The Evening Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2869, 30 April 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1872.

Very seldom has an address from the Superintendent afforded less room for comment than that read bj his Honor

at the meeting of the Council to-day. We should think there will be no difficulty in framing a suitable reply. Judging by the statistics given in it, one might almost be inclined to say to our Provincial legislators, let us alone, and we shall go a-head. Never was a more complete illustration of development without the aid of Government. For the past year, the Executive have had their hands pretty well bound through want of funds ; but our population has increased, agricultural settlement has progressed, and commerce has developed. It is evident that the producing power of the Province has never been fully estimated. We do not, in fact, recollect an instance on record where a population of somewhat over 70,000 people, after providing for their own wants, were able to export produce to the value of £2,000,000, besides supplying several neighboring Provinces with some of their surplus. Taking into account the quantity going coastwise of which no valuation is made, ■in all probability it will balance “ that portion raised in Canterbury” which is referred to as a qualifying consideration. One point deserves more than a passing notice a School of Mines, under Professor Black, is at length to be founded. This is perhaps the most important step that has been taken in connection with our goldfields for some years. It is a recognition by our Executive that something is to render our goldfields more productive. The theory of mining will be explained, and methods described of saving the precious metals. Persons engaged in minin** will be taught the best methods of separating the gold from the dross, and thus many will be prepared scientifically to superintend the working of mines. But we are of opinion that something beyond this is wanted. A mining school such as Professor Black will conduct must be of immense advantage in the theoretical and chemical departments, but it will not train men in the use of the pick and shovel, nor in the management of the long tom nor the retort. In addition to men fitted to be overseers, we require trained men as workers. Gold-mining differs in many of its details from the system of mining at Home. There, men of capital embark in large schemes requiring heavy preliminary outlay. The miners work under direction, and are paid for their labor, as a rule, without reference to the value of the stuff they raise. But here men work the goldfields to raise capital. There are wages men, undoubtedly, but they are valuable in proportion to their skill in working out details. Our goldfields need instructed labor. Agricultural laborers, shepherds, and artisans from Home will not venture upon a new walk in life of the details of which they are ignorant, and therefore it is that to train a mining population they must work in a mine. We consider a government mining area as absolutely necessary for [ training in mining as is a mining school; and as such a working should be more than self-supporting, we cannot understand what objection can be urged against it. The suggestion made by his Honor of an Assay Office in connection with the mining school, is another branch of the same subject, and deserves the earnest attention of the Council. Great prominence is given to the educational requirements of the Province, but at present it would be premature to offer any remarks upon them. The subject must necessarily come under discussion in the Council, and perforce must occupy much public attention. Wo are promised a reintroduction of the Land Bill of last year. This was naturally to bo expected. We do not suppose so important a question will be allowed to pass without the usual amount of small talk on the subject. But as the Council agreed to the Bill of last Session, after many long speeches and much bitterness, and as it passed the House of Representatives, it would shorten matters very much if, one after another, members referred their constituents to the speeches of last year-, and voted without further taking up the time of the Province on the subject. There is no need for long debate upon the Bill. For the sake of consistency it must pass. The Council cannot consent to stultify itself by introducing amendments, as it was not rejected because of any error of principle or fault in details. The few alterations in the House of Representatives were mainly assented to by the Otago members, and therefore, it sent up again as passed, it would meet with no opposition there. We are reminded by the Superintendent that tire disposal of our Waste Lands is necessary to further progress ; so the sooner we obtain a measure that Mr Reid’s party will consent to bring into operation the better. Judging by the speech of to-day, the little money to be disposed of, and the few measures likely to be brought forward by the Government, the Session should be a short one ; but this depends upon how parties shape. Of this at present we can form no idea.

Crowded Out.—Owing to pressure on our space, we are obliged to hold over our report of Mr James Smith’s lecture at St. George’s Hall last evening, on “ Shakespeare : the dramatist and the man,” and the letters of correspondents. Concert. —The fourth concert of the Dunedin Choral Society takes place at the University Hall to-night. We anticipate it will be well attended and well performed.

Mayor’s Court. The Hon. Dr. Buchanan, J.P., and R. H. Leary, Esq., J.P., occupied the Bench this day. There was only one case of drunkenness. John Henry Hardy was lined 10s or three days.

Telegraphic.—Communication with the North was resumed this afternoon, but there were no signs at Auckland of the overdue Nebraska up to the time of our going to press.

.Religious.—We understand that the Rev. Mr Blake, M.A., late of the Maori

mission at the Heads has received a uuauimeus call to the pastorate of the Presbyterian church at Alexandra,

An 111 wind, &c. —By the Southern Cross we perceive two Auckland tradesmen have availed themselves of the gratuitous advertising of Mr Brogden’s tenders for the construction of ballast waggons for Auckland copied from a Dunedin paper, and have sent down tenders for the performance of the work here.

A Fortunate Escape.—An accident, resulting from a total neglect of the bye-law providing for the crossing by horses and vehicles of street corners at a walking pace, occurred in Walker street this afternoon. A buggy driven by a lady, in turning the corner of Walker and Princes street sharply, knocked down a lady pedestrian, who fortunately sustained no further injury than a good shaking. Scholarships. —At Knox Church to-day. v. as commenced the examination of candidates for th; two scholarships for the Otago University, open to students for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland. The first is the Lang scholarship of L2O per annum, tenable for two years, and open to students who have already been one year at any University ; the other is the Synod scholarship of L3O per annum, tenable for three years, and open to students who have not yet attended any University. There are four candidates for the two scholarships ; and the result of the competition will be made known to-morrow.

Personal. —A meeting was held at Wain’s Ho'.el this afternoon at t,wo o’clock to devise means to give the inhabitants of Dunedin an opportunity of expressing their regard for Mr E. B. Cargill, and their appreciation of the public services he has rendered the City and province. There were present Messrs Anderson, J. Anderson, .Bathgate, L. 0. Beal, G. Cook, Fish, Bell, Larnach, Lawson, J. A 1 ‘Lean, Maccassey, R, B. Martin, Mercer, G. F, Reid, Rev, D. M. Stuart, W. D. Stewart, Tolmie, Turton, Wales, and Mr Mitchell, who was chosen chairman. It was resolved to invite Mr Cargill to a dinner, and Messrs Mitchell (chairman), Davie, E. B. Martin, Turnbull, and G. P. Reid were appointed a committee to make the necessary arrangements. It was also determined to present Mr Cargill with a testimonial, raised by subscription, at a public meeting, the subscription not to exceed five shillings each. Messrs A nderson, Barnes, Fish, M'Kerras, Larnach, Mercer, K Ramsay. D. Stewart, Wales, J. Wain, and the chairman (Mr Mitchell) were appointed a committee to collect subscriptions and determine upon the proceedings. Deputation. His Worship the Mayor, and Messrs Bastings. Hazlett, and Udall, Mayors of Lawrence, Duustan, and Oaraarn, were yesterday appointed a deputation to confer with His Honor the Superintendent and the Executive on the moans of permanently endowing the municipalities of the Province. This morning, at 11 o’clock, they waited upon His Honor, with whom were Messrs Reid and Bradshaw. The Mayor of Dunedin having explained the object of the deputation, His Honor said he might say on behalf of the Government that the subject had been under consideration of the Executive for some time—in fact ever since the receipt of the letter from the Corporation of Oamaru. The Government was prepared to make certain proposals to the Provincial Council, with a view to meeting the case, which would be announced to day in the opening address. He did not know whether it would he premature to state them, but it would perhaps he better to wait as the hour of sitting was so near. For his own part—speaking for himself, he would have been glad to have continued the subsidies to the municipalities for a few years, but that was a question for the Council. The Mayor of Oamaru suggested that under the circumstances the deputation could not press for a more explicit answer, and after thanking His Honor, the deputation withdrew.

Successful Societes.—As a rule, building societies 'in this Colony are about the best investment for the surplus cash of the small capitalist and tradesman. Locally, we have had an abundant proof of this ; and the meeting of the Standard Company held last night is but an additional evidence of what careful management will do. Yesterday’s meeting was the occasion of the completion of the fifth year of the Society’s existence ; and the directors were able to go before the shareholders and state that the securities were, without exception, of ample value to guard the Society against loss ; that they Lad therefore determined to allocate the whole amount at the credit of the contingent fund, which would give a bonus of 14s B*l on every L 25 share of five years standing, being 6*per cent upon the paid up calls : that the applications for advances upon good securities during theycar had not been sufficient to absorb the ordinary receipts ; and in consequence the directors had been obliged to pay out debentureholders, in order to prevent an accumulation of funds; that S2I additional shares had been taken up during the year ; the total number now issued being 4,301. Asa dividend of 10 per cent, was declared and a bonus of 14s Sd awarded to each holder of original shares, with a proportionate division to shares afterwards acquired, the shareholders could not he other than well satisfied ; and the adoption of the report was a matter of course. Messrs G-. Young and Sievwright were re-elected directors.

Masonic Hall.—Professor Haselmayer repeated his very clover and interesting i performance last evening. The cards seemed to live, flowers appeared to grow,

and inanimate things to be instinct with life at his bidding. We have seen more done during an evening by .’other professors, but never witnessed more clever deceptions. Mr Haselmayer’s birds and mice are very interesting and daring acrobats, and submit to being handled and doing all sorts of wonderful things with the best grace imaginable. They know their names too, and answer to Napoleon and other distinguished titles. We have heard of men being punished by being blown from the mouths of cannon, bub never saw it. i ast night a pet canary was put to a more wonderful test. He not only was subjected to the action of gunpowder, but after a forced flight from a wide-barrelled pistol, he signified joy at his deliverance by pirouetting on the point of a sword. The only complaint we heard last night was at a confab amongst some spectators as they retired. They complained they had not seen enough. The ability with which what they did see was done, did not, in their estimation, counterbalance deficiency in quantity. The room was filled notwithstanding the mud and wet in the streets, and the intrinsic merits of the performance render it certain that when the weather permits there will be a rush of all classes to the Hall nightly. Princess Theatre.—Last evening “ Time and Tide ” was played for the first ;ime at the Theatre. Peoplcto.il us it is a sensational drama ; a very ambiguous terra, used by a class of literati who have formed their notions of dramatic propriety on the idea that none but kings, queens, nobility, and gentry should have their loves, hatreds, and intrigues paraded before the public. On similar grounds they might condemn the writings of Dickens. We do not know that in “Time and Tide ” there is anything more improbable than in the tragedy at Wanganui Bridge or the Avoca. Wherever there are human beings there are human passions, and the charm of the sensational drama is that they are exhibited under somewhat exceptional circumstances. There is sufficient plot in “Time and Tide” to connect the different situations, and to aacount for phases of character presented by the chief actors in the drama. The temptations of riches and poverty, faith, enduring love and self-sacrifice are all vividly represented ; the villain (as all villains should be) is foiled, and the innocent rescued. The scenery incidental to the the pieces is beautiful, and the machinery well managed. The chief characters were sustained by Miss Anstead, Miss Raymond, Mrs Ward, Messrs Musgrave, J. P. Hydes, Thorpe, and Heaford. Miss Anstead’s difficult part was played with great power ; and Mr Musgrave, as Job Morris, was more than ordinarily effective. As for Mr Hydes, he was happy as usu d, and in his varied experiences was ably sustained by his helpmate Miss Raymond as Mrs Mapletou, The relief they gave to the more serious transactions in the drama was evident by the genuine mirth they created, although one or two scenes were somewhat over done. Mr Willis was called before the curtain as a most worthy tribute to the talent as a scenic artist. As a first performance of so complicated a piece it went of very smoothly. It will bo repeated to-night, and ought to command a good run.

The lecture which was to have been delivered in the Lower Hall of the Athenanun to-morrow evening by Jas. Smith, Fsq., has been postponed until Thursday evening at 8 o’clock.

A MEETING of these interested in arranging a Butch' rs’ Race on the Queen’s Birthday, is announced to take place at the Empire Hotel, to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, at 8 o’clock.