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Evening Star, Issue 2915, 22 June 1872, Page 2

Mayor’s Court.—There was onlyone case before the Court to-day. The offender, Jessie Meller, alias Webster, was fined 20s,

Princess Theatre. Crime ” was reproduced last evening. Tonight *’ No Thoroughfare ” will be played. Considerable pains have been taken to get up tbe piece, which ought to draw a good house.

Late Telegram. The following private telegram appeared in the Post. It is dated, London, May 10, and comes via Melbourne :—Fall in greasy wool, 4d ; otli or kinds 3d, from the highest February rates. Bank rate of discount 5 per cent. Public Works.—An Auckland telegram dated the 20th inst., states that an English Company has offered to construct a railway from Port Bussell, Bay of Islands, to the Thames, and that the offer has been forwarded to the Minister for Public Works. Tbe terms are undisclosed. Severe Weather.—The frost in the country districts of Southland must have been severe, for we read of a settler at Jacob’s river, who, on taking a working bullock to a pool of water, was astonished to see him walk right over it without breaking tbe ice. Banking.—The Bank of New Zealand is about to establish a branch in Melbourne for the transaction of business connected with this Colony, and for the sale and purchase of London exchange. Mr T. M. Stewart, of Auckland, has received the appointment of manager; and Mr J, G. Morris, of the Dunedin branch, that of accountant. The Chinese and Mr Warden Beetham. — The Chinese petition against the Wakatip Warden, presented to the Provincial Council by Mr Macassey, was referred to the Government for inquiry, and they have remitted the task to the Speaker of the Council; Mr J. P. Maitland, E.M.; and Mr H. W. Robinson, E.M. The Commission will commence its sittings at Queenstown on the Ist prox. Coal.—A Beam of coal has recently

been discovered by a settler named Mr Baird on his property, block 4, North Harbor and Blueskin district. A shaft is now being sunk to test the seam, and sanguine hopes are entertained that the quality w'ill prove to be good. Should such bo the case, the discovery is a most important one, as there are indications of a large mass of coal in the ground. The distance from Deborah Bay being only about a mile, would render it easily available for shipping and other purposes.

A Slice of Luck.— An Auckland settler, who has been living at the Bay of Islands, lias just received uotice from England that ho is the possessor of L 300,000. This, it seems, is the accumulation of a sum of money Avhich for a length of time has been locked up in the Court of Chancery, and Avhich with the interest of years is once more to see the light of day. The owner has been advertised for for some years, but until lately his A\ r horeabouts could not be discovered.

Dunedin Cricket Club. —The meeting of members last night Avas poorly attended. The principal business Avas to receive the resignation of Mr F. J. Muir as secretary, but that gentleman consented to act until the next general meeting. Mr Allen brought under the notice of the meeting the desirability of encouraging cricket, by raising subscriptions for a challenge cup, to be competed for by all the clubs in the Province. A committee was appointed to report to the first general meeting Avhat probability there Avas of a cup being obtained. Green Island. The Forresters’ Hall, Green Island, having lately been purchased by the Baptists of that place, the opening was celebrated last evening by a social meeting held in the Drill Shed. Although the weather proved inclement, there Avas a good attendance, many friends coming in from outlying districts. After the usual compliments to Avell-spread tables, the Hanover street Tonic Sol Fa Choir, under the leadership of Mr Geo. Brownlee, A.0., opened the meeting’s entertainment. Then folloAved a report from Mr Scott, who prefaced it Avith a statement as to the Avhy and Avherefore of tAvo places of Avorship being established at Green Island, shoAving that it was not in a spirit of opposition nor of sectarianism that the present one had been started, but rather that they might help on the good Avork. By his report, it appeared that, during the two past tAvo years, services conducted by Messrs Biss, Collee, Fawcett, and others, have been held in the Hall, and have resulted in some success. The Hall has be n bought for a sum of LBO, and will in future he opened for evangelical services. Addresses Avere delivered by Revs. J. Williams and Arnott, Messrs' Collee, Morse, Ings, and Purdie, Several anthems and glees by the choirj were rendered in pleasing style, though a better balance of parts would have been preferable ; but this Avas attributable to the non-appearance of some of • the male voices, notAvithstanding which defect satisfaction was given to those present; and credit is due to bolh leader and singers. The usAial votes of thanks were given, and with them was finished a pleasant evening’s entertainment.

Temperance. —There was a large gathering in the ‘Wesleyan Hall last evening, when the Sons of Temperance Antidote Division, No. 78, held their anniversary soiree. The chair was occupied by D.M.W. P., the Rev. T. Roseby, M. A., LL.B. After tea there was an address by the Chairman, in which he stated that the first meeting of the Society was held on the Bth February, 1871, so it had now been over 15 months in existence. The number of benefit members on the roll was 115, and of honorary members 11, making a total of 126, and the ftmonnt of cash in hand, clear of all liabilities, was L 240. The Chairman spoke of the peonlar benefits attaching to Societies founded on the Total Abstinence principle, illustrating his argument by comparative statistics of the Sons of Temperance and other benefit societies. He drew attention to the fact that divisions of the order had been organised during the last few months at Christchurch, Oatnaru, Waimatc,' and Timaru, and urged upon the audience the importance of joining heartily in the present agitation for the passing of the Permissive Bill, and of promoting the cause of temperance by increasing the number of individual abstainers. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. Dr Stuart and Dr Copland. Mr Jago gave a reading ; and there was some capital singing by the Misses Jago, and Miss Webb, and Messrs Marsden and Sinclair. Mr Towsey presided at the piano. Concert. —We cannot congratulate the Star of Otago Lodge, A.1.0.0.P., on the concert which took place under its auspices at the Masonic Hall last night. It was much -below average concerts, and required the utmost efforts of the more prominent of the performers to prevent its being a failure. In the first place the audience, which was a very large one, the unfavorable weather considered, were kept waiting for more than half-an-hour beyond the time appointed fertile commencement of the concert—a 'delay that was very patiently borne. Then apologies had to be made for the non-appearance of some of the performers, whose assistance would have been very valuable. A number of ladies and gentlemen, assisted by Instrumentalists, attempted to sing a chorus and glee, but it was only an attempt. The instrumentation was not good ; and there seemed to be on the part of the players such a determination to make every passage forte, that the amices could only at times be faintly heard. Even the indications of the sragers’ powers that were obtained led us to the conclusion that a great deal of practice is necessary before they again make a public appearance. We will now turn to the satisfactory features of tire concert. The lady who sang “Happy be thy dreams” is beginning to know the power of her voice, which is strengthening, and uses it much better. Messrs Josephs and Lyons were well received, and Mr Westropp was as successful as ever in his comic songs. Mr Wright’s flute was deservedly encored ; and a pianoforte solo on operatic themes by Master Bayley, a pupil of Miss Bell, was loudly applauded, Mr Moss presided at the piano.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Investment Society for receiving subscriptions, &c., will beheld on Monday evening from 6 to S o’clock, Mr. Wise, of Princes street, has determined to reproduce the publication known as the “ New Zealand Directory,” and to that end his agent, Mr E. Seward, has made a tour of the Colony. He has been very successful in obtaining support, and the publication will bo immediately proceeded with.