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Evening Star, Issue 3073, 24 December 1872, Page 2

In accordance with the custom adopted by this office, there will bo no publication ot the Evenini! ;Stah to-morrow. An extensive bush fire has been racing in the neighboriiood of Blue-kin Hie whole day.

The Auckland Provincial Government have placed upon the Estimates and passed through the Council a vote of L-oO as a grant in aid of a juvenile reformatory, Caotain Dal y, Deputy-Chairman of the Auckland Chamber or Commerce, has resigned his post, because of the general apathy of the Auckland commercial men in icfcrencc to the action of the Chamber.

Tim resignation by Mr W. Stuart of Blackmount, in this Province, of his appointment as a Justice of the Peace has been accepted. Mr Geo. Milne has been appointed deputy-harbor master for Waikava.

The information which our contributor, “ Prompter,has furnished from time to time as to the movements of the opera cornpony, proves to be tolerably correct, Jbe troupe open in tbc Queen’s Theatre about January 10 in “Trovatore.’ Their agent here is Mr PI. Wi-e, who advertises the prices of admission, and is prepared to give all necessary information to intending patrons. More hands are evidently wanted at Hawke’s Bay, The Herald points to its -‘wanted” column, and says “We might have supposed that the large number of laborers and domestic servants who ai rived by the Ballarat and Hording would have supplied our necessities in that line for some time yet to come. So far, however, is this from being the case, that tlxore are at present half-a-dozen applications for domestic servants, and a good deal more than that number of applications for workmen and artisans of various descriptions.

Political excitement runs very occasionally in the Canterbury Provincial Council, so much so that some of the members at times exceed legitimate bounds for the purpose of averting defeat. At a recent meeting of the Council a division was called for, when it was discovered that Ihe division bell had been removed from the lobby, in consequence of which the usual siinai for a division could not be given. Ultimately the article was recovered, and the division was accomplished. The evidence given yesterday at the inquest touching the cause of the melancholy death of the ivev. John Williams, Baptist Minister, was not considered complete. The enquiry, therefore, was adjourned until Friday next, at the City Council Chambers, for the evidence of Mr Mitchell, who was seated on the box of the coach with Mr Williams when the accident occurred, and also for that of a young lady who was an inside passenger. We refrain !rom making any remarks regarding the matter until after the jury have recorded tlmir verdict. The Masonic Ball, which is to take place on Friday next, we have reascji t>n believe will be a great success. His Excellency and Lady Bowen have consented to attend, an I Captain Chapman and the officers of H. M. S, Dido, who are Masons, will be present. Captain Chapman has kindly lent his flags for the occasion, and the decoration of the hall will be arranged by Mr VVa d, so that on the whole there is every reason to believe that the ball will be the most successful one ever held by Masons in the Colony. JR.W. D.G.M. Bro. J. H. Harris has granted the necessary dispensation to English Masons to appear in regalia. Our Thames morning contemporary tells the following :—A defendant in a case in tbc Resident Magistrate's Court, recently, stepped forward when called on, and frankly confessed lie was owing tile money, and when asked why then he did not pay it. replied “that bis mother would not let him.” This caused some amusement, for defendant was an able-bodied fellow, and about six feet high. He said be was twenty years of age. His Worship ordered him to pay the amount within a c(vt?,in time, and, in this case, not to mind what Ins pother said. Defendant left evidently well pleased at having judicial sanction to obey bis conscience.

A correspondent writing from Alhortown, Lake Hawea, says : —“ n sinking a hole for a fence post on the ITawea block, the remains of an ancient encampment weredis.covercd two feet underground. The Maroriri apparently had a greater appreciation for the Hawea block than the European settler seems to have, as notwithstanding the great outcry for land being opened here as yet there is but one hearth on the block. Hawea Lake is six feet higher than it usually is at this time of the year. It is well for the dwellers on the banks of the Molyneux that Lakes VVanaka ank Hawea give otV their Mood water so gradually. 1 '

A meeting of the General Commiltcc of the Otago Agr cultural and Pastoral Association was held last evening, at the Criterion Hotel, MrW, A. Tolmie in the chair. A number of arrangements were made for the ■■how on Thursday next, which, from the large number of entries made, promises to be a great success. Stewards were appointed, as also Judges. The interest shown by gentlemen outside the Province may bo gathered from the fact that a number of gentlemen arrived by the Phiebo, while others arc expected by the ilangitoto from Canterbury Province.

A party of tradesmen, gaol officers, and prisoners have been employed for the past week, and will be for some time, erecting a jetty at Mr ilaynhird’s, Upper Harbour, East district, Peninsula ; and it has been arranged that the harbour steamers shall run regularly, calling at this jetty. A frenuent and. easy access is thus afforded do this picturesque suburban retreat. Mr f aynhird finds the whole of the material for the jetty, the Government very liberally and praiseworthily giving prison labor free. After the completition of this work the party will be jvm .ved to Port Chalmers, for the purpose of erecting buoys and dolphins, under the direction of Captain Thomson, Harbor ■Master, In view of these improvements," the picturesque larir<uage. of Lord Erskinc in one. of his nqble,<|t matiouts E apropos— M The restlew ippfc pj

English adventure is uuceaseingly encroaching on so many deserts ; and the tried virtue of the English character is converting them into flourishing abodes of civilised life.”

The report of the manager of the Canterbury railways states that “ when oim of the engines was re.ently stripped for repairs, the boiler was found to be nearly eaten through with rust in several places.” The real cause of this was, the Pretsti says, that the engine had been allowed to run for something like five years without having the boiDr examined--instead of being examined once every year—and when it was at last done, the smith’s hammer went through the plate at the first tap. Of course it was merely a chance that the boiler hud not burst, and some frightful catastrophe happened. Suppose that this had occurred, and ten or a dozen persons had been killed, who would have been held responsible ? Our morning contemporary at the Thames relates the following A very singular discovers' of what may have been the cause of more than one disastrous conflagration in this Province was accidentally made by a draper in Orahamstowu lately. Whilst breaking up an old package, which had contained imported goods, two pieces were found to contain entire wax vestas, embedded in recesses underneath the nails driven into the wood. In one instance the nail had flattened the vesta, but left; it uncxploded ; and in the other the vesta was almost uninjured, with the head outwards, immediately underneath the head of the nail : and in both cases recesses had apparently been bored for t heir reception. The slightest friction would probably uullice to ignite the matches, and, from the well-known resinous and inflammable nature of the light wood of which these cases arc composed, there is no doubt of the consequences. The matter is one that should be inquired into. MV lug I is, a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council, in speaking upon the education question, said that from statistics he held in his hand it appeared that in the Piovincc of Canterbury the population was -18,1)00, of which 21,450 were children under Jifrccn. Of this number 12,20(1 were between five and fifteen years, only .1070 of whom att-. ruled denominational and district schools, which showed that about 0.100 children were not attending any public schools at all ; and when he came to the Christchurch electoral district he found that there were 2000 children between the ages of live and fifteen years, (if these only 1224 were attending public schools, leaving 1082, or MS per cent., who wore not attending any schools at all. lie thought the Council would agree with him that this was a perfectly appalling state of things to exist in their midst, and that it was time that something was done in the matter. It seemed to him pretty clear, from what he had said, that the denominational schools were not doing their work. The question of the development cf the coal-lields of the Colony is not altogether being permitted to drop. At the -meeting of gentlemen held at Messrs Bitimno and Hunter’s office, Wellington, to consider the question of establishing a company, with a large capital, to work • ho Brunner mine, it was decided that information on the various important points connected with the subject, should be gained before anything was done. The one who kindly volunteered to do this duty has been actively at work. The terms on which the mine could be leased, the facilities that would be afforded by the Government, the depth of water iu the river, and the amount of support a company would obtain in this Colony, are to be special subjects for enquiry. The Pod says Should the information on these points be satisfactory, then investigation will be extended to Australia, and data as to the cost of machinery, rate of labor, &c., will be obtained.” All this is.to be laid before a meeting yet to be held, when the question of the formation of a company will probably lie settled.

The various butchers, poulterers, confectioners, ami others in the city, temptingly displayed their wares last evening, in anticipation of the Christmas trade. The butcheis’ shops were tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowers, and every description of meat looked superior in quality, Tire exhibits of the City Company and Messrs M ‘Donald and Boring’s shops d' serve special mention--the former for beef and veal, and the, latter for beef and mutton. A. carcase of veal shown by the Company, weighing 2150 lbs, ami another, six weeks’ old, weighing 17 ’ lbs, were much admired, while enormous carcases of beef and mutton exhibibjted by Mecsrs McDonald and Boring were pronounced the best offered this season. The shops of Messrs Asher, Wilson, Stobr, and Simpson, respectively, looked very pretty, and the goons shown received most favorable criticism. Mr Jewitt’s shop in Princes street seemed completely lined with poultry of every description, some of which were remppkable for size and plumpness, while Mr Harper, i,n the Arcade, had a good display. The various confectioners’ shop windows ■were well tlressdl, and Mr WAS specia’ly noticeable for the fine bridal cakes that were shown.

There is plenty of amusement for pleasureseekers on Boxing day. First amongst the sights and amusements to be provided for them is the Oddfellows’ Fete, which is likely to take a prominent place. The society has the credit of organising the first large railway excursion to take place in the Province ; and we understand that the railway company have completed tlicip arrangements for carrying a large number «f travcJßps. His Excellency the Governor and Bady Bowen will visit the ground at twelve o’clock. The Committee are using every eflort to provide amusement for the large numbers expected to visit the ground. Besides the ordinary sports there will be a large number of gifts distributed, many of them of very considerable value Writing desks, work-boxes, clocks, spar ornaments, field glass, E. P. card basket, dolls, toys, &c., arc amongst the articles which the Committee, have decided to amuse visitors with by giving away; and for them visitors showing their railway tickets at the committee’s tent on the ground, will receive gift tickets. Persons intending to go to the pic-uic will hear with pleasure that there is plenty of shade to bo found close to the ring. It is iut' uded that a party of Oddfellows will lead, the assemblage in singing “ Pule Britannia ” and tire National Anthem, with band accompaniment, during tjjc (lovornor’s stay, and slips containing the stanzas to bo snug will be obtain aide at tbo committee’s tent. The Harbor Company’s steamers will make their customary trips down the bay ami to the heads, and on the ciickct ground two good matches will be played. In tbc evening there will be the pantomime ; and “The Loyals,” assisted by Miss Bow ring, open at the Masonic Hall.