The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 3045, 21 November 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1872.

Political.— Thu Hon. the Commissioner of Customs and the Hon. the Minister of Justice left to-day by the Nebraska for Wellington, It is understo cl that the Hon the Treasurer and the Hon. Air Reynolds will attend the Intercolonial Conference, to he held at Sydney on the 9th proximo, on behalf of this Colony.

New Shipping Company.— A New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, has been floated in Christchurch, with a capital of LIOO.OOU in LIO shares. Tne first issue of 5000 shares will be allotted in Canterbury, and 5500 are already subscribed for. The second lot of 5000 shares will be reserved for the other Provinces. The promoters of the Company are the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Limited, and Messrs Could, Rhodes, iM'Lean, btudholmo, Montgomery, Buckley, Birch, Anderson, Coster, Williams, Wilson, Sawtell, Beeves, Turner, and Peacock. Masonic Hall.—The performance last evening was a repetition of the previous evening’s programme, and went of! exceedingly well. To night, a change will be made. Not'only will Mr Bickards introduce several comicalities entirely new to the public of Dunedin, but Mr’ Hallam will sing the muleteer song from “Hie Bose of Castile, ’ “ Margaretta,” “Come into the Carden, Maud,’’ “My own, my Guiding Star,” and other songs rendered celebrated by JSims Beeves, and which. Mr Hallam is perfectly able to give with taste and effect. It is often that opportunity is afforded of hearing such favorite ballads so splendidly sung. Princess Theatre. —We were sorry on two grounds to see only a thin house at the Princess Theatre last evening: first, because the “Merchant of Venice” is one of .Shakespeare’s best plays, and we should be glad to see a taste of the true drama more prevalent, and secondly because the acting, the dressing, and the scenery were all good, audit is at all times vexatious to see talent wasted. Most probably the mail night interfered with the attendance, although we fear that Dunedin, like many other cities, contains more admirers of Shakespeare amongst its literati than the public. “London Assurance” will be repeated to-night, a piece that never fails to draw, and which will bear seeing again and again, and Mr Douglas, will recite “ Shamus O’Brien, or a tale of ,( JS.” A Prisoner Sentenced to be Flooded. —We understand that Mr Strode, B.M. and Senior Visiting Justice ; Mr J. T. Thomson, V.J. ; and the Hon. Capt. Fraser, V.J., attended at the Gaol at half-past two o’clock this afternoon, and investigated a charge of gross and continued disobedience of orders against prisoner John Gallagher, and sent', need him to received 50 lashes with the cat-o’-nine-tails. Sooner than work, Gallagher seems to prefer actual torture ; and be will often rather lie in the punishment cells on bread and water than work in the open air on the full diet of the Gaol. Niue months' solitary confinement has been found, after various trials, as much as a prisoner can undergo without the risk of enfeebling bis mind, or oTierwise rendering him unlit to take his place in the world. Gallagher received 12 lashes on the bare back with the cat on Friday last.

The members of the City Guards will muster at the Drill Shed to-morrow evening at 7.20 for parade. A meeting of the congregation of St. Peter’s Church, Gavcrsham, will be held in the schoolhouse to-morrow (Friday) evening at 8 o’clock, Members of the .Scottish Company will muster at the Octagon at 7.15 pm. tomorrow to march to the Norh Dunedin Recreation Ground for battalion parade. We notice that u series of lectures in aid of the North Dunedin Presbyterian Church building fund will be given shortly. Further particulars will be found in another column.