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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2763, 26 December 1871, Page 2

Gaol Return. —The following is the state of H. M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending 23rd Dec. Awaiting trial, 12 men, 1 woman ; under remand, 0 man, 0 women ; penal servitude, S3 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 28 men, IS women ; in default of bail, 2 men ; debtors, 3. Total, I'2B 19 women. Received during the week, / men, 1 women ; discharged, 10 men, 2 women. Greymoutii Races. The sporting community at Groymouth are repeating their attempt, made last year for the first time, to get up a good nice meeting, by offering an attractive stake for a handicap. J he amount of the stakes is 200 sovs., and as the nomination is only three guineas, with seven more to be paid on acceptance, the entries should be numerous. The nominations close on the 31st of December, and the weights are to be published on the 21st January, while the race will not take place before the 19th of March. Immigration. —The Southern Cross saysWe understand that immigration movements have begun in this Province with considerable cne-gy. The form it is taking is the application of persons now in the Province to get their friends at home taken out under the immigration scheme. By last mail there were the names of fifty persons so recommended sent to the Agent General of the Colony in London. There is no doubt that in a few months a considerable number of persons will have been so approved of, and will shortly be on their way to this Province. A Goon Hint. —The London Times reports that at a Church Congress held at Nottingham, the Bishop of Manchester, who was very warmly received, said lie was afraid that the clergy in general and bishops in particular were not popular, especially among the working men, and asked what real grounds were there for this prejudice. Was the Church for enslaving the intellect ? Did it begrudge the working men their liberties ? Was it pandering to power ? Great mistakes doubtless had been committed, but the Church, as such, was of no political party. It was above them all. Its object was brotherhood. If they could sweep the clergy away, there would be one bridge of union the ’ less. Let them look on the clergy, and judge them as men like themselves,’ not as 20,000 hypocrites. He wished, indeed, that they could be less artificial in their manner, that they were more natural speaking to the people without convention ality, more like Englishmen to Englishmen, and so get closer to their hearts. (Applause.) Tokomairiro Cattle Show, Wc arc indebted to the editor of the Bruce. Herald for an extia containing the prize list at the Tokomairiro and Clutha stock show on the 20th inst. For shorthorns Mr A. Kempshell (l aicri) carried off the silver cup with “ Van Tromp Mr Ferguson (Clutha) “Booby” being second; and Mr G. M. Bell (Southland), third. The latter took the silver medal, first prize for bull calved since 18G9 ; A. Cameron, New Zealand Company, the first and second prizes for cows of any ago ; and Mr Bell, for the best heifer calved since 1870. In the Ayshire class, Mr D. Paton, Tokomairiro, was the prize-taker for the best bull of any ago ; Mr George Lindsay, Tokomairiro, for the best bull calved since 18G9 ; and Mr Paton for the best cow of any age. The gold medal for the best entire was awarded to Hamilton and Hislop’s “Marquis,” Nimmos’s “Comet” carrying off second prize. In the draught-horse department there was an excellent show and keen competition. In each of the twelve classes there were entries, in some cases as many as six or seven. Mr D. Carson’s Stormbird carried off the silver medal for the best thoroughbred entire of any age. A special prize of L 5 (awarded by the Hon. Mr Holmes) for the best two-year-old Clydesdale, was awarded to Mr 11, Stevenson, Taicri Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co.’s gift of a silver cup for the best merino ram of any age was awarded to Mr J. J. Scott, Clutha ; Mr J. Johnston, Clutha, taking second prize. The silver cup, for the host ram of any age, was awarded to the New Zealand Company ; as was the second prize ; and for the best pens of ewes and hoggets, the Company carried off the prizes. With regard to the show, the Standard says that the total number of entries was the greatest that has yet been at any of these meetings, and in many of the classes were of a most superior description. Railway Construction. — Referring to the official statement which appeared in our issue of Wednesday, and which had been cemmunicated to the WeKhifj/on Independent, that journal of December 20 says The foregoing will inform the public generally as to the position of affairs between the General Government and Messrs Brogdcn and Sous, and wo may add that although the contract entered upon is only a provisional one, there is the fullest probability of its being satisfactorily extended. It will bo remembered that the Assembly gave authority to the Government to enter into a contract with Messrs Brogden to xhc extent of one million, and the understanding was that plans ami estimates of works to that extent should be submitted to the firm in question before their being called upon to tender. As matters really stand, these full plans and estimates arc not ready nor are likely to be for some time ; but Messrs Brogden are (we arc informed) willing to meet the Government, and at once commence the works included in the schedule to the Railways Bill of last session, on their being paid ten per cent, profit on the outlay. They may not be in a position to enter upon the lull work of coustruotion at once, hut they are ready to make a commencement of any of the works if .they can come to an arrangement with the Government, Pending the preparation of the nc-

cessary plans and estimates, it is agreed that Messrs Brogden shall begin at once at various points, amongst others, with the commencement of the lino from Wellington to Masterton, the surveys of which are to he immediately undertaken. The Picton and Blenheim railway' is in a condition to he contracted for in a few days. Iho plans of the lines from Clutha to Dunedin and from Invercargill to Matanra are now being prepared, also those for the Sclwyn and ilakaia line. Mr Bell (one of Messrs Brogden’s encinecrs) is now at Napier collecting necessary information, and examining the line from thence to Ruataniwha. The Government Engineer-in-Chief is, we learn, going to Auckland as soon as possible, to arrange for the commencement of works in that quarter. Should the Government and Messrs Brogden fail to agree eventually as to the million contract, Messrs Brogden will, we understand, receive 10 per cent, on the work done under the present agreement, and No. 2 Contract will be fallen back upon. Wii have received a copy of Mackay’s Otago Goldtields Almanac for 1872, which lias been compiled with the usual care, and contains a vast amount of matter tending to render it useful. As a nautical almanac it is exceedingly valuable, as it contains sailing directions’for all the ports os the coast, and all needful information respecting signals, lighthouses, &c. The statistical matter is useful and well arranged, and the directions arc numerous and full. For every purpose, statistical, nautical, and the daily transactions of tlie counting house. We can commend this excellent almanac which has now reached the ninth year of its publication. The adjourned annual meeting of the No 1 Company will be held on to-mor-row (Wednesday) evening. The Company will muster at the Custom House.