Notwithstanding the muddy state of the streets, there was a moderately good attend ance at the regular meeting of the Total Abstinence Society held in St. George’s Eall last night,the ladies appearing inconsiderable numbers. The gathering was presided over by the Rev. S. Wilson, and the audience ad dressed by Messrs Ninuis, Mason, aud Jones. The intervals between the speeches were en livened by the iuterspersiou of several judici ously-selected aud prettily-sung musical pieces. The singing of the doxology termi nated a very pleasant and enjoyable meet-

At the Police Court yesterday the case of Lachlan Allan MeCaskill, charged with shooting Hone Paluiu at llikutaia on the Ist ilist, with intent to kill linn, was gone into, the Court being crowded during the investi gation. Mr Macdonald appeared for the prisoner, assisted by Mr Grace, native inter preter ; Mr Bullcn, conducted the prosecu tion, assisted by Mr J. U. Young as inter ureter. The wounded native, who was accommodated with a chair during his examination, appears to have recovered wonderfully from the ofleets of his wounds. His head was bandaged, ami his mouth ap pears to be a little down to one side, but ho spoke pretty distinctly, and without much difficulty, giving, apparently, a very straight forward version of what occurred. The two shirts which ho wore at the time he was shot were produced, and were saturated with blood. A map of MeCaskill’s farm at Hiku taia, prepared by Mr Dudley Eyre, was re ferred to from time to time during the iuvos tigatiou, the position of the parties at the time of the occurrepqq being pointed out by the several witnesses called.
