INVERCARGILL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3362, 17 January 1879, Page 3

INVERCARGILL.

[special.] Jan. 16. There lias been an increase of £9000 in the valuation of the town this year. This year ifc is £-±7,518, while for 1878 it was £33, 120. At the Police Court this morning, William Eobertson was committed for trial on two charges of forgery and uttering. A case of some importance to dairymen and others was heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. Daniel Philip 3 ■was charged by the Inspector of Nuisances with having on Jan. 10, with a horse and cart, hawked, sold, or exposed milk for sale without having paid a license. Mr M'Donald,SolicitortotheCorporation,said the action was brought under clause 3 of the 44th by-law of the town. Mr Finn, for defendant, admitted having no license, but pleaded, first that defendant did not " sell " in the streets in the ordinai'y sense, that he merely supplied customers. Mr Finn held that the by-law clearly contemplated there being a public market where defendant and others could dispose of their produce, and the offence of selling would be outside the market. The Council, it was submitted, had no right to prohibit sale or impose penalties unless ib provided a market. The words of the by-law were — "The market established by the Town Council, &c," and there being no specific market, defendant had a right to sell wherever he could. Mr M'Donald admitted there was no market, but under the provisions of a section in this by-law quoted, even although no market existed, defendant was not entitled to vend his commodity in town without paying the license fee. The Court thought the question a rather important one, and would consider the point raised, though it was of opinion that defendant was liable. The point in his favour was that there was no market inspector to receive any fees. The dues referred to in the by-laws could, he thought, be only leviable from persons hawking to chance customers, and might not apply to a milkman ordered to leave a pint or a quart at certain places daily. Mr M'Cullogh intimated that he would give Ins decision another day. A very sudden death is reported from Oreti. A man named Atkinson, employed on the railway, fell down suddenly, aa if in a fit. When lifted tip slight signs of life were visible, but lie very shortly afterwards expired. At a meeting of the Demonstration Committee this afternoon, several matters of detail were discussed, but nothing of general interest. Considerable satisfaction is felt at the date of the opening being definitely announced. (Prom the Own Corr«sponct«it of the Lyttellon. Times.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 16. A fatal accident occurred at Te Ari on Monday last to Mr John Penman, proprietor of the To Ari sawmill. He was at work in the mill, when he received a blow from a plank which was being turned. All available aid was applied, but the unfortunate gentleman died in half an hour after the accident. Mr Penman's death is much regretted throughout the district. Owing to the breakage of the crank pin of the mail steamer City of Sydney, -it [has been decided to detain her here until the necessary repairs have been effected by Frazer and Tinne, of the Phoenix foundry. It is expected that they will occupy ten or twelve days, at the end of which time the vessel will continue her voyage. Arrangements have been made with the Union Company, by which the Wakatipu will como on from Wellington, and take the City of Sydney's passengers and mails to Sydney. She is expected to arrive oa Saturday next, and will probably lcavo the same evening. The piece of machinery which has caused the delay, was manufactured in Sydney about six months ago. Information has reached the police authorities of the drowning of a man named James Littlechild at Boom's, about two miles from Lamb's mill, Biverhead. The deceased, a servant of Dr Wood's, was on his way to Riverhead in company with another man named Hart, for the purpose of obtaining goods for his emploj'er. On their arriv»! Boom's they found that the boat was or»v he opposite side of the river. Hart crossed first and went to a houso in order to obtain the oars. He heard, screams from the opposite bank, and ran back, when he sawLitMiichjld's hat floating in the water, bub could see no trace of the body. The deceased leaves a widow and two children. The river at the spot where the accident occurred is about 20 yards wide, but there are logs connected with a chain running across. Constable Houghton searched for the body until dark, and wa3 assisted by Constable Lyons, but without success. DUNEDIN, Jan. 15. -^ All the single girls by the Oamaru were , engaged to-day at from £30 to £-10 a year. / The following is the correct reading of a recent cablegram : " The Pope in an encyclical lias appealed to the German Bishop to inculcate upon Roman Catholics obedience to the laws of the Empire, and especially to the law recently promulgated against socialism, and he prays at the same time for leniency at the hands of the secular power for those who have offended." It was stated at the University Council meeting yesterday, that when the University buildings are completed, which will be at the end of March n:-xt, they will have cost £71,196. Allusion wa3 made to the circumstance that the Hon Mr Maciwulrew and others had thought suitable buildings could be erected for £17,000, while the professorial residences alone had cost over £7000. DUNEDIN, Jan. 16. At the Synod to day the University chair question was discussed, and the Rev. — Ryley prefaced his remarks on the question before the Synod by the expression of the hope that no personalities would be imported into the discussion, that it would be curried on in a kindly spirit, and that those who chose to disagree in opinion might extend to each other Christian courtesy. He then designated the statement that mental ond moral science was already taught in the University as an attompt to throw dust in the eyes of the Synod, but ho was sure the Sjnod would not be as easily duped. The Professorial Board forgot to tell them that thero was already a chair of English language and literature in existence, and that Professor Sale filled it. He als ) ascertained that the communication wa3 marked by the grossest and most revolting materialism, for it took no cognisance of that moral and spiritual nature of man which linked him with Heaven. Dr Stuarfc took exception to the slander thrown upon the professorial Board by the statement of Mr Rjley, that the professors were propagators of materialism. The assertion was utterly false and without foundation, and he, consequently would insist that it should be

withdrawn. The document simply stated that provision had already been made for mental and moral science. The professors were not propagators of materialism. The Rev — Baimerman, in revising the speech of the Hon Mr Stout, accused him of being either the most ignorant or the most unprincipled of men. He seemed to be ignorant of the fact that General Assembly Acts override Provincial Acts, and if aware of it he had calculated upon the gullibility of his audience. Other statements made by the Attorney-G-eneral were called in question. The debate was eventually adjourned to the evening.