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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2212, 9 June 1870, Page 2

Balclutha, to be taken to create this nourishing township a municipality. Resident Magistrate’s Court,— This morning the business set down for hearing was withdrawn before the hour for opening the Court. There was, therefore, no sitting to-day. Shag Valley.—We are informed that the loss sustained in the Shag Valley district by the recent Hood is much more severe than was at first reported. The damage to grain, laud and fences, has been so heavy that some farmers have not yet determined as to whether they shall continue to fight longer against the elements of nature or seek for homes elsewhere. --Brute Ucrald,

The Trout. During , the recent flood the whole of, the young trout escaped from Mr Fenwick’s ponds. Two of the young fish were caught alive a few days ago iu a swamp near the Kakanui, and turned into the stream. Mrs Steele’s Benefit. —Wo understand that the Garrick Club presented Mrs Steele with thirty-five pounds as the proceeds of the complimentary benefit to that lady at the Princess Theatre. We believe Mr and Airs Steele will proceed to Christchurch by the Plnobe on Saturday. Masonic Hall.—The had weather does not seem in any way to have an effect upon the attendance at this place of amusement. Last night there was a very numerous audience, and" Dr Carr’s lecture, and his treatment of subjects appeared to give every satisfaction. Curious Phenomenon. —At about twenty minutes past seven on the evening of Thursday last, a rather curious atmospheric phenomenon was visible at East Taicri. Several persons standing in the open air observed that a light shone brightly around them for the space of about two minutes, and gradually travelled from north to south. The night was dark, but at the time referred to those persons were able to real a newspaper by the light quite easily. New Industries, The Bruce Herald understands that a large extent of ground has been taken up between Lawrence and Waipori for the purpose of mining for antimony. This mineral is worth about L 42 a ton in the home market, and from the richness of the specimen from this new claim which has been exhibited there is every reason to believe that the speculation will prove a remunerative one.—Good coal has been discovered on the Main South Road, some eight miles south of the Mat,aura. The discovery was made by roadmen wh le engaged iu digging out the foundations of a culvert. The extent of the seam is not known. St. George’s Hall.— Mr Cotterill repeated his entertainment, “Tabic Talk,” at St. George’s Hall Last evening ; but we regret that his efforts were not rewarded wi.h a better attendance. The entertainment is, on the whole, an excellent one. Many of the characters arc such as one meets with almost every day ; an I the peculiar characteristics are well pourtrayed. Perhaps his best is ITofesmr Fidget, a university lecturer, and almost as goo I is his WidowMeals, “ a widow for the third time.” The rapidity with winch Mr Cotterill effects the necessary changes is really surprising. We hope that he will have better attendances in future.

Wairau Goldfield. The Marlborough papers of the ,st instant, give very promising accounts of these diggings. The Express says : —The news received from the diggings to-day arc most favorable, and certainly exceed the expectations of most people, A great number of diggers —some say 200 or 300 —are now there, and about 50 miners’ rights have been issued. Prospector Emerson, who returned to Rlenheim to-day, informs us that many parties are doing well, and others are most hopeful. A nugget weighing loz 7dwts has been found by a man named Jlorreen. Pike anil Co., a party of four, obtained loz 18dwts in a day and a half. Fadden and .Co., loz in one day, but they have not yet fairly set to work. From Smart and Co.’s claim sozs lldwts had been obtained \\\ a day and a half. The sum of LI4O was offered for a share in this claim and refused. The Mail Service. The good people of Auckland are losing their tempers over this matter. Correspondents in the newspapers attack “us in the South ” in no measured terms, and slinging “leaders” appear in one paper or the other almost every day in the week- Hero is an extract from a recent articles “Mr Coliie, accompanied by his tail from Wellington, is visiting the cities of the South on his way to Melbourne, dropping honeyed words, which are greedily sucked ju, ai-d over which Canterbury and Otago are licking them lips. It is to bo feared wo were very rude to M'' Collie in Auckland, We djdhit ask Imp opt tp dipner, nor did wo get up nicy little meetings and deputations to ask how he felt in a morning. They do these things so much better in Wellington. ” South Sea Islanders. —The recent importation of South Sea Islanders to Auckland to -work at the ilaxmills there, is stropgly condemned by the local press. The J{end'd referring to the subject says :- r lhe assertion that the lu ‘ pup is voluntary is monstrous on the face of it. fHoiy pan a three years' agreement he entered into with a savage -who never thinks of looking forward to any more distant period than tlm next yam season. A prohibitory duty should be placed on the importation of these people. To entertain the hope of the settlement of this country by Europeans, and at the same time to close the labor market against Europeans is so absprd as tp need no comment. If, however, the ’New Zealand Gpvernment sees fit to permit and approve of this new phase of affairs, in common mercy and decency let there be legislation on the subject. Let it be remembered that these unfortunate people have no means of redress - they arc ignorant of the English language and Lows. They do not dare to complain ; and unless proper inspectors arc appointed, and proper regulations drawn up, the grossest acts of injustice and cruelty may be enacted at our doors, and jve may remain in perfect ignorance.

A Stra.no e Story. The Wellington Jireniny Pod gives the following account of a “ strange story “ We have been informed of a rather cool piece of rascality which lately occurred here. A. respectable girl* living in town os a domestic servant, became acquainted, some months ago, with a young man—a tradesman. They were mutually pleased with each other, and their friendship soon ripened, after the old fadiion, into a warmer feeling. The swain, who was excessively devoted, urged the nymph to make a match of it at once, and start for Ifie gojdgn regions of Auckland. Being a prudent girl, however, she declined to do any tiling'rashly, and flatly refused to marry until she had everything prepared, and a house to go to. Finding importunity in vain, the swain gave way, and set about getting a bouje apd furnishing it. Ho also bought fitting materials for wedding garments for the bride-elect, which she fashioned into befitting shape. While this was going on, the happy pair used to indulge in those pleasant walks in which lovers delight, but the nymph thought it rather strange that he never would take her out in daylight—always in the evening. At last the house was ready, the ring was bought, the happy day fixed, and the brides-

maids invited i all was going ‘ merry as a marriage bell/ when one day the bride-elect was waited on j by a strange lady, who in- i formed her that she (the stranger) was the lawful spouse of her affianced, and even the mother of three children. Conclusive proofs were adduced of the truth of these statements, and the deceived young lady gave up the wedding garments and the ring to her visitor, and promised not to sec the faithless Lothario again. Unconscious of what had occurred, the gentleman presented himself at the usual time, but was received with a volley of kitchen utensils, which compelled him to beat a speedy retreat. Libel. — Two newspaper writers have got themselves into trouble lately. On the West Coast, Mr Curie, proprietor of the Bosh (ruarduni, has been committed for trial for libelling the County Chairman, but public opinion appears to side with the journalist. All his law expenses arc defrayed by public subscription. At Auckland, the proprietor of the Morning Advertiser has been committed for trial for libelling the editor of the Evening Star, in the following style. After denying the charge of plagiarism preferred against the writer in the Moraine/ Advertiser, he proceeds “to do that which is really forced upon us—namely, the exposure of an individual who suddenly thrust himself into journalism, and, by a scries of acts of (he grossest scouudrelism, has endeavored to keep all members of the profession in hot waiter ever since. This person came from Queensland some months since, the unfrocked minister of religion to which he was a disgrace, an exile from a colony which would not tolerate him and his ruffianism. He came to Auckland, started there a paper, and, in consequence of his habits of cheating people out of their money, was forbidden by the proprietor of one of the older papers, at whose office this adventurer’s journal was printed, ever to enter his room again. This man, who never earned an honest living by his brains before —this man, who never was engaged on the Press before—is now the one who talks ungrammatically of a paper as ‘ hey and prates about ‘ gentlemen of the Press.’ We never care to deal too hardly with 1 bruised reeds,’ but when we know that this semi-felon refused, with a sneer, the other day to pay a respectable gentleman for literary work done whilst his paper was being printed at the expense of another, we cannot avoid seeing that if any one should be drummed out of the ranks of journalists, it should he the man who has already been expelled from one profession, and now seeks to bring contumely on another. Wo fancy that the individual to whom we now refer will be content with this quiet exp sure of a character that will not bear the light, and will keep himself iu his proper place, as far from the reach of the law as he can possibly get.” Christchurch. A Clivistchuvch telegram, dated the 4th, says : —A large and influential meeting wai held yesterday afternoon, in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce. His Honor the Superintendent was in the chair. The following resolutions were passed unanimously : —“ That seeing evidence on all sides of a strong desire to make further experiments in the discovery of the best method of producing fibre from the phormium tenux, luted for all purposes of manufacture, this meeting considers that these experiments, if made in concert, would be more economical and more efficient than if made by different men in different directions, independent of one another’s ideas and material help.” “To secure the abovemeniioned advantages of concerted action, for the purpose of organising carefully, ami oinducting a seines of experiments for the above-mentioned purpose, that a committee, consisting of Messrs Rhodes, Richardson, Oeßourbel, Sheath, Barker, Loughnan, Ravitt, Johnson, Walker, Huddleston, Ensor, Eioraucb, J. Anderson, and the mover, ho appointed to carry the above resolutions into effect.” “ That the .Superintendent be requested to communicate by telegram with the Premier of New Zealand, urging upon him the necessity of instructing the (Commissioners in England (by out-going mail) to report, and thoroughly inspect all machinery now in use for Hax, so as to find out what machine is best adapted for Hew Zealand flax, also to see to what uses the fibre can be made of for linen and other fabrics, apd if necessary thpt a certain sum Should be placed on the estimates at their disposal for this purpose. And also that the agent of the Province in Loudon be similarly communicated with.” The Superintendent promised to telegraph,—A man named Walter Neilhvs lias been committed for trial at the Supremo Court, for setting tire to the dwelling-house of the head master of Christchurch College, burnt down on the sth of November, 18(37.

We notice that Mr W. H. Reynolds has invited the City ratepayers to meat him at the Princes Theatre to-morrow evening at 5. .‘tO p.in, -A notice appears in another column to members of the Church of England at Port Chalmers, intimating than on (Sunday services will be heal in the Masonic Hall, mornipg and evening, and that the Rev. E. (1. Edwards will hold a meeting in the afternoon, to' consider the step? nooesgary to a continuance of Sunday services.