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Evening Star, Issue 3028, 2 November 1872, Page 2

An Old Acquaintance. —Many of our readers will read with regret the following telegram which appears in the Melbourne papers The Rev. Mr Parsons, the Baptist minister, is suffering from ill-health, and proceeds to England for a year. Good Yields.—Telegraphic advices from Tambaroora (N.S, W.) state that Beyers and Hoiterman had finished crushing 71 tons of second-class stouc, which yielded 479 oz. of 'csld ; and that Paxton’s had also finished crushing between iiOO and 400 tons of stone, which averaged 10 oz. to the ton. The Melbourne Groan.—At tho meeting of the Melbourne City Council, on October 21, an order of the day for the consideration of the report of the Public Works Committee, submitting applications from Messrs O. Dumerqnc, John Hill, David Lee, P. C. Plaisted, F. A. Parker, J. Hummers, R. Sharp, and A. J. Towsey, for the office of organist, and a communication from Signor Uiorza on the subject, and recommending

that the Council proceed to the election of a person to fill the office from amongst the candidates, was discussed. It was resolved to defer the selection of an organist for three months. Deputation. Messrs Rutherford, Bridgman, and Smith, as representatives of the Caversham Load Board, waited upon the Superintendent this morning, and presented to his Honor a memorial, asking him to exercise the powers conferred in him by section 8 of the Eoads Board Ordinance, 1872, and to subdivide the district into three wards, to be severally called Lower, High, and Middle Caversham. It was stated that there were 185 persons on the roll, 12G of whom voted at the last election, and that 141 had signed the memorial; so that the feeling in the district was pretty unanimous. His Honor said the prayer of the memorial would be complied with. Order of Good Templars,—This secret Order, which was originally instituted by the temperance body in the United .States, whence it has extended to England, Scotland, and Ireland, has recently been inaugurated in this Province. A Lodge has for a short time been held in Invercargill, and on Wednesday evening last a Lodge for Dunedin was instituted. The founders met at the Schoolhouse at the north end of Cumberland street, where Bro, Robt. Oreig, who was initiated in Scotland under dispensation from D.D K.W.C.T. Brother the Bev. B. J Westbrook, of Invercargill, performed the ceremonies of institution and initiation, assisted by Bro. Ings, Caversham. Twenty - tive ladies and gentlemen presented themselves as candidates, from amongst whom the following officers for the ensuing terra were chosen :—W.C.T., Bro. J. W. Jago ; W.Y.T., Bro. Thos. Sinclair ; W. Sec , Bro. Jas. James ; W.F.8., Bro. John Mackay ; W. Treasurer, Sister Graham ; W. Chaplain, Bro. James Crawford; W. M., Bro. Marshall; W.1.G., Bro. M‘Donald; W.0.G., Bro. Wicks; W.R.S., Sister M'Laren; W.L.S., Bro. J. J. Pryor; W. A, See., S’ster Mrs T. Sinclair; W.D.M., Bro. John Graham. It is proposed to form a Lodge at Cavrsham shortly. Under the Grand Lodge of Scotland there were by the last report about 750 Lodges, having a membership of 80,000, of whom from one-fifth to one-fourth belong to the sisterhood of the Order In England and Ireland the members were equally large in proportion. Caledonian Society. —At last night’s meeting of the directory—Mr H. Ramsay, the president, in the chair—it was agreed to meet every Friday evening, at 8 o’clock, until the annual gathering of the Society took place. The necessary committees were formed to carry out the usual sports at the annual games ; and upon the motion of the vice-president, the directors agreed to ask the co-operation of kindred societies in this Colony for a special prize for throwing the sixteen-pound hammer. The completed list of office-bearers and directors is as follows Mr Bamsay, president; Mr Kirkcaldy, vice-president; Mr Marshall, Treasurer; Mr Douglas, Secretary. Directors: Messrs Callender, Rutherford, A. M‘Gregor, Baxter, M'Gaw, Goodman, Wright, R. Wilson, A. Lawson, A. Findlater, John Barr, W. Caldwell, H. Bain, J, Beveridge, T. Mason, T. B. Sibbald, J. Wain junr., Stables, G, Dowse, D. M‘Donald, Hastie, Wedderspoon, Roberts, Bennett, Bailey, M‘Gregor, peight, Lieut,-Col. Cargill, H, Calder, S. Clayton, J. Copeland, G. Duncan, J G. Douglas, J. Edmond, J. Fargie, W. Higgins, J. Hume, R. Kilgour, A. Lee, A. Murray, R. Mackay, Angus M‘Gregor, George M‘Gavin, J. M'Laren, W. Strachan, Samuel Webb.. Jack.

Princess Theatre.—There are those who object to the representation of the play of “Camille” on a variety of grounds, chiefly, we apprehend, because it is a vivid picture of a social phase that we arc glad to believe is foreign to British moral principles. But we do not on that account condemn it, for on the very same principle any work of art that represented unfamiliar objects might be objected to. Wc need not describe the plot, because the piece has been so often played that it is well known. Our task is merely to say a few words on the manner in which the characters were sustained. They are all subordinated to bring one into prominent notice—the heroine Camille. There arc the usual varieties—a wild son, an unreasonable father, a frivolous coxcomb, companions, servants, Ac. Miss Anstead, Miss Nye, Miss Willis, and Miss Bray, sustained each her part with care and feeling; and Messrs Musgrave, Douglass, and Hoskint did full justice to the characters allotted to them. Mr r ouglas in some scenes rose much above the average, and well aided Miss Colville in her more difficult pourtrayal of intense and opposite passions. Had that young h-.dy never appeared in any other character, her representation of it would have stumped her as an artist or the highest class. Attitude, elocution, expression of countenance, were all true to nature. There is something in her so sympathetic with humanity, that, in the character of Camille, the feelings of the spectator are sometimes painfully intense; yet, such is the fascination, that it would be impossible to cease to gaze. Miss Colville has succeeded in many brilliant efforts, but the most complete sue cess was her last night’s representation of Camille. Some of the tableaux vivauts at the close of the acts were splendidly arranged, and the curtain had to be lifted. “ Camille” will be repeated this evening. Disengaging Apparatus. —By telegram yesterday it was stated that the trial df the disengaging apparatus invented by Mr Douglas, so far as the power ©f sustaining a heavy weight is concerned, was beyond question. The experiments were made in the presence of several genentlemen, who had been specially invited to witness them. Among then; were Messrs Blair and Bruuton, civil engineers ; Professors Black and Shaud, Captain M'Lean, of the .-Ibion ; Mr John Cargill, Capt. Bouden, of the Pilot Service ; and others. After the severe test as to the perfect safety with which heavy boats might be suspended and lowered, there remained but one further experiment to prove the value of the invention. This can only bo thoroughly estimated by those who know the danger, difficulty, and loss of time of lowering a boat slung by the ordinary books and tackle. ft is not difficult to lower a boat into the water. Gravitation will do that : the difficulty is what to do with her when she reaches it. If a vessel is going rapidly, as soon as the boat floats she is dragged along, the tackle is tightened, and before it can bo unhooked, no matter how quickly it is done, there is a tendency to stave in her sides by bringing her into collision with the ship. A more difficult nautical operation than lowering a boat safely in a heavy sea by the ordinary methods is scarcely kuowu ; aud

most commonly it is just when the danger ia greatest that the necessity arises. Last evening, Mr Douglas, Mr John Cargill, Mr Hutcheson, M.P.C., Captain Cummings, Capt. Louden, Major Atkinson, Mr Bell, of the Evening Star, and four seamen, took their seats in a boat which was hanging from the davits of the steamer Albion, about a foot above the water. Capt. Louden acted as coxswain. The steamer got under way, and as soon as she had attained a speed some say of seven, some of ten knots, the boat was allowed to descend into the water rapidly. A seaman had his baud un a small lever, and promptly answered to the order “ to let go” as the boat touched the water. The tackle immediately freed itself, the boat having steerage-way upon her was sheered from the vessel, and the steamer shot a-head, amid the cheers from those in the boat and those in the steamers Albion and Golden Age who witnessed the success of the experiment. Mr Douglas must have been satisfied with the result. The Evangelist. The current month’s number of this periodical contains a largo amount of averagely readable miscellaneaus matter, but the contributed articles are indifferent. The Editorial professes to be directed to “Our duty to the young,” but is little else than an attack on our contemporary the Daily Times, who is accused of displaying a bitter hostility to religion, and especially to ministers of religion. The Melbourne correspondence is interesting. The writer mentions the Inglis plagiarism affair, and the Fraser scandal arising from it, as showing the necessity for ecclesiastical business being conducted pretty much in private. The last-mentioned affair is little known, therefore a sketch of it is necessary. The chief agent in the disnovery of Mr Inglis’ plagiarism was the former pastor of the Ballarat congregation, Mr Fraser; and very serious issues have resulted to him from the course he followed in that exposure. Ingenuity has been at work at Ballarat, and all Mr Fraser’s failings, shortcomings, and sins, while he resided there, have been exhumed. Whilst residing in Ballarat Mr Fraser had made a singular and unaccountable blunder. He had gone through the marriage ceremony between a man and his deceased wife’s sister, knowing the relationship, but wholly unconscious of doing anything wrong. He seemed to think that the law passed in the Victorian Legislature was in force, notwithstanding that the royal assent had been refused. But more singular still, he appears to have been totally oblivious of the law of the Church, as laid down in the 24th chap, of the Confession of Faith. Having come, however, to know better, in a day or two after the marriage (and before cohabitation), with the consent of all parties, the so-called marriage documents were destroyed, and a pen drawn through the record sent in to the registrar. The old “ carcase” has made the foundation of a most serious charge against Mr Fraser by one of Inglis’ elders. The man was dead, and the woman had been married to another man, yet the whole thing, to the pain and annoyance of all parties, was dragged into prominence. The accusations against Mr Fraser were falsehood and fraud. The matter was remitted to the Melbourne Presbytery, who found that there was no ground whatever for the accusation, and censured the party who brought it forward for having done so, without taking the slightest trouble to verify the facts of the case. Since then the papers have taken it up, and the ministers continue to keep up a stormy discussion. In support of his proposition for private inquiry, the correspondent wisely remarks ; —“ Were the decrees of a Church Court such as to command the hearty assent of its members, it might be well to have everything done openly, but it is only too notorious that hearty assent is not open --on the contrary, feelings are stirred within and feelings without.”'

A prayer meeting will be held in the Wesleyan Church, Stuart street, on Monday evening, at half-past seven o’clock. The practice night of the Dunedin Choral Society has been altered from Saturday to Monday. A practice will take place on Monday evening, when a full attendance is requested. The programme for the Volunteer Sports on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday provides for a capital’s day’s amusement ; and should the weather be favorable, wo have little doubt they will be witnessed by a very large gathering. Several novelties are provided, including gymnastic exercises, an assault (Farmes between Mr Long and a pupil, bayonet exercises by the Volunteers, guns dismounting by the Artillery, &c. We believe it is intended to bring in the Benevolent Asylum children, and a few of the children from the Reformatory, to witness the Sports. Mr Chaplin has kindly consented to bring them in.