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Inangahua Times, 23 January 1880, Page 2

An enquiry into the circumstances attend ing the origin of the late fire will be held | before Dr Monekton on Monday next. The scene of the late fire in Broadway has been well ransacked over by the sufferer* in search of salvage. What remained upon Mr Sbaw's premises was consumed entirely, not a vestige of anything beitig left. Mr Quiglpy was equally unfortunate, but Mr Enter is slightly better off, as his ironmongery stock and tools, although damaged, almost beyond saleable valup, will still possess some value to the owner. Mr M'GHHi'-uddy managed to get the bulk of his grocery stock out before the building was in real danger, but the breakage and damage by water was npoessarily considerable. Mr Heuer was fortunate enough to remove the bulk of his tools and shoe stock without much damage, but at Mr Twohill's next door a good deal of destruction was done to the furniture, particularly in the upper storey rooms, while endeavouring to remove articles. There was a sitting of the Resident Magis - trate's Court yesterday, but the greater part of the day wa3 occupied with the hearing of an assault case against Thomas Lynch. Ther a were thirteen witnesses whose examination took up a deal of time. We learn that there has been a considerable rush for insurances during the past day or two. owing to the recent fire. At a recent meeting of the Wellington City Council, the secretary of the Benevolent In« stitute stated 6nat the amount o£ charitable aid afi*brded*b.y the institute wasMncrpastng to a vpr? lajs6e*exfent. When he took over the secretaryship the average expenditure was aboulp£36 per month, la thr^e months, after the crash in business came, it readied ' 3 omeiMng like £90 per month, and noj/it ffß f between |J|^&^HJO per month.

Applicants turned up everywhere— their name was legion. There wera cases, too, that could not be looked over — people who had sold every stick of furniture they possesspd, and who had large families and in many instances a sick wife. Among«t thpse were a number of really good mechanics, who in many cases had nothing to lie down upon,. and to whom they actually hadto supply clothing. No one had any idea of the distress which existed, especially at the Te Aro end of the town, but those who had been amongst it. The amount subscribed being insufficient, the proposal to hold races in G-rey mouth on St. Patrick's Day has been abandoned. Graham Flowers (says the Grey Argu? of yesterday) who it will be remembered es» caped from the custody of Police Constable Cashion while on his passage ftom Christchurch to Greymouth some months since, charged with cattlesstealing, and for whose apprehension a reward of £50 was offered, arrived in town early ysterday morning, and gave himself up to Sergeant Moller. He was brought be'ore bis Wor-hip on a charge of escaping from legal custody, laroeny as a bailee of 54 head of cattle, valu d at £260, and oat tie-stealing. He was remanded. He is said to have been residing in a hut on the top of a range, the existence of wh ; ch was unknown, and from whence he could command a view of the country for miles around. Mr Warden Price has been appointed UM-, at Gisborne. The case of O'Conor y. Johnston and same v, Thompson bas been set down for hearing in the Magistrate's Court to-day. The assault case of Cains v. Lynch was concluded yesterday, and resulted in the acquittal of the defendant Police v. Pizzy, adjourned for fourteen days Mrs Lawson, for selling spiritous liquor' without a licence, was fined £20. Lynch r. Cains— withdrawn. Lawson v. Walker, abusive langui-e— dis-< missed. In the civil cases of Independent Company v. Dee, £3 17s 6d , Tilbrook and Mirfin v. Brimble, £8 17s 6d ; De Bidder v. Liddicoat, judgments went by default. In the case of Sohillerman v. Willis, claim for bread supplied, plaintiff was oidered to furnish particulars of weight of bread, according to "The Millers and Bakers Act." In the case of Wa'ker v. Lawson, £9 3s 6d, for maintenance of children, judgment was given for defendant, with costs. Aiken v, Parry— adjourned for fourteen days' Cochn rane v. Johnston, dismissed. There were fifteen applications in the Warden's Court, and the sitting was protracted well on to midnight. The question asked by a correspondent as to the quantity of food necessary to support life is, we suppose, rather intended as an inquiry as to the quantity needed by adult i person in the ordinary vocations of li f e. An American soldier has daily given him 22 ounces of bread, 12 ounces of pork or bacon, or 20 ounces of fresh or salt beef, 16 ounces of potatoes three times a week 1.6 ounces of rice, with 16 ounces of coffee 204 ounces of sugar, .64 of a gill of beans, .32 of a gill of beans, 32 of a gill of vinegar, 0.16 of a gill of salt. As to the quantity of this food, it is larger and more abundant than would e^em at first sight to be necessary, but the liberality in food has thi9 great advantage, that, io time of hard work, the fatigue of the individual ie , diminished and the power of recuperation sensibly increased. The total quantity, then, provided for ft soldier of the United States army is larger than is consumed by the general working man. Of course, va-ious conditions of life, climate, and locality have to do with the quantity of food. Thu9, an idle person can get along very well with 275 ounces of nitrogenous food (flesh and cereal or vegetable fool), when, if the same individual were walking or in actiye outdoor life, double this quantity might be used. Perhaps the Esquimaux represent the heaviest feeders in the world, for Parry tells of a young native who devoured in the twenty-four hours nine and a half pounds of sea horse, half raw, half cooked ; one and three-fourths pounds of ship bread j and nine pints of water, not counting grog and spirits. Both Sir John Boss and Dr. Hayes, from personal observation, declare that the daily ration of an Esquimaux may range from twelve to twenty pounds of flesh blood. On the other hand, it is quite remarkable how small a quantity of food a man may eat, and still retain bis health, though, as to the point of mental vigor engendered by Scanty fare, that is another question. Cornaro, who wrote a treatise on long life, subsisted for fifty-eight years on j twelve ounces of vegetable matter and fourteen ounces of wine per diem, while another case is cited of a man existing for quite twenty years on sixteen ounces of flour per diem, made into smoke kind of a pudding. At the Kaiapoi Court on Monday a passage of words occurred between Mr Feck, solicitor, and Mr Beswiok, the presiding magistrate, through t^e refusal to grant solicitor's costs in a civil case. The subject in dispute relating to trespass of pigs had been adjourned at last Court to be made the matter of reference to arbitrators, but the plaintiff took no steps jn the matter, and was on this occasion represented by counsel. Mr Neck, in a tone of surprise, asked why professional costs were not allowed. The magistrate replied because, as the oase was virtually settled except *he assessment of damages, he considered there was no oocasion for the plaintiff to engage a solicitor, or that the solicitor's costs should be inflicted on the defendant. Mr Neck conn J sidered that therefore the solicitors might make themselves scarce from the face of the eanb. His client, as would be seen by the very fact that he had carelessly omitted to get an arbitrator, was not capable of conducting his case, and it was neoessary that he should employ counsel, and now' he would ask why no fee was allowed? Mr Beswiok said he simply should not allow a fee in the case. Mr Neck desired iRn to know if the Court was going to take upon itselfj'his arbitrary way of settling matters, if so be should refer it to a higher power to be dealt with. Mr Beswick, with warmth — ' Do you intend your remarks as implying a threat?' Mr Neck— ' Not exactly so. My meaning ia that this question of costs ought to be flxi.d.' Mr Beswick — ' It is entirely in the power of the Court to award

•os'e.' Mr Neon— I should \l<e to have tbe practice of charging posts settled.' Subsequently a more amicable discus-ion on the mattes ensued, during which Mi* Neck said he had n<hntention to cast any reflection on tbe Resident Magistrate's ruling. He considered however the rules affecting costs ougbt to be more clearly understood. At Asliburton he wi, 8 one day before Mr Campbell put off with a guinea, wbile in a subsequent case tosday, Mr Beswick, he found, allowed two guineas. Mr Beswick said the rule was to allow one guinea for amounts under £5, two guineas for amounts over £5 and under £20, and three guineas over £20. Mr Neck wished that such an arrangement prevailed generally. This matter ought to be considered by the Law Society.