NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 59, 13 June 1874, Page 6

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The unwelcome intelligence has reached us from Lyttelton of the arrival of the ship Northampton, with 370 immigrants, amongst whom srrall-pox had broken out. The vessel was immediately placed in quarantine, and it is to be hoped that every further precaution will be taken to prevent the spread of this dread scourge, aud a repetition of the calamities of two years ago.

In view of the opening of the Balclutha line on the Ist proximo, a weekly journal, to be called the ' Clutha Leader' is to make its first appearance on tint day, and at that township. The mechanical department will be under the superintendence of the late overseer of the 1 Jiruce Herald j* and the editorial chair be filled by a gentleman who formeily held a similar position on the same journal.

It will be remembered that the coroner's jury, in Melbourne, which brought in a verdict of wilful murder against Green, charged with causing the death of Mr Reynolds, by explosives, gave as their reason for ao doing, that they were thoroughly convinced of hi* innocence, but that they wished to give him ample opportunity of re* moving the stigma which has been cast upon him, and clearing himself in the public miud, as he had in theirs. This was looked upon as rather a novel reason for confining — as they alleged — an innocent man to gaol for some months, and a consideration and thoughtfulness for which the object of it would scarcely be thankful. "We now learn that the jury which tried the case at the Supreme Court having been unable to agree, have been discharged, and this unfortunate victim of mistaken kindness conducted back to his dungeon, bail for his release being refused, notwithstanding that ten of the jury believed him innocent of the crime. If he be more fortunate when ne"xt put upon his trial, and his innocence fairly established, he may in future exclaim with some show of reason, " Save me from my friends."

Fbom the Government ' Gazette* of the 28th of May we learn Iliat the number of telegraphic messages from the Ist of January to the 31st oi March of the present year has been 203,140 against 141,781 during the corresponding quarter of last year, or a money value of £11,942 against £9744; showing an increase of messages forwarded to the extent of 61,359, and to the revenue of £2197.

A meeting of the shareholders in the Tablet Newspaper Company, as convened by advertisement, was held in the schoolroom attached to St. Joseph's, on Thursday evening, tbe 4th inst. In the absence of his Lordship the Bishop, Mr Connor was voted to the chair. The minutes of tho previous meeting having been confirmed, the secretary read the balance-sheet for the past year, as passed by the auditors, which was received and adopted. Mr Columb, one of the auditors, expressed his great satisfaction at the flourishing state of affairs which the yearly statement disclosed, and paid a just tribute to the energy, ability and zeal of the secretary. The balance sheet will be found in our advertising columns.

Okce more the yellow flag floats in our harbor. The steamship Atrato, with 762 immigrants, 159 of whom are for Otago, arrived during Monday, with the measles on board. She has been singularly unfortunate, having at the commencement of the voyage to put into Plymouth for repairs, and during the passage has »iad thirty-three deaths, although none of the cases are of an infertuous Mature, but were as follows : six from convulsions from teething ; nine from bowel complaint ; one from erysipelas, and seventeen from croup. At first when the lveaslea broke out, the patients were kept separate from the rest of the passengers, but after a time they become so numerous that separation became wholly impossible, and the sick were treated in the »»me compartment as the healthy. On arrival she was placed in the (Quarantine Ground, and all the clothes and bedding fumigated in the usual manner.

AFbmtchmah named Buisson was on Tuesday, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, committed for trial on a charge of attempting to murder his wife by suffocation. It appears that prisoner and hie wife had been living on bad terms and been separated for 6ome time past. A reconciliation, however, had lately taken place, and on his promising to treat her more kindly, she returned to live with him. On the night of the 26th ult., on retiring to rest he gave her a glass of porter, and shortly alter she felt as if under the influence of chloroform. Later in the night she was awakened by feeling a pricking sensation at the root of her tongue, aud found that her husband had hold of her, with his fingers thrust rudely down her throat. After struggling with him for some time, she fell back exhausted, and did net recover consciousness until next morniug. Bines the occurrence she has been suffering the most acute agony, and Dr Burrows deposed that the injuries were of a most peculiar nature, and such as he had never met with during bin entire pi tictico. The prisoner is v shoeblack, having some pretensions to heibal knowledge, and his evideut design was either to poison the root of the tongue or cause suflbeation. Contrary to practice the accused was admitted to bail. '

A man named John Burke, had a narrow escape on Tuesday morning from a terrible death. It appears that lie v,as going home shortly after midnight on Monday, and i" passing along C'ustle street walked on to pome reclaimed land, which is being filled up with mud and slush. His struggle to extricate himself being unavalitig, his cries for assistance were fortunaiely heard by some gentlemen connected with the ' J)aily Times ' Office, just as he had sunk to his chin in the slush. Some sleepers used at tiie temporary tramway being torn up were improvised a 9 a stage, while others were placed under his arms to prevent his sinking further. The assistance of the police was then invoked, and with some difficulty the man was rescued irom his perilous position, and corvejed to the Hospital ; but had not timely aid be< n rendered him, there is no doubt that he would have met a horrible death, for hud lie uot disappeared altogether, the tide would have drowned him by inches.

An tonteitatnment in aid of the Catholic Schools' Fund was given in tbe Barbadoes street schoolroom, Chriatchurch, on the 2nd in»t.

The attendance was numerous, and an excellent programme was tub* nutted, the first pert being devoted to legerdemain, in which a well* known amateur exhibited great proficiency. ' The remainder of the entertainment was intended to have been a farce by the St. Patrick Amateur Dramatic Club, but a difficulty having arisen to prevent the carrying out of the programme in its integrity, " The Area Belle," by the Spreydon Club, was substituted, all the character* in which were well eustained, the piece creating much amusement, as evinced by the applause bestowed. The Rev, Father Ecuyer, at the conclusion of the entertainment proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had given their assistance, to which a hearty response being given* a most enjoyable .evening was brought to a close.

A PIEB of a most disastrous character, and which at one time threatened to assume most extensive proportions, occurred about 11 o'clock on Wednesday night in Stafford street. It appears to have originated in the premises of Mr G. P. Reid, forwarding agent, and had it not been for the exertions and promptitude of the Brigade we would doubtless have to chronicle the total destruction of the block. The upper portion of the building was in the occupation of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory, as a warerooro, and we have been informed that the stock of woollen goods was very considerable. Mr Reid was insured in the Norwich Union, £500 on the building ; New Zealand, £600 on the stock ; South British, £1000 on the stock j Standard, £500 on the stock. Messrs Houghton & Co.'s stock and premises sustained material injury, and at one time it seemed almost impossible that they could be saved. The greatest praise is due to tbe Brigade, a stream of water being poured into the flames three minutes after the alarm had been rung out.

It appears that after all tbe irate oratory and virtuous indignation written and expressed against Sir James Fergusson for- hit autocratic pretensions, His Excellency is not quite so culpable as was imagined, inasmuch as he has, through his secretary, denied the truth of the accusation. In writing to one of the papers, his private secretary says : — " Auckland, June 5, 10 a.m.— l am directed by the Governor to inform you thnt a paragraph in your paper, May 27, copied from the « Argus' of May 11, stating that His Excellency * Has started the idea that all correspondence between the Governments of the colonies should ccme direct from and to tlte Governor,' is one unfounded in fact. — Feancis A. Hake, Private Secretary."

The death is reported by telegram from New Plymouth of Captain Henry King, R.M., which took place on Saturday last, at the ripe old age of 92. He was the only surviving representative of the Victory off Cape St Vincent in 1797. Captain King was second lieutenant on board the Sea Horse at the capture of Alexandria, and he also served in the operations on the Potomac in 1814. He became commander in 1844, then Besident Magistrate at New Plymouth, and was gazetted a letired captain in 1852.

A rttmob lias been current duriug the past few days that a claimant had come forward for the ground on which the London Hotel, Jetty street, is built, as also of the sections adjoining. The report is that a sailor, who is now mate of the brig Craigellaehie, many years Bince purchased some land in the then newly formed township. He thought no more of his purchase, but on a recent visit hearing of the value of property, h» betliought of the almost forgotten deeds, which upon investigation proved to be those of the ground above mentioned. It is further asserted that the City Corporation who, it is said, hold possession of th« ground, have l-ecoguized the genuineness of his claim, and that he has been offered a considerable sum for his bargain. We insert the above rumor, but do not vouch for its reliability.

During the fire in Stafford street, a most plucky act was (accord' ing to the * Guardian ') performed by a by-stander, said to be the driver of an express, but whose name we did not ascertain. It would appear that late in the day he brought a keg of powder to the store, and being aware ot the position in which it was placed, at some risk to himself lie entered the premises, then a mass of flames, and rescued tbe keg from the fire by which it was surrounded. But for thito an explosion might have occurred, which would have, in all probability, greatly increased the disaster.

Wk wish to remind such of our readers as are members of the the Hibernian Society that a meeting of the association will be held in St. Joseph's schoolroom, on Monday evening next, at eight o'clock. As the business is of importance it is hoped as many members will attend as can witlf convenience do so.

It will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, that the share list of the Colowial Bank of New Zealand will be closed on Monday the 29th insl., and as the shares are rapidly being taken up, intending applicants had better lose no time. We hear that 65,000 shares have been already issued in Otago aud Southland.