The Evening Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2404, 15 December 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1870.

Political. We understand Mr Donald Reid addresses the citizens on Monday. Cricket. — The mutch between the Albion and Citizens’ Clubs took place today. The former made 91 in their first innings, the latter 24. The Colonial Prize Firing.—The Hutt will not be represented at the Colonial contest this year, none of the competitors having made 40. The highest score was 30, a very high wind preventing good shooting. Customs Returns. —From the last Hew Zealand Gazette we take the following Customs returns for the port of Dunedin during the last cpiarter ended 30th September, and for the corresponding quarter of 1869 .-—lmports, L 359,187; same quarter, 1869, L 344.413. Exports, L 155,716; same quarter, 1869, L 181,626. Broad v. Narrow Guage Railways.—A telegram from Adelaide, dated Nov. 1, says an offer for the c nstruction of the Port Augusta Railway has come from English capitalists through Mr T. B. Bruce. It includes alternative guages of sft. Sin. and 3ft. Gin., and the projectors require a guarantee of 6 per cent upon L 4,000 per mile for the first guage. and L 3,750 for the sec ond gnage. This information is of great importance to New Zealand, Fire.—A small wooden dwelling, of two apartments, situated on the excavated ground near the Graving Dock, was burnt between the hours of two and three o’clock this morning. The two persons who were sleeping in the place had barely time to escape without injury. Stine little money and the whole contents of the place were destroyed. A strong breeze from the N. F. caused the fire to burn so rapidly that nothing could be saved. Princess Theatre. There was a good attendance last evening, when “ Romeo and Juliet ” was presented. All the parts were excellently filled, and the greatest satisfaction was given. This evening “Camille” will he produced. Miss A, Bowring taking the part of Camille, and Mr J. B. Steele that of Armand Duvcll. The entertainment will conclude with, for the last time, “The Captain’s not a-miss.” The Incoming Suez Mail. -A great many people have been misled by the misstatements of the Times as to the due date of arrival of the San Francisco steamer. We have again to repeat that according to the average passage made by the trunk boats from San Francisco to Auckland, the November mail was due at Auckland to-day—-presuming that the boat left Sau Francisco on November 10th. But, as has been stated by a contemporary, “wo are now within sixteen hours of Auckland by telegraph, via Tanranga, and we may therefore receive the news quicker than has been the case hitherto. Last month, it ought to be noted, the trunk boat made the passage from San Francisco to Auckland in 30 days. If a similar passage is made this month, the news would reach Nelson to-morrow evening, supposing the boat to have left San Francisco, as she did last month, on the 12th.” The Middle District School.— Our report of the examination yesterday was necessarily incomplete, but on the whole -was as full as circumstances allowed. We have been requested to publish the following list of additional prize-takers : —Needle work, plain sewing, first prize presented by Mrs Taylor, awarded to Janet Doull ; second prize, Ada Coxhead. Fancy workbox awarded by Mrs Lacy to Jessie Muirhead. Second prize, E. M'Corkindalc. Knitting workbox, awarded by Mrs to Marion M‘Donald ; send prize, B. Begg. Machinework.—First prize awarded to Jessie M‘Donald. Crochet.—Pair silver finger guards, presented to Mr A. R. Hay, awarded to Agnes Roberts. Good conduct.—E. Coxhead, M. Incler. General deligenco.—Lizzie Scanlan. —We may mention that during yesterday’s Jproceedings handsome presents by the pupils were made to Messrs Halliwell and Ferguson, and Misses Stewart, Gordon, Hay, and Stevens, The Weather. —By tho abstract of meteorological observations for the month of October, published in the New Zealand Gazette , we notice that the season all over the Colony has been much drier than for several years past, so much so as to amount to positive drought in the Northern Provinces. In Bealey, one of the wettest places for rain in the Colony, the average number of days on which rain fell was 16 as compared with 21 for the same month in the previous two years. Wellington shows 10, while the same month for the past six years shows 13. Auckland, in like manner shows 10 against 18 ; Christchurch, 9 .against 11 for the same period ; Hokitika 17, the same month for the past four years 'averaging 22 ; Dunedin 10, as against 17 for the past six years ; Southland 11, and the same month for the previous five 'years being 17. Nelson and Napier seem to enjoy a much drier climate for that month than any other part of the Colony, the latter being remarkably equable, as there has been no variation in the number of wet days in October, which is marked six for the last four years. Nelson, however, has only five in this month’s table, while for the last six years it has averaged 9 for the same month. The Financial Scheme.—A few days ago we gave—what we feel sure was regarded as matter for congratulation—the opinion of the London Times, in favor of tho Colonisation proposals of the Government, and now we find both the London News and Examiner still more cordial in their congratulations, and heartily endorsing the policy. It has been remarked by the Lyttelton Times that it is equally gratifying to learn that private letters have been received by several persons in the Colony, from those whose opinions on commercial matters arc entitled to respect, to the effect that the policy proposed to be pursued is one exactly fitted to restore the waning fortunes of the Colony. It will bs remembered that the alarmists—and notably Mr Kolleaton attempted to show that the Commissioners had pledged the word of the Colony that a million and no more should be borrowed, and that both the Colony and the Commissioners would be grievously ill used by any departure from such an implied obligation. Curiously enough, the Commissioners arc understood to be as favorable to the Government policy as the majority of the people in the Colony and in England, and, strange to say, they

do not appear to see that they have been frightfully ill used and put upon. Only tho other day it was stated by certain members of the Opposition that Dr Featherston was returning to the Colony exploding with wrath at the way in which he bad boon treated. How such statements can be reconciled with the fact that letters arc understood to have been received from Dr Fcatherstou eulogising tiie policy of Colonisation, we do not pretend to understand. The Postal Treaty with America. —The Melbourne. Age, of 23rd November, says : —The intrepidity witli which the Government of New Zealand have brought to a successful issue their negotiations for a postal treaty with the United States should ho a lesson to us Victorians. Truth to tell, wc have a bad reputation in the neighboring colonics. Instead of being looked up to as a leader in the march of progress. Victoria is rega ded as being selfishly indifferent to everything calculated to advance the interests of the Australian group of communities as a whole. If a conference is held in Melbourne, we are severely polite to the delegates from the other Colonics, and feel a relief when they are gone. With their exit the business ends. There is no display of common cause, and our visitors retire with the impression that the few words of goodwill which ?vc are so complaisant as to utter are not meant. This is an error, but although there is nothing at the time to warrant the imputation of insincerity, it must be confessed that there arc no results. The blossoms are real, but they do not fructify. It was Viet >ria’s character for for immovability that kept New Zealand away from the last conference. It is impossible to dwell with complacency on these reminiscences, and their bitterness is made more manifest by the success which has followed a vigorous policy in New Zealand. The position of Victoria is, in comparison, contemptible. Our wealth and resources arc, in the absence of a very hearty zeal in [the pursuance of an avowed policy, powerless. We have, on every fitting occasion, protested against the selfishness which has prevented us from helping our neighbors in schemes which had tho general advancement of Australian interests in view, and the indolence which has prevented us from attempting any work of tho kind ourselves. Although late in the day, Victoria should now ask for a participation iu the advantages of the New Zealand and United (States treaty, although lit would have been better if we had responded to our neighbor’s call for assistance, when that assistance might have been more useful than it can be now. At the same time, we do not share in the glowing anticipations indulged in respecting the success of the scheme. That it will be useful to a limited extent is all that is .requisite to know, to warrant the co-operation of Victoria with New Zealand. We were never asked to give more than was commensurate with the value of the line to us, and altbaugb there was room for a little difference of opinion on this point, there has certainly never been anything to warrant the positive hostility which has been shown to the realisation of our neighbor’s efforts.

The Celtic Lodge meets on Friday evening at the usual hour. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with the High School takes place on Saturday, at noon, at tho Masonic Hall. We are requested to draw attention to the programme of the entertainment that is to take place in the North Dunedin Drill Shed to-morrow evening, for the benefit of the Benevolent Institution. As this will bo the last of the series this season given under the auspices of the Association, the attractiveness of the programme, combined with the good object, will no doubt have the effect of drawing a crowded house. The Spring Show of the Royal Horticultural Society of Otago is announced to take place in the Post Office Hall on Saturday, the 17th inst. A sub-committee will attend on Friday evening until 10 o’clock, and Saturday morning from 0 to 10, to receive and place exhibits. The Vice-President of the Society (Mr T. B. Ulph) offers a prize of LI for the best floral design exhibited at the Show. The Volunteer Band will he iu attendance on the evening of the exhibition.