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Evening Star, Issue 3002, 2 October 1872, Page 2

The VVaikaki Election,—The Presbyterian Schoolhouse, Maori hill, has been made an additional polling place to tbe Waikari district for the Provincial Council elections.

The Fort Railway.—Ah indicating the rapidly approaching completion of this line, w« mention that the engines now run up as far as Bla*k Jack’s Point with the material for the permanent w;iy, and that the erection of goods sheds at the Dune,din terminus is being pushed on. LetMJ- Costs. —Law and lawyers do not seem to done with the rich feast re tho Grace-Lager ease. We observe from an advertisement in tbe Wakaiip J fail that Eager states that Mr Wesley Turton, his solicitor, has presented him with a bill far the nice figure of L 1240, which, says Mr Eager, “ I have been informed is fully L 550 more than he is entitled to.”

Friendly Societies.—The action taken by Councillor Barnes in the City Council in calling attention to the facilities —or rather want of facilities in some instances -for ingress and egress afforded by places of public amusement in the city has been productive of good. The Foresters’ flail Company have taken the hint, and, in place of tbe unsafe entrances to their hall that were Hist projeeted, have, by reducing the number of shops to one, provided wide snd commodious ones.

Princes# Tueatre. —Tho patrons of the drama can have no reason to complain of not getting novelties, for the management is now endeavoring to give, and the company to go through the hard work of performing, fr*-sh pieces of the highest character nightly. Of course only a moderate audience was to be expected last night, %vith such bad weather ; hut the diminished attendance had no dispiriting effect on the performers, who played tho three-act comedy of “ T-’hc Busybody" con amove, Mr Hoskins, as its hero, investing his character with infinite humor. To-night, “Much Ado about Nothing" and “ The Loan of a Lover" are to be produced. Fire Brigade Anniversary.—The inclemency of the weather last night materially interfered with the programme intended to be carried out in celebration of the fourth anniversary of the Fire Brigade. The torchlight procession was certainly made, but was, as might have been expected under the circumstances, a very tame affair, Tho supper was afterwards held in tho engineroom, where a capital spread by Mr Hudson, of Princes street, was done ample justice to. Captain Wain presided, and among the guests were the Mayor, Major Atkinson, Mr E lliott, and Mr Duncan, The principal toasts were “The Mayor and Corporation,” “The Insurance Agents,” and the “Fire Brigade,” In replying to the last-mentioned, Captain Wain, with whose name it was coupled, mentioned that during tho last twelve months the Brigade, which was 30 strong, had attended seven tires, and one chimney tire, and the average attendance was 26 j

at twelve practices, 24 ; and at one special and twelve monthly meeting, 24. The City Council previous to the last year had contributed altogether 1.40 to the Library Fund, and L2O since, making in all L6t); insurance companies and private contributions, L 33. The Sick and Accident Fund at present amounted to LBO. The evening was very pleasantly spent. 'The Evangelist.—This month’s issue of the “Evangelist” is on the whole interesting. The first article is devoted to “Spiritualism in Dunedin,” to which, we think, too much importance is attached Wc are of opinion that argument is thrown away upon such a theme. As was once said of Christianity, “if it be of God, it is useless to oppo?e it; if of men, it will come to nought.’ It is not worth an intellectual struggle to crush it, and we agree with the editor that it is not wise for the clergy to meet opponents whose standpoint is so ill* dutined as that of the Spiritualists. The letter of the Rev. P. Milne is interesting ; as also is the smart letter from Melbourne, albeit it bristles with intolerance. There are some interesting reviews of books, and the Provincial and Colonial intelligenee is more than usually ample. School Inspection. — Mr Hislop, Inspector of Schools, has returned from his tour of inspection, in the course of which the following schools were inspect* d by him : Oreytown, Otakia, Taieri Ferry, Waihpla Waihola Gorge, Akator , Southbridgc, Tuakitoto, Hillend, Balclulha, Port Molyneux, South Clutha, Waitapeka, Wa-epa. Kaihiku, Waiwera, Wairuna, Te Houka, Inch Clutha, Knitangata, Adams’ Flat, Glenore, Manuka Creek, Cray’s : lat, Waitahuna, Tokomairiro Grammar School (junior classes), and Taieri Beach. While the older and more experienced teachers whose schools wore visited are reported as maintaining, in most instanc s, their former reputation for efficiency, we understand that the Inspector has expressed himself as agreeably surprised at the very creditable appearance of many of the schools in charge of younger and more recently appointed teachers, most of whom are proving themselves to be highly meritorious and successful instructors. The efforts, too, of children to attend school are also favorably recognised. In some instances scholars residing at distances of four, fire, and six miles are in regular attendance, and it is quite a common thing for children to attend who reside two or three miles from school. Complaints are made in some districts, however, that the flax mills are withdrawing many boys from school before they have been sufficiently educated.

The usual fortnightly neeting of the Society for Investigating Spiritualism will take place iu the Lower Athenasum Hall, this (Wednesday) evening, at $ o'clock, when members will give their experiences. The Standard Property Investment Society’s meeting takes place this evening, between 6 and 8 o’clock, A meeting of the Cpimcil of the Otago Riffe Association will be held at Waiifs Hotel to-morrow (Thursday) evening at 8 o’clock.