Local and General.

Clutha Leader, Volume V, Issue 212, 2 August 1878, Page 3

Local and General.

A two-storey house, in Auckland, he-longing-to aMrJ. C. King was burned down on Monday. y A crowded meeting in Sydney on Monday adopted an address of congratulation to Earl Beaeonsfield. A At New Plymouth the other day a man. named William Dale was killed by a tree falling on him whilst he was felling it. While riding along George-st. , Dunedin, on Saturday last, Dr Coughtrey was thrown from his horse, but the injuries he received were slight. It is stated that Dr Butler, who paid Ll5O 3s per foot for the Supreme Court site, Wellington, has been offered and has refused L2OOO on his bargain. Leading citizens in Sydney are subscribing the £10,000 which was refused by the Government for the Intercolonial Exhibition. Captain Gibbons, surveyor for the Adelaide underwriters, has left for New Zealand to ascertain whether it is possible to recover the railway plant from tlie Hyderabad. Dr Wm. Stewart Roberts, M.R. C. S.E. , lately of Oamaru^ and resident surgeon of the King's College Hospital, London, has been appointed house-surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital. Some notes by Mr J. T. Thomson, Surveyor-General, sent through Sir Julius "Yogel, are published inthe Gazette, showing an effective mode of destroying rabbits with snares and traps. Sir John Coode has reported against the New Plymouth harbour scheme as impracticable. It was proposed to allot one-third of the entire waste lands of Taranaki as an endowment for this work. A Christchurch telegram says: — Anew railway company is being floated with a capital of LIOO,OOO to construct branch lines from Rakaia and the Groat South railway to Mount Hutt 7 , Alford Forest, and Mount Soniers. Palmervillo is tho scene of the latest Queensland rush, the possession of which, by the Chinese, who are there in considerable force, is likely to lead to a collision between the two races. Two Chinamen obtained 30oz in a week. A travelling Professor of Medicine, largely advertising in New Zealand, was detected eloping with a barmaid at Grahamstown on Monday morning. The damsel is in her teens, while the Professor, who hails from America, is quite fifty, and has a wife in Auckland. The steamer Success was wrecked on the Bth of July on .an unknown sunken reef off Russell Island, Queensland. Tlie carpenter, steward, cook, and cabin-boy, with some provisions, took a boat and landed on Hinchinbrook Island, and were rescued bp tho steamer Victoria. The Kaipoi Woollen Factory, which since the old company wound up has been carried on by the Hon. J. P. Peacock, has been purchased by a new company, who propose extending their operations. During the proprietorship of Mr Peacock the profits reached 25 per cent, per annum on the capital invested. We (Daily Times) are credibly informed that a sum of about L6OO was discovered on Friday last to have been concealed at the private residence of one of the members of a firm in this city which was engaged in compounding with its creditors. The matter will probably come before the public through the medium of the Bankruptcy Court within a few days, and an opportumty will be given to the parties concerned to explain the singular circuin- . stance, if explanation is possible. At the annual meeting of the Napier Athenasnm on Friday night, it was proposed to open the reading-room on Sunday afternoons. The Bishop of Waiapu strongly protested against it, and urged that it would be the means of the withdrawal of many subscribers. Colonel Lambert said he would be sorry to propose anything injurious to the public morality, but if a few straight-laced people withdrew their support, he would make up the difference out of his own pocket. The proposal was carried, the Bishop alone dissenting. A severe gale set in at Wellington early on Sunday morning. Several houses hi course of erection were blown down, and others much twisted and strained. Many fences and outhouses were blown down. The yacht Xariffa was blown ashore, ' and one of H.M. Nymphe's boats wasswamped, but' all the crew got ashore. The lifeboat was sent after them to bring them back, but could not do so, and both were hauled up on the beach. All the vjessels at the wharf had out extra warps, and the Nymphe had all her topmasts and yards down. A fire was discovered in the Southland -Times office, Invercargill, at 8.30 on Saturday morning last. No one was on the premises. It appears to have broken out in the editor's room. The flames spread quickly, and the building and plant were totally destroyed. Mitchell and Co.'s store adjoining was gutted, and the stock injured. McDonald's brick building on the west aide was slightly damaged. The following are the insurances: — On Times building — Northern, L2OO * South British (plant), L 50 0; Liverpool and London, do, L4OO ; Victoria, do, L2OO ; Limited Sydney, do, LSOO. Oh Tuesday evening 21st ult., Captain Mackenzie lectured in the schoolroom, Tapanui, to a large audience on the " Defences of the Colony." The lecturer was treating of a subject in which he is thoroughly versed, and handled it in his usual pithy and interesting style. He began by pointing out the defenceless state of" the Colonies at present. He agreed with the plan of defending the principal parts with artillery as a protection against privateers, but considered that much more than this was necessary. In the event of a war with Russia, for instance, it was not unlikely that a regiment of their brutal soldiery would be sent to lay waste the Colonies. He would advocate that the Colonists should be well armed and well drilled, and the knowledge that they were so would be their best protection against a foreign invasion. The lecture *was by a few vigorous remarks oh free thought, in which the Captain 1 strongly deprecated the want of religious training in our schools. He was of opinion that the want of principle in our,! rising generation would more seriously affect the well-being of the Colony than would any attack from foreign armies. On the motion of Mr Ferguson a cordial vote of thanks was awarded the lecturer for hia interesting address.

F. Fynmore, late captain of the Boyal Marine Artillery, was found drowned at Saltwater Creek, near Timaru, on Monday afternoon.

It has been determined to hold an International Exhibition at Sydney next 3*ear, and the necessary preparations are being pushed forward.

A man working on a sheep station in Marlborough last week received intelli gence of a relative having left L 12,000, and an annual income of L3OOO. So says the Express.

A fayenty years' lease of the Blue Spur tailings has been applied for by Messrs Bastings, Nichol, and others, who purpose forming a company with a capital of L 30,000 to work them.

A movement is on foot in Vincent County to purchase the Cromwell Argus and Dunstan Times with a view to their amalgamation and tho establishment of a by-weekly paper.

Mr J. Nugent Wood has been appointed R.M. for Riverton, but will continue to act as Warden for the Western Golrlfields district. Mr Watt is to pay periodical visits to Waikouaiti and Palmerston.

De Murska has become a bride for the seventh time, having been divorced from Mr Hill. , Her latest husband is a wealthy silver miner of Nebraska. At latest, accounts she was singing with Susini in that silver region.

The -Rev. Lorenzo Moore, of Port Chalmers, delivered his farewell sermons to his congregation on Sunday. . We (Morning Herald) understand he is residing in Dunedin, but is not acting in any charge at present.

A gold watch and chain, valued at thirty guineas, have been presented to Captain Mills, harbour-master, Timaru, by the New Zealand Insurance Company, in recoscnition of services rendered by him to the Company.

The Dunedin High School Board of Governors have appointed as assistant master in the lower school, atL2soayear, Mr Menzies, who has recently arrived in Victoria, and for many years conducted the High School in Ballarat.

The West Taieri Road Board have agreed to levy a shilling rate, aud to forward to Mr Cutten, M.H.R, the Akaroa Board's circular re endowments, with a request that he will do what he can to have the suggestion carried out.

We should say that no one envies the position of tho telegraphist at the Bealey. At the station he is in charge of the thermometer at mid-day has often of late stood at 21deg. in the shade, and at night it goes down occasionally to 4deg. below zero. Very comfortable!

_ The Vincent County Council has authorised its chairman to take such action in conjunction with the representatives of the Canterbury Councils as will secure to the County Councils interested a fair proportion of the moneys due to them from the Canterbury Land Fund.

The Wellington Post has been assured on the best authority that the proposed change in the incidence of taxation will not merely mean the imposition of a land tax, but also a re-adjustment of the Customs duties in the direction indicated by Sir George Grey when promulgating his policy.

During the nine years it has been in existence the Oamaru Harbor Board has spent L 120,000 on permanent works at a cost for supervision, &c.*, during that period of L9OOO, from which should be deducted the engineer's commission of LIOOO. The actual cost of management is about LSOO a year.

At a land salo at Ashburton on Friday last a large number of quarter-acre sections found ready purchasers at prices that " exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine. " To come down to particulars, the sections brought from LlB5 to L 37. Some farms sold at Llo per acre. A town section brought L4OO. The Tuapeka County ' Council, at a special meeting held on Thursday last, resolved unanimously, so far as the Councillors present were concerned, to amalgamate Clarks and Browns Ridings, and give an additional member to James Riding. What of the rolls and the disfranchising of voters at next election ?

Tho Canterbury Cricket Association have resolved to send an eleven to Melbourne next season, and have decided to challenge the following Victorian Clubs : — The Melbourne, East Melbourne, South Melhourne, Ballarat, Bohemian, and Richmond. They have also decided to invite the English team of gentlemen players to visit Ohristchurch.

The official declaration of the poll of the electors of Roslyn, for the return of a member to the House of Representatives, was made at the Kaikorai Drillshed at noon on Monday. The Returning Officer declared Mr Henry Driver elected to represent the district in the General Assembly, the result of the polling being as follows : — Henry Driver 335, A. H. Ross 219 ; majority for Mr Driver 116.

Master H. Maitland, Mr J. P. Maitland's second son, met with a serious accident at Port Chalmers on Monday evening, at about eight o'clock. While attempting to mount a horse on the street, opposite the Provincial Hotel he was thrown to the ground. He wanted to make a second attempt to mount the animal, bu*t was persuaded to enter the hotel. Dr Drysdale, who was soon in attendance, found that his injuries were more serious than they at first appeared, although we understand that the lad is not in any immediate danger. — Daily Times.

An instance of servantgalism that can ! be vouched for. After sitting up for a night attending on a sick wife, Mr A thought Betsy Jane might, without feeling her dignity compromised, be asked to " turn out " a little earlier than usual. So he knocked at her bedroom door md called her, but as she failed to put in an appearance he himself went down to light the ldtchen fire and make tea for his wife. After attending to her he again presented himself at Betsy Jane's door, and announced that he had deposited there a cup of warm tea. A voice thanked him as a " kind master," and an arm was put out for the steaming Souchong. Next morning Betsy Jane overslept herself (purposely, it is thought), and at 8 o'clock was waited on by the master of the house, who intimated that he had brought her breakfast. Betsy Jane declared that she had the kindliest master and the best place of any girl in Dunedin ; but her sentiments underwent a change when, on presenting herself, she was informed that that house did not need any longer a girl requiring so much attention. — Star.

A crown weighing 60oz. of pure gold has been manufactured in Sydney for King George, of Tonga.

A piano manufactory has been established in Christchurch. The instruments already finished are highly commended by the local Press.

Mr G. B. Barton has had auotber " scene " with Judge Johnston in Wellington. Mi* Barton is evidently making himself a nuisance.

Mr Todd, of Adelaide, is making successful experiments with the microphone. The noise of a camel's hair hrush macle on the plate was heard a distance of 100 ft.

As instancing the value of freehold property in Christchurch, a building site in High-street, opposite the Triangle, has been let for 33 years at £16 13s 4d -per foot.

The Dunedin Town Hall Oommittee recommend the City Council to agree to substitute plate-glass for sheet-glass in the windows of the new municipal building. The extra cost will be £453.

The Herald learns that the Timaru landing service has been sold by its present owners to the National Mortgage and Agency Company at a very satisfactory price to the sellers.

Mr W. J. Clarke has come forward as a candidate for a seat in the Victorian Legislative Council, and it is thought he will bo returned unopposed. Professor Hearn is also a candidate for the central

province

A 'horse which strayed on the line between Stirling and Lovells Flat was killed on Monday morning by the down train from the Clutha. The "engine was so much clogged by the animal's flesh that the engine had to be stopped to remove it.

Mr Theophilus Daniel telegraphed to the Minister of Works last week that miners who inspected " the Longwood reef and saw the contents washed stated that it would yeild 2000z. ," but to bo within the mark he put it down himself at 50oz !

The north-west gale in the beginning of the week did considerable damage in the country districts of Canterbury. Two buildings and several partly erected ones were blown down, while others were moved off the piles. The damage to the Northern railway will take a week to repair. The Rakaia and Ashburton rivers wore higher than they have been known to be for many years, hut did no damage.

. At the Supreme Court, Christ-church, on Tuesday, Mr Joyce applied for a rule nisi, calling on the Colonial Treasurer to show cause why a mandarmus should not issue to compel him to pay over to the Road Boards certain money accruing from Land Fund, alleged to be due on 31st December last. After a long argument, His Honour Judge Johnston granted the application, the rule to be returnable in a fortnight.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Milton, yesterday, before MrEAH. Carew, RM. , Andrew Miller, junr., was charged, on the information of .lames Adam, Returning Officer, with having on the 19th of June last at the election of a member for the Adamsthorp subdivision of the Mount Stuart District Road Board, fraudulently, knowingly, and falsely personated one Andrew Miller his father, and then and there voted as the said Andrew Miller, senr. Mr D. Reid appeared for the informant, and Mr W. Taylor for the defendant. After evidence had been heard, the case was adjourned for a week. Another informatiyu was withdrawn.

It is once more rumoured that the Land Company purpose cutting up the Totara Estate, and leasing it in farms (says the North Otago Times). It will be remembered that some time ago a similar intention prevailed, but if we recollect rightly the conditions of the leases (prepared at home) were such as would only have been adapted to the Home Country, the precise rotation of crops laid down not suiting this part of New Zealand. We trust that this time the conditions of lease will be such as agriculturists will readily accept, and that for result we shall witness not only the benefiting of the town and district by the extension of settlement, but that the Company itself will derive better returns than from devoting so much splendid agricultural land to purely pastoral purposes.

The Conference of municipal delagates met] at Wellington on Tuesday afternoon. On the motion of Mr Standi sh it was carried — " That in the opinion of the Conference the Government is not warranted in making any deductions since the Ist July last for the maintenance of either hospitals or charitable institutions from subsidies granted by Parliament or by way of endowment to municipalities, and that Messrs Moorhouse, Hutton, and. Brett interview the Government on the subject, with the view of ascertaining whether they are prepared to pay over such subsidies ih full." Mr Charters moved, and it was carried — "That the expenses of the Conference be borne by all those Boroughs which are represented thereat in proportion to pop ulation. ' ' The Conference then commenced to go through the Municipal Corporations Act, 1876, clause by clause, and adjourned at 4.30.

A few days ago we mentioned the case of a ninth part of a maii^named Robinson, who lives hi Wellington, and who, because he had a difference with his wife, straightway betook himself to the Resident Magistrate's Court, swore an information against her, and had her arrested and

locked up on the charge of being a dangerous lunatic. It will be remembered, too, that Dr Driver, who, when called in by the police, pronounced her to be sane and sober, lodged a complaint with the magistrate of the extraordinary nature of the proceedings. We see by the Wellington papers that when the case was called up before him, Mr Mansford expressed the opinion that it probably was one of the most disgraceful which had ever occurred in a minor Court of law. It appeared to him that the husband must have acted from purely malicious motives, and there was certainly no ground whatever for the charge. Any husband who could prefer such a charge as that upon oath, and without any grounds for the accusation, ought to be proceeded against for perjury ; and he further added that if that course couidbe adopted, he would certainly order it to be done. Robinson asked for a remand, which His Worship declined to grant. After such a direction I we hope to hear that the local police have j done their duty by laying an information I for perjury against Robinson.