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Evening Star, Issue 3518, 2 June 1874, Page 2

Mr W. M. Hawkins was last evening elected City Valuator for the ensuing year. Kaiapoi (Canterbury) is in the singular position of having an evenly-balanced population—oOl males and 501 females. Mr John Sperry has been appointed Provincial Sub-Treasure, in the room of Mr A. F. Oswin, who retires on three months' salary. The City Council have resolved to apply to Parliament for the extension of their borrowing powers to the extent of 1,250,000, for gas ana water supply purposes. By the San Francisco Mail to-day applications under the nominated system for 142 souls, equal to X2Sk statute adults, were forwarded by the Immigration Officer. These have all been received since May 12. We are informed that at a meeting of the representatives of Orange Lodges held at Milton on May 22, it was resolved to form a District Lodge, and the following were elected office bearers: -D.W.M., Bro. Ferris; D.D.M. Bro. Thomas Stewart; secretary, Bro. James Cunningham ; treasurer, Bro. Marshall. The .'Bruce Herald' learns that a breach of promise case, in Dunedin, of a more than usually interesting description, is likely to occupy the attention of Judge Chapman and a jury before many months. The parties to the suit belong to families of the best position, and the darrages are laid at a very high figure. At <re monthly meeting of the Fire Brigade, last evening, Captain Wain stated that the City Fngineer was getting the plans ready for the new engine station, and from what he had seen of them, they would be most satisfactory. Messrs G-. F. Reid, Bailey, and Moss were reelected honorary members for the ensuing twelve months. . A meeting of the committee re L. T. Stead was held at the Athenaeum Hall last night, for the purpose of receiving the various subscription lists which had been issued. The total amount collected was found to be L 95, so that after having paid the sum necessary to release Stead from gaol, &c, a balance is in hand of L 35, which will be handed over to him. The wet weather last evening was doubtless the cause of the small attendance at both theatres. At the Queen's, so limited was the audience, there being in reality only one person in the pit, that Mr Chapman determined not to give any performance; while at the Princess's things were anything but cheerful. At the latter place Mr Mason takes a benefit to-night. Dr Monckton, of Riverton, having arranged for the lease of the Auckland Islands with the General Government, is now about to take possession. The expedition consists of—F. A. Monckton, lessee ; "Mr D. Durbridge, of Orepuki; Mr M'lvor, of Invercargill; and Mr W. E. P. Scott, Riverton ; one woman, a crew of four sailors, and the captain, C. H. Welch, of Port Chalmers. The Mabel Jane, with the members of the expedition, sailed from Riverton on May 20. The Oamaru correspondent of the ' Bruce Herald writes:—" A. variety of oat, somewhat new to this Province, has been grown by one or two farmers in this district, and, under ordinary circumstances, has given an extraordinary yield, nearly 100 bushels per acre having been obtained. It is called the Norway oat, and was first grown in the Colonies in Victoria, when it proved very prolific, and, I believe, exempt from the attacks of caterpillar. The oat is of a black color, but without the characteristics of the * wild oat.'" At one o'clock to-day, Messrs J. Logan and Brown, J.P.'s, attended at the Gaol, and heard a charge against Elizabeth Connell, at present a prisoner under a sentence of six months' hard labor, bne was now charged with stealing a waterproof cloak, value L2, on the 28th April, the property of Miss Barbara White, of Ravensbourne. Prisoner pleaded guilty to the offence, and was sentenced to four months' hard labor, cumulative on the previous sentence of six months. Mr Sub-Inspector Mallard represented the Crown. _ Although it was announced that the male immigrants by the Buckinghamshire and Janet Court would be open for engagement at the Immigration Barracks to-day, not a single engagement was effected. This was no doubt owing to the departure of the mail, and the short notice given not being sufficient to allow the country people to come into town. Both male and female immigrants will be offered to- ,°^ e . souls go to Invercargill, and fifty to Riverton to-morrow.

There was some hard hitting between the head of the Government and Mr Pish in the Council this afternoon. The latter was designated by the former as a political scavenger, and Mr Fish retorted by saying that no one knew better than Mr Eeid the advantages of such personages, and more required their services. Mount Benger's member threw oil on the troubled water by remarking that the whole discussion might have been avoided had the Provincial Secretary explained, in the first instance, that tfce Executive minute to which reference had been made, had been agreed to on the Ist of April. A London letter, dated April 18, says : - " In the eastern counties of England a very bitter conflict has broken out between the farmers and their laborers. The latter have joined the Union, which was started a couple of yeaisago, with its head-quarters at Warwickshire, and have demanded an extra shilling a week. This has been refused, and the laborers have consequently struck on one or two farms. The farmers generally retaliated by locking out all Union men, and declaring that henceforth they will employ only non-Unionists. It is said the landlords are supporting the farmers, and threaten to eject tenants who do not hold aloof from all relation with the Unionists." A number of volunteers who claim to be entitled to land certificates for the length of time they have served met at the Provincial Hotel, last evening, for the purpose of taking steps to obtain the same. Sergeant Pollock, N. 1)., was in the chair, and a lengthy discussion took place. The action taken by some of the members of the Provincial Council was favorably commented upon, and it was stated that Mr Reeves was also likely to take the matter in hand in the House. A committee was appointed to take what steps they thought proper to further their object, consisting of the following gentlemen :—Officers of Companies; Gunner Franckeiss, Art. : Sergeant Neale, No. 2 : Vol Nightingale, No. 1; Gunner Neill, Naval Brigade; Vol Strode, Wa.ikari; Vol. Sibbald, mu ' Otfver, Band ; and the chairman. Ihe meeting then adjourned till this evening. " When lawyers fall out who shall decide ?" The Provincial Council was, this afternoon, called upon to decide a knotty point, on which its members of the legal profession were divided in opinion. On the second reading of the Licensing Ordinance Amendment Ordinance, which is to authorise the issue of "refreshment room licenses," the question was raised as to the power of the Council to pass such a measure, in the face of tbe Act of the General Assembly of last session. On the one hand, the Provincial Solicitor and' Mr Haggitt were strong in their opinion that they had full power to do so ; while Mr Turton was equally strong in his conviction that they had not. Mr Speaker complimented lawyers on their skill in framing ambiguous clauses ; but Mr Haggitt backed the Legislators, and evidenced the Licensing Act itself, but fairly 1 turned the laugh against Mr Gillies when he said [ it was fortunate for the Council that he could better interpret the standing orders than Acts of Parliament.

The news contained in our Fiji files per City of Adelaide is unimportant. The only-item of consequence is as follows “On the I9fch inst. a serious disturbance occurred at Ban, when three Fijians were wounded. Two Government employes were paid for their services in cocoanuts. Before these were taken away the Natives heard that the Government was at an end, and so determined that these cocoanuts should not be delivered, and in order to prevent it, and rather than they should be taken, they threw the nuts into the sea. On the Sunday named two or three Natives, who were armed, came to our informant and asked him his business, and stated that it was the intention of the people of Lovu to club or trample on a white settler there. They then took away the white man’s wife (a half-caste) and child, and treated them badly. The whites then present took up arms in defence of the white man and his property, when a skirmish ensued, and three Natives were wounded slightly. The white man is in fear of being killed by order of the chiefs, under the impression that there is no Government in these islands, and that they may do -as they please.” The anniversary of the Mornington Band of Hope and Total Abstinence Society was celebrated last evening in the Mornington District Hall. Notwithstanding the cold and boisterous weather the hall was crowded. Tea was'provided by Mr Kroon. After tea the chair was taken by the Rev. Dr Stuart. The auuual report of the society stated the number of names on the roll-book was 250, of whom scarcely any had violated the pledge. The income of the society far the year had beenLlO, which, with a balance of Lll 17s 6d at credit, of the society last year, made a total of L2117s 6d. The expenditure had been L1717s 6d, leaving a balance to the credit of the society of L 4. An extra expenditure had been incurred during the past year in making additions to the library, and rebinding some of the old books. The report stated that the “ library of this society was much used by all classes in the district.” The adoption of the report having been moved and seconded, was unanimously carried. Songs, readings, recitations, and addresses filled up the remainder of the evening—the rendering of the “Cotter’s Saturday Night,” by a gentleman, and Beautiful Snow,” by a lady, being specially worthy of mention. Votes of thanks to tlm chairman and others taking part in the evening s entertainment, brought the proceedings to a close.

The railway companies of America are trying their best to encourage the San Francisco service. It will be remembered that when Mr Hall was in California, he opened negotiations with the managers of the different lines of railway betwsen that city and Now York, with a view to the establishment of what may be termed an Australian mail and passenger train by which passengers and mails from Australia would be forwarded direct to New York without changing cars, or the customary delays of the regular trains. The first step in the direction of affording Australian passengers every convenience, and effecting the speedy, transit across the continent of our mails was taken on tho arrive} of tho Tartar on her last upward trip. Exactly one hour after the ship was made fast to the wharf, the iron horse was thundering through the valleys and over the plains and mountains of California with the Australian mail and as many of the passengers as wished to go. They were comfortably provided with ample accommodation in palace cars placed at their disposal. Two days after the B,i rival of the Tartar a number of her passengevs concluded to leave. They were provided with two palace cars exclusively for their own use, no passengers being admitted to them, ihe next day another party left, and they were similarly accommodated. They went by the quickest route to New York, pnd during the journey would have all the comforts of a firstclass hotel. The palace cars at their disposal are luxuriously finished and furnished, and resemble more drawing-rooms in hotels than apartments «on railroad cars.

Mr M'Glashan, to-day, presented a petition to the Provincial Council from MrW.H. Arrow as chairman of a meeting of Licensed Victuallers, asking the Council to cause the followin'* (tmf. 310 be . forvvard *0 the General Assembly” That taking into consideration the value of hotel properties in Otago, as also the value of the land whereon the same are erected—as instance land recently sold in Princes street, Dunedin (whereon an hotel is built), realizing at the rate of Xj9ojooo sin acre— it may fairly be presumed that L 1,000,000 is not an over-estimate of hotel properties in the said Province, and in dealing with so large an interest it is the opinion of this meeting that the Licensing Act for New Zealand regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors (22nd Oct., 1873) is unjust in its operation and totally unlit for the requirements of such a population as that of Otago, as no provision is made therein to license houses on new goldfields, thereby affording opportunities for slygrog selling and its attendant evils. Moreover, licenses can only be granted at annual sittings held by irresponsible Boards, and it is believed that no transfer of licenses can now take place, hence the operation of the Act is additionally injurious. That, in the opinion of this meeting an alteration in tiie said law as immediately required—its iniquitous and unjust effect has a tendency to rum many respectable persons in the Colony, not only as lessees of hotels, but also as the owners thereof, and consequently productive of great injury to tradespeople and others, through loss of custom. That it is believed the said Act is not legally in force, as there'’is nothing therein contained as to when it

comes into operation (see clause 13), and that clause 23 is unworthy of the statute books of the Colony, granting as it does, without appeal or re-hearing, a despotic power over the fortune and property of every person who may apply to any Board or Commissioners for a publican’s license. That it is respectfully suggested that there bo a clause inserted in any new .or amended Act to the effect that none but registered electors shall he permitted to oppose the granting or renewing licenses.” A deputation from the City Council, consisting of lus Worship the Mayor, Councillors Ramsay, Reeves, and Walter, Mr H. S. Mirams, and Mr Massey, waited upon his .Honor the buperinteudent yesterday afternoon, with reference to two or three questions affectmg its interests. Ihe Mayor said the first subject was concerning the Town Belt. Twelve months ago the Corporation voted L 2,000 for the purpose of laying out and beautifying the Belt, and that amount had almost been expended, The plans (which were produced, and explained to his Honor by Mr Mirams), if carried out, would involves an outlay of LIO.OOO. What the deputation desired was that the’Government should vote the sum of L2,ooo—only a fifth part of the amount to be expended—to assist in the object. Thera would be a main road nearly five miles in length, with numerous branch roads, which would lead to the Belt from all parts of the town ; but the L 2,000 voted by the City Council would only pay for the bare formation of them. The other members of the deputation stated their views to a similar effect, Or. Ramsay saying that, as it was now proposed to erect the new University buildings on the Belt, it was necessary to have good roads and walks in the neighborhood. Cr. Reeves said that there had been objections to the City Council expending their money in this way, but that these would be removed if the Government subsidised the amount; and also remarked that if the Corporation were empowered to leave portions of the Town Belt, the rates would thereby be reduced. This latter, however, it was immediately decided, could not be done. His Honor thought the improvement of the Belt a splendid idea, and said that twenty years ago he had moved in the matter of getting an Ordinance passed with that view, but they had then too many lawyers amongst them, and everything they attempted was declared illegal. The Estimates he bad just sent dowu to the House, so that it would be too late for any amount to be placed on them, and, it fact, it was a question of ways and means. It was an important and most desirable work, and he would bring it before the notice of the Executive to-morrow ; but there was really no money to spare, and it was impossible to make bricks without straw.— The Castle Street Diversion Ordinance Was then touched upon, and his Honor promised to get a clause inserted in it, guaranteeing that the Corporation should receive the proceeds of the sale of the reserve.—With reference to the Cumberland street extension, his Honor said the Government could do nothing more than had already been arranged ; they had split the difference with the Corporation, and now that body was asking them to do so again.—The Mayor then spoke of the unseemly appearance of the shanties and buildings on parts of the railway reserves, and asked if the Coporation might lease them, so as to get better buildings erected. His Honor could not decide that question at present, but thought the railway should look after itself. r £r.“n etiin £ of the Guidin S Star Lodge, 1.0.G.1., will beheld to-morrow evening, to confer degrees. The usual meeting of the Journeymen Saddlers’ Society will be held in the Athenaeum Hall to-morrow evening at eight o’clock.