Hawke's Bay Times. Nuilius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1871.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1013, 10 May 1871, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nuilius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1871.

The next English Mail via Suez will be due at Melbourne to-morrow. L;i.->t evening, about 8 o'clock, an alarm of fire was raised in town, and was .speedily taken up and spread far and wide. In Hastings-street there was a general turn-out of the inhabitant"-, and some confusion ensued ; for, though the alarm bell wa« ringing, and the cry was being raised in all directions, few knew where to look for the fire. The word was at length passed that the Roman Catholic Chapel had taken lire, and a general movement up Shakespeare-road ensued. On arriving within view of the chape], however, it was at once seen that everything there was safe, and many turned back, under the impression that a false alarm had been rained. Such, howevei, was not tbe case. Service was being held last evening, and the preliminary portion being concluded, the person who blows the organ came down into the chapel, leaving his candle burning. By some means the curtains took file, and the great light, as seen from the outside ©f the building, presented a very alarming appearance. The congregation were unaware of the accident until alarmed by people outside, and prompt measures being taken, the flames were extinguished before any serious damage had been done.

The Customs rovenne for the Colony for the quarter ending 31st March was ,£171,323. During the corresponding qua iter in 1870 the total amount was £199,61)8. The hon, the Native and Defence Minister and Sir George Grey arrived here this morning hy the Luna from Auckland yia the coast.

I The local companies of militia were | inspected this day by Colonel Harrington, Inspector of Militia and Volunteers. After the preliminary evolutions had been gone through, the men were diiiwii up in .square, and addressed .by the (Jolonel. lie .slid he did not expect to iind a highly drilled body of men, and it* he was to tell them they were such they would not believe him. The object of his inspection was to see how far the present, system of drill was successful, and to find in what points improveneni could be introduced. On these subjects a report was required of him by the Government, and he would bo materially assisted by any suggestions the men rhemseJvos make, lie observed that many of the corps had not learned how to handle their riil(!S, and this he considered a point of the very highest importance. Possibly, if the men were drilled tor a number of consecutive days instead of at long • . | . o intervals, some impiovemont in this find other icspects take place,

He invited suggestions from the men.— One who complained of having to walk from the Spit to drill was reminded that country militjameji had to travel much greater distances.—To another wh# suggested that v the Government should provide a militia uniform, Col. Harrington replied that the point was worthy of consideration, but he thought the necessaryfimds might be more profitably employed.—Suggestions were made that the Government should supply the force with ammunition, and give them regular rifle practice. Col. Harrington replied that he hoped this would be done; but it was requisite in the first place that they should be a little more perfect in their drill, and know how to handle their arms.

In the Supieme Court yesterday afternoon, Taylor and Macdonald, who weie charged with having stolen a cheque for £6 from Michael Fea fherston, on the 25th December last, were convicted, and sentenced to two year's imprisonment each, with hard labor. This morning a juryman named Cheer wa« convicted of contempt of Court, in having come intoxicated on the previous day. The man, who appealed to be still suffering from the effects of his intemperance, was ordered to. be imprisoned for 48 hours. Frederick Harrison, a bankrupt, was charged with certain misdemeanors under the Bankruptcy There were several counts in tli<e indictment, on the first of which the jury found him not guilty, and there being no evidence in support of the other charges, he was discharged. Certain prisoners were charged with prison-breaking; but these cases had not been decided when our reporter left.