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Southland Times, Issue 1594, 21 June 1872, Page 2

The Nevada, with the San Francisco mail, was due at Auckland on Monday last. The mail was to leave London on 2nd May, and San Francisco on the 22nd. Tbe telegraphic dates from London should thus be up to the 21st, or eleven days later than the last telegraphio news by the Suez mail. The Nevada had not arrived when the I telegraph offices were closed last night. I We took the liberty of suggesting some time ago that the money received by the Town Council for the Tay-street land sale, being destined for a special purpose, ought to be paid into a special account in tho Bank, distinct from the general account containing the ordinary income and expenditure. The Council apparently did not see the necessity for this, but it would appear from the communication received last night, that the Provincial authorities concur in this view, the common sense of which, we i should have thought, would have commended itself to any assembly of business men, We regret, therefore, the action taken by a majority of the Council last night in the matter. The frost which has prevailed for the laßt ten days reached a pitch of unusual intensity on j Tuesday night, and although not quite so severe i yesterday, there were no indications of a thaw. The ice on many of the shallow waterholes is quite strong enough to skate upon, though we have not heard of that amusement being much patronised in the neighborhood of Inveroargill, owing probably to the scarcity of skates in a country where they are not wanted more than once in ten years or so. This difficulty seems, however, to have been overcome somehow or other in Dunedin, where within the last few days skating has become quite fashionable. Much of the snow which fell at the beginning of last week is of course still on the ground, and in some of the oountry districts it is much deeper than the settlers ever remember it before. The storm appears to have extended over a very wide area, as we hear that as far north as New Plymouth the hills are thickly covered with snow. On the Limestone Plain, Jacob's River, about 1000 acres of agricultural land, of excellent quality, have been reserved for educational purposes, and will be leased at public auction on the Bth of July. The sale will be held at the Land Office, Invercargill. The land will be submitted in sections of about 100 acres, and on very tempting terms, the leases beiag for twentyone years, with compensation for improvements at the end of the term, and the rent for the first two years will be merely nominal. The precise terms may be seen on reference to the Regulations for Leasing Educational Reserves in Otago, which may be procured from Mr Baker, at the Government Offices, Invercargill. This is one of the favorite localities for agriculture in Southland, and it is well known that heavier crops have been raised there than in any other part of the district, so that we anticipate a biisk competition. At the same time there will be submitted the lease of the section in Dee-street, now occupied by Mr Tapper as a timber yard. At the meeting of the Waste Land Board on Tuesday, there were present the Chief Commissioner, and Messrs Dundas, M' Arthur, and Baker. The application of Alexander M'Lean for 20 acres in the Winton Hundred was granted. On the application of James Fullarton to purchase a 7-acre reserve in Jacob's River Hundred, it was resolved that the reserve should be advertised open for application. On behalf of the Old Wakatipu Deep Sinking Company, application was made by Mr M'Ewan for a lease of 80 acres, in terms of clause 17 of the Southland Waste Lands Act Amendment Act, 1867, for the purpose of searching for minerals on Mr Rogers's run. Mr Pearson, as an interested party, having vacated his Beat, the Board resolved to grant the applicant protection for six months, prior to requiring survey to be made. An application from Charles M'Laren for land at Horseshoe Bay, Stewart's Island, to erect a store, was declined, the land not being open for sale. The mill-race reserve at Winton, forfeited by Mr Richardson, was ordered to be obliterated from the maps, aud it was resolved that the mill site be advertised open for sale. A bußh reserve, behind the bush frontages from Winton to Limehills, was decided on, to include about 1500 acres. At the meeting of the Town Council last night, there were present the Mayor and all the Councillors, with the exception of Councillor Tapper. An application from the contractors for building the Grammar School, to be allowed to cart materials through Jed street, was referred to the Public Works Committee. The following letter from the Superintendent was read .* — "Superintendent's Office, Dunedin, 17th June, 1872. — Sib, — I have tho honor to direct your attention to the second section of the ' Invercargill Public Gardens Reserves Alienation Act, 1871/ which provides that the proceeds of said reserves shall be devoted to the ' utilisation and ornamentation of the remaining reserves attached to the town of Invercargill, and for no other purpose,' and to request that you will be good enough to direct that such proceeds be lodged in the bank to a special account, to be drawn against for the exclusive objects defined as above. — I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, J. Maoamtdrew, Superintendent. — His Worship the Mayor, Invercargill." A lively discussion followed. Councillor Jaggers moved " That the Superintendent be thanked for his kindness in drawing this Council's attention to the clause in the Act, but with respect to his request to deposit the funds in a separate account, this Council, having consulted the Act, fails to see the necessity for so doing." This was seconded by Councillor Ross. An amendment by Councillor Lumsden, seconded by Councillor Garthwaite, " That the clerk acknowledge the receipt of the letter from His Honor the Superintendent, stating that this Council shall duly comply with his request," elicited a warm discussion, and was lost by three to four. There voted for Councillor Jaggers's motion — Councillors Jaggers, Ross, Blackwood, and Pratt, and for Councillor Lumsdeu's amendment, Councillors Lumsden, Garthwaite, and Goodwillie.

Councillor Garthwaite hoped the division list would be published in tho newspapers. Councillor Jaggers proposed that a copy of the motion be sent to the Superintendent. The Mayor, who expressed himself Btrongly in favor of Cr. Lumsden's view, said he would take very good care that it should, as well as a copy of the-amend-ment, and tbe division list too. A report from the Cemetery Committee was brought up, and adopted, after being altered so as to accede to an application, which had been made by the Secretary of the Hospital Committee, to permit of the free interment of paupers dying in tbe Hospital. | A report from the Publio Works Committee, dealing with various improvements in detail, was, after some discussion, adopted. Tuesday, tbe 9th July, was appointed, on the suggestion of Councillor Blackwood, for the revision of the Burgess RolL The Ist of August being the day appointed for the next municipal election, it became necessary to choose the four retiring I Councillors by ballot. It was agreed to select four names by lot in the first instance as those to retire, and the lot having fallen upon Councillors Garthwaite, Blackwood, Pratt, and Jaggers, a ballot was afterwards taken, with the same result. These gentlemen therefore retire at the end of the municipal year, 3lst July next. The Council then proceeded to the consideration of the byelaws. On Sunday last the church-door collection at Knox Church, Dunedin, for the poor of the congregation, amounted to £54. This is described by the Daily Times as a handsome sum j but considering the size of the congregation, we cannot say we should have been surprised at hearing of double the amount. A very small proportion of the loose change which many churchgoers are accustomed to spend during the week in a more questionable manner, would soon make a great difference in the annual accounts of most congregations. It has never struck us that any religious body in New Zealand has much ground fo? self-congratulation on the score of the liberalitj of its members. The Auckland Freight Company has proved a success. Nearly all the shares were taken up on the first day. A similar project is to be started at "Wellington, £5000 having been promised by one firm. The Oamaru correspondent of the Otago Daily Times says : — The District Court, notwithstanding Mr klacassey's ill-judged animadversions, promises to be a great boon to the district, especially in insolvent cases — affording, as it will, a local investigation, which is the best check on fraudulent transactions, which have been too numerous. The great expense of prosecuting any enquiry in Dunedin has too often prevented creditors from exercising proper control. Fiji news has been received at Auckland by the Kenilworth, which arrived there last week. The Fiji Government appear to be regaining a better position. Parliament had been opened with great ceremony. The king said that he had received a despatch from Earl Kimberley, acknowledging the Government as de facto. Proposals were laid before the House for the establishment of a national bank, with a capital of £250,000. The man Franks, sentenced to death for murder, was hung, but owing to the clumsiness of the executioner, the noose did not work, and after falling six feet, he remained suspended in the air, shrieking and begging some one to shoot him. He was cut down, and his sentence commuted to imprisonment for life. A petition was being signed for the removal of the British Consul. The brig Carl, seized by H.M.S. Cossack, for kidnapping, had been released. Afc a meeting of the Education Board in Dunedin, the case of Grove Bußh and Mabel Bush was considered. It appeared that there was a schoolhouse in each of these adjoining localities. H the school were held in the schoolhouse at Grove Bush, eight or ten children at the extreme end of Mabel Bush would have too long a distance to traverse before they could get to school, whereas if it were held at Mabel Bush, i an equal number of those at Grove could not attend. This being the case, it was resolved to hold the school four months in one district and four months in the other, so as to accommodate the children living on the outside of each district. The settlers at Groper's Bush had, it appeared, opened a school which was attended by about 30 children, and more were expected to attend. It was resolved, on the report of the Inspector, that a Government school be sanctioned in that district. It was resolved, on the petition of the inhabitants of South Riverton, that the unused schoolhouse there be allowed to them as an infant school, or for publio purposes, so long as they took proper care of it. It appeared that the people at Li mestone Plains were very anxious that their children should be educated. A suitable site for a school building had been fixed upon, aud reserved by the Provincial Council. There were 23 children of school age, and 22 under school age. It was resolved to establish a side school there. A side school, which it appeared would be attended by 28 children, was sanctioned lor Oreti. Appointments of female pupil teachers to Otapopo, Slueskin, and Riverton district schools, were sanctioned. Applications from West Taieri , Bluff, and East Taieri, relative to the payment of salaries, and the granting of which might have the effect of making a reduction in them, were granted. ! The Wakatip Mail of 12th inst. thus asserts the accuracy of its report of Mr Brogden's speech at Queenstown :— " Mr Jas. Brogden's speech at Queenstown — reported in this journal of the Ist ultimo— has been much commented upon by the journals of other provinces. A telegram states, in the Wellington Independent, the correctness of the speech is denied. As we have not seen the denial, we are in ignorance of the objections raised, and content ourselves with merely asserting that the speech is substantially correct. It was longer, but pressure upon our columns compelled us to leave out portions of it. Tbe criticisms are notably from the opposition papers j and, as showing the view of the other side, we ' will endeavor in our next issue to find room for some of the comments." Our readers will remember that in the Bpeech referred to, Mr Brogden said that in Wellington he had been advised not to come to the South Island at all, that in fact he would be better to go home than to do so ; ' what was wanted was railways for the North | Island. I It is stated that since the introduction of New | Zealand meat at Maidstone Gaol the prisoners have increased considerably in weight. It does not follow that the County of Kent is benefited by the increasing burden of crime which it has I thus to support.

The members of the religious denomination known as the " Disciples of Christ" recently held a social tea meeting in Christchurch, when the chairman, a Mr Norris, stated that their denomination was no new institution, but was organised and completed in the days of the apostles. Their great aim was to return in everything to the primitive apostolic practices, and their efforts had been so successful that in the aggregate they now far out-numbered any other Protestant body. In America alone, it was stated that the Disciples of Christ numbered over a million and a half. According to the Provincial Secretary and the Resident Magistrate, New Plymouth is often in a*' dangerous and disreputable" state, owing to the number of drunken Maoris in it. The Provincial Secretary said that " some dreadful catastrophe would happen if this were not put a stop to. It was no exaggeration to say that it was frequently not possible for any respectable female to walk down the centre of the town." The Resident Magistrate said that " on Saturdays it was not safe for respectable people to walk down the street. He himself bad twice been molested by intoxicated Maoris." Another process of meat-preserving is propounded by Mr Hunley, of London. He forces tbe juice out of the meat by mechanical pressure, makes a solid food from the dry cake, and mixes the expressed juice with some gelatinous material or concentrated beef tea. The imported birds are said to have greatly lessened the plague of mosquitoes in Auckland. The native title has been extinguished over tbe Parae Karetu block, in the Province of Wellington. The area of the block is 46,975 acres. In reporting the proceedings at the recent annual competition by the members of the Thames Rifle Association, the New Zealand Herald says : — " When the ladies' prize came on, it was only fitting that a lady Bhould open the proceedings, and accordingly a rifle having been fixed, Miss Butler was introduced by the secretary, and fired the weapon, honestly and fairly hitting the bull's eye." A new way to settle a grog score, although not calculated to assist the publican in discharging his liability, is recorded in the Thames Advertiser lately. AMr P. Guilfoyle paid to the local hospital the sum of lis 6d, because the landlord of the Golden Fleece Hotel, had stuck upon his bar on a board — " Guilfoyle, lis 6d." The hotelkeeper afterwards wrote to the paper : — " I shall be only too glad if the others on the board would follow his benevolent example, as I never expect to receive the amount opposite their names, and the amounts would benefit the funds. I have erased Mr Peter Guilfoyle's name from the board, and shall feel very great pleasure in doing the same by the others for the same charitable pur-pose when the amounts are paid in." From an article entitled Tichborniana in the Home News, we extract the following : — lt will be in the recollection of our readers that at the trial the claimant declined to answer certain questions put to him with regard to his life in Australia, and when he was asked by the judge whether his answering these questions might not involve him in a criminal charge, he answered " yes." It is now stated that the charges to which the legal questions referred were for horsestealing, and for a more serious offence, and ever since the commencement of the Tichborne case the Melbourne police have been assiduously endeavoring to discover the whereabouts of Arthur Orton, and it is said that a warrant is now out, and is at present in London, for the apprehension of that person on the more serious charge. Tbe -warrant is stated to ba signed by a Melbourne magistrate, but before it can bft put in force in London it must be backed by a magistrate for the county in which Arthur Orton lives. The serious offence alluded to is that of murder, committed in the bush near Melbourne. It is not the intention of the Australian police-con-stables, who are, we are informed, at present in London, and who have been here for some months past, to attempt to put that warrant in force until after the identity of Arthur Orton is proved to their satisfaction. At Wellington, a few days ago, Mr Urwin, the landlord of an hotel was sued by a Mr Steel, who had been residing at the hotel, for £15, the price of a watch, chain, and trinkets lost by him. The Bench gave the following decision in the case : — 1. That the law holds the landlord of an hotel responsible for such a loss as that alleged to have been sustained by the plaintiff, unless it can be shown that there was negligence on the part of the guest. 2. That leaying such articles as a watch and chain on a dressing table of a private bedroom, under all the circumstances of the case, cannot be held to be such negligence as to relieve the landlord from liability. The Bench believe that the plaintiff lost the articles, the money value of which he seeks to recover, but tbe evidence as to the value is not very definite. Judgment for the plaintiff for £10, and costs, £3. Some remarks of importance to jurors were made by Chief Justice Sir George Arney during a recent sitting of the Supreme Court at Auckland. We quote from the Herald : — " The jury panel, for the trial of civil cases, having been called over by the Registrar, it was found there was one defaulting juryman (Richard Morris Clark), who neither attended himself, nor sent any one to explain on his behalf the cause of his absence. His Honor, addressing the jurors sworn, thought it a matter of importance that persons liable to serve on juries should understand in what position they placed themselves by not attending to the summons, and not sending any one to explain the cause of non-attendance. It was desirable that the public should be informed of the consequences that must follow non-compliance with the provisions of the Act. Of course where a juryman neither attended himself nor made no explanation of the cause either by himself or another person, he was fined ; and by the third section, whenever a fine is imposed by the Judge , if the same be not paid immediately, the Judge is required to certify the fact under his hand. This is forwarded to the Attorney General, who may issue his warrant against the person's goods. Now, this would impose upon the defaulting juryman considerable costs, even though he might be excused." The Committee of the Acclimatisation Society held their usual monthly meeting last evening at Eidon Chambers — Mr D. S. Montagu (in the absence of the President) in the chair. An application from the Nelson Society for trout ova, was read, and it was agreed to furnish the same, taking Californian quail and English skylarks' in exchange. A donation of tree seeds having been received from the Dunedin Society, the Secretary

was directed to acknowledge the same with thanks, and to arrange wiih Mr Morton (gar- - dener), of the Waikiwi, for their growth and rearing. Some discussion upon the power of trustees took place in connection with a point - raised which in the opinion of the Committee would materially prejudice their position in respect of the importation of salmon ova. It was agreed to defer decision thereon until a special meeting, to be called for that purpose on Thurs«_ _ day next, the Secretary being instructed in the meantime to obtain a legal opinion on the question. The frost is very severe in the country districts A settler in the neighborhood of Jacob's River, taking a working bullock to a pool to water, was astonished to see him walk right over it without breaking the ice. On the 14th of June the Court of Appeal gave judgment in the celebrated Whitaker and Lundon claims as follows : — *' That Messrs Whitaker and Lundon possessed no rights at law or in equity which were taken away or affected by the passage of the Native Lands Act, 1859, or by the proceedings of the Native Land Courts in pursuance of that . Act." In Holmes v. Rolleston, and M'Gregor v. Osborne, judgment was given for defendants. Mr Pitt, solicitor at Blenheim, has been suspended from practice for four years. In the case of Mr Smythies, of Dunedin, in which judgment was given on the 17th, the Court was of opinion that he might have been re-admitted if he had been able to satisfy the Court that his conduct had been irreproachable during the tine of his suspension, the law laying the burden of proof on the applicant, but this he bad not succeeded in doing. His application for readmission was therefore refused. Tbe following are the gross returns of the Victorian railways from the Ist January in eadh

year : — In 1867 ... ... £468,516 11 2- - In 186S £520,188 11 .5 In 1869 £548,170 7 2 In 1870 £492,9fi9 9 2 In 1871 ;.. ... £533,373 8 11