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Evening Star, Issue 3056, 4 December 1872, Page 2

The Oa maru Timm will in future lie known as the North Otat/o Times, and now appears in an enlarged form. The Thnaru If (-raid hears that there are this season in Canterbury representatives of well-known English manufacturing firms buying up wool.

A private telegram has been received in Oamaru to the effect, that 21b tins of preserved meats are readily selling in London at 7.L1 per lb, and that the demand is in excess of the supply. The Melbourne agent of the Queensland Insurance Company received a telegram yesterday, announcing that the risk the Queen office held on the Boston fire amounted to 1.70,000, and that a p-ompt payment of this sum had been made.

At Greymouth, mi the 20 th nit., a publican named O’Brien was drowned in a deep hole in the river. lie was a Homan Catholic, but, being a Freemason, was refused burial by the local priest, and the Masons read their usual burial service at the grave, “ Old Men and New Acres ” was repeated last night to a fair house. To-night, the evergreen and popular play of the “ Lady of Lyons ” will be re-produced for the last time, and Miss Gassy Matthews will make her reappearance in it as Madame Deschappelles. The play is one of the best-acted pieces produced by the company. Messrs C. C. Corfe, E. C. J. Stevens. E Fowler, A, J. Cotterill, A, M. Olhvier, Wynn Williams, and K. Maples havp been elected the Committee to choose the players to represent Canterbury in the luterproviucial Cricket M atch. A guarantee list for the expenses of the match has been circulated, and a considerable sum guaranteed. The Education Board, at its meeting next week, will have to consider the necessity for making provision for idling up two vacancies ;.n the teaching staff of the High School, as we understand Mr Abram, the second master has in his resignation, he being about to return to England, and that Mr Pope will remain in Victor if, y/liere the climate is better for his health. A very characteristic letter was received by Sir Janies Fergusson, as Chairman of the Adelaide Telegraph Banquet, from the Mayor of Mew York. It ran thus “'1 he banks of the Hudson, f?ir Adelaide, has hied with her cheery greeting. This metropolis of the western hemisphere sends her popgratulations to the new metropolis of the eastern, upon this full riveting of Anglo-Saxon brotherhood.” The business at the Police C ourt foday was unimportant. William Forsyth was fined os for drunkenness. -John Kaiuford, tor driving a waggon over the footpath in Maclaggan street, was lined 20s ; and G. L. Dormer, who for neglecting to keep his premises clean had been lined 10s and costs, had the sum reduced to la and costs on the case being reheard. One item in connection with the Waste Land Board meeting to-day is deserving of a passing notice, as it indicates progress. The Province will shortly possess a second woollen manufactory, the locality of its operations being One Milo Creek, near Queenstown. Wc understand that it will he worked by a joint stock company 7, that all the shares are already subscribed, and that .operations will be commenced shortly, The Dunedin Presbytery met in the First Church to-day j b.ut as the clerk did not feel disposed to extend the usual cpqrtcsy to our reporter of a lowing hjm to .copy the minutes, we arc unable to furnish a report. There was a long discussion concerning the Kaikorai Church matter, Mr Millar strongly protesting against tho stepf* that have been taken in it, and threatening to carry it to the Synod. An overture, referring to the employment of laymen, was .rcici/'.od to the Synod. The great Lius Spur mining case, Clayton v. Morrison, 1 damages laid at LdOOO, which was to have been heard" ,betoi; v Judge Chapman, at the first Supreme',Oburt session in next week, has been postponed till, lycxt sjttmg of. the Court in Dunedin, owing i to the absence pf Jtr })arto,u at the Appeal Court in Wellington, Oye*"al£ty witnesses, ligge befti subpoenaed, so that the effiky will j involve a large extra cost ■; and we wp^hjl; suggest that, to avoid this, a special sitting might be called shortly, if not three months ; hence at the outside, as tlic defendants are now unable to work their claim, an injunction having been s-rvml upon them preventing them from working.

The Bruce Herald informs us that the recommendation of the following changes in the Goldfields Act of ISGG as advisable, was the result of the first day’s discussion at Alining Conference :-That the charges for miners’ rights be reduced to 10s a year, and be available throughout the Colony. That every miner s right convey the right to depasture one horse and two head of great

cattle free of charge. That miners’ rights be issued to cover a period of five years, and not under one year. That business licenses on the goldfields be reduced from L 5 to 2 10s each per annum. These decisions of the Conference, along with those yet to be considered, will be recommended to the General Government for adoption in clue course.

The Canterbury Flax Association received by the Suez mail a piece of cloth and weft yarn made from some Uax they sent home. “ Anglo-Australian,” in the European Mail, says in reference to it that as the fibre in question was not sufficiently fine, Mr borbes used some of Mr Thorne’s prepared New Zealand vlay for making the warp. Ihe result was some capital cloth suitable for sacking purposes, as our friends in Canterbury will have an opportunity of judging. The same package also contains a piece of cloth made from fibre prepared by Mr 'Thorne. Mr Forbes spares no trouble to prove the usefulness of this fibre for textile fabrics. Gubernatorial movements are being narrow ]y watched just now. The Aviftis believes it is correct in stating that Viscount f anterbury and family will take their depaiturc from Victoria by the mail steamer which leaves Me I bourne on the 28th February. It is rumoured, on what authority it is not aware, that bis Excellency’s successor, Mir George Bowen, has applied for leave to visit England for a few months, before assuming the responsibilities of the Governorship in Victoria. As Sir George has been absent from homo for upwards of twelve years, his application, if it has bom made, will no doubt be granted, in which ease the Acl ing Chief Justice, probably Sir Redmond Barry, will ad minister the government of the Colony until the new Governor arrives.

A little boy named Mellor, aged between three and four years, son of Mr John Mellor, hotel and storekeeper. Drybread, was accidentally drowned on Friday last.in a waterrace at the rear of the Drybread township. It appears that the little fellow was playing about by himself, and wandered to the race, where it is supposed bo fell in. Me was first seen by Mr John Dickie, and immediately taken out, but was quite dead. An inquest was held on Saturday by Mr B. H. Curcw, coroner, when a verdict of “ Accidentally drowned” was returned. Much sympathy is expressed throughout the distinct for the bereaved parents. The funeral, which took place on Sunday, was one of the largest over seen in the district. The following Melbourne telegrams appear in the Evenin;) Pont; - Melbourne, 21st November, 2 p m.—Cabinet considering the question of the anest of Dr Murray for tin? Carl atrocities. Murray holds a pardon from the British Consul at Fiji. It is understood in Melbourne select circles that Sir James Fergusson is about to marry Miss Davis, niece of the Hon. W. Degraves, of the Legislative Council, The lady is young and highly accomp'ished. The marriage will probably ’take place before Sir James goes home. —Adelaide, 21st Nov., 1 p.m. Sir James Fergusson loaves for England by the December mail, when Chief-Justice Hanson will assume the Government, bir James Fergusson is due at New Zealand on the Ist of March, but has obtained leave to the Ist of May next. Arrangements arc making for a valedictory dinner. The A rrow Ohserrer records the death of an old member of the mining community— Mr Thomas Hyam of Macotowu. Deceased had been under treatment for disease of the valves of the heart for some time back. On Friday last he had been to the township, and had called at the store of Messrs M ‘Dongall and Smith, where he remained conversing with several persons who were there at the time, until about ten o’clock, apparently in good spirits, when he left to go home. About an hour afterwards Mr W. T. Smith, who was returning from the Eightmile, found him lying on the track leading towards his house. He at once obtained assistance from those around, and deceased was carried into his house, where every available aid was rendered him by the neighbors who were present, until bis death, which took place about five a. m. on c-atur-day. Mr Hyam was one of the oldest miners on the* Twelve-mile, and was universally regarded with feelings of respect and esteem.

The Oamaru Hospital was opened on Saturday by the President, Mr John M'Lean, of Morven Hills, The local paper says of the establishment, which has cost £1,249, and commences its operations with a credit balance of £265, that everything is scrupulously clean and tidy, and the admirable result of their labors entitles the Building Committee to high eulogium. The main building contains four double-bedded wards, three of which arc neatly and suitably furnished ready for use, a day-room surgery, two warders* roppis, hath, lavatory, and water-closets, all conveniently arranged. The first case entered upon the boojks was t-frat of a boy of the name of Riddell, who mpt with a serious accident on Wednesday afternoon, through being crushed between the wheels of two drays. This is the first case in which the building has been availed of, but it must be matter for congratulation that Oamaru has now an institution with open doors for the relief of the sick and'sufFering.

At -t.llf) p.m. yesterday, a fire broke out at theV'ccidepco of Captain Baldwin, on the North-east Valley Road, while the captain and his family were in town, servant girl, who was in charge of the place, ivyj tjae first to notice the lire, and she at once gave the alarm, which brought the neighbors to the spot, and with their assistance all the furniture was got safely out, though she was myck strobed. The principal loss is of Capt. Baldwin's ajrid MBs. (some of them very valuable), which werp in a room upstairs, and were all destroyed. Op examination of the place after the fire, it was found that a plank had been built into the diningroojp chimney immediately above the stove, and tfiis catching lire, it is believed that the strong wind blowing caused the flames t,o ascend to the door of the girl’s bedroom, and that they then communicated with tip; roof, on which the presence of fire was first detected. The. building, which belonged to the Hon. Dr Buchanan, was insured in the Liverpool, Jjondon, and Globe Office for L 159, Captain Baldwin was uninsured.

The annual examinations of the Dunedin Public Schools, wore commenced to-day in the North District School, The Rev. Dr Stuart, and Mr H. F. Hardy, the secretary of the Dunedin School Committee, were present, and assisted the teachers in the work of the day. The junior classes, up to and including the junior history class, were got through to-day; these included “My first, second, third, and fourth books, ” under jtihe ,<?hity'ge of the matron, Miss Hay; “My fifth hpflk, un.fjier pho charge of pupil teacher Mjiss Miilo£ ■ 'f* U y sixth book,” underpupjl tea,cjjier Miss J^go; the progressive lessons under pnpi J.' teacher Mjss Bajtsdp'; the senior progressive lessops under Miss Johnston, and the junior history under the third master Mr Milne. The last two classes wore examined in writing to dictation, grammar, geography, and arithmetic. The progress manifested was very satisfactory, and elicited strong expressions of gratification f1'01,7 Dr Stuart and those of the public present. The senior classes will be examined to-day at 11} o'clock, commencing with that of the second Blaster. We have an explanation of the silence pf the overland cajble from November IGth to the 20th, the extraordinary rumors that Dig absence oX telegrams from England gave rise to in Melbourne, The Ipp+k fiappeped in the land line between Peal; station spuf Charlotte Waters, and both the ruipors of the increased rate of discount and Air Gladstone’s resignation were found to have been invented in Melbourne. Lord Monck, the chairman of the British Telegraph Company, sent a message to Adelaide, which was delivered in two hours, the quickest work yet accomplished on the through line, while a message sent from Adelaide to Java was delivered in two minutes. Communication with England was restored on November 21,

a few hours before the Albion left Melbourne for New Zealand; and the value of the connection established between the Australian Associated Press and the New Zealand Press Association is shown by the fact that the very latest messages from London, which had not been published in Melbourne on the morning of November 21, were brought on by the Albion. Had this connection not been in existence, we should have had to we.it at least a week for the news.

The plan for calling for public tenders for the construction of the Colonial railways is to have a test applied to it. The Minister for Public Works has called for tenders for the construction of twenty miles of the Canterbury Southern Railway, and the work will be absolutely thrown open to public competition. The experiment will be an interesting one, for the reason that it will enable the public to estimate with some degree of accuracy the nature of the contracts with Messrs Brogden. The Independent confesses to a feeling of doubt whether any appreciable difference will be secured ; but if by thus opening the public works to public competition the Colony can obtain better terras upon equal security, then it will be a strong argument for continuing the same course. The result of this new plan will be watched with inter-st, aud we can only hope that it will result favorably to the expectations of those who have been strenuous opponents of the Brogden contracts. Those who are believers in the Fairlie system will road with interest the following from the money article in the London Times:—“ The success in Russia of the narrow-guage system with the Fairlie engine appears to have been complete, aud the subjoined acknowledgment has just been received by its iaventor; —‘St. Petersburg, 1872. Dear Sir, —His Majesty the Emperor, my master, has authorised me to have a medal stamped in commemoration of the construction of the Imperial Livny Narrow-gauge Railway, which medal is to be distributed to the persons who have taken an active part in the construction of the line. The success of the Livny Railway is in a large measure owing to your system of engines, and to your careful inspection ; therefore it is a great pleasure for me to forward to you herewith one of the medals which you have to well deserved.—l am, <fec., Count Als, Bobrinskov. Mr Robert Fairlie.’ ”

The Evangelist for October contains less oirgiual and more readable extract mat: or than usual. The editorial touches upon Knox’s career, which is narrated with wonderful brevity. The Melbourne letter is by far the most interesting contribution, and from it wo make the following extracts “Sir George Stephen has been before the public as an apologist for his conduct in hindering, on technical grounds, the law' from taking its course on a notorious criminal. One of the newspapers was writing pretty strongly of the gross violation of the law concerning capital pu ishmeqt, and mentioned the case of one, I suppose, by way of illustration. This worthy escaped the gallows, which he richly merited, through some point raised that delayed the execution beyond the appointed time. Sir George writes to vindicate himself. It would appear that this gentleman abhors capital punishment. His dreams and waking hours arc haunted, it would appear, by a vision of eight men and women hanging up at Newgate for horse-stealing and forgery ; hence, iu this brilliant lawyer’s opinion, because a man was hanged for a very slight offence in past time, he should not be hanged now for any offence. A very comforting doctrine for naughty boys, who used to steal their neighbours’ plums, and box their sisters’ ears, and get soundly thrashed for it. They may now garrote after nightfall, and steal their neighbours’ goods and go nearly scot-free. Your c orespondent never saw George, but be is of opinion that he is a very old man-very old indeed. Mr Ireland, Q.C,, ex-minister, also an o’d man, has been doing funny and characteristic things. No doubt, some of your readers know the gentleman. He is in possession, like Duffy, of a LIOOO a-year pension for doing nothing that your correspondent can see, but lifting about L2OOO of salary for a number of years. Well, this sedate exminister, has been among the female acrobats. One of the “ dailies” thus comments on the circumstance “ When we arrive at a venerable grey-haired gentleman, an exMinister of the Crown, capering gaily on the stage, presenting a girl in tights with a gold medal for turning head o’er heels before an audience, we have surely attained the climax of absurdity.” The same paper goes on to say—“ It is to be trusted that it is not the possession of a pension from the State that makes our venerable Q.C. so generous with testimonials.” Said I not well that we are a peculiar people. Wonders will never cease. Your quondam visitor, Smith of Spiritdom, has been developing strongly. Mr Smith has, it would appear, invented a new and Sore advanced hell than the orthodox one. however, under the defect of being somewhat transcendental, but, no doubt, “progress” will soon pure tlii,s defect " A wave of magnetic lire is to gy/eep ovpr tjie earth, by-and-by, because men sue so naughty as not to receive Mr Janies Smith's views of all things past, present, and to come. Why these gentry make so much use of the word magnet, and its cognates, I don't know, nor do I know what magnetic fire is, only that Mr Smith says so. You are it liberty to fancy that it is a deluge sweet as nectar. Perhaps iu using such words the Spiritist? are influenced, like “Bird-o’-freedom'LaWin,” v.iicji instructing his friends iu regard to the canvas for tin? “ Presidential chair,”—

There, you can call me “ Timbertocs that’s wut the people likes, - Suttbin combiniii morril truth with phrases

sech er, strikes. But it is a serious matter, and your correspohcb n't fully endopes tire comments one of the daily papers 'ju referring to Mr Smith’s Sunday exhibition op ‘‘The voice of God —“Truly, extmn's meet, and it was strapge, in the midst of strong denunciatory passages ,pf other forms of worship, to hear Mr Smith deplore of professing Christendom, that for the yvorslnp pf tlip tfu« G°d they had substituted wretched dogmas of tbejr own, utterly oblivious of th,e fact, that the principles he yvas laying down, as the only ground of hope of taxation, would not be regarded as reasonable or rational by probably one man in a hundred-”— ,f One or two of the most promising men in Melbourne have gone to the dogs already (through Spiritism), are in the madhouse, or at its gates. And at whatever risk of wearying the, general public, it is necessary from time to time to recur to the subject, and print these painful facts : they may startle and scare back some who are on the brink of the precipice. Your correspondent knows sensible people, who have seen all spiritistic phpnoipeua that can be produced, have produced ‘ th&h. thomsplyes, and are only' the more 1 persumle'd jihat tjhpy’ Are of t]hc psr%—earthy, ,l Tfyey can and chairs to sqy 'oj’ dp anythihg'tliat a chair or table psu 4ft—ift S»y yea ajrul rjo to the same question, and generally to tpll fheip such profound truths as that' 2x 3 4. ft is amusing to see the superstition, and even idiocy of spiritists. An acquaintance of mine was at a seance, and when the good people were all grave aud expectant, this acquaintance irreverently laughed at the vyhole affair, when he was duly admonished not to ofjeqd tip) spirit, or it would go away. Surely spirits up getting yeyy thin-skinned. It is painful to think m it. ! One is put in mind of Old Calabar and the gods there formerly worshipped.

We would oall attention to (he advertisement notifying the postponement of Captain Baldwin’s lecture on Life Assurance, which is necessitated by the loss of his papers by lire yesterday.