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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2148, 25 March 1870, Page 2

.English Mail.—Up to the time of our going to press there was no sign of the Omoo at the Bluff, The hangitoto is also duo at Hokitika, and may bo expected at ary moment. Telegraph Charges. —Wo would call attention to an important announcement which appears in another column, notifying that a reduction in tho present tariff will be made on and after the Ist pros. Sheep Given Away !We can hardly credit tho statement which was recently made in the Ballarat West Council, that thousands of sheep are sold in the local cattle yards at 3d and 4d each ! Postal Guide. —We observe. that a sheet containing the time of arrivals at and departures from Dunedin of all the country mails, &c., has been issued by the Postal Department, and may ba bad at the Post-office, at a charge of three-pence each. The Hippodrome.— There was a large attendance at the Princess’s last evening. Tiffs entertainment may be visited again and again, because the programme being varied from night to night, there is nothing monotonous in the performances. Tho gymnastic evolutions of Mr Bird a la Leotard, were of a highly sensational character last evening, and excited a powerful —though we do not hesitate to say— a painful interest in the beholders. The afterpiece, of “A Visit to Donnybrook Fair in a Onewheeled Shay,” is one of the most ludicrous pieces we_ have ever seen, and the house resounded with hearty laughter during its progress. We would recommend those seeking a gennin evening’s amusement to visit the Circus.

Acclimatisation Society. Mr Garrick hands us in the following corrected list of subscriptions and donations to the above Society’s funds, received at yesterday’s meeting, in lieu of the one published in last night’s "ksue Mr das. Fulton, L 5; Dr Buchanan, L2; Mr Stoddart, LI Is; Messrs G, and J. Duncan, L2 2s ; Mr 0. R. Howden, LI Is; Mr James Smith, LI Is; Mr A. Boot, LI; Mr W. Martin, LI ; Mr R. S. Wilson, L 5 ; Mr G. Bell, Waimea Plains, LI ; Mr D. Mains, LI Is; Ur Alexander, LI Is; Messrs Whittingham Bros., LI Is; Messrs Law, Somnor, and’Co., LI Is ;Mr H. Kirkpatrick, LI.

The CynodrOMß.—This interestingentertainment continues to draw. There was a full house again last evening. The performances of Professor Taylor, to which perhaps, sufficient prominence has not been hitherto given in these columns, are a hanpv relief, and impart an additional zest to this really enjoyable entertainment. Wo notice that the last performances are announced to bo given to morrow afternoon and evening ; and those persons desirous of familiarising themselves with the wonderful capabilities of the dogs and monkeys, under judicious training, should not lose the opportunity now offered.

Water-supply to Cromwell.—At the termination of the interview with his Honor the Superintendent, the gentlemen forming the deputation met in one of the committee-rooms of tho Provincial Council; Captain Fraser presiding. After some discussion, the following resolutions were carried .—“That it is necessary that action be taken to secure a portion of the revenue of the Province being applied to tho purpose of bringing in a supply of water for tho development of the extraordinary auriferous resources in Bendigo Gully and neighborhood, either by the Government undertaking the works, or by a public guarantee being afforded on “the required capital “ That the following gentlemen be appointed a Committee to carry into effect the foregoing resolution, with power to add to their number ; and that Capt. Fraser be appointed convener, viz., Messrs Thomas Birch, Mayor of Dunedin ; Captain Fraser, Captaui Mackenzie, J. Millar, J. D. Feraud, Bathgate, E DeCarlo, J. Harding, J. Sibbald, and J. Griffen.”

The Taranaki. —The Taranaki is being rapidly lifted out ; she has quite lost the wrecked, dilapidated appearance she so Ion? presented, and looks one more the fine strong vO'Sel she really is. Site has beep fitted with new masts and spars, the rigging of which is about completed ; the docks .are laid and caulked, with the of a g Ol all portion of the main deck, which is left until the work in the engine-room is completed. The engines, after thorough overhaul, are being put together, and it is quite evident that a little working will render them as bright as ever. The repairs to the boiler are nearly completed, and carpenters and painters are busy at work restoring and decorating the cabins. The company confidently expect that in a very few -weeks they will be able to announce a trial trip. Of course, there are certain things to be done to the vessel which cannot be done, except she is docked or placed on a slip, and she will have to go to Dunedin for that purpose, but that is no fault of the company ; they have done all they possibly could to complete the repairs in Wellington, and the disgrace of having to send vessels requiring to have their bottoms cleaned, or some trivial repairs executed under the water line, to other ports, must remain with those whose apathy and shortsightedness have hitherto prevented the erection of a slip or a dock. —Evening Post.

Frontier Defences.—A very full and interesting report by Captain Young, 18th Royal Irish, Acting Military Secretary to his Excellency the Governor, on a fort and tower in course of erection at Newcastle, Waikato, appears in the Government Gazette. This defensive work, which seems to have b en erected with great skill and under considerable difficult} 7 , is n-t quite completed, its progress having been arrested by the temporary removal of the Armed Constabulary on active service. Captain Young enforced the strictest economy dining his operations, and allowed nothing to be purchased that could be made, repaired, or converted on the spot. In addition to adding, in a material degree, to the safety of the di-trict, he deserves the credit of having to a certain extent “ developed the resources of Ihe country —by utilizing, for the first time, the brick clay of Newcastle, and by producing in the district lime for building purposes —a product never before obtained in Waikato.’' One passage of his report to the Governor is well worth quoting ; “All history, from that of the Romans in Britain downwards, points to a defensive character of a warfare as the sure mode of overawing and subduing barbarous nations. A fort is a sleeping sentry, ever upon post—a source of confidence and security to all around it. And a system of strong posts is right economy ; for each post, since it permits of a reduction of armed force with safety, is equivalent to the services of so many men under arms. The commander who neglects to fortify cannot be said to ho'd a country cn permanence ; lie moves through it, making no more impression on it than a whale does in swimming through the ocean ; he neutralises half his strength by being compelled to make large detachments ; and when lie does want to strike a decisive blow, finds that he cannot with safety concentrate more than half bis force.” After thanking his assistants in the work for their hearty co-operation, Captain Young concludes “ As an officer of the last regiment of Her Majesty’s troops ever likely to unfurl its colors in the Colony, and now quitting its shores for ever, I am bound to express my sincere thanks to your Excellency for having offered to me—and to his Royal Highness the Field Marshal in Coinmaudihg-in-Ghief, for having permitted me to accept—a position that has enabled me to show some active sympathy wi'h our fellow-countrymen in New Zealand.”

We have been requested to draw at tention to the fact that the Golden Age will return from Port Chalmers on Sunday next at 4 o’clock, instead of at 2p m. as announced in a previous advertisement.

We notice by advertisement that the members of the North Dunedin Rifles are requested to fall in at the drill shed, on Sunday next, at 2 p m. sharp, for the purSose of following the remains of Volunteer lillar to the place of interment. Members of other Volunteer companies {are also respectfully invited to attend.