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Evening Star, Issue 2801, 8 February 1872, Page 2

Sudden Death. The Lawrence correspondent of the Bruce Herald chronicles the sudden death of Mr John Donovan, of the Shamrock Hotel, Lawrence.

Stewart’s Island.—lt is rumored in Invercargill that Port William was considered the best site for a settlement by the Superintendent and the members of the Executive who accompanied him on the recent visit to Stewart’s island.

The Fishes of Our Seas.—The preparations for the production of an illustrated work on “The Fishes of Uur Seas,” by the officers of the Colonial Museum, are progressing favorably. The Post says that the lithographs of the fish, executed by Mr Buchanan, are clear and faithful outlines that will be most useful to a beginner in the study of ichthyology, and will enable him to discover the names of any specimens that mav come before him. There will bo twelve plates, giving outlines of fifty lish, all of which, with one or two exceptions, arc available as food.

Rewards at Fires.—Tlie lire Brigade might have been placed in an awkward fix on Sunday had there been a serious lire ao tire Water of Leith, for the person who was tiie first to bring a horse to the enginestation refused to take the engine further than the Criterion, for the small reward that was otfeied fox' tho service. The matter was brought under the notice of the City Council yesterday, and that body agreed to increase tire amounts, so that the owner of the first horse arriving at the station will now receive L2, the second horse LI; in the case of a false alarm, lUs and os respectively. New Mode of Advertising.—Mr Pharazyn, of Wellington, has been making himself absurdly notorious iu the Empire City lately. It appears that he, like many other elderly men, wears spectacles, and is able to afford gold-rimmed ones. A pair of such he lost a little while ago, and he advertised for them in the local journals without success. He then adopted the novel expedient of walking about the city with a placard hung round his neck, “Lost, a pair of spectacles.” The first day he wore this decoration he had it hanging down his back, and he went to his butcher’s, when a polite salesman said, “ Excuse me, sir, but some .one has taken the liberty of putting something on your hack.” “Oh no,” replied Mr Pharazyn, “I’ve hung it there.” In fact, he seems quite proud of his idea. He says the Wellington papers are so dull nobody reads them, and so it is no use advertising in them.

Musical•—Mr G. E. Horsley’s many friends in Australia and New Zealand will be glad to hear that be is resuming his former position in the old country. He received congratulations on his arrival in England from some of the leading members of the musical profession, including Sir Juiles Benedict, Mr Sims Beeves, and others. The latter gentleman’s letter had the following : —“ There is a large held open for you now, if you are industriously inclined. No one could do so much if you set your mind to it, and so you should. How thoroughly charming is the music of ‘ Oomus ’ and ‘ Gideon. ’ A revival of these would be rendering a service to the musical profession.” The Philharmonic Society of Liverpool was about to produce his “Exhibition March,” and this was also arranged to he performed at the Crystal Palace. A leading London pub, lisher had commissioned him to write a series of anthems, and in various other ways bis position as a leading member of the musical brotherhood was being recognised.

Incendiarism. — Wellington has its fire raisers as well as Auckland. By the last mail we have accounts of three fires, all of which appear to have been wilfully caused. A house at the Thorudon end of the city was discovered to bo cn lire ; but the flames were extinguished before much damage was done. The landlord had no insurance op the hoi/se, but the tenant, who is in difficulties, had his furniture insured for L 250. At the coroner’s inquest, a verdict was given that it was the work of some incendiary unknown. The next day the unoccupied shop adjacent to this house was found to be on lire ; and as in the other case, the Haines were extinguished before much damage was done. It was then discovered that the premises had been entered with a false key, and that the floor was saturated with naphtha. No suspisiou can rest on the owner of the property, as he has L3OOO uninsured in the block of buildings. The excitement caused by these occurrences had hardly died away when it was reported that flip Jewish Synagogue had been broken into, some silver articles stolen, and a deliberate attempt made tp fire the building. Kerosene was plentifully sprinkled about; how the building escaped being burnt is as great a mystery as the motive the thief could have had for trying to burn down a place of worship.—A rather comical case comes from Napier. On the 19th ultimo, a prisoner named Brown attempted to burn down the gapl, but was caught flagrante derdicto, another prisoner to whom he had confided his plot having informed the authorities. Browne’s motive was that'he looped to have a chance of distinguishing himself in aiding to put out the fire. Election News. —One of the candidates for the representation of the Wakatipu District, vacant through Mr Haughton’s resignation, is Mr James Miller, President of the Arrow Miners’Association, who has issued an address, containing a full exposition of his principles. We cull a few specimens of Mr Miller’s rhetoric from his published address ; because as straws by their motion indicate the direction of tin wind, flowers of eloquence tell us what we may expect in case of a member’s return. Mr M iller says V— ‘ 1 In coming forward as a candidate to represent your interests in the General Assembly, 1 may tell you that I do not come forward as an individual, but as the representative of a great principle—and that is the principle of

representative Government ; that t&txpeople should be represented bythe peopleds the very essence of representative Government. I would not come forward but at the earnest requdst of a numerous body of the electors, of every creed or calling, who have no doubt felt the necessity for having a representative thoroughly identified with themselves. As this is essentially a mining community, its interests can best he represented by a miner ; and, as a miner of sixteen years’ standing, I have some claim to your consideration. You may get a more able man, but of what use is his ability if it is not exerted on your behalf ? What I may lack in technical knowledge I will endeavour to compensate for by energy and perseverance, combined ; with the knowledge of local requirements. Rouse, Miners of the Wakatipu, Rouse! Look after your own interests, and send in a man of your own class to represent them. Let there be no sitting up of false images, for in unity alone lies your strength. Remember, you possess two-thirds tho votes ; use them well, and victory is certain. Tho Maoris send in their own representaves, and why not the miners ? Are we not as intelligent as they ? or do we value less the advantages of representrtive institutions?” Mr Miller goes in for the abolition of the gold export duty, a reduction of the cost of miners’ rights, the making of good roads and tracks, binding Mr Brogden not to employ Chinese labor, and keeping emigrants out of the country in order that high wages may be maintained.

Abstainer’s Union. —A half-yearly meeting of this Society was held at the Odd Fellows Hall last evening, for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing term, &c. Mr J. Hughes, Vice-President, occupied the chair. The Treasurer’s report shows a balance in hand of LG 12s. From the Secretary’s report wc cull the following —“ Your Committee have much pleasure in laying this report before you of tho proceedings of the Union for the half-year ending the first week in February, 1872. The office-bearers who now retire, took office on the 11th of August last. The meetings held have been of a varied character, namely, for lecture, 2; formuic, readings, recitations, &c., 20 ; committee meetings 21, making a total of 43 meetings during the six months. The number of names on the roll book is 194, ie., those that have signed the Society’s pledge book since its formation, twelve months since ; of whom 33 are in full membership. The two most important works of the Society have been the sending of a monster petition to the House of Representatives and Legislative Council, and the printing of a lecture delivered by the Rev. Mr Roseby, on the Permissive Bill. By the energy of a few members 1148 signatures from the male, and 776 from the female population of Dunedin were obtained. From the Province of Otago, 2616 signatures were secured in favor of the Bill; and from the whole Colony 9328 ; this being the largest number of signatures as yet attached to any public petitioj) in New Zealand, On the 18th of October last your Committee were favored with an interesting lecture by the Rev T. Roseby on the “ Permissive Rill,” 500 copies of which were printed and distributed in the Province. In conclusion, your committee congratulate you on the success which has attended the Union, and the cause of total abstinence generally throughout the Province ; and trusts that, by the earnest efforts and consistent actions of those engaged in the cause, they will yet be able to overpower the temptations to drunkenness and its attendant evils, and stem the torrent of misery and degradation which, through the intlaence of strong drink, is yet prevalent in our midst.” On the motions of the Rev. D. M. Stuart and Mr A. Rennie, the two reports were received and adopted, after which officers for the next half-year were duly elected ; and a vote of thanks having been passed to those retiring and to the chairman of the evening, the meeting separated. Officers elected. —President: Mr J. Hughes ; vice-presidents—Messrs Sinclair and Neale ; treasurer—Mr Torrance j secretary— Mr M'Culloch ; committee —Messrs J. Graham, Morris, Cameron, Mathieson, Coventry, Dillon, and Mercer.