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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2164, 13 April 1870, Page 2

The Telegraph. Communication with Northern ports was resumed this afternoon.

Balclutha. —Steps are being taken to have this rising township declared into a municipality. Electoral. —We believe that the number of claims to be placed on the electoral roll this year is 230. Good News if True.— -The Bruce Herald learns from an authentic source that the Provincial chest boasts of something like L 25.000 sterling on hand. Appointment. —The Bruce Herald is credibly informed that Mr James KenKennedy, late Cattle Inspector, has been appointed Sub-Inspector of Telegraphs from Tokomairiro to the Bluff.

Princess Theatre. —There was a slightly improved attendance last evening, but not so good as the performance merited The Young American repeated his fox-hunt-ing feat, but in first attempting it he was thrown off [the horses into the stalls. He

did not apparently sustain any injury, for he was enabled to go through the performances, in which lie was much applauded. Caversham Election.— Mr MTndoe addressed the electors of the North-Last Harbor district last evening ; Mr Thomas Reynolds, in the chair. About thirty electors were present, and at the conclusion of Mr M‘lndoe’s address, Mr Christie proposed, and Mr Edwards seconded, a vote of confidence in the candidate, and a resolution to do all in their power to secure his return, which was carried unanimously. Religious. —Last week the Rev. Dr. Copeland, of Tuapeka, and the Rev. Mr Telford, of Teviot, as a deputa'ion f om the Presbytery of Olutha, had an interview with the committee of the Presbyterian Church, Cromwell, to inquire into the working of the church, as also to bring about some understanding respecting the R~v. Mr Drakes status in connection with the Ecclesiastical Courts. A good deal of questioning and cross-questioning appear to have taken place, but nothing satisfactory was arrived at. The committee have determined to again consider the matter, and forward their decision to the Presbytery.

Mutual Improvement Society.— The meeting of the members of this Societylast evening wsa presided over by Mr L. Beveridge, the attendance being large. A letter was read from the President (Mr Smith), apologising for his non-attendauco to deliver the inaugural address, his absence being caused by illness. An essay on “The Genius of Shakespeare, as displayed in Hamlet,” read by Mr Norman, led to an interesting discussion. Several new members wore proposed ; and it was announced that the inaugural address would be delivered on Tuesday evening next. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated tho proceedings. Protection of Animals. —In our issue of last night we were led into an error. The Act of 1867 has been altered materially so far as wood pigeons are concerned by the Amendment Act of 1869, by tho 9tu clause of which it is enacted that “ the Fifth Schedule of said Act (1867) shall be read as if tho words ‘ wood pigeon’ had been omitted therefrom.” The result of this is, that the pigeon is withdrawn from the list of native game, and may bo shot during the whole year. The list of native game is now’—Wild duck of any species, bittern, piedstilt plover, wild geese, teal, blackatilt plover, curlew, quail. Meeting op Court Pride, A.O.F. —The quarterly meeting of Court Pride of Dunedin was held at the Court Room, Royal George Hotel. The attendance of members on the occasion was unusually large—this no doubt being caused by the election of doctor for the Court. There were three aspirants for the-office, and on the ballot being taken, Dr Reimer was elected for the fifth time by a large majority. Auditor Brother Haig read the balance-sheet and auditor s report, which show’s the Court’s funds to be worth in round numbers LI 150. Brothers Nimon and G. W. Geddes were appointed delegates for the next district meeting, which we believe takes place on Friday week. Public Crushing at Cromwell.— A long-felt want in the Cromwell district is about to be met, but, we fear, only in a partial way. According to the Guardian, a meeting of the shareholders of the Aurora Company took place on Tlnfrsday last to make arrangements regarding public crushings. It w r as stated that forty applications had been received, and that a fewmore w’ere still expected to come in. Tho question of rates was discussed at some length, and resulted in the following tariff being adopted ;— Per ton, for the first 10 tons, 40s ; and for any quantity beyond 10 tons, but not exceeding 20 tons, 355. They will commence crushing early next week ; the stone from Colclough’s, Loughnan a d Reed’s, and that from M'Loughlan’s claims is the first that will he put through. At present the Company have only sufficient water to drive five head; but as these will bo kept going night and day, we may’ expect shortly to be iu a position to report the result of more than one trial crushing. Indeed there is every probability that by tho time spring sets in the prospect from the majority of the claims will have been ascertained, and shareholders put in a position to decide as to what further action shall be taken. It (will also bo the means of producing a little more of the needful than is at present circulating iu the district. One claim alone will, wm understand, put through 150 tons—the yield estimated by the prospect taken out of the mortar I cing seven ounces to the ton. That is Colclough’s prospecting claim, and from what we know of it, we do not consider the probable yield over-estimated. The Bellringers. The interest in the entertainment at the Masonic Hall in. creases, and last evening the hall was literally crowded. The Bellringers gave the various pieces with accuracy and effect, and Miss M. A. Liddlo and Mr H. Hilton increased, if possible, the hold they have on public favor. The audience were exacting enough to require re-appearances after most of the pieces on the programme, and in one instance Mr Hilton was obliged to appear twice after the first song in character. One point requires notice, and wo believe only needs to he mentioned to bo corrected. When persons go to a concert go to listen to music, but there are some in the audience so excitable, or so forgetful, of what is due to other people, that they give great annoyance by l< marking time with their feet, A Maori or North American Indian might find it agreeable to his feelings to stamp, while a beautiful waltz was in progress, hut no audience with the slightest pretention to civilization would bo guilty of such barbarism. There cannot bo a more striking sign of vulgarity than such an annoyance, and it is only owing to the polite forbearance of the majority that it is tolerated.

City Council. The fortnightly meeting of the Council was held this afternoon j his Worship the Mayor (on the chair), Present—Councillors Carroll, Fish, Griffen, Jack, Thonemau, Walter, Wilson, and Wilkinson. Among the correspondence read was a letter from the Superintendent with respect to the Princes street reserve. His Honor wrote that ho had laid the letter of the Mayor, applying for the transfer of the sum of •L 6,000 to the Corporation, and the telegram of the Colonial Secretary before the Executive ; but as the General Government expressly declined to relieve the Executive of responsibility in the matter, they did not see their way to sanctioning the transfer of the money, without the authority of the Provincial Council. With respect to his Honor’s letter, his Worship explained that it

would be necessary for the F.nance Committee to consider the correspondence and bring up a report as to what c uirse should bo pursued. He saw no difficulty in getting the Provincial Council to sanction the transfer of the money, the Corporation placing in the hands of the Government L6OUU as security, which could be realised in the event of the Corporation being called upon to refund the money. The Provincial Secretary wrote with reference to city reserves, asked to be vested in the Corporation by Ordinance, that so far as the Government were concerned, the Octagon reserve had already been vested in the City authorities, therefore they did not see any necessity to formally vest it by ordinance. The Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote that he considered it outside the functions of his office to answer the questions of the Town Clerk with regard to the northern cemetery. After considerable discussion it was agreed that the surveyor should report on the present state of tne cemetery. An application fiom the Caledonian Society asking that the rates levied on the Grand Stand might be foregone on

the ground that the Society was fairly a charitable one was refused. In reference to the Liter of the Eire Brigade, calling attention to the state of the fireplugs, it was explained by the Mayor that the delay in raisin’’' them was not the fault of the Corporation ; there b-iug a dispute between the Corporation and the Waterworks company as to which body was liable for the cost of strnoting and raising the plugs. A memorial from ratepayers in South Ward, asking that the footpaths and channelling in Walker street might be attended to; and another from ratepayers in Leith Ward, calling attention to the state of drainage in Leith street, were referred to the Works Committee. The building regulations, as printed, wero adopted, Tli© Gas Committee reported that they were still carrying on the negotiations with Messrs Driver, Maclean and Co., and craved the indulgence of the Council to make a further report at the next meeting. In their report the Works Committee reported that a firm in town had offered to send home for a fire-bell to weigh 5 cwt., charging 10 per cent, for their trouble, and offering to lend the Council a bell until the new one arrived. This ofler was accepted. The surveyor was instructed to proceed, at once with the work of raising the fire-plugs. The Council was left sitting. Matauha.— There is now every probability of the immediate erection of the telegraph office at the Mat aura, for which a vote of the Assembly was passed last session. A gentleman from the district called last week upon his Honor the Superintendent, accompanied by Capt. M'Kenzie, M.P.C., to make enquiries upon the matter. His Honor at once telegraphed to Wellington, and no doubt tho erection of the uecessary building will at once bo proceeded with.

The Police.—A correspondent of the Bruce Herald writing, from Lawrence, draws attention to what he alleges was an act of extreme officiousness on the part of the police there, and we reprint his statements in the hope that the matter will bo enquired into if it is found to be correct. He says that a colored man, of the name of Laston, died recently in the Tuapeka Hospital. He was a man of the best character, and acted as local preacher in connection with the Wesleyan body. He died intestate leaving a widow but no issue. For the benefit of this poor woman, a sale of what effects were left was appointed for Monday, the 11th inst., and a large number of people collected, desirous of giving what assistance they could to the widow. All at once the police interfered, and forbade the sale, a proceeding which has excited no little indignation.

We have been requested to draw the attention of Volunteers to the fact that the battalion parade will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) evening.

It will be seen by advertisement that the Rainer Ministvels are hero shortly. The troupe consists of thirteen members, all of whom have the reputation of being good singers and capital negro delineators. Among them is Mr Eainford, au old favorite with our theatre-going public ; Mr Braham, an excellent tenor singer; and Mr Cowans, about the best bones to be found m the Colonies.