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Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3670, 29 September 1880, Page 2

Tbb rehearsal of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera, " The Sorcerer," is being vigorously proceeded with by the Amateur Company, under Mr Owen's direction. We are informed that the caste will be made up in duplicate, so that if circumstances prevent one or two of the principals from appearing, there will not be a deadlock.

The Engineers, and Thames Rifle Bangers are reminded of tbeir battaliou drill ia the Volunteer Hall, Shortlaud, to-morrow evening.

We learn from our cablegrams that New Zealand securities, which bad been very much depressed, now show an increase of one per cent. This is very gratiying, as it shows that New Zealand is still in favor in the London money market despite the wholesale butchery we have been receiving at the bands of the British Press.

In the assault case in the Police Court yesterday we were somewhat in error in saying Catherine GHeeson was intoxicated. It appears the whole affair arose through a misunderstanding, Mrs Gleesou pleading guilty to taking part in it.

The Hamilton Borough Oounoil are going in for economy hot and strong. They have sacked their office boy and discontinued taking the Herald.

The usual quarterly competition for the Thames District Belt will eventuate on Saturday next.

Me Caikeb's portrait of the Maori chieftainess Emmii is on exhibition in Mr Wiseman's, Brown street. It is an excellent likeness, and in nil respects a work of art.

At the meeting of tho Pumping Association, held at Auckland ytisterday the greater portion of the time wav taken up in framing a cade of bye-laws. Tlie deed of Association was laid on tho table for signature, and was signed by the representatives present. A further meeting will be held early next week, when money for the purchase of tie Pump will be received and handed over to the Mbanatairi Company.

We would remind our skating friends of the reunion at St. George's Hall this evening to suitably break up the rinking season. Our lady friends who indulge in the light fantastic roller skate can put them by with the apostrophe: Another foot more large than mine, Thy danty springs may press, Another hand may grease thy wheels And maybe make a mess.

The following gives more of the details of tha arrest of the Fijian murderer than appeared in our latst issue. After killing the man Bees, he called at Mr Melville's at eight a.m., and demanded some food from the washerwoman, Mrs Arnold, to whom he spoke. Sbe refused, and Joe at once pounced upon her, and after a desperate resistance on her part, he threw her down, and struck at her repeatedly with the axe, hut' she fended off his blows with hoi' arms. The latter are painfully backed about, while one severe wound extends across her temple. Her screams brought assistance, and at the noise of approaching footsteps Joe decamped. In tho yard he was met by Mr Melville, who assailed him wi Mi a log of wood. Seizing a convenient opportunity he struck out with the log and broke tbe handle of the axe in two. His wife came out with his revolver, at tbe sight of which Joe held up his hands, as ii pleading for his life. He then made signs, and said something in his own tongue. Mr Melville Becuved the murderer with ropes, and tied his hands and feet till the police arrived. As the police brought Joe to tbe station, great crowds lined the streets to get a glimpse of him.

It may be interesting to know that of the junior candidates who presented themselves for examination at tbe Civil service held in June last 92 were examined of whom 24 passed, 66 failed to pass, and two were disqualified. Of those who failed, 24 failed in all subjects, 45 in arithmetic, 60 in history, and 40 in geography. iN'iurteen senior candidates wore examined of whom 12 failed to pass—9 failing in English, 1 in Latin, lin Arithmetic, 4 in Geography, 1 in French, 4 in Trigonometry, 6in Algebra, 3 in Ge« ometry, 2 in Physical science, 1 in History, 1 in Book-keeping, and 1 in Shorthand.

The shocking outrage by the Fijian, committed in Auckland on Mooday, has apparently occasioned intense excitement in the provincial metropolis. Both local papers teem with details of t'je fearful tragedy.

Two persons uamed J. O'rfhannessy and G. Elms wero arrested im warrant at Bailarat by Detective Bjiuiid from an information lodged by tha If gal moaager of the Great Souihern Hurdsiield Oompuay, on the following charge:—Thufc th«y did unlawfully, falsely, fraudulently, and deceitfully conspire together by divers, false pretences, by false reports, rumors, arts, and pretences, to induce tbe subjects of the Queen to believe that a large quantity of gsld had been found and dis> covered in the ground of the Great Southern flurdsfield (No Liability) Company, carrying on operations at a. mine in Bailarat, and thereby to occasion without any just or true oause, a gvetit increase uud risn in tbe value of the. shares in euob company, and injure aud nggrieve the Hubjeots of the Queen who Bbould on the 16th and 17th days of August, 1880, purchaso and but tiny part or parts and share or shares of and in the said company." The gold with which the claim is supposed to have been salted has "been traced back to a gold-seller's in Bridge street.

"A somcuoe" writes to the New Zealand Times in reference to Mr De Lautour's Law Practitioners Bill;—" Is there any call for this legislation ? No; we all know it. is being passed for the benefit of ot>e individual. Talk übout ' claea legislation being bad ;' what is it to ' individual legißlat on ?' It would bo fui' more lonest to iutroduce a Bill Ht ouce unking tin? honourable gentleman a

solicitor by Act of Parliament without exuroinution, thun opening the profession to any member of tlw General Assembly who, without further practice than he gains in Parliament, may go up for his examination. What does a member know of law ? He does not even understand many of the laws he helps to pass. What cun he learn of conveyancing or Court practice in the House ? And yet under tbia Bill, after being a member of the House for six sessions he will hare served a sufficient period io entitle him to apply for admission. So it comes to this, that we are going to pay some 120 persons 200 guineas ayear to enable them to acquire the position of barristers The standard is low enough in this Colony already, without opening it to members of the Gbneral Assembly. Many of them would undoubtedly be ornaments to our profession; but others would make our Courts as great bear gardens as they are making the House."

At a meeting of the New Zealand Medical Association held at the Dunedin Hospital. Di do Zouche presiding, 't,he following resolutions were pasß d:—' That thia Association represent to the Colonial Secretary the desirability of amending tbe Begistration Act as follows : (I.) Thut no death be registered until a certificate of its cause, signed by a medical man who has been in regular attendance, is produced to the Registrar.—Carried unanimously. (2 ) Th«t no burial be allowed within a radius of ton miles from the Registrar's office, unlil the death had been regis* tered or reported to the Coroner for his direction.—Carried unanimously. (3.) That the medical man required to certify to the cause of death be empowered to call before him when possible, any one or more of the informants named in the A ct, from whom he has reason to believe he can obtain such information as may be necessary to tbe discharge of his duty. That failiug such attendance, tbe medical man be relieved from all legal responsibility under the Act.—Carried, two dissenting.

M. Chalet, lecturer to Bachelor's Panorama, has taken up a new line in Dunedin, having on a recent occaeion recited IngersoU's lecture, "Moses. Mistakes." After the orchestra of the Freefchought Association had played a number of selections, the lecturer introduced himself by stating that he appeared before them that evening at the request of several friends, members of the Dunedin FreeUiought Association, and in assuming that rdle, he confessed to a feeling of nervousness which weuld account ior any shortcomings, and for which he asked their indulgence. He then proceeded t» eulogise the author of "Mo es' Mistakes," and in the course of his laudatory remarks said that having come from the same State, Illinois, he was in a position to state that were Ingersoll to seek election at the next Presidential election, he would be the chosen of the people by a larger majoriy than had been given since the days of Washington. To this averment, however, one of the audience objected by giving an expression to an emphatic " No." M. Chalet then recited the lecture, imitating the author's mode of delivery. Bursts of laughter were frequent, but were caused evidently as much by the lecturer's quaint Yankee intonation as from what are claimed to be the points in the lecture.

Such a fate as fell to the lot of the native in the following notice was likely that in store for Pufceroa bad the minority had their way at the meeting lately held at'Paeroaj—An old Maori named Hone has bt9n murdered under the following circumstances—lt seems that the old man in question belonged to the Ngapuhi hut has resided with the Ngatihapes, Lower Waikato, for many years, and by them he wag looked upon as a slave. It was suspected that he possessed the power of a " makutu," that ie, ef bewitching, and he is said to have caused great trouble amongst them. The Maoris had frequent meetings to consider how Hone was to be got rid of, and, nlthough many suggestions were made, no one cared to take the initiative. Some three months ago two of the Ngatihapes, named respectively Kapoto and Toe, were going out pigbunting, and they pressed the old man Hone to go with them. He consented. They (the three) started, and after travelling some distance Indian file—Toe in front, Hone in the centre) and Rapoto behind—Too went off the track into the fern, thus giving Rapoto a chance to do the bloody work. Rapoto fired, hitting the old man in the back, but the wound was not mortal, as Hone ran crying he was being murdered, and that he would " makutu" (bewitch) thrm all. Rapoto, however, reloaded his gun, and following the • poor fellow up, shot him dead. They then dragged the body into the swamp, where it was trampled in. Kapoto and Toe returned to their homes (near Whangape Lake) where they said the' old man Hone ran away into the bush, which explanation was considered satisfactory by the other natives. Nothing of the truth transpired until Saturday last, when a native to whom Toe told the above particulars, informed me. I have since learnt that Rapoto and Toe have gone to the Hauhaus. I believe the above to be strictly true, as I know two of the natives concerned.

It can be unhesitatingly asserted that C. McLiver sells the beat and cheapest tobaccos and smokers' requisite* on the field. He buys his goods for cash in all markets, and consequently the benefits to be derived from dealing at his establishment cannot be excelled. Note the address, and give a call. — 0. McLivbb, Brown street.