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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1934, 17 July 1869, Page 2

The English Mail.—The late hour at which we received our English and M elbourne files prevented us from making use of them for this evening's issue.

Libel—A criminal information was laid to-day against Mr W. J. Henningham, the editor of the Echo, for the publication of an article in its number of the 30th June, in which Mr Driver was subject d to some comment. The information is to be heard before Mr .Strode on Tuesday at 12 o’clock. Congregational Church, Moraypi.ACH.—We notice that a soiree to welcome the Rev David Johnstone to the pastorship of this Church, is to be held on Tuesday evening. We are glad to learn that his health has improved so much since his arrival in Otago as to enable him to undertake the duties of the office. The intelligence will be exceedingly gratifying to the members of his old comrogation in Great Hamilton stieet Church, Glasgow, amongst whom he labored succes-folly for many years. Port Chalmers Mayoralty.—Yesterday, the nomination of the candidates for the Mayoralty of Fort Chalmers took place. Mr D. Rolfe was proposed by Mr John Craigie, and seconded by Mr James Smith ; Mr j)avid O’Doiio'hue was proposed by Captain Farnio, and seconded by Mr T. Taylor. The candidates addressed the meeting, and the poll was appointed to be taken on Wednesday. H.M. Gaol, Dunedin.—The following is the state of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 17th of July, 18(19 : Awaiting trial, 3 men, 0 women; under remand, 0 men, 1 wmian ; penal servitude, 24 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 58 men, 15 women ; imprisonment, 0 men, 0 women ; in default of bail, 1 man, 1 woman ; debtors, 2 men, 0 women ; total, 88 men, 17 women. Received during the week, 5 men, C women ; discharged, 4 men, 4 women.

Entertainment. —Many of the public arc, no doubt, in ignorance of what is done to alleviate the sufferings of those unfortunate people who are confined in the Lunatic Asylum here. From time to time acc amts of tie working and progress of the Institution have appeared i' l this journal; but even from those accounts, almost ex haustive as they were, only a very faint conception of what was being done could be gathered. It was with the view of ascertaining the character of the entertainments that are being provided this season for the amusement of the inmates of the I ustitution, that we visited the Asylum last evening. The result of that visit has been satisfactory in the extreme. In a large hall —or rather hijou theatre, for it possesses a small stage and many other adjuncts of a theai.ie designed, we believe, by the Superintendent of the Asylum, were assembled the quietest inmates, to the number of 70 When a number of the public had been admitted, dancing was commenced, and indulged in for more than hour. Everything was conducted with the utmost decorum. During the interval, songs were given by some of those present. The chief attraction, and what appeared to give the most satisfaction and enjoyment to both patients and visitors, was the, entertainment of the Colored Opera Troupe. Considering that the troupe have been newly organised and have had few opportuni ies for rehearsal, they acquitted themselves very creditably. Stdl there is room for much improvement on the part of some of its members ; and it would be well if, in future, the songs to be sung were distributed more evenly among them Some of the songs and choruses were well snug, particularly the ballads “Toll the bell” and “Let me kiss him for his mother,” and the Jinah, “Babylon’s a falling.” To Mr Hume, the superintendent, the visitors who were pret y numerous, were much mtebted for his courtesy. We had almost omitted to mention that the Misses Hume lent invaluable assistance by presiding at the piano. These entertainments are well worth going to sec.

Wellington. —A telegram in the Oamam Times, dated the I.4thhist., says ; “A division took place last night on Mr M‘Lean’s motion, to send home Commissioners to arrange for troops on payment. Majority for Ministry, six, me tiding three Maori members. A meeting of the shareholders of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company was held last night, when it was, definitely decided not to wind up, by 113: to 77 votes. Splendid specimens of alluvial gold were brought in frmn_ Devil’s Karori, three miles out, this morning. 'Lucre is great excitement, and a rush has set in.” Colonial Fisheries. —The Kaikovra Herald says : source, that our whaling friends in fort Uncle i-wood are likely to make a good harvest this season. On Friday and Saturday last, no less than nine black whales were captured by two boats crews under the management of Messrs Thoms and Aldridge—the former secured five and the latter four. This must have been the large school which was observed off Kaikoura last week.” The Storm Bird brought over a quantity of oil yesterday, and reports that it is being pro cured faster than casks can be made to put it in. Stringent Measures. —The A. filler aid, in advocating stringent measures with the rebel natives, says:—“We have a good precedent to quote and follow —that of the mother country as regards the Sepoy rebellion ; and we cannot do better than follow it. Certainly the Englishmen and Englishwomen murdered by the Maoris are only ordinary British subjects—mere colonists—while those who were slain in India were either civil or military officials of the British Government. Their lives were justly avenged by a righteous retribution, and we should value the lives of our settlers just as highly as the British Government valued the lives of its officials ip India, and exact a similar retribution on the Maoris as that which the Sep >ys were made to suffer. Then the land will have peace ” Forestry.—The Taapekct Press of the 7th Lust, contains the following notice of a new Court of the Ancient Order of Foresters, which, under the name of “ Court Haveock,” was opened at Havelock on Tuesday evening last “ From the District Court two district officers at ten 'ed—viz., D.C.R. Thomson and D.S. Wood auds. The following officers and members of the Court Star of Tuapeka were also presept—viz., Messrs E. Titehener, C. R. ; G. M orison, 5.0.11. ; <T. Bennett, Secretary ; G. Walker, S.W. ; and Messrs Black and Donovan. Seventeen members were initiated by the district officers, and Brother G. W. Bnsst was elected Chief Ranger of the new Court. After the initiation had been got through, about five-and-twenty gentlemen sat, down to supper, which was served up in Jirst-ratc

style by Host Coghill, of the Bridge Hotel. Slipper over, the company proceed to discuss the usual round of toasts—loyal, patriotic, and complimentary; and we are informed teat a most enjoyable evening was spent by those present. ” Titokowaru —It appears that a simultaneous movement from Patea and Taranaki has been made with the view of capturing or destroying Titokowaru. The Wairoa Rifles marched on Monday last for Patea to join Colonel Lyon, who started o i the 20th with a strong force for Waitara, where he will meet with a force from New Plymouth under Major Brown, and then march to Mokau, where Titokowaru, with about 200 men, is supposed to haue t ken up a position. The Wanyunui Chronicle, in reference to this, says;— Another of those expeditions which have lately been characteristic of our forces at the Front is about to start —if it has not already left. i’he secrecy which should attach to all such incursions into the emmy’s country has been less preserved in this, the most important, than any previous one. Not only has it been freely discussed between Maoris and Pakehas, hut has afforded matter for debate in the Assembly. It is, therefore, all the more probable that this expedition, like many .another better concealed, will prove resultless, and Titokowaru allowed to leave his quarters on the Waitara with as much impunity as ho has done under different circumstances. Colonel Lyon from this end is to co-operate until Major Brown from Taranaki, to attempt the capture of the archrebel.” A late telegram states that our contemporary's surmise proved to be correct, for Major Brown’s force returned to Taranaki without discovering any trace of Tito. The N.Z.S.N. Company. —The proposal made on behalf of the Circular Saw Company, to purchase the plant and assets of the Now Zealand Steam Navigation Company. was received with great disfavor by shareholders in Napier, Wanganui, and Taranaki. and it is believed that it was I>y their influence that the proposal was rejected, at the meeting of shareholders held in Wellington this week. At Napier the shareholders resident there b Id a meeting a few clays ago, when the following resolutions were adopted : —l. That this meeting is of opinion that it will be against the interests of the shareholders in this Province, that the property of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company be disposed of on the terms mentioned in the circular, the offer being quite inadequate. Should the boats pass into the hands of the proposed purchasers, a monopoly would be created detrimental to the interests of the shareholders, and to the commercial interests of the place. 2. That the shareholders of this Province consider their interests will be best served by reducing the capital of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company (Limited), from LlO to L 4 per share, and continuing the service as at present. The present economical working of the company’s affairs assures the shareholders that the company will pay a good dividend if the reduction of capital be adopted. 3. That the co-operation of Hie conn ry shareholders be invited to ca'-ry out the resolutions of the meeting ; and shareholders, if not able to attend the meeting in Wellington, are requested to give proxies to represent their views.

The Moa. —It is hitherto been supposed that the habitat of the extinct moa was exc usively confined to New Zealand, b t the fo lowing, extracted from an Australian paper (the Southern Times) would lead to the belief that this mammoth bird was also at one time a denizen of Australia. That paper says : —“The skeleton of "hat is supposed to have been a moa was discovered by a labouring man in the Makewa Bush the oth r day. On one of the recent wet days when the railway works were stopped, the man alluded to, who was employed on the line, took a stroll through the bush and accidentally came upon a collection of bones which from their size and shape attracted his attention. In spite of the jeers of his mates about ‘ carrying home the remains of an old bullock,’ he gathered up the fragments carefully and took them to his tent. On the ISfch June he brought one of the bones into town, apparently the thigh and showe.l it about. It is certainly a bone of no ordinary animal with which we are acquainted, and is quite likely to be wbat tiie finder supposes it is. He says he has ad the other larger bon s of the t ody including the head, and that they are those of a gigantic bird, the hone.shown us must have been over three fe-.-t in length What seems most remarkable is the fact of the remans having been found on the surface. Tiny must, however, have lain for a very long time, as they are, to a certain extent, petnfied. The finder proposes to place them somewhere for exhibition, and then to have them put together as well as possible, a'd sold.”

Hokitika. —The Hokitika correspondent of the Greymouth Emmlng Star, writing under date the sth instant, says : “In Hokitika wo are very dull in every branch of trade and commerce. We are living upon our prospects, and at the same time directing our attention to the construction of water races and other large appliances for developing our auriferous resources The Comity Council will open its next session on Wednesday week, when several important motions will be brought forward, which will have for their object the carrying out of several public works which were ordered to be carried out in the last sitting of the Council. The difficulty in the way is hj w money is to be raised, for I think that beyond a very moderate overdraft the banks will not permit themselves to go. Our revenue from various sources is about L7OOO per month, and this has been in great part anticipated—so much so, that if the current expenditure of the County were stopped, and the revenue allowed to flow in, we should be a long time be ore any works of a costh nature could be undertaken. Our gold revenue is on thv decrease, and our Customs receipts show' a gradual decline. In fact, our population is thinning very fast. The Greenstone proving a failure, the diggers have not returned to their old localities, most of them having made for the more northerly diggings. The District, Court opens to-morrow with the civil cases, and when these are disposed of the sittings in Bankruptcy will commence. There are over sixty hearings, and some of these wid occupy the attention of the Court for a long time. There is likely to be an increase of mining population set ip, ip the direction of Okaiito The giound jn that locality, it is considered, has been too hastily abandoned, and more frequent communication to the several hays along the southern line of coast would induce many parties to settle down to both beach and terrace work ings Our bar is still a perplexity. Sometimes it is good and navigable ; then we hear of its silting up and the two spits overlap*

ping. It is not likely to be any better unless we can coax the river to make a direct run out to sea—a costly piece of engineering work, which we are not prepared for. There is a good deal of unemployed labor here, and a number of men seeking situations, unable to obtain them. They cannot dig, and to beg they are ashamed. These are the reputable class deserving of much sympathy. But we have those who can dig but won’t, and are not ashamed to bog—or loaf, which is rather worse.”

The Thames Goldfields.—A return has been presented to both Houses of the General Assembly, showing the general imports at Shortland and other places in the Thames District ; also the quantities of gold lodged in the Banks ; the number and tonnage of vessels, and the number of passengers inwards and outwards during the year ended the 30th of Apil last. Much information of an interesting character, and in a compact form is thus made accessible. The total amount of gold lodged in the banks during the year was 128,182 ounces, which at the rate of L2 12s (id per ounce, would give a sum of L33(>,477. If we analyse the return and compute each quarter separately, we find that for the first quarter 20,895 ounces were lodged in the Banks ; for the second, 24,772 ounces; for the third, 36,065; and for the fourth, 45,860 ounces. Thus the return for the second quarter was one-fifth more than for the first; for the (third quarter, four-fifths more ; and for the last quarter of the year, two and one-fourth times that for the first quarter ol the year named. There was a return of 45,860 ounces from February to April, 1869, against 20,895 ounces "for the months of May, June, and July, 1868. In May, 1863, the number of ounces lodged in the Banks was 2,663 ; in April 1869, the number was 23,622. Hence it is seen that by comparing the quarters from May, 1868, to April, 1869, we find a constantly increasing quantity of gold lodged in the Banks at the Thames. In the months since April, namely May and June, the yield has been very greatly increased, and that the produce will constantly increase, both as a consequence of some claims turning out very rich, and of many others being more and more able to get their quartz crushed, which though it only yield a moderate return, will nevertheless considerably enhance vhe general quantity olr allied. The Dumber of vessels which have arrived at the Thames from May, 1868, to April, 1869, inclusive is 2,835, and their tonnage 94,861 tons. The to al number of passengers inwards was 51,875, and outwards 44,201. Thus the number of persons who went to the Thames during the twelvemonths under review was nearly three times the population of the city of Auckland. The permanent population of the district received during the year an addition of at out 8,000 souls.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT. This Day. (Before A. Chetham-Strode, Esq., R.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Robert Landrett was fined 10s for this offence. THEFT. Jane Stewart alia* Auguste, was charged with stealing a plaid shawl from the schooner Esther Ann. The defence was that the shawl had been given to her by a man named Griffiths, a ssamap pn Ijpard the schooner ; and the evidence of af witness named Patrick went to prove this. The case was adjourned until Monday, to enable the police to produce Griffiths. OBTAINING MONEY UNDER FALSE PRETENCES. SYSTEMATIC SWINDLING. John Patterson Dent, alias Anderson, alias Thomas Teviot, and James Leslie, were charged with having at Dunedin, on the 28th ultimo, obtained the sum of LJ 10s. from one Jacob Seager, by moans of a valueless cheque. The Commissioner of Police conducted the prosecution. Jacob Seager stated that he was landlord of the Rainbow Hotel, George street. On the evening of the 28th ult., the prisoner Dent came to the witness’s house, and stated that he intended to pay for some drinks that his mate had had. He produced a cheque purporting to be drawn on the Bank of New Zealand, for L 3 10s, by one Thomas Held, and a-ked witness to cash it. It was made payable to Thomas Anderson. He stated that he had just left Reid’s employment, and that he had a brother, who was a clerk in the office of Messrs Cargills and M'Lean. Ho wanted to get a new suit of clothes to enable him to look after some respectable employment. Witness asked if the cheque was all right, and he replied that it was At witness’s request he endorsed the cheque, signing it as ‘‘ fas. Anderson.” He gave him L 3 65., deducting the sum of 4s for drinks supplied. The cheque was taken to the Bank, and was returned, marked no account. ( has. M'Ghegan stated that he was assistant cook at the Red Lion Hotel, Stafford street. He was a shipmate of the prisoner’s. On the afternoon of the 28th ultimo, he met them at the Provincial Hotel, and they went together as far as the Water of Leith. As they were coming down Princes street, past the office of Mr Hardy, the architect, at three o’clock. Leslie left and went up the stairs, as he said, to go to Mr Hardy’s, for the purpose of getting some money there He came down with a cheque in his hand, but it was filled up in such a manner as to be valuless ; and he tore it up. He again mounted the stairs, and in a few minutes returned with an envelope in his hand. The envelope contained a cheque, which he told Dent was all right. He said that the cheque was for L2, and asked Dent to go and get it cashed at the Hising Sun Hotel. Dent asked witness to get the cheque cashed, but be refused to have anything to do with it. He then said that the three of them bad better go to the place together Dent afterwards went to the place, the other two remaining at the foot of Walker street. Ho was away for about a quarter of an hour; and returned saying that he got the money, of which he gave 5s to witnes-t and 7s 6d to Leslie. The prisoners and witness then went to the Water of Le th, and there Leslie left, saying that he was going home to give his wife some money. Before leaving they arranged to meet at the Foundry Hotel that evening. They met accordingly, and after leaving the ||otel they proceeded along George street, Leslie went into the shop of Mr Wallace, draper, and brought out a cheque with him. Dent, who had remained with the witness on the opposite side of th • road, asked how much the cheque was for. Leslie replied that it was for L 3 10s. The cheque was then handed to Dent, who remarked, "That’s an awful sum,” Leslie

replied, “It is just as well the one as the other.; ” and asked Dent to go to the Adelaide Hotel, and get the cheque cashed there. Dent and Leslie proceeded in the direction of the Adelaide hotel, and witness came into town, where by arrangement the prisoners afterwards met him. Dent stated that he had not been able to cash the cheque, but, subsequently, when near the Rainbow Hotel, he said he would go in there and get it cashed, and at the same time pay for three drinks witness had obtained there. Dent went into the hotel by himself, and shortly afterwards came out and said that ‘ ‘ the thing was right.” Winn they got to the Glasgow pie t ouse Leslie said “ Let us have fair play,” and he gave LI to Leslie and LI to witness, keeping the balance himself. They came out of the house, and Dent said to Leslie and witness “ The cheques are wrong ; you had better clear out, and I will clear out along with you.” Cross-examined by Dent : I never got any of the cheques for you ; nor did I ever tell you that I could get you cheques. I said that I would clear out with you, but I never left town. I never said that because Detective Farrell had seen me going into a baker’s shop that I hail been keeping out of his way. What I said was, that Farrell had been to the Red Lion, and X did not go back there iu consequence. The prisoner Leslie : Did you not tell me that yon had seen an account of a suicide in the newspapers, and that you hoped it was Dent, for you were afraid if he was caught he would “squeak” upon you (laughter.) Witness : I never said anything of the sort, as you well know. Leslie : Did you not say that you were keep ng out of the war because you were afraid of being “ legged,” Witness : I do nothing of the sort. Leslie: It’s no use asking him any more questions, for he’s told all lies. (Laughter.) William Wallace, draper, George street, stated that on the evening of the 28th ult. Leslie came into his shop, and asked for a blank cheque of any sort. A Rank of New Zealand cheque was handed to him, and he filled it up in the witness’s presence. The number of the cheque was either 55,004 or 55,005.

Alex. Douglas, ledger-keeper at the Bank of New Zealand, stated that the cheque produced was presented to him for payment on the 29th ult., and he returned it marked "no account.” No person of the name of James Reid had an account at the The number of the cheque was 55,005. . Thp Commissioner of Police applied for an adjournment or remand. He referred to the ?pecu|iar circumstances of the case, and the injprfre of the evidence given byrthe witness Mpihegan. He should like to consult with jme Provincial Solicitor as to what further be taken in reference to it. , The case was adjourned until two o’clock.

On the re-assembling Court, John VV. Junes, a messenger in Mr Hardy’s office, Princes street, thirteen years old: Know how to read, and understood the nature of ah oath. He knew the prisoner Les'ie. He was servant to Mr Hardy for two or three months. The witness saw him at the street door of the office two or three months He asked for a blank cheque, which he wanted to show to a man for a lark. The cheque was given to him, and he filled it up. It was made payable to Thomas Teviot. He then left the office.

The prisoners were remanded for further examination to Tuesday. The Magistrate, addressing M'Ghegan, said : You will understand, you will have to give your evidence in the Supreme Court, and, therefore, you will be arrested if you make any attempt to remove from Dunedin,