Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1964, 21 August 1869, Page 2

A Correction.—ln the letter of our correspondent “Colonist,” published last evening, “election of country members” was inadvertantly printed for ‘ ‘ expenses of country members. ” City Police Court.—At this Court to-day, before A, Chetham Strode, Esq., H.M , Andrew Crawford and Graham M‘Binnoy were respectfully fined 10s and 20s for drunkenness. Margaret Stewart, for soliciting alms in Maclag an street, was sent to gaol for 14 days with hard labor. The Arms Act. —lnstructions have been given under warrant to the Commissioner of Police, to prosecute all persons found selling arms and ammunition without a license, or of selling them under any circumstances to Maoris. The police tin oughout the country have strict orders to bring any infraction of this law under the notice of the Commissioner, who is forthwith required to lay an information.

Gaol Return.—The following is the state of Her Majesty’s gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending to-day: Awaiting trial, 5 men, 0 women; under remand, 0 men, 0 w men ; penal servitude, 24 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 55 men, 12 women ; imprisonment, 0 men, 0 women ; in default of bail, 2 men, 0 women ; debtors, 3 men, 0 women ; total, 89 men, 12 women. Received during the week, 7 men, 2 women ; discharged, 11 men, 3 women. Locomotive. Some curiosity was excited this afternoon by the progress through the City of a locomotive thrashing machine, which has been recently imported from England. The engine is by ( 'layton, Sbuttlewo'th, and Co., Lincoln ; is of 8 horse power, and is capable of travelling at the rate of from four to five miles per hour. The engine started from the ■ew Jetty, and proceeded along Jetty street, down Liverpool street. When opposite Lumb’s shipping agency office, through the fault of the person steering, it was nearly driven into the offices. After some delay, it was got on to the road again, and afterward ( was driven along Princes street en route for the Taieri. The incline opposite the Government offices was easily ascended ; and, it would appear, that by means of tlu grip afforded by plates placed diagonally across the tires of the wheels, the engine can ascend ve. y steep inc ines. The engine is owned by Mr Thos. Kirk, East Taieri. The Telegraph Department. —The new tariff, which comes into force on the Ist proximo, is not calculated to produce those beneficial effects, which at first sight it appears likely to do. The charge for private ■telegrams—half-a crown for the first ten words, and sixpence for every five or fraction of live words—to stations at a distance is very cheap ; but it will be found exorbitant for messages sent to stations at a short distance from Dunedin. Thus, according to the present Tariff, messages sent from Dunedin to Christchurch cost 2.U1 per wo A ; to Wellington and Nel on, 3.U1 ; to Napier, 4 I; to Hokitika, (id ; to Greymouth, 7d ; whilst to the intermediate stations, such as Port Chalmers, Tokomairioro, Balclutlia, Waikouaiti, Invercargill, and the Bluff, average from lid to 2d per word. Under the new system'messages to these latter stations will cost on the average 2.U1 per word for the first ten words, and about 1 }d for each subsequent word, While possessing these advantages, the tariff will have the effect of damaging greatly the Provincial linos, which extend from Milton to Lawrence, Teviot, Cromwell, Clyde, and Queenstown. The charge to three of these places at present is 3.U1 per word, and to Queenstown 3:|d per word. By the new tariff a message forwarded to Queenstown, and vice verm, wid cost 5s for the first ten words, and 3s fid for every subsequent ten words. If, however, the department could S'-e its way clear to make a proportionate reduction for messages sent to near stations, the tariff would bo found, no doubt, to answer well The charges for Press messages have been sensibly re lu.cd ; and we are inclined to believe that the effects will soon lie felt in the shape of increased use of the wires for Press purposes. The new tariff takes effect on the Ist prox. Princess Theatre. —The performances at the theatre last evening were for the benefit of Mrs Harry Jackson, whose appeal to the public for support was rewarded by a crowded house. The performances commenced with Toni Taylor’s domestic drama of 44 Helping Hands,” the bmefdare filling the part of Tilda, a maid of all work, and the principal male characters bring sustained by amateurs. The piece is not one calculated to b- played well by amateurs. The plot—if there is one at all —is very' hazy, and the efforts of the amateurs onh made it appear more so. The . art of Herr Har maim, a blind violinist, whose instrument forms the subject of the plot, was well played by Mr Whitworth. Mr J. M. Fisher was good as Wilbam Rufus, a London street boy, although his conception of the character by no means pleased ns. Mr C. White tilled the part of Woolf, a Jew feme, but we cannot say '.hat we admired bis performance. Tim character was ovei drawn altogether. The part of Dr Merton was tilled by Mr Gcddes, who would have acquitted himself very creditably had he not been so nervous. We would advise this young gentleman to endeavor to speak in such a manner that what he says may be heard. Mrs Jackson was all that could be desired as Tilda ; and Miss Forde was a very respectable Miss Hartmann. The last-mentioned lady sang 44 Auld Hobin Gray ” very nicely, and was deservedly applauded. The drama was followed by a dance by Mr Hanuagau, and a ballet, which went off well. The announced afterpiece was 44 Handy Andy,” in which the principle character was to have been played by an amateur, aMr Fleming The curtain rose to the piece, but before the first act was concluded, the curtain was dropped, it being but too aopamit that it was only being made a farce of Whether or not Mr Flo ming was suffering from extreme nervousness as was stated, we do not know ; but this we do know, that be had no' the slightest idea of paying the part. Wc have always been of the opinion that an amateur should at least have a little knowledge of the stage, before he attempts to figure on it; and last night’s exhibition only serves to confirm that opinion. After the fall of the curtain, the greater portion of the occupants of the occupants of the dress circle having retired —Mr Fordo came forward, and on behalf of the management, claimed the indulgence of the audience. The latter, apparently not satisfied, called for the stage manager, who at length made his appearance, and made an explanation, which, however, did not have the desired effect. The and cnee insisted on Mr Simmoiuls giving a song, which he declined to do. Then they got up a demonstration by stamping their feet, and afrerwards Mr Simmonds put it to the audience whether the play should be piocceded with, the result being a unanimous answer in the affirmative. A fter a delay, it was found to be impracticable to do so, and Mr ."immonds announced that the farce of 44 The Wandering Minstrel” would be substituted. The farce was played, the performers in it, who had played in the other piece, being greeted wirii a round of applause on their appearance. At one o clock this morning the pei formances terminated.

Westland Gold News. —Our Greymouth contemporary of August 10 has the following The recent announcement of the discovery of a quartz reef in the range behind Langdon’s Ferry, Grey River, lias attracted some attention, and a number of men have visited the locality. The following, from the same i aper, sterns to n fer to the nugget which recently found its way to Christchurch A splendid parcel of heavy nug-

gets was brought to town a few days ago from Moonlight Creek, and sold to one of the banks. One of these nuggets, weighing 37 ounces, slightly impregnated with quartz, was exhibited round town yesterday, and bad a considerable effect upon the share market. nv>re especially upon the sh ires in the Moonlight Quartz Mining Company. The Westport paper of August 7th says Some very fine parcels of gold have this week been brought from the Lyell and the Culler. One parcel of “20 ounces is composed chiefly of two-ounce and one-ounce pieces obtained in the Lyell. And the parcels from the Culler, though principally of light gold, include one specimen exceeding five ounces in weight. '1 his lino nugget was got by Mr Co - ley in what was formerly Scott’s claim, in which the 92-ounce nugget was obtained. The nugget is at present in the possession of Mr Paterson, storeke per, Kennedy street, who oas also a very pretty specimen of richly auriferous quartz which was found iu the Lyell a few miles below the quartz reef which was recently discovered, and which, we believe, is likely soon to be taken up by some mining parties. Tun Hundreds Regulations Rill. The agitation against this Bill in the country districts is becoming stronger every day. Last evening a public meeting was to have been held iu La wren e, and the three members of the Provincial Council for the district were expected to be present. The committee appointed by the public meeting at Tokomairiro have issued circulars to the Chairman of Wardens of the various Hundreds, and also to other influential gentlemen throughout the Province, with the view to concentrated action being taken in the matter of the Bill according to the resolutions passed at that meeting. Messrs J. N. Thomson and D. Henderson, M.P.C’s. for the Clntha, have written to the Governor, asking him to disallow the Bill on the following grounds That the action of the legislature with regard to this Bill, which is entitled “The Hundreds Regulations Act, 1809,’’ is altogether contrary to the practice that has been pursued hitherto in similar occasions. Any act dealing with the waste lands has invariably been based on resolutions that have passed the Provincial Council ; but no resolutions bearing the slightest resemblance to this Bill have been passed by lie Council. That last session certain resolutions were introduced, enunciating some of the very principles that ar l ciuhodic' lin this Bill; but so strong was the feeling of the Hone against these resolutions that they were almost unanimously rejected. The Council, therefore, does not stand simply in the position of not having expressed any opinion whatever on the subject matter of this Bill. But, it stands in the position of having expressed an opinion diametrically opposed to it. That, owing to the practice that has hitherto prevailed in the Assembly of basing any legislation on the waste lands on resolutions that have passed the Provincial Council, the electors have not m ule tile lan I question a cardinal point with their representatives in the Assembly. But it is quite otherwise with their representatives in the Provincial Council. The mind of the electors is therefore on this particular question more acemately represented in the members of the Provincial Council than in the members of the House of Representatives. That, as any legislation on the subject of the waste lands is of the very highest importance, and as it is one in which he people take a deep interest, your petitioners arc of ojjiniou that the action of the Colonial Government in introducing this Bill without due notice, and pushing it with such rapidity through its various stages, is altogether contrary to the usages of Parliament. It was clearly their duty, either to give timely notice of their intention to introduce such a measure, or to allow considerable intervals to elapse between the stages of the Bill, so as to aftbrd the people time to consider the measure, and if it did not meet their approval, to petition against it; but as your Excellency is aware, the Bill was introduced witnout any notice whatever, and it was passed through a ! l its stages in the House of Representatives in he short space of thirteen days. That, in the opinion of your petitioners no more effeetua' means could be devised for impeding the prosperity of the ITovincc. >hould this Bill become law, it far as Otago is concerned, to an entire cessation of public works and immigration.

Cost of Meat Preserving.—A meeting of persons interested in forming a Meat-preserving Company in Geelong was held yesterday (says the Anjus of the loth July), at Mack’s Ho cl. Mr A. Iluthcx’ford occupied the chair, and some twenty g ntlemen were present, the pastoral interest being poorly represented. As, however, a number of the leading settlers in the Western district had promis'd their support, this did not make much difference. Mr Lowe, the promoter of the undertaking, stated he had made a calculation of the capital that would be required for the formation of a company, and had come to the conclusion that 3,000 £5 shar s w add be amply sufficient. Of these a number of gentlemen had promised to take (ISO. They proposed to purchase sheep only in the summer mouths, when they would cost on the average about Id per lb ; and if the meat-pieserving business was properly ca-ried on, this would ultimately have the effect of increasing the price of sheep by 100 per cent. An outlay of Llo,ooo would he sufficient to work up .‘I,OOO sheep per week. He urged the meeting to take prompt measures, or they might be forestalled, by all the good workmen being engaged. He then read a statement showing the receipts and expenditure of such a company as he proposed to establish, which was to the following effect : .‘I,OOO sheep at 5s each, L 750 ; killing, lid per head, LlB 15s ; boiling down expenses, .'ld each, L 37 10s; tasking -15,0 4)lb tallow, LSO 4s Gd; boning, packing, preserving, &c., 0,000 tins at Oil, Ll5O ; canisters, 0,000 at Sd, L2OO ; shipping fees incurred here, I per cent, exchange on L 1,.300 ; am tint of advance procurable on tallow, &c., Ll3; 35 per cent, insurance on LI,BOO, L3l, 10s ; cost of management, Ll7 ; secretary and office expenses, L 4 ; balance, L3Ol 10s 4d; total, LI,OII 5s lOd. Cr.—By 30,0001b meat at od, L9OO ; 4,5001b tallow at L 44 per ton, LBS3 18s Id; pelts, 3,000 at ‘2d, L 25 ; 15 15 tons refuse, 72s 04, L 54 7s Od ; total, L 1,803 as lOd, loss shipping and agents’ expens s in Loudon, deducted from account sales; 301 ns, at L2, L‘252—L1,0111 aslOd; by balance weekly profit. L3Ol 10s 4cl. On the m tinn of Mr Sharp Brcarley, it was resolved that it was advisable to form a company. and a committee having hern formed to carry out details, the meeting adjourned.

The Battery of the D.Y. Artillery Regiment will muster at the gun-shed, on Monday evening next, at 7.30 p.m.