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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2278, 25 August 1870, Page 2

•' Port Chalmers Railway. —We believe it is intended, if possible, to conimenco the works on the Port Chalmers Railway on Monday. We hope this determination will be carried out for the sake of Otago and the contractors, / Journalistic. — Wo have received 'the prospectus of a new comic paper, which will be published early in September. It is to be called the Oomk Ncvt, will be published weekly, and is intended to be produced much in tho same manner as the London Tomahawk. /the Silver Cradle.—We arc glad to learn that this time-honored mode of congratulating His, Worship the Mayor, on the birth of a eon during his mayoralty, will not be neglected, but that a committee of gentlemen has been formed to take steps to render the presentation the gift of the ratepayers, and worthy of the most important City in New Zealand. Mayor’s Court. The business transacted at this Court to day was very imimportant. Arch. Bannatyne, charged with being a habitual drunkard, was remanded for 24 hours, with a view of ascertaining whether his friends were willing to send him out of the Colony as stated. Dugald Paterson, Francis Briscoe, and Robert Neill, were each lined 10s and costs, for heglectiug to keep their premises clean. His Worship the Mayor and Mr T. Dick, J.P, were the presiding magistrates. Entertainment. —We would remind our readers tbat the entertainment by the Colored Opera troupe in aid of the amusement fund of the Lunatic Asylum takes place to-morrow night. Such a programme has been arranged as warrants us in stating that a really good night's amusement will be provided ] but that consideration apart, the efforts of those who have for months past expended both time and trouble for the purpose of affording enjoyment to tho unfortunate inmates of the Asylum, are deserving of the fullest support at the hand a of the public, and wc sincerely hope that tho appeal made by them will be responded to in a substantial manner.

Cereal Exports.— -The total quantity of flour exported from New Zealand in the year 1860 was 504 tons, valued at L 7078. In 1868, only 288.}; tons, valued at L 4,621, were exported. The quantity of grain (wheat, oats, barley, and wait) exported in 1860 was 520,662 bushels, of fcjje value of L 00,541. For 1868 the corresponding figures are—642,674 bushels, and LI 16,983. There was thus a falling-off in the export of grain last year of 122,012 bushels, or L 20.442, The falling-off took place in the export of oats and wheat, that of barley showing a large increase ; while an increase, of small amount, also took place in the export of malt. 130 bushels of beans and peas, and 1,799 cwt. of rice, were also exported last year, their value being set down at L 34 and L 1,792 respectively. Chinese Enterprise. —Again the Chinese on the goldfields have been rewarded fortheir perseverance. At the Twelvemile (Lake district), the Chinese took up the old-worked groun t on the creek bed, and are still taking it up. But in the bed of this creek, abandoned for years, the Chinese found something more than a competency. One largo party cleared out lately with fortunes ranging from L2OO to L4()0, and now their successors have sti uck a very rich lead, yielding, report says, from ounces to pounds weight of gold. They struck and are following up the lead from a spot the neighboring residents threw their ashes upon. We are inclined to agree with the

Mail that wo should have been more heartily pleased at European success, although very glad the energy and industry;tof John is well rewarded.

Tub Otago Institute.—Last, evening,. notwithstanding the wet, about forty gentlemen and several ladies were present at the meeting of the Otago Institute. His Honor, Mr Justice Chapman, the president, was in the chair," and read a paper on the political economy of railways. This he illustrated principally by reference to the railway system of Victoria and its results. He showed that, notwithstanding the heavy cost of railways in that Colony, they had had a most beneficial effect in the cheapening of transit of goods, and in the saving of time aud money in travelling. The railway system of Victoria had not onlv made Melbourne the port of import for Victoria, bub had connected it with the southern parts of New South Wales, so that while Sydney was the capital of that Colony, Melbourne was the commercial centre of the district. Mr Bathgate made a few observations on the advantage of a railway system. Several gentlemen were admitted : sA few unimportant business arrangeDsjtfats-t were gone through, and the meeting was brought to an end by a vote of thanks to the president.

Masonic Hall.—lt was surprising, considering the wretched state of tho weather last evening, to see so good a house at the Masonic Hall. Mr Heller’s power of amusing seems to grow on acquaintance, and everyone who faced the rain last night was pleased. His wonders were as ■ usual adroitly performed, and gave rise to much speculation as to the moans employed to accomplish such astounding results. His music is indescribable. Those who would hear the sweetest of music discoursed must pay Mr Heller a visit. The supernatural part of the entertainment remains as inexplicable as ever ; and as Mr Heller expresses it, “is fully calculated to give rise to much wonder. The expose s of the Davenport rope-tying trick was cleverly done. The deception of knots apparently so securely tied, is complete. To-night our neighbors at Fort Chalmers will have an opportunity of witnessing this interesting performance, as tho steamer Golden Ago has been chartered to convey them up to Dunedin and back to the Port after the performance.

The Weather. —The threatening weather yesterday culminated last evening in a most furious downpour of rain, which continncd without intermission during the night. As usual, large volumes of water flowed down the channels in Battray and Maclaggan streets, but the recent improvements effected by the Corporation prevented those, overflows which have proved so disastrous on previous occasions to the occupiers of premises in thes? streets. .Several landslips occurred in various parts of the City, but none of ave y extensive character. The stops in Battray street leading to the Tower Hill have been much injured, and require immediate repair, or some accident is likely to occur. From what we can learn, we may expect very had accounts from the country, where the rainfall appears to have been much heavier than in Dunedin. A gentleman who left town this morning for Waikouajti, had to return after proceeding as far as the The coach had to return, being unable to go beyond that place. A telegram from Oamai-u states that there were heavy floods in the district. The landing place was washc I away, and the boats of the Landing Company, to use the expressive phraseology of our informant, “ completely doubled up. ”

Denting Extraordinaky. The House of Commons of Canada was occupied with a railway bill at tUo pyouing sitting on the 22nd of April. The J'uvoniQ C;io!y reports the close of the discussion thus Sir George E, Cartier raised an objection. Mr Ferguson said he did not hear distinctly the observations of the Minister of Militia, and asked him to repe’t them. Sir George E. Cartier, amid great laughter, repeated his objections in French. The Hon. Sandtield Macdonald immediately rose, and, to the astonishment of the House, proceeded, amid roars .of merriment, to speak in the Gaelic language. Sip George E. Cartier rose again, and essaying to speak in Latin, managed, with the help of Sir John 4. Macdonald, to make himself understood to the of saying that he had risen to call to order that most illustrious and most learned man, the member for Simcoc. He then said he would speak in Greek. He then, amid a multitude of noises and much laughter, proceeded to jumble together a dozen of Greek words having no connection with eacli other, and finishing wijth a scrap ‘‘Homer.” Mr Levensconte, in Spanish, said it Avas time the discussion Ayould cease. Sir John A. Macdonald was of the opinion of the last speaker. The Hon. Mr Abbott objected to a discussion on serious matters being carried on in that House in the Choctaw language. The hour for private hills haviug elapsed the discussion was postponed. The House was a little irregular at its next sitting, Avhjch Avas on Saturday, the 23rd, The House 4> enfc ipto committee on a Bill at ten minutes after midnight, and altogether half an hour out of the Sunday moivuiwg.