ASSESSMENT COURT. (Before H. W. Northcroft Esq.)

H. W. Noktik-kokt, K^., R.M., left Hamilton yesterday morning to hold Absessinent Courts at Cambridge. To-day he proceeds to Taotaoroa and Matamata, I for the same purpose ; from whence he I proceeds to Pateterefor the purpose of ex amining notices on behalf of Trust Commissioners, as to the legality of a sale of certain land to Europeans ; re turning here Sunday. "We regret to announce the death of Ellen Ingeborg Iwersen, daughter of Captain Iwersen, of Whatawhata, which toolv place yesterday morning-. The cause of death, we understand, arose from eating half- cooked maize, of which children are very fond, but wliioh is exceedingly dangerous if over indulged in. Major Mair is gazzetted R.M. for the District of Raglan, vice Mr R. S. Bush, promoted to R. M. ship of Opotiki and Maketu. A gentleman, who arrived in Hamil ton from Cambridge the other night com plained bitterly to us of the dangerous expedient which has been resorted to for closing the bridge after midnight by stretching a chain across the entrance to it on the east side. It was raining at the time, and he was hurrying on and barely escaped being brought, horse and man, to the ground. Tke chain cannot easily be seen after dark, and some day there will be a serious accident, when it will be a question whether the Borough may not be liable for damages. The first intention was to have put up a wooden bar, which would, at any rate, have been more easily seen than a chain; but, considering that the bridge is paying something like £1000 a-year revenue after the cost of collecting the tolls is deducted, and that the ex pense of a gate may very legitimately be taken from this source we do not see why a substantial gate should not be erected ; and till then the entrance might be left unbarred. There are few lessees who, for the sake of the few shillings that might be collected during a week would care to rise from their beds and open the gates, and for the sake of a few shillings now saved to the Borough, it is scarcely worth the risk of an action for damages, which might possibly happen if the chain is kept much longer in use. 