Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2098, 26 January 1870, Page 2

Political. —We hear that Messrs J. Cargill and C. C. Graham, M.H.R’s., are about to proceed to England. Dunedin Races. —We understand that it is decided to hold the Dunedin Races for 1870 on the course at Silver Stream. The programme will be liberal. The day is not yet fixed. Benevolent Asylum. —The annual meeting of this institution will be hold tomorrow afternoon. As this is one of the most important public organisations in the Province, we hope all who feel an interestjin its prosperity will make it a duty to attend.

Concert. —We notice that Madame Carandini and her clever daughters have taken St. George’s Hall, -where they propose giving a series of concerts (operatic and ballad). They commence to-morrow (Thursday) evening, and having the assistance of Mr Walter Sherwin, who is well known in Dunedin, we hope they will obtain a fair share of public support. Church Soiree.—The annual soiree of Knox Church was held last evening, in the Church, Great King street. Over 400 persons were present. The Rev, D. M. Stuart was chairman. The provisions were supplied by Mr Hudson, confectioner, and were as ample in quantity as good in quality. Mr Edmund Smith read tbe annual report of the Deacons’ Court, from which we learned that 94 persons were admitted to the Church during the year, and that 430 communicants sat down to the communion table in December. The various institutions in connection with the Church are working well. Several addresses were delivered by ministers and laymen, and at intervals anthems were sung with good taste and effect. In Banco.—Mr Justice Ward held a sitting this morning, when the following business was transacted ;—Mr Smith moved for a rule nisi calling on Mr "Vincent Pyke, R.M., to show cause why a writ of mandamus should not issue compelling him to register a transfer of water rights. The rule was granted, to be returned within fourteen days after service.—Regina v. Eulton and Another (argument of application to quash conviction). This matter was adjourned until to-morrow. —The cases of Reid v. Fulton and Gillies v. M'Lean were adjourned until Wednesday next. Macassey v. Massey. The trial of this case was fixed for Tuesday next.—Harris and another v. fill an ley and another : Motion for order for further directions ;Mr Smith in support. Order made in terms of notice.—Hegina v. Whetter : Argument of rule nisi for quo warranto. MiBarton and Mr Howorth in support; and Mr Smith showed cause. Rule made absolute.—Manning v. Bank of Otago (motion for decree). This matter stood over, by consent, until a future day. Burns Anniversary.— -The annual meetings to the memory of Robert Burns were held last evening in Dunedin and in Caversham. A large party assembled at the old Masonic Hall to a repast provided in his usual good style by Mr Wain. His Worship the Mayor was in the chair. After the usual loyal toasts had been drank, the toast of the evening was proposed by Mr John Hay, who briefly reviewed the character of Burns, and illustrated his criticism by quotations from his varied works. Mr Hay’s observations were further illustrated by arecitation, very admirably given by Miss Cook, a girl about eleven or twelve years old. “The Novelists and other distinguished men of Scotland“ Tire Universities and educational Institutions of Scotland;” “Our Native Land;” “The Land we Live in ; ” “ The Caledonian Society ; ” and “Burns’ Societies all over the World,” were added to the customary toasts, and were introduced with appropriate addresses from different speakers. The songs of Scotland which were introduced in the course of the evening, were well sung by different amateurs, and created additional interest through being chiefly the productions of the great poet. The anniversary was also celebrated by the residents of Caversham at a supper, which came off in the Grown Hotel. There was a large attendance, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. Mr M‘lndoe occupied the chair.

City Council. —The Council met this afternoon. There were present—Councillors Fish, Griffon, Garrick, Th.oncman, Wilkinson, and Walter. Mr Wilson, the newdy-clected member for Leith Ward took his seat at the Council table. A large amount of correspondence was read, and the various letters referred to committees. The use of the Council Chamber was granted to the committee of the Athenaeum for ’ts annual meeting. A memorial from ratepayers in South Ward, calling attention to the state of Steep street, was referred to the Works Committee. Messrs Langlands & Co., of Melbourne, wrote, ottering to cast a fire bell weighing nine tons for 2s 3d per lb. Another Melbourne firm wrote, offering to supply the bell for 2s 2d per lb. The

Public Works Committee reported that the culvert in Maclaggan street had been damaged by the late floods to the extent of LSO, and that instructions had been given to have the culvert repaired immediately ; that the use of the Post Office bell as a temporary fire bell had been obtained. A letter was read from Mr Thomas Watson, of Melbourne, stating that he had intended to tender on behalf of his principals, Messrs Laidlaw and Sons, Glasgow, for the erection of Corporation gas-works, but did not do so because the plans were so mystified that contractors could not make up estimates with any degree of safety. With regard to the letter, Cr. Walter observed that on reading the letter for the riist time ho was struck with the suspicious character of it, and particularly the orthography ; ho turned up a Melbourne directory, and found no such firm existed. The whole thing appeared to him to lie a myth. In answer to a question, the Town Clerk stated that the letter did not come through tho post ; some stranger brought it to the office and left it on tho counter. Councillor Fish characterised the letter as a weak invention of the enemy. The tender of W. Buskin for supply of seats for Ll6 10s, was accepted. The following tenders for the construction of the proposed gas works were received ;—J. Millar, F.S. A., L2(),932 14s 8d ; Enoch Chambers, Melbourne, L 22,109 ; Waikem and Payman, L 21,495 ;A. K. .Smith, L 19.275 Gd. Tho tenders were referred to the Gas Committee for consideration.

Te Kooti. —With reference to Mr Firth’s interview with tho arch-rebcl, the Hew Zealand Herald says;—“Mr lirth, with Mr 11, E. Campbell as interpreter, mot Te Kooti, by invitation, at Thompson’s monument, on Monday last. The interview lasted upwards of an hour. His guard numbered about forty men, armed to the teeth ; arms in splendid condition. The result of the meeting may be summed up in a few words, viz., ‘Leave me alone, and I will leave you alone. I will never surrender; and if attacked, will fight to the death.’ He wants to settle down at a place called Tapapa a very strong position —distant about 30 miles from Cambridge.”

Accident at the Shotover River. Prom the Lake Wakatip Mail, 20th inst., we extract the following : —“Another accident occurred in the Shotover river yesterday morning. As Mr Whittingham (of Whittin'diam Brothers) and Mr Beal, manager of the* Bank of New Zealand, wore proceeding acoss in a two-horse buggy, the two inside traces broke at the buckles, while the horses were attempting to drag the trap out of a soft place. Mr D. M. Mackay, who had just crossed the stream, noticed the dangerous fix, and at once returned to render assistance. He had, however, to get off his horse, and with groat_ difficulty —while standing up to his waist in the stream-ma-naged to supply the place of the couplings with rope. Mad the horses been restive the consequences might have been serious ; as it was, the accident passed off without any great damage or loss.” The Laughing Water.— The following strange story appears in theSWAlandTime*. It says— “‘Whether any sort of magnetic sympathy exists between individuals and inanimate objects spiritualists may best explain, but a singular circumstance mentioned to us by Captain Gibson would seem to establish some mysterious connection between Mr Durbridge and the vessel wrecked in the Straits the other day. It appears tint some considerable time ago the Laughing Water was lying in Nelson harbor, where Mr Durbridge saw her, and immediately took a fancy to her singular name. That gentleman soon after went to the Thames diggings and took up a claim, which he christened after the brig, and now she has come and laid her timbers to bleach on the beach almost at his door, at the very opposite end of the island, as if she had a conscious desire to be buried near to one who had formed a sort of attachment to her at first sight.

We see by advertisement in another column, that the competition of the members of the Dunedin Volunteer Artillery, for a Lancaster ride, presented to the Battery by Mr D. Mills, will take place at the Kaikorai Kange, on Saturday next, at 2.30 p.m, Entries to be made at the Gun-shed, tomorrow (Thursday) evening.