Local and General.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 697, 17 August 1870, Page 2

Local and General.

English Mail. — The mail from Hokitika per overland coach is due in Christchurch this evening. Ltttelton Burgess List. — His Worship the Mayor has appointed Friday next to hold a Court to revise the Burgess list. New Justice of the Pkace. — Mr J. W. Mallock was sworn in before Mr Justice Gresson, yesterday morning, as a Justice of the Peace for the colony of New Zealand. Lecture. — The Hey R. S. Bunn will deliver a lecture in the Kaiapoi Institute this evening. The lecture will take the place of the usual programme submitted for the Kaiapoi popular entertainments. The Waitaki Bridge. — Information has reached Oamaru, from "Wellington, to the effect that an arrangement has been entered into between the Governments ©f Otago and Canterbury for the early commencement of this work. The Comptroller. — A Wellington contemporary states, on the authority of its telegraphic summary of English news by last Suez mail, that Mr FitzGerald has been gazetted a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. '^CAsthma. — Mr John Sutherland, farmer, East Taieri, informs a Tokomairiro paper that for many years he was a very severe sufferer from asthma, but has found that a little sulphur, mixed with his tobacco when smoking, is an effectual cure. VoLUNTB*B Encampment. — We are requested by Col. Packe to state that the 31st of December next has not been fixed for the proposed midsummer encampment. The whole matter is yet undecided, both holding the encampment and the date being dependant upon future circumstances. Akakoa Anniversary. — Yesterday, the 16th inst., was the thirtieth anniversary of the arrival of the French settlers at Akaroa, they having arrived in the ship Count de Paris on the 16th of August, 1840. But few of the original settlers are still at Akaroa, removals and death having considerably thinned their numbers. A few flags were hoisted ; otherwise, there was no other notice taken of the anniversary day. Mysterious and Terrible. — A Wellington paper of Aug 13 has the following: — "A telegram was received by the Government yesterday which, we understand, created a most remarkable sensation, and is likely to lead to a considerable modification of the Ministerial proposals. We confess we cannot appreciate the importance which the Ministry appear to attach to the intimation they have received. For the information of the public, we publish the telegram in extensor — ' Delay all measures till my arrival. Coming by Tararua. (Signed) Avos." We fancy there is some mistake about the signature in the above. Perhaps it was signed " C. Hoos." Alteration in the Government op Westland. — During the discussion on the second reading of the Payment to Provinces Bill in the House of Representatives Mr Yogel, in reference to the expressed opinions ef the Westland members, stated that the Government would be prepared to bring down supplementary estimates, giving to Westland not less than £2000 and not exceeding £3000, as an increase to the special allowance to Westland. The hon. gentleman further stated that the Government, looking to the fact that the present machinery of government in Westland was not suited to its requirements, would bring forward a proposition that the Chairman of the County Council, for two or three years at least, should be a nominated officer by the Governor. The proposed change seemed to meet with the approval of the Westland members then in the House. \ Intbr-Provincial Restrictions. — In the 'House of Representatives, on August 11, the member for Oamaru, Mr Graham, moved that the Government be instructed to obtain, and that there be laid upon the table a copy of all correspondence between the Provincial Governments of Otago and Canterbury, relative to the removal of restrictions on the crossing of sheep and cattle from one province to the other. The hon. member explained at some length the circumstances which had led to the imposition of these restrictions, contending that the General Government should retain the powers of declaring districts infected districts, and not delegate it to Superintendents, adducing, as an argument, that it was necessary that such delegation should be withdrawn, that the Provincial Government of Canterbury had seized a case of sausage skins on the ground that it might transmit pleurc-pneumonia. The motion was agreed to. Theatre Rotal. — Last night was announced for the benefit of the orchestra, and public appreciation of the great improvement in this important adjunct to a theatrical company was testified by a very full house. All parts of the building were crowded, and it is only justice to accredit the musicians with having received no more than their deserts. The bill, as usual on all appeal nights, was a full one, including the comedies " A Regular Fix," and " The Quiet Family," the burlesque " The King of the Peacocks," and a series of musical selections for the intervals, comprising "La Gazza Ladra " (Rossini), " Emmeline Waltz" (D'Albert), and " Figaro " (Mozart). The two first items were very successful, and the burlesque, which is an old favourite, went with all the effect that characterised its first production. Mr Wolfe, as Mr Hugh De Bras, in the first piece, carried the audience with him throughout, evoking continuous laughter and frequent applause, whilst Miss Mathews, Miss Nye, and Miss Forde, were scarcely less successful. Mr Forde and Mr Searle, in " The Quiet Family " were also deserving of notice. In the burlesque, both Miss Forde and Miss Nye acquitted themselves with their wonted success. The musical - contributions, notably "The Mocking Bird, " by Miss Forde, with flute obligato by Mr Poore, and the duett " Beautiful Swells," by Misses Forde and Nye, were loudly applauded.

Popular Entertainments.-— A meeting of the committee was held yesterday afternoon, Mr J. A. Bird in the chair. The pro gramme for Tuesday evening next was arranged, after which the committee adjourned. Courtenat Ploughing Match. — We have inspected the district medal which is to be presented to the successful competitor at this match. The medal is of silver, bearing on one side an appropriate design in frosted silver, and on the other is the name of the prize winner and the date of the contest. The medal is very handsome, and is a credit to the manufacturers, Messrs G. Coates and Co. of this city. "Alien Fkiends." — When the House of Representatives went into Committee on the Aliens Bill, on the motion of Mr Yogel, Mr Rolleston said he thought that this Bill would be disallowed, as he was of opinion that they were exceeding their powers in this matter. Mr Vogei said the Bill was an absolute transcript of a Bill which had been passed by the Legislature of South Australia. Mr Richmond asked the legal members of the House (the hon. member for Porirua or Mongonui) if they could explain what was the meaning of the expression, "alien friends "in the Bill. Did it refer to the Society of Friends ? Mr Gillies said that the hon. member for Grey and Bell must have lived out of the world for a long time if he thought that he could obtain a legal opinion without tendering the usual fee. He should advise the hop. member to consult some of those authorities which he had so industriously looked up in the case of the bill relating to married women. After some further discussion, the Bill passed through committee without amendment, was reported to the House, read a third time, and passed. Saved feok Drowning.— On Monday afternoon, about four o'clock, a little girl named Varcoe, while playing with other children, fell into the Avon near the Carlton bridge. The cries of the surrounding children soon attracted the attention of Miss Dearden, who resides near the spot, and who happened to be standing at an upper window. The young lady immediately ran to the river, but found the child sunk in deep water and quite out of reach. A younger sister of Miss Dearden, who had also observed the accident, arrived at this moment with a clothes' prop, brought from the garden. With this, the child was fished up from the bottom of the river to all appearance quite dead. Nothing daunted, Miss Dearden pressed a passing cart into the service, and, taking a little brandy with her, conveyed the body first to Dr Deamer, who was from home, then to Dr Prins, and then to the Hospital, where the child was ultimately brought back to life through the efforts of the attendants. To the remarkable presence of mind shown by these young ladies is undoubtedly due the life of this little child. Really too Bad. — We noted, some few days ago, that the Hon. J. Hall complained in the House of Representatives of his papers having been abstracted. It would seem that some one, possibly an hon. member who dreaded the infliction of along; speech, has gone so far as to purloin his notes. The following is from a Wellington contemporary : — The Hon. J. Hall was rather in a fix on Thursday evening, on the occasion of Mr Yogel moving the second reading of the. Post-office Bill. The second reading was agreed to, and Mr Hall strongly protested against the Bill being committed, as he had made voluminous notes of objections to it but had mislaid them. The Treasurer, however, seemed to think it rather a good joke than otherwise, and declined to postpone it. After some discussion, however, he yielded to the persuasive voice of the hon. member for Heathcote, and acceded to the request. Probably the hon. member for Heathcote placed his objections in his pigeon hole, and they fell a prey to that morbid craving for any little unconsidered trifle in the way of Parliamentary documents which has been so bitterly complained of lately by the hon. gentleman. Rates. — In the House of Representatives, on August 11, when the Public Works and Immigration Bill was under discussion, particularly that clause relating to the grant of £50,000 a-year to the various Road Boards of the colony, Mr Fitzherbert quoted the following figures, which he said had been supplied to him by the member for Selwyn. He remarked that they bore the greatest political significance of any he ever remembered having read: — The following were the rates collected in the various provinces of the colony, excluding towns or municipalities, for the year 1867:— Auckland, £3792 ; Taranaki, the little province of Taranaki, £1879 ; Nelson, £2750 ; Marlborough, nil, living on the colony, and not helping . themselves ; Canterbury, £3676; Southland, nil; Hawke's Bay, nil, having expended a vast estate belonging to Wellington; Wellington, £5098, and he was proud to Bay it. They had been the very first to establish Road Boards, and had taxed themselves for fifteen years; to this he attributed the retention of their population. Otago, £8922, and not only was Otago facile princeps in the matter of education, but also in that of roads; Westland, nil, but this was owing to the peculiar circumstances of it 3 case. He supported very heartily the idea of the Colonial Treasurer, that they should help those who helped themselves. , . ; ; ■■ ; . Superintendents under the New Provinces Act. — One of ! the members for Marlborough in the House of Representatives has brought in a Bill to amend the mode of election of Superintendent in that province, which is constituted under- the New Provinces Act. In moving the second reading of the Bill, he said it was brought in at the request of four hundred inhabitants of the province, who had sent up a petition. The petitioners complained that under the action of the New Provinces Act there was not due representation given to the various interests of the province by the election being made by the Provincial Council, and

that eight elections had taken place during ten years ; and they farther stated that if the election were conducted under the provisions of the Constitution Act it would relieve the province from the ill- effects of the present mode. The object of the Bill was not retrospective but prospective, and would not interfere with the present holder of the office ; all that it proposed to do was to give the people a voice in the election of their Superintendent. The provisions of the Bill would also bring this election under the Eegulation of Elections Act passed that session, and enable it to be conducted by ballot. The Bill was read a second time without opposition. The Late Accident at Akaroa. — We subjoin full particulars of the unfortunate accident as above, which has been sent by a correspondent: — An accident, which terminated fatally for a man named John Duirden, a contractor employed by the Akaroa Road Board, happened on the 10th inst. on the Little River Road, some sixteen miles from Akaroa. Duirden and other men had been engaged trimming and widening the road at a place where stands a cutting 50 or 60 feet high. Duirden was in the act of making a water channel at the foot of the cutting, when a man named Walker passed on his way towards Akaroa. He stopped to speak with Duirden, when the cutting suddenly slipped and carried them both over the road, down a precipice on the other side, covering Duirden completely and leaving Walker jammed to the elbows but unhurt. The men at work near the spot at once rushed to extricate Walker which was done in a few moments. Duirden however was buried under an immense quantity of debris and clay, and nothing could be done until the following day, when the Sergt. of police proceeded to the scene of the accident, and sent men to work. When recovered, the body of the unfortunate man 'was found a mass of bruises. The legs'' were broken, the left hip dislocated, and the left shoulder and breast driven in. Death must have been instantaneous. The body was removed to the Traveller's Rest Accommodation House, and an inquest held upon it last Saturday, by Mr Pilliet, the Coroner for the district, when a verdict was given in accordance with the facts. Duirden was unmarried, and was well known and respected in the district, where he had resided for some time. His remains were conveyed to Akaroa by boat, and interred the same afternoon. The New Militia Bill. — The following are the resolutions contained in the interim report of the select committee of the House of Representatives on militia and volunteer law:— That an officer should be appointed to command, and periodically inspect, the militia and volunteer force of the colony, and be generally responsible to the Government for the efficiency thereof. That the defense charge for militia and volunteers should be a General and not Provincial charge. That a simple drill book should be at once prepared for the use of the militia and volunteers. That a course of instruction, however elementary, should be appointed for militia and volunteer officers;. and that an officer should not be promoted unless certified by competent authority to be duly qualified to direct the movements of his company. That it is desirable that volunteer corps should be put through a course of musketry instruction every year. That every militiaman should be supplied with, a suitable uniform. That iron targets should be supplied to militia and volunteer districts. That ammunition should not be provided to volunteers by the Government without payment, except on the conditions that such ammunition should be fired off under the command and supervision of either a commissioned or a non-commisaioned officer. That the Government should, as soon as possible, provide arms suitable for cadet corps. That with a view to the gradual and eventual preparation of the whole male adult inhabitants of the colony for effective defence in time of need, and with a view to the encouragement of the volunteer movement, it is expedient that the greatest possible encouragement should be given to the establishment and efficiency of cadet corps. That it is indispensable, with a view to this efficiency, that the cadet corps should have a regular status, be amenable to the Volunteer Act, and should receive every encouragement by a liberal allowance being made for uniform, and for those other purposes which are recognised to be necessary to the extension and efficiency of the volunteer movements. That it is expedient, towards this efficiency, that such corps should be established only in town 3 and other large centres of population, that the members of it should not be admitted at an earlier age than twelve, and that membership should cease on attaining the age of seventeen. That it is desirable, with a view to increasing the efficiency of the militia, and towards making the service more popular with the men, that the Government should as far as possible assimilate the organisation to that adopted for volunteers, by granting to militiamen after a stated length of service in training, certificates of efficiency, signed by the officer commanding the district, on the recommendation of the adjutant, if they deserve them; such certificates exempting the men from attendance at drill except four times a year or once in each quarter, the men remaining on strength of their respective companies, being allowed to retain their arms, &c, and having the privilege of competing for prizes at target firing. Should it be found that the men holding such certificates fail to keep up to the standard of drill the certificates to be withdrawn. That it is necessary that the I Volunteer Acts should be amended with reference to the exemption of volunteers after three years' training, and ; that the Govern-; ment be recommended to adopt the following principle as regards exemption: — That volunteers after three years' training, holding certificates of efficiency for each year, may claim exemption from further training for as many years as they hold certificate of efficiency; that they shall retain their arms, accoutrements, aud ammunition, and have

the privilege of competing for any prizes at target firing offered by the Government; that they shall remain on the strength of their corps, but be kept on the reserve list, to be called out for inspection parade four times a year, or once a quarter, and liable at all times for actual service. Should it be found that the men holding such certificates fail to keep up to the standard of drill, the certificate to be withdrawn. During the time they enter the reserve list of corps, they shall not be entitled to draw capitation allowance