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Evening Star, Issue 3273, 16 August 1873, Page 2

The usual meeting of the Roslyn and Kaikorai Institute was held in the hall on Tuesday last. Several members gave seleot readings which were well received. The business for next Tuesday is an essay on “ Vision,” by Mr A. H. Ross. It is said that close upon 600 persons visited the Poultry Show yesterday, so that the attendance on the two days would be about 1,500. Nearly L6O was realised, which will be more than sufficient to pay expenses. In a word, the first show of the Poultry and ('anary Association has both financially and as respects attendance been a great success, The proposed Cape route is nearer a reality than many people imagine. The ‘ • Victorian in London,” in the Age, says that the AngloAuatralian Company is not dead, but only quiescent, waiting till money gets a little cheaper. r < he projectors have obtained j 400,000 worth of capital, have issued L 300,000 worth of debentures, and have entered into contracts for the construction of three ships, at a cost of L 196,000 each. The projectors of the Company are biding their time, and I have no doubt that before very many months are over all their arrangements will be completed.” The Southland News, an uncompromising opponent of Mr Vogel and his Government, pronounces in favor of his new tariff, which it considers an improvement on former ones. “The prosperity of all classes will enable the additional burdens to be borne with comparative ease, while in several directions a strong impetus will be given to new industries. We should have preferred more frankness on the part of Mr Vogel with respect to the tendency of his proposals ; but, after all, it is of slight importance that he should, out of respect for deeply-rooted prejudices, disclaim protection, and declare for revenue only.” If it be literally true that “ God helps those who help themselves,” there is not very much fear for Reefton. There many of the owners of property in central Broadway, having plenty of time at their disposal, have formed a volunteer pick-and-shovel party, to make protective works on the north bank of the river, where it threatens in flood time to make a channel through Broadway. There is something practical, but certainly not very commercial in the idea. It is only a few months since we read of the Pictonians turning out en masse to straighten up their general cemetery, unable to procure a sum for the purpose from their Government. This is what of a verity may be termed putting one’s house in order. ,

The four-oared boat race between the employes of Messrs A. and T. Burt, in the Amateur, and Messrs Kincaid, M'Queen, and Co., in the Queen Victoria, postponed from last Saturday on account of the lateness of the hour at which the other boat race was finished, came off this afternoon. The day was all that could be df.sired for boating; and, in consequence, all the boats procurable were out, giving the bay quite a lively appearance. The course was from the jetty round the buoy at Black Jack’s Point, The race, which took just three-quarters of an hour, was gained by those in the Amateur, who beat their opponents by fully 200 yards. The winning crew were all lads, and they were loudly cheered on passing the jetty.

The permanent way of the Mataura railway is now laid for a distance of six and a-half miles from the Invercargill station, six miles of which has the ballast under the sleepers, and the contractors are using every exertion to push on the completion of the line to Woodlands. r i he engine makes six trips per day, taking some ten trucks of ballast each trip. The work, so far, appears to have been performed in a highly satisfactory manner, as the train runs with a degree of smoothness which promises well for the condition of the line when completed. Fencing has been erected ou each side for a distance of nineteen miles, and the contractors at Kdendale are pushing on as fast as the nature of their work will permit. It is expected, if the weather should be at all favorable, that the line will be completed as far as Woodlands in about five weeks from this date.

Constable M'Laughlin, No. 646, being on duty on the Water of Leith bridge at 3.15 this morning, observed that a fire had broken out in the bottle department of Messrs Marshall and Copeland’s brewery, which adjoins the new stone building erected by the firm. The flames first appeared outside on the roof, and in less than ten minutes they spread along the roof to the end of each gable. The constable lost no time in giving the alarm, and with the assistance of the brewery watchman, and a number of hands from the flour mill opposite, saved as much goods as it was possible to get out of the building. In the meantime the fire bells had been rung, and the Brigade were not long thereafter in making their appearance with their gear. The fire was confined to the bottling room. The firm estimate their loss at about LI,OOO, the stock in the room being valued at L9OO, and the building at LIOO. On the latter, the Australian Alliance Company had a policy for LIOO, and the Victoria Company one for LSO; the stock was insured in the first mentioned office for L4OO. As to the origin of the fire, the impression seems to be that it commenced inside the building, and near to the stove pipe, the latter being used for the purpose of “ getting the beer up. ” The City Police Court was the scene of some little disorder this morning. At yesterday’s sitting, at the wish of the Mayor, the case of Dossett v. Bussell- a dispute about two plans—was adjourned till this morning. The Clerk of the Court having read the information, addressed the defendant, saying “ How do you plead ; guilty or not guilty,” to which Mr Wilson, defendant’s counsel, replied, amidst laughter, “ The case having been fully gone into, we have not the option of pleading.” A witness subpoenaed by the Bench was then called, but, as her evidence was not material, the former said they were of opinion that, the plans having been voluntarily handed to Hoffman, they were his property, and if the architect wished to recover them, he had his remedy by suing for them. Mr Wilson refused to accept that verdict, and intimated his intent'on of giving notice of appeal. A second decision was then announced by the

Clerk of the Court, who stated that the decision arrived at by the Bench was that, unless the plans were handed over to the plaintiff within seven days, defendant should pay LB to him in lieu thereof. Mr Wilson said that was not the judgment of the Court, No L 5 was mentioned by the Bench. He was willing to give up possession of the plans on payment of LIS ; and he gave notice of appeal. He should lay a case of perjury against the plaintiff. The Clerk of the Court silenced Mr Wilson by adjourning the Court. The Bench ro.se, the spectators left, and Mr Wilson walked out in possession of the disputed plans ; but in what position the matter now stands our reporter is unable to state, nor could be find any person that knew. The Mayor and Mr Black were on the bench.

On Saturday last we [Southland Time*) inspected a machine, invented by Mr W. Brunton, C. E , for adzing sleepers required upon railway lines, by taking out the notch to form the bed for the rail. This work has been hitherto performed by hand labor, a good workman with an adze being able to prepare about sixty sleepers per day, with, however, the objection that the required degree of nicety and exactness was not uniformly attained. The machine in question is worked by a small steam-engine, and requires four men in attendance upon it. It is in character something of a planing machine, the difference being that, to secure uniformity, the revolving cutters operate on the under surface of the sleepers, which are brought forward upon a travelling carriage and retained by their own weight in position for cutting. During our inspection the rate of progress was five in a minute, and with some delays 195 were prepared in three quarters of an hour. It is confidently expected that the machine will be able to finish off 1,500 in an ordinary working day. Mr Brunton intends to send a few sleepers to Wellington by way of sample, and from the superioiity of the finish it is very probable that sleepers prepared in this manner will be required upon all the lines in course of construction throughout the Colony. The General Government some time since imported two machines intended for the same class of work as that constructed by Mr Brunton, one of which has been for some time in Dunedin, but it is impossible to turn out a large number with it, as it depends to a great extent on hand labor. In a subsequent issue of the same papers there appears the following letter by “An Old Platelayer”:—“ Knowing something of laying rails, I was interested in seeing the machine invented by the railway engineer. There is no mistake about it—sleepers prepared by it, instead of by hand, will be a great saving, not only in the cost of laying, but in the cost of maintaining. Besides, they can be done at much less cost. One of the men now at work on the Mataura line laying rails, told me that they found a great difference in laying the few they had put in the road already. Accuracy of bed and also of width improved at once even the appearance of the road when laid, and there was hardly any necessity for ever using a gauge, which before was in com stant requisition.”

The evening sermon in the First Church to-morrow will be specially addressed to young men.

The Convocation of the Kilwinning, Otago, R. A. Chapter, is postponed till Wednesday evening next.

The adjourned meeting of the Masonic Hall Company will be held in the Provincial Hotel on Monday, .at eight o’clock. The fortnightly meeting of the Momington Band of Hope will be held in the old schoolroom, on Monday, at the usual hour. The annual general meeting of the Otago Rifle Association will be held in the Drill-shed on Monday, at half-past seven o’clock.

The annual soiree of the Knox Church Young Men’s Society will be held in the class-room adjoining the church, on Wednesday evening, 20th inst., at half-past six o’clock.