Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY,MARCH 20,1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1278, 20 March 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY,MARCH 20,1872.

"We have tq acknowledge the receipt pf a pamphlet from Mr Charles Hursthouse, Taranaki, being the prospectus and introductory chapter of a contemplated work on "New Zealand as a jiome-planting emigration field.'* It is intended to publish the above work at a price calculated to ensure a wide circulation amongst that in the mo thcr country fitted to succeed as unmigrants to New Zeajand. An edition in the Geimau language is also contemplated.

The Nebraska, which left this part yesterday for Auckland and San Francisco,, was the bearer of a considerable quantity of wool and other produce, shipped at the Southern Ports, and intended tor tlte markets of the United States, We understand that a quantity of flax to be forwarded bv the same vessel awaits shipment at Auckland.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon there was one civil case —P,ayie v. Seymour, a cla.im of .£lO damages for tre.-pass. —Plaintiff was nonsuited. Tins morning the [Resident Magistrate gave judgment in the case of One One and others, v. Davie. He said it was admitted that timber had been cut on the land of the plaintiffs by Cannon and pmers, and that the timber hail been taken, by the defendant's draj's for- his use. There was a. discrepancy in the evidence as. u>, the number of trees, but on this, point he thought the evidence for the plaintiffs most reliable, which the number as 31. The defence was that Cannon cu.t on the land of plaintiffs, contrary to the instructions of defendant, w fr° Wt * s ignorant of his own boundaries. The evidence was very Von,tradictory aiid unsatisfactory, but \ie (the Residei.it Magistrate) thought, that Davie himself had pot made out a food 4efeu.ee. Possibly this might have een a defence to a orimiual proceeding for taking timber which did not belong &iui)t Untj it was no. ground for his Refusing to pay th,e plaintiffs for tmiber of tiieirs. which. h,e b,ad taken and. u.*ed. of the timber was taken by others Davie's employ,, besides Cannon,. If J)avie really did. not know his boundaries, he should have taken proper care %> that he was cutting on his

own laud. As regarded the amount of damage, it was fixed by the plaintiffs at a lump sum of £SO, and no evidence was produchd as to the teal value of the trees. He gathered from the defendant's witnesses that such trees were worth an average of ten shillings each. He would estimate the namber of trees at, 31, and their value at ten shillings each, and he would also allow £3 byway of special damage for eKpense> the plaintiffs might have incurred; also the costs of the Court, £1 14s; total, £3O 4s.

The Wairarapa correspondent of the Independent states that, so far as that district is concerned, " the time for converting fat sheep into tallow has expired." At Dunedin, on the 12th inst., the hon. D. M'Lean liberated all the Maori prisoners except the. He told the prisoners that when they arrived at the North the Government would provide them suitable localises to settle in, but it would be well to inform tliem thai it would be inexpedient for them lo settle in their old homes. Tairoa said on arriving at his destination in the North he would decline to have anything to do with the native chiefs. He had seen Aparaharaa and Tamihana, but even with them he would have nothing to do. He was willing to submit entirely to the guidance of the Government. The Canterbury Press complains that although Parliament was prorogued in November, and more than three months have elapsed, yet neither in Christchinch nor in any other district has a meeting been held, or its lepresentative beeu invited to give an account of his doings during the session. We dcibt if such a thing ever happened before.

Two lads, Charles Emerson and Charles Budge, aged 13 years, recently rescued from drowning a bay who, when bathing in the Omaka, at Blenheim, had got out of his depth. They plunged into the .stream and succeeded in bringing the drowning boy to land. This is the second time Emerson has saved life in a similar manner.

The Melbourne Argus has been shown the following passage iu a private letter from an authority in the P. and 0. Co.,'s service ;—" The introduction of Australian butter and jams to our ships has been a great success, and T think we shall be able to avail of- -to some extent a.t least —your soups and meats. Not only are all these articles cheaper than anything we can get at home, hi.t their quality is. very much superior "

It is nut generally known (says the) Wanganui Herald) why Captain Doile ceased to command the s.s. Go-ahead. It appears that he gave offence to some q( the directors, the majority of wham live at New Plymouth, 1( y taking a cattle freight from Wanganui for Jgßo, when one awaited him at the Waitara Kiver far <£6,o. The captain had a share in the boat, and was naturally anxious to make her pay by getting the highest possible freight. The share holders at Manawatu and Wellington will doubtless endorse his. conduct. He was forced to give up his command, whereupon be disposed of his. interest in the Vessel. We now learn that Captain Doile will shortly be in command of another steamer in the same trade, when the Taranaki directors wili have the opportunity of learning th,e first, principles, of com tierce, if the deficit in their la«t balance-sheet has not already grounded them therein. The "Victorian Diphtheria Commission has commenced its labors. What among all the novelties of the day (writes a luondon correspondent of the Cornwall Chronicle) do you think of the new wedding rings just come into vogue, one of which was recently made for Laity Agn.es Duff? This ring consists, of two hoops of gold', flat, and fitting perfectly together. On the inner surface the names and initials of tlte happy pair—the date of the marriage, and sometimes a motto, or posy, a,s the old writers have it. Thus you may carry your marriage certificate always on vour finger. This, however, is no new invention, but has been known from, very ancient times, the ring being called "■ Gimmell," fiomjumeile—or twin. One of the first jewellers in Bond-street has revived this, and now among the elite no, oilier nuptial rings art used,.

Writing upon the entire want of interest that prevails as to the conduct of the Government und the Legislature, or as to the treatment of public questions, the Press says :—" No greater evil can befall a free country than the growth among the people of a spirit of indifference to public affairs. As the people are, so will be their mlers. If the people are heedless and negligent, the Government will speedily become cot nipt, and abuses will grow * like hydra's heads ' on all sides. The only security for good Government lies in an habitual watch kept by the people over their rulers ; so that the Legislative and Executive may deliberate and act under an ever-present conciousness that for everything they do or leave undone they will be held accountable at the bar of a well-informed and enlightened opinion." We (Independent) understand that Cyrus Haley, who was recently committed for trial at Auckland on charges of arson and shooting with intent, has applied to have the venue removed to Wellington on the gronnd that a prejudice has been created against him in Auckland,

The following remarks are by a writer in the Tuapeka Times on the effect of the recent reduotion in the pay of the Otago police force ;—" The reduction made in the pay of the police seems to have had the effect of driving the best men out of the service. The stalwait dashing troopers of the Branigan era, who were the pride of the province and the envy of its neighbor*, and whose very appearance struck terror into the hearts of evildoers, are rapidly disappearing. Their places are being filled with weedy, idiotic-looking customers, who, to judge from looks, can scarcely be more efficient than the the Charleys of the ante-bobby period. r confess that, if I have to gaze at any more of the recent additions to the the force, I «hall be tempted to start bushranging." A letter from Auckland, says the Otago Times, states that the Caledonian Company are reported to have in hand twenty thousand pounds the accumulations of the last three months added to their old balance when the yield began to fall off Great surprise is expressed at their not declaring a dividend of at least Mo or £6, which, it is thought, they could easily do. The general opinion is that money is being retained with a view to amalgamation with, and actively working, the Albion Company. The Caledonian Company have a tine battery of their own, and the low price of the shares (£ls) is indicative of the reaction and want of confidence, result ing from the mania of 1871, and the riocT.in(y of the share market by which it was attended. From another souice we hear that the expenses of the company in working its low levels are veiy heavy, and that the balance in hand is much exaggerated. Possibly thi* may be the case, but it is odd ihe shareholders and the public should not be in posses.lion of more accurate information.

The drainage question is being vigorously dealt with in Christchurch. The Press says: —"The City Council, having affirmed the necessity of borrowing, under the enlarged powers conferred upon them during last session of ihc General Assembly, the sum of £8,00(1 for drainage purposes, steps will at once be taken to raise the requisite sum by means of debentures. The Council are determined to .push forward the necessary work as speedily as pas sible, and tenders have been invited for the excavation of the first portion." A meeting of the Council of the Permissive Bill Association was held in Melbourne on the 28th February. A new Permissive Bill, to be brought before Parliament next session, which had been drafted, by Mes>rs Higinboth.am & Casey, was submitted and adopted. The bill provides that onefifth of the electors of any district may require the mayor of a town or borough., or the president of a shire council, or chairman of a. road boavd, to take a poll, of the inhabitants of his district, to. test the question of whether the electors are in tavor of the Permissive Bill, being adopted in. their district; and. the bill is not to be adopted unless a majoiity of two-thirds of the votes recorded are in fa.v.Qi: of it..