The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1868.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 64, 17 March 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1868.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday the following debt cases were heard : — T. Renwick v. W Robinson. Action to recover £94 for arrears of debt due by the defendant, who did not appear. Judgment for the plaintiff, for the amount claimed, with costs. John Jervis v. T. Mabille. Action to recover £2 19s. for board and lodgings. Mr R. Richardson appeared for the plaintiff, wbo obtained a verdict for the amount claimed with costs from the defendant, who did not appear. H. Hounsell v. R. Reeves. Action to recover £22 18s. lOd. for goods supplied to tbe defendant, who did not appear. Judgment for plaintiff in amount claimed, with costs. R. Waite v. J. Norton & Co. Action to recover £100, the balance of the price of some land at the Buller, purchased by the defendants. Mr Pitt appeared for the plaintiff j Mr Kingdon ior the defendant. The particulars of thia case appeared in our issue of yesterday. The witness Blair, the late partner of tbe defendant with Mrs Waite and Mrs Hankins, were examined at considerable length, and the Magistrate reserved his judgment. Mr C. E. Haughton, M.H.R. and Mr. James O'Neill, M.HR., the Penal Establishment Commissioners, having concluded their labors in this city, left to-day by the Otago for Wellington, whence they proceed to-morrow evening, by the Ahuriri to, Napier, en route for Auckland. It seems not improbable that the meeting of the Commission, of which Judges Richmond and Johnston, Colonel Peacock, and the two gentlemen above mentioned, constitute the members, may take place about two months hence in this city. The following functionaries were examined by the Commissioners: — HisHonor the Superintendent, the Provincial Secretary, one of the Visiting Justices, W.Wells, Esq., M.H.R., the Revs. A. M. Garin and G. H. Johnstone, Dr. Vickerman, Captain Clouston, aad Mr Inspector Shallcrass. Our readers will perceive from an advertisment elsewhere, that the Anglican Church of St. Alban, at Appleby, being nearly completed, will be consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop Suter, on Wednesday next, the 22nd inst., when the dedication sermon will be preached by his Lordship. We find that we were misinformed in stating that Captain Rough, our present much respected Collector of Customs, was about to leave for Auckland, in order to fill a similar position in that city. We understand that Captain Rough will retire upon a pension, in accordance with a wish wbich, in consequence of failing health, he has made to the Government, and although we regret to state that he will probably leave Nelson, where his absence will be much felt, for Auckland, he will not occupy any official position there. We learn that a telegram was received at Hokitika on the Friday preceding tbe late Fenian demonstration at that place from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Wellington (in which diocese the West Coast is situated), commanding the priests of thai communion npt to take any part in the contemplated proceedings. This telegram was read at the meeting held bh Friday evening at the Munster Arms, Hokitika, by the Rev. Father MTtonough, and in consequence none of the clergy,

(wilh the exception of Father Larkins) or of the more respectable members of tbe laity, took any part in the demonstration. The Bishop also sent a special telegram to Father Larkins, intimating his commands on the subject, but that gentleman, probably surmising its contents, refused to receive it. His disobedience to the injunctions conveyed in the telegram addressed by the Bishop to the clergy generally has, however, made him amenable to the ecclesiastical censure, and we apprehend tbat his suspension from his clerical functions will follow in due course. We regret to find that two of the city cricket clubs, composed for the most part, we believe, of juvenile players, have committed a very grievous breach of that friendly and courteous feeling which should exist amongst all lovers of this manly and essentially English game. It is well known that the Nelson Club have expended very considerable trouble on the preparation of their ground at VictorySquare, with a view to its use on the occasion ofthe approaching return matches wilh Motueka and Wakefield, and its members have, with this end, purposely abstained from playing upon it. On Wednesday last, however, whilst the match was going on at Wakefield, the twe clubs alluded to unceremoniously invaded the ground, and played a match upon it, cutting __ up the turf which had been " so carefully tended, and thus destroying the work of very many weeks. It is fair to state, as a contrast to this conduct, that the Nelson College Club, when playing a match on Yictory-square a short time siuce, had the good taste to abstain from playing on the particular part of the ground alluded to. We trust that, should any recurrence of tbis conduct take place, the Government will interfere to prevent its possibility. Our readers will perceive from our telegraphic intelligence tbat the Omeo arrived at the Bluff, at 7 a.m. to-day. The Mail from Europe via Suez had not been signalled when she left Melbourne. A meeting for the granting of licenses was held at the Courthouse tbis morning, at which the following magistrates were present— -J. Poynter, R.M., T. Brunner, R. Pollock, and W. Adams, Esqs, The applications of Edwin Smallbone, of Nelson, and of Richard Sutcliffe, of Motueka, for "bottle licenses" were granted. The applications of Robert Tibbie, for a public house on the Waimea-road, near Bishopdale, and of Frederick Cuudy, for a public house at Stoke, were refused, memorials numerously and respectably signed being in each instance presented to tbe Bench in opposition to the applications. The Provincial Government Gazette of yesterday contains notifications of declaration of insolvency, by the following per sons : — Louis and Bernhard Ehrenfried, storekeepers, of Westport ; Jeremiah Creed, brewer, of Addison's Flat, near Westport, .George Huyler Chitsam, comedian, of Westport j and Thomas Gellibrand, commission agent, also of Westport. A paragraph which appeared in our 4ssue of yesterday, in reference to the alleged invention of a new whaling gun, unintentionally implied an assertion by the Examiner of its originality, which was disputed by our correspondent. The notice alluded to was simply quoted by our contemporary from th_ Commercial Advertiser. The Resident Magistrate's Court, Hokitika, was crowded on Wednesday morning Qast, the attraction being that a number of publicans had been summoned for an infraction of an order issuti by the Magistrates on Saturday, the 7th day of March, under the powers combined in the 107 clause of the Justices of, Peace Act, "in which it states that two Magistrates

have power to close aM hotels and public houses except to bona fide travellers, should the aforesaid Magistrates be of opinion that any tumult was likely to occur through any meeting, procession, or other gathering of the inhabitants. Informations were laid against five persons for allowing people to congregate on their premises in defiance of the order from the Magistrates. The evidence adduced in each ease was conclusive as to the violation of the order. In each case his Worship gave judgment against the defendants so far that the information had been sustained, and would recommend to the Government that the licenses of each defendant should be annulled. Mr Soutb, the advocate for the defendants, elicited from the bench that the parties could continue their avocation until the decision of the Government was made kuown. We believe it is the intention of the parties to memorialise the Government on the subject. A telegram from Christchurch, dated March 9tb, states : — Darby Maher, who was arraigned at the Supreme Court six months ago, for arson and murder, in Colombo-street, died at Read's Station, Ashburton. He confessed to the arson, but did not know that his victim, Smith, was inside at the time. He also confessed to having thrown Stubbs in the river, oa whose body a verdict of accidentally drowned was .returned. A fire of a very alarming character broke out on the afternoon of March Ist, in the stores of Mr J. B. Houldsworth ironmonger, situated at the rear of h'm shop in George-street, SyOney, which were destroyed. A large quantity of kerosine and gunpowder was knowu to be stored on the premises, and a great deal of caution had to be exercised by the firemen aud others in approaching the building. Tbis for some time greatly impeded them in their labor, and prevented them from rendering that assistance they were willing and capable of rendering. When the fire had been burning for about half an hour or so, an explosion took place, which completely shook the earth for some distance round. It was at once known that the devouring elemeut bad reached the gunpowder and kerosine. The people rushed in all directions, and it is astonishing that an accident of some kind was not the result. A succession of explosions followed, which could be heard all over most parts of the city. A number of seamen from H.M.S. Galatea rendered good service by assisting in the removal of a large quantity of kerosine and other property out of Mr Holdsworth's store. It may be mentioned, too, that Lord Newry was present, aiding the firemen with tbe hose and otherwise assisting in extinguishing the fire. The fire raged' with unabated fury for upwards of three hours, before any signs of declension were observed, notwithstanding the immense volume of water that was constantly poured on to it. The building was a substantial brick one, and was insured in the Norwich Union and United ofiices, but to* what amount could not be ascertained. The stock is insured in different offices, but the amount of insurance could not be ascertained at once. The amount of damage done by this fire is roughly estimated at about £10,000 or £12,000. The convict Garratt has addressed the following letter to the Argus: — Respected Sir, — In looking over this morning's papers, I see myself described as a prisoner illegally at large, and I have been asking myself what is meant. I have nofc received any sentence in Victoria since the one of 10 years in '55, which must have expired in '66, hence I cannot be a Victorian prisoner illegally at large. The only other sentence I have received is one of 8 years in New Zealand, 6 of which I have served, and received his Excellency's

Unconditional pardou for the remaining 2 years, and cannot be illegally at large frotn there. The New Zealand police sent me a prisoner up here, and these order me back again, aud thus like a shuttlecock I am kicked about between tbem, with no right to be auywhere. Tbe Sydney police would tell me I had no right there, and so the Tasmanian, Adelaide, and all others. I should like some one to tell me where I really do of right belong. The answer of some, perhaps many, would be — the Gaol, the Gaol. Is this the only place? If so, what my next act may be to merit it I can scarce think. Something very different from anything I have yet been accused of by even my worst enemies. Whatever it is, it will most likely be my last one, punishable if alive by something more than imprisonment. What is left for me to do? The law gives me no rights, affords me no protection. What is it that confers a right of residence ; and what is it that deprives of this right? When is the law satisfied, and when may an error or even a crime be supposed to be atoned for ? If as in my case never, what a mockery to talk of reformation. A man may as well at once say, evil be thou my good, and like Burgess make it so. Is it to be so? If it is, let not tbe|industrious working people fear. I shall discriminate between them and others. I ana even now a fair candidate for gaol, without crime, being destitute of the means of paying my week's board. Tbe pound the New Zealand Government generously gave me being spent in a change of linnin. The luxury of a blanket at sea being quite unattainable. My prospects are brightening. If you could give this insersion, or give your remarks on it, you would much oblige yours very respectfully, — Henry Garratt.