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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2567, 10 May 1871, Page 2

Supreme Court. —Mr Justice Chapram held a sitting in banco this morning, the principal business being the argument of the rule nisi for a writ of quo warranto in Regina v Lemon, which had not concluded when our reporter left the Court. Sudden Death.—Another sudden death is reported from Tapauui. Ou Friday last, Mr. Bunting, after having been out cattle-hunting, called at the Tapauui postoffice, and then went to his home, entering which he sat himself down on a couch, and almost immediately expired. Heart disease was the cause of death. He has loft a widow and five children in very indifferent circumstances.

Religious.—The Right R-ev. Dr. Moran visited the Oamarn portion of his diocese last week. He visited Hampden and Mocraki, and on his arrival at Oamarn a procession of children attending the Sunday Schools of St. Patrick’s Church, carrying flags and banners, met and welcomed his lordship, and thence the procession proceeded to the Church, whore an address from the congregation was presented. On Saturday his lordship was entertained at lunch at the Star and Garter Hotel, and the following day celebrated High Mass, at which a collection in aid of the conventual schools Avas made, amounting to £54. Princess Theatre. Ship” is a nautical drama of the orthodox transpontine order, not more improbable than the generality of nautical dramas, neither does the “ loyal tar” indulge m re in toplighls, sheer hulks, main-braces, and marlingspikes, than heroes of the T. P. Cookical school areAVont. There Avas but a poor house, and the reason is not far to seek, the days being past (if indeed they ever existed in the Colonies) for “ Tom Bowline” and “ Ben Brace” to attract the public. Yesteivlay’s performance concluded Avith “ The Widow’s Victim,” Avhich Avent merrily enough, and is indeed, as an afterpiece, one of the best we have for a long time Avitnessed. The programme Avill be repeated this evening.

New Patent Laws. A recent Gazette contains the ucav regulations and rules for the guidance of wouhl-be patentees, and they may be briefly summarised. The patents office is to be a pirt of the Colonial Secretary’s office at Wellington, and ib Avill be open from ten o’clock until four every day—except on such days as the Colonial Secretary’s office is closed—for the inspection of all models, specifications, and so forth, in connection Avith the application for and registration of patents. Any person applying for the registration of letters patent that may have been granted in Great Britain or any other country or Colony, must comply with certain forms, Avhich have the appearance of being very exacting as Avell .as cumbrous. He must, in the first place, furnish duplicate copies of the original letters patent or letters of registration, one of AA'hich must be certified to as a true and correct copy by a notary public. He must also produce a statutory declaration by some person conversant Avith the laws of the country in which the patent was originally granted, to the effect that it has been registered ; or if he can produce no evidence of registration, he must prove that the patent has been issued in accordance with the I.ws of the country or colony, that it is still in force, and that it has not been assigned. Further, he must bring satisfactory evidence that lie is the OAA'ner of the patent, either as inventor or assignee, and that lie is really the person he professes to be.

Masonic Hall.—The panorama of the Pacific Mail route Avill lie exhibited this evening, for the first time. The paintings have received the special commendation of the Northern press, and those places in the Middle Island in Avhich the panorama has been shown. The descriptiA'o lecture, the Avorking mechanical models, and the dioramic effects, constitute, with the pictures, an entertainment at once agreeable and instructive. The interest taken in this route by the people of the Colony is heightened at this juncture by the arrival of the Nevada, concerning Avhich, Ave may add, a working model of a steamer Avill lie introduced in the course of the evening’s entertainment. We commend this exhibition to the favourable notice of our readers.

Clutha Railway.—Mr Calcutfc, who is at present acting for the General Government in negotiating with owners of land along the line of the Southern Trunk Bailway for the purchase of that required for the railway, arrived in Milton last night. He is accompanied by Mr Blair, the Government Engineer, and both gentlemen are actively engaged in completing the preliminary arrangements necessary to the active prosecution of the undertaking. We believe, as a general rule, they find proprietors of land ready to second their elforts, although in one case —not in this quarter—they have met with a most determined and unreasonable “obstructionist,” and through whose obstinacy the work may be considerably retarded. Of course, if any one individual declines to accept a reasonable remuneration for the land required, ho will prevent the railway works being there proceeded with until such time as the price of the land is fixed by law. At a public meeting recently held in Milton, a petition was adopted praying for the work being commenced in Tokomairiro, Balclutha, &c., and we believe there is every desire on the part of the Government that this prayer should be acceded to, It is to be hoped, therefore, the land proprietors will bo reasonable in their claims, so that no hindrance may arise in this respect, Should no hitch occur, we expect to see tenders invited for a few miles of the work at the Clutha end so soon as the working plans can be prepared. We believe also that the order for engine?, carriages, and plant wUI be forwarded to Great Britain by

the outgoing ma l There is thus every indication that ib is the intention of the Government to prosecute the lon j-talkcd-of undertaking with despatch. The Brace Herald.

Martin’s Bay.—Two settlers from Marlin’s bay, named Taw an 1 Jacobs, arrived at Queenstown on the 2nd insfc. They report that with the exception of regular communication and supples, things are cheering enough at the settlement. As showing how much the settlers feel the neglect they suffer in the exception above-mentioned, we may state that Mr. Ta: r came over here for the {special purpose of communicating with the Government as to the non-arrival of the steamer Luna. It appears this vessel ■was to have sailed some three weeks ago for Martin’s Bay from Dunedin, with cargo and passengers. About a fortnight ago the steamer was seen off Big Bay—eight miles from Martin’s Bay—and to the astonishment of the anxious onlookers she proceeded on her course without even attempting to reach Jamestown. Fires were lib at Big Bay for her to put in, but without avail. Our informants further state that although at the time the vessel was seen a stillish breeze was blowing, sti'l, if the Luna had put into -Milford Sound for a few hours there was every opportunity of her getting to Jamestown any time during the three following d vys, as the weather w’as calm, with 21 feet of water on the bar at spring tide. It need hardly be said the settlors Avcre very much disappointed, and an “ indignation meeting” was held, the result of which was Mr, Tarr’s journey to Queenstown. Wo believe the purport of the answer received from Dunedin by that gentleman, to his inquiries as to the non-arrival of the Luna, was to the effect that the steamer had stood off Martin’s Bay for three days, but finding she could not enter, proceeded to Greymouth. where she landed passengers and cargo to await the Waipara, which sails for Jamestown this week. It will he observed how much this statement differs from that of our infounants, who had it from those who saw the steamer arrive and depart. — Mail. Another Libel Case. — Our Wellington telegrams the other day stated that Mr John Martin, the steamboat proprietor, had threatened to institute legal proceedings against two of the Wellington newspapers. Turning to the Emiiny Post of the 2nd inst. wo find under the heading “The Czar of all the .Steamers, ” an article which is no doubt the one of which Mr Martin complains. For scnrriliily it is unequalled ; and we give it as a sample of the polished and elegant language for which the Post is said to he unrivalled : “ The redoubtale ‘ Johnny ’ evidently feels somewhat acutely the mild castigation we best ♦ • e 1 upon him a few evenings ago, and has rushed into print this morning to an alarming extent. But everyone who reads his announcements will be reminded of the fable of the ‘Fox and the Graphs.’ After we declined to insert his advertisements or notice his (?) vessels, he tells the public not to look in our columns for information respecting them. Cool, but quite in keeping with the man's usual style. These said announcements recall to mind his behaviour on an occasion during that period of bis career when, by accident, he found himself in a respectable position—a member of the Town Board. As everyone knows, ho assaulted the Chairman in the Board room, striking him a severe blow in the face, and when civic dignity gave way before a sense of outrage, and the Chairman prepared to retaliate by “punching” the disreputable member, the said member declared that ho “would not fight a round with the Ch irmau because he (the Chairman) was not a gentleman !’’ Judicious Johnny 1 Magnanimous Martin ! Well, this polyglot speculator, this au 1 carat of grog-shops and female publicans, has declared war against us, “wretched and contemptible paper” though we bo, and we must bide the brunt of it. Wc will not put our shutters up just yet, but will struggle on a little while, even against such powerful antagonism. But if we are “contemptible,” avc have the satisfaction of knowing that wc do not monopolise all the contempt in this city. The man of extreme smartness, who usually contrives (of course quite legally) to get the best of a bargain and put his neighbour into the hole, may wax rich yet fail to gain respect. There be ways and ways of making money —one may dabble in ever.hing, from hill discounting, steam companies, and not building patent slips, down to farming out public houses, and yet fail to rise to a creditable position or command the esteem of his neighbors. And there are people whosj reputed wealth gains for them a certain consideration, or rathe - toleration, who, deprived of that wealth, could find nothing to shield them from real and not simulated comtempt. ” What Constitutes a Professional, —This question was discussed at the Court of He quests held at Hobart Town on Thursday week before Mr Commissioner A. B. Jones, in Church v. Foster, when an appeal from the registrar was heard. The registrar had allowed a sum of ISs to Mr Yates, a town witness for the plaintiff on the trial, the objection taken by defendant’s attorney being that as “ Parliamentary agent and newspaper editor” the witness did not come under the description of a member of a profession. Mr Church argued on the authority of Walker’s Dictionary that a newspaper editor was a professional man within the terms of the schedule. Charles Dickens did not belong to either of what was called the learned professions, for he was only three months in a lawyer’s office from which he bolted, but who would say ho was not a professional man ? William Makepeace Thackcry, was he not a professional man ? Actors arc considered to belong to a profession ; even Mr Coppin, as Jem Baggs, making obscene speeches as the Town Ball, is a professional man. The learned gentleman submitted that the witness came within the designation of professional men, and that Mr Reynolds was right in allowing his expenses. Mr Mitchell said the whole object of the legislature was to cut down expenses in that Court, and contended that Mr Yates was not a professional man ; he did not belong to either of the learned professions — law, divinity', or medicine—he was only a Parliamentary agent, or a newspaper editor. Mr Church admitted that there were some editors who were not learned. (A laugh.) The Commissioner : Oil yes, just as there are some lawyers who were not learned. (Loud laughter.) I think a newspaper editor must be a professional man. In these days tsp >- cially an editor cannot carry on a newspaper without education. I don’t know any avocation which requires as much. Certainly' as far as Bug] and goes, editors of the leading newspapers, as well as those in the Colonies, require more learning and education than any

other profession. His Honor uphold the allowance accordingly.”

“ The House.”—During the coming session many lion, .members will sadly mis 3 their favorit? and comfortable haunt around the fire-places of the House. The bon. member for Kaiapio will no longer he able to stand with his back to the lire, his hands under his coat tails, chaffing and laughing with the hon. member for lloslyn, while discussing the price of wool, alike oblivious and indifferent to the reproving glances of the Speaker. The hon. member for Avon and other enthusiastic developers of native industries will no longer be able to use the liro-places of the House to tost the merits of the coal from ncwly-discovorod fields, until the experiments resulted in charging the atmosphere of the House so highly with sulphureous fumes that it might easily have bean mistaken for “another place.” The fireplaces have been removed, the chimney knocked down, and hon members are for the future to be warmed by means of hot water pipes running round the room in triple binds. The ventilation of the House, never very good, will scarcely be improved by the removal of the fire-places.— Post.

A meeting of grocers’ assistants will be held in the room below the Athenaeum to-morrow (Thursday) evening, at eight o’clock, for the purpose of taking such steps as may be considered necessary in order to curtail the hours of business. The proposal is a most reasonable one, and we cordially wish it every success.

A reception dinner.will be given to the captain and officers of the Nevada at Dodson’s Provincial Hole!, Port Chalmers, to-morrow (Thursday) evening, at eight o’clock. His Honor the Superintendent will presi Ic. A special steamer will leave the Port for Dunedin immediately after the dinner.