, during tLe past few days, there has been no fresh case of illness among the immigrants by the Christian I M'Ausland, who are now quarantined at the Bluff. * At a special meeting of the City Council, held on Monday, Mr J. K. Johns con and Mr B. Lowry were appointed assistaut sanitary inspectors for Dunedin. There were 52 applicants. A telegram from our Auckland correspond- , ent states that the Katikati special sectlers drew lots for the selection of land. — The first four tons of the Tairua crushing yielded 130oz. of amalgam. A dwelling-house and stable, belonging to Mr R. Blackwood, at Papakaio, was destroyed by fire on the 10th msb The property was insured in the New Zealand Office for £200. The cause of the fire is unknown. We would remind our readers that the outgoing Suez mail will not leave Danedin until Wednesday next, the 29th inst. ; and for the following six months the mail will I continue to leave on every fourth Wednesday. " The New Zealand Churchman" is the title of a now journal to be published in Dunedin next month. Its object is to promote the interest of the Church of England. ( )ne of the names suggested for it was the Otaao John Bull. 6 For allowing cattle to stray in the streets, H. Dench, J. Madigan, G. Chick, J), VVhittock, T. Middleditch, J. OliVer, and P. Thompson were each fined 2a 6d, with costs, at tue Port Chalmers Police Court on the 17tb, An express driver, named A.ngus M'Coll, was going to Green Island with a load of timber ou Monday, and when turning the sharp corner at Ljok-out Point, the vehicle capsized. M'C'oll received a severe gash under the left eye and other injuries, which have laid him up under medical treatment. We have been requested to announce by the agent, Mr Monkman, that exhibits for the Philadelphia Exhibition will be convpyrfd to the Manukau free of charge by the New Zealand S.S. Company. We have much pleasure in giving tois publicity, and can only regard tue Company's kind offer as most commendable liberality. During the week ended September 18th. 30 patients were admitted and 14 discharged from the Danedin Hospital. Harriet Arnold, aged 25, native of Tasmania, died from delirium tremens j and Ellen Shaw, aged 29, native of Ayrshire, died from typhoid fever. The number of inmates at prtsent in the Hospital is 188, of whom 40 are females. The hon. Secretary of the Greymouth Acclimatisation Society has telegraphed to say that the Maori had arrived, and that the trout ova, numbering 1200, which had been forwarded by the Otago Society, had been landed m splendid condition. The boxes had been specially attended to by Captain Malcolm while on board the Maori. Mr J. Bathgate, 8.M., has kindly consented to deliver a lecture oa "The Old Days of Scotland," in aid of the funds of the Beuevolent Institution, on the 27th instant. The entertainment will be under the auspices of the Loyal Leith Lodge, 1.0.0. F., and Bro. B. Haggitt. P.G.M , is to preside. We shall expect to note the Temperance Hall crowded on the occasion. At the quarterly meeting of the Loyal Unity Lodge, 1.0.0. F., on Wednesday, the election of officers took place, with the following results : — Bro. Boelke, N.G. j Bro. Cooke, V.G. ; Bro. Bonner, Secretary ; Bro. Ranki, Treasurer; Bros. M'Jlenzie, Bobbins, Pitts, Lubgrove, and M'Girr, Standing Committee ; Bros. Ennis, M'Kenzie, and M'lndoe, Audit Committee. Our Lawrence correspondent telegraphed on Tuesday that a true bill was found by the i Grand Jury against Thomas Dictt, for horse j stealing. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced by His Honour Mr Justice Chapman to 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour. The libel case, Jardine against Ferguson, was brought on again in the R.M.s Court on Monday and again dismissed. We learn that Mr G. B. Barton, barrister-at-law, has now in the press a one- volume quarto publication, entitled "The Ordinances of the Province of Otago." This work comprises all the Ordinances of practical utility now in force, with copious notes and index. The work is published under the authority of the Provincial Government of Otago. Messrs Reith and Wilkie are the publishers. We learn by telegram from our Arrow correspondent that a man named Hancock was smothered in a drive at Arthur's Point while working in a tunnelling claim on Fri- [ day afternoon. The body was not recovered i until Saturday afternoon. Great difficulty waß experienced in getting it out. The deceased was one of the two Phoenix tributora who sold out previous to gold being struck. A correspondent informs us by telegraph from Biverton that a barn and stable, partly filled with oaten hay, four horses, chaffcutter, harness, and other agricultural implements, with a large stack of oats adjoining, situated about two miles out of town near the Atati Bush, were destroyed by fire at 9 o'clock on Wednesday night. There is no tidings of how the _ fire originated. The police are making enquiries. A hawker, named Robert Stivdns, was found dead in a yard adjoining Pavletich's

Universal Hotel, Maclaggan street, about; half-past Bon Saturday morning He had been drinking heavily of late, and on Friday evening the Police advised him to go to the Hospital, as he was sleeping in a waggon belonging to him, but he refused to go. Deceased, who was 50 years of age, and a native of Devonshire, had abundant means. Dr Copland lectured in the Wesleyau Hall oh Wednesday. Tbe subject of the lecture had been announced as "Palestine," but that was a misnomer, or, rather, not a full description. The lecture was a rapid sketch of a journey from Southampton to Egypt (through Alexandria and Cairo), and through Palestine. The lecture was illustrated by a series of views which were shown by a magic lantern. The room was crowded. The customary compliments were paid tc the lecturer and to the chairman (Mr Neale), From a Press Agency telegram we learn that an attachment has been issued aud cxc« cufced against the schooner Young Dick, f«V not having complied with the order of the Court of Enquiry to pay costs and damages in connection with the late collision with the Jane Spiers in the Strait. — The Masonic installation of Brother William M'Oullough, at Auckland, as Deputy-Provincial Grand Master of New Zealand, under the Scottish Constitution, last night, was tho occasiou of the largest Masonic gathering for years. An unfortunate condidate for admission to the Lunatic Asylum was brought to Dunedin from Port Chalmers by the 6 p.m. train on Wednesday. The sufferer is the wife of a settler in the Oamaru district, had been some time the victim of religious excitement superinduced by a too close perusal of the Rev. Mr Spurgeon's works. Finally, violent mania was developed, and the poor creature had tf> be placed under restraint, and wag sent on to Dunedin for treatment by the steamer Samson. She is the mother of four children, the younger only four months old, The P. and O. mail steamer Golconda on, her last trip took away a valuable freight, comprising 411,750 sovereigns from Sydney, and 6G,0U0 sovereigns from Melbourne, to« gether with G2,9880z. of gold. Altogether, the Golcouda carried treasure of the value o£ nearly three quarters of a million sterling, She had also on board four handsome carriage norsts for Bombay, for a four-in-hand club there, aud a number of other' carriage horses are to be forwarded there by the next steamer. The visit of the Prince of Waleß it is said, has something to do with the ship* meut of these horses. Mr Bastings, at almost every meeting of the Vf&aU Lands Board of late, has had a crack at the Provincial Government in regard to the Government's way of treating Waste Lands Board business. At the meeting of tbe Board yesterday, Mr Strode recommended an applicant to apply to the Governi meut — to call upon the Deputy-Superinten* j dent. Applioant then asked if the Board would recommend his application, so that it would have more weight with the Govern* menfc ; whereupon said Mr Bastingß : "We found it to be quite the reverse lately." Applicant did not press for the recommendation. Telegraphing from Auckland, our eorre. spondeut infoiins us that the steamers Hawea and Phoebe both leave Manukau for the South on Tuesday.-— The defeat of the Auckland footballers causes regret, but not surprise, it being known the team wa3 very weak, owing to several heavy men calculated on failing at the last moment. A proposal is mooted to send down four good players by the Hawea on Thursday to reinforce the team for the matches on return at Nelson and Tarauaki. — Two mining speculators on Chauge to day came to blows. The subject at issue waa a dishonoured cheque. At the City Police Court, on Saturday, before Messrs Hicksoa and Flexman, JusI tices of the Peace, David Gray wai fined 5a ! for being drunk in Princes street : and Win, Reid, a low brothel- keeper, was fiued £5 for a similar offence, in default, 14 days' iinpri. sonment. Henry Harris, alias Mockford, answered to his bail on a charge of committing an assault at Invercargill, and wag remanded in custody to that place, on warrant William Cummings appeared in the dock, on | a charge of ill-treating his wife, but, as prosecutrix would not appear to take proceedings, the caße was dismissed. The congregation of the First Church have presented to the Hon. James Balfour, of Melbourne, in recognition of services rendered, a handsome black marble clock, with plate glass front, mercurial pendulum, and silver plate bearing an inscription ; and to Mrs Balfour an enamel set, consisting of brooch, locket, bracelet, and earrings. — There is also another presentation to be recorded, namely, a binocular glass presented by the Directors of the New Zealand Shipping Co. to Captain Lloyd, of the Taranaki, for his promptitude in bringing dowa the San Francisco mails. The foregoing presentations are on view at Messrs Kohn'a in Princes Btreet north. The adjourned meeting of the shareholders in the Dunedin Land, Building, and Invest, meut Company (Limited) took place at the Temperance Hall last Monday, when there was a fair attendance. This Company was floated by Mr Urquhart Macpherson, who recently paid Melbourne a hasty visit. He had represented that several accounts for advertising had been paid, but they were again submitted for settlement last evening. It was resolved to place the matter ia the hands of a solicitor in order to have the liability of the influential Directors of the Company tested. Two or three of the Directors have intimated their willingness to meet the shareholders' claims. The Spelling Bee epidemic has at last reached Dunedin, and will break out in true form on Thursday week. The Dunedin Cricket Club intend organising a grand orthographical tournament iv aid of the funds of the Club. The arrangements will be carried out on a plan similar to that adopted in Melbourne. His Honour Judge Chapman is expected to preside on the occasion ; and the following gentlemen will act a» referees and examiners : — Tbe Rev. R. L. Stanford, Professors Sale and M'Gregor, Mr Norrie, Rector of tbe High School, and Mr Anderson, of Messrs Smith and Anderson. We wish the movement every success, and trust a substantial sum will be realised by

tl c entertainment towards the funds of the Club.

The Port Chalmers Choral Society held its third conceit on the 17th, at the Mosunic Hall. It was a decided success so far as the absolute execution of tun very wdlarraDged programme was concerned, and we were pleased to notice a marked improvement in several of the voices, sure pro-if of industrious practice ami efficieut tuition. Considering the inclemency of the weather, the attendance wa3 remarkably good, and no lack of appreciation was discovered by the audience. As the sa-ninec season conies m, ■we are convinced that the»e concerts will proi'e unqualified 6-u~-oe3?es in every rtßpect. Lvt night's programme iucludeJ anlo*, <lnots, trio*, quartettes, and gW-Vg. Mr Geo. Sykes, from Dunuiliu, officiated us p-aaist wita his wonted ability.

A disgraceful qnarrel in a railway carriage occurred during the passage of the last train last evening from Dunedin. When the train arrived at the Port, a settler named Bowlan was observed desuerately assaulting another named il 'Gaire, thu landlord of the Commercial Hotel, in a second-class compartment. M'Guue was holding a ohild in his arms covered with bloud, whilst a third man was helplessly lookiug on. Directly the train stopped, Porter Burke rushed into the carriage and dragged ttowlan out and gave him in charge. Both M'Guire and Bowl n appeared to be intoxicated. The third man said they had been quarrelling all the way from Pelichet Bay. M'Guire presented a shocking appearance. His face was cut and bleeding profusely.

A Press Agency telegram received last evening informs us of a xhocking accident which occurred on the Mataura line last evHning by which Charles Gardiner, of the Waihopai Flour Mills, lost his life. Deceased, who was tinder tha influence of liquor, had been sitting in a culvert in the centre of the track opposite the mill road, when a ballast engine coming into town about 11 o'clock struck him on the bead. The body must have been doubled up, as it was dragged about 250 yards on by hiving caught th; brake rod. Death must have been instantaneous. The body was badly mutilated, both arms were shattered, the l'g* broken, and the head swashed. Deoeased had resided in the district for 17 years, and was widely known. An inquest will be held on Monday.

Our Cromwell correspondent writes :—: — "The bonus for the best gold-saving apparatus offered by the Provincial Council ia shortly to be awarded, as applications for experienced miners to act an judges have been circulated. I hear that Mr G. B. Donglas has been nominated from this district, and I do not think a more suitable selection could be made, his experience and ability being undoubted. — Oar hospital has Bhown its usefulness to a nidlsncholy degree. Already three deaths have taken place therein, resulting in one instance in a coroner's inquest. It appeared that, by a too strict interpretation of the surgeon'u order to the wardsman, a patient was refused admittance pending examination by the doctor, and the delay ia hia admission was severely commented on by the public. The jury found thatno blame was attachable t> aujone. — It has been remarked that the Cro nwell bridge remains without the promised repairs. The reason for delay last season was the deBirability of getting the wool down before stopping the traffic. We are again close on a second wool season, and we feel curious to know what excuse will be put forth for the continued delay."

Tha eleventh anniversary of the Court Pride of the Leith took plaou on the 17th in the North Dunedin Drill Shed, whioh was uncomfortably filled. The tea provided by Mr Hall having been impartially discussed, an exoeilent programme, comprising readings, recitations, and songs, was well received, the audience being very enthusiastic. Bro. Beitson, C.R., occupied the chair. Mr C. Sykea presided at the pianoforte, and amongst the amateurs waa Madame Jeanette. The annual report showed that at the end of June, 1874, there were one honorary and 62 financial members, an. l 30 ba I joined and 11 withd r awn during the past year. The amount to the credit of the General Fund is £160 7s ll£d, and Incidental Fund £61 5s 4£d, showing an increase of £85 8s Id. There had been no death, and sickness had been very light, only 1 1 members having dH. clared on the Sick Fund, ami received £29. After the concert, a numerous party remained to enjoy some danciug for several hours.

Batween 50 and 60 former pupils of the High School met ou Thursday at Wain's Hotel for the purpose of uniting themselves into an association to be exiled the High School Club. Mr Nome, Rector of the School, waa voted to the chair, and explained the object* of the meeting. These aie to unite the members together in a social way once a year or oftener, aud to incite a more general interest in the affairs of the School among ex-pupils. The following gentlemen were appointed ofHoe- bearers :—: — President, Sir J. L. (J. Tlichardson ; VicePresidents, Rev. Dr Stuart and Professor M'Gregor; Hon. Sec, F. it. Smith; Hon. Treasurer, C. C. Kettle ; Committee, F. J. Muir, W. Stuart, Robt. Park, W. C. Norman, W. Lambert, and A. Tame. It waa left in the hamla of the Committee to appomt rules, fix the annual subscription, and to report to another general meeting in the course of a fortnight. It is proposed to hold athletic sports in connection with the Club towards the end of next month. The meeting terminated with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman.

The annual supper given by the employes of the Victoria Urewery to the proprietor (Mr Win. Strachan) took place in M'Gregor's British Hotel on the I7th. Mr Peter Russell occupied the chair, Mr Judge acted as croupier, and about 30 persons were present. The customary loyal and other toaats were duly honoured. In responding to •• The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," Mr Neale mentioned that the Otago Volunteers would evidence new life when they had received the Suider rifles. The Chairman proposed — " The health of Mr and Mrs Strachan, and Success to the Victoria Brewery." He was sorry the year hail been marked by considerable ioss and disaster to their employer, who had overcome his difficulties by exemplary patience, industry, and perseverance. In

responding, Mr Strachan spoke hopefully of the future prospects of the Brewery. Though he had suffered greatly by the fire, the brewery could now be worked better and cheaper than ever before. Several capital sougs were spiritedly rendered, Mr Cook ao companying on the violin. The proceedings went very merrily, and the company sepa rated at an early hour.

A special meeting of the Working Men's Club took place laa^ Tuesday, when about 120 members were preseut. The former Committee had tendered tieir resignations unreservedly, and the Committee of five who were app tinted to cnauire into the financial condition of the Club reported that it was a great success. Soinu new rules were adopted. The following officers were duly elected :—: — President, Mr \V. B. M'lutosh; Trustees, Messrs J. Q. Breiman aud VV. Absolon Smith ; Treasurer, Mr H. Spiers ; Secretary, Mr Alfred R Sims ; Committee : Messrs Denovau, Gale, ford, Birnetson, and Livock; Auditors, Messrs Morrish and Eglin. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the fouudeis of the Club, aud they were unanimously elected life membere, excepting the Secretary, who several thought should not be a life member, because be had been paid for hia services. The steward and stewardess (Mr and Mrs Elliott) received considerable praise for their efforts to make the Club successful. The question of augmenting the library was again discussed. We are glad to learn that the Club is nearly out of debt, aud that its members are rapidly increasing.