Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 3047, 23 November 1872, Page 2

Almanao. —Mpfci.srK Dick, mid Co. have this year published ah Almanac and Directory, a copy of which wc have received. In addition to the usual calendar, it contains a great amount of information, which will be found useful, both in domestic and commercial life.

VV ait ak i-Mo i:k ak i Rai lava v. —The Oamaru, yv v/ //rv is informed on good authority that the iMighmer-in-i hief intends visiting the district' shortly, accompanied by Mr Henderson, Mr Brogden’s engineer, with a view to inspecting tire proposed line, in order to a tender for the line being given by Mr Brosden’s firm.

Aquatic. —The committee meeting in reference to the representation of Otago at t/,ie luterpro vincial llegatta, last evening, was uv poorly attended that it was decided to adjourn tijd Monday, when, if more interest is not taken in the rqattcr. the project Avill be abandoned. We hope for the eredit of the Province that no such result Aviil happen.

Acclimatisation, A gentleman, who is somewhat of an enthusiast in such matte: s, showed the Oamaru Times, the other da}', at a certain spot on the coast, not a hundred mi es from their office, a small basip apiong the rocks containing some Englili sea apem.pnes and star-fish, Avhich Avere apparently ip fipe fipallhy condition. This is, we think, the newest thing’jp apglimatisation.

The Oamaru Harbor Works.— The local paper says the Avorks at the Point are progressing favorably, some sixty 20 to 30 ton blocks being now ready for laying. The cone: etc appears to set exceedingly firm, and to become as hard as granite itself. A steam crane, to raise these and lower them to th“ir bed, is being manufactured in Dunedin, and is expected to be ready for delivery in January, It will cost nearly L2OOO. The Minister of Public Works. The Honorable Edward Richardson, Minister of Public Works, was accompanied by bis H.oppr the Superintendent, the promoters of the Fort Gjialmcrs Railway, and several gentlemen, jn a Hip aJ.ojrg the line this afternoon. Air Richanßqn eruiuined the works at Port v halmcrs and the Graying Dpcjc, and thanked the promoters f.a* their attention ami politeness in placing a carriage at his service,

Telegraphy, ---The Ary ns of a late date says ; —l lur .English telegram thi- morning Avell illustrates the advantages we enjoy fiom direct communication Aviih the mother country. The election of a President of the United States of America took place on Tuesday, and the result was on Wedne-day transmitted from London to Australia, the intelligence of General Gram’s re-election reaching Melbourne soon after eight o’clock last iiLlit. This achievement may be properly recorded amongst the telegraphic triumphs of the age.

Wesleyan. —At the meeting of the District, at Christchurch, on the JTOi iust., it was reported that the receipts of the Maori and Foreign Mission Fund from tho various circuits amounted to LJO4 8s lid. Of this Li! 4 10s 2d Avas voted to the missions in Fiji, Ac, and the balance to the Maoii Mission in Canterbury and Otago. A high tribute Avas paid to the Itov. Te Rote, the native minister, and it was resolved that in future he should itinerate through the Avholc of the Canterbury Province, and occasionally visit the Natives in Otago. The receipts of the Home Mission Fund for the

coming year were estimated at L3lO, Aid was promised towards the parsonage at Port Chalmers. It was unanimously carried—- “ That the meeting fully appreciating the proposed establishment of a separate Conference for New Zealand, cordially and unanimously request that- the first session. may be held in Christchurch. ” Roslyn.— The Roslyn and Kaikorai Institute held their weekly meeting in the Roslyn Hall, on Tuesday evening— Mr John (Lillies, Vice-President, in the chair. There were pr-sent about thirty members. An able essay was read by one of the members upon “ rtound,” illustrated by a number of experiments, in which the essayist was most successful. The members present complimented him on the able manner in which he treated his subject, and expressed a hope that ho would continue the subject on some future occasion. t-n Tuesday evening next Mr Win. Reid will deliver an essay upon the “ Life and Writings of Robert Burns,” Clutha Railway.—The Hon. E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works, accompanied by Mr W. N. Blair, District Engineer, and Mr A. J. Smyth, went over the portion of the line comprising sections 1, 2, and 3, and walked through the Caversham tunnel, yesterday. Mr Richardson carefully examined everything, and expressed himself well satislied with the manner in which the contracts had been executed The whole of the earthwork will be finished, as far as Brogdeu’s contract, five and three-quarter miles from town, by the end of December ; and as the rails and sleepers are already on the ground, it is expected that two months longer should see the line as far as Green Island ready for the running of trains. Caledonian —At last night’s meeting of the directory, the President intimated that he intended to give a gold medal as a prize for general excellence in the competition for the Society’s educational prizes. Mr Callender also notified his intention of giving as a prize, at the same competition, a handsome copy of the works of one of the poets of Scotland for the best recitation of ‘ • The wee wee German Lairdie. ” This competition will bo open to all schools. The Directors received with r- gret the resignation of Mr Kirkcaldy as Vice-President of the Society, and instructed the Secretary tf, cop gey to him their thanks for the warm interest he has always takep ijj. the Society, and the valuable services he has rendered to it.

A Fellow Feeling, <tc. The Wo'jija Express furnishes the following : “iu a criminal case heard at the recent Circuit Court, the jury retired from the box ppou uearipg pho .evidence, and after a short interval returned into pour't. ‘ ifow you gentlemen f questioned the clerk of arraigns. The foreman just got out'guil—when a non-concurrent juror essayed to speak. * Better retire, gentlemen,’ said his honor, and they retired accordingly. Upon arriving at the jury-room a somewhat animated scene ensued, The non-agreeing juror thus delivered hnnself ‘ Well, once I nearly got into troubl myself, and I was determined I’d never find a man guilty unless I was ctrtain upon the point—so there.' Defiantly slapping his pockets, in which reposed a few pounds of biscuits, he continued, ‘ I don’t care if you stay all night—l’ve got something with mo,’ The jury soon after returned into court with their refractory brother satisfied upon Ihe score of the prisoner’s guilt.” I :>i_m;aiLiTiov.—-Tbe immigrants by the ship Lady Jocelyn who were ffir engagement (says the Press) have all been placed, with the exception of eight families. We are informed that a much larger number of single men thoroughly accustomed to farm work and at least one hundred single women could have been engaged. 'lhe following were the rates of wages. .-—Families, LSO to L7O ; single men, from L 35 to L 45 ; carpenters. tis per day; tailors, L 52 per annum ; general servants; Lij-5 to L(j(| ; housemaids, L2O to L 25; nurses, L2O to 1..£5. — ihe following is a summary of trades and occupations of the immigrants per ship Christian M‘Auslaiul, which left Loudon on September oth for (dago There are equal to 202 navvies for Messrs Brogden and Son, 08 families, 14 farm servants, three carpenters, two farmers, live laborers, one baker, one hosier, two gardeners, one shepherd, 20 domestic servants, ope cook, two dairymaids, two dressmakers, 13 men "and rhrep women uudescribed.

Gold in the North Island,—ln the debate on Mr O’Rorko’s motion for the offering of rewards for the discovery of goldfields, Mr * ikies said:—“ Gold has been discovered, and in considerable quantities, in various part of the North Island, of which lie Avas aware, where it could not at present bg Avorkcd. He could assure the Native Minuter (Mr M'Lean) that he had had in his possession fog sniiie £pug or five years, specimens of gold-bearing quart?; from The north of Auckland, whore it could nob at present he worked but where he hupul it Avould I)o worked. He could also show him that from around Lake Taupo- -the very place, to which the expedition organised jointly by himself and the hun. member bad gone at the request of the Natives-he had gold in his possession, not iron pyrites, hut gold, found in two different places ; and that there avcto other places in the North Island from whence he had scon gold brought—between the Waikato and Lake Taupo—-and he bad maps in his possession Avhere he could put bis linger on the spot.”— llamard. Gaol. —Mr Strode, R.M., Senior Visiting Justice, Mr J. T. Thomson and the Hon. Captain Fraser, Visiting Justices, attended £j,t the'Haol at half-past II o’clock this forenoon, at the request pf tiie prispm r John Gallagher, umkr sentence of fifty lashes for gross and continued disobedience of orders. Gallagher expressed great contrition for his continued misconduct and his determination to go to Avork and obey orders. After a long consultation, the magistrates onion d that the. sentence referred to should r main in force for three months from this date, to he carried into effect at once by the Governor of the Gaol upon any repetition of misconduct within that period. We have a very great objection personally to the lash, and the infliction of any kind of physical pain, but it has had such a deterrent effect in especial instances, that wc are inclined to Avithdraw any opposition to it. Violence to Avomen and children by men might be so punished. We believe the class of men guilty of those offences Avould lie more affected by that than by any other , species of punishment. < die thing is certain, the discipline of the Gaol must be maintained at all hazards.

The Superintendent and Mr Reid. —The Od'iuarv Times considers that the dispute bctAvecn his Honor and Mr Reid is a very petty little quarrel between men Avho should be above allowing personal feeling to

interfere with their public duties. The subject, no doubt, will be fully and fairly ventilated when the Provincial Council meets. Much as this affair may be regretted, if rightly viewed it cannot fail of proving productive of good, it is patent that nothing so vhyxcTi contrltmt-ccl to tlie clisorganisation of the Otago Provincial Government—delayed the carrying out of public works sanctioned by Provincial Councils, &c., &c. as tha absence of tlie head of the Government and members of his Executive Council for mouths together. Experience has proved that is is impossible for one man to hold two offices, either of which to be efficiently filled, would require his constant attention and continuous presence. We therefore fully concur with the views propounded by the Superintendent as to the incompatibility of the position of a Minister of Public Works with that of the head of a Provincial Executive. We even go farther than this. We maintain that if Provincial Governments are to be continued, it is essential to their successful working that Superintendents as well as Executive officers should be disqualified for holding seat in the Assembly, ranch more for becoming members of the General Government. This practice has been too long permitted.

Theathic-'al. — News from Honolulu states that the Australian Star Combination, consisting of Madame Simonson, Martin Simonsen, Harry Kelly, Barry O’Neil, and Ben. Clark, arrived there from Auckland by the July steamer, played to a month’s very fair business, and then departed for the city of the Golden Gate. The Simonsen’s and Clark were immense favorites, and regret was felt when they cleared out.—Professor Plummer, an accomplished reader and elocutionist, talks of visiting New Zealand and Australia before returning to America.— Poor Anthony White died, leaving a wife and family very badly off; but we are glad to see that Lis brother professionals iu Canterbury aud Dunedin are doing something for them. In Christchurch a special peiformauce was given by the Steol-Howard troupe, the house, lighting, aud printing being free ; so that the receipts may be something respectable. in Dunedin some 1.30 has been collected. Apro]>os 'ot the last-mentioned collection, the Dunedin correspondent of the Ttmpeka Times says the late Mr White, when acting at the Princess Theatre for a long time, played iu comedy with an actress well-known in Dunedin, and for whom, well as for the other professionals, lid wsifl kind-hearted enough on more than one occasion to do little favors iu the way of copying and altering parts, &c., and other things which those who have any knowledge of behind the scene stage matters, can wcl{, iinuerspm.l. Playing nightly wiph ‘liivn g# lung, in ought have been snppospd that lady (who, by the way, is reputed to bo the possessor of cash and jewellery to the extent of two or three thousand pounds), would have had sufficient of the milk of human kindness in her heart to assist to a moderate extent the widow who has been left destitute. But no ; fur on being appealed to by Mr Hoskins, who is endeavoring to raise funds for Mrs White, the “ chaiming” lady, after some searching in her pockets, produced eighteen pence, and finally raised the donation to the munificent sum ot two shillings and sixpence ! It is to be hoped that this worthy display of liberality will bear the fruit it deserves.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Investment Society, for receiving -subscriptions, &c., viil be held on Monday evening, from six to eight o’clock.

The laying of the foundation atone of the new Knox Church takes place on Monday, at four p.m., and along with the tricentenary of John Knox will be celebrated by a soiree, to be held in the present church in the evening. The Rev. Dr. Stuart will preside at the soiree.