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Southland Times, Issue 1204, 1 February 1870, Page 2

Neighbors' quarrels are proverbially difficult ? to unravel, and possibly cause " the Court" more; annoyance than any description of "case" brought up for judicial settlement — especially when the litigants are females, and undertake, as they usually do, to "prosecute" and"defend" in propria personm. We have heard a few such disputes tried, but one which came before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday last, eclipsed all our previous experience. There were two, if not three, cross-actions entered, and when the officer called the names of the respective " plaintiffs" and " defendants," some four or five Amazonian matrons, each with a young squaller in her arms, took possession of the "floor of the Court," and held it too, until they were all turned out in a heap. The husbands of the dames, and a " few friends," accompanied them to the "forensic arena," but, with one exception, appeared to have wondrously little to do with, or say in, t'le proceedings. As far as could be gathered fromthe " evidence," it appeared that Mrs C. had summoned Mr and Mrs M., because Mrs D. had spread a report that somebody was a thief, and, j Mrs C. had gone to the fence and. called Mrs M., who was milking the ; ieow, and she hit her with a stick, and Jim was reading a book with a lame leg, and caught her by the hair, and she tried to bite his arm, and he? son was throwing stones at him, but they didn't hit her, and he came up to 1 the fence and shoved her face agin the palings, and then they turned the Jeeow out, and he got in the bail, and she climbed over the post, and I he tould her to go home if it was quarrelling she was after, and then she said it was his wife stole the soap, and then — and then Well, things got a little confused at this stage, there being very nearly a repetition of the original " free fight." The Bench, the officer of the Court, and the attendaat constable did their best to maintain a semblance of order, but it was no use. The whole lot persisted in carrying on a sort of double triangular cross-examinatio.n, with a spirit which showed how forcible their arguments would have been but for the presence of the "authorities." It wa3 amusing to see how one unfortunate "limb of the law," who had taken his usua place at the table before the performance began, cleared out when he saw the steam get up. However, after exhibiting a wonderful amount of patience, and getting just a sufficient inkling qjE. the facts to show that all parties were probably equally to blame, his Worship dismissed the lot, with a caution to be more peaceably disposed for the future. On Saturday last another case of " bolting" occurred in town. Really one would think, from the frequency of such incidents, that their origin was other than accidental, and the wonder is that, with so many runaways, no lives have been lost. On the occasion to which we allude, a horse attached to a spring-cart, started from somewhere in Tay.street, and careered full speed the whole length of Dee street. Being rather a sluggish brute, it was pretty well blown by the time it reached Harrisville, where it was brought to a stop without having either done or sustained any damage. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, 3lßt ult., one or two fines were inflicted for breaches of the Cattle Trespass Ordinance. Ah I assault case — the result of a domestic difference — was called, but announced to have been settled outside. In the next case, RichardsoD v. Brown, a claim for £5 16a, cost of passage from Dunedin, two days' work, and loss through.wrongful dismissal from employment at a sawmill, judgment was given for plaintiff for £2 133, and costs, 13s. The next case, Moorehouse v. Hill, was a very lengthy one. Plaintiff, it appeared, had been engaged by defendant in Sydney, on terms for one year. Before the expiry of that time, however, defendant had sold his station, and gave plaintiff the option of finishing his service with the new proprietor or cancelling the agreement. Plaintiff chose the latter course, as he preferred returning to Australia. After plaintiff's family had left the station, however, sundry articles of household plenishing were missed from the premises, and, pursuit and search having been instituted, the missing articlps, or something very like them, were found in plaintiff's boxes. The unpleasantness thus created had led plaintiff to take the present proceedings for the recovery of the balance of bis year's wages, the goods being claimed as his own lawful property. The evidence, however, did not seem to bear out plaintiff's view of the case, as judgment was given for defendant, with costs. Since the long drought broke after the New Year, the weather has been most unsettled^ .Heat and cold, parching winds and drenching" ?aihs, have alternated with provoking frequency, and farmers are now calling out for sunshine to ripen their crops. On Wednesday and Thursday, 26th ai«d 27th ult., a most remarkably hot wind prevailed, relaxing everyone's muscles, inducing general laziness, and licking up the streams till the channels of some were almost dry. After that came a spell of " heavy wet," lasting from Thursday evening until Saturday morning, and flooding everything. About town, at all events, the drains aad ditches were totally unequal to the task imposed on them by the steady downpour, and the superfluous water was forced to find its way to its " natural level" by unwonted courses. No damage has as yet been reported from upcountry ; indeed the deluge seems to have been confined to the sea-board, as the main rivers are said not to have been unusually high. At several places on the outskirts of the town, the waterways sadly want attending to, or damage will soon occur to the roads, which it will cost something to repair. At Harrisville, especially, the ditches and culverts are so choked in some places that a perfect lake is formed there whenever an extra shower or two comes down, and the water is gradually encroaching upon, and carrying off, a good stretch of the North Road. A few days' work of a man or two, to open another ditch to the railway, down Fox-street, would at. once remedy the evil, and avoid the risk of' having to re-gravel several chains of the highway at an emergency. L The Auckland Provincial Council was opened on the 19th. Mr Ball, the member for Motfgonui in the General Assembly, is about to resign his seat, which, it is expected, ..will be offered to the present Superintendent of the province. Plans have been prepared for the works necessary for brining a supply of water from the Kauearangi River to the townships of Shortland and Grahamstown. The works will be executed by a company possessing a guaranteed capital of £tiO,ooo.

A meeting of the committee of the Acclimatisation Socety was held in the Government Buildings on the afternoon of Friday last. ; His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair, the othpr members present being Messrs W Arthur, Fielder, Shearer, Conyers, Gilmour. and Butts, hon. secretary and treasnrer. The minutes of former meeting were read and passed aa correct, after which the Secretary read a report, furnished by the curator at the request of the* committee, of certain works executed at the ponds at the end of last year by the curator and an assistant. The details of work done were deemed satisfactory, the report gaining tho approval of the meeting. The Secretary drew the attention of the committee to the fact that two of the large trout had been found dead, one in the pond, evidently killed in a fight with one of its own species ; the other on thebank of the pond, several feet from the water. The circumstances j of its finding were such as convinced the curator it had been taken from the water by a shag, and dropped on the approach of danger. To prevent further depredations, the pond had since been covered in with wire netting. One of the dead fish was exhibited in a bottle at the meeting ; it measured 8£ inches long, and five in girth. It ■ -was also announced that three several parties had presented the Society with a number of bantam.,, — f or uge in hatching quail or other eggs — to whom the thanks of the committee were recorded. The pheasants' eggs, presented by Mr Hill, had been hatched, and had done tolerably well. Several broods of Californian quail had also been successfully brought out. The phsasants turned into Mossburn Bu«li were believed to be 'breeding; one pair of the birds had left that cover and taken to one at a little distance, where they were also said to be doing well. Some ordinary financial business having been transacted, the meeting broke up with the usual vote to the chairman. A monster meeting of natives is to be held at Raglan in February, to celebrate a tangi over the grave of the warrior chief, William Naylor. From all accounts this will be the largest meeting ever held by the natives, over 2000 being expected to attend. Among other Native celebrities. His Majesty Tawhiao, the Maori King at Riwhia, has sent notice of his intention to come, attended by his Ministers, and 400 of his lbyal subjects. His Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Donald M'Lean, Native and Defence Minister, are also expected to honor Raglan with their presence on this occasion. 1 The detachment of the 18th Regiment, stationed at Taranaki, left that port in the Claud Hamilton, on the 18th, for Melbourne. The attempt made by the Nelson Acclimatisation Society to introduce hares and partridges "Tom England in the John Bunyan, has proved a failure. The 25th of last month being the 111 th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the occasion was celebrated in Dunedin, Port Chalmers, Tokomairiro, and other parts of Otago by suppers, at which the national " haggis " and sheep's heads "weel singit" were prominent features. The Tokomairiro races will come off on the 9th and 10th of March. The South Australian Legislature has adopted a resolution in favor of the Confederation of the Australian Colonies. Messrs Smith, Howorth, Stewart, and Maddison all Dunedin lawyers, are candidates to represent Waikouaiti in the Provincial Council. The seat was Tendered vacant by the resignation of Mr George M'Lean, late Provincial Treasurer, now gone to England. The Tuapeka Jockey Club Raceß are to come off on the 10th and 11th of this month ; and those of the Switzer'B Club on the 3rd and 4th March. The stakes to be run for in the first-named amount to £310, and those of the latter over £200. . An Auckland paper gives the following description of the Governor's visit to the celebrated Long Drive claim : — About 60 of the workmen were mustered, and they formed in two lines, flanking the short tramway from the mouth of the level to the beach, each man with his pick shouldered. The colonial boy gathered strongly, every Beatable spot near the mouth of the level being occupied. As the vice-regal party passed between the two lines of hearty and stout miners, there were cheers which, as a matter of- fact, could scarcely be exceeded for their volume of sound, if given by an equal number of men picked from any class, anywhere in the British Empire. Mr Muir, the mining manager of the Long Drive, standing close to the entrance of the level, read a brief address. His Excellency read the following reply : — "Mr Muir and Gentlemen, — I thank you for this address, and for the hearty welcome to Lady Bowen and myself. We were both desirous to visit this famous mine, renowned, as you truly say, far and wide. One of your fortunate shareholders is, as you are aware, the Duke of Edinburgh ; and I am sure His Royal Highness will be glad to receive the report which I shall write him of what I see to-day. Wishing you every success and prosperity, and again thanking you for your kindness and courtesy, I am, &c, — G. F. Bowbnt." The truck or car which had been prepared for conveying the party into the level, was made after the sleigh model. His Excellency took his place at the inner hand, with Lady Bowen at the opposite end, their two children being accommodated on a central bench. The seats were comfortably cushioned, and the car was altogether tastefully decorated. Mr Muir and one of the foremen " clapped on" to ropes in front; two foremen became propellers 'from behind ; and so Sir George Bowen and his family entered the celebrated Long Drive, There was plenty of light along the level ; a lighted candle being stuck in each alternate framing. Bat at points there was not plenty of height. The level entered was the " old original" Long Drive, as the miners call it. Begun in the very early days of the field, when success was only hoped for, funds were not plentiful, and experience was wanted, the level was cut in the most economical manner possible. Room to work — just enough space to fling the pick — was what was chiefly thought of when the level was in progress. Having a height of sft. at its mouth, there is a stretch, commencing about 100 ft. in, which has a \ height of certainly not more than 3 ft. " Give us timely warning," was the only caution to those in charge of the truck, " so that we may know when to guard our heads." It was close work, as a j number of the gentlemen who followed the car found to the damage of their high hats. When a point about 370 ft. from tha mouth had been J reached, the party stepped from the car. There was decent standing room at the point. Mr Muir led the way along a cross-drive, where men were at work, and a gold-bearing vein, 6in. or 7in. thick, and of what is regarded as average richness, according to the high standard of the Long j Drive, was being worked at — a large quantity of. other atone being necessarily got out at the same , time. The vein was examined; and then Mr Allen said that Mr Muir wished that, as Lady Bowen was a shareholder, she should also, for a moment, become a miner in the Lone Drive. Her Ladyship consented, and the party went into another cross-level. A light pick was handed to 'heir Ladyship, and — perhaps it was not by accident that Mr Muir had selected the spotLady Bowen soon picked out a very nice " specimen," which he presented to her. That " specimen " wilt doubtless be prized: Very few ladieß can boast that at the Bea-level of a large hill, and near 400 feet from the entrance of such a " drive,' * they have, with their own hands, " got " a rich sample of gold-bearing quartz. The return to daylight was speedily effected, quite 25 minutes having been spent in the level. Lady Bowen looked delighted with her excursion, which she commenced with a well-grounded assertion, " I am not in the least alarmed. I know you will take care of me." As her Ladyship rose from the seat in the car, there were given by the miners, with unmistakeable enthusiasm, " Three cheers for Lady Bowen." They were followed by " three for the Governor," and " three for the Superintendent." His Excellency repeated his thanks, and said that he was delighted to have seen the mine. The Golden Crown waa afterwards visited.

The gentlemen composing the deputation which recently waited upon the Government with reference to certain repairs on the North Road, as also all who use that highway, will be glad to learn that their request is about being attended to. The principal obstacle in the way | of the prayer of the memorialists, represented by j the deputation, b«ing granted, was an adverse decision of the Waste Land Board relative to the meaning of a certain clause in the Land Act granting the Superintendent one thousand acres ' per annum for particular purposes. We pointed I out at the time the error into which the Board had fallen, and are gratified to find that since then it ha 3 revised its interpretation, and intimated its willingness to pass the land over to ! His Honor. The Executive are thus put in funds to undertake a very urgent work, and it is said that no time will be lost in having it finished. The Lake WaTcatip Mail' of the 20th inst. j says: — We understand thot Messrs Hallen stein and Co., who have already done so much to advance the prosperity of the Wakatip district, hare induced Messrs Surman and Davis to erect i a brewing and malting establishment at Queenstown. While it iB an industry that will benefit , and give employment to woodcutters, boatmen, j and farmers, it is especially good news to the | latter, who will find a ready market for barley — a cereal for the growth of which our climate and soil are admirably adapted. Hops also are grown on various farms, anl tho^e grown by Messrs Humphrey and Douglas seem to thrive 'well. We have it from good authority that no les3 than £7000 worth of ale is consumed in this and the neighboring districts of Cromwell and Clyde. Mr Surman, who has had great experience in one of the largest breweries in Burton-on-Trent, feels confident that he will be able to produce an article which will find its way through all parts of Otago. We are informed that an extensive plant has been ordered from home, and a large j stone brewery and malt-house will be ready for next season. Meanwhile, Messrs Surman and Davis are erecting a temporary brew-house to be able to supply the wants of the present season. We wish every success to the undertaking. It is said that cherries and other fruit are rotting on the trees at Nelson, there being no market for them. The detachment of the 18th Regiment, lately stationed at Taranaki, being mostly Roman Catholics, were entertained by their co-religionists by a refection and the reading of a parting, address previous to their embarkation. In noticing the event, the Serald of the 9th ult. says : — " We can fully corroborate all that fell from the speakers at the farewell parting with the soldiers on Monday evening last : a steadier or better behaved lot of men have never before been stationed in this Province, than those of the 18th Royal Irish. We have had at different times four of the companies of this Regiment, and the men have by their good behaviour and exemplary conduct, been respected by the settlers, who regret their departure for j other reasons than the loss their protection afforded us. The officers, too, we shall miss in our little amusements, for they had so ingratiated themselves with us that no gathering would have been complete without their presence. They have gone, but the memory of them will exist in this province for many years to come, and when the most exemplary regiment of the British Army, is spoken of, the Taranaki people will give the palm to the 18th Royal Irish." It seems (says the Daylesford Mercury) that Mr Edward Tomlinson — better known by his professional name of Walter Montgomery, the tragedian — has at length taken his departure from the colonies to California. Whatever may be his private foibles, thousands in Victoria have derived sincere pleasure from his great talent as an elocutionist. We could never understand why the metropolitan press held his personal habits up to ridicule, or why he should not have been at liberty, like other men, to wear an eccentric-looking coat, or ride a high-prancing horse. Writing from our own personal experience of Mr Montgomery, we always found him to be both unassuming and gentlemanly. And notwithstanding he has been driven away from the colony, by attacks which we think have gone beyond the limits oi fair criticism, we have no doubt the public generally will regret his absence. The Daily Times of the 28th ult. says that " the agreement between Mr Proudfoot and the Q-overnment for the construction of the Port Chalmere and Dunedin Railway was signed yesterday. The required deposit of £5000 waa paid at the same time. The works will be commenced in six weeks." A Timaru paper says there are still " shoals of sharks "in the roadstead. One was caught and brought ashore lately, measuring five feet nine inches. The Marlhorough Express records the death, on the 11th inst., at Spring Creek, in that proviace, of Mr Michael Murphy, aged 100 years. The following description of an exceedingly handsome railway carriage, which has been built at the yards connected with the Enginper-in-Chiefs department, is given by the " Thames Advertiser : " — The carriage wasyesterday transported to Tararu, where it will be put into use in the first place for the conveyance of his Excellency the Governor and party up and down the Tararu tramway. The carriage is built of mottled kauri, and has entrances at both ends, besides a platform for the breaksman, who, when standing at either end, has perfect command over the carriage by means of powerful breaks that check the four wheels simultaneously. The break is worked by a hand wheel. Outside the platform are strong iron pillars and rails. The interior of the carriage, where there is seat room for 18 passengers, is beautifully fitted up. The back and seat cushions of green leather, stuffed, and the beautiful appearance of the mottled kauri panels presents a very neat and chaste appearance. The body is fixed on springs, and the motion will be extremely easy. A series of sliding glass panels run right round the carriage, affording light and air to the interior. The roof is rounded, and made watertight, and the interior of the carriage is about G\ feet high. Altogether, the carriage is decidedly the handsomest specimen of the description turned out in New Zealand. We understand it has been built from designs drawn by C. O'Neill, Esq., and it certainly reflects credit on all who have been concerned with it. Mr W. Haynes, the Bandsman of H.M.S. Phoßbe, has written and published a log, in verse, on the cruise of the Flying Squadron, from the time it left England to its arrival at Melbourne. _ ___ We have been requested to direct attention, to Mr Osbome's extensive sale of household furniture, silver plate, &c, belonging to Mrs J. R. Davies, at her town residence, Spey-strcet, this day, at 12 o'clock. Mr Ross will sell this day, at his yards, at 12 o'clock, ander distress warrant, 1 team of four bullocks, and 1 four-wheeled wagon.