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Evening Star, Issue 2954, 7 August 1872, Page 2

Waste Land Board. —The Waste Land Board met at the usual hour to-day. The business was unimportant. Our report will appear to-morrow. A Minute Dividend, —ln a recent bankruptcy case at Christchurch, the liabilities are stated at L3U9, and the assets at Gd. The bankrupt’s name is Compton, with the aristocratic prefix of De Blaquiere. The Superintendents’ Combination.—An Auckland telegram in the Lyttelton Times of the 22nd says “ Rely on it, public opinion here is strongly opposed to the prosecution of public works by the Provincial authorities. The Herald [Opposition paper] to-day denounces the possible refusal of the Governor to grant a dissolution, and believes that if such refusal is determined on, Sir George Bowen will become highly unpopular.” Supreme Court Accommodations. —When railway accidents became so numerous in England as to create a “scare,” it was playfully observed that things would not bo altered until a director got killed. So with that pile of wooden boxes iu which the Supreme Court of this City is housed. It has Jong been known as the most iueonvenient and unhealthy suite of public offices in the Col my ; and perhaps now that it has contributed to the death of a juryman the authorities will be induced to take steps to have justice administered in a building more appropriate to the highest court in the land, where the health of those who are called upon to it on business may be better cared for. Mr Douglas, of the Bank of New Zealand, served on the jury in the the case of Hunter v. Cargill and others for throe days; and there is little doubt that his exposure to the draughts which are too keenly felt iu inclement weather in the Court materially aggravated the disease from which we regret to say, he died last night.

Customs Revenue of New Zealand. —A return from the Secretary and Inspector of Customs has been laid before Parliament which summarizes the duties and revenue collected by that department, as fol low's: —Spirits (imported) 445,043 gallons L 207,886; New Zealand, 35,770 gallons, L 10,731 ; cigars and snuff, 45,548 lbs, LI 1,387 ; tobacco, 713,000 lbs, L 89,125 ; do for sheepwash, 48,100 lbs, LOO2 ; wine, 151,075 gallons, 1 30,335 ; ale and beer, 225,428 gallons, L 13,591 ; tea, 2,088,400 lbs, L 52,210 ; coffee, cocoa, &c,, 470,320 lbs, L 52,210 ; ground coffee, 1,872 lbs, L 39 ; sugar and molasses, 19,500,240 lbs L 81.501 ; 404 stand of arras, LI 16 ; sporting powder, 9,680 lbs, L242;shot, 740 cwt, L 373 ; measurement goods, LI On, 633 ; goods not enumerated by weight, L 30,032 ; duties charged ad valorem, L2 352; opium, 2,0141bs L 2,01 4; other duties not specified L 22,305 ; making a total of L 731,883. The other duties collected by the Custom’s Department were rents bonded warehouse, duty, &c., which brings the revenue for the year up to L 540,750.

Princess Theatre.—Despite the wet weather a large audience assembled in the above place of amusement last evening, the occasion of Mr J. P. Hydes’s benefit. The pieces presented were “A Curious Case,” “ Wanted 1000 Milliners,” and a “Spiritualistic Seance.” The first pieco contains nothing of merit, the plot and detail being very scant. We thought the acting of both Miss Anstead as Mrs Aubrey and Mr Thorp as Mr Aubrey were also rather tame. Mr Hydes as Twiggleton, however, managed to create considerable amusement. “ Wanted 1000 Milliners elicited roars of laughter from the audience, the comicalities of Messrs Hydes and Musgrave being especially extravagant and mirth provoking. The entertainment coi eluded with “A Spiritualistic Seance, Mr Hydes sustaining the role of a Yankee Professor and humbug with an ease and sang froid evidently congenial to him. During the evening the Diamond Shoe Dance

waa given by Messrs Wilkinson and" Mason and met with the approbation of the audience, as a most vociferous encore was demanded. The same programme is announced for this evening.

A lecture will be delivered before the Society for Investigating Spiritualism by the Rev, A. Reid, in the lower hall of the Athenseum, to-raorrow (Thursday) evening, at eight o’clock. Subject: “ Modern Spiritualism. ”