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Evening Star, Issue 2941, 23 July 1872, Page 2

Gold Export Duty.—We learn by telegram from Wellington that the decision come to at the caucus meeting of goldliehls members yesterday, was to support a reduction of the gold duty by sixp ncc this session, and sixpence each succeeding session. Princess Theatre.—We would remind theatre goers that Mr Musgravo takes a benefit this evening, when the new comedy of “ Payable on will be produced. It does not require that a word should be said by ns as to Mr Mu’s grave’s merits as an actor, for they are admitted on all sides, and we only hope’that the appeal of so des-rving a member of the company will bi liberally responded to. Playing with Firearms, —A very narrow escape from death is reported to have occurred in Christchurch on the evening of the 18th inst. It appears that Mr Gapes, a volunteer, brought Ids rifle home from the Drill-shed, and his brother, thinking it was unloaded, put a cap on and pulled the trigger. To his astonishment the piece went off, the bullet penetrating a partition close to where the other brother was standing. He was proceeding up the stairs at the time, and had ho progressed another step he would have been shot.

Political. —The report has been current for some time, in what is usually called “well-informed circles,” that Mr E. J, Wakefield, M.TT.R, for Christchurch City, is in the pay of the Wellington Provincial Government. i ven the amount per week he is receiving, L 3, has been mentioned, with the addition that “ there was no hurry with the work ” on which he is engagedcompiling a pamphlet on Wellington Province for immigration purposes. In a letter to the Po.d Mr Wakclield himself confirms these reports. He refers to the Wellington Provincial Government as his “ employers,” and seems to be of opinion that his employment leaves him free to take an independent course as a member of the House of Representatives,

A Brave Action.— A daring action in a good cause is always worthy of remembrance, apd we know of nothing that trios a man’s activity, address, and courage more than stopping a runaway ho-se with a vehicle attached. Yesterday, about one o’clock, a pair of horses belonging to Mr Flex man bolted in Rattray street Fortunately, a young man named Hughes was standing' at the time near Mr Court’s Otago Hotel. Without hesitation he seized the horse nearest to him by the head, and kept his hold, although he was dragged fully two hundred yards, as far as Mr J. Reancy’s shop, before he succeeded in bringing them to a stand' still. But for this daring deed there is every reason to believe that much damage would have ensued, and perhaps personal injury to some. A Legal Witticism.—Mr Acton Adams said a good thing in the Magistrate’s

Court, Nelson, lately. In a toll evasion case it came out that had the defendant been allowed to pass through some slip-rails into Bishop Suter’s land, he would not have evaded the toll, whereupon it was argued that the Bishop had not given any permission, and had attended the Court to give Cockram a good charac'cr. Mr Acton Adams in commenting upon the manner in which the Bishop had espoused the case of the Cockrams, said that whether or not Paap had committed trespass on his Lordship’s land had nothing to do with this action, and reminded the Court that the proverb Xe tutor ultra arphUuu, had probably escaped Ins Lordship’s recollection. Literally translated, the proverb runs “No shoemaker should go 1 cyond his lastand the Bishop’s name being iSutcr, the point of the pun will be easily scon.

IvAITANGATA OoAL.—Tlll’OUgll vai'iout causes we have latterly received short supplies of coal from Newcastle. Although this has bem productive of some inconvenience, it has turned attention to the value of oar Otago coal, which it appears has been much underrated. The Green Island coal lias been brought more largely into consumption, and latterly the Harbor Company have been using some very excellent coal from Kaitangata. Wo are informed that although for certain purposes, the Newcastle coal is preferable, for steam purposes the heat of the Kaitangata coal is greater, and the consumption only a small per ccntagc in excess. Taking cost into consideration, therefore, there is a large balance in favor of our native coal. We are glad to learn that the Tuapeka steamer is to resume her labors on the Molyneux, and that, through her agency, a regular supply of this pleasant burning and useful coal is likely to be secured.

Colonial Defence.— The monster cannon scab to Sydney from England by Sir Charles Cowper, A gent-General, arrived, the /S 'ifdiiqi Mornhuj Herald states, last week by the ship Thyatira. They have since been safely landed—three at Blue’s Point for the batteries on the north shore, the other three at the Circular Quay for the batteries on the southern shore of the harbor. Their immense weight rendered their careful removal a matter of considerable difficulty. They arc now waiting to bo removed to the batteries. it has not yet been decided at which batteries they will bo mounted. In fact, they cannot bo mounted until the carriages arrive from England. r ihe following are the dimensions and weight of each gun: —Calibre, Klin. ; length overall, 15ft. 4in. ; length of bore, 10ft, 5.75 in. ; number of grooves, 7- l.oin. wide and 22in. deep; twist in calibres, 1 in 100 at the breech, increasing to 1 in 40 at the muzzle; weight of projectiles— Palliser shot, 4001b. ; Palliscr shell, 3001b. empty ; common shell, 3681b. empty ; bursting charges—Palliscr shell, 10U). ; common shell, 321b. ; charges—shot, 6011). ; shell, 641b. ; preponderance, lewt. 2|lb. The Jury System.—The Auckland Herald lias taken up the jury question as one that requires entire revision. Very little consideration is necessary to show that there is ample scope for improvement in the direction indicated ; for however fair the system of trial by jury may be in principle, the present mode of administering that system is not always calculated to give much satisfaction, even to the jurymen in civil cases, and much less so to jurors in criminal trials. The Herald argues Nor is it a question altogether of money remuneration to the juryman. The jury question demands further consideration on other points at the hands of the Legislature, and will, we trust, receive it during the forthcoming session of Parliament. The whole system requires revision. Why, for instance, should jurors be summoned for tbe same day and hour, no matter how many cases there be upon the list ? A far better plan would be, if instead of summoning a separate jury for each particular case, a certain number of jurors were summoned for particular days, say two days each, ami paid for those days. Every man would thus know not only when he would be required, but for how long, except, of course, when serving upon a protracted case, when he should be paid accordingly.” The New Roads Ordinance. —The initiatory proceedings under tbc new Roads Ordinance took place at (.'aversbam to-day, and excited considerable stir among the residents of the districts immmediatcly intererosted. Por the new Oavcrsham Road District, which now includes ten townships, a managing board of six members is required, and to-day nominations were received of persons eligible for the p'sts. Mr Charles fSmith presided as returning officer, and received the nominations of the following gentlemen : -Messrs. Win. Bridgman, Robt, Rutin rford, Win. Head, Philip H. Brady, James M‘lndoc, Duncan M‘Gregor, Robert Bennett, Hugh Catder, William Jackson, Robert Jackson, Wra. Kennedy, William Smith, David Baxter, John Craig, Henry E. Sbaelock, Edward W. Cochrane, and Alf. F. Uswiu. When Mr Kennedy was proposed Mr M'Judoc raised the question of his eligibility, and elicited from tbc returning officer tbe opinion that it was competent to propose a person as a candidate, though that person’s name were not on the roll, provided that ho owned property in the district, which was rated, or that he was liable to be rated in respect of such property ; but that only persons actually on the roll were entitled to vote. The show of handg resulted as follows : —Bridgman, 12 ; Rutherford, 37 ; Read, 14 ; Brady, 20 ; M‘ lndoe, 29 ; Benno’t, 10 ; Calder. 17 ; W. Jackson, 13 ; M‘Gregor, 31 ; R. Jac-kson, 25 ; Kennedy, 25 ; Smith, 18 ; Baxter, 0 ; Craig, 13 ; Shaclock, 11 ; Cochrane, I ; Oswin, 11, A poll was demanded and will be taken on Saturday next at ten o’clock.

Mr Wm. E. Couzens oilers himself as a candidate for the office of Councillor in the forthcoming election for South Ward. In our advertising columns to-day will be found Mr Gouzens’s address to the electors.