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New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1718, 27 August 1862, Page 3

The Roads. —We have received many complaints of tho sad state of the roads, especially to Otahuhu and Onehunga. We fear that the only remedy now available is the weather—the foolish support rendered by our young politicians to the old opposition party in the Council, in refusing to grant the necessary sums in seasonable time, has caused all the present loss and annoyance to tho community.

St. Matthew’s New Church.—' The contract has been taken for tho building of this church, by Messrs. Bell and Glcesou for the sum ot £1,350. It will forthwith be commenced, and is to be finished in February. It will be seated for 600 adults, and when completed according to the designs of Messrs. Barnard and Allen, and fitted up with the new and powerful organ, now on its way no doubt, will be both handsome and commodious, affording a much needed addition to tho limited church accommodation at present existing in this city.

New Zealand Annual Cattle Snow.—We would draw the attention of our agricultural friends, and of the general public, to tho forthcoming Show of the New Zealand Agricultural Society, which is advertised to be held at Newmarket on the 12th of NovemberThe classes both for horses and cattle embrace at the same time, those the most suited, and those generally bred in the colony, and are furthermore confined to animals bom since the year 185 D, the Short Horns, the Herefords, and the Devons, forming the three particularised classes of horned cattle. In sheep there arc five classes including tho Merino. At tho last years Exhibition the show of sheep was, if we recollect rightly, confined to the flocks of only two of our sheep breeders ; it is to be hoped that the prizes in this most useful branch of the Exhibition will, this year, be more sharply contested. There arc no less than nine first, and as many second class prizes to bo awarded for various descriptions of poultry, and some twenty-three prizes for Agricultural implements. The prizes which were formerly given for sheep-shearing at the ploughing match are, we sec, to be awarded on the present occasion. A list of general regulations is attached to tho advertisement, one of the most important clauses of which is, that all entries must be made to tho Secretary before the Ist of November.

Newton Sabbath School. —Last Sunday, being the anniversary of this School, two sermons were preached—in the morning by Mr. Coruford, and in the evening by the -Rev. J. Long. The collections made at the close of each service, in aid of the school, amounted to £5 10s. In the morning the little chapel was well filled, when an excellent discourse, founded on the text “ lie shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom” was given by Mr. Cornford, who endeavoured to impress upon all present the vast importance of Sabbath schools as a means for diffusing gospel light among the youthful portion of the community was, administering, at the same time, a very just rebuke to those parents who allow their children to grow up in ignorance of the truths of religion. Some pleasing instances were given of the practical usefulness of Sabbath Schools, and the fact that one half the human race die during the ago of infancy, was referred to as a reason for redoubled eflorts on the part of Sabbath school jteachers to bring little children to Christ.—Yesterday evening, a social gathering of the teachers and friends of the above school took place in the chapel. After partaking of the refreshments provided, the Superintendent of the School was voted to the chair, when appropriate addresses were delivered by several of the teachers. There were about eighty people present, among whom the utmost harmony and good feeling prevailed. Duck and Quail Shooting. — We beg to remind those whose sporting inclinations lead them to the woods in search of game, that the period allowed by law for pheasant shooting expired last month, and that the period for quail and duck shooting will expire to-morrow (August 31st), from which date, up to the 31st of March next, any person found s' ooting or trapping game will render himself liable to a fine of £2O. We earnestly hope this law will be respected, and any violation of its provisions strictly punished. It is to be regretted that those species of the feathered tribe which sportsmen regard as proper food for the rifle, arc so rare in this country; we trust, therefore, the people at largo will heartily second the commendable exertions now being made for stocking the country with game, for without their assistance and co-operations, and a rigid observance on their part of the law enacted for the protection of the birds during the spring and summer months, the efforts for accomplishing this end will certainly prove a failure.

Ball at the Odd Fellows’ Hall. —lt is intended to inaugurate the fourth anniversary of the Loyal Parnell Lodge this evening with a grand ball, to be held in the Hall in Queen Street. Every preparation is being made for causing the present aflair to be one of the most successful of its kind that has yet taken place in this city, and wo have little doubt but that it will fully realise the anticipations indulged in. Sale of City Endowments.— On Monday, Messrs. Connell & Hidings disposed of the lease of two allotments in the city, by public auction. The lease was for 21 years and the allotments were, subdivision G of lot 1, section 3, having a frontage of 30 feet to Short-land-strect and by a depth of 66 feet. There was considerable competition for this allotment and it whs ultimately knockncd down to Mr. James of the Q.C.ft., for £IOO per annum. The second allotment was subdivision II of same lot with a frontage of 30 feet to Fore-street, and 66 feet depth. The lease of this allotment was purchased by Mr. H. Kelly for £BS per annum.

Sale or Official Bat Mill.—This mill and allotment was put up to auction yesterday at tho stores of Messrs. Cochrane, Brother & Co., and competed for by Auckland bidders up to £2,300, when Mr. Dangar of Sydney bade £2999, at which it was knocked down to him. At the request of previous bidders, who considered this adjudication as informal, tho auctioneer again put up tho property at the bid previous to that of Mr. Dangar, upon which an advance of £SO was made by Mr, W. Aitkcn, and there being no further bidding, the property was claimed by him, tho sale having been declared unreserved.—We understand this claim is resisted, and that the case, will likely occupy a little of the spare time of the gentlemen of the long robe. Band of Hope.—Wo perceive that a meeting of this Society is announced for Friday evening, at 7 o’clock, in tho Odd Fellows’ Hall—where for tho future all their meetings will' be held. Several friends are expected to address the meeting, and some pieces of vocal music are to be performed at intervals during the evening by some of the youthful members of tho Band of Hope Vocal Society; the proceedings, therefore, arc likely to be of an interesting character. J. Newman, Esq., will preside on the occasion. Accident on the Otaiiuiiu Road.—On Sunday evening hist a serjeant of the Commissiariat Corps was proceeding along the Otahuhu road, when, owing to his horse biking fright, ho was thrown with great yiolencq ' i}|ion tlio pt| tusftM ft scrioiis |ractu|:poj'|ho

skull. Dr. Goldsboro was quickly upon the spot and rendered what assistance he could to the unfortunate man, who was afterwards conveyed by his comrades to the militaiy hospital.

New Zealand at the Exhibition.—ln another column wo have published our own correspondent’s description of the figure cut by the colony in the great national Exhibition of 1862. Our contemporary of Monday, publishes an article extracted from the (London) “ New Zealand Examiner,” on the same subject, in which we think a far from just critique appears upon Mr. Chas. Heaphy’s inimitable water-color sketches of New Zealand scenery, and even though that gentleman can better than any other afford to bo cut up for once, the careless omission of his name from the geological map which is so much eulogised by the writer of the same article, is so manifest an injustice to the ability of our talented and justly esteemed fellow citizen, that w r e cannot allow the omission to pass unnoticed.

Miss Harriet Gordon.—This charming singer continues to draw crowded houses. On Monday evening lust, a grand full dress entertainment was given, and with great success. We shallnot attempt to particularise the beauties of the various pieces and songs. Those who have heard Miss Gordon are sufficiently aware of her powers, and those who turn a deaf ear to the voice of ' the charmer, must be beyond our hope of being led to take the opportunity now afforded them. This evening a “ night wi Burns” will be given for the benefit of Mr. Hetherington, whose careful attention to the public taste in the selection of novel and amusing programmes, and the pains which he has taken to ensure the comfort and convenience of the public, who have nightly flocked to the Brunswick Hall, would be ill repaid by anything less than over flowing benches. Accidental Death.—An inquest was held yesterday, before T. M. Philson, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, on the body of Charles Forster, who came to his death under the following circumstances. John Drake being sworn, deposed that he was present when the accident occurred, at Kaipara. He was talking to deceased and his two mates, one of whom was cutting down a tree. The tree, in falling, came in contact with a smaller one, causing it to strike both himself and deceased, who was standing by him. The deceased was knocked down by the blow. This occurred on the 22nd inst. The deceased complained of pain in the back: the right leg was broken. Witness and one of deceased’s mates then carried him into Unthank’s hut, which was close by. Deceased was quite sensible at the time. A man of the name of Bonnar, living in the neighbourhood, placed splints on Forster’s leg, and witness and others proceeded to carry the injured man towards Auckland, on a litter which had been constructed for that purpose.—Casper Westerfield, being sworn, stated that he was one of the men employed in carrying Forster to town: that the same day they proceeded as far as the hut of a man named Bennett, where they left him for the night. On coming to the bed at three o’clock the next morning, to continue their journey to Auckland, they found Foster was dead. A coffin was then made, the deceased placed in it, and on their arrival in town, handed over to the police.—Francis Dyer, farm labourer, coroborated the evidence of the previous witness.—Serjeant Forster, of the Armed Police, being sworn, stated that the body was delivered to him by the last two witnesses, about half-past twelve on Sunday night last: examined the body, and found the right leg broken above the ankle. There were no other injuries visible. The letter D was branded on deceased’s left breast, denoting that he had been sentenced as a deserter by a military' court martial. There was no evidence to prove where deceased had originally come from, as none of the witnesses had known him more than seven months. The jury returned a verdict, that “Charles Foster came to his death through injuries received from the falling of a tree, at Kaipara, on the 22nd inst.” Body Found.—A second inquest before the same Coroner and jury, was held subsequently on the body of a man found on Saturday last at Long Beach, Wangaporoa. The body was in a frightful state of decomposition, the flesh from the legs being entirely gone, and also from a largo portion of the trunk ; the arms and head were altogether missing. There was a pair of strong pegged boots and worsted socks still on the bones of the feet. W. Jones, sworn, stated that he was a boatman, belonging to the Doady, cutter, that on Saturday morning last, when she was hauled up on Long Beach, Wangaparoa, to be repaired, and he and some others were so engaged, a man named Jackson drew their attention to these remains of a man lying on the rocks, about J tide from the shore. They brought them down to Auckland and delivered them to the police in the condition in which they were found. The body was apparently that of a white man, for there was still a piece of skin hanging to the left side, too white for that of a native. The John, schooner, was wrecked about seven weeks ago off Gull Point, three miles from where the body was found. No bodies had, that he knew, been as yet recovered from the wreck; a piece, however, of the gangway of the John had been washed ashore some six weeks ago. Benjamin Greenwood, belonging also to the Doady, corroborated Jones’ evidence. Zacariah Barnes, bushman, living at Matakana, was then sworn, he stated that ho had examined the remains of a body now lying at the dead-house; from the boots on the deceased ho judged them to be those of a man named Louis Richards, who had worked for him at Matakana; saw Richards last alive about two months ago, at Matakana, he was then taking his passage by the John—did not, however, see him go on board that vessel; had supplied Richards with the same boots as those on the body in the dead-house about five weeks previously to seeing him last alive; was certain the boots were the same. The bones of the body were about the same size as those of a man of Richards might have been. Sergt. Foster deposed to receiving the body between 8 and 9 o’clock that morning; with respect to the boots, they were pegged boots, watertights, and there was a cut in the leather of the uppers of one of them. The previous witness having been recalled, stated again that the boots were pegged, and that Richards had by an accident cut the leather as stated with his axe. Although the identity of the boots was unquestioned the evidence went no further, as the boots might have been exchanged with or given to another party, the verdict found then was—- “ That the body of a man was found dead, but how or by what means he came by his death was not shown.” It was stated that Richards came from Nelson, and that lie was married to a half-caste woman living at that place, by whom ho has one child.