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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2129, 3 March 1870, Page 2

The North.—By the Airedale, from the North, we have later files. The news is not important. Tea Meeting.—Yesterday evening the second anniversary in commemoration of the building of the Baptist Chapel was held in the Drill Hall at Caversham; the Ecv. Mr Williams, of Hanover street, in the chair. The meeting was addressed by the Chairman, Messrs Dick, Bathgate, and several other gentlemen. Ample refreshments -were provided, which, together with some singing, made the evening pass most pleasantly. The party, after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, broke up about ten o’clock, after a very satisfactory meeting. The Wesleyan Bazaar.—We are glad to learn that the receipts in cash yesterday at the Wesleyan Bazaar were L 172, and to judge by the appearance of the stalls, there is abundance of stock yet to be disposed of. Some of the most valuable articles will be drawn for in an Art flnion on Saturday, in which there is the pleasing conviction that every subscriber will receive a prize. The scheme is to dispose of LI 05 worth of goods to one hundred subscribers at one pound each, thus allowing nearly five per cent, discount for cash. Included in the drawing are the ormulu clock, valued at Lls ; an oval pier glass, L 6 ; ten [prizes of L2 ; three of LI 15s ; ten of 20s ; twenty of 15s each ; and fifty of 10s each. The beautiful chair, made by Mr H. J. Bacon, is yet undisposed of. It is an elegant piece of furniture, and is a splendid gift to have been presented by a workman. We believe another Art Union is on the tapis, but have not heard particulars. Criminal Statistics.— We learn from the Police Gazelle, that 82 apprehensionss exclusive of 81 for drunkenness and minor offences, were made by the police during the past month. Of this number, 39 were for disorderly conduct, assault, &c. ; 8 for lunacy; 5 for being illegally on the premises ; 9 for theft ; 8 for being neglected children within the meaning of the Act, 1867 ; 2 for larceny ; 1 for horse-stealing ; 1 for attempting to stab; 1 for vagrancy; 1 for obtaining goods under false pretences ; 1 for stealing from the person; and 3 for indecency. In 58 cases convictions were obtained.

General Hoad Board. —There was very little business for transaction at the meeting of the General Road Board to-day. His Honor the Superintendent and Messrs Reid and Duncan, were present. Several appointments and. road rates were approved. At Incholme, two meetings of the road trustees having been summoned, at which no one attended, Mr R. Macauley was appointed Commissioner, under the provisions of the 12th section of the Roads Act, 1865. The application by the Caversham Road Board for a special subsidy for the Kensington road was declined for the present ; and from Chalfont, for a subsidy on L7O, was declined altogether. The Garrick Club. — A special general meeting of the members was held last evening, but there was a very poor attendance. The business of the evening was to elect a Secretary in the place of Mr J. M. Fisher (resigned), and to cast a piece for performance. Mr G. B. Lilly occupied the chair. Minutes of previous meetings were read and confirmed. Messrs G. V. Westropp were duly elected acting members. Mr Robert Pullett was unanimously elected to the office of Secretary, and Mr G. B. Lilly to that of Vice-President. The piece chosen for performance was the comedy of “LlOOjOOO,” with the farce of “More Blunders than One.” The comedy was cast some time ago, but owing ' to the nonattendonce of some of the members it had to be thrown up. The Stage Manager, Mr Henry, was therefore instructed to re-cast the piece as soon as possible. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting terminated. The first rehearsal will take place on next Wednesday evening. The Clutha Kailway. —Our contemporary the Daily Times appears to have sources of information denied to ourselves. On application yesterday in the proper quarters, we were informed that no information could at present be given to the public respecting the tenders sent in. blow we do not believe that the Executive would refuse information to one paper for the purpose of giving it to another, and it therefore follows that if the paragraph respecting the acceptance of Mr Millar’s tender be correct, it must have been obtained from unauthorised sources. We ourselves have heard that some such tender was to be sent in, but as the Government declined all information in regard to it, we concluded that it was not yet decided whether it was eligible or not ; and, therefore, rather than raise hopes destined to be disappointed, we forbore to mention it. In this position we leave the subject for the present. Acclimatisation Society.—An ordinary meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was held this afternoon, at two o’clock. Present—Messrs W. D. Murison (in the chair), Garrick, Eccles, J. T. Thomson, and Captain Boyd. The Manager, Mr Clifford, reported that forty trout were placed in the reservoir of the water works. The Manager was instructed to proceed to Waipori as soon as possible, to ascertain whether the report that hares were abundant there is correct, and if so, to take steps to have them distributed. It was mentioned that notwithstanding the benefits conferred upon the Province through the efforts of the Acclimatisation Society, very little public support had been given to it. During the past year, apart from special donations, only about L7O had been received in subscriptions. If more interest were taken in the proceedings of the Society by the public, even greater results than have already be..-u achieved would be realised ; and as it is equally _the interest of each member of the community as it is that of the Society to introduce a variety of animals, birds, and fishes, we trust • this passing notice will draw that attention to acclimatisation operations they deserve. A few trifling accounts were passed, and the committee adjourned. Dunedin Presbytery. —At a meeting of the Presbytery, held in the First Church to-day, the following deliverance was come to anent the Rev. Mr Scrimgeour:—“That if Mr S. would go to any other district of jthe Provincejand preach, a clean bill of health would bo given him;

but if the congregation of St. Andrew’s persisted in having him for their minister, then heaven and earth would be stirred to do injury to his character to the uttermost.” Although these are not the exact words of the resolution, it was the conclusion arrived at after fonr hours’ deliberation. What will the congregation say to this ? Willingly submit to have the man of their choice ruthlessly torn from them for no other reason than to satisfy the spleen of a small minority, .and to leave the path open to get one of the Taieri ministers transferred to $ town congregation. Verily the notable expression of Mr Simmonds is true, if not regarding Presbyterianism itself, at least so far as the Presbytery of Dunedin is concerned. —[Comm u nicated. ] Lawyers Nonplussed.—There is a maxim that every man should know the laws of his country, but in nine cases out of ten it will be found that it is never acted upon. That ordinary people should be ignorant of them is not to be wondered at, but that gentlemen of the long robe should be so is matter for surprise. Still this sometimes appears to be the case, for in the Supreme Court to-day there was an admission by counsel that they were not aware of the existence and nature of an Act passed by the General A ssembly entitled the Criminal Procedure Act, and the Judge even confessed that the Act had escaped his notice. One of the learned counsel excused himself on the ground that legislation in this Colony is of such a complicated character that it is hard to divine what is actually law and what is not. He even went so far as to express an opinion, that the Legislature appeared to have a horror of lawyers, and tried to give the dignitaries of the law all the trouble they possibly could. Supreme Court. —The following is the list of cases set down for trial at the civil sittings, which commence on Thursday next :—Common Jury cases—Pritchard v. Gibbs; Mr Macasscy for plaintiff, Mr Barton for defendant. Webster v. Somner and another; Mr Macassey for plaintiff, Mr Anderson for defendant. Driver and another v. A. S. Murray ; Mr Harris for plaintiff, Mr Haggitt for defendant. Steel v. Cook ; Mr Harris for plaintiff. Steel v. M'Fayden ; Mr Harris for plaintiff. Howorth and another v. M‘Lean and another; Mr Macassey for plaintiffs, Mr Anderson and Mr Wilson for defendants. Treweek v. Driver; Mr Hodgkins for plaintiff, Mr Macasey for defendant. Maclean and another v. Hide? Mr Macassey for plaintiff, Mr Stewart for defendant. Mackenzie v. Calder ; Mr Stewart for plaintiff; Mr Macassey for defendant. Treweek v. Driver ; Mr Hodgkins for plaintiff, Mr Macassey for defendant.—Special Jury cases—Driver v. Treweek ; Mr Macassey for plaintiff, Mr Hodgkins for defendant. Harrop v. Croker and another ; Mr Haggitt for plaintiff, Mr Harris for defendant.

Bush Lawyers. —lt has been the custom for many years to allow persons known as law and money agents to appear in courts of justice in the country districts and on goldfields, and conduct or defend cases there—that in fact they have assumed all the rights belonging to legally-qualified legal practitioners. Attempts have been made to check this practice ; and we believe we are correct in stating that Mr Strode, R.M., then a member of the Upper House, in 1867 succeeded in carrying through Parliament the Resident Magistrates Act, 1867, with the express view of effectually stopping it. On more than one occasion the custom has been brought under the notice of Judges of the Supreme Court, who have not hesitated to condemn it, and no notice is taken of those judicial warnings. It still continues, and would appear to be encouraged. In the course of the trial of the case Regina v. Richards reference was made to the practice, and it was stated by Mr Warden Simpson, who was a witness, that Mr Justice Wilson Gray was in favor of “articled clerks” appearing in court to conduct and defend cases, as by that means it was more likely that justice would be arrived at. The Warden also expressed an opinion that the only method of checking the practice was that duly qualified practitioners should practice on the goldfields. His Honor regretted that such a practise should prevail. It was, he remarked encouraging bastard solicitors—men who claimed all the rights and privileges of solicitors of the Supreme Court, but who did not undertake their responsibilities. A good illustration of the kind of “lawyers” these agents make, was given in the course of the trial referred to. The prisoner Richards was charged with forging the signature to a document purporting to be a release from debt. This document was couched in most extraordinary legal phraseology, and, according to his Honor, was “the most curious combination of bad sense, bad spelling, and bad grammar,” he had ever seen.

A Liberal Community.—The Walcatip Mail states that the “ report of the Church of England shows what a very large revenue for religious purposes for one sect can be obtained in so scattered and sparsely a populated district as this. It is creditable to the members of that church that they have supported so well their establishment. Considering that the Presbyterians and the Catholics have also churches, and the support awarded to them, the amount contributed by the community in this direction must be styled munificent. The revenue of the Church of England was last year L 874 3s Hd. The Presbyterian receipts will also be very large. The European population, exclusive of children, numbers only about 900 adults, so that no one can accuse it of parsimony or indifference.” Accident, —We regret to have to record a very serious accident that happened to the youngest son of Mr Robert Oxley, of this place, on Sunday morning last. The boy, who was riding in company with his brother, Mr R. Oxley, jun., in the direction of the beach, was violently thrown to the ground from the horse shying, and while on the ground he received a severe kick in the abdomen. The poor little fellow was at once taken to his father’s residence, and Dr Crocome was immediately sent for. Upon examination, it w r as found the injuries were of so gravc-a nature that it was deemed desirable to send the little fellow r to Dunedin, where he could best medical attendance. In addition to internal injuries received from the kick of the horse, we understand that the boy’s arm was either broken or dislocated. Shortly after the accident the little sufferer was conveyed to Dunedin in a buggy, where, we believe, slight hopes are entertained of his recovery. Walkoua'di Herald, Captain Kennedy. —We understand that the well-known and popular captain of the Airedale has been offered and has ac-

cepted the command of the pioneer steamer of the new ocean mail service to Honolulu—the City of Melbourne, which is to leave Sydney on the 26th inst. We cordially congratulate Captain Kennedy on this upward step in his profession, and although we shall be sorry to miss him on the intcrproyincial line, we hope that he may ere long bring his new vessel to this port as his New Zealand place of call. The A.S.N. Company is singularly fortunate in having obtained the services of such an experienced, judicious, and highly-popular officer, and it Is said that the Company has also secured the services of another gentleman well-known on this coast—Captain Francis, formerly of the Taranaki—to act as Captain Kennedy’s chief officer.— Wellington Independent. To-morrow evening, Friday, a public meeting will be held in St. Joseph’s Schoolroom, at eight o’clock, to organise a benefit society.