The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-04-24

pnDncauon
The News.
The steamship Africa, which left Liverpool on the
l4,h instant, 10 now due at Halifax, with week
later European news The st. L1ui!, from Havre
for this port Is IN her thirteenth day. Her aivicss
will no doub. be anticipated by the Africa.
Tee Common Council transacted business yester-
day. We publish the reply Of Mr.. Dillon, Corpora.
ssn Counsel to the resolution requesting his opinion
whether the liquor law recently passed interferes
with the chartered rights Of the city, and also
whether the Excise Commissioners may continue to
grant licenses to cell liquor. With regard to
the first clause Of the inquiry Mr.. Dillon cites
several legal decsions, showing that the p,Ter
to graft licenses conferred by the Monsgomerie
chatter was wholly political, and that all grants
Of political power to municipal corporations are
hsid AZ the will Of the Legislature, who may abol.
ish, ab,idge or modify them at their pleasure
The set of the Legislature is therefore, not viola
tion of the charter. 70 the second clause Of the
inquiry Mr.. Dillon answers, tia: no licenses can be
grsnted or extsnded by the Mayor, Aldermen or
Counciimen, after the let of May next h is also
Of opinion that neither the Ma or nor Aldermen
ars empowered by the new law to hear and deter
mine charges and punish ofeaces arising under any
OF It's provisions. But this opinion of the Oorpo'
ration Counsel utilities the Maine law for all prac-
teal purposes when it treats Of imported liquors,
Of which be says :--"I sm OF opinion that the
polite will not be justified in attempting to en-
force tie penalties sssinss imported liquors, or
their sale, by whomseever made" In the
Board Of Aldermen, Mr.. Briggs made report
Of the evidence taken before the committee on
the subject of the nativity Of the police. Il was
ordered to be printed. motion was made to
discharge the committee from the further consider
attn of the subject, but Alderman Tucker said i'm.
Io;tant Developments respecting the nsttvisy OF
Chief Matsell were expected by the next steamer
from Europe, and the motion was therefore rejected
The resolution Of the Couu cilmen postponing the
sale OF tie lessss of Staten Island, HeIgae and Bar
clay street ferries until May Is, was concurred IN
The pi in the Board Of Couucilmsn we're IN
Important. TIE LEAFS Of dacks and slips were con
6rm.d, and $4,000 appropriated for dredging.
Nothing particular wss done at the Board Of super
vkors The payment of several small bills was
ordered, and others were referred TO the COM
mittess-
rhe liquor dealers at their meeting last evening,
discussed the psopriety Of denoun:ing Ia Tsmuany
Hall the course Of Mayor Wood in enforcing the ex
else laws, but finally resolved 20 let him alone. !.
Our teiegrsphic news this morning is interesting.
The disturbances st Chicago growing out of the
liquor question had subsiied yesterday, the rioters
beng overa we'd by the presence Of large military
force Great excitement, how ever, till existed, and
o renewal of the sffray Was sp 1rshended. Incsn-
diaries eere busily at work. eight or ten buildings
having been fired between Saturday and Monday
TIE American Theatre az New Orleaus was to-
tally destroyed by fire on the night of the 18th
ios'., and one man persisted Ia the flames.
horrible railroad accident occurred az Canaan
dsigua yesterday afternoon. locomotive ran
ever Mr.. J. l.. Hal, and completely severed
his head from his body. Judge Phelps aud aso-
Their person were Injured, the former 80 Sc.
versly that his life was despaieed Of. Near
Baltimore yesterday the engine, baggage and
express cars OF train, were p-ecpisaRd into
Gunpowder creek by portion Of bridge breaking
away. The engineer aud fireman were injured, the
former badly. Fortunately the coupling come "
ng the passenger cars gave way, and the inmasss
were thus reservsd from destruction. The
steamer William Kaox, from Cinciunsti for Sc.
knujs, vas destroyed by FIRE yesterday morning,
when rear Flint Island. she had full complement
Of passengers, mostly emigrants for Kansas. whD
vsere all ress1ed, is il hoped, by steamer wlica
went alongside the bnrning vessel. The Acadia
<No.) High School wss struck by lightning on the
18th inst, and four Of the pupfs b1rned TO death.
Mr.. Hiss, the chief inqusitor on tie Nunnery Com.
nl,tee OF the Massachusetts, Legislature, resigned
hi, seat yesterday. It is regarded as doubtful
shsther Mr.. L1npkiu, Of Georgis, will accept the
JodgetLip of he Court Of Claims.
81 Georges anniversary was celebrated yesterday
10 this city. rhe membars OF the 81. Georges So
cisty and English residents of the city had a re-
union and srsno banquet at the Metropolitan Hc-
eel. Several interesting and eloquent speeches we're
made among others, by SIR Charles Grey, the
MAJ qui de Montbolon, Judge Cam bell, Nj. Mathew,
&C., &c. The evening vas very pleasantly spent by
The assembled guests, the only ORA voack to tee
general mory being that there appeared 70 be a
,oesgn on tte part OF the President, Mr.. Young 20
,shut of the Bitch Consul st Phi.adelphia-Mr,
responding 20 the appropriate toast;
re, however, got az opportunity Of delivering his
ueecb at too late sn hour to have 1t reported.
Rev. DR.. Bard lectured again last evening, taking
for. his subject, "Ssitzerlatd, Holland, Sweden
ard Spain" and described the geographical posi-
tiCn, national peculisrities, population, and the
resou gees Of each country, in bis usual pleasing
style.
There was some speculative movement in cotton
yesterday, and the sales reached about 5000 bales
sbout 5000 Of which were said to have been in
trspsitu tie market closed irmer. Flour con-
hped iD good demand, at full prices. Corn was
scarce and biNber white opened a. 81 10 aud
closed .. 81 IL, and Southern yellow and Northern
round yellow were iold at u l4asl Is. The news
from Rio By the kiGsissippi produced better in.
qulry for coffee, and the market closed frmer.
Faegn lead gas held at " advance on TIE strength