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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2613, 3 July 1871, Page 2

The Choral Society.—The Choral Society have got the promise of the use of the University Hall for the Concert which is to come off shortly. Legal.—Mr Justice Chapman will sit in banco on Wednesday, to deliver judgments, and hear motions. His Honor leaves for Wellington, by the Nevada, on Friday, to attend the sittings of the court of appeal. Departmental—We believe that the Hon. Colonel Haultain, who is at present in Otago, is engaged in collecting information for the purpose of furnishing the General Government with a report on the working of the Native Lauds Act. Viceregal Visit.—Earl Belmore, Governor of New South Wales, with his Countess, was to leave Sydney by the Hero, at the end of June, on a visit to Sir George Bowen. His Excellency will visit the principal towns in this Colony before returning to New South Wales, The Chinese. — The Wahatip Mail states that more claims in the district, have, during the past week, passed into the hands of the Chinese. Tire worst of this that the settlers it every case leave the district for other places—some for Australia others for Auckland. Dredging.'—Dredging appears to pay as well on the Molyncux as on the Shotover. Last week the Kearsagc, working half-way between Alexandra and Clyde, got on some very good gold, and on Wednesday obtained 1 Dux , and the following day, before dinner, netted 20oz. Gold .Robbery.—A daring robbery occurred on the 24th ult., at Pleasant Creek, Upper Shotover. At about a.m., some thieves washed out the sluice boxes of Grace and party of the Hibernian Co., and it is supposed lifted over 40 ozs. A reward of Li)o has been offered for tnc discovery of the thieves. New Mu.sic.—We have received a copy of “The Lonmay Waltz,” composed by Mr J, Moss of this City. It is a pretty air, and has the merit of not being too difficult for persons not very advanced in music to execute. The frontispiece is a neat drawing of a cosy comfortable looking dwelling, and the music is neatly and legibly lithograthcd by Mr I). Henderson. Messrs Mills, Hick, and Co. are the publishers, A Lively Picture.—The following descriptions of tiro Provincial Council, is from tiro pen of a Soi.t la d member :—“ For one solid month we have been at work, and in reality little or no real work has been attempted The whole affair is a game at humbug all round ; the art lies in the concealment of the fact. I c mfe-s I am hearti y sick of it, and I hope and pray that the forthcoming sessions of the Assembly will cut the gordian knot, and set us all about our business. ” Soiree. —The inaugural soiree and public meeting of the Antidote Division of the Sons of Temperance, took place on Friday last in the Masonic Hall. About 1100 persons, including a number of the sous and daughters of t.mpcrancc who attend from Port Chalmers, sat down to a well-provided tea. After tea a public meeting was he'd, at which addresses wore given by the Levs. Stuart, Sutherland, and Itoseby of Sydney ; and a good programme of vocal and instrumental music was gone trough, to the satisfaction of all present; and one of the most successful tea meetings ever held in Dunedin was dismissed, after singing the National Anthem. Mornington. —A concert took place on Friday evening at the school-house for the benefit of the Sunday School Library Fund, and was in every respect a success. There was an excellent, programme provided, which, together with the beautiful night, had the effect of drawing a larger audience than has been seen there for some time. Mr Thomas Bamford occupied the chair. The first part, which consisted of songs and pianoforte solos, was got through very satisfactorily. The second portion of the entertainment was quite new to the Mornington people. It consisted of the performances cf a band of Minstrels a la Christy, The programme was short,

hut good. The chorused were very nicely rendered. Bones and Tambo seeme ito be quite at home. A hearty vote of thanks to the performers and to Mr Bamford conc tided the entertainment. Dancing was then indulged in to a late hour. The Police and their Pay.—There is likely to be some warm fighting in the Council to-night, when the police estimates are under consideration, as a strong effort is to be made to reduce them consider ably. We hear that a “ round robin ” from the whole of the force in Dunedin has been sent in to the Provincial Government, in which not.ee is given that every man signing it will leave the force the moment any notification is made of a further reduction of their salaries. We have received several letters on the subject; but, owing to pressure on our space, have been obliged to omit them. All the writers point out that eight months ago the pay of the force was reduced ten per cent,, while that of other departments was left untouched ; that the reduction in the strength of the force from time to time has entailed additional duty on the men ; and that the cost of clothing is very great. The arguments advanced are reasonable, and should, and doubtless will have, weight with the Council. The Lakes.—The Wahallp Mail indignantly repud ates the idea of business in the Lake district being in a depressed state, ai has been asserted, our contemporary says the credit ef the Wakatip district is by no means damaged by these insolvencies. No commercial depression prevails in consequence, and the same confidence, exists as heretofore. The Chinese clement has improved the trade of the Wakatip ; our escorts returns have been doubled during the last twelve months ; while the goods imported info the district have increased in like proportion. Farm produce, of all descriptions, has never been so high, nor has there been such a ready sale for the last four years ; and we may, without hesitation, say that the district, never was so prosperous. The commercial depression, if any, is in the case of a few mining agents. Mnce properly qualified solicitors of the Supreme Court have commenced practice hero, these gentry find themselves in the position of the Moor, with their occupation gone. Their (lilting to fresh fields and pastures new would bo .highly beneficial to themselves and to the district at largo. They arc certainly not at home as itinerant correspondents to newspapers, and if they do not file their schedules themselves, we hope’the people of Queenstown will visit them with condign punishment by giving them a ducking from off the end of the jetty. Masonic Hall. — Miss Edith Palmerston gave her first drawing-room entertainment on Saturday evening. The Hall was crowded, and the reception awarded to this lady, was of the moat cordial and flattering nature. There are few persons capable of sustaining the interest of a large audience for two successive hours, but it must be conceded to Miss Palmerston, that she possesses this power in an eminent degree. The first portion of the programme entitled “ Wanted a Star,” introduces a variety of characters, and in each of the many delineations, she discovered the power andfeciingof a genuine artist. There is ordinarily a degree of tameness pervading these drawing-room entertainments, and whether the thing intended to be illustrated “ flaunts in rags,” or “ Huthr in brocade,” it is easy to detect through the il’sguise, one common character. The illusion is not complete, the disguise is no disguise, and the eatetaimnont becomes trying to the patience and wearying to the mind. From this defect Miss Palmerston is happily free, and all her characters are well drawn and invested with distinct individualities, which are well sustained. This we believe to be the great secret of this lady's success, and it is a long time since wo had the pleasure of enjoying so agreeable an entertainment as that presented on Saturday evening. Perhaps as illustrative ,of the versatility of talent she posseses, we may refer to the two diametically opposed charact rs, viz,—that that of “Dennis Mulligan, the Irish boy” and “Lady A.udlcy,” both of which were drawn to the life, and rendered iu a strikingly effective manner. Among her many accomplishments, Miss Palmerston is a good vocalist, and during the evening, iu a most charming manner, sang several amusing songs in the various characters represented, which were received with enthusiasm by the audience. Miss Palmerston appears every evening during the present week at the Masonic Hall, and those who wish to enjoy a high-class entertainment, should most certainly pay this lady a visit.

The Jury System.—The trial of Captain Peroival late paymaster of the Colonial forces for perjury, at the last criminal sessions of the Auckland Supreme court, and brief particulars of wlr’ch have been supplied by telegraph, has had the effect of drawing attention in high quarters to the present unsatisfactory state of the jury system. Of the trial itself it will not be out of place to mention, that there app ;ar to be circumstanc s which tend to show thaf there has been a gross miscarriage of justice. One important witness for the prisoner is said to have been taken suddenly il 1 , though seen wa king about in robust health shortly (i e., a day o • two) before ; and it is said that if this witness had appeared and told the truth, the accused would have been discharged. Again, it is said, there is good reason for thinking that the alleged perjury was, in fact, no perjury at all morally speaking, but merely an act of forgetfulness, such as anyone might commit, who was suddenly asked to remember one out of a multitude of business events that occurred two years ago. According to a correspondent of the Lytle lon Times ; the evidence in the case was all taken about two hours after sunset. An hour later, the jury could not agree, there being seven for acquittal, and live for conviction. They were therefore locked or for the night. In the morning there were nine jurymen for acquittal; shortly after, it is said, the jury were near lighting each other, and the police had to interfere. By that time the jury were reduc. d to hunger, and the foreman said : —Brethren, let ns pray ; perhaps the Lord will enlighten our darkness,” he was one of the minority. It took a very long time to enlighten the nine, but they gave in at last, and unanimously brought the prisoner in guilty. The trial, as it probably should, has created a painful feeling, and is strongly comment-d on by the Auckland press, which suggest the adaption of the Victorian practice, which is that juries can be locked up for six hours only, and must be dismissed if, at the end of that time, they are not unanimous The members of Court Pride, A.0.F., are summoned by advertisement to atteu4 at

their Court Room, Royal George-Hotel, tomorrow (Tuesday) evening, at 8 o’clock. The concert and ball in aid of the funds of St. Patrick’s brass band fund, which is to take place in St George’s Hall to-morrow evening, promises to be a very successful affair. The programme is an unusually good one. The hall is to be profusely decorated, and the entertainment is announced as being under the patronage of the officers of the Nevada. Mr L. Thoneman announces his intention of placing himself in nomination for the office of Mayor, at the forthcoming election. His address to the citizens will be seen in our advertising columns. We have been requested to state that as the number of tickets for the social gathering, to celebrate the inauguration of the University is limited, early application should be made for them by persons desiring to be present. Great interest appears to be taken in the event, and a large number of li ;kets has already been disposed of. It is intended that music shall be interspersed with addresses. A public lecture, under the auspices of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society, will be delivered by Dr Docking, in the lower hall of the Athenaeum, to-morrow (Tuesday) evening. Subject: “Homoeopathy, or a plea for scieutic medicine. What it does not, and what it does.” The chair will be taken at 8 o’clock. The anniversary supper of the Otago Licensed Victuallers’ Association will take place at the Old Masonic Hall (Wain’s Hotel) to-morrow (Tuesday) evening.