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North Otago Times, Volume II, Issue 42, 8 December 1864, Page 2

Our readers are informed that the usual Summary for Europe and Austialia will be published on Thursday nest, 15th instant, iv time for the M-uI, which leaves this on that date. Orders and addresses should be sent to us. The '* Gazette" contaius the following list of persons applying for lehef under the " Debtors and Creditors Act:"— Geo*go Collie, late of Auckland, hotelkeeper, but now of Dunedin, Otago, out of business. Robert Baldwin Dale, of Dunedin, Otago, comedian. Samuel Muuckley South, of Invercargill, Southland, solicitor. George Goodwillie, of Invercargill, Southland, saddler. William John Henningham, of Dunedin, Otago, journalist. John Allen, of Dunedin, Otago, butcher. James Ariiett, of Pelichet Bay, near Dunedin, Otago, Engin-

At a late meeting of the Otago Local Committee it was announced that Mr J. S. Webb had been appointed the pei son who is to be employed by exhibitors at their own risk and cost in unpacking, putting together and ananging their exhibits when they are unable to do so by themselves or their aguits. (To be addressed at the office of the Royal Commission.)

So fai as news via California may be relied on, the latei successes in the war in America appear to have been decidedly on the Federal side, which would perhaps favor the retnrn of the present President. It is plain enoujh, however, that the Confederates are fighting as hard as ever, aud have mustered in great force to defend Mobile, which is now the scene of a determined conflict. There aie still rutnois of a possible peace, but nothing whatever said of an armistice, one of those pauses which gencially piecedes a peace.

are glad to observe that a meeting is about to be held hero for tho formation of an Athemeum or Mechanics Institute. Thes° institutions are now becoming common throughout the colony, and „re in general favor, tending to bring good books, periodicals and newspapers wittun the leach of all at a moderate cost. It is indeed a very important thing to have a good public libiary, aud to be able to add to it yearly such new woiks as may be eonsideied interesting and instructive. We hope thei-efore that the object iv view may soon be refer our readers to a requisition to T. W. Parker Esq., and an advertisement by him calling a meetiug on the subject, to be held in the Court-house on Monday next, the 12th inst., at 7 o'clock.

Some new airangements having of late taken place in tho Government Surveying Department, the several laud surveyors have left this district. Mr Thornley, who had been stationed here for some time, has been removed to Hampden "We cannot see the object of making Hampden the centre of that gentleman's operations ; wo were in hopes that he would have been continued here untd the sui vey of the valuable land in the district was fmther advaueed ,* and his removal is therefore to be regretted. We surmise that under the new Land Regulations the seleetois of laud will have to pay all survey expenses, and as tho most of the good land is in our own immediate district, Mr Thornley should have been continued here. It will be a great hardship if pui chasers of land in this district, Papukaio &c, have to pay the expenses of a surveyor all the way from Hampden eveiytime a block of land has to be surveyed' and if " economy " is the order of the day, that is not the kind of arrangement that will further it.

It is notified in the/Provincial Gazette" that his HonortheSupeiintendent has appointed Mr JohuHislop to be Inspector of School Buildings.

An advertisement appe.us in our present issue for tenders to bo leceived at the oh. :" the Secretaiyof Public Woiks, until nood of Monday next, 12th inst., for the election of a bridge over the Whari Kuri Creek, and for the appioai,hes thereto. It is gratifying to find that the Government are showing so much promptitude hi eairyingout the erection of this work, as it is impoitant for furthering the traffic, especially .in the wool season. As it is a work not requiring much time to execute, it is possible that it may even be available for a portion of the traffic of the piesent season.

There are few of our readers who have not admired a handsome stoic which has been in course of erection by Mr Taylor, in Thames-street, for some months past, and which, now that it is all but completed, Ls the handsomest stoic of the kind in the place, or, perhaps in tbe Piovince, Tho structure, of Oamaru stone, is of the Corinthian order of architecture, richly ornamented, and the different carvings are executed with much skill. It has two frontages, facing Thames and "Wear-streets. In the fiont to Thames-street, there are four Corinthian capitals, with somo other ornamentations which excel anything to be seen in Dunedin, and the interior of it and its fittings correspond with the exterior. The architect is Mr T. Glass, Oamaru, by whom also the cai vings wei*e It will be seen by an advertisement in our present issue tj*at Mr Taylor will shortly open it for business.

/* "We observe by an advertisement in our present issue, tbat tenders are now advertised for, for the erection of a portion of the Chuich of England here. They are to be received until Wednesday, 4th January, and the plans and specifications are to be Seen at Mr Ward's office. Messrs Mason and Clayton are the architects.

The " Gazette" notifies that a meeting of Justices will be held in the Resident Magistrate's Court here on Tuesday next, 13th instant, at noon, for the purpose of considering applications for publicans' licenses.

The election of a member to serve in the Provincial Council of Otago, in the room of T. Birch, Esq., will take place on the 12th instant. If a poll is demanded, it will be on the lfith instant.

A meeting of the Oamaru Building Society was held in the Northern Hotel, on tho evening of Saturday last, 3rd instant, for the purpose of receiving monthly subscriptions. On this occasion the fiist month's subsciiptions were paid en 737 out of the whole number allotted (750). A letter was read from James Hassell Esq., tendering his resignation of his office of trustee, which was accepted. A meeting of the Committee has been called for Tuesday first, 13th inst., for the appointment of a trustee in Mr HasselTs place.

J? A. meeting was held in Baker's Northern Hotel on tho evening of Monday last pursuant to advertisement, for the purpose of deliberating as to the formation of a Steam Navigation Company in this place. H. France Esq. was called to the chair, and introduced the subject by saying that there was plenty of room for the employment of a steamer to carry away the produce of the district and bring in goods—that the proprietors of the Geelong and other steamers bad at times realised large monthly profits, and tbat at other times great inconvenience had been felt here from the want of steamers which had been attracted to other places. If a company was foimed on a proper principle, that is a minute division of shares so as to give it ths support of a large number of persons in the district, it would do well. The shares should be £10 each. It should be a screw steamer to suit the contemplated jetty, and might ply thrice-a-week between this and Dimedin. Mr Black then moved—" that a company be formed to be styled ' The Oamaru Steam Navigation Company (Limited.)'" Mr Shrimski, in seconding the motion, remarked that the mercantile community were losers by not having steamers to call freqxiently, and the sooner we get a steamer of our own the better. The resolution was unanimously earned. It was moved by Mr Shrimski seconded by Capt. Sewell—" that the meeting adjourn, to meet again on the sth day of January at the same place and hour • that notification of the above resolution be meanwhile published in the local, and one of the Dunedin newspapers ; and that Mr Black be requested to act as Hon. Secietary, to see that this resolution is carried out." This was also unanimously Thanks were given to the cbairuian and to Mr Ba_er. For full particulars we refer our readers to the advertisement in another column. j

The Criminal session of the Supreme Court commenced on Ist inst., at Dunedin. The calendar is fully as heavy as usual, containing 25 cases, one of which is the murder at theSowburn, in regard to wbich -.lr Justice Richmond remarked in his charge to the Grand Jury, tbat it was happily the first case of the kind which had occurred in the district for some time. Besides the charge of miu'der there is only one crime of viole_<;e on the list; the other cases consist of forgery, embezzle* ment, and the more oi*dinary offences. It appears fiom the Judge's remaiks that it has been determined not to expend any large sums on the present Court-house at Dunedin, and it is thought that some other site will be found for judicial purposes, as the present site, with its water frontage, *is likely to become valuable for commercial purposes. On Thursday, John Macintosh accused of obtaining money on a false pretence was found not guilty. The Grand Jury brought in "no true bill" against Helen Anderson, stealing from the person, Alfred Blake, obtaining money by false pretences, and James Riley, stealing from the person. John E. Freeman, for embezzlement was awarded three months imprisonment. James Duke pled guilty to stealing a horse and also four oxen ; sentence, two years imprisonment with haid labor. On second inst. John Gibson Skinner, formerly a clerk in the Bank cf New Zealand, was charged with robbing his employeis, and conducted his own defence. After a lengthened trial the prisoner was acquitted. On the 3rd inst. E. H. | Lewis, formerly a clerk in the Union Bank of Australia, accused of embezzlement was found guilty, se_ten« defened. I

Some time since it was announced that the dish-ki education committee had agreed to try the mode ol raising money for school expenses by voluntary con tribution lather than assessment. This has been triei in other places and found to work well, and it is lea troublesome and expensive than the other mode. Tit circulars addressed to all on the assessment roll affi others who are liable to assessment have been issued nX will ere now be in the hands of the parties concerned and wo do hope that they will see it for their ovn inteiest, as well as judge it right on public grounds, ft fill up and return their subscription papers with adequate sums. The object is a most important one.

Mr William Doak, the quarryman, who, as oru readers will remember, suffered very s ever c injuries at th' Foitification Rocks iv this neighborhood, having th« one of his legs broken m two places, his face crushed, aui other serious wounds, which at first sight it was sup posed coidd only have ended fatally, has now quit recoveied and has returned to the district. He caUil upon us yesteiday to request that we would express li him thiough the Picss his grateful acknowledgementsfc Dr Wait for the great skill and attention displayed l; him at the time of the accident and for a consideraK time afterwaids until his patient was able toberemce to Dunedin, foi to that medical gentleman's atten'fc I and professional skill Mr Doak considers that his c j covery is mainly attributable, under Providence; alsot j clergymen and other gentlemen in tho town and neigtf borhood as well as all his friends, for their kind sympattS and attentions during his illness. §

The Southland newly elected Provincial Council P opened o,n the first inst., the first business being ft election of a Superintendent under the New Pi*ov_to= Act. The candidates were Dr Menzies and Mr Heai The votes of tho Council were, for the former 7 and ft latter 9. The act it appears, requires an absolniajority of the Council, and there are doubts ast

what that means. We can scarcely see a doubt thatS Heale is legally elected, but as this is disputed, it ffii possibly be a matter for debate in the Supreme Cour the last day or two the workmen have'bs 'fixing the insulators and suspending the wires on ti telegiaph posts through the town, and the double lr of wires may now be seen stretching away in both dir tions, north and south. These operations are conduct with great celerity, and it may be hoped that the <# munication with Dunedin will soon be established.

We beg to call attention to the advertisement of : auction sale to be held by Mr Ward on Friday, the l f inst, at the Star and Garter Hotel, at 11 o'clock, various valuable town sections, together with two ci tages, favorably situated for business purposes or rtj dences. These will no doubt attract the attentios] persons desirous of investing in desirable town propel"

The Rev. Mr Watt, of Green Island, is expecte* l preach at the Presbyterian Church hero on Sabbath &1 the 11th inst. Morning service will commence at j o'clock; evening, half-past sis. j

Tha " Christchureh Evening Mail " says :-" gentleman well-known as one of Victoria's lead* politicians, recently purchased 20,000 sheep in Qufiej land, which are now moving hitherwards. and upou*| purchase money "of which, he has just been offerei!] clear profit of £7,000. It appears that the Queensla country is overstocked; and that the sheep in quesij were purchased as low as 4s per head. They are in i condition, and carry nearly 4s worth of wool each, their backs, The matter in this case evidently « * all cry and no wool!'"