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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2202, 28 May 1870, Page 2

West Tajeri Bridge.— The Government appear to have taken prompt measures to repair the damage done to the West Tab eri Bridge by the recent flood. Several men and drays were immediately employed to till up the breach, and on Wednesday several teams passed over without difliculty. Resident Magistrate’s Court.— This morning some curiosity was excited in anticipation of the hearing of a charge of assault preferred by Mr Low. ruuholder, against MrMackenzieof Shag Valley. James Fulton, Esq., 11. M., took his seat on the bench, and the case was called, but neither the prosecutor nor defendant appearing, the Court adjourned to Monday. The Price of Gold.—Unaccountably the pi ice of gold on the Wakatip and Dunstan goldfields has been quoted too high in two published reports of the goldfields Wardens. In the first, through reading a pencilled memorandum in lieu of the Warden’s figures, it was stated to be Is fid per ounce too high, and in the second Is per ounce.

Wax Works. —A wax works exhibition will open in the lower hall of the Athemeum on Monday evening. We understand that the collection comprises some of the choicest figures from the well-known exhibition of Sohiermayor of Melbourne. We

have no douhfc the entertainment will be an attractive one, and well worth inspection.

Gaol Return.—The following is the state of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the web ending the 28th May, 1870 ;—Awaiting trial, 8 men, 0 women ; under remand, I man, 0 women ; penal servitude, 94 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 53 urn, 20 women ; in default of bail, 3 men, 1 woman ; debtors, 3 men total, 162 men, 21 women. Received during the week, II me;), 3 women ; discharged, 7 men, 4 women ; died, 1 man.

Tricker’s Case.— The Rangitedci people, in common with those of Wellington, are said to be thoroughly disgusted with the Government in only commuting lr ckcr s sentence, instead of granting him a free pardon. An agitation is commencing not only to obtain the latter for the ex-prisoner, but also to wring from the Government some adequate compensation for the injury he has suffered.

Theatrical. —We arc glad to learn that there is every prospect of the Princess Theatre being opened before long. By the Airedale on Wednesday, Mr S. Woolfe was a passenger from Christchurch, and he has come down to obtain if possible the theatre for the comuany now performing at Christchurch. Things theatrical .are dull enough in Auckland, when we find that two companies propose leaving there for here immediately Mr and Mrs Darrell (Mrs Heir) have already left Auckland and may be expected here next week. Masonic Hall.—We can hardly be surprised at Dr Carr s entertainment drawing large crowds every evening. Its novelty” apart from the sensational incidents here exhibited, would, at least for a time, secure this effect. But Dr Carr lias other claims to consideration. His phrenological lectures, which disclose a mind thoroughly acquainted with his subject, are alike instructive and amusing. The entertainment is of a high intellectual order and in every way deserving public attention and support. The Floods. The Inch Clutha settlers have petitioned the Provincial Conn cil to apply part of the revenue derived from the goldfields to the formation of a storm channel down the centre of the island, sufficient to cany off speedily the waters of the river, which will from time to time unavoidably overflow its banks, and have requested that the Government Engineer should be sent to make a survey and report upon the host means of averting the very serious and in many cases ruinous calamities caused by the flooding of the river. The Mail Service. —The action by Wellington in reference to Mr Colhc’s pronosals lias caused some alarm in Auckland, Both the Herald and the Cron, s urge upon the Auckland people the necessity of bestirring themselves to combat the movement inaugurated here, or else, as in the case of the Seat of Government, they will find themselves done. The Crons says it is not a light matter for Auckland that the San Francisco steamers should call at a southern port. The Uemld urges that delegates sho.ihl be sent to Sydney to counteract the effect produced by our representatives at Melbourne, saying that “ the Archimedean screw of popular opinion will effect anything, and the unopposed moral force of the delegates of Wellington and their idol may result in something very disagreeable to Auckland.”

Administration of Justice on the Goldfields. —The Tuapeka Time* again calls attention to the urgent necessity for the District Court being empowered to deal with Kpifs extending at least to the sum of L2OO, and instances as the effect of the presented limited jurisdiction of the Tuapeka district court; that' seypral cases have recently been brought before Gray in which the plaintiffs were obliged to reduce their legitimate claims by a considerable amount to bring them within the jurisdiction. The Times thinks that a circuit sitting of the Supreme Court in several centres of the province would meet the difficulty, and eventually be a great saving of money, not only to thd various districts, but also to the Government, and recommends united action on the part of country municipalities with a view of attaining that result.

Death of another Maori Prisoner.—One of the Maori prisoners, Waiti Rangiuru, under sentence of three years’ penal servitude in Dunedin Gaol, died last night, from disease of the heart, in tire Hosnital. whither he had been removed on the 11th insf. The de. eased arrived here on the Gob November last, with 73 others, condemned to various periods of penal servitude for high treason. He he’ongs to the Church of England, was about 70 years or ago, and the complaint which caused his death was so far advanced on his arrival as to leave but little, if any, hope of ultimate recovery. Among his fellow-prisoners he bore a very good character, and he leaves among them numerous friends to mourn Ids loss. Deceased had a wife and son in the Wanganui district.

Mr Fox and the “ Daily Times.” —The correspond-Ciit of tl;e Olctjo Daily Times has written a strong letter tp the Post denying in toto the charge made by Mr Fox at the meeting in Christchurch, of obtaining information by improper means, but acknowledges to often obtaining information which Mr Fox would if possible keep from him. Ho stated that had Mr Fox quoted the whole paragraph instead of from the middle, a different construction would have been shown. He concludes his letter thus : “As to the choice epithets which Mr Fox made use of, 1. shall take other steps to vindicate myself ; and in the meantime I leave the public to judge of the conduct of a gentleman holding the office of Prime Minister, who, having made a false charge against a political opponent, not only refuses to withdraw it or apologise, but adds to the wrong by publicly accusing his opponent of felony, and of being a ‘ double-dyed scoundrel,’ who should be dismissed by all his employers. Mr Fox has made grave changes aeainst me, and I shall take care he is afforded an opportunity of justifying them or of paying the penalty which may ho exacted from these wffio falsely and maliciously slander others to justify personal or political enmity.” Intemperance. —There has recently b G eu seen at Queenstown some of the most direful effects of intemperance ; and the consequence has been sojpc people there are making praiseworthy efforts pa establish temperance societies, 'and judging by present appearances they are likely to be successful. The local correspondent of the Dunstnn Times writes “ The consequence of drinking has been brought forward very prominently in the Resident Magistrate’s Court lately. The police made a seizure at

a shanty, at Arthur’s Point, of some of the vilest compounds ever prepared to poison man. Brandy and whiskey appeared to consist of raw spirits from some illicit still spirits of wine and kerosene. So vile were the compounds that the Bench ordered samples to be retained for analysis. The delinquent, who very properly was lined LSO, stated that she purcha'cd the liquors from a hj i ghly ■ respect a hie house in Q loenstown. But that is a palpable untruth. No tradesman ever sold such stuff. No wonder that men go mad from drink, and either commit suicide, or tumble into rivers and get dr uvned, or live like beasts rather than men. Two notable in-tances of this have occurred lately. The body of a man named William Thompson was f-mnd in the Shotover, a little below Arthur’s Point, stark naked, having a comforter tied round the middle. The deceased had evidently been engaged fighting, and from the effects of blows ami drink, tumbled into the river, from whence his poor body, covered with sand, was dragged ashore, for the purpose of a coroners in-quest.—-B air’s Shotover Ferry Hotel was the scene of a disgraceful row among the roadmen, who, under the influence of drink, did their bast to hatter each other and Mr Blair into the bargain. Here fourteen men were living like beasts in a stable, with horses for their companions, instead of pitching their tents ami living comfo tably, as is the case (generally) with road parties. There is no questioning the fact that the goldfields are cursed by drink and its dispensers in the shape of publicans and grogsellers.

New Regulations.—lt may not be generally known that by “ The Public Payments without Probate Act, 1869,” it is enacted on the death of any person to whom any sum of money not exceeding LSO may be due by a public department, it shall be lawful for the Colonial Treasurer, on being satisfied of the expediency of dispensing with probate or letters of administrations, to authorise the payment of such sum or any part or parts thereof to any person or persons whom the Colonial Treasurer may consider entitled thereto, avithout requiring the production of probate 01 of letters of administration under such regulations as shall be made by the Governor iu Council. His Excellency now promulgates these regulations, which are eight in number. It is ordered iu regulations 2 and 3, that “ every person desirous of obtaining payment of any sum not exceeding LSO from any public department to any person de-eased, shall make a written application to the Treasurer, stating the circumstances which render it expedient that payment should he made to the applicant. ami nut to a legal representative of the deceased. Siu hj applicmt and every other person who shall apply for payment of any such sum, shall furnish such evidence of the death of the deceased, or the state of his or her family, or the fact of intestacy, or the contents of any wiil, and of all other facts as to which the Colonial Treasurer may make enquiry.” But if any legal representative of the deceased shall object to .any payment being made, or give notice that he is such legal representative, and produce sufficient evidence in proof thereof, no payments shall be made except to him. The whole of these regulations appear to be simply devised to protect the estates of deceased persons, to do justice to their survivors, and to guard against fraud.

The Volunteers. —To-day, at noon, an inspection of the Cadet Corps connected with the Dunedin schools took place in the large hall of the New Post Office, in the presence of a number of citizens, including his Honor the Superintendent, the Hon. Captain Fraser, Messrs C. E. Haughton, W. H. Reynolds, H. Howorth, and D. F. Main, M.H.E.’s ; Messrs J. L. Gillies and Monat, M. P. C. ’s ; the Hector of the High School, the Secretary to the Education Board, and Mr Park, master of the South Dunedin School. The inspection was to have taken place'opposite the Cijstom House, but in consequence of the rain that idea could not be carried out. These inspections, we believe, are to be continued monthly. The first squad consisted of 43 file, composed of the elder boys, who were put through a number of manenuvres and calisthenic exercises, all of which were most creditably executed. The beneficial effects of the muscular exercises were plainly visible in the bearing and general appearance of the lads. The second squad consisted of 72 tile, a portion of whom were put through the same manoeuvres as the other squad. The parade lasted from noon until a little after one o'clock, and was held by Captain and Adjutant Atkinson. The High School and South District School boys are drilled by Staff-Sergeant Stevens ; and the Middle and North District Schools ami the boys attending the Rev. Mr Stanford’s school by Ser-geant-Major Murdoch ; the whole being under the superintendence of the Adjutant. The total number of regular attendants at dr.ll is 21)3. We understand the masters of the various schools give the movement every possible assistance, and encourage it greatly by their personal attendance. At the South District School, the second squad is drilled by the second master, Mr Stables, and under his tuition the boys have made very good progress. Before the parade terminated, Major Bathgate addressed the boys, stating that the Adjutant had made a favorable report of the progress mgde during the past half-year. Only two unruly boys bad been reported, and he hoped they would all see the necessity of being attentive to their drill during the next year. By doing so, they would acquire that discipline, and undergo training which would be of incalculable benefit in after life. Steps would he taken- to get them a simple and inexpensive uniform, and the hoys should consider it an honor to wear it, and should acquit themselves as became those who were expected to defend the country in the future. Efforts would also be made to obtain rifles for the elder boys. He hoped the Government would see fit to place a sum on the estimates for the benefit of cadet corps, and trusted that the same system of military training as was imparted to boys attending i muectiu schools, woiffd be extended to the other schools in the' Province, as far as it possibly could bo.

The Battery of the Dunedin Volunteer Artillery will parade at the Gunshed, on Monday evening at eight o’clock lor Adjutant’s inspection. Full dress uniform and rifles. The Commercial Building and Investment Society holds its fortnightly meetings for receiving subscriptions and applications for shares at the office, Princes street, and also at Port Chalmers, on Monday evening from D to 8 o’clock.