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Evening Star, Issue 3434, 23 February 1874, Page 2

The number of nominations of immigrants sent from Southland by the last Suez mail was 259. W® see by the English papers that General Sir U. A. Cameron, who commanded the British forces in the Waikato war, has been made a G. 0.8. A late telegram in the Melbourne papers says it is reported that Prince Leopold is suffering from consumption, and likely to visit Adelaide. The Lynch Family of Bellringers were passers by the Ladybird, and are en route for Melbourne, They have met with success in every place visited by them. The polling for the first Mayor of Arrowtown took place on the 17 th inst., and resulted in a tie between Messrs Goldston and Pritchard, who obtained thirty votes each. The third candidate, Mr Paterson, had only seventeen votes, A fresh election has been ordered for the 27th.

The Superintendent has received intimation from the Premier that the fine steamship Atrato, 3,500 tons burthen, and commanded by Captain J. R. Husband, sailed from London for Port Chalmers on Feb. 6 with 700 emigrants for Otago and Canterbury. Fifteen members joined the newly started Press Dramatic Club on Saturday night. Mr J. M. Perrier was appointed stage manager; Mr Mitchell, hon, secretary; and Messrs Humphries, Bracken, and Cohen, a committee. The first performance is intended to take place in about six weeks. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, Andrew Williams was fined L2 and costs for persuading two seamen to desert from the ship Lutterworth. Mr Mansford appeared for the prosecution, and Mr Cook for the defence. Drs Drysdale and O’Donoghue were the presiding magistrates. We hear that it is likely Mr G. E. Barton will contest the City seat in the Assembly rendered vacant by Mr Bathgate’s resignation. Mr George M'Lean is unable to come forward, because he is not on the roll, and for the same reason one or two other gentlemen whoso names have been irtflnironed during the past few days cannot be put in nomination. Boucicault’s three-act drama, “ Ireland as it was,” attracted a capital attendance downstairs at the Queen’s Theatre on Saturday evening. Miss Watson was excellent as Judy O’Trofc, and was ably assisted by Mr O’Brien as Ragged Pat. A musical interlude followed, and seemed to give general satisfaction. Miss Watson takes a benefit to-morrow night, when no doubt there will be a full house. An unfortunate girl, a Norwegian, a recent arrival in Canterbury, but whose name is not yet known, has been arrested in Christchurch on a charge of child murder. Her actions lately gave rise to suspicion, and Inspector Pender made a discovery the other day which leads to the belief that a child recently born has # been burnt to death. A man, also a foreigner, who gave tho name of Brown, was arrested with the woman. For strict morality and ultra-Sabbatarianism commend us to the good folk of Otahuhu, a suburb of Auckland. There, very recently, four little boys were mulcted to the tune of LI each for playing cricket on Sunday afternoon. Two of the boys live in Auckland, and are kept at close work all the week. On this unfortunate Sunday they came on a visit te their parents, and after the morning service indulged m the very wicked game of cricket. An extraordinary sentence was passed by the Resident Magistrate at Wairoa a few days ago. One Archibald Fergusson, an old settler, was charged with stealing a pig valued at 14s, and the charge being proved was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment! While at exercise in the yard of thelock-up at Clyde, prior to removal to the Napier Gaol to undergo his sentence, he effected his escape, and, according to the latest Napier papers, is still at large. Shortly before five o’clock on Sunday morning, Sergeant Deane discovered the bakehouse of Mr W. Wright, Rattray street, to be on fire, The police, who were parading for the morning relief, were quickly on the spot, and with the assistance of some of the neighbors, quickly extinguished the flames. It is thought that the fire resulted from some pieces of wood having been taken out of the oven and thrown on top of it. The damage done does not exceed L 5. A good story, the genuineness of which we can vouch for, cornea from “ Penny-a-word Hall,” the telegraph office “ A lady knocked at the receiving window a few days ago and handed in a parcel addressed to Oamaru, with the remark ‘How much?’ The courteous clerk replied, ‘ It’s a good joke, but we can’t send parcels, ma’rm.’ The lady retired with a slight smile, but the merriment of the telegraph youths, who crowded to hear the ‘goak,’ can be better imagined than described.” We learn from an exchange that two young men in Victoria, actuated, no doubt, by a spirit of research, lately amused themselves by testing the efforts of croton oil on the human system, They adopted the plan of putting a few drops on various cakes in a confectioner’s shop, where the dainty morsels were either left there for the benefit of the public, or purchased by them and presented to one of their own friends. The experiment must have been highly satisfactory to the scientific inquirers several cases, with all tho symptoms of violent cholera, having been the immediate result. Nice youne men.

In August, 1872, a man named William Shuker was convicted in Napier of a murderous assault on a servant girl named Mary Ann Manchester and her mistress, Mrs Hardy. He was very justly sentenced to penal servitude for life. It is now stated that he has inherited property to the extent of LIO,OOO, and is suffering the bitter remorse which arises from a consciousness of what he has lost through his mingled folly and crime. He is said to be incessantly writing to those who have known him in better days, imploring them to use their influence in his behalf; but as yet his appeals have failed to excite their sympathy. The police in Southland are making a vigorous raid upon sly grog-sellers. On the Iflth instant one Alexander M'Lennan was charged before Mr M‘Culloch, R.M., with having sold liquor r U his house at Mavis Bush without a license. The facts, as proved in evidence, were these : On the 11th inst. a laborer named Brinkworth obtained a glass of whisky, for which he paid, from M'Lennan’s wife, who took it from a cupboard. Later in the day Constable Boyce went into the house and found a man named Halliday drunk in a bed-room, with a glass of whisky in his hand. Halliday, who described himself in court "as a Good Templar when he could not get it,” said he brought the whisky into the house. The Magistrate considered the case clearly proved, and imposed a fine of L3O and costs.

We commend to the attention of the Provincial Government the opinion of the Premier of New South Wales on the subject of tolls. Mr Parkes, in reply to a question put to him in Parliament, is reported tonave said “ that it is desirable to abolish the tolls immediately on the entrance to towns which catch the producers living near and going into the towns. That the Government have the matterfunder their consideration, and the opinion of the Government is that all tolls ought to be abolished in cases where they just catch people at the entrance of the towns. Tolls, under all enlightened Governments, are being rapidly abolished and in no long time will only be remembered bv reference to history.” Resolutions having for their object the abolition of tolls near towns are to be introduced by Mr Parkes. The decision of the Athenreum Committee to open the Reading-room on Sundays was carried by seven to three ; and yesterday the room was thrown open front 2 p.m. till 6 p.m., Mr Winter, one of the committee, being in charge. There was quite a rush during the early part of afternoon, and it was with difficulty that sitting accommodation could be obtained! Many who attended were doubtless there out of curiosity, but the bulk appeared to derive benefit from the opportunity thus afforded them ot reading the newspapers and magazines, ihere was grumbling, >V e believe, because members were pot allowed to the .magazines away on Saturday night. The come ttuttee, however, jjave taken steps to remqve similar compkipts. An additional number of

each magazine has been ordered, and it is contemplated to take measures by which a larger number or periodicals than has hitherto been at disposal- can bo issued immediately after the arrival of a marl. We hear that the Sabbatarians intend to make another effort to close the institution on Sundays; and are requisition* mg for another meeting on the subject. Miss Claus gave three entirely now selections at her concert on Saturday evening. First an elegy by Ernst, the beauties of which the audience imperfectly appreciated; afterwards Benots Echoes of the Alps,” and lftStly Alard’s arrangement of “II Trovatore,” in whmh were introduced “ II balon,” “Stride la Vampa,” and part of the “Miserere,” and “Ah die la morte. Brilliant as was her execution of the two first mentioned pieces, her triumph was decidedly in the operatic selections which being better understood by her audience were more to their taste. The performer had good naturedly complied with two previous demands for encores, substituting “ Auld Lang Syne” in one case, and Dancea’s " Tarantella"’ in the other, and contented herself in this instance with twice bowing her acknowledgments, hut to no purpose. The audience was only satisfied with her giving the waltz from “Faust.” which as everything Miss Claus does, was admirably given. Mr Anderson and M. Rekel gave a duet from “Faust,” and Miss Rekel and . were heard to advantage in Parigi ote cara.” Wo cannot help thinking it was in exceedingly bad taste for some people to hiss during a part of the concert. To-night Mws Claus will play selections from “I Lombardi, which Greeted a fuvovc in Melbourne. The following memorial addressed to the City Council by Mr G. Matthews has been handed to us for publication “Having heard that it is proposed to put a stop to the depastunng of homed cattle and horses on the Town Belt, we the undersigned gardeners and other citizens respectfully submit that such s proceetkng would be unwise and inexpedient, for the following reasons The Town Belt at present, where cattle have access, may justly be compared to that of a well-kept lawn, with the advantage that little or no outlay is necessary to keep the vegetation from becoming too rank or luxuriant. This state of things is chiefly owing to the fact that cattle are allowed te depasture within the boundaries of the Belt. Putting a stop to such depasturing would, in our opinion, prove greatly detrimental, inasmuch as that which now forms a pleasant and agreeable place of recreation for the citizens, would thereby as a natural consequence become nothing better than a wilderness of noxious and unsightly weeds; the grass would become so rank that walking upon it would be out of the question. Moreover, the vegetation when dessicated by hot winds would be very liable to catch fire, and possibly cause serious damage to property m the vicinity of the Belt. We deem ft hardly necessary to remind the Council that a considerable amount of revenue accrues from the depastunng of cattle on the Belt, and in the event of their being driven off, not only would there be a direct pecuniary loss to the Corporation in the shape of depasturing fees, but a large expenditure would have to bo incurred for labor maintain the Belt in a suitable condition for the purpose of a recreation ground. Other reasons could be advanced in favor of allowing cattle to graze on the Belt, but those above stated will we trust be sufficient to convince the Council of the wisdom of continuing the pre3®n* system.” A copy of the above lies at Mr Matthews’s seed warehouse for signature. The Maerewhenua difficulty is actually in the law courts. Howe and party have been served with a writ calling upon them to show cause hy _ Jj~®y should not be mulct in the sum of LIO,OOO for the plaintiffs’ loss in having to send theirclipHomeinthe grease,insteadofinawashed state. Tracings of the blocks of land accompany the declaration show that the river only touches the separate blocks at two comers, and one of these points of contact is stated to be a boundary consisting of the river Maerewhenua and reserves, and the other is described as being the river Maerewhenua and Crown lands, the, Crown lands being clearly shown—even written in—on the tracing between the river and the blocks in question. From this it is inferred that the orthodox course of reserving to the crown the river banks of the Maerewhenua has been complied with in due course. “If this is •jo,” remarks the ‘Mount Ida Chronicle,’ “our friends at Maerewhenua may take heart—for supposing a right could be made out supexiorto their licensed right to pollute, it is clearly not m the hands of freeholders on the river, but the Covernment, who hold the river reserves. On this point there need be no delicacy as to an expression of opinion, for it is a mattgr of teohnical evidence that the survey department’s maps will at once make clear. .... Recognis? ing the delays, the uncertainty, and the ex* pense of the law, we are of opinion that the fust step the Central Miners’ Association should take on assembling, should be to bring every pressure available to hear on the Provincial Go, vemment to take upon itself the onus of ohtaming the opinion of the law courts. Messrs Bortou and M'Master only want an acknowledgment of what they no doubt by good advice-their rights. The miners only want protection in the carrying out of work they are licensed (under delegated powers) to do. Why should the Government force these different interests into conflict, leading to bitter rivalry and hatred, instead of a commingling of interests tor the general good. Can anything bp more cowardly—more unstatesman. , e • . What difficulty cap possibly exist in submitting a case to the Supreme Court Judges, drawn up and argued by three lawyers of repute—one for the Government, one for the freeholder, and one for the goldminer. A decision thus obtained would, at any rate by stating the law, make apparent its necessary safeguards for the rights of property, and show what paths a liberal and progressive legislation might follow. The annual soiree of the North Dunedin Church is advertised to take place to-morrow (luesday) evening, at half-past six. Tim friends of Dr Sorley are requested to meet in the lower room of the Athenajum tomorrow evening, at seven o’clock, to consider the late case of Hunt v. Sorley.