THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3492, 4 March 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1880.

DtTßiNftMr Tyler's address to the jury in the. case of Driscoll v. Norwich Union Company, he animadverted upon the evidence given by Detective Farrell, ".jprho- acknowledged he had taken a great deal of trouble in getting up evidence, aa he. said, "in the case." His Honor the Judge took the same view of the evidence and was rather severe upon the detective, but both gentlemen, it appears, labored under a: misapprehension. Mr Brassey and Mr Hesketh both stated that the detective had not rendered them any assistance, and with great reluctance gave evidence in the case. Mr Farrell asked leave of the Judge to give an explanation, which turned out to' be most satisfactory, His Honor acknowledging that he was in error in taking the view he did of words used by the detective when in the witness box. The explanation went to prove that the words used " in this case " did not refer to the action then, before the Court, but the case of the place owned by Mr Driscoll being burnt down, and the suspicious circumstances attending "it. By the direction of his superior officer he took every means to gather information and certainly in that pursuit saw and spoke to some of the witnesses summoned in the present action, but what knowledge he possessed was only in the possession of this officer, and none of it had been imparted by him to the solicitors for the' defence. After the explanation, Judge Macdonald admitted his wrong construction, which he regretted he had placed upon the evidence given by Detective Farrell, and so the subject dropped.

A meeting of gentlemen interested in the railway, met at the Borough Council to-day. Present-r-Mr Wilkinson (in the chair), Messrs Porter, Speight, Wilson, Souter, Brodie,^ McCullough, Brown, McGrOwan, Osborne, and Baghall. .Telegrams-sent ■■ to the Minister of Public Works, and his replies Vere read. The following" telegram from Mr Oliver was received to-day :^-r" The sum appropriated for the line Te Ai-oha to Grrahamstown was £30,000. This has been exceeded xslightly in the expenditure, and liabilities already incurred." The Chairman stated that from Parliamentary papers he had found that £65,000 had been voted for the railway, and that the total expenditure had only been £37,871.

Mb Mctßj tailor, of Brown street, has kindly undertaken to make a large quantity of-the clothing required for the Orphanage children. We are pleased to hear of such kindness, and hope the good example will be followed by others.

A telegram from Wellington says :— It is stated that, owing to Major Kemp's conduct in connection with the disturbance at Murimotu, the Government to-day recommended to his Excellency thatf Kemp be dismissed from all his appointments. It is understood his Excellency has approVed of this step.

We have heard it said that scarlet fever is spreading in the township, and in our columns to-day two writers call attention to nuisances. It is time the local authorities bestirred themselves, or some day or so we may have to chronicle the death rate of the Thames, instead of being usually the lowest in in the colony, as one of the highest.

Mb J. E. Hawley, the successor of Mr John Bull in charge of the Telegraph Department, has arrived, and will commence his duties in the course of a few days.

- A letter has been received by the County Council from Mr Stone,- inclosing an offer for the Caledonian mine, but asking for more than is likely to be granted, and not offering the amount required by the Council for the property.

A Gentlemen, resident in the vicinity, complained to us yesterday afternoon of the fact of a large dead dog lying in the Baillie street water-table, .near the Kauaeranga Boys' "School, which caused a most offensive effluvia. If this matter has not already been attended to we would draw the attention of the proper authorities to it.

A ceicket match (married v. single) will be played next Saturday at Parawai, Play will commeriee at ].45. sharp. Players will bo chosen from the! following :•— Married : „ Steedman, Lawless, Gray, Buttle, Murphy, Harrison, West, Munro, Burgess, Spencer (senr.), Bayldon, Scbofield, Qtway, Lough and. Gentry, Single : Spencer, Burgess, Turner, Beere, Mac Lean, Crump, iigginton, Gellion, Hudson, Tregonuing, Baxter, Symonds, Harrison, Ferguson, 'Chilcott, and Stewart.