Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 3621, 30 September 1874, Page 2

We hear that an evening paper, with a triweekly issue, v, ill be published at Oamaru shortly. Mr G.O. Clayton’s tender for the erection of a station master’s house at Green Island for L 325 has been accepted. At the Port Chalmers Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansford, R. M., John Mackwell was fined 03 for drunkenness, in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment.

The vital statistics for the month of September are Births, 128 ; marriages, 31 ; deaths, 42. The returns for the corresponding month of last year were Births, 102 ; marriages, 23 ; deaths, 33. The Tararua carries away a large number of passengers this trip. A good many are miners from the Lake and Mount Ida districts, who have determined to give the Palmer Kjver diggings a trial. The large full-rigged ship, reported in our last issue as having been seen off Moeraki and Oam mi, turned out to be ' the longexpected Christian M‘ Auslaud, from London, with between 300 and 400 immigrants. The Colored Opera Troupe were again un-fp-tunate in having bad weather for their lQ.st nights entertainment, the attendance consequently not being so good as was expected. The programme was, however, gone through with spirit, and re,ccjysd with great favor. They intend to give another performance next week, for the ben* fit of the Sailora ? Home Fund, and the Artillery Band Fund, The recent death of an English Government clerk, who, according to medicd evidence, must have died from syncope, induced by heavy sm iking while the stomach was empty, causes the ‘ Laucet 1 to say :—“ We have never underrated the dangers to which immoderate smokers are liable. Fortunately the poisons contained in tobacco stroke find a ready exit through the system, but when inhaled during a period of fasting, their injurious effect on the heart is especially to be apprehended. ”

In the cout se of the proceedings against Captain Grainger, of the for refus ng to deliver up the last Californian mail, Mr Brookfield, who prosecuted, is reported to have said “ he could not help thinking it was a very shabby thing on the part of the owners of the. vessel, considering that the New Zealand Government had paid every penny of the subsidy due by them for the transmission of the mail, to the contractors, and had not in a single instance exacted the penalties they might have done for the repeated breaches pf the agreement which had taken plas§, though he could not say that such a course would be adopted in the future.” ■' ’

The performance at the Princess 7 last night, for the benefit of the DeCastro family, passed off most successfully, there being a crowded house, despite the weather. Several novelaes wpre introduced, a younger member of the family, only three years old, and named Young Australia, being brought on in a paper parcel, and going through a number feats in imitation of his elder brothers. Young England took his father’s place on the trapeze, catching Annette and Alberto in mid-air; the neatness with which this was done calling down applause. This is the last week of the company, ai)d to-mor-row night there will be a double bill, fcfce performances commencing at a quarter to eight. Mr F, J, Bunny, who for the last five years has been connected with the telearaph department here, being about to proceed to t. Bathaus, where he takes charge of the newly-erected station, was last evening entertained at supper at Haydon’s Star and Garter Hotel, Albany street, by his fellowofficers and personal friends. About twentyfive gentlemen sat down to au excellent spread, provided by Host Haydon; the chair being occupied by Mr T. Muir, and the vice-chair by Mr J. Allen. In proposing the health of tho guest, the chairman remarked that Mr Bunny, during his connection with the Dunedin office, had endeared himself to his co-workers by his considerateness and gentlemanly conduct, and on leavmg carried with him their best wishes for his future welfare and advancement. Mr Bunny made a suitable reply. The evening was pleasantly spent, other toasts being interspersed with songs.

At a banco sitting of the Supreme Court, held to-day, Mr Barton applied for a rule nisi calling upon his Excellency the Governor to show cause why a mandamus should not requiring him to give his consent to a petition of right under the Act, for the enforcing of claims against the Crown in New Zealand—the Crown Redress Act, 1871. The rule was made in order to enable Dr O’Donohue, of Port Chalmers, to bring an action against the General Government for the recovery of L6OO or LBOO in connection with the appointments held by him formerly under the Provincial, but now under the General Government. lli 3 Honor refused the Bill, being of opinion that the statute referred to conferred a certain discretionary power upon the Governor. The matter will probably be brought before the Court of Appeal. The remainder of the sitting was taken up with the argument of a demurrer in the declaration in the case of Simm and Others v. M ’Donald and another. Mr cmith appeard in support of the demurrer, and Mr Macassey in support of the declaration. Mr Fox, in his temperance column in the ‘ N. Z Times,’ calls on the Assembly to follow the example of the United States and Canada and abolish Bellamy’s. He declines

to reveal the mysteries of that institution for fear cf being called to the bar of the House for breach of privilege, but cites, as an indication of the sort of refreshment sold there, the case that occurred during the discussion of the Licensing Bill, of “an hon. member in a white tie and conspicuous shirt, who had evidently been dining out,” making an exhibition of himself. “But abolish Bellamy’s,” he asks; “was ever anyone mad enough to propose such a thing ? Yea, it was proposed ones b}’ Mr Carleton, member for the Bay of Islands, hut he failed to find a supporter. However, it seems that fanatics have been found fanatical enough to do it elsewhere —at least to propose, and not only to propose, but to carry the proposal that alcoholic refreshments shall not be sold at B-dlatny’a. The United States Congress at Washington, some two or three y. ars ago, decided to exclude intoxicating drink from the precincts of the Capitol ; and by last mail we have news that the Legislature of the Dominion of Canada has arrived at the same conclusion. In the Domini n House of Commons, at Ottawa, on the Ist April, Mr Oh sholm moved that Mr Speaker be requested to give an order prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors withiu the precincts of the House The motion was opposed by several members, but supported by more, and finally was carried. The Speaker promised that he would endeavor, as far as possible, to enforce the motion of prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors in the House most rigidly." It is stated that the new Volunteer regulations will shortly be issued in pamphlet form for the guidance of corps. The principal alterations, beyond those we mentioned last week, are that the number of inferior officers is made smaller in a minimum corps, and greater in a maximum one; and both the minimum and maximum strength are increased. Ihe regulations defining the precedence officers are entitled to are rather condensed than altered. Instead of the noncommissioned officers being elected as was formerly the case, they will be appointed by the commanding officers ; and the clause is struck out which made musketry instructors take rank as senior sergeants. Ihe arrangements for a certificate of efficiency are considerably simplified. Artillery, engineer, naval, and rifle volunteers are required to attend six inspection and six company parades before they are entitled to the capitation grant; and if they attend half of these, they will receive half of it—provided, in both cases, that they have received certificates of efficiency. Corps containing less than twenty-five efficient members on the 31st of March, during any year, are liable to be disbanded, and may not claim capitation. Officers commanding cadet corps will receive substantive instead of honorary commissions, and other officets will receive letters of appointment. Instead of the returns being made to the Inspector, they are to be rendered to the Under-Secretary for Ihe Volunteer and Militia Branch of Defence.

A meeting of shearers will be held in the Hiberaian Hotel on Saturday evening. .A meeting of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge will be held to-raorrow evening, at 8 o’clock.

The Artillery B.and will parade for practice at the Drill shed, to-mqrfow evening, at a quarter to eight. A meeting of Volunteers who are entitled to scrip will be held in the Oriental Hotel, morrow, at 7.30 p.m. The first meeting for practice of the Musical Association in connection with All Saints’ Choir wfli take place in the Schoolroom, this evening, at 8.15. 1 ;

The annual torchlight procession of the Fire Brigade will take place to-mori l ow evening. Members are requested to meet at the Engine Station, at 7 o’clock.