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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2724, 9 November 1871, Page 2

Sudden Death.—We regret to have to record the sudden death, from apoplexy, of Mr M‘Coll, an old and respected settler of Shag Valley. Criminal. —Andrew Millar, late of Waimate, committed for trial at the ensuing sessions of the Supreme Court, on a charge of having unlawfully failed to appear before the Supreme Court, Dunedin, and submit to his examination on the Bth February, 1869. and on the 15th of the same month, contrary to the provisions of the Bankruptcy Acts, was received into the Gaol yesterday evening.

The Taieri Fasting Girl.—We have again visited the West Taieri fasting girl. She still continues in the same cheerful and contented state as when we last saw her. The affection of her breathing still troubles her—that is, a darting pain across the breast, and sudden stoppage of power to breathe. To swallow either liquid or solid food she states causes internal pain. The quantity she partakes of, however, is small* and it certainly is a mystery how life is preserved in her. —Bruce Herald.

Mr Farjeon. The Hone Hews says Mr Farjeon’s Christmas story, to be published by Messrs Tinsley as the Christmas Number of their popular magazine, bears the curious title of “ Blade o’ Grass.” His “Joshua Marvel” is in great demand, and has proved the genuine success we predicted for it. A two shilling edition of “Grif ” has also been published, and many thousands of copies have already been disposed of. These are sure tests of Mr Farj eon’s rising popularity. Ball.—The second annual ball of the Bakers’ Society, which took place in Murray’s Rooms last evening, was a very pleasant affair. There were about thirtyfive couples present. Dancing began shortly after nine o’clock, and was kept up with spirit till a very advanced hour. A little before midnight there was an adjournment to a capital supper provided by Mr Murray, the chair being occupied by Mr George Duncan. A few toasts suitable to the occasion were proposed and suitably responded to.

To-day’s Amusements. —The morning broke fine with sunshine, but a sudden change of wind about eight o’clock was ushered in by clouds of dust which whirled j rapidly through the North East Valley. Ihe temperature fell immediately and almost maeically the sky became overcast. This did not seriously interfete with the arrangements for the day. The Band of Hope mustered strongly with Hags and banneis, and-

matched to the grouud carrying their commissiariat with them. The members of the Mornington branch were each distinguished by a nosegay mounted on a rod carried in the hand. The. returned drenched with rain about one o’clock The steamers Golden Age and Stormbird started with full freights to Bortobello and the Maori Kaik and were followed by the Geelong. As a matter of course we cannot give the results af the day s sports at the North Dunedin Recreation Ground. Their success depends upon the weather, which at the time of going to press threatened settled rain. Nor arc we ab.e this evening to give the returns for the various matches, rifle and cricket, appointed for to-day, as we presume they arc going on during the time that this evening’s publication was in progress.

The Committee on Industries.— We have already indicated the contents of the report of the joint committee on colonial industries. Besides the important matters upon which they reported, papers and correspondence were submitted to the committee on the following subjects The growth of linseed, the employment of a steam collier in the coal trade at the Grey River, the encouragement of hand loom weaving. Upon these the committee did not desire to make any special recommendation. A paper was received upon the manufacture of soap, asking that a bonus might be oifered in certain cases ; but they are of opinion that this is an industry now sufficiently well established to prosper without extraneous assistance. Some evidence was taken on the subject of petroleum, its quali y, and the places where it may be found, but no further information was elicited than is now obtainable in reports by Dr Hcc or, and other printed papers upon this product. Specimens were handed iu of some fair building slate, but rough ; and some pieces of black bi ch timber. 0 said to be suitable for railway sleepers. Towards the conclusion of their report, the committee recomm nd that steps be taken so that, by means of trade marks or otherwise, local manufacturers may be protected from spurious imitation or couterfeits.

The Otago Land Bill—Preserve us from the infliction of ever again being compelled to listen to Mr George M‘Lean talking against time. Five weary hours were spent in committee discussing the clauses of the Otago Waste Lands Bill, and during that time forty only out of 183 clauses had been disposed of, Mr M'Lean having covered a space of about three burs in a rambling or ratber a rumbling speech, delivered avowedly with the object of killing time. Snubbings from all sides of the House (which from sundry causes was a very thin one) and frequent castigations from the chairman of committees, Mr o‘Rork.c, who really got out of all patience at such meaningless trifling with the time of the committee ” were unavailing, if putting the bon. member down was the object sought. Mr Shepherd appealed to the committee whether they were to be compelled to listen to the doleful tones of such a “ political buffoon.” The chairman, of course, immediately called the member for the D instan to order. Mr Shepherd was well aware what the penalty was, and withdrew the offensive words at once, they having served his purpose in chararterising Mr M'Lean in suitable terms. We have the authority of Mr Bathgate for saying that Mr M'lean was guilty of the hardly excusable egotism of having employed the words “ I say ” no less than 219 times in half an hour,— lndependent. Reunion. — One of those pleasant reunions which tend to strengthen the relation between the employer and e ploye, was 'celebrated by Messrs A. and T. Burt last evening, when the members of that firm entertained their workmen and friends, to the number of nearly sixty person-, at a ball and supper, -jvh ch were held in their new work-hop at the rear of the main premises. The budding, which is hardly yet finished, was very tastefully decorated, a conspicuous floral device, bearing the appropriate motto—“Su cess to A. and T. Burt;” the second floor being laid off for the ball room, and supper served on the ground floor. Dancing was conducted with great vigor to the strains of Anderson’s quadrille baud till two o’clock, when an adjournment to supper took place. The chair was occupied by Mr A. Burt, and the vice by Mr Anderson. After the usual loyal toasts had been disposed of, the vice Chairman, as the oldest workman in the employ of the firm, proposed the toast of the evening, “Success to our employe s,” in a neat speech, in the course of which he traced the usi- and progress of the establishment, and acknowledged in suitable terms the kindly manner in which the employes had always been treated by Messrs Burt. The chairman replied to the toast, acknowledging that much of the success of the firm was due to the exertions of the workmen. He admitted that the firm had commenced business here with very limted appliances, but by taking advantage of what work was in the market, and of recent improvements in machinery, they had been able to keep most of the trade of the Province in Dunedin. The evening’s celebration marked an era in the linn’s history, and if properly pursued most trades here were capable of similar extension. s to the celebration itself, he held that they were: the means of doing good by cementing the relations between employer and employee, and he trusted they would have many more of them. The toasts having been got through, the company returned to the ball-room, where dancing continued to an early hour. In a future issue we shall give a short description of Messrs Burt’s new premises.

City Council. —Very little business of importance was transacted at last night’s meeting of the Council. The surveyors who have conducted the survey of the City base line brought up their report, which, after stating the plan of operations that had been adopted, concluded as follows;—“ We assure you that the survey now submitted for your acceptance, in providing accurate and reliable starting points, will bo of the first importance in all future definitions of boundary. Hitherto this has been a most difficult, unsatisfactory, and expensive process, from the want of reliable data on which to base any work ” A memorial, signed by a large number of market gardeners, was read. They asked the Council to reconsider tho existing bye law in regard to the sale of vegetables, it

having been found to be oppressive. The memorialists represented that the present license, 7s 6d a month, or L 4 10s per annum was “ without a precedent or paral el in any other civilised country in the world,” and not fair, as shown by comparison with all other licensing rates. The memorialists urged as reasons the following : —Firstly, because those gardeners wbo brought their produce to town in boats only paid 2s 6d per month, and many of them brought more than the memorialists, who had carts, becondly, farmers sent their milk to town free of charge, as well as their corn, bacon, and dairy produce Thirdly, all carters cab and express proprietors were asked to pay only 20s per annum ; that sum the memorialists were willing to pay, and they respectfully submitted that that was all they ought m fairness to pay The memorial was referred to the Markets Committee.— A memorial from

residents in Maitland-st., protesting against the adoption of the new survey of the City, on the ground that its adoption would cause the memorialists serious loss, as well as interfere with the present marketable value of their properties, was referred to the work’s committee. The report of several committees were adopted. The Mayor mentioned that negociations with Mr Lavnacb, for the purchase of the gas works were still pending, and that the committee would probably make some definite proposition at their next meeting. Mr Kamsay having given notice of motion for the appointment oi a committee lo inquire into the present departmental expenses of the Corporation with a view to retrenchment, the Council adjourned for a fortnight.