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Otago Daily Times, Issue 188, 23 June 1862, Page 4

.;'•.;'The Wellington Advertiser says, in reference to* Mr.: Crosbie Ward's arrangements :—An article under this heading appears in yesterday's Independent. We have neither time nor space to-day to make any lengthened remarks on this subject, nor do we wish to weary our readers with this well-worn if not threadbare question, and the conduct of its author, Mr. Crosbie Ward, and his supporters in Wellington—the Provincial Govern ment and its tools! The whole matter, we aro certain, will ~be discussed much better in the Gcner \l Assembly, and on broader grounds than the members of the Wellington Provincial Council—or even the Chamber of Commerce of this place—have yet taken. No one could doubt.but that we might have steamers on the coast three -' times a week as well as three times a month, if . ■we paid for them. What we have objected to i 9 that Die conduct of Mr. Ward throughout the transaction has not been straightforward; that he led us to infer, from what lie said here and elsewhere.somethiug different from what he lias done. His management is also open to grave exception as shown by what took place at Otago, wliichwas so well explained by the Otago Times. We must also say we cannot think he or the Government are justified in so greatly increasing the burdens of the settlers throughout New Zealand, which his new postal service entails on the resources of the Colony, without first having an expression of opinion from the Legislature. Not all the writings of the Independent, and the puffing up of the supposed benefits to Wellington, will ever pre- - t vent this and other facts from being thoroughly sifted at the proper time and place. The consecration of the Otago Kil winning Lodge, (Masonic) is to take place to-morrow, (Tuesday) at the Shamrock hotel, and is to be followed by a dinner and a ball in the evening. A new actor, Mr. Perkias, is to appear this evening at the Princess Theatre, for the first time. Mr. Perkins' forte is understood to be the Yankee characters, and we notice that he has chosen for his debut the part of Delaware, in the " Fast Train." The people of Port Chalmers are this evening to have an opportunity of being 'amused by Thatcher, who with Madame Vitcllii, will appear • and sing songs written for the occasion. The entertainment is to be repeated to-morrow night. '

We learn from the English papers, received by the last mail, that the money-order system was to be extended to New Zealand on and after the Ist of May. The new Wesleyan Church in Dowling-street, built to accommodate a congregation of five hundred people, is expected to be thrown open for divine worship on Sunday, the 29th current. The longitudinal section of this edifice presents- six windows at each side, with two vestries, and an altar at the northern extremity. The height from floor to ceiling is 38 feet. The entire length of the building will measure 82 feet, and it will have a breadth of 46 feet. Mr. Greenfield, of Munse-strect, is the architect. Dalgety, Rittray, and Co. are erecting substantial commercial buildings as offices and stores, near to Scott- and Co., Rattriiy-street, and contiguous to the selected site of the projected new Custom-house. The excavations have been already commenced, and the operations of the workmen are progressing vigorously. It is notified that Government land sales will be held during the mouth of July as follows: — Huwksbury, July 22 ; Hampdcn, July 24 ; Oamaru, July 26 ; Port Chalmers, July 31. A general meeting of the Separation League is to be held at the Athcnreum on Wednesday at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. ■ A public meeting of the owners and occupiers of land and householders in the South Duncdin Educational District is to be held in Dr. Burns' Church on Friday evening at 7 o'clock, for the • purpose of electing a school committee. We observe that the consideration of a number of applications for the renewal of bush licenses, will commence at 10 o'clock to-morrow (Tuesday) morjiing, in the Provincial Secretary's office.

An unfortunate lunatic, named Thomas P. L. Carter, a man "of education, and a tutor by pro-, fession, was discharged from prison on the 16th June, under the belief that he was convalescent, and upon the authority of the medical officer. The wardens of the gaol also considered him to be thoroughly sane; but on Friday lust, he was re-admitted, his last state being worse than the first. It is conjectured that, during the period' since his liberation from safe custody, the unhappy maniac has betaken himself to over-indulgence in ardent liquors, and that intemperate habits- arc the baneful ciuse of his miserable condition. We notice that 11. M. S. Cordelia, which was lately stationed in New Zealand, has arrived safely in England. The following notice is posted up at the Cutting. " Notice is hereby given that any person who shall ride or drive through the cutting at any pace exceeding a walk, or meeting any pther carriage, shall not keep his own horse or carriage on the left or near side of the road ; or in passing shall not keep on the right, or off-side of the road, shall be prosecuted according to law." It has long been to us a matter of surprise that the settlers of Otago should have taken no steps towards the formation of an Agricultural Society. Such societies are very numerous in the Australian colonies,1 nnd their influence has been ■' -most beneficial, in stimulating the exertions of' agriculturists; in promoting the introduction of new articles of cultivation;'and. in exciting a healthy emulation among breeders of all kinds of stock. The annual shows of these societies are always numerously attended, and create a great deal of interest, not only in their particular districts but throughout the colony in which each is held." We are pleased to observe that an effort is being made in Auckland to establish a society of the kind. On the 24tli of the last month a meeting was hflld at the Exchange Hotel, Auckland, at' which the following resolutions were adopted:— " Ist. Resolved that it is desirable for the purpose of furthering the agricultural interest of this pro-: vince:that a permanent society be formed, to be called the Auckland-Agricultural Society, the objects of which shall bo the holding of annual exhibitions of stock, agricultural implements, and produce."- ■'•'■", 2nd. Resolved that the following gentlemen, viz.: — Messrs. W. • Buckland, J. Grigg,: .Powell, J. Vercoe, T. Shepherd, junior, Austin, Bassett, Yonge, and E. King be appointed a preliminary committee, to solicit persons to become subscribers for the purpose of carrying -but 'the objects of the foregoing resolu-"'; tion." " 3rd. Resolved that as soon as the names" of fifty persons willing to become subscribers of £1 annually are obtained, the chairman is requested to convene a meeting of subscribers foe the purpose of carrying, out the object's of the society." * ■

Tho Provincial Engineer, who by ft recent re-i solution of the Council, is now the presidiug head of the Department of Public Buildings, has been placed iv occupation of new offices on the eastern side of Princes-street, beyond the Criterion Hotel. Mr. Vincent Pyke has present occupation of tho old Building Works offices.

We draw the attention of ship brokers and others who book passengers for the vessels leaving Otago, to a report in our shipping columns of some cases adjudicated by the Resident Magistrate of Port Chalmers on Saturday. It is important to those interested, to know that the mere wording o'' a passage ticket to the effect that the broker acts on behalf of the captain or owner of n certain vessel, does not relieve the issuer of the ticket from responsibility, in case ot non-fulfilment of contract.

The following statement shews the condition of Her Majesty's Gaol, Dunedin, on Saturday last Awaiting trial before Supreme Court, 6 males ; for trial before Magistrate, none; under sentence to imprisonment without hard labor, 3 females ; under sentence to iuiprisonnwnt with hard labor, 61 males, 4 females ; debtors, 10 males ; lunatics, 7 males ; received during the past week, 17 males, 1 female ; discharged during the same period, 11 males, 1 female ; in tho gaol on Saturday night, 84 males, 7'femules. Total number, 91.

.Major General Greaves, lately appointed to the Colonelcy of the 40th Regiment, entered, the service in June 1812, and served with the 7th Fusiliers in America, in 1814, and was present at the attack on New Orleans in January, 1815. The head quarters of the 40th Regiment are at present in Auckland.

We observe that Commander W. 11. Blake, late ofH.M.S. Niger, has been granted a pension of £91 55., for injuries received during the war at Taranaki. Commander Blake, then first lieutenant of the Niger, was seriously wounded at the taking of the Waireka Pah at Taranaki, where the gallant Nigers so much astonished the Maories by fighting in their own fashion.

A case of unparalleled cruelty has been .brought under our notice, in the following report:— A bullock, supposed to belong to a person named M'Gregor, of the Taieri, lies, at tho time we write, close to Mr. Young's residence at Pelichet Bay. The poor beast has had its thigh broken, and has been lying in the street-line for, it is said, upwards of a fortnight; it has latterly contrived to wriggle, crawl, or roll across the public road over to the opposite side of the boundary fence, and has been subsisting upon a precarious and scanty supply of cabbage leaves, flung down before it by the inhabitants. The bullock has not been provided with any Jother provender ; and, with one of its limbs broken, it must have suffered great pain, during a protracted exposure to inclement weather. It has been suggested that application should be made to the authorities to have the beast shot by the police.

The new Custom House is to bo erected in the line of High-street, at the junction of the new Kattray-street jetty. It will be ii fine edifice, and entirely constructed of stone. - There'will be a portico in front, of the lonic order of architecture, •with two stone columns on either side. The building will have a height of 38 feet. The height of the rooms upon the ground-floor will be 15ft. 6in. ;on the first floor, 14ft. There will be five rooms on the ground-floor, besides a spacious hall 12ft. by 40ft., with what is denominated, a newel staircase. There will be one long public room, measuring 27ft. by 40ft., in which will be transacted the public business of the Customs department. The present building, now used for that purpose, will be abandoned by the Government. There will be two front rooms, 13ft. by 19ft., to be converted into gold-receiving offices. There are to be two back, or rear, apartments, measuring 19ft. Gin. by 13ft., which will probably be appropriated to the accommodation of the SubTreasurer. From the back area there will be Bteps constructed descending on the basement floor, which will, in all likelihood, be used as bonded stores.. The dimensions of the proposed portico wilt be Bft. by 17ft., to be approached by two steps, leading to an entrance door of red pine. The apartments on the upper floor will comprise five rooms, mimely : one long room 27ft. -6in. by 41ft, which will be partitioned off into distinct offices for clerks, &c; two front rooms here, 13ft. 6in. by 20ft., to be used as Collector's offices; and 2 other rooms at the back of these, measuring 13ft. by 13ft. Gin., which are likely to be converted into Sub-Treasurer's offices. There will be a passage of 4ft. 6in. intervening between these rooms and those intended for the accomodation of the Collector. The dimensions of tho passage will be 29ft. by 4ft. 6in.; it will lead on to the staircase, and lobby, or hall, measuring 27ft. by 12ft. There ■will be a flat landing over the portico, 6ft. Gin. by 14ft. The contractors for the erection of this public building are Robert Datlon and George Ilickards ; the architect is Mr. George Greenfield, of Mansestreet; and the estimated cost of the work will be about £10,000. It is expected that the btxilding will be completed by the Ist January next.

Wa glean from the English papers that the House of Lords has given judgment in the celebrated case relating to the will of the late Sir James Wylie, physician to the Emperor of Russia. The judgment of their lordships was to the effect that the'property of Sir James Wylie invested in this country (viz., about £60,000 in the funds) goes to the next of kin, but that the great bulk of his property, disposed of by will in ltussia, cannot be touched by the next of kin in England and Scotland. The liussian property (about a million sterling) has been left by the testator for the erection of an hospital in Russia. A descendant of Sir James Wylie—Dr. Wylie, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh—is at present in New Zealand, and resides in Auckland.