The Evening Star TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3233, 1 July 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1873.

As our readers will remember, on the 16 th of last month we published two interpretations of the Chinese petition : one a translation by the Chinese Interpreter of Victoria, and the other supplied by the Provincial Government. We regret that, in error, the latter was represented to be that presented by Mr Macassey to the Provincial Council, praying for the dismissal of Mr Warden Beetham. We have every desire to do full justice to Mr Macassey, and admit that there is reason for complaint that such an error, under the circumstances so easily committed, should have occurred. We have, therefore, felt it our duty to obtain an exact copy of the petition presented by him, signed by himself as presenter, and by the Speaker of the Provincial Council as having been received from him. We need not reproduce the documents published on the 16th ult. to enable our readers to compare them with the actual petition for the purpose of correction. They will easily be able to do that for themselves, and, having thus fulfilled a duty plainly owing to Mr Macassey and the public, we leave the matter. Translation accompanying tho Chinese petition as presented by Mr Macassey to the Provincial Council 10th May, 1873. To the representatives of the Province of Otago in the Provincial Council assembled. The humble petition of the undersigned Chinese residents in the district of Lake Wakatipu, Shcweth,—That your petitioners have for many years past resided in the district of Lake Wakntipu engaged in business as storekeepers and gold miners. That your petitioners have at all times rendered obedience to the laws of this country, and have proved themselves peaceable and orderly subjects. That your petitioners have long suffered great hardship and injustice at the hands of the Warden of this district, whose decisions in wining and other cases in which your

petitioners are concerned, are animated by violent prejudices against them, and are consequently oppressive and ruinous. That from long experience of this injustice, your petitioners are compelled to regard the law as merely an instrument of oppression to be used against them, instead of a source of protection and redress. That advantage is taken of the notorious prejudice of the Warden against your petitioners by European miners for the purpose of inflicting injury on your petitioners, and profit thereby. That excessive damages and costs are always awarded against your petitioners, while their complaints are unjustly and unreasonably dismissed. Your petitioners therefore pray that the Warden of this district may bo removed, and that another may be placed in his stead. And your petitioners, &c.

A Wanganui paper says that Lottie seems to have regularly won the affections of her dark-skinned admirers. The ladies of Putiki are keeping up a regular correspondence with her, and occasionally, when urgency requires, have recourse to the wire. The number of inmates at the Benevolent Institution on the 30th June, was 75 ; comprising 16 men, 3 women, 35 boys, and 21 girls. The number of cases of out-door relief during the month of June, was 267; comprising 18 men, 68 women, and 181 children. This was done at a weekly cost of Ll4 14s. A. few days ago, at Wanganui, one of Brogden's navvies, imported from the Thames, was sentenced to be imprisoned for stealing money from his mate. During the hearing of the case, the remainder of the seventy navvies were in Court. At its conclusion the whole body surrounded the R.M., wishing to know whether he would not let their comrade off if they were to sign a letter to him making the request. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Mornington Band of Hope was held in the old schoolhouse last evening; Mr Hardy in the chair. The meeting was well attended. The principal feature in the programme was the magic lantern, which caused a vast deal of amusement to the younger portion of the audience. Various songs, readings, and addresses helped to pass a very agreeable evening's amusement. The attendance at the Princess', last night, was very fair. The" pieces performed were, "Moment of Peril," with the "Young Widow" as an after-piece. In the former Mr J. Rayner took the part of Eugene Hamond, and Mrs Walter Hill that of Emily Bury, both characters being depicted with care and ability. Mr Lachlan Macgowan, as Barnaby Wildgoose, was as happy as ÜBual. The other parts in the piece were all very fairly performed. The land fever is stronger in Canterbury than here. The Lyttelton Times of Saturday says :—The applications were so numerous on Thursday last that the Waste Land Bjard was compelled to adjourn till 11 a.m. yesterday, when the business was completed. Up to that date, the amount realised for the month of June was 1.73,182 16s lOd. There k still another Board day in the month, Monday next, and it is believed that the sales for the month will most probably realiso about LBU.OOO. The performance at the Queen's Theatre last night was slightly changed from the advertised programme, "Miriam's Crime" being substituted for "The Devil's Mount," owing to the serious illness of a member of the company. The attendance was only moderate. On Wednesday Miss Anstead takes a benefit. It is quite superfluous to mention the lady's claims for support, aud we feel sure her friends will rally round her on this occasion.

In delivering judgment in the Wanganui Education Kate case, the Chief Justice laid down a most important ruling. It was to the effect that when certain portions of a Provincial Act are ultra vires, such portions may be severed from the remainder of the Act, and that the Act itself is not ipso facto void in consequence of its containing clauses which proves to be uHra vires. This dictum from so high an authority appears to open the door to a great deal of careless and reckless legislation, there being some check against the insertion of illegal sections, in the apprehension lest the whole Act be thus rendered void.

The No. 1 Loyal Pioneer Lodge of New Zealand Protestant Alliance Friendly Benefit Society of Victoria held their usual fortnightly meeting at the Atheneeum Hall last evening, when a number of members were initiated and twenty-six new members proposed, making the society at the present date ninety-six strong. The necessary regalia for the officers and member having arrived from Victoria, it was proposed to hold a soiree in five weeks from the meeting; a committee was therefore formed to make all the necessary arrangements for holding the same, full particulars of which will be advertised. The Provincial Council of Canterbury has passed a resolution to ask the Superinten dent to place a sum of L 5,000 on the estimates to aid in establishing new, and assisting existing public libraries, book clubs, and institutes in the country districts. During the discussion on the motion, Colonel Brett made a somewhat remarkable statement. He said it was of no use passing the vote to give books to the country districts, as fifty per cent, of the residents in the outlying portions of the Province were unable to read or write, and that the books would, therefore, only be used by what he called the higher classes. In an article on the proceedings of the Dunedin Presbytery, in reference to Mr Logan's case, the fWsays :—" In passing the resolution of expulsion, the Presbytery were probably acting in accordance with the rules of their Church, but nevertheless to the lay mind it is painful to reflect that a body of clergymen and elders of a religious domination should have met together in these days to expel from their midst a man who, by a process of ordinary inquiry, had been led to a belief differing in certain respects from that held by themselves, even if his new light were but a poor imposture. At all events, if such actions be necessary, they should be done in secret, lest religion itself be brought into disrepute." The land sold at Patea has realised the sum of L 30,000, and forms part of the confiscated lauds on the West Coast, which are from time to time to be put up to auction. It will be remembered that until within the last few months it had been found not practicable to place those in the market; but the affairs of the West Coast have been taken in hand, and the first result was the sale of the Whenuakura block last April, at prices ranging from LI 12s 6rt to L 3 15s per acre, and that for about 7,000 acres. We (Independent) have now another instance in point that some value can be found for our confiscated territory. The lands disposed of this time are what are styled the railway reserve, a strip of land extending from the Waitotara and Waingongoro, consisting of about 12,000 acres, and comprised of the very richest soil. We are not at all astonished at the numerous attendance or at the prices obtained, and we look confidently forward to the occupation by enterprising settlers of a tract of country which has hitherto been looked upon as the white elephant of the Northern Jsland of New Zealand.

The following somewhat exciting altercation occurred in the Auckland Police Court a few days ago, between Ihe Resident Magistrate and Mr W. L, Rees, hamster, who appeared for Mr Machattie, in tho case Macbattio against Thos. Macfailane and John Lamb, for conspiring to prove a false debt. Mr Machattie was under cross-exami-nation by Mr Hesketh, when bis Worship said he wished the witness would give his answers without causing so much difficulty to the examining counsel. Ho should give the answers more direct. —Mr Rees : Tho witness does give his answers correctly ; it is the counsel’s fault,—lhe Bench: The witness does not give his answers directly. Mr Rees { He does !—The Bench : I will not be contradicted in that coarse manner. If you do not conduct yourself properly I shall not permit you to appear. I will n< £ be spoken to in that way. No gentleman would do so.—Mr Rees : I shall not come to your

Worship for an opiriion of a gentleman.— The Bench : Remember, air, you are only hero on sufferance, and I shall not allow yon to insult the bench. I shall commit you if you continue that conduct. You have several times insulted the opposing counsel. —Mr Rees ; I did not contradict your Worship, You may commit me if you think proper You are judge, and 1 must bow to your decision, Ido not wish to enter into an altercation with the Bench. —M r Hesketb; I say that Mr bees did distinctly contradict the Bench—Mr Rees: I did not—The Bench ; It is not the first time Mr Rees has done it, but it is not worthy of further notice.

On the 20th ult.. Mr Hassell, chairman of the Canterbury Chamber <f Commerce, telegraphed to the Postmaster-General as follows “I have been requested by members of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, to telegraph and point out the serious inconvenience that at present exists owing to the uncertainty respecting the despatch of the out-going English mail, and to ask if Government intend to make arrangements for the conveyance of the New Zealand mait to connect with that leaving Melbourne 16th July, The Chamber have no desire whatever to embarrass the Government in any negotiations that may be pending, but will feel obliged by receiving the earliest information en the subject. ” Mr Vogel replied “ Government fully alive to inconvenience arising from want of regular mail service, and therefore, although there is no vote, and on the last occasion, some four years ago, the question was before the House, the majority were against subsidising boats advertised to run without subsidy every week, they are yet trying to make arrangements to secure regularity. It is no fault of the Government that arrangements are not yst concluded. Negotiations have been proceeding. I may inform you that Government will not agree that advantage should be taken of temporary difficulty to extort unfair terms, and the merchants of Christchurch would doubtless, as good citizens, submit to inconvenience rather than that the country should suffer. As regards temporary arrangements, the agents hitherto have declined to make such until steamer on coast, lam glad to say that this month they have already agreed to let Hangitoto catch mail. Arrangements will be duly notified. Also glad to say there is prospect of permanent arrangement being made.”

In our advertising columns it will be seen that Mr Fred Clifton will give a drawing-room entertainment, assisted by Miss Fanny Sara and Mr Anderson, on Wednesday next, at the drill-shed, Green Island,