NEWS OF THE DAY

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 950, 11 July 1877, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

♦ Last Year's Legislation—His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch intimating that Her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowance of any of the Acts of last session. The Fighting Fubore. —As indicative of the highly civilised condition of the Kumara community, the local journal of Monday says : —lt is rumoured that as many as three prize fights were to have taken place early yesterday morning, but in consequence of the police, or for some other reason, the "events " did not " come off."

Mr Thomas Btjssell.—ln noticing the departure of Mr Thomas Eussell by the San Francisco mail steamer, the Auckland " Herald " says:— Mr Russell's stay in England will be somewhat prolonged, but, we believe, a few years will witness Ms retiu'n to New Zealand as a permanent settler in Auckland.

Silt G-eoege G-bey.—Sir George Grey abandoned his intention of visiting the Thames and addressing his constituents before proceeding to Wellington, and at his request Councillor Dr. Kilgour went to the Kawau to talk over the requirements of the field, in view of the early sitting of the Assembly. Masonic.—A very interesting event in the higher orders of the Masonic fraternity took place recently at the Masonic Hall, Auckland, when a new chapter, in the Prince Rose Croix degree, under the Grand Orient of Egypt was inaugurated. Bro. M. Niccol, W.M.P.M., presided. Fifteen candidates were obligated, and received the secrets of the high degree.

New Zealand Oeanges.—The Auckland "Herald" has a notice of what is described as a magnificent sample of New Zealand grown oranges. There were no fewer than twentyone oranges, fully grown, and quite ripe, upon one small branch. They were grown by Mr Warran, of Onehunga, not from the pip, but from layers. The tree is about eight years old, and has been bearing for four years. There are now upwards of one thousand oranges on this single tree.

United Methodist Free Church. —Considerable progress has been made with the foundations of the new church in St. Asaph street, the work being pushed on by Mr Glanville, the contractor, during the fine weather, and we are informed that steps are being taken to have a tea and public meeting on the occasion of laying the foundation stone, which ceremony has been arranged to take place on July 26th. The old church has been successfully removed to the bottom of the section, to be used for school purposes on the completion of the new church, but meantime the congregation to continue to assemble there for public worship. Civil Service Examinations. —The following are the names, order of merit, and schools, of the Canterbury candidates who passed the junior Civil Service examination: — George Hanmer, 15, Grammar School Denbigh, 1& year ; Grammar School, St. Asaph, 1 year ; Christ's College, Christchurch, 4 years. Lionel Octavianus Mathias, 16, Christ's College and Grammar School, Christchurch, 8i years. David Grubb, 22, High School, Lyttelton, 9 years. James Ibbs Lawson, 23, Grammar School, Great Crosby, 1| year; College, Wellington, 2 years; High School, Wellington, 1 year; Christ's College, Christchurch, 1| year. New Kush at |Teremakau. —On Tuesday week a rush took place to the north side of the Teremakau. About fifty miners crossed the punt early in the morning. It is reported, says the local "Times," that a claim which lias been bottomed gave a prospect of 2dwts to the dish, and has six feet of washdirt. The report further states that a share in the claim was purchased for £3O. In a subsequent number, however, the same paper says : —A visit to the claim, near the Austrians', which has caused the latest rush across the river, gives the impression that there is nothing to justify any excitement. A number of miners went across to see for themselves what reliance would be placed upon the rumors afloat. Before noon they saw four dishes washed. Of these two did not show the color, one did show the color, and a fourth had about a grain of gold. The shaft was formerly abandoned. The blue reef does not seem to have been quite reached.

TiMAEtr District Court. —In the case between the Union Bank of Australia and George Cliff and J. S. Derby, now being heard in this Court, the declaration states that the defendants on the 14th of March last past, and at divers others times, broke and entered certain land being lot 20, and broke and entered the banking-house and premises, and then and there made a great noise and disturbance for a long time, and in a forcible manner and with a strong hand forced, broke, and pushed open doors and windows, and beat, bruised, wounded, and illtreated the agents and servants of the company, and pushed and dragged them out of the said banking-house, and kept them out of the occupation and enjoyment thereof for a long time, to wit four days, whereby the plaintiff suffered damage to the extent of £2OO. There were two other counts for the same amount. For the defence there is a long list of pleas. The counsel engaged were MiHarper of Christchurch, with him Mr C. Perry, for the plaintiff, and Mr White for the defendants.

Postal G-tjide.—We have received a copy of the fifteenth number of the quarterly " New Zealand Postal Guide," printed at the Government office, "Wellington. Though simply called a Postal Guide, it is now a book of eighty-two pages, and besides all necessary information connected with the postal department, contains the railway time tables, the electric telegraph tariff and list of stations, and particulars regarding the Government Insurance.

Survey Office Appointments. The following appointments in the SurveyorGeneral's department, in Canterbury, are gazetted : —Joseph Sandell Welsh, assistant surveyor, Ist April; Thomas Borthwick McNeil, assistant surveyor, 12th April; Noel Cuthbert Brodrick, assistant surveyor, 9th May; Malcolm McNicol, assistant surveyor, Ist June; Walter Kitson, inspector of surveys, Ist May. Mr A. Munro, well known in the Wairarapa district as an engineer in connection with public works there, has been appointed engineer to the Inangahua County Council.

The Gaiety.—This house was well filled in all parts last evening, when the comedy of "Old Sailors," and the burlesque of "Aladdin," were repeated with the usual advantages of a second performance. Mrs Hall was, of course, again warmly received, as were the latest accessions to the company, and more especially Miss Lizzie Morgan and Mr Oily Deering. Mr Deering gave a taste of his quality on last Saturday by the performance of his part in the domestic drama of " Doing for the Best" in a manner which few or none could excel, and his subsequent appearances have gone far to confirm the very favourable impressions which were formed of him by accustomed playgoers in Wellington and Dunedin, where he was previously engaged. This evening the same programme is to be repeated, avowedly for the last time, though it might well bear further repetition. Child Desertion. —It has already been reported by telegraph that, in the case against the three women who were charged with abandoning the child found about a week ago in the porch of St. Joseph's Church, Dunedin, the accused were dismissed. Mr Joyce, who appeared for the defence, made an earnest and eloquent appeal on behalf of the accused. Allusion was made to the efforts made to get the child placed in the Industrial School or Benevolent Asylum, and it was submitted that only when these efforts had failed, and the mother was unable to support it longer, did she resort to what she, as a Roman Catholic, considered the next best expedient. It was maintained that so far from endangering the child's life, as the prosecution contended, every care was taken to place it where it would receive protection. The Bench differed, Mr Elliott being in favor of a committal, and Captain Baldwin holding the opinion that a sufficient case had not been made out. Under the circumstances the information was dismissed without prejudice.

James O'Suea's Bankruptcy. —At a recent meeting of the "Wellington creditors of Mr James O'Shea, according to a report in the "Times," a statement was read by Mr W. H. Quick in reference to certain transactions between debtor and the Bank of New Zealand and Mr Schultzo. Practically the statement amounted to this —that sometime ago—in 1876 —the Bank and Mr Schultze had obtained possession of certain goods belonging to debtor and had refused to hand them over without getting a lien upon them in the shape of bonded certificates. In course of time and business these goods were exchanged for others, but the nature of the lien remained remained unchanged. Nothing had been discovered to show any improper proceedings. The next matter brought under notice was O'Malley's contract. It appeared that debtor had become a co-guarantor for the due fulfilment of O'Malley's reclamation contract, on the terms that he should receive one-eighth per cent on the relamation. The total sum of the contract was £57,000, of which some £30,000 had been paid, leaving a balance to come of £27,000. The question for the creditors was, would they take over O'Shea's liability and prospect of profit or loss in the transaction. A good deal was said to show that the speculation, not to put the matter too broadly, might be a better one, and Mr O'Malley made a statement which confirmed this view of the matter. However, in answer to a question of what should be done, one gentleman said he knew someone who would take over the responsibility. The enquiring creditor remarked that matters could not be very bad if a gentleman was already prepared to assume the responsibility, and he should move that the venture be offered to public tender. Subsequently a resolution was carried to the effect that the trustee be empowered to transfer the liability to any person who would take it on terms laid down.

Public Meeting at Timaru. —It is computed that there were about 800 persons present at a public meeting held in Timaru on Monday evening. Its object was to consider certain necessary alterations in the local Harbour Board Act, and other matters of importance to the district, and the resolutions passed were certainly varied enough. The first, moved by Mr Turnbull, and seconded by Mr Bruce, was : —" That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to alter clauses 3,4, and 5 of the Timaru Harbour Board Act, 1876, and would recommend the following constitution of the Board : That the > Board]consist of ten members,, viz.—Two mem - i bers nominated by the Governor, the Mayor of the Borough, the Chairmen of the Waimate and Geraldine County Councils, the Collector of Customs of the Port, and four members to be elected by the burgesses of the Borough, in the same manner and respect as the councillors of the Borough are from time to time elected. And that clause 28 be repealed, and the control of the expenditure on harbor works be placed entirely in the hands of the Harbor Board, subject to the control of the Governor." Mr Sutter, seconded by Mr Jackson, moved the next resolution —"That the Government be requested at once to take steps to extend the railway terminus at Timaru, by joining the Harbor Board in building a concrete pier or abutment, so as to reclaim suflicient land for railway purposes, and also form the commencement of harbor works, thus saving expensive excavations and also the purchase of private lands at a high price." Mr Wakefield moved —" That the Government be asked to provide in their promised Education Bill a Board for South Canterbury. But this meeting would prefer to see a Minister of Education, with extended powers to the committee j and the endowments in the Canterbury districts kept entirely for the purpose for which they were reserved, and the revenues derived from this source to bo divided pro rata amongst the schools, on the daily average attendance in the district." All the motions were carried, and a deputation was appointed to. lay them before the Hon. Mr Stafford.

Me H. B. Stebndale. —By the mail steamer City of New York, Mr H. B. Sterndale was a passenger from Auckland for San Francisco. It is understood, says the ' Herald" that he took this step by the advice of his legal adviser, the AttorneyGeneral, and that the case of Sterndale v. Henderson and Macfarlane is not likely to come on for hearing during the present session of the Circuit Court. Mr Sterndale's present visit to England is understood to be in connection with his claim to the ownership of the island of Suwarrow. The Late Suicide at Wellington.—A recent telegram reported the suicide of a Mr Brown, who had hanged himself by his handkerchief from a rail fence on the Porirua road, near Wellington. Prom particulars given in the "Argus" it appears that the deceased, Mr Carey Thomas Brown, was for some time well known in that city as engineer on the Hutt railway line. He was afterwards employed by the Government in Mr Clayton's department and in the Public Works Office, at a salary of £4OO per annum. Owing, however, to certain changes being made in the department, he was reduced to £2OO, and this caused him to resign. He had for some time past been residing at Porirua. No cause can as yet be assigned for his rash act. He was seen at Porirua, and was not under the influence of liquor, and appeared to be all right. Deceased was about 50 years of age, and leaves a wife and family behind him.