Untitled

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2389, 28 November 1870, Page 2

The Mail.—We have a telegram from Hokitika, stating that the Rangitoto was in sight at one o’clock. Should telegrams be received iu time, we shall issue a second edition.

The Government Financial .Scheme. —The following extract from a letter received in Canterbury, and dated London, September 9th, will lie of considerable interest The writer is a person of high position in London; —“ With respsct to your H0,000,000 loan, I don’t think there is much chance of its floatin' jud now, and this is the opnion of one of the “press gang.” I mentioned it, too the other day, to Frnhling and Goschen, who are quite tirst-class people now in matters of this kind, but I fancy their hands will bo too full with Continental matters to undertake any new busmens at present. My impression is that if brought out a million at a time, and not exceeding a total of five millions, it would be taken, as so many holders of foreign securities would avail themselves of it, there not being the chance of such terrific fluctuations in your Colonial securities as occur in our stock exchanges in Europe when anything goes wrong in politics, or overtrading.” ■ Political.—Mr F. Jollio retires from the representation of Gladstone in the Assembly, and Mr H. B. Parker oilers himself as a candidate for the vacant seat On Tuesday last Mr C. 1). Irvine met the Invercargill electors, and received a vote of confidence. He expressed himself as a supporter of the present Government, and ns entirely agreeing with the Colonial Treasurer’s Immigration and Public Works Scheme. Mr Macassey’s Meeting.—There were several questions put by different persons at Mr Macassey’s meeting, the answers to which had really been given in his speech. Mr Fish moved a resolution asking the meeting to defer pledging themselves to support Mr Macassoy until it was known what candidates would come forward; hut he was badly received and soundly hooted. Wc had barely time to publish the speech itself on Saturday to save our country conveyances ; and as for the (.notions and answers, they were not important. Drowned. —A fatal accident occurred at Tayler’s Po’nt on Saturday afternoon by which a lisherman named Thomas Huth lost his life. It appears that he and his mate, one Perano, were endeavoring to haul their boat in, hut discovering the guy’s warp to be missing, Ruth, who was an excellent swimmer, stripped and swam off to the boat, which was about 15 yards distant from the beach. He was observed to catch hold of the sternpost twice and slip each time. When assistance was proenrred bis body was found lying in about eight feet of water. All efforts to restore animation proved unavailing, and the body was taken to Port Chalmers to await a coroner’s inquest. Ruth w;is about 28 years of ago, and leaves a widow and a child about three weeks’ old. A verdict of accidentally drowned was returned.

Masonic Hall. —The Gourlny Family made their appearance at the above Hall on Saturday' evening, in their varied and interesting entertainment. The chief feature of the first paid of the programme consisted in the representation of the petite comedy entitled “The Rights of Woman,” in which Mr Gourlay most artistically delineated the true Scotch character, which secured for him the unanimous applause of his audience. Mrs Gourlay, also, by her lady' like and intelligent style of acting, contributed much towards the pleasure of the evening. Mr Corbet was very successful in his performances upon the Harmonia Brevete, and was deservedly encored. We observe that the entertainment is advertised for two nights only', and we have much pleasure in recommending those who wish to spend a pleasant and agreeable evening, to lose no time in patronising this really talented family.

Princess Theatre.—The lower portions of the house were well tilled on Saturday evening, while the circle had more than its customerynumber of occupants. “Macbeth ” was the first piece played. Air J. B. Steele was the ambitious Thane, and gave, on the whole, a creditable rendering of the character, although in the earlier scenes it struck us he did not invest it with sufficient spirit. At times, too, he showed a rather limited acquaintance with the text, a failing that seemed to be general. Mr Lawrence made a respectable Macduff, and was undoubtedly good in the last act. So, too, was Mr Collier as Ban quo. Mrs Steele’s Lady Macbeth was a finished performance, arid W’as thoroughly appreciated by the audience, which was rather lavish in its applause. The musical portion of the piece was rendered surprisingly well, the choruses being given with considerable off ot, and the orchestral accompaniments being, it is almost needless to observe, all that could be desired. The afterpiece was the “ Valet-de-Sham,” in which Miss George was eminently successful. To-night, the drama of *‘ Black Sheep ” will be produced. The part of Mrs Routh is said to be one of Airs Steele’s master pieces, and, judging by the criticisms of the Australian papers, playgoers will receive a rich theatrical treat.

Loss of Life in Battle, The Cologne. Garxlle of the Ist September contains a long article for the purpose of sbewiug that “ The horrors of modern warfare are not to be compared with those of former days,” and that the “casualties” in proportion to the number of m u engaged are not more numerous. Going back to the seven years war, and ending with 1815, he gives the following statistics : —Battle of Prague, May Gth, 1757, 64,000 Prussians attacked entrenched positions, killed and wounded 16,500—more than lin 4. Lou then, 3*2,000 Prussians ; killed and wounded, 5,000 —or 1 in 6. Zorndorf, 32,000 Prussians ; killed and wounded, 11,000 —more than lin 3. In 1760, Torgan was fought; numbers engaged, 44.000 ; killed and wounded 5,500 within half-an.-hour, and before the close of the day 14.000. In the year 1815, during the first Napoleon’s short reign of 100 days at Ligny, aucl in the skirmishes of the previous evening, out of 83,000 Prussians, 12,500 were killed aud wounded. At Waterloo, the estimated number of Wellington’s army is set down at 67.000. of whom 13,000 were killed and wounded—or nearly lin 5. The Prussian troops who pushed on to support the Duke also lost one-fifth of their men, 6,700 out of 30.000. Thus in four days in the year 1815, the combined armies of the British and Prussians lost 30,075 men, or one fifth of their numbers. During the present war from 270,000 to 300,000 Prussians invested Metz, of whom 1 in 0 were reported killed or wounded. We do not think, however, this mode of reckoning a fair one. Of the 300,000 men, all are not engaged against a:> enemy q: nearly equal force. Many of them merely iioi'd petitions not attacked nor in danger, however 1 , uceetsary to the security* of the arm}*; while the other comparisons arc made with troops actually ’engaged. ’ The conditions in this rcspcct-not being alike, no correct conclusion can bo arrived at.' '

The brethren of the Celtic Lodge* 477, 8.C., will meet at the Masonic Hall on Wednesday, at 5 p m,, to assist in the installation of the officers of their own and Provincial Grand Lodges. The adjourned meeting of the Otago Institute nil! be Held to-morrow evening at the City Council Chambers, when Mr J. T. Thomson will conclude his paper on Maori Ethnology. A .meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand, S.C., will he held at the Masonic Hall on Wednesday next (St. Andrew’s Hay), at 5 o’clock pm. Business : Installation of officers. After the installation, a banquet will take place in the hall.