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Dunstan Times, Issue 1233, 16 October 1885, Page 2

With refeience (to the reported tragedy having occurred at Queenstown, where two Chinamen attacked each other with axes, and were not expected to recover, the folio wing "particulars have been placed at our disposal:—Two Chinamen are employed at Eichardt’s Hotel, Queenstown, one (Wong Young) acting as cook, and the other (Ah Gong) general, servant. It appears that at about 9 a,m. on the 13tb iust., Ah Gong went to the kitchen and asked the cook for some warm water to wash the milk pans, but was told that the water could not be spared just then, but Ah Gong not being satisfied with the answer pushed Wong Young ou ono side, and was proceeding to the tap to take the water when the cook struck him on the forehead with a tin dipper which he had in his hand, inflicting a not very deep or serious wound. In answer to enquiries Ah Gong stated that he did not wish to prosecute Wong Young, and a shoi t time after the occurrence both men went about their work as if nothing had happened. A special meeting (convened by the Chairman) of the Vincent County Council was hel I at the Council Chambers yesterday, at 2 p.m., for the purpose of electing a member to represent the Vincent County on the Board for the Otago Central District under “The Hospital and Uhantable Institutions Act, 1835.” The following members were present: Cra. Fraser, Chairman ; Tobin, Butler, Sheppard, Stronach, and Pitches. The circular from Mr J. Hislop, Wellington, re duty of election of member for District Board having been read, the following motion by Cr. Stronach was carried : That Mr W. Fraser, Chairman of this county, be elected to represent Vincent County on the Board of the District of Central Otago under “ The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1835.”

We are indebted to our Contemporary, the ‘ Cromwell Argus, 1 for the results of the Lowburu races, which will be found in ano' her column.

The attent’on of gardeners and others is directed to Mr Webb's advertisement in this issue.

Mr P. Jeffery is notified as having been appointed agent for the Government Life insurance Association, from whom all particulars can be obtained by intending in* enters. ...

We Lave received from the Robin Hood Company the acmes and addresses of pria. oipal winners in their Hawkosbury meeting,'also same of committee of drawing. The promoters also tell ns that their 50,000 oh the Melbourne Cap is going'ahead wonder., fully fast, and that the number they will close for at the end of the month will astonish the world. Agents are requested to obey instructions on Boohs. By advertisement in another column it ‘Will be seen that the well-known racehorse Foul Play (lato Coburg) is for sale. A charge of’embracery, or in other words a charge of attempting to influence a grand juror in his decision at the recent sittings of the Supreme .Courb in. Dunedin, preferred against Stephen Stamp Hutchison, was disposed of last Friday at the Pity Police Coart, Dunedin. The Bench,, after, hearing evidence, were of opinion that a prima facie case had been made out, and decided to commit accused for trial. Bail was allowed and afterwards procured to the extent of accused’s own recognisance for LSD, and two sureties of L 25 each.

A case of great interest to betting men has been heard at the Liverpool assizes. A, P.' Mignot,tobacco merchant, Liverpool, sued R. A. Wanda, manager of the Houghton Betting Club, for various sums alleged wrongfully received by him from .Prank P. Quinn, at that time plaintiff’s cashier. Quinn embezzled a large sum of money, and is undergoing imprisonment for the offence. A LIOO note, a L2O, and a L 5 note wee traced to the defendant, to- whom they had been paid in liquidation of losses at betting. The money was sought to be recovered, wagering contracts being void iu law. Quinn gave evidence that he had extensive transactions with \yhnds, paying him in one day LI3O, including the notes in' question, part of a sum of L 330 which he embezzled. At this poiub tho parties came to a settlement, and a juror was withdrawn. In the course of tho hearing of tho Hutt tarring case His Honor Judge Richmond made the following remarks on Mr K T. Gillou’s request to be excused from giving evidence on a matter which had come before him in his capacity of journalist“ I shall take my own course in this matter. liutiling can be clearer than that there is no such privilege as is now claimed, and that the Legislature could grant such a privilege it it was in the interest of the public to do so. It is quite certain that it ig the duty of every journalist put in the box to answer questions that he is asked. If the public benefit—and all privilege stands on the public benefit—requires that a journalist should be so privileged it would be done, I suppose; but it is very clear he is not privileged at present. Therefore, I have no hesitation in saying that it is the duty of every journalist, as a good subject, whatever his own views may be, to give his evidence when called upon, and there are oases in which 1 should enforce all the penalties that the law allows me. lam not prepared to say what I.will do now, but Mr Gillou ' is no doubt entirely and legally wrong in . tho claim ho now advances. - I sit here to administer the law of the land, and I don’t recognise the right of any man, or'class of men, to make a law for themselves. 1 am not satisfied that public justice will suffer much by letting Mr Gillou out of toe box. If I thought it would I should take the matter into my own hands, since it is a question of suffering for contempt.” After some remarks from Mr Travers and the witness, his Honor said : “ A journalist opens himself to a fine or imprisonment, or both, by adopting the course you have done, and if I saw any cause why public justice demanded it, I should certainly use the means oven to me. You may stand down.’’

A glaring instance of the occasional inconsistency of Justices’ justice was afforded at the Police Court (says an Auckland paper). Two married women were charged with using had language. The circumstances were very much the same in both cases, and previous convictions had been recorded against both defendants. One woman who was represented by a lawyer was found guilty and allowed her liberty on the un lerstanding that she should come up for sentence when called upon. But in the other case, in which the facts were also proved, the defendant, a married woman with a family, was sent to prison for three mouths.

The fact has been established that bones dissolve in the ocean. By dredging, it is common to pick up teeth, but rarely a bone of any kind ; these dissolve if exposed to the action of the water but a little time. On the contrary, dentine, the peculiar material of which the teeth are formed, and the enamel covering them, resist the destroying action of the sea water indefinitely. The ‘ Wellington Evenihg Post ’ reiters ales the assertion that Mr Weldon is to be promoted to the Chief Inspectorship of Police. In the last issue to hand it says “ Notwithstanding the amusing efforts which are being made to prove that Mr Shearman and not Mr Weldon should be placed at the head of the police force, it will, we believe, he found ultimately that the chief inspectorship, or whatever else the office may he termed, will devolve on the latter gentleman. Mr Weldon is senior to Mr Shearman as a commissioned officer in New Zealand, although he was only second in'com'maiid in Otago At the time Mr Shearman was placed in charge of the Canterbury Provincial Police Force. Mr Weldon served under Mr Commissioner Branigan while that officer organised and commanded the Otago force, the first really efficient body of police formedin the colony. When Mr Branigan became Commissioner of the demilitarised Armed Conatabnlary, Mr Weldon succeeded him in Otago, Mr Weldon’s appointment would be undoubtedly popular in the force generally, and, as we have said, there is little doubt that he will ultimately, and at no distant date, be promoted to the position ho is so well fitted to fill.” ■

Feeble ladies, aged persons, weakly children, persons of sedautary habits, all need American Co.’s Hop Bitters daily. Believe. - M

A singular circumstance, which is well .jprthy of being reco ded, is herewith related (says the ‘Auckland Star’ of the loth Inst.) for the benefut’of all interested in the progress of the temperance cause, and also as a good example to topers, both old and young. The Ponsonby Rowing Club held its annual meeting at the Pon. sonby Club Hotel on Tuesday evening. There were about 25 members present, including the proprietor of the establishment and after business was transacted the usual finale]ma onnouaced. The order was given, and when the drinks were served it was discovered, amidst much laughter and astonishment, that there was only one solitary whiskey in the lot. the balance-being strict « teetotal beverages-the worthy host, evi- ‘ dentiy being guided by good example, bemg, bimaeif amongsUho pa troua of » Boffc a tuff. .

About 8 o clock last, evening many persons in various parts of the city (says the Dunedin • Herald *of the 12th inst.) were startled by an explosion, and as it was Sun-day,-and the explosion could not be attri* \ buted to blasting operations, all kind ofrumours were quickly circulated. The most alarming and one to which credence was given by many was that soma of the prisoners who come up from the Heads on Saturday had managed to secrete dynamite with a view'of using it-'as a means of effecting their liberty . The sound seeming from the direction of the Gaol a number of people made inquiries there, and on being told by the officials, turned away under the impression that dreadful had oocurred within the house of detention, and that the matter was being “ kept dark." Investigations this morning showed that larrikins were experimenting near the tumbler of a dredge lying close - t>> the Brunner Coal Company’s yards, and not far from the Rattery street Jetty. Prom appearances damped bias tine powder had been utilised. The police are making inquiries into the matter, and have asoer-’ tained the description of two lads who were seen near the tumbler shortly before the explosion occurred.

A good story is told of a French advocate who has made it a rule never to take up a casein which he did not thoroughly believe. One day he chanced to.be entertaining a distinguished company at dinner, when ho was informed that a client urgently requested a few minutes’ interview, It turned out to be a man whose acquittal on the charge of stealing a watch he had that morning procured. Appearances had been strongly against the prisoner, who, it was thought, had been not a little assisted by the character of his counsel. Doubtless the poor fellow was impatient to express his gratitude ; and an audience was n"t unwiU lingly accorded. He looked somewhat abashed at the presence of the guests ; bn ■, reassured by the kindly tone of the host! began; “Mouseiur, it is about rhat watch. . . .” “ Yes. mv friend, I congratulate you on the triumphant vindication of your innocence.” “Then, the trial is quite over?” “ Why, of c urse.” “Anl 1 can tbs tried again ?” *• Certainly cot.” “ They can do nothing more to me’” “ HoW could they ?” “Then 1 may wear the watch ‘St. James’s (iazetie.’

A shark captured on the beach near Auckland last week was found to measure 30it in length, 16fc in girth, and had a mouth 4ft wide.

Something liko a run on the Federal Bank took place in Sydney in the first few days of the present month. It was found that the demand for payment in gold at the bank had been much greater for the week ending the 3rd inst than during any other in the bank’s history, and it was considered advisable to ascertain the cause of the oc. currence, when it was found that a telegram was sent a few days before by a bookmaker in Melbourne to a tobacconist in Sydney reflecting on the bank. The recipient of the telegram showed it to a number of his customers. All demands ou the bank were met immediately, and every other possible proof was eiven of the stability of the institution, but notwithstanding this there were further withdrawals. Some of the depositors merely called for information,and were satisfied with an official explanation as to the security of the bank, when their domands were promptly met in gold. To allay any uneasiness, the doors were kept open long after the usual bank hours, to give depositors the fullest opportunity of withdrawing their accounts. A telegram was received from the general manager of the bank in Meibom ne, stating that no doubt is entertained in Melbourne as to the bank’s position, and there is gold available to meet all requirements. The telegram further stated that the bank balanced on the ,30th September, an 1 will pay a dividend at the rate of 8 per cent per annum. ; place LIO.OOO to the reserve fund -making it L20,000-and carry forward nearly 12000 to the next half-year, besides making provision for any doubtful debts; From a telegram iii the Hobart Mercury of the Bth, Samuel Trotman, a compositor in the Victorian Government printing office, appeared at the Melhouni&JL City Court for criminal libel, in having sent a telegram to a friend at Sydney, statins that the Federal Bank Was broke, and advising him to withdraw out his money. The telegram was shown to the man.gero! the bank at Sydney, and hence the proceedings.

The first known case of cremation in Hawke’s Bay was witnessed recently by passengers by the afternoon train from Ta. horaite to Napier. A bullock bad beei killed by a preceding train, and to get ri l of the carcass burning was resorted to. Saveral men employed near the Kopua sirling in the vicinity of which the animal was killed, were sot to work by someone to sur« round the carcass with a large heap of chips and firewood, and this was afterwards fired. The big blaze thus made soon reduced the dead bullock to ashes, but the smell of burning flesh, fat, and bones as the cremation progressed was rather the reverse of ■pleasant to those who gota.whitf,