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Southland Times, Issue 946, 6 May 1868, Page 2

The regular monthly meeting of the Masonic; Loige, will be held to-morrow evening, at the Prince of Wales Hotel, at half-past seven o'clock.

" The gravity of the magistrates at tlie Central Police Court, G-selong, on Wednesday last, 22nd • ult,," says the " Advertiser," " was somewhat disturbed by a woman, named Bridget Maloney, who was called as a witness againßt Jo.lin Meade, .> charged with threatening to take the life of .his:; wife. Mrs Maloney, when offered the Bible^by Sergeant Morton, said that she would not swear against him (the defendant) for anybody, for,- said she, 'D'ye think that I came sixteen thousand blessed miles to swear agin a man that came from my own town ; no, indeed.' 'If you don't kiss the book, you'll be looked up,' quoth the serjeant, ■with a frown. c Will I, indade ?' answered the woman. Business being thus at a standstill, the mayor took up the cudgels, and told the gentle dame that if she did not conduct herself -properly, he would commit her. The following colloquy then ensued, and oaused some diversion to all in court. Mrs Maloney — What d'ye mane by committing me ? The Mayor — Why, that you will be locked up if you do not obey the order of the Court. Mrs Maloney (indignantly) — I be locked j up ; ajtrah, what for ? Sergeant Morton to wit- j ne3S — Come, take the book, and don't be foolish, j Mr 3 Maloney (decisively)— No, I wont give evidence agin' him. The Mayor— Then we'll have to lock you up. Mrs Maloney— 'Arrah now, how would you like to swear against a man that' .came I all the way from the same town as yourself? Mr Sub-inspector Macnamara — Are you going to be sworn or not? Mrs Maloney — Faith, I'm too old to be sworn. The Bench her© allowed the case to stand over for a time, during which Sergeant Morton had to use all his powers of eloquence to induce the old woman to say anything 1 against' her friend } but the threat of a solitary cell, and a dietary scale of bread and water, at len&th worked its effect, and she entered the witness-box the second time a wiser woman, although she considered she had been badly dealt with, and gave her evidence." The " New York Tribune " relates the following anecdote .—Some years ago, when Macready was performing in Chicago, he was unfortunate enough to offend ono of the actors, a native - American of Western type. This person, who was cast for the part of Claudius in "Hamlet," resolved to pay off the star for many supposed offences. So in the last scene, as Hamlet stabbed the usurper, that monarch reeled forward, and after a most spasmodic finish, stretched himself out precisely in the place Hamlet required for his own death. Macready, much annoyed, whispered : — 'Die further up tho stage, sir!' The monarch lay insensible. Upon which, in a still louder voice, Hamlet growled: — 'Die further up the stage, sir!' Hereon Claudius, sitting up, observed, ' I bleeve I'm. King here, and. I'll die where I please.' So the tragedy concluded. The cultivation of the orange has been attended with success in the neighborhood of (3-eelong, Victoria. We are glad to perceive that the Government has determined to metal that part of Esk-street leading to the Railway Station. It is to be hoped that some endeavors will be made to metal the side streets in the various parts of the town during the ensuing winter A good number of men are at present idle who could be profitably employed on works of this description. A lecture on " Ritualism ; its progress ani danger," will bo given by Me Deck, senr., this evening, at . half-past seven, at the Exchange Buildings. The admission to the lecture will be free. Is there no Inspector of Weights and Measures ? We recollect that some years ago all the weights, &c, wera imported at a large outlay, and we believe they are in the Police Office, but up to the present time they do not appear ever *to have been used. Surely the ' authorities ought to appoint an officer whose duty it would be to examine all weights, and see that they are up to the imperial standard regulation. A meeting of the Pastoral Association was held on Friday, Ist May, when Mr Dundas was reelected President, and Mr Cowan wafl re-elected Secretary and Treasurer. The accounts of the Sheep Department were laid before the meeting. The following gentlemen were appointed to form the Executive Committee of the. Association : — Messrs Cowan, R. F. Cuthbertson, 8011, nod Moore, and the case of the Inspector of sheep was referred to them for examination. The; Committee met on Saturday, and the result of the examination .will be found embodied in the following resolutions. Ist— That in the cases oi Raymond v, Morrison Law and Co., and Basstain v. Raymond, the evidence of Mr .Fielder showed such great indecision and want of clearness, as are calculated to bo very prejudicial to the interests of sheepowners, in any future important cases that may arise. 2nd. That paid Inspectors of sheep must be strictly prohibited from possessing or having any interest whatever in sheep either here or elsewhere. That the fact of one or more of 'Mr Fielder's transactions having been in scabby sheep, renders this prohibition the more necessary, and that this circumstance is calculated, in the eyes of the public, to lay his conduct open o suspicion, thus materially affecting the credibility of hia evidence in a court of law. 3rd. — That this Committees' resolutions' be forwarded to a full meeting of the Sheep Board, with a request that it should take such action in the matter as seems to it best. A resolution to the effect that Mr Fielder's conduct was such as to necessitate a recommendation for his dismissal, was negatived. We understand that Mr Cuthbertson has, since the meeting of the Committee, resigned his position as a member of it. — Communicated.