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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5497, 8 November 1878, Page 4

The Rotorua, which takes the outward Eng* lish mail to Auckland, will be detained a fow hours at Lyttelton to-day to allow the Otago and Canterbury country people an. extended opportunity of forwarding their letters in time to catch the mails. Should occasion offer a supplementary mail will be despatched on Sunday to catch the steamer at Auckland.

Tt was Sir George Grey’s iutentiou to leave Wellington for Kawau to-day, to recruit his health after the fatigues of the session, but ho will not proceed to the North until about the 16th or 17th of *he mouth. The Ministers at present in Wellington are the Premier and the Minister for Public Works. The Hon. Mr. Ballance left town for Wanganui yesterday morni ig. Wo understand that the hon. gentleman's absence from Wellington will not be an extended one.

The Court of Appeal will commence to sit on Monday, So far a large amount of business has not been set down ; but it is not yet known what further cases have to come. The following is the list so far :—Auckland Improvement Commissioners v. Aitkin ; Brigham v. Morton and another ; Monur v. Kiaselling ; Breen v. Oeli ; Dive v. Pickering ; Dive v. Owen ; Holt and another v. Webb ; Clarke v. dir G. Grey. We believe that the action which Sir G. Grey is defending is brought against him in his capacity as Commissioner of Stamps. There was not much business transacted at Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. An'elderly woman, who had been given into custody by the hospital authorities on a charge of drunkenness, was remanded nutil Saturday. Kate Dawes, who attempted self-destruction by drowning on the previous night, was too ill co be brought before the Court, and the case was accordingly ordered to stand oyer until Saturday. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday Mr, Buckley said he bad a complaint to make. In the case of Cudby and another v. Evans, the summons was issued on the X4th of October, and made returnable on the 31st. On the 31st, the plaintiffs name in from the Hutt, but as the summons had not been served the case was adjourned until November 7. He now found that the summons had not yet been served, notwithstanding the fact that the defendant was a publican in Carterton, and was as well kuown there as his Worship was iu Wellington. This was not the first time he bad to complain about summonses not being served on the same defendant. His clients had been pnt to the trouble and expense of coming to Wellington from the Hutt on two occasions, only to find that tbs summons had not been served. His Worship took a note of Mr. Buckley’s complaint, and said ha would inquire into the matter.

We bear that there ha? been a second wire* rope attached to the mainmast of the City of Auckland, and that twenty-five tone of cargo were landed on Friday last. It is expected that sixty tons a day will be landed. A letter from the agent of the New Zealand Shipping Company to a gentleman in Napier has the following particulars, for which we are indebted to the Napier Daily Telegraph: —“ The vessel lies stem on, with a slight list to port, and about 200 to 260 yards below high-water mark. The water in her hold had not in* creased from Thursday to Saturday, so she must be tight. Our scheme for the floating of the cargo is to stretch a wire-rope from the foremast to shore above high-water mark; get the cargo on the rope with slings, and let it run down the rope till we can lower it into a dray j then cart it 400 yards to the Otaki River, which will admit a craft drawing five to six feet, and load into small vessels, which a little steamer will tow out to a large vessel lying anchored under Kaplti Island, about nine miles off, where there is smooth water. There is a steam winch on board. A Maori gang has been engaged to receive the cargo ashore. The damageable part of the cargo is stowed high, the railway iron, wire, &c., being in the bottom, so there ought not to be much damage A store will be erected on the ooach with the immigrants' fittings, sails, &c., to cover the goods when lauded. Captain Bendall is in charge with Captain Rolls. It is intended to charter the steamer Mullogh and the kctoh Huon Belle. The ship has been abandoned to Lloyd’s, but the c irgo cannot be abandoned without commuuication with the Napier and Auckland consignees. There is very little chance of getting off the ship, but she may be there for months. The prevailing winds blow dead onshore, and soon work up a heavy sea." We understand the last few tides have not affected the vessel.

We notice that the Union Steam Ship Company are advertising an attractive excursion for Monday next, namely t • Picton and Nelson by their favorite steamer Wellington. Monday being proclaimed a general holiday, we fancy a good many will endeavor to stretch a point and take Tuesday, in order to avail themselves of this chance to secure a pleasant sea voyage and change for themselves and families. Leaving here early on Monday, Picton will be reached by about noon, where those who wish can disembark, awaiting the return of the steamer ou Tuesday ; the steamer, after a short stay there, proceeds to Nelson, arriving about eight in the evening, leaving Nelson again on Tuesday morning, thus making both passages in daylight, giving a good opportunity to those who have not seen the beauties of the Sounds to do so under very favorable circumstances. The excursion ticket is at single fare, and we do not doubt but that many will avail themselves of the same.

The oases brought before the banco sitting of the Supreme Court yesterday were more than ordinary interesting. Messrs. Holt and McCarthy are proceeding against the proprietor of the Poverty Bay Standard lor stealing their telegrams, and are asking the Court for an injunction prohibiting the use of their telegrams. Defendant, by a demurrer, has raised the question as to whether the common law of copyright has any force in New Zealand. In Victoria the Melbourne Argus some time ago got an injunction against country papers using its special cable news, but there was a local Act in force in the colony at the time. Suoh an Act has not been passed in New Zealand. It may bo added that the Victorian Aot has expired, and that the Argue telegrams are copied freely by all the Victorian up-oouutry papers now ; but as the facilities for communication in that colony are such that the Melbourne papers are to be found in every district within a few hours of publication the piracy is not of great value. In New Zealand it is very different. Another case which came before the Court—Trustees of Henderson v. Henderson—is declared to be uuique in law history, the facts of the case as alleged by the plaintiff only being paraded in their peculiarity by the comic story of Sairey Gamp’s invisible friend Mrs. Harris. A full report appears in another column.

We direct attention to the following advertisement, which is published in Thursday’s Gazette: —“Written tenders will be received at Wellington by the Hon. the Minister for Public Works up to 30th September, 1879, for the supply of the whole or any portion of 100.000 tons of steel rails, to be manufactured within the colony from New Zealand ores. Payment will be made in cash on delivery at the works-—the Government of Now Zealand agreeing to pay in addition one half of the cost of the conveyance to the colony by sea of the workmen to be engaged in the manufacture. Information as to the mineral resources of New Zealand, and maps indicating the various localities in which mineral ■ deposits are situated in relation to means of transport, may bo had on application to the Agent General of New Zealand, 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, London; or to Walton W. Evans, Esq., 66J, Pine-street, New York. As it is unlikely that intending contractors will enter into an engagement of the above nature without first satisfying themselves by personal inspection as to the position and extent of the raw material io New Zealand required for the manufacture of iron, every facility and information on this subject will be afforded on application to Dr, Hector, C.M.G., F.R.S., director of the Geological Department, Wellington. For the information of parties desirous to tender, it may be stated that the official returns show that there wore imported into New Zealand, within the last eight years, 15.500 tons of cast iron, and 93.000 tons of wronght-iron, exclusive of iron for Government and other railways, during which'period 1068 miles have been constructed and opened for traffic.” The p.s. Samson is advertised to run between the wharf and Somes Island on Monday next. The use .of the island for visitors and pleasure parties has been kindly granted by Mr. H. J. H. Eliott, and no doubt those who are fond of a trip by water will gladly avail themselves of this opportunity. We understand that the last trip in the evening will include a flying tour round Port Nicholson, which may prove especially attractive to those who are as yet unacquainted with the scenic beauties of the harbor.

The ordinary weekly meeting of the Wesleyan Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Society was held as usual last evening. Extempore speeches by the members on various subjects formed the business of the evening. Au essay on the “Early History of Astronomy " will form the subject for next Thursday. From the South we hear that farming prospects throughout Otago and Canterbury are very encouraging. A great breadth of grain has been sown, and most of it is well up and looking remarkably healthy. _ Shearing has commenced, and wool is beginning to come in freely. ■ , ■

There will be a msettug of the Wellington Philosophical Society at the Museum to-mor-r jvtr evening.

Kelly and Leon's Minstrels bad a capital house again last evening, and the performance passed off very batisfactorily. We notice that Mr. Dransfield has signified his intention of addressing the electors on Tuesday evening. An inquest on the body of the man David Hart, of the Waicoa, who committed suicide, will be held before the city coroner, Dr. Johnston, to-day. A number of valuable brood mares, foals, and entires, the property of Mr. Redwood, arrived by the Taiaroa last night. In all ' there were tbirtv-three horses, which have arrived in splendid condition, and appear none the worse for their trip. They will be landed first thing this morning. We hear that Messrs. Brogden and Son will shortly proceed with their case against the Government, and that Mr. Barton has been retained as counsel for the plaintiffs. It is also stated that the case will not be tried in Wellington, but it has not yet transpired where it will actually be heard. Some people will be glad to learn that railway traffic across the Balclutha has now been established. The train crossed the bridge for the first time on Monday, and will in future run to and from the station in the township. Communication by rail and by coach to Balclutha is now the same as it was before the floods.

Wo are glad to hear that prior to the departure of a young musical lady amateur from Wellington a large number of her musical friends intend to offer her a complimentary concert on a grand scale. This is a mark of respect and esteem to which the. lady iu question is eminently entitled. She is a vocalist of marked ability, and boa nut only taken a prominent part in the successful series of popular concerts during the past winter at the Athemeum, but has also given most valuable assistance at numerous entertainments for charitable and other deserving purposes. The date of the entertainment will be duly announced, and it may be stated that the programme will be a particularly varied and attractive one, being made up of items that are new to the public. All the lady and gentlemen amateurs of the city will take part in the concert* and Madame Moller has kindly volunteered her able services for the occasion. The lady’s absence from Wellington will not only be keenly felt in musical circle-*, but she will also be very much missed by the public, by whom her vocal talents have at all times been highly appreciated. In Thursday’s QazetU a declaration is made throwing open for selection a quantity of land in Taranaki at prices not less than £3O per acre fop town sections, £3 per acre for suburban sections, and £1 per acre for rural sections. The land is open for sale in the Moa, Mango* nui, and Walroa districts.—A notice to mariners embodies a short description of Runnel's Island, which is said to be on the route between Australia and China. The letter containing the information is from Ed. Miles, master of the Rio Loge. He says that he believes there has been hitherto no description published, and that in the latest chares it is noted a* doubtful.- Rmnel’s Island is about 38 mile* long and 8 miles wide at the N.W.; it is about 500 ft. to 600 ft. high,and is thiokly wooded down to the water's edge. The correct position is set down at 11 deg. SOmxn. south latitude, and 160 deg. Bmin. east longitude.—We publish in full the advertisement relating to the 100,000 tons of steel rails to be made of New Zealand ores.—The names of the members of the Canterbury Public Domain Board, the by-laws of the Waitaki Road Board, and the names of the Wardens of the Manawatu and of the Otaki Road Boards are gazetted.— clean certificates of two fl )cks of sheep in the East <'oast district have been cancelled.—A number ot applications for goldtmning leases are . ranted, and the abstract of the meteorological observations for the mouth is also published.—The QazitU contains, besides the above, a number of land transfer and other notices of local interest only. ‘