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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2090, 17 January 1870, Page 2

The Flying Squadron.— From our shipping columns it will be seen the Lying Squadron passed the Port Chalmers Heads this afternoon without entering the port. Its destination is not known, but from notices in the northern papers, we learn that it was probable it would call at Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland. Why did it not call at Port Chalmers ? City Election. —The nomination of a Councillor for Leith Ward, in the room of Mr 1L S. Hods, resigned, took place on the terrace of the Government Buildings to-day at noon. Mr James Wilson, of the firm of Wilson and Birch, was proposed by Mr John Marshall, and seconded by Mr John Simpson ; and there being no other nomination, he was declared duly elected. Accident. —As Mr Thomas Hairison, settler, of the Tomahawk Valley, was coming into town this morning with His milk cart, for the purpose of supplying his customers, when near the Peacock Hotel, in crossing the road where it had been recently opened for the purpose of laying the water pipes, and not properly and securely tilled in, the horse was thrown down, the shafts of the cart broken, and other considerable damage done to the cart and harness, besides the horse’s leg being severely cut. Fortunately neither Mr Harrison nor his son, who was with him, was seriously injured. Masonic Hall Concert.— Mods. Fleury gave a splendid musical performance at the Masonic Hall on Saturday evenin". The attendance was not nearly equal tolthe merits of the entertainment; but this

may, of course, bo accounted for by tlio fact that scarcely any publicity bad been given of Ida intention to give tbc coucork Liiose present, however, thoroughly appreciated the musical treat that was prepared for them. Miss Anna Fordo and Miss ,fenny Nyc excelled themselves on this p occasion, and in every piece they were enthusiastically applauded and encored. "Wc hope that Mqus. Ifleury will continue to offer similar highclass musical entertainments, and we a.re assured tha 1 ' the public will not oo backwat d in appreciating his efforts, and awarding him its liberal support. The Advantage of Exhibitions. — The advantage resulting from sending samples of productions to exhibitions has been shown in a recent circumstance in oouth Australia. At the last Paris Exhibition, Mr J. Dawson, of Gawlcr, obtained the prize for flour. “Messrs Dawson ct Fils,” as the firm was styled in the commissioner's report, have not been forgotten by the Emperor of the French, who has recently sent an extensive order to the lirm for the supply of a large quantity of flour for the use of a military establishment at New Calidonia. During the next few months 1,001) barrels, contaming 100 tons of flour, will have to he delivered monthly at Port Adelaide. Resident Magistrate’s Court. — The business at this Court to-day was light. His Worship A. C. Strode, E*q., took his seat at 11 o’clock. The following eases were disposed of, viz. : —Young v. Frier, claim for L 8 ; judgment for plaintiff, L 7. M‘Fyne v. Frier, claim for LlO 10s. Judgment was given for plaintiff for amount claimed. Smith v. Court was a claim for L 5, services rendered. This case was dismissed, on the ground that Sir Symmons, and not Mr Court, was liable for the amount. Davis v. Lucas.—This was a summons for a debt of L 4 10s, for which judgment had been previously obtained. Defendant was ordered to pay the money within one week, or be imprisoned for six weeks. Benefit. Mr M. and Miss A. Forde take a complimentary benefit this evening at the New Masonic 11 all. ibis is their last appearance; and we may fairly anticipate a crowded house. The entertainment will be partly musical, partly dramatic ; the musical portion comprising choice selections from the principal operas, notably the “Grand Duchess,” songs, &c. ; and the dramatic, consisting of a farce entitled “7 he Blighted Being,” by some lady and gentleman amateurs, whose voluntary services are given for the occasion When too we add that Miss Jenny Nye will appear for the last time this evening, wc feel that sufficient has been said not only to excite an interest but to draw a full bouse. Wc trust the kind efforts of Mr and Miss Forde’s many friends may not be disappointed, and that a large attendance may reward their exertions. Steam Excursion. ■ — In a former issue wc published a report of a proposed excursion from Victoria to New Zealand. With reference to it, the li r m( Coast Times of a recent date says : —“We understand a number of the friends of Capt. John M Lean of the Alhambra, purpose, after her extensive overhaul, to visit all New Zealand ports on an excursion trip. The circular which has been shown to us is issued by Mr Bagot, and it is proposed the Alhambra shall leave Melbourne on the 20th January, direct for Milford Sound, and Irom ineneu vi.-io ..n m lets or sounds to Bluff Harbor, from thence to Dunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and will visit Queen Charlotte Sound and other sounds in Cook’s Straits, going through the French Pass en'route to Nelson, where she will leave about 21st February, calling off Hokitika on her way to Melbourne. The number of passengers will be limited to fifty iu the saloon. The 3 faro for the entire round being very moderate, oifiyL2o. No doubt, as the weather is so extremely hot in Melbourne, Captain M'Lcan will secure the number of excursionists, who will benefit by the trip, and experience some knowledge of the geographical position of the different ports of New Zealand. ” Mr J. B. Thomson.— -The following reply to the address presented to Mr J. B. Thomson, late of the Detective Force, from the members of the Provincial Council and the Mayor and Corporation, was received by W. H. Reynolds, Esq., M.H.R., Speaker of the Provincial Council, under date Jan. G “Time would not permit me to suitably acknowledge before leaving Dunedin the extremely complimentary address received through you (on the eve of my departure) from the members of the Provincial Council of Otago and the Mayor and Corporation of Dunedin, by whom it was signed. 1, however, take the present opportunity of doing so, and have the honor to respectfully tender you and through you, Sir, the whole of the gentlemen who signed the address referred to, my sincere and heartfelt thanks for so welcome an expression of their approval of my conduct as a public officer whose duties arc at times very onerous and unpleasant. The compliment thus paid was as unexpected as unusual, and naturally extremely gratifying to me. I need scarcely assure you, sir, that the testimonial in question will ever be highly prized by me and carefully preserved, and will. 1 trust, prove an incentive to me to continue to merit, by a straightforward line of conduct, the goodwill and esteem of those communities amongst whom the future exercise of public duties may from time to time place me. I have the honor to be, &c., J. B. Thomson, Inspector of N.Z. Constabulary.” Southland Gold. The Riverton correspondent of tli e Southland Times, under date Gth January, says “Great excitement has occurred—first by a whisper that a gentleman had found a large quantity of nuggets at the Longwood, one of something over Kiozs ; then they were produced, and on Monday and Tuesday shown in Mr Peter Grant’s offices, by Is each admission, the proceeds to go to the Hospital; and I suppose by tins' 1 tbc good people of your town will be gratified by a sight of them, as I hear they arc taken to Invercargill to be exhibited for the benefit of the same valuable institution, and certainly they arc fine specimens of nuggets.” Auckland. —The following telegram is dated the 7th inst A new morning paper was issued yesterday, and a new evening starts on Saturday next. The Auckland Paces were a great success. Rowdyism, however, showed itself, on the course. For the Auckland Handicap, Stafford’s Nebula Ist; for the Town Plate, Nebula Ist; for the Maiden Plato, Lady Florence 2nd : for the Innkeepers’ Handicap Nebula Ist ; for the Garrison Plate, Nebula Ist. Operations on the Thames have been interrupted by the holidays. A landslip occurred on the Shotover claim. The yield of the Kowakowa coal mine to the present

date baa been 3000 tons.. A native chief has come down from the Waikato to know whether the Government intend to give back the Waikato. A leader in the Southern Gross of to-day says the session of the Assembly should be held in Auckland.” Not Bad. —The Mercury tells ns that the latest instance on record of the noble savage copying his betters is that of Wi Mahupuku, who recently tiled his schedule, referring nil dunning creditors to “ my lawyer in Wellington.” The Taranaki.—The repairing of the Taranaki is rapidly proceeding. The lower deck, forward, the forecastle deck, and bridge, arc laid and caulked, and the pnop deck well on towards completion. A copper-dam has been fixed over the damaged portion of her side, by means of which the broken plates have been cut out, and new ones will be fixed in by next week. 7he engines and boiler will soon bo ready to replace again. Contracts have been accepted for nearly all the necessary work ns to inside fittings, and it is confidently expected that the 7'arnnaki will be ready to go to sea some time iu March. Wc arc glad to learn that the company find the expenses attending the repairs by no means so heavy as was at first anticipated. Auckland.— The Herald, of Ist January, says “ With reference to the disposal of the Barracks in New Zealand on the final removal of the Imperial troops, wc are glad to learn that his Excellency Sir George Bowen has not lost sight of this question, but lias entitled himself to the cordial thanks of the colonists for the interest he lias taken in their behalf in the matter. Some months ago, it seems, Sir George pressed on the Imperial Government tbc advisability of making over these properties to the colony f: es of charge, and after a considerable amount of correspondence, the Imperial authorities consented to do this. Accordingly, on the departure of the I.Bth Regiment, the Barracks at For.t Britomart and the Albert Barracks, including the lands enclosed and unenclosed, and all buildings on them, will he handed over, free of charge, to the Colonial Government.—We are sorry to have to record a fatal accident that occurred yesterday, by which one of the men employed on the tramway lost his life at the same spot on which so many accidents have already occurred, at the sharp turn of the Pretty Jauo Spur, near the entrance to the gorge. The deceased, Alexander M‘Connell, a man of about 30 years of age, was breaksman of the truck which was then coining down the lino. It appears that owing to the wet weather having made the rails and break more slippery than usual, he was unable to check the speed of the waggon before reaching the turn. Here the truck ran off the rails, and deceased was pitched over into the bed of the creek. He appears to have alighted on his head, and was killed almost instantaneously.” Secular Education.— The Bishop of Nelson, who is strongly opposed to public education being secular only, in his charge to the Synod recently, while speaking of the religious education of children, used the following remorkablc expressions :—“First of all, teach them all yon do believe, and they will know much more than they do now. Secondly, do not be afraid io wait till you can explain what you do not understand, or even what von disapprove. You may, for example, think, it very rliffloult +o receive some of the historical parts of the Scriptures —they are more than you can receive. Now do not think a child as sceptical as you are. Childhood is not sceptical—it is serious ; and while you arc not to take advantage of that receptive faculty to instil folly, falsehood, and fiction as truth, you need not be so anxious as some are on this subject.This, if it means anything, means that advantage is to be taken of the receptiveness of children to impress upon them what, according to Bishop Sutcr, the mature mind of manhood cannot receive. What ideas the Bishop entertains of religious instruction is hard to say, if he advocates its foundation being laid in falsehood and deceit, by impressing upon the understandings of the young, dogmas their teachers “cannot explain,” “do not understand,” or “ even disapprove.” The annual meeting of the First Church Young Men’s Christian Association is announced to take place in the School Hall, to-morrow evening, at half-past seven o’clock.