Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2306, 27 September 1870, Page 2

The Volunteers. The simultaneous match between the Dunedin Artillery and the Hon. Artillery Company, London, will be fired on Saturday. The local team will fire at the Kaikorai butts. Literature, —We have to thank Messrs Whittingham Brothers for a copy of a paper read by Mr David Randall at a public meeting in Adelaide, on “ Intercolonial Free Trade.” Mr Randall has paid much attention to the subject, has made great efforts to secure it, and is a most able advocate of it. Supreme Court. —The special jury case, Regina v. White, will be tried tomorrow, It is an action under a writ of wire facias, and is brought to test the legality of a claim set up by the defendant to block up a road in the Tomahawk district, which was erroneously included in his Crown grant. The scandal case, Johnston v. M'Millan, is postponed until October 4, and the case of Anderson and another v. liurlfe and another is, we believe, postponed until $ e Uth proximo.

The Evergreen.—Tins extraordinary piece of workmanship deservedly attracts a good deal of attention. Few persons would believe that a picture 3 feet 11 inches hjr 2 feet 10 inches embodies the work of many years. But it is so. Nineteen different sorts of wood were necessary to produce the verities of color and shade, and 4,000 pieces of various sizes and shapes had to be cut and fitted and polished until they formed an artistic whole. Difficult as is painting in colors, few would have the patience to form a picture in wood, Southland’s Liabilities.-—We are happy to be able to refer our Daily Contemporary to Jfaumrd, in order to satisfy him of the necdlessuess of his panic in respect to “ the neglect of the Legislature to provide for the current liabilities of Southland.” If he will refer to Hannard, page OSS, line 27. he will liud that Lso,ooft for Southland’s debts formed part of the temporary lean of L 500.000, The Provincial Council of Southland will be summoned for the 20th of next month, to ballot for seven members, in addition to thp Superintendent, to represent Southland in the Provincial Council of Otago. As regards Southland’s liabilities, Colonial Assistant-Treasurer, Mr Woodward, accompanied by Mr Sperry of the Provincial Treasury department, nominated by bis Honor the Superintendent, ai;e ,pu their way to investigate the liabilities of Southland, in conjunction with a co-adjutcr,

Mr Calder, nominiated by the Superintendent of Southland. These gentlemen arc appointed to draw up a report in view of the meeting of the Provincial Council of Otago, which is to take place on the 15th November.

This Railway to Cobden and Wksitort. —A Nelson paper says : —Below we copy a letter which was received by the San Francisco mail, from Mr John Morrison, the agent of the province in London : —“ London, 19th July. Sir, —T have the honor to inform you that the terms and conditions of the contract for the construction of the Railway from Nelson to Westport and Cobden have been at length adjusted, having, through the assistance of the hon. Mr Bell overcome the legal difficulties that existed. The contract should, by this time, .have been in my possession ; but it has not reached ; unfortunately the critical state of European affairs has interfered with its execution, but I trust to bo enabled by an early opportunity to forward the document in question. Until then, I abstain from entering into details, but I shall explain fully the various modifications I have sanctioned when I transmit the contract, which 1 hope will receive your appsoval. —I have, &c., Jon Morrison.”

The New Bankruptcy Act.—As some curiosity has been expressed as to the provisions of the new Bankruptcy Act Amendment Bill, we may state that they are of a purely formal character, merely providing for the transfer of insolvent estates from one trustee to another. As the hill passed through the Council, it was a very elaborate measure, .altering the whole system, and providing, amongst other things, that no certificate of discharge should be granted under ordinary circumstances unless the estate piid ten sinkings in the pound. In the House, Mr Haugliton characterised the hill es one purely for the protection of creditors and remarked that as the late bankruptcy returns kd to the conclusion that there wore very few people in the Colony who had not passed through the Court, it would be unfair to deprive them of a fair chance. Apparently the House agreed with Air Haughton, for it struck out all the clauses except four, intended to meet a difficulty which had ari-’en in Auckland, where, on the official trustee being removed from office it was found that the estates vested in him could not bo transferred to the management of his successor, and so some seventy or eighty insolvents were left without any management at all. The new act simply remedies this. Railway Construction. The Lyttelton Tiniest observes that the information brought hy the last mail adds force to the value of the decision of Parliament on the Railway Gnage Bill. In the New York Ti'lhunf of the 17th July, appears a short account of the journey of an “adjustable gauge car ” from Jersey city to San Francisco, which merits, and will no doubt receive, the marked attention of the Government of this Colony. For there seems no god reason to think that the invention will not be carried to a successful issue. The power and extent of American invention has become so well understood of late years that few will be surprised to learn that an American engineer lias successfully overcome difficulties which have baffled Englishmen for the last quarter of a century. When Mr Vogel introduced his public works scheme to the Assembly he intimated, if we remember rightly, that special enquiries would bo made with regard to the construction and working of American railways, with the. view to the adoption of any discoveries that might be deemed advantageous for the Colony. The invention here Minded to by the Tritnuir affords another good reason xvh» the first intentions of the Government should be carried out.

Suicide. — A.n inquest was field at the Bridge Hotel, West Taieri, before James Fulton, Esq., R. M., Coroner for the district, upon the body of a man which was found in the Traquair stream, on Saturday afternoon. The body was identified by Mr James Murison as that of Joseph Mills, who had been for some time in -his employ at Pukctoi station, and offer wards in the employ of Mr Watson Shennan at the same place. He had left about three weeks before. It seems lie had come Jo West Taieri qu Saturday forenoon, iyliopc be mot Mr Murison, and asked him for work. He was told there was none at present, but that hg would have a chance in a week or so. After that bo seems to have wandered about the banks of the stream, and spoke to some .men who .were working about. He said to one, alluding to bis chance of a job, “ Cod knows where I’ll be gext week.” He was last seen alive about 1 o’clock. The body was found about 5 o’clock p.m. it was in an upright position, the toes almost touching the ground, and the forehead and hair out of the xyster. Ho was well andjrespcctahly dressed ; a scarlpt shawl scarf, which he had round his neck, was quite new, and had the draper's ticket still on it, but he had no money about him. To every ono who spoke to him, he seemed quite sensible. The verdict of the jury was Eeh) dc .sc. There was no evidence brought before the jury to show that he lift I been drinking, but there is every reason to believe that he had been drinking heavily in town, as several people recognised him, and stated afterwards they had seen him very drunk in Dunedin,

Dr Featherston. From private letters received by the present mail (says the H'qnriapui Chronicle) we learn that Dr. Death era top, wl;o was travelling on the Continent at the time when war was declared between France and Prussia, at opce started for Metis, with the object of joining the staff of the Prussian army, and witnessing the great battles which were expected to take place. Dr. Fcathcrston, whose pluck, gallantry, .and martial spirit, arc so well known, was eagerly desirous of enlarging his sphere of experience in the held. He had seen tiresome bush marches, and stiff skirmishes, along with General Chute in New Zealand, and he was naturally anxious to find out what Avar on a large scale was like, when conducted in Europe, between two of the greatest pgwcjs gnd largest armies in the world. Unfortunately' fgc his intentions. Dr Fcathcrston came temporarily' to grief, before he reached his intended destination. He was stopped by the authorities at Bnjssells, and detained until he could communicate by telegraph with his secretary, Mr Knowles, in London, instructing him to procure the necessary passports and credentials, which would afford him the chance of being allowed to go on further. At the last advices, ho had not yet been able to proceed, and as both parties to this great struggle rigidly exclude .“special correspondents ” and “ amateur spectators’* /pom the army lines, it is doubtful whether the Due try would manage to witness the |rcst of the lighting. His friends, indeed, will not altogether pegret this, because whew distinguished

military officers talk of shooting special correspondents, our esteemed friend, Dr Fcatherston might perch ahancc be mistaken for one, and incur that fate. Somehow or other, however, we think ho will manage yet “to see the show.” He is the very impersonation of pluck, and always contrives to accomplish what he makes up his mind to do ; so it is possible he will accomplish this.

Port Chalmers Town Council.— A regular meeting of the * ouncil was held last evening, when there were present —His Worship the Mayor, Councillors AUKinuon, Inncs, Miller, Law, Clark, Gordon, and AUCallnm. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Crickmore wrote calling attention that the town pumps required to ho repaired. On the motion of Mr Clark, the work was ordered to he done forthwith. A report from the public works committee, with regard to Magnetic street, was read. Air limes observed that he had seen a resident in that street who was willing to allow a drain through his sccliou, and the woik could be done for LIO or Ll2. Mr Miller objected to any money being spent on footpaths until the street was formed. At any rate, if the work was to exceed 1.5, it should be let by tender. Air AUKinuon objected to the view' taken by the last speaker. A her some further discussion, the work was ordered to be done by the dayman and assistant. A letter from the surveyor, enclosing a plan of Ajax road, was left over; and the letter from the surveyor complaining of the way the contractors for Constitution street were carrying on their work, was read. Mr AUKinuon proposed that it bu left to the surveyor and the public works committee, to settle any dispute. Mr limes explained that, as chairman of the committee, he had overlooked the work in the absence of the surveyor. Mr Alillcr considered one master enough, and thought the public works committee had no right to interfere. The Mayor said it was the duty of the committee to sec justice done. Air Law' wished to know what Mr Miller complained of, and Air Clark believed money matters was at the bottom of it. The contractors wished to draw money, and the surveyor objected. Ult inatcly the matter was referred to the public works committee to decide. Air Clark mentioned that he had an offer from the Dunedin Water Company to supply the town wkh water, but the matter was left over until next meeting. Several accounts were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned until the 10th October.

Embezzlement and Elopement.— The following little item will serve to tlirow much light on the case of Harris, Clerk of the Bulla Shire Council, whose arrest at the Thames was notified i.i our telegrams last night;—“ Considerable excitement has recently been created in the usually quiet village of Bulla by the abrupt disappearance of Mr Harris, secretary to the shire council, taking with him not only LGdO of the council’s money, but also the wife of another well-known gentleman in the neighborhood. It is said that Mr Harris and the gentleman alluded to (whom we call Mr C.) were great friends, the latter having no idea that his wife and friend wore move to eaeli other than they should be ; and according the trio made a pleasant journey to town together about three weeks since, both parties having some bushier to transact—that of Mr Harris -being in connection with a large sum of money belonging to the council. Arriving in Melbourne, they put up at a well-known lintel in Swanston street, and dined comfortably together. After dinner, the lady feeling tired, retired to her bedroom, while the two gentlemen sallied forth for a stroll through the town, which ended in their paying a visit to the opera At the conclusion of the ,cv niug they returned to their quarters, and having had sapper together, iyith a glass of grog as a nightcap, they retired to their respective chambers, which wrc in close proximity to each other. Upwards morning the whole house was alarmed by a terrific noise in the bedroom allotted to Mr and Mrs C. Thought of burglars was the first impression upon everybody’s mind, but as the disturbance continued, the landlord hurriedly proceeded to the spot, only to find that the noise was caused by a mrlte between the quondam friends ; while the lady stood, like Adobe, bathed in tears, gazing at the /mens in which her lord and husband was possibly getting the worst of it. Upon enquiry being made into the cause of the disturbance, the ■husband declared that, having suddenly awakened, he discovered that an addition had ■been made to the occupants of his bed in the shape of Mr Harris, who was embracing Mrs C. most lovingly, and she, nothing loth, was returning ins kisses with interest. Of cmrse his first impulse was to kick the pair of bed ; this idea was promptly acted upon, and without $ moments warning they were both rolling bn the floor. Thep followed the disturbance which had aroused tko household. The landlord, highly scandalised at the occurrence having happened in his house, at once turned the happy pair into the street, and from that time the guilty pair have not been seen ; while the unhappy husband was compelled to return home, and attempt to heal Ids injured head and honor. As a steamer sailed for New Zealand the same day, it is believed the gay Lothario and his companion were passengers by her.”