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Evening Star, Issue 3622, 1 October 1874, Page 2

The Abolition of mpnsoument for Debt Bill came into operation to day, and the one debtor, who has been imprisoned in the Gaol here for several months, was discharged this forenoon. The new City Council Chamber was used for the first time last evening. It is well lighted, has good acoustic properties, and in every way is a great improvement upon the old Chamber. r At the Banco sitting of the Supreme Court this morning, in the case of Dux mry v. Hawkins, Mr E. Cook applied, on behdfof defendant, for witt drawal of the injunction granted in that case, or that it be dissolved Mr Barton opposed. The ease had not coneluded when our reporter left, A fatal accident occurred at the Waireka yesterday. A man named Edward Standing, in the employ of Messrs Fleming and Medley of Oamarn, while crossing the river with a dray and three horses, was drowned The horses were also drowned, but two men who were in the dray with Standing were saved. The inquiry into the manner in which Jaraes bmich, late a seaman ©n boaid the Corona, met bis death, was, alter taking evidence, adjourned till Saturday, to enable the police to procure, if possible, the attendance of the man Cianch, who tsea ed from the ship at the same time as deceased, but succeeded in getting ashore. V« aterday afternoon the inquiry commenced on board the barque Oueca, before the American Consul (Mr Driver), into the causes which led to the loss of the seaman James Creen during the voyage from Hew York to Ounediu. The proceedings havi not been made public, i be second mate (Dodd) is still under police surveillance, no ene being allowed on board the vessel. At the Resident Aiauiacrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, before Mr Mansiord, K.M., John Fitzgerald and William Hankton. for’ being drunk, were each fined 6i. or in default twenty-fwr hour*’ imprisonment; and John

Evans, for mak ng use of language calcua ed to provoke a breach of the peace, was flut'd IDs, with the alternative of twentyfour hours’ impruonme it. t espite the unfavorable weather there was a numerous attendance at the Princess’ last evening, when a programme almost similar to that of the previous evening was submitted. The p rformance will commence at a quarter to eight this evening, owing to its length.

Pnrith has brought into Oamarn, from Maerewhenua, a parcel of 50oz. of gold, the product of that goldfield. During the previous week, Mr Smith seat down a parcel of 22 'z , and other parcels by private bands during thn month amounted to from 40os to 45cz.; making a total of about 120 <z. The * Otago Times ’ says the recent ran has given a good supp'y of water, and favorable reports from the field may be looked for. Our readers will remember the case of a fraudulent debtor who was the other day sentenced by ;v ;r Bathgate to thirty days’ impii-onment. < n his a*r val in gaol, think»K discretion the better part of valor, he paid the flue and costs, and was liberated. Tho maintenance money paid by creditors for the support of debtors k —being now ab dished, we would suggest that all debtors committed to gaol shoa'd be sentenced to hard labor. The public oabgt not to be charged with their support. The following gentlemen have been elected directors of the new Colonial Bank The Hon. M. Holmes. Messrs Larnach, A. W. Morris, Donald Reid, John Re d (Elderslie), John Reid (Con er Bu-h), and W. A. Tolmie. Mes-rs W. D. Meat e< and B. S nith were e'ectel auditors. The B.nk opened for business to day. We are not in the secret as to the number of accounts transferred, hut judging from the bunle during the hours of business, it would ha’diy be too venturesome to predict that the undertaking will prove sue :essful.

We trust Mr Reeves’s motion that a request be made to bn allowed, the services of a number ef prisoners to conserve the banks of the Water of Leith will be fo lowed by its being conceded. The river is m iking serious inroads upon nrivate property, aqd many per-ons are buff ring serious in ouv .encein consequence. The residents in .ne neighborhood of the Old Botanic Gardens have every reason to complain, as well as those near the King street Bridge. If something is not speedily done, it is by no means improbable that ihe necessity for the work wilt b--painfully brought iuto prominence through some fatal result.

A very reprehensible practice has sprung up in the loc 1 Petty Court of late, persons in the body of the court-house making it a rule to stamp and applaud when anything funny has been said. This morning his Wort-hip was frequently interrupted while giving a decision in a case, his instruct ons to order being maintained remaining unheeded. On being again interrupted, the disturbers were reminded by the bailiff that they were not in a theatre or witnessing a play, and his Worship added that if similar conduct were shown in future he would be oblig d to bring forward the most gui ty parti s and send them to gaol for contempt of Court,

Yesterday afternoon an accident, fortunately unattended w.th serious results, hap pern d on board the ship Haddon Hall, lying at the railway pier. A. number of the crew were employed in sending down the foreyard, which, a t ,-r being untruased. was hanging in the ta kl-s, when suddenly the bolt of the 10-'er block gave way, and the yard came down with a c-ash. The end of the yard went through the pier, and then fell across the ship, breaking off close to the sli gs. Fortunately there was no one near the spot, or the consequences might have been serious. As xt is, tho na ml will require to have a new iron yard made. We have to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr Monson in supplying us with the following information ;—Curing the uuxrter ending the 30ih of September there have been registered at Port Chalmers 28 births, \iz., 19 males, 9 females. r l he corresponding quarter in 1873 gave 22 births, 7 mal s, 15 females ; seven deaths have als > been regUtered, 5 males, 2 females, fe, 4 adults, 3 children. Jn 187 during the same peiiod, only one death, of a male infant, from convulsions and dentition. Seven ne ’ices of marriage were given and six certificates issued. One marriage was celebrated in the Registrar’s i ffice. In 1873, only one notice was received and one certificate issued du ing the quarter.

A rather novel manner of raising money was brought to light at the Resident Magi stratu’s Court te-day, during the hearing of a charge of illegally detaining clothes. A lodging house keeper was sued by one of his late boarders for refusing to deliver up a suit of clothes which became his property through a lottery. The way in which the funds were raise I was that three boarders, defendant, and his wife had got up a lottery’ each contributing LI per work. The first number drawn got L 5 at the end of th • first week, and so on till the five weeks were over. One of the witness complained that a per tion of the money was not due till the fob lowing Monday, but he subsided when his worship informed him that lottery money was never due.

The Melbourne Governesses’ Institute and Home, the annual report of which for 1872 a “Lady Friend” has been kind enough to send us for perusal, has been in existence eleven years and is a thorough success. That the benefits of the Home are appreciated in that City is shown by a yearly increase in the number of inmates, which now necessitates the erection of additional accomodation. The results of the society’s labors for 1872 are thus stated There were registered 19 governesses and 461 servants, or 480 registrations in all, and 38 1 engagements, Hi being by governesses and 363 by servants. During the same .period separate weekly payments for board were made by 191 governesses, 191 needlewomen, and 521 servants, showing an increase of 91 on the total of the previous year. The • Ipme was able to commence the year 1873 with a credit balance of close upon L6O. The following is a list of the trades and occupations of the immigrants by the ship Christian M‘ ‘uslaud, wh ch left London on June 27, and arrived at the Heads yesterday forenoon :—Harm laborers, 32 ; general do, 41; miner, 1; navvies, 2; ploughmen, 3 ; quarry mm, 1; gardeners, 2; roaO-maker, 1; carpenters, 5; joiner, 1; millwrights, 2; oasemakers, 1 ; sawyer, 1; railway car iage builder, 2 ; boiler-maker, 1 ; machinist, 1; blacksmith, I ; tailors, 2; breakstnan, 1 ; bootmakers, 5 ; shepherds. 3; house-painter, 1; biicklayers, 2; groom, 1; raiuter. 1; carman, 1; total male labor, 117- single women : General servants, 32 ; nursemaid, 1 ; hou emaid, I ; total, 34 Total lab r, 151. Summary—Kngland, 72 males, 16 females ; Ireland, 22 mal s. 13 female ; Scotland, 13 males, 5 females; Wales, 8 males ; Jersey and France, each I male. atiouality English, 244; Irish, tO; Scotch, 39; French, 6; total, 349 souls. I he M Ausland cannot possibly be nro ght up to her anchorage tiL the weather abates. An inquest was held at the tied I ion Hotel this a’ternou ou the body of Low Ket, a hmaman, who died rather suddenly esterday morning Ah Him w s the principal witness called. He said that he lb ed in the same house as deceased i i the Red 1 ion Court. Deceased went to bed about ten o’clock on Tuesday, and was apparently quite well, and on getting np at about seven

o’clock on the following morning went into “I® adjoiuin« house to cook hit breakfast witness went into the house a K out half an th« floor and unable to sp.-ak. His face was quite yellow, and he had lost his senses. A doctor was sent for but could not be obtained Deceased, who was about thirty-eight years of age, was a hawker. The result of the post mortem examination as made by Dr Fergusson, was detailed. He suspected that a rupture of the heart was the cause of deceased s death. The bag of tho heart was extended with a fluid which proved to be blood, there being nearly a quart of it, as well as a la*-ge clot in the bag. Rupture of the aorta from a small opening in whichj the blond proceeded was the cause of death. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned.

Mr Hunter. M.H.R. for Wellington, in the course of his recent address to his constituents, is reported to have said ; “Somo people object to one member of the Government—Mr Reynolds—but I think that gentleman is something like mi self, a p sin busin ss man - a man of common sense, who understands business matters. It is a useful time for a Government to have a business man amon.st its members. Besides, Mr Reynolds is a representative of the Province of Otago and it should be remembered t at Otago is the most prosperous and influential Province of the Colony, and yields the largest revenue, and yet not a single member from that Province was in the Ministry until he joined it. There is one subject which I cannot help alluding to briefly, and it is worthy of great consideration. It is the position of the two Houses of the 1 egislatnre in Zealand, which I look upon as perhaps the darkest picture we have before us. The Houses have avoided coming into direct collision, but I do not think antagonism can be avoided much longer. lam afraid that the country will not hi satisfied with the imsit’.on in which matters stand. [am boun : to sp-ak of the Upper House with all proper respect, as composed of highly inflaential and respectab e gentlemen ; but I am free to admit they do think too much of themselves.” The report tells ns that the latter sentiment was received with “great cheering and appiause.”

. & Clarke, in forwarding to tbs Superintendent hia resignation as member of the f roviucial t onncil for the Lakes district, vave the fo'lowing reasons for the step he to)i :—“ The Lakes district has hitherto been grossly neglected in the matter of public works, especially in roads and bridges, although the revenue raised in the district, under pretence of famishing these requisites, nas been amply suific.e -.t for all requirements. The only hj >p* of redress lies in the votes of the Provincial Council, and in their execution by Executives, chosen by the ou jority of that Council. My experience during the sessions of the Provincial ("onncil, as wel. as my researches in past ‘Votea and f roceedings,’ have thoroughly convinced me that and interests are so arranged in rbat y onucil, that it is useless for the lakes district to hope that any adequate return in its favor will ever be voted by a body of men whose interests, in a majority of cases, diverge so widely from the direction of this district. I have therefore no alternative but the protest entered by my resignation.” The ‘ Mail,’ referring to the matter, says : “ Mr Clark deserves every credit; for honesty of intention, but we must not leave out of mind the fact that he recently met the \rrow portion of his constituents, and that his conduct, as one of the representatives of that part of ihe district, met approval. We believe also that the Queenstown part of the lakes constituency would not have refused approval of the member’s conduct, in that he had done the he could. Under thescircumstances Mr Clark’s resignation takes the district by surprise, and we think that, in the face ot the difficulties mentioned, it would have shown truer courage to have stood to the post < f duty.”

The Oxford Variety Troupe will appear at the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening. The company is a numerous one, and amongst the n J^ mes w ® notice those of Seymour and Verten, the former of whom was agent and pianist for the Australian Bellringers; and the latter gentleman possesses a very good tenor voice, and is also a very clever negro delineator. Acting on the advice of several professional gentlemen, the Education Board and School Committee have resolved on the re-occupation of the Middle District School huildiujjs, On Monday next, therefore, the classes at present hel i in the Oddfellows’ Hall will be discontinued, and pupils will attend at the school as before.