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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2205, 1 June 1870, Page 2

Want of Confidence. —Rumor has it that Mr Thomson was within the precincts of the House when his want of confidence mot’on was called on, but having found after counting heads, that his selfimposed task was a hopeless one, he did not think it advisable to put in an appearance. Mayor’s Court. —Tn the Mayor’s Court this morning Ann Sherry, a habitual drunkard, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Fire.—Three stacks of oats, the property of Mr Alex. Campbell Boss Gully, near Laureuce, were burnt on Friday last. Spontaneous combustion is said to have been the cause of the fire. Mr Campbell’s loss will be considerable.

Enterprise. — We are informed that a gentleman at Lawrence has purchased in the immediate vicinity of that township 70 acres of land, for the express purpose of planting the same with gum trees. The End of the Session. —During the discussion on the motion that Government business should take precedence, the Secretary for Laud and Works expressed himself in tuoh a way as to lead to the belief that the Council would he prorogued this week.

A Discovery. —ln constructing a water-race for a flax mill on the properly of Mr Noble, Akatore, last week, a very thick bed of excellent slate was struck. It is of the soft nature of that used for school piirposes, and roof slating, and from its laminated appearances it is believed it can be easily cut by machinery. Gold in promising quantities was also found. The Wax Works. —The waxworks attract great numbers to sec them, and as the models comprise several of the most c lehratcd characters in the Colonies their interest is in a great measure increased by bein" local. No doubt every one will take occasion to visit them several times during their stay here, and cacli time with pleasure. We cordially recommend a visit. Masonic Hall.— Dr Carr’s entertainment continues to increase in popularity. The hall was crowded to excess last evening. Nor, considering the startling character of the phenomena here exhibited, can wo bo surprised at the intense curiosity of the public to witness the manifestations. Dr Carr s experiments are usually successful and ranch amusement arises from the different phenomena he develops.

Important to Insurers.—The Wairampa Mercury says “We learn that the New Zealand Insurance Company has declined to pay tho LI,BOO for which the buildings at Tuiterata, belonging to Mr A. M‘Masters, were insured. Mr G. Hunter, the agent in Wellington for the Company, has received two estimates to replace the buildings, one being for L9OO and the other for L8(>1 0s Gd, (very close shaving this sixpence !) One of these tenders is from a resident in the Wairarapa. He therefore offers either to rebuild or to give LI,OOO instead of the LI,BOO. The buildings were erected at a time when timber was dear, labour scarce, ami carriage (owing to the had roads) expensive. "The difference in the state of the country has censed a depresiation in the value of property, and it appears curious that a company should accept a premium on Li, 800 f/?r insuring buildings for eight consecutive yea?.-, and only to find out at the termination. —owing to being woke up hy lire —that the buildings Cs.u be erected for half the money.” Dunedin Presbytery,—The quarterly meeting of this body was held to-day ; the Rev. G. Sutherland, moderator, presiding. The Rev. Mr Gillies called attention to an advertisement published in the Evening Star of April, reflecting on the Presbytery, and moved the following “ The attention of tho Presbytery having been called to an advertisement iu the Evening Star of the 7th April last, addressed to the Presbyterians of Otago, apd signed by Messrs John Paterson, James P, JfiJlar, and James M‘lntosh, two of whom are office beavers in the Presbyterian Church, and the othei - a W.eniber therein, purporting to give an account ot tpe sctioii of the Presbytery at its last meeting in the case of St. Andrew’s congregation and the Rev, Mr Scrimgcour, this Presbytery, having a regard to the interests of truth and justice, declare said article to contain a grievous misrepresentation of the action of this Court, and alaograve reflections upon certain ministers and elders of the Church, which arc altogether unwarranted, and further express there regret that any members of the church, and especially any officebearer, should have published such a document. The presbytery would also record the fact that one of the parties signing the document was not present at the meeting referred to, and therefore could have no personal knowledge of what was said or done by members of (the court ” The Rev. Mr M'Naughton moyed' q? an amendment—- “ That the most dignified course for this court to pursue is to express no opinion on this subiect.” The motion was carried hy 14 to 3.

Provincial Council. — At this afternoon’s sitting Mr Ashcroft gave notice of his intention, to-morrow, to move that an address be presented to the Superintendent, avjiing for a continuation of the subsidy to country municipalities for another year, and that a sum be placed on the estimates sufficient to reprint in pamphlet form the warden’s annual reports ou the goldfields of Otago, with statistics, together with Dr. Hector’s latest reports, and other information on The resources of our goldfields, for circulation in Australia, California, and elsewhere. Message No. 10, frpm tRe Superintendent, was read, intimating that he had assented to the University,of Otago Endowment Ordinance, 1870, apd the Licensing Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, 1870. —ln answer to Mr MTndpe, the (government stated that they had no intention of placing a sum ou .the ..supplementary .estimates for the purpose pf paying any legal expenses the Messrs .Fulton incurred in defending the action of Reid v. Fulton.—Mr Thomson’s noconfidence motion lapsed in the absence of tbe mover ; and on the ground of unpreparedness Mr M'Dennid’s motion on the land question was allowed to lapse, and notice of it given for Friday.—On the motion of the Provincial Secretary, it was resolved an address be presented to the Superintendent, recommending that sections 7 and 8, block 1, lloxburg, should be get apart as a site for a Court.— Air Shepherd’s m,p fc km. that the Executive, if they considered it advisable, be empowered to enter into contracts for the maintenance of roads, especially those requiring metalling, was carried ; as was also one by Hr Hay, after amendment so as to road that, in the opinion of the Council, it was desirable that blocks of land, to he approved of by the Government, not to exceed 250 acres, should be offered to anyone willing to plant tbe same with forest trees, subject to regulations as to planting, &c., to be fixed by the Waste Land Board and the Crown Grants, for such lands should be obtained in favor of persons after the regulations so made had been fulfilled.

Destructive Tides at Westport.— Tiie damage that ensued upon the last spring tides of April at Westport dwindle into insignificance beside the result of the tides and weather experienced or Sjwda.V lust. As notified some time hack, Sunday, the S hj, as also the 15th, were spoken of by the disciples of Saxby as likely to ho attended with rough dirty weather, and on the latter occasion, the tides being nearly at full spring,

the clay was looked forward to with considerable curiosity on the part of some, and with trepidation hy others. After experiencing a heavy gale on the Bth, the wind moderated, and during the week the weather was exceptionally fine, and only gave evidence of breaking on Saturday. During the night the sea and wind increased amazingly, attended with occasional heavy rain, and the following morning it became evident that many of the "tenements approaching the line of high water mark would be endangered, 9 a.m., fully fifty minutes before high water, the breakers swept in cpiick succession over the highest line of beach, and all the tenements occupying the low-lying portions of the beach were flooded out. In Molesworth and Freeman streets there were fully three feet of water, and Russell street, to where it is intersected by Bright street, was encroached upon by the sea, a distance of fully a hundred yards. Mr Flemings house was surrounded with water, which filled all the channels between the sand hills to a depth of four to six feet, and the -wash of the sea also reached the boundary of the grounds attached to the residence of Dr. Thome. Approaching the river in the direction of Herbert street and Baring street, a body of water, similar to what was sweeping overtire beach at Russell street, broke over the beach forming a deep lagoon, and discharging itself into the river. The whole of Messrs Stitt Bros, stock had to be removed. The bootmaker’s and another shop adjoining Messrs Stitt were also hooded and abandoned. The two-storey house occupied by Quigly, on the eastern side of Gladstone street, was carried clean off the piles, and the Robert Burns Hotel, in the occupation of Mr M'Rae, at the eastern side of Bright street, surrounded with water, and will require to be moved shortly. Mr Williams, chemist, at the corner of that street and Palmerston street has transferred his business to the premises adjoining Mr Munson, bookseller. The old premises were flooded and the building has sunk to the rear, throwing it several indies out of the perpendicular. Mr Harris, who occupies a hotel at the opposite corner, fared similarly ill. Mr M‘Dowell, draper, and all intervening premises, until reaching the ITinee of Wales Hotel, were more or less flooded, Emanuel’s Little Grey Hotel had a foot of water in it, and the premises of 0. M. Fox, Johnston, Carpenter, Steel, and others, were in a similar condition. In Molesworth street, with a few exceptions, and the buildings were flooded and many of the occupants there as also in Freeman street; had to wado to the middle in water to get beyond the level of the flood. Ix anticipation of his departure for Wellington, his Worship the Mayor has issued an address, which appears in our advertising columns.