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Evening Star, Issue 4208, 22 August 1876, Page 2

The ridiculously small prices obtained at the recent sale of land at the Mataura are (says lAie ' Southland News') clearly traceable to the very limited publicity, that was giTen to the auction.

The question of the annexation to the township of Milton of the land between the present town boundary and the railway line was brought up at the meeting of the Provincial Executive to-day, and referred to the Provincial Solicitor.

By the San Francisco mail this month there will be despatched under the nominated immigration system applications for twenty .six souls, equal to twenty-four statute adults. Applications are now restricted to farm and general servants* A new Poultry Association, which is to be known as the Otago Poultry and Canary Association was formed last evening. We are informed that only four persons were present; that office-bearers were elected, and that it is proposed to hold a show on Friday and Saturday, 13th and 14fch October. The member for Wakatip writes to one of his constituents in Queenstown a semiprivate letter, in which he defends his vote on the Separation resolutions as thoroughly consistent with his hustings speeches. He adds, " The land fund is doomed. It makes no difference what party is in power— no it must. Macandrew knows it as well as I do."

There was but a brief sitting at the City Police Court to-day. Charles Riley, charged with drunkenness, was fined 10s, in default f Tty-eight hours' imprisonment. Gertrude Cannon, a respectably-dressed little girl, was charged with stealing a cocoanut from the shop of Mr |Duggan, fruiterer, George stieet. Prosecutor said he did not wish to press the charge, but he was continually losing fruit from his shop. The charge was dismissed, accused's mothor promising to correct her child. Messrs Mercer and ilislop presided.

Shortly before nine o'clock last evening a fire broke out in a small four-roomed detached wooden cottage, situated in York place, owned by Mr Angus M'Dermot, and occupied by Mr Geo. Buest, warehousemen. The fire was discovered by some of the neighbors, no one being in the dwelling at the time, Mr Buest having gone out with some friends at seven o'clock and his family being away from home. The cottage was completely gutted; and with the exception of some bedding, everything was destroyed. Mr Buest was insured in the Norwich Union for L2OO on tbe furniture, but the premises were not insured.

A decision of some importance to builders under contract was given in the District Court at Milton on Saturday last, in Mr John Barty's estate, in which the question \vas discussed as to when a penalty for overtime is to be treated as liquidated damages. Tho 'Herald,' in commenting on Judge Ward's decision, says :—" Contractors will do well when they sign contrast! to understand the effect of these clauses in law, otherwise they may find themselves, as his Honor expressed it in the course of the argument, 'if not liable to a penalty to the end of their lives, at all events possibly liable to have the whole percentage in the employers' hands retained for damages, without calling on the employer to prove any actual damage at all.'"

The following items. are from to-day's ' Bruce Herald : '—Another action for seduction will occupy the attention of the Supreme Court at its next Bitting. The plaintiff and defendant are residents of the district, and we hear that Mr Walter Taylor will appear for the plaintiff, fcnd that Messrs Stewart and Dennisfcon have been retained for the defendant.—Scarlet fever appears to be very prevalent in this district at the present time. A number of children residing in the township are now suffering from the disease.—Mr John Russell, accountant to Messrs It. Grigor and Co., Balclutha, exEirad at Balclutha yesterday at noon. He ad been suffering from bronchitis for about a week prior to his death. Mr Russell has been a resident in Balclutha for a number of years, and for a considerable time filled the office of Town Clerk.

Two accidents which occurred on the Port road yesterday illustrate the necessity there is for at once fencing some dangerous parts of the road. In the afternoon as Mr Carey, of Blueskin, was driving into town a horse and express, the animal took fright and bolted down tne hill between the upper and lower junctions. After passing the first bend in the road, the horse turned sharply, with the result that the vehicle was seni over the bank, a distance of 25ft. Hew the occupants of the express escaped with such slight injuries as they received, is a mystery. Mrs Carey, sen., sustained a bruise on one of her legs, and was much shaken; and though the horse and express rolled over Mr ■: 'aroy, he was protected by the scrub into which he fell. Another express was run over the same bank in the early part of the morning.

The young man from Caversham, who astonished the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening last by calling from the strangers' gallery for Messrs Macandrew and fr tout, does not appear to have taken kindly the hint that his room was better tban his company, as when the desirability of his retiring was suggested by one of the constabulary who do duty in the House, he exclaimed, " [ don't want to exaggerate : I'm no a political man; but if yo gie me in charge I'll gie ye in charge to ma freens Stout an' Macaudra." Of course the incident furnished the Wellington papers with mate-ial for funny " locals"; and the 'Argus' is particulary jocular at the expense of what it is pleased to designate a fair sample of "the nace which knows how to resist.

There was a meeting of the City Council yesterday afternoon, in reference to sites tor playgrounds for the Normal and Albany street schools, but as we received no intimation of the meeting we are only able to give the conclusions arrived at, which was the adoption of the following resolution, moved by Councillor Fish :—" That seeing the obstacles placed b / the Harbor Board in the way of the Provincial Government of obtaining a piece of ground in exchange for that proposed to be given by the Corporation for the purpose of play-grounds for the Normal and Albany street schools, this Council deems it advisable, in order to relieve the Government from the embarrassment caused thereby, and to further the advancement of education in tho City, to withdraw its claim to any ground in exchange, as already agreed upon between the Provincial Government and the Corporation, and request the Government to take steps to give the resolution effect."

During the year ended June 80 last 4,696 nominations for immigrants were received by the department, and of that number 1,800 reached the Colony; 594 out of the 1,815 nominations made here landing in Dunedin. feince the commencement of the scheme 8,146 nominated persona have arrived in the Colony.

A number of men who style themselves the unemployed went to the Provincial Government offices yesterday, headed by the well-known John M'Laren, in the expectation of having an interview with the Deputy Superintendent, and, finding that his Honor had left his office fOr"'the day, proceeded to Mr Turnbull's office, where they were given to understand that his Honor should be waited upon at the buildings if it was desired to see him officially. Not satisfied with this information they crossed the street and had an interview with the Mayor, by whom they were informed that the: Corporation will give employment to as many men.as;choose to apply at stone-breaking at 2s p'er yard, the Corporation providing hammers. A notification to that effect was posted outside the Corporation offises to-day; and up to 3 p.m. seventy-three men had applied for and obtained employment in this manner. The conclusion arrived at by the East Coast Election Committee is fully supported by the evidence that was brought before them. Bribery of the grossest kind was clearly proved; and the only defence attempted to be set up. by the late member was that none of the malpracticies were'done by his authority or cognisance. It would appear that the committee considered the conviction of Major Pitt for bribery and the testimony of certain witnesses Capt. Morris tendered fully established Captain Read's complicity in the improper, practices of his committee, the chairman of which was Mr w. W. Wilson, barrister, formerly of this City. For eight weeks Captain Read has represented the East Coast, but the honor has been dearly purchased. It cost him fully LI,OOO to get elected in the first instance, and the proceedings just terminated.will involve him inanexpenditureforlegaland other costs of fully L 2,500. In Parliament he was completely out of place, and no one knew that better than himself. We hardly know | whether he will be more pleased with his relegation to private life than will be the residents of Poverty Bay, who have every reason to be indebted to him for his public spirit and open-handed generosity. The j new member, Captain Morris, has had some experience in provincial politics; and though an opponent of the Ministry, is by no means a believer in Sir George Grey's policy.

The adjourned meeting of draught players will be held to marrow (Wednesday) evening, at 8 o'clock, in the Pier Hotel.

We would remind the inhabitants of Mosgiel and surrounding district J that a meeting will be held in the Drill shed, Mbsgiel, this evening, it 7 o'clock, for the purpose! of forming a LodgeofthelO.O.F. ,

We have received a copy of the * Carnival Gazetta,' containing in one volume each number issued during the fGte at Messrs Guthrie and Larnaeh's builuing. It is neatly finished, and contains a quantity of interesting matter Messrs Ferguson and Mitchellhave forwarded us samples of the new patent aluminum pens, for which that firm are agents. From a trial we can state that these pens are excellent for writing with, and we understand that they are also non corrosive.

The fifth concert of the Dunedin Harmonic Society will take place to-morrow evening in the Temperance HaU. The programme, consisting of glees, choruses, duet 3, kc, will be sustained by fifty voices, under the conductorship of Mr Morrieh. As the Society have attended practice strongly during rehearsal we' anticipate a very successful performance. The final rehearsal takes place this evening.