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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2198, 24 May 1870, Page 2

To Correspondents. — We have received a letter from Messrs Soanlan Brothers requesting our readers to suspend judgment in Young’s bankruptcy, until the next bearing on Monday next, when the “other side of the question ” will be given. As the matter is in pendente lile, the publication of the letter would be out of place. Redtapeism Extraordinary, —ln the recent flood (says the lifuswe.lbrook Monitor), a prisoner was in danger of being drowned in bis cell. When the water reached the unfortunate man’s waist, the lockup-keeper telegraphed to head-quarters to know if he might liberate the prisoner in case lie was overflowed. Southland. — At a special meeting of the Southland Chamber of Commerce on the 18tb instant to consider a suggestion from the General Government that the sale of flour and grain should be by “ cental,” it was unanimously agreed to adopt the proposition. Masonic Hall.—Dr Carr, whose fame as a mesmerist has preceded him, gave his opening seance at the Masonic Hall last evening, before a lai-ge audience. 'I lie opening part of the seance was devoted to a lecture on the philosophy of me-merism, in which he traced its origin and history, pointing out its effects, and condemning even its founder for attempting to invest it with attributes which diet not and could not belong to it. Hr Carr lectures well, and is at times eloquent; but his great defects arc rapidity of utterance (in consequence of which much that he says is lost upon his hearers) and a profuse use of scientific terms, which he must not be so lavish of if be wishes the bulk of his audience to understand him. Hr Can-pleaded for indulgence, alluding to the bad acoustic qualities of the ball; and there was a good deal of truth in some of his remarks on that point. At the termination of the lecture, he invited those of his audience who wished to be put under mesmeric influence to go oa to the platform. This appeal was followed by quite a rush of persons, and selecting some half down, lie quickly p! accd them under his will. With throe of them he was entirely successful, the various manifestations they went through being productive of much amusement. To-night Dr Carr promises to deliver a lecture on phrenology, and has very judiciously reduced the prices. Destructive Tides at Westport.— The Went port Times of May 3, has the following We have once more to chronicle an encroachment by the sea, attended with serious damage. The high tides of I- rid ay night and Saturday morning, materially assisted by a very heavy surf, have sliced off a strip at beach several chains in width at the rear of the town, destroying several tenements and necessitating the removal of others. Up to the present Gladstone street has escaped, but its north end is now threatened, and a repetition of 1 rid ay and Saturday’s sea and tide would be the means of ejecting the occupants of property probably as far as Bussell street. The groin, winch it Jj.oped might have so far succeeded experimentally i*3 to lead to an enlarged system of protection being undertaken, scarcely offered the slightest resistance to the vast bodies of water that surged over the beach, and after one or two breakers had swept over it collapsed altogether. What the breakwater might have accomplished had the trouble and expense been taken to ballast, if, is a very doubtful matter, as the force of the .encroaching waves was altogether unprecedented. Wg believe it is the first occasion since Westport has suffered from the inroad of the sea, that spring tides and extraordinary weather have happened together, exercising a double force in expediting the work of destruction. W e have received the May number of the Illustrated Men) Zealand Herald. It contours a number of spirited engravings, and a capital u cdc. v tiou oi reading matter. mini m i w i