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Evening Star, Issue 3646, 29 October 1874, Page 2

The special jury case of Dodson v. Macandrew was concluded at a late hour yeste - day evening. The jury at 4.55 p.m, retired to consider their verdict, and one hour afterwards it was notified that eleven of them had agr ed, but counsel for defendant declined to take their verdict. ,-\t eleven o clock an unanimous decision was come to in favor of the plaintiff—damages L2OO. His Honor certified for a special jury. The defendant has leave to move to set aside the verdict, or to ask that- a nonsuit should be recorded.

We learn by a private telegram placed at eur disposal that a fire occurred at Palmerston this morning, by which two shop., situated in the centre of that town, were burned to the ground. The buildings were attached, one belonging to Mr R. Johnson, storekeeper, the other to Mr Bowman, shoemaker. The first was unoccupied at the time of the fire, but was being fitted up for Mr J. T. Gwynne, as a stationer’s and tobacconist’s shop; but Mr Bowman carried on his business in the other. There were no insuiances on either of the buihiiogs. We have . ot been able to pbtaiu any particulars as to the causa of the fire.

The annual soiree in connection with St. Andrew s Church was held last evening in the hall beneath the church, Between 400 ami 500 people were pr. sent at the proceedings, which were commenced with a substantial tea, and the room was prettily decorated with ferns, flowers, &c Amongst the clergy present were the Rev. Messrs Cow (in the chair), Davis, bigg, and Dr. Stuart, and all of these gentlemen, as well as others who were present, gave short addresses, the principal subject referred to being that of home mission. The remainder of the evening was .-.pent in sinking by the congregation and musical selections by the choir.

The Australian and New Zealand Land Company, at the suggestion of the manager of the seaward Downs station, Mr Robert .vLCallum, have engaged a party of men to carry on boring operations for coal on the estate. The party have been at work for some time, anif have penetrated to a depth of 30ft, through a layer of soft sandstone, five feet thick, then a still softer layer of the same, underneath which is a layer of hard sandstone, into which the boring-rod? have penetrated about five feet up to dale. The indications are considered to be very favorable, and lead to the expectation that true coal of good quality may be found at no great depth. Detached seams have already’ been discovered on different parts of thp estate.

At a meeting of the Committee of the 'ailors Homeyesterdav, at which were present Messrs Street, Mercer, Walter aul. Prosser, Thomson, Damsuy, and Pish, ;i communication was read :rom the low a Clerk stating that the site in Princes street tor which the Committee had applied would be shortly put up at auction, and that the Committee could then compete for it if hey wi-hed. it was reported that the Superintendent had been communicated with in regard to the subsidy promi-. d by him" iu aid of the Home, and asked when the sum i r mised would be payable, an i the number of the section promised to be maided over bv the Government to the Homo as a site fo’r the building at Pelichet Bay, bub no re ly had yet been received. Messrs Walt-’-. Mercer, and Fish were appointed to look after a suitable building for the Home. Thsre is every probability of the Fire Prigade being hj >use I in comfortable quarters before long. £he provincial Government b;s furnished a convenient site, and the City Council at last night’s meeting decided to at once call for tenders for the erec ion of tbs new station. The site given by the Governi&ent is that portion of the railway reserve .ween Crawford and High streets; and on it, aoeo dfng to the plans prepart d by the City Eugineei, the Corporaum,. *■ build a ffne twp-storied brick building, which will serve the .double purpose of engine-shed and watch-tower t and, without possessing much arebitectural ornamentation, the proposed building wijl be among the mpit prominent of ti-e public institutions in the City. There wid be the main building, of two storrys and two wings. In the Crawford street wing, to which independent entrance will be gained by a large doorway, tne book and ladder carnages will be housed ; and tne second wing will provide quarters for the engine-keeper, which will consist of four commodious and well apportioned rooms. On the ground hoof of the building proper will be an office, on the light of the main entrance ; and on the K-ft, a special staircase leading to the reading-room, b lemy, and watch tow-r ine engine-room will be 40ft by 30ft—more than sufficient to hold all the ge&r the Brigade possesses; and immediately behind it ] will be the workshop and cleansing room, wlu.e the engine,kf.eper will have easy access t^ se rol>mß from his own apartment, the library and reading-roem on the second floor will be 36ffc by 24ft, and be well veuti* vated. In front of the reading-room, and facing the open space in Hu,h street which wui be created by the removal of the prosent shed and urinal, will be a balcony, access to which will be gained from the tower, and from which it is intended candidates at municipal elections shall address the burgesses, &c. The tower, which will be 10ft square and 70ft hi di, will be surmounted by a campanile, with openings on each side nine .f* r ie N b " fc bas uot y et been decided whether the bell should be hung here or in the room just beneath it. This latter room, winch will serve as the watchman’s quarters and be suitably fitted up, will be lighted by four windows, each six feet high and two feet wide. The tower will also be pierced with smaller windows, which will follow the direction of the staircase, and serve to ILh. it. Altogether, the design is one of a very serviceaffie building, and in a It months the City and the Brigade should be able to boast of the possession of an excellent engine-station and watch-tower. * j

a an^ a , 1 district meeting of the United A.U I<. will be held in the South Australian ■Hall to-morrow evening. meeting of the Permanent Building Society of Otago will be held on hnday evening, at 7 o’clock.

A concert in aid of the Prize Fund of the Kaikorai District School will be held in the ijinuen School-house to-morrow evening The o’clock 11 be takeu by Mr A - H - lioss eiyht