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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2169, 20 April 1870, Page 2

Electoral. —Mr Driver addresses his constituents at Momington on Saturday evening next. Chess.—The Dunedin Chess Club appears to be in a flourishing condition. We understand that there is shortly to be a tournament among the members of the Club. The Escort. —Through a mistake in the telegram received by us, the escort return in our early edition last eveniug was incorrect, the total amount received being given as B,7lSozs. 9dwts., instead of 3,9050z5. Bdwts. We have to apologise to our Port Chalmers readers and tho Dally Times for this error. The Lancashire Bellringers.— The performances last evening were for the benefit of the ringers, and the hall was inconveniently crowded. There was hardly anything new given ; the only novelty being a speech in the Lancashire dialect by ono of the ringers, which, although imperfectly understood, appeared to afford amusement. To-night Mr Eastwood, the manager, whose connection with the company ceases to-day, takes a benefit; and as he has quite a host of friends, we hope that they will number strongly on this occasion. "Deputation.—This afternoon Messrs Driver, M.P.C., Brunton, C.E., and Douglas, waited upon his Honor the Superintendent with a numerously signed memorial from the inhabitants of the Wyndhani district, praying that a sum may be placed on the estimates for the construction of a bridge over the Mataura river at the Wyndham township. Mr Driver presented the memorial. His Honor replied that the Executive had had tho matter in consideration, and he had no doubt the views of tho memorialists would be acceded to. The deputation thanked his Honor and withdrew. Presentation. —It will be remembered that some months ago Constable Hunt, then of the Wakatipu district, while arresting a dangerous lunatic, was murderously assaulted, and but for the heroic conduct of Mi 1 Charles Colclough his life would in all probability have been sacrificed. The matter came under the notice of the Provincial Government, and, as a reward for his intrepid conduct, a handsome gold medal, bearing a suitable inscription, was presented to Mr Colclough, at Cromwell, on Wednesday last, Mr Sub-Inspector Dalgliesh made the presentation on behalf of the Government. Brutal Assault at BANNOCKBURN.—On the afternoon of Friday last a report reached Cromwell that a brutal assault had been committed upon Mr John Halliday, storekeeper, Bannockbum. Mr Halliday, it appears, had occasion to remonstrate with the two race-owners for having destroyed a pig belonging to him, when the men assaulted him with a sluice fork and a long-handled shovel, inflicting wounds of a very serious character. The matter has been brought under the notice of the police. "Waste Lands Board. —The Waste Land Board met at noon to-day. Present— The Commissioner of Waste Lands, Messrs Reid and Hughes. The application of Messrs Foster and Rose for a lease of lignite at Ida Creek was deferred for the opinion of the Provincial Solicitor. John Pearson's application to purchase sections 50 to {33 inclusive, block 2, Tuapeka East was granted ; to be paid for in a month from date. John Story's application for right of access through reserve marked 7, block 7, North Harbor and Blueskin, was referred to the Provincial Solicitor for his opinion as to the power of the Board to reserve the right through it. The Colonial Firing.—By some the announcement that the Government intend to send down Lieut. Colonel Harrington to superintend the firing: for the colonial prizes, has been received with surprise, and by others it is thought that in doing so the Government have cast a slight on Adjutant Atkinson. Tho Government have thought fit to withhold their reasons for this action ; but there is good ground for believing that no slight—or anything that could be conceived as such—is intended, the Government being only anxious that a thoroughly impartial officer should superintend the firing, and that thus no hint of partiality should be possible. One of our contemporaries very pertinently remarks :—Adjutant Atkinson will doubtless have the good sense to see that he is relieved of a duty which (as Otagans are certain to carry off the lion's share of the prizes) might cause other Provinces to say nasty and unjust things. The Christy Minstrels.—There was a very good house at the Princess Theatre last night, and the programme provided was ample. The musical portion of the entertainment is exceedingly pleasing. The simple melodies are sung with feeling and taste, and accompanied as only those can accompany who constantly practice with the singers, and the choruses are invariably given with that peculiar balance of voices only attainable by constantly singing in concert- The gems of the evening were the "Picture on the Wall," and the "Old Sexton," by Mr Rainford, who sang them with exquisite feeling and good taste ; and "Beautiful Isle of the Sea," and "Happy be thy Dreams," by Mr Braham. The latter especially was finely rendered, as was also the quartet " Come where the Cowslip bloweth." The cornet solo, though admirably played, was perhaps more curious than pleasing. Mr Northcote's execution is somewhat marvellous, but the cornet is not an instrument that tells well in rapid music. Its best effects are produced in depth of feeling and pathos, and Mr Northcote is quite equal to developing those characteristics. The fun and dancing, as well as the burlesquerie in " Les Miserables," must be seen to be enjoyed ; and we heartily commend our readers to pay an early visit to the theatre, with the conviction that they will be pleased. Suicide.—At about half-past five o'clock yesterday afternoon, information was brought to town that a man had committed suicide in the Kaikorai Valley. Mounted-Constable Bevan at once proceeded to the locality, and on arriving there learned

that it was Mr Robert W. S. Grieve, manager of a flax mill in the valley, who had destroyed himself. He entered Mr Grieve's house by one of the back windows, and in the passage found the deceased, who was stark naked, hanging by a rope from one of the doors. The rope had been run through a loop in a silk scarf which was tied round deceased's throat. His feet were partly resting on a door-mat which was placed immediately under him, and the rope was attached to some pieces of scantling, well nailed together. Close to the deceased was a chair, from which it is supposed he must have thrown himself off. The deceased was last seen alive at his house on Saturday evening, by Mr R. H. Leary. Yesterday morning, Mr Leary's attention having been called to the fact that the deceased had not been seen since Saturday, the house was entered by one of the windows (all the doors being locked), and the deceased was then found in the position already described, and remained so until the constable's arrival, when the body was cut down. On Saturday evening alight \vas noticed in one of the rooms, but on Monday morning early, when the milk-boy called at the house, his call was not attended to. From the appearance of the bed, the deceased must have retired to rest as usual on Sunday evening. When Mr Leary left him the previous night he appeared to be in good spirits, but it is thought that recent losses in business have preyed upon his mind. The deceased was about 29 years of age, a civil engineer, and a native of Edinburgh. He came to the Colony some five years ago, in charge of the Government dredge, and under a three years' engagement to the Provincial Government. He afterwards superintended the erection of the machinery at the Exhibition, and for a considerable time was connected with dredging operations in the Bay. An inquest was held this afternoon.

Mutual Improvement Society.— At a meeting of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society, held in the lower room of the Athemcum last evening, Mr C. Smith (the president) delivered the inaugural address, which indisposition prevented his doing at the previous meeting. In the course of his remarks Mr Smith referred to the constitution and objects of the society, and dwelt particularly on the means to he employed and the benefits likely to result from its operations, provided its members set earnestly and intelligently to work to make it all that its originators intended it to be, and its constitution admitted. The prospective " benefits " enumerated were presented under a twofold aspect, as appertaining first specially to members themselves, and r.ext to the community. As regarded the members, he (the president) hoped they would derive benefit from an occasional pleasantly-spent evening's recreation, as "All work and no play" proverbially made " Jack a dull boy." Among the more solid benefits enumerated and illustrated were the wholesome "stimulus" to effort which would be provoked by friendly rivalry ; the correct estimate of individual ability likely to result from the measurement of mind with mind, which would necessarily take place in the arena of discussion ; and also the acquirement of the habit of expressing with facility and effect, either orally or in writing, the thoughts they might entertain and the sentiments they might feel. But the benefits he hoped would not be confined to members alone. If the Society realised its opportunities and took up its proper position, it would be by no means barren of good results upon others. Questions of general public interest would doubtless now and then come up for discussion—such for instance as the relative rights, duties, &c, of two races of men by whom specially the Colony was peopled; the principles and conditions upon which immigration should be based, so as to prove most acceptable, and beneficial alike to the immigrant and the country ; a fair and legitimate limitation to Jthe recognised hours of labor,|so that "hours of leisure," which according to their rules were presupposed to exist might be generally obtained and perpetuated. Such and kindred subjects would no doubt now and then crop up ; and if the members would first of all take good care to establish for themselves as a society a reputation for careful investigation and rational and equitable conclusions, the results of their deliberations, if intelligibly, modestly, and respectfully expressed, would not fail to have at least some effect upon the formation of public opinion respecting them. The address, which was enlivened by a few well-told anecdotes, was listened to with much interest throughout; and a hearty vote of thanks was awarded for its delivery. The next meeting of the society is to be held on Tuesday next, when we understand an essay will be read on " The Life and Character of Queen Elizabeth." St. Patrick's Day in Westland.— Greymouth was never more crowded with visitors than it was on Thursday and Friday last. Quite a sensation was created in town about noon on St Patrick's Day, when a procession of miners, over two hundred in number, marched in from the Eight-nile, headed by the Greymouth Brass Band. Most of the men wore green sashes with white crosses, in honor of the day. A special service for them was conducted by the Kev. Father Holland. The men then dispersed, after taking off their green sashes, and most of them made their way to the racecourse. The local papers say that at Hokitika, on Thursday, there was nothing to indicate that it was St Patrick's Day. A large influx of visitors was expected, but none ariived, and it was the dullest anniversary of Ireland's patron saint ever passed in that town.

IiOKITIKA AND GItEYMOUTH. The Greymouth evening paper of a recent date indulges in the following : —The Hokitika Borough Council has doubled its wharf dues. The Hokitika river is silting up in one part, and cutting its way through iuto the heart of the town at another. The'wharf committee are about making the attempt to negotiate a loan for five or six thousand pounds, the payment of which is to extend over seven years. The attempt, we are informed, is merely a blind, as the Council has already learned that there is not the slightest chance of raising the money on the security offered namely, a lien upon the wharfage dues, this not being considered as any security whatever. In fact, it is generally conceded that long inside the term of seven years Hokitika will have ceased to exist, excepting as a second-rate town, with little or no commerce of its own. When the next election of members takes place for the County Council, the seat of the Government, should it continue in its present form, will, without doubt, be removed to the Grey. Under these circumstances the propriety of constructing a tramway from Greymouth to the Teremakau river, and from thence to the terminus of the Arahura tramway is being

discussed. Greymouth would then become the port of entry for all inter-provincial and inter-colonial shipping, and such goods as might be required at Hokitika -would be sent through by tram at a moderate rate of freight. Within the next twelve or eighteen months we hope to see the scheme un fait accompli Greymouth will then have asserted its rights to be the centre oE government and commerce, and Hokitika will drop down to its proper level.