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Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 967, 3 May 1872, Page 2

The Rev. G. H. Johnstone, of Christ Church, Nelson, delivered a lecture at the Court House, on Wednesday evening last, on the " Art of living with those around us; and getting on in the world." Mr John Munro occupied the chair, and in a few well chosen remarks introduced the reverend gentleman. The subject, appealing to the hearts, the interests, and best sympathies of the audience, was handled in masterly style, and found a mostcongeni >1 exponent. The lecturer's heart was in his wort; he evidently shared with the audience the enjoyment arising from the utterance of his ideas, and hence instead of a tissue of dreary platitudes, " wise saws, and modern instances," which so often go far towards making up the stock in trade of the average lecturer, the address from beginning to end fairly bristled with new born thoughts and fancies, oftentimes quaintly original and humorously suggestive; seasoned judicously with homely reflections and friendly words of advice and counsel. Not alone in the theory of living well and getting on in the world, but in practice also, did the reverend gentleman prove himself a worthy " guide, mentor, and friend." His opinions on men and manners were evidently based on a solid substratum of practical knowledge and experience, and hence the home truths enunciated were all the more self-convincing. In short, amusement and instruction were most judiciously blended, and the audience enjoyed an intellectual treat not often experienced. It is a matter of regret indeed that more persons were not present. At the conclusion of the lecture, which occupied nearly two hours in delivery, a vote of thanks was proposed by the Eev. A. C. Soutar, seconded by Mr Fisher, and carried by general acclamation. The Eev. Mr Johnstone left for Iteefton on Thursday morniug, but will, on his return hither, if time and circumstances permit, deliver another address, when doubtless a numerous audience will assemble to greet him. By a notification appearing in the Provincial Government Gazette of the 25th inst., officers in the service of the Nelson, Provincial Government on the Nelson Goldfields are informed that speculating in claims, business sites, leases, or other goldmining interests within the boundaries of those goldfields j s strictly prohibited; and any officer infringing the rule will not be retained in the service. The meeting of the General Assembly is adjourned until Wednesday, the 29th inst. Two cases of assault with unlawful weapons, by females, whereby the assailed have received serious injuries, have been brought before the Magistrate's Court during the present week. No one can have the slightest sympathy for the individuals who frequent the low haunts where such injuries have been received, but a salutary lesson should be given the viragoes who are the presiding deities in such dens of infamy, that smashing a man's nose with a tumbler, or destroying another's eyesight with an earthenware vessel, is a method of retaliation on turbulent customers that will subject themselves to the full terrors of the law. At the Eesident Magistrate's Court, on Wednosday, Antonio Thomas was charged with assaulting John Temperley, bailiff, in the execution of his duty. In this case, which had been a ijourned from the 30th ultimo, the defendant was found guilty of have kicked and otherwise maltreated the complainant; and was adjudged to pay ,£ls and costs, or suffer six week's imprisonment with hard labor. The defendant chose the alternative of residence and active employment in her Majesty's gaol. —Sarah Featherston was charged with assaulting Patrick Joseph Bruen on the 30th ult., and was remanded for eight days, complainant not being able to attend in consequence of injuries inflicted. Eodgers was charged with having assaulted Clarke, at the Shamrock Lead, Addison's Plat, on the 28 th ult. The case was adjourned until the 6th instant. A sudden death occurred in Bright street on Wednesday afternoon. A Mrs Lockyer who resided there, while sitting on the doorstep of ho house called to two men, named Callan and Donovan to carry her in as she felt unwell. They did so, and laid her on the bed, and a neighbor administered some port wine as a stimulant, while medical assistance was sought for. Dr Thorpe was promptly in attendance, but previous to his arrival the woman had expired. An inquest will be held this day at 2 p.m. The voluminous and exhaustive yearly report of Mr Warden Giles to the Provincial Secretary, a copy of which we are enabled to give in this issue, is worthy of general perusal, as indicating the development and progress of the Inangahua, Westport, Charleston, and Brighton districts, and also aa Betting forth his general opinions upon matters affecting mining projects. We call attention to the part referring to the much vexed question of beach workings, and the legal doubts which have been expressed as to how far mining claims can be legally held on the sea beach. On the subject of the Licensing Act we imagine

many of our readers will endorse the Magistrate's opinion that tho " Act is simply a means of revenue, obtained for tho most part at the cost of impairing in the public mind the sense of respect for tho law." It will bo seen by an advertisement appearment appearing in another column, thai, tho first of a. series of social entertainments will be held on Tuesday, the Bth instant, at tho Masonic Hall, tho object of the promoters of tho movement being to orgapis) u course of cheap and popular re-Unions, similar to those already iueeo«.s(uiiy established at Charleston and other towns on dio West Coast. As no pub'.'e *"Klyin Wostport has heretofore undertaken tin: duty, some credit is certainly due to those who have at last taken the initiatory action in the matter, and we feel assured success will attend their efforts, and that a good working committee will be appointed to establish a series of pleasant entertainments that will agreoably enliven the dulness of the long winter eveninsrs now rapidly approaching, and also afford a ready means of raising funds in aid of any good and worthy purpose. We understand that arrangements have been made by tho Provincial Government with Messrs Hale and Co. for a further su ply of stone for river protective works. Much valuable property may be saved if a few tons of stone are deposited so as to make good the lower groin at G-ladstono street. The Inahgab.ua, road works are progressing vory slowly. On many of tho sections the timber is not yet felled, and, from tho number of men at work along the line it is quite apparent that the work will not be completed in contract time, unless a far greater number of men are employed. Plenty of laborers are offering at fair wage?, but the complaint is general amongst them that no work can be had, unless by taking sub-contracts, which would not afford a means of subsistence. There is evidently a screw loose somewhere, but it is not too late to apply a remedy. The traffic upon the Builer is still increasing. Persons desirous of forwarding effects with despatch can snly obtain that result by offering a higher freight than what is generally current. As much as twenty pounds per to has been paid for freight to the Landing, an from £l2 to £ls is the current price from the Landing to Reefton. And although both boats at one end, and drays and waggons at the other are increasing in number almost daily, the traffic is still impeded, and fast accumulating freight daily awaits transit. The demand for goods is far in excess of the supply, and stocks are very low both at Reefton and the Landing. Our local merchants have orders for goods which it will take two months to supply, with the means of conveyance at present at their disposal. The quantities and value of gold exported from New Zealand during the quarter ending 31st March last is officially stated as follows:—Auckland, 32,5870z5, value £\ 13,382; Marlborough, 9550z5, value .£3,820; Nelson, £27,908, value £111,632; Westland, £ 84,484, value £137,930; Otago, 59,063, value £236,252; making in the aggregate 154,9970z5, valued at £608,022; as against 187,1600z5, valued at £675,281, exported during the corresponding quarter in 1871. The deficit arises from the falling off alone in the Auckland exports, all the other province showing an increase. A meeting of the shareholders of the Auckland and Thames Steam Packet Company has been convened, to consider tho advisability of confirming a resolution to wind up the company voluntarily. The official inquiry into the charges of cruelty preferred against the keeper and matron of the Karori Lunatic Asylum, shows that the patients have been systematically beaten and ill-treated. The members of the Board of Inquiry previous to entering upon their duties inspected the establishment throughout, and obtained silent testimoney, proving beyond a doubt that a thorough investigation has long been needed. The " Wellington Independent" says—Of smells there were enough to affect other organs of the inmates than their minds. Im two portions of the building visited, the offensive odors which filled the air were, to put it mildly, unbearable, although the result of the previous day's enquiry was perceptible in the wet floors of some of the cells, which, the members of the Board were informed, had been cleaned that morning for the first time in a period ranging from a month to six weeks. In a corner of the yard contiguous to the cells for violent patients was a heap of damp, dirty, shred-worn carpetting and matting used as bedding by the male patients, and in tho same yard was the mouth of a slushdrain, which emitted a noisome stench. A Miss Robinson, whose treatment formed one of tho most serious charges, was visited. She and her cell were very clean, but as her clothing had been changed only that morning, the clothes which it was alleged she had worn for a month were demanded and after some hesitation were pointed out by the keeper behind a door in the washhouse in such a way as to draw forth the indignant ejaculation from one of the members of the Board, " Come let's have the things out in the daylight; this is not a laughing matter." The appearance of the clothes was abominable. The evidence of the attendants was given in a manner indicative of a desire rather to duppress facts than to afford the information which it was desirable should bo elicited, and after putting a question six times without obtaining any response, the Board had to remind a witness that his evident unwillingness to atswer was more damaging to whoever he might be endeavoring to serve than if he were to divulge freely whatever he knew. As it is, however, the evidence bears on the face of it clear proof that the inmates have been subjected to "pullings" and "shovings" if not kicks and cuffs. Tho enquiry will not be without its lessons even if the charges are not confirmed by the decision the Board:

The prospectus of a South Pacific Steam, Navigation Company has been published, to be engaged between the Australian colonies and New Zealand, and it is intended, should the scheme be floated, to purchase the whole fleet of M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co., for the service. The capital of the company is to be £200,000, in 2000 shares of £lO each, of which M'Meckan and Blackwood will take up £50,000 shares altogether, or £20,000 in debentures, and £30,000 in shares. There seems to be little doubt of tho successful inauguration of the company, or of the profitable nature of the enterprise when once fairly at work. Another female lecturer ha 3 appeared in Auckland in the person of a Miss Stothard, who announced that on tho 18th instant she would deliver a lecture on botany. Tho Magistrates of Wanganui have arranged to entertain his Honor Mr Justice Johnston at dinner, at the termination of the first session of the Supremo Court in Wadganui. Wo learn by telegram from Wellington says the * Lyttelton Times,' that the Council of the University has conferred the degree of M.A., on the Rev. C. M. Nelson of Auckland, and that of B.A. on Mr Hugh Carlton. Messrs Gibbs, Walker, and Jordan, have been admitted to ad eundem degree of Bachelors of Arts. Tho Wellington Grammar School, in addition to the institutions in Nelson, Auckland, and Canterbury, already named by us, has been affiliated,

and the Rum of .£3OO has been allotted to each of those institutions, and a similar sum reserved for any institution in Otago which may bo placed upon tho same footing. The Council decided to apply to have a University established in Wellington. Wo (Uunedin ' Evening.Srar) notice in a Bendigo paper t?s.a t a ma:, named Thomas Hayes was brought before the City Police Court and charged, on his own confession with the murder of Yorkoy, at Millers Flat, in this province, in the year 1863. The magistrate seems to have dealt in a very off hand way with the matter, as, instead cf naking any further enquiries, ho discharged Hayes, after his explaining that when under the influence of drink he was in the habit of making all sorts of ridiculous statements. A very different course was pursued under similar circumstances by a London magistrate, who remanded prisoner from time to time until tho authorities in Melbourne could be communicated with, the result being that the man was convicted and executed. It is, we understand, supposed by some persons in town that the convict Fratson is undergoing punishment for the crime of which Hayes accused himself. Such, however, is not the case, Fratson was convicted of the murder of Mr Andrew Wilson, at the Molyneux, in July, 1862, while the murderer of Yorkey has never yet been discovered. The unfortunate Job Johnstone was tried for the offence, but acquitted on the clearest possible evidence. A northern exchange has the following : Poor little Col. Gorton finds himself in a fix in Wanganui. He has gone there flourishing his brand, and burning to distinguish himself; but it appears that the furniture in the Court House has never been passed by the Government; consequently, if the brand is put on, and the furniture afterwards rejec+ed, the contractor will doubtless refuse to take it back. It is feared that the self-restraint he is compelled to practice for a little while will undermine his constitution.. Mr James Osgood says the " Wellington Post" intends very shortly to make considerable improvements to the Metropolitan Hotel, Wellington. Mr Toxward has prepared plans for an addition of a large billiard room at the rear of the house. In it two billiard tables, built on piles, will be placed. When this alteration is completed the present billiard room will, we learn, be converted into a dining room. A singular memorial to his Excellency the Governor is in course of signature in Auckland. It is in favor of the sureties of H. G. Collet, charged with falsifying the books of the Flagship Golden Anchor Gold Mining Company, praying for mitigation of the penalties attached to them as Collett's bondsmen. The reason given is unique, and is, " that the sureties had full faith in Collett's honesty, and that they did not receive any fee or reward for becoming his sureties." If bondsmen are to be released every time their faith in the honesty of men is proved unfounded, the farce of obtaining sureties may as well be at once discontinued. The Wellington "Post" says—" Mr M'Leod, M.H.R. for the Bay of Islands, has been engaged by the Provincial Government to proceed to Canada and bring out 500 immigrants. The rumors respecting Mr M'Leod's resignation of his seat in the House of Representatives, which we have already contradicted, are unfounded, as he will not start for Canada till after the next session. The Provincial Government have also very recently completed an arrangement with Mr Ingles (who has taken up a block of 2500 acres of land at Fitzherbert Town) by which he starts to-morrow by the Gothenburg for Europe to select in Holland 200 immigrants, which are to be brought out within a certain time. The General Governent will pay £7 10s each towards the coat of the passages, and the Provincial Government will pay the balance. The immigrants will be put on sections of about 50 acres each of the 2500 acre block, and as they are placed on the ground the Proviueial Government is to receive payment for it. The Christchurch Press says:—"We expect next session to see an attempt to array a band of members against tho Government, pledged to maintain the cause of the provinces, and to resist any constitutional change which threatens to diminish their power, finances, or their dignity.' - Messrs Ralfe and Eaton are candidates for the seat in the Westland County Council, vacated by Mr Scanlan. A sharp contest is anticipated. The Bank of New-Soaland has declared a dividend at the rate of 15 per cent. The Dunedin ' Star' says that a piece of road metal was picked up in Union-street, tho other day, which, on examination, proved to contain gold, numerous specks being visible to the naked eye. The rate of postage form New Zealand to the United Kingdom via Brindisi has been raised from 9d to lOd per half-ounce. A reform in boat travelling is about to be introduced by the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company. Instead of charging sea sick travellers for meals, tho very sight of which they loathe, the company intend in the future to exact payment only for those actually consumed on board their vessels.—Auckland ' Herald.' The Timaru ' Herald' complains that the carrying power of the coasting steamers is quite incompetent to keep pace with the constantly accumulating stores of produce, daily pouring into the town. The steamers are said to be barely able to manage the trade of their own agencies. The line to Kaiapoi will be formally opened for traffic on Monday next. The fares—second class—will bo, single tickets two shillings, return tickets three shillings. The Chinese are showing signs of advancement. According to the Bruce ' Herald,' the representatives of every class of Celestials employed on the Tuapeka goldfield met in Lawrence recently, when it was agreed to adopt measures to build a club house in Dunedin for the reception of their countrymen upon their arrival from China; and it was also agreed that the subscriptions should not be less than £5 to £6. The sum of £2OO was subscribed in the room. The Dunedin 'Evening Star' says:—lt was only natural to expect that Sir David Monro would avow himself a decided opponent to the Ministry. In his late address to the electors of Waikouaiti, he said, if elected, his object will be " to arrest the policy of the Government, which he regards as useless, extravagant, and unstatesmenlike, and to substitute for it one having a regard for those principles of prudence and economy, the neglect of which in public as in private lifo leads to poverty and insolvency." The Lyttelton ' Times ' calls attention to a well executed but coarse cartoon, originating in the recent reduction in the pay of the police force, and now being distributed in the city. A prominent member of the Provincial Executive is standing in the doorway of tho Police Depot, laden with a quantity of police clothing and hats, after the most amusing style of "010 Clo' " dealers, whilst a placard is placed on the wall at each side of the doorway. The one

on the right is " Clearing sale. Loft oft" ' uniforms, hats, &c, to make room for new stocks, a size or two smaller, and of coarser material, to suit expected fresh arrivals." And the one on tho left is " V.H.—WtSited, a few intelligent lads; no references required as to character; height sft downward; must hare light fingers, as they will be oipoeted to supplement their wages (on the quiet) by their own exertions; wages 5s per diem; by order." Under the cartoon there are also the word 3 " Dedicated without permission to the Executive." The survey of native lands in Wanganui district does not appear to be a very cheerful kind of occupation, judging from the following paragraph in the ' Wanganui Herald of the 11th inst.:—"Mr Monro has entirely upset tho report of his having been killed by the natives, by appearing amongst U3 looking remarkably well. He informs us that he mot with considerable opposition in making the survey, but managed to complete it without any mishap. At times, however, he was compelled to start from camp at 3 a.m., and ride to the place required, and work from daylight for two or three hours before the natives got about to stop him." Judge Chapman does not appear acquainted with diggers' language. When delivering his charge to the Grand Jury recently, he said the word " fossiker" meant " loafer."