Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2037, 15 November 1869, Page 2

Bui’Uemi; Court.— The sitting ivi bankruptcy that was to have been held to-day, was postponed until Monday. His Honor Mr Justice Ward is expected to arrive by the Raugatira, which leaves Wellington to-morrow. New' Premises. —Steinlioff’s Buildings have not had to wait for tenants. Mr Mollison. who carried on business in Princes street, has taken po session of the shop fronting Rattray street ; and Mr 11. K. Murray, who occupied premises in Rattray street, occupies the shop fronting Princes street. Port Chalmers Police Court.— At the Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this day, John H. Harvey, seaman on hoard the ship Robert Henderson, was charged with disobedience to orders, sentenced to two weeks’ imprisonment with hard labor, in ! unediii gaol. The Ida Valley Quartz Keeps.— We understand the Rough Ridge Company have struck excellent stone in the lower level of Lloyd's reef. Water has been very scarce for the past fortnight, and only one battery of live heads has been worked ; rain fell, how ever, on the 10th, and both batteries have since been worked. Masonic. — It may ho interesting to Masonic readers to learn that the Most Worshipful the Duke of Leinster, Grand Master, has been pleased to appoint Right Worshipful Brother George Patrick Pierce, P.M., No. ;HB, Auckland, and Past Provincial Grand Secretary, to be Provincial Grand Master of the Irish Constitution in New Zealand, in succession to the late R.W.P.G. M. Bro. I)e Burgh Adams, deceased. The new' R.W.P.G.M. has been pleased to appoint Bro. John Henry Hooper, P. M., Lodge No. .•{lB, and Provincial Grand Treasurer, to be Deputy Provincial Grand Master, I.C. The Colonial Decoration.—The decorative distinction, instituted by Order in Council, dated 10th March, 18(19, has been awarded to Cornet Aligns Smith, of the Bay of Plenty Cavalry Volunteers, for the following act of bravery per’ormed by him : On the 7th Juno, 1809, when the party of cavalry in charge of Cornet Smith was surprised at Opcpe by Te Kooti’s baud, and nine men out of thirteen were killed, Cornet Smith though suffering from a desp rate wound in his foot, set out wdth Fc object of finding the tracks of his commau >ing ollicer, and apprising him and the party with him of their danger, when a less brave or thoughtful* man would have proceeded straight to Fort Galatea, which post he would no doubt have reached in forty-i ight hours, with comparatively little risk, and with the certainty of getting immediate medio d assistance for himself. On his road Cornet Smith was captured by the rebels, tied up to a tree, and stripped of all bis clothing and Crimean medals. He was in this position four days, without food or water, when he managed to release himself, and proceeded to Fort Galatea, which he reached on the 17th June, having been ten days without food or clothing. On account of his wounds he had to go for a considerable distance on his hands and knees, and to risk his life twice by swimming rivers. Wether stones Deep Shalt.—The Deep Shaft Committee held a meeting on Friday evening, the sth iust , when the contractor’s report was received. It appeared that he had struck the opposite reef, at a depth of nine feet from the level of the drive. Being doubtful whether it was the reef or a floating bottom, he followed it some seven or eight feet, and proved it to be the main reef, corresponding in character with the ope dipping towards it on the opposite side, only at a much more acute angle. In sinking this Wind shaft, the contractor found the water to gather more freely, which is always considered a good s gn. r i he eont‘a'tor then having completed his contract with the Committee, hamle I over the work. The question of funds was then discussed. It appeared that the sum of L’2o was the total amount in hand to work upon, and the Committee did not feci justified in taking the responsibility of another contract with that small sum, as L7O or LIOO would be required to sink to the bottom of the gutter—a deptli now ascertained, with mathematical precision, to be not more than seventy-live feet. The Secretary was therefore instructed to report progress to the Government, stating the exact position of the Committee. Meanwhile, arrangements were mafic with Mr O’Neill, the contractor, to keep the shaft dry and in good order until a reply w’as received from the Government, whi hj reply, wc trust, will he satisfactory, as the work lias now reached that stage when it would be worse than folly to abandon it.— / J mw