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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2366, 1 November 1870, Page 2

The Suez Mail.—The Eangitoto, with the telegraphic news by way of Suez, arrived in the Hokitika roadstead this after* noon, and was to be tendered at five o’clock. Should our telegrams reach us at anything like a reasonable hour we shall issue a second edition.

Political. —We leam that Mr T. S. Pratt, Mayor of Waikouaiti, intends becoming a candidate for the seat vacant through the resignation of Mr Mitchell.

Princess Theatre. —“ The House on the Bridge ” was repeated last evening to a very fair house, and will be played for the last time to-night. On Wednesday evening, the favorite comedy of “ The Serious Family ” will be produced. The Fire at Lyttelton. The meeting convened by the Mayor for this afternoon to take steps to raise a fund for the sufferers by the fire at Lyttelton lapsed. Hardly a dozen persons put in an appearance at the appointed hour, and of those who were present not a few held the opinion that it was almost too late to take any ac ion in the matter. The High School boys have subscribed LlO towards the relief of the sufferers.

City Council.—At a special meeting of the Council yesterday, Mr Louis J. Weidner was elected to the office of Clerk to the Mayor’s Court. Mr Weidner was connected with the police force for many years. The Town Clerk’s salary was raised to L 350. The usual courtesy shown in informing the press of the Council’s meetings was n’t extended to ns on this occasion, or the result of the meeting would have been made known in our last evening’s issue.

The Fire.—The total loss by the fire yesterday is estimated at L 5200, of which.. L 4009 is covered by insurances, divided among the following companies New Zealand : Guthrie and Asher (owners of the store), L 40 0; Bates, Sise, and Co., flax, L 800; R. P. Hay, flour, L 235 ; total, L 1435. Pacific, LSOO ; Australian Alliance, LSOO ; London and Lancashire, LSOO ; Victoria, L 960. The greater portion of the policies of the four last-mentioned companies are held by Messrs M'Landress, Hepburn, and Co., and cover flax entrusted to their care. It was reported in town to-day that the man Homan had died during last night; but the report is without foundation —the unfortunate man being still alive, but in a precarious state. City Improvements. —At the last meeting of the City Council, a report from the City Surveyor giving estimates of the proposed street improvements was read. It is proposed to issue LIO,OOO worth of debentures, the proceeds to be altlocated to the different wards. A committee has been appointed to consider the question of ways and means, and until it reports the matter remains in abeyance. The Surveyor’s estimates have been liberally framed, and cover all contingencies, such as the formation of new channels, and trimming footpaths, which will be necessitated by the kerbing and channelling, and which cannot well be contracted for. The estimated cost of the works in the various wards is—South ward, L 2381 ; High ward, L 2328 ; Bell ward, L 2409 ; and Leith ward, L 2331. It is contemplated to spend a sum of L6OO in improving the Octagon ; the details of which we hope to be able to place before our readers when the committee have reported. The channelling and kerbing will cost L 5400 extra. A number of the councillors are of opinion that hardwood kerbing will answer City requirements for some time to come, and if their plan be adopted, a considerable saving under that head will be effected. Judge Ward. —Evidently Judge Ward is none too well liked at Hokitika. In some recent bankruptcy proceedings, two persons, Zobrab and Dick by name, and accountants hy profession, incurred his Honor’s extreme displeasure by having lent assistance to some unfortunates in passing through the Bankruptcy Court. These accountants were threatened with the pains and penalties consequent upon an infraction of the Law Practitioners’ Act, but succeeded in getting off with a warm lecture. The affair has formed the subject of several leaders in the local papers, which take a different view of it from his Honor, and do not forget to tell him so in unmeasured terms. Again, fault is found with some of the sentences passed by him, which arc said to be tempered w’ith anything but mercy. One of the Hokitika papers has a “Gos-ippcr,” who writes thus :—“ First of all, place for the judge—not this judge—oh, dear no ! but the one who was so neatly elbowed out of his seat to make room for the present athletic occupant of the bench. I must candidly say I don’t think we have gained so very much by the change. Judge Clarke was a gentleman whose justice was tempered with mercy. I don’t think you could say that his disposition was ferocious, or that he was in the habit of rending and tearing at insolvents. His bland address to the bar was not very markedly contrasted by gruff tones to a trembling bankrupt, cooped up within the imprisonment of the box beside him. I believe be knew quite as much of the law as any of the legal practitioners in the place, and he never rolled, up into his single person the offices of judge, magistrate, and Crown Prosecutor, and did not justify himself by citing the most idiotic Bankruptcy Act that was ever enacted in any Christian country to support his abnormal position. He bad faults. Who have not? If those faults were such as attached to his private life—were they peculiar to himself alone ? Can the new ruler of the Court lay his hand to his heart and say he has none ? can he say he is as pure as Joseph—and as unwilling,—pure as snow, white as damask, and untainted as arc the angels ? Where is the man who, if his life were “enquired into” and sat upon by a Government official searching for evidences of peccadillos, could stand the test unscathed ? Could the present occupant of the bench ? In my humble opinion he appears to be a gentleman very much prone to getting himself into Lot water with his equals, and that perhaps disposes him to have it out with hjs inferiors. Having crossed swords with the Chief Justice and the rest of the big wigs—and come off second best- -he flourishes his weapon with extra vigor where he cap lunge without fear of a return. Should he, however, meet with a foe who could battle with him, and he should get vanquished, I shall weep most bitterly. The eighth meeting of the Third New Zealand Building and Mutual Investment Society, for receipt of subscriptions, will be held this evening, at 7 o’clock. An adjourned meeting of shareholders of the Waterworks Company will be held in Murray’s Hall, Rattray street, at four o’clock to-morrow. Mr Fish will address the electors this evening at the Masonic Hall at 7.39,

and at the Mission house, Russell street, at 8.30. Mr Bathgate at the North Dunedin Drill shed at 7.30. We notice that Mr Birch will address the electors at M‘Gregor’s British Hotel, George street, this evening, at eight o’clock.