Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4813, 25 August 1876, Page 2

The Otago members held a caucus yesterday, Mr. Macandrew presiding. There were eighteen of them present, Messrs. Bastings, Joyce, Larnach, and McLean being absent. It was agreed that no political matters should be introduced. A long discussion took place as to the number of counties into which the province should be divided. The members were equally divided on the question of two counties ; several wanted three, several wanted four, several wanted five, and one wanted six. Finally an adjournment was taken without any decision being come to. They meet again today, and it is more than probable that four counties will be agreed upon, namely, north, south, central, and interior.

The collector of rates is troubled in mind because an ingenious ratepayer has discovered a new mode of upsetting the aims which faithfully and constantly disturb his peace o£ mind in an attempt to get at his pocket. ' Mr. Doothemall has trained up a dog to keep away all tax gatherers from the house. He feeds the dog on raw beef to make him savage, having been told that such was the correct thing to do, and he keeps him tied up in a position from which he can seize and masticate any legs that may happen to pass through the gateway. He was a loug while working out this plan, and now rather plumes himself on its completion. He has fed the dog on sanguinary substance for three weeks, and has watched anxiously for an increase in the animal's ferocity. He told Mrs. Doothemall on Sunday that he thought the dog was now about as fierce as need be. So it proved one day this week. The rate collector came round. He saw " Beware of the dog " written up, but laughed pleasantly at it, and went merrily on. The dog was there, and went to work on his leg at once, while Doothemall watched unobserved, and inwardly chuckled. No rates were collected in Doothemall's street that day, because the official left the dog" a trifling relish of leg, and went home to reflect about the matter.

The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Lower Hutt, ou Wednesday (before J. C. Crawford, Esq.,) was as follows : —R. Mabey, for cruelly beating and ill-treating a horse, was fined 30s. and 10s. costs. James Martin was charged by Constable Lyster with having sold, at Mungaroa on the sth May to John Callaghan, one bottle of brandy, thus infringing the Licensing Act. After a partial hearing, the case was adjourned for four weeks. Thomas Hamilton was charged with committing a breach of the Highway Act by leaving " a broken-down timber house" on the public road. He was dismissed with a caution. Arthur Bayliss, for drunkeuness, was fined ss. and Gs. 6d. costs, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. Eight civil cases were set down for hearing, but six were settled out of court. In S. Mudgway v. J. Kelly, claim £2, judgment was given for plaintiff, with costs ; in S. Peck v. R. Russell, claim 10s., judgment was given for defendant, with costs.

The provisional directors of the Empire Gas Consumers Company held a meeting last night, when it was reported that the requisite amount of capital had been subscribed to warrant the registration of the company forthwith, but it was decided that further action should be postponed for a day or two until the particulars of the negotiations between the Corporation and the Wellington Cas Company had been made public. A strong feeling was expressed that the directors should carefully watch the action of the Council, and if necessary call a public meeting to consider the question. It may be well to make the Inspector of Nuisances aware of the fact that there are in this city certain unwholesome spots that want purging, lest they should breed fever and destruction of life. This may be stated as a gentle reminder to the proper authority, without pointing out the precise localities of the nuisances. We kuow for a fact, however, that the premises of some persons in the town at the present moment are in a neglected, rank, and filthy state ; and it might be well that the magistrate should treat such cases when they are brought before him with greater severity than has beeu his wont hitherto. People should be taught that it is their duty as citizens (no matter how averse they may be to cleanliness) to keep themselves and their surroundings so far free from dirt that they may not place iu jeopardy the health of their neighbors. It will be understood that the above words are quite justifiable, when it is stated that there have been rumors of severe illness having been caused in a certain quarter of the city, owing to the actual existence of accumulated filth and rubbish, which the proper persons have been too utterly lazy to remove.

The first Masonic Lodge constituted under provisional warrant of dispensation in the new district of the North Island of Now Zealand, and named after the R.W.0.G.M., the "Sir Donald McLean" Lodge, was opened with some tclo.t on the 15th inst., at the Institute, Raleigh, New Plymouth. Notice having been previously given by advertisement of the time of opening, and the officers and brethren of sister lodges and visiting brethren having been invited to attend, the brethren of New Plymouth engaged a special train, and arrived at Raleigh at 6.30 p.m., where they were received by the W.M. elect and a deputation of brethren, who conducted them to the place of meeting-. After the closing of the lodge the brethreu repaired to the house of Bro. J". Caldwell, where they were entertained at an excellent repast. The usual loyal and masonic toasts having been duly given and responded to, the visiting brethren left, and returned to New Plymouth at 11 p.m. All things considered, it is said to have been the largest and most sociable meeting of brethren of the craft that has ever taken place in Taranaki. The consecration and dedication of the new lodge will take place on receipt of warrant from the Grand Lodge of England. The following are the officers for the ensuing year : —W.M., Bro. W. Black, P.M.; S.W., Bro. T. Leedom; J.W., Rro. Jas. Lindsay ; Chaplain, Bro. J. Dumbell ; Treasurer, Bro. W". Halse; Secretary, Bro. J. Cameron, P.M.; S.D., Bro. J. Caldwell; J.D., Bro. D. Telfar ; 1.G., Bro. W. H. Dundas ; Tyler, Bro. M. Jonea At the theatre last night " Caste " was produced, for the last time, to a good house. Mr. Bates wa3 again very successful as Eccles, Mrs. Bates as Polly, and the remainder of the characters were well filled. To-night, the last appearance for some time of Mr. and Mrs. Bates, the always favorite drama of " The Octoroon" will be produced, and will in all probability draw a full house. New scenery has been prepared for this drama, and the caste is a very strong one. On Saturday night Hegarty's Globe Variety Troupe will make their first appearance in Wellington, and if all we have read about them be correct, there is a rare treat in store for the theatre-going public. In addition to the sale of town properties offered by Mr. Ci. H. Vonnell on Wednesday, the following rural properties were disposed of: —A homestead in Jolmsonville, consisting of 100 acres freehold and 150 acres leasehold, to Mr. W. Edwards for £llsO ; 40 acres at Ohariu fetched £l5O, the purchaser being Mr. W. Clapham ; and 300 acres at Tiraumea were sold to the same purchaser for £3OO. A mixed flock of sheep wora disposed of at ss. per head ; and a mixed herd of cattle brought £3 10a each.

The Odd Fellows' Hall will be opened this evening by a number o£ local amateurs, assisted by Miss Tolly Leake aud Mr. Hoyle. The drama of the "Cuban Slave" will be produced, and in addition to this the bill announces that a farce will be played, besides an entertainment iii which amateurs will give some musical and vocal performances.

A concert, to ho given by the choir of St. Mark's Church in of the funds of that church, will be held on Tuesday evening next.

■The Nelson Colonist of yesterday: says:— Mr. William Golder, teacher, an old Wellington colonist, has died at the age of sixty-six years. He was a poet, and had published four volumes.

The business at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday was of no public importance. There was one case of drunkenness and one of vagrancy, the offender in the latter being sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard labor. There were 22 cases on the civil list, but the most of them were settled or withdrawn. They were all small debt cases. A concert will be given in connection with St. John's Presbyterian Church on Monday next, to be held in the schoolroom, Willisstreet. The entertainment is calculated to be a success, as some of our best local amateurs have promised their services, and the programme is, we understand, to be of an elaborate character.

Complaints have been made by several persons about the deposits of road metal in small heaps along the main thoroughfares of the city. There can be no doubt that these heaps of stones are a very serious obstruction at night, when a pedestrian in crossing the street might very easily be tripped by them, and stand a good chance of being seriously injured. An up country correspondent of the Thames Advertiser complains that the parcels delivery people have varied notions on the subject of weight, as shown by the charges made upon parcels at the different stations. Thus at starting the scales may be accurate, but the parcel is made to increase in weight as it proceeds inland, and eventually assumes an importance quite unnatural.

Some attention has been attracted to the rabbit nuisance question of late, and many different opinions have been expressed as to the best mode of abating it. A contemporary says : A well-known landowner at the Taieri, Otago, is abating the rabbit nuisance by allowing cats to increase on his estate. The cats make surprising havoc among the rabbits.