THE Evening Star. MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1866.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 852, 29 January 1866, Page 2

THE Evening Star. MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1866.

W.E observe that the General Government have made some very wholesome and necessary alterations of the Polling Places for members of the House of Representatives. It was formerly a matter, of complaint that tli ere were too few polling places, and that many persons were thereby prevpnted from recording their votes. This was especially the case in the country districts, where we have known the majority of the voters in a district compelled to travel over 60 miles before they could record their vote for their favorite candidate. The alterations which have now been made, are, on the whole, satisfactory, still, considering the large number of electors in the City of Dunedin, we think, for the convenience of the electors, there should have been an increased number of polling places. By tbe G literal Government Gazette of the 19th inst., we observe that Milton Hall, Stuart-street, is the principal polling place for the City, and that the School-room, North Dunedin, is the only other polling place. "We are of opinion that there should have been at least two other polling places for the City, and that not only will voters be inconvenienced, if there is a contested election, but that many will refrain from voting rather than be hustled and abused if. party feeling runs high. It has always been held to be productive of order, on an election day, to have as many polling places as possible, for the crowd which usually assembles on such occasions is broken into small sections, and, as a rule, is powerless to do evil. trust to see, what we cannot help thinking is an oversight, additional polling places appointed, and, in the meantime, we direct the attention of intending candidates for the representation of the City to the subject. For Roslya, we observe, that three polling places have been appointed : —the Schoolhouse, Wakari, and the Schoolhouses at Mornington, and in the North East 'Valley. For Caversham, the School-houses at Caversham, Green Island, Anderson’s Bay, Portobello, and North Harbor. For Port Chalmers, the School-houses at Port Chalmers and Blueskin. In the country districts we notice some very beneficial alterations have been made. Thus, for Manuherikia, instead of Mr Master s station, the township of Alexandra is the principal polling place, while the Court louses of Cromwell, Clyde, and Hamilton are also polling places for this district. For Hampden, instead of Hawkesbury, the Court House of Arrowtown is the principal polling place. Altogether, we think the alterations, bn the whole, are very satisfactory ; yet we regret that they should have been marred by what, pa we said before, is aii over-

sight in dealing with the city of Dunedin. This we hope to see remedied before the elections take place..; and if it is done, we think there will not be much grumbling about the difficulty of lecording votes either in favor of or against any candidate.

The Government New Zealand Gazette notifies, that John Gillies is appointed the Returning Officer for the Electoral Districts of the City of Dunedin, Roslyn, and Caversham ; for the election of Members of the House of Representatives, and William Reid for that of Port. Chalmers.

Wniit, written, rarely exaggerated in the individual characters, and excellently played throughout,—“ Our Trip to the Rhine” must be considered as the best entertainment with which Mr and Mrs Case have as yet favored us. We have before alluded to, but cannot refrain from again mentioning the marvellously correct and life-like embodiement of the delineation by Mrs Case, of the ‘ ‘ funny” and vulgar Atrs Chowdler,, who believes in “ Hedication and Blood neither can we miss the opportunity of awarding to Mr Case a fair meed of praise for his truthful representation of the German Professor, who is ‘ * mad mid lof. ” These impersonations were undoubtedly the gems of the first part of the entertainment, the scene of which is laid on the Shine. On the supposed return of the tourists to England we are introduced to a variety of personages, among which, “ Sairey Gamp” and Romeo Guffin deserve special mention ; as the seedy tragedian, Mrs Case gave imitations of Rean, Fechter, and Robson, and in the pathetic ballad of Villikins and his Dinah, was deservedly encored. Mr Case was, as Usual, brilliant in the execution of several difficult, solos on the concertina and violin ; and we may here remark, eh passant, that chattering audibly and repeatedly during the rendering of a fine passage, not only shews ignorance in the individuals who may so do, but shews a selfish feeling towards the appreciative portion of the audience. The entertainment is to be repeated to-night for the last time. The New Zealand Gazette of the 19th inst., contains a proclamation appointing the Polling Places throughout the colony for the forthcoming election of Members of the House of Representatives. Those for the City of Dunedin are at Milton Hall, Stuart-street, and the School-room, North Dunedin. Roslyn : at the Schoolhouse. Wakari: the School-house in the N. E. Valley, and . the School-house at Momington. Caversham : at the Schoolhouses at Caversham, Green Island, Anderson Bay, Portobello, and the North Harbour. Port Chalmers : at the Schoolhouses at Port Chalmers and Blueskin. In each district, the polling place first named is the principal one. We understand a mine is laid for a great blast in Rich’s Gold Claim, Tuapeka, which will be exploded this week, when sluicing operations will at once be commenced on an extensive scale. We were always aware that the Canterbury politicians imagined they governed the colony, and generally considered themselves “ some pumpkins,” as our American cousins would say ; but the following, taken from a report of a meeting held at Christchurch, really out-Herods Herod:—“Mr Foley said that Canterbury had always ' taken the lead in politics, and might be proud of such an inhabitant as Mr FitzGerald, who was considered the ablest orator in New Zealand.” Lady Don will make her first appearance this evening at the Princess Theatre, and we anticipate a crowded house. As an actress this lady posses great talent, and the reputation gained by her in the other colonies is bound to be endorsed by all who witness her performances here. Lady Don acts very naturally, is full of vivacity, and when we heard her last she sang well. The piece de resistance this evening is the ‘ ‘ Daughter of the Regiment,” in which she sustains the character of Josephine, one which undoubtedly affords the fullest scope for the accomplishments we have hinted at.

It is advertised in another column that the postponed meeting of the of the Caledonian Society will he held on Tuesday next, at 4'o’clock in the afternoon.,.,.

“We understand,’* says th & Lyttelton Times, “on good authority, that it is in contemplation by the General Government to institute a uniform for the various branches of the Volunteer service, to be alike throughout the colony. The color of scarlet will be adopted generally for the jacket, which is to be a 1 Garibaldi,’ and silver, will be universally used instead, for trimmings and ornaments. All cavalry will wear red cloth foraging caps with silver lace band and without peak, Bedford cord pants, and Napoleon boots, together with the jacket. All Rifles will wear, with a scarlet Garibaldi, knickerbockers of grey tweed with a red stripe, a blue foraging cap, with peak and black band, laced boots and brown leather gaiters. The facings and ornaments will be chosen by the corps. Engineer Volunteers , will wear grey tweed trowsers with red stripe, grey cloth cap with red band and peak. Artillery Volunteers will have a blue Garibaldi jacket, Oxford mixture trowsers with red stripe, blue cloth cap with silver lace band and without peak. Blue cloth trowsers, with silver lace or cord, together with superfine cloth instead of flannel jackets, will form the evening dress for most, of tlie corps. And there is to be no distinction, except in badges of rank, between a Volunteer and the officer of his corps. Naval Volunteers will be clothed as in her Majesty’s Navy. We'give this information as it reaches be said that the Government will surely never dream of enforcing the change in the uniforms for a very long period, giving ample time to any corps to make the alterations at its convenience ; otherwise, many of the members would be fairly driven out of the service by the expense. The uniform regulations will be announced as part, of the code which have to be issued under the Volunteer Act now in force, and we trust that the point we have mentioned will be made clear on the face of them ”