THE Otago Daily times WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1872.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3283, 14 August 1872, Page 2

THE Otago Daily times WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1872.

By"the Norfhern"mail jiwfc to hand, we lmve received a PHrJianwtntaiys Papers relating to the San Francisco Mail* .Service, which contains information of great interest. This document is in continuation of the Papers laid before Parliament at the-opening of tbo sassion. It contains copies of letters from Mr Voc.ri, to Mchhvh Wkhb and IFollauay, bearing .date July fitli; of a tatter from the A gent-General of the Colony, dated ' H'iinlmrg, 20th May '; and of the communication made to tlie Government by the new Chief Secretory of Victoria, in which he intimates the decimon of the Victorian Cabinet upon the contract arranged between Mr Vookl and Mr Duffy.

In the former batch of papera there is a letter from Mr . Youbi/ to Mr Wkhb, replying to the intimation then just received from the latter gentleman i.'that he had found it necessary to take the Nebmska on to San Francisco on .account of the non-appearance of a connecting vesKel at Honolulu. The tone of that letter quite prepared uh for those which have followed. After telling Mr Wkbb that he deemed it U8el<?88 to discuss at that period the reasons given for the dislocation of the service, Mr Vogel pointed out that the real cause of disorganization was not the interruption of communication on the transcontinental railway, nor, primarily, the incompetence of the Wats used to make the connection between Honolulu and San Francisco, but the failure on his part to implement the contract he had entered into by putting on to the line at least one other boat besides the Nevada and Nebraska, of equal or superior capacity to either of them. In his next letter, one of those now before us, Mr Vookl enters more fully into the reasonable complaints which the Colony has against Messrs Wkbh and Hoixaday, on the ground of the extremely imperfect manner in which the service has lately been performed. He begins by expressing ' the strong disapproval of the Government of New Zealand of the manner in which the Californian Mail Service is being performed.1 'It appears to me,' he says, 'that you have departed from the terms of your contract little by little, until you consider yourselves at liberty to pursue," with referencr to the working of the Kervice, just that course which satisfies your own convenience.' He refers to the fact that though the mails from England reached Sim Francisco on 21st May, they were not despatched from thence till the 24th, because no vessel was ready to take them on. In regard to this matter, and the more important one that they are running between San Francisco and Honolulu 'just such boats as it has suited ' them to use, no explanation or excuse had ever been offered to the New Zealand* Government. Referring to the remarks which have appeared in San Francisco papers upon the Honolulu boats, he says: ' I must suppose them to be well founded, as I presume tliat if they were not so, the libel law would be appealed to on; your behalf.' After referring to the actual j>erformances of the Mohongo as proof of her ineiliciency, and to the fact that no certain news of the despatch of the Dacotah from New York had up to that time been received by the Government, he proceeds—'The Government of New Zealand, as you know, have made to you many concessions to aid you in overcoming difficulties incidental to the establishment of an Ocean Mail Service ; but you have steadily gone beyond our concessions, without informing us either that you j i desired so to act, or had so acted.' He then peremptorily withdraws all concessions, and demands that the terms of the contract be for the future strictly complied with. He further claims that the notice then given must not be construed as in any way condoning past irregularities which have been in excess of the allowances distinctly made by the Government. Healso states that the Nevada 'is now in such a condition n« to make repairs absolutely necessary,' and adds :—' I notifyto you that she will not> unless she has been meanwhile thoroughly repaired, be permitted to cairy passengers from New Zealand after the voyage which she has just commenced.'" The letter concludes with the intimation that f the Mail Agent is authorised, aboil 1 the necessity unfortunately arise, to protest against' the despatch of the Nevada on anotherj^qyftge, ' iinjess she shall have been thoroughly repaired.' The second letter of the same date refers to the position taken up by the new Victorian Minister ; intimates that ' if I arrangements with other Colonies should prove difficult to make, or impossible to bo made, 1 they will have 'to attribute such a result chiefly to the irregular manner in which' they have performed the service ; informs them that if they like to: take up the service as arranged for when Mr Webb was in Melbourne, the Government would still be prepared to pay: the ,£27,500 provided for by that contract; and that if they prefer to fallback on their old contract'they will be required ' to abide by and strictly conform to its conditions ;' that £40,000 per annum will be paid till the boat provided for in clause 11 of the contract is put on to run between New Zealand and Australia ; and further, gives them, the option, which has also been offered to the Government of Victoria, that New Zealand will pay £32,500 per annum, if the outward mail boat be started from Port Chalmers instead of Melbourne. Finally, he adds a warning—^-' Supposing the joint contract not to be ratified, and some other arrangement not to be made, I can do no more than assure you that we shall hold you strictly to the terms of the contract now existing, and which will, in either such event, continue in full force.' The letter from ilia Agent-General

informs the Government that he has bad certain interviews with Sir AlOSkbll, the Poßtmaster-General, who-has proiiiisecl to give careful re-considera-tion to the application for a Hubtfidj^from the Imperial Government for the San iVanciiico line, and .has .admitted th;it the question now assumes ' a veiy different aspect to what it UucTfriien previously brought before him.' The letter from Mr FKAXCis/io' the Colonial' Secretary of New 'Zealand"ls merely a cart announcement, that the present Government of Victoria have considered the proposed contract, uml 'have arrived at the conclusion not to recommend its ratification to Parliament.'

We understand that a special meeting of the Duiiedtn Presbytery will be held in the First Church to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, to consider a call addrersed to the Ilev. Mr Sutherland, and to take the usual steps in such cases.

I We have it on the best authority that an estimable member of the Presbyterian Ministry living in the country has a hauutei Maiwe. Strange noises are heard at unseemly times, and men do watch, but the .cause thereof in never visible to mortal eye. The Society for Investigating Spiritualism should not overlook bo promising a field for their labours.

' At the Mayor's Court yesterday, Wore His Worship the Mayor, andJ. Black, Esq., J.l*., Henry Dodson was fined 6s, with the option of 24 hours' imprisonment, and John Dale, 20a, or three days. James Burnett, who has been in custody for about a month on a charge of stealing articles up-couutry, was discharged, the Bench regarding the evidence as insufficient.

The congregation of the North Dune-din Presbyterian Church' have purchased a site for a Mamie, and will proceed with the erection of the building immediately. The section, which woo one of those the property of Captain Oobbo sold at Menura M'Landraw, Hepburn, and Co.'« sale on Monday, in situate in Cumberland etreet, near the; corner of Howe street.

The usual fortnightly-meeting of the Duncdin Mutual Improvement Society was held last night in the hall below the Athenaeum. The cold night had a visible effect on the audience, which was small. Several members gave interesting reading* from different -authorn, which were highly appreciated by the audience. A piece of original poetry by Mr Bolt was ako received with tokens of marked approval. Mr Leary addreased a meeting of the Caversham elector* in the School-house, Mornington, la«t evening. Mr J. Ji Atwood was in the chair. The candidate was questioned at some length by Mr Barr, M.P.C., and othera. It was proposed by Mr Edwin Hocking, and seconded by Mr John Aitchison, that Mr Leary ia a fit and proper person to represent the Csweraham district in the Provincial Council. The motion was carried wi'hout a single dissentient. A committee was afterwards formed to secure Mr Leary's return, Mr Leary'also addressed a numerouß meeting at Roslyn Hall, and w»8 well received. A vote of thanks was carried unanimously, and a numerous committee was afterwards formed to ensur -i his electior.

jrH. A. Stratford is gazetted a Warden and Resident Magistrate of tha Otago Goldfields, and a Justice of the Peace for the Colony. Mr R. X Field is appointed to succeed Mr Stratford as Clerk of the Resident Magistrate's Court at Naseby. The New Zealand Gazette of the 3rd mat. contains the official list of the candidates who competed for the New Zealand University Scholarships. The number of scholarships awarded is 17, of which 3 are taken by Otago candidates. Mr A. W. Dillon Bell is awarded (as announced by us some time ago) a Bcholarehip of the value of £70, "for peculiar excellence in English and Modern Languages." The other scholarships are of the value of £45 each, and are awarded for "general proliciency."ln the same issue are published, for general information, some Regulations of the £.ew Zealand University, approved by the Governor in Council on the 31st ult. , . ~., , - 7

A regular meeting of the Port Chalmers Town Council was held in -their hall on Monday evening. The Mayor, Mr Bench, presided, and all the Councillors were prcaent. The auditors' report was read and adopted. A report from the Finance Committee was also read- The latter was signed by Mr Murray as chairman, to which the Mayor demurred, maintaining that by virtue of his office he was chairman of all committees. He litated that in future ho would not put any report, eigned by a councillor as chairman^ to' the meeting. Mr Murray said he ,had no intention of slighting Hi« Worship. The report had only been finished a few trihiute* before the Council met that evening, and ths Mayor not being present, he (Mr Murray) being a member, bad signed it as Chairman of the Committee. He congratulated the Councilon the solvency of the town, Wt said that'caution Should be observed in future contracts. The Mayor declared that no municipality in the British dominions waß iii a better state than that" of Port Chalmers j and urged-that all the'members of Council »hr>uldwprk together. On the motion of Mr Bolton, seconded by Mr Miller, the report was adopted, with the proviso that the Finance Committee should sign cheques only. A nuniber^of accpunta were passed for payment. The employment of prison labour to make a road round the beach to Mansford's Bay was: discussed, the Mayor stating that as soon as the Council found accommodation afloat for the prisoners, the labour of twelve would be granted. Some minor matters having been dealt with, the Council adjouroed.

Dr Feathereton writes to Mr Gisborne from Hamburg, under date May 25th, 1872, as follows :—" I have ...barely time, before starting for Copenhagen, to inform you that I have juet concluded a very.satisfactory arrangement with Sir SJoman for khe! conveyance (in his vessel, which will leave in July) of locomotives, Waitaki bridge cylinders, ;&c., to Otngo." The Mr Sloman mentioned is spoken of by Dr Feathcrston in another letter as " the largest shipowner in Hamburg," where he " stanch} at the head of the commercial community."

The following telegraphic summary of the ;trial of Captain Harding, of the Nebraska, at Auckland, appears in the Wellington Independent of the 10th inst. :—" The captain of the Nebraska was charged at the Police Court to-day with breaches of the quarantine regulations. The Crown Prosecutor conducted the case.'- BurgeesC-the harbour master, depose 1 to Captain Harding positively stating to him that he had no sickness on board, but said that he never furnished, the captain with the quarantine or harbour regulations. William Mitchell, a passenger, de* posed thata man connected with the engineers'

department was rick, :amVfbnt ho slept in th^eepoud cabin not to from theju»ilK%fc An' eruptkw&du: out all* over hisbcidy, aStl the pusttitesiiak matter,.6h the top«. '--\V£<r, ness had seen small-pgxf and believed that •was "i case, for he told the purser so. The man took sick nine days before the arrival of the vetuseL When the 'vessel arrived witness «aw Hie man walking about in tho cabin, with the eruptions drying up. Bruce, tho brother of tho sick man, deposed thai he visited him on the day that the vessel arrived at Auckland, ami lie had blotches on his skin , then, ami told him that he had been off work for three weeks. lie did noteome onshore, and went south again. Jfe returned with the vessel. This was the case for the prosecution. Dr Younger, in defence, deposed that Bruce waß suffering from pneumonia. The captain asked witness to examine him and see whether he was attacked with small-pox. Did ho, and reported that he was net. The defence offered to call witnesses to prove that IkjUi Thompson and Kaye went ashore at Wellington several day* before the disease manifested itself. The Ilesident Magistrate replied that there was no necessity : and as it appeared that j,o copies of the regulations bad been given in Captain Hardi -g, who wts not acquainted with* what>•' w«» required, otherwise the decision might have been different, he fdt bound therefore to dismiss the case.": . . ,■ ;;,. ; ;.:; ... ;7 ;'.; - ' The Evening Post of the 10th inst. says :— "The people who have becrr spending their quarantine iiays ou Soaines Island were landed to-day—both passengers per Nebraska, and patients. They and the luggage made two boat-loads, and included Mr Kedmau, his wife and wife's mother, Dr Bulroet, Mr Holmea, the pilot, one of the Armed Constabulary, and ten passengers—one of whom is a lady—from the Nebr;u*ka. The latter liavo not been on the 'srtmll-|K»x' side of the island, but have Ixsen accommodated in the lighthouse, and in tcnta. They speak highly of the kindness and attention shown them by Mrs Bnckridge, the wife of the 'lighthousekeeper."

The varied and very attractive entertainment at the Princess Theatre continues to draw good attendances. L ist evening tl c opening programme of the Japanese Tronic was repeated, and their clever performance!', together with the comic songs of, Mr Margetts, particularly his vocalised local alh.sionH, and the amusing tttcko ol Signor Ferrari's monkeys, elicited warm encomiums from all parts of the house.: To-night, there will be a change ef programme. *»

A meeting of the Lodge of Otago, No. 841, E.C., will lie held this evening afc 7-30. The Volunteers will parade in the South Recreation (Jround at I p.m. this <lny, to follow the remains of thu late Captain Cantrell to the place of interment The candidates for the scat for Caversharn in the Provincial Couudl will a»Mre«s the electors this evenitig, as follows:—Mr Stout, at the Drill Shed, Cavcrsham, at 6.45 ; Mr Leary, at th« Kensington Hotel at 7.30, and at tho Edinburgh Castle Hotel, ('averahauj, at 8.30; Mr Fish, at the Bay View Hotel, Anderson's Bay Road,, at 7.30." Mr Fish's sub-committees will meet at the shop next Porter's Hotel, Caveraham, at 8.