Untitled

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 276, 27 August 1872, Page 3

The meeting of the Kauaeranga Highway District Board lapsed again last evening for want of a quorum. In a New Zealand Gazette published on the 12th instant is specified the schedule of lands taken for the purposes of the Auckland and Mercer Railway. The Wonga Wonga, s.s., from Sydney, brought the following passengers : Mrs Bartlett, Mrt Huasev ; Messrs Bartlett, Hussey, W. Alison. W. H. Cooper, and 20 in the steerage. We regret to hear that the young man Prcece, who met with a serious mining accident a short time ago, is in a very critical condition, and that but faint hopes are held out for his recovery. The Native Land’s Court sat yesterday, and gave judgment in the Manaia block case against the Ngatimarus. The Court will next proceed with the Xaraka block. We notice that Mr Grant has opened aConfectionery establishment and Pie House in Owen-street. The shop and fittings are of a very neat description, the shop being quite an ornament to the neighbourhood. We have »n view at our office some specimens of quartz, from the Bay of Islands, which have been brought down to be tested here. The quartz is similar to much that can be seen on this field, but it docs not look very likely for gold. We understand that the Golden Crown will run to Grahamstown part of this week instead of to Tararu. We fail to see the reason of her having landed her passengers at Tararu yesterday, instead of coming down to the Albert-street wharf as she could have done, the tide being suitable.

A meeting of the Miners’ Accident Relief Fund Committee was held last evening. It will be seen from the report that the institution is in a very healthy state. The funds in hand amount to about £BO, and the liabilities are only £7 or £B. A meeting of the Thames Municipality Committee was held yesterday, when a telegram was read, stating that the Superintendent dissented from the petition, on the ground of the boundaries being too extensive. It was resolved to telegraph to Mr O’Neill, asking him whether there would be any chance of getting a special bill passed through the House. The Maori King has sent his gold watch to Mr James Mackay, junior, for him to get it cleaned and to have a gold chain attached to it. His Maori Majesty also wishes Mr Mackay to pay him a visit. The watch, which is a very handsome one, was presented some years ago to William Thompson by Bishop Helwyn. No doubt it will be an ample passport to Mr Mackay into the King’s territories, and this visit will probably have very important results. We have to acknowledge the receipt of numbers 7,8, and 11 of Hansard, also a number of Parliamentary papers, including agricultural and meteorological statistics, Ac.; also population returns. The estimated general totals of population of New Zealand, exclusive of aborigines, on the 31st December last is set down at 260,5)80.

A) nan was taken into custody, yesterday, for robbing a Maori woman of five shillings. The robbery took place at the Ballarat Hotel. We understand that the lady and others were playing at cards, when the prisoner tilted up the form upon which they were sitting and upset them and their cards, and in the scramble that ensued is said to have pocketed wo half-crowns,

A very sad death occurred to a male child at Kumou on Friday morning last at Riverhead. It was the offspring of a woman named Kent, who went to bed with it late on the previous night, and on waking in the morning found it stark dead. The unhappy mother had overlain it, and so smothered the iiffaut. An inquest will be held on the body to-morrew. — Cross. We have received from Mr Samuels late copies of the Australasian, Leader, Illustrated Australian News, etc. The number of the Illustrated News of August sth contains some very spirited engravings, The supplement contains a really beautiful engraving of a “ Manila girl waiting for the ferry.” The engraving is from a painting taken by Mr K. Chevalier, who accompanied the Duke of Edinburgh on his cruise among the islands of the Pacific.

We understand that the Mining Inspector is about to take proceedings against the occupiers of land at the corner of upper Albert and Pollen streets for encroaching upon the the thoroughfare, which it is obvious to every passer-by is the case. The ground was measured yesterday, when it was proved that a very considerable encroachment had been made. The Waiotahi Board and the inhabitants are about to improve this thoroughfare, and it is desirable that all encroachments should be removed as soon as possible.

An accident which might have resulted more seriously happened on Sunday afternoon. It appears that a number of boys were amusing themselves on the wharf by running the trucks up and down. A younster named ltcardon, about 10 or 12 yeers of age, was knocked down and the wheel passed over his leg close to the calf, inflicting a dreadful gash several inches long, but most providentially not breaking his leg, though how he escaped is a marvel to us. He was taken at once to Mr Sandes, who bound up the wound and did what was possible for his relief. The danger to children playing with these trucks is very great, and they should be secured in some way or another so that the youngsters could not get them. As there i* some misapprehension existing with respect to the notice given by Mr Beckham to the prosecution in .the Green Harp case, a few words of explanation may not be amiss. By regulations published in the New Zealand Gazette of the 27th May, 1870, certain offences were specified which the Crown Solicitor was bound to proceed with in the Supreme Court, in the event of the accused being committed for trial in th« Police Court. Misdemeanours under the Acts there named were offences which Mr Brookfield, as Crown Prosecutor, could proceed with, but the charge against those connected with the Green Harp was a misdemeanour at common law, and therefore not within the list named. The regulations also made it obligatory on the part of the committing magistrate to give such au intimation to the prosecution as Mr Beckham gave on the occasion referred to. Had this intimation not been given, the depositions might have come into Mr Brookfield’s hands about a week before the opening of the Circuit Court, when it would have been his duty to inform the prosecution that he could not proceed without special instructions from the Government. Then there might not have been sufficient time for the prosecution to take steps to prosecute the case. We believe Mr Beckham gave the notice he did at the request of Mr Brookfield, in order to save a disappointment to the prosecution. We understand that the Government arc not likely to make any special relaxation in the rules laid down in the Gazette as applied to this case. The regulations place the prosecution in a some.wliat unexpected position, as the cost of carrying the case through the Supreme Court would be very considerable. It is not improbable, therefo re, that no further proceedings will be taken in the matter.— Cross.