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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5182, 31 October 1877, Page 2

At eleven o’clock last night there was an alarm of fire, and the bells were set ringing. There was a strong wind blowing at, the time, and it certainly was about as bad a night for a fire to occur as possibly could be imagined. Therefore no little anxiety was manifested as to the result. .Fortunately the alarm was a false one, and had arisen apparently from some one observing the reflection of fire at the Te Aro end of the city towards Newtown, which proceeded from one of the brickyards in the locality where bricks were being burned at the time. The Central and Wellington Ere Brigades turned out with the utmost promptitude, and both engines were on the spot in a very few minutes after the alarm was given. The Eire Police also mustered in good force, and a large number of the populace, as is generally the case, many of whom had evidently just left their beds and made a very hasty toilet, rushed out into the streets and ran hither and thither in search of the precise locality of the fire. Although happily in this instance the alarm was a false one, its occurrence points out forcibly that when an alarm of fire is given, there ought to be some signal by which it may be known in which part of the city the fire is; and, secondly, that people should be very careful not to give false alarms of this sort if they can possibly be avoided. Dr. Hodgkinson occupied over two hours yesterday in the vain endeavor to gather to the fold of Sir George Grey a few additional votes. Dr. Hodgkinson was not eloquent, but he certainly was persevering. Eor two weary hours he drawled a Way in the House. One might say with Sir Charles Coldstream, it was “ the same thing over and over again ?” Dr. Hodgkinson, when his- own resources failed, turned to* quotation. Some idea may be formed of his efforts in this direction when it is stated that he quoted from the Greek poets, from the New Testament, : from Bunyan’s Pilgrims’ Progress, from Sheridan, iEsop’s Eables, Milton, and took a line from Oowper more pointed than .elegant, namely, “It ,is useful, but it stinks and all this was done to show that Sir George Grey was the ablest statesman in the world. A general meeting of the members of the Wellington District 1.0.0. F., M.T7., was held at their hew lodgeroom, Dambton-quay, last evening, G. M. S. Waters in the chair. The chairman informed the brethern for what object the meetjihg had been convened, viz., “to provide a subscription to the Indian Famine Relief Fund,” and appealed to their sympathy in assisting him to carry out tho object hq had in view. Several of the past officers, expressed their deep sympathy for their starving follow subjects in India, and discussed the best mode to raise a fund for their assistance. It was ultimately resolved,— That a circular be sent to,, each lodge in the district, asking-them to subscribe, and to send in'their amounts as soon as possible, in order that one amount may appear as a subscription from the Wellington District. A subscription list was opened in the room, which was ;liberally -subscribed to. A vote of thanks to the G.M., D.GIM., and C.S., brought the busi- : nesa_oi.tha evening, to a Hose, ■To* use a vulgar ; expression, Mr. Tawiti’s speech in the House last night was “ a sell “ for some people. - 1 The guileless Mr., Brown (J. C.) had invited him to speak, by a hod, which combined'the. courtesy of a Roman Emperor with thd, salute of a pot-companion, 1 and had 1 applauded' l him ;i on his risitig, looking around as who would say, with little boys, “ Our side’s best.’” 1 But Tahiti wont on jta say that hq intended to. Vqte'.with the Opposition, Mr. 'Brown’s usually ‘angelic expression :of countenance began to" look ,as if he had ljuat eaten plentifully of green godseberries, tod jliad" r^SohJtoJf^inemfiM.'.itr'' When'Tawiti sat ;dbwh Mr. Brown did not applaud him, ! James MoDougall, a man about 60 years of jnge, was committed at .Masterton yesterday to take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court in Wellington on tho charge of criminally assaulting a girl two years old.

We have received a copy of “ Bradshaw’s I Guide” for November, which appears t(/be compiled with its customary cafe and accuracy. The secretary of the Wellington Benevolent Society acknowledges the receipt of. £l2 10s., Government grant, and £1 Is. from Mr. Fitchett. ... ~ We would call the attention of intending shareholders in the Lion Foundry Company to the closing of the share list this day. We can only add that we wish the enterprise the success it deserves. An elderly man named William Field, re-cently-arrived from Foxtou by the Kiwi, was arrested yesterday afternoon, and brought up at the Police Court on a charge of lunacy. He was remanded for a week for medical examination. Louis Douglaux, charged with obtaining on false pretences the sum of £ls from Keatagne Annibal at Mastertou on the 29th ult., has been arrested at Christchurch, and remanded for the production of the necessary warrant, which will be forwarded immediately. A patient at the Lunatic Asylum named Frederick White managed to effect his escape from that establishment—apparently not a very difficult matter—on Monday, but was captured in town the next day, and taken back to the Asylum. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Daniel Scally, of Wellington, laborer, will be held at the Supreme Court buildings, Wellington, on the 7th November, for the purpose of considering an application of the debtor for a certificate of discharge. The Wellington Literary Association held its usual weekly meeting in St. John’s Schoolroom yesterday evening. There was a good attendance. The subject for discussion was an essay on “ Shakspere,” which was well written, and elicited considerable criticism. The subject for consideration at the next meeting will be “Is superstition mere baneful than scepticism?” Mr. C. F. Worth, whilst driving in his spring cart a few days ago along the Huttroad, near Petone, met with an accident, another vehicle coming in contact with his and upsetting it. Mr. Worth, we are sorry to hear, had two or three of his ribs broken, and was also much shaken. No serious results, however, are apprehended. The valuable cheques and drafts belonging to the Mutual Provident Society, which were advertised yesterday as being lost, were subsequently restored to the person who lost them. They were, we understand, picked up in the street, where they had been evidently accidentally dropped. The finder was suitably rewarded. Mr. Superintendent Whiteford, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, met with a nasty accident yesterday shortly after the occurrence of the chimney on fire on the Terrace, which is referred to in another place. The brigade engine was being drawn to the spot, and Mr. Whiteford in endeavoring to stop it was caught between the hosereel and a vehicle passing by, and thrown down. He sustained some severe bruises, but we are glad to hear is not seriously injured. At the inquest held at the Thistle Hotel yesterday the coroner on reading over the names of the jurymen summoned asked where .one of them was who had not responded to his name. “If you please, your Worship,” said the police officer on duty, “ he’s drunk outside.” “Then bring him here,” said the coroner. This was done, and on the juryman presenting himself, the coroner ordered him into custody, and he was marched off by the constable. At the Theatre Royal last evening there was a very good attendance taking the state of the weather into consideration. “ Hand and Glove ” as usual called forth much applause, and the watches and the many valuable articles given away produced great satisfaction. To-night a novel drama entitled “ Behind the Scenes” will be rendered, - which is now one of the leading novelties of London. We are informed that it will bo produced with new scenery, and with the very excellent company at the Royal should prove a success. . The leading donations for to-night are—one sovereign, a tea and coffee service, a fish carver, sugar basins, a cruet stand, a liqueur frame, a gentleman’s silver watch, and 60 other valuable articles. St. George's Hall was extremely well attended last night considering the unpropitious weather. The previous evening’s programme was repeated. The leading prizes distributed during the evening were two silver watches and a one-pound note. Tonight “ Parted ” will be performed for the last time, when the usual amount of prizes will be given away. To-morrow evening a new burlesque will be presented, entitled “ Alabama, or the Forty Thieves.” The late Mr. Robert Lambert will be buried with Masonic Honors to-day at the cemetery. The funeral will leave the deceased’s late residence, Sydney-street, at a quarter to 4 o’clock p.m. Mr. Lambert was an officer of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Freemasons, and had on several occasions been elected Master of the Pacific Lodge. As he was well known for many years to the members of the craft, and was highly esteemed by his fellow citizens, a large number of persons will no doubt be present to pay their last mark of respect to his memory. At 2 o’clock the officers and brethren of the following lodges are to meet at the Masonic Hall, Boulcott-street, and will attend the funeral in full regalia :—District Grand Lodge of the North Island, E.C.; Pacific Lodge, E. 0.; Wellington Lodge, E.C.; Hutt Lodge, E. 0.; Water-100 Lodge, S.f). The Rev. Mr. Harvey will conduct the service, and the Rev. Mr. Nicholls, Provincial Grand Chaplain, will read the Masonic ritual. A funeral oration will be delivered at the grave by Mr. J. Woodward, P.M. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning (Messrs. J. Moore and J. G. Holdsworth on the bench), Joseph Gurney was fined 55., or in default twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness.—Thos. Mansfield and John Bryant were charged by Constable Lyster with fighting at the Hutt. Prisoners pleaded that they were very drunk at the time ; in fact that they did not recollect the row. They were fined 10s. each, with the usual alternative.—Daniel Egan was fined 20s. and costs for driving a horse and dray on the footpath. The Inspector of Nuisances, Mr. Pilmer, prosecuted.—An information was also laid against John Harefield for keeping a filthy back yard. The defendant blamed his landlord, but the Bench held the occupier of the premises responsible, and fined him 40s. and costs, and directed him to have the place cleaned out forthwith, or else further proceedings would bo taken against him.—Edward Tyler, on a charge of false pretences, was further remanded till Monday next on the application of Inspector Aoheson, bail being allowed in two sureties of £SO each. Drunkenness on a railway train is an offence .not only dangerous to the offender but also to respectably conducted passengers. Lately (says the New Zealand Herald of the 21st inst.) a drunken man, who had unobserved got into a train, all the carriages of which were crowded, would persist in standing on the platform at the end of the carriage, and was at last half-persuaded, half-forced to go into the carriage. At one of the stations where there was a brief stoppage this person got out, and was ireeling about when the train started. He ran after the carriage and clung to the upright rod of the platform, the train at the time going at a smart pace. Aided by the guard, who saw the man’s peril, and by a passenger who was standing on the carriage platform, this foolish person was partly pushed ; and partly dragged on to thei carriage, for if ■he had let- go his hold with the train in motion the chances were he would have fallen among the wheels. . It appears that the guard has no power to compel a drunken person to go into the carriage if the latter should prefer standing on the platform; but when a man is endangering his life the guard would be justified in compelling his removal. The theory is, that no person in liquor should be permitted to travel by the railway; but it is next to impossible for a guard to detect all cases of the kind. This was one of those cases; and it would be doing good service if the culprit were prosecuted for getting upon a train while in motion.

’'■(''Shortly before 11 o’clock yesterday morning the; chimney of a house occupied by Mrs. Pankin, on the Terrace, .caught fire, and through someone inside opening the door a "draught was created, which incrreased the danger. Assistance, however, was promptly rendered by Mr. Doyle, the contractor, and his men, who were at work in the neighborhood, and immediately came to the spot, when by the application of wet blankets they succeeded in extinguishing the fire before any serious damage was done. The ringing of the fire-bells brought a large crowd to the Terrace in a very few minutes. The fire brigades also turned out, but fortunately their services were not required. From the Wanganui Herald we learn that during the recent sitting of the Supreme Court at Wanganui, Mr. Justice Richmond, in referring to an application from the solicitor to a prisoner, that the accused might be allowed to make a statement to the jury, said that though he was aware that such a course was under certain circumstances admissible, yet he had never in his experience granted such a permission. He was of opinion that a state-, ment made by the accused, not under oath, would often further the ends of justice; but others, seeing that no opportunity could be afforded the prosecuting counsel to crossexamine on such a statement, objected to the accused, when represented by counsel, speaking except through his counsel. His Honor offered the applicant in this case the alternative of the prisoner being allowed to make a statement in lieu of the counsel addressing the jury as in the regular course; but at the same time recommended that the alternative should not be adopted, not only in the interests of the accused, but to prevent the establishment of a precedent which might prove dangerous. It has been calculated by Dr. C. W. Siemens that the Niagara Falls does as much work as 266,000,000 tons of coal could do in a year at the rate of four pounds per horse-power consumption of fuel iu an horn - . Dr. Siemens objects to so much force being wasted, and his proposition is that the water might be made to drive an electrical machine at the Falls, the current from which would traverse a copper rod. He has calculated that a rod three inches in diameter would transmit 1000 horsepower as far as thirty miles, and that at the end of the electricity would be used to produce motion or light, the quantity of electricity being sufficient for about 250,000 candle-power. The Wanganui Herald of the 25th instant thus refers to the recent sporting event in that locality : —Two enthusiastic sportsmen in town having a difference of opinion as to the racing capabilities of their respective steeds, decided to teat the question by a spin, owners up. The event came off a few mornings back, and was witnessed by a select few. The horses, enjoying the well known names of Guy Fawkes and Templeton, were decent looking hacks, able to gallop very fast past a flax bush, or to make a respectable appearance within the shafts of a milk cart, but the riders, Oh, shades of Frank Butler and Harry Grimshaw ! how they did work their passage. Templeton, although giving 3st. away, managed to secure the judge’s fiat by a short length. It is needless to add both horses and riders were much distressed. Both jockeys are open to an engagement for the forthcoming Spring meeting, as it is calculated they will have fully recovered by that time. Attention is directed to Mr. Sidey’s auction sale advertisement in another column. It will be seen that working- men, small capitalists, and others 'will have an excellent opportunity to-day of obtaining some excellent building ground centrally situated in Cuba and Abel Smith streets, and being a portion of town acres N os. 102, 101, and 127, cut lip into convenient allotments, which will be sold on lease for 42 years on very liberal terms. The sale will commence at 2.30 p.m, at Mr. Sidey’s rooms, Mannersstreet. Mr. Thomas’ sale of building materials, kc., in the estate of Mr. James Bauson, was not concluded yesterday. It will be continued to-day, at 1 o'clock, commencing with the timber in tiie yard. Mr. Thomas will also sell on the premises lately occupied by Mr. G. S. Budge, tobacconist, 'WillisBtreet, at 2 p.m. to-day, ■ sundry articles of furniture and other goods and chattels. Messrs. Beauchamp, Campbell, and Co. will hold an extensive sale, commencing at 2 o’clock this afternoon, of damaged sugar, ex Wakatipu, from Sydney, also weighing machines and a variety of sundries enumerated in our advertising columns. Mr. J. H. Wallace will sell on the premises of Mr. J. McDonald, saddler, Lambton-quay, at 2 o’clock, this afternoon, household furniture and effects.