The Evening Star. MONDAY. JUNE 15. 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3529, 15 June 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY. JUNE 15. 1874

After the prorogation this afternoon, hon. members went to inspect Mr Copeland’s new brewery. The munificent sum of LSO has been placed upon the Estimates as a reward for the discovery of copper and other valuable metals in tho Province of Taranaki. Warden Oarew, of Lawrence, has been allowed twelve months’ leave of absence, and Mr Warden Robinson will have charge of the Tuapeka district until his return. His Honor Mr Justice Chapman will sit at the Supreme Court in Banco on Wednesday next, when a long list will be presented Amongst the cases, that of Macassey v. Bell will again crop up. We (‘ Dunstan Times’) hear that a child, about three years and a-half old, had been missing from its home, Tinker’s Gully, at the beginning of the week. At the time the news reached us the poor little thing had been away for two days and one night, and, though a systematic search had been made, nothing could bs heard of it The parents, Mr and Mrs Martin, were naturally in a distressed state of mind at the loss of the child. The ‘ Southland Times’ has been informed by a gentleman who has recently returned from a business tour in the Wakatip district that there are thousands of bushels of grain which the farmers cannot dispose of even at the low prices ruling, viz., .3s per bushel for wheat, and the same for oats, of good quality. The difficulty is the absence of economical means of transport to the seaboard Tne inhabitants of the district, therefore, look anxiously forward to the time when the line of railway will be completed to Kingston. The 1 Southland Times,’ in noticing the death of the Jate Mr Fielder, says ; —“Mr Fielder was a native of Tasmania, and came over to New Zealand about the year 1858. He was appointed sheep Inspector for the Province of Southland in August, I§6l, and continued to hold that office until his death. Mr Fielder was recognised by all interested in pastoral pursuits as a most careful and efficient inspector, and to the assiduous and painstaking performance of his duties may be attributed the complete immunity from the disease of ‘ scab ’ which the Southland runs have enjoyed for many years.” More libel cases. The Auckland ‘ Evening "’tar ’ publishes the following telegram from its Coromandel gorrespondent :—“Messrs Hesketh and BichnpJ'vd have been instructed by Captain Hargreaves to wf jjbe to the proprietors of the Thames ‘ Star,’ demanding the author of the telegram published in that jo irnal last Thursday, characterising Captain Hargreaves the most uncivil captain in the Province, otherwise he will proceed against the ‘ Star ’ for libel, damages Lsuo. it is also rumored that Captain Hargreaves will proceed against the ‘ Coromandel News for articles appearing in the last three issues.” At this morning’s sitting of the Supreme Court, in Bankruptcy, before Mr • egistrar Ward, the final examinations pf John Stewart, James Walker, William Goodison, amt David Graham were adjourned to the 22nd inst. ; Henry W. Mitchell, Henry Walter Murray, and Alfred Wood were adjudged bankrupts, first meeting in each case to be held on the 23rd instant; Hume Campbell ixou’s final examination was fixed for the 29th instant; the attendance of \ndrew O’Connor was dispensed with until the 22nd instant ; and Alfred Butler’s time for complete execution of his deed of arrangement was extended till July 13. The following analysis of the business of •ession XXXITf., 1874, was read by the Speaker:—Length of session, 4§ days ; number of days on which the Council sat, 31 ; average length of sittings, 6£ hours; messages received from his Honor • the Superintendent, 21 ; Addresses and resolutions passed and forwarded to his Honor and the Government, 183 ; Bills introduced, 39 ; Bills passed, 39 ; petitions presented to the Council, 113; papers laid on the table, 80; notices of question given by members, 72; answers to questions inserted in the journals, 68 ; notices of motions given, 303 ; committees appointed, 9 ; reports brought up from committees, 55 ; divisions recorded, 89; entries in journals, 760. (Signed) W. E. Sessions, Clerk of the Council.

John B. Gough, the well-known temperance orator, is not at ail pleased, we observe from the American papers, with the female crusade against rum, and expresses himself as follows on the mestiop :—“ I would be unwilling to see my wife or my neices going about among the saloons, praying and sing ing hymns. I think the movement wojrid help the weman suffrage cause very muib, and I have always had a sort of dis ike to the woman suffrage business The idea of a band of ladies going through the streets singing hymns and praying is repugnant to me. It is the duty of policemen to clear away a crowd of men obstructing tho pavement, and I think that women come under the same restrictions.”

Cricket appears to be becomingquite a fashionable game with the ladies in Victoria, and we are pleased to see that those who play it in, public, do so in order to further a good object. On the Queen’s birthday the ladies of Geelong played a match at Steigletz, when a good sum was gathered to be given to an intirm and aged couple in the district who much needed charitable aid. The report adds: ‘ The young ladies thoroughly understood the game, and played with good judgment and great skill. There was not a discordant word uttered, or any hitch in the proceedings, or the least confusion throughout the whole play. The ladies of North (Steigletz won the victory, and with most modest dignity received the applause of the assemblage.’ The winning team made 102 runs in one innings, and their opponents 56 in two innings. A man named Hawthorne died “suddenly,” at Beechworth, Victoria, a few days since. According to the landlady of the hotel where he was staying, “ deceased had called at the house on his way to England ten weeks and three days previously, having received some money to take him there, and having had L 4,000 left him at Gome.” It was arranged that he should remain in the house, paying LI a week for his board, the account to be gettled when he left, the score for drinks to be paid “as he went along.” The landlord asgurred jibe jupy that he refused the man liquor “ scores ot tim.es,” but from the account rendered by Mrs Bently, i,t appears that exactly 20(1 drinks a week were paid for, which establishes within a fraction bis average of 3(1 a day for the whole time he was drinking himself to death.

The Melbourne ‘ Age ’ has the following!: “A cpripus letter has been sent to a wellknown citiaen of Emerald hill ‘ Memo.— A letter to your addreps, No. now lies in thi< office, detained for one penny postage. On your tilling up the form at the back, and enclosing New South Wales postage stamps or cash to the above amount, it will be forwarded.’ Could absurdity ba made more absurd ? The letter might be most important, and by ics detention the person addressed might loose a quantity of money. Why not have sent the letter, and. charged

the penny at the other end, instead of tying ridiculous strings of red tape, like the snakes about Lancoon, ronnd fhe neck of this unhappy recipient. The system is absurd, and the New South Wales authorities ought to know the fact.” The same curious regulation is in force in New Zealand.

“ Caught in their own trap” were certain members t)f the Provincial Council opposed to Mr J. C. Brown’s motion giving power to the Government to construct, under certain conditions, a branch line to connect the Abbotsford coal pita with the Southern Trunk Railway. In order to have the matter at once disposed of, it became necessary for the member for Tuapekato move the suspension of toe standing orders, which must be done when a majority of two-thirds of the House is present. The motion was carried on the voices, whfn a division was demanded. I hereupon the whole of the members who were opposing the motion walked out of the hall. Tiie House went to a division, and there being no “noes,” and no one to call Mr Speaker’s attention to the fact that the necessary quorum was not present, the motion was put and declared carried, amid some hand clapping and considerable laughter.

The following items of mining intelligence are taken from our country exchanges :—At Clyde, the river is falling to a very low level, giving the dredgers and beach workers a fair chance to work; but few are taking advantage and setting in. M‘Kersey’s dredge at Alexandra, and the Salamander steam spoon dredge have both been manned, and commenced operations; but we do not hear with what result. Mr Coleman, on his beach claim below Alexandra, and Mr M. Anderson, at Butcher’s Point, have both commenced their winter campaign. There have been as yet no returns from either claim—the former being short of water to drive his wheel for pumping; the latter up to now being engaged with a strong gang of men in breaking through a layer of larue boulders, which it is supposed lie on the golden wash. The miners are taking every advantage of the low state of the Shotover Kiver, and are working vigorously. vVe hear of some very good results, especially from Butcher’s Geek

I lie Council Chamber is to undergo a complete transformation during the recess The abortions which have had to serve as seats, cost so much money, and afforded so little comfort to their occupants, have been condemned, and under the auctioneer’s hammer may pass into general hands. The Speaker’s gallery will be removed from its present position, on each side of the chair, and placed in front of the strangers’ gallery, Members’ seats will be brought close up to the speaker’s chair. The first row will be on the floor level, the second slightly raised, and the back row about a foot higher than the second. There will be a passage at the back, and sectional divisions of seats a> at present. The fireplace, around which hon. members were wont to congregate in such numbers, is to be blocked up. It was proposed, we believe, to support the roof by arches, to spring from the window heads ; but we hope that idea, which would effectually spoil the appearance of the hall, wii not be carried out. Mr Lawson will pre nare the plans for, and superintend the alterations.

There were only three prisoners for trial at the criminal session at Invercargill on Friday. Alex. Davidson was sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment for housebreaking, and Prank Golding to a year’s hard labor for larceny. Henry Diamond ;‘a new chum,” indicted for assault with intent to rob, was acquitted. In the insol veticy jurisdiction one Pryer’s discharge was opposed by creators at Queenstown, who contended that as bis-debts had been contracted there he should be sent there for examination. The allegations were admitted, but the insolvent’s solicitor said his client had been obliged to leave Queenstown to find employment; that he was now at w->rk hj re ; that a journey to Queenstown and loss of time there were more than he had the means to meet, and that the creditors could h.ve conducted their exam nations here, through counsel, as well as in Queenstown His Honor sjajd he had always discountenanced the practice Qf bringing bankruptcy cases into the central Courts, encouraged their being transacted in the local ones, he petitioner had beeu relieved from attendance at preliminary examinations, and althou-h it might be some hardship to him, he would have to impose upon him in this instance the trouble of a journey to Queenstown. He accordingly made the {order as prayed. On Saturday night the stalls and pit of the Rrinc.ess Theatre were inconveniently c/owded. The programme presented comprised the “ Dumb Man of Mapphester” and ‘ Black-eyed'uaan.” As Jane' Wilton, Mrs Hill was thoroughly successful, and represented the conflict between her duties as wife and sister with such naturalness as to completely win the applause of the audience Mr Keogh, who played the Dumb Man, had a deal of hard work o do, despite his dumb and, what with his motioning, wrestling, and falling, must have been grateful when the curtain dropped. This kind of character suits Mr Keogh, and he played remarkably well. The part of the murderer Wilton, undertaken by MrSteele, was scarcely given sufficient prominence to During the intervals a most frightful noise was made by some youngsters who were in the pit, much to the annoyance of those present. The larrikins yelled, and shouted everything and anything that was said or done, and their conduct was becoming unbearable, W i n j^ r came to the front, and appealed to the audi ppe and the police to suppress the nuisance. He said the theatre had fallen into disrepute, but that My Steele and he were determined that, s i long as they were connected with it, “ larrikimsm ” should not take charge of the house. Mr Keogh s remarks had the desired effect, and the play was allowed to proceed. ‘ ‘Black-eyed Susan ” showed a want of rehearsal ; but, with Mrs Hill as ."usan, and Mr Steele as William, the piece went moderately well. “ Glin Gath ” js announced for to-night. Punedm history js being repeated in Auckland by two occurrences of damonstrations similar m character to those of which Til ; xr' 11 1 , ?* oDce the promoter. The Herald of a late date reports :—A demonstration was made last night at the junction of Grey street and Queen street against the rating clause of the Education B.JI, now passing through the Provincial LouncU. home seven or eight hundred people assembled at the foot of the fire-bell and the proceedings were rendered very noisv owing to the interruptions by a number of boys, of which the crowd principally consisted. Mr George Staines was called to the chair, which in this instance consisted of the fire-bell stanl. He came forward amidst cheers, and denounced the Bill as an iuiqaitons measure, and one that ought to be put d«wn by the people, Mr **ulleng then came forward agd followed in the same strain, ..nd proposed that if the Bill should be passed, a monster petition be prepared against it, and a _ house-to-house canvass should bp made for signatures, i'hia was seconded by Mr Westwood, and after the meeting had been addressed by Mr Greenway and a ‘ workingman, the resolution was put to the chairman (or rather the bellman), and carried by acclamation. it was then resolved to proceed in procession to the Provincial Council hamber, for the purpose of mak<ug au imposing show to the members thereof, but as the Gouncil had adjourned by the time the processionists had arrived, the latter were grievously ‘ sold, and departed after a moderate

amount of groaning, but fully believing that the members had only extinguished the lights and retired under the seats or behind the doors.”

A destructive explosion of gas took place at about half-past nine o’clock this morning at Balmerino House, Maitland street, the residence of Mr J. Edmond, ship chandler. It appears that as the family were sitting down to breakfast a smell of gas was noticed, and Mr Edmond went with alighted candle into the room in which the escape took place in order to discover it. The gas, of which the room must have been filled] immediately ign ted and went off with tremendous force, completely shattering the one room, blowing the door off the opposite one, and seriously damaging most of the others, Ttie roof and sides of the room in which the explosion occurred were blown out, and on Captain Fox (who is residing at Mr Edmond's), of the dcimitar, going to Mr Edmond’s assistance, the latter gentleman was found standing near the middle of the room surrounded by the wreck of pictures, furniture, aud lath and plaster. He was very severely burnt about the head and hands ; but is, we believe, progressing favorably under the care of Dr Alexander, who was in attendance directly after the accident. The shock of the explosion was felt a long distance, and the fire-bell was rung ; but the services of the Brigade were not required,- as the woodwork that caught fire was easily extinguished by the neighbors. The discovery of a quantity of what was supposed to be stolen gold lately caused considerable speculation at the Thames. The gold is now claimed by Mr William Buckland, the circumstances, which are rather remarkable, being thus described by the 4 Advertiser’ Some years ago ama iman broke into the safe of the Cna battery, then the property of Messrs Buckland and Gibbons, md took away a quantity of amalgam, which be retorted on a shovel, and then broke up I the gold, and sowed it in little bits, under the confident belief that it would bring forth “ some fifty audsome a hundred fold.” The madman’s theory of how gold could be produced proved as baseless as that of several savms who have attempted to instruct the world on the same subject. The arguments to prove the identity of the gold are—that the stuff found at the Hape Creek had been coarsely re orted, as if on a shovel, and that iu some cases it was b. dded into the ground, in a way that looked as if it had lain for some time. On the other hand, we have oeen informed that the amalgam taken by the lunatic from the Una battery could not possibly have produced so large a quantity >f gold as that found. The loss of the gold has likewise been accounted for by some from' the fact that early iu January last a parcel belonging to one of the companies, which had been lodged in what was thought safe custody for the holidays, was found to be missing when it was next looked for, and has not since been recovered. The quantity of this ast parcel is also said to have corresponded pretty accurately with that recently recovered, which makes the circumstance the more mysterious.

On 14th May last Mr Justice Chapman, in she Supreme Court, Dunedin, granted a mandamus to command vir A. J. Ellis, receiver of Land Revenue in Southland, to receive payment for a certain block of land. The payment had been tendered at LI per icre, and refused by the Receiver of Land Revenue on the ground that the price of land was then, at the time payment was tendered ■ 9th May), L 3 per acre. The. applicant pleaded that when his application was put in the price was only Ll per acre. The Provincial Government from some cause which has not been explained, did not oppose the application, and the mandamus was issued, vlr rio- rie, Acting-Receiver of Land Revenue, vccordingly accepted Mr Larnach’s money when tendered a second time, and, as we are informed, shortly after received a telegram from the Secretary for Crown Lands, directing him to confer with the Superintendent before obeying the mandamus. Mr Borrie replied that the money had keen tendered and accepted, and soon after received an intimation that he was suspended as ActingReceiver of Land Revenue, It is understood tuat the Provincial Government contemplate taking steps to repair the consequences of the presumed neglect of the late Provincial Solicitor, in not appearing to oppose the issue of the mandamus applied for by Mr Larnach, and that they have in the meantime obtained a caveat to prevent any dealing with the land in question. The Receiver of Land Kevenue has also been instructed to refuse all moneys tendered in payment for lands similarly applied for. The • Southland Times ’ states that Mr M‘Culloch, R. M., has been appointed Acting-Receiver in Mr Borrie’s place. The same paper next day had the follow* : —“ A meeting was convened yesterday to consider the action of the Government in suspending the Acting-Receiver of Land Revenue for obeying the mandamus issued by the Supreme Court to receive the money tendered by Mr Larnach for an application for freehold land on his run, lodged before the proclamation raising the price to L 3 had been issued. A number of gentlemen having assembled,. the chairman, Mr J. W. Mitchell, read a letter from Mr Borrie, stating that he disclaimed any connection with the piqmotera of the meeting, and that he awaited \yith entire satisfaction the decision of the department in the circumstances referred to. The meeting ther- upqti separated without taking any action in lie matter.”

Dr Carr, the well-known lecturer and mesmerist, opens at the Masonic Hal], to-morrow evening.