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Evening Star, Issue 3106, 1 February 1873, Page 2

“What to do yrjth our criminals” is the subject of a recent editorial in the New Zealand Heralds which remarks that the want of a suitable place for the reception and training of the criminal and ncgleoled

class has long been felt. Our contemporary says this want can be supplied in no better way than by having a prison ship in harbor to which every lad found guilty of a crime should be sent for a short term of years The master of the ship should be an old sailor, and the boys should then be j taught to become seamen. At the Oamaru Police Court, on Tuesday, j John Leitoh was charged with having committed an aggravated assault on the person of W. L. Gray, and was sent for trial at the next sitting of the District Court, Bail was ; accepted in the sum of L 240, viz., himself in | a surety of Ll2O, and two sureties of LCO each. A crowd of cricketers and friends of the Otago team assembled on the wharf this afternoon to wish the eleven success in the approaching contest at Christchurch. As the Golden Age moved away from the wharf, they were greeted witli three hearty cheers, which were warmly responded to by the crowd on board. During tbe morning, telegrams -were received f om Christchurch to the effect that , owing to some cause or other, the Canterbury eleven are not so cheerful as to the result of the match as they were a short time ago. One of the most important mining cases yet tried in New Zealand will be heard beforeibis Honor Mr Justice Chapman, at ' awrence, on the 11th inst. The plaintiffs are Clayton and others, known as the Perseverance Gold Mining Company, and the defendant’s are W. D. Morrison and others ; both parties are miners, occupying adjacent claims. The action is brought for alleged trespass and wrongful conversion of auriferous earth, wherefore plaintiffs claim 1,6,0H0 damages, together with special damages amounting to i 4,000. Defendants deny the a legations, and plead justification by reason of a certain leas? held by them of a piece of auriferous giound, a portion of which is said to form the subject of this action. The case has excited considerable interest amongst the mining community. Land owners in this Province have an illustration in the case determined before the Supreme Court yesterday of the absurdity and folly of having recourse to law in order to settle trivial disputes. From the evidence given in the case in question, it would seem that about fifteen years ago the plaintiff Hartley, and another person named Riddell, became possessors of the hxlf of two sections in block 18, i' orth Taieri, but did not take immediate steps to have tbe blocks correctly partitioned. Time went on until about seven years ago, when Riddell disposed of his interest in the land, and the present defendant became occupier as a tenant of Riddell’s portion. About this time plamtiff discovered that the dividing line was incorrect, and suggested to defendant the advisability of having the matter adjusted either by arbitration or by competent surveyors. Defendant refused to do so, and thus things remained until 1870, when a new fence was required, and the matter was again re-opened. A survey was then made at the instance of plaintiff, shew ing that both parties had trespassed on each others property ; or, in other words, that the dividing line ran into each others land ; that the area partitioned off by defendant amounted to about two and a half acres, estimated as being worth L 25. Plaintiff urged that the matter should be arranged, but defendant declined to have anything to do in the matter. Plaintiff then brought the case into the Supreme Court, and recovered LBO damages, together with costs amounting, it was said, to about LSOO. The usual monthly meeting of the Otag i Schoolmasters’ Association was held this day ; jihere waa a full attendance of members.' Mr Stewart, president for the current year, took the chair. The retiring secretary, Mr Stabks, stated that since the Association last met some twenty volumes from the library had been sent to the branch association formed at Oamaru ; and that the volumes of the “Scottish Journal of Education” previously ordered had arrived, and were now ready for distribution. A letter „ , ,■ * UiUVV the attention of the Association to a resolution of the Education Board, which was published in the Gazette, to the effect “ that the secretary be instruced to take steps, in conjuncaion with school committees and teachers, to secure the use of class-books in public schools as shall give the least possible offence to Roman Catholics and other denominations of Christians” ; and stale ! that copies of nearly all the books in ordinary use in the schools of the Home country were now to b6 seen in his office and open for inspection, Mr Hislop, who was present, explained that this seemed to be the most satisfactory plan for carrying out the of the Board. Mr Hislop also lai.d bpfore the Association copies of the school-books of tlie Irish National Board, prepared for the use of the schools of Victoria under the supervision of Mr Gilchrist, Inspector of Schools. A Committee of the Association, consisting of Messrs Stewart, Russell, Park, Milne, and the Secretary was appointed to consult with the Inspector in the choice of the reading-books most suitable to be recommended for use in our public schools. Mr Hislop stated that the books would be open for the inspection of any teacher or other parties interested during office hours after Monday next, and that arrangements would be made that they could be seen by teachers from the country during Saturday afternoons. The Committee appointed will report to a future meeting of the Association. It was resolved to hold the usual annual dinner of the Association on the Friday preceding the monthly meeting in March, and a committee was appointed to carry put the necess iry arrangements.

The usual fortnightly greeting of the Commerc al Building and Mutual Investment Society will be held next Monday evening, from six to eight o’clock. The members of the Antidote Division, No. 78, Sons of Temperance will celebrate their second anniversary by a soiree in the Head-Quarters Drill Shed on Tuesday, 11th insti.

Volunteers, not representives, but who are qualified, and intend competing at the Colonial firing, are requested to seud in their names to the Militia Office before the 10th hist.