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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2780, 15 January 1872, Page 2

Life Assurance. Capt. Baldwin appears to have been very successful on the West Coast. At Hokitika his lectures resulted in between thirty and forty proposals being sent in, representing some L10,(K)0. A Rare Occurrence. —The Nelson Criminal Sessions opened on the 3rd inst., but there were no criminal cases for trial, and the Sheriff therefore presented to his Honor the Judge a pair of white kid gloves, as is customary on such occasion". Concert. —We notice that a concert in aid of the funds for building the Episcopalion Church, at Blaeskin, will be given in the Masonic Hall on Wednesday evening next. From the fact of a large number of ladies and gentkmen having volunteered their services, and the assistance of eminent musical talent from Melbourne being secured, we may safely predict a rich musical treat. It will be seen by the advertisement that tickets can be had of Mr West. The Weather. —During last week thermometer ranged from lOOdeg. to 120deg. : at Clyde, and at Queenstown 85deg. in the shade, and 120 in the sun. We learn from the local paper that the weather in the Oamaru district has continued extremely dry and warm, and Thursday last was the hottest day of the season. Rain, if it comes now, will almost come too late. Owing to the drought some of the rivers in the district are nearly dry. The Kakanui can he stepped across, aud there is no water in the Shag, except a little at the fish ponds. Mr Young, Palmerston, tried to save as much as possible by a dam in order to keep the trout alive, but five were yesterday found dead, one of the fish being 11 inches in length. The Otepopo and Waianakarua may be crossed dryshod. The Big Kuri, Shag and Kahalo have long ceased to run. Flax.—Those who take an interest in the development of the ilax industry will find that the London brokers have agreed to call the fibre New Zealand hemp in future. This change, as we learn from the circular of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, has been introduced in accordance with a determination come to amongst the selling brokers and the trade generally, and the advantage to be derived from the alteration is stated to be, a “saving in warehouse charges and railway carriage.” We have no doubt the change of name was made on what were considered sufficient grounds, and if, as is alleged, a saving will be effected, producers have every reason to be satisfied. Besides, it matters little to them what the article is called so long as they get a remunerative price for it. It is somewhat unfortunate, however, that the New Zealand Government, complying with a recommendation made by the Flax Commission, should have recently issued an order by which shippers and others were instructed to use the name Phonnium fibre. Another order, to meet the views of the trade in London, will of course be necessary, but some degree of confusion will for some time be unavoidable. The Government will no doubt act promptly in the matter. The Friendly Societies’ Hall.— The provisional directors of the Fjjendly Societiss’ Hall, met on Thursday last. There were present—Messrs Hughes (in the chair), Moore, Goodman, Douglass, Woodlands, Youngman, Spiers, and Wilson. It was deemed abvisable to instruct the architect to have plans and specifications completed for approval, then to call forthwith for tenders for the several proposed works, as it was found that the shares were being quickly taken up ; one third of them being already sold. From the spirited manner in which the undertaking has been approved of by the public, there is little doubt (bat the whole issue of shares will be taken up by the time the tenders are received, which will enable the directory to proceed without any delay. The architect, (Mr E. J. Sanders), has prepared perspective views of the extecior and interior of the buildings, together with a tracing shewing the general arrangements cf the ground and upper floors. A brief description of the proposed building will not be uninteresting, The site is between MrHannagan’s, tailor, and Mr Allan’s, photographer, Cutting. The building -will have a frontage of 35 feet to Princes street, with a depth of 165 feet, and a width of 52 feet in the rear. The exterior is to be in the Italian style; the building will he two storeys high, being taken up with shop ami entrance hall, on the ground floor, and the lodge rooms, &c , above. The public hall will he approached by an entrance passage S feet wide, leading to a vestibule 32 feet 6 inches, by 29 feet; and from thence into the main hall, 90 feet by 50 feet; and a staircase 7 feet wide from the vestibule will lead to the galleries of the hall, which is to accommodate 1000 persons. The height of the hall will he 42 feet, aud on the staircase landing there will be ladies’ retirin'7 and anterooms, a committee room, and the societies’ large room, 40 feet by 32 feet, and 21 feet high. The whole of the buildings will be well lighted, and well ventilated on the vacuum principle. The plans alluded to may be seen in the shop of Messrs Keith aud Wilkie, Princes street. The prize-] Ist of Mr 11. Coxhcacl’s Art Union will be found in our advertising columns.

The Dunedin Artillery, Naval, and Ist Battalian O.R.V. will muster in front of the Custom House for commanding officer’s inspection, on Thursday, at 7.30 p.m. The eighth match of the Dunedin Rifle Club will take place on Saturday next, the *2obb inst. Entries to be made on or before Wednesday. Ranges 200, 500, and 600 yards.