CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2940, 18 July 1878, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Wednesday. The Chairman of Mr J. E. Brown's meeting at Amberly on Monday night writes to the Timers that the vote of confidence in Mr Brown Would have been carried but for a mistake in the mode of putting the amendment. Mr Brown ad* dressed the electors at Ashley last night, and received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence.

A parcel of New Zealand Shipping , Company's shares sold to-day for 85s I each.

I Mr Richardson, the member for Christchurch, addressed the electors last night. There were about 200 present, lie-, ferring to the question of representation, he said Canterbury at present was underrepresented by four members. There should be no further elections till the representation generally is altered. He would support Mr Ballance's proposal, as a person should be resident six months before he had a vote. The method of rrgistration required amending. As to taxation, a property tax would be for improved land, whichiie would be prepared to support. It was quite time the colony was placed in a position to defend itself i from foreign attacks. [Referring to the Licensing Sill, he said all liquors should be tested directly they were landed, and Custom officers should also test and brand kerosene. He opposed the Local Option Bill, as drunkenness could not be put down by Act of Parliament, liailway works had proved remarkably satisfactory. They had expended seven millions on them, and the receipts last year were £569,000; expendituve, £402,000. Next year the Canterbury line would return a profit of 5 per cent. He approved of recent measures iv regard to Charitable Aid. Eegarding the stoppage of the land fund he should not be too precipitate, but wait and hear what the Government hid to say. If the Government showed they had dealt fairly with all the districts in the country, that would be something; but the matter certainly required explanation. It was reported that the Government 'intended to remove the Agent General.. If they did so it would be a great calamity. Sir J. VogeLshould have been appointed Commissioner to the Paris Exhibition. He had done more good than any one else to the country. He (Mr Hichardson) would give all matters brought before the House, fair consideration, and would be no party to factious opposition. Ho would not oppose the Premier, so long, as the measures brought forward were for the good of the colony. A vote of thanks and confidence in him was carried by a large majority. This day. . The Oxford Murder—Prisoner committed for trial. In the Supreme Court yesterday, Chapman, a wool sorter, sued Sir C. Wilson for £ICOO for malicious prosecution. Some time ago Wilson laid an information

against Chapman for stealing wool,, and he was committed for trial, but on coming before the Supreme Court ho was acquitted. In the present case the jury returned a verdict for plaintiff for £150 and costs.

Eguiro Hoft, charged at the Oxford Magistrate's Covirt yesterday for murdering his**wife on JulyS, was committed for trial. Prisoner's demeanour in Court was very quiet. He showed very little disposition to cross-examine the witnesses. At various points of the evMen.ce lie nodded his assent to the correctness of the testimony, but when his wife was stated to hove been kind to him, he gave a negative shake of the head and smiled in a cynical manner. When the medical evidence was stated, that the wounds which caused death were administered by either a shingling hammer, cleaver, or tomahawk, he pointed t-> the head of the latter, from which the handle had been burnt, as the instrument with which the deed was committed. Hoff never seemed fully to realise his position. He reserved his statement of the affair till he shall be brought before the Supreme Court.