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Evening Star, Issue 2819, 1 March 1872, Page 2

Testimonial to the Mayor.—The presentation of the testimonial from consumers of gas to the Mayor, for his successful agitation of the cause of cheap gas, will lie made in the City Council Chambers at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon. Dunedin Rifle Club.—A meeting of the Club was held last evening at the British Hotel, Corporal Greenfield, Artillery, in the chair. It was resolved to postpone the next match until Saturday week, the sth inst., owing to the district firing taking place to-morrow. There being no other business of importance the meeting adjourned until Thursday 7th inst. Hours of Labor. While the movement of the hour in Dunedin is in favor

of shorter hours of labor, a step in the contrary direction is being taken in Cromwell. The Argun regrets to learn that the eight hours sj'stem lias been encroached upon by . rnployers of labor there, and that in connexion with the principal quartz mines the evil is gradually but surely extending and increasing.

Infant Mortality.—The Press has wood reason for calling attention to the necessity that exists for taking measures to check the increase of dis.-ase among children. Th • death rate in Christchurch and suburbs aim mg infants is alarmingly high just now, and in one day last week as many as thirteen burials wore recorde i. From all accounts the epidemic answers to that known as choleraic diarrhoea.

Goldfields Members. — The Tuapeka Times wants to know why Messrs Brown, Shepheid, Bradshaw and Mervyn have delayed addressing their constituents, and reminds them (hat if they persist in preserving their reticence they may he certain it will bo attributed to one of two causes either that they have violated their hustings pledges, or tint the probable remoteness of the next election renders them indifferent to the good opinions of their constituents. Oamaru Racks.-—These come off on Tues lay and Wednesday, 12th and 13th pvox. 'Hie following are the entries for the Handicaps Handicap hurdle race -Mr Pritchard’s b.g. Patch, 4 yrs ; Mr Blackley’s or, ff. Pil.riiu, aged; Mr Paterson’s b in Maid oAhe Mill, aged; Mr Grant’s b.g. Tonic, a etl, OJ.H. Handicap—Mr Pritchard’s ch.b. Foretop, aged; Mr Blaekle ’s cb.m. iSovicc, aged; Mr Paterson’s b.m. Maid of tbe Mib, aged ; Mr Paterson’s b.g. Burgundy, aged ; Mr Grant’s g.m. Nelly Gray, aged.

Catholic Education. Bishop Moran and his clergy are certainly in earnest when they say they will leave no stone unturned to get children of their flocks to attend their own schools; and in this they are entitled to all praise. The Catholic school at Lawrence is a success, and Father Larkin is determined that every Catholic child shall go to it. At his own expense he is providing a suitable waggon, which 'S being constructed by Cobb and Co , and in it the children re dding at Wetherstoues and other outlying districts will be brought to school and back in all weathers.

Gas Extension. —The engineer to the gas works is about to commence his proposed extension of the mains. The who] of Crawford street to its junction with High street, High street to Princes street, and below tbe Gaol to Castle street, CVtle street Albany street, a total length of two miles, will be at once opened up and nine inch pipes laid down. Albany, Frederick, Hanover, .Stuart, Stafford, Walker, Maolaggau, Rattray, Filleul, London, Pitt, and Cargill streets, in many of which only service pipes, which are barely sufficient for the public lighting, are laid, will be afterwards opened up.

Constitutional Reform. Some newspaper- have fancied that the General Government will come down next session with some scheme of constitutional reform ; but the Premier’s observations on the occasion of receiving a congratulatory address from the inhabitants of Ahaura (West Coast) negative the idea. In the address, Mr Fox was invited to come to the conclusion that the Provincial Government of Nelson had so neglected its south west goldfields that it became a matter of necessity to take the management from them. But all Mr Fox was prepared to admit was that the fun ti-ms of government had not,-been administered wbh the requisite vigor and promptness. He told his hearers plainly that if they wished any great alterations made in the Government, those changes must come from themselves ; and that if they desired a change they m st point in what direction that change must be made.

Reunion. —About a hundred ladies and gentlemen assembled in the Oddfellows Hall last evening to take farewell of Mr Meers, well-known in spiiituabstic circles, wbo,|with his family,'isabout to leave herefor Christchurch. After tea, which was supplied by Mr iSand, a presentation of an address was made to Mr Meers, and of a silver salver, bearing a suitable inscription to his wife. The presentations were made by Mr Stout, and acknowledged in suitable terras by Mr Meers, who, in the course of his oh servations, traced the rise ami progress of spiritualism, aud defended its teachings, and, in conclusion, thanked his friends for the kindnessess he had received at their hands, intimating at the same time that he was about to take up a position wh ch would enable him to speak and write untrammelled on all questions. The remainder of the evening was pleasantly spent with dancing, interspersed with songs. The Royal Homtcultukal Society.—Messrs Harrop aud Neill have prepared some very handsome prize medals for the Royal Horticultural Society from dies cut ia Otago. They are of two sizes, and some of them are intended for presentation to prize-winners at the last exhibition. Of the first—for the coming Show the medals are of two sizes : one for the best-kept halfacre garden, and the other for the best-kept quarter-acre. The prizes already awarded arc to Messrs Janies Gebbie, junior, and A. Crawsbaw, for roses ; to Mr Thos. Dobbie, for greenhouse plants ; aud to Mr A. G. Clements. The medals are plain, with ornamental engraving, which Messrs Harrop and Neill have skilfully and tastefully executed. We think although an ornamental die might in its first cost be mere expensive, it would ultimately prove much cheaper through less labor being required, as each plain medal involves now long inscriptions, that have to be engraved separately by baud. The Committee of the Saturday Half-holiday Association acknowledge in our advertising columns the receipt of subscriptions (from non-members) in aid of this object amounting to L 3 13s6d.