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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2260, 4 August 1870, Page 2

Supreme Court,—The sitting in banco, which was to have been held to day, had to be postponed in consequence of the continued indisposition of the Judge. A Hint.—The Sr nee Ilemld, on tins authority of Mr John Sutherland, farmer, East Taieri, who for many years was a vet y severe sufferer from asthma, states that a little sulphur mixed with tobacco in smoking is an effectual cure for that complaint. Legal. —Mr David Maitland, Ewburn station, called upon us to-day and informed us that he has been served with a summons by Messrs Smith and Anderson, Solicitors to the Trustees of the Otago Club, at the suit of Mr Harris, the nightman, for nonpayment of the cost of cleaning the water closets at the Club Hotel. We understand the case is to be heard before the Eesideut Magistrate on Monday. Chinese Interpreter. —The Government has taken a judicious step in reappointing Mr A- JJlewett as Chinese interEreter on the goldfields, and the effects of it ave already ,become apparent. Since his appointment he has bees assiduously engaged

in hunting up and bringing to justice the Chinese mining without licences. Already a good sum in the shape of fines has been collected.

The Late Concert.—We are glad to see by an advertisement that the Jewish Philanthropic Society realised so handsome a sum by their late concert as Ll9 fie. Sudden Death. —At noon to-day, a man named Henry Moss, brother of Mr M. Moss, Jetty street, was found dead in his bed at the Australasian Hotel, Maclaggan street. He was subject to fits, and whether he was suffocated during a fit, or committed suicide —as he attempted to do some short time s'ncc—will not be made known until a post-mortem examination is made. Singular Accident.—A somewhat singular accident occurred to a man named John Bayley, on the Main South Road, near Mr James Cullen’s, East Taieri, on Satur day last. It appears that while Bayley was in the act of throwing a shovelful of stoues upon the road, he gave himself a sudden jerk, dislocation of the hip joint. He was conveyed in a cart to his tent at Springbank, from whence he was on Monday removed to Dunedin Hospital. Princess Theatre,—To-morrow Mr and Mrs Darrell commence a series of farewell performances, and open with an entertainment, which, if only on account of it i diversified character, should attract a largo attendance. In the sparkling comedietta of “Delicate Ground,” Mrs Darrell will sustain a character, which small though it he, is always a good one in her hands. Besides readings from favorite authors, the finest scenes Horn “Macbeth” are to be given, aud Mr Darrell is to produce a budget of sirio-comic songs, some of them of his own composition. In his song “The girl of the day,” he has been well spoken off by the colonial press.

Sly Grog Selling.—A correspondent of the Bruce Herald, writing from Waitahuna, informs us that no small consternation has been caused among the sly grog sellers of that district by the visit of an informer. Two delinquents have been caught, and one find the full penalty of L2O, the other being mulcted of half that sum Our correspondent proceeds, “ admitting as Ido tho evils ensuing from this contraband traffic, I cannot help thinking that no better way of enlisting public sympathy in its favor could be discovered than by adopting an underhand system of espionage for its suppression. I hear that the informer iu the above casts was an old soldier. If he does not look out prcHy sharply, 1 fear he will one of those line days be enrolled iu the noble aimy of martyr*.” Depression.—A miner just returned from the West Coast describes to us the depression there as something unparalled. The luckiest miners are only averaging about half a pennyweight per diem, and hundreds are unable to clear even their “tucker.” On his way to Otago, he passed through Cliristchurch, where things are equally bad. The street corners are thronged with able-bodied men, willing to work for their tucker, and unable to get a job even on those terms. He describes it as “ oven worse than Dunedin.” A considerable number had come from the Thames, where wages rule as low as two shillings a day, iu hopes of getting work on thelimaru Railway, but tho funds for starting that undertaking are not forthcoming. Our informant ended by the natural query, “If things arc so bad just now, what will they he when several thousand immigrants are thrown on the overstocked labor market ?’’—Bruce Herald.

Mu Robert Heller.— The fame of this gentleman, just arrived in Dunedin, has preceded him, and from time to time notices of his extraordinary performances have reached us from Victoria. Mr Heller combines the rare acquirements of a most accomplished ma.iciau with that of a brilliant pianist, and from the general testimony of those who have witnessed his pex-formances, we are not expecting too much in anticipating a treat of a hind that has never before been enjoyed in New Zealand. A ustralasia is indebted to Mr Geo. Coppin for introducing Mr Helier. Mr Coppin has been the means of bringing out many talented men, but we believe that none have enjoyed so unquestioned a first-class reputation as Mr ileller. Both in Melbourne and Sydney he has been greeted by crowded houses nightly for four months ; and in Ballarat, Geelong, and Adelaide he was equally successful. From the programme, we judge the entertainment will be varied, and include what has been happily described as “magical, musical, supernatural, sensational, and conversational.” A New Use for Flax. There seems no reason to doubt that flax may yet be used as a substitute for hops. In the appendix to Dr Hector’s Dunedin Exhibit! n report after describing a method tried for cleaning the flax by steeping in hot water with siilpheric acid, the report says : —“ The liquor from tho proceeding experiment was perfectly clear, of a pa’e-yellow colour, and had to a remarkable extent the odour of bitter beer; and undoubtedly a kind of beer could be made from a strong infusion of flax, mixed with a moderate quantity of sugar, and then fomented. Tho bitter j riuciple of flax is very pure intense hitter, capable of being retained by charcoal, by which it is given up to alcohol, and might he used to communicate a bitter taste to beer in the absence of hops. It would at least be less objectionable than drugs that arc said to be used for this purpose.” A contemporary suggests :—To experiment upon the flax is inexpensive and easy to accomplish, and some of our brewers might try both that and the manufacture of tutu wine.

The Evangelist. This month’s number of the “Evangelist” is as interesting as any of its predecessors. The editorial treats of the colonisation of the Fijis. The writer considers that the place is unsuitable for the permanent settlement of Europeans, on account pf the unhealthincss of the climate, and cpndeipns the present system of deporting labor from the New Hebrides and other islands as b jng in many cases nothing better than the most iniquitous kidnapping. “ On the dying out of the natives of New Zealand,” is a'subjecb discussed by the Rev. Mr Wohlers, of .Southland, but only in so far as it refers to the natives of the Middle Island. Perhaps of all persons in the Colony Mr Wohlers, from his long and intimate acquaintance with the race and his knowledge of their habits, is the best qualified to give an opinion on the matter. Twenty-six years ago, he says, the Southern natives were in a a very sickly condition and fast decreasing ; the proportion of the births to the deaths was as pue to four, and no one who fell sick ever recovered, With the spread of the Gospel, there came £ better state of things—“as by degrees their civilisation advanced and their temporal affairs improved'; so'als^

their health began to recover. In about ten years they had so far recovered that the births and deaths were about equal, and when another ten years had passed the births began to exceed the deaths. Not only were the deaths less numerous, but their constitutions being much strengthened, the births became more numerous than they had been in former years. Their health was now on a par with that of the Europeans.” Their superstitious fears combated, and their having acquired those habits of cleanliness and industry, led to the hope that they would live not as a separate race, but with the European settlors. tS till the decline has been most marked. Mr Wholers, before entering upon his subject, gives us some information as to the doings of Hauhau doctors in the South, and shows the baneful influence|of these so-called wise men. At Invercargill there is one who makes a living by the superstitious fear of the natives, and by fostering those fears, and by wrong treatment, some are occasionally killed, who might have recovered. Mr Wholers believes the coming of the Europeans to New Zealand had little to do with the going out of the natives, and that if it had not been discovered till a century hence, it would have been found uninhabited, with some trace that, at not a very remote period it had been inhabited by savages. Their cannibal-like habits in a great'measure, have brought about the result—their constitution became enfeebled, and being exposed to a changeable climate, they caught frequent cold, which led to consumption. It is then of consumption that the Maoris are slowly hut surely dying out. 'I here are several other papers of interest in the present number.

Port Chalmers Town Council. — A special meeting of the Council was held in the Town Hall last evening ; their being present the Mayor, Councillors Fernie, M'Kinnon, Ennis, Miller, Law, Clark, Cordon, and M'Cuilnm. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr R Toms, one of the auditors, refusing to sign the usual declaration because a reduction of salary from L 5 to L2 10s was pa se 1. The Town Clerk was ordered to write to Mr Toms, warning him of the consequences of his refusal, namely, a penalty of 125. A letter from Mr James Robinson, calling attention to the state of Wickliff Terrace, was referred to the Public Works Committee. The letter of Mr J. Morris, the late day-man, claiming a month’s salary for wrongful dismissal, and correspondence on the subject were read. The minutes having been referred to, Councillors Clark, M‘Kinnon, and Miller spoke in explanation. —Councillor hVrnio moved that the money be paid. He contended the Council was liable, and hart had enough o: law. The Council had rescinded the minute ordering the man’s discharge, and he considered Morris had given no offence to deserve his discharge. Councillor Clark moved, and Councillor Lav/ seconded that Morris be asked to work out the remainder of the month in dispute. Councillor Miller moved an amendment, and Councillor Cordon seconded, that Morris he paid L 6. Councillor Fernie said such a proposition was quite absurd, for the money was owing, and should he paid ; it was trying to lower the dignity of the Council to save L 4 by such means, and he hoped they would apt fair, and pay the man at once. The motion of Councillor Clark was carried. Tho papers in the action Orawshaw and another were laid on the table, and as no action was taken, the matter was considered done with. Councillor Fernie, according to notice, moved that the cross streets—Mary, B. rnicia, Bum, and Daly streets, be proceeded with ; and tenders called for according to plans and specifications. Councillor Miller seconded, but wished a surveyor to superintend the work. Councillor M'Kinnon was in favor of a surveyor being employed. Councillor Ennis moved an amendment that no action he taken until the specifications were on the table. Councillor M'Cuilnm seconded the amendment, which was carried by the casting vote of the Mayor. Councillor Miller’s motion for borrowing L 5,000 for wafer supply, and I 1,000 for open ng up the roads, came on for consideration. He assured the Council that the water scheme would be self supporting ; that the steamers would come alongside of the wharf and fill up, and the railway and dock, besides the residents in George and other streets, would take water ; and the insurance saved would be a large sum, besides the inhabitants e ijoying a security from fire. He therefore hoped the Council would support the motion. A plan was produced showing how the water was to be brought in ; there being no seconder, the motion lapsed. A motion by Councillor Law, seconded by Councillor M'Kinnon, that tenders for Constitution street be called for, was carried. It was stated that the six sectious promised by the Government were now in the possess on of ihe Council. It was moved by Councillor Clark, seconded by Councillor Fernie, that the clerk’s salary be LI 10 per annum, and that he act as assessor —carried. Notice of motion was given by Councillor M'Kinnon, that the Cemetery road and the Rost Office pathway be rcpaire I; and the Council adjourned until Monday, tho loth, at 7 o’clock.

The quarterly communication of the P. G. Lodge, New Zealand, S.S., will take place this evening, at 7-30. Members and M.M. are requested to attend.