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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2232, 2 July 1870, Page 2

Erratum. — In our leader of last evening, by accident “rags” was twice inserted for rugs. ” Printers, like other men, are not infallible.

Auckland Gold Exports. The total quantity of gold exported from Auckland during the 21 months ending 31st March last is stated by the Southern Crons to have been 220.071 ounces, representing a money value of L 684.220.

Masonic Hall. There was a slightly improved attendance at this place of amusement last night, when the programme of the previous evening was repeated. The ringers were encored in several of their performances, and .Mr Daniels was successful in his songs. There was an afternoon’s performance to-day.

Lecture. Last evening, at the school-house. Moruington, Mr "George Bell gave a reading entitled “Reminiscences of an old commercial traveller.” There was a fair attendance ; but as the proceeds were to be devoted to the establishment of a library for the Sunday School, we should have been glad had the interest taken in the matter by the residents in the district been more liberally exhibited. The Taieri,— An East Taievi correspondent of the Standard informs ns that, since the recent rains, nearly all out door work is s’opped ; and that he never remembers, during a period of twelve years, seeing the ground so soft and wet as it is now, The ploughing, in consequence, will bo delayed, and but a small breadth will be sown. What has already been sown is not looking well.

Gaol Return.—'TLo following is the state of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 2nd July, 1870 ; Awaiting trial, 4 men, 0 women : under remand, 0 men, 1 woman ; penal servitude, 94 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 50 men, 21 women ; in default of bail, 1 man, 0 women ; debtors, 1 man ; total, 150 men, 22 women. Received during the week, 12 men, 3 women ; discharged, 4 men, 5 women.

Princess Theatre. Wo cannot consider it adds to the reputation that Duuedin lias attained for good taste, that Miss Rose Evaus is not better supported. Last night there was a fair attendance, but if the stage is to .he Ifcnt open, there must he more encouragement r given. This lady deserves it, and we believe tiffs oxiiy requires to be known in order that she may receive it. To-night. “ Clouds and Sunshine,” “Pippo,” and “'Tire Honeymoon” will be repeated. They are worth seeing, and we trust the house to-night will be filled. « A Cheap Machine.— The Evening Post says that Messrs Bentham and Gell, Wellington, have jointly designed and made a machine capable of crushing one hundredweight of quartz an hour ; it can be worked either by hand or by steam or water power. It has two stampers of one hundredweight each, which rise and fall alternately by two double cams (a mechanical contrivance used in all stamp crushers). The rise of the stampers is ten inches, and they will fall about eighty times per minute, ihc tables are said to be on an improved principle. The castings for the box are the work of Mr Seager. The cost of the whole machine is about L 35. It is intended to make two more of a like description, and to procure a three-horse power steam engine.

The Land.—At a crowded meeting of agricultural leaseholders, held at Poinahaka on Monday, the following resolutions were carried, and a memorial embodying them is to be to the Superintendent for presentation to the Assembly : - “That in the opinion of this meeting all moneys paid by agricultural leaseholders on the goldfields in the form of rent, should go towards the purchase money of the laud—in other words, that all agricultural leaseholders, whose term of three years has expired, and who have paid their rents—viz., 2s 6d per acre per annum—he accredited with the full amount of 7s 6d per acre; such sum to be considered part of the one pound purchase money charged for the laud.” “ That as agriculture is bound to become one of the principal industries of Otago, if the foregoing resolution becomes law, the occupation and acquisition of laud will be rendered comparatively easy, and oixo of the greatest barriers to settlement on the goldfields of Otago be removed," The Loads.—The citizens of Dunedin, who have within the last few days complained loudly enough of state of their streets, can form no conception of the manner in which people in the country suffer from the same cause. The country press teem with articles and paragraphs denouncing the corporations of towns possessing such luxuries as a mayor and council, and the road boards of towns that a*\<» pot so blessed, for allowing the roads to remain in sucu an impassable state. Tim M n p becomes pr-thetic in telling of the notoriously had way uPubich the mail service between Cromwell and Queenstown is conducted— ami tbc cause is, of conr.-c, bad roads. Our contemporay states as a fact that the coach does not arrive at all, and as to the mails, they came any way (truly a frightful state of things). Lately one with four passengers was twentyfour hours on the road—the horses unable to drag the vehicle. The women passengers could have walked the distance in the time. In the old days, when there were no roads, the Dunstan could be ma le in a day and a half’s walk, and the Junction (Cromwell) in a day. The Evangelist.—We have received the July number of this publication, which contains a variety' of matter of interest. The editorial is entitled tlje “ Great want of the Church,” but the writer docs not attempt either to point out its want or the remedy required ; for that there is a want there cannot bo the slightest doubt. The Rev, Mr Elmslio, of Wanganui, continm s his article on '* Decision of character,” which gets more interesting as it proceeds. The writer of “ Mission Sketches ” deal with Terra del Fucgo in this month’s number- There is a sliort article on “ The Gaol, " by the chaplain, Mr Torrance, who states in conclusion: —“None of the prisoners, excepting those who havg been confined for a slunt period for drunkenness, are ever scut forth from the gaol entirely destitute ; but as many of those with whom the chaplain has to deal, not only while they are prisoners, but alter they arc discharged,

are ybungmen, in some Instances mere Iwls, without a homeland who, in bo .'ihning tbc world again with only a few shillings and without employment or friends, are strongly tempted to accept proffered shelter in haunts of infamy, it will at once be seen that in this Province there exists the necessity for a Discharged Prisoners’ Aid society similar to that of the home country.” The Rev. Mr Williams, of Hanover street Baptist Church, gives some particulars of the Pastor’s College, London. There is a good deal of miscellaneous matter which will repay perusal.

--'The Gas Question. —The following letter accompanied Mr Hutchison’s tender for the City lighting, read at the meeting of the Council yesterday :—“Gentlemen, —Referring to my tender herewith, for lighting the public lamps of the City for of 12 months, from Ist September, 1870, I beg to state that I am prepared to extend the term to three years, from Ist September, 1870, under the same conditions, but at the following reduced rates, say for the six summer months at L 9 10s per lamp, and for the six winter months at LlO 5s per lamp. Should the Corporation accept the tender for the extended term, I will undertake that the present rates charged to private consumers be not increased nor the discount now allowed on tho same bo decreased. This, as you are aware, is tantamount to a rate of 20s per thousand feot, and with such an extension of the contract, I may further state it would be my object to decrease this rate if increased consumption would warrant it, and I should at once proceed to lay down fresh mains, which would ensure a fresh supply of gas to an extent which would meet any possible wants of the City. At the meeting, Councillor Carroll moved- ■“ That tho City Solicitor’s opinion should he taken as to whether Mr Hutchison had power to enter into a contract for a lengthened period, ’ but it was ruled by tho chairman that such information was unnecessary.

Protection, —The following letter has boen published in the Adelaide Observer; “I see in your paper that eggs is very scarce, and the same day a< the Loorong took off 23 casks—it's that as makes them dear—and a lot of flour at the s ime time. If I was the Governor that should be a stop to ; every time as them two steamers goes there’s a lot of eggs goes, so that a poor man can’t get hold of none. Iho more grub there is in a colony the better jt is for them as i x it, so none of it ought to be sent away. And the same with wool, X would not let none go away, nor copper, and that’s the way for to start cloth works. If they was not allowed to soil it the moths would get into it, and then they’d he glad to spin it into cloth for a poor man to got a suit cheap and some flannel petticoats for his wife, which is better nor cotton, and not so likely to catch fire. And if the copper ore was put a stop to sending it to England, that would soon get plenty, so as we should have all our‘things' made of copper and last for ever, as evprybgdy'knows the difference in a copper kettle and an iron keftle, and they might make bridges and rails instead of sending away aU the money to England for iron, as isn't as good and won’t last so long j and if 1 was the Governor, 1 would make this colony prosperous, and free for everybody, and I wouldn’t Ist nothing be sent away, nor nothing fetched from anywhere else, but just keep ourselves to ourselves,

The monthly meeting of the Otago Freehold Lapd Building and Investment Society, for paying subscriptions, &c., will bo held at the office, Princes street, on Monday, at 7 p.ra.

The Managing Committee of the Otago St. Patrick’s Society, announce in another column that a concert and hall will be'dichl in St. George’s Hall on Monday, the 4th inst,, in aid of the Band Fund. The concert will commence at 8 o’clock. Mons. Floury lias been engaged as musical director.