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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2193, 18 May 1870, Page 2

Journalistic. — The Wellington correspondent of the Oamaru Times is responsible for the statement that a Punch is to be published at Wellington during the ensuing session of the General Assembly, and that Air C. E. Haughtou is to fill the editorial chair.

The Thames.—A correspondent of the Lyttelton Times writes:—“ The wild speculation in the Thames mining shares has caused more mischief than is usually imagined. 1 know, amongst others, of one public office where all the clerks and a military gentleman who superintends have in-

vested the savings of years, and have lost all in those bublo companies which have ruined so many; people widely divergent in social position have equally suffered in proportion to their means. Passing through Queen street a few nights ago, my attention was drawn to a crowd collected round an itinerant orange vendor, who was apparently in much distress. It appeared that the poor fellow, by economy and industrious pursuit of his humble calling for several years, had managed to accumulate a little fortune of L2OO. He had just received intelligence of the breakup of the company in which his mouev was invested, and as the young fellow’s grief boro no reference to himself, but was occasioned solely from consideration for a sick wife and helpless children, he was much comraisserated by by-standers, who assured me he bore a very good name, and was the victim of a swindle by no means uncommon.” Supreme Court.—Mr Justice Chapman hold a sitting in banco to-day, when the following business was transacted Queen v. Bolfe and another: Mr Bathgate obtained a rule nisi calling upon the resident magistrates of Port Chalmers to show cause why the convictions of Fred. Bagnell, John Jackson, Janies Morley, David Co dsir, Fredk. Must, William Shoesmith, William Stride, Frederick Dustman, and Frederick Farmer, seamen belonging to the ship William Lindsay recently convicted of wilful disobedience of orders, should not be quashed. Regina v. the Pine Hill Road Board and the General Koad Board : The Court granted a rule nisi for a mandamus commanding the defendants to satisfy a judgment of LSB 10s nd, or to levy a rate for that purpose,—New Zealand Land Company v. Boyes : Mr Macassey moved for a rule nisi, to set aside the order herein of 23rd February last, on the following grounds:—lst. That the order should not have been made ex parte ; 2ndly. That the remedy which the order purported to supply should have been by a supplementary bill to revive the suit; or, thirdly, by suggestion. Rule granted.—Mackenzie v. Calder : Mr Macassey obtained a rule nisi for a nonsuit on the following grounds : That there was evidence to go to the jury on the second count for money had and received ; that the verdict of the jury on the first and second counts should not have been for the plaintiff on both the first and second counts; the discovery of fresh evidence; that the verdict was against the weight of evidence, and that the findings of the jury were so inconsistent that judgment could not be entered upon them. —Arguments in the case of Regina v. Pyke were proceeding when our reporter left. Several other matters were postponed until to morrow. The Provincial Council.— At this afternoon’s sitting the ("Secretary for Land and Works, in answer to a question by Mr M‘Dermid, said the Government would be very happy to furnish the Council with the information whether vessels drawing 18 feet of water could enter Otago harbor. The har--1 bor master would at once receive instructions to report on the matter as soon as possible, Mr M‘Demid then gave notice of his intention to move to-morrow —“That this Counc 1 is of opinion that unless the inner bar of the harbor lias 18 feet of watsr at low water, immediate steps should be taken by the Government to have it dredged to that depth.” Mr Haughton gave notice of his intention to ask—“ Whether the attention cf the present Government has been directed to the question of the introduction of immigrants ftoin Germany.” A report from the select committee on private peiitions in re the petition of John .Nelson, late police constable, was brought up. It recommended that a sum of LSO be given to the petitioner. Mr Haughton’s motion that the petition of certain fanners and others resident in the Wakatip district he referred to a select committee, consisting of the Provincial Treasurer, Messrs Brown, Fraser, Driver, Thomson, Ashcroft, and the mover, with power to call for persons, &c., led to a discussion, and was ultimately carried. Mr Shepherd demanded that a ballot be taken, and was, in consequence, “pitched into” by Mr Haughton, who said his action was what he should call a piece of political impertinence. The ballot resulted in the gentlemen named by Mr Haughton being elected. Mr Ashcroft moved—“ Ist. That it is expedient that steps should be taken with a view to uniting with the Province of Canterbury ; 2nd. That in the event of the Otago and Southland Union Bill becoming law it is desirable that power should be obtained from the Assembly, with the concurrence of the Canterbury representatives, to arrange basis of union ; 3rd. That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will he pleased to give effect to the above resolutions,” The first resolueion was affirmed on a division by 12 to 0_ The debate was proceeding when our reporter" left. To-mokrow evening a special meeting of the No. 1 C. G., 0.K.V., will he held at the drill shed at half-past seven o’clock.