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Evening Star, Issue 2884, 17 May 1872, Page 2

Financial Statement. The Provincial Treasurer is to make his Financial Statement at seven o’clock this evening.

The Benevolent Institute. —The Provincial Government have presented a quantity of choice shrub-s and forest trees to the Committee of the Benevolent Institution, to plant in the grounds of the institution at Caversham, and Mr M'Gruer has kindly given directions as to the planting of them.

Princess Theatre. Pogue ” was repeated last evening to a fair audience, by whom it was well received. On Monday the management will produce Gilbert’s latest play of “ Kandell’s Thumb,” which had such a lengthened run in England on its first production, and has been equally successful in Melbourne. Who’s to Blame. —Nothing has yet been done to improve the disgraceful state of that portion of the main road through the City which passes round the Athcmeum side of the Octagon into Stuart street. From day to day it has been allowed to get worse, until at last it has become almost impassable. The other evening an eight-horse waggon stuck fast, having sunk nearly to the axle trees. To-day, drays heavily laden with timber, we presume for the Jetty, in order to get into Princes street, have been compelled to go round by way of George stree -, and the straight cut through the Octagon. Since referring to this subject some little time ago, an attempt has been made to throw the whole blame upon the Provincial Government, they having charge of the main road through the City. But it must not be forgotten that the road was good before it was spoilt by the Corporation covering the metal on its surface by some six or eight inches of earth taken from the centre of the Octagon. The Industrial School.—We have been requested to publish the followingletter, which his Honor the Superintendent received to-day from Mr James Smith : “Knowing the warm interest you take in that excellent institution, the Industrial School, which I had the pleasure of visiting in your company, I venture to ask you to spend the enclosed L 5 (part of the proceeds of a lecture) in the purchase of toys and picture books for distribution among the younger children. Without these things childhood is very cheerless, and 1 cannot help thinking that the brighter and happier we make the early life of these poor little waifs and strays of humanity, the better chance there will be of their growing up cheerful and estimable men and women. When society undertakes to stand in loco parentis to those w'ho are deserted or neglected by their natural parents, or who are orphaned and destitute, it obviously assumes other obligations than those which are fulfilled by the mere maintenance of the children. It undertakes to love and cherish them ; and this principle has been recognised and acted upon by Mr Chaplin, the coach owner, who has so kindly brought the inmates of the Industrial School into town, free of charge, when public entertainments have been generously thrown open to them ; as also by the shopkeepers who have gratuitously furnished them with refreshments on such occasions. If the trilling donation now forwarded for the purpose of giving the children some glimpse of the pastimes which diffuse enjoyment in onr own nurseries and playgrounds should have the effect of eliciting similar gifts for a like object, from other persons, in time to come, it will increase the pleasure with which 1 subscribe myself, &g,—Jas. Smith.”

Importation of Seeds.—The secretary of the Acclimatisation Society has received the following communication from Mr Thomson, of Castle street“ My sou in Calcutta was recently at Agra, in the northwest of India, where there is a very splendid garden at the Tai, when he arranged that the head gardener should send him a collection of seeds of anything and everything that he thought would be interesting in New Zealand, on condition that my son should ask in return for a collection of seeds available in New Zealand, and which would be prized in India. I have accordingly just received a collection of these Indian seeds, and which I have great pleasure in making over to your society. I have made out a coirecb list of them and with some additional particulars regarding them, which 1 beg to hand you herewith. I may here add that the instructions of the gardener at Agra as to these seeds are (and he says that many of the things he has sent are flourishing as open-air plants in England)—" To sow them in the season corresponding to March and April in England, ancf to plant them out in sheltered situations, taking merely ordinary care of them; and such as are shrubs or trees to protect in their first winter by throwing some litter or straw over the ground and round the roots, and loosely covering them with straw during frosty nights to prevent radiation, throwing the straw loosely over their leaves and bi'anches.” The list includes sixty-five species, including fruits, flowering trees, the mimosa pudka or sensitive plant of Brazil, shrubs, and pot plants.

The Sable Orphans Christy Troupe give a performance at the Masonic Ha 1 tomorrow night, under the auspices of the Saturday Half-holiday Association.

The Committee of the Otago Benevolent Institution acknowledge in our advertising columns to-day the receipt of various donations in aid of the charity. Mr. J. Small, agent for Professor Haselmayer arrived in Dunedin last evening and has made arrangements for three “ farewell representations ” on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday next. The Professor played at Tokomairiro to crowded houses, and is now performing at Tuapeka with equal success. Mr Towers, the agent for Murray’s Circus Company, has arrived in Dunedin to make arrangements for a few days entertainment. The company is, it is represented, the largest and most attractive that has appeared in New Zealand ; and from the high encomiums bestowed by the Northern Press we have little doubt that an entertainment of so high a character will receive in Dunedin the support it deserves.