The Otago Witness.

Otago Witness, Issue 1596, 24 June 1882, Page 18

The Otago Witness.

WITH WHICH IS IKOOBPOBATHD IHS 'SOUTHJJRS ' . MEBOUBY.'

SATURDAY, 24th JUNE, 1882.

The Australians are having the best of their present match with Yorkshire. The scores stand :— Yorkshire, 92 and 153 ; Australians, 148 and 25 without the loss of a wicket.

Mr Farnie's case was referred to in an informal way at the meeting of the Dunedin School Committee on Wednesday (21st), and members condemned the action of the Education Board in the matter. Mr Robin said that if the teachers of Otago were not altogether devoid of spirit they would agitate strongly for the upholding of the principle involved in the case. He considered the Board had acted most unjustly in dismissing Mr Farnie, who was simply acting as spokesman for the body of officials to which he belonged.

The business that came before the Land Board at its meeting on Wednesday (21st) was principally of an ordinary character. Theexception was the consideration of the Commissioners' report on the runs adjacent to Pahnerston and Waikouaiti. Mr Stout suggested that a portion of the land should be let upon absolute lease for agricultural purposes. Some discussion ensued; and Mr Duncan made suggestions for dealing with the land which Mr Stout considered would fairly meet the case, and would be the best that could be f adopted unless further powers were given in the amending Land Act which is to come before Parliament during the present session. As delay for a month or six weeks would not involve any serious consequences, the members of the Board unanimously agreed to further defer consideration of the subject until they are aware what powers will be granted under the new Act.

The comet was plainly visible on Wednesday (21st) at 6.30 p.m, its position in the heavens being in closeproximity to the planet Venus, about W.N.W. Those who desn<e to see the interesting stranger will probably be able to do so if they look in the direction of over Morn-ingtonto-night about the hour named.

Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. write to us (their letter will be found in another column) giving particulars of the return from the frozen sheep forwarded by them per Dunedin to the Home market. They have obtained a net average price per sheep of 22s 2d, and the same animal was selling in the Burnside Yards m February, when the ship left, at jL3s,

Our Fortrose correspondent writes :—" Our district up to the present date is unacquainted with winter, of which two or three frosty nights are the as yet only indication. We have had lovely sunny days and delightful N.E. winds, and threshing has been prosecuted vigorously. The returns have been somewhat below expectations, as much as 1000 bushels on some cal culations, I hear ; but the price of grain has given the balm where disappointment would otherwise have been more keenly felt."

The talked-of wrestling match between Professor Miller and Slade, of has been definitely arranged, and will take place at the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening! The stakes (£25 a side) have been deposited with " Pasquin " the theatrical and musical critic of the Otago Witness, and the contest, is to be decided by the best of, five throws in the " catch-as-catch-can" style. It has been stipulated in the articles of agreement that two shoulders and one hip, or two hips and one shoulder shall constitute a fall; and that either man must be thrown clean from his feet. The use of feet for tripping will, of course, be allowed^ and the competitors are required to wear tight-fitting undershirts and socks. The winner takes the stakes and the whole of the receipts after payment of expenses, and there is good reason to believe that the match will excite considerable interest.

A numerously-signed requisition has been in circulation, requesting the Mayor of West Hawksbury (A. G. Reid, Esq.) to call a pub lie meeting of the inhabitant." to devise means for the improvement of Waikouaiti Bay. He has consented to call the meeting on Tuesday next, 27th inst., at the Mechanics Institute, at 8 o'clock p.m.

Petitions are being circulated and well signed in Tapanui district in favour of the early construction of the Kelso-Gore railway, and also of the extension of the railway from Swift Creek to the top of Crookston Flat.

At Tapanui Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday (20th), we learn from the Courier, F. E. Hickson, rabbit inspector, charged J. F. Kitching, under the Rabbit Act, with allowing rabbits to be a nuisance on his property at Moa Flat. Messrs F. E. Hickson (inspector), A. Hepburn, and L. Barclay were examined for the prosecution. Mr J. F. Kitching stated that he had 64 men laying poison, and had used 10 tons of poison since March 23rd. He considered that he had taken adequate measures to keep down the rabbits. Mr Brock gave similar evidence, and the case was dismissed.

At Lawrence Resident Magistrate's Court Maurice Tondut preferred a claim of £50 against James Grundy for shooting a valuable pointer slut. The plaintiff deposed that he was shooting over Mr Walker's property on the 7th May, and had his dog, which was out of his sight, shot. The defence was that the dog had interfered with Grundy's sheep, and Mr M'Coy contended that, according to the Dog Registration Act, the owner of ground or his agent might shoot a dog which was running at large without a collar on and disturbing sheep. His Worship gave judgment for the defendant— costs, 3s ; subpoena, 9s ; three witnesses, 375 ; solicitors' fees, £2 2s.

The Committee formed at Invercargill in connection with the Seaward Bush railway have resolved to telegraph to the members for the district urging them to spare no efforts to promote the immediate construction of the Seaward Bush railway, and to have the cost of constructing the same to Toi-Tois included in the schedule of the new Loan Bill.

Mr Barron has received a petition from the ironfounders in Dunedin praying for an alteration to be made in the patent regulations, so that the employment/^ patent agents in Wellington can be dispensed with. With this object, the petitioners pray that the post and telegraph offices may be utilised for the purpose of assisting the patent officer and the applicant for a patent, so that the simple despatch of a message that the patent document had been received could be considered in every respect equal to the handing in of a certificate to the head office. Among the signatures are those of Kincaid and M Queon, Sparrow, and Davidson and Co.

The last number of the Gazette contains notifications of the appointments of Alexander Armstrong as a langor under the Animals Protection Act, and as an officer for the management and protection of salmon and trout ill Otago ; of Edward do Carle as a member of the St. Kilda Park Licensing Committee, we W.

C. lies, resigned; of N. Y. A.Wales as a member of the Linden Licensing Committee, vice J. Wilkie, resigned.

Another first-class programme has been pre pared, and is now announced, for the Robert Burns Statue Fund concert, to be held on Friday evening, in the Garrison Hall. At the conclusion of the concert the Ayrshire Association hold their annual ball, and ticket may be procured for the concert singly or for concert and ball together.

A private letter received in Melbourne by the last mail, from Mr Thomas Horan, states that Bonnor won 100 sovereigns on arriving at Plymouth. An English gentleman on board the Assam wagered that the "giant" of the Australian Eleven would not be able to throw a cricket ball 115 yards on the first day after landing in England. Bonnor accepted the wager, and won, it by throwing the ball four yards beyond the stipulated distance. Mr C. Peacock, of Adelaide, and Mr Blake, solicitor, of Melbourne, were the umpires.

A lad of 17, for using indecent language in a public street, has been fined £5 and costs, or one month's hard labour, by the Lyttelton Bench. He had been twice previously convicted of a similar offence.

" iEgles," in the Australasian, writes:— " In one of the Australian Colonies a gentleman at breakfast in a country inn performed such feats with his knife (which quite superseded his fork) that his opposite neighbour was absorbed and fascinated. He quite forgot to eat, he was so engrossed in observation. The performer suddenly stopped, and glaring at the stranger inquired, ' What the deuce are you staring at? Do you know who lam ? I'm the Commissioner of Customs.'—' Then, sir, allow me to say that, though I know nothing of your customs, I can't compliment you on your manners.'" The Taieri Advocate says says that at the dinner tendered to Mr Peter Cullen at Mosgiel on Friday evening, the opportunity was taken advantage of to present to Mr James Oullon a purse of sovereigns. Mr W. Jaffray made the presentation, and said that he did it on behalf of a number of friends who wished to some extent to recompense Mr Cullen for the trouble and anxiety he had been put to on account of the recent Otakia election. There was not a man in the room had done more service in public matters than Mr Cullen had ; he also did many good works of charity, and did them quietly and unostentatiously. He had great satisfaction in making the presentation, Mr Cullen replied suitably, and stated that he placed more value upon the good feeling manifested towards him than-the intrinsic value of the presentation. He thanked his friends heartily and sincerely for their expression of good feeling.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. have seed wheats for sale, particulars of which will be found elsewhere.

Attention is directed to Messrs Marshall and Copeland's advertisement. * Letters from London for Mr Frank S. Parrot* lie at our office.

Messrs Maclean and Co. have several choice properties for sale.

The Otago Education Board invite applications for a number of vacancies.

Messrs Donald Reid and Co offer for sale, by private contract, a form at Brighton, known as Invercoe.

The Blueskin Ploughing-match is announced for the 7th prox.

Messrs Donald Reid and Co. will hold an important clearing sale of stock, implements, &c. at Crichton Park Estate, on Saturday, Ist July.

Mr I. S. Simson, will hold a clearing sale at Mr D. Hood's Cbatton farm, on Friday, SOttflnst.