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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2451, 23 December 1870, Page 2

The Superintendency.—Some fifty gentlemen met at the Metropolitan Hotel last evening to take steps to secure the election of Mr Donald Reid as Superintendent. Mr G. E. Barton, barrister-at-law, presided. Motions were submitted, approving of Mr Reid’s candidature, and pledging those present to support him. A central committee of 30 gentlemen was appointedjto draw up a requisition to Mr Reid, _ and a committee to undertake the financial arrangement-!. A meeting of electors favorable to the re-election of Mr Macandrew will take place to-night at the Old Masonic Hall at the b,ick of Wain’s Hotel, at eight o’clock.

Government Papers. —We are indebted to the Government printer for a copy of tho Appendix to the journals of the House of Representatives and the Statistics of New Zealand.

Pleasant Weather I —ln the height of summer and yet winter ! The first of December at Nasehy was a thorough “brickfielder”—the heat almost as great as is experienced in Victoria, and then followed fifteen days rain, with only two days fine weather intervening, and on tho eighteenth snow fell.

The Chinese Giant. — Cluing Woo (low has arrived in Dunedin. Ho exhibits himself in the Old Athemeum for the first time on Saturday next. This interesting specimen of humanity has had the honor of presenting himself not only before royalty, but to the dHr of British society ; and curiosity will no doubt prompt many of us to view Chang Woo (low, who is said to be the “biggest” man in existence. The Robert Henderson. —We regret to say that on the passage from Glasgow fever broke out on board the Robert Henderson, and that on her arrival at the Heads this morning it was reported there had been thirteen cases, out of which three deaths had occurred. A meeting of the Board of Health was immediately convened, and in consequence of the necessity of prompt attention some business at the Resident Magistrate s Court was postponed, in order to allow Mr A. C. Strode, the chairman, to be present at the meeting. Telegraphic Communication with England. —Those who are such out-and-out advocates for the Sue./, route do not reflect, or perhaps do not know, that wo may soon he altogether dependent on the Californian route for European news. At present, the Frivml of India, informs us, telegraphic communication with Europe via Suez is transmitted through the Russian territory. The very first note of war will put a stop to that, aud the earliest intimation of it to us may be the sound of Russian guns. The Colonial Treasurer. The Hon. Mr Vogel was a passenger for the North by the Airedale to-day. Ho will stay two or three days at Christchurch, whore, in compliance with a requisition he has received, he will address the electors of that city. The Superintendent of Canterbury has been requested to obtain from Mr Vogel a guarantee on the part of the General Government to enable the Province to proceed at once with the prosecution of the lines of railway authorised by the Assembly to be made in Canterbury.

Cricket. —A mutch will be played to-morrow on the Citizen’s ground between sides chosen by the Treasurer aud Secretary of that Club, the following being the names of players : —Treasurer’s side: Fagan, Fenwick, Glen, Harris, Kingston, Morrison, Pledger, Swire, Thompson, Watson, Whetham, Seurctary’s side : Clarke, Nelioc, Cole, Coxhcad, Dunping, Fraser, Geddes G. W., Larking, Marsdeu, Peake, Youngman. Wickets to be pitched at 2 p.m. sharp. On the Dunedin ground, the match between the married and single members will be continued. Entertainment. —The first entertainment given by the Stuart Street Mutual Improvement Association took place in the hall beneath the Wesleyan Cluiroh last eveub‘il' There was a large attendance, and the llev. A, Uejfi presided. A programme comprising a fair selection of glees, solos, and recitations, was put forward, and considering that many of the performers made their first appearance in public, it was on the whole very creditably gone through. A vote of tpqjiks to the chairman having been passed, the pro,, were brought to a close by the National Authepi being sung. The Water Works CVjftanv,- --At a meeting of the shareholders of the d a ter Works Company yesterday afternoon, it was announced by the chairman of the meeting (Mr Reynolds), that a letter had been received from. tj<o Colonial Treasurer, from which it was thought there would he uo difficulty in getting the Piqvincial Government to coincide with the views qf the directors, The following resolution was adopted :—“ That an interim dividend at the rate ox S per cent, per annum he declared on the guaranteed shares for the year ending 30th June, 1870, such dividend to be payable on and after the SOthinst.” After <v short discussion, the meeting adjourned to the 17tb prox., for the purpose of receiving a report from the directors as to the position of the company with the Government. The Colonial Prize Firing.— The volunteers should feel exultant at the position they have attained in the competitions for places "at ti;e cjonial firing in March. So far, none of the other provinces, with the exception of Nelson, have brought forward men capable of making any thing like the shooting our marksmen have made. At the competion by the Auckland battalion of rifles on the ifith instant, there were 25 competitors, but only two qualified, Lieut.

A. Morrow, No. 4 Company, with a score of 46, and Private T. Bell, No. 6 Company, 44. The Westland Corps tired at Hokitika on the 12th. The results were that three were chosen, Messrs Stonebridge (Hokitika), 41; Chamberlaine (Greymouth), 43; Frew (Hokitika), 40. At Christchurch, on the loth, the remainder of the Canterbury head quarters squads competed, but none made the requisite number of points. Tim Times says that only one man remains to tire, and it is thus impossible for Christchurch to send more than one representative, even if that is accomplished. The Mount Ida Races. —At these races, Air Prince, one of the jockeys, goo a nasty spill in the hurdle race, as <bd the rider of Hamilton in the selling race, but no injuries of a serious nature are reported. An accident occurred on the road coming home from the races by tho upsetting of an express, which resulted in one George Pappleton getting his collar bone broken, the other passengers being more, or less bruised but not seriously hurt. MrMMntosh, brother to the Manager of the Bank of New Zealand, at Nasehy, was thrown from his horse, and on being picked up it was found that he had received several wounds about the head in which the scalp was torn. He is doing very well, and likely to be soon all right again. Political. — Mr F. D. Rich, M.H.R., addressed his constituents at Waikouaiti on Wednesday, and gave an account of his stewardship. After his speech, Mr Ancell proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Rich for his explanations, which was carried unanimously. In acknowledging the compliment, Mr Rich intimated that it was not his intention to offer himself for re-election at present, his business engagements preventing him _ from doing so ; he also took the opportunity of stating his belief that it would be to the interests of the district to elect a representative who would support the Colonial Treasurer’s scheme. —Mr Henry Smythies is a candidate for the representation of the laieri in the Assembly, and addresses the electors at Otakia on Monday.—For the representa tion of Merton in the Provincial Council there are likely to be two candidates —Messrs Charles Hammond, a well-known local man ; and Mr George M'Lean. The first-named appears to be the favorite. Narrow Escape.— Several persons, 1 last week, had a narrow escape from drowning at the Horseshoe Bend. They were crossing in a boat, and being about half-seas over, through some cause or other, both oars got broken. The current then swept the boat down the river for perhaps a mile, when fortunately they managed to eftect a landing. Previous to this, one of the party had made ready for the worst by removing his clothing. Ho jumped overboard and managed to get ashore somehow. They next proceeded to track the boat back, and had got all right about three parts of the way when they came to a high rock which projects into the river. The tow rope was passed over to some men who had now arrived to render assistance. One man remained in the boat, and was fending her off, when suddenly the rope broke, the boat got stove in, immediately filled almost to the gunwale, and commenced to drift rapidly away, the occupant standing still in her, and apparently unconscious of Ills danger. Just at this moment another person came up, and seeing how things were called out, “ Jump, and save yourself.” This ho instantly did, and, being an excellent swimmer, he got ashore all safe.

The Dickens Panorama.—Of all the amusements being provided for the approaching festive season there is none likely to become so essentially popular as the Dickens panorama. The subject itself is one which cannot fail to prove attractive in the highest degree. We have been permitted to view some of the scenes during the progress of the work, and, while embodying as they do all the chief incidents in the novels of the great author, they possess exceeding merit as works of art. The panorama has been painted by Mr Charles Massey, a scenic artist already familiarly associated with the admirable scenery presented by the Mathews BurlesqueTronpe in this city. Wc do not hesitate to say that the panoramic views arc the best we have seen on this side of the Line. When we say that the descriptive lecture and readings will be given by Mr 11. P. Wh'tworth, we feel that sufficient is said to at once recommend them to the public. Thwe can be no question that at the present time the works of Dickens are by far the most widely read of any authpr ; and the panorama, whilst embodying illustrations from all those works, accompanied, too, as it will bo, by the lucid description of Mr Whitworth, will form an interesting epitome of the author’s voluminous works, aud cannot fail to prove attractive to the reading portion qf the public. Wc look forward with great interest to the promised intellectual treat.

« The competition for prizes of the No. 1 Company (C.G.), D.K.Y., will take place at the company’s range, Upper Kaikoraq on Saturday morning and afternoon at 5 o’clock and 3 o’clock, The offertories at the Communion Services at St. Paul’s Church on Sunday, are to be presented to the Otago Benevolent Institution. The Palmerston Paces arc appointed to take place on Monday, January 2nd. The Palmerston Handicap is open to all comers. Nominations to bo lodged with the Secretary, at the Palmerston Hotel, not later than Monday, the 2t!th hist.