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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2161, 9 April 1870, Page 2

Mayor’s Court. —There was a blank (lay at the Mayor’s Court to-day, not a single case being brought before the Bench.

Fire. —On "Wednesday last the residence of Mr ,J. Dalgliesh, Awamoko, was destroyed by fire. The building was insured in the office of the Royal Company. The Port Chalmers Police Case. —We understand the Waiter Scott who was fined five pounds for drunkenness yesterday, is the same person who found such tenderhearted sympathisers in the late police case at Port Chalmers. Hydraulic Power.— We have seen a very neat engine constructed by Mr Peters, engineer, of King street, intended to be worked by water pressure. It is expected to be at work in the course of next week, when we shall have an opportunity of seeing its capabilities tested. Personal. —The removal of Sergeant Weidner from the Tokoimiiivo district, of which he had charge for a considerable period, has been the means of evoking a substantial recognition of his merits from the inhabitants. A purse of 40 sovereigns has been collected, and is to be presented to Mr Weidner on Thursday next. Flax, —The annual shew of the Tokomairiro Farmers’ Club is to be held on the 4th May, and it has been agreed to offer a prize of a silver medal for the best prepared two cuts of native flax, the same to bo the property of the manufacturer at the time of exhibition. We hear a flax manufactory is about to be established at Portohello. Accident. Yesterday intelligence was received that, on the previous eveirng, •James Jackson, a farmer in tin Blueskiu district, was returning home from Dunedin driving two horses in a dray, when they suddenly bolted at full speed near Mr Dean’s house, situated close t > the B'ueskin Road. Ja.'ksou was thrown out of the dray, which pass d o\M’aiul broke bis thigh. Boon after the accident took pi rn he was brought to the Dunedin Hospital. The Bellringers. —A large audience assembled at the Masonic Hall last evening to hear this company in their novel and pleasing entertainment. Both Miss Liddle’s and Mr Hilton’s songs were received with great applause, and the singers hon red with encores, while the Bellringers had to make a second appearance after each piece they pi yed, A change of programme is provided for this evening, and there is no doubt the hall will he crowd.d. The Hii> podrome. Last evening Mr Murray received a complimentary benelit, and although the weather was anything but pleasant, a large house gathered to witness the performances, and the efforts made by the company to please were highly successful. The company will appear for the last time this evening, on which occasion the Young American takes a benefit. We hope to see a large attendance. Gaol Return. —The following is the state of Her Majesty’s gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending April 9 -.—Awaiting trial, 3 men, 0 women; under remand, 3 men, 0 women ; penal servitude, 97 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 51 men, 12 women ; default of bail, 2 men, 1 woman ; debtors, 0 men,owomen;total, 159 men, 13women. Received during the week, 11 men, 7 women ; discharged, 21 men, G women. Lied, 1 man.

The Port Chalmers Railway.— The reticence displayed by both the government and contractors in affording information in regard to the railway is to be deplored because one is only enabled by indirect means to ascertain anything on the subject Thus it is that for some time past the public have been allowed to rest in the belief that nothing had been done, except posting a few notices concerning the taking of certain lands. It now transpires that the first sod has actually been turned, hut where and when is only known to a select few. We learn that the contractors have entered into a contract for the supply of the timber necessary for the construction of the railway wharf at the port. The timber is being cut on Mr Park’s land at Blueskin; and the piles to he brought in will vary from 20 feet to 45 feet in length. The Caversham Election.—There is some talk that Mr Burns’ resignation was not sent in at the time origina'ly stated ; hut that it was kept back with an object, 'ibis may or may not he the case ; it however appears to be a fact that last week the Colonial Secratary telegraphed that the writ was on board the Gothenburg; but as our readers are aware, when the Gothenburg anived no writ was forthcoming. It is expected by next steamer, and the nomination is to take place a couple of days after its receipt, and the election after that as practicable. There are now four candidates for the seat: —Messrs W. H. Cutten, J. M‘lndoe, W. Robinson (of Sandfly Bay, who it will be recollected contested the seat a few years ago), and J. Graham. Mr MTndoe last night addressed the electors at Portobello, and his speech will be found reported in another celumn.

New Bank. —• The prospectus of a now bank has been issued. It is to be conducted upon the Scottish principle, on a sound judicious, and liberal system, under the title of the Dunedin and Provincial Banking Company, Limited. The promoters consider that the establishment of a bank prepared to give special accommodation to farmers, miners, and squatters, in the same spirit of liberality and on [the same terms as are accorded to the mercantile community is an acknowledged want in the Province; and that the establishment of a bank on such principles cannot but be attended with benefit to the community. The shares have been fixed atLIO, “with a view of enabling the industrial classes to identify themselves with the monetary interests of the country.” Accident. —It is our unpleasant duty to record the occurrence of an accident to Mrs D.ewe, of The Grove, which was attended with unpleasant consequences, and wo fear may seriously injure her health foxsome time. It appeal’s that on 1. Intraday afternoon Mrs Dewo, accompanied by her grandson, a little boy, bad driven to Glenore m a buggv ; on her return a waggon was seen approaching, but the driver paid no attention to yield up any part of the road to admit of the buggy passing in safety. The unfortunate lady, in her endeavor to pass on I he right side, 'brought the vehicle into collision with the wheel of the waggon, and was thrown out with great force into the ditch. Although stunned, she called as loud as possible for assistance, but the driver, who was evidently drunk, paid not the slightest attention, and continued on his way, leaving Mrs Dewo utterly unable to move. The collision took place near Mr George Cameron’s o}d farm-house. Very shortly afterwards Mr B. Hibbard, in company with other friends, was driving iq the direction of Glenore, and

found Mrs Dewe lying in this disabled state. She was at once carefully placed in his buggy, and driven homewards. We are informed that Mrs Dewe was much indisposed yesterday. This unfortunate casualty should act as a caution to waggoners, who, as a class, are not remarkable for promptitude in attending to the rules of the road. Standard,

Useful Invention, —ln order to save unnecessary loss of time when divisions tike place in the Lower Chamber of the Landtag, Count Falkcnbergh has proposed the adoption of an ingenious electrical apparatus, the invention of Messrs Siemens and Halske of Berlin. This instrument exhibits on three dilTerout dia's at the moment the vote is taken —1, The votes in favor of the measure. 2. Those opposed to it. .1. The sum nf the favorable and unfavorable votes, which serves to check or confirm the previous number. Besides this, the instrument indicates on a slip of paper containing the names of all the members how -each of them has voted, and by means of an authographic apparatus any number of copies of this list may be produced with great rapidity. Should it be demanded, the name of each member, and the way in which he has voted, can be made visible by means of a sort of valve to every part of the house. The mode of employing this machine is the following : —A sort of lever resembling the lengthened hand of a clock, is placed beside the seat of each deputy. By means of a key, which every member receivra»at the beginning of the session, the hand can be directed to “ Yes ” or “ No,” as soon as the President puts the question. The electrical apparatus is worked by one of the ushers of the House by means of a handle.

Bad Beer as a Cause of Lunacy. At the weekly meeting of the Liverpool Workhouse Committee lately, Mr Glover, a brewer, said that within the last three or four months he had visited the lunatic asylums in Lancashire, and inquired of the superintendents of those institutions as to the cause of the increase of pauper lunatics. “Drunkenness,” was the reply ho receive.!, and he believed that was the cause. He suggested ihat the Health Committee should be asked to appoint an inspector, whose duty would be to look after the quality of the drink sold. They appointed inspectors of moat and of fish, and they condemned had fruit, but bad be.r was ten times worse than these. A law existed which provided for the punishment of persons who used poisonous ingredients in the making o' beer. The law prohibited the use of gi-ains of paradise, mix vomica, oil of vitriol, ammonia, and other things that were used in the making of beer. Such ingredients were used in addition to malt and hops, but if only malt and hops were used there would be no lunatics through drink. There were some publicans who rode handsome ehargers, and whose wives were driven about in splendid equipages. These people did a great injury to society, and filled the workhouses. He believed the liquor they sold •was not honest drink, and that it contained some of the ingredients he had described. This class of beer would not keep long, a-id when it got a little sour the brewer refreshed it. Then the dishonest publican stepped in, and bought the beer for 10s or 20s a barrel. He then went to the druggist’s shop and bought something that neutralised the acid, and the beer was doctored. Was not the poor creature who got that -‘neutralised” beer likely to go mad ? Mr Cropper said he thought the committee ought to feel much obliged °to Mr Glover for honestly telling them what people were given to drink.