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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2280, 27 August 1870, Page 2

Mayor’s Court, At this Court to-day, before the Mayor and Mr Dick, J.P., George Price aud Piobert Brennan were each fined ss, and Martin Sullivan and Thomas Garr 10s each, for drunkenness. The University Bill.—We learn from private sources that every dodge that could be devised was adopted in order to defeat the New Zealand University Bill, but without success. It passed its third reading after an hour’s struggle. Port* Chalmers Railway.—There is a good, but rather late, suggestion in a letter from a correspondent, respecting marking the commenccnif-nt of the Port Chalmers Railway construction, the first in the Province, by some suitable ceremony. Surely it will not be allowed to pass without a public recognition. We presume the Provincial Government do not feel sufficiently proud of their work to make it an occasion

for rejoicing. If we are wrong in this surmise, wc shall be glad to 'aec a suitable recognition of the event. TAB • Ballot. seen-' vity.to political independence has at length become the privilege of the electors of -New Zealand; ~ The Bill has passed through both Houses, ■ and was read a third time, Inst week. Mr Reynolds has long labored to securebit, and must feel gratified that his up-hill work has been accomplished.

Drowned.—Yesterday the body of a man was found in the Clutlia, at the ferry. The corpse was washed up against the approaches to the old punt, and was in a very decomposed state. At the coroner s inquest it was identified as that of James M ‘Gillivray, a shepherd at Clydovale, Pomaliaka, drowned in that river two months ago.

Masonic Hall.—Mr Heller’s benefit last night was a most complete success. Every part of the room was crammed, and more would have been there could they have obtained admittance. Captain Hutchison’s songs were well received, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves. To-night, Mr Heller appeal’s for the last time in Dunedin.

Gaol Return.—The following is the state of H. M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 27th August 1870 : —A waiting trial, 7 men, 0 women ; under remand, 0 man, 0 women ; penal servitude, 03 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 30 men, 13 women ; in default of bail, 2 men, 0 women ; debtors, 4 men ; —■ total, 145 men, 13 women. Received during the week, 7 men, I woman ; discharged, 13 men, 4 women.

Marine Engineer. —Mr Stafford, in Committee of Supply, asked the Government whether they contemplated making any provision for the appointment of a competent marine engineer for the colony. He was informed that the subject had been under the consideration of the Government. In reply, the Honorable Mr Vogel said no conclusion had yet been arrived at with regard to a perm ment appointment. For the present, the Government availed themselves of the best engineering skill they could find at the several places. Accident at Port Chalmers.—At about ten o’clock last evening, Constable Sullivan whilst on duty discovered an old resident of the Port, Mr David Marr, lying on the ground in Mount street. Finding he was in a helpless condition, he at once had him carried to bis residence, when the services of Dr Urquhart were obtained. It was then discovered that the tight leg was severely fractured midway between the knee and ancle, and he was conveyed to the hospital this morning. Meat Preserving.—The Standard learns that the meat-preserving establishment at Woodlands has commenced to preserve beef, and they intend to confine operations to cattle until after shearing. A sale to them is reported of about 300 bead of bullocks and speyed heifers at IGs us per head, or a shade under LI per IOOIbs. They are now slaughtering 70 head per week. The Clyde Robbery. — The lie-mug of the gold robbery case was concluded yesterday afternoon. There is strong circumstantial evidence against the prisoner MacLenuan. He pleaded not guilty, and st -utly denies all participation in the crime. He was committed for trial. We learn from Clyde that a petition to the Superintendent has been very numerously signed, praying that the case of Sub-Inspector Dalgleish, who is under suspension, may be considered as leniently as possible. The Customs Department. Air Stafford is reported in Hansard to have made the following remarks in Committee of Supply The whole Customs expenditure was wonderfully cheap. They bad, ho believed, thirty-four or thirty-five ports, and they collected their Customs for 1 per cent, less* than Victoria with only three ports, and where the main business was done at one port. The service was efficient, and was continuing to improve from day to day. There would be nothing more fatal than starving the service. He must again impress upon the Commissioner of Customs that, until it was made a colonial service, it would not be as efficient as it ought to be, and tbc more attention the bon. member gave to the question the more convinced would he be of that fact.

Farming. —Says the Standard: — A few days aero farmers were anticipating tliat they would soon be enabled to proceed satisfactorily with sowing their grain. The heavy fall of rain on Wednesday night, and again yesterday, has, however, effectually put a stop to progress in this important direction for some time. We believe a much smaller area of wheat was sown during last autumn than in previous years, and there seems every reason to fear that the quantity sown in spring will not he .large, This in connection with tlie low stock at present held here, and the accounts of a poor harvest at Home, can scarcely fail to affect the market. The Tokomairiro river rose very rapidly to a great height on Thursday morning, and it soon overflowed its hanks. As usual in all such floods, portions of the main road between the township and toll-bar were under water, but beyond this we have not heard .of any special damage heving been done. Condition op Government Buildixos.—The following is the interim report of the Joint Committee of both Houses on the Government buildings at Wellington : —The Joint t'owmittp.o appointed to take into consideration the condition v,i the Government buildings, &c., have the honour to report, That a Bill should be introduced into the Legislature giving power to the Government to purchase a suitable site for the Legislative buildings required. That of the sites considered by the committee available for the purpose, tine most desirable is that adjacent to the present Legislative buildings, known as the property of the late Dp Ifvans, comprising three acres. That the chairman be authorised to communicate the foregoing resolutions to the Government. That the committee having',considered the relative advantages and expenses of repairing the present Government offices or of or,acting new ones, in accordance with the requirements of the public service, are of opinion that it would he most economical and advantageous to erect new buildings. That for the erection of new offices and of the buildings rcqu red for the Legislature, and for the purchase of a site and furniture for the latter, the sum of L 30,00() would he required. A Scotch Con undurm.— What three hotel-keepers in Dunedin ought to subscribe to the Mayor’s cradle?— The three “Wains.”

A Daring Auckland contemporary of a recent date has the following :—Wbff® the Argyleahire was in the tropics, , the r hat of oS&- of the apprentices was blown overboard. The owner, a lad of about 'fifteen years of age, without the slightest hesitation, leapt from the rigging overboard after his lost property, notwithstanding that the vessel was going at the rate of four or five knots. The steersman immediately threw overboard one of the life buoys hanging over the stern, and the ship was brought-to as soon as possible, but not before she was fully three-quarters of a mile from the boy in the water. A boat was then got out, and the lad was picked up, when he was found to be thoroughly exhausted. The hat which had blown overboard ho held between his teeth. On getting on board, and on being reprimanded for so foolhardy an action, as jumping overboard and risking his life after a mere hat, the lad said with much feeling that it was given to him by his father as a parting gift, and that he would not part with it on any account.

Concert. The Colored Opera Troupe have eveiy reason to be satisfied with the support they received at the concert they gave at the Lunatic Asylumn last evening. Despite the counter attraction of Mr Heller’s benefit, and the greater impediment—the unpropitious state of the weather—an astonishingly large num’-cr of persons found their way to the institution. And that they were much amused with the performances of the troupe was very evident, for the applause was most liberally bestowed. The programme comprised three parts —the comic elements preponderating in the last two. The first part was wholly composed of Christy songs, many of which were capitally renderod—notably, “Take me back home,” which, however, would have went better had the singer not been so afraid of letting his voice lie heard, and “Mother would comfort me,” although a slight nervousness on the part of the gentleman who gave it militated somewhat against its thorough success. “Gently down the stream” and “The little one that died” were also well given, the choruses in both pieces, as also in some others, being well managed. Both the corner men acq fitted themselves ably; Bones being particularly good in his songs and jokes, and Tambo created no little merriment by his comicalities. But the most amusing part of the performances was the burlesque opera, in which Tambo, as a negro prim a donna, gave selections from “ II Trovatore, in falsetto, and gave them surprisingly well. Hourly as amusing were the song and dance, “The nigger’s holiday,” and the song, “ We’re a band of brothers,” in which some half Übzen members of the troupe, dressed in the most outre manner, took part. Boues’s soug and walk round were deservedly applauded, as was also a hornpipe danced in constume. The iustru--1 mental selections were -very good on the whole. The concert is, we believe, to be repeated on an early date. The Land Question.—The Public Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives, to whom the Tuapeka petition of agricultural settlers was referred, brought up the following report .-—The petition bears the signature of 217 persons styling themselves settlers in the Tuapeka District, and they pray that the sum of 7s. Gd., which parties desirous of purchasing the fee simple of land situated within the goldfields of Otago are compelled by the law to pay, by equal instalments, extending over three years, as rent should be deducted from the purchase money at the conclusion of three years ; in other words, that tbc lessors of such lauds within the limits of the goldfields should be permitted to obtain, at the expiration of three years, thp fee simple on a further payment of 12s. Gd,, instead of 20s. A majority of the Committee weie of opinion that a report, rceommnodiug the prayer of the petitioners to the favorable consideration ef the House, should bedrawu up and presented to the House. A minority of the Committee were of opinion that a report should lie presented to the House to the effect that the petition should be referred to the Select Committee on the Goldfields, in accordance with the order of reference passed by the House on Friday, 1/th June, 11670. The order of reference runs thus That a Select Committee be appointed to consider all bills and petitions that may be introduced into this House affecting goldlllelds, &c. ; to report generally upon the provisions and principles which any such bill or petition may contain ; with power to confer or sit together with any similar committee which may be appointed by the Legislative Council, and to agree to a joint report.” In accordance with the opinon of a majority of the Committee, I beg to report that the prayer of the petitioners is entitled to the favourable consideration of the House- — !). Cracroft Wilson, C.8., Chairman, August 4. 1870 ' The matter was however remitted to the Waste Lands Committee, when Mr Maoandrew moved —“That the subject of these petitions involving as it docs both a retrospective and prospective reduction of the price of land in the province of Otago ought to be submitted in the first instance to the Provincial Council of that province, and that the petitioners be advised to that effect.” The committee divided on on this resolution with the following effect: ' —Ayes, G ; Noes, 1. Ayes—'Messrs Gillies, Ma-andrcw, Mervyn, Swan, Kynnersley, and Driver ( Noes Mr Bradshaw. The carrying of tins resolution has shelved thp question of deferred payment for purchase of Crown Lands for at least twelve months. The country press, notably the Tuapeka Times and Bruce Herald, are exceedingly wratli in consequence, and Mr Macandrew is abused in no measured terms, but there can be little doubt that the resolution arrived at was a very prope* one,-.

. The Rev. Robert Scrimgeour will preach at St. Andrew’s Church, Melville Street, to-morrow morning and evening at the usual hours. the fortnightly meeting of the members of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society, to be held in the room below the Athcnieum on Tuesday next, Mr Asher will read an essay on “ Otago.” The complimentary benefit tendered to Mr Charles Sykes, the pianist, takes place on Monday evening next, at the Masonic Hotel. A very attractive programme, which includes the names of some well-known amateurs, has been put forward, and, as a good number of tickets has already been sold, we may anticipate a full house.