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Evening Star, Issue 4311, 20 December 1876, Page 2

At Kumara, two sly-grog informers, named Williams and Currell, have been committed for trial on a charge of perjury. The Government have entrusted Dr Buller of Wellington with the defence of the libel case of the Horn S. H. Russel v. the printer and editor of the * Waka Mauri.’ The Marlborough ‘Express’ says that the Hon. Mr Robinson only owns two-thirds of Cheviot County, and wul only be able to return three out of seven County Councillors. Mr Emmet has a benefit and is to be presented with an address to-night' at the Queen’s Theatre, where he plays “Fritz” for the last time. The management have been at some pains to mount the piece in good style, and a large house may be anticipated. The Lydia-Howarde Company play a burlesque in addition. Batchelder’s Fantascope of the Overland route from America to Australia—which, if we remember rightly, was shown here some three years ago, with Mr Horace Bent as lecturer—was exhibited at the Temperance Hall last evening. The descriptive lectures are given by Mr Batohelder, who has himself travelled over most of the country shown. Notwithstanding the caution given to Wong Tip in the Police Court recently, when he was proceeded against for capturing a salmon trout, the Chinese continue fishing off the cross-wharf at Rattray street with a small meshed net. Should they succeed in catching any more trout in the harbor it is to be hoped an example will be made of them.

“Nicholas Nickleby 11 was repeated at the Princess’s Theatre last evening to a moderate attendance. The performance concluded with an amusing farce, much after the style of the “ Critic,” in which Mr Hall succeeded in keeping the audience in a rare good humor. To-night there will be a complete change of bill—a new drama entitled “The Escaped Convict” and the entertaining operetta “The Professor.” A deputation from the Tokomairiro Road Board consisting of its chairman (Mr Lindsay) and the treasurer (Mr Murray) waited upon the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs to-day. They stated that under the Provincial Ordinance the Board got its subsidy annually on the rates collected up to June 30, while under the Financial Arrangements Bill it could only be received up to March 31 last. The Collector had not been active in his work, and as only a small portion of the rates had been collected up to that time they asked to be allowed the subsidy up to the end of June. Mr M'Lean replied that he did not think he could accede to the request, but promised to look into the matter. This is the style of writing! that finds favor in the ‘Weekly Post’:—“lt is fortunate for the Pacific Mail Company’s steamers, and for the reputation of Port Chalmers* that the coastal servise is to be discontinued shortly. The Zelandia in coming out on Wednesday, touched on the bar, following the example of the City of San Francisco. Luckily, she had not coaled—that operation being postponed until arrival at this port—and was therefore light. Thus the blow was not a heavy one, but had she taken in at Fort Chalmers the 450 tons of coal which she shipped here yesterday, her bottom probably would have been stove in. A few more of these mishaps and Port Chalmers weuld find the rates of insurance to that port seriously raised.”

It is proposed, according to the Auckland ‘ Herald,’ to start another whaling venture in Auckland, the promoters being Mr Jas. Macfarlane and Mr Ford. It is intended to start an association with a capital of LIO,OOO. A regular company will not, however, be formed, nor will the shares be of any stated value. The subscribers will be allowed to put any sum they like into the venture, and their share of the profits will be in proportion to their investments. The association is to place the management of its affairs in the hands of a competent agent, who will bo allowed to act on his own discretion, and without any appeal to the shareholders, whose safeguard will be the integrity of-the man they choose for the position, and the condition that he shall be largely interested in the success of the undertaking. When once the required capital is subscribed, it is intended to purchase the Magellan Cloud and a barque of about 260 tons. The two vessels will be fitted out, and during the humpback season will work together. The legal value of telegrams was raised in the course of the argument in one of the cases lately tried before the Divorce Court. In applying for a dissolution of marriage in Grace v. Grace, Dr Duller informed the Court that amongst other preliminaries a telegram had been forwarded to the SolicitorGeueral informing him of the steps taken in the case, and intimating that all necessary documents had been despatched to him—a course which is necessary to satisfy the law. As the documents did not reach the Solicitor General within the prescribed limit of time, it became a question whether the receipt of the telegram could be regarded as sufficient. Mr Justice Johnston said that if the Act were rigidly interpreted the Court could not take cognisance of the telegram until its authenticity had been proved by sunjmouing all the officers of the Telegraph Department through whose hands it had passed. Mr’ Justice Gillies differed so much from his brother judge, that he had always, without question, accepted telegrams as evidence. The Chief Justice, however, supported the opinion of Mr Justice Johnston, and cited a Victorian cab® where the Court had decided not to accept a telegram as evidence. Mr Gordon Allan, as amicus curios, stated that it had been the* practice of the Court to place a liberal construction on tbs language of the Act; and Mr .Justice Johnston concurring on this point. Dr Bullet escaped further trouble about tb* matter*

The last pile of the viaduct onthePortMoeraki railway was driven on Saturday, and is flow going on from both ends. The * North Otago Times ’ says the line is expected to be ready for traffic in the i first wee£ of the new year. Ottr cricketers may read with profit the following record of Shaw’s execution in the bowling department when the All-England Eleven were playing against twenty-two of the South Australians in Adelaide. Shaw bowled 226 balls for 12 runs, 14 wickets, and had 46 maiden overs. Mr Manfltord, R.M., this morning fined a witness named George Esther 20s for not appearing at the Court on a previous day in answer to a subpoena. His Worship remarked that when people are summoned as witnesses they must obey the terms of such summons, and attend at the hour named therein. In future cases a heavy fine would be indicted. At St. Joseph’s C hurch last evening a musical festival was held for the purpose of adding to the organ fund, and a Very large audience assembled. A well-selected programme of sacred music was provided, - and as many of our leading amateur vocalists gave their services, the result was a most successful concert. Mr O. Sykes of course presided at the organ, and in addition to accompanying the singers gave several excellent solos. The proceedings commenced with Rossini’s overture to “L’ltallana,” after which the Kyrie and Gloria from Haydn’s ‘‘First Mass” in B flat were effectively given. The bass solo from the “Stabat Mater”—“Pro peccatis was nicely rendered by a gentleman amateur; but this was surpassed by the delivery of the aria “ Nazareth,” which was undoubtedly one of the most successful solos of the evening. A lady gave “He was despised” with great expression ; and “ Oh, rest in the Lord” was fairly rendered by a gentleman. Mi Sykes’s organ selections were muoh appreciated, the best being “Cujus Anitnam,” the prayer from “Mosd in Egitto,” and Wely’s wellknown offertoire. The concert was brought to a close by the grand “Hallelujah” chorus, effectively given by the choir. At this morning’s sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Mr T. A. Hansford, R.M., delivered an important decision in the case of Williams v. M'Grath, heard yesterday at the Port Chalmers Court. His Worship said:—“ The intention of the Legislature for many years past has been to abolish imprisonment for debt, and, further, that a debtor in custody for debt should be discharged on filing a declaration of insolvency, or otherwise complying with the law for the time being relating to bankruptcy. The defendant in this instance appears to have complied with the existing law by filing a declaration of insolvency and causing notice thereof to be inserted in the ‘Gazette in Bankruptcy,’ a slight defect existing in not having strictly adhered to the 4th of the new rules made under the Debtors and creditors Act of 1876. That role requires that all notices and proceedings gazetted shall be headed by the Eojal arms and by the words “In Bankruptcybut I can scarcely consider this a fatal objection, seeing that the plaintiff is not prejudiced by the slight deviation from the rule, and that the ‘ Gazette’ containing the rules fixed the time for them coming into operation several days, before the ‘ Gazette’ itself was received in Dunedin. I think the special circumstances of this case are such as to justify me to direct, in accordance with the provisions of the I4th section of the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Act of 1874, that the defendant shall be forthwith discharged.”

Mr Praithwaite has sent us the “ Family Herald” for October, “London Journal” for November, and the “Young Ladies’ Journal ” and “ Bow Bells” for December. We have received a copy of Mills, Dick, and Co.’s Almanac and Directory for 1877 for Otago and Southland. It appears to contain even more than the usual amount of information, and is well got up is every way. The prizes in connection wu2> the Otago Pifle Association’s meeting will be presented after parade to-morrow evening, instead o. on Friday, as previously announced, the Drillshed being engaged on the latter date. It is to be hoped that as many of the Volunteers as can find it convenient- will attend, and thus happily bring to a close the most successful meeting of the Association which has been held for years. We understand the prizes will be presented by the jdon. G. M'Lean We trust that Captain Walker, the gentleman whom Government has selected to report on the New Zealand Forests, will receive a large attendance to morrow (Thursday) evening, when he reads a paper on Forestry to the members of the Otago Institute. Forestry demands greater attention in this Colony than it has hitherto received, and we look forward with interest to an address by a gentleman to whom the future of this branch of economical science has > been entrusted by the New Zealand authorities.