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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2595, 12 June 1871, Page 2

To Correspondents. — A letter, correcting the statistics given by Dr Moran of the cost of education in Otago, will appear to-morrow.

Serious Assault. — Late the same day the police received intimation that an assault of a very aggravated nature had occurred at Maungatua on Saturday morning. A settler named M‘Donald had an altercation with his wife about the purchase of a horse that he had effected, which culminated in her throwing at him a pitchfork, which entered his side, and caused a wound through which the lungs protruded. Doctors M‘Brierty and Inglis were in immediate attendance upon the sufferer, who remains in a dangerous state, very little hope being entertained of Ilia recovery. It was thought necessary to have bis depositions taken, which was done before Mr. James Fulton, JR.M. Mrs. M‘Donald was arrested immediately after the occurrence, and received into the gaol on Sunday evening, on the charge of maliciously wounding, on which she stands remanded until the 19th inst.

The City Council.— This afternoon at 3 o’clock the City Council met to consider an application from Messrs Hewitt and Bird, to have the use of the North Dunedin Recreation Ground on Saturday next for athletic sports. There were present—His Worship the Mayor, Messrs Barnes, Cargill, Livingston, Mercer, Thoneman, Walter, and Winter. It was resolved —“That the Council has no objection to the ground being used for the athletic sports meeting on Saturday fbo 17th inst., on condition that the gates be left to the public for free ingress and egress. His Worship then stated he had had a conversation with th c Hon. D. Bell respecting the proposed construction of the Southern Trunk Railway in part of Crawford street, an I that that gentleman said the General Government would not feel justified in incurring the cxpcnce of the proposed deviation unless requested by the Provincial Council, It was therefore resolved, on the motion of Mr Walter, to invite the City members to a conference o’i Wednesday .morning, at 10.30,

Presentation. —On Tuesday evening last, the addrefs of the Committee appointed by the Clergy and Laity of the Diocesan hynod of Otago and Southland, wag formally presented to the Eight Rev. Henry Jghn Cidtfy, Bishop of Christchurch, and Primate n’f tfro Unite;:! Church of England and Ireland in New Zeafaud, oo r the eve of his resigning his charge as Bishop of the Diocese. The address and reply are already published in the ‘ proceedings of the First Session of the Second Synod,” and the address is now in the hands of Mr Weston, by whom it will be engrossed and illuminated on vellum. We have no doubt when finished ft will be exhibited for public inspection. Whaling. —On Friday attemopn a black whale was observed close in shore near the Heads. On the whaling parties at the Kaik receiving information, two boats—properly equipped whaleboats —weic at once manned, and went in search. After a hot chase, the boat steered by Mr George Robinson cleverly contrived to get fastened to, and ultimately succeeded in killing the whale, which was est mated to yield about 5 tuns of oil. The night coming on and the weather being fine, the whale was anchored and buoyed about three miles to the southward of the H«a>is. in about 10 fathoms of water. We regr.et't* that all search as yet for the captured prize lijrs been unavailing, owing to iho dense fog apd heavy s.ca which have prevailed since Saturday. The Benevolent Institution.—Mr Barlow wo believe purposed closing his engagement with his troupe to morrow evening, but gpxious to give remembrance return for the patronage conferred upon them, has intipjatcd his intention of giving another entertainment on Wednesday evening and presenting half of the pr.oiite tp the Benevolent Institution. We have no doubt this liberal offer will be appreciated aud supported by the public. Wc notice that our country friends will have an opportunity of witnessing this clever troupe, as they have announced to appear at the several localities named in the advertisement. Spiritualism E^posep,—Home, the spiritualist, who for some weeks hag been the talk of the fashionable world, lias suffered a complete Juuco. The success lie had met whh in the unions of St. Pctershurgh appears to have turned hia head. Judging the Russians by those who believed in him, he expected to find them all equally credulous, aud in an evil hour he offered to exhibit hia manifestations before a committee of scientific men. The challenge was accepted, the committee stipulating that the locality should be chosen by them ; that instead of ap ordinary table one of glass should be substituted ; ?,nd that Home should not enter the room before the time fixed for the experiments. 'To these conditions Home consented. Six gentlemen, principally professors, met in a room prepared for tlje pm-

pose at the University of'St. Petersburg!!, Horae came at the appointed hour, expressed himself satisfied with the arrangements, and the party formed the chain raund the table, and waited patiently for the usual rappmgs. A lamp, with a powerful reflector, prevented the possibility of any trickery under the table passing unnoticed, snd for some time there was no indication of the appearance of the spirits. At length Horae pretended to be aware of their presen-;o. by the wavering light of a candle on the table ; but this was explained as being caused by the ventilator, which was immediately closed, and the candle burned steadily. Then he declared that the arrival of the spirits was announced by a peculiar rushing noise, which was heard by all present; but, on searching tor the cause, it was found that a hot-air pipe had been left open, and on its being shut, the noise ceased. Rather out of countenance by the failure of the experiment thus far, Horae next drew attention to the rapidity of his puDe ; but this was shewn to be the effect of the heat of the room and the excitement of straining the attention for such a length of time—moreover, one of the gentlemen present had exactly the same number of pulsations. Though baffli d and confused, Home did not wish to give in, and offered to change the weight of any object in the room. For this the committee were prepared. A pail was placed in a pair of scales, and there it remained without moving the balance in the slightest degree. These experiments took up a great deal of time ; everybody was tired ; the trial was at an end; but, not wishing to acknowledge himself beaten, Home offered to meet the committee again on a future day. But the next morning he sent'word that he was indisposed, and two days after he left St. Petersburg!!.