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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2454, 28 December 1870, Page 2

The Robert Henderson.—Ou Monday, a female child of Mr Rathgate, aged four and a half ye ;rs, a passenger by this ship, died from scarlatina at the Quarantine Station. Personal.—We, arc informed that Mrs Burn, who, on the opening of the High Sc 00l for Girls, will assume tnc duties of lady principal, was a passenger by the Gothenhurgh, and that on her arrival at the port yesterday, she was met by a party of ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom were Mrs Johnson of the Manse, Miss Dalrymplc, and others who accorded her a hearty welcome. The New Mail Contract. A correspondent of the Lyttelton Tinm says that the new contract has given very general satisfaction in Auckland. Even Mr Gillies’ organ, the Evening A'cmm, admits it is the best mail service ever inaugurated, but thinks all the credit should be given to Mr Neilson, the American agent. The L'cws thinks that Mr Vogel was little better than a “dummy” in the other gentleman’s hands; and further, that Mr Vogel should be “arrested,” if 'it is intended to send him to England as agent general for the Colony. The proposition has excited some merriment in Auckland, as showing to what length disappointment will impel some good people. Masonic Hall. This place of amusement, in which Dickens’s word painting? are placed before the eye o i cauvas, as it deserves to he, was well attended last evening. Every one reads Dickens’s works, and they will re-peruse them with greater pleasure through having seen such artistic representations of the most striking situations and characters in them. Many scenes only dimly pictured to the imagination will be realised more fully by witnessing the artist’s effort, and thus an additional pleasure will be enjoyed beyond the mere intellectual heat of reading the works of the deceased author. Every one should go, for in addition to other claims, it is a work of Dunedin art.

Chang.—The following anecdote from the Aberdeen Free Press in reference to the giant now being exhibited at the old Athenamm may not be uninteresting to our readers :—“This celebrated personage, who is seemingly possessed with a strong desire to see every place of note in such towns as he may honor with a visit, went the other day, along with his agent, Mr Parlett—for modern giants can have friends without seeking to cat them—to see the Cathedral in Old Aberdeen, which ho admired very much. During their walk round the building the party rather abruptly met the church officer as ho was coming out at one of the doors, who, not being at all prepared for meeting the ‘tallest man in the world,’was nearly frightened * out of his wits ’ at the figure before him.” Presentation. —At the close of the examination of the Port Chalmers Grammar School on the 23rd inst., Mr T. Tayler, M.P.C., on behalf of the scholars, presented to Miss M. A, Gourlay, who has resigned the duties of schoolmistress, six pieces of silver plate, consisting of cruet stand, cake basket, and tea service of four pieces. The whole were designed and furnished by Messrs Gunn and Boss of Dunedin, and are valued at LlO. On the tea-pot is inscribed—“ Presented to Miss M. A. Gourlay by the pupils attending the Port Chalmers Grammar School, 1870.” And umlcrneath—“ 0 Annie, we shall miss you.” This testimonial testifies that Miss Gourlay, in retiring to p -irate life, carries with her the affectionate regard of those who have been placed under her care, and the cordial esteem of those with whom she has been associated during the discharge of her duties. Princess Theatre,—Notwitbstamling our personal preference of the legitimate drama to any other form of theatrical amusement, Christmas wmuld not be orthodox did not the pantomime take the lead. Miss George and Mr Lawrence play with their \isu,.l unquestioned ability in “ Delicate Ground,” they only serve by their elegant acting to prepay for the treat reserved of gorgeous scenery'aliq riotous fun. We did not give the company credit for co much burlesque ability as the pantomime has evolved. Most pantomimic representations please better on a second view than at the .first; and well as “Alfred the Great” went off the first night, it has proved no exception to the rule. We are glad to say the bouse was well filled last evening, and

we cannot be wrong in predicting that the piece will have an extended run. Both pieceswill be repeated this evening. The Superintendency. — This morn ing a deputation, consisting of Messrs Millar, M.P.C., J. Sibbald, M.P.0., J. Brown, J. Galbraith, and S. James waited upon Mr Macandrew, and presented him with a requisition signed by upwards of 1000 city electors, requesting him to offer himself for reeled ion as Superintendent of the Province. Mr Macandrew stated in reply that lie quite agreed with the sentiment contained in the concluding paragraph of the requisition.—[“We sincerely hope that the approaching election will result in returning a majority of members to the Council of a different character from the last, and that they will be men who, instead of thwarting your efforts, will strengthen your hands in promoting the progress of the Province.”] He did not think he should continue in office, if reelected, unless a better class of men were returned than were now in. He thanked the deputation for the very flattering requisition which had been handed to him. He should respond to it at once, and would do his utmost to succeed. He was not going into the contest to lose if he could help it, although he must say on personal grounds there was fift great inducement to enter upon it, but on public grounds he was bound to do the best ho could to secure election. He had had a great many letters from all parts of* the country quite bearing out the idea that the popular opinion was that he should go itl again. Mr James mentioned that other requisitions were in course of circulation throughout the Province, and they would he presented in due course. The deputation then withdrew. Ouu Contemporary. —ln an editorial, on the subject of the letter of the Colonial Treasurer imputing to the Daily Time* the charge of suppressing a portion of his second speech, and imperfect reporting, which that journal refused to insert, the Oamaru Herald says:—“ This is a charge which, if unfounded, was easy of refutation, and in the interests of the public, as well as for the credit of journalism, a distinct and positive denial, if such can he given, should not be withhold for a sigle hour We are reluctant to believe that the charges made are well founded, still we cannot disguise the fact that telegrams, correspondents’ letters, and other matter published in the Daily limes, reflect but ‘one idea’ —nigglcnaggle—opposition to the Government; this appears to he the pivot of our contemporary’s creed. Mr Vogel is obnoxious, no doubt, to the editor, but is that a just cause why he should he misrepresented, and the Government With which he is associated incesseutly peeked at ? To our mind Mr Vogel lias refuted this charge [that of tampering with the telegrams], and yet our contemporary has not the manliness to withdraw the allegation or support the truth of its assertions, as it pledged itself to do, in a court of law. In thus commenting upon the policy of the Daily Times, we do so upon journalistic and not political grounds. If the Editor of that paper has recklessly and imprudently made charges which he cannot substantiate, and wilfully suppressed or misrepresented the explanation given upon this and other subjects, he merits tire censure of all Journalists and the public generally. We hope our contemporary will he able to purge himself from the charges made against him, for until this is done silence will be accepted as evidence of guilt. The credit of the Press is involved in this demand.” A special meeting of the Committee and members of the Journeymen Bakers’ Society will be held in Murray’s Hall, Battray street, to-morrow (Thursday) eveuiug, at eight o’clock.