The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, MONDAY, DEC. 11, 1865.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 811, 11 December 1865, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, MONDAY, DEC. 11, 1865.

In the Provincial Council this afternoon, The Speaker took the chair at 2 o'clock. In the absence of Mr Rennie, Mr Haughton resumed the debate on the Provincial Treasurer's motion as follows :—"That it is desirable that steps should be taken for the appropriation of 50 feet of the Provincial Government Reserve in Pi-inces-street (as delineated on the map laid on the table), for the purposes of a Free Public Library; also, that the said 50 feet when set aside should be offered to the members of the Athenaeum, at a rental of 5s per annum, for a period qf 99 years, on condition that the public have free admission to all books, and the building be vested in the Stiperintendent as trustee." On the motion of Mr Macandrbw, the following words were prefixed to the motion : '' That should the City Council persist in declining to carry out the original intention of tae Provincial Government, and of the Town Board of granting the fee simple of the section now occupied by the Dunedin Atkenasuni to the use of said Instittite."i The motion as amended was agreed to. The motion of the Provincial Treasurer—"That it is desirable to grant Licenses to Storekeepers on the Gold Piekls, authorising them to »ell wines, spirits, or beer by retail. The fee for such License to. be the same as that paid for a General License on the Gold Field," was ..seconded by .Mr Hcghes, and carried upon a .division.

N Those interested in the acclimatisation of English song birds in New Zealand will learn with interest that Mr Purdie of Gr.eat Kingstreet succeeded in hatching last week a nest of blackbirds. Those learned in such matters consider it a great achievement at this period of the year, considering the very inclement weather we have lately experienced. We notice by our shipping column that the " Star of the Evening" is postponed until tomorrow, when she will positively sail for the the Grey River direct. At the Police Court this morning, Gibbs L/OCkhart Hoss, who for some time past has been, in charge of the Dunedin station of the General Government Telegraph Office, was charged with embezzling monies received by him from the public to the amount of £155 15s sd. The evidence of Mr Sheath the Telegraphic Engineer was taken, and on the application of the Commissioner of Police, the prisoner was remanded until to-morrow.

We would draw particular attention to the performance at the Princess Theatre to-morrow evening for the benefit of the Otago Benevolent Institiition. The programme announced should on any ordinary occasion ensure a good house, and we hope to find the place crammed. Th"E Lodge of Instruction (E.C.) will meet this evening at Bastings' Oriental Hotel.

Considerable disappointment was experienced in town to-day in consequence of the con. tractor for watering the streets not having, as was expected, commenced his work.

Ik the Supreme Court to-day, before his Honor Judge Chapman and common juries, in the case of the Bank of New South Wales v Forman (Sheriff) the jury found a verdict for the plaintiffs, £3OO. In the case of Hutchison v Sholl the jury were unable to agree to a verdict, and were still in their room when our reporter left. We believe that there is a great deal of competition going on as to which place of ammusement should secure the professonal services of the "American Barlow." Wherever he goes, crowded audiencies are inevitable. The Southland Times says: —"We understand that Mr Henderson Law, of the firm of Morison, Law and Co., intends offering himself as a candidate for the representation of Campbelltown in the Provincial Council."