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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2369, 4 November 1870, Page 2

The District Courtship.—There is at present considerable agitation between tlic rival towns of Ciyde and Cromwell as to the future site of a courthouse and gaol in connexion with the criminal sittings of the

istrict Cniirt, shortly to be established on the northern goldfields, each township claiming to be the most important centre of the district. A large number of signatures are being obtained to both petitions set on foot. Dunedin Rowing Club. —At a meeting of the members of this Club, held at the Metropolitan Hotel, last evening, several new members were proposed ; and Mr G. Green was elected Captain; and Mr J. 0. Fulton, Secretary; Mr Hills being added to the committee. The committee were authorised to purchase boats, and it was agreed that three races should be held on the JOth inst. (St. Andrew’s Day), viz.: a four oar, a pair oar, and a scullers’ race, for members of the Club only.

Princess Theatre.—Last evening the “ Serious Family ” and “ Playing with Fire ” were repeated. There was not, we regret to say, ,so large a house as the merit of the performance deserved. Both pieces were well received, and the actors warmly applauded. We anticipate a crowded house to-night, as the performance is a special one and under the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent. The splendid comedy of “Grist to the Mill” will be presented—Miss Carry George personating Fraucine. The comedy will bo followed by “An Ugly Customerafter which Miss Marion Willis will dance the Highland Fling; the whole performance concluding with the laughable farce of “My Uncle’s intended.” Railway to Tuapeka.—We understand that the Government have completed the reconnoisance survey of the proposed railway from Tokomairiro. At the last meeting of the Railway Committee, on Friday last, Mr Bastings stated that the Provincial Government had asked the General Government to give their assent to altering the Provincial guarantee for the construction of the Ciutha line, in terms of Captain Audlcy Coote’s proposal,' and if such alteration is made and assented to by the Governor, the necessary < irdinance will be passed at the ensuing special session of the Provincial C. u icil. Ain mortal to the Govern-i-.pir praviix' them to construct the railway lo 'i'u ;?.v, eft.-, iii conjunction with the Clu'.ha 'line, i-i being nunuyoyisiv signed in Ihe

, Accidents. - Tiir Taaj/cl-n Turn* this week furnishes ignite a chapter of_ accidents. Our contemporary save : —“ On Thursday morning last a miner named •George Robertson, in the employment of Messrs Hales and Hinde, Blue Spur, was crushed to death by a fall of a large block of cement. It appears that Robertson was at work close by the side of a large block of cement, which, by some unaccountable means, split in two, one half of it covering the unfortunate man, who was instantly killed. Deceased was a native of Durham, and was thirty-seven years of age. He leaves a widow and three children.—Wo regret to learn that Mr Roberts, runholder at Tapanui, met with an accident by which one of his arms got broken Dr M'Lauchlan was soon in attendance, and we understand Mr Roberts is progressing favorably.--A few days ago Mr Arthur Henderson, on his return from the Tuapeka Mouth, was thrown from his horse, which shied in turning round the corner of Whitehaven street and Ross Place, Lawrence. Beyond a severe bruise Mr Henderson escaped any serious injury.” The Hundreds Regulation Act.— The following memorial, numerously signed by settlers, business people, and miners, has been forwarded to the Government by the Mount Beuger residents : —“To his Honor J. Macaudrew, Esq., Superintendent, and the members of the Executive of Otago.— The memorial of the undersigned residents of Mount Benger humbly showeth that your memorialists view with alarm the privilege given to runholdcrs on the gol lfields of this Province by the Amended Hundred Regulation Act, whereby they are empowered to select land on any part of their run to the extent of 640 acres, and that the exercise of that power by the runholdcrs in this district, owing to the limited extent of agricultural land in certain parts of their runs, will completely close them against settlement. That, taking into consideration the irreparable injury which would be indicted should the above-mentioned Act be brought into operation, your memorialists believe it to be the duty of the Government, in the interests of the present and future welfare of the inhabitants of this district, to take such steps as shall ensure to them their just right. Your memorialists, therefore, humbly pray that the above-mentioned Act bp not brought into operation until the assembling of the new Council; and that in the mean time immediate steps be taken for throwing open blocks of land for agricultural settlement in localities already indicated by the residents, and your memorialists will he ever grateful. Cricket, — At a meeting of the Match Committee of the Dunedin Cricket Club, held on Tuesday last, the following matches were (Ixcd to be played this season; —Eleven v. next 18 ; Long v. Short; Cricketers v. Volunteers ; Eleven Broomhandles v. Eleven with Bats ; Married v. Single; Elcyen v.’ Colts, with ‘ Headley ; A to H V. I to Z ; Nopth Dupedin v. South ; Bankers v. Club ; English v. Scotch and Irish ; Legal Profession y. Club ; the chosen Canterbury Eleven v. Twenty-two. Next Saturday a match will be played between the Second Eleven of the D.C.O. and an eleven of the Albion C.C., on the ground of the former Club, commencing at 1.80 sharp. The following aro the names of tho players : D.C.O,—Murison, W. D.; Smi hj, D.; Smith, A. J.; Holmes, Brown, Bedborough, Muir, S. N.; Morrison, White, Creagh, Dawbarn, Jones (12th man). A.C.C.—Cohen, Allen, .Shepherd, Little, Sherwin; Payton, J.; Payton, T.; Wells; Hutchinson, W.; ntebinson, T.; M‘Gregor, Millar, Thomson.—On tho Citiz ns’ ground to-moprow, a match will be played between sides chosen by the Vice-President and Treasurer. 'The following arc the names of tho players : —VicePresident’s side. Woodihcld, Clarke, Glen, •Morrison, Whetham, West, G.; Thompson, Eagan, Josling; Geddes, G. W.; Gardiner, Manning, and Russell. Treasurer’,s side.— Watson, Wills, Fish, Coxhead, Aris, Cole, Pledger, .".wire, Harris, Larking, Marsden, Ypuiigimui, and Deudney, The Premier on Temperance.—MiFox has absolutely found something 1 new |to

say on the subject of teetotalism. He recently addressed the Marton Total Abstinence Society, and instead of repealing the lecture which he has already given in Wellington, Dunedin, Thames, Auckland, Chirstchurch, &c., he amused the Marton people by telling them of the triumphs he ha 1 achieved with that lecture, and how it had everywhere attracted “full attendance, and sometimes crowded houses.” As the Evening Herald informs us that the hon. gentleman’s remarks were listened to with great respect and evident interest, and that his audience seemed impressed with the great importance of the subject on which he spoke, we suppose that not a few individuals must have regretted that ho did not give the lecture itself, instead of talking about it. Mr Fox declared that the Permissive Bill must be an election cry, and settled on the hustings. He expressed his perfect confidence that in a few years it would be law. There seems, however, to have bean one small boy present who was not impressed with respect for Mr Fox, as he brought the affair to a conclusion by asking “ If the paper iu Mr Lyon’s store, signed ‘James G. Woon, Collector of Customs,’ was the permissive hill, which there had been so much talk about during the evening ?” Mr Fox found at Marton a worthy supporter in a Welsh parson, named Powell, who, to judge from his spe cb, must be of kin to Shakespeare’s Sir Hugh EYans. This worthy gentleman unhesitatingly declared that “beer was a worse evil than spirits, as it was more commonly used, and that every man who drank beer drank whisky. ”

Mr. Mervyn, M.H.R., and his Constituents. A correspondent of the Tuapeka Times gives a very amusing account of the hon. gentleman’s appearance before his constituents a week ago. There was a difficulty in obtaining a chairman, but that difficulty removed, Mr Mervyn commenced and for two mortal hours preached the gospel sccording to “I say 1.” Ho consumed bucketfuls of water during the process, and succeeded in driving away onc-half of his audience and sending the other half to sleep. After carefully boiling down bis address, I arrive at the following result, premising that I.have retained all the ideas: • <l_ ye3 I, myself—faithful, vigilant, energetic— 1, gentlemen —I- 1—I —I—l I—boon to the district—people’s cause— T, gentlemen—l—abuse of hireling journalists—l —I—I—I I —1—I—I—1—I—I—I.” In fact, the performance was I —dyllic. When the torrent of words ran itself out, and the meeting had yawned, stretched itself, and re overed from the evil effects of the infliction. Wo brilliant members of our Teetotal "'ociety, proposed and seconded a vote romiden.-n in Mr Mervyn, A pause f>>l-l.i-.v.-d, pe..->i/o took a long breath at so preposterous a proposal. while Mr Mervyn benignmtly smirked approval. At last Mr Beiiditon rose up, and in a masterly address reviewed the conduct of Mr Mervyn in the House. He had a good brief, and although he tempered justice with mercy, he literally demolished the unfortunate M. H.R. He wound up by proposing a vote .of thanks to the chairman, which was carried by acclamation, the vote of confidence b -ing contemptuously ignored.. Thus ended what I shrewdly surmise will be Mr Mervyn’s last appearance in public in this district. He retires in‘o private life after doing as much injury to his constituents as was _ in the power of a creature devoid of brains. I believe he keenly felt the contemptuous manner in which he was treated, and I know ho had not sufficient dignity to conceal his feelings. He amused himself after the meeting by indulging in a public place in all manner of invective against the “rude barbarians” who refused to appreciate his great qualities.

An Inquest. —An inquiry touching the death of Thomas Homan, was held at the Hospital to-day, at noon, before Mr T. M. Hocken, City Coroner. The first witness examined was Mr George Howell, householder, who stated that he had known the deceased for about twelve months; he was 30 years of age, unmarried, and a carpenter by occupation. He last saw him alive about half-pad; ten o’clock on Monday evening, when his mother wanted him to sell some timber belonging to him to witness. He told his mother to leave it be for a few days, when it would be all right, and when she asked him what be meant, he got very excited, and refused to hold any further conversation. From his conduct, witness thought at the time he intended to do something to himself, but did not think it necessary to draw the attention of the police to him, because he was frequently in the state he then was. He was quite delirious, and had often been in that state, consequent upon taking drink, during the last three weeks. He was very much depressed in spirits through not having been able to obtain work, and took to drink. Deceased’s mother came home on Saturday, when he knocked off drinking. Witness came to the conclusion that he ought to be watched, but did not think it necessary for him to communicate with the police. He went to the fire at Jago’s store on Monday, and when ho heard of a man having jumped into the flames, although he was told he was name! Lewis, it struck him that it was the deceased. A Mr Rountree, a neighbor of the deceased, deposed to having seen him at nine o’clock on Monday morning ; he was then suffering from dderkm tremens. Mr H. W. Murray said he was at the fire, and saw deceased walk deliberately into the flames, turn himself round and fall upon his back, and at the same time endeavor to push himself further into the fire, Mr Mills and himself endeavored to get him out, but did not succeed, through the flames being so strong. He could not have fallen in accidentally. Mr J. R. Mills corroborated the last witness’s evidence, and stated that while he went away to endeavor to have the deceased taken iqto thp Gapl because of tl|o crowd, a man named M‘Kay and Mr Stewart, fine of Fire Brigade, so soon as the water was directed to the spot, got bold of him by the logs and brought him out. Witness did not Kce the deceased struggling in the flames, as stated by the newspapers. Had known the deceased for 15 years, and the same evening visited him at Hospital. He seemed to he rational for a few moments, and told witness that he had had an offer of work from Mr Pritchard, blacksmith ; that he did not known why he went into the fire, but he had been running qp apd down his own yard until he had got out of breath, when the firebell rang • he went down to see what was going on, and walked into the fire. Dr Yates, resident surgeon at the Hospital, slated that the deceased was admitted on Monday ; ho was suffering from severe hums. He was then sensible. Wi.nesa asked him how he got into the fire, and he replied that he went in intentionally. Witness also asked him if be had been drinking,

and he stated he had not for the last week, but had been drinking before that. He was sensible for a couple of days ; then became delirous, and died yesterday about one o’clock. Tiie injuries received were of such a cha acter that recovery was hopeless. He thought the delirium resulted from the injuries received at the fire. —One of the jurymen demurred to the general view that the deceased was suffering from temporaryinsanity at the time he walked into the fire. He said it seemed to him that it was a case of most deliberate suicide, arising from the bad drink supplied here, causes which he wished to attack. On the Coroner explaining that a verdict of fdo de se implied that the deceased was in full mental vigor and health at the time he destroyed himself, which was not the case here, the juryman withdrew his opposition. The Coroner remarked that he agreed that every case of suicide should not be slurred over with a verdict of temporary insanity ; but in this instance it was self-evident that it wai insanity. Of the many cases he had investigated, and they numbered hundreds, fully 90 per cent, were connected in some way with drink ; but with that question they had now nothing to do. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from severe injuries and burns caused by himself whilst in a state of temporary nsauity.