The Evening Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4025, 20 January 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1876.

Typhoid fever has again made its appearance at Cromwell. On the opening of the Timaru-Christ-church railway next week it is intended to do the run in six and a half hours. The case of Webb v. the National Bank was concluded last night, the jury returning a verdict for the plaintiff on all the issues, and assessing the damages at L 3,000. In his speech to the electors of Auckland City East, Mr Rees, amongst some other other trilling absurdities, promised that if separation was not obtained, he would himself bring in a Bill for the localisation of the Customs duties. The performance of the prievous evening was repeated at the Queen’s Theatre last evening to a fairly numerous attendance. “The Daughter of the Regiment,” with Miss Stephenson as Josephine, will be played to-night. A benefit is tendered to Miss Vivian and Mr Hooper to-morrow. The Entri Acte ’ brought out in connection with the theatre has been enlarged. The only business at the Port Chalmers Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning was a charge preferred by Bartholomew Burke against Samuel Cornish for detaining a quantity of household furniture of the value of LlO. After hearing the evidence, his Worship ordered that the goods be delivered to the plaintiff forthwith, or in default defendant to pay their value, together with costs.

Additional gazettes in bankruptcy have been proclaimed, and among the number we find the following Opposition journals : The Otago Daily Times, 1 New r Zealand Herald, ’ ‘ Lyttelton Times, ’ ‘ Taranaki News,’ ‘ Westport Times,’ ‘ Dunstan Times,’ and ‘ Cromwell Argus.’ We should like to hear what our contemporary the * Daily Times ’ has to say now about General Government bribery ?

It is related as an incident of the late Buller election that the now defeated candidate, but then the hopeful one, addressed a letter to a gentleman connected with a bank at Charleston stating that he had heard that he (the banker) was using bis influence against him (the candidate), and that should he discover that such was the case, ho (the candidate) would have him (the banker) “out of that”— i.e , the bank. It is said that, upon the receipt of this missive, the banking gentleman, who probably would have confined himself to recording his vote, or at most to the private expression of his sentiments, at once took horse and did so much good service against the impertinent candidate as to conduce not a little to his defeat. In this case every one will agree in the verdict —serve him right.

A contemporary states that a quiet little picnic, in the neighborhood of Palmerston, in the North Island, recently bad a very satisfactory termination. After lunch, the six couples who formed the party sauntered in different directions, and in about an hour afterwards, when they returned to their rendezvous, lit became known that in that eventful period no less than six engagements to marry had been entered into. As a natural consequence all the marriageable ladies in the district are suffering from pronounced attacks of picnic on the brain.

Tho adjourned meeting of those favorable to tho formation of a Working Men’s Club for South Dunedin was held last night and was attended by twenty persons, Mr Geo. Wybar Jit was stated that a piece of ground had been offered, rent free, for twelve months, on which to erect the club’s building, and that a donation of books had been promised for the library. Mr Wybar was elected President, Mr 11. M. Henderson treasurer, Mr George Wybar, jun., secretary, and a working committee of live. Twenty-seven members were enrolled last night, the committee being empowered to make all necessary arrangements and to receive the names of those wishing to join. The ‘Tuapeka Times’s’ report of the progress of the Tuapeka railway works is the reverse of satisfactory. The Glenore contract, and the Lawrence and Havelock one are all that could be desired, but the Round Hill and Tokomairiro sections are virtually at a stand-still. 'Another six weeks and the Manuka Creek tunnel will be pierced, and if nothing during that time is done towards the erection of the Glenore bridge, it is very evident the line to Manuka Creek will not be opcm this side of the winter. Later information states that arrangements have been come to to go on with the work. W r e are glad to hear it. Mr A. Lyster, agent for Mr Charles Bright, the lecturer, arrived by the Arawata yesterday to make the preparations necessary to Mr Bright’s visit. The lecturer himself will be a passenger by the Otago in about a week’s time to Dunedin, where he will commence his series of addresses, containing, amongst others, lectures on “Yankee Humors’’and “A Race of Barbarians,” These are of a humorous character, as may be surmised from their titles. Mr Bright, it may be remembered, was lecturing a short time ago in Melbourne at the same time as the Rev. Charles Clark, notwithstanding which drawback, his popularity and ability were sufficient to attract very large audiences. The following are the vital statistics of the boroughs named for December, as published in the ‘New Zealand Gazette’ January 13:—Auckland—births, 10, deaths, 18; Wellington births, 56, deaths, 18; Nelson —births, 19, deaths, 12; Christchurch—births, 51, deaths, 24; Dunedin—births, 87, deaths, 23 ; Hokitiki —births, 11, deaths, 6; total births, 291 ; deaths, 124. The births were 8 less, and the deaths 10 more than in November. Of the deaths 72 were males, 52 females ; 53 of the deaths were of children under 5 years of age, being 42.74 per cent of the whole number ; 41 of these were of children under one year of age.

A novel point was raised in the Police Court this morning by Mr Catamore. A client of his having been fined 10s and costs for a breach of the bye-laws, Mr Catamore submitted that the conviction could not hold since the penalty was excessive. Inspector Nimon was a public officer and no costs could be allowed him. The Bench pointed out that the costs went to the Court coffers and towards paying the cost of the information. Mr Catomore admitted this, still his objection applied. Two convictions had been quashed by Mr District Judge Ward on that ground. Since Mr Nimou was not entitled to pay fees in case cf dismissal he was not entitled to receive them on conviction. Mr Pyke would impress on the learned counsel that the Inspector did not receive the costs. The Court gwould chance the conviction being quashed, and would allow costs as heretofore until over-ruled by the Superior Court.

The members of All Saints’ Young Men’s Association held their annual meeting in the schoolroom last evening, Mr Ashcroft in the chair. The Committee’s report, which congratulated the members on the steady progress of the Association since its formation in July last, was adopted. The Society has held twenty-three meetings, the average attendance being slightly over ten. During the half-year seventeen have joined and two resigned. The Committee desired to express their hearty thanks to those ladies and gentleman who had assisted them at their entertainments ; and, in conclusion, hoped that the Society would, during the current year, take more interest in the church work of the parish. A vote of thanks was awarded to the Secretary and Committee for their labors during the past half-year, after which the meeting adjourned until next Wednesday, for the election of office bearers. The breach of promise case, Hughes v. Shand, about which there has been so much talk of late, was commenced at noon to-day before Mr Justice Williams and a special jury. At the outset plaintiff’s counsel applied for an adjournment till next day, which his Honor refused to grant. Mr Smith’s opening speech, which will be found in full in another column, occupied very little over half an hour in its delivery, and immediately after the lunch adjournment he put the plaintiff into the witness box. This is the first time in this Colony that this has been done, the gAct, j which 3 allows plaintiffs and defendants in cases of breach of promise of marriage having only been framed during the last session of the Assembly. The Court was crowded during the whole of the day, and not an unconsiderable portion of the spectators were ladies, who appeared to take considerable interest in the proceedings. A number of them hailing principally from the Taieri and Green Island, are summoned as witnesses on behalf of the defendant ; and after the plaintiff’s case was opened they were ordered out of Court. It is not expected that the trial will be concluded in less than three days.

A special meeting of the Union Football Club will be held at Carroll’s Hotel on Saturday next, at 8 p.m. A special meeting of the Universal Degree Templar No. 51. ,G , Port Chalmers, will be held to morrow evening at 8 o’clock.

The churchwardens will at end at St, Matthew’s Church to morrow evening, at 8 o’clock, to let sittings, &c., for the current year. The District and Purple lectures of the M.U.1.0.0 F will be held at the Loyal Dalton Lodge, Balcutha, on Saturday afternoon next. Angus M‘Kttnnis,Jlate second officer of the barque Frederick bassil, requests us to state that he is not the person of that name who was fined in the Police Court yesterday morning tor using obscene language. The Star of Freedom Lodge No. 5, 1.v'.0.T,, Linden, hell its regular weekly meeting in the school-house lash evening. There was a good attendance of members, and several visitors were also present, among whom was Bro. It. Greig, District- Deputy, who was officially an uounced and received a hearty welcome and the chief chair for the rest of the evening. Tm 'oireo Committee reported that the}’had madarrangements to hold the soiree in the schoolhouse on the 2Sth hint., and that some of the uost popular amateur perfumers had engaged to take part ia tha programme. The report was adopted. The officers for the ensuing quarter were then nominated. An eketon will take place next vVcduesday evening, i h;e< copies of the ‘Temp.ranoo Advocate’ wore ordered for the use of the Lodge.

SUDDEN DEATH.

A young man named Bichard Sexton, for a long time waiter at Pavletich’a Universal Hotel, Maclaggan street, committed suicide under somewhat singular circumstances this morning. He had been fined for drunkenness at the City Police Court, and immediately the fine was paid he went over to his work. As soon as he got there he drank some spirits of salts, a deadly poison used for cleaning the brass pewters. When he hud drank the draught he informed the housemaid of what he had done, and advised her to remove the glass ho had used for fear others might drink out of it. J)r Brown was sent for, but the man died almost directly after his arrival.