MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 312, 9 January 1871, Page 2

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1871.

Most of our readers took some interest in the case Ofibrd v. Williams and Yon Stunner (recently tried in the Supreme Court), and which resulted in the defendants being castin £200 damages, and costs to the amount of some four hundred pounds. Knowing the high-handed way in which justice is generally administered in the outside districts, and the " Jack in office" style that usually characterises small minds when removed from observation and control, the public generally rejoiced in the decision of the Supreme Court as a righteous judgment. "We have no doubt that it will be highly gratifying to the public, and, tending to exalt their ideas of the institutions of this great country, to know that from the sacred precincts of the Bankruptcy Court, Messrs. Edward Marsh Williams and Spencer Yon Stunner (metaphorically speaking), place their thumbs to their noses, aud extending their expanded digits in the direction of the public in general (aud Mr. Ofibrd in .particular), remark—" Don't you wish you may get it ?" Tar ndbile frat.rum !

We are informed that the requisition to the Provincial Secretary, Mr. H. H. Lusk, calling on him to stand for the representation of Parnell in the House of Representatives, has already been signed by above one hundred electors 5 and that it includes a large number of those who had expressed their intention of supporting Mr. Wood, but who are preparing and signing a statement of their reasons for withdrawing that support. It would appear that there will be few constituencies without a contest during the coming general elections, which cannot be regarded other than a healthy sign of the political vitality of the people, and an intense interest in the importance of tho great questions at present pending aud affecting the weal or woe of New Zealand for all future time.

It will be satisfactory to all those who desire to see the development of our local industries to learn that fire bricks of the very best quality have been made by Mr. S. Harrison, of Beresford-street. This is a product of manufacture that has hitherto been imported at very great expense, and as samples of tho brick have been tested in fie furnace at tho Gas Works, and have borne the heat as well as the very best imported, and at a heat at which some imported have melted, it is to be hoped that we have added another to our valuable home manufactures. Specimens of the production to be seen at the office of tho New Zealand Local Industry League in Queenstreet.

We are glad to hear that the singularly skilful work of Mr. Wrigg, recently won by raffle at the All Saints' Church Bazaar, and subsequently presented by the winner, Mr. Joseph Brown, to His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, is being re-produced in photographs by Mr. R. H. Bartlett, of Queenstreet.

The directors of the Junction Gold Mining Company having declared a dividend of Is per share, the transfer books of the company will be closed till Wednesday, when the dividend will be paid.

The departure of the s.s Airedale for Taranaki and "Southern port 3is postponed until Wednesday, the 11th inst., at noon.