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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5282, 28 February 1878, Page 2

Judgment was delivered yesterday in the Supreme Court in the case of Henderson v. the Crown. The claim was for exi ra materials required in embankments on the Mount Rochfort railway through subsidence, owing to the swampy nature of the ground over which the railway was carried. This is a portion of the famous Brogdeu claims against the Government, of which so much has been said, both in and out of Parliament. The decision of the Supreme Court will be found in another column, from which it will be seen that judgment was entered for the Crown, with costs. Mr. Clarke, the eminent hydraulic engineer, is expected to visit Wellington shortly, to confer with the Mayor and City Engineer as to the drainage scheme. That the result of the consultation will be to accelerate this muchneeded work is much to be desired. The matter has been pending for a long time, and from a sanitary point of view the importance of the question can hardly be overstated. The difficulties frequently attendant upon the absence of magistrates from the Resident Magistrate’s Court on the morning when they are required to officiate in the absence of Mr. Crawford at the Hutt Court, have frequently been noticed, and another case in point occurred yesterday, when, as Mr. Wallace was the only magistrate available at the time, a case involving a breach of the peace had to be remanded, and the two defendants consigned to the look-up, unless they were lucky enough to secure bail. The case, it was thought, would be likely to prove a peculiar one, the wife of one of the parties being supposed to be involved in the dispute which had occurred between them.

We are requested to draw the attention of our readers to an advertisement inviting all persons willing to join a Young Men's Christian Association to send their names and addresses to J. G. Holdaworth, Esq,, by noon on Friday, the Ist March. As the success of the association greatly depends on the interest manifested by the people of this city, the friends of the movement trust that a ready response will be given to the invitation. A meeting of the friends and supporters of Councillor Fisher was held, pursuant to advertisement, at the Princess Hotel, Thorndon, last evening. Mr. Marks was voted to the chair, and rose to explain the object of the meeting, when a gentleman present said that this was a private meeting, and he hoped the representatives of the Press, of whom there were three present, would withdraw, which they did accordingly. We always admire pluck, and especially in the youth of the colony, when it keeps within bounds ; and, as a noticeable instance, a challenge may be alluded to which has been posted up in the Thorndon Baths by a youth 15 years of age, named Phillip Franklin, who* offers to swim any boy, or number of boys of his own age in the city, any distance for £1 aside. This young athlete is said to be the son of a well-known gentleman carrying on business in Larabton-quay ; and it is to be hoped that his challenge will not be overlooked, the art of swimming being, in any community, and especially here—a principal seaport—one which should be generally encouraged.

The late carbine, match between the Auckland and Wellington Cadets, which took place on Saturday, 9th iust., resulted in a easy victory for Auckland by 62 points. Each team fired on its own range. The Auckland Cadets were in charge of Captain White, and the Wellington Cadets in command of Lieut. Hale. The following scores were made on the occasion:—Auckland Cadets: Captain White, 58; Lieut. Saunders, 54; Cadet J. Lee, 49;' Cadet K. Mills, 46; Sergeant Ansell, 46; Cadet Stuart, 45; Cadet Harris, 44; Cadet Hancock, 43; Sergeant Haslam, 41; Cadet Trayes, 36; total, 452. Wellington Cadets: W. Randall, 47; A. Poulson, 44; A. Ballinger, 42; A. Dixon, 41; S. Lester, 40; W. Maidley, 39; A. Rowlands, 37; T. Gooder, 36; T. Croucher, 34; total, 400. The Wellington Cadets intend firing a return match shortly. A very fair audience greeted the performance at the Princess Theatre last night of the “ Silent Woman,” in which Mr. Dave Clinton took the part of Sandford, ably supported by Mr. Huntley as Merton, and Miss Kate Vernon as Marianne. After this followed the astounding feats of the champion swordsman, Mr. Borthwick Reid, whose benefit we would mention takes place next Friday night, when he will be assisted by members of the Armed Constabulary. A noticeable feature of the evening will be the distribution of prizes to the best swordsmen and single-stick performers amongst those amateurs who may wish to compete. The Mayor and Councillors have promised to be present on the occasion. The performance last night was brought to a happy conclusion by the langable farce of “ Meph-faust-ophles ; or, a Match for a Lucifer.”

The Odd Fellows’ Hall was again well attended last evening, when Professor Ben Allah’s conjuring and ventriloquial feats were again heartily received and nearly every one of them encored. Mr. R. Love ably assisted, and will continue to do so during the remainder of the week. A large number of gifts, many of them of considerable value, were distributed, and the names of the fortutunate winners of the leading prizes will be found in our advertising columns. The performance is an excellent one, and the best testimony to its merits is that in spite of many counter attractions it continues to draw good houses nightly. About 150 prizes will, as usual, be given away to-night. The Wairarapa Register of the 25th inst. says: —The proposal of Councillor McGregor requesting the Mayor to call a public meeting for an early date, to take into consideration the present state of postal accommodation in Masterton, will be received with satisfaction by the burgesses as a whole. As stated by him, the Government draw a considerable revenue from the borough, nearly equal, we believe, to that lerived from all the other offices in the district, and in the telegraph department also a simi'ar state of things prevails. In proportion to the revenue derived this place is the worst served in the district. The office is by far too small for the proper transaction of business, and the extension of premises is one portion of Mr. McGregor’s proposition. Another portion of it has reference to the appointment of a letter carrier. The town has now grown to sufficient extent to render an official of this sort very necessary, and the only wonder is that one was not appointed some time ago. Now that the Council has taken the matter in hand we may hope to see somethine done. We would suggest to that body, however, that the public meeting which will be called for the object mentioned could be, m ale to embrace other matters which affect residents in the borough. For instance, the question of alteration and extension of the wretched building which at present does duty as a court house could be taken into consideration, as also the advisability of establishing a tire brigade. Preliminary steps, at least, could be taken in all these matters and the desires of the public made known to those in authority. Separate committees might bo elected to carry out each of the above objects, aud thus add to the convenience, appearance, and security of the town. The Rev. Dr. Somerville will deliver a special address to men only at half-past seven o’clock this evening at the Wesleyan Church, Manners-street. Admission will bo by ticket, to be obtained from the various ministers of religion and the booksellers. A meeting of creditors was called yesterday at the Supreme Court, in the estate of Alexander McGregor, bootmaker, Saudon, but as there was not a quorum present, the meeting was adjourned. The liabilities in the estate are set down at £6B, the assets being nil,|

Mr. G. E. Barton, we understand, will address the electors o£ the City of Wellington on Monday next. The steamer Manawatu took to Wanganui yesterday the racehorses Lara, Danebury, and Mufti, the property of Mr. Gilligan, who intends, to run them at the ensuing race meeting at that place. We hear that Mr. Henry Eastwood, well known in connection with Bacheldor’s diorama, has obtained the position of manager of the new theatre, Manners-street. There were a large number of competitors. Applications are invited from persons desirous of undertaking the duties of county clerk, acting treasurer, aad rate collector for the Maxawatu County Council, salary £l5O per annum. From a quarry at Otley, in Yorkshire, there has been taken a block of stone almost big enough for three Cleopatra’s Needles. It is 64 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 7 feet thick, weighing over 500 tons. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, there were only two cases on the chargesheet—one for drunkenness, in which the delinquent, George Stewart, was fined 55.; and the second against two men, named James Spoon and John Wilson, for committing a breach of the peace by fighting in the street, and in which both defendants were remanded until the following (this) day. Mr. J. H. Wallace, J.P., presided in the absence of the Resident Magistrate. The Hobarton Mercury , of February 9, reports ;—“ Yesterday afternoon Miss F. O. Peacock, one of the governesses of the Girls’ Industrial School, Barrack-square, conveyed to the General Hospital in a car no less than six of the inmates of the school who had been following up the example of their mother Eve by touching ‘ forbidden fruit,’ and were suffering the unpleasant consequences. It appears that one of the girls, who are all between nine and eleven years of age, picked up some imitation fruit in the street, and not only partook of it herself, but freely distributed it among her companions, all of whom in a very short time were in a state of sincere repentance. They were taken to the hospital, where an emetic was administered to the sufferers all round, and they were taken back to the institution, little, if any, the worse for their indiscretion.” The sale of sections in Kaitoke township, to which attention has previously been called, will take place at noon to-day, at Mr. It. J. huncan’a salerooms. Several eligible small-farm sections at Mungaroa will also be offered, and also a section, with a six-roomed house upon It, in Glenbervie-terrace. Mr. N. J. Isaacs will sell, at 11 o’clock this morning, the entire stock of Messrs. Eddie and Jack, the wellknown wine, beer, and spirit dealers. Mr G. Thomas will submit to public competition, this afternoon at 2 o’clock, at his mart, Lamntonquay, a large quantity of general merchandise, consisting of grain, tea, tobacco, spirits, Jcc.