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Southland Times, Issue 1202, 28 January 1870, Page 2

Intending purchasers are reminded of the extensive sale of stock and farming implements which takes place at Rozelle, Long Bush, this day. The well-known superiority of the cattlo, as also of the other property, to be submitted to public competition by Mr Osborne, will, no doubt, attract a large attendance of buyers. On the evening of Monday last, as the workmen engaged on the railway works were about to return home by the ballast train, an accident of a serious nature befell a lad named Small, who was at work with his father on the line. In attempting to mount a truck, after the engine had started, his foot slipped from the guard iron on to the rail, and before he could recover himself the wheel had caught and passed 07er it, crushing the toes and part of the ball of the foot severely. The poor little fellow bore the pain manfully He was at once taken on to towa, and attended by Dr Monckton. Thanks to the intervention of a good strong boot, the foot has not been totally destroyed, for although bruised and burst, hopes are entertained that it will yefc heal up and be serviceable. Objections on the part of Messrs Fordham, Smith, and Cross, of Campbelltown, against the application of B. Scollay for the issue of a license granting him the exclusive use of a certain oyster bed near Stewart's Island, were heard, in part before Mr Commissioner Pearson,, at the Court-house, , on Thursday, 27th inst. The objections urged were that the applicant was not the discoverer of the bank in question, and consequently not entitled to any exclusive privileges. After the hearing of one or two of the parties concerned, the case was adjourned for a fortnight, for the production of material witnesses.

'i The City of Auckland, 750 tons, sailing vessel, j has left London, on the voyage to Auckland with I 200 tons of quartz crushing machioery on an improved principle. The return of the number of sheep in the Province of Ota<ro to the 30th September last, i 3 given at two millions threo hundred and sevonty''one thousand three hundred and seventy-six, heing Jan increase of over thirteen per cent, on the pre Irious year. : .The Herald gives a l?«fcof the exports fromTaranaki for the year 1869, tho vain* of whi^h, fit. a rough calculation, is between £8,000 and £9,0^0. The principal articles are wool, flax, potatoes bacon, butter, brinks, timber, grass seed, and wheat. The list also includes 1,244---sheep. The estimate! receints of the County of Westland for the six months ending 30th June 1870, are £37,100, and the estimated expenditure for the same period £38,057 ss. The Grey River Argm thinks the document highly unsatisfactory, " because the construction of not 8 single mile of new road or track in the County is provided for. The whole revenue of the County is swallowed up in salaries, depnrtment*! expenses, and a few , re-voted votes of the last six months." The Ballarat correspondent of the Australasian sa y 3 . — Opinions are divided as to which are the best paying reefs ; those varying from twolve to sixty feet think, with an average yield of from seven to fifteen pennyweights per ton, or those from six to thirty inches thick, yielding two and three ounces. Ithas been proved beyond doubt that quartz claims which have the advantages of supplies of timber and water at hand, can make four pennyweights per ton, at the very.most, pay all expenses, and that anything approaching to or exceeding ten pennyweights to the ton will leave a fine margin of profit for dividends. A curious explanation of a remarkable fact in the natural history of Now Z aland is thus stated by the TaranaU Herald : — "It has often been remarked that the small native birds are gradually disappearing. Many causes are attributed for their decrease ; amongst them, that they have become the prey of wild cats; but, from what we hear, they have a more treacherous and deadly enemy in the bee. From a native source we learn that these little birds are in the habit of gathering their food by dipping their long tongues into the blossoms on native trees. Since bees have been introduced, they have sought the same blossoms for honey, and, while lying concealed in the flower, have stung the tongues of the birds, which has caused death. The natives compare these little birds to themselves, and say that their own gradual decrease is caused in the same "way. Unconscious of the dangers introduced by c civilisation, tbeyirun into them, and are killed at once, or die a lingering death." The Lytielton Times of the 20th inst. says : — A shag shot in the vicinity of the Acclimatisation gardens was found to contain 6 native fish, apparently the result of a morning' 3 repast. The shags and the eels may be considered as the greatest enemies to the trout which have lately so visibly disported themselves in the Avon, near the bridges in the town. Important service to acclimatisation was last season rendered by Mr Lambert, in the vicinity of Like Ellesmere, who, j assisted by some Maori lads, destroyed some thousands of shag's eggs. The New Zealand Gazette of the 12th inst. contains the appointment of Mr K. Eose as . Deputy "Registrar of births, deaths,, and mar- j riageff for the district of Invercargill ; and of Mr ( Peter Grant as Registration and Returning j Officer for the district of Riverton, vice Daniel Shea Lawlor, Esq., resigned. The old proverb (says the Wanganui Chronicle') tells U3 how advantageous it is to obtain a char- I acter for early rising, for then the fortunate ] possessor may lie a-bed half the day and no one would think of blaming him. The present Government has got the credit of doing things (and especially native things) well, and on the strength of it they may go any length. Mr M'Lean has pardoned the murderers of Fulloon ; Mr Fox, within the last few days, has permitted men who were act and part in the slaughter (if we may not say murder) and plunder of our countrymen at Kai-Iwi and Turangaika to walk the streets of Wanganui with impunity. Had these things been done or permitted by the Stafford Ministry, there would have been a shout of disapproval, and very properly so ; mercy, apart from justice, is a mere weak sentimentality ; and for the life of us we are unable to .see wherein consists the difference between the sauce for the goose and that for the gander. Of course there ara some people in the world so very mild that, like the clown's sister Betty, " they would lie down and let the pigs eat them without resistance."- There are others who are sure to go with the winning side, no matter what that side may be saying or doing. We do not belong to either of those classes ; we would rather grumble and get on ; and believing that this clemency to native criminals is not only misplaced but unjust — shortsighted as well as wrong — we record our prota*t against it, however much the unjust thing may flaunt itself as popular and triumphant. A Taieri correspondent informs the Bruce Standard that harvest is quite general in the district, and that laborers are very scarce. The rate of wages is not fixed, nor uniform. Wherever the potato crop was affected >by the late flood, they have been thoroughly destroyed, and many farmers are now sowing turnips in their place. The "Evening Star, a new Auckland journal, Bavß . — « His Honor the Superintendent believes in the virtue of ' wearing out ' rather than ' rusting out ;' and we fancy that by this time the wild party on our goldfields who so vigorously opposed his election, hate learnt that the gods have be?n propitious to them in spite of themselves, and that their enemies of November last have been their best friends. It must have been with considerable impatience Mr Gillies was awaiting the unravelling of red tape ; it would almost appear as if he had been standing with his staff in his hand, and his shoes on his feet ; Ibr scarcely had he been clothed with the mantle of delegated authority, when pausing but for a moment to issue a proclamation repealing and amending the obnoxious and odious leasing clauses, he is found within the space of an hour on board the steamer, bearing bin away to the scene of his labors ; and there, in visiting mines, inspecting tramways, receiving deputations, and wandering around creeks and gullies, with unpronounceable names, he appears to be devoting his every moment and energy to acquiring a knowledge of the details of duty, and in rectifying the wrongs of the past. We congratulate the people of the Thames on tbe victory that was fought and won for them elsewhere, and believe that the .gloom so long shrouding their prospects will be speedily dissipated before the determined energy of their new Superintendent." The Southern Cross of the 6th inst. says — " We mentioned a few days ago that Mr John Webster, of Hokianga, had accidentally discovered growing there a number of Manilla banana trees. A sample of the material, part of which is prepared for manufacture into rope, is now on view at our publishing office. The fibre is beautifully clean, and possesses the advantage of being easily scutched. We believe that the sample of it is to be presented to the Auckland Institute, together with a quantity of the seed. If it can be proved that the Manilla banana grows well in New Zealand, we think no time should be lost in taking steps to procure a quantity of seed for planting." It may be interesting for our agricultural readers to know (says a Melbourne paper) that the description of wheat known as mummy wheat enjoys a perfect immunity from that plague of moist seasons, the rust. This has been proved by Mr Anketell, of Pentridge, who, this year, has half an acre planted with mummy wheat. The crop is a splendid one, the straw being fully 5 feet high, with very heavy head. Even when the crop has been laid! by the wind and rain, there is not the slightest sign of rust - while four acres of wheat immediately adjoining have been Beriouely iujurod by this disease. '

OurHiverton cor i-espon 'lent, ■writi:i'T on the 21st inst., flays : — A.t the adjourned meeting of tlie Lonrrwood Water "Race Company on Monday evenins last, the highest tenderer for leasing the same was not prepared to enter into the agreement, it was therefore proposed and carried that new tenders he invited for Saturday evening the 22nd. — On Tuesday evening last an impromptu entertainment was got up tor the benefit of the ship-wrecked mariners of the "Laughing Water." It proved highly successful, and the sum of three pounds, clear of all expenses, was added to the general fund. It also proved a great treat to the audience, the visitors at "Riverton rendering all the aid in their power, and the music discoursed by two ladies from Invercargill will not soon be forgotten by the Bivertonians. Mr Turnbull, of Tuturau, having written to us complaining that " a nao3t unwarrantable " use had been made of his name in a paragraph recently appeiring in this journal, and further affirming that the statements made in the said paragraph were " utterly devoid of truth," we wrote to the gentleman who brought the manuscript to the office, requesting an explanation. We have received his reply, in which ha says : — " A friend of mine from the Mafcaura placed it in my hands, asking mo to get it published. At the time of my receiving the article all idea of its being a hoax wai completely overcome by the statement of mv friend that he had seen it in the Bruce Herald* and ray not being a reader of that paper led me to put full faith in my friend's statement," and concludes with the assurance that his connection with the silly affuir has taught him a lesson which, he will "not forget in a hurry." We trust it has. Several considerations induce us to refrain at present from, publishing the explanation in full, but we hold it for further use if necessary. The newly-elected Provincial Council of Marlborough, after some very dissraceful proceedings at the election of a Superintendent, was declared prorogued by Mr Eyes, the present holder of that office, and a member of the Council, at its second sitting. Since then it has been dissolved, according to the following notice : — " The Q-overnor has officially notified that the Provincial Council of Marlboroush is dissolved. The Ministry declined to recommend his .Excellency to accede to the petition for the removal of Mr Eyes from tbe Superintendency, consequently he remains in office until his successor is elected." We observe from our Victorian papers that Mr H»nry Homer, who was a well-known resident of Invercargill in the palmy days of ' 63 aud '64, died at Hamilton on the 6th inst. The Waikouati Herald thus details the pain, ful circumstances attending the recent death of a child of Mr Murdoch, B.M. :— " After five days of painful suspense and uninterrupted search, the remains of the missing child, the daughter of J. W. Murdoch, Esq., KM. of Goodwood, were found on Sunday morning last on (Joodwood Beach, at a place known as Bobby's Head. At about 20 minutes past 12 o'clock on Monday, the 10th inst., the little girl was last seen alive, and from that time until about the same hour on. Sunday last, no traces were discovered of her, and the wildest excitement and apprehension existed, and vague rumors of foul play were afloat. The result of the enquiry held on the body on Monday last will, however, set all doubts on this head at rest. So soon as the sad intelligence of the sudden disappearance of the child became known, the settlers and inhabitants of Goodwood, Palmerston, and Waikouaiti, like good Samaritans, repaired to the scene of the mishap, and, day after day, a vigorous search was continued, but without success, and every effort that human ingenuity could devise or kindness prompt failed to discover the whereabouts. The Goodwood Bush, as farasitwas deemed possible the little girl could travel, was carefully searched, and, we believe, the place where the child was foun 1 did not escape observation. The most reasonable supposition. of the body having been taken to where it was found is, that it was washed there by the sea, the waves at high tide reaching that spot. We believa it is the only place along that part of the coast where all kinds of debris are washed and lodged, to be again carried out by the receding tide. How the child got into the sea remains a mystery, as for its age it was a very bad walker, and could not walk any distance without resting. It is supposed that the poor little thing, which was in the garden at the time its mother went to visit a neighbor, must have strayed away, and having lost itself, must have wandered about until it had either fallen into the sea or creek, and been washed where found. The distance from where the child was discovered, and the residence of Mr Murdoch, is about two miles. The state of preservation in which the child was when found is accounted for from its having been for some time in the water." The jury at the inquest, returned a verdict of — " Found dead, within the influence of the tides ; no evidence to show cause. of death." • The Wellington Post of the sth has the following : — " Some time in the last century, when a very extensive. migration of Scotchmen across the Tweed waa affording anything rather than satisfaction in England, Macbeth was being played at Drury-lane Theatre, London. When the actor who played ' MandufF * asked the messenger, ' Stands Scotland where it did ?' his question was promptly answered by a wag in the gallery, who roared out, 'So!. it has come to London ;' and were anyone asking a similar question with reference to Otago now, it might be answered that Otago had come to Wellington. The Armed Constabulary, as ' demilitarized ' by Mr Branigan, seems to be an institution expressly intended to find employment for all those in Otago favorably known to the Commissioner who are in want of it. Inspectors, sergeants, clerks, &c-, from that province, keep dropping in one by one, and receiving appointments. Mr Thompson, who arrived the other day, and who is to fill the office of 'Detective Inspector,' whatever that may mean, receives, we are informed, £350 a-year, and others of Mr Branigan's friends are paid at an equally high rate. It is possible that there are no men out of Otago fit for these billets, but people generally doubt the fact ; as things go on it would appear that although this new force is small, it is destined to be peculiarly expensive. A considerable time has elapsed since it was set on foot, and, beyond drawing pay and consuming rations, it has done absolutely nothing. It may be that it is worked up to such a pitch of efficiency that in a short time a detective inspector ■ and a file of men will be sent with a warrant from Mr Branigan to arrest Te Kooti 5 but in the meantime there are plenty of roads want making through the Manawatu and other places, and it would be just as well if the demilitarized turn their energies in that direction." The special correspondent of the Southern Cross states that during the vice-regal visit to the Thames, the Maories who were presented to his Excellency brought cards of the newest fashion. It was funny to see one of the natives, j who presented his card as though he felt vastly ] important in so doing, but whose whole dress for the occasion was a Crimean shirt, and canvass trousers, worn to a fringe at the bottom of each leg. But the native nevertheless got through the presentation by no means badly ; and he beamed with delight at the hand-shake of the Governor and his Excellency's greeting. We have to acknowledge receipt from the General Government of the journals of the House of Representatives from the first day of June to the third day of September 1869. The Auckland Herald contains the following paragraph : — Sir George Grey has, we learn, in speaking out so strongly, as he has done, against the conduct of the- present illiberal Liberal Government at home, incurred no little amount of odium, and is in no favour with Lord Granville; so much so indeed that he has been advised not to apply for his pension from the present Government. Sir George will return to New Zealand very shortly to take up his residence at the Eawau. Sir George has been making extensive purchases of works of art of various ' kinds for the embellishement of his handsome mansion at the Eawau. The population of Victoria in 186S was upwards of 700,000, that of Melbourne and its suburbs alone being 171,663. The amount of public land

sold daring the year- was a little over 275,000 acres, at the average price of £1 fig. Id. per acre, giving a revenue of £330,000. The stone quarried is value! at £57,610. 107 breweries made upwards, of 17,000,000. gallons of beer. Potterr was .made, worth £10,456. There were 853 „' , manufactories, giving employment to about 11,000 males and 3000 females. The total quantity of gold exported \rai 1,557,498 ounces. A curious fact is brought to public attention by - recent statistics - published in England. Tn 32 counties 6T that country, and in 12 of Wales,, there are 1300 parishes arid hamlets in wiiichTno^ * liquor is sold. Norfolk contains 127 parishes and townships in which there is neither beer-sh.>p nor public house; Lincolnshire has 116 such places, and Dorsetshire 108 ; Gloucestershire has 83, and . Leicester 80 ; Herefordshire has one, Devonshire 23, and Cornwall 25. It has become the fashion with the members of our mimic legislative assemblies to desire thifc full reports of their speeches should be published in the local papers, the latest instance coming from Westland. A proposal was made in the County Council that the West Coast Times should be subsidised to the extent of £50 per month for • the purpose of " educating " the country in what took place in the Council. The question was referred to the Printing committee, "where (says the G-rey River Argus), we hope the good sense of the members will allow it- to remain." L»dy Chips, a little mare which has gained some repute rocentlv as a trotter, turned out at an early hour on Wednesday morning last to do three miles against time on the Bast Road. A number of gentlemen interested in the event accompanied the pony in her performance, her backers ultimately having the satisfactions of seeing her cross the score a winner. It is said she steps out remarkably well, and has good staying qualities; certainly, although the pace was a fast one, she did not seem in the least distressed when J. Smith, riding over 10 atone, pulled her up at the end of her journey. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday last, a man named Thoip wasbronght up charged with drunkenness, and also with assaulting the police in the execution of their duty. It appeared that the prisoner had been enjoying a quiet nap on the town belt somewhere the evening previous, when his slumbers were rudely disturbed ' by a constable requesting his company as far as the lock-up. This honor the recumbent bullockdriver declined, preferring the free canopy ofheaven to the shelter of Her Majesty's watchhouse. The blue clad representative of "local authority," however, was inexorable, and insisted upon the tipsy rustic " moving on." A ncrimage of course ensued, in which Thoap made a free u*e of his boots, inflicting sundry vigorous kicks on the shins of the conservator of the public peace. Assistance coming to hand, the rebellious bachanal was ultimately carted to safe custody. When called upon to answer the charges, he frankly acknowledged both, but pleaded unnecessary ill-usage in excuse, asking his Worship whether he would not "let" out" if a fellow "screwed his arm so." The bench did not, how* ever, seem influenced by the appeal, and inflicted penalties of 10s for drunkenness, and £3 for the attack on the police. The money was paid on the spot. On Wednesday, the Court was occupied in the hearing of two cases, both of which, though very different in detail, showed the combative propensities of humanity in a not very agreeable aspect. The first was a dispute between two neighboring settlers in the Forest Hill district regarding some fencing, in the efficiency of which they were mutually interested, bat about the repairing of which they had not been able to coma to an amicable understanding. After hearing the evidence of both litigants— from which.it appeared both were equally willing and anxious to hare the said fence perfected — his Worship advised ' them to make another attempt at a friendly arrangement, so as to avoid unnecessary . expense to themselves, as, . should he be necessitated to decide for them, he would be compelled to order the removal of the existing structure— by no means a bad one — altogether, arid the substitu- ' tiori of a new fence in keeping wltfcitoeAet.''JThe>— >**• disputants withdrew, to confer further, with - instructions to return when ready and hare their arrangement entered up as an order of the Court, which they ultimately did. The other case wa» one of assault, in which a Mrs Debereaux was charged with having attacked and maltreated a neighboring woman in her own house. It ap- : peared that defendant's wrath had been kindled by some remark made by plaintiff's daughter to „ her (defendant's) son — both being mere children % that she had thereupon gone in an excited manner to complain to the girl's mother, who requested her to go away and come back when she was more reasonable. This sensible advice, she had, . however, declined, and ended the controversy by knocking the complainant down with a stick. The blow was a severe one, inflicting an ugly wound on the head, over the ear, and causing the loss of much blood. Several witnesses were ■ examined whose united testimony showed that very little provocation indeed had been given for so murderous an onset, the surgeon who dressed the wound also speaking to the serious nature of the injury. Defendant conducted her own case, cross-examining every witness with a boldness and persistency which did her case no good. . When she had completed her unsupported defence of "provocation" and "self-defence," his Worship gave her a severe reprimand, remarking that although it was the first time she had appeared in that. position, it was not the first time he had heard of her quarrelsome propensities. He should take care that she did not disturb the peace of her neighborhood for some time " to come. He therefore inflicted the penalty of - £2, with costs, £1 4s 6i, with doctor's fee for attendance on plaintiff, £1 Is added, ordering her at the same time to find security for her good behaviour for tha next six months ; in default, one month's imprisonment with hard labor. A " knight of the scissors," whose better half had . lodged a complaint of his thrashing her, appeared to answer the charge, and was delighted to find the pro3ecutrix " did not appear." She arrived, however, soon after, and at once took steps to have her " cruel lord " brought to book on a future day. On Thusday. J. M'lnerny sued W. H. Bruce, boat-builder, for £10 103 for timber supplied per contract. Plaintiff, who conducted his own case, stated that in September - last he entered into an agreement (produced) with defendant to supply certain spars; that the spars had been duly delivered, as also an additional one of 52ft, supplied to subsequent order, • for which, including several days work, squaring a log ultimately rejected by defendant, he. now claimed the amount in excess of the first contract, which was for £5 10s. Mr Wade, for the defence, stated that the original agreement stipulated that the whole of the spars should be supplied free from flaws ; that when plaintiff felled the large tree from which he intended to supply the 52 feet . one, he went to defendant and requested him to, go out and inspect it in the bush, and if agreeable • to reduce it where it lay, that it might be more easily transported to the jetty, where all were to be delivered ; that defendant did so, walking out to the bush on the Bay Road for fire days to work on the spar, at which plaintiff, the work being for his convenience, assisted him ; that daring the cu.tting.down gum-veins were discovered in the wood, which rendered it unfit for defendant's pur- - pose, and it was therefore condemned, plaintiff being requested to furnish a sound spar, in terms of his contract, which he ultimately did. On delivery of all the timber, defendant offered plaintiff his money, with ten ■'"■ shillings extra as a bonus in consideration of the trouble he had been put to in procuring the heavy spar. Plaintiff declined to accept the cash, and had now brought this action, seeking in effect to recover payment for the hewn tree which had been rejected, and was in fact yet lying where it fell, .as also for work done for his own conveience, and not for the benefit of plaintiff, who would have preferred all the logs delivered ■ in the rough. His Worship considered defen- ' dant'fl case very cleariy established, and gar© ' judgment for plaintiff for the amount of the contract only (£5 10s), which had been paid into court, he paving costs, 19s Another case, Campbell v. Powell, for the wrongful appropriation of a horse, was called, but adjourned for a fortnight at the request of both counsel.