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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5098, 26 July 1877, Page 2

It may be remembered that a telegram from Sydney some days ago informed us of the loss of the b.b, Yarra Yarra at Newcastle. The Melbourne Argus of IGth July contains the following particulars of the loss, telegraphed from Sydney :—“ The steam collier Yarra Yarra, returning to the port of Newcastle, at 7 o’clock this morning was driven

over towards the Cawarra buoy, two heavy seas striking her and falling on board. When near the buoy an attempt appeared to be made to run out to sea. The mizzen trysail was set, but at this time another fearful sea struck her, carrying away either the funnel or the foremast, and in a moment after she gave a lurch and went down stern foremost. It was noticed at the time that the wheels were stationery, showing that the fires must have been put out by the seas breaking on hoard. A signal gun to prepare the lifeboat was fired from the look-out station ; but a heavy squall came on at the time, and when it cleared the steamer was gone. A large quantity of wreckage came ashore on. the North Beach. One body was seen but was not secured, owing to the heavy surf. Hundreds of people were on the beach and wharfs at the time. One of the masts of the Yarra Yarra can be seen just outside Cawarra buoy.” A meeting of the Kaiwarra Local Board was held at the tollgate house, Kaiwarra, last evening at 7 o’clock. Commissioners present; Messrs. Cameron, Phillips, Guildford, and Wyatt (chairman.) The minutes of the last meeting were read and confiemed. The Chairman read a letter received from the Hntt County Council, re petition received from citizens and others of Wellington, praying that the north approach to the Kaiwarra bridge be raised up to the level of the bridge, the Hutt County Council having referred the petition to the Local Board for their opinion, thinking they were the best judges in the matter. The Board unanimously passed a resolution that the prayer of the petition could not be complied with, as it was unreasonable, and the work not necessary. It was resolved that tenders be called for making footpaths on the west side of the main road, and forming and metalling the upper part of Westminsterstreet. It was also resolved that the County Council be requested to allow the services of their engineer to take the levels. The Board then adjourned. The following tenders have been received by the Public Works department for the erection of a store, Class A 2, at the Invercargill station, viz.;—Accepted ; John Mackay, Invercargill, £584. Declined; Little, Bros., £669 ; W. Lockhart, £743 ; Robert Burns, £797 ; Alexander Menzies, £BO4 ; Smith and Bldred, £BBO (all Invercargill) ; and Robert Martin, Dunedin, £947. A gentleman connected with that very useful publication, the Jurist, called at our office yesterday to complain of a paragraph which appeared in our issue of the 24th inst., relative to the remarks of his Honor Mr. Justice Richmond on the case of White v. Holder, as reported in the Jurist. His Honor did say the report was incorrect, and at first considered that it was so, but we are informed that on examination of the Chief Justice’s notes, it turned out that the case at the time under discussion, viz., White v. Holder, was correctly reported in the Jurist. In reference to the reliance to be placed on the Jurist reports, his Honor said—“ Reliance should only be placed on those cases which were reported by the regular reporting barristers, or eaj relatione by some other barrister, and authenticated by his name.”

The opening of Mr. McGrath’s new hotel at Porirua was celebrated on Tuesday evening by a dinner and ball, both numerously attended by the friends and well-wishers of the host, who is a very popular man in the district. At the dinner, which was an excellent one, Mr. H. Owen was chairman, and proposed Mr. McGrath’s health in suitable terms, to which Mr. McGrath responded, promising to maintain in the new house the good reputation acquired iu the old one. After dinner dancing commenced, and was kept up with much spirit until an early hour next morning. All present appeared to enjoy themselves heartily, and left much pleased with the evening’s entertainment.

A singular and fatal accident occurred yesterday morning. About seven o’clock Mr. and Mrs. Duck, who live in Cuba-street, found their son Samuel Duck, who had risen from his bed about an hour previously and was supposed to have gone to his work, lying dead close to the doorstep. Deceased’s head was much cut and bruised. It was a frosty morning, and it is supposed he must have slipped just as he was going out of the house and brought his head in violent contact with the doorpost, thereby sustaining such injuries as caused death. Deceased was a healthy man, about 30 years of age, unmarried, and of industrious 4ind temperate habits. An inquest will be held this afternoon.

At the, Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday Joseph Little, charged with drunkenness, was fined 55., with the customary alternative in case of non-payment.—Joseph Winter, charged with a like offence, was similarly dealt with.—Eliza Warnes, charged with lunacy, was ordered to be sent to the asylum for safe custody.—Guttlat Huber, a native of Switzerland, brought before the Court on a like charge, was also sent to the Lunatic Asylum. Messrs. J. H. Wallace and J. D. Cruiekshank were the presiding magistrates. Information was received in town yesterday that the body of Alfred Platu, an American; negro, who had been missing for some weeks, was found on Saturday last on Mr. Maunsell’s run near Castlepoint. An inquest was held on the same day, and a verdict of death from natural causes was returned. The cause of death is stated to have been heart disease.

The vexed question of religious instruction in schools still agitates the public mind in Victoria. Mr. Lawes, a member of the Church of England, has given a notice of motion to the following effect ; —That the system of State education in Victoria is, in the opinion of this Assembly, incomplete, as it makes no provision for religious instruction, which is an essential part of education. That a committee, to be elected by ballot, be appointed, to report upon the heat means of affording religious instruction to children of members of the Church of England attending State schools.

The Theatre Royal was opened last evening under circumstances the reverse of unfavorable. There was a fair attendance, and the performance was really creditable. “ Not Guilty ” was the piece of the evening, and although, from a professional point of view, it may he supposed that there were disadvantages to be contended against (Mr. and Mrs. Tavares having severed their connection with the company), still the representation was very commendable. Mr. H. Stoneham played admirably in the dual part, Sir Ormond Willoughly and Silas Jarrett, a vagabond; and Miss Jennie Nye’s representation of the characters of Mrs. Armitage and her daughter Alice were successful. These being the only material alterations in the cast, it is unnecessary to say more of the performance, further than to remark on its general success, to which the audience gave sufficient testimony. A question of some interest to ratepayers summoned to serve on juries was raised in the case of Pritchard v. the Corporation of Dunedin, in the Supreme Court. The foreman of the jury, Mr. John Davie, inquired whether the jury were competent to serve. It being a claim against the Corporation, any damages given against it would fall upon the ratepayers, and the jurors, being ratepayers, were really parties to the suit. The Judge observed that this was the first time that he had been asked by a juror entering the box to give an opinion on a point of law. As the matter at issue was not one affecting public justice, and as the jury were willing to serve and the counsel engaged in the case to take their verdict, the matter was not pressed, and the case proceeded; but the point is certainly one of some importance, and will probably be raised again in notions in which municipalities are concerned.

Mr. Clement Hodgkinson, formerly the Assistant Commissioner of Lands and Survey jin Victoria, to whom Melbourne is chiefly indebted for planting and ornamenting the reserves of that city, which have contributed so much to render it picturesque, has, we learn from the Argus, resumed his duties as Inspector of Public Parks.' .

An amateur billiard tournament, which apparently creates considerable interest amongst lovers of the game, is now going on at the Melbourne Hotel. A handsome silver cup of the value of five guineas will be awarded to the winner.

The fancy dress ball which takes place tonight at St. George’s Hall is, we hear, likely to be very numerously attended. The poll to be taken of the ratepayers, for and against the raising of a loan of £IOO,OOO for the reclamation of the Te Aro foreshore, will be taken on the 6th August. We learn that the annual report of the churchwardens of St. Peter’s Church was circulated last Sunday, and was therefore available for publication.

During the sitting of the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon the Hon. the Speaker informed members that his Excellency would receive members of that House at 12 o’clock this day.

At a meeting of the creditors of Mr. W. Raymond, of Wellington, music seller, held at the Supreme Court buildings yesterday, Mr. Kogan was appointed trustee of the estate, and a composition of ss. in the pound accepted. During yesterday and last evening the lower part of St. George’s Hall was opened for skating purposes, and a large number of Tinkers took advantage of the occasion to indulge in that popular exercise. We observe that Messrs. Edmondson and loms have commenced business as auctioneers, valuators, accountants, and general commission agents at Masterton and Greytown. The firm has an establishment at each of these rapidlyincreasing townships, and will no doubt command a fair share of public patronage. The audiences full and thoroughly appreciative which attend the exhibition of Clifford’s Mirror of the World amply testify to the actual merit of this excellent show. Last evening again the Odd Eellows’ Hall was well attended, and the various and attractive views highly delighted the audience. A public tea meeting, to be followed by a musical entertainment, will be given in the Bev. Mr. Redstone’s chapel, Courtenay-place, on Friday evening, the 27th instant, under the auspices of the St. John’s Lodge, 1.0.G.T. Tea on the table at 6.30. The entertainment will commence at 8 o’clock.

The Manawatu Times o£ the 21st inst. says that a petition is in course of signature for presentation to Parliament urging upon the House “that in any Education Bill which may be under consideration the fullest provision be made for the daily reading of the Bible as the first part of the ordinary school course of instruction, even if such reading be given without note or comment.”

It will be seen by reference to our Auckland telegrams that Mr. Justice Gillies has delivered an important judgment (reversing the judgment of the Court below) affecting the majority of Highway Boards throughout the provincial district. The omission of certain words from the proclamation constituting the highway districts invalidates their acts, according to his Honor’s ruling, and prevents the Boards from recovering rates in an action at law.

The Melbourne Argus of the 16th instant states that Messrs. Green are considering the propriety of renewing their former offer with regard to a Cape mail service. They do not propose to take up a contract themselves, but to form a company, and the Government appear to consider that this change is a highly important one, and that a company would not stand in the same position in the matter as the Messrs. Green.

Among the many recent improvements which have lately taken place in the rising township of Masterton, is noticeable the new auction mart erected to the order of Messrs. Edmondson and lorns, who have just opened up connection in Masterton and Greytown as auctioneers and general commission agents, as will be seen by an advertisement in another column.

A curious charge of perjury has been preferred at Echuca (Victoria) against a Mr. James Isaac Johnson, a member of a leading drapery firm. The alleged perjury consists in Mr. Johnson having in a statutory declaration swore that he was the owner of certain lands, the deeds of which he deposited with the Australasian Building and Investment Society as security for a loan. The deeds were signed by Isaac Johnson, defendant’s father, who purchased the land in question, and deposited the deeds with bis sou for safe keeping. When the title was examined by the Registrar of Titles the discrepancy in the names was discovered, and to satisfy the building society that he was the owner of the land, James Isaac Johnson made a statutory declaration before a justice of the peace that he was the person named in the deeds.

Tenders are invited by Mr. 0. J. Toxward until the Ist August for the erection of a school and dwelling-house at Stokes’ Valley. The Government invite tenders up to the 29th August, for the Clinton contract (formation and permanent way), on the WaitakiInvercargill railway, and also (up to the 15th August) for the supply of 10,000 sleepers for the Invercargill-Kingston line. The wharfinger invites tenders for the supply of sundry stores, &c., for eight months ending 81st March, 1878.