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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2632, 25 July 1871, Page 2

The Mail—The Nebraska appears to have met with unusual despatch at Wellington, and should a similar anxiety to send on the mails promptly be evinced at Lyttleton her arrival at Port Chalmers may be looked for to-morrow night. Burned to Death, —Yesterday afternoon about half-past four o’clock a 1 ttle boy about 5 years of age o the name of Anderson, residing at Tomahawk, went too near the fire while his mother was in the garden behind the house, and his pinafore caught in the flame. He rushed out for help to his mother, who immediately extinguished the flames by rolling him on the grass, but not before he was seriously burnt on the I ft foo* - , aide, qwd shoulder. Dr Sorley was scut for early this morning, hut before he a rived,the child had expired. The Civic Elections.—A meeting of Mr Walter’s supporters was held at the Oriental Hotel last evening, when a large committee was formed to secure his re-election. A similar meeting was held at Field’s Canongate hotel. At a meeting ofrthe supporters of Mr Peter Gibson, who was announced as a candidate for Leith Ward, that gentleman announced hia intention of retiring in favor pf Mr Thoneman; and the committee that had been formed in Mr Gibson’s favor, intimated that they would work to secure Mr Thoneman’s election. A New Preserve, — Messrs Jamieson and Skene have favored ns with a sample of a new preserve known as ‘ ‘ Spanish Cedra. ” This preserve is prepared by Mr Thomas Reynolds of the Peninsula. The fruit has been grown by him from seed procured from Spain, where the preserve is in high favor and in general use. The soil hero is said to be eminently favorable to the growth of the fruit; and if, as seems probable, a groat demand ho made for it, an almost unlimited quantity can be supplied. In richness and delicacy of flavor it is certainly equal to marmalade ; and from the fact of its being a l .cal preparation, and offered at a cheap rate, we have little hesitation in saying it will eventually supply ru important household want among us.

Princess Theatre,— There was a very good "attendance at the Theatre last night. The pieces selected for representation were “The Irish Post" and the burlesque of “ The King of the Peacocks.” “ The Irish Post” had a very favorable reception, the “cast” being as follows: O'Grady, Mr M. Forde * Mr Lane, Mr

Musj.ravc; Mrs Lump, Miss Cassy Matthews ; Capsicum, Mr A. White. In the burlesque Miss Forde was well received, and being in excellent voice her songs were all well given, particularly “Beautiful swells”. We missed, however, certain songs that were originally in the extravaganza notably, “ Should he upbraid.” As a whole the burlesque is by no means so well placed upon the stage as it was upon its first representation in 18 09.

Amusing Incident.—A rather amusing incident occurred in the Warden’s Court, Charleston, recently. According to the report in the Herald , “a suitor in the Court had, on retiring, put on his hat somewhat prematurely, and was immediately biddo i by the police sergeant to remove it, but, heedless of the command, the man, name, by the way, is De Graves, remained covered, notwithstanding that the officer repeated Lie order ‘Takeoff your hat!’ several times. The sergeant hastened aft r him, and after a short struggle, brought him before the Court. In reply to the Warden, Do Graves stated that his reason for covering his head was that he had a bad cold, and tbe excuse being admitted as sufficient, the man with the cold in his head slowly and deliberately put on his hat, and, looking steadfastly at the sergeant, marched out of court with covered head, evidently master of the situation.”

The Cost of the War.—A comparison made between the cost of tiie war of 1870-71 to France, and what England had to pay for the 67 years of warfare in which she engaged between the years 1/88 and 1855, gives the following remarkable results : —The cost of tiie 07 years’ war to England amounted to L 1,500,000,000 ; or, on the average, rather more than L 22,000,000 a year, which-is equal to about LBS a minute during the whole of that long period. In 1870 the war broke out between France and Germany on July 15, and may be said to have terminated on February 27, 1871, thus extending over a period of 227 dajs. For this period France is first forced to pay a war indemnity o£ 1/200,000,000, which represents an expenditure of about LOU 5s a minute ; to this we have to add her own expenditure, together, with the amount of damage done by the German troops, loss of matdrkl, &c., which we may set down at another L 200,000,000, I (ringing up the figure of her expenses to the enormous sum of LI 22 2 10s a minute, without counting the tamo of the lost provinces.

A Tauanaki View on the Native Question. —The Taranaki Nws of June 24th says : beckoning by Parliamentary time, another year has nearly closed, and in a short time the Assembly will meet in Wellington to discuss its history, and frame laws to meet the exigencies of the ensuing year. All war-like operations have been virtually suspended, and the Native Policy of the present Ministry has been so far successful. The system of road-making in the North Island, together with the spread of telegraphic lines, have been working satisfactorily, to which end various parties of natives have been employed. The organisation of the Armed Constabulary Force has progressed satisfactorily, and although temporarily retarded by the illness of Mr Branigan, is likely to be further advanced, now that the command is vested in Lieut-Coloncl Metric, an officer of long standing in the Colonial Force. In spite of peace, this body is necessary, and if employed upon road making would be far more useful. The formation of roads, in all newly settled countries has been the chief civiliser—bringing tne two races into more immediate contact and enabling an armed party by rapid and easy transit to move where required, and the more easily cope with the natives in a country naturally so difficult of access. Distributed throughout the various districts, with proper supervision, and working by contract, the Constabulary, like the Homan legions of old, would form the best road makers, becoming acquainted with the nature and formation of the country, ready for fighting if required, and inured by the toil necessary in road making, for immediate and active service in the field. Another year of peace would confirm the present disposition for re-settling and re-occupying the outlying country, abandoned after the late massacre, and one of the chief things to this end would be a complete system of roads. We trust the members of the Assembly, at the incoming session of Parliament, will give their further attention to the subject, and whilst keeping up the present standing force, utilise their time in road making whenever and wherever practicable.

A meeting of the ratepayers favourable to the return of Mr. W. Gilchrist as Councillor for 801 l Ward will he held .'it the Hibernian Hotel this evening, at 8 o’clock. The members of the Albion Cricket Club are deairious of improving a portion of the North Dunedin Cricket Ground, which they are permitted to use ; and in order to obtain the necessary funds intend making au a peal to the public for assistance on the Ist hist., when a vocal and instrumental concert will be given in the North Dunedin Drill Shed. It was intended to give the concert on Friday evening next, but circumstances have rendered the postponement mcessary. Au excellent programme has been arranged ; and in addition to an unusually good selection of solos, duets, &c., M. Fleury has kindly given his services.