hawke's bay times Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1442, 30 September 1872, Page 2

hawke's bay times Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1872.

There were no case* in the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. Notwithstanding the repeated refusals of the Imperial Government to extend its colonial possessions by undertaking the protectorate of islands in the Pacific, there is now even probability that the Fiji Islands will shortly be proclaimed a part of the Empire. The subject was brought before the Imperial Parliament during its past session, and the proposal to annex the Islands was received with general favor. The great mirror of popular opinion, the London Times, devoted an article to the subject, in which appears the following remarks, which may be taken as conclusive that the anti colonising feeling lately ' existing at home is gradually disappearing. The debate on this question, it says, '* marks an epoch in the Parliaments rv history of Colonial Government, an 1 ■will assuredly be accepted throughout our dependencies as a proof that the current of English public opinion no longer sets towards disintegration. The dogma that Great Britain is not to increase her Colonial possessions is quite as groundless and mi tenable as the old instinct of territorial proprietorship, which made British statesman of a past generation covet all their neighbors' outlying dependencies, and does not even tbilow logically from the very disputable proposition that all full grown Colonies should aspire to independence. Questions of annexation, like other political questions, are to be decided not by pedantic rules, but on grounds of expediency." The advisability- of such a step has always been manifest to the, colonists of this portion of the globe, pncl the recognition of their wishes in this matter by the Home Government will atford general

Folgende Brev Hgge i Postkonteret i Napier ifolge af brostende Postpenge:—" Hi*. Sogneprsest JSTorregaard, Christiauia, Norway," og "H. Cbr. Pedersen, Skib Hdvding, Gallao, South America." The Wellington Independent asserts, on " the best possible authority," that his Excellency the Governoe has not only not consented to grant Mr Stafford a dissolution, but that it would be unconstitutional to do so under existing circumstances. Referring to this statement, the Evening Post says ;—"Many people will he surprised at the familiar' itv displayed by our contemporary with [ the Governor's private opinions on such matters—especially when gratuitously expressed. We affirm, without fear of; contradiction, that Mr Stafford, so far from asking for a dissolution, in the event of a certain contingency, has never even hinted at it, although we have strong reason for believing that Mr Yogel did so. But the evident fact is that the Independent's paragraph is a canard. We do not believe that a gentleman of Sir George Bowen's known prudence and judgment would commit himself to expressing opinions on matteis on which he was not; called upon to decide, and we scarcely think he will approve of finding his name used in such a manner without his an- i thorifcy. The Wanganui Chronicle is of opinion that the Civil Service "shelters a number of insolent and ignorant 'swells' who, in any other capacity, would fail to earn a bare living." A Cirisi church paper has received private intelligence from Wellington to tho effect that a new bunk for the colony is about to be started in London, under auspices that will insure scucess. The Auckland city rates are said to be o\ev £IO,OOO in airear. The Auckland correspondent of the Lytteltou Times informs us that the hon. member for Eden district (Mr CreighUm) {'orwarded from Wellington, per telegraph, three leading articles a ' week for insertion in the New Zealand Herald. Statements on this authority, we may add, require to be received with great cau'ion. A severe shock of earthquake was felt in Nelson at eight minutes past five on the afternoon of Friday, the 20th inst., accompanied hv a loud rumbling .sound. Fortunately, no damage vas done. Referring to it a gossiping writer in the Evening Mail next day says : —" Ido not remember having, for some time, seen Trafalgar-street present so lively au appearance as it did a little after live o'clock yesterday afternoon, when a severe earthquake shock had the effect of expelling from the shoo doors simultaneously all those who at tie time were behind or in front of the counters. In the Court of Queen's Bench, the case of Best v. Stap has been heard before Mr Jusriee Quain and a special jury. It whs an action of a novel character, and involved a question of considerable importance to lodging-house keepers and the public seeking change of air for invalid members of their families. The plaintiff was a smith, also a lodging-house keeper residing at Eastbourne, which was managed by his wife. The defendant resided in the neighborhood of Tufnell Park, and wjis engaged in business in the city. Certain members of the defendant's family were suffering from scarlet fever, and he took lodgings in the plaintiff's house without stating the fact. After the family were in occupation the plaintiff's wife and three of the children were taken ill with the scarlet fever, and two of the children died, and this action was brought to recover compensation in damages for the expense the plaintiff had been put to in medical attendance, &c, and the cost of the funerals of the two children, and also for loss sustained by him in his business as a lodgingbouse keeper, from its being known that scarlet fever had prevailed in the house. When the action was brought, the defendant demurred to the declaration, but on argument the court held that the action would lie, and hence this action. The jury ultimately returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages J 2120, with leave to move on hot h .^ides.