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Southland Times, Issue 1574, 7 May 1872, Page 2

The San Francisco mail, now fourteen days overdue, had not arrived at Auckland up to the time of our going to press. We therefore defer the publication of our usual summary for the outgoing mail, until further information has been received. From some unexplained cause, our usual supply of telegraphic information has not come to hand for thia issue. At the Kesident Magistrate's Court yesterday, William Smith was charged with usinc obscene and threatening language to the p lice, but the charge was dismissed on the ground of insufficient evidence. Several civil cases, of trifling importance, were disposed of. By the mail via Melbourne to-day, the local secretary to the Royal Association for the Promotion of the Fine Arts in Scotland forwarded 52 subscriptions from this district. A meeting of the Town Council, called for last night, for the consi 'eration of the Bye-laws, lapsed for want of a quorum. The members present were Messrs Ross, Blackwood, Pratt, and Garthwaito.

Writing from the Bluff, our Campbelilown correspondent says that on Friday night a man named Wm. Baillie, better known as " Wandering Willie," fell from the wharf and was drowned. It seems that Baillie and another man left one of the hotels about sis o'clock, to go on board a cutter lying at the inside of the wharf, with which he was goin-j to Stewart's Island. The way by which they wero approaching the vessel was over a pile of partially decomposed slippery hides, flanked on each side by a stack of c.ises of presenei meat. It is thought that Biillie slippa 1 on the hiJes, or that he lost his b ilance on the narrow ledge between the cases and the water. His comp mion, who was on the other aide of the ca333 at the time, gave the alarm to the people in the cutter at once, but it is thought that he must have struck part of the wharf or the rail of the cutter in his fall, as, though he was a good swimmer, he never came to the surface. Constable Hanlon was promptly on the spot, and recovered the body with the grapnel, just where deceased sankEvery effort was made to restore animation, but without avail. An inquest was held on Saturday by the coroner, Dr Hodgkinson. The jury, by his direction, returned a verdict — "That deceased met his death accidentally by drowning," but considerable dissatisfaction was expressed at tha hurried manner in which the enquiry was conducted, owin? to the coroner's anxiety to return to town by the train. After the inquest, the foreman, Mr Nichol, and the jury went to the scene of the occurrence, and passed the following resolution, which they wish to be considered as a rider to their verdict :— " The cause of the accident, in the opinion of the jury, being the necessity of the deceased having to walk over a heap of slippery hides, which -were stowed civso up to the edge of tha wharf, in order to get to the vessel he was visiting, there being no other approach on account of the whole of that side of the wharf being blocked up with preserved meats." We understand that several reports have been received from the Manager of the works of tho Old Wakatipu Company, and that on the whole they are very satisfactory. The monthly meeting of tho shareholders is to be .held to-night at the Clarendon Hotel, at half-past six o'clock. We wish to direct attention to a letter signed " North Road" in another column, complaining of the want of shelter for passengers at the intermediate stations on the railway. When passengers from the country arrive at the station a little too soon, or when, as is sometimes the case, the train arrives a little too late, it is neither good for health nor temper to pace a wet, unprotected platform for half an hour in a storm of rain. Sheds of the most inexpensive kind are all that are required. A memorial to the Superintendent, now that tbe Council is sitting', especially if one of our members would ask a question on the subject, would probably have the desired effect. The handsome structure at the corner of Dee and Esk streets, which we presume will henceforth be known as Smith's Buildings, has now been so far finished that Messrs Lewis & Co., drapers, have commenced business in one of the shops. The same firm, we understand, will occupy the other shop ; the premises for the Bank of Otago — absorbing the remainder of the building — will be ready for occupation in the course of a few days. The annual general nieetin* of the Horticultural Society was held in Colyer's Princess Hotel on Friday evening, 3rd inst. Mr W. P. Porter, was voted to the chair. The following report of the committOJ was then read and adopted : — " Another year of the Society's existence has passed, and your committee believe they have maintained it upon a firm and more popular basis. It is gratifying to be ablo to report that the result of the exhibitions has exceeded the anticipation of the most sanguine. The energies of the committee were tested through a very unfavorable season to make the shows attractive. By union in purpose and sustained effort, they succeeded in upholding the Society's reputation as a public institution, worthy of sympathy and encouragement. The efforts of the committee were in part experimental, and the little discrepancies that may have appeared can be easily avoided in future. We would therefore recommend that some, at least, of its members might be chosen to act during the coming year. Although we cannot present to you a balance sheet in all respects bo satisfactory as we could have wished, yet we think even this a matter as much for congratulation as for rogret. The large number of prizes awarded, and the payment of prize money in full, sufficiently accounts for the deficit in the balance sheet. The good feeling, good will, and good intention engendered in the minds of competitors by this means cannot fail to benefit tbe institution. The amount against the Society 13 not formidable, considering the growing taste for gardening, the increase of contributors and of exhibitors. Your committee would recommend to their successors in office a revision of the members' ticket system, and the appointment of qualified stagers, and paid doorkeepers. They confidently commend the institution to their successors, and trust that by careful management they may render it more conducive than ever to the advancement of horticulture." The election of office-bearers then took place by ballot, resulting as follows : — Messrs W. H. Calder, president 5 T. M. Macdonald and W. P. Porter, vice-presidents ; R. Erskine, treasurer ; and Messrs Joyce, M'Ewan, Cooper, Maher, Andrew Dunlop, Stark, Hargreaves, M'Lean, Broad, Hannah, Mentiplay, and Smith, members of committee. The programme of the entertainment to be given at the Theatre in celebration of the inauguration of the half-holiday movement is now published. It is of a very attractive nature, comprising music by the Stringed and Brass Bands, several songs and readings, and a performance by amateurs of the celebrated comic drama of " Nan the Good for Nothing." Mr Morton Tavares, the renowned tragedian, accompanied by Miss Surtees, is expected to arrive by the Rangitoto to-day. We believe it is the intention of Mr Tavares, with the assistance of several gentleman amateurs, to give a series of entertainments in the Theatre Royal. We have been requested to correct an erroneous statement in the last issue of the Wakatip Mail. Our contemporary says that Mr Brunton's estimate for the construction of the Winton and Kingston line was £2832 per mile, whereas that gentleman's estimate was given for that portion " of the line only from Atiiol to Kingston. Mr Brunton has never surveyed or given an estimate of the cost of constructing the portion from Winton to Athol.

On Friday, R. Hitchcock was brought up before the Resident Magistrate, charged with shooting Benjamin Wymack. From the statement to Sub-Inspector Fox by the wounded man, it appears that, hearing the noise of a violent quarrel in the prisoner's house on the morning referred to, he went towards the place, when Mrs Hitchcock appeared at the door crying out, " Run away, or he will take your life." He turned t> retreat, when Hitchcock came out with a doublebarrelled gun and fi.vd at him, wounding him aa previously described, and causing him to drop on the ground. As Wymack was not in a fit state to appear .0 i?ive evidence, a remand for eight days was granted, the police undertaking to inform Hia Worship if it s'lould seem necessary at any earlier period to take Wymack's deposition. At the meeting of the Waste Land Board on fie 26th ult., Mr Colyer's application to use the old quarantine at Te-waiwai Point as a run was granted, subject to an assessment of 3s per head for cattle and 7d per sheep, and a rent of 2d per acre, and an agreement to give up possession at a moment's notice on the land being required for public purposes. On Tues lay the following applications were made: — John Elliot, 30 acres Waimurau Hundred, cash, granted ; G. M. Bell, 646 acres on Run 116, under Oreti Railway Contract, to be withdrawn from sale, in terms of Southland Waste Lands Act, 1865, and Amended. Act, 1867, granted; G. M. Bell, to hare rent on this land deducted from rent on Run 116 from Ist May next, granted ; Andrew Macdonald, 2CK) -acres, Forest Hill HunireJ, under Oreti Railway Contract, granted ; Hannah Mary Hodgkinson, 50 acres, Forest Hill Hundred, under Oreti Rdlway Contract, granted. On Friday, 3rd Slay, J>ouald Collie made application ior 82 acres, Jacob's River Hundred, cash, granted. At the date of our latest advices from Melbourne the Carandini family and Mr Sherwin were giving concerts at Bendigo. The pastoral rents for the district of Southland were due at the Sub-Treasurer's office on the Ist inst. The amount received was £7632 15s Bd. Mr Donald Reid, M.H.R., for the Taieri,' addressed his constituents in the Volunteer Drill Shed at Outram on Thursday evening, 25th ult. Mr J. Shand occupied the chair. Mr Reid said that the last session of Assembly had been barren of useful results, and in respect to Ofcago the results had been very serious indeed. One result, however, was to secure a " cry" for the Miuisterial party. Ihat party had always been adepts in securing a good cry ; once it was Provincialism, then Constitutionalism, the session before last the Public Works policy, and last session it was described as the Great Policy. No matter on what subject the action of the Government was criticised, the answer always was that they were carrying out " a great policy." The new members were mostly pledged Ministerialists, but he had reason to think that many of the'ii ware far from satisfied with the action of the Ministry. He objected to the Education Bill of last session, chiefly on account of the aided school clauses. He did not approve of giving any advantage to one denomination over another. He hoped a purely nationa system would be adopted. The Otago Land Bill had been opposed by all the influence of the Government last session, but it would be brought on again this year. It would have a great effect, if carried, in inducing the people who were brought out for miking our railways to stay with us. The railway schedule, as brought down, was fair as between the two islands, but the Government consented to alter it to the extent of adding 262 miles in the North Island, at an estimated cost of £857,000, and 77 miles in the South I land, at an estimate of £262,000. A Government that dealt with millions in that way was not fulfilling its duty to the tax- payers. The Brogden contracts he objected to on two grounds — they put too great a power in the hands of the Government, and they were unfair to local contractors. There was also a danger in centring so much political power in one firm. The old Otago system of immigration he thought better than the Government scheme, so far as it had gone. He thought the Provincial authorities should have the supervision of works made out of the loan. The Government in thi3 bad either gone too far, or they must go further. They must either take over entirely the functions of the Provinces, or they must allow the Provinces, who hal the machinery, to make use of it. Two staffs of officials created a ruinous waste of public money. He hopfid the farming interest would nofc give way to the very plausible cry of " protection," which really meant ruination, ani would never put a farthing into the farmers' pockets. Mr Reid concluded his remarks by expressing himself as being decidedly averse to any proposition for the payment of members similar to that which obtains In Victoria. A vote of confidence in Mr Reid was unanimously passed, and his speech was received with frequent applause. We have -received from John Hislop, Esq., Inspector of Schools, a copy of his report on the state of the Education Department of the Province for the jear 1871. From it we gather that " including 12 Southland schools, there were 106 district schools and 3 free schools in operation within the province at the close of the year 1870 During the past year, schools have been established at Mosgiel, Tuturau, Clarke's Flat, (Tuapeka), Tuikitoto, Sandymount, Manuka Creek, (Waitahuna), Forest Hill, Grove Bush, and Mabel Bush. There are consequently 116 elementary schools at present established throughout the province in connection with the Board, being an increase of 7 school 8 during the year 1871. In these 116 schools, there are 175 teachers employed, viz., 121 schoolmasters, 26 schoolmistresses, 6 teachers of sewing, 3 male pupil teachers, and 19 female pupil teachers. The average daily attendance of pupils for the year was 5706, and the attendance at the close of the year 6745." A Wellington paper says : — Four of the Scandinavian single women, who arrived by the England, were married the other day to fellowpassengers by tho Rev. J. Patorson. Some amusement was caused over the services by the want of an interpreter,- but all the women, we are informed, had well learned to say "yes." The Christchurch-Kiiapoi railway was opened on the ßOth ult. It is said that the Nelson publicans contemplate reducing the price of beer to 21 per glass. During the year ending 31st March, 1872, 850 patients were treated in tbe Dunedin Hospital. Of these 523 were medical, and 322 Burgical, cases.

The estimate of the cost of the general police in Otago (excluding Southland) for the year 1872 is £12,051 123 6d. At the meeting of the General Road Board, held in Dunedin on the 2nd inst., the rate of fid per acre proposed to be levied by the Oteramika Road Board was sanctioned. The Rev. Mr Blake has received a unanimous call to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church at Alexandra. At an adjourned meeting of the Conference of Mayors, held on the 30th ult., several members expressed their satisfaction at the manner in •which the wishes of the Conference had been entertained by the Government, as announced in the Superintendent's address. It was, however, pointed out by some Mayors that in their own particular districts the condition about " keeping in repair the main roads," &c, would nearly or quite consume the whole of the revenue with •which the municipality was proposed to be endowed. It was therefore resolved, on the motion of the Mayor of Lawrence, seconded by the Mayor of Oamaru, to request the Government to limit the condition to the municipality of Dunedin. The Council of the Otago University having decided to admit females as students, two ladies have already presented themselves for matriculation. The people of Tuapeka feel slighted because Mr Brogden did not pay their district a visit. The local paper says : — Mr Brogden returned to Dunedin on Tuesday evening, having taken the Hogburn route. What motive he had in not returning to Dunedin via Tuapeka is difficult to conjecture, as that road is shorter and better than the Hogburn one. Whether he will visit Tuapeka now is extremely problematical. Great dis appointment is felt at this district being slighted in this manner, especially as preparations had been made by the Railway Committee to receive him, and give him every information he might wish regarding the Tuapeka and Tokomairiro Bail way, and also to Bhow him any objects of interest he might like to see. ■ The discovery of the diamond fields in the Orange Free State (Africa) has had an extraordinary effect on the value of property there. The latest journals to hand report the sale of two farms in the neighborhood of Dv Toit's Pan to, an English company for £28,000. The population of New South Wales has been estimated to amount on the 31st of December last, to 519,163 persons, of whom 284,150 were males and 235,013 were females. This would give an increase of about 9000 males and 7000 females since the census was taken on the 2nd of April, 1871. The births for the year 1871 were 7764 males and 7477 females, and the deaths 2939 males and. 1960 females. During the year the number of Chinese who arrived in New South "Wales was 426, and those who sailed away to the Flowery Land or to the other colonies numbered 441. The Pleasant Creek News draws attention to the consumption of opium by station hanls to while away their dreary existence. On not a few of the stations northward, the drag is a regular article of commerce. A most peculiar case of disputed identity has turned up in Auckland. Mr 3 Norman having applied to administer the estate of the late Mr Norman, of the United Service Hotel, the application was opposed by Mr J. "F. Jones, from Dunedin, a son-in-law of the deceased. We gather the following particulars from telegrams in the Otago Times : — " Mr Jones identifies the applicant as a Mrs Robertson, sent by him from Dunedin in 1866, to act as barmaid for Mr Norman, and swears that the real Mrs Norman is in London, whither Mr. Norman, till 1867, regularly remitted £300 yearly. He also sweara that Mr Norman and his wife had travelled on the Continent, leaving their two childien at school in Paris. The applicant swears that she herself and Mr Norman were married at Boulogne ; that she left the children at school in Paris, and travelled elsewhere on the Continent ; that she received £300 yearly, and that she would produce the bank pass-book kept by her to show it. She also swears that she came out to Mr Norman by the ship Electra in 1866, and that this will be corroborated by a fellowpassenger. She swears that she was never in Dunedin, and that her marriage certificate and private papers were burned by Mr Norman one Sunday while she was at church. The Judge refused to grant her administration, and the estate remains in the Curator's hands till her identity is proved. From the affidavits in the case it appears that Mr Jones and Albert Griffiths swear that the applicant is Mrs Robertson. Norman's daughter, however, swears the contrary, and declares that she herself is one of the girls put to school at Paris, and that she lived with her father and mother in London. Loritz Liers says that he knew Mrs Robertson as a barmaid and milliner in Dunedin, and swears that the applicant is not the same person. Hoffmann, a music master, and Brown, an hotel-kenper, identify her as. Mrs Norman, and state they knew her in England. Garratt, an express driver, swears that he was a fellow-paesenger with her in the Electra, which left London on the Ist October, 1866. The case is creating a great sensation." The Mrs Robertson referred to is supposed to be a lady who came out from London in the year 1862 to Dunedin, in the ship Sarah M., and who is well known to many residents in Dunedin at the present time. Her husband, who is now residing in Dunedin, was an officer in the army, and was once employed as a clerk by Mr Norman, at the Criterion Hotel, while his wife kept a milliner's shop in the immediate neighborhood.