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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2355, 19 October 1870, Page 2

Political.—lt lias been stated that, as soon as one or two more electoral rolls are printed, and a few other changes incidental to the adoption of the ballot completed, the writs will he issued for the election of a new set of members for the General Assembly.

Appointment.— The Westport Times is reapoiifible for the following:—We are informed that Mr Blackett, Provincial Engineer for Nelson, has accepted the appointment of Chief Engineer of the Colony. The salary is spoken of as LIOOO per annum. Supreme Court. —The trial of the case, Anderson and another v. Burke and another, was resumed to day. The evidence in rebuttal of the case for the defence being continued. Messrs Mudie, Calleudar, Blyth, Wright, and Cray, bookkeeper to the plaintiff, were examined, hut the evidence was not important. The plaintiff was examined at considerable length. He denied point blank all the principal allegations of the defendant.

Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers. George Winton, Henry Heden, Richard Dipper, and John De Boer, four sailors belonging to the Peter Denny, were charged this day, at the Magistrtte’s Court, Port Chalmers, before Thomas Tayler and David O’Donoghue, Esquires, J. P.’s, with having deserted, they being articled seamen of the said vessel. The master, George Wylie Adam, prosecuted, and they were each sentenced to twelve weeks imprisonment, with hard labor, in Dunedin gaol, where they were lodged in the afternoon, having arrived in town under charge of constable Hughes, per steamer. Accident. —A serious accident occurred yesterday to a man named John O’Biien at the prospecting claim, Chain Hill, near Saddle Hill. It appears that the unfortunate man was being lowered by means of a rope down the shaft, and after descending a few feet became giddy, and fell a distance of from 30 to 40 feet. He was taken up insensible. On being restored to consciousness he requests.! that he might he conveyed to his lodging in Dunedin—the Red Lion Hotel. The injuries are said to he of a serious kind, his body being dreadfully crushed. Fatal results, however, are not apprehended.

A Salutary Lesson.—We hope the sentence passed upon Trcmbatli for his disgraceful indecency will have the effect for the future of putting a stop to this abomin. able offence. It is derogatory to manhood tnat female purity, and especially that of young girls, should he out' aged by a set of cowardly scoundrels who, if a man’s hat appeared, would not dare to offer such an indignity. They th'uk themselves screened by that delicacy which they so sneakingly insult. We hope the example made will show that they cannot follow their filthy practises with impunity, and should a like instance occur, we trust a still heavier punishment will he inflicted.

Jjjmigpation.—ln an official communication to Mr D. M'Arthur, of Southland, the Secretary to the Superintendent writes “ Arrangements are pending hy which it is hoped that, hy a payment ql L 5 in this port, a passage from Glasgow to Port Chalmers will be secured. I am further directed to state that, in the event of there being by any vessel a sufficient number of immigrants desiring to land at the Bluff to warrant the ship calling there first,, arrangements will be made accordingly. And that in any case there will, in all probability, be a Government steam service between Port Clia'mers, Bluff, and Riverton, by which, for a small additional sum, immigrants could be conveyed to any of these places.” Queenstown. — The following items are from the local paper : —A volunteer corps has been established at Queenstown. — The Mail is to be brought out in an enlarge 1 form next month.—An enquiry was instituted on the 14th instant, before R. Bcctham, Esq.; coroner, and .a jury of twelve (Mr A. li. Douglass, foreman), touching the origin of a fire on the firm of Mr W. Paterson, Hayes’ Lake, whereby a thrashing machine and a quantity of wheat, value LI.IO, were burnt the previous night. The evidence elicited went to urove that it was the act of an unknown incendiary, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.—Mr J. B. Kerr, of Kingston, met with a very severe accident on Tuesday, having been rushed by one of his cows. The animal, which was wild in consequence of her calf, caught him while he was stoopipg, and gored him very severely in the right temple. Dr Douglass proceeded down by steamer yesterday, to attend the wounded man. [Just on going to press we learn that the injuries sustained by Mr Kerr are not so serious as at firot expected. ] The “ Daily Times ” and Unathokisep ExrKNDi'rur;K, —ln yesterday’s issue we re-published a paragraph from the Otago Daily Times, respecting “ the last case of the Government indulging ip unauthorised expenditure,” and about the wives and families of members having been conveyed home at the expense of the country, that expenditure having been unauthorised. The facts, we understand, are these The Government had undertaken that if members would remain until the clqse of the session, steamers should be ready t.g copvpy them home. The Pluebe and the Taranaki \yejre at that time in harbour, each from the South, and advertised to go on to Auckland. The Phoebe could not be turned back, but the agent of the Taranaki was willing that she should be—for a consideration, whjph was that a certain number of passengers should be guaranteed. The Government bad no

choice but to enter into that guarantee; and as the number of Southern members remaining was not equal to the number of passengers so guaranteed, the Government gave passages to such families of Southern members as were in Wellington. So there was not incurred, for those families, any expense, authorised or unauthorised. The country had to pay for conveying the members to the several Southern- porta, an 1 the owners of the Taranaki would simply have gained the difference if passages had not been given to members’ families. In all other cases except that of the Taranaki, members had to pay for their wives and families, as was well known in Wellington. We are glad to have been afforded the opportunity of rebutting charges of such a nature, which arc calculated to injure groundlessly the cause of the Government. A r . %■ fl crahl.

City Council. —There were present at the meeting of the Council this afternoon his Worship the Mayor (in the chair), Councillors Cargill, Barnes, Jack, Mansfield, and Walter. Amongst the correspondence read was a letter from the agents of the Insurance Companies in Dunedin, stating that at a meeting of the representatives of the .companies held recently, it was resolved that the contribution by the companies to the Fire Brigade should be fixed at an annual meeting of the representatives of companies ; that the contribution of each company be assessed pro rata according to the risks each has in the City ; and that the contribution for 170-71 be Ll2O ; and L 25 to the sick members’ fund. A letter from the Town Clerk in reference to his salary was read ; and in regard to Mr Massey’s c nmmmicitioii, his Worship explained that Mr Massey having a desire to enter upon the study of the law, might find it more to his advantage to apply for the post of clerk to the Mayor’s Court. The consideration of the letter was deferred until the applications for the office of clerk to the Mayor’s Court were considered ; it being stated that Mr Massey’s application for the office would then be submitted. The Cemeteries’ Committee in their report recommended that immediate steps be taken for opening the cemetery at the north-end of the City, and for the construction of the necessary road to the ground by way' of Dundas street; and the Bye-Laws Committee reported against the petition of cab-drivers praying for permiss on to charge double fares on certain holidays ; the committee considering that the drivers were more than compensate 1 for extra wear .and tear by the additional fares on such occasions. On the recommendation of the Baths Committee, the sum of L2O was voted for the purpose of putting the Baths in proper repair. Princess Theatre. —There was a tolerably good house at the Princess’s last evening, when “Frou-Frou” was repeated. We can hardly wonder at a drama of this character securing a good run on the London or Melbourne hoards ; indeed, it appears to ns to be a piece in every way deserving the support the public has accorded it. False delicacy may affect to be shocked at the the incidents it unfolds ; the hypercritical may talk of unsound sentiment pervading the piece ; but a discriminating public will always see reflected in it pictures of everyday life, and, whilst admiring its artistic beauty, will be content with the corrective moral it points, The story of “Frou-Frou” has already been told ; but of the artists, upon whose efforts the success of a piece always depends, little has been said. Of the several performances under the new management, “Frou-Frou” is unquestionably entitle I to rank first, and of the whole company Miss Carry George is undoubtedly the most talented artist. The character of Frou-Frou is one peculiarly adapted to bring out in prominent relief the diversified capabilities of this lady. The ever-varying phases of character aic admirably pourtrayed. FrouFrou—the giddy, childlike, frivolous, unthinking, and unreflecting, Frou-Frou—upon whom all the stern realities of life have not yet dawned, is delineated with a buoyancy of spirit and lightheartedness that is absolutely refreshing. But great as is the power manifested by Miss George in the representation of the earlier traits of character—the sunny, butterfly period of existence—it is only when the shadows begin to fall upon the picture, when the harsher features of life present themselves, and when the false step has been taken and repentance sets in, that we are allowed to contemplate this lady at her best. She was pre-eminently happy in her delineation throughout. Her language is e-sentially the language of emotion ; and, whilst her acting is always easy and graceful, she proves herself, when occasion requires, capable of the most impa'sioned effort?. The death scene in “Frou-Frou ”is a touching picture that will long be remembered in Dunedin, and with it will be invariably associated Miss Carry George. But occupying as she docs the prominent place on the canvas—the central figure to which all eyes are directed—we must not be unmindful that there arc others who, though subordinate, yet play important parts, supply the detail, and give a unity and completeness to the whole picture. Mr Collier depicted the part of the Comte Paul clc Valrcas in a spirited, powerful, and effective manner. Mr Mu-grave was alike successful as Brigard, the father of Frou Frou. Mr Lawrence, as Henri clc Sartorys did not strike us as being so happy as we have been accustomed to see him. Perhaps the entir t absence of the comic element—an 1 in the delineation of comic parts he is inimitihle—may sufficiently explain this. Certain it is that he has failed to give us a vivid representation of Henry de Sartorys. Mr Metcalfe gave a very creditable rendering of an unimportant part—le Baron de Camhri. Mrs E. Bryer did ample justice to the part of Louise, and Miss Bushe was also effective as La Baronnesse cle Camhri. Miss Marion Willis' played Pauline in a manner full of promise for the futvjre. As a whole, the piece gave unbounded satisfaction, and Miss Carry George was honoured with several calls before the curtain during the evening. The piece is excellently dressed and is well placed upon the stage, and would only meet with its deserts were it warmly supported. We notice that a change of pices is contemplated after tiffs evening, and without appearing to pry into the motives of the management, we do not hesitate to pronounce its removal to be a grave error. So brilliant a piece would be sure to grow in public favor, and command a long run.

A sulteb, to commemorate the miniversary of the Loyal Albipn Lodge, M. CJ.1.0.0.F., will be held at the Oriental Hotel on Friday evening,, at 8 p.m. A lecture, under the auspices of the Stuart street Ymjfig Men’s Christian Mutual Improvement Association, will be

delivered by the Rev. Alexander Reid, in the Hall beneath the Wesleyan Church, this evening, at 7.30. Subject: “Genesis and. Geology.” We are glad to see that the kindness of Mr Henry, who his for so long a time exerted himself on many occasions for public amusement and advantage, is to be recognised by a complimentary benefit. A Map of Dunedin and Port Chalmers will shortly be published, by Messrs F. E. Hiscocks and Co., similar to those of Timaru, Christchurch, Lyttelton, Hokitika, Creymouth, Wanganui, Auckland, and other towns, already published by them. We have seen the specimen map, and from the style and finish with which it is got up a fair claim to support is established. The praise hitherto bestowed on their previous productions we have little doubt will be deserved in the present work, and that it will be well supported.