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Evening Star, Issue 2799, 6 February 1872, Page 2

Mayou’.s Court.—The bu,sines transacted to-day was very trifling. There was only one case, the delinquent David Anderson being lined 5s for drunkenness. Extraordinary Price for a Share. —According to the Gray Jtivcr Anju*, an interest in the prospecting claim at the Inangahua reefs was sold at the rate of L 3.800 per one-eight share. M EPICAL. —From the certified copy of the Medical Register of New Zealand for the year 1871, published in the Gazette, we learn that there are 20'/ medical practitions in New Zealand. The Premier. —Mr Fox is now on a tour of the Nelson and Westland goldfields, to which his visit is likely to extend for three weeks, after which he will procc.d to Christchurch. Liberality. — Our readers will remember that a fire lately occurred in Wellington, by which the premises of Messrs Jacob Joseph and Co. were nearly destroyed, being only saved by the active exertions of the two local lire brigades. The linn so well appreciated the two brigade’s services, that two days afterwards the sent to each a cheque for LOO,

Acquatic.— The Wellington crew who take part in the approaching inter-pro-vincial boat race, with their outrigger were passengers by the Rangitoto to Lyttelton. They are said to be a fine “ level lot of men,” and‘look as if they bad plenty of go in them The Union Club (Christchurch) received a new boat by the Charlotte Gladstone. Judicial. —The Government having succeeded in effecting an amalgamation of offices and a reduction of expenditure in Westland. Mr Harvey, Cro-n Prosecutor and County Solicitor of Westland, has been appointed ‘District Judge for WesGau I, and Uximiner of Titles under the Land I ransfer Act. The salary attached to the two offices does not exceed LOGO a year

Statistical. —The last number of the New Zea'and Gazelle contains a return in detail of the Customs revenue of the Colony received dnriiu' the quarter ended 31st December last. The total amount for the quarter was L 193.079, being an increase of L 5237 over the corresponding quarter in 1870 The receipts for the year 1871 were L 731.853, as against L765,93G in 1870, being a decrease on the year of L 34.047 ihe quantity of gold exported during the year was 730 020 ozs, of the value of 1.2,787.520, as against 544,880 ozs, value L 2.156,525, in 1870,' being n increase of 185,149 ozs for the year.

Banks and Eire Brigades.— Some of the West Coa-t panors write in strong terms of the “ sbabbiuess” of the banks. The recently published balance sheet of the Grey mouth Brigade returns four banks, the New Zealand, New South Wales, Australia, and Union, as subscribers to the maintenance fund at nil. 'I he llcrad remarks upon this, that “ it is a standing disgrace that corporations similar to these, the shareholders of which are reaping, as a whole, immense pr fits out of the Colony, should he so contemptibly mean as to grudge a subscription towards at least such a necessary institution as a lire brigade.” Breach of Arms Act. Samuel Solomon, ironmonger, Hokitika, has been committed for trial for having in his possession more than ten pounds of gunpowder, not bein licensed to sell that article. The penalty is something tremendous for abroach of the Arras -let. The punishment on conviction of a misdemeanor under this Act is imprisonment witn or without hard labor for a term not exceeding three years, with a fine not exceeding LSOO.at the discretion of the judge ; and lor a fe'ony—that is, sellim: gunpowder, arms, &c.—penal servitude for a term not exceeding six years, and not less than three years.

The Last Loan.—lt transpires that tMc loan ~f LtiffiOOO negotiated at Sydney, was taken on more favoroble terms than was at first supposed. It was negociated at a rate of interest not exceeding five per cent , without any accrued interest or allowance whatever. The price obtained (L 102) is pnite equal to the quotations in London of the colonial five per cents.; a circumstance which, as the Independent remarks, indicates two things : that there is a large amount of surplus capital seeking investment in the neighboring colonies, and that the policy of the Government is such as to ensure confidence in lenders.

The “ Gazette.”—Among the notifications appearing in the New Zealand Gar zetfe of the 20th ult., arc amended regulations relating to annuities ; proclamations defining the boundaries of the Oamaru and Timaru, Tokomairiro, and Giutha and Western Otago District Courts, ami fixing the sittings in respect of the same ; and the Invercargill criminal and civil circuit of the Supreme Court, tables of fees in respect of legal proceedings under the Public Works and Immigration Act ; and a notification that Charles Pescio of Naseby, bootmaker, and Christian Bode of Dunedin, hairdresser, have obtained letters of naturalisation.

Immigration.—“ Anglo-Australian ” in the European Mail writes : — 1 understand that the Agent-General for Now Zealand has been able to make arrangements for the emigration to that country of between seven and eight thousand Gormans and .Scandinavians. When it is remembered that these people make capital colonists it will be ouoe seen that Dr. Feat-.er .ton has auhievmd a great .success in obtain ng a number sufficient to establish a pretty large township, 'this, of course, is but the thin end of the wedge, Once let it be known that the initial batch is doing well, ami on the right road to prosperity, and then others will follow in about the same proportion as the Irish exodus to the United .States. Care, however, must be taken to locate the people under notice in a district, where the soil may bo favorable to their peculiar pursuits, if the advantages which the enterprise promises are to be realised.

Accumitisatiox. —Mr Bills, who will bo remembered in connection with our Society’s shipment of birds per Warrior Queen, about two years’ ago, has been very successful with his shipment for the Canterbury Society by the Charlotte Gladstone. His loss was only among small birds ; all the valuable ones were brought out alive. He landed CO goldfinches, 95 blackbirds, 43 thrushes, 50 redpolcs, 4 quail, 5 jackdaws, C 4 partridges, 31 starlings, 19 hedge sparrows, and live water fowl. The Charlotte Gladstone, commanded by Captain Fox, late of the Kngland, with a large number of immigrants, mostly belonging to the industrial classes sent out; by the i lanterbury a-zent, arrived at Lyttelton on the 2nd i;;st. The whole of the shipment, with the exception of four families, wore engaged a day after landing at the following rate of wages : families, LOO; single men, L 35 to L 45 ; single women, L2O to L3O a year, and found.

Fire Brigade. The monthly meeting of the Volunteer Fire Brigade was held last evening, at the engine station ; Captain Wain in the chair. The minutes of previous meetings were read and confirmed. < ne month’s leave of absence was granted to Mr J. Findlatcr. A letter in reply, received from the Town Clerk, was then read, in reference to the pitching of lire plugs on the new extension, and also of a large map of the City. Messrs Hill and White were elected working members, and Mi- James Copeland an hou, member. It was carried that a letter be seat to the City Council, askixm that body to increase the reward for the first horse at the main station In dray harness, and also give a reward to the second horse on the ahum of lire, and a sum also on a false alarm, the present sum being found insufficient for men to turn out with their horses. Mr W. M ‘Taggart was proposed as a working member. It was carried that the social gathering (postponed in consequence of a members death) should take place ou

the evening of the 16th inst. After other business of a trifling nature, the meeting then broke up ; Captain Wain having intimated that the next practice would take place on the 14th hist., and he hoped there would be a full compliment of the members present as heretofore. The usual half-yearly meeting of the Temperance Umon, will be held to-morrow evening, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, in consequence of which there will he no concert.