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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2293, 12 September 1870, Page 2

Judicial.— I Tire judges of the Supreme Court have agreed on and settled new rules under the Bankruptcy Acts, to commence operation on the Ist of October. This branch of the law lias, as everyone knows, long required some guidance. These rules provide for payment of Court fees of larger amount than hitherto required—such as L2 on filing a declaration of insolvency, and also for the filing of a complete system of accounts, showing how the bankrupt has dealt with ids estate for six months at least prior to the filing of his declaration. A fee of L 4 is also to be paid into Court on filing a deed of arrangement.

I>k Oahu.—This gentleman having returned from a successful tour in the Province, has announced his intention to give four f re well seances at the Princes Theatre, commencing to-morrow (Tuesday) evening, 'i he advertisement announces startling novelty and astounding phenomena, and that the Doctor will disclose the mystery of his art, and give practical initiative lessons on the modus optrandi of mesmerism.

'"''The Pout Chalmers Railway.— We understand that the workmen employed on the railway works struck this morning for a higher rate of wages. The men demanded 8s per day, which the contractor refused to give ; but expressed his willingness to meet them half-way, by giving 7s. This proposition, we arc informed, was f ■.curably received by a large number of the men ; but the dissatisfied ones ultimately persuaded the others <o go over to their side, the result being that the whole of the men refused to goto work under 8s. —.Niue additional sections of work on the Port Chalmers Railway have been let to day. Sections 4 and 6, to Dilhm and Co ; 6 and 7, to Penman and M'Carthy ; 8, to R. Johnson ; 9 to 10, to Anderson and Co; 11, to Mellican ; 14, to M'Coll. These, when completed, will carry the work nearly as far as Burke’s breweiy. Our Legislative Councillors.— We suppose it is beneath the dignity of the Legislative Council to acquaint themselves with facts. At any rate a little extra effect is sometimes given to oratory by not being too accurate. The Otago Hundreds Regulation Bill was an opportunity too tempting to he lost ; so we find Dr Buchanan indulging in a (light or two of fancy, nicely colored, and just a little bit stretched, lie said, “The Act stayed the hands of a party bent on spoliation, and hence their outcry of disappointment and their determined opposition to it. A few months ago a special meeting of the Provincial Council was held with the view to consider the Hundeods Regulation Act, ami during that session the gentleman to whom he had r. ferred as having harangued his constituents, made a speech which occupied twenty-three columns of small type in the Provincial Hansard of Otago, lie had the book before him. It was a valuable work, because it cost more than L 2,000 1 ” The value of the joke may be estimated when we iiffonn our readers that its cost . was about L2GO.

Cromwell Reefs. —The necessity for continuous crushing is gradually forcing itself on the Bendigo minds. The Cromwell Company’s ten stampers arc busily employed on first-class stone, and nearly all the available horse flesh in the district is engaged carting, to supply the hungry maw of this mill. The Aurora Comnany again started crushing on Monday, and .'-hares arc looking up in consequence. This company arc in a position to work at less cost than any other claim on the reefs. The Colclough Company’s battery is to be erected in two months from date. They are busy raising stone, seemingly determined that the stampers shall have work to do when put up. The Alta Company are also accumulating a great quantity of of quartz for their expected machinery. M‘Loughlin’s new reef still looks -well. Their shaft is down over thirty feet. The stone continues good so far.

Fancy Dress Ball. —Our correspondent referred to the return ball to the Mayor of Melbourne in terms sufficient to indicate the magnitude of the affair, but lie gave ns no idea of the extraordinary character of the dresses worn. The usual range of historical and dramatic character was well represented ; there was a collection of the Seasons that would bewilder the poet Thomson ; the only weather character seemed to be of the snow storm pattern. There wore lots of Rosy Moms and Dewy Eves, and quite a rush of ladies anxious to “walk iu beauty like the Night.” There was a fair sprinkling of outre and ingenious make-ups, a few of which we select; -A gentleman of the Coming Time ; an animated phrenological cask The Fiji Devil is found a’ongside an Italian monk. Among the costumes was that of the New Zealand Armed Constabulary, worn by Mr Pi t. Several sustained the character of sweeps iu the prop r garb, and uttering the cry. The most hideous dress is described as that of a gentleman, who wore something between a coal scuttle and a drain pipe over hi* head; while one of the mod extraordinary was that of the “Cosmopolitan Postman,” who dressed in an old-fashioned pos‘.man’s costume was covered from head to foot with about LIOO worth of postage stamps of every color and country, and to make the character still more perfect, he delivered numerous and humorous letters.

Retirement of Sir David Munro. —The following is a verbatim report of the remarks made by Mr Speaker in the House of representatives, on the 29th ult., announcing his intention to retire at the cud of the present session : —Before proceeding to the business of the day, I desire to ask the attention of the House for a very few minutes. I think it is only consistent, gentlemen, with the respect I owe to this ! ouse, that 1 should inform you that it is not my intention to seek to occupy the chair after this session. Various considerations, which it is not necessary for me to cxolain, have urged me to this conc’usion. One alone is sufficient: I doubt my ability to undertake the duties of the chair for live years more. It has been my fortune, gentlemen, to occupy the position of .Speaker to this House for ten sessions—a long period in a young country, where events succeed one another with a rapidity unknown to older communities. These ten years, upon which we now look back, have witnessed events of the greatest importance in the history of New Zealand ; and the action of this House has to a corresponding extent been of a responsible and important character. VI trust I may be allowed to say that the attitude of tho Legislature during the ten years to which I refer, has been one of great earnestness and devotion to public duty; and that, whether engaged in the work of building up the political fabric of a rapidly expanding c-mmu-nity ; whether engaged in the duty of devising measures to protect fire community against danger which almost threatened its existence ; or again, in reconciling the co.iHicting interests of two very dissimilar races the proceedings or this House have throughout been characterised by a large amount of singleness of purpose, by statesmanlike ability, and above all by a most remarkable and honorable forbearance and generosity towards the weaker race. In carrying out this work it has been my duty to preside over your deliberations, and to interpret and apply those rules which you have laid down for the conduct of your business, I have felt, gentlemen, that as your representative 1 occupied a position of much honor and responsibility, and it has been my 1

anxious endeavor to raaiutaulaud extend the high character of your proceedings, to secure for the Legislature its legitimate position and privileges, and jealously to guard the honor and reputation of the House. I am about to retire shortly from the position that I have so long occupied, and I assure you, gentlemen, that I cannot make the announcement without considerable emotion. _ There remains now for me in connection with this matter one duty still to perform, and that is to thank you most 'sincerely for the indulgence and support that you have uniformly extended to me. That I have often stood in need of it, it is impossible for me to doubt but it has rendered comparatively easy the performance of a duty in itself of an onerous, responsible, and delicate character. I assure you, gentlemen, that I shall always retain a most grateful recollection of your kindness, and that I shall look back upon my connection with this House as the most honorable passage of my life. ( f

A meeting of the Otago Institute will he held in the Provincial Council Library to-morrow (Tuesday.) evening, at 7.80, when the following papers will be read : by Mr G. M. Barr—“On the mechanics and mechanical economy of railwaysby Mr R. Wilding “O.i central forces, especially as regards force varying directly as the distance.”