Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 147, 31 October 1868, Page 2

Local and General.

Tub Uxfortunate Oc -urri.nce at Craigikhui«». — Thomas Pepperell has been released on bail, to appear at the next session of the Supreme Court on a charge of man-

slaughter. The amount of bail is — two sureties of £100 each, and his own recognizance of £200. Orphan Asylum. — A general meeting of subscribers was held at the Asylum yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of electing committeemen for the ensuing year. Messrs Hawke 3, Harper, Bowron, Clark, and the Rev J. Wilson attended, but this was considered too small a number to transact the business, and, certain alterations being also in contemplation, it was decided to adjourn both matters until the return of the Bishop. Theatre Royal. — Through some misunderstanding, which has been satisfactorily explained by Mr Wilson, that gentleman was unable to keep his engagement with the public last night, and thus a great many people were disappointed through, as appears, no fault of Mr Wilson's. We are glad to learn that fche matter in dispute has been arranged. The company will make their first appearance on Monday night, with an excellent bill. ;X&.he Auckland Gold Fields — The Welfureton Evening Post of Oct. 29, has the following : — A gentleman of our acquaintance, who was attracted to the Thames by the golden stories published by the Auckland press, has just returnetf to Wellington. It is evident, from his experience, that the collapse which we predicted is imminent. Many hundreds of men were wandering about both in Auckland and Shortland, unable to obtain employment, and the " army of loafers " was in great strength. This should act as a cautio'i K. Refreshment Booths at the Encampment. — After termination of the ordinary business atthe Magistrate's Court this morning, Mr Bowen said he had received several applications for licenses to sell liquors at the intended Volunteer encampment, but should not grant them. He had been informed by the officer commanding the force that a military canteen would be provided within the encampment, and that if 'siny were allowed immediately outside its proper boundary they would be productive of evil results both to the Volunteers themselves and civilians visiting them. This was his reason for refusing to entertain the applications, and he desired that it should be fully made known with a view to preventing any more being sent in. < No. 2 Company C.R.V. — A special general meeting of this Company was held at the Clarendon Hotel last night. Lieut. Blakiston occupied the chair, and a large number of members was present. The resignation of aptain Harman was announced, and the meeting proceeded to discuss the a pointment of a successor. After some conversation, Messrs Wallis, Strange, Nelson, and Thompson were deputed to wait upon Mr J. A. Bird, with a request to allow himself to be nominated for the office. The finaucial affairs of the company were next considered, and Lieut. Blakiston was deßired to procure a balance sheet from Capt. Harman, to be laid before an adjourned meeting to be held on Tuesday next, at half-past 7 o'clock. The report of the deputation will also be considered at the same time, and arrangements made for the encampment. Philos< >phical Society. — A special general meeting of members was held in their new room, adjoining the Government buildings, at half-past seven o'clock, last night. Dr Haast presided, and there were also present Dr Turnbull, Messrs H. J. Tancred, T. i Nottidge, L. L. Powell, W. D. Carruthers, R. W. Fereday, C. R. Blakiston, . Davie, j J. W. S. Coward, the Rev. J. Wilson, and the Rev. C. Fraser, hon. sec. The latter, in opening the business explained that the meeting had been convened in consequence of a telegram received from Dr Hector, to the effect that the delegate to represent the society at the December election of Governors for the New Zealand Institute must be appointed during the present month instead of in November, as originally intended. The election was then proceeded with, and Dr Haast was unanimously appointed. A list of gentlemen proposed as members of the society was read, but fche meeting having been only called for electing the delegate, a ballot for their admission could not be taken. — Mr Stafford has described the Province of Nelson in the followiug words, and the people there don't seem to like it : — •'I call Nelson only half a province, as it has no land revenue, although it has a fictitious revenue, regarded in a permanent sense, from its gold. Nelson" was a little quiet sleepy humdrum place until gold was discovered there. Its population was only being increased by the number of births which exceeded the deaths, (here is no immigration into ths province and no life ; in fact, it wan proverbially the Sleepy Hollow of >ew Zealand. It w-ss not a province in the proper sense of tbe word, and wa-< simply a town, because the one cuuntry district traded wiih GhrUwchmvh from first to last, as it will ulwiys continue tij do. It is un more a part of Nelson than the Channel Islands are a part of France, al'h'Ugh the people there speak more French than Kngli-h " Mr Stafford's <>ugan. — The following, which we take from the Wellington Evening Post, set-ins to refer to the above : — l' he coin* cacts entered inso between servile printers and ambitious placemen would form a curious ■uiidy We have h» ard of one, which, for a ••übsidy of a few pounds per we. k, undertook to do, and duly performed, an enormous amount of dirty work during a recent Par-liament-try session. What shall be ; bought or said jf a journal which, /or a " consideration," performs any amount of falsification, and endeavours, "in the interests of the Ministry," to throw dust m the eyes of the public ? Ihe worst thing that can happen to a journal is to fall so low as to become the "kept paper' of a party. Living on subsi dies and "contingencies" — on the crumbs which fall from the table of the political Div. s — it is a disgrace to the Fourth Estate. Like a miserable mend:c»nt, it should either be handed over to the Benevolent Society or to the tender mercies of the police.

Bankruptcy.— The Registrar sat in his Chambers at 1 1. o'clock yesterday morning, when the following business was transacted: — Re John Hawkins, sen. The debtor, in person, applied for an order of adjudication and meeting of creditors. The Registrar made the order as prayed, and fixed the meeting of creditors to take place at eleven o'clock on Saturday, the 7th Nov.— Re John M'Gregor. Mr Slater applied for an order confirming the appointment of Mr J. E. Graham as trustee, and fixing a day for last examination and discharge. The Registrar made the order, fixing the last examination for the 10th Dec. next. Thk Patea Settlers.— The Wellington Evening Post of Oct. 27, haa the following: — A deputation, consisting of Messrs Middlemas and Ginger, from settlers in the Patea district, were introduced yesterday by Mr C. O'Neill, M.H.R., to the Premier, in order to urge upon the Hon. Mr Stafford the justice of compensating those frontier settlers who have suffered such severe losses from the warfare with the natives. They also expressed a hope that the war would be prosecuted with vigour, so that they may speedily be reinstated on their land. The Hon. Mr Stafford said that he sympathised with the settlers exceedingly, and that he considered the settler., in the Patea District were as much entitled to compensation as settlers in other parts of the country, who had suffered losses by the wars; but that, of course, compensation was a subject for Parliament to determine, and that, in the meantime, a commission would be appointed to enquire into the losses sustained. Colonel Haultain remarked that Mr Middlemas had been one of the most active and determined settlers at the Front, and had built a redoubt near his own homestead. Mr Ginger aaid, that most likely Mr Fox of Rangitikei,' M.H.H. would next session call the attention of Parliament to the matter. Doing a Sharkduoker.— The Auckland Weekly Express hay the following :— An amusing story is baing told of how a certain sharebroker at .-hortland, who prides himself upou not being easily "taken in," received a lesson which we opine wi'l not soon be forgotten. The story runs thus, and is very wel authenticated : — A miner one- day recently rushed into the office of the said sharebroker in Pollen street in breathless haste, when the following interview took place— Miner .* Oh! (gasping for breath) Mr , I hope you have not sold that share of mine. Sharebroker : Sold your shares, why ? Oh, sir, because we have just struck gold heavy, and 1 wouldn't take £3000 for it now. Sharebroker : Indeed ! (a contemplative interval)—! am sorry to say, my good mnn, it ie sold. Miner (apparently horror struck): *-sold, never! I don't care, I won't Bell, it shan't be ! It's no use trying it on, I'll stick to it. Sharebroker: My good fellow, listen to reason Miner*. But I won't. I don't care. Sharebroker: It's impossible you can retain it. I have got the money— it's paid down. Here's a cheque for you for £200, double the Reserve yn«» pu* upon it. (Draws a cheque for the amount.) Miner (apparently with reluctance takes the cheque): Well, I suppose t must (puts it in his pockot, with a siyh, and leu yes the office.) Miner immediately presents cheque at the Bank, puts the Bank notes in his pocket and goes his way, ihe doleful expression on his countenance changing to one of sunshine. Sharebroker (jubilant) visits thp claim next day, and finds it's a — "Duffer 1"