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Evening Star, Issue 4123, 15 May 1876, Page 2

! At a sale of city property recently held in Melbourne, half one block in the best part of Collins street brought L 39,600 or L6OO per foot.

It is stated in an Auckland paper that Ministers are considering the propriety of summoning Mr Hugh Carleton to the Legislative i ouncil. it is stated that seme true canal or fossiliferous has been found in a seam of coal 30ft. thick at the back of Mount Rochfort. The coal is said to be quite distinct in character from that obtained on the seaward slope of the ranges. For his recent attempt to escape from the gaol, the convict Frantz Smat has been sentenced to be kept in irons until further orders. Should he conduct himself properly for a couple of months, he will probably be relieved of his encumbrance.

There was quite a crowd of country people in Invercargill on Friday, the attraction being, apparently, the sale by public auction at the Land Office of deferred payment sections in Chattou and Waikaka, for each of which more than one application had been made. The prices realised ranged from Is 6d to 4s per acre, the rental being halfyearly. The portrait of Hori Tupcea, a Maori chief in Auckland, is to be taken by Herr Lindaner, for the purpose of sending it to the Oentenial at Philadelphia. Hori is a very fair specimen of a Maori chief. He is, indeed almost the only one left of the chiefs of highest rank, and is equal in birth (as the Maoris count) to Potatau te Wherewhero. Why not send Hori himself to Philadelphia? It is rumored on good authority that Sir Cracoft Wilson has proceeded to Wellington for the purpose of laying the particulars of the recent controversy between the Superintendent and the Provincial Executive of Canterbury respecting the appointment of a Provincial Treasurer before the Premier. The * Lyttelton Times ’is at a loss to understand what his object may be in doing so. Scratch matches were played by members of the Dunedin Football Club on the Oval; and by the Union Club on the Northern Recreation Ground on Saturday. On the Rectory ground the Standard and High School Clubs tried conclusions, the respective captains being Masters L. Israel and W. Finch. Though both sides fought very determinedly, no goal was obtained, and the game resulted in a draw.

. The details of the second charge of bribery made against Captain Morris, one of the candidates in the East Coast election, for which he has been committed for trial, Show that the case is by no means a strong one. The charge (says the ‘Post’) rests' solely on the unsupported evidence of a man} named Donoghue, who swears that on the. polling-day Captain Morris offered to give him LI for his vote, and the same price for any other votes which could be obtained. According to the statement of “ the informer ” no money was taken, so that the charge is reduced to one of attempted bribery. The witness did not come very well out of a severe cross-examination, though he strenuously denied that he had been given a sum of money to induce him to lay the information. It was contended by counsel for the defence that there was no case to go before a jury, and the dictum of Mr Justice Johnston, to the effect that charges of this nature should be corroborated by at least two credible witnesses, was cited in support of this view. The Resident Magistrate, however, held that the contention raised for the defence was matter for a jury to decide on at the trial under a Judged ruling, and accordingly committed Captain Moms for trial. Thus another act has been played out in the drama of the East Coast election.

On dit that Mr Hoskins has taken the new Princess’s Theatre, and will open with a theatrical company early in June. The Acclimatisation Society met this afternoon, but owing to the lateness of the hour at which the meeting was held, we are compelled to hold over our report of the proceedings.

Mr and Mrs Darrell play a season at Christchurch in conjunction with Mr Hoskins’s company, commencing on Saturday. Madame de Murska is announced to open in Christchurch on the 26th inst. Messrs Dalgety, Nichols inform us that they have received telegraphic information of the departure from Melbourne on Saturday last of the s.s. Otago for the Bluff ; also of the arrival at Hokitika of the s.s. Albion from Sydney early this morning.

The Nelson officers have not been fortunate in their shooting competitions with those of other Provinces. Matches came off recently with Waiuku (Auckland) and Dunedin, six on each side, the score made by the Nelson team at the one firing to serve for both. The result was as follows Nelson, 366 ; Waiuku, 377 ; Dunedin, 412. The Law Students’ Society have elected Messrs Nation and Stout vice-presidents and Mr Dick secretary; also decided to hold their meetings every alternate Saturday evening, and agreed upon the following question as the one for discussion at next meeting:—“ Can a contract within the Statute of Frauds be wholly waived before breach by a subsequent agreement, not in writing ? ”

The * United Service Gazette ’ regrets to learn that a condition of things anything but creditable to the discipline of the Royal Navy exists on board the Barracouta, but relies with confidence on Commodore Hoskins’s well-known judgment for effectual means being taken to remedy the cause. This is not without significance in view of certain recent occurrences in which the mmn of the Barracouta figured prominently.

A feature in the Victorian educational system is the establishment of night schools in the larger cities. Recently a school of this character was opened at Sandhurst, and on the opening night 141 persons were enrolled. This provision gets rid of the plea so often made use of by parents when proceeded against under the compulsory clauses of the Act—that they cannot afford to lose the services of the elder children in the day time.

A general meeting of the committee for the concerts in aid of the Benevolent Institution was held in the City Council Chambers this morning, present—The Mayor (in the chair), and a large number of gentlemen. Mr Bathgate, E.M., promised to place at the disposal of the committee a number of watercolors'and oil-paintings for hanging. Conveners of the. various committees were appointed, ana other business of a routine nature was transacted.

An enterprising publisher in Brisbane has just issued a skeleton map of that city, showing all the public-houses, and the position of each in every ; street in the city. The * Telegraph ’ says it is a most interesting and instructive picture in more senses than one. Attached to the map is a list of hotels -seventy-eight in number—which is explained as follows ;—“Those hotels numbered in red ink are the first-class hotels of Brisbane, because they provide good accommodation for travellers, and are generally well conducted ; those numbered in black do not appear to encourage a trade of that kind, being as a rule merely drink-shops.

The statement that the contract for the conveyance of the Suez mails between Melbourne and New Zealand has been renewed with Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co. for a term of years is not quite correct, as the existing contract does not expire until the end of August next, but we ( * Post ’) understand that the contract will be renewed then on the present terms and at the present subsidy, L 5,000 per annum. This will give general satisfaction in New Zealand, where the invariable punctuality and efficiency with which Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Go. have carried out their contract is thoroughly "appreciated. . It is plain the Melbourne merchants do not relish the action of the Victorian Government in relation to Messrs Stevenson and ons’ correspondence, as we find a number of the leading representatives have held a meeting to consider the desirability of having their European correspondence sent by such steamers as the St. Osyth and Whampoa as freight to some firm in London, who Will then sort and post them to their various destinations. Whether this will be found to conflict with the Postal Act remains to be seen; but the projectors of the idea appear confident that the freight will cover the cost, and render them independent of the Postmaster-General and the Commissioner of Customs.

Mr John Millar, F.S.A., having received a numerously signed address of condolence on his late prosecution from above 100 leading men of all classes in Westport, Charleston, Lyell, and the West Coast of the South Island, has thanking them for their sympathy ana their expression of confidence in him. Mr Millar, while asserting his own innocence and stating that throughout his life he has “ with chivalrous feeling” bom on his escutcheon the motto that “ integrity is the noblest possession of man,” takes care in his long reply to show that that ‘‘noblest possession ’’ is not an attribute of his prosecutors, whom he designates a “despised and happily moribund Nelson Provincial Executive”—“a Government made up of incongruous materials, apathetic men, devoid of the higher attributes which should regulate the conduct of a governing body—thoughtless men, who unwisely nave allowed themselves to lend the prestige of their higher position in the State to sanction an attack upon ” him. If Mr Millar’s estimate of the leaders of Nelson be true, no wonder it has earned the distinction of being the “Sleepy Hollow” of New Zealand.

A very large meeting of Past Grand Masters and Past Grands of the Independent Order of Oddfellows took place on Friday evening to initiate measures for the formation of an Encampment, which is a higher and distinct branch of the same order. Bro. Joseph Braithwaite informed the brethren that the Grand Lodge had previously decided that it should he instituted, and the executive officers accordingly authorised P. „6. Bro. R. T. Wheeler (while on a visit to Melbourne) to obtain the necessary instructions and information with a view to its establishment here. This had been done, and everything (including regalia, &c.) was now ready to commence operations. Bro. Wheeler entered into full explanations relative to the Encampment, and the whole meeting pledged themselves to become mem hers. It was unanimously resolved that this branch of the Order be of a purely benevolent and charitable character, to relieve worthy travelling and distressed members; also, that it be opened as soon as possible after the dedication of the new Oddfellows’ Hall, at which place it is to.be instituted, The elective officers are P. G. Bro. Wheeler, Chief Patriarch; G. M. Bro. Braithwaite, High Priest; P. G. M. Bro. Gourley, Senior Warden ; G. S. Bro. Boyd, Junior Warden ; P. G. M. Bro. Michie, Scribe; P. G. Bro. Aldrich, Treasurer. The following are the first appointed officersD. 6. M. Bro. Russell, and P. G.,’s GoUius, Hannah, Bracken, Minifie, White, Henderson, Alexander, and Turkey; -

A meeting of the Yorkshire Club will be held at the usual place to-morrow evening. ,De Murska’a last concert but one will bo j programme announced for Fr day night will be gone through. Ladies and gentlemen willing to assist at the Benevolent Institution entertainments ore invited to rehearsal in St. Paul’s Schoolroom tomorrow (Tuesday) evening, at seven o’do.k

A practice of ladies and gentlemen who are to take p rt in the choral dedication sendee and concert at the new Oddfellows* Ball, Albany street, will bo held in the ball tomorrow even* ing at eight o’clock. An entertainment consisting of a lecture by the Rev. A. R. Fiichett (illustrated by panoramic views) and musical selections by well knownamateurs, will be given in the Mornington istrict Hall on W onesday evening. The proceeds will be in aid of the Wesleyan Church Building Fund.