Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2237, 8 July 1870, Page 2

The Home Commissioners, Dr. Featherstou is expected out in November. Mr Dillon 801 l will probably remain longer. Legal. —Mr C. R. D. Ward has been re-appointed to tho district judgship at Wanganui. Export of Gold. During tho quarter ending March 31, Auckland exported 30,008 ozs.; Ne’son, 3272 ozs.; Westport, 22,083 ozs.; Greyinoutli, 28,463 ozs.; Hokitika, 23,808 ozs.; Dunedin, 46,386 ozs.; —total quantity, 137,327 ozs., valued at L 616.607. The value of the gold exported during tho March quarter of 1860 was L 616.994. Ocean Telegrams. —The Commissioner of Telegraphs proposes to arrange with the Australian Governments for the despatch of stamped telegraphic messages by the steamers to New Zealand, in much the same way as thu ordinary telegram; are now

made np. By this means, all . telegraJus addressed “Telegraphist, New Zealand,” would be at once conveyed to the nearest telegraph office on the arrival of the steamer at a New Zealand p-rc and transmitted to the persons lo whom they may bo a dr. ssod,

New Bills. —Wo wen* in error in stating last night that the Bill relating to interprovincial postage, now before Parliament, reduced the rate t> a penny. The rate is to be the same as the present country let er postage, viz., twopence. The Govcmment, it is said, appear to th:nk that the expense is no greater of transporting letters up and down the coast than of inland transport. There was some opposition shown on the second reading, out it is thought the Bill will pass. A Bill of some importance is to be introduced for giving powers to sell property for non-payment of rates. Steam 'Vessels.-— The Post says : “Tbo two local steam companies, tbo Un.on and the Circular Saw (whose parti d amalg imatioii has beou spoken of), both seem to complain oi want of employment. I hoy talk of running the whole length of New Zealand with only a few passenger and a few tons of cargo-having two or three boats where one would be sufficient—and unanimously cy out that steamers do not pay. All this time there is a line of boats running from Melbourne to New Zealand, paying remarkably well, and in absence of opposition having a monoply of tbo tr ole. which is far from being inconsiderable. hy could uot the companies amalgamate ao once —place their largo boats on the Melbourne line, to pbmpete for a share of the traffic now in the hands e.f M‘Meekan and Go., and thus make abundant room for the smaller ones on the coast ? The matter is worth consideration.

Returns. Home of tin) 'returns called for iu t tho House of Representatives are important, especially those moved by Colonel Haultain, for particulars of the total expenditure Hr defence purposes from Ist July, 18*39, to Blst May, 1870, atul liabilities on the same account to 31st May ; and also for the quantity of arms and ammunition supplied to Natives since Ist July, 1809. This latter return shows a total issue of 87,112 rounds of ammunition of all sorts ; 94 Eulield rifles ; 101 medium rifles ; 21 breechloading carabines, &c. Shis question is causing a good deal of anxiety, more especially as the manner of many of the friendly natives is considered to show a reeling on their part that the Government are dependent on them, and that they arc really masters of the country, if they thought lit to use their power. The other return, viz., that of the total defence expenditure, is nt ready yet. The Governor’s Salary, The foils the memorial of the Wanganui settlers, which the House of Representatives refused to receive :—“To the Honorable the House of Representatives of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled: The memorial of the undersigned inhabitants of the Colony respectfully sheweth that, whereas the Imperial Government has thought lit to withdraw its troops from this Colony, your meB orialists are of opinion that the cost of the Governor’s salary should for the future he defrayed out of the Imperial instead of as at present out of the Colonial Exchequer. Y our memorialists therefore most respectfully requests that your Honorable House will refuse to pass the estimate for the Governor’s salary, save for such period as will allow his Excellency ample time to confer with the Imperial Government on the subject, say six months from the commencemcne of the session. Your memorialists further request that, in the event of the Home authorities declining to sanction the principle indicated above, your Honorable House will not allow itself to be intimidated or cajoled into continuing the payment of the said salary. And your memorialists will ever pray, &c.” Rifle Shooting, —They shoot at long ranges in New South Wales, the Sydney Morniny Humid containing au account of a match at 1090 and 1100 yards, 10 shots at each range (sighting shots allowed), at the quarterly meeting of the Small-bore Rifle s lab. The following were the scores made;—

1000. 1100. Freeman ... 303*4333k3 32* K223443-45 Slade . . 3u34344343 4424442002—57 Brownlow ... 3243)43344 2444422032—01 Cooper ... 4343334323 32n3433322—57 Lynch ... 03uk332433 0330223H;4-42 Lindsay ... 3043424333 303n323333-63 Corporal Brownlow won the first prize at 1000 yards, Ensign Cooper the second, and Private Slade the third. Mi' Brownlow was handicapped three points, Mr Cooper two, and Mr Slade one. At 1100 yards, Mr Slade took the iirst prize, Mr Brownlow the second, and Fr Freeman the third. For the aggregate at both ranges, Mr Brownlow was the fortunate winner. * No bullet.

Canterbury. The Christchurch correspondent of the Oamnru IL rald writes under date the oth iust. as follows :—“The imposition of increased t:>\ .turn in the way of amended Customs Tariff is u >t at all liked bymauyof our importers. 1 think some of the articles should not he so highly charged for instance, rope is double in duty. This will tell heavily against the owners of vessels ; it may, however, induce some capitalists to start large works in Canterbury for rope-making, delV. Bugging, known also as Policeman X, has left us for Wellington. 1 notice by the Wellington fiulepcm/ent lie is engaged in Avriting down the members of the House of Assembly ; he attempts (and I must say but poorly), ‘‘ Arto uus Ward’s” style. 1 have no doubt the gnth-mcn of the House, if they do read his attempts at v. must be highly flattered at his remarks upon themselves. A man nara d I.urge has received a sentence of six mouths for passing a valueless cheque. 1 understand he has been through the Southern provinces doing the same thing, and he may have victimised some of your readers. The Law Society have made a stir this Aveek ; for some months past it has been notorious that persons calling themselves accountants have been acting as solicitors, and preparing schedules and statements of accounts, so as to enable persons to pass through the Bankruptcy Court, The Avay the papers ha\'o been made out, haAo at times been so bad as to call forth strong remarks from Mr Justice o reason, and he advised the Society to protect themselves. This Aveek the Society pounced upon a Mr M‘C regor for a contravention of the Act, in preparing the schedule of a Mr Mackay. There was a long examination ami some hard sAvearing before Mr Justice dresson ; however, it Avas oath against oath, and there Averc no witnesses. His Honor evidently believed M‘Uregor guilty, for he told him if

the Society could obtain evidence to corroborate Mackay, he could be taken before a magistrate and commuted for perjury.

The next half year of the High School commences on the 1 Stir instant, and intending pupils will be examined on the 10th.

In our report of the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, wc erroneously state l the claim of Muutun v. Wills was L‘i I Os, instead of Judgment was given for the plaintiff, L2 10s and costs.