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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1185, 30 November 1871, Page 2

A striking illustration of the arbitrary exercise of power on the part of a corporate body was furnished by that of Sydney a short time since, as report ed in the Sydney Morning Herald, it appears that Messrs. Talbot and Sons, merchants, resident on the Circular Quay, bad obtained permission to excavate a vault under the pathway in front of their stores, and had found it impossible to finish the work within the time specified. They therefore found it necessary to apply for an extension of time. The Corporation refused to grant their application, and immediately employed 45 men with 14 carts to till the excavation and destroy the brick work that had cost much labor aud money. A fresh relay of men weie set on at nigh ifaH, and kept at work during the night. The Herald says :—" The bystanders, of whom there were a large number present, repeatedly expressed their sense of this extraordinary destruction of work by cries of * Shame,'"

At the last Tweeting of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society the Curator reported that the ten rooks recently landed were alive and well, but not yet able to fly. Several substantial additions have been erected in the acclimatisation gardens. 4 portion of the ponds had been cleared out and laid down in rye grass. The English perch spawn was now hatching in the boxes in countless thousands. The Californian quail at large in the gardens were increasing, and the Wpnga Wonga pigeons had made a nest and laid. A disturbance took place in Melbourne on the 7th November amongst the "unemployed" men doing the Government stroke at the North Carlton quarries. Mr M'Lei lan had gone round and discharged about 50 who did not come within the category of persons entitled to the special employment, and he was followed round the place and booted. At about noon, some ot those discharged had a row with some of the piecework men ai an hotel, and a serious fight appearing imminent, the police were sent for. Two constables came, and locked up in the Carlton watch house a man named Toohey, employed at piecework on a charge of diunkenness, bin further interference was not considered necessary. A statue of Oliver Cromwell (says the Spectator) has suddenly appeared before Old Palace Yard. It was at first believed that Mr Ayrton, careless of the refusal of the House of Commons to put the Protector among the kings, had placed him there as a prophecy in plaster; but it is now ascertained that the figure came there by accident. Two statues of Lords Palmerston and Derby are to be placed there, so Mr Ayrlon, with unconscious irony, selected the model of a really great man to see how smaller men would look. The model by Mr Noble seems to impress all who see it, and the newspapers are asking why a bronze cast from it should not he placed among our kings. Twenty years hence, perhaps, a strange answer may be given to that question; but rnen would like to see even now what the Commons' vote would be, whether any influence could obtain a majority against our greatest king. Frequently when persons make an appearance at the Police Court, in answer to some charge preferred against them, they make very eloquent appeals to the proprietors of the local newspapers to "keep out their names." This is how the Mel bourne Argus serves such requests :—We have received the following letter from a correspondent : —" I was, unfortunately, brought be fore the St. Kilda Court this morning for illtreating a dog. Would you be so kind as not to insert my name in your paper, and oblige yours obediently —John Matson, Melbourne, October 17th." A number of young men at the Thames and in Auckland have enlisted in a corps to serve for a certain time under the Government of Cakobau, at Fiji. Here is an announcement by the irrepressible Mr J. G. S. Grant of Dunedin. We cit it from the adverting columns ot the Evening Star : "'New Zealand TJn veiled.'—Tomorrow will be published a Book on the Colony. Price One Shilling, but such as have the means are expected to ffive half-a-crown. Mr J G. S. Grant has been frequently importuned to write such a book. Here it is. About 18 months ago a certain Clerical and Congregational Association cast the author in financial arrears because he attempted to tear the veil off the pub He eyes. Time has confirmed his predictions. Therefore, shell out the dust ye Mammon Worshippers, for ye cannot carry your gold to the grave." An accident which nearly terminated fatally, occurred in Auckland to a child seven years of age. It was putting shells in its mouth, when a fragment got beyond its reach, causing intense pain. On the second day after the occurrence, Drs. Dawson and Wright administered chloroform, and extracted the piece, '* Girls" is a particular noun, of the lovely gender, lively person, and double number, kissing mood, in the immediate tense, and in the expectation ease to matrimony, according to the general rule.