News of the Week.

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 9

News of the Week.

The half-yearly report and balanoe-sheet of the Standard Insurance Company, issued to subscribers on the 18 sh, shows a net profit of L 5190 14 i 6d. The directors propose that this Bum shall be carried forward to next halfyear.

At the meeting of the Education Board on the 18 J), A. C. Begg drew attention to tbe fact that certain teachers were in the habit of distributing tickets for theatrical performances during school hours. He did not know what inducement they got to do so, but in any case they were acting in a reprehensible manner. If the matter was again brought under his notica be would move that ifc should be thoroughly sifted, with a view of having those who were culpable punished.

A very singular case waa heard at the Police Court on the 18',h. in which the defendant, a young man named Thomas Webster, was charged with presenting a loaded revolver at odb of his acquaintances (Charles Frederick Martin) and threatening "to put a bullet in Ms heart." Although the immediate cause of this conduct did not transpire in evidence, it is reasonable to suppose that a young lady was in some way connected with it, especially as tbe feud seemed not of recent origin, complainant having been assaulted in the same manner some months before. Colour is given to this belief by the conduct of tbe accused, who, although he had armed himself with a deadly weapon, and waß apparently prepared to proceed to dire extremities, was still actuated by a touching regard for his personal appearance- Thus his first words to his opponent upon being disarmpd were, "For goodness' sake don't mark my face, Martin." A young lady was one of the witnespes, but she s? emed in do noannf r affected by the murderous antagonism of the two diaputaiitß, for she gave her evidence with^ great heartiness anti sslf-possession, considering that some pressure had to be used to briDg her into Court at all.

The Committee of the Dunedin Industrial Exhibition Committee last week presented Mr Robert Brownlie with a handsome gold albert and appendages in recognition of his valuable services in connection with the late Exhibition.

The class of " society" journals which have lately sprung into existence in this and the neighbouring Colonies are notorious for the disregard paid by them to ethics which usually guide newspapers in the writings which appear in their columns, and the journals in question boldly invade the privacy of domestic life in their reprehensible attempts to pander to the morbid tasteß of their supporters j but even the class of writingftobe met with in these papers has been eclipsed by an article which appeared in the Bruce Standard of Saturc'a 7, the 13th. The article in question teflects by innuendo on several highly-respectable residents of Milton in such a grossly libellous manner as to have aroused the utmost indignation throughout that town. No such scandalous piece of writing could have found its way into the columns of a respectable paper. The parties against whom the calumnies it contains are levelled have, we believe, received universal expressions of sympathy in the painful position in which the poisonous shafts of tbe anonymous slanderer have placed them.

Considering tbe number of Chinamen there are resident in Danedin, and the wrongs they suffer, one would think ' that the Police Court authorities should be familiar with the manner of swearing them. Some little delay and difficulty occurred one day last week, however, before this could be effected, and even after the witness had with fitting solemnity blown out a lighted match, troubles were not at an end. " John* did not speak English, and the interpreter who was procured proved to be almost as unintelligible as his countryman, so that Inspector Weldon took upon him the arduous task of interpreting the interpreter. In this his success was only very partial, and after combating with a more than ÜBually mixed utterance for some minutes, he took refuge in expressing a hope that their Worships understood it. Their Worships admitted with great candour that they did not, and the Mongolians escaped lurther examination.

At the meeting of the Education Board on the 18th Mr Fraer mentioned, for the benefit of school committees and others interested, the fact that the Legislature had recently provided that chairmen of school committees have power to frank and receive, free of postage, letters strictly on school business ; secretaries to education boards also had the power of franking or receiving from school committees, or fromany other persons, letters addressed to them strictly on school business. Mr Fraer, although, of course, he had the best intentions in this matter, has unwittingly made a very considerable error. The Postmaster-general, not the Legislature, has provided that chairmen of education boards, not school committees, may frank and receive free of postage letters on school business; as also may secretaries of education boards. Letters Bent to such chairmen or secretaries must be addressed " On public service only," but must not be franked by tbeperson sendingthem, whether such person is cbaiiman of a school committee or not ; and the letters must be on subjects only connected with school business. The privilege has been in force with regard to secretaries of education boards for a number of years.

Upwards of two dozen Chinamen assembled at tbe Resident Magistrate's Cour |onthel3 hio near the case of Cheung Hing— trading as Kom Goon Lee— v- Mok Chung Obin, The plaintiff, for whom Mr Strode appeared, sought to recover the sum of L 22 9a Id, being the balance due on goods sold and delivered to the defendant, for whom Mr Bathgate appeared. John Alloo acted as interpreter. The evidence showed that the defendant purchased goods from the firm of Kum Goon Yick, who was the manager of a store in the Arcade. Five parties had a share in the store, and when the business was wound up Cheung Hing took the stock and also tbe book debts. There was no paper signed to this effect, and Mr Bathgate argued that the other partners could again sue for the amount in the event of the defendant going back to China. His Worship said the parties should try and make a settlement, as the defendant had no defence on the merits. To this Mr Bathgate objected. The summons was then amended by the names of all the parties in the firm being inserted, and his Worship gave judgment for Ll7 and costs.

We notice in the minutes of proceedings of the Institute of Civil Engineers in London, that the three large railway bridges built by Messrs Proudfoot in the North Island of New Zealand for the Napier- Manawatu railway are referred to as being " excellently-built struc tures," and " the workmanship is exceptionally good. The Engineer-in-chief has stated that it cannot be surpassed." The bridges ar=i on the American t.ipstle principle, and span the deep ravines of . ho Mantwatu, the Maugararßiora, and the Mftkotoko. Their lengths are 484, 606, and 224 feat respectively, their heights being 89, 86, and 76 feet. Each {i*r rests upon a oed of coLcrote. The country wav extremely difficult to get the timber over to the site, and the time occupied in the construction was two

years. The work was performed under the superintendence of Mr John Carruthers, en-gineer-in-chief, Mr Blackdtt, assistant engineer-in-chief, supervised by Mr C. B- Kaopp and Mr Maxwell, superintending engineers, North Island ; Mr J. Carr being the reorient engineer, and Mi- Fulton hia assistant. We learn thfjt Mr Alexander Graham was Messrs Proudfoot's manager, and that the whole of the works were carried out under hia supervihion. Mr Graham has been in Messrs Proudfoot's employment for many years, having built the first Port Coalmers railway pier and viaducts. He is now one of Mr Proudfoot's mauagers on the New South Wales railway contract.

The amount received by the Irish Land League up to the departure of the Suez mail was altogether LBO.OOO, of which one-half still remains unexpended. Tho Tablet states that it forwarded to the address of the treasurer of the Irish National Land League, Paris, by last Saturday's mail, the sum of Ll7B 10s 3d, of which Lll3 was subscribed at Southbrid-,'6, Leeston, and Lincoln, L 25 9j at Arrow, and the balance at Dunedin.

Messrs Haxtonand Beattie's blacksmith shop at Gore, had a narrow escape from being burnt down on Friday, through its catching fire. Luckily, help was near, and the flames were extinguished.

A lecture was given at St. Paul's Schoolroom on Friday evening by Bishop Nevill, in connection with the St. Paul's Young Men's Association. The Yen. Archdeacon Edwards occupied the chair, and about 60 per3ons were present. The _ lecturer's remurks were on "Some Historic Evidence of the Authenticity of Holy Scripture," and comparisons were drawn between the inscriptions found on recently-exhumed tablets in the Holy Land and the contents of the Bible, with a view of proving the truth of the latter. At the conclusion of the lecture the Bishop was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

Mrs Robert Chapman, of Dunedin, has become entitled, under the will of her uncle, the late Lieutenant-general William Sutherland, to a fourth share in the fortune left by him, which share is valued at L 30.000 The General was some years ago the Governor of Mauritius.

The result of the debate on the Taranaki Harbour Cmmitteo's repeot is that expenditure is to be stopped on the harbour works, and a commission appointed to consider and report fully on the whole question.

Another large claim whioh will probably come before the law courts shortly is one by Mr Proudfoot against the Government for L 25 000 in connection with the Western railways and unsettled claims on the Awamoko railway contracts. The greater portion of the above amount is on account of the Western railways, under an agreement of arbitration with the late Provincial Government, and which it appears no engineer of the Government can certify to- We understand that Mr Proudfoot holds a certificate signed by the ex- Minister of Public Works, W. J. M. Lar nach, E g,, for L 14,500 of the above amount, but haß not yet received payment. This will afford some work for the lawyers, but nothing in comparison to the work which the lawyers will have over the claims of the Messrs Brogden against the Government, which, we believe, amount in round numbers to the sum of L 276.000.

The Attorney-general's Distress for Rent Abolition Bill is very brief. Ifc io, if passed, to come into operation on the Ist January, 1882, and simply provides : "It shall not be lawtul for any person hereafter to distrain for rent or arrears of rent."

The following concessions in fares have been granted to Inveroftrgill in connection with the Industrial Exhibition at that place:— From Chrißtchurch, Ashbnrton, Timaru, Oamaru, and Palmerston bookings on one fixed day may be made to Invercargill at two-thirds of the ordinary single fare, which will entitle holders to return within seven days. Bookings on two fixed days from Dnnedin and stations south to Waiwera inclusive, at two-thirds ordinary single fare, will be available for return within four) days. From Clinton, Kingston, Otautau, Riverton, Bluff, and intermediate stations ordinary single-fare tickets issued by any of these stations to Invercargill on Ist September and following days up to 10th will be available for return up to and including lOch September. In addition to this, excursion fares will be issued (on a day to be fixed) by one train between the Ist and lOfch from any station within the Clinton, Kingston, and Bluff boundary to Invercargill at two-thirds of the ordinary single fare, which will be available for return up to last train following day after issue.

At a meeting of the friends of the late Marcus Clarke, held in Melbourne, it was decided to publish a memorial volume of his writings, to be issued te subscribers at one guinea per copy — tbe proceeds to be devoted to his family. A subscription- list lies at our office. The volume will be edited by G. A. Walstab, Garnet Walch.and R. P. Whitworth.

Lovers of the tragical and romantic are surely on the increase in Dunedin. We learn that a young girl about 15 years of age recently, through some disagreement with her parents, who reside at Roslyn, ran away from home. The police having been communicated with on the matter, the runaway maiden was brought back under the care of a constable. While this individual was in conversation with the mother of the girl, the latter proceeded to her bedroom, took some liquid aconite, and was found shortly afterwards in convulsions. Medical assistance was at once procured and an emetic administered, whereby any danger which threatened the girl on account of her rash act was averted.

Whilst Sir George Grey's Law Practitioners Bill (which was thrown out) was before the Upper House, Mr Reynolds said the bill was exceedingly popular, except with the lawyers, and if it was rejected, one far more unfavourable to the profession would succeed it. He would like to see all the existing privileges of lawyers abolished. Mr Whitaker ought to introduce a bill to " restrict the rasoality of the legal profession." Mr P. Buckley moved that these words be taken down, and a rather warm debate ensued, Mr Reynolds refusing to retract them; The Attorneygeneral threw oil on the troubled waters by remarking that Mr Reynolds only referred to some members of the profession; if so, he (Mr Whitaker) would quite agree with him.— (Laughter, and hear, hear.) Mr Reynolds said all he meant was that a very large proportion of the profession were " the greatest rascals who ever trod in Bboe leather." Mr Buckley then withdrew his motion. Colonel Brett gave a somewhat novel reason for opposing the bill, remarking that as five had spoken against it and two for it, he should vote against it. He added that he waß going to vote according to his conscience. Mr Wilson mentioned that the Chief Justice waß of opinion there would be no objection to the new system if a proper Btandard of exainitiation were provided,

The following are the returns of the Dunedin Hoßpitftl for rhe past- week :— R--mainii^' jrom previous week, 130 ; admitted during the wetk, 14; di- charged during: the week, 11; remaining in the institution, 133>

' At the Tabernacle, Great King street, on Sunday evening, Mr M. W. Green criticised Colonel Robert IngarsolPs pamphlet, " What must I do to be saved ?" The author of the pamphlet was charged with reekleasnesß and ignorance. The statement that Spain, Portugal, and Italy were tha three most religious uatiotm in the world was regarded by Mr Green as a gross mißrepreHentniion. He admitted that thosa nations wete Bunk in ignorance, and that their roligion was of the kind that fed upon ignorance, bub con tended that the greatest progress had been made where there was an open Bible. Colonel liigersoll had represented Romani-im as though if; wera Christianity, and to do that was to be guilty of a gross and inexcusable misrepresentation of facts. Then he waa also wrong in stating that the Romish Church had preservpd for us the Goapel records, for until the year 867 the Church of Rome was not formed, the seven councils held previous to that time having been called by Grecian emperors, and held in the cities of Greece, and all the fathers prior to Turtullian being Greeks. Then the passages which were pointed out as interpolations, according to the best scholars had not been interpolated, and no proof whatever to the contrary was adduced. The writer of the pamphlet showed that he entirely misapprehended the noblest principle — the sacrifice of everything else to one's highest sense of duty— when he stigmatised as absurd the Gospel teaching in relation to this matter. The statement that the Gospels were not written until hundreds of years after the death of the Apostles, and the Gospel of John not till hundreds of years after the others, was either deliberate perjury or the result of the most inexcusable ignorance. The veriest tyro in Bible literature knew that the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John existed as we have them now in the year 175, and this was admitted by Strauss and Renan, and every thoughtful infidel who had any regard for truth. Mr Green contended that the principle of faith was referred to repeatedly throughout the Gospels, and charged the writer of the pamphlet with gross misrepresentation on this point, and with advocating a religion of animalism such as should satisfy no intelligent human being. During the course of his address Mr Green expressed tha opinion "that there never was a greater mistake made by the Legislature than to [insult God by throwing out the Bible fv)m the schools. :>

We understand that the applications received in Otago alone for shares in the East Coast Native Land and Settlement Company considerably exceed one-third of the total number offered to the public. The company haß been successfully fl >ated, notwithstanding the persistent opposition encountered from Northern land speculators and their agents. Several districts have not yet notified the results, bat we learn that the list, as it stands, is unexpectedly satisfactory.

The opening services in connection with the Leith street Congregational Church were largely attended on Sunday, when the Rgv. Mr Johnatone preached from Psalms, xxvi. verse Bth: "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honour dwelleth-" At the close of the Bervioe the rev, gentleman addreßßed a few words to the congregation in reference to the opening of the church. He tendered his sincere thanks to many persons in the city, whom he did not know, and had never before seen, for the liberal manner in which they had come forward to assist in the erection of a new place of worship. They should trust to the Almighty, and not so much to external excitements, for help in such matters. On a former oocasion, in Glasgow, his congregation had built a new church, and a debt remained en the building until a gentleman, who was an entire stranger, came forward and offered to give LIOO towards the building fund.

A contract has been let for the formation of a mile and a-half of the Opawa branch extension, over the Albury Downs. Messrs J. and M. Gorkery (of Timarn) are the successful tenderers, and the amount of their tender is L 3338 4s lOd.

We learn from the Tuapeka Times that in the case Police v. Bum, a charge of catfclefltealing, beard at R >xburgh before Major Keddell, R.M-, on the 17th, the counsel for the defence (Mr James Smith), in a very able and telling address, said although the proßtcution had failed completely in establishing their charge, he could not, in justice to his client, allow the case to be dismissed withoub calling witnesses for the defence, who would prove how the accused had become posset sed of the animal in question, and there could be no doubt that bin Worship, after heariDg the evidence, would dismiss the case, and the accused would leave the Court without a stain on his character. The Court sat until 9.15 p.m., and the accused was discharged without a stain upon his character. In the House of Representativee on Monday night Mr Pyke was to have opened what was expected to be a lively debate relative to the Speaker's treatment of his prorogation notice of motion, but he was "not i' the vein" apparently, and allowed the matter to drop on the plea that he did not wish to waste time over it. The House then, after some discussion, agreed without a division to the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Gambling Bill, which therefore will probably in due course come into force on January Ist, 1882; and spent the remainder of the sitting up till 1 20 a.m. discussing the Railways Construction Bill.

A short sitting in Bankruptcy was held before his Honor the Chief Justice on Monday, when Mathew Griffith (a debtor) obtained his final order of discharge, and the deed of composition re Jacob Lory was declared completely executed-

On the Land Act, 1877, Amendment Bill, Mr De Lautour, in Committee, will move the addition of the following new clause :—Deferred payments.— Any parson who shall be in occupation of an allotment of land which shall have been selected on deferred payments, tbe area of which shall be less than 320 acres, shall be entitled to select a second allotment of such area as, together with the allotment first selected, to make up an area not exceeding 320 acres in the aggregate: provided that such second allotment is in the same block or within two miles of the allotment first occupied ; and provided also that it shall not be necessary for such person who has fulfilled the conditions in the case of the first allotment to reside upon the second allotment so selected.

The Parliamentary correspondents of the emllaer papers often wear a thin veil of disguise, but there are few who wear it so thinly aa he of the Kumara Times. Such messages as the following speak with trumpet tongue the name of their author :— " Your janior member knows what he is about " ; " Your junior member made the best speech of the debate"; "The sound arguments of Mr Seddon con vinced the Ministry that they were wrong " ; "A burst of cheering, repeattd again and »gfti", greeted Mr Seddon at tVw coudhsion of his Demnsthwic speech 011 ttaKnmaraS'.udgaoliannol"; "Whenever Mr Saddon liass in speak tbe H mis* is crowded as if by uagio " J and bo on ad wau&aWi

The exact wording of Mr Reynolds' motion for a change in the constitution of the Upper House was :— " That, in the opinion of the Council, the number of its members Bhould bear Borne relative proportion to the number of representatives of the various Provincial Districts of the Colony." In introducing it he sad "very little judgment had hitherto been shown in appointing members of the Council" — a statement that we are told was received with much lvughter by the Lords ; and he add^d that the members from the different districts now compared as follows with the proportion they should be in. Auckland had 7, but ought to have 9; Taranaki, 1— 1J; Hawke's Bay, 3—H; Wellington, 11— 5£; Marlborough, 1—1; Noißon, 2— 2£; Canterbury, 7—10; Ofcago, 9— ll£. Amongst others who supported the motion was Dr Menziea, who held that there was a great deal of dissatisfaction at the present constitution of the Council. It might well be discussed whether the tenure of appointment was not too long in a country with democratic institutions. A tenure for life was inconsistent with the general institutions of the country, and the Council would never possess the influence it should until it harmonised with our other institutions. The motion was lost by 15 votes to 14.

The Benevolent inquiry was resumed on Mon day, when evidence for the defence was given. Messrs Hitchcock and Tyree failed to put in an appearance, but a libellous letter was received from the former, in which he stated he declined to attend. Mr J. Eldred having communicated with the commissioners with the object of having an interview, an adjournment was made until next Monday. Besides Mr Eldred, the commissioners will hear any other person on the subject of the inquiry.

The Balclutha bridge, in spite of the season of bad weather experienced, is advancing rapidly towards completion, and the contractor (Mr John Watson) expects to finally conclude tbe work in about six or eight weeks, which will be considerably within the contract time. The bridge has been open for traffic for some months past on a temporary level, an arrangement which has been of no small public con. venience.

A meeting was held on Monday at the St, Peter's Manse, Caversham, of the Committee appointed to superintend the choice of a site for the proposed new church. About a dozen gentlemen were present, and the Committee laid on the table for consideration particulars of the various sites which bad been placed at their disposal. The list of subscriptions is increasing with rather unexpected rapidity, and has already reached the sum of L4OO, a result which must be regarded as highly encouraging. No site has yet been fixed upon.

The following is the return of sums received in the various land districts during the year 1880 (shillings and pence omitted):— Auckland, Ll6 934 ; Hawke's Bay, L 1635 ; Taranaki, L 270 4; West Coast (North Island), L 32.378 ; Wellington, L 2550; Nelson, L 144 1; Marlborough, L 142 0; Canterbury, L 46.535 ; Westland, L 722; Otago, L 63.312; Southland, L 15,197. The land taken up on deferred payments during the present year is 136,739 acres, and the amount received for same is L 12.170

A meeting was held at Lyttelbon on the 19 L h the nationalisation of land in New Zealand, in accordance with the principles advocated in the pamphlet "Land, Ho!" A society was formed entitled the "Land Ho Association, No, 1." It is intended to form branohes throughout the Colony. The basis of the proposal is the re-purchase by the State of all freehold properties, and the substitution of a system of leases, with a provision enabling the State to resume possession of blooks of land above 2000 acres on payment of fair compensa« tion.

The New Zealand Times regrets to hear that Mrs Hall, the Premier's wife, is still prostrated by severe indisposition. Her condition is such as to preclude all hope of her again receiving at her residence this session,

The Akaroa paper records the death at the age of 77 of Mr Breitmayer, one of the pioneers of the French expedition to Akaroa, when it was fondly hoped New Zealand would be made a French colony. The deceased landed at Akaroa in 1840, in the Comte de Paris, three days after the English flag had been planted there.

The Upper House had quite an interesting sitting on Tuesday. They added a clause to the Licensing Bill to the effect that children under 16 should not besupplied, read the bill a third time, and sent it down as amended te the Lower House again. The Fixtures Law Amendment Bill (at least so it comes by telegraph, although we think the Distress for Rent Amendment Bill must be meant) was thrown out by 18 to 8. The Council then began to discuss^ artificial harbours, on a motion that a commission should be appointed on the subject, and several of the hon. gentlemen "discharged" themselves somewhat strongly as to the money thrown away on works of the kind. Captain Fraser said L 400.000 had been wasted at Dunedin, and made some other remarks that may cause the " Hansard " report to be looked for with interest in certain quarters. The motion was withdrawn after members had thus relieved themselves.

Answering questions in the Lower House, the Government said that about 100 country telegraph-offioes were intended to be closed on Sundays, so that the operators may well remember Mr Pyke in their orisons ; that they were willing to offer a bonus for the establish* ment of a glassware manufactory ; and that the Governor would probably be absent on his Fiji trip for six weeks or two months.

Dr Meczies' Bible-in-schools Bill was then re-introduced by Mr Fulton, and its first reading carried. Mr Barron moved its second reading that day six months, which was carried by the large majority of 52 to 15, thus shelving the bill. Amongst the supporters of it were the Colonial Secretary and the Premier.

The evening sitting was occupied in Cotri mittee on the Representation Bill, the Nelson members "stonewalling" it until the telegraphoffice olosed.at 1.30 on Wednesday morning.

Mr Walcot's grounds for objaoting to Mr Howell occupying a Beat on the South Canterbury Eduoation Board (in which case a rule has been granted compelling the latter to Bhow cause) are that at the last election of the Education Board Messrs Walcot and Howell stood third, with eaoh 10 votes, and that but for alleged informalities Mr Walcot would have been at least one vote ahead of Mr HoweU. The informalities were— one, that the School Committee (Waihao) had never met and determined what three names they would send up to the Board at Timaru, but had left the matter entirely to their secretary, who had forwarded three names of his own selecting ; and the other that the School Committee (Geraldine Flat) had first sent only one name and then, afrer the proper time had elapsed, sent two other names. Ab ut 40 ranmbers of the Ot^o Rogbj- Foot Ivdl Union assembled at Wain's Hotel on Toesday evening to witnaaa foe hartdliig over of the Union Sag, pwttoted by Mr BroomhaU, to the

eaptaln of the team chosen to represent Duoedin in the contest with the Christohurch footballers on Saturday next. Mr J. P. Maitland (the president of the Dauadin Club) occupied the chair. On receiving tbe fUg— which is a handsome one, bearing a suitable monogram— Mr Rose referred in coinpltmantary terms to the team which ho bad been chosen to captain, and said he did not think a better sanction could have »*en made, we observe from the Chriat.ci:urch paper* tnat a change haa been made in the Canterbury team, Hartlftnd being unable to play, and bpragge is to take bis place. It appears, according to a statement made by Cr Barnes, who has repeatedly vimted the Silverstream Water-raoe, tbat the raoe was never kept clearer or ia better condition than It is now. He thought it probable that rabbits had fallen in the water, bur. very uuhkely that they were allowed to remain ia it long enough to do any harm.

Very Rlight hopes are now entertained of the sequin finishing before tho end of next month. There are still 85 bills on the orderpaper in different stages to be disposed of. Some u.embera are making arrangements under the» conviction that t.hey ft ill no(. get stwfvy before th* beginning of O rtoher. Others, however, declare Uity will nut afcuy aftfr the* end of September.