FIJI NEWS.

(from orn own* coRE-EsroNnKXT.)

Suva, April 14th. BREAKDOWN OF THE SUVA. ,p nE U,S.S. Cos. inter-island steamer Suva lis broken down bad 13-. She has not been . a satisfactory condition for some time

a3 t and has been on the hard for an over haul rather frequently. She left Suva for Levuka on 2Cth inst., and had heavy ■eather up. She arrived, the following day, b t had sprung a leak on the trip, and had vera l feet of water in her when %" p -Qk alongside the wharf. The crew re j ied to £0 to sea in her again without a Qn VO y,alleging that her bottom plates were c. t cc (;ive. A survey w'cs ordered and held, j o ] ]efl -as pronounced unsea worthy. She Hs been temporarily repaired, and goes up fa thorough renovation under convoy of :, The trouble is that when nvrnetl by her former proprietors she had a ? gkin inside, and being' used to L ry sugar and molasses the leakage (I ivasto mixed with the bilge water and seriously damaged her plates, as such a mix ture rusts the iron very rapidly. Since the Company has ha<l ner> yhe lias been m «ited inside, but this could not undo the damage clone, and her plates will have t0 bo renewed.

, COMPLICATIONS. Tlio withdrawal of the vessel from service , soin e\vhat mixed up our arrangements. p, o«s to run her Tonga trip immediately \, j, ci . return from Levnka, taking down L Governor's mail and bringing back the rtV or at any rate the Chief Justice, who to open the Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court, according to ordinance, on ♦hllsthinst. It was not certain whether the Governor would not go on to Auckland from Tonga in the Diamond, to get into direct telegraphic communication with Her Majesty's Government, If lie has not done ' J all( i has depended on the Suva, [' i s having a pleasant wait, and are left without anyone who can even adjourn the Court, Probably the lieutenant-Governor will appoint, the At toniey-toieral to perform that duty. Mr Vonl the manager for the Union Company in Fiji has chartered the schooner Tavium to work the windward trade and tender the Arawata. THK ARAWATA IN CUAFANTINE. \eain the Arawata has been placed in ommntine, and this time apparently tithless show of reason than before. Ihe Arawata made a splendid run—from port to portin 4 days '2 hours, arriving at 7 p.m. on the Bth, but she was detained all Satur day and Sunday, being finally admitted to pratique on .Monday. The question lias been nut: "What is the quarantine for— scarlet fever?" On her last trip the vessel jiad to make up eight days from Auckland. This time she left Auckland on the jveninf of the 3rd, and was cleared on the morning of the ,11th. Is the development of scarlet or any other shade of fever subject to these erratic moods. Sensible people make no objection to a necessary quarantine, however incon venient it may be ; but it is the deliberate okructiveness and unnecessary humbug to which the vessel has been subjected that makes them devote to the infernal gods the system under which it is permitted. THE REVISED ESTIMATES. The sitting of the Council, which has been looked forward to with such interest, has been held, and has resulted unsatisfac torily. Estimates were submitted in ordi nary course last December, which set ex pected revenue at £09,189, and anticipated expenditure at i79,0:!5. It was known, lowever, that the3e were merely of a format character, and that they were only pre sented to tide over the time till the new Governor could deal with the matter in person. Therefore an appropriation was only taken for the interval. It was ex pected that the revised estimates would in dicate the policy of the future, and after three months' waiting they have been pre sented. But with the despatch which en abled the Governor to proceed came another directing him to leave for Tonga, so that after all he was not present at the Council meeting. This meant that he had arranged everything before leaving, and as the non official members did not see the force of coming long distances merely to endorse a cut and dried programme, with one exception they were non e<i(. The lieutenant-Governor presided, and foul1 other officials were present. The estimates set forth actual receipts for ISSG at £64,574, as against £76,668 for '85, and £91,525 for '84. It is then expected th ; t the current year w-illyield £72,159, or in round numbers f",ooomore than last year, despite the con tinued exodus and all but stagnation of production outside the sugar circle. Out of this £72,159 it is proposed to spend £73,607. As contrasted with the estimate for '86 a retrenchment has been effected amountingin round figures to £7,000. Of this, £1,225 comes off' the Governor's £4,000 salary; £2,000, or thereabout, is due to the percentage reduction from salaries ordered hytiie Colonial Oflice ; and the balance, 23,775, represents actual retrenchment. Out of £700 hitherto voted as a grant-in-aid to the State schools in Suva and Levuka, *200 has been saved ; and then £250 has ten made as a "personal allowance" to the Colonial Secretary's salary of £600, Thile the salary of the Governor's private secretary is increased from £100 to £300. Here be it noted that the Hon. Rupert Carrington, brother of Lord Car fington, arrived by the s.s. Fijian on Sun day to fill this position. Out of the £73,607, fee is actually voted a sum of £3,254 for public-works, i.e., "tire insurances, water "^cleaning public offices, etc.," which, according to the schedule, come under Ms head. All the rest is absorbed "1 salaries and incidentals. It is truly wonderful that when a colony is go verned to this extent it should obstin ately persist in progressing backwards. MEDALS AND DIPLOMAS. The last meeting of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition Committee was held the other day, there being about V 2 officials jMSnon-officials present. The Lieutenant uovernor presided, and matters pro wled as raagniloquently as though the fneially-fosterert affair, in which no public Wterest was ever taken, had not resulted 1!) a miserable failure. The crowning absurdity was reached when it was an nounced that a ease of medals and diplomas ?.,. een receive'l f°r distribution to the wmbitors o f every member of the Com mittee. These number 108, of which two- neither exhibited nor attended a ™gi" msoM,,!,. The public fssling with aspect to the matter was well expressed v a recipient, who insisted on giving a JfM setting forth that the articles were rfepl«d by him as being the only public ward he had ever received, or was likely ° receive, for doing positively and abso lutely nothing. 'MORE CHANCES OP DISTINCTION. ♦ul*^.instance of the Lieut.-Governor, t ». 1 , ltion Committee, in dissolving, rrT-i itself illto another Committee to wnsKler three things : -(l) The forv/arding ? a.congratulatory Jubilee address to Her ajesty; (2) the desirability of associating I*n ■ 1 rvitk the establishment of the tZT',.- Institu<e ; (3) the advisability of c oTv "g the "presentation of the tS, at the Melbourne Centennial later I?"" A me*\ in S was held a few days and I the officials were again present PnbliT n T on-°fficials again represented the •toss n aI Was resolvccl to forward the ad 0 { Lewi/ tT? aml secure the co-operation start*? ' which nful most independently otheMn ?? lts own hook- Touching the matters theLieut-Governorlaiditdown

most positively that not one penny could be contributed from the general revenue to ward the cost; but he modestly suggested that the colonists should (1) subscribe and forward a sum of money towards the es tablishment of the Institute ; (2) subscribe and erect some local memorial of the Jubilee, for example a Victoria Market in Suva ; (3) subscribe to provide funds for the representation of the colony at Melbourne. A further public meeting to consider this matter is to be held on the 25th, at which it is expected the Governor will preside. Ap parently the Lieutenant-Governor supposes that though the Government is bankrupt, the colonists have their pockets full of money. RAINS. There have been few clays during the month on which rain has not fallen, and the almost incessant downpour, which has now continued for nearly four months, is be coming horribly monotonous.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

(BY TKLEORAPH—PKESS ASSOCIATION.)

(by telegraph,—own correspondent.)

Wangantji, this day. At the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice stated that there were no cases calling for attention at his hands. No bill was found against Johnston, charged with rape. Angeiique Therasse pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a watch andchain,and was remanded for the purpose of ascertaining what "this historical character" (as the Chief Justice called her) has been doing since last convicted of petty theft about four years ago. The Chief Justice, in his remarks, said that the Grand Jury would probably throw out the bill against Johnston for rape, on the ground that the girl was a consenting party. Hearing that the girl was under 15 years of age, I have made inquiries on the mutter, and find that His Honor had not exactly stated the reason. The evidence given was not con sidered satisfactory by the Grand Jury, and hence the bill was thrown out. The girl was actually over the age of consent, but only two days, so that "had the evidence been much stronger, the legal point as to consent might have had some effect. In one case of larceny from a dwelling, the two prisoners interested were most un desirable looking acquisitions to the col ony, who had stowed away on board the Wakatipu at Sydney, and so reached the colony. They got 14 days in Wellington, and as soon as they came out committed a felony, for which they got 9 months each yesterday.

LwERCAJUJiLn, Tuesday. Tiik Supreme Court sessions opened this morning before Judge Williams. The Judge congratulated the Grand Jury on the lightness of the calendar, there being only four cases one ot breaking and entering, one of receiving, one of attempted suicide, and one of rape on a young child. The Grand Jury returned true bills in all cases. Ah Wah, charged with attempted sui cide by cutting his throat with a meat cleaver, in consequence of a quarrel with his father, pleaded guilty, and was released on his father's re cognisance in £80, to keep the peace for six months. William Henry Irwin, for breaking and entering, and stealing £'20 worth of goods from the store of Whitting ham Bros, and Instone, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two years' imprison ment. Timaru, this day. John Gilmour, aged 07, for burglary at Oamaru, was sentenced to 12 months' im prisonment. The police said that the man was unknown, but the Judge expressed his absolute disbelief in the theory of his being a first offender. The prisoner defended himself with considerable skill in cross examining. Grant and Anderson, for burg lary at Otepopo, near Oamaru, got three years, the Judge characterising them as a couple of thorough gaolbirds.

OPERA HOUSE-Dr.Lynn, the Conjuror.

Dr. Ly>"n, a stage conjuror and sleight-of hand artist of considerable repute, who has performed with success at the Egyptian Hali and Crystal Palace, London, arrived from the South yesterday, and commenced his season at the Opera House last night before a crowded audience. This result, following as it does upon the heels of a not very lucrative season of comedy presented by a iirst-rate company, shows con clusively that the heartof the people hankers more after professional jugglery than high class theatricals. The fact forms a curious commentary upon our boasted culture, proving that we retain in very large measure the childish instinct of being "pleased with a rattle—tickled with a straw " which Gold smith ascribed to the villagers of "Sweet Auburn." It was a very representative audience, including as it did all classes of the community, even the clergy,for amongst those present we noticed the Rev. Fathers Downey, Lenihan and O'Gara. Dr. Lynn is an expert and accomplished performer of his class. Although none of his tricks is novel, he executes them all with an ab sence of paraphernalia that seems to pre clude anything in the shape of illusion, and yet he succeeds in completely baffling de tection even by the shrewdest of his patrons. More than this, he is a capital conversationalist, and his "patter" of small talk, sparkling with bon mot*, keeps the "house" in a simmer of laughter. In person, the gentle man is short, stout, and elderly, with a face capable of very mobile expression, and with an accent which suggests, but not too markedly, a connection with the " oiildsod. With the assistance of two gentlemen selected from the audience, thedoctor began hisentertainment with the handkerchief and goldfish tricks, and the production of a bor rowed watch from the centre of a loaf_ of bread, interspersing them meanwhile with such feats as the discovery of eggs in gentle men's beards, and of wigs, dolls, etc., from their bell-toppers. In tho second part of the programme, five gen tlemen came upon the stage to take part in a Spiritualistic seance, and very soon the table which they used exhibited signs of levitation, after which it began to gyrate wildly, turning the " seancists furiously round and round with their hands glued to its surface. The riotous be haviour of the table was attributed by the doctor to the fact that one of his five associates from tho stalls had been trying the " spirit's " rather immodorately before ( he came to the Opera House. The "thought transference" exhibition was the least enter taining item in the entertainment, and that of the "Vanishing Lady" was about the best. In full view of the audience the lady in question was accommodated with a chair placed upon a newspaper, spread over the car pet to show that no stage traps were used, and then a black cloth was thrown over her. While so screened from observation her head and foot were felt by the representa tive of the audience upon the stage, and yet when in a few moments the cloth was raised the lady had disappeared, but at once showed herself in Mr Abbott's private box alongside the orchestral stalls. This trick closed the performance, and sent the audience home in mystified wonder. The entertainment will be repeated nightly, and a run of " crowded houses" may safely be anticipated.

A telegram from Hamilton, this morning, intimates that Mr Hughes, solicitor, is si little better, but it is feared that he will never rise from his bed again.

SHOCKING FATALITY.

MISS MINNIE GLEDHILL

BURNT TO DEATH,

The most shocking fatality it has been our lot to chronicle for a lono time past occurred at the residence of Mr Gledhill, Argyle-street, Ponsonby, last evening, the victim being. Miss Minnie Gledhill, the second daughter of Mr George Gledhill, the well-known cordial manufacturer. It would appear that last night, about eight o'clock,' Mrs Gledhill, accompanied by .her eldest daughter, had gone out to visit a neigh bour, leaving Miss Minnie, aged'2o, and Miss Nellie, aged about 15, alone in the house. Mr Gledhill was in town at his place of busi ness, and the other two members of the family, the Masters Gledhill, who are study ing for the law, were at their instruction class. The two girls, who it appears slept together, went into their bedroom intending to retire for the night. Before Miss Minnie Gledhill had commenced to undress she ob served thatthegas bracket,which wasfixed to the wall near the window, had been pushed round in such a way that the

FLAME OP THK GAS came in contact with the window curtain, which was all in a blaze. The girl seized the fiercely - burning cotton fabric of die curtain, and pulling it down to the floor proceeded to stamp out the flames. While thus engaged, the younger sister noticed that Miss Minnie's dress had ignited at the back, and rushing forward endeavoured to throw her down and so extinguish the lire. The unfortu nate girl, who by this time had become cog nisant, of her danger, lost all presence of mind, and escaping from the aims of her sister, rushed out of the house shrieking wildly for her mother. The agonised cries of the poor girl brought a large number of neighbours to the spot, also Mrs Gled hil) and her eldest daughter. Amontrst those early on the scene were Mr W. S. Furby, Mr L. Stewart, Mr Foster (of the Survey Department), and the Messrs Oxley. By this time the girl w.ii one mass of flames ; so fiercely did her clothing burn that many of "the neighbours at first thought that the house was on fire. Her burning dress ignited the pine " needles " as she rushed about the garden in her aimless agony, and she then left a train of tire behind her on the ground. Mr Furby and others at once pushed her to the ground, and wrapping her in rugs and other thick articles speedily had the (lames extinguished. Not one minute could have elapsed between the mo ment the first scream was heard and the extinguishment of the flames, and yet every stitch of the lower portion 'of her clothing was completely burnt oft' her body. The scene was a most heartrending one. Mrs Glcdhill was thoroughly pros trated by witnessing her daughter's sufferings, but Miss Gledhill and "Nellie displayed great presence of mind in assisting in the measures for their sister's safety. The telephone was speedily called into requisition, and Mr GledhiH was apprised of the accident. Procuring a cab he drove at once to Dr. Renderdine's resi dence,and half an hour later the poor father and the doctor were in attendance on the victim. Dr. Kenderdine found on arrival that a good deal had already been done to mitigate her sufferincs by the placing of cotton wool and oil on the burnt portions of the body. On examination he found the injuries to be dreadfully severe. The legs, backs of the thighs, and lower portion of the back bad suffered most severely. The legs were completely roasted, while the skin had peeled oil" the thighs in rolls. There were also great burns under the arms, and the back of the chest was fearfully injured. The face had apparently escaped contact with the fire. Miss (Jledhill, while in the doctor's hands was perfectly sensible, and directed those attending on her where to place the lint and oil. THE HOUSE ON FIRE. After the flames on Miss Gledhill's clothing were extinguished it was found that the bedroom was on fire ; the burning window curtains having cau.-ed the paper and scrim of the wall to ignite. Some of the neighbours extinguished the flames with some little difficulty. DEATH OF THE VICTIM. Miss Gledhill passed a night of most ex cruciating agony. This mornino- at eight o'clock she was visited by Dr. Kenderdine, and about a quarter of an hour later she expired. At first- the doctor had en tertained some slight hope of recovery. The immediate cause of death was shock to the nervous system. The greatest pos sible sympathy is expressed for the Gledhill family in their sad trouble. The deceased young lady was a fine frirl of prepossessing appearance; and a feneral favourite. She was a pro minent member of the Ponscnby Lawn Tennis Club. Miss Nellie Gledhill was also severely burnt in her heroic endeavours to save her sister's life.

AMERICAN LEGACY TO THE AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

In yesterday's issue we intimated that the Hospital Board had received a communfea tion from California intimating that one Ferdinand Bartli had left a legacy of £200 to the Auckland Hospital. The following is a copy of the letter announcing the be quest :—" San Francisco, Gal., February •21, 1887. To the President or Manager of the City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand : Dear sir,—To-day, in our Probate Court here, was filed the last will of Ferdinand Barth, who died this month. He bequeaths *to the Hospital of the city of Auckland tho money in the Post- Savings Bank,' and makes tho Provincial Hospital of Auckland his residuary legatee, by which yon will be entitled to above 1,000d01.-\, more or less, say some £200 in your money. In order to secure these sums you should have the matter looked after here. You should ascertain and advise me of the amount in- the Post Savings Bank and to whom to have it allotted on the decree of the distribution: That to Mr. the manager, or some officer of the Hospital in trust for it. You should also send me a power of attorney, drawn pursuant to the laws of New Zealand, authorising me to act for the Board of Managers as President or Executive of the Hospital, and to receive from, and to re ceipt to, tho Public A{lnv»«f>fcrotor here for the residuary amount bequeathed when the same is ascertained. Now, as you do not know me, and it would only consume too much time, considering tho length of time required for letter togo and answer re turned, I suggest that you send such power of attorney, investing mo with the powers I have mentioned to the British Consul here with request to supervise me in the matter, and to have one of the employees of the Consulate go with mo with such power, and receive the money on final distribution, and remit to you a receipt ':-v it. . . My ser vices would cost -5?l. r>o dollars. -Yours, etc., Manuel Eyrk." We may add that the Hospital Board have no knowledge of the testator, and the Hospital books do not low that any person of that name was treated in the institution.

An examination in connection with the Phnmiacy Board is proceeding to-day at the Kite H C. Garland, registrar to the ° B S m£w J- A; PoruCand Graves Aickin are the examiners. There are Slx ppndidatea,

SUPREME COURT-IN BANCO.

This Day

(Before His Honor Mr Justice Ward.) New Zealand Land Settlement Company. —Mr James Russell moved that the sub mission to arbitration of the matters in dis pute between the New Zealand Land Settle ment Co. and Mr Wm. Jackson should be made a rule of Court. In the same case there was a motion set down by Mr Button for the setting.aside of the award. When it was called on Mr Button explained that Dr. Pollen (Secretary of the Company) had filed an affidavit setting forth his reasons for believing the award to be unfair and exces sive, and therefore^ for urging; that it should be set aside. The liiiidavit also set forth that since Dr. Pollen had given his evidence before the arbitrators a memorandum book or diary had been discovered, in which there was an entry which would very strongly have cor roborated the evidence jriven by him. Those were the grounds on which it was asked that the award should be set aside, but he himself did not think this affi davit disclosed sufficient grounds to war rant him in troubling the Court with the matter. He therefore withdrew the motion. —Mr Russell's motion was then granted. New Zealand Land and Labour Co operative Company.—Mr J. M. Alexander moved under the Trustees Act, on-behalf of the above Company, fcr an order authoris ing the payment to them of certain moneys deposited in the Auckland Savings Bank by certain applicants for shares, to the credit of Messrs C. S. Wright, Theo. Cooper, and W. R. Wuddel, who had accepted tho position of trustees for the receipt of such moneys. The cir cumstances under which the application is made, were recently explained in our columns. The money was now claimed by different persons. The trusts had not been defined, but it was tolerably clear that the money had been paid by the depositors foi shares in the Company, and the Company was therefore pri ma facie, entitled to it.— In answer to His Honor, Mr Alexander stated that the Company was not now carrying on business in Auck land, but was carrying on business in Gisborne. The motion was granted, His Honor directing that the money should be paid to the Company after deduction of the costs if any of the parties now holding it.

Appeal Case

William Cbowther (appellant) v. Saml. Attkwkll (respondent).—Case on appeal from the R.M. Court, Auckland, stated under the provisions of-the R.M. Court Act, 1867. —Mr Theo. Cooper appeared for the appellant and Mr C. E. Button, instructed by Messrs Thome and Rigby, for tho re spondent. The case as stated set out that in the Resident Magistrate's Court the plaintiff (present respondent) claimed from the defendant (present appellant) t27 4s Gd, for dfrmages sustained by reason of defendant's servant having on the Uth of August last negligently man aged and conducted, on the Queen street Wharf, a cab containing plain tiffs luggage. Tho plaintiff lost certain of his personal effects, and had others in jured. The plaintiff hired from the defendant a cab co convey himself, his wife, son and daughter, and a Mrs Hardy, along with plaintiffs luggage, from his residence in Edinburgh - street, Newton, to the s.s. Rotomahana, then lying alongside the inner side of the outer tee of Queen-street Wharf. The cab was driven by William Menzies (a servant of the de fendant), and was drawn up 8 feet, from the edge of the wharf. The driver descended from his seat, put' the break hard down, placed the reins round the handle of the break and so lost all per sonal control over the horses. While the driver was removing the luggage from tho box, the horses became restive. The driver ran to their heads and caught hold of the reins, but too late to acquire control. He then ran back to take the reins off the break handle, but was knocked over the side of the wharf. Meanwhile plaintiff and his wife and daughter had got out of the cab, but before Mrs Hardy conld do so, the horses and the cab (with her in it) went over tho side of the wharf, and struck there against the side of the steamer while Mrs Hardy was precipitated into the water along with the luggage. The R.M. held that defendant's servent was 1 guilty of negligence and want of due care, and judgment was accordingly given for £2(3 The question therefore taken on appeal to the Supreme was whether the above facts wore evidence of negligence and want of due care on the part of appellant's driver, and whether the respondendent had any cause of action against the appellant.— After Mr Cooper had recited the brief facts of the case, Hia Honor expressed grave doubts whether it was a driver's duty to re move irom his cab a passenger's lug gage. WboFe a man by doing so, might lose :'6bhtrol over his horse or horses, and {when he had no one to assist him in his duties he doubted very strongly whether tho removal of the passengers' luggage was part of the driver's duty. His primary duty was to look after his horses. —Mr Cooper contended that the law was that what was usual was reasonable, and he submitted that it was usual for a cab man to remove his passengers luggage. In this case it was while performing this duty that appellant's servant lost control over bis horses and the loss of the luggage came about. Consequently, he was not guilty of negligences. —His Honor still inclined to the opinion that a driver's first essential duty was to look after his horses and to re frain from doing anything which interfered with this duty.-Mr Cooper: Surely it is his duty to dismount and open the door of the cab ? His Honour would not say that it was" If it entailed the losing of control over his horses he should say it was not the driver's duty to do it. Mr Button pointed out as further proof of the driver's neglence in this case that ho began removing the luggage before he had let Mrs Hardy out of the cab and that as a consequence she was thrown into the water. Mr Cooper quoted Mr Justice Wills in support of his contention that whatever is usual is reasonable in law. He also cited the cases of Jackson v. The Metropolitan Railway Company, 3 Appeal Cases, p. 196, and Ryder v. Wombwell, 4 L.R., Exchequer Div., p. 38.—His Honor : I cannot hold that if a man engaged as a driver ties up his reins and leaves his horses without control he has not com mitted negligence.—Mr Cooper: Although it is shown that it is usual to do so for the purpose of removing luggage, and although it iaid down that what is usual is reasonable in law? —His Honor : I do not know that that convinces" me that what is usual is necessarily reasonable.—Mr Cooper: That is the law. —His Honor said the present was a very hard case, no doubt. Still, he felt con strained to hold that in all cases where a driver is employed, and where he loses control over his horses while engaged in moving luggage, and an accident in volving loss or damage to the passengers therefrom, the parties whose servant he is are responsible. This night militate against the driver's future employment, but still the fact could not be lost sight of the driver's chief duty was to preserve o-coutrol over his horses. - Mr Cooper : Then it would require two men to work a cab.—His Honour: Unless the driver takes the risk, which is done in the majority of cases. It has re peatedly been my experience for tho driver of the cab to say to me " I should be very glad to assist you, sir, but I cant leave my horses." If the man does leave his horses under the circumstances, and an accident happens, he bears the risk of it.— The appeal was accordingly dismissed, with £10 costs. The Court then rose.

THE LANDSLIP ACCIDENT

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

"■'■ ■ ".>' '■■ •■--■'.. v Westport, this day. Thos. Laiiy is tho name of the man who was killed by the landslip on the Buller Road yesterdj^y, and Patrick Dunn is in jured. They were working with the object of bringing down thirty feet of the face when it slipped without warning, entirely covering Lahy and just catching Dunn. Lahy's body was cut up into small pieces. He leaves a wife and eight children. Dunn is progressing favourably.

SPORTING NEWS.

(Peuter's cableokam.)

■ .'.'■ Sydney, Tuesday. TnE Canterbury Racing Club's Autumn Meeting was held to-day. Mitrailleuse,who was entered for two races, the Flying Handicap and Canterbury Handicap, failed to get placed in either event.

JOHN MATTISON'S CASE.

The Charge of Vagrancy Against

a Young Man.

John Mattison again appeared at the Police Court to-day before Messrs F. Guinness and J. P. King, J.P.s, on the charge of having no lawful vissible means of support. Tho case was adjourned from last week in order to give the accused, a young man, an opportunity of pro ducing evidence to rebut the very damaging testimony of the police. Mr O'Mcagher appeared for the accused. He said he had only been instructed a few minutes previously. He would call a former employer of the accused to give evidence respecting character, and also his sister, at whose house he had lived since he came back from the country. He was simply one of those who were out of work in consequence of the hard times. If all people in the city in the same circumstances were to be arrested and charged with vagrancy, Mount Eden Gaol would not contain them. The Bench pointed out that the evidence against the accused also charged him with decoying drunken men away for the purpose of robbing them. Mr O'Meagher retorted that that evidence could go no further than that prisoner was in the company of drunken men. He called Richard Plowman, who said he was a bootmaker in Karanga hape Road. He knew the accused, who was working for himself and Mr O'Brien from April of last year till a month after Christmas. He then went to the gumrJelds. He bore a vevy good character while in their employment, and was a hard-working young man. He left their employment because of slackness of work. Sarah Ann Brett deposed that tho accused was her brother. He had been living at her house since his return from the country about three weeks ago. He had been unable to get employ ment at his trade since he came back to town. In reply to Sergeant Pratt, the wit ness said she never knew the accused to be drunk, nor dkl she know that her mother had made a complaint to the police about him beating her. Her mother had no cause for complaint against him. Mr O'Meagher proceeded to call the accused to give evidence, but Sergeant Pratt objected that it was not competent for accused to give evidence, Mr O'Meagher held that accused was called upon to show cause why he should not be adjudged a vagrant. Accused should have Deen the first witness called to " show cause." The. Bejjfij} held that the prisoner might make a statement, but could not be examined. Mr O'Meagher put in several certificates of character, one being written in 1882. Sert. Pratt wished to put in a list of previous convictions to show that accused was committed for trial in 1882. The Bench considered that the mere fact of being committed for trial was not in itself condemnatory. Prisoner then made a statement to the effect that when he left Plowman and O'Brien's in January he could not get any work to do at his own trade or at the sawmills. He got a pass to Otorohanga, and when he got there he found they were " sacking" hands. He had to walk back to the Papa kura gumfields, and worked there till three weeks ago. The men whom he was witli before he was arrested were persons whom he had met on the gum fields, and he did not know anything about them. The Bench said they would give tho prisoner the benefit of tho doubt, and after warning him to be more careful of the com pany he kept, dismissed the charge. They hoped this prosecution would be a warning to him.

A BROTHERS' QUARREL.

Hucn Robert Lang was charged with as suiting Marshall Lang, by striking him repeatedly on the face and body with his clenched fist, at Brooklyn. Mr S. Hesketh appeared for the defendant, and pleaded not guilty, while Mr Napier prosecuted. Before the case commenced, Mr Hesketh deplored the probable consequences of bringing a family quarrel before the Court, and offered to express regret that the occurrence had happened, and pay half the cost if such action would have the effect of preventing the details of the case being made Mr Napier re jected the concilatory overtures unless the whole of the costs were paid and an apology given for the alleged assault. The case was therefore allowed to proceed, and in his opening remarks the counsel for the prosecution de scribed the assault as a serious one. Marshall Laing, a settler of Brooklyn, Big Muddy Creek, deposed that on the after noon of the 9th instant he went to tho land ing place to see Mr Stories. His brother was there. Witness aaid he was going up the road to look for a cow, and pro ceeded about 150 yards up the road. The road was screened from the landing place by titree. He heard a whistle, and looking round saw his brother signal ling to him. He waited for him. His brother asked him what san guinary yarns he had been carry ing to York about the. files, and he replied, "I told York what you told me," His brother then struck him on the temple, and on the bridge of the nose,— Witness asked him to stop, as he was not well, and unabls to fight- He cooed, and ran to the landing for assist ance. He got several blows on his arms as well as those on his face. No provocation was given. Ho told him not to tell any more of these yarns, or he would be at him again. The un pleasantness was first caused by the re fusal of witness to accept defendant's views on a road board matter. His brother Donald had also threatened to punch him, and his father was on bad terms with him. Charles Stories, Alexander Mackie and Kilgour also gave evidence, the latter stating that accused boasted that he had had a pluck at a half-plucked turkey, mean ing his brother, and that the turkey ran away. Defendant and another of his brothers gave evidence for the defence, and denied the alleged assault. The accused was eventually bound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £50 and two sureties of £25, and ordered to pay £5 4s costs.

THE S.S. RUAPEHU.

FAST PASSAGE^

The New Zealand Shipping Company have received information by wire that the R.M.S. Ruapehu arrived at London from Auckland, all well and with frozen meat in good condition, prior to the 19th inst. She was thus three days ahead of contract date, and must have made an excellent passage.

RETIREMENT OF MR LOCKE, M.H.R.

(B? TELEGRAPH.—rKESS ASSOCIATION.)

Gisborne, this day. Mr S. Locke, M.H.R., for East Coast, announces that, owing to ill-health, he will not contest the1 seat at the forthcoming 'election.

OUR GOLDFIELDS

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, this day. Cambria.—2olbs of picked stones have been gob from the winze being sunk at No. 2 level on the cross leader. Cambria.—There is a slight improvement in the country at No. 4 level. New PriNOE Imperial.—The contractors in the eastern drive on No. 1 reef at No. 2 level have driven 56 feet. Gold is seen in the quartz, but the white looking leader on the footwall has not yet junctioned with the reef, although it should do so in a day or two, The manager is of opinion that the quartz coming to hand from the stones will prove payable. Saxon.—Crushing has been commenced A rise has been starbed on Connon's reef ab No. 3 level near the boundary. It is up a distance of 3 feet, and when breaking down the quartz nice colours of gold were seen, but no specimens were obtained. LATER. The junction of Connon's reef, at No. 4 level, has been broken down and colours of gold were seen in the quartz.

OHINEMURI.

(from oub. own correspondent. )

Kaeangahake, Saturday. On Wednesday next a meeting of miners and otiiers interested in the mines situate in the neighbourhood of Railey's mill will be held here, for the purpose of considering the objeotions raised by the Minister of Mines during his recent visit anent the granting of a £200 subsidy towards the cost of building a tramway connect ing the county track with the above mentioned quartz reduction works. The reason given by Mr Larnach for re fusing to grant the subsidy was that he considered the charges made by the proprietors of Railey's Mill for the re duction of ore were by far too high. At present the charge made for the treat ment of ore valued at £5 and under is 80s per ton ; ore valued at £10 and under 35s per ton, and so on pro rota till the maximum price of £3 per ton is reached. It would appear to be a very difficult matter to account for the difference made in the prices charged for the treatment of high and low grade ores. The proprietors of the'planfc averthatmore chemi cals are required for the reduction of high class than is the case with that of low class ore, and the cost is varied accordingly. The proprietors of this plant are deserving of all the encouragement that can be given to them by the miners, and it is to be hoped that an arrangement satisfactory to all concerned will be the outcome of the meeting on Wednesday next.

Although the mine owners here are against the cost of treating the ore being based on its quality, they would not object to a difference being made as regards quantity. For example, the expenses incurred in the cleaning up of a five-ton parcel would serve the same purpose when dealing with fifty tons, and consequently the charge levied on small lots should be on a mucli higher scale than that made upon the treatment of similar stuff in comparatively large quantities.

Adeline.—There is no change to notice in the stopes, where the lode is of the usual size, but the bulk of the stone is still poor in quality, and from here there is now about 10 tons to grass.

Rose.—The low level is now being advanced northwards along the course of the No. 1 lode, which maintains an average thickness of 12 inches, and although the stone looks well, no gold has yet been seen in it. Stoping out on this lode above the surface level is still in progress, and stone of good quality is being secured every shift. At Railey's plant a parcel of 22 tons is now under treatment, and is shaping for a payable return.

Sutro.—A start was made las.t weekto ex tend the low level along the course of the reef southwards. The lode here issmall and the stone broken out is not considered pay able, but the manager expects an improve ment as the level advances upon it. A7 ton trial parcel broken out from the small leader near to the Diamond boundary is all ready for transit to Railey's plant, and the result should be a payable one. Comstock.—Liddell and party, owners of this mine, have sent a four-ton parcel of quartz, broken out from their silver lode, to Railey's mill, and they expect a payable re turn.

RESTRICTIONS ON THE IM PORTATION OF FRUIT.

(by telegraph—own correspondent.)

Dunedin, this day. A deputation of South Australian fruit growers asked the Treasurer of that colony to request the Governments of other colonies, except Victoria, to remove the prohibition upon the importation of South Australian grapes, and Mr Bray promised to write to the Premiers to that effect. He has received a reply from the Premier in New Zealand, who states that he was aware when his Government pro hibited the importation of grapes that South Australia had always been free from phylloxera, bub tho same impediment still exists, namely, the want of direct commun ication between the two colonies by sea, and that grapes would have to come by way of Victoria or New South Wales, in both of which the disease has occurred. The Go vernment, therefore, cannot withdraw the prohibitions.

THE WELLINGTON UN EMPLOYED.

Failure to Attend a Meeting.

Wellington, this day. The Government being about to offer road work and facilities for settlement on certain terms to the unemployed, had a meeting of the latter called, but only 31 put in an appearance. Time was given them to con sider the offer, and at a subsequent meet ing only three turned up, and the scheme hag been left in. abeyance.

■<THE *'AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL "20, s ISBT,

5



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A native " from out the wilds " has been the envy of the smaller youth of the city all' day. The cause of this is a head-dress bo' wears, made of the resplendent bine; plumage of the beautifid Pukeko of the .swamps. One would almost imagine that there might be a considerable exporb trade done in the feathers of this bird, which is easily reared and domesti cated. The charge against John Knapman of unlawfully depositing nightsoil in Graham street was not concluded at the Police Court till a late hour yesterday afternoon. The Bench considered that the night soil had been left on the spot in question, and that defendant was responsi ble for it. They consequently fined him in the lenient penalty of 40s and costs. , At the meeting of the Vetern Rifle Volunteers last evening, an understanding was arrived at that the Corps should be disbanded, and the meeting was adjourned tilll next Tuesday in order that the whole of the outstanding accounts be got in and other matters settled. Captain Hazard's resignation has been deferred in the mean-, timg. >