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Star (Christchurch), Issue 1992, 24 July 1874, Page 3

The Copyright of TnE Wesleyan Hymnbook. — Beforo tho Master of tho Rolls, on April 27, Mr F. Marzials applied for nn injunction to restrain a Mr Wm. Gibbons, who resides afc Bristol, from publishing a cheap edition of the weil-known Wesleyan Hymnbook, together with somo additional hymns. The original work appears fco -bo a compilation made many years ago by seven ministers, consisting nofc only of the noble sacred authology of which Charles and John Wesley woro tho authors, but of tho works of other hymn writers, some of which had been altered by fche compilers. This compilation has been usually considered the property of the Wesleyan Conference, inasmuch ns the profits from its Bale were devoted to fcho purposes of that body. The plaintiff (Mr Marzials) is the executor of the Rev. Thomas Jackson, who was tho survivor of the soven ministers, and who died in 1872. By the plaintiff ifc was contended that a copyright existed, and was vested to him, whioh disentitled tho defendant from publishing the edition complained of. — His Honor hold that the seven ministers formerly, and fche plaintiff now, merely held tho property in trust for the Conference, and hod no beneficial interest in tho work. He was not, therefore, in his opinion, entitlod under the Copyright Act to an injunction, and the application was consequently refußod. —Tho decision of tho Maater of tho Rolls waß appealed against in tho Court of Chancery, but the former judgment was confirmed, tho Court being of opinion that fche copyright of tho Wealeyan hymn book has oxpired. IMMIGRANTS WITH LARGE FAMILIES. — Tho New Zealand Herald says :— Tho immigration authorities at Dunodin complain that whilo thoy havo no difficulty in finding engagements for spinsters and bachelors, married couples with encumbrances " hang fire." Wo havo the samo remarks made of Canterbury and Woliington, whilo Auckland has not proved tho exception. A man and his wife with four or five children aro looked upon with disfavour. Tho cause of ifc in this province, whatever may be tho reason assigned in othor provinces, is thafc our homesteads are nofc provided with cottages for tho reception and accommodation of married couples. Employers do not caro fco build houses, and married pcoplo with childron cannofc bo hired without theso aro provided, and so it comes to pass thnt a married man and woman with a number of small children aro compelled to locnto themselves ou the outskirts of our colonial towns and cities, the man accepting and working upon any temporary job that offors, whilo tho woman supplements tho weekly incomo by charing, washing, or somo othor uncertain and precarious employment. Dr Feafchorston, ifc appears, has repeatedly had tho fact placed beforo him. But he has ignorod his instructions in this matter as he has dono in almost all others. The consequence is, that fcho outskirts of our .cities nre being tonanted by poor men nnd women wifch young families, not a few of whom in no long timo will likely become recipients at tho doors of ono or other of our charitable institutions. Colonial-born children come sufficiently fast into tho world to bo provided far conveniently, without Micro being any necessity for Bonding to tho homo country for a supply. Tholasfc two immigrant, ships which arrived in Auckland brought; families of young childron, which thero will bo somo difficulty found in placing either in town or country, whiloDunodin has been compelled to re-ship a number of their immigrants fco Canterbury.