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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2774, 8 January 1872, Page 2

Religious. — We learn from the Edinburgh Weekly Revi w that the Rev. Mr Cameron, of the second U.P. Church, New- ’ burg, has been appointed to Otago in connection with the Presbyterian Church. Payment op Members.— The members of the Auckland Provincial Council have, by a division of eleven to two, declined to vote a payment of 15a a day for ah members during the session. Masonic Hall. — There was a first class attendance at the above place on Saturday night, the dioramma pleasing everybody. It will be exhibited for four nights longer, previous to going up country. Picnic, —The annual picnic of the children attending the Church of England Sunday Schools took place at Vauxhall todap The young, people, aceompanied by their teachers and friends, were conveyed in the Harbor Company’s itoamcr to the gardens, where they spent a very enjoyable day.

Appointments.—ln the-last number of the New Zealand Gazette appears a uotifi-, cation that Mf- John Sperry,.of the Provincial Treasury, has has been appointed Superintendent Collector, under the Census Act, 1867, for Otago. Captain William Sewell has been appointed Deputy Harbor Master for Otago. Poor EblloW !—The Southern Cross is informed that a writ has been issued from the Supreme Court by Mr F. D. Fenton against the local company of Naval Volunteers, claiming LSO damages and ten guineas expenses for the Navals breaking his rest by firing off six guns at an early hour one morning lately. Poor fellow ! it is a pity he should have his rest disturbed. Land Sale.—The sale on deferred payments of part of the Bon Accord estate, belonging to Mr J. Adams, took place in Milton on Thursday last. According to tbo Standard the attendance was limited, and the “ earth- hunger” did not seem to be keen, as the bidding was languid. Only 800 acres were sold at L2 5s per acre, which was below the price anticipated. ! Suicide. —An unfortunate case of suicide occurred in the East Clutha district on Wednesday last, a young man of the iname of Andrew Anderson hayingshot himself; At the inquest held oh 1 his body, a iverdict of ! | ‘‘temporary insanity ’’ was reIturued by the jury. From the evidence, it jappeared that lie had been heard to express himself as weary of his life some time previously to the fatal deed. Personal.— Mr Haughtou, Undersecretary for the Goldfields, was a passenger by the Rangitoto yesterday. He will make a complete tour of tee goldfields of this Province, in the course of which he will visit the various Wardens’ Courts in connection with the special arrangements which are to bo made for water supply. He will then proceed to Hokitika, to perform a like duty in regard to the West Coast goldfields. Civil Sittings.—There are only one special and two common jury cases set down .for trial this term. The first common jury lease for trial is that of Hunter v. Will and others, which concerns the dispute in reference to the East Taieri Church—Mr Holmes appearing for the plaintiff, and Mr Haggitt for the defendants, and it comes on on Tuesr day, the 15th W.§t. On the following day will be taken the great jnsujrapce case, Reichelt v. The New Zealand, Victoria, and Liverpool, London, and Globe Companies. The new trial of Pritchard v, Gibbs is fixed for March 12. The Stamp Act.—lt having come to the knowledge of the Government that pertain infringements of the Stamp Act have taken place, the following notice has been issued There being reason to suppose that persons are in tk e jhabit of giving and accepting unstamped receipts as acquittances for moneys paid by cheque, uwdpr 'the bghef that the stamp by the cheque exonerates the receipt from liability to stamp duty, the public are cautioned against the adoption of this practice. Such receipts are inadmissible as evidence of the payment of money until properly stamped and every person signing 'or ca.ugipg the signature of any such receipt, ‘is liable fo a penalty of ten pounds for each offence, ” House of Representatives,.—- 1 £ t here will shortly be no less than three elections to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives. The seat for Wairau district, which has recently been resigned by Mr Eyes, who has accepted the post of Chief Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Province of Marlborough, will be contested by Mr Seymour, the present Superintendent of the Province, and Mr Ward. Mr Ralph Richardson has vacated his seat for the district of Nelson Suburbs, in consequence of private affairs squiring his presence in England. The candidate's spoken of are Mi- J. 0. Richmond and Mr Lucki& pdjtor of the Nelson Colonist. The contest will be a very severe one, as it is known tlpf the constituency is tolerably equally divided in political opinion., Lastly, there will probably b.e a sharp contest ! for the seat in the Wakatip district.

Immigration Agencies,—The Daily Times is continually finding mare’s nests, which, judging by the venom extracted from them, contain viper’s eggs. The last phase fyi this brooding has assumed the shape of an i.mmt horror. Mr Birch is the b'ete noire, ana Mr Spa ton his twin brother. We have inquired into the mature of these so called appointments, and. Lest opf ’readers . should be predisposed to an attack of a disease which, from its nature, is contagious, it is better that they should know the facts they are called upon to condemn. Mr Birch and Mr Seaton have gone home, paying their own passages, and holding no appointment; but taking with them letters of recommendajfcipn/rom the General Government to the Agent General, $r Featherston, with whom it is quite optional to employ them or not on immigration business. It & aljjjo left to him to assess the value of their services if any, apd j to remunerate them accordingly, Wc do not think many persons would lie found who would consider such appointments worth acceptance except on public grounds, Political. — Mr A, W. Murray, tlie member for Bruce, and the propouuder of “ constitutional reforms” by the dozen, met bis constitutentg" on "Thursday evening at Milton and treated them (to an’ account of ; the doings of the session of Parliament, Hjs speech, as reported in the Standard, is a very lame one, and consists in the main of abuse of the Colonial Treasurer. At its conclusion, a Mr Marryatt asked the speaker if he was prepared to proposed any course of action to mire the evils he had described, or was’Tayorai&e to a small rebellion, and the reply was “if eyery effort s>vss fallen to enlighten the public of the gross e.vils that existed, and if public meetings weye Ifeld | regularly and generally, and resolutions ,cou- ; demnatory of the policy of the Government passed to bo published by the press, force of public opinion would becomeso strong against the Ministry, that they would either have to resign or adopt a better and more pi'uclent policy.” The Mr Marryat before referred, ps, proposed, and Mr Murray, formerly representative of the district in the Provincial Council,seconded % resolution approving of Mr Murray's conduct, disapproving ‘ ‘ pf the extravagant and reckless | policy of the present. Government, ” which ’ was carried, 1 The fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society, for receiving subscriptions, applications for shares, &0., will bo held at the Society’s offices,'Dunedin aud Pott Chalmers, this evening, from 6 to 8 o’clock.

,'THE.?9BtU monthly meeting of the Building and Mutual Investment Society will be held at the office' this evening at seven o’clock. The members of the Pioneer Lodge, A.1.0.0. F, are requested to attend a summoned meeting to-morrow evening at eight o’clock for the installation of officer?. We would remind our readers that the Minstrels make their last appearance at t e theatre to-night, when the entertainment will be for the benefit of the two leading singers, Messrs Clarke and Amery.