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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2578, 23 May 1871, Page 2

To-morrow’s Holiday. —The Harbor Company’s steamers will make special trips to-morrow, conveying excursionists to the Port at reduced fares. The Artillery will fire for company’s prizes at 9 a.m. at the North Dunedin Range ; an I No. 1 Company at the Upper Kaikorai flange at 10. At noon the Artillery will muster in front of the Custom House, for the purpose of firing a f u de joie. The attraction of the day will he races atForhu'-y Park, under the auspices of the Tradesmen's Comml: tee. A good programme has been issued, and the races will commence at 11 a.m. sharp. In the evening a special bill will be produced at the Princess’s ; Mr and Mrs .Steele open in their entertainment at the Masonic liall; the Loyal Dunedin Lodge, M.U.T.0.0.F., give their annual ball at the Oddfellows’ Hall; and the First Church Young -Men’s Christian Association their annual soiree, in the class room of the Church.

Fatal Accident.—A sad accident occurred at the Halfway Bush to-day. A wood carter r.ame-1 James Goodall had a contract with Mr 11. Carle-, of Waikari, to cart timber from the bush, and this morning accompanied him there to take away a load. Carter left him while he went to fell a tree, and on coming into the open .again, after the tree had fallen, he found Goodall lying on the ground, one of the branches hiving knocked him down. He lay beneath it, but was not crushed. Carter went at once for assistance, and when the matter was reported to the police, Dr Burns’s services were obtained ; but before he could reach the spot the deceased had expired, death having occurred, it is supposed, shortly after Carter went for assi tance. The body was conveyed to the Ibspital, where it now awaits a coroner s inquest. The Land Transfer Act. —The Press and some other papers a short time since were particularly hard on the Government for having made what were alleged to be a series of mistakes in connection with this measure. It was represented that persons obtaining conveyances of land under the Act could by taking advantage of it, instead of accepting a conveyan e prepared by a lawyer as under the old system, comfortably escape paying to the revenue the duty on the transfer of land prescribed by the Stamp Act, and that, so clear is the position of the Act, that transferees of land have not to undergo the inconvenience of objecting to the duty, amounting to KU per cent, on the purchase money, as it is not even claimed. Further, that three months must elapse before the defect could be remedied, during which time there would bo a large loss to the revenue. Now the fact is that the Government and the Legislature have made no mistake, and been guilty of no negligence in this matter ; for the Bth clause of the Stamp Duties Amendment Act, read with its correponding schedule, enacts that the a ime duty shall be paid on a memorandum of transfer under the Land Transfer Act as that payable on the conveyance of any property under the Stamp Act of 18GG, and similar provisions are made in regard to memoranda of leases, incumbrances, and transfers of the same. Commenting on this subject, the Taranaki Herald observes : “The honeatj', knowledge, capacity and intelligence of the Opposition are certainly not on a par with its rabid and reckless virulence. ”

Princess Theatre. —“TbeElowevsof the Forest,” although very well played, was not sufficient to attract a large audience last night. It is much to be regretted that the praiseworthy attempts of the company to induce the public to attend this the only place of amusement now open in the City should have lately met with such ill success. “ A great bill” is promised for to-morrow (the Queen’s birthday), but of what the great bill consists has not yet transpired. This evening “ The Flowers of the Forest” and “The Irish Tiger” will be repeated.

Otago Bible Society.—The annual meeting of this society was held in the llanover street Baptist Chapel last evening ; Mr John Gillies in the chair. The committee in their report expressed regret that greater interest has not been taken in the working of the society during the several years of its existence. From the funds in hand at the commencement of the year (May 1, 1870), donations of L 25 to the British and Foreign Bible Society, and L 25 to the National Bible Society of Scotland, were forwarded in terms of resolution of the general meeting of the society. The donations for the year amounted to LGO 19s, and the sale of Bibles to L 57 17s, out of which funds the committee have remitted L4O to the Home Societies in reduction of purchase account, which at the commencement of the year stood as due to the British and Foreign Bible Society, L3B 10s; and to the Na'ionnl Bible Society of Scotland, L 45 8s sd; and has since been increased by a further invoice of Bibles received from the National Bible Society of Scotland, and by Ll4 18s 6d fur Maori Bibles. The sales of Bibles in the country districts have been limited; the goldfields remain almost unknown as regards the Bible Society ; and the committee think, until the matter is taken in hand by active Christian workers, it is not to be expected that interest will be taken in the cause. The report concluded with a reference to the wants of European countries, and urged upon the inhabitants of the Province the necessity for subscribing towards the funds of the society, in order that by co-operation assistance might be rendered to parent societies in their efforts to promote the circulation of the Scriptures. From a statement read by the hon. Secretary (Mr Morse) it appeared that the Society had at the close of the financial year a ba-

lance of LB3 7s 2d to its credit; and Bibles in hand to the value of L3O beyond what was due to the Horae Societies. The Eev. Mr Held, in moving a motion defining the objects of the Society commented upon the absence of Church of England clergymen from the platform. It was agreed to make a donation of L 25 to the British and Foreign Soc'ety and to the National Bible Society of Scotland. Mr. Strode, was elected president, Mr. E. B. Cargill, vice-president, and members of committee—ministers of Gospel, ex, officio ; Messrs. J. Bathgate, T. Dick. J. Gillies, R. 13. Martin, J. N. Watt, J. Joyce, J. Wilkie, It, A. Lawson, 11. A. Stratford, J. Fulton, Spencer, G. H ndle, and Captain Hamilton ; Mr. Morse, secretary and treasurer. The proceedings closed with the benediction. Entertainment. —The Masonic Hall has been taken by Miss Adelaide B > wring and Mr J. B. Steele, for the purpose of giving a series of drawing-room entertainments, the first of which will take pl ace to-morrow (Wednesday) evening. The programme provided is excellent in character, anal one in everyway calculated to test the unquestionable histrionic powers of these celebrated artists. The novelty of this kind of entertainment, combined with the fact of Miss Bowring and Mr Steele being ao deservedly popular, will have the effect of drawing crowded houses at their entertainments. The Secretary of the No. 1 Company City Guards announces that a match, open to ma’ ksmen only who have never won more than a fourth prize in a company competition, will bo fired to-morrow (Wednesday) morning at 10 o’clock, at the Bauge, Upper Kaikorai. We notice, by advertisement, that the Rev. S. T. Nevill will lecture at the Athciueum on Friday next, the 23rd inst., on “ Natural Theology.” A Ball is announced to bo held in St. George’s Hall, to-morrow evening; dancing to commence at eight.