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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2681, 20 September 1871, Page 2

To Our Readers.—ln consequence of a, slight derangement of the machinery, a delay of an hour in the publication of the Evening Star occurred last night. The defect has been remedied, and we trust no repetition of the detention will occur. Appointments.—Mr Jno. CamitheTS has been appointed Engineer in Chief for the Colony under the Public. Works Act, and Mr John Blackett assistant Engineer in Chief. Neavspaper Postage.—We learn from a private source that a motion is to be tabled by a private member of the Lower House in favor of the reduction of postage on newspapers for circulation in the Colony to a half-penny ; and that there is a probability that the proposition will receive the support of the Government. Lunatics. —lt appears that a dispute arose in some parts of the Colony as to the power of magistrate’s to commit supposed lunatics to gaol while they were under remand. All doubt is set aside by a proclamation by the Colonial Secretary (judicial branch), that suspected lunatics must be sent to the Asylum, should there bo one within a convenient distance. Supreme Court. — The case of Neilson v. Douglass, heard at the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr Justice Chapman and a common jury, was an action to recover LIS3 6s BJ, the plaintiff’s services as manager of the Mount I loyal Estate. Mr Stewart for plaintiff, and Mr Macassey for defendant. The case was not concluded when our reporter left, shortly before four o’clock.

Musical. —We understand that Signor Contini (baritone) and Signor Devotti (tenor), with some other members of Lyster’s Opera Troupe, possibly including Madame Simonson as prima doom, will arrive in New Zealand by the next Melbourne steamer. They contemplate -visiting Dunedin and Christchurch, and will give concerts at each place. The piat ist of the troupe is a passenger by the Gothenburg, and has come on to make the necessary arrangements. Princess Theatre —Mr Neville Thornton’s benefit last night was very well attended. “’Nursery Chickweed,” a farce, in which Little Amy was the chief personage being the principle dish ; Little Amy also appeared in a character song, and further, danced a sailor’s hornpipe to the entire satisfaction of the audience ; she is a clever child, and with proper training cannot fail, indue time, to make an accomplished actress. After the farce there was some dancing and sinking of average merit, and the performance concluded with “Done Brown,” in which Mr (Thornton essayed the part of (a Frenchman but superficially acquainted with the English language, with very great effect; altogether, the entertainment was carried through in a very creditable manner. Resident Magistrate’s Court.— Although there were many civil cases set down for hearing to-day, all but one were settled out of Court. The case, beard before the Resident Magistrate, A. C. Strode, Esq., was that of Morgan v, Peterson—a disputed claim for wages. The defendant keeps a restaurant, and the plaintiff was cook. He claimed 30s a week, and the defendant said he was engaged at the rate of 255. As witness for the defence, Mr John Graham was called, whose evidence was to the effect that fie plaintiff was given to drink and consequent bad cooking; and because of the irregularity in the preparation of the meals, his bad puddings and badly-cooked potatoes, lest he (Graham) should suffer from indegestion, he was constrained to eat meat, puddings, and potatoes at another shop, Judgment for the defendant.

The Ban Francisco Mail Service, —|The Australian telegrams to-day throw discredit on Mr Vogel’s statement that Mr Webb intended visiting the Colonies in connection with the postal service, via. America, but when that statement was made, the Colonial Treasurer had good grounds for believing that Mr Webb would come out by the Nebraska on her last trip. From the correspondence we find that Mr Webb, writing from San Francisco on July 9, after intimating that he purposed visiting the colonies, pointed out to the General Government that the opposition of Hall’s line made it necessary to ask for a change in their contract. It being a necessity that it should be known in Europe that they were prepared to carry passengers from Frisco to Sydney without change of boat, they asked that they should be allowed to go ou to Sydney direct with their ocean steamers for the remaining voyages of the thirteen trips, they providing a branch steamer for the coastal service, and making arrangements to have the Dacotah placed on the line immediately. The Government have agreed to this alteration for the remaining four months of the year, the contractors accepting the reduced subsidy of L 40,000 a year in terms of the contract. The Government propose in the course of the next two months to send a delegate to confer with the Australian Governments ou the subject of the service. The annual meeting of the Albion Cricket Cub will be held at Hutchinson’s Prince Alfred Hotel, Great King street, tomorrow (Thursday) evening, at half-past seven.