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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2523, 18 March 1871, Page 2

Life Assurance. Capt. Baldwin was very .successful in his visit to Tokomai,riro in inducing ,pcpple to assure their lives iin gpangctipii .wjfji ,tjie Government Assurance scheme. 'During his short stay there he received .thirty and forty applications.

Scientific,~Dr Haasfc, who is president of the Philosophical Institute in Canterbury, has been lecturing upon t|jc moa. The doqtor appears to have arrived at t}fg conclusion that the moa has Ijecii extinct for about live hundred years,.apd advances arguments iu favor of his opinion. The Governor’s Visit. —His Excellency has notified his intention of honoring the races with his presence on Thursday. In consequence of his determination to remain in town over Thursday, the ball comniittce have agreed to put it oil until that evening. We believe that it is deci led that there shall be no volunteer representative ball this year, which should have the eifect of securing a very large attendance on Thursday.

Dunedin Races.—Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co, sold by auction to-day, the gates, booths, &c., for the coming races at the Forbury Park Racecourse, The prices icaliscd were Gates —Geo. Dowse, Ll5O ; Grand Stand —Pritchard, L9l; saddling paddocks—Marshall, L 25; stables—Gcddcs, I 8. Booths Nos, I and 2 —Conzcns, 1.42 each ; No. 3—Muir, Ll4 ; Nos. 4 and s—Walter, LlO 10s each. Pace Cards—D. Langley, L 26.

Presentation. —On Friday, 10th inst., the long-talked-of dinner to Mr Christie, of the Bank of Otago, Balclutha, took place. About thirty of the principal inhabitants of the township, with Mr Maitland, K.M., as chairman, faced by Mr J. M'Neil, the Mayor, sat down to a choice and elegant dinner at the Crown Hotel. A very handsome lea service, with appropriate inscription. together with an elegantly and artistically illuminated te timonial (the work of Mr J. Weston, law stationer, of Dunedin), signed by 25 of the inhabitants, was presented to Mr Christie Princess Theatre. The greatest hungerer after “brogue” must have been satisfied last night, if not for quality, then for quantity. “Cauthlcen, the card drawer,” is a poor and improbable story, not well worked up, and only relieved from utter tediousness by the acting of Mr Collier (Bryce Kinchekl) in two scenes. Mr Collier afterwards played (O'Bryan) iu the “ Irish Emigrant,” in which he appeared to give equal satisfaction to his audience. We are glad to record that the house was well attended, as it no doubt will be this evening on the repetition of yesterday's bill. On Monday the great sensation drama “ The Lancashire Lass ” will be placed upon the stage; we are informed that the drama has been thoroughly rehearsed, and that Mr Willis has painted some very effective scenery for the occasion. We hope therefore to be able to chronicle a genuine success.

Singular Accident, —A few days ago some parties fishing from the Nelson wharf hauled up a fish generally known as the “sting ray.” Mr Wilson, chief officer of the Wild Duck, feeling interested iu the capture of the lish, approached to look at it, and placed his hand under its fin, when he was warned by Mr Akerstcn, who was pie-

sent, that it was rather a dangerous customer to meddle with. Mr Wilson replied that ho knew all about them, and put his'foot on the animal’s head. Aa quick as thought, the fish whipped round its tail, and struck him on the log, just, below the calf, driving the jagged spike, with which the tail is armed, completely through the fiesh, thus inflicting an ugly and pa : nful wound. Mr Wilson fainted, but medical ass stance being procured and restoratives administered, he somewhat recovered the effects of his misfortune, although we hear it is likely to be some time before he will he in a fit state to attend to his duties.

Supreme Court. —The special jury case of the Bank of Kew Soil'll Wales v. I’urke and another, was postponed till May 2. Mr Macassey applied for a rule msi, for a mandamus, calling upon Mr Strode, R.M., to show cause why he should not proceed with the hearing of the information, charging r C. l emon, General Manager of Telegraphs, with a broach of the Electric Telegraph Act, 1865. In the course of the argument his Honor exp eased the opinion that in commencing the proceedings in respect of this application here, when the > ffencc happened at Wellington, and the accused party resided there, the thing bore the air of oppression ; but Mr Macassey explained that all the witnesses were in Dunedin, and intimated that other public prosecutions were about to be brought against the department for offerees committed in this Province, so that apart from ttie ground of inconvenience, the decision of his Honor as to whether the offence was an indictable one, would he of some importance. His Honor granted the rule.

Hurricane at Cuba. Like the combatants at Thasyracue, who were so absorbed in the work of mutual destruction that they did not feel the earthquake beneath their feet, the bulk of civilised mankind is so immersed n the contemplation of tbe tr at struggle which is going on iu Europe, that the most awful di?a<t is which o cur in other parts of the world pass by unheeded. Hence it will be news, probably, to many of our readers that by the storm of Matanzas, in the island of Cuba on the /lh and Bth October last, 400 houses were swept away, 1000 men, women, and children ware destroyed, hundreds of persons who esca: ed with their lives were reduced to poverty, 82,000 Head of cattle were drowned, whole plantations and farms were devast ited, and Howards of a dozen ves els wrecked on the Florida reefs. One of the most painful incidents connected with the terrible event was the partial destruction of the cemetery at Matanzas; numerous coffins and partially decomposed bodies having been washed out of the graves and vaults, and scittered about in hideous confusion. It is estimated that the losses inflicted uponthc island by this whirlwind and flood will exceed four million sterling

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society for receiving subscriptions, &c., will be held on Monday evening, March 20ch, from G to 8 o’clock. There will be an ordination service iu St Paul’s Church to-morrow morning, when the Rev S. T. Nevill (Bishop elect of Dunedin) will preach. The offertories will be given to the Port Chalmers Church Building fr nd -