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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2157, 5 April 1870, Page 2

The Hippodrome. There was a large attendance at the Princess Theatre last evening, when Mr Wallace took a complimentary benefit. The programme was agreeably diversified, and the performances afforded great satisfaction. There is to he an entire change in the programme this evening, and a grand midday performance is announced to be given on Saturday next for the accommodation of schools and families residing in the country.

Magisterial, —There was only one case of drunkenness at the Mayor’s Court this morning, and the business at the Resident Magistrate’s Court was unimportant. Martin’s Bay. —The District Hoad nhn'ineer, Mr Simpson, returned to Queeusiown from his overland journey to Martin’s Bay on Saturday evening last. The party were all in good health, and had only been absent eight days. Sir Simpson reports that the country is rather rough, but that a road can bo made at a moderate cost. The valley of the Holley ford is described as presenting indications of being highly auriferous. Coal is supposed to be abundant near the coast. The party came across one scam equal to that found at the Grey. —Dunstan Times.

South Australian Wines.—A few weeks ago Mr Ran •.hall, of South Australia, visited Dunedin for the purpose of introducing his Glen Para wines, which are so highly thought of in Australia and Europe. Since then we have been favored with samples by Messrs Whittingham Brothers, who have undertaken the agency. Although the wines of South Australia hold a high reputation in Europe, they exceed what we expected. Two of the samples, No. 1 and No. 1 x, are live years old, and though differing in quality, arc both excellent—one a rich dry wine, with fine bouquet; and the other, with equal aroma, more smooth upon the palate, but on that account probably to some tastes more acceptable. Another samp'o is only three years old, hut of fine vintage. We can commend them as far superior to most of the light wines imported from Europe. The taste for this class of wines is on the increase in Australia, and is fast superseding the use of spirits. We should he glad to find a similar change in New Zealand, not only as a means of increasing intercolonial trade, hut as tending to counteract that excessive spirit-drinking that has been the ruin of so many thousands of our colonists. We can safely commend these Glen Para wines to the notice of our readers.

Floods in New South Wales.— While many districts in Victoria arc suffering from the want of rain, accounts ore being received of the most disastrous floods in the neighboring Colony of New South Wales. The principal flood occurred on the Hunter River, one of the most important in that Colony. The district through which it runs being extremely fertile, and in many places highly cultivated, property to a vast extent has been destroyed. After a fall of heavy rain for several days, the river on the 9th inst. had risen 20ft. above its ordinary levelThe pressure of such an immense volume of water soon told on the artificial embankments with which this frequently-swollen river is restrained within its natural boundaries, near the towns of East and West Maitland, distant about 98 miles north of Sydney. Alarm was first created in the minds of the inhabitants by the force with which the water carried the driftwood against the piers of the Belmore-bridge, which spans the stream, and connects both townships. The floodgates were sufficient for a time to carry off the surplus water, but finally the corner of the wall nearest the West Maitland side of the bridge gave way, and the torrent, with irresistible force, swept through the opening, levelling the huge wall adjoining the bridge, and carrying destruction in its coarse over the adjacent country. Crops of maize (just rips), potatoes, pumpkins, lucerne, and millet in every direction were soon submerged ami totally destroyed. This state of things was aggravated by the giving way of the enbankment situated at the Horse-shoe Bend, which had the effect of partially inundating the town itself. The numerous creeks in the neighborhood also overflowed their banks, and contributed not a little to the general devastation. The river Hawkesbury, which flow's from the Blue Mountains near the town of Richmond, and disembogues into Broken Bay, about 14 miles to the north of Port Jackson, has also risen, partly submerging the town of Windsor, and overspreading the adjacent districts. The actual extent of the damage caused by these floods has not yet been ascertained, but it must be considerable. By the latest telegrams, the weather was gradually clearing up and the floods subsiding. New South Wales lias not been exceptional in this visitation. Serious floods have occurred in Queensland, and great injury caused to property. The diggings in Gympie were for a time completely inundated, and the miners compelled to abandon their work. In fact, business generally throughout the Colony was greatly influenced by the calamity.