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Evening Star, Issue 4294, 30 November 1876, Page 2

At Napier a man has been fined LlO for disturbing the services in the Wesleyan church.

The ‘ Wanganui Chronicle ’ hints vaguely about some strange disclosures being expected in connection with certain .Supreme Court proceedings at Marton, and adds that the name of a clergyman is involved. The following telegram has been received by the President of the New Zealand Wesleyan body :- “ New South Wales, 2Sth November, 1876.—A1l the presidents concur in admitting laymen to next annual Conference.— .1. B. Waterhouse, Secretary General Australian Conference.” This will come into operation at once.

At the meeting of the Eegatta Committee last evening, at the Provincial Hotel, Port Chalmers, it was decided that the forthcoming regatta should be held at Port Chalmers on or about the 23rd of February next; that the Otago Eegatta for 1878 should be held at St. Leonards; and that the two committees should at once canvass for subscriptions. A strange freak of nature has been on view at Eeedy’s Hotel, Knmara, in the shape of a lizard with two heads—“one where the tail should be,” as the showman says. It was caught in the bush and brought into town by a miner, but in consequence of having received some injury it has siuce died, and is now preserved in spirits. Professor Bell has so perfected his invention of transmitting sound over the electric wires, that musical notes can be distinctly conveyed by telegraph. By means of Ids phonetic organ the professor recently transmitted from Boston to a New York telegraphic operators over the wires, the tunes “America” and “Auld Lang Syne,” which were distinctly heard and recognised. He is now at work perfecting his apparatus, by which he hopes to convey between distant points, in a similar manner, the tones of the human voice. To-day at eleven o’clock a number of gentlemen met at Mr Sibbald’s Provincial Hotel to present to Mr Thomas Birch a purse containing, we believe, about Ll3O, as a recognition of his services in his public career as Provincial Councillor, Mayor, and Immigration Agent. Mr Sibbald was in the chair, and in presenting the testimonial reviewed Mr Birch’s public career in favorable terms, although. differing from him in some political views. Mr Birch replied, th inking those present for their favorable consideration, and intimating that because of the absence of some who had contributed he should reply through the Press. Several complimentary toasts to the Chairman and some members present were drunk in champagne, and the meeting separated, A telegram on Thuisday last announced the death at Clyde of Mr A. E. B. Thomson, who has long been connected with the interior in the capacity of Sheep Inspector. A very large concourse followed his remains to

their final resting-place in Clyde Cemetery on Sunday—many journeying long distances to pay the last tribute of regard. The ‘ Dunstan Times ’ affords the subjoined par-ticular.-:—“Mr A. R. B. Thomson, late sheep inspector for the district, died at his residence, Clyde, yesterday afternoon, the 23rd inst., after an illness of two weeks. As a true and kind-hearted gentleman he was known to a large circle of friends, far and wide throughout New Zealand, and many a heartfelt regret will be expressed when the fact of his death becomes known. A coin siderable part ot Mr Thomson’s Colonial life was passed in the neighboring Province of Canterbury, but bo was also intimately connected with the early pastoral interests of Otago, having owned in partnership with his brother the liocklands Station at Strath Taieri. In his late capacity as a Government official in the sheep department, Mr Thomson, by his urbanity ai d kindly dis ;'i; 1 1 hm, gm e.T tin. confidence ami esteem of ; ii with wi-oiu ;.is d be- brought him in ■■ ntact, and his place will be La v d to fill. The deceased gentleman was in his thirtyninth year at the time of bis death.’’

The ‘Cromwell Argus ’ hears of the probability of a local coaching company being formed, the chief object of which will be to run a line between Cromwell and Lawrence on the completion of the railway to that place, so as to make Cromwell from Dunedin ip one day. Efforts will be made to prevail on the Government to run an early train from the metropolis. Messrs Carruthers (Engineer-in - chief), Gorton (Inspector of Stones), Fitzgerald (Auditor-General), Shawson (General Manager of Canterbury Railways) arrived in town last night. We are informed that they journeyed from Christchurch to Moeraki by railway, the run from Christchurch to Oamaru being easily made in one day, notwithstanding that there were several long stoppages at intermediate stages.

That “the course of true love never runs smooth,” especially when it is a one-sided affair, has recently been forcibly illustrated in that remote digging township on the West Coast called Ross. A man named James Brewster Armstrong paid considerable attention, with a view to matrimony, to a woman named Helen Macgregor, and he got a notion into his head that she had whispered or implied that thrilling little word “ yes,” and that they were to be married on a certain morning, to wit, the 29th of last month. On that auspicious day the was-to-be bridegroom called upon his Hebe, and asked her to go with him to the Registrar. This she declined, and in order to smooth the way her lover ordered drinks for six. Finding, however, that his importunities were of “none effect” he a few days later sued the idol of his heart for a sum of money alleged to be due. On the matter being brought before the magistrate it turned out that the amount claimed was for presents he had given her, and the case was dismissed. Determined to have his revenge he a few days later lodged an information against Miss Macgregor for selling grog on the sly. He assured the Court he only did it to vindicate the law, and for no other reason. It would appear from the evi- ■ deuce that he supplied the grog himself to the woman, and that when it was afterwards drunk no money was paid for the drinks. The magistrate walked into Armstrong’s affections, and said he had an escape of being committed for perjury. He considered the information had been laid by Armstrong out of sheer ill-will and malice, because defendant disappointed him. He would dismiss the case, and must say it was brought through right down malice. Mr Armstrong is not likely to try and vindicate the law for a while again.

The attention of Volunteers is directed to the General orders in another column,