Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4933, 13 January 1877, Page 2

The Port Darwin line is,interrupted north of Peake. . , ' , f - Official notification is made in the Gazette of the I resignation of Mr. Richardson, and the Governor’s acceptance of. the services of Mr. Donald Reid as an Executive Councillor and Secretary for . Crown Lands , and- Minister of Immigration. ..The .appointment of Mr. Ormond as ..Minister of Public Works is also gazetted. The charter passed under the “Great Seal of the United Kingdom, granting-and declaring that " degrees conferred, by the University of New Zealandshall be recognised as academic distinctions and rewards of merit, and entitled to rank, precedence, and consideration in the United Kingdom,, and in the British colonies and possessions,’’ is published in the Gazette, together with the accompanying despatch from the Secretary of State. Lord Carnarvon is careful to add—“ The Agent-General for, the colony has been requested to repay to this department the sum of £54 135., being the expenses incurred in passing these letters patent." '

Our paragraph yesterday re the St. Church new organ ' was in some particulars incorrect. Practically no cutting away will be necessary to allow of the admission of the instrument into the chamber; and though certain stops have not been placed in the organ, others of a slightly different character make amends for the deficiency. The organ will be erected in the course of a fortnight. The annual cricket match between the Star Club and Wairarupa.c ticket era will take place at the Basin Reserve: on the 22nd inst. A charge will be made for admission to the ground, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds being : raised'in connection with the coming match with the English cricketers. A meeting of the Star Club will be held on Monday evening for the purpose of selecting a team and, making other necessary arrangements. Since , the above was written we hear that the secretary of ‘ the Wellington Cricket Association yesterday received a telegram from Mr. W. J. Salmon offering to play a team of all-comers on the 22nd, and asking for an immediate reply. An answer was immediately sent accepting the challenge. The opening of St. George’s Hall, which has lately been completed, will be celebrated by a soiree on the 22nd of this month, and we understand that the affair is to be conducted on a principle directly opposite to that which characterised the refections indulged in by the select' footmen of Bath. It is intended that the opening shall be celebrated in good style. Arrangements have been made for refreshments in plenty ; both rooms of-the Hall are to be thrown open, and a good band has been engaged to supply music for the dancing. It may be mentioned also that the use of the Foresters’ Hall has been secured as a dressingroom., The prices of admission will be fixed at a reasonable rate, and as the soiree will be held on a general holiday, we have no doubt that • the attendance will be very numerous. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, among the civil cases heard was one the particulars of which were slightly unusual, and it took a very long time in hearing. It was Beard v.. Ed wards, a claim of £25; Mr. Allan for plaintiff, Mr. Barton for the defence. Bridget Beard described how her husband and she had some difference, in consequence of which she left the house, taking' with her £lB and a cheque for £25. Further evidence for the plaintiff went to show in brief that Mrs. Beard, who put up at the Waterloo Hotel, missed some money whilst: there, and that in addition Mr. Edwards had a cheque in charge for her to the amount of £25, and that he had not returned the full amount. Plaintiff detailed a number of other circumstances occurring at Edwards’, and ending in her being taken to the police station in a cab, and being, given in charge for being drunk. She strenuously denied having signed receipts for certain amounts, which were produced in Court,, but acknowledged'to having signed one .for'a small amount. Voluminous : evidence. was brought: forward for the defence. Edwards: explained that Mrs. Beard came to him very intoxicated, and he would have turned her away but for the intercession of a lodger in his house, who was acquainted with her name and residence in Ohariu. She continued imbibing, and be at her request took charge of £2O put of £25, for which he had sent a man to cash a cheque m possession of witness.' He further stated that she had given'him receipts for several amounts, and finally one for the-balance of the money due to her. If appeared from corroborative evidence adduced'that the, woman had been treated with consideration by Edwards. After hearing the. versions of | both sides, and addresses delivered by counsel, his Worship gave judgment for defendant, with costs. - Referring to; the position of Kumara, the Kumara Times says :—During, the months of . August-and September a regular, stampede set in; and in spite of < warnings from the local Press,-men came from every part of New Zealand and. thei neighbouringcolonies', impressed with fabulous ideas of the wealth of the district. To say that Kumara grew would be to give, a. faint .idea. It sprang up like a city in the.“ Arabian Nights,” as if touched by an en.chanter’s wand. Every available site was ap-. plied for, and sections which a few months .before Were valueless commanded fancy prices, and on the 28th September the Kumara Times was started- The promises we made then we have since' endeavored to fulfil. We said We would be independent, and notinra single-in-stance have we departed from it. We have not vaunted up the field. In our first article we asked the question whether business was not overdone, and stated that “ this was not the place for hew- and inexperienced- diggers. These .diggings mean work—hard, heavy, laborious work, and‘the means to ‘stand by’ while the claims were being proved.” Since then we would point to : the progress that Kumara has. made. Its hotels, and stores are second to none on the Coast, and while the “ inexperienced diggers ’’—men -who have ho' right on a new goldfieldA-have disappeared, miners of the right stamp : have taken their place. The diggings now extend- for miles, and a new township—Dillmaa’s—has sprung ■ Up;; a horse-track has been formed to it, from which views of the greatest beauty can be obtained, and which cannot-be -‘excelled in Now Zealand, and another track- is to be made along the Shamrock Lead. ‘ A’telegraph office has been establishedj 'and ' also a court house, police camp and barracks.' It is to be made the central station for the Resident Magistrate, and tenders are balled for the erection of his residence; while a oojpmodious post office is also to be built, and five branch banks are in active operation. Two theatres—the Royal and the Adelphi—have been erected, besides two steam saw-millV breweries, &c. Thera is still much to be done —the town has to be drained, or there is no doubt it will be verf unhealthy ; a fire brigade established, and a hospital to be built; but the inhabitants have faith in Kumara, they know its resources, and thoughthere will be a slight depression consequent on the reaction after the holidyss, still, we say that in three months’time Kumara will be more prosperous than ever. The following are the remarks of Judge' Gillies in his charge to the Grand Jury, haying reference to the duty .of magistrates :—ln this case [a cattle stealing charge] it appears to me that the committing magistrate or his clerk has been evidently very ignorant of his duty. Without alluding to minor f irre--gularities, the depositions which were returned appear to have been .forwarded to the Crowd Prosecutor, and afterwards to the Registrar of this Court ; but instead of having annexed'to them the usual certificate by the magistrate,, in the form given in the Justices of the Peaces Act—allowing that these depositions were taken in the case—there was nothing returned but a loose sheet of paper. Recognisance and information are in another place altogether; the whole being in a most irregular form.' I wish magistrates to remember that, it is their duty by law, on committing a person for trial, .to cause the information, depositions, and recognizances to be' delivered to the Registrar of this Court; that the' depositions ought to bo fastened together in the form provided by the statute. In the present case nothing of, that kind was done, and consequently, if these depositions were required on the trial, they would be perfectly valueless. Other evidence will be brought before you with which' you can deal. Looking, howevbr, at the evidence as if has been taken, there appears to be no evidence of felonious intent, but rather of a bona fide, although erroneous, assertion of a right of ownership to the animal itself. If the evidence shows to your satisfaction that, there was nothing in the case’indicating felonious intent, —if there appears on the part of the accused no notion that the animal belonged to another, but that he was acting under the bona .fide belief of ownership ; if there was no evidence of circumstances 'which would" indicate in him a guilty knowledge that he was endeavoring to steal this animal, then you will ignore the bill. 1 If, however, there should bo presented to you any sort of evidence of, felonious intent-—such as concealment, or any act which would cause you to believe that the accused knew the bullock to be the property of another, and that he was endeavoring to appropriate if to himself, that would indicate felonious intent, which would warrant you in finding a true bill. At • the same time, Ithink you will agree with me that magistrates should be careful in putting I the criminal law in motion where the right of | ownership is disputed. i

Robert Austin, of Wellington, bootmaker, baa filed a declaration of inability to pay his debts. Miss Laura Wiseman, sister to Mrs. J. L. Hall, arrived in Wellington by the Hawea yesterday, en route for Christchurch, and left by the same steamer last evening at 8 o’clock. Mr. A. S. Allah is gazetted Registrar of the Court of Appeal, and Messrs. H. C. Wilmer, of Wellington,- and F. C. de Malet, of Christchurch, are gazetted Deputy-Registrars of the same Court. The -Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, M.L.O. ; the Hon. E. W. Stafford, F.R.G.S.; and James Hector, Esq., M.D., F.f1.5.,. C.M.G., have been re-appointed governors of the New Zealand Institute. The English cricketers are either a very inferior team, or have had to suffer from a succession of ill-luck. A second'match with Sydney players has been commenced, and our telegram informs uh that in their first innings the Englishmen have been disposed of for 35 runs. Shades of the Graces ! The p.s; Manawatu will leave on a pleasant. excursion trip to Barrett’s Reef this afternoon. The steamer will reach the reef at the right time fpr fishing, and no' idoubt she will be largely patronised should the day be fine, as, in addition to the excellent sport that may be anticipated,- the Manawatu is well known to be a moat comfortable boat. The Rev. W. Morley, Wesleyan minister, who was removed from Wellington to Christchurch, has been invited to remain another year in charge of the Christchurch circuit. The Rev. J. J." Lewis; who is expected to arrive 'from England'in the Waipa, is to be requested to take'‘one of the churches in Christchurch. The general committee appointed to make arrangements in reference to the visit of the All England Eleven, will meet at the Popt Office Hotel oh Monday evening next at eight o’clock. Gentlemen who have subscription lists are requested to forward them to the hon. sec.,. Mr. Anhitage (box 109 a, . Post Office), not later than:to-day.- , We are requested to state that the raffle for the draught entire “ Young General,” which' was advertised to take place at Valentine’s Railway Hotel, Lower Hutt, at 7 o’clock this evening, is postponed. In ;all probability the horse will be raffled at the same place -on the evening of Thursday, the Bth February, being the first day of the Hutt races; At the Theatre Royal last evening the performance consisted of “ Casjte" .and “ Charles the Second,” both pieces being' played to the complete ■■ satisfaction of the audience, who, though not numerous, were sufficiently appreciative. For to-night a very attractive pro-, gramme is announced. ’ “The, Octoroon” will be produoedj'and will no doubt'attract a good attendance. ‘ . ■ - A crowd assembled .on the wharf .yesterday evening to witness the departure; of the three big steamers which left within half-on-hour of each other.' The Rotorua, which was the subject of much admiration, left ‘first, and was round the first point before the Arawata started from the wharf, and the latter was a. good distance but when the Hawea moved, away from No. 2 berth. We call' special attention to the monster Crown land sale advertised this morning to take place in Queensland. If we except' the offer of the -Manawatu- Rangitikei block,' it is about the largest sale we have heard of. At our big sale we have an idea ■the whole 500,000 acres were put up. In the Queensland block the area is 220,000. Full • information of the! nature of the sale, and particulars as to terms, appear in the advertisement. 1 We received the following telegram yesterday Dunedin, January 12.—The Editor N. Z. Times,. Wellington,—Except Mount Rangitoto Company’s ground, >no other, lease at Rangitoto, yet' touched by a , pick. All Rangitoto downright swindle. , Use your judgment in, warning public.—H. Valentine Russell, silver miner.” We have seen something similar published previously, but as Mr. -Russell kindly paid for the telegram there is no reason why his gratuitous warnings should uot be again made public. This week’s Gazette contains—Order in Council making regulations under the New Zealand Settlements Act for sale of land to the Patea Institute ; appointment of Hetaraka Tautahi and.HarC.Tipene Wfaakapai trustees under the Maori Real Estate Management Act, 1867;; warrant appointing persons: to issue licenses in provincial .districts —for .Wellington,’ Messrs. H. S.- McKellar, of- Wellington, and J. S. Wbbn,*’ of Wanganui • have - been appointed ; appointment of varions mayors and councillors .'justice's'-of-- the peace ; appointment of Dr. Garland public vaccinator, &c., &c., | The characters assumed by the’ players in to-day’s Costume matohare as follow:—Theatre Royal side—Metcalf, Teetotum; Sweeney,, Policeman 442 A ; Hesford, clown ; Alexander, harlequin ; Inglis, . pantaloon; Lewis, sailor; Creighton, lago.; Powell, sprite ; Wilson, Uncle Pete ; Jeffs, -Salem Scudder ; Shields, Maori chief. ’ Town side—Van HeythuySen, Rochester; Russell, Paddy from Cork; W. A. Fordham, Stanley ;.O’Connor,. Ham-fat-man ; Grey, Sambo Snowball; Gascoigne, Artillery uniform ; Hood; .-'General Jackson ; C.. B. Daley, Beauseante ; Humphreys, Don Pedro; Archer,, clown; .Edmunds, anegro. The respective teams meet at the Theatre Royal at 1 sharp to dress, and carriages will be there to take them to the ground.- A. band will be bn the ground to enliven proceedings by alittle music, and arrangements have been made for a refreshment booth being placed under the grand stand. It is -unnecessary to add that the proceeds of the -match Will form a contribution to the. English: cricketers fund. Just as the s.S. Hawea was moving away from the wharf yesterday an, accident happened which afforded ,some auJusement to a number of bystanders,, althbngh'it could scarcely have been very joyful' for the person chiefly concerned. The carpenter of the departing steamer was getting dowh to one of the piles for the purpose of fastening some tackle to the bolts of the .ship’s boats, when he slipped and fell into the, water, making a great splash and disappearing beneath for a few seconds, notwithstanding that he had a firm hold of a rope stretched from the vessel to the boat. He rose again to the surface, and to the occasion. He was not long before he caused himself to arrive inside the'boat, and there, with his “garments clinging like the wave constantly dripped from his clothing,” he did the necessary performance with the rope and bolts, being encouraged by sundry remarks of a pleasant add facetious tendency by the assembled crowd on the wharf, some of whom, by the way, went near to following the’ object of their kind attentions into the water, owing to their being too near the edge and a’heavy pressure from behind. The steamer got away from the ' wharf without any other incident occurring worth mentioning. We have been requested to draw attention to an advertisement, which appears elsewhere; in reference to St. John’s Presbyterian Church. - It is announced that the Rev. Mr. Cosh, M.A., of Sydney, will preach in the morning at St. John’s, and in the evening at St. Andrew’s. Special attention is drawn, to the children’s service of sacred song and story, to be conducted by Joseph Paxton, Esq., J.P., of Sydney, in St. John’s Presbyterian Church to-morrow afternoon at 3 o’clock, the children to assemble at 2.30. Christian friends of all denominations are invited to attend, : A lady of questionable character, named Sarah Kent, made her appearance at the R.M. Court yesterday, - ' charged with vagrancy. Constable McWilliams, who arrested her, stated that he' had found ■ her intoxicated on the wharf, and Sergeant Monaghan informed the Bench as to her past character, which did aot appear; to ■be at all excellent, as it was shown that she had been on several occasions previously convicted of various offences. The jentle creature was, or affected to be, much ’roubleJ at the thought of being once again in inmate of the gaol, and appealed to bis Worship pathetically for forgiveness, protest- . ng earnestly that she had it in her mind’s eye ;o take a high moral stand. Notwithstanding he touching appeal however, his Worship bought it necessary to' inflict three months’ mprisonment, which he tM. 1 1