NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 126, 1 October 1875, Page 11

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

A public speaker of Auckland, a few days ago, dilating npon the easy manner in which squatters acquired wealth, stated that a man whom he knew bought a few, pigs, put them out to grass, and in a few years had a station with 15,000 sheep on it. The orator forgot to mention how the transformation from pork to mutton took place. This is equal to the prisoner who was tried at a session on the charge of stealing a gun. While awaiting his turn in the dock a brother in affliction was arraigned for the larceny of a goose, but was acquitted on the assertion, backed by proof, that he had had it in his possession ever since it had been a gosling. Taking his cue from the good fortune of his predecessor, the gun Btealer boldly pleaded " not guilty," although he had been taken redhanded with the weapon in his possession. The defence urged was both novel and ingenious, and when on being called upon for his defence he stated that the gun had been his property ever since it had been a pistol. The Court complimented the pleader, but sentenced the prisoner. Refebbing to the death of the Rev. Father Boibreux, which took place at Auckland on the 14th inst., a local conteniporay says :—": — " The deceased clergyman was a native of France, and wa» educated at the seminary and college of the Arch-dioce3e of Lyons, where he distinguished himself by his proficiency in theological studies so much, that at the age of 20 he was a master of a Theological Conference. About six weeks ago he was ordered, by hia medical adviser to take a holiday, and spent some days at Mount Mary's, even then, however, devoting himself to the giving a ' retreat* to the religious there. The change did him no good, and he returned to the Presbytery, in Hobson street, evidently a dying man. After suffering much from a complication of disorders, to which the besb _ medical advice was unable to give much relief, he calmly "expired at about two o'clock on Tuesday morning." Judge Johnston seems determined that the etiquette and practices of the Court over which he presides shall hare rigid observance. During the hearing of a case of larceny (says the 'West Coast Times') he informed the Registrar when that officer asked the prisoner his age before sentence was passed upon him, that the custom of asking the age of prisoners had exploded, and that it was a matter for the Gaoler to deal with. The policeman/ who was about to swear a female witness, who entered the witness box, and took hold of the bible without removing her gloves, was told that it was his duty to see that the book was taken hold of by the hand only, without any covering ■„ and a witness who was undecided as to whether a bank note produced was green or blue, drew from his Honor the remark that any witness who defined the note as blue must be exceedingly green himself. The Crown Prosecutor, Sheriff, Gaoler, and Police all received quiet hints as to their respective duties, which doubtless will be productive of good at future sittings. Mb. Bbown, who while connected with the 'Auckland Herald,' contributed some of the most spicy paragraphs in its columns, haying taken possession of the sanctum of the ' Coromandel Mail,* in making his debut to his readers and writers says : — "We desire to state that our correspondence columns will always be open to those who may care to discuss matters of public interest, and which may concern the general welfare. At the same time we have to remind those who may wish to use our. space that a newspaper is not a carpet-bag, which has never got so much in it but what it Avill hold some more. A newspaper is bounded on the eait, north, south, and west by iron bars that will not give nor take more than its allotted quantity. When two correspondents write upon a subject on which they differ in opinion there is not the most remote necessity that we know of why one should insinuate that the other had poisoned his mother-in-law, or had carried off another man's wife, or had been convicted in his youth of stealing a pocket-hand-kerchief, or had kept a private still in his bed-room. Let everything be done decently and with discretion. When a correspondent understands his subject he should only write on one side of his paper. When he does not understand it, it i 3 no consequence on how many sides he writes, as it won't go in the paper." The annual^meefcing of the Turkish Baths Company was held on Saturday, the balance-sheet for the year being most satisfactory. In the course of his remarks the chairman stated that during the eight months passed the public had patronised the bath* to a large extent, no fewer than 3451 persons availing themselves of the Turkish, and 7,764 of the swimming baths. Considering the very great boon to the public generally, and the large quantity of water used by the company, it is reasonable to expect the City Corporation would make some reduction in the charge for the supply 0 | water, but it appears that notwithstanding repeated applicatione had been made to the Council, the Corporation declined to accede to the request. At the conclusion of the meeting a unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. and Mrs. Burton through whose excellent management tho baths are now in so efficient a. state.

We see by the local journals that since his induction to the pastorate of Invercargill, the Rev. Father Higgins has made considerable|improvements to the church in that town. Hitherto the accommodation inside the church was somewhat scant, and the external surroundings had assumed an aspect of decay, but the sacred building has now been considerably enlarged, the residence of the pastor repaired, and the grounds attached to the church have xindergone a beautifying operation. All, however, is not yet finished, and although a new chancel, choir 'and gallery, and an inner and outer sacristy have been added, a bell tower has still to be erected, for which, however, provision has been made.