Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2246, 19 July 1870, Page 2

Resident Magistrate’s Court. — No business was transacted in this Court today. Commission.---We hear that the Provincial Treasurer and Messrs J. S. Webb and W. C. Young, have been appointed a commission to consider the subject of retrenchment.

Strange News,—A telegram from Adelaide, published in the Melbourne Ar;/ÜB, states that “ a report is current of a private letter being received to the effect that Mr and Mrs Ray, old Adelaide colonists, who were supposed to have been lost in tho General Grant, are still alive, and may be expected in the Colony (South Australia) in a few weeks.”

Port Chalmers. —The works at the Port Chalmers Graving Dock proceed with regularity and rapidity. The ground near the cofferdam is in course of excavation, and the stonework throughout, with the exception of the entrance, is nearly np to its specified height. Every part of tho work is beautifully executed, and the large area of the dock can now be realised. The work of twelvemonths is, however, yet necessary before its completion.

The Mayoralty. The different candidates for the Mayoralty addressed various meetings last evening. Mr Griffen selected High Ward, where he met the ratepayers at the Mission House. Mr Millar stated his views in Leith Ward, at Wain’s Hotel, Water of Leith, and the Queen’s Hotel. Albany street; and Mr Fish addressed the electors both at Wain’s Hotel and the British Hotel, George street. In each case, the usual expressions of the fitness of the candidate for Mayor were affirmed. The “ Peninsula.” — The alterations in the hull of this steamer are nearly completed, and several improvements have also been made in her machinery. The addition to her length and the fine lines which she now presents, render it probable her steaming qualities will be much improved, especially as buoyancy'forward of the engines will be so much increased as to reduce tho resistance of the water very materially. The style in which the work is done gives promise of the future of the Port as to building and repairing of ships. At the same yard where the Peninsula has been altered—that of Messrs Easton and M‘Gregor —a very handsome schooner, built for the coasting trade, is nearly ready for launching.

Machinists. Messrs Morgan and M‘Gregor, of Port Chalmers, have had the task allotted to them of making the necessary alterations in the machinery of the harbor steamer Peninsula. The multiplying wheel which was formerly fitted with wooden teeth has had them changed for brass. These were cast in the Port, and are very ingeniously fastened on to the iron casting, so that at need they can be replaced by otners. The machinery is ready for fitting as soon as the steamer is in a sufficiently advanced condition to receive it.

Melbourne Suicides.— Ever since the maniacal passion of Supple drove ban into the perpetration of the dreadful crime of murder, the people of Melbourne have surely had their fill of the terribly sensational. Suicide and suicide have followed each other in a strange and frightful manner the more terrible because they have been amongst the highly educated. Poor Mr D’Aleustel, the victim of slanderous tongues, brooded over his wounded honor, until in an evil moment the waters of the Yarra gave him release from his earthly troubles. The next, a poor despondent lawyer, made a mournful exit in the same way. Then Henry Walstab, a promising young writer of fiction, met his death by drowning, whether by accident or not will probably never be known. Then Mr Allan Lindsay Gordon, a child of genius, well-known as a poet and daring sportsman, blows out his brains in an insane moment, as nothing has transpired that would lead up to any cause sufficient to account for the act; nor had he at any time been known to exhibit any-inci-pient symptoms of insanity. His poetical compositions have been most favorably criticised at home and in the colonies ; and one of his last pieces in particular—“ How we heat the favorite is likely to enjoy as great popularity as a poetical composition as Ainsworth’s prose description of Turpin’s famous ride does. ,

Lecture. — At Knox Church last evening the Kev. Mr Watt gave a lecture on “The Educational System of the Scottish Reformers.” It was very interesting as a matter of history, and in showing how much might have been done hud not the ruling classes perverted funds to their own purposes, which were intended for national benefit. Precisely the same might be said of England, where trusts exist to this day to such value, that were they appropriated as designed by the testators, there won hi not be an uneducated child in that coun'ry. The lessons of history should not he lost, for they point to the necessity there is for continual watching that no creed nor class should be allowed to assume a control that may be perverted to selfish ends. While wo honor lhose*who amid such darkness perceived the need of culture, generations would have lired iu vain, had not improved systems forced them selves upon attention. Much as has been done, much more remains to be dona before the best means can be adopted to secure the best results ; and with Mr Watt, we trust that the University shortly to be opened will bo so widely availed of that “streams of students” from' the High and elementary schools, may annually flock thither. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Watt by acclamation.

A Splendid Speech. — One day last week the members of the House of Representatives were amused by a three hours’ speech from the new member for Taranaki, Frederick Alonzo Carrington, who. in speaking on the Government financial scheme, availed himself of the opportunity of relating his personal biography. He commenced by declaring that he was a Government supporter, and then launched into a most ludicrous account of his efforts to introduce the Taranaki iron sand into the English market. He kept the House in a roar of laughter hy the comic account of his travels in India, Asia, Africa, and America ; over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans ! The exhibition was indescribable. The blouse has seldom, if ever, had such a treat. The melo dramatic style, the solemn manner in which he referred to the atrocities of the natives at the White Cliffs, and his utter unconsciousness of the fun he was creating, were a remarkably good joke. Pie referred to some aristocratic connections, and to one individual who was “the uncle of his son-in-law!” (truly a “distant relation.”) Like the lamented little Robson at the Olympic, he said, “Them’s my sentiments,” He would have his say opt, notwithstanding the laughter of the House, and the ironical cries of “ PTcar, hear!” “Go on!” &c. He almost frightened the reporters by saying that “ he could go on all night;” to which Mr Haughton facetiously rejoined, “Co on!” The confiding and mirth-provoking member, however, quietly subsided with a beaming countenance, evidently thinking that he had acquitted himself well.

Judicial Proceedings in America. —Judging from the reports in the New York papers of the M‘Farlaud trial, the preliminary process of challenging the jury in a criminal trial is regarded there as a much more important matter than with us. At any rate, far more time and trouble and attention were devoted # to it. In this case no fewer than 750 jurors were summoned, and before the twelve to form the jury could be selected, each man was subjected to a rigorous examination and cross-examination, to ascertain whether he was biassed with reference to the case. The questions put were «f what we should consider rather abundant latitude, some of them being where the juror weut to church ; if he belonged to Mr Fothcringbam’s or Mr Beecher’s congregation ; whether any of his friends or relations attended the churches of those preachers; what were his views on capital punishment; would he in any case return a verdict that might be followed by an execution ; what newspapers he read, and what were his opinions or feelings on the case before him. One witness, who said he was a married man, was asked if he had any chi’dren, and bow many? He bad four. On this counsel for jthe defence guessed “that was all right,” and withdrew thesr challenge. If any of the jurors failed in their answers to satisfy the counsel on either side of the case, ho was “challenged for the favor if counsel could not make out a case of this sort, they still in some cases challenged peremptorily. The New York Time», speaking of the growth and abuse of the system of challenge, says : —“lf things go on at this rate, a small town will not be in a condition to afford the luxury of a jury much longer. Even New York might not be able to stand the embarrassment to business which half-a-dozen important trials going on at the same time would be calculated to produce. This abuse of the privilege of challenging jurors is short-sighted in every way. It does not find out the best men for the duty. It is ordinarily deemed sufficient for the judge to admonish the jury to dismiss from tbeir that they beard

previous to the evidence, and juries are, as a rule, intelligent enough to see for themselves the necessity of doing this. The oath surely ought to be strong enough to overcome mere “impressions,” but not much importance seems to be attached in legal circles to oaths now-a-days.