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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2134, 9 March 1870, Page 2

Sporting. —Captain Hutchinson lias purchasod from Mr Delamainc, his bay gelding ‘ ‘ Wild Boy. ” Commission. Drs Hulme, Yates, Burns, and Alexander, are appointed a commission for examining into the health of persons in the service of the Provincial Government desirous of retiring on a retiring allowance.! Queenstown. —James Gardner, convicted on two charges of stealing from a dwelling in Queenstown, was brought down by the escort yesterday, sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment. Cricket. — A match between the second eleven of the Dunedin Cricket Club, and an eleven of the Albion Cricket Club, has been arranged for Saturday next. We hear that the Citizens Cricket Club contemplate sending an eleven to Tokomairiro next month to try conclusions with that club. The Hew Post Office.—We have been requested to intimate that the now premises for the Postal Department will he opened to-morrow morning. Letters for despatch will ho posted at tho old office up till 9a. m. Private-box holders will receive keys for their boxes at the new office, on applying to the chief clerk, and giving up those now in use.

Harbor Improvement. A commencement of the proposed extension of the Rattray street wharf is to he made in a few days. At the end of tho week the dredge New Era is to be shifted opposite to Black Jack’s Point, where die will he employed in the removal of a sand-hank which obstructs the passage of the western channel. Supreme Court. —Mr Justice. Ward held a sitting in banco to-day. The chief business transacted was the hearing of argument in re Manning v. Bank of Otago—• motion for decree—which had not concluded at half-past four o’clock. _ Mr Barton and Mr Stewart were heard in support of the application; which was opposed by Mr Smith. The case of M'Kellar v. Macandrew was adjourned by, consent, until the next sitting in banco, and that of re Alex, and John Hay, until the next sitting bankruptcy. The trial of common jury cases commences to-morrow morning at ten o’clock ; that of Pritchard v. Gibbs is first on the list.

Government Assurance and Annuities. —An important series of announcements appeared in a Now Zealand (Inteltv dated the 14th inst., comprising an Order in Council giving effect to the “Government Annuities Act, 1569,” and regulations respecting the life assurances and annuities, as therein provided for. Proposals for immediate or deferred annuities, or for life insurances, will be received at any of the Money Order offices from or on behalf of any person over the age of sixteen, and under that of sixty. Payments of premium will be received in various ways—quarterly, halfyearly, annually, or in a single sum ; and the scale of rates, as published in the schedule. seems to be moderate. Many other details are given, which we commend to the notice of the public, particularly to husbands and fathers, whose incomes arc likely to die with them.

The Octagon.—A recent visitor to Dunedin contributes to the Oonicivu Thun* a very lively description of Dunedin. He makes the'following very truthful remarks in regard to the Octagon “ The Octavou, to be anything like an ornament to Dunedin, should have 3 been built all round, and in the same style of architecture, a thing which may be realised, probably, about the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy. While writing of the Octagon, I must remark that the present condition of the Cargill monument is a disgrace to the city. High up on an ugly pile of rock and earth, and enclosed by palings which resemble nothing so much as those often surrounding graves in country cemeteries, it looks not only a miserable attempt at the grand, but oven a example of slovenliness and carelessness which one does not expect to see in the very heart of Dunedin. The whole thing should be pulled down and put up again, if a better site cannot be found—and I think there could —on a atone base approached on all sides by steps, and surrounded by a neat and ornamental iron railing.

Wonderful Escape.—At hull-past two o’clock on Morning last, says the Wed Cottd Times, a woman fell down the shaft of the Young America claim, Ross. There were two men working below, who immediately gave the alarm, and she was brought up. ft was found that the woman had escaped with but a slight wound on the right knee, which was caused by her dropping on a bucket at the bottom of the shaft. She was drunk at the time, and had a most wonderful escape, the shaft being over eighty feet deep. She fell feet foremost, and as she wore a crinoline the pressure of air must have broken the force of the fall. She had a bottle of beer in her hand, which, strange to say, was not broken.

Wauiola. —The quiet little township of Waihola is already promising to become the centre of a large industrious population employed in the manufacture of llax

at the seven or eight mills in the district either actually at work or about to be established. Mr Cosgrove’s is one of the oldest in the Province. Messrs Ewing, Moody, and Gibson, have just erected a mill behind the Lake Hotel, and Messrs Paterson and Co., at M‘Master’s Flat. Mr Duff has also built a. mill near his residence, on the opposite side of the lake, and Mr Crane another at the top of the hill behind the Waihola township. We are informed that it is proposed to erect one at the head of the lake, and wo also unde) stand that the large store at the East Taieri Ferry has been engaged for the same purpose. —Bruce Herald. Table Hill Quartz Mining Company.—The crushing of 15 tons of quartz from the 120 foot level of the r lable Hill Quartz, Mining Company’s mine, has yielded 3ozs of retorted gold, or an average of ddwts per ton. No doubt had only a ton or two of the stone in which gold was seen been crushed, a much higher rate per ton would have been obtained ; but this_ could only have been of service to parties wishing to sell shares, and not a honajide test of the working value of (lie mine. The whole body of the stone—good and bad—has been crushed in the above 15 tons, so that the result car be thoroughly relied on. We could have wished that it had turned out a couple of pennyweights more per ton, as then there could have been no hesitation on the part of the company in proceeding with the working of the mine; but as it is, it stands an almost ce' tainty to pay a party of working men who might take it up on tribute, or other liberal terms, ■while the margin of profit to a company after meeting cost of management (which cannot always be done gratuitously) is so small, that we fear the directors will not feel inclined to take on themselves any risk of further liability, especially as some of the shareholders, and those who would have been most benetitted by the success of the mine, have shown a positive indifference and carelessness in paying up calls due upon shares. There cannot be the slightest question tiiat a party of energetic men could insure making good wages in working this reef, with the chance of making something better. Stone that will afford two years’ work, has been tested to a depth of 120 feet, and a tunnel cut in from a gully 230 feet draining the reef to that depth. —Bruce Herald. Taieri Election. —Tho nomination of a member to represent the Taieri in the Council, in the room of Mr A. J. Burns, resigned, takes place in the school-house, East Taieri, on Monday next, at noon ; and the poll, if necessary, on Friday, the ISth. Mr Joseph Mackay has retired in favor of Mr Allan. According to the Bruce Herald, a meeting of the Taieri electo s was held on Monday evening last, when about fifty persons were present in the school-house, East Taieri. Mr Janus Allan was proposed by Mr Andrew Todd, seconded by Mr James Cullen. Mr James Cullen was proposed by Mr J. B. Blair, and seconded by Mr James Aitken ; but Mr Cullen would not consent to stand. Mr Todd was proposed by Mr .James Aitken, and seconded by Mr George Brain ; but Mr Todd said that he would decline the proposed honor. Mr George Sband said that Mr H. Howorth was, he believed, in the field, but he (Mr Sliand) would not propose him. Mr Somerville would not consent to stand, although pressed to do so, and as no other likely candidate among themselves was forthcoming, the Chairman thought that Mr Allan could not do better than address the meeting. Mr Allan, in doing so, touched on the Hundreds Regulation Act. and said if he -were returned he would do all in his power to repeal some, if not all tho objectionable clauses, as it was from first to last only c’ass legislation, which was a wrong thing in a new country. Immigration he was in favor of, if men and women of the right stamp wore sent out, but not as at present carried on, and he thought the Home Agent should be a ma i sent from here, who fully knew the requirements of the Province. Railways he was in favor of—and if any feasible scheme should he brought forward he would willingly support the same, and although it were not at first a paying concern, it would ultimately become so. Numerous other subjects were touched upon, and a number of questions answered to the satisfaction of those present amidst a good deal of good-humored bantering. Mr Allan then said that everyone ought to register and become a voter, as those who did not now do so, would be unqualified to vote at the general election, but it was proposed to have committees appointed to attend to this matter.