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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2234, 5 July 1870, Page 2

Masonic Hall. This evening the* Lancashire Bell Ringers give their final performance previous to their going to the Port. Those who have neglected hea'iug this really charming performance should avail themsolves of the opportunity of visiting them, and those who have heard them need no vceommendation to hear them for the last time.

N Ashby.— -Last week, an accident, happily unattended with serious results, occurred at the Ida A alley quartz reef. The ground having become thoroughly saturated with water, a portion of the main tunnel fell in, confining for a time two men who were at work there. They were both extricated from their perilous position, suffering nothing further than tho fright. The retd has suspended operations in consequence of having no timber.

Improvements. —The Metropolitan Hotel, under the auspices of Mr Thomas Collins, formally opened on Saturday evening. The rather novel feature iu connection with tho opening of an hotel, at least in Dunedin, was exhibited, of a band of music playing throughout the evening. Next door to the above, Messrs Hogg and Hutton have opened up their grocery business. The shop is richly and tastefully displayed, and is an evident improvement to our street appearance.

Politeness. —At a recent meeting of the Canterbury Supreme Court in bankruptcy, the provisional trustee enlightened the presiding judge as to the kind of assistance he received at the Lands of some creditors, by instancing the case of a bankrupt named Wade, in connection with which he had telegraphed to a Mr Rutherford, of Timarn, asking if be had any opposition to

offer to the discharge. Rutherford a reply was certainly abort, hut,anything but sweet. It was this-►.“ To Graham, Christchurch. fSeud him to blazes. Ruth rford.” The judge characterised Rutherford’s conduct as highly indecent, and might fairly have added, thoroughly uugontlemanly. Dunedik Fire Brigade.—The usual monthly meeting of the Dunedin Volunteer Five Brigade was held last evening, Foreman Lewis occupying the chair. The minutes of all previous meetings and practices were read an d condoned. The chairman stated that the absence of Captain Wain was owing to his being out of town. The suggestion—a very "ood one—was made, that the lower part of the Bell ,p ower should be made available as an engine station. Were this done, a great deal of labor ami loss of-time would be saved, should a iirc occur on any part of the hill, as then there would always be an engine and the necessary year handy. The Secretary was requested to write to the Corporation respecting the same. Messrs J. Swords and Fred. Wain were proposed as working members of the Brigade, to be v ested at the next monthly meeting. he other badness was unimportant. A practice was caded for next Wednesday, and the meeting separated.

Princess Theatre. refreshing to see so large an attendance as last evening responded to Miss Evans’s appeal for support. All parts of the house were tolerably well filled, especially the dress circle. The programme was sufficiently varied to please the most fastidious ; there was a little bit of everythiug-tragedy, comedy, and burlesque. Miss Evans appeared last evening for the first tuns in selections from “Hamlet” and Schillers drama of “Mary Queen of Scots.” Her impersonation of the melancholy Dane was certainly original in some respects ; but it has its drawbacks. She invests it with too much action of the molo-dramatic kind : at least we consider so. The soliloquy on death was, however, well given. In the other piece she was undoubtedly good, and in the closing sceno showed that she is posaessed of considerable dramatic power. loe performances concluded with “ Pippo, in which she was particular y successful. Miss Evans was cal cd beiore the curtain seveial times during the evening. St. George’s Hall.—A concert and ball, in aid of the funds of the Otago St. Patrick’s Society’s Baud, were given last evening at the above Hall. Ihe proceedings opened with an overture by Messrs Flenry and Reichardt; and the names of those gentlemen will be a sufficient guarantee for i;s excellence. A duet by a lady and gen leman, and “ Man the lifeboat” by Mr Farrow, wore both encored. An Irish jig and reel, by Messrs Collins and Hannigan, jun., were well danced, and called forth loud applause. But the gem of the evening was Miss Rowland’s song, “ The dear little shannook, given in character, Inc audience testified their delight by encoring her a second time, to which she kindly responded. “ The Comet of the West ” was admirably rendered by a young gentleman ; and on being encored he gave “Walking in the Zoo” in a style seldom attained by amateurs. After a negro song and dance by Messrs Collins and Hanniugan, and “ Eily Mavourneen” by Mr Farrow, a duet by Messrs t leury and Reiehardt, brought the concert to a close. After a short interval dancing began, and was kept up till the “ small hours. ” Mr Watson, of the Royal Hotel, supplied the refreshment room in his usual creditable style.

The Sax Francisco Mail Service. —Tlic Postmaster General ia umcli too clever for the ■Wellington people, so they arc forced to retreat fronrthe high position they took at the commencement of the dispute about the port of call, and now content themselves -with abusing him. Even in Melbourne Mr Vogel —or rather his spirit—has been too much for them. According to the hon. Mr Fitzherbert, everything would have gone well in Melbourne with the deputation from the Empire C.ty, but for Mr Vogel> interference. The deputation had an interview with the Chamber of Commerce, and were moat favorably received. There appeared to be every probability of a snccewdul result, and Mr Collie had made up bis mind to await in Melbourne the meeting of the Colonial Conference. Things, ipdeed, wore a most favorable aspect, when a containing the account of the interview of the Wellington deputation with the Postmaster-Genm-al was received ; that at once upset every hmg. and the delegates felt completely nonplussed, p, oplo in Melbourne at once accused them of ra'siep: esentatiou. and resolved to have nothing more to do with the affair. Mr Collie felt greatly hurt, and at once gave up hope of being able to do anything in Melbourne, and" accord! <gly proceeded to Sydney. At the meeting at Wellington at which Mr Fitzherbert gave an account of his mission, it seemed to have caused a little consternation. After a great deal of discussion ft yva* decided to do nothing beyond presenting a petition to Parliament, Tub Spirit's Likenesses.—Messrs Burton Brothers have practically shewn that spirits can live outside of bodies, by photographing likenesses of a man and his sjiiiit directing his actions. Rather startling it is to learn that not only lias tlia man a ghost of l.is own, but (hat it wears ghostly coats and trousers, .cut precisely to tho pattern of those worn at the tiipe being. But tho proof is too plain by one of Myssrs Burton s photographs to leave a shadow of a doubt on the mind of the most sceptical, On examining the likenesses, even the moulding of the skirting board in the room, with its lights and shadows, is visible through the spirit’s form—exhibiting the di(F rence, we suppose, between spirit and matter. Swedenborg s idea, if we recollect rightly, was that spirit gave form to matter; and this is corroborated by tho attitud-f of 'he man’s own ghost, who seems standing at a distance taking an artistic view of the effect of his promptings on the body. It is, however, somewhat different in another picture, where the shadowy visitant is seen by a second party. The wonder is that such terror as is manifest m the attitude and countenance of tije haunted man did not cause

“ Each particular hair to stand on end Like (jiiills upon the fretful porcupine.” Perhaps the calm terror depicted is the more natural in those days of spiritual visitations, and as a proof of their reality, wc recommend that Messrs Burton’s photographs should have a place in every spiritualist s album.

Election Jokes. —On the principle that ft joke well told cannot be told too often, wo give a few told by lion, members when the Ballot Bril was in Committee, As ai objection to hustings nominations, Mr

Graham, of Oamaru, stated that it. often happened that a young politician got flamed by cpiestions put on the spur of the moment at nominations, and he instanced a case in point where a pragmatical elector insisted, that a question he was about to put should be answered direct by the candidate, yes or no. Thinking it was one of great importance as affecting the welfare of the country, perhaps, he reluctantly consented, when the elector asked, “ What did you do to your washerwoman ?” The first feelings of agitation—mixed with those of indignation — coupled with the success of the j 'ke, so fairly bewildered the candidate that he had to beat a hasty retreat, and resigned the contest. As an exemplification of the fact that persons who were unable to read were liab’c to vote diametrically opposite to thei intention, Mr Haughton (the Bernard Osborne of the House) remembered a case in Victoria where 300 Mongolians, having been brought to the polling-booth for the purpose of returning a particulur individual, the head man got hold of a ballot-ticket the wrong way up, and instructed bis fellowcountrymen to strike oti the two top names, consequently they succeeded in returning the wrong man. A clause in the Bill proposed the use of pen i!s for striking out the names of the candidates, and on a member proposing the use of colored pencils on the score of increased, legibility, Mr Haughtou interposed an objection that the electors in a conscientious discharge of their patriotic duties, might walk them off. Mr Haughton, on being asked if he bad read the Bill,°lacon'cally replied that he never read Bills. This is quite opposite to the practice of a late member, Mr Barff, who never considered he had done his duty to his country until he had road every Act in the statute hook from “ Dieu et mon Droit in the coat of arms on the first page to the imprint on the last. Another clause made provision for the appointment of returning officers by Superintendents for their own election. Mr Haughton said if he ever mana s cd to get m on these terms, he would promise them faithfully they wou'd never get him out again. Mr Hall said it would be dangerous to leave electors with the ballot-box in a private room by themselves, because they could fish out the papers by the use of bird lime. Mr Haughton pointed out that if a candidate objected to a shower of dead cats at an open nomination, he might, even under the present system, abstract himself from “the civilities of the election.”

Political Gossip.— The Wellington correspondent of the Grey River ArytM is an avowed opponent of the Government, so his statements must be received with some suspicion. This is what he says of Ministerial doings 'The accession of Mr Newell to the Ministry was at tirst thought to be likely to strengthen tho hands of Ministers, but latterly a different opinion has been formed. It is no secret that, hitherto, Mr Vogel has been the dominant man in the Executive. Mr F"\- is too weak, and Mr Gisborne too place-loving, to resist the more | Dative character of Mr Vogt 1. The consequence has been, that the Colonial Treasurer has been so bold as to placo his colleagues in a secondary position, which they do not like, but cannot resist. Mr Howell is just tlifc maq to oppose to Mr Yogel. He has as much force of character, is quite as stubbo n, and is rather more respectable. Since his advent, Mr Vogel* has had to retire a -little from his high ground and already there have been “ scenes ” iu the Cabinet, in which Mr Sewell got the best of it. It is said that dissensions are now rather more frequent than desirable ; and uncharitable critics say that Mr Sewell was imported into the Ministry in order to get rid of Mr Vogel. Judging from what one hears iu ‘ ‘ well-informed circles,” the Colonial Treasurer is absolutely unscrupulous in his administration. He is said to have lavished money iu all directions, and made appointments here, there, and everywhere, in a manner quite unparalleled in the history of New Zealand Ministries, which is saying a groat deal When the various returns asked for arc laid upon the table, 1 fancy the House will stare. The extravagancies of the Ministers are houn-i----le-s. Each has been absent from Wellington during tho greater part of the session, and drawing large allowances for being so. Each has hisV iva te secretary (a thing unheard of before as a distinct appointment), Mr M‘L?an has, forsooth! two “orderlies” ami a “valet"-the said flunkies being swells belonging to Branigan’s demilitarised force 1 Mr Vogel sold the St. Kiida for half what she wa • worth j flitijQ tlfc j and bought fcbe Luna for LIO.OOO, her yalue being not more than L 7.000. He graciously made Lady Bowen a present of tho costly furniture hired by Mr Stafford for the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh at Auckland, and so on, od infinitum. Every day discloses some now form of extravagance and worse-

A meeting of the Otago St, Patrick s Society will be held at the South Australian Hall to morrow evening, at eight o’clock A lecture iu connection with the Roslyu Mutual Improvement Society will be delivered in the Roslyu Hall to-morrow evening, at seven o’clock, by Mr J. S. TV ebb, on “ Tho Sun,"

Mu Oiuffkn’s friends Mill meet at the Otago Hotol, Rattray street, to-morrow afternoon, at four o’clock, to take steps to secure Ins election as Mayor.