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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2569, 12 May 1871, Page 2

Shop Robbing. —On Wednesday evening some scoundrels broke into Mr Green’s boat building yard, and took nearly all his tools from his aa orkshop. We trust the police Avill be enabled to trace and apprehend them. Tonic Sol-Fa Singing.—The members of the Tonic Sol-Fa Class, conducted by Mr George BroAimlce, A .G., gave a service of song in the East Taieri Church on the evening of Tuesday last. The 11 cv. Mr Will Avas in the chair. The class sang several sac: el glees and part songs in a creditable manner. Addresses Avcrc given by the l!cv. Mr Wills, Messrs Morse and Brownlee The class numbers ninety members, and are uoav beginning their Avinter session.

Masonic Hall. The Panorama of the Pacific Mail route Avas exhibited last night for the second time, and dreAV a fair attendance. With respect to the lecture avc think there is a good opportunity for the judicious use of the pruning knife. Princess Theatre.— For the benefit of Miss Lizzie Bushe this evening, Avill be performed “Flowers of the Forest,” and “ Nan, the Good for Nothing.” Miss Lizzie Bushe has many friends in Dunedin, and avc hope they Avill come to the front on the occasion. The Captain of the Nevada, avlio has kindly promised his patronage, Avili ho present to-morrow (-Saturday) evening. The Nevada. — Through the kindness of Mrs, Burn, the Lady Principal of the High School for girls, the young ladies accompanied by her and their teachers, Avenfc on a visit of inspection to the Nevada. They left Dunedin in the “Golden Age” at 11 o’clock a.m., and, after spending a couple of hours in inspecting the different parts of the vessel, they returned by the “Peninsula” at tAVo o’clock p.m. Captain Blethen, on hearing of their visit, expressed regret last evening that he Avas not advised of their intention, as, had he knoAvn, ho Avould have had lunch provided for them. Unluckily he Avas on shore, but they received every attention and courtesy from the purser and officers. The boys, too, of the Boys’ High School, were treated with a peep at the Nevada, but enjoyed the privilege of Avalking to the Port. This arrangement gave ample time to the ladies to finish their investigation and take their departure before the young gentlemen put in an appearance. We hear they enjoyed their day’s excursion and returned to Dunedin by steamer in the evening. The Early Closing Movement.— Mr 11. Hume occupied the chair at the meeting of grocers’ assistants last evening, held at the Athenauim. On the report of the deputation being read, it Avas stated that fourteen master grocers had agreed to close their shops at six o’clock p.m., but that four still refused. We trust that they will not persist in obstructing so healthy a movement. The meeting then resolved itself into an early association, under the title of “The Grocers’ Early Closing Association.” Mr R. humo was elected president ; Mr Harrold, vice-president; Mr Barron, secretary ; Mr Peterson, treasurer ; and Messrs Elliott, Anderson, Bain, Bulherford, and Mercer, members of committee. It was resolved that, as probably the dissentients would agree to closing at G. 30 instead of 6 o’clock, the master grocers should again be consulted on the subject.

Presentation. —At noon to-day his Worship the Mayor accompanied by Mr Walters presented Captain iiletheu of the Nevada, with a copy of the followingresolution passed by the Corporation on Wednesday "That his Worship the Mayor, by request of this Council, and on behalf oj the citizens of Dunedin, convey to the Captain and officers of the p. s. IS evada, our hearty and sincere welcome on the occasion of this, their first visit to our shores, and also express a hope that an event of such importance, so successfully inaugurated, may commercially and socially cement still tinner the bond of friendship which happily exists between the two countries.” The resolution was engrossed and stamped with the Corporation seal. The presentation took pi ace at the American Consul's office, and Captain Blotheu returned thanks on behalf of himself and his officers.

City Improvements.—lu connection with the proposal of the Government to lend the City Council assistance in improving the Southern Recreation Ground, we hear that a proposition has been made which, if acted upon, would have the effect desired, and

allow of Princes street south being widened to its proper width, for a considerable distance boyoxd where it is so widened. The proposal is to fill up the present drains running round the grounds; and in their places to lay down iron pipes, sufficiently large to carry off the storm waters into the Pay. This filling-up, by the removal of the fence some feet backward, would allow of the street being widened as far as Hillside. The earth required for the purpose is, we arc informed, to bo had in close proximity to the ground. The prisoners employed on the new road across the head of Anderson’s Bay are not making such good progress as those who have the superintendence of the work could des'rc. There are two gangs employed—one at Vauxhail, and the other at Cutten’s end ; but the work is at present being carried out by the tedious barrow process. Application has been made to the Government to a'low rails to he laid down ; and when this is done the material will be brought down and deposited in the Bay in larger quantities. It is found that a much greater quantity of stuff will he absorbed than was at first anticipated, in consequence of there being such a deep layer of soft mud ; and i ■ c msequence the work will take fully' a couple of mouths longer to complete. Aj ropos of prison labor there are, we understand, some thirty ablebodied Maori prisoners at the Government Cook Barracks, Wellington, who are doing nothing just now. Might they not be brought down here, and profitably employed on some of the contemplated public works in the G ty ?

Personal.—A Dunedin paper, as well as several of our Northern contemporaries, has published an account of Mr. E. Casper’s (late of this city) arrest in France, which was calculated to give pain to his friends in this Colony. Any annoyance that may have been caused will be removed by the following explanation respecting Mr. Casper and the French, which appeared in the London Thw’S of Febuary 15 “It was stated by some of onr contemporaries that Mr. Casper had been arrested at Lille on a charge of having fraudulently sold to the French Government shoes with paper sole?, to the grevons injury to the armies in the field. Air. Casper’s solicitors ask us to state that immediately' on his arrest he communicated with them, ami they were enable to lay before the Procureur do la Kepnblique and the Judge d’lnstruclion, and through them before the political and military authorities, conclusive testimony that no blame attached to their client, and he was released without a moment’s delay, after the documents which thc.y submitted had been inspected and verified, the authorities also expressing their regret at the inconvenience he hj id meanwhile sustained, and the Goverment continue their business relations with him as though nothing of the kind had happened. ”

We notice that a special afternoon representation of the Panorama of the Pacific Mail Boutc Avill ho given in the Masonic Hall to-mo row afternoon, for schools and children, when the price of admission Avill be reduced to sixpence.