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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2457, 31 December 1870, Page 2

Provincial. —We learn that the writ for the election of Superintendent is issued, and that it may he expected to arrive by the next mail from the North. Social. —We regret to learn that the Hon. F. D. Bell was detained at Alexandra through the illness of his daughter. Chang. —Our tall friend Chang lias announced his last week’s stay in Dunedin, and we would remind all who have not seen this gentleman to lose no time in doing so. The Princess Theatre. The Pantomime was repeated last evening to a really good house, and was well received. To night, it will he preceded by the comedy of “ Playing with Fire.” The Panorama.— The Masonic Hall was well filled last night, and the audience gave frequent tokens of their pleasure by applause. There was au afternoon exhibition to-day, which was well attended. Will No One Try! — The Ore// Elver A njus says :—As it is now over five weeks since Mr Twohill, of Greymoutb, challenged any person in the Colony to run him for a certain sum of money ard the championship of New Zealnd, lie now claims the honor of being the fleetest runner in the Colony. Native Curiosity. taken even by the Maoris in the present war in Europe. The Southern Cross says ; We have received an interesting letter from a Native, in which he desires us to send him regularly copies of the Maori Cir.e/fc, in order that he may leam all about “the groat war that is raging in Europe, by which the groat tribes arc being killed.” Gaol Return.—The following is tbc state of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 31st December, 1870 : Awaiting trial, 0 men, 0 women ; under remand 3 men, 0 women ; penal servitude, 92 men, 0 women ; hard labor, C2 men, 23 women ; in default of bail, 2 men, 0 women ; debtors, 1 men ; —total, ICO men, 23 women. Received during thejweek, 10 men, 4 women; discharged, 11 men, 2 women; imprisonment, 0 men 0 women. Charges for .Shipping Grain to England.— A large farmer in the Courtenay district, who sent home some two thousand bushels of wheat in one of the early ships last season, had received his account sales, and states that the entire cost of shipping, including loss on bags, interest on advances, and every charge reckoned, was 2s Id per bushel from Christchurch. The wheat was sold at 52s a quarter, and netted 4s tkj a bushel, to the exporter. The grain was shipped through the New Zealand Loan raid Mercantile Agency Company. The sanies were sold in England at (id each ,—Lylkl\on Times,

Girl’s High School,— lt is gratifying to learn that a lady of this town has just had inquiries from a distant Province in New Zealand as to the probability of this institution answering the ends in view; to which, if satisfactory, the inquirer (a clergyman’s wife) means to send her daughter to board with the lady Principal. We also understand that a lady has come to settle amongst us from Wellington for the express purpose of having her daughters placed with Mrs Burn, with whose high position as an educator she is already acquainted. This Superintendengy.— A deputation of electors—consisting of Messrs Bathgate, Sievwright, Jago, Prosser, Hawkins, Hugh Calder, H. S. Fish, jun., Isaacs, Barton, Miller, Dobbie, and several other gentlemen—waited on Mr Donald Reid this morning, and presented a numerously-signed requisition to that gentleman, asking him to permit himself to be nominated a candidate for the office of Suoerintendent at the ensuing election. Mr Reid, in receiving the requisition, made a few remarks, the report of which we .are compelled to hold over owing to the report having reached us late. The Timaru and Temuka Railway.—The following is from the Timaru Herald of December 28 :—We learn that at length the General Government have taken steps to have the preliminary survey for this ■work under taken. Mr Babington, C.E., the Engineer to the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works, has received instructions from the Colonial Secretary to meet Mr Bray, C.E., and Mr S. Tancred, C.E., on Monday next, at Temuka, when they will go over the line and determine the exact route. After determining the route, Mr Bray and Mr Tancre I will go to the Waitaki again, to meet Mr Millar respecting the Waitaki Bridge.

Political. —MrW. A, Murray, one of the candidates for the representation of Bruce in the Assembly, addressed the electors at Waihola on Tuesday last. The candidate, in his speech, stated he was in favor of an income and property tax ; was not opposed to the borrowing of a moderate amount, if judiciously expended on works that would pay —such as railways ; ho would endeavor to promote local industries—such as distilleries and woollen manufactories ; aud for this purpose would not object to a temporary protective duty ; was opposed to insular separation ; was in favor of the Upper House being an elective body ; was in favor of the guarantee principle in the construction of railways, aud would support a change in the land laws, introducing the principle of deferred payment. A motion thanking Mr Murray for his address, but declining to pledge the meeting, was carried.

Fire at Kurqw. —Part of the Western Hotel at Kurow was burned on the morning of the 2Sth iust., the fire breaking out at Oh 20m. The cause of the Are was the ignition of the paper of the servant’s bedroom ; the servant, Elizabeth MTntosh, having lading asleep, leaving her candle burning. The lan llord, Mr Bchluter, was awakened by the shouts of some men, Mho had noticed the glare, a d were calling “Fire 1” The first to discover the fire was one George Balding, who burst open the door of the servant’s room, and found her standing in the middle of the floor, apparently stupilied with fear. Other help soon arrived, in the person of Mr Schluter, who rushed to the room with a bucket of water, but was met by such a volume of flame as at once showed it to be hopeless to attempt to do anything with the limited supply of water at baud. Efforts were made to save the furniture, &c., but these were only partially successful, the greater part, as well as the centre portion of. the building, being completely destroyed. The other portions were saved by the most strenuous exertions. The stabling was npt burnt. The damage done is estimated at L3OO.

Ball. —We doubt if even the most sanguine of the members of the Artillerycorps were prepared to find their annual ball, which took place last evening in the University Hall as it is now to be called, the decided success it was. To the corps undoubtedly belongs the credit of providing the citizens annually with the “ball of the season,” and that last ni.yht was unanimously voted as the best the company has yet given. The assemblage was the largest that there has been in the x hall for some time—fully eighty couples being present—and the brilliant uniforms of the volunteers, and varied dresses of the ladies, together with the tasteful decorations of the hall, produced a tout ensemble as imposing as it was pleasing. The various companies were well represented, and the statf was represented by Majors Bathgate and Atkinson. The decorations, whic i were made under the superintendence of Mr Pledger, had, to our thinking, a much better effect than they usually have —tbey were nob too heavy, and set off well the annoiial devices. 'ihe orchestra was filled by Messrs Floury, West, Ecichardt, and Martin, and it is almost needless to say, the music they discoursed was all that could he desired. The supper was provided in Mr Job Wain’s best style. Dancing was kept up until an early hour this morning. Monday’s Holiday. There is no lack of amusement for Monday—in fact it will be almost a matter of difficulty for the pleasure seeker to choose which of the many entertainments provided shall be patronised. The most prominent, and which is certain to secure the largest attendance, is Vue Caledonian Gathering on the Southern Recreation ((round, which is to extend over two days as usual. Some L‘2oo is offered in prizes, and as several well-known athletes have already entered for the principal games some good sport may he fairly anticipated. The Volunteer baud will play during both days. There is an unusually large number of steamboat excursions. The Wallace will leave for Maori Kaik and Waikouaiti at nine in the morning, returning to Dunedin before dusk; the Golden Age will leave here at 10.30 a.m. and 2 p.m., proceeding to Port Chalmers and Portohello, returning at 4.30 p. m. Cheap fares are announced for all the trips. In all probability a cricket match will be played on the Southern recreation ground. In the evening, the pantomime will be repeated ; at the Masonic Hall the panorama will bo exhibited ; Chang will he glad to discourse with his small friends at the old Athemeum ; and lovers of the Terpsichorean art will be able to enjoy themselves at the Water of Leith Drill shed. Floating Islands.— We clip the following interesting paragraph Sfroin the Cipps Land Times : — “As one of the Gipps Land Steam Navigation’Company’s steamers was crossing Lake Wellington, the man at fhe wheel suddenly observed land right in the track of the steamer, apparently only a short distance from the straits separating Lakes Wellington and Victoria. He called

the captain’s attention to t'he strange sight, and on coming up elope, the land was discovered to be a small island, abemt thirty yards in length and twenty broad. , It was covered with a rich coating of luxuriant grass, and small trees, tea tree, and bush shrubs appeared to be growing in profusion. The only occupants of this remarkable selection were a few pigs, feeding away contentedly and apparently enjoying their novel journey by water. A second island of the same description, but much smaller, was noticed a little further on, but this had evidently detached itself from the larger piece of land, or most probably had been separated by the rooting depredations of the porkers. From what portion of the main land this floating island came is of course matter for conjecture, but it is known that a portion of the soil at Marley Point, on the southern shore of Lake Wellington, became detached recently, and floated miles across the lake with some twenty or thirty head of pigs aboard, As long as the wind drove it in that direction, the island drifted towards M'Lennan’s Straits, but a change of wind brought it back again, after a three days’ within a mile of the spot from which it had broken a broken away. We believe it is the opinion of Mr District Surveyor Dawson that the area of the Roseneath run, west of Lake Wellington, has been increased by some twenty or thirty acres, by the addition of drift islands.’ 1