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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2706, 19 October 1871, Page 2

The Taieri Fasting Girl.—We learn from the Bruce- Herald that Miss Ross has, for the last few days been -weaker than usual, and that every change of weather affects her more or less.

Sudden Death. —Mr Mitchell, the well-known mamger of the Clydesdale station, Pomaha-vka, died su 1 lenly on Monday afternoon. A paralytic stroke was the cause.

New J. P.’s. —Messrs A. H. Douglas and William Paterson of Arrowtown, and J. F. Kitchener, of Moa Flat Station, have been appointed Justices of the Peace for the colony.

The New Registrar-General.—A northern paper sta es that the newly appointed Registrar-General of Land, is a son of Joshua Williams, Esq., Q.C., an eminent conveyancer, and the author of many wellknown works on the law of real property.” First Church. —We understand that the friends who recently presented the Rev. Geo. Sutherland, of the First Church, with an address, signed by 417 members and adhemuts of that church, have lately handed hi a a supplemental list of fifty-five names to that address, of whom not less than thirty arc communicants —as the best reply to all that has been written by their opponents. The address now numbers more than 470 names, of whom more than 300 a e communicants, or nearly three-fourths of the whole communion roll.

Theatrical, To-night the two comedies of “ She would and he wouldn t, and “The lady and the Devil” will be repeated. They succeeded in giving great amusement to the audience last evening, and are well worthy being seen. To-morrow evening there will be a special performance by particular request, when anew comedy, “Kind to a Fault,” will be played for the first time.in the Australasian Colonies. Mr Westropp and several gentleman amateurs have kindly given their services, and we anticipate a most enjoyable evening. Coal.-— What is thought will turn out to be one of the finest seams of coal yet opened up in the Colony has been discovered at Kai angata, on the other side of the range on the Coast district, by John M‘Farlanc of Tokomairiro. A specimen was forwarded to Dr Hector, who analysed it as follows Water 3.0 ; fixed carbon 52.9; hydro-carbon 36.3 ; cash 7, B—loo. The doctor in his letter to Mr M'Farlane says “ I have never seen the like of it from Otago before, and hope you have not made a mistake of the sample.” The Preparation of Fhobhium Fibre.— One of the most voluminous and interesting reports submitted to the House of Assembly during the present session is that by the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the preparation of the phormium fibre, or New Zealand flax. We have received a copy of that report, and, |at the earliest convenient season will notice its contents and the contents of the hundred pages of letters and memoranda annexed thereto. Its preparation and publication at this early date are highly creditable to the Commissioners.

Mr Farjeon. — Amongst other journals that have joined in praising “Joshua Marvel,” by this gentleman, may be mentioned the *Salmlay Review. The Revino says the European Mail, does justice to the taleut and force of that rising author, who has made such good use of his experience of Australian life and manners. His friends prophesy for him a brilliant literary career, and there seems every probability that their anticipations will be realised. He has made warm friemls in Loudon society every where, and all who know him heartily wish him further and greater success.

The Permissive Bill.— An interesting lecture on the above subject was delivered in the hall underneath the Congregation Church last night, to an audience comparatively small to what might have been expected—perhaps owing to the bad state of the road in Moray place, which for some months past has been almost impassable for passengers after dark. We shall forbear making any remarks on the merits or demerits of the lecture, as it will be published in pamphlet form in a few days, when all interested in the suppression of the liquor trade to any extent whatever, will have an opportunity of perusing some very sound arguments in the advocacy of legislative power to suppress or abolish the great social and national evil. Retrenchment. Mr Macandrew has given notice of his intention to move the following resolutions 1. In the opinion of this House, the cost of the Civil Service has assumed dimensions altogether beyond the circumstances and requirements of the Colony, and must needs be curtailed. 2. That the Government be requested, during the recess, to amalgamate offices in every direction, where such can he effected without serious detriment to the public service ; and also, that in framing the estimates of expenditure for the next financial year, all salaries, whether under the head of Permanent Appropriation or otherwise, in excess of L4OO a year, be considerably reduced, save and excepting the salaries of political

officers of State, of the Agent-General in England, and those held under special engagement for a limited period. Resolved farther, that in giving effect to the foregoing resolutions, it is inexpedient that officers of the General Government should receive salaries in excess of those paid to the Ministers of the Crown, with the exception of the Chief Justice of the Colony.

The Qualification of Electors Bill.— Acting upon a suggestion made early in the session by Mr Steward, member for Oamaru, the Government, with creditable promptitude, introduced during list week a Bill having for its object the extension of the franchise, by including among those entitled to vote any person of the age of 21 years who had been in receipt, for six months, of a salary at the rate of LIOO per annum or over, provided also that he had a fixed abode for six months previously. There were two other clauses to be included in the list of qualification- those who paid for their board and lodging not less than L4O a year, or a minimum sum of LlO for lodging alone. The Bill met with many objections, while on the other hand, many suggestions were made, one of which, by Mr Wakefield, that the Colonial Secretary and Mr J. E. Brown should confer with a view to enact in the Bill a provision which he observed in the Bill Mr Brown was about to introduce for the alteration of the Canterbury Land Regulations, and of which he entirely approved, for refusing the franchise to holders of land on deferred payment so long as their payments had not been complatcd The Bill is for the present withdrawn, Mr Gisborne promising that another would be introduced next session to consolidate .the existing registration acts.

Soiree. — A very successful and wellattended soiree was held in the North Dunedin Presbyterian Church last evening, in connection with the induction of the Kev. Dr Copland. After disposing of the good things provided, the Kev. George Sutherland occupied the chair, and was supporte t by the Kevs. Dr Copland, D. M. Stuart, Davidson, Gillies, Will, Watt, and Messrs Gilbert and Torrance. The proceedings commenced with the singing of the O'd Hundredth Psalm, after which the chairman gave a short address, stating that he rejoiced to be with them on that occasion ; that the settlement of a pastor over the church relieved him of a considerable amount of anxiety, and he trusted the union commenced that day would long continue. The ladies of the congregation then presented to Dr Copland a new gown, the subscriptions for which had been so liberal that there was left a good surplus, which it is intended to go towards providing a pulpit for the church. The Kev. Dr Copland said he received the gown as expressive of the kindly feeling and hearty welcome which had been shown him on all sides. The congregation was in one sense a new one, although he was aware that its history went back a considerable number of years, and to the late Mr Anderson they owed much for keeping it together in time of difficulty. He hoped their future would be continued in the same spirit of harmony and devotion to work which had characterised them in the past. He was very anxious they should not be unmindful of missionary work, and stated that at his late church he had recently baptized three Chinamen who but eight or nine months ago were heathen, and who had, so far as they had been tried, manifested a total abhorrence of their gross superstition and idolatry. The committee of the congregation then presented to the Kev. George Sutherland an address thanking him for the trouble he had taken in his position as moderator while the church was without a pastor, and the manly way he had fought for its interests. Several other ad? dresses were given, and during the evening the choir sang some pieces of sacred music in a very creditable manner. The Late Mr John Moffatt.—The career of the late Mr John Moffatt, whose death was recorded in our mail telegram, is not a singular instance of the success that has rewarded energy and perseverance in the Colonies. The deceased gentleman, says the Melbourne originally came to the Colony in the bumble capacity of a shepherd. By dint of hard work and the strictest economy he in few years had acquired sufficient means to take a very small run in the western district. At this time station properties were at a very low figure, and he found it necessary to eke out his slender resources by driving stock through the country, in doing which he gained considerable illwill from the squatters generally, and was mainly instrumental in keeping the sheep in the western district scabby. Mr Moffatt afterwards rented a run in the nsighborhood of Hamilton, then known as the Grange, on which he had worked as overseer for Captain Lonsdale, and this proved a very remunerative speculation. His next step was the purchase of the Hopkins Hill run, which was a great bargain at the time. The value of station pro perty then increased very rapidly, and Mr Moffatt began to be looked upon as a wealthy man. Every speculation he entered into prove 1 successful, and when he went to England he had one of the finest freehold estates in Victoria. Of late years Mr Mofiatt developed a taste for breeding racehorses, and during his stay in England he bought a stud of the finest animals to be got in the old country. Many of these have arrived in Melbourne, and others arc on their way. Simultaneously with the news of his death, a further instalof. his stud arrived iu Melbourne. Mr Moffat represented Villiers and Heytesbury for one session in Parliament, but never took an active part in politics. During the first visit of H.K.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, Mr Moffat had the honor of entertaing ,the son of his sovereign at the splendid mansion erected by himself at Chats worth, the name given to his estate at Hopkinshill. A special summoned meeting of the A.0.F., Court Pride of Dunedin, will be held at tha Royal George hotel, to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 8 o’clock. The annual concert in aid of the prize fund of the Middle District School, will be held in the Masonic Hall, on Friday evening the 27th inst. A meeting of the Directors of the Caledonian Society of Otago will be held at Wain’s Hotel to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 8 o’clock. The committee of the Otago Benevolent Institution acknowledge the receipt of the following donations in aid of the charity: —From the Colored Opera Troupe, Dunedin, proceeds of benefit, LII 16a 6d; certain special jurors’ fees, Creed v. Perrens, L 3 ; and a milking cow from Mr Thomas Birch.