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Evening Star, Issue 2864, 24 April 1872, Page 2

Crowded Out. —We are obliged to held over our report of the Waste Land Board meeting, correspondence, and other matter. To-morrow we will give in extenso the judgment in Baxter and another v. MTntyre, The Waitaki-Moeraki Hailway. —From what appears in the Oamaru Times, it seems that Mr Bell, one of Mr Brogden’s staff, will commence the survey of this line in a few days. Singular Circumstance. maru, on Monday last, was observed an apple tree in full bloom—the circumstance being due, no doubt, to the mild humid weather. Appointments. —Professor Black has been appointed analyst for Dunedin, under the “Adulteration of Food Act, 1866,” and Mr Hy. Orbell, of Waikouaiti, an honorary inspector of sheep for the Province. Attempted Suicide. —The name of the man employed on the station of the Hon, M. Holmes, who attempted suicide on the 15th inst., is George Boss. In a lit of mental despondency, arising from domestic troubles, he cut his throat with a razor, severing the wind-pipe, but escaping the jugular vein. He is said to be an old man,

is under the care of Dr Fleming, of Oanaaru, and is likely to recover.

Testimonial. —The friends of Sergeant Naden, who during his period of service in the Otago Police Force was stationed at Oamaru, Dunedin, Queenstown, and Waikouaiti, will be glad to ham that the inhabitants of Queenstown have forwarded to him a very handsome testimonial in recognition of his services as a police officer, and of his intrepidity on more than one occasion in saving life on Lake Wakatip. Mr Naden is now serving in the Armed Constabulary. The Fine Arts.—Mr W. Percival, jun., has shown us some water-color paintings of ferns of more than ordinary merit. So faithful are they to nature, that at fir.-t sight it is difficult to determine whether they are paintings or specimens finely preserved. Amongst them were the Adiantum, A spirillum Flaccidium, Lomaria fluviatati=, Polypodmm Hupestre, Lomario discolor, and several others. Mr Percival has also a very well-executed water-color .hawing of a picturesque street scene in old Chester. They arc worthy of inspection. Justification.— In the course of an address in advocacy of the cau u e of total abstinence, delivered recently iu Christchurch, the Hon. Mr Fox said “Certain remarks upon his conduct in the matter had been made by political opponents from time to time. These remarks he could treat—he world not say with contempt, but with the greatest possible pity for those who had nothing worse to say of him than his leisure time was spent in addressing meetings on a subject of this kind. To this ho pleaded guilty most cheerfully, hut at the same time he must claim the right of employing his leisure time as he pleased ; and if he preferred addressing meetings on this subject to playing games of billiards or indulging in the mazes of the dance, he did not see that any person had any reason to complain of him, (Cheers).

An Amusing Story.—The old days of Victoria and Otago are reproducing themselves on the West Coast. At Reeftoo, the Resident Magistrate discharged a prisoner without a judge’s order. The incident of Thomas Gaffney swimingthelnangahua, and running down what, at Heefton, is called the Strand, in a gossamer suit made by nature, has been already recorded. He was taken to the lock-up, where there was one man temporarily provided with accommodation. This poor fellow awakened from the “snore of the just,” stared with astonishment at the “ new hand,” begged the Magistrate, who be it understood, has to sleep 'U the lock-up, to alloiv him to go out and sleep in a tent ad jaceut, declaring by all kinds of protestations that he would return faithfully. The R.M. was in convulsions at the ludicrous incident, and the Sergeant of Police reporting that the man had behaved himself well, he was discharged. But it did not end there. In about an hour the discharged returned, begging the R.M. to give him “a line to his mate,” saying that that faithful observer of “ law and order” would not admit him unless he had the magistrate’s authority. The magistrate did not see his jurisdiction to grant the line, hut he sent the man along with the Sergeant, who, we understand, authoritatively made all things right.

A Colonial Candidate. The Southern Croats gives the following report of an extraordinary speech made by one of the candidates at a recent City election A call for the unsuccessful candidate brought Mr Greenaway forward. He said ; 1 have a lot of property in the place. lam the richest man in New Zealand. I always pay my way, I have plenty of money. My set stood by me, and I stood by myself. If I have a lot of property, it is mine, and all paid for. What did Mr Jones go and write in the papers for, saying 1 had resigned '! If I had resigned, where am I ? Ain’t I here ? That does not look like it. I have lent a good lot of money at times, and if I did charge interest I didn’t always get it. You try it on and see if yen would. I haven’t got the Queen’s-street mob at my back. It wouldn’t he hard to buy some of them out. 1 have always paid twenty shillings in the pound, and I mean to. 1 am not elected, that don’t say I haven’t influence. 1 have lots of property. What’s the good of going away out of town and spending a lot of money. Let us cover up inside little by little, and go on steady. My opinion is that there’s nothing being done ; and if I had gone in I would have said something that would have let the people known what it was all about. lam the richest man in New Zealand, and if people want money they know I have got it. If I do charge interest, what of that ? Other people charge too.- The speaker here moved off the stage sideways, and the meeting separated, after a vote of thanks being moved to the Mayor by the successful candidate.

Princess Theatre. —lt is a pity that Mr Tavares did not choose “ Othello” as his opening. It is by far his heat assumption as yet; and as such would have enabled many who have seen him at a disadvantage, and formed their conclusions as to his acting thereon, an opportunity of properly considering his merits as an exponent of Shakesperian character. Last evening he assumed the character of lago, and achieved a decided success. Taken as it was presented, almost naked in its support, it was a most meritorious performance ; and it is not difficult to imagine what it would have been if the principal members of the company who took part in the representation, had been able to “play up” to Mr Tavares. The lago of Mr Tavares is conspicuous for presenting many novelties of conception, which, as in his Hamlet, are in many cases decided improvements. He places before his audience an lago of consummate cunning, and not the moody villain of many actors. Perhaps the only fault is that, in one or two scenes, Mr Tavares indulges in a sort of Mephistopolean pantomime, which the part does not require, nor should the actor stoop to. Mr Tavares was best in the third act, where lago poisons the mind of ('thello; but his general excellence may he inferred from the fact that he was four times called before the curtain to acknowledge the plaudits of a large audience. It was too much to expect Mr O’Brien to take Othello, He must first learn to rant less ; and then his performance might be considered respectable. Mr Thorpe was Cassio. Miss Surtees’s Desdemona is commendable for its simplicity ; while Miss Aus tend fairly surprised us as Emilia. In the well-known declamation against slanderers, she was excellent, and received a deserved round of applause. The tragedy will he repeated to-night.

The Ivcv. Dr, Copland will deliver a lecture in the North Puneclin Presbyterian

Church on Friday evening, 26th inst., at 8 o’clock. Subject : “A visit to Vesuvius and Pompeii, illustrated by diagrams.” A General Meeting of members of the Dunedin Biflc Cmb will be held tomorrow (Thursday) evening, at tbe British Hotel, Goorge-street, at eight o’clock. We perceive that a meeting of the members of the Dunedin Jockey Club will be held to-morrow evening at the Empire Hotel. The expediency of holding a race meeting at the Forburj Park on the Queen’s birthday will be discussed and a full attendance is requested. We see by the advertisement, that Mr Long’s gymnastic class at the High School Gymnasium has commenced work. We hope to see this institution thoroughly well patronized by the young men of Dunedin. It is difficult to over estimate the advantages which are to be derived from a well arranged course of gymnastic exercises, especially in the case of young people, who, from the nature of their avocations, are more or less confined throughout the day. Of Mr Long’s qualifications to conduct such a class, it is unnecessary for ns to speak, as his reputation as a skilful and accomplished gymnast stand deservedly very high.