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Evening Star, Issue 3148, 22 March 1873, Page 2

With reference to the telegram in our issue of this morning, we are now in possession of fuller particulars of the purchase, for L.30,000, juat madn in Nanier by Mr Thomas Calcutt, on behalf of himseir, Mr Harris, and Mr Rich, of the freehold and station properties of Joseph Rhodes, Esq. The Grange property comprises 1,500 acres, together with 3,500 acres leasehold, 9,000 long-woolled sheep, inclusive of the largest stud flock in the Colony. The Matapiro run comprises 22,700 acres, with 15,000 long-wool sheep, together with herd of cattle, horses, implements, and all improvements. The steam-dredge, belonging to the Government, commenced operations this morning alongside the new jetty, with the object of removing the debris and sand now silting up in that locality. The machine, after exextensive repairs, seems to work satisfactorily. The material raised Is being deposited near to the watermen’s rack, and not far from the old jetty. The appliances, however, are not sufficiently extensive to complete the work in anything like satisfactory time. Only one punt is employed, and durits absence from the dredge, the men employed, and machine alike, arc idle. The result is, that more time is lost at the dredge than utilised, while the dirt is removed only in driblets. Over two hours were occupied this morning in removing one punt-load. The usual weekly meeting of the Roslyn and Kaikarai Institute was held in the Roslyn Hall, on Tuesday evening ; Mr K. Chisholm in the chair. Mr G. Calder read an essay upon “David Hume as a philosopher, a politician, and an historian,” which elicited considerable discussion at its close, some of the members calling in question the philosophy, &c., of that great man and profound thinker. It was intimated that on Tuesday evening next Mr Spiers would read an essay on “ Geologyafter which, the Institute would require to elect a secretary in room of Mr J. Taylor, who is about to leave the district, and who has filled the office very ably for the last two years. A meeting was held last night, in the Provincial Hotel, Port Chalmers, by members of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society, for the purpose of apyointing two local directors for the ensuing year. Mr J. M'Kcuzie was in the chair, Mr Elder, the Port Chalmers agent, explained the benefits conferred by the Society, and stated that it had been exceedingly fortunate in securing good investments. This was attributable to the co operation of the members, and it was to their advantage not only to increase the number of members, but also to secure investments. The shares taken up during the past year amounted to 1,192, making a total from the commencement of the Society to the present time of 3,518. Messrs J. B, Tayler and Kettle, the two retiring directors, were re-appointed, A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings. Wo extract the following remarks from a letter published in the Bruce. Herald , under date Port Molyneux, 14th March : “ I gladly observe that the two Kaitangata Coal Mining Companies are exerting themselves more than previously in giving despatch to the loading of Dunedin vessels, and are evidently awakening to the grand opportunity they now enjoy of establishing this really fine coal in the Dunedin and Colonial markets generally. The new trader, Friendship, which i informed you in my last arrived hero on Tuesday morning, having left Port Chalmers the previous evening, was towed up to the Kaitangata Co.’s jetty by the vessel’s small boat, on Wednesday, and returned here in tow of the Tuapeka on Thursday afternoon, having 68 tons of coal aboard, and but for the lowness of the river at present, could have held 7 tons more. This despatch contrasts most favorably with previous delays, it being no uncommon thing, 1 am informed, for vessels to lie for weeks at Kaitangata waiting for coals. Besides tho vessel named, we have here at present waiting a fair wind to cross the bar, the Flying Squirrel with 30 tons, and the Jessie with 40 tons, the two last-named vessels having loaded at the United A 1 Pit. The “ Jessie’a” cargo, I believe, was intended for delivery alongside the Dacota, but “ wind and tide wait for no jnan,” and the former

having unfortunately proved adverse, the American steamship will be far on her way all likelihood, ere her intended supplies reach Part Chalmers. I am not aware that the Kaitangata coal has before been tried on board the ocean-going steamers, whose future movements are now so uncertain, but if not, it is a pity that such a chance of proving their suitability for such purposes should have been lost, and even if they have before been tried, it is well that every opportunity should be embraced of establishing a name for these coals If Otago prove true to her best interests, and take the proper advantage of her unbounded coal deposits, a large market for the black diamond, which now exists, willyearby year increase to an extent now little dreamt of, and prove one of our largest sources of revenue as a Colony, instead of as for years past pursuing the suicidal policy of sending thousands of pounds of hard cash yearly to Newcastle for coal supplies which lie within our reach in unbounded profusion.” The representatives of Otago at the late volunteer competition, at the conclusion of their passage from Nelson by the Rangatira, presented Captain Hepburn with a testimonial in the shape of a handsome gold mounted mariner's compass (to be suspended from watch-guard). The trinket, which bore the inscription, “To Captain Hepburn from Otago Volunteer Representatives, 1873,” was presented by Captain Wales, of No 1 Company, and in a very neat speech he testified to the good treatment they had one and all met with on board the good ship Rangatira, and to the urbanity and gentlemanly bearing shewn at all times by Captain Hepburn. After thanking the volunteers for the present and for the complimentary terms in which they had referred to him, Captain Hepburn said he had on this trip a troublesome task to perform—that of accommodating the large t number of passengers in the smallest possible space. He was glad to find he had been successful in making them all comfortable, and he hoped that if he should ever have the honor of again carrying the Otago representatives it would be in his power to treat them still better. Among other toasts, that of “ Prosperity to the Otago Volunteers ” was proposed by Mr. Mills, and drunk enthusiastically. Among the Volunteers present were Capt. Wales, Lieuts. Pell and Somerville, Sergeant Taylor, and a number of town and country representatives. When the history of juries comes to be written, the best anecdotes will come from the States, where the panels are fuuny ; and the worst from Australia, where they are unreliable. So far, nearly everything has been beaten by a Queensland twelve, in a great cattle stealing case, which is attracting much attention over the border. A man named Henry Bedford is sworn to have gone into the business wholesale, driving off 100 bullocks, 100 steers, 100 cows, 100 heifers, and one valuable pure white imported bull, from the Bowen Downs station, and disposing of them in South Australia, 2,00 > miles away. The owners are wealthy, and lavished money in the chase; and the bull, which could be swou to among a milliou, enabled them, as they fondly imagined, to run the chief depredator down. Bedford was sworn to have sold the animal, and in a false name; and one of his accomplices turned Queen’s evidence, and made a full confession of the entire transaction. There was no defence, but an attack on the approver, and the Judge, seeing the way the wind was blowing, warned the jury of the ralne of their oaths, and charged them in direct terms for a conviction. They came into a Court for a verdict of acquittal and the Judge ejaculated, “Thank God, gentlemen, the verdict is yours, not mine !” Cattle-stealers, say the Brisbane and Sydney papers, have got a lift, and to station-owners the result is a great blow and sore discouragement, for in future people may lose the heart to prosecute. A second case of the uncertainty of the la v occurred in Melbourne last week. In the case of Bogg v. The London and Aus tralian Agency Corporation, the plaintiff sought L 5.000 damages for wrongful dismal ; and a second case is arising out of the same circumstances. Mr J. H. Clough brought a like action against the Corporation. When the jury were considering their verdict in the first case Mr Ireland, Q.C., one of the learned counsel for the plaintiff, consented to let the second case abide the result of the first, so certain was he of getting a verdict for his client. The other side seemed to be possessed with a similar fear, and refused the offer. The second case was scarcely opened, when the jury who tried the first came into court with a verdict for defendant, to the intense astonishment of everybody. In the second, the verdict was for Mr Clough; damages JL.2,500.

We notice that the Princess Theatre will be opened on Monday and Tuesday evenings. The names of the company will be found in our advertising columns.