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Evening Star, Issue 2962, 16 August 1872, Page 2

Princess Theatre. —Despite counter attractions there was a fair attendance last evening, when “ Who speaks first ” and the Japanese entertainment were repeated. The same programme will be repeated to-night.

What is Drunkenness ?—ln the Police Court at Wellington a strange definition was given by a witness who was asked to describe the state of intoxication a certain pei son was in at the time he saw him. “Was he drunk ?” “No; he was full of grog, but not incapable. ” Supper.—ln accordance with their now established custom—a custom which we should like to see more generally adopted here—the employes at the Victoria Brewery, were last evening entertained at supper by the proprietor, Mr Strachan, in commemoration of the anniversary of the commencement of the establishment. An excellent spread was served by host M ‘Gregor, and it having been done justice to, the evening was pleasantly spent with toast making and singing.

Evil Results from not being Revaccinated. —“A correspondent of a medical journal, writing from Gibraltar,” observes the Sydney Mommy Herald, “states, on the authority of Mr Henry f-tokes, the officer of health for that port, that on the arrival of the Peninsula and Drental s eamship Nyanza. at Southampton, from her last trip to the Mediterranean, the whole of the officers and crew, save one man, a sailor, who obstinately refused to have the operation performed, were re-vaccinated. When the Nyanza reached Gibraltar on the Ist inst., on her outward voyage, she landed this identical man Ur treatment at the Civic Hospital covered with small-pox eruption. ”

The Postal Card in Victoria.— The Victorian Board of Education makes use of the postal card system. It has twentylive printed forms of replies and of questions and of notifications to teachers and school committees, and these arc of course available without a clerk having to copy them. Where much of the correspondence in an cilice is formal, says the Tclcyrapk , it is evident that a great saving of time can be effected by the use of this plau. In the Educational Department the cards are at present being used at the rate of about 8000 in the year, and it is estimated that their introduction has effected a saving in the staff equivalent to the salaries of two clerks.

N. Z. University. —The statement of income and expenditure of the University of New Zealand for the year ending the 23rd April, 1872, presents some curious features. The only item on the debtor side is the General Government grant of L3OOO, of which L5lB 15s 9d has been expended. Of this amount L 326 16s has been paid to members of the Council for “attendance,” Mr Carleton taking the lion’s share, L 142 Iss. Printing and advertising abso b LI 11 4s 2d. The printing of the minutes of the Council cost L 53 12s 6d, and the Lyttelton Times received for printing and advertising L2l 4s 6d, no other newspaper in New Zealand receiving more than L 5 Is. The Council seal figures first and last for L3G 9s. Two items are quite inexplicable, “Mathoson, for hire of” the Bishop of Christchurch, 19s Gd, and the proprietor of the Nelson Colonist— hire of ? L2 2s. The latter item is the readiest in the schedule. — Post.

Waitaki Bridge.—ln the Lower House last week, Mr G. Parker asked the Minister of Public Works when the materials of this bridge would be on the spot, and whether it was proposed to call for tenders for its erection ? Mr Reeves said, in reply, that the first portion of the question was not easy to be answered, as the matter referred to was one depending on circumstances over winch the Government had no control. He would give the hon. member all the information possessed by the Government, from which he would be able to form his own conclusions. A total weight of about 815 tons, representing 125 spans, had been shipped. Of these 48 spans had arrived ami were in course of being lauded at Oamaru. Some difficulties of an unexpected character had been placed in the way in con sequence of the stranding of the vessel, but he was happy to say the cargo would bo saved. The remaining portions of the bridge were in course of manufacture, but as yet the Government had received no advice of their being shipped. With regard to the second portion of the question, he had to state that it was the intention of the Government to let the erection of the

bridge by tender as soon as the fittings arrived.

Mr Macassey will address the Kaikorai electors, at the Drill f'hed, on Monday evening next, at 8 o’clock.

A meeting of the ratepayers of Leith Ward will be held at White’s Queen’s Hotel, on Monday evening at 7 o’clock, to consider what steps are necessary for the restoration of the old Botanical Gardens.

We notice by advertisement that special services will be held at the Hanoversfcrceb Baptist Chapel on Sunday next. The Rev, Mr Williams will preach morning, the Rev Mr Gow in the afternooh, and the Rev. Mr Reid in the evening. A special collection will be made after each service.