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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4448, 22 June 1875, Page 2

The Governor is to leave Nelson for this port at noon to-day. His Honor the Chief Justice held a banco sitting yesterday, during which a demurrer point was argued in Millar v. the Corporation of Wanganui. The suit is brought for wrongful dismissal, for which the plaintiff seeks to recover £IOOO damages. Several pleas were set up in justification, and to one of these —the plea that he absented himself from his office and neglected his duties for a period of fourteen days the plainsiff demurred. Mr. Travers appeared in support of the demurrer, and, it being admitted that habitual neglect would be a sufficient ground for dismissal, argued that it was a question for the Judge whether the neglect stated in the plea (fourteen days) could be considered habitual neglect. All that the jury could be asked to consider was whether there had been neglect, and it would then become a question for the Court whether the neglect was sufficient to justify dismisssl. He contended that the absence for fourteen days only gave the Corporation the right to bring a cross-action against Millar for breach of contract. Mr. Bell, contra , contended that the question was one wholly for the jury, both as to the neglect and as to the right of the Corporation to discharge the plaintiff for such neglect. At the conclusion of the argument the Court reserved judgment. The Court was occupied during the remainder of the day in hearing argument in Whitlock v. Parsons, on an ex parte motion by Mr. Travers, who appeared for the defendant, and moved to have the verdict set aside and a new trial granted, upon certain grounds set forth at length. The case has already been referred to as being one involving a question of damagr through the diversion of a stream, judgment having been given for the plaintiff at the Wanganui civil sittings. The first quarterly meeting of the Mungaroa Railway Accident Club was held on Thursday evening, June 17th, at eight o’clock, in the Mungaroa Hotel. The secretary and treasurer’s reports were handed in, and showed that after having aided several cases in which injuries had been received, there still remained to the credit of the club the sum of £2l 3s. 6d. The secretary reported that there were upwards of 200 men employed on the section, and that the contractor, C. McKirdy, Esq., was a liberal subscriber to the funds. The committee was re-elected, and a vote of confidence passed to them, aad two auditors were appointed, with authority to prepare a report for the next quarterly meeting. Votes of thanks were accorded to the committee, secretary, and treasurer, and also to Mrs. Collins, for the assistance afforded to the club by allowing the use of her rooms, and after the usual thanks to the chairman, the proceedings terminated.

Gasworks v. Sawmill is the latest novelty in the aquatic world. The funds for a trophy to be rowed for by representatives from each of the above-named establishments —Greenfield and Stewart’s being the sawmill referred to —are already subscribed, and the event will be rowed in four-oared gigs as soon as the weather becomes favorable for aquatic pursuits. The mill hands include among their number some new arrivals, who are said to be adepts in handling the oar, and on the gasworks side are Moore and one or two others who have before now rowed in a winning crew. The contest will probably open the rowing season. The foolhardiness and inexperience of persons who attempt to sail boats is constantly exemplified by the numerous accidents which are of almost daily occurrence in all parts of the world. A case in point occurred in the harbor yesterday morning, as the s.s. Alhambra was coming up to the wharf. A boat containing several children, as well as two men, who, we presume, had the nominal charge of the craft, persisted in jibing her across the bows of the Alhambra. In consequence, Captain Bawden, to avoid running them down, had to stop no less than three times, and was also obliged to deviate from his proper course, and make a sharp turn at the baths, thus causing unnecessary trouble and delay in getting alongside the wharf. The Kesident Magistrate, J. O. Crawford, Esq., gave his decision yesterday, in the case Cotter v. Bollock and Young, in-which plaintiff sought to recover £SO, for breach of contract by defendants. Mr. Crawford threw aside the law points, and having analysed the evidence given oh either side, found the balance of testimony to be in favor of plaintiff, and therefore ordered payment of the amount claimed, with £5 ss. costs. Our Wairarapa correspondent writes under date June 19th, that the Waiohine “is up" again, and has surrounded Dr. Spratt’s house. Two waggons with timber just managed to get over when our informant was there, and the coach passed safely soon afterwards. In places, the water was so deep as nearly to touch the body of the coach. The road is low, but good, although the current is very strong and may soon cut it up. A general meeting of the members of the various football clubs of Wellington was held last evening at C. Brown’s Hotel, Willis-street. Mr. D. McLean, who acted as chairman, read the advertisement calling the meeting, the purport of which was to arrange for the forthcoming match with the Nelsonites. The following gentlemen, viz., Messrs. Brown, Palliser, Isherwood, D. McLean, and W. P. James (secretary), were then chosen as a committee from the amalgamated clubs, to take all necessary steps in furthering the match, and every member was also exhorted to do all that lay in his power to make the match a success. The meeting decided to adopt the uniform of the Wellington Football Club, that club having plenty of uniforms on hand, which will be available for the use of all those who intend playing. The' team is expected to leave for Nelson about the 6th proximo. It is to be hoped that a unanimous feeling will exist between the members of the different clubs, and amongst football players in general, so that at the eleventh hour no hitch should occur, which possibly might put a damper on the whole affair. As for ourselves, we trust that the best side will win ; but naturally, of course, we wish the laurels to rest with Wellington. The St. Vincent Gem Concert Company opened at the Odd Fellows’ Hall last evening, under somewhat unfavorable auspices. Bad weather and an interest in the theatre performance which had been led up to by anticipation, interfered with the prospects of Mr. St. Vincent’s troupe, and there was consequently a rather thin attendance, which, however, 'in no way prevented the performance receiving a large share of applause. The entertainment is to be repeated for the last time this evening. The news (says a Poverty Bay paper) from the artesian well at Makaraka is not very encouraging. Mr. Garry has attained a depth of 164 ft.; he is still driving through stiff clay, extremely difficult to penetrate. The unpropitiogs state of the weather has materially impeded progress. We learn that the proposed amalgamation between the Loyal Britannia and Wellington Lodges of the 1.0.0. F., M.U., is . almost an accomplished fact. It is proposed to celebrate the union of the two lodges by a dinner in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, on the Ist July. The Acclimatisation Society turned out about forty skylarks during the past week in various localities surrounding Wellington, and it is in contemplation to turn loose a large number of other descriptions of songsters during the next month. Dr. Carr gives an entertainment at the Hutt this evening, and on Friday will resume his seances at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, concluding on Monday next.

Our Sydney correspondent sends us a few items of news by last mail. The Chevert, on a voyage of exploration, left Cleveland Bay and went to the Palm Islands, where the steam launch was got out and the naturalists on board commenced collecting specimens. A scheme for bringing the railway terminus into the heart of Sydney is detailed in the papers, but is not likely to be carried out. Despite published commercial reports, the dullness caused by late failures still prevails. A few finds of heavy gold are reported—one at Carcoar, and another at the old rush near Pai-kes. Garrotting is still rife; four decided cases have occurred in a fortnight, and it appears that the law providing for flogging garrotters is for some reason or another entirely inoperative. The following is from one of the London papers received by the mail :—“ The conjoint operation of the English and Portuguese warships and forces on the East African coast, as reported by the last naval advices, is of extreme importance. It required but a disposition on the part of the Portuguese Government to put down the slave trade, and a hearty cooperation with our own efforts in the vicinity of Portuguese Africa to suppress at once and for ever the abominable traffic, and to elevate that possession of Portugal into a valuable trading depot. We are glad to learn from the same advices that the disputes so long open as to the settlement of Delagoa Bay have been arranged. A perusal of Dr. Livingstone’s early journals in Africa will supply a complete picture of the country now opening to commerce, and afford some idea of the advantages that may accrue to Portugal, commercially, by a proper colonisation of this portion of her African possessions, the importance of which has not been appreciated by Europe since the days of Solomon. By this way lies the trading route from Egypt to India. There are even those who have dreamt of a waterway from the Nile to the Mozambique Channel, the central lakes sending out supply streams on both sides. There have been more canals projected than one in the Mountains of the Moon, which might unite the waters of the Mediterranean with those of the Indian Ocean.” The Home News writes:—“ The State of Missouri is wise in its generation. It wants emigrants, and a memorial has been presented by the people to the Legislature, suggesting the propriety of the Governor of the State taking a trip to England with a view to promote such emigration. The Australian colonies should take a hint from tills. There are several Australian governors and ex-governors now in England, and by a little careful management they might be made very useful in this direction. The power of indirect influence—-advo-cated over and over again in the columns of the Home News —is as yet little appreciated by those entrusted with the management of emigration affairs from the United Kingdom to Australia. To offer a free or assisted passage to New South Wales or Queensland, or New Zealand, includes the extent of the endeavor made. As a rule, men hold at a small value advantages too cheaply apparent, and, if suitable people with suitable means —and there are hundreds of thousands of such in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales—could be impressed by the indirect efforts of not only returned governors, but of returned colonists of every class, a class of emigrants would be influenced of which the agent offering a free passage has little or no comprehension. The hint is thrown out for what it is worth, and it would not be difficult to make it valuable.”

There was a fair attendance at the sale of furniture at Mr. E. W. Mills’, on Wellington Terrace, and the bidding was spirited for some lots, The auctioneer, however, was unable to finish before dark. The building to be removed was sold for £BS. Sale will be resumed to-morrow.