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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2598, 15 June 1871, Page 2

Mayor’s Court.—At this Court to-day, Margaret Stewart was fined 40s or 14 days imprisonment, for being drunk, and John Wood was sentenced to a month’s hard labor, for stealing money from the bar till of the Volunteer Hotel, Green Island.

Princess Theatre. —The performance last night was for the benefit of the Benevolent Institution. There was a good house, in spite of the inclement weather, and the various performers went through their respective parts with the usual success. Dunedin Abstainers’ Union.—A meeting of this Union was held in the hall under the Congregational Church last evening. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, and the other attractions, there was a small attendance. A very interesting lecture was delivered by Mr Canning, who contended that the legislative interference could

in no way restrain the evils of drunkenness, but that to moral influences and self-control we must look for the amelioration of this great social .curse.

The Californian Mail.—A deputation, including Messrs J. A. Ewcn, ff Harris, and J. Rosa, of Dunedin, waited upon Mr Vogel in London, to obtain a calendar instead of a lunar service, it being alleged that the latter involved a shifting date, which was extremely inconvenient in the matter of remittances ; whilst it was urged that the change would not prejudice the interests of’the non-trading classes. Mr Vogel replied that the present system had been adopted in the hope of getting the Australian Colonies to subsidise the line but if they did not fall in with it within a reasonable time, the New Zealand Government, he thought, would be prepared to answer the suggestions of the deputation. Deputation. This morning His Worship the Mayor of Waikouaiti (Mr T. S. Pratt), and Councillors Pearce, Reid, and Whinam waited upon •' is Honor the Superintendent, to bring under his notice the interests of the municipality and district. Their object was principally to ask that the control of the Hawkesbury Lagoon should he vested in the Corporation, and to ask for an endowment in terms of the Municipal Corporations Ordinance. They also brought under his notice the advisability of subsidising tbe Mechanics’ Institute, widening and metalling the main road to its full width through the township, improving the navigation of the Waikouaiti river by removing the rocks at the entrance, and connecting the m an road with the .Spit by means if a tramway. Hs Honor explained that in the present financial condition of the Province it was doubtful whether the widening of the road and the grant to the Medianics’ Institute could be at present entertained ; but with the other objects proposed they had his hearty concurrence ; and he pointed out the course necessary to be taken, which he would aid as far as possible. Yictorian Agricultural Societies. —The agricultural societies of Victoria are agitatin' to have an agricultural department or sub department in the Legislature, and submit their reasons in an ably written paper addressed to the Legislative Assembly. The following is a precis of their arguments : —lst. Agriculture is the chief m erest in the colony, 04,000 persons being engaged in it; while in mining there are only 00,000 directly employed. 2nd. The produce of agricuLure is more valuable than the yield of gold ; the latter being only L0.0i10.000 annually, while the value of farm and garden produce is much more. Adding to the worth of agricultural produce that of the stockowners, both which interests may now be considered one, and estimating the value of wool, tallow, and preserved meat at L 3,600,009, and the quantity consumed in the colony at L 1,000,000, exclusive of additions to stock employment is given to 71,000 persons, and the produce is estimated at L 10,200,000. These vast interests have only L4OOO a year devoted to their development by the Government, while the mining department costs L 39,000 annually. This is considered unfair, because gold is “taken away, never to be restored,” while agriculture and stock grazing render the land each year more productive. 2nd. “ Colonial farming” ia ‘a synonym for had farming, a corrective for which would be found by practical men being furnished with information that the' State only Such departments have proved of the utmost benefit in America, France, Prussia, Holland and Italy through practical and scientific men being, brought constantly together, by which means abstract theories are tempered down and brought quickly into use. Private enterprise cannot determine intelligently the best crops for a new colony. It is necessary therefore to avoid failures that intelligently conduct d experiments should he made under competent supervision. Wneat, barley and maize capable of resisting the peculiarities of the climate arc needed. Dr Mueller at Sydney exhibited 29 varieties of wheat from different countries ; 60 varieties of bai ley, rye and oats ; 43 varieties of maize ; 328 specimens of scarce grasses besides many sorts of beans, peas, vitches, and oil producing plants, none of which had been tried on the experimental farm, although many would almost certainly prove valuable to the colony. 3rd. Befoi-e long agriculture and horticulture must be followed as a unit'd occupation, in order to afford more reliable occupation to farmer? than growing grain, and to produce a greater variety of articles for export, and ultimately stock feeding, agriculture and horticulture would be conjoined. 4th. The discovery of suitable inexpensive manures requires attention, otherwise much of the land would soon become Useless. sth. Information is required respecting the natural habits and changes of “insects injurious to vegetation.” 6th In order to secure and disseminate the knowledge required, public lectures should he given by competent men. If it is considered the duty of the State to provide a system of literary education, it was equally its duty to provide tho means of technical education.

A meeting of Presbyterians in reference to the memorial to the Presbytery of Dunedin, to sanction the sending to Great Britain for another minister for the City, will he held in the hall of the Athenamm tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, at four o’clock, to receive the report of the deputation to the Presbytery, and to make further arrangements for carrying out the object of the memorialists.

A meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society of Otago will he held at Wain’s Hotel to-morrow (Friday) evening, at eight o’clock.

Tenders are invited by the Pioneer Lodge, A.T.0.0.F., for medical attendance and dispensing medicine to the members of this lodge and their families.

Dil. Carr gives his opening mesmeric seance at the Princess Theatre tomorrow (Friday) evening.