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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2570, 13 May 1871, Page 2

The Clutha Railway.— Mr Blair engineer for this work, has received instructions from the General Government to go on with the contract plans for the first ten miles of the line at the Clutha end; and we are informed that the tenders will be called for in the course of a fortnight or three weeks. Specifications for the necessary plant and rolling stock have been forwarded to the Public Works department at Wellington, and it is anticipated they will bo sent home by tbe outgoing steamer.

Fire.—A fire, originating in the fireplace oi the Commercial Room of Mr. Dodson’s Pjovincial Hotel, broke out at an early hour this morning. At about half-past three, the cook of the hotel finding that smoke was penetrating his bedroom, at once sought the cause and on entering the commercial room discovered the lire which had attacked the wooden firing and paper surrounding the chimney. By prompt action the fire was speedily extinguished. The damage done is of a very trifling character ; but if the fire had not been discovered when it was, very serious results must have followed.

Shell Practice.—Tlio shell practice of the second contingent of tha Naval Brigade, for the Government prizes, took place on the reclaimed land this afternoon, under the inspection of Major Atkinson. No. 1 detachment, compris d mainly of members of the Anderson’s Bay contingent, was under the charge of P. 0. MTienzie, Lieutenant Grant commanding, and No. 2 in charge of P. o.' Creagh, Lieutenant Smith commanding. The target was placed at a similar distance to that used on fhc last occasion. No. 1 contingent gained the prize of L 6, their score being 15, to their opponents’ 14. The practice was not so goad as that of last week ; but it must be remembered that the detachments to day were composed mainly of recruits, while those of last Saturday contained efficient members of the Brigade. The Artillery competition takes p’ace next Saturday. At the conclusion of the firing Major Atkinson presented Gunner Patrick with the prize medal of the Anderson’s Bay Contingent, which was won by him at the last competition, with a score of 64 points. This is the sec ml time Gunner Patrick has won it—the first time with a score of 49 ; and it has also been won by Volunteer Stewart with a score of 64, It has to he won twice in succession, or four times in all, by a member of the Anderson’s Bay division, before it becomes his property. Prison Labor. —We understand that in a few days a gang of prisoners will be employed under the superintendence of Mr Carson, overseer, erecting guide beacons along the channel to Stuart street jetty. Apropos of prison labor, a correspondent calls our attention to the fact that Bond street remains in an unfinished state. We agre ■ with him that it should he completed before the bad weather sets in.

The Nevada. — This fine vessel con tinucs to be the centre of attraction. Quite a stream of visitors has (low'cd down to the Port to-day for the purpose of inspecting her, the Harbor Company’s steamers being full on each trip. To-morrow the Golden Age and the Wallace will each make trips ; the hours of their leaving Dunedin and Port Chalmers will bo found on rofei’enco to the advertisement. In addition to the pleasure afforded by an inspection of the Nevada, visitors to the Port to-morrow will be able to see the Phcebe in the graving dock. Gaol Return.—The following is the state of H.M. Goal, Dunedin, for the week ending 13th May :—Awaiting trial, 1 man, 0 women ; und.er remand, 1 man, 0 women ; penal servitude, 91 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 50 men, 22 women ; debtors, 2 men ; total, 144 men, 22 women. Deceived during the week, 5 men, 4 women ; discharged during the week, 3 men, 7 women. Princess Theatre. —“ The Flowers of the Forest,” a drama made celebrated many years since by the acting of Madame Celeste and Mrs Fitzwilliam, was played last night for the benefit of Miss Lizzie Bushe, that lady taking the part of the heroine (Cynthia) and Miss Carry George, for this occasion, that of Starlight Bess. The drama was evenly played throughout, and with considerable applause, and altogether was a vo.y creditable performanee. Of the male characters that of Mr Collier (Ishmael) was certainly the best; Mr W. Hill (the Kinchin), and Mr Lawrence (Cheap John), created the usual amount of laughter coincident with their parts. “ Good for Nothing” in which Miss Lizzie Bushe played A an, concluded a very excellent entertainment. This evening “Still Waters run Deep” and a “Model Husband” is the bill, under the patronage of Captain Blethen and the Officers of the Nevada. Shop Robbery.—We are glad to be able to state that the tools referred to in our last evening’s issue, have been recovered l.y Detective Farrell and Constable OTh-nnob, and in possession of the offender was found a

number of new window sashes, a railway labourer's shovel, 1 arkecl IS on handle. A pair of black cloth trousers, old-fashioned flymake, with tick pockets, a pair grey tweed trousers, old-fashioned fly make, and several other articles of wearing apparel for which owners arc required by the police. The Table Turned.—Our readers will rocobcct that about two years ago the Corporation of Dunedin, at the expense of some LoOO or L6OO, engaged the services of Mr A. K. Smith of Melbourne, practically to condemn the Gas Works of this [City' of which it is well known that Mr Stephen Hutchison was the engineer. It is a singular circumstance that Mr S. Hutchison, who is at present in Newcastle, is siid to have been engaged by the Gas Works of that town to report upon the efficiency of their Works constructed by Mr A. K, Smith, “andthus the whirligigs of time brings on his re.vengc. ”

Southland. —We cull the following items from the Times of the 9th hist.: — Another death has occurred in the fain ly of Mr A. Mac Nab, of Knapdale. The only girl in the family, a child two years of age, died on the 7th, having succumbed to the same disease that bad previously carried off four of Mr MacNab’a children. The bodies of three of the children previously interred were to be exhumed, in order that an inquest might be held.—Mr Mislophas been explaining to the inhabitants of Invercargill the provisions of the Education Ordinance, and it is likely that his suggestion that a grammar school be established there will be carried out.—The export trade of Invercargill for the March quarter, amounts to about LI 10,000 ; the amount for the corresponding quarter of 1870 being L 79,387 ; and of 1809, LGO,7OS, From what we can ascertain the weather experienced up-country seems to have been quite as severe as ; t has been in town. The Waimatuku on the Riverton Beach was reported very high, and the Mataura and Oroti were both so swollen that the Waikatipu mail arrived three days behind its time. On Saturday and Sunday we had a return of line woaCier, hut yesterday it set in even more boisterous than before. Wo are indebted to a passenger by the down-coach from Kingston for the following particulars at 2 p.m. on Monday. The Mataura crossings were all very high, more especially the one in the vicinity of Athol. At this time the rain was coming down in torrents, and on reaching Roche’s accommodationhouse, the plain as far as the eye could reach was almost entirely under water. Here tbe coach remained fur the night. The following morning the passengers wore preparing for a start when word readied the hotel that the crossings lower down had bocome utterly impassable. 'I he rain c ntiiming all day long, r.o attempt was made to continue the journey until the following (Friday) morning. Between Roche’s and Kyrc creek, and all the way from Malone’s to Dacrc, the water was up to within a few inches of the seat. Atvaiious points along the. journey carcases of sheep and cattle were ecu floating abou'., proving that a number of them had been washed away by the flood.

The Latest Curiositv. —Headers of the San Francisco Cali will recollect the accounts published some time since in these columns of a remarkable natural curiosity born in Ohio, being nothing less than two infants united, a head at cither end of the combination. The singular freak of nature, which far surpasses the Siamese Twins in interest, is now on exhibition in Columbus, Ohio, and we extract from the Statesman the following description of its present appearance : On entering room No. 104 the visitor’s attention is directed to a stand on winch is deposited a cradle, in each end of which is a human head, not only perfectly developed, but uncommonly handsome. Each one is a perfect individual in herself, so far as head, arms and chest arc concerned. Beyond this point the two blend into one, and have the same organs in common. On one side an imperfect leg is seen, but on the other side there arc two complete legs and feet. This brief description accords with previous accounts, but still there arc many who have not visited the wonder that are yet incredulous. The children are now five months old, and are as healthy as the aver ige of infants. One has a little more flesh than the other, but otherwise the resemblance is so close that the stranger is unable to remember which is .Mina and which is Minnie, except by an observance of the position of each with reference to the feet. The parents, however, know “which is which” by familiarity with the features, and are cx. tremely proud of the beautiful faces of their offspring. Theatrical. —At the last moment we are enabled to state that the negociations for the engagement of the Zavistowski Sisters, those far-famed interpreters of burlesque, have been consummated. These sisters will appear in the principal cities of Australia and New Zealand, under Coppin’s management. Negotiations are also pending with the Emerson Minstrels. The Zavistowkis will leave San Francisco on the next steamer,—Ae of the World.

Church of England services are announced to be held in the Mornington Schoolroom to-morrow and each succeeding Sunday morning, at eleven o’clock. A meeting of the inhabitants of Mornington, for the purpose of appointing a Library Committee, &c., is appointed to be held at the schoolhouse on Monday evening next, at eight o’clock.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society, for receiving subscriptions, &c., will be held on Monday evening, May 15, from six to eight o’clock.