OTAGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2163, 16 February 1875, Page 3

OTAGO.

(Otago Daily Times, Feb. 10 and 11.) < Tbo South Recreation Ground presented a lively appearanco on Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 9, whon soveral wickets were pitched. Amongst tho playors wore eovoral members of tho English Opera Company, practising for tho matoh Stage and Press v. tho Dunedin Cricket Olub, noxfc Saturday. Tho leading bass singor makes an oxotsllent long-stop. In somo places tho ground was vory bumpy, and tho grass required outfcing. A considerable waste of timo onsued through the- occasional difficulty of finding the ball, and fchis matter should bo immediately attonded to. Dr Filhol, who oarao out to this colony as naturalist to tho Fronch Transit of Venus Expedition, lott on Fob. 9 for tho North. Sinco fcho Viro loft, Dr Filhol, whoso important diseovorios afc Campboll Island wo havo alroady noticed, has beon dredging afc Stewart's Island, whoro ho has mado many valuablo additions to his rich collection of marine fauna. Ho has now gono to Christchuroh, when'c'3 ho will proceed to Nelson for tho purpose of continuing his di edging operations, whioh will also bo extended to tho Hauraki Gulf, Dr Filhol also proposos to visit Wellington, Napior, Poverty Ray, Lake Taupo, and other points of interest in the N»rth. It is hoped ttiat all who can bo of assistanco to him in his valuablo -researches will give him thoir aid. He is collecting objects of natural history of all sorts, in addition to tho fauna whioh ho makes his speciality. At tho adjourned mooting of tho Oifcy Oounoil on fche evening of Feb. 10, considerable unanimity was shown by the members whon disoussing Mr Reevoa' motions on fche desirability of providing gas works for the Corporation. Tho only opposition was that of Messrs Waltor and Gibson, who thought the timo for negotiating for the present gas works should bo extended till tho Ist July. Tho motions woro carried and roforrod to tho Gas Oommittoo to conduofc fcho correspondence. Iho quostion of leasing the wharves and quays reserves was rofcrrod to tho Roservcs Committeo, Mr Rocvob romarking that ho had no fear of their boing taken from the Corporation. Permission was granted to tho Caledonian Soeiety to uso tho North Dunedin Reoroation Ground on the 17th Maroh, for tho purposo of appropriately commemorating the sevoranco of thoir long connection with the ground.

Tho provisional directors of tho Albion Browing and Malting Company, Limited, mcfc on Fob. 9 afc the ofllco of Messrs Webb and Fulton, to consider tho applications for shares, tho sharo list having closed on tho Sth mat. Of jho 40,000 shares in tho company's capital, 15,000 aro to bo takon by the prosonfc owners of tho company's futuro promises, loaving 25,000 opon to allotment. Applications had boon received for 26,111 shares. By an arrangomonfc made with tho Now Zoaland Distillery Company, such shares aa tho provisional directors deemed it advisable to allot in addition to tho numbor originally offered to tho publio, woro placed at thoir disposal. Only one application was declined; and it was roßolved thafc if, as was oxpectcd, any applications had boon posted or actually dolivorod to tho agents of tho Company's brokora boforo tho date of closing tho Bharo-liafc, shares should also bo allotted to all suitablo applicants. A draft of tho artioloa of association of tho Oompany wns considered, and, with somo slight alterations, adopted; and Mossrs Haggitt Bros, and Brent woro instructed to register tho Company without dolay. Tho numbor of shareholders exceeds 200, of whom 26 havo qualified for tho ofllce of Director, by taking 800 or more shares. Aftor somo detail business had b; on dealt with, tho mooting adjourned. Tho workmen ut tho Graving Dock and those rosidonta of tho Port who livo iv contiguity to tho Huo of railway and quarrying works immediately abovo tho dock, must have a lively tiino of ib by reason of fcho blasting operations on tho lino and thoso in tho quarry. The complaints of narrow cscapos from falling debria havo boon frequent lately, but tho latest thing of fcho kind ocourrod early yesterday morning (Feb. 10), when a tremendous roport from a blast in the railway cutting was heard, and was immediately succeeded by v Bho wor of atones, whioh scattered ovor tho road and Graving Dook. Throo of thorn of oon-udoruble eizo struck fcho dook workshop, penetrating tbo roof in two placos, and smashing fcho spouting at tho cornor of tho building. Anothor atone of somo 121bs weight foil close to tho odgo of the dock, whilst another fragment that must havo boon muoh largor, struck ono of tho starboard jib guys of tho ship Waitara in tho dook, tore away tho serving and parcelling, and oufc into tho wiro strands. Tho momentum of tho Btono must havo boon oxcessivo, as tho lanyard of tho guy parted undor tho foroo of the blow upon tho standing part of tho guy. Whon the Btono struck tho latter a splinter flow from it and found its way clown tho forecastle soufctlo and struok ono of tho seamen, who was lying ill in his bunk, on tho mouth, Attention has again and again boon callod to tho nooessity of enforcing atringont precautionary measuroa to provont tho stono from scattering whon a blast ia oxploded at tho railway worka or in tho quarry. Perhaps, whon a town oounoillor is killed, or tho Mayor seriously maimod, something will bo dono. A caso of Bomo intorest to bakers and consumers of bread wae decided in PorfcOhalmors Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, Fob. 9. W. Monzios waa charged by Mr G. Lumb wifch having committed a breach of tho Bakera' and Millers' Aot, by exposing a quantity of bread for sale, tlie leaves nofc being marked in accordanco with tho provisiona of tho Aot. Prosooutor pointod out to tho Court tho object of having fcho broai marked or branded and doseribod, whoroin lay fcho differonco of fcho qualities of tho various broada mado by bakors. Ho deposed to having purchased from tho dofendant tho loaf of bread prO'luood in Court, and at tho time duly advise- ; : fcho defendant, of his reasons for purchasing it. Ho look it out of defendant's cart from amongst a dozen othera, and paid 3sd for ib, and then took defendant to the Police Courfc and laid an information against him. Tho ponalty providod by tho Act was 10s por lb for ovory pound of unmarked bread that wasaold. Mr Joyce, for tho dofoncc, simply plcadod ignorance of fcho law. Tho Bench thought thafc tho Bakers' aud Millera' Act of 1871 ought to bo moro gonorally known. N« nftice bad boon taken of ifc heretofore. No doubt a

breach of tho Act had beon committed in tho Erosont caso, und ho hod thoreforo no option ut to infliofc fcho full penalty of 10s per lb. Tho dofendant would have to pay £1 and costs. Tho samo defondont was then charged with Belling bread otherwiao than by weight, tho bread no£, being " fancy " bread. The chargo had reference lo the loaf of the preceding caso. Mr Joyce asked forn dismissal, on tho ground of tho defendant being taken by surpriso when ho sole! tho loaf. His Worship withhold decision for one week. Two oharges against Matilda Ritchie for breaches of tho Bakers' and Millers' Act, were withdrawn by tho prosecutor, G. Lumb, with tho onsent of the Court.