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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1915, 25 June 1869, Page 2

New Theatre. —On dit, that tenders will shortly be called for the erection of a brick theatre at the rear of the Criterion Hotel.

Our Publication.—A statement has been going the rounds of a portion of the colonial press, to the effect that the Evening Star has ceased to oxist; which it is almost needless to say is untrue. How it ever got currency, we are at a loss to imagine. New Botanical Gardens.—We understand that the Government have taken possession of the low lying portion of the Asclimitisation Society’s grounds, -which are to be laid out as a botanical garden. It is proposed to employ prison labor in clearing the ground. A beginning has already been made ; a large quantity of timber and undergrowth in the deer paddocks having been cut down within the last week.

Acclimatisation, — We believe that Mr Morton Allport has written to the various acclimatisation societies in the Colony, intimating the willingness of the Tasmanian Salmon Commissioners to give such a uantities of trout ova as the societies may require this season. We are glad to learn that the Counoil of the Otago society is prepared to recommend that Mr Clifford, its manager, he at once sent to Tasmania to superintend the importation of another shipment of ova. The Southland society have already taken the necessary steps to secure a shipment, and Mr Howard, its Curator, will most prohahly sail for Hobart Town at the beginning of next month. Earthquakes in New Zealand.— In an Essay on the Geology of the North Island, by the Hon. J. Coutts Crawford, F.H.S., published in the first volume of the Transactions and proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, it is stated that the severest shocks of earthquakes that have been felt in New Zealand, since the arrival of the settlers, took place in 1843, in October, 1848, in January, 1855, and in February, 1883. The three first were most severe in Cook’s Straits, the last at Napier. Wellington suffered severely from the earthquake of 1848, and that of 1855 raised the land in its vicinity to a height of from nine to four feet above its former level. Nelson felt both shocks perhaps less severely than Wellington. The impression is, that during the earthquake of 1855, while the land at Wellington rose, that on the south side of the Strait was depressed, and of this there appears to be good evidence.

The Lana Drive Claim.—ln connection with this claim, the following statement is made by a Wellington paper. H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh and Lord Beresford Have "bought twenty-five shares each in the celebrated Long Drive Claim, for LB3 a share.

The Greymouth Fire.—An inquiry info the origin of the fire at Greymouth was held before the district coroner on the 13th inst. The evidence appears to have been of a very contradictory character. The jury returned an open verdict to the effect that the fire originated in the Melbourne Hotel, but by whom or by what cause, the evidence did not enable them to determine.

Presbytekian.—A meeting of the Tokomairiro Presbyterian congregation was held at Milton on Monday last, for the purpose of taking steps with reference to the vacancy at present existing in the pastorate of the congregation, through the translation of the Rev. A. B. Todd to Oanraru. The following resolution was carried : —That in the present circumstances of this congregation, and the necessity for making arrangements as to the ministerial work before a minister is called : resolved that this meeting nominate a number of the office-bear ex-s of the Church, to form with said office-bearers a commission, to take into consideration the whole matter, and to bring up a report thereon to a future congregational meeting. Southland and Annexation. —A public meeting on the question of the reannexation of Southland to Otago, was held in the Exchange Hall, Dee street, on the afternoon of Saturday last, 19th inst. The meeting was called by the committee appointed at a previous semi-public meeting to take such steps as to them might seem meet for effecting reunion. After waiting for about half an hour beyond the advertised time, a goodly number of persons, chiefly country people, had assembled, and by the time the first speaker was fairly on his leps the hall was respectably filled. Mr William Russell, of Ryal Bush, was voted to the chair.—Mr Clerke moved—“ That in the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived when it is expedient for the interests of Otago and Southland that re-union should take place on fair and equitable terms.” Mr H. Armstrong thereupon moved the following amendment That the Provincial system of Government in New Zealand has proved itself far too expensive, and now that that form of Government is in a high state of decay, it is riot good policy to perpetuate it by re-union with Otago, but that it would be better to endeavor to establish in this Colony the system of Government under which the Australian Colonics are prospering—viz., by governing the Colony as a whole, and thus do away with a number of petty Provincial Parliaments which create expenses quite cut of proper: ion to the population.”—Mr Hannah then moved a further amendment “ That it is not desbablein the opinion of this meeting that this Province should re-unite with the Province of Otago, but rather ask the General Government to abolish by act of Assembly the present Provincial Council and establish Shire Councils, or any other mode of managing their affairs economically.”—Mr Harvey followed with a speech, which appears to have been most personal ; and his remarks were mainly directed to the administration of Mr Macandrew. He concluded by moving the following amendment : —“That this meeting forms into an association for the purpose of procuring a proper adjustment of the boundaries of Southland, and for developing its resources.”— The Southland Times says, that after the speakers finished, the chairman put the amendments to the meeting, seriatiam, beginning with the last, when he declared them all lost on a show of hands. The original motion, Mr Gierke’s, was then put, and also lost, by a majority of two to one, but the chairman declared himself unable to decide by show of hands. This discussion created much confusion and dissatisfaction, during which the chairman called upon the meeting to divide. A portion did act in accordance with the request, but the groat majority left the hall, apparently disgusted with the manner in which the amendments and motion had been put. In the confusion, the chairman, acting upon the suggestion of some one at his back, declared the motion carried.— The Times considers that the meeting developed two facts, viz : —“That the people of Southland are not in favor of annexation, but dissatisfied with the present unpromising state of affairs and a tendency was mani tested in the direction of the County and Road Boards system. The tone throughout indicated a desire for a change, but as the promoters of the meeting very unwisely engaged the services of an incompetent chairman, no direct conclusion was arrived at. Indeed, towards the close, no order or regularity was observed at all. The chairman asserted that the resolution in favor of annexation was carried, when in point of fact, the very reverse was the case. So apparent was his blundering, that a great many people left the hall in disgust, without waiting to hear the result of the various amendments. All sides and shades of opinion are agreed, however, upon the necessity ofja change in the nature of the Government of the Province.”

The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Seeiety will be held in the lower room of the Athenaeum on Tuesday next. We would remind our readers that the Amateur performance, by members of the Garrick Club, in aid of the Benevolent Institution takes place at the Princess Theatre this evening. Nearly all the seats in the dress circle have been taken up, so that we may reasonably anticipate that there will he a crowded house.