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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2498, 17 February 1871, Page 2

To Correspondents. —We have received a letter giving a full account of Mr Macandrew’s meeting at Lawrence, which shall appear to-morrow. Supreme Court. —There was to have been a sitting in banco this morning, but in consequence of the unprepareduess of counsel the business was postponed until after bankruptcy oa Monday, Mayor’s Court. —At this Court this morning, before his Worship the Mayor, Peter Lyle was lined 40s, or 14 days’ imprisonment, for drunkenness, and was sent to gaol for six months for assaulting his wife.

The Port Chalmers Election.— At tbc official declaration to-day the numbers read were: Port Chalmers—Macandrew, 181 ; Jago, 54. Blueskiu —Macandrew, 11); Jago, 43.

Colonial Coal, — The Bay of Islands coal is increasing in favor with captains and owners of steamers. Eighteen steamers trading oat of Auckland now use this coal alone. The price is 12s per ton, free on board, at Russell.

Cricket. —We have been requested to state that the match between the Albion and Tokomairiro Ciubs will be commenced to-monw, at 12.15 pm. sharp. The Albion team consists of the followingAllen, Brewer, Cohen, Hutchinson, Little, Muir, Payton, T,, Payton, J., Shepherd, Sherwin, Thomson, Wells, and Maegregor (13th man),

Fire. —The evening before last there happened one of the narrowest escapes fr.m an extensive fire we have had in Dunedin. A man passing down Cumberland street, on his way home, noticed smoke issuing from a large stack of timber in the yards of Messrs Gibbs and Clayton. He at once raised an alarm, and branchmau Davis, who lives near the spot, turned out with a hydrant, and with some assistance succeeded in about five ininutes in extinguishing the fire, which by that t)me had got a good hold of the timber. Photography,- -Messrs Burton Bros, have favored us witli photographs of the Bishops of New Zealand now in Dunedin during the session of tbc Synod. Wo do not know whether to admire them most as works of art or as faithful likenesses. Those conversant with the various stages through which photography has passed to its present state of perfection will agree with us in saying that these beautiful portraits approximate now very closely to the highest attempts of the best artists. They are ifelike in every feature, and form a striking contrast to the early efforts of light to lend its efforts to man’s arrangements. The portraits may he rendered historic heirlooms, revealing to future generations the forms and features of the early episcopalians of New Zealand. Messrs Burton Bros, have produced many excellent photographs, hut we do not know that they have ever excelled thece,

Princess Theatre,-— 'J'hat excellent comedy, “Janet Piide,” was played'Jast night to a very thin house. This is to he regretted, for, in the words of the manager, on the opening night, the, comedy was “faithfully re-produced, carefully acted, and properly mounted.” The company are evidently dying their best to secure the support ol the play-going public; hut we fear their efforts will not be crowned jyith success, when scant audiences only arc present to witness such dramas as “Caste” vr ‘ Janet Pride.” Prom much that was cs. cellent last night we single out the jure Bernard of Mr Collier and the small part of Dr Roberts, made very prominent by Mr Masgrave. Apropos of nothing, we have noticed as a constant patron of the theatre the gentleman in the pit who gives himself up unreservedly to the consumption of nuts; as a matter of course, the loudest explosion occurs at the most serious moment. If the worthy nut-cracker only knew what distress to the actors at such a time is caused by his idiosyncrasy We feel sure he wold desist. The Southern Trunk Railway Correspondence,— We expected something strange when this correspondence was published, but nothing nearly so damaging to Mr Reid’s business reputation as has actually appeared. While the General Government were actually taking' steps to construct the railway at LSOOO a mile, at 54 p?r cent per annum —or about L 300.000 investment, Be.tr* LI(1,500 annual interest—Air Reid was negotiating with Mr De Carle to pay L4(Jp,(JOO for the same work, and L 32,000 a year interest ! We have not had time to consider the matter so as to analyse it; but as that is plain on the face of it, we put it before the electors that they may weigh well

whether such a proceeding can justify giving their support to Mr Reid. T hey must reflect that for the same annual interest proposed to he spent by Mr Reid, twice the length of railway could be constructed. We forgot to mention that the promoters would have been entitled to a commission of L 15,000, in excess of the cost of construction, for negotiating the undertaking. A Nice Representative. Mr O’Connor, the newly-ele ’ted member of the House of Representatives for the Bailer district, appears to he a rather forcible speaker. At.a meeting the other day at Westport, there was some little difficulty about a chairman, and Mr O’Connor remarked that “he would as soon have the devil as Mr I’itt,” a barrister at Westpoit, and that “he was not afraid of Mr Fisher nor any of his class.” A Mr Sbcahan asked a civil question respecting protection, and Mr O’Conner replied that “he held the man who put the question in such contempt that he would not reply to that question or any other he might put.” Another elector questioned him regarding his conduct in the Nelson Provincial Council, and Mr O’Connor elegantly replied, “ What can yon expect from a pig but a grunt?” Mr O’Connor will, no doubt, be an ornament to the Legislature !

Port Chalmers.— A meeting of the Committee of the Otago Seamen’s Bethel Mission was held in tbo Harbor Office, at Port Chahncrs, yesterday afternoon. The minutes of the last monthly meeting wore read and confirmed. The treasurer (Capt Wm, Thomson) acknowledged receipt of monies received by him since last meeting. The missionary (Mr G Abort) stated that he had received from the Rev. G. Sutherland 50 copies of the “ Urgent Appeal,” to bo distributed amongst the crews of the shipping visiting the Port; al-o, from Mr Moore, of Oamaru, a new Bethel flag ; and from Mrs Yalpy, of the same district, a parcel of tracts. Donations, each of one guinea, from Capt. Hewitt of the ship Grace Gibson, and Capt Stuart of the ship Otago, having been handed in, the treasurer stated that the approximate balance of arrears fer the mouth ending December, 1870, was L 7 12s Bd. It was then ro-olved that the in's nonary vbn the goldfields with a view of advocating the claims of the mission. The meeting terminated with prayer. The Superintendency.—A correspondent wilting from Blue Spur under date the 15th insb., says “Mr Macandrew met the ‘free and enlightened’ electors of this far-famed goldfield on Tuesday evening last. There was a large attendance, and a small amount of rowdyism; a new thing here. The effervescence did not arise from the fact that one of the candidates was on a visit to woo their suffrages, bub it appeared evident that a little more teetotalism is necessary : only a very little more, and we shall be a sober community. The hour announced, five o’clock, was a mistake, and it was an hour later before many had arrived. At that hour the meeting was duly organised. Mr M'Lelland was unanimously called to the chair, and he remarked by way of opening the meeting that he seemed to be a sort of standing chairman, and he would rather have seen some other gentleman appointed, if only for the change, but as he had beep appointed' he would not shrink from the duty, and he had never undertaken a similar duty with a greater degree of pleasure. He had known the candidate a good number of years, and had known him to he a thorough colonist and capable of accomplishing great things. He had the honor of working on his committee last election, and were he so circumstanced he would be on it again, as in point of experience his opponent cannot stand before him. Mr Macandrew then addressed the meeting for nearly two hours, but as his sentiments are so fully known, I shall not give you a report of the various topics which he handled in a masterly style, disposing of the several questions in a straightforward and courteous manlier. At the close of his address a cordial vote of thanks was proposed and earned unanimously. Were I just allowed to add one word, it would be to say that his gentlemanly deportment has won for Mr Macandrew golden opinions and not a few votes.” Fire Brigade.— The Fire Brigade held their regular monthly practice on Wednesday evening. There was a good muster. Aftcr a sharp hook and ladder practice, the two hose-reels were taker)’ to' George street, one being placed in Moray place east and tpe other on the west side ; arrd with great rapidity three flue streams of water were at the Brigade’s services. After several imaginary bursts had been replaced the Brigade returned to their station to transact certain business ; Captain Wain in tire chair. A letter was read from the Secretary of the M.U.1.0.0.F., asking the patronage of the Brigade to a con ert to he held in the Masonic Hall on March 3, in aid of the Widow and Orphan Fund of the Order ; the request was granted. A letter was read from Dr Samuels, of Wanganui, seeking the cooperation of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, for the purpose of claiming exemption by firemen from Militia duty. The Secretary was instructed to write to Dr Samuels, and inform him that 'his Excellency the Governor had been ’petitioned to place the Dunedin Fire Brigade qpou tpe s-iiqe footing as other ' oluuteers, and that flic BpgatL pad not yet received an answer, Captain Wain had great pleasure in announcing that Mr B. C. Haggitt had presented to the library of the Brigade books to the value of L 5. The Secretary was instructed to return Air Haggitt the sincere thanks of the officers and meinhips for h;s most liberal and hardsome present, Captain Wain also stated that he had purchased hooks to the valu.c of If, a present from the City' Council, authority lor which he had received 'Loin Mr Massey on Ist November last. With reference to the arrival of the-new fire-bell, from what he (the captain) could learn, it would arrive in about thrge or four weeks from the present time. In consequengo of tpe lateness of the season before the next public holiday the proposition to have a pio njc was -withdrawn. The meeting then broke up.

The Naval Brigade will muster tomorrow, on the old jetty, at one o’clock.