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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2624, 15 July 1871, Page 2

Clutiia Railway. —Mr John Murdoch, of the Makarewa Bush saw mill, has secured the contract for supplying all the timber —including sleepers, beams, studs, &c. —required in the construction of the Caversham section of the Clutha Railway. Mr Murdoch is also negotiating terms for the supply of timber for the Fort Chalmers line.

A Prisoner Pardoned. —We understand that, this afternoon, Mr Caldwell, Governor of the Gaol, received a special warrant from his Excellency the Governor for the discharge of prisoner George Murdoch, who was convicted on the Gth March of an assault, with intent to rob Mr Saunders, architect, on the Fort Chalmers road, for which he was sentenced by Mr Justice Chapman to twelve months’ imprisonment, with hard labor.

Gaol Return.—The following is the state of H. M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the Avcek ending loth July Awaiting trial, 3 men, 1 woman ; under remand, 2 men, 0 women ; penal servitude, 86 men, 0 Avomcu ; hard labor, 41 men, 13 Avomen; imprisonment, 0 man, 0 Avomen ; in default of bail, 1 man, 0 Avomen; debtors, 2 men, 0 Avomen. Total, men 138 ; women, 14. Received during} the Aveek, 7 men, 2 women. Discharged 9 men, 4 Avomen.

Kakanui Meat-works. —The slaugh-ter-house for cattle at these Avorks is now nearly completed, and after beef-preserving has been carried on for a Aveck or two, operations Avill be suspended until the Spring* During the short season it has been working the establishment at Kakanui has turned out 1,000,001) lbs. of preserved mutton, besides a large quantity of tallow. Preparations for much more extensive operations will be made during the slack months, and full Avork is expected to be resumed in November.— Oainaru Time*.

The Atiien.eum Ceasses. The second quarter of the lessons of the classes commences on Monday evening. We arc (dad to say that in ’addition to the subjects fn which instruction has hitherto been given, the long promised class on natural science will be started. Those who intend to join the latter class are requested to meet Mr Webb this evening between half-past seven and nine o’clock in the class room. We are desired to say that the special object of this preliminary meeting is to ascertain what particular subjects can be taken up with advantage. Masonic Hale. —There was a fair attendance last night on the occasion of Mr Ik P. Whitworth’s benefit. The programme was miscellaneous, comprising dancing, readings, singing—comic and sentimental; the gentleman who rendered ‘‘Her bright smile haunts me still,” in particular, being very successful. The performance concluded with Mr Whitworth’s own farce, “ Catching a Conspirator,” in which the be.ne.ficlare gave some excellent imitations of Mr Barry Sullivan, the well-known tragedian. The other parts were filled by amateurs very creditably ; but the piece would have been more successful had more time been given to rehearsal^

Princess Theatre.—The burlesque of “ Endymion,.” the naughty boy that cried for the moon, produced at the theatre 'last night, is certainly the best effort the company has yet made. Miss Forde, as Endymion, was dressed in excellent taste, and was also in good voice, singing with great effect, amongst other airs, “The Light of _ Other Days” and the duet (with Miss Jennie Nye as Diaua) “Beautiful Isle of the Sea.” Miss Jennie Nye also favored the house with a hit of genuine ballet dancing (in which she was deservedly encored), quite refreshing after the Hood of break-downs and hornpipes with which we have lately been surfeited. Altogether the burlesque was well rendered, and deserved the applause bestowed upon it. The burlesque will be repeated this evening, prior to which will be played the “ Scamps of London,” a drama upon which Boucicault founded his very successful play of “After Dark,” aibhbuj the best points and situations.

Sir Walter Scott’s Centenary.— A meeting of the committee appointed to make arrangements for the celebration of the centenary of Sir Walter Scott, met at the A theme uni this afternoon at two o’clock. The attendance was large. Mr George Brodie was elected chairman, and the subcommittee appointed at the last meeting presented their report. They suggested that the centenary of Sir Walter Scott be celebrated by a dinner restricted to gentlemen ; but that should it he deemed dcsirable that a further demonstration be made by either a ball or conversazione, the sub committee would suggest another committee he named for that purpose, when any information al ready collected would he placed at their disposal: and that the dinner bo on the 9th August The report was adopted. Mr Turnbull moved, and Mr Jack seconded, that the dinner be tollowed by a ball ; and that Colonel Cargill, Messrs Jack, James Smith, Elliott, Whitelaw, and the mover he a ball committ.e, to operate with tl e s.ib committee, who are requested to continue their services. The committee reeimmend d that the hour for dinner be not later than five o’clock. The arrangements as to prices were remitted to the sub-com-mittees. At Lyttelton there will be a similar demonstration, but it is to be combined with the eelcbrtaioii of the marriage of her Royal Highness the Princess Louise with the Marquis of Lome. Discovery of Coal. —The following paragraph from the Southland Times is explanatory of our Thursday’s telegram Mr Richard A, A. Sherriu, mining engineer, who claims to have been the first discoverer of the Grey River coal-beds, arrived in Invercargill the latter end of last week, bringing samples of coal taken from a seam discovered by him in the vicinity of Mount Hamilton. These samples have been tested in a variety of ways, the most reliable being the trial by retort, in which the coal was burned for about two hours, at the expiry of which gas in large quantities was thiown off, leaving a really good serviceable coke, In making this statement respecting the coke, we may explain that we are simply repeating the opinion expressed by the railway manager, Mr Conyers, to whom it was submitted for examination. In an application lodged with the Waste Land Board for a license to occupy 500 acres for two years, with a right of obtaining a lease for the same or even a larger area Mr Sherrin says : “ The quality of the discovery as a true bituminous coal cannot be doubted—perhaps I am justified in saying that it could not be surpassed. Fire-clay and hematite, containing some 40 per cent, of iron underlie the seam at its outcrop.” The relative value of the discovery rests in the fact that it is situated within twenty-five miles of the line of the proposed railway extension to Kingston, and that the intervening country is of very easy gradient. Last night the discoverer had an interview with a number of gentlemen belonging to Invercargill, during which a detailed statement of the facts was made. Proposals for testing the value of the discovery were made and discussed—the result being that a committee was deputed to take action in the matter.

Oddfellowsiiip.—A public installation of the officers of the Loyal Alexandra Lodge of the A.1.0.E., which took place last evening, at the Hall in Manse street, was attended by a large number of the brethren and their friends. The ceremony was conducted by the M.W.G.M. Bro. B. C. Haggitt, assisted by the other members of the Grand Lodge. The following are the names of the officers who were duly installed N.G , Bro. R, T. Wheeler; V.G., Bro. C. J. H. Robertson; Secretary, Bro. Alex. Grant; Treasurer, Bro. Jos. Braithwaite ; 0. G., Bro. Oils ; Warden, Bro E. Mercer; Con: doctor, Bro. E. C. Selby ; J.G., Bro. John Kent. At the conclusion of the installation, F. G. Bro. Jos. Braithwaite delivered an interesting address upon the principles of the Order, and in the course of his remarks argued that the privileges and principles of the Order were such as should deserve the attention, confidence, and supi ort of all the respectable classes of the community ; and it was gratifying to state that a great portion of them already belonged to the Order. He deprecated the cold manner in which our ministers of religion regarded friendly societies—at Home and .in America they took a lively interest in them, and filled prominent offices. The principal essentials of the Order, viz., to promote good will amongst men, to do to others as we would be done by, were strictly in accordance with the fundamental principles of other teachings. Their presence, influence, and example amongst the brethren would havo a groat moral effect, and do an incalculable amount of good in different ways, and would materially assist them to work out the paths of duty they had taken upon themselves to follow. He referred to the objection that might be urged to lodges being held in public houses ; but pointed out that in many cases this was an absolute necessity ; but in all these cases, for some time past, the whilom prevailing custom of drinking and harmony in lodges had been entirely done away with. 'I he address was followed by the M.W.G.M., Bro. Haggitt, who complimented the lodge on its choice of officers and general progress, which, considering its short career, had been very marked. He stated that in 1812 there were only sixty-three thousand Ancient Independent Oddfellows. In 1822 there were 593, UOO, Now, in Amcricii alone there were three millions. Seven years ago there were four members in Dunedin; there are now nearly five hundred in the Province of Otago. After the ceremony of installation, P.V.G, Bro. R. Clifford, of Fleet street, made a few observations, and presented the lodge with a frame containing photographs of the retiring officers. Tn? German residents in Dunedin

propose celebrating the advent of Peace in Fatherland by a supper to be held at Herr Krull’s Caledonia Hotel, Great King street, on Wednesday next. Mr Fish will address the electors at the Masonic Hall this evening at 8 o’clock.