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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2585, 31 May 1871, Page 2

Enterprise. The little town of Napier has an evening newspaper which cm ploys a “ special correspondents at the heaclcjuarters of the French Government.” Collapsed. —The last crushing at the Culliford bat'cry resulted in not one particle of gold being obtained from 20 tons of quartz. In Nelson there was a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. Journaiistic. —We have received the first number of the A from Adrocate. , a four page royal sheet, published at Arrow by the proprietors of the Cromwell Argus. The paper is well got up; but we have grave doubts whether the district in which it circulates can yet afford to support even a weekly sheet. Pleuro. —The Bruce Herald learns on the authority of the Chief Inspector of sheep, who la't week visited the southern districts, where scab has for some time prevailed, that the disease hj 8 now all but disappeared. New Zealand University. —The Council of the University met this morning. Ha 1 it not been for the presence of the lion. Mr Ackland, of Canterbury, who came over at great personal inconvenience, there would not have been a quorum ; and as several members of the Council arc en route by the Wellington and Phcebe, the Council adjourned till to-morrow,

Pedestrianism. —Many will be sorry to hear (hat tlie third long distance race, in which Bird the English pedestrian has been engaged, will fall through. Mr Cook, who hacked Bird in the match with Austin, has declared his intention to forfeit the amount now down, and withdraw from the undertaking altogether. Flax Manufacture. One of the largest flax m il owners in the southern districts of Otago, informs the Bruce Herald , that since commencing operations, he has continued work regularly without stoppage. All the flax that he has been able to produce has bscn sent by him through a Dunedin firm, to Melbourne ; his returns have averaged L 25 per ton. The case is known to us, and we can corroborate oar contemporary’s statements.

The Provincial Revenue. Tbo Balance Sheet for the year lias been laid be fore the Council, and shows even a worse result than we anticipated. We were prepared to expect a considerable deficiency, but were astonished to find it amount to L97.57S 18s 9cl. The balance against the Province last year was 1/45,350 5s 84. During the last year, therefore, the expenditure has been in cxce-,s of revenue received by L54,22S 13s Id. In addition to this tocre are liabilities due on suspense account, L 15,179 18s ; and deposits, L 12,08 03 5d ; so that the absolute deficiency at the close of the financial year amounts to L 125,439 2s Bd. A Donkey Difficulty.—The residents of Alexandra and Clyde have of late been at loggerheads as to the possession of a donkey, imported by Mr E. Lancaster to the Dunstan district, and sold to a Boniface, resident at Alexandra, who paid a luck penny or deposit to seal its purchase. Another Boniface, at Clyde, however, paid something like L4O to Mr Lancaster, in cash, for the animal, of which he at once forcibly took possession from his Alexandra neighbor, who threatens to sue Mr Lancaster for non-deli-very according to agreement. A Good Claim. —The United Gold Mining Company’s claim at Big Beach, Arrow Elver, continues to yield very hand some returns to the fortunate shareholders, Messrs Murphy and party. For several raon.hs past, we are informed, the dividend paid to each of the five shareholders has averaged L3O a-week ; and last week, it is said, they cleared not less than L7O a man. The ground has been worked continuously for the last seven years, and has from the first proved itself a “pile claim,” —several of the shareholders who have sold out at various times having realised small fortunes, and invested their capital in less precarious speculations than that of mining. Goldfield Changes. —Various important changes arc about to take place in the disposal of the Gold-fields officials. We (Arrow Advocate) hear on good authority that Mr T. H. Harvey, Gold .Receiver, who was lately transferred from Waipori to Arrowtown, has tendered his resignut : on to the Government, and that it has been 1 accepted. The vacancy will probably be filled by the appointment of Mr E. E. Field, for many years Receiver at Alexandra. Mr Warden Fyke, it is said, will relinquish the charge of Blacks, and that district, along with St. Bathans, will be placed under the jurisdiction of Mr Stratfor i, who is to be reinstated in his position as Warden. Mr A. D. Harvey will perform the duties of Receiver and Clerk of Court at Clyde and Alexandra.

Princess Theatre, Messrs, Lawrence and Collier took their farewell benefit last evening, the attendance being more numerous than it has been for some time past. The pieces presented were the drama of “ The Juggler” and the comedy of the ‘‘ Irish Diamond. ” Between the pieces Mr Lawrence took occasion to make a “farewell speech,’’ which we give for what it is worth. He said that in coming before the curtain to speak, he felt himself, as it were, rather out of his element; he was pretty well used to speaking behind the curtain, but speechifying was not much in his way. After stating the reasons which compelled him to close the theatre, he proceeded, in complimentary terms, to thank Mr Sibbald for the liberal and gentlemanly way ho had always treated the management. He also returned thanks to the gentlemen of St. Patrick’s Brass Band for their kind assistance some week or two back. He wished he could also return thanks to the pi css of Dunedin—but honestly he could not. They had treated the Company in the most cool and cavalier manner ; and if they had deigned to notice them, it bad been to abuse

them. He should have thought that during a season of eight months there would at lea-t have been som thin* to praise. The I'renhig Star certainly had been an exception. His remai ks referred t rinci pally to the gentlemen connected with the Otago Daily Times. It was as a gentleman connected with the Daily Times, once said to him : “ Well you know, Lawrence, the fact is we haven’t a man on the staff who is cap dole of writing an article.” This statement was received with loud cheers, and a proposition came from somebody to give three groins. After thanking the audience on behalf of Mr Collier and himself for their attendance there that evening, Mr Lawrence bade the audience farewell.

The Dunedin Rifle Club hold their first pub’ic meeting'to-morrow evening, at Wain’s Hotel, Manse street. We arc given to understand that two members from each of the town and suburban companies will form the committee of management, to appoint handicappers and look after the interests of the corps generally.