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Evening Star, Issue 2802, 9 February 1872, Page 2

Theatrical. - We leam that Mr Morton Traveres, the Mexican actor, of whose impersonation of “ Othello” the Australian papers make such favorable mention, may be expected here very shortly. He will be supported by the Christchurch company. Greymouth.—During the discussion on the estimates in the Westland County Council, a member stated that n the Greymouth Gaol there was only one prisoner, who occupied most of his time in playing cricket. The Argus admits thto is only one prisoner, but says the statement as to how' he disposes of his time is a gross calumny. The Garrick Reefs. — The Elizabeth Company crushed last week 104 tons of stuff, which yielded 72 ozs. A new reef has been opened at Thompson’s creek, and a trial crushing of a small quantity of stuff gave promising results. From a statement by the working manage!’, which appears in the Cromwell Argus, we learn that the Heart of Oak has, since it commenced crushing, crushed 209,;. tons of stone, with a yield of 905 ozs. of gold, or an average of 3 ozs. 4 dwfcs. to the ton. Westland. —At a public meeting held at Greenstone the other day, a diversion was caused by a big dog, which “ obstinately refused to be kicked out.” At the same meeting, which was hold for the purpose of considering the proposed removal of the township, one of the speakers complained that the Warden, who was collecting information on the subject, “had only called upon two storekeepers, a butcher, and a snob. He had not visited a single public-house.” The remarks of this worthy were loudly cheered. What may Happen to a Man on the Goldfields. — The Waitalmua correspondent of the Tuapeka I hues says : What may happen to a man in Waitahiuia was exemplified in the case of a hard-up digger, who was travelling down country in search of employment, in passing through Waitahuna on the 29th ult., hs called at the residence of a friend, but finding no one at home, he re aimed his journey. He had not proceeded far b fore he was overtaken by Constable Youngs'on and arrested, at the instance of his friend’s wile on a charge of havin'l, stolen a one pound note from her dwelling. The man, of course, pretested he was innocent, and the lady as strongly protested he was guilty, ap. a neighbor of her’s had seen him enter the house. As to the pound having been removed from where she had placed it, that was quite clear to L r mind, the last time she saw it being about three o’clock in the afternoon. Under the circumstances, the constable could only do what he did—lock the man up. Between nine and ten o’clock, the lady’s husband, who had been to Waipori, returned home; and on making him acquainted with the state of affairs, he at once told her that it was he who had taken the pound note No time was lost in explaining matters with the officer in charge, who at once liberated his prisoner, who will carry with him recollections far from pleasant of his short sojourn in Wait^huna. The Mail News, Much anxiety was evinced last night, on jtg being known that the San Francisco mail had be.cn telegraphed, to obtain the news, but the late hour at which the telegraph message was commenced and the slow rate at which it was transmitted, owing to atmospheric and wire disturbances, precluded the possibility of our issuing an extra. In order to satisfy the public mind as far as we could on the principal itopj of news—the state of the Prince of 'Wales— took advantage of the large attendance at the theatre, and, through Mr Beaumont, the stage manager,‘for \vfcose kind services'we acknowledge ourselves indebted, the telegram announcing the convalescence of his lloyal 'Highness was read at the conclusion of the second act of the Barber of Seville, It was quite a i exciting scene' when Mir Beaumont made his appearance on the stage, Th o plaudits with which Signora Gortesi had been hailed on re-appearing, had scarce died away when Mr Beaumont announced the arrival of the mail with “apiece of news which he was quite sure all would tie glad to bear,” and, as if with a prescience of what was to come, some pen-one led off a cheer before he hj .d got little more than half through with his statement. When ho'had linighcd, the theatre rang again with cheers, and the band striking up the Natioual Anthem, the audience rose en rnas-e ; and “ another cheer for tin. Prince ” being called for. was heartily given. Statistical. —The Dunedin Customs returns for year 1871 contrast very favorably with those of 1870, notwithstanding the depression of trade. Any difference there may be is easily accounted for. In 1870 the revenue received was L 194,575; in 1871, L190,52G. Tlvis includes the duty paid on spirits distilled in New Zealand, which amounted to L 2,652, and which, at the import duty of 12s a gallon, would have been L 4952. In that ease the difference of revenue between the two periods would have only been about L2,3Gff. The gold export duty received in 1870 was L2G ; 337> and in 1871, L 18,832. The difference in favor of the first year was, however, more apparent than real—a large quantity being held by the Banks, the duty on which will tend to swell the returns of the current year. The value of goods exported during the year shows a large increase, that of 1870 having been L 1,251,542, and of 1871 L 1,352, 201. The increase in our export trade is therefore L 100,659. As it may he interesting to state the items for the sake of comparison, we place the figures close to each other afte the names of the articles the first number representing 1870, the second 1871. Grain, L 1,988, L 16.047; Gold, L 649,533, L600,4G5 ; Preserved meats, Ll7O, LIIB 502 : Butter, L 660, LSG2 ; Oatmeal, L 1,839, L 2.367 ; Hides, L 1.628, L2.9U1 ; Hay, L 9575, L 10.571 ; Tallow, L 6.472, L 26.003; Wool, L 562,472, L 559,520; Sundries, L 16.903, L10,2G3. Like the differences in the value of gold that of wool is merely accidental. Another ship sailing before the new year would have turned the scale. A Great Speculator,— James Fisk or “Colonel” Fisk, as he was popularly termed in America- whose assassination is reported in the mail telegrams, was the greatest speculaiorof modern times, and is reported to have been the i idlest man in the United States. His name will be remembered in connection with the Erie Bailway affair, which caused some excitement in England about three jean; ago, and the New

York gold panic in 1869, when he and Vanderbilt commanded the resources of Wall street, and for hours held the financial credit of the United States at their will. At the present moment, the following extract from the Sydney Mommy Herald will be read with interest : —“ Fisk’s last hobby is to have the finest baud in the world ; and he has succeeded in securing, among others, the celebrated Levy (brother of the leader in Cagli’s orchestra), the cornet player, as one of its members. Three men in it receive 10,000 dollars (L 2500) a year each, and six others 5000 dollars. Well, Fisk and his regimental band having turned out among the rest to act as guard of honor to Duke Alexis, and having serenaded Mr Sothern, retired for a few hours’ rest, when he again took the field with his band, and ‘ tooted ’ under the windows of the Prince until Alexis sent for him, and personally thanked him for his beautiful music, Fisk’s reply was characteristic. Utterly unabashed, he said, ‘ Well, Prince, this is nothing to what I’ll do for you. 1 now give you the freedom of everything I own on this continent during your stay in America.’ This means free entrance to the Opera House, two theatres, the right to travel free on half-a-dozen lines of railway, in steamboats innumerable, the command of the finest horses and drag in these parts, &c. ” The committee of the Otago Benevolent Institution acknowledge, in our advertising columns to-day, the receipt from Signor Cagli of L 7 10s as a donation to the Institute. A Musical Entertainment is announced to he given at the Middle District School, on Tuesday evening next, in aid of the School Library Fund, Mr H. F. Hardy will occupy the chair. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the lecture on education, delivered in the Athemcum a short time back by the Rev. R. L. Stanford. The brochure is neatly printed by M r H. Wise.