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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2505, 25 February 1871, Page 2

Fire Bell. —The new fire bell has arrived by the Harvest Home from Liverpool. No time will be lost in getting it landed and bang. The Southern Trunk Railway.— We are informed that the tenders for the construction of this line have been opened, and that the lowest was that of Messrs Chaplin and Co. We do not know the full particulars, but it is aornewhat under LSOOO a mile to the formation level. Reunion. —About tho pleasantest reunion that has taken place here for some time, was given in tho Old Masonic Hall last evening, by the members of the Fire brigade, The evening was very 'ph asantly

si eut in dancing, singing, and recitations. Captain Wain, and the officers present were untiring in their efforts to study the of their visitors.

Gaol Return. — The following is the s L ate of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 25th February, IS <1 : Awaiting trial, 4 men,* 0 women ; under remand 1 man, 0 women ; penal servitude, 92 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 56 men, 31 women ; in default of bail, I man, 0 women ; debtors, 2 men ; —total, 100 men, 31 women; Received during the week, 11 men, 7 women, discharged, 12 men, 4 women. Jf One of these at hard labor, under sentence received since bis commitment for trial.

Judicial. —It is stated that in all likelihood a circuit sitting of the Supreme Court will be held in Lawrence half yearly, and also that the sittings of the Supreme District Court will be held every three mouths, instead of every two, in consequence of the enlargement of the Judge’s district, which will now include Southland, and that the district court will sit in criminal jurisdiction, hearing cases up to seven years’ penal servitude. These changes will doubtless be a great benefit to the district, and a saving of expense.

Concert.—We were glad to see the concert which was given at the Masonic Hall last evening, under the patronage o? the Masonic and Friendly Societies for a charitable purpose, so well attended. Seeing that the greater portion of the performers were amateurs, it would be out of place for us to criticise their efforts. The audience seemed to appreciate the programme put forward, and that was enough ; we, however, should have liked to have seen the encores less frequent, for in some cases the demand for a repetition was totally uncalled for. Mr Sykes presided at the piano.

Provincial Council Elections.— Candidates are coming forward pretty freely now that the Superintendent election is over. We hear that for the City the number will be twenty, if not more ; and in addition to the old members, all of whom will come forward for re-election, we 1 • r the names of MessrsM'lu loe, J. H. Harris, Birch, Peeves, Bathgate, Cargill, Sievwrigbt, and Jago men'i ncd. Mr, J. L. Gillies is the only candidate present in the field for Milt n, and Mi- Mobison is likely to have oppos't'on at Wa hola. Mr Mor ely will be oppos dat Matou by Messrs H. Clark and W. A. Murray; and the Don. Dr. Menzies has definitely come forward for Mataura.

Government Savings Banks. —The following particulars of the transactions of the last quarter of 1870, as compared with the corresponding quarter of the previous year, arc from a return just to band : New accounts opened last-quarter 1870. 4091; closed during same period, 502 ; balance of new accounts, 3559. Ditto 1809, opened, 3408 ; aimed, 470 ; balance of new accounts, 2938. Total deposits, 1870, LG4,2!i7 7s 5d ; 18(59, L 55.570 10s (id. Total withdrawals, ] 870, !.52.,065 15s Id ; do 1859, 1-41,(565 as ud. i’eiuaioiug on deposit, 1870, L 12,201 12s ■M ; 1809, L 14,205. The figures throughout refer to the last quar-er of each year only. Wn ohs- rve that the total amount of money or--hrs issued at the var ous offices in the < --■ • ojiy during the quarter ended 31st iVicmber, was L 37,123 7s 7d, as against [.’•■'.',3l4 17s lid, for the corresponding •marker < f 1869, The amount of orders paid •-.s L 22.814 18s 2d for the same quarter, as •g nst L 19,641 11s, during the last quarter • i 5(59.

Tutu Poisoning. —ln a recent issue avc briefly a’luded to the fact that a man had been poisoned at Lowther. from eating tutu berries. It now transpires that the de ceased Avas a shearer named Cameron, and on the day he met with his death he left the Jolly Waggoner’s Accomodation House at 11 a.m. He returned in about half an hour, bringing along Avith him a bunch of the tutu pi Ait. He entered into conversation Avith some men at the bar of ffio hotel, and the conversation turned upon the qualities of the plant. Cameron said he had already eaten it, and to show that it Avas not so fatal as it was representtd, he ate a quantity of what he had in his possession. Shortly afterwards he became unwell, and Avent to bed. He became sick, and continued retching and vomiting till the evening, when be expired. Latterly he is said to have exhibited all the symptoms of poisoning by strychnine, Mr Blake, manager of Mr Webster’s station, administered au emetic, but the unfortunate man never rallied.

A Hint.—The Weekly Times gives the following useful precautionary hints respecting diseases that should be carefu ly attended to with the advent of scarlet fever in our community:—“On account of the spread of small-pox, scarlet fever, measles, and typhus fever, Dr Hardwieke, the medical officer for Paddington, has issued instruciLus to the public, by folioAving which those diseases may be circumscribed in their area and their virulence diminished. The doctor recommends pure Avatr and clean cisterns, and gives directions ho w the purity of the water may he tested. One or two drops of Goody’s crimson fluid in a tumbler of water will give it a pink hue. If in half an hour that color has disappeared or turned vclloavish, the water is impure ; but if it retains its pink hue, the water is piuv. Brains, sinks, &c,, should be well flushed daily, and dustbins emptied frequently. Ventilation is essential With regard to food, he suggests that it should be plain, Avholesome, and abundant.”

Scarlet Fever at Invercargill.— Our telegram a day or two ago notified the appearance of scarlet fever in Invercargill Already ono victim has succumbed, to it, and at present three or four others arc suffering from it. The manner in which it has been communicated exhibits a remarkable feature in the latest character of the disease. At the beginning of the present year a girl a passenger by the Robert Hendersonarrived at the Bluff, per Rangitoto from Fort Chalmers. In Invercargill she took up her residence for a few days in the house of a Mr Adamson, a carrier, and afterwards proceeded to Switzers. During her stay at Mr Adamson’s, she turned out her boxes and had them repacked. For some weeks after she left Invercargill there was no sign whatever of the malady. Ten or twelve days ago one of the family, a child, was taken ill. Before the nature of the illness was known, other two or three members of the same family were attacked. One of the number, a lad 10 years of age died on 'i huraday. The fever is said to he of a particularly virulent type, and the medical opinion is that, unless some very decided step is taken its spread is inevitable,

Rather Sharp.—A good story is told of a young lady in whose affections one of tne unfortunate tinsmiths in the employ of the New Zealand Meat Preserving Company at Woodlands, who recently received a month’s hard labor for disobedience of orders, reigned sip rone, dins young lady, who shall be called Miss J —, was disconsolate at the forced absence of her lover, and after much thought, hit upon a very excellent idea, which has since enabled her to realise a consummition devoutly wished. She became suddenly ill, and the majority of the workmen employed at the establishment, moved in pity for their fellow mortal, started a subscription list, and over L4O was quickly raised to pay her passage to Great Britain. Miss J— was sent to the Invercargill hospital, where she remained one month, the same period as her less cute fellow workers have to spend in prison. After convalescence she set out for Dunedin, not for the purpose of securing a passage for England as might have been supposed but for the purpose of getting married. The subscribers of the money, which has gone to purchase the trousseau, have grumbled considerably.

Why Flax Don’t Pay. “To sho-v.’' says the Nelso i Examnar, “how ruinous the shipping of flax in unsuitable vessels 1 as proved, we select a single case, respecting which we happen to know a few particulsrs ; - The ship Ballarat, which c 1 eared nut at Blenheim early in the year, had on board 17(5 bdes, prepared by Messrs Logan and Sinclair, of Khtuna, Marlborough, whose flax is admitted by all who have seen it to be as well dressed as any sent to the colony. Of these 17(5 bales, 121, or more than two-thirds of the who’e shipment were returned as ‘Sea damagecd.’ The undamaged bales gave an average price of L3O 11s Sd a ton; the whole shipment only realised L2l Is (5d a ton, and ytt when bales left Messrs Longan and Sinclair’s shed all were as nearly as possible of equal quality and condition. He v e are two industrious men stripped of their profits and their occupation ruined, through shipphig their flax in a vessel with open seams in her deck, or otherwise unsuitable for carrying such cargo. Flax, like cotton, damages readily by sea water, and a better class of vessels must be secured before the flax trade of New Zealand can receive fair play. The depreciate n in price is bad enough, and for that there is no remedy ; but it will be the duty of merchants to save th ;sc engaged in the flax trade from the ruinous losses which befel them last season, by making shipments in unsuitable vessels.

Princess Theatre. Ninety-three years ago the “School for Sandal” was brought out at Drury Lana Theatre, Mrs Ahington being the original Lady Teazle; since which time this masterpiece of Sheridan has he'd the foremost place in public estimation without a rival. The reason is not far to seek, for in the words of L igh Hunt, “it is the very concentration and orystillazation of all that is sparkling, clear, and compact in the materials of pure comedy,” The part of Lady Teazle is that at temple! by all as}hi ants to the throne of comedy, and if the delmtank passes successfully through the ordeal, it is allowed that at least one step to the throne has been gained. Miss Florence Colville, who essayed Lady Teazle last night, is an Australian “star” on the border of the horizon, and when time s?h 11 have matured her powers will doubtless attain a leading place in her profession ; for she possesses many of the attributes -ease, grace, a clear ringing voice, and agreeable person and manner—of a high-class comedienne, Mr Hoskins delighted the house with his rend ring of Charles Surface, and (as was said of a former interpreter of the part) “ had there bee 1 a tailor in the pit to whom Air Hoskins owed a long account, the actor would have received a discharge in full the next morning.” The c oiiedy otherwise was cast as when played at this theatre in December last: but 011 this occasion, all, the character* licit);/ in appropriate costume, the general effect was necessarily heightened. The performance concluded With “Nothing to Wear,” a very smartly written “ piece of extravagance,” in which Miss Colville and Mr Hoskins convulsed the house with laughter. Bnlwer’s celebrated play, “ Richelieu,” will be performed to-night. On Tuesday night the performance will be under the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent.

It will be seen by advertisement in another column that the Harbor Company’s steamer P< ninsula, will leave the old jet y for Port Chalmers, to-morrow afternoon, at 2.30 p.m. She will pay a visit to the newly arrived ship Warrior Queen.

It will be seen by the advertisement that on Monday a complimentary and farewell concert is to bo given to Miss Edhouse, and we trust it will be a handsome recognition of the services this young lady has rendered. For some years she has freely given her aid whenever charity required it, sometimes at loss and inconvenience to herself; and we tru-t now that she is about to leave us, the inhabitants of the City will feel it ab'ko a duty and pleasure to testify their sense of the unselfish and efficient services she las so frequently rendered. She will be assisted by several talented amateurs, and the programme is a good one.