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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2373, 9 November 1870, Page 2

Mayor’s Court.—His Worship the Mayor took his seat on the Bench at 10 o’clock this morning. Francis Greiner, lor bein'drunk, was lined 10s, and Alexander Thomson, for a similar offence, 20s, or three clays’ imprisonment. Smart Work.—A Canterbury .settler. who went to England by the June San Frencisco mail steamer, returned ( T1 the 7tn instant, by the Rangitoto, havfflyeomo out via Suez. He had full five necks in Lugland. Deaths rv Drowning.—From the statistics issued by Hie Registrar General, wc learn that the numbers of persons drowned during the last thro-' years in ‘ho ‘ olony wo'c as follow, viz 1867, 12-1; 1868, L>4; 1869, 136 ; or a total of 414. Princess Theatre. — The drama of “The Ticket-of-Leave Man” was repeated hast evening to a fair house. Ably represented as it was. tire piece gave general satis* faction. A special programme lias been provided ior to-night’s entertainment. The favorite drama "of the “Chimney Corner” will be presented for the first time, and the entertainment will be concluded with “ Gwynnoth Vaughan.” Paul.—A ball muler the auspices of the Bakers’ .Society took place at Murray’s Rooms last evening, and was a very successful affair. Dancing was kept up until an early hour this morning to the strains of Lack’s band. The supper was supplied by Air Murray in ids best style. It may be mentioned that the society was formed in August last for the promatiou of the eight hour system, has a largo number of members, and financially is in a good position. Property of Married W omen.— The property of married women may now be protected from the husband by an order from the Resident Magistrate when the wife is subjected to cruelty; when Hie husband shall be guilty of open adultery, or is an habitual drunka d, ■ r fails to provide for his wife’s :t did ;run’s marntmance (otherwise th n by siuk ess or nils' oidablc causes). The Ad. ds . pv'vi.h <5 in the wifehavhur'he Giil" -]: f hj r n be hoys rill U u a of ;:■ ■ r ■' C;e d - the age of Diki./Ma.ia. The Tiinarn and Gladstone Gazette of the 4th instant says It is perhaps imt gene: ally known that under tho Lunatics’ Act the judges have power, on complaint being made to tin m, in due form ; that a person is injuring his or her health by excessive drinking, to commit such person to the Lunatic Asylum, should they deem fit to do so. We have not heard whether this clause of the Act has been acted upon in any of the other Provinces, but certainly it has not been so here previous to yesterday, when the first case in Canterbury under the Act came before His Honor Mr Justice Gresson, and the subject of the application, a female, was committed to tho Lunatic Asylum. An Opinion on the War. — There is noticeable a gradual revulsion of feeling setting in against the Prussians, owing to their arbitrary demands, and expressions of sympathy with the French arc finding stronger utterance daily. The Sydney Mornhuj Herald, . in commenting on the last nows, says:—“We Impe that Prussia may make such terms ns me hating Europe may deem just, and, if not, that she may recross the Rhine poorer and wiser. Indeed, Eng'and cannot bo altogether indifferent. France has been a powerful ally in our Eastern affairs She is naturally in opposition to the policy of Russia ; and if she were disabled, England might find herself hi a war, the issue of which no one would venture to foretell.

Jol’RNALlsth'. The Canterbury Press lias doubled its size and price, and came out in its new form on the Ist. The Lyttelton Time*, without altering its sheet, has reduced its price a penny, being now the same price as its contemporary. The reasons given for the diametrically opposite arrangements of the two pipers become curious by the discordant issues to which they lead. The Times writes thus in its prefatory article : Our contemporary, the Press, announced to the public the other d iv that in consequence of evident signs of renewed prosperity in the province, it had determined to raise the price of its paper to twopence. furiously enough, the very same reason induced us. about the very same time to arrive at exactly the opposite conclusion and reduce the price of the Lyttelton Times to twopence. How the same cause could have produced an effect so diametrically opposite in this instance, we leave to logicians to determine.

The Mail News. A Hokitika morning contemporary Ims the following respecting an attempt made by Messrs Grcville and Bird’s agents to supply the war news from the Raugituto to their constituents before the Waipara could return to port-The New Zealand Telegraphic Association has its agent here, and so have Grcville and Bird.

On this occasion “Bird” was particularly represented, Grevillc’s agent had procured two carrier pigeons, and experimented with them in the transmission of the news from the ship to the shore. To two birds slips of paper containing the principal items of news were a tached, and they started from the steamer Waipara under apparently most “auspicious circumstances.” Th-y dew directly for the shore, and before the Waipara had approached the bar, had returned to their cot. Being slow to enter the trap which was set for them, they were shot at, but the wrong bird was hit, and it was some little time after the Waip.ra had arrived in port that the news, thus transmit!cd in duplicate, was received. The experiment, however, was suliicicntly satisfactory to know what can bo done by carrier pigeons under tbo uncertainties of an open roadstead like that of Hokitika.

Cromwell It ekks. —Several waggon loads of machinery have during the week passed through Civile on their way to the reefs. A portion was for the Alta Company's claim, Bendigo, some for Colelough’s ( 'unipauy’s claim, Bendigo, and some for the Loyal Standard Beef, Garrick Ranges. Tenders have been accepted lor the erection of each of the different batteries, and as the preliminaries in each instance arc being pushed ahead, the contract time, wc ima-

gine, will be sufficient to have everything in readiness for the work of disintegration, both the Alta and Cololough’s Companies have a large quantity of stone on grass looking very well, and should the yield bo up to the expectations of the least sanguine of the shareholders, a season of prosperity and acuvity is drawing near. The batteries arc of reu stampers each. The Royal Standard !oef, alluded to before, is situate at the head of Smith’s Gully, Bannockburn district. The reef, which is we'd delin d, has been raced at a uniform thickness on the surface nearly the whole length of the claim, and to i depth of nearlj one hundred feet, with unmistakable signs of being highly payable. The contract time for putting up the m;chim'rv is some live or six weeks, at the cud •f which time new life will be instilled into the district.

Pout Chalmers.—To-day was regarded as a close holiday, the shops being closed ; the Harbor Co.’s steamers arriving full of pleasure-seekers visiting the Port and Portobello. The weather was all that could be desired for a holiday—warm, dry, and pleasant, age tic breeze from the N.E. regulating the temperature, making out-door exercise truly enjoyable. Amongst the visitors to-day, the City Guards, with starlet uniform, were the first arrivals. A little before one o’clock, the Golden Age, from Dunedin and Portohcllo, arrived crowded with passengers, and was preceded by tue lively sir ins of music played on board by the Dunedin Rifh Band, who really presented a fine appearance, and played some excellent music, which was drily appreciated by the Port which does not often get such a treat. Amongst the sports the Volunteer movement seems to have the pre-eminence. At an early hour shooting matches commenced, and wore more or loss continued throughout the day.

The Holiday.—Notwithstanding the extraordinary effort made by our contemporary this morning to bring English Royalty into contempt, the anniversary of the Prince of Wales’s birthday was right loyally observed by the inhabitants of Dunedin. Fortunately the day has been fine—not too hot, and the Foresters’ fete at Vanxhall Gardens attracted a great number of visitors. By car, by boat, and by steamboat they arrived in crowds, and ns early as one o’clock several merry groups assembled in tho rotunda for a dance. The St Patrick’s band, under the direction of M, Flcnry, in their handsome uniforms of green jacket, laced caps, and black trousers, headed the procession of the Fores* era, accompanied by the brethren of the various hidj.es ■•{ oddfellows and the members of the Fire Brigade. Ample and ■ x . Ten I p-ovidou was prepared by Mr •Vooli vnds at Vanxhall. and tie' beautiful grmiu 1 w.-re thronged with jronps of visitor-, wh thoroughly enjoyed themselves in a variety of sports. The steamer Golden Age took a large number of visitors to Port Chalmers and returned about two o’clock with the Suez mail, brought by the Rangitoto, which arrived this morning after her leasurely voyage by Cook’s Straits. Various pic-nic parties were formed, who, on foot, in cars, buggies, vans, and other conveyances, left town bent on thoroughly injoying a day’s amusement. Some juvenile sports got up by private subscription aided by the use of the plant kindly lent by the Caledonian Society took place at the South Recreation Ground this afternoon. There were probabty 500 persons present. A large number of money and other prizes were given. The programme comprised a variety of amusements, including foot races, jumping, walking, girls’ races, sack races, climbing greasy pole, a pig hunt, and as a wind up a consolation race, and a baby show. The greatest possible satisfaction was given and fun prevailed.

. The English Commissioners. —The “Anglo-Australian ” iu the European Mail, says;— What about tho New Zealand i ’emmissioners, who have got their “million loan,” and may well rest sat'sfied with the task which they were sent home to workout ? Resting on their oars, as they have a right to do, they also have sought pleasure in holidaymaking. Dr Foatherstou is in Norway ;Mr Bell would be in Germany, where he has every desire to he, hut docs not relish the notion of being arrested and possibly shot as a spy. The secretary of the commissioners, Mr Knowles, is away on a tour to the north of England, but not on pleasure, as I understand his object is to make a further investigation into the subject of New Zealand llax in connection with the English market. Colonists will be competent to judge, from the able report on the article compiled by him and transmitted only last mail, of the zeal and ability with which he pursues his inquiries into the question. Colonial questions have now no earthly chance whatever of consideration from the English ministry. It is stated to nm that that the Commissioners have been hammering away at the Governnn nt in respect to several subjects of importance, but have met with no response. One circumstance is, that almost every member of the Ministry is out of town. For instance, at the Colonial office, Lord Kimberley is non rst ; so is Sir Frederick Rogers, and poor Air Holland, no very brilliant individual, is left alone in all his glory to represent them. I know for a fact that strong efforts have within a few days been made to bring the monstrous regulations in regard to the rates of colonial postage before the authorities, but iu vain. All the world is out of town, and what matter political or social questions in comparison withpartridge-sl outing and rnralising ? Well, perhaps the time will come when these things may ha altered, but I am afraid its far off,

We have been requested to state that that the mail for Australia and .Southland will not close until to-morrow (Thursday), at 1..T0 p.m.