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Evening Star, Issue 2850, 8 April 1872, Page 2

New Immigration Barracks. —Mr March, Chief Immigration Officer of the Middle Island, in company with Mr Blair, District Engineer, and Mr Thomas Calcutt, inspected the proposed sice for the Immigration Barracks at Gre n Island ; but thought it desirable to place them neaiar to Dunedin if suitable ground could bo met with. A site at Caversham, in possession of the Government, was selected, and has been approved by the Resident Minister of the Middle Island, the Honorable W. Reeves, Mr Blair, C. E., will immediately proceed with the necessary surveys ; and we are informed that tenders will shortly be called for the buildings. The site being in immediate proximity to the Railway, and so near Dunedin, affords every facility for briiigiiiy together both immigrants and those who are employers of labor, and this arrangement removes a great objection to tho Great Island site—its distance from the town. Death by Drowning. —News was received in town last evening of the death of Mr Thomas Janverin, of the Occidental Hotel, who was accidentally drowned in Papanni Inlet, whither he had gone snipe shooting with Mr Harris, a gentlemen in the employ of Air Flexman, Rattray street. The tide being out, they crossed the open iug of the Bay, but shortly afterwards observing that the flood tide had sot, and that the water was rising rapidly, they turned towards the shore and endeavored to reach it, bub being hampered by the swampiness of the ground, the current overtook Ihcm, and rendered swimming necessary. Air Janverin was a good swimmer; but it is supposed that he gave himself too much to do through trying to save his gun, and becoming completely exhausted, he said to Harris, “Good-bye, Harris, I can swim no longer.” and sank. Mr Harris fortunately succeeded in reaching the shore ; and accompanied by a settler to whom he told the circumstances, searched for the body for three hours, hut did not succeed in recovering in. Mr Walter, who has always had a warm regard for Air Janverin, went down to the Bay to-day to renew the search. Air Janverin’s loss is much regretted by everyone that knew him. Mr Walter has lost in him a most trustworthy, efficient, and obliging assistant. Princess Theatre.— Ou Saturday evening the “Soldier’s Daughter” was produced at the Princess Theatre. It is a most pleasant comedy, and was most pleasantly performed. Miss Flora Anstead, as Widow Cheerly, looked and played the part most charmingly ; Air Hydes was irresistibly comic as Timothy Quaint ; and Air Alusgrave looked and played the part of Governor Heartall. We do not like to see a good piece marred by incongruities, and cannot imagine how so engaging and fashionable a widow as Widow Cheerly could for a moment be supposed to be over head and ears in love with a rich Loudon merchant, dressed in a worn-out roundabout coat, a pair of tweed trousers filter for the wash-ing-tub than daylight or gaslight, a billycock hat, and shoes or foot ornaments of some sort unpolished. It is drawing too much on the good-nature of Dunedin audiences to ask them to tolerate such sloveliness. Signor Donato’s entertainment was really pleasing, notwithstanding his having only a leg to stand upon. None but a man of genius could have imagined it possible to’ ? please a number of critical spectators under such disadvantages ; but such are bis displays of muscular strength, with grace of movement, that all feeling of pain is banished. The varied altitudes rendered needful in this novel exhibition form studies for a painter or sculptor. “The Fire Eater” brought out some of Air Hydes's drollest points, and created immense amusement, it was well put upon the stage, and the dresses were appreciate. This evening the “ Follies of a Night” will he played. It is one of Planche’s best comedies. Signor Donato will give a descriptive dance, suggesting incidents in a saiior’s life ; and “ Bobtail and Wagtail,” described in the bill “a screaming farce,” will be added. City Council. -A special meeting of tho City Council was held in the offices, Manse street, this afternoon, to receive a letter from tho Dunedin Water Works Company, as to the proposed purchase of their works by the City Corporation. His Worship the Mayor presided, and Councillors Thoneman, Livingston, Ramsay, Barnes, and Mercer, were present. ’Flic letter stated that a meeting of the directors had been held, and Air Dick, the secretary, was instructed to ask when it was convenient for the Corporation to meet the directors. It having been moved and seconded that the letter be referred to the Waterworks Committee, the chairman said ho thought the directors as a body were willing to negotiate a sale ; and both Air Cuttcn and Air Gillies had represented to him that they were per sonally willing to negotiate, only with regard to Colonel Kitchener they had promised to get his consent. Air Living-ton said if a director proved refractory they must get an Act of Parliament. The motion was carried. Saturday Half-holiday Association. — The concert which was given under the auspices of the above Association to commemorate the inauguration of the halfholiday, was eminently successful. The Alasonio Hall was so crowded that standing room could scarcely bo had ; so that the Association will be able to band over to the Benevolent Institution a respectable amount for the relief of its unfortunate inmates. Air E. B. Cargill presided at the concert and in his opening remarks said that the Association had great reason to he proud of the success which had attended their first holiday; He was glad to find that there was not a shop of any consequence open after one o’clock. He stated that the permanency of the lialf-holiday now rested with the public, and hoped that the public would make it a point of duty to refrain from purchasing from any shop that did not support the Saturday half-holiday. He also stated that, as the programme was pretty long, he hoped the audience, however much they might he pleased with the various singers, would not insist upon demanding a repetition, as Jie thought it was scarcely fair to the ladies and gentlemen who have so kindly given their services to put an additional tax upon them. The first part of the

programme was a solo on the pianoforte by Air A. J. Towsey, which be played in a brilliant manner. He was then followed by Mr Marsdcn, with “I’ll meet thee in the Lane,” which he sang with great feeling and expression. The duett, “ Friendship,” by two lady amateurs, was really a musical treat ! ho same ladies also sang another duett in the second part, “There’s a Sweet, Wild Rose,” with great feeling and taste. These ladies are a decided acquisition to our local talent, and wc hope to hear them again. Mr A. West sang the “Blacksmith’s Sou ’ with much spirit and correctness, as well as the “ Monarch of the Woods” in the second part—indeed, we never heard him in better voice. The duetts on the cornet-e-pistons by the Messrs Oliver wore very creditably played, and highly appreciated by the audience. Mr A. J. Towsey sang the beautifu song, “Man the Lifeboat,” in a most artistic manner, as well as another song in the second part, which he rendered with great expression. Mr A. Coates gave the “Messenger Swallow,” and “ What will you do, Love,” in the second part, with even more than his usual success. This gentleman has a tine voice, and he was in good trim. He was followed hy two lady amateurs, who are now established favorites with a Dunedin audience. who sang the two duetts, “ Tho Wind and the Harp,” and “Flowers of the Gaaden and Flowers of the Wild Wood,” most sweetly and effectively. The comic element was well represented by Mr Westropp, who gave the “ Late Lamented Jones” and “ Put it down to Me” in such a way as to keep the audience in a state of continuous laughter. His “get up,” as usual, was appropriately comical. Mr Marsden sang also “ Phoebe Dearest ” and “Bonnie Scotland, I adore thee,” with much taste and spirit. The entertainment was brought to a close, at halfpast nine o'clock, by Mr Towsey playing a sparkling pianoforte solo. Altogether this was one'of the most enjoyable concerts that has ever taken place in Duv.edin; and wc hope the Association will follow Mr Cargill’s advice by making it only the first of a series Messrs H. Hudson and Co., with their usual liberality, gratuitously provided refreshments for the singers and those who had the management of the entertainment. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society will be held in the Lower Hall of the Athenaunn to-morrow evening at eight o’clock. The 3 p.m Squad at Pelichett Bay in the Dunedin'Bifle Club on Saturday, will complete their firing to-morrow (Tuesday) at 6.15 am. at the same range. The Quarterly summoned meeting of th e Court I Tide of Dunedin, A.O F. will he hj e l ( l i n the Court Boom, old Mason c Hall, to-morrow ( Tuesday) cven-nur at 8 o’clock.