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Evening Star, Issue 3478, 16 April 1874, Page 2

The weather seriously interferes with the attendance at the Bazaar. Up to last night the takings were close upon L7O. We believe it is the Mayor’s intention to call a public meeting of the citizens in the early part of next week to consider the water question and the Company’s proposed application to the Assembly for extended borrowing powers. The City Council last evening resolved to adopt a bye-law compelling the proprietors of public coaches and carriages in town to have breechings on the pole and shaft horses; and to recommend proprietors of country coaches and carriages to do the same. The tender of Mr Robert Martin, who is well khown in connection with works for the Provincial Government, has been accepted by the Otago Dock Trust for the erection of a building a t # Port Chalmers to facilitate the repair of ships. The contract price is not yet mad« public. The Commissioner of Police has received a telegram stating that, at the Bluf, on Tuesday, the second mate of the Omega was fined LIOO for smuggling five gallons of rum oh the previous day. The fine was, however, reduced ™ L2 l , i arrest and seizure was made by Constable Sullivan, The first meeting of the Forbury School Committee was held last night, when Mr MT'ndon was elected chairman, and Mr Cook and Miss M Lachlan appointed temporarily as teachers. Ihe attention of the Government was called t<« the great necessity for increased accommodation m regard to school building in this rapidly progressing suburb. Hokitika, popularly believed to be a deserted goldfields township, contains no less than 73 fmblic-houses, yet it can return only a populaation of between 3,000 and 4,000. Why two-

thirds of these houses (which are not wanted) are licensed at all, we (‘ West Coast Times’) are at a loss to conjecture.

A raeeting of the friends and supporters of Mr Wales was held in his committee-rooms last night. About forty gentlemen were present. A chairman having been appointed, a few questions with reference to the proposed extended powers of the Waterworks Company were put to Mr Wales, when answers were given. Those present then formed a committee in his favor.

Mr Barton met the electors of Dunedin, last evening, at the Peacock Hotel, Princes street south. The room was crowded, and after hearing the candidate at great length on the various political questions of the day, and answering the numerous inquiries as to his future action in the General Assembly, Mr Barton received the thanks of the meeting, an unanimous wish being expressed for his return at the top of the poll. Mr Tyne occupied the chair. Notwithstanding the boisterous weather winch prevailed last evening, Madame Blanche s benefit at the Princess’s was pretty numerously^attended. The programme was a mixed one, including dancing, singing, gymnastics, and a farce. Madame Blanche, besides appearing on the trapeze, gave a character song and dance very nicely. “Grif ” was played for the last time at the Queen’s Theatre last evening. To-night “ A Waif on the Streets ” will be produced.

, board of examiners has sent its report on the late competition for the Provincial Scholarships, and has made, we believe, certain recomnmndations in the subject of standard of marks. Should these recommendations meet with the Superintendent’s approval, the result of the competition will bp publicly announced on Saturday next; but if his Honor should deem it necessary to bring the matter before the Education Board, a delay of a day or two will probably take place. The 1 Southland Times ’ states that the population of Southland has increased by upwards of 3,000 since 1871, the number (approximately) now being 11,837. Our contemporary takes to task the newspaper correspondent who had the temerity to assert that Oamaru was the second, and Invercargill the third town in the Province. It says—“ The present population of Oamaru is stated to be 2,829, that of Invercargill proper 2,484; but the suburbs closely adjacent to the town contain an actual population of more than 1,200, which should be incorporated with the returns' for the town. This makes the actual population of Invercargill 3,684.”

An adjourned meeting of the Eoslyn and Kaikorai Institute was held on Thursday evening, in Eoslyn Hall. The vice-president (Mr Eobert Chisholm) occupied the chair. Mr James Lambert and Mr Horn were elected members of the Institute. Messrs Wilkie Chisholm, Spiers, Gillies, and Macfarlane were appointed a committee to make arrangements for an entertainment to be given in compliment to Miss Webb, who has frequently, by her voluntary and gratuitous services, contributed to the success of the Institute, The President read a very interesting paper (in continuation of one previously read by him) on “ Observation,” which was listened to with great attention, _ The meeting adjourned until Tuesday, 21st mst., when, readings by several of the members will be given.

The surveyors on the line of the Dunedin and Moeraki Eailway are pushing on with their work. They are now camped on the flat having completed the levels from Deborah Bay so far, and they contemplate moving towards Waikouaiti shortly. The Blueskin correspondent of the Waikouaiti paper says : —After leaving the north end of the tunnel there will be some very heavy, cuttings, and very deep, the ground near the Blueskin Heads—the way the line is laid out—being so steep ; bo much so, in fact, that when talung the levels the workmen had to hold on by lumps of rock roots, or anything else they could grasp to save themselves from falling into the gullies or sea. When the line is finished and trains running there are places which will astonish the weak nerves of some over-sensitive travellers as the carriages rush along above precipices. It is stated that the case of White v. M'Kellar has been settled on the following terms ; The defendants agree to pay plaintiffs L 5,000, together with such further sums as will indemnify the plaintiffs against all costs to be

taxed, as between attorney and client, incurred by them in the several actions and proceedings from the commencement of the first action in 1866 up to the present time. The defendants also agree to sign all documents necessary to enable the plaintiffs to obtain a lease of their run. That, upon these conditions being complied with, judgment be entered up in one of the actions now pending for the L 5,000 already mentioned and all costs ; satisfaction is also to be entered in all the other actions, and the plaintiffs are to give tho defendants a release from all other causes of diction. It was a very distressing accident by which young Garty lost his life in Auckland on the 7th inst. Four lads, named Henry and Edward Collins, Garty, and Gome, armed themselves with carbines and went out for a day’s shooting at Titirangi. Finding no sport in the shape of rabbits or birds, the lads commenced to fire at trees, their rifles being loaded with ball cartridge. Garty, a lad fourteen years of age, went to place a mark as a target on a tree, when a rifle in the hands of Henry Collins went off accidentally, shooting Garty in the right shoulder. The other lads observing the accident, .did their best to alleviate Garty’s suffering, and'procured vyater, wherewith they bathed the wound. In addition to this, they sent for Mr Henry Smith (a &dntlemau residing at the Whau), who at once proceeded to the scene but arrived jmjt in time t<i fihd : the'suijferet dead. The deceased was a grandson'of the late Mr Joseph Low, one of the early settlers of the Province,

, Ihe reputed miracle wrought in the ease of tuQ African Sisliops and certain other Christian martyrs, _ who retained the power of speech after having their tongues cut out, has lately been the subject of a rather heated controversy. The fact of their being able to speak after they had lost their tongues was not questioned i it was only claimed that there was no miracle in the matter, or anything to warrant the inference of Divine interposition because of their peculiar sanctity. They may have been most worthy characters, but their tongueless speech was no proof of sucha fact, since the same phenomenon had been Observed where there could bo no .claim to saintliness. - Ah interesting illustration of the truth of the latter position has just occurred in the Royal Free Hospital m London, the case being reported in the

.Lancet for November 8. To remove a caii«eroua ulcer, a patient’s tongue was wholly out out, leaving the floor of the mouth entire. Recovery was rapid, and within a week the patient could speak with sufficient distinctness of articulation to make himself understood, saying, “ I feel easy,” and “ X should like some more beef tea.”

Th.R following curious case appears in a London paper of very recent date .-—Frederick Holmsworth, aged twenty, a stonemason, appeared before Mr Benson at the Southwark .Police Court _ the ' other day, charged with ?, s X nf » threatening and abusive language towards Elizabeth Upline worth, his wife, apparently about fifteen years of age. It appeared from evidence of the wife that she had known the defendant about a year, and had kept company with him unknown to her parents, Jn the latter end of November he told her he had put up the bauns. She asked him what for, and he said, “ To be married to you, to be ®are. u sa, id nothing to her parents about that, but on .December 21 sbe met him a little after ten in the morning, when he persuaded her to accompany him to the church. He coaxed her over and she consented, and they were married by the clergyman. As soon as the ceremony was over they parted. She returned to her parents, and the defendant went to his work. She never told her parents what had occurred until a fortnight ago, when he annoyed and threatened her so much that she was compelled to tell her father and seek his protection. Mr Eepson asked her it they had lived together since the marriage. She replied in the negative. She could'not live with him, as she had no affection for him. Mr Benson was surprised she should have married him if suoh was the case. She replied that he persuaded her to : many him. Mr Smyth here handed to his; worship a certified copy of the registry of mar-; riage between them, where they both declared they were of age to marry. Mr Benson told the defendant that he had placed himself in a very i serious position, and if any one thought proper to proceed against him it would be his duty to

commit him to the Old Bailey for falsifying the registry. It was a voidable marriage, and could be made void by proceedings in the Divorce Court. However, he had nothing to do with that; the defendant must not annoy his wife, and if he promised not to do so, he would allow him to go on his recognizance. The defendant having promised not to annoy her again, was discharged.

Mr Barton will address the electors at White’s Hotel, Albany street, this evening, at 8.30. Passengers per Wanganui for Bluff will go on board to-morrow by the train leaving at 10.30 a.m. We have received the final report of the subcommittee appointed to circulate information respecting the deepening of the Upper Harbor. , We are glad to find from the number of dresscircle tickets already sold that the praiseworthy efforts of the Press Dramatic Club, in aid of the Scott Scholarship Fund, will be crowned with success. We understand that great pains have been taken in rehearsing the different pieces to be produced, so as to make the entertainment thoroughly enjoyable. From the well-known names in the programme, there is no danger of any hitch occurring, which sometimes mars the pleasantness of amateur performances. The first appearance of the Press Dramatic Club is looked forward to with keen interest. With such an attractive programme for so excellent an object, we confidently expect to see the house crowded in every part.