Odds and Ends.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 23

Odds and Ends.

A Family Gaining Notoriety. The Fargie family again figured in the Police Court on Monday. As wili be remembered from the case which previously came up, Mr Fargie, with a housekeeper, resides in Canongate, whilst Mrs Fatgie, with two sons, has a house in North- Bast .Valley ; and Mrs Fargie, in one of the " raids" she made on the Canongate establishment, took away a certain gold watch she declared to be her property. This gold watch was the casus belli in Monday's proceedings; Mr Fargie, accompanied by Alexander Hutcheson (manager of the Anchor Hotel) and George Waller (hia storeman), having gone to the house in Noith-Baßt Valley to recover possession of it ; and out of this arose a charge of assault against the three persona named by Mra Fargie'a two sonß, Alexander (20) and Thomas (15). The evidence of the boys and the mother was to the following effect :— On the night of the 15th of July, about 9 o'clock, Fargie, sen., and his two companions came to the house. The boys were in bed. Fargie went to their room, and in trying to take the watch from beneath Alexander's pillow drew him out of bed, whereupon Alexander took the father by the beard, and the father almost killed Alexander by choking him. Thomas aiding hia brother, the father called in Hutcheson and Waller, with the result that after a struggle everybody, including Mrs Fargie, reached the verandah. Here Alexander was knocked down and was knelt upon by Hutcheson ; Thomas was pushed by Waller, and had bis nose bled by the father ; whilst Mta Fargie distinguished herself by getting Hutcheaon by the beard and jambing him up against the wall until he promised to behave himself. Then, when things began to calm down, Mrs Fargie bade Alexander go put on his trousers and bring the gun along. This threatg(a&ru£um/uZmen>, as one of the counsel expressed it, as they had no gan in the house) effected the dispersion of the cowards, as Mrs Fargie termed them, for each took a different road, one of them, in the excitement, jumping through a glass door, and taking sash and framework with him. What became of the watch was not clearly stated ; but apparently Fargie, sen., secured it. Mr Denniston appeared for the defendants (Mr Cook being for the two plaintiffs), and he stated that if evidence for the defence were needed, it could be shown that the affair had been ridiculously exaggerated. The Bench (Messrs Watfc and Eliott) decided that no defence was necessary ; the case Bhould never have been brought into Court, and they therefore dismissed the informations. i The Representation Bill. The Representation Bill (telegaphs our Wellington correspondent) is still undergoing modifications. I hear that in its present shape it will increase the numerical strength of the House, by six European members— making 90 in all, or 94 including the four Maori members, whose number it is not proposed to increase. In addition to these six new seats two more will be rendered available by docking two from Nehon— Motueka and Collingwood returning one member jointly, and one for Nelson City. Nelson Suburbs and Waimea boundaries are rearranged so as to form three districts, each returning one member. Auckland, Taranaki, Napier, Marlborough, and Westland remain in statu, quo, but Wellington gains one member. This ieaves seven to distribute, and I believe four will go to Oanter- . bury, including one for Sydenham, and three to Otago. All constituencies will be single ones— that is, returning only one member each — excepting Wanganui, which will continue to return two owing to the practical impossibility of defining the boundary between the town and country. In all other cases there will be single seats, and the distribution is to be as nearly as possible one member per 5400 population for city and town districts, and 4300 for country districts. Every effort is being made to preserve existing boundaries as far as practicable in order to avoid confusion, and where this cannot be effected the boundaries are to be conterminous with those of the road districts or counties. It is the extreme difficulty of arranging this that has caused the delay in circulating the bill, which even now ia not expected to be ready for a tew days. The Public Works Commission and the Catlin's River Railway. The following is a copy of a telegram recently sent to the Minister of Public Works :— We, the undersigned, having just seen this report, and being- intimately acquainted with the country, desire to state that the Commissioners have come to false conclusions with regard to its contour, capabilities, and settlement. Alonjj the route of the line fourfifths of the country is open ; and, far from being rugged, is comparatively level. There is more than an average amount of population, and it leads to an immense quantity of unsold land, including magnificent bush. One section of the lino has been made. We desire that tho next section, tenders for which were lately called for, and which would reach a spot which would render the railway largely available, should bo immediately constructed. The Commissioners never saw tho Catling district, and thohe gentlemen residents who were examined on oafcb. are astonished at the report, ag they furnished

tho Commissioners with very different evidence. Alfred Jowitt, chairman Clutha County Council ; John H. Jenkinson, member ; James Paterson, chairman South Molyneux Road Board; John Smith, Richard G. Wilson, Robert Banks, William Hay, William Morton, members. Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880. The Vegetable Products Committee have issued the following circular, addressed to agriculturists, horticulturists, and to all others engaged in the various branches of husbandry :— This department is under the direction and management of a Committee of Commissioners, who desire thus early to address themselves to all persons who are interested in the natural productions of the soil throughout the Australasian Colonies and Polynesia, in the hope that by so doing: they may ensure a thorough representation at the forthcoming International Exhibition in 1880 of the fruits, grain, and every description of vegetable produce, either spontaneous or cultivated. The Committee think that the opportunity of a world's show being held on Australian soil should specially draw together a display of vegetable products from the whole of the Australasian Colonies, and from the islands of the South Seas, as will clearly set out the distinctive characteristics of the soil and climate of each country represented. The Committee would therefore urge upon all those persons interested not to defer commencing operations, hut at once to prepare for a full exhibition of the varied products of the soil. It is proposed to open the Exhibition some time in October of 1880, thereby giving at least one full season beforehand for the preparation of any special crops, besides affording ample notice to persons willing to exhibit the products of the soil in a prepared or manufactured form. The Commissioners herewith publish a list showing some of the many products which it is desirable to cultivate, and exhibit either in their natural state or in their several stages of preparation and manufacture. The Committee, in conclusion, desire to say that they will always be prepared to afford the fullest information in their power, and any suggestions offered will meet with careful consideration. — (Signed) Joseph Bosisto, chairman of No. 13 Committee. The following is the list referred to :— 1. Alimentary.— Cereals, farinaceous products, and products derived from them— wheat, rye, barley, maize, oats, millet, rice, and other cereals, in grain and in flour ; grain without husks, and groats, fecula from potatoes, rice, lentils, arrowroot, cassiva, &c. ; compound farinaceous products, and other alimentary preparations. 2. Textile Materials.— Flax, hemp (scutched and unscutched), raw cotton, vegetable fibres of all kinds, indigenous and otherwise. 8. Fodder.— Lucerne, grasses, and substances specially intended for feeding cattle. 4. Tanning and Dves.— Wattlebark and its substances ; other tanning barks ; dye plants, sumach, safflower, fustic, &c. 5. Oleaginous Plants. — Almonds, olives, line (hnsced), hemp, sunflower, colza, castor plant, candlenut, &c. 6. Other Farming Products.— Canary seed, seeds of grasses ; hops, tobacco in leaf or manufactured, mustard, chicory, vegetable roots— (beet, carrot, turnips, &c), vegetables for flavouring— (onions, garlic, &c), gourds, pumpkins, melons. 7. Products of the Forest.— Specimens of different kinds of forest trees ; woodfor cabinet-work, for building, and for other purposes, timber for ship-building, staves, cleft timber, shingles, and palings, twisted timber for ornamental summer-houses, verandah seats, &c; wickerwood, charcoal from variety of woods. Exhibits, also, for showing the different systems of replanting, managing, and cultivating forests. 8. Spontaneous and other Products obtained without Culture.— Truffles, mushroom, wild fruit, lichens used as food, dyes, and fodder, gums, sponge, wax, &c. 9. Horticulture.— Fruits of the garden, orchard, and vineyard ; fruits of the orange, lemon, lime, and citron, &c. ; fruits— dried and preserved ; ornamental trees and shrubs. 10. Floriculture.— Ferns — their management in the open air and m ferneries, Wardian cases, &c. ; floral designs; cut flowers, bouquets; flowers in pots ; preserved flowers, leaves, and seaweed ; materials for floral designs, bouquet-holders, papers, &c. ; models of fruit, vegetables, and flowers ; wild flowers. 11. Medicinal Plants and their Products.— Camomiles, henbane, foxglove, aloes, poppies (for poppy-heads and opium), lavender, peppermint, &c. 12. Miscellaneous. George Campbell's Certificate Suspended for Two Years. At the sitting of the Supreme Court in Bankruptcy on Monday, George Campbell's application for a final order was dealt with. Mr Lewis appeared for the debtor, and having made the motion, His Honor pointed out that he must be bound by the resolution passed at the meeting of creditors, unless there was some strong reason to upset it. Mr Lewis said the resolution had been passed at a small meeting when it was believed no dividend would be forthcoming. Since then the boat of which the debtor was master (the Ino) had been wrecked, and in her the debtor possessed an interest. Over this there were certain mortgages, but there would be a sum of money forthcoming from the insurances, so that a dividend would probably be able to be given. That fact might alter the creditors' resolution. His Honor said that the fourth share held by the debtor in the Ino was subject to a mortgage of £300, and the debtor estimated its value over and above that at £50. He did not see that £50 would materially affect the question of a dividend. Mr Lewis thought there had beep further sums. He added that another vessel in which Campbell had an interest (the Huon Belle) had also been wrecked. His Honor : Yes ; but it is not suggested that these wrecks in any way contributed to the debtor's misfortunes. Mr Lewis : No, your Honor ; but perhaps, if these vessels had not been wrecked, there would have been more for the creditors. His Honor : You suggested that it was the other way just now— that the creditors were to reap abenefit by the wrecks. Mr Lewis would at any rate ask his Honor to make tho order in the case as lenient as possible. His Honor said the creditors had applied to have the debtor suspended for the utmost length of time tho law allowed. They based their request on the fact that 18 months before the debtor filed he had compounded with his creditors for 15s in the pound, but had afterwards entered into speculations absolutely without funds. He had bought the wreck of a steamer, and fitted it up ; and the greater part of his liabilities had been incurred in making the wreck seaworthy. He could see no reason why a man who with > no money entered into speculations should be freed by law from the debts he incurred. Still there was no fraud in the case ; there had simply been gross recklessness—a sort of " heads-I-win, tails-you-lose " style of doing business ; therefore, perhaps, it was not a case calling for a suspension over the full period allowed by the Act. He would suspend the discharge of the debtor for two years from the date of filing, which was sth December, 1879. ,' West Taieri Board of Conservators. The monthly meeting of the above Board was held on Saturday, the Slst July. Present— Messrs P. Grant, D. Grant, Snow, Cox, and Dow. In absence of the Chairman, Mr Snow was called to the chair. ENGINEERS' REPORT. The following report was received from the Engineers :— " The Chairman West Taieri River Board. "Sir,— We have the honour to report that the recent flood has effected a large caving in the bend above the Silverstream confluence, in position where the protective groins were about to be constructed. "The embankment for a length of about eight chains has been considerably damaged, and it will now be necessary to reconstruct the embankment so as to provide for the proper construction of tho groins. "The cost of forming the embankment will approximate £40, and can be carried out by the surfaceman with additional assistance. "Another dangerous caving has taken place in the bend below the railway-bridge, and we understand that Mr Shand has taken steps to have the necessary protective works carried out. — We have, &c, "Reid and Duncans, Engineers." It was resolved that the consideration of the abovo report should be deferred until tho next meeting. GENERAL RATES. It was resolved that tho general rates for the year ending 10th February, 1881, be 2s an acre on first-class land, and Is an acre on second-class land, outside of the township ; and Is in tho pound on valuation of property within the township— to be payable in one sum on the 14th day of September, 1880. ACCOUNTS. Accouuts amounting to £60 10s 10(1 wore passed for payment.

New Insolvents. • The following debtors have filed notice* off insolvency during the past week :— .George Kirk, fisherman, Moeraki.— Debts* L 79 2s ; assets, nil. Edwin Newman Legge, grocer, Dunedin.-— Debts, L311 12s 6d ; assets, L 175.