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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2094, 21 January 1870, Page 2

Mons. Fleury’s Concerts. The first of a series of concerts will be given in the Masonic Hall this evening. Mons. Fleury we understand has got together an excellent company of choral performers, and vocal and instrumental performers. The pregramme, which will be found in another column, is well selected, and we hope the attendance will be large, Portobello Road. —A deputation of settlers from the Peninsula waited upon his Honor the Superintendent this morning, to urge the necessity for the Portobello road to Dunedin being at once gone on with. His Honor stated that tenders had already been called for the work in question. The deputation, having thanked his Honor for the information and courtesy displayed, retired. Burns’ Anniversary.—We notice that preparations are being made to celebrate the 111 tli anniversary of tho groat Scotch Poet. As might have been expected, the Caledonian Society of Otago has announced its intention to commemorate tho event at the Old Masonic Hall (Wain’s Hotel), on Tuesday evening next, when a snppop is to be provided and laid on the table at 8 o clock. T, Birch, Esq., the President of the Society, will occupy the chair. TV e learn that a similar gathering will take place at Grickmorc s Royal Hotel,, Port Chalmers. Fatal Accident.—Tho following notice of the accidental death of Mr Janies Dundas, formerly connected wi'h the Otago Survey Department, will be read with rcgict by allwho knew him. The Southland Hews, Ifithinst., says:—“ The body of Mr Jmnos Uunda- ■!, surveyor, was found on the Riverton road yesterday. about 2 p.m., by a settler named M'Naughton—tho deceased gentleman’s horse standing saddled and bridled near by. The only other information to hand is that Mr Dundas left his camp at Waimauiiku Bush the same morning at 11 o’clock, with the intention of visiting town, and was not subsequently seen until found as stated.”

The Goldfields. —We have dates from Cromwell, via Tuapeka, to the eveung of the 18th iust. The rivers had fallen sufliciently low to admit of the through traffic from Dunedin being resumed, and from the goneral appearance of the weather, there was no immediate prospect of further rainfall. So far as reports had come to hand, the damage occasioned by the late storm was much lighter than was at one time anticipated. The machinery at the Aurora line of reef, Bendigo Gully, was well nigh completed, and the work of crushing to be started next week. About seventy tons are ready to be put through the mid. No. 4, on the east from Logan’s claim, had got down upon excellent stone, and the prospects of the reef in this direction are reported to be improving rapidly. The great want is machinery, and until supplied, the rock-bound treasures of the Bendigo must remain undeveloped. A deep-sinking shaft down towards the font of the range had been taken up, and results of some importance anticipated. Sad Accident at Lake Wanaka.— Gur correspondent writing from Pembroke, furnishes the following pai ticnlars of a melancholy case of drowning which took place at the head of the lake on the morning of Tuesday, the 31th instant. A man named Bill Smith in company with his two mates were coming from the mouth of (ho Mackarora river to a place known as Manuka scrub At the time it was blowing a stiff gale from the north, and when some distance from the shore the boat upset. Smith s two companions were good swimmers, and they rendered him all the assistance that was in their power. They twice succeeded in getting him on the bottom of the boat but being unable to retain his hold he was washed awav, and the third time sank to rUe no more. The remaining two then stiuck out for the shore, which they succeeded in reaching although much exhausted. A dog belonging to Smith was also in the boat at the time of the accident, finding that his master did not reach the shove along with the others, the dog immediately plunged imo the lake, and could not he induced to leave it the whole day. Smith, who could not swim, was about 26 years of age, a native of Banbury, England. Resident Magistrate’s Court.— His Worship A. C. Strode, R.M., took his seat on the bench at the usual hour. 1 here were only four cases heard, none of which were of any public importance. Mr Johnstone sued Mr Wallace for Lls. The defence was, that it was agreed this amount should not be asked for twelve months, when the liability was contracted. Judgment was deferred.—Mr Cohen had another case, arising out of his dispute with Mr M‘Lean, hia landlord, as to his tenancy. Mr Wilson, who appeared for Mr Cohen, said that Mr Harris, who was acting for Mr M‘Le;m, agreed with himself that the only course was to send the case to arbitration ; if this were not done, there would be innumerable crossactions. Therefore if his Worship would consent to act as arbitrator, and privately hoar the whole question, both parties would bind themselves to abide by his decision. Mr Strode consented to the proposition. — Mrs Barnes claimed from Mr Armstrong the

gum of LI ss, being the value of a canary lost through having received a defective cage. The case was dismissed.

Home-made Woollen Goods. —The General Government has advertised for tenders for the snpj'ly of a large quantity of woollen goods to bo manufactured in New 7, ' aland for the use of the Constabulary. Twenty-five per cent of the quantity ordered is to 1)0 delivered to the GHniai Storekeeper at WVilimdon, within eighteen months from the date of the tender being accepted ; the remainder to be delivered at the same place and in similar quantities every six months until the contract is completed.

The Banana in Auckland. —We take the following from the Southern Cross, I,tli iust.:—“ Wo mentioned a few days ago that Mr John Webster, of Hokianga, had accidentally discovered growing there a number of Manilla banana trees. A sample of the material, part of which is prepared for manufacture into rope, is now on view at our publishing office. The fibre is beautifully clean, and possesses the advantage of being easily scutched. We believe that the sample of it is to be presented to the Auckland Institute, together with a quantity of the seed. If it can be proved that the Manila banana grows well in New Zealand, we think no time should be lost in taking steps to procure a quantity of the seed for planting. Hibernian Friendly Society. The Charleston Herald of the 29th ult,, thus refers to the arrival of a visitor ‘‘"u day afternoon Lst, a number of horsemen rode out as far as the Totara, to meet and escort to town Mr Bryne, the gentleman who is now making the tour of New Zealand for the purpose of establishing branches of the Hibernian Friendly Society. At a later hour a procession was formed in front of the I ostOfficc Hotel, and headed by a brass band and banner, on which was emblazoned a Inland oth r devices, marched out of town by Camp street, likewise to welcome the stranger. About live o’clock, the cavalcade re-entered the town, the band playing “ The Wearing of the Green.’ After marching through the principal streets, the procession was halted in front of the Post-Office Hotel, when three hearty'cheers were given for the stranger. In. returning thanks for the ovation, Mr Byrno remarked that the object of M* mission was not to introduce any political matter, but to establish a benefit society, the influence of which he honed, under the blessing of the Creator, would tend to _ elevate anti improve his fellow countrymen, intolloctnally, morally, and physically. The processionists then dispersed.

Friendly Societies. — The Colonial Secretary has, in pursuance of the Friendly Societies Act, 1867. authorised the purposes following as purposes to which the powers and facilities of the said Act ought to bo extended The frugal investment of the savings of the members for the better enabling them to provide for education in science, literature and art, of themselves, their children, and kindred, and the purchase of hooks, implements, and articles necessary or convenient for such purpose, and the purchase, erection, or acquisition of suitable lecture rooms, class rooms, libraries, and reading rooms requisite for such purpose : Provided that the shares in any such society shall not be transferable, and that the investment of each member shall accumulate or be employed for the solo benefit of the husband, wife, children, brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces of such member, and that no part thereof shall ho appropriated to the relief, maintenance, or endowment of any other person whomsoever, and that the v hole amount of the balance due according to the rules of such society to such member shall be paid to him or her on withdrawing from such society.

Provincial Loans.— The Grey River Arqu-H writing on this subject, says : —“ It will he remembered that during the last session of the General Assembly, it was resolved that the accumulated sinking funds of the Canterbury provincial loans should be apportioned between the County of Westland and the Province, in the same proportion as the debts were allocated to each. Under this arrangement the amount coming to Westland would he about L12.0U0. Wo have since learned that the trustees of the Canterbury sinking funds at home (Mr Selfe and another) refuse to recognise this arrangement, so long as there is a single holder of Canterbury bonds who refuses to exchange them for consolidated colonial stock, on the ground that it would be unjust to the public creditor. The Public Debts Sinking Funds Act Amendment Act, passed last session, clearly provides for the apportionment of the sinking funds as stated between Canterbury and Westland, and it is not to he supposed that a trustee will he allowed to override an Act of Parliament. The same Act also gives power to the Governor to “icraoye any trustee or other person, and to appoint another fit and proper person in his place,” and no doubt, should Mr Selfe’s refusal be adhered to, this is the manner in which the difficulty will be got over. Extraordinary Billiard Breaks. —The week ending 30th October witnessed some of the greatest triumphs ever achieved at billiards. Mr Mardon, writing in 1848, mentions an extraordinary display by Kentfiehf, the celebrated “ Jonathan of Brighton, who, some years before, scored 57 consecutive spot-hazards, and made altogether a break of 196. This seems to have been the highest run then known. Fourteen years later," John Roberts, who succeeded to the championship, in a match at Saville House, put together 34(5. including 104 spot-hazards, and up to 25th October this remained the best run, although J. Roberts, jun., "W, Cook, jun., Charles Hughes, J. Bennett and J. Horst all managed to approach it pretty closely. The two lirstiiamed have been looked on as tbo “coming men they have played two matches for money and won one each. On 25th October they met at the Boyal Hotel, Dale street, Liverpool, to play 1000 up even. _ The game ended disastrously to Roberts, jun,, who was defeated by 351 points, Cook, jun., scoring breaks of 104, 351 (including 77 spot hazards), and winding up with" 123, in which were 34 “spots,” Roberts’s best runs being 71 and 102. Time 2 hours 5 min. The table is new and rather easy. On 26th October they played a second match of 1000 up, even, at the Frinco of Wales Hotel, Moss Side, Manchester, and again Cook’s star was in the ascendant, !biberts being beaten by 633, Cook making breaks of 64, 97, 143, and 359, including 112 spot hazards. Time, 1 hour 38 min. About 350 gentlemen wero present, and the applause was tremendous. It is needless to say that two such bieaks stamp Cook as one of the most skilful players the world ever produced. We have been furnished with the dimensions of the pockets, and find

that the table on which tho 112 hazards were made (by Bailie and Swallow, Manchester) is rather more difficult than ordinary. The balls used were 2 l-16th inches in diameter. AVe notion by lulvertiscunent that the fourth fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society, will be held at tho offices of the Society, Princes street, on Monday evening, the -‘lth instant, from six to eight o’clock, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions and applications for shares.