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Evening Star, Issue 3537, 24 June 1874, Page 2

Messrs Bhrimski and Sumpter age already announced as candidates for the Mayoralty of Oamaru. ‘ ‘ Leah ” was played at the Princess’s last evening, Mrs Hill sustaining the principal character. ‘.* Black Sheep ”is announced for to-night. The railway from Picton to Blenheim is expected to be open for traffic in August, On the Auckland- mehunga line, the number of passengeis during thp past four mouths is returned as 45,000. A late telegram reporting the result of the race for the Derby, gave the name of the owner of the second horse—Courimne de Fer—as Lord Rosebery. The horse belonged to Sir Tatton Sykes. Mr Fred. Evans has resigned the position of manager for the Shotever Terrace Company, and Mr Wm. Bennetts is now acting in that capacity. The ‘Arrow Observer.’ is informed that the sole control of the mine has been handed over tp t>e local directors. Out of 106 men who have recently attained mathematical honors at Cambridge, England, and twenty-nine who distinguished themselves in law and history tripos, there were forty boating men, fifteen cricketers, ten football players, and eighteen who devoted themselves to other athletic sports. As a witness named Martin was being examined in an assault case this afternoon, in the R. M, Court, he stated that he was of a quiet temper. “ ‘hen you are a meek man?” said Mr floworth.; whereupon the witness curtly replied, “ Np, I am a Scotchman, not a Mick ” As may he imagined, the answer caused no little amusement.

The labor test is being tried at the Immigration Barracks. A number of the immigrants to-day “struck,” and when ordered by the barrack-master refused to do any flrork. The rules provide that while in barracks they must work four hours a day, and if they refusp to do so the authorities have power to stop their rations. The latter alternative will probably be tried if the immigrants again refuse to worj^. What almost amounted to a famine pf coal was experienced in Oamaru last week, many householders, owing to the delayed arrival colliers, being put to awkward shifts for fuel. The appearance of the Euphrosyne on Saturday (remarks the ‘Times’ of yesterday), with a cargo of black diamonds, relieved the anxiety of those who began to doubt whether it would "be more proper to burn their own or their neighbors’ fences. An action was lately brought in the Melbourne Supreme Court by a servant girl and her newly married husband, against the Hon, J. T. ■"mith, “seven times Mayor of Melbourne, ’ for defamation of character, in accusing her of being a thief, and causing her boxes be searched, and herself given into custody. '1 he amount claimed was LIOOO, but the jury, under the direction of Mr Justice Stephen, assessed the damages at L 320. Certain law points were reserved. Including the,small remnant of the Ngati- : mamoe Natives that still survive, with the tribe of which Taiaroa (M. H.K.) appears to be the recognised head, we find, says a con?

temporary, that the Ngaitahu tribe-the total population of which most probably does not exceed 1,400 souls—in Westland, Canterbury, Otago. Stewart’s Island, and Ruapuke, own 42,250 acres of land, averaging about thirty acres per man, woman, and child j and that they have received in payment for the lands they hare sold at different times—-excluding the Princes street Reserve, Dunedin—the sum of L 17,100. The dissatisfaction with the Licensing Act appears to be general throughout the Colony. The Westland Provincial Council, during its late session, appointed a committee to consider what amendments of the measure were necessary, and they reported I. That it is necessary that the Licensing Courts should held quarterly sittings. 2. That the power of transfer from one house to another should be given to the Licensing Court. 3. That the persons constituting the Licensing Court should be appointed by his Excellency the Governor of the Colony on the recommendation of the Superintendent of the Province.”

A Mrs Syme, widow of a baker at Auckland, and who had been living quietly for years in a house in Parnell left by her husband, died lately, and astonished the world about her by her will. Her property in Parnell, yith some few hundred pounds, was left to certain of her friends’ children. Another will, signed with a different name, bequeathed something like L 49,000 to her nephews and nieces in England, with the exception of L 5.000 to an Auckland resident. It is asserted that Mrs Syme, known only as a kind old lady, glad to d© a charitable act to those about her, and the widow of a baker long in business in Auckland, was in reality a lady of title, and signed her second will with her true name, though what that name was cannot exactly bo said. Mr William Head, of Auckland, has discovered, by painful experience, that the “ Protecti >n to Animals Act” imposes heavy penalties upon those who infringe its provisions. Somebody, it seems, gave him a pair of hen pheasants, and hjs wife turned them into coin without his knowledge, whereupon the police laid an information against him, as the husband, for selling pheasants without holding a license for selling game, vr Head’s plea that the birds were sold without his consent availed nothing ; the Bench addressing him thus ;—“ We are very sorry to say there is no option in this matter left to the 'tench. We are here simply to administer the law. Wbateverfour private feelings in the matter may be. it is our duty to inflict a fine of L2O. At the same time we believe that it was not the intention* of the Legislature to make the fine so heavy without giving discretionary power to the Bench, and if you feel inclined to apply for a remission of the fine, the Bench will assist you in any way it can.” This is one of the inconveniences of possessing a wife of a saving disposition. The Christian Disciples held a soirde and public meeting in their Church, Great King street, last evening. Tea was provided by Mr Kroon, after which the chair was taken by Mr Bates, Evangelist to the Church, and the public meeting opened with the singing of a hymn and prayer by Mr Evans. Mr Bates then addressed the meeting, stating the satisfaction with which ho had labored in connection with the Church for more than twelve months, during which period the membership of the Church had. increased from 150 to 220. He spoke very hopefully of the present position and future prospects of the Church, stating that the popular prejudice against them which had existed in the past was fast giving way before their eontinued and increasing success. Mr Butters followed, speaking in very feeling terms of the approaching departure of Mr Elborn to Christchurch. Mr Elborn had been in communion with the Church here for many years, had been a source of strength and comfort to them, an I they would sustain a great loss by his removal. They, however, had the cons latiou of knowing that their would be the gain of the brethren at Christchurch, where Mr Elborn was going to devote himself entirely to the work" of an Evangelist. The meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr Rix, Mr Kingleman, and Mr Elborn, the latter giving some interesting particulars relating to his past connection with Church work, and of the circumstances which induced him to remove to Christchurch. During the evening several selections of sacred music were very fairly rendered by the choir, which, with the addition of a few more basses, would be very efficient. The meeting was well attended, there being fully 20Q persons present, and the whole pro. cvedinga were of a very interesting and instructive character.

We take ,the following from the ‘ Reefton Courier’ “ Mr Warden Broad’s last trip to the Marakitaki appears to have been a rather eventful one. It seems that the police officer stationed at Lyell had done something to excite the Matakitakites, and on his arrival there with the Warden about twenty or thirty of the roadmen expressed their intention to ‘ go for hijn right off. ’ But whether the demonstration was a friendly or hostile one it is hard to say, as the original intention was not carried out, but instead the belligerents pitched into one another indiscriminately, and a tolerably hot conflict ensued, during which a good deal of skin and hair was sent flying about in all directions. In the vcncontre Mr Temperly an<jl Constable Chiobester, who were acting as mediators, get several * clips,* after which the latter gentlemen threw themselves into a hollow square, and finally retired in good * order - —if not to say ‘ condition,’ The m&lkz having lasted its due time, the combatants adjourned for refreshment, and an amicable spirit having supervened, coats, bais, ftc., were donned, and ‘there was a sound of revelry by night.’ But the matter was not permitted to end in such a manner, as a Mr Dan M‘Lean, who appears to have been the instigator and ringleader of the disturbance, was arrested and 'edged in gaol. During Mr Broad’s stay at Matakitaki he was iasked by a man to grant a matrimonial divorce. Mr Broad informed the applicant that he was quite ready to do anything in the way o? cancelling certificates for headraces, but power to cancel marriage certificates he had not. Whereupon the applicant remarked, ‘Did’t you give me six months at Charleston, and isn’t that power enough for you to have ?’ but the Warden didn’t see the analogy, and dismissed the application.” In the ‘Southland News’ of June 16tb, the following report of the proceedings at a sitting of the Waste Land Hoard appears : —An adjourned meeting of the Waste Land Board wa? held on the 12th inst., the Chief Commissioner apd Messrs Dundas, Mitchell, Baker, and M’Arthpr being present. Messrs Spencer Bros., per Mr Wade; rpadp an application to obtain the whole area contained in their application, No. 1138, for 3,900 acres, Taringatura district. The Board resolved to abide by their minute of 24th April. Mr Perkins renewed his offer to pay rent on run 156b 2a on behalf of the trustees in Daniel Sinclair’s estate, which payment, by an oversight, had not been tendered at the proper time —Declined. Mr G. M. Bell renewed his application for a sawmill license for Croydon Bush, free from restrictions. The Board ruled that the minute of 4th May, with reference to the issue of licenses for small bushes in thinly-timbered districts, applied to Croydon Bush, and declined to grant the license without the limitations being attached as to cutting for sleVpen op export. The Board met again yesterday, 15th insjt.j when the Chief Commissioner and' Messrs Baker and, M’Arthur were present. Mr M‘Galium ap.

peared in reference to the minute of the Board' of the 11th inst., instructing his prosecution for alleged illegal cutting of timber in Seaward Bush on or before the 12th ult. (de stated that he had cut under a settler’s license, and had not infringed the regula' tions. After hearing Mr M'Callum at full length—who stated there had been only one man employed cutting under the license, the number of posts he had cut, and the number of months he had been engaged —the Board resolved that there 'did not appear to have been any breach of the regulations on Mr M'Callum’s part, and that the resolution of the 11th inst. should be rescinded accordingly. Messrs Fraser and Granger applied to he allowed to take up 30 acres m Jacob’s River Hundred, the certificate of which had been transferred to them in 1862, but the completion of the transfer had been delayed hitherto. Resolved “ that the transfer be completed in consideration of Messrs Fraser and Granger purchasing the 10 acres, balance of the section at auction at the upset price of L2 per acre.” We have received from Mr W. Hay several books of great interest, which wo will take an early opportunity of reviewing at length. Mr Jos. Braithwaite, corner of Fleet and High streets, has forwarded to us ‘ Bow Bells,’ ‘The Young Ladies’ Journal,* ‘The Family Herald,’and ‘ The London Journal.’ We will notice their contents at the earliest opportunity. ,