News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1320, 17 March 1877, Page 9

News of the Week.

Dr Burns has been' appointed Medical Officer for the Dunedin GaoL in the place of Dr Holme.

The Saigon and Hong Kong cable has been repaired.. All the cables are, now in good working order. .

■ The prizes won at the late Dunedin -and Port Chalmers Regatta were presented at the Criterion Hotel on Saturday night.

Two flat racers, Stirabout . and Princess Mary, and the steeplechaser Zetland, arrived here on Tuesday in the s.s. Wellington.

The largest land sale ever, held at Adelaide took place there lately. Over 120,000 acres were offered for selection. The highest price paid was £8 53 per acre. '

At the Resident Magistrate's - Court on Saturday, in the case of George W. Smith v. Groves Brothers, judgment was given for the plaintiff for £2, with costs. The s.B. Wanaka, or Taranaki, will run direct from Wellington to Port Chalmers, leaving on March 20th, taking excursionists to the Dunedin races at single fares.

' Mr John Thomas Alston, of Dunedin, was admitted and enrolled a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court cf New Zealand by His Honour Mr Justice Williams on the 12th.

Mr Watt held a formal sitting of the Assessment Court at Mo3giel on Saturday, when he made appointments, which will he found elsewhere, under the provisions of the Sating Act.

There was a good attendance at the regnlar meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association on the 9 th, when a debate on " Woman's Freedom" took place. The Yen. Archdeacon Edwards presided.

Mr David M'lntoah, of tbo Blue Spur, has purchased Mr John Cormack's interest, consisting of 50 shares, in the Extended Co.'s claim. The price we (Tuapeka Times) are informed was £30 per share.

The University authorities have given instructions to the late Home Agents of the Provincial Government to obtain a Profeßsor of Anatomy for Otago University, on the same terms and conditions as formerly.

The Hawkes Bay Herald says that it is reported that the Government have it in contemplation to introduce an Education Bill during the ensuing session, which will assimilate our educational system to the Victorian.

A telegram has been received by the Public Works Office, asking for an extension of time for the opening of the Lawrence and Tokomairiro railway until March 30th, so it is very unlikely that this event will take place before the first week in April. The New Zealand Shipping Company have received London telegraphic advice of the arrival of their thiee first wool ships, namely, Waikato, from Lyttelton, after a passage of 90 days ; Waimate, from Wellington, 73 days; Columbus, from Napier, 82 days.

It is satisfactory to notice (says the Grey River Argus), even with the limited number of vessels calling here for coal, that no less than 4000 tons have been brought down from the Brunner Mine and disposed cf during the months of January and February.

An inquest was held at Milton on Tuesday, before Mr Carew, R.2A. and Coroner, and a Jury, on the fire by which the residence of Mr George Jones, near Milton, and known as the Grove, was destroyed. The verdict was that the fire was accidentally caused.

At the Port Chalmers Police Court on Saturday, H. Fegan was fined ss, with the customary alternative for having been drunk 9nd disorderly. In the civil case, Cornish v.

James, a claim to recover £1 9s Bd, for board and lodging, judgment went for the plaintiff.

The steam roller was set to work for the first time on Wednesday last, the scene of operations being Dundas street and Leith street, near the bridge. Though somewhat erratic when tested on the previous day, it yesterday was under control, and appeared to work well,

The Queen's Theatre was again crowded last Sunday, when the services under the auspices of the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association were continued. Mr Brun. ton and the Rev. A. Martin delivered the addresses. The Theatre urgently requires further ventilation.

_ A seven-roomed dwelling-house, the property of Mr George Jones, a settler near Milton, was burned down on the 10th instant. The origin of the fire is not known. The house waa insured in the New Zealand office for £180, but Mr Jones estimates his loss at £100 in excess of the insurance.

Mr M 'Cosh Smith, Presbyterian minister of Naseby, has obtained twelve months' leave of absence for the purpose of paying a visit to the Home country. At a meeting of the congregation, recently held, a resolution was carried expressing the hope that the rev. gentleman might enjoy his visit, and return hearty and welL

The Hon. D. Reid arrived in town on the 9th from Wellington, and has taken up his quarters in the Minister's Office at the Custom House, where, we suppose, he will have the pleasure of receiving many eloquent deputationists before he makes his escape. We believe his stay in Dunedin will not extend over many days.

The regular meeting of tho Star of Freedom Lodge, No. 5, Linden, took place in the Schoolroom on Wednesday evening last, Bro. Lindsay in the chair. After the Lodge business was concluded, Bro. R. Greig, Degree Templar, took the chair, for the purpose of conferring the degrees of Fidelity and Charity. Seven members were initiated into the former and five into the latter.

At a meeting of the Presbytery of Southland held at Invercargill on the 7th instant, a unanimous call to the Rev. James M. Davidson, from the District of Upper Mataura, was sustained, and Wednesday, the 2 1st, appointed as the day of induction. The Rev. Mr Patterson will preach, and the Rev. Mr Stobo will address the minister and people.

The resident householders and ratepayers of that part of the district of Wakari and Kaikorai, comprised in the townships of Newington, Nevada, Anderston, and part of Lower Kaikorai, are getting up a petition to be forwarded to his Excellency the Governor, asking that the area comprising their locality may be annexed to the proposed new municipality of Roslyn.

A special meeting of the South Dunedin Council waa held last Monday. Present — The Mayor (Mr N. Maioney, ia the chair), Means Hodges, M'lntyre, Sutcliffe, and Thomson. The object of tha meeting was to consider the new Municipal Bill. After a long discussion, it was resolved to defer farther consideration of the Bill until the next meeting of the Council.

The Wanganni Herald states that the surveyors are about to commence work on a block of about 70,002 acres of land inland of Nonmnbyj within the confiscated- boundary. ' The Natives have discussed the matter, and j are not likely to offer any opposition. The \ block is that known as the Waimate. The ' land is of average Patea quality, but the, greater portion of it is " bush."

A late number of the Hobart town Mer- . cury mentions- that, "By the s.s. Tararua, which left for New Zealand yesterday evening, were taken four rams and six ewes, which had been shipped by Mr James Gibson, for Wellington, and two rams, shipped for Lyttelton, by Mr W. H. Gibson. 440 cases «f jam, 499 cases and 102 half-cases of fruit, were also shipped by local dealers." !

The drawing in the first series of Mr Raworth's Art Distribution took place last evening at the Temperance Hall, under the supervision of a committee composed of Messrs W. M. Hodgkins, John Roberta, and J. C. Hoyte. The winning numbers appear in an advertisement elsewhere. A second series, to be drawn at the close of the month, will consist entirely of views of Ofcago Lake scenery.

Mr John Allen, who has been for many years book-keeper to the Otago Daily Times and Witness Co., the service of which he has juat left, was oa the 9fch presented by the employes of the establishment with a token of friendship and regard in the shape of a purse of sovereigns. The presentation was accompanied with an address, which was given as a memento of his long connection with the Daily Times Office.

The Linden Band of Hope held its fort nightly meeting on Eriday night last, in the schoolhouse. There was a good number of youngsters present, the • President in the chair. Addresses vrere given by Messrs G-. Lindsay, C. Taylor, and G. Davidson. Several girls and boys gave some very fine recitations, and each member received a small book as an encouragement for attendance. The meeting closed at 9 p.m.

A very exhaustive prospectus is about to ba issued by the Council of the Obago University ; it will contain full explanation in regard to the faculties of Artu, Medicine, and Law, and tho examinations requiring to be passed in connection therewith. It will also comprise the time table for the ensuing session, and will be most valuable to intending students. It should also have the effect of bringing the Unive/sity under the notice of the public in a much more prominent manner than has hitherto been the case.

John Wocd, a workman employed on Crisper's sub-contract on the railway line between the Port and Deborah Bay tunnel, met with a severe accident on the Bth inst. He was engaged in "battering" the side, and, slipping amongst the loose stones, fell with his back against some sharp rock, and at the same time a large piece of rock disengaged from above and falling against him, jammed him with force against the rocks he was lying upon. He was removed to Cornish's boarding-houso, but, singular to say, medical aaßißtance was not called, in.

A committee meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society was held at the Occidental Hotel on the Bth. Present —Mr Matthews (in the chair), and a full attendance. The object of the meeting was to make arrangements for the autumnal show, which is to take place on Saturday, 17th inst. It is hoped that the University Hall will be secured for this occasion. Several special prizes have been added to the programme already issued. The Committee are workirjg hard to make the show a success.

At the monthly meeting of the board of management of the Young Men's Christian Association, held on the 9th, 21 new members and five subscribers were balloted in. The Secretary reported that his v:sit to Invercargill, in company with the Rev. J. Kirk)and had been very successful, and a letter from the Secretary of the Invercargill Association was read, thanking the Board for the visit. A request was received from the Lawrence Association for a visit from Messrs Kirkland and Wright for special services. The request was agreed to, and it was arranged that the deputation should visit them at the end of the month.

By an announcement in the last Gazette, we observe that the Commissioners of the Public Debt Sinking Fund 3 have released a considerable sum accumulated under several of the Canterbury Loan Ordinances for sinking fund — the debentures issued under the Provincial Ordinances having been partially converted into debentures under the Consolidated Loan Act, 1867. Thesums so released are thus apportioned : — To the Province of Canterbury, £24,369 6s 2d ; to the County of Westland, £10,830 16s Id, which become available towards the general liabilities of these portions of the Colony which would otherwise be chargeable on the land fund.

The second session of the Dunedin Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association was opened with a miscellaneous concert on Wednesday in the Wesleyan Hall. There was a large attendance, and the President (Rev. A. R. Fitchett) occupied the chair. The songs were given by Miss Musker, Messrs Carty, A. Borrows, and Stacey. Mis 3 Fitchett Sjsided at the pianoforte, and the Misses w played a pietty duet. Addresses were delivered by the President and Mr Bull. Dr Borrows gave a reading, and the recitations were contributed by Messrs Matthews, Gabites, and Chapman. One of the principal items on the programme was Messrs Borrows and Sinclair's violin duet.

Mr John Bathgate, R.M., presided as Judge in the Assessment Court at Caversham on ths Bth, for the purpose of hearing a number of appeals lodged against the rate for the ensuing year. The following reduafcions were made : — William Wilson, £150 to £100; George Carpenter, £33 to £25; Smith and Fotheringham, £600 to £500 ; G. W. Eliott, £27 to £22 16s. The foUowing appeals were dismissed — Wm. Clarke, '£30 ; Andrew Simpson, £36 ; John George, £120. Consideration of the assessments fixed in the cases of the Caversham School, and of the Industrial School,- was postponed until Tuesday next, in order that the Judge might determine whether or. not they are rateable property. '" f '

- A- meeting of settlers and others interested in the establishment of a school in the neighbourhood of North. Blueskin was held in Mr Rochfort's new building, opposite Carey's Hotel, on Friday, the 9th inst. The chairman (Mr Pitt) explained to the meeting the steps that had already been taken which had reaultedin obtaining the sanction of the Education Board to the establishment of a school and a .promise on the part of the Board to provide for two- thirds of the coat of the building. The following were elected a School Committee, with instructions to report to a future meeting of subscribers before finally deciding upon a bite: — Messrs W. Stead, C. M'Donald, J. Rochfort, W. Evans, A. Gilmore, D. Carey, and E. Downes.

The increasing use in the Australian colonies of building materials imported from New Zealand is leading to much greater attention being given to them in Victoria and New South Wales by those concerned in building. We have from time to time called attention to the export of New Zealand building materials to Australia, and proof of the value attached to thera there may be inferred from the fact that an architect in considerable practice in Melbourne, Mr George Browne, has come to this Colony specially to arrange for the export of building stone and timber to Australia, and probably also of Otago slate. Mr Browne will travel through the Colony with this object, and will also likely take advantage of being in Dancdin to compete for the Town Hall design.

From late cablegrams to Australia, we take the following : — London, February 27th. At a council" held at St. Petersburg, at which the Emperor presided, and General Ignatieff was present, it is asserted that it wra decided to demobilise the army when Servia and Montenegro signed the treaty of peace. — February 28th. Neither the Government nor Count ScUouvaloff, the Russian Ambassador, have received Anything confirming The Times' report that the Russian army is to be demobilised. — March 3rd. The Times' St. Petereburg telegram is false, as no council has been held. — Mr Kaatch-bull-Hngessen's bill, legalising Colonial marriages (marriages with a deceased wife's sister) has passed the second reading in the House of Commons, by a majority of 51. — Miss Helen Fawcet, the tragedienne, is dead.

The Hon. John YouDg, Canadian Commissioner, and General Bridge, who is travelling with him, made an official call upon Hia Worship the Mayor on the 12th inst. His Worship received them courteously, and they discussed with him in a general way the question of the feasibility of opening commercial communication with. Canada. His Worship kindly offered to show his visitors about Dunedin as much as possible during their stay here, and his offer was cordially accepted. General Bridge discussed with His Worship the desirability of steps being taken which would lead to further trade between this Colony and the United States. General Bridge, though travelling with Mr Young, belongs to the United States, and is net making the tour of the Colonies in an official capacity. He, however, represents very extensive commercial interests in the United States, and

will make an exhaustive report ; on all - that he has observed in his travels, when he gets back. The Cromwell Argus is defiant. Ifc publishes a letter from Mr Vincent Pyke's lawyer, calling for a "full and ample" apology for various "false and malicious statements " contained in a letter which it had published, such apology to be first submitted to Mr Pyke, and also to pay three guineas for his expenses ; and further stating, that unless the foregoing things are done, Mr Pyke will, " without further notice, institute a criminal prosecution for libel." The Argus does not. see that it is " called npon to make aay apology, or to disburse three guinaas towards Mr Pyke'a expenses. Where we have erred, it will give us pleasure to make the amende honourable, but where we have consciousness of, entire, innocence, we most certainly and absolutely decline to humiliate ourselves at the bidding of any man." At the last meeting of the St. Kilda Council, the Mayor (Mr «J. P. Jone3) directed attention to the desirability of having the Council Chambers properly furnished. Though the room forms the upper storey of a fine building near the St. Kilda Hotel, yet the Mayor and Councillors (with just space enough, to squeeze in the Clerk and one reporter) crowd around a small table in one corner, so that, if a stranger were to visit the Council, he would have considerable difficulty in distinguishing the Mayor from the reporter, or the Councillors and the Olerk from either of the former. Two,- at least, of the Councillors appear to delight in personalities, and treating the ruling of the chair with anything but respect. If the Mayor insists upon having the ' Council Chambers furnished in a somewhat similar j style to those of the city, he will find that the dignity of his position will be far better j conserved than it has hitherto been. Again, the business that now usually occupies four or five hours, may then be properly disposed j of in one hour. Mr F. S. Nicholls having resigned the position held by him as editor of the Bruce Herald for the past two years, was invited to a parting supper, which took place in the White Horse Hotel, Milton, on Friday evening, last. The company, which numbered I about 30, partook of an excellent repast, provided by^ Host Bastings. The Mayor occupied the chair, and Mr John Mackay acted as croupier. Mr Joseph Mackay proposed the toast of the evening, and Mr H. White, in supplementing Mr Mackay'a remarks, regretted Mr Nicholls had not become a family man and settled down in the district permanently. Mr Nicholls, in the course of his response to the toast, said he would always remember with pleasure his connection with this district, which he left, with regret, He had always- before been 'connected with a daiiy newspaper, with bat little time for the cultivation ot friendship • but here lie, had a great deal of tune alter the day's duties were over, and had many friends, so tiiatthe present occasion was! to him: a somewhat.melan- | choly one. Toasts were proposed, and' responded to by Messrs Marryatt, H.v White}. R. R. Jones, R.W. Capstick, Wells,*, Js Mackay, Curric, and Grant. ""' '" I The Hon. John Young, who has been, appointed by the Canadian Government to represent .it at the Exhibition to be hjeld in Sydney on April: 10th; has arrived in Dunedm. Mr Young has. visited, the other Provinces of the Colony/ and has had interviews with the various Chambers of ' Coirii merce, which have expressed ( the opinion that it, would be- 'advisable lio send a commission' to Sydney to look, at the .Canadian exhibits, which will be on view [there.' Two vessels laden with Canadian manufactures, including agricultural machinery of other descriptions, have already been despatched} and one has arrived in Melbourne, and gone on to Sydney ; and the other, if it has not reached its destination, is' shortly expected to do so. We may state that the Hon. Mr Young was formerly Chief .Commissioner of Public Works in Canada, and at present, holds the position of Chairman of Harbour Commissioners for dredging the river at Montreal. He has had most extensive .experience in the matter of Harbour Improvements, and intends during his stay in Dunedin to have an interview with the Chairman of our local Board, and also with I the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. It is gratifying to know that the painstaking efforts of the ladies who got up the j late bazaar in aid of the Trinity Church' Building Fund, Port Chalmers, have resulted in the realisation of a very substantial sum of money. The affairs of the bazaar I were brought to a conclusion on Tuesday evening, when the Committee of ladies met: to wind up, and the following statement was made by the Treasurer and Secretary :—: — Total amount received from all sources, £143 3s 3^d ; total expenses, including the purchase of goods, £18 15s 3d ; net profit, £124 183 O^d. Of this amount the sum of £120 was paid inta the building fund account, and the balance appropriated on account of the erection of the -Attaining wall, and fencing in the boundary of the Church grounds. We may observe that the proceeds of the bazaar represented the labours of a Committee of ladies and their friends during a period of over two years. How the undertaking initiated during the pastorate of the Rev. Mr Leeson, suffered a variety of fluctuations, was almost abandoned once or twice, and by the determined action of a few, was eventually brought to a successful termination, would constitute ' material for a not uninteresting social novel.

We hear that Mr Richard A. Kempshell, of Western Lodge, Maungatua, has sold a ten months shorthorn bull to Mr John Fleming, of Mains, Maungatua, for the sum of ninety pounds. THs bull was bred by Mr Kempshell. He is a roan, got by Premier. 90— dam Sally Van Tromp. J We learn from the London Price List of metals, for January, published by Messrs Brooker, Dore & Co., London, that on the Bth Baldwin's Bheet iron of all qualities (except "Severn"), underwent a reduction of 30s per ton. "Severn " sheets are quoted at £l3 ; and the various qualities of the Baldwin-Wil-deu brand, range from £14 10s to £23 105. Baldwin's tin plate 3 remain at the minimum which was reached in June, 1876. The various qualities range from 19s 6d t<? 28s Gel per box,