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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2308, 29 September 1870, Page 2

Otago University.—A sjtecial meeting of the Council of the University, for the purpose of considering the proposed appointment of a Council for the New Zealand University, and the election of professors, was held this afternoon, but up to the time of our going to press nothing definite had been done. Fjiie Brigade.— The anniversary (of the Fire Brigade will be celebrated tomorrow evening, when the usual torch light procession will take place. A ftcr which the members will partake of the annual supper, given by the corporation, at the engine station. Deputation.— Messrs Diiver, Brodrick, Mudie, Wright, and Ball waited on his Honor the Superintendent at 11 o'clock today, to enquire if it was the intention of the Provincial Government to send a vessel to Martin’s Bay, and to request that should such be their design that she might call at Preservation Inlet. Mr Driver pointed out the advisability of such an arrangement, as it would open up the country and in all probability open up a valuable coalfield. His Honor said ho would do all in his power to press the subject on the notice of the Executive so as to get the communication established. Provincial Council. —The Waihouaitf. Herald says “ It is understood that, at the approaching scs&iou of the C'ou#cil ?

the land question will he formerly brought forward by the Government. Resolutions in favor of the proclamation of certain Hundreds under the amon lcl Otago Hundreds Regulation Act will ho submitted to the Council. Though merely formal in themselves these resolutions will no doubt incite a spirited controversy. The country party, though hitherto defeated at every turn, and looking only to the coming elections with any hope of such an incream of strength as will enable it to reverse the disastrous policy of the last few years, will still show fight. It will he impossible for the Government to hurry the session to a close in a few days.

A Hoax with “a i’uiu-ose.”—The folhiwr-g is from the (hr)/ Kir nr An/"* of ,-iepfc. 17 : —To-day wo have an apology to make to our reader?. or rather to those to v.-hom our “extras,” containing tho_ latest and mod impoitaut news, me giatuiteuslv supplied. During the production of the San Francisco mail news yesterday,, our priu! cr’s devil, “ for a purpose,” as lie says, ins.-rted the last, three lines (whch are not to he found in to-day’s i-suc) regarding the Queen s marriage. Tins is the more to he rcgiettcd as it has evidently misled our contemporary, who has heen in the hahit of appropriating our telegrams without acknowledgment, and has induced him to expend upon the head of Queen \ ictoria a vast amount of virtuous indignation, which, if he had legitimately obtained his “ latest news,'’ he would have found to he quite unnecessary. It is to be hoped that by his timely interf rence the Queen will be prevented, as he says, from taking “ a step so humiliating to herself from the British nation,” and that “the foreign prince she is about to marry, who is much younger than herself, ami*who has neither the confidence nor the p irticuhir goodwill of those cf the English nation Who know him,” will not commence an action for damages against our contemporary for “ for bidding the banns.” Hokitika.-—The 'Supreme Court sat at Hokitika ou Monday. There are'thirtecn cases to he tried. These included a charge of libel against David Curie, publisher of the Ho** Guardian. One sentence in the alleged libel, directed at Conrad Hoos, Country Chairman, ran thus ;—“ Our only solution of the matter is that Mr Hops is a sleeping partner in the concern, and that he thus is content to sacrifice honor, integrity, and independence for private gain—to sell his heritage for a savory mess of pottage. Sic transit t/hrin nmndi.” A true hill was found by the Grand Jury, and the case went to trial. The defence was that defendant believed the statement to be bona-fide, and that his belief was formed on what he considered good foundation. Judge llichmond dilated on the n cessity of freedom on the press, and that free institutions would he unworkable without a severe and constant supervision of the press. The jury returned a verdict of acquittal, which meets with general approval* John Dogherty, for larceny, lias been sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, Joseph Smithisou, for forgery, to two years’ haidlobor, and John M’Gachic, for embezzlement, to one year. Three persons, Leopold Beit, Margaret Gilland, ami Barbara Weldon were charged with attempting suicide. The notorious Barbara was acquitted, and appears to have celebrated her escapi from durance vile, by getting beastly drunk. A few days afterwards she was brought before the Resident Magistrate, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment as a hab.tual drunkard.

Mr and Mrs White’s concert comes off to-night. Wc have before spoken of the excellence of the entertainment, and hope it will be well attended.