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Evening Star, Issue 3029, 4 November 1872, Page 2

Foie at Naseby.—We learn l»y a private telegram from Naseby that a lire occurred there to-day, at the photographic gallery of Mr H, Coxhead, during the proprietor’s absence at dinner. Mr Coxhead’s loss was total, and he was, tve are sorry to learn, uninsured.

Newspapers in New Zealand.—ln Victoria, with a population of three-quarters of a million, there are one hundred and twenty public journals. In New Zealand, with a population of 300,000, there are about fifty-live journals. Theatrical. — The Loyal troupe of male ami female gymnasts, who have been playing with great success in Auckland and other places in the North Island, may be expected to appear in Dunedin in about three wool; s or a mouth’s time.

Supreme Court. —Mr Justice Chapman held a sitting in bankruptcy this morning, when an exceedingly light list came before him. It would be highly satisfactory if we could think that the prevailing healthiness of trade was the cause of the diminution of this class of court business that has been going on for some time ; but we are inclined to believe it is as much owing to the institution of District Courts with insolvency jurisdiction. To day two bankrupts -Gerald Murphy and George Rogers—received final orders of discharge. Opera. —An Auckland contemporary of October 20, publishes a letter from Mr Lyster, announcing his attention to make a tour through the Colony this summer with an opera troupe. He says:—“ln order to ensure success, Signor Gagli and I have determined to take a double company—ltalian and English—with a full chorus of male and famale voices, and a good orchestra. The operas will be placed on the stage in a proper manner, with nothing neglected.” Obituary.—To-day wc arc called upon to record the death of Mr Geo. for many years Accountant in Bankruptcy, which occurred yesterday, after a long and painful illness. The deceased gentleman engaged in politics in Victoria, and on arriving in this Province in 1862 proceeded to the goldfields, whore for a time he tilled the editorial chair of the Dunstan 'Times, and for seme years was one of the Goldfields representatives in the General Assembly, and M. P.C. for the Dunstan. In February, 1866, Mr .Stafford appointed him to the then newly-created office of Accountant in Bankruptcy, which post he hedd up to the commencement of his illness, some live months since. Wool.—A Hobart Town paper of a recent date, says Estimating this season’s (Tasmania) wool-clips at five million pounds in round numbers, and the increase in the value of wool, as evinced by the increa c o in the merchants’ advance rate, at sixpence per lb., this represents an increase of 5,000,000 sixpences to the year’s income of the woolproducers of the Colony, or LI 25,000, which, if distributed over the Colony, would, taking the population at 100,000, and an average of five individuals to each family, be equivalent to a gift of L 6 5s to every family in the Colony. The effect of such an addition to the wealth of the community, cannot fail to make itself felt in giving new vigor to industries that are now drooping, while it should also lead to the introduction of other enterprizes calculated to benefit the community. What can be Bone in Victoria A remarkable proof has just been furnished of the progress of the manufacturing power of Victoria. The Government, a short time ago, sent instructions to our Agent-General to call for tenders for the construction of a number of railway engines, but the local machinists and founders raised such a tempest over it that these instructions were countermanded, and the local manufacturers were allowed the opportunity of tendering. Fifteen engines are wanted, and it was thought that if they could be constructed in the Colony at all, Melbourne alone could compete for the work. It has, however, turned out that the Ballarat founders and machinists can underbid those of Melbourne, and a tender has been accepted by the Government for the building of the fifteen engines by a Ballarat Company, the cost to be L5!)J)10, and the last of the engines to be delivered within GO4 months.

Princess Theatre.—lt put one in mind of the old days of the Princess’s to see the enthusiastic audience that witnessed the repetition of “Camille” on Saturday evening, Apart from the invariable failure of the play to draw a circle attendance, that portion of the house is always poorly attended on Saturday evenings; the lower parts were, however, crowded. We would repeat ali we said on the first occasion of Miss Colville’s representation of the Lady of the CanmUas, adding that in Mr Douglas she had a most valuable support. In no piece in which wo have yet seen him do we like him bettor than as Armand Duval, in the third act he fairly surpassed himself, and carried the house by storm by his impassioned acting iu the scene where he taunts Camille with having, as he faueie-*, sold hoi' love. With M ss Colville he was twice called before the curtain. To night “ Hamlet" will be produced, with Mr Hoskins as the melancholy Prince. Poslyn,—The lloslyn and Kaikorai Institute held their weekly meeting in the Roslyn Hall, on Friday evening Despite the inclemency of the weather a large number were present. Mr Munro was voted to the chair, and called upon the essayist for the evening, Mr Taylor, to read Ins essay, which was a second portion of a paper upon “ Dunedin iu 1871.” The essayist was complimented by some of the members presort on the amusing as well as interresting manner iu which he narated many of the events that occurred during the year. Ho dwelt biU-r ulia at some length upon the opening of the Otago University, and the iniiuenco for ; ood that such an institution was likely to have upon the sons of Otago ; and to the arrival of the first Sau Francisco mail steamer at Port Chalmers, the initiation of which service he considered an omen of Otago’s future position in the commercial world. It was intimated that the President, Mr A, H. Koss, would on Tuesday first read an essay upon “ the Development Theory as put forth by Dr Darwin.” Idle Capital.—The issue of the rec nt New youth Wales loan in the Colony ite<l was a measure whose prudence was variously viewed. Some argued that it would be better to import as much capital as possible, leaving the home fund for ordinary commercial and trading purposes. Others pointed out that there was abundance of money in the Colonies ; that those who would invest in Covcrnment securities were not bkely to embark their funds in trade or speculation, and that although some of the cash deposited at call, or at fixed periods, with the bankers, might lie withdrawn from them, that would be no evil, inasmuch as they already suffered from a want of profitable demand for accommodation. The best method of testing the value of these counter assertions was to try the loan, and the New South Wales Treasurer wisely did so. The

amount to be borrowed was under half-a* million sterling. The tenders were for about three times the sum wanted, and the premium offered ran as high as 6 per cent., and seems in no case to have been less than one-and-a-half. lb follows that there remains about LSOO.OOO pounds waiting for investment in Government securities.

Wc have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr Livingston, the agent, of Letts’ Diaries for 1873. The publisher apologises for the delay in getting out his work, necessitated by the strikes, which have spread to the printers ;. but, on looking through the specimens sent to us we observe the same accuracy, neatness of get-up, and profuseness of information which have in years past made Letts’ Diaries so valuable to business men.