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Evening Star, Issue 3100, 25 January 1873, Page 2

Formosa" continues to attract good houses to the Princess’ Theatre, notwithstanding the counter attraction of the Opera. That large numbers nightly assemble to see this true picture of life among certain classes of English society is equally complimentary to the author who wrote it, and the performers who interpret Ijls Idogs.

Our advices from Melbourne inform us# of the breaking up of the agreement amongst the Banks respecting discounts. The movement has extended to this Colony, and the Union Bank has announced that the charge for discounting two months’ bills will be at the rate of three per cent; three months, four per cent. ; and four months, five per cent.

A meeting of the directors of the Cale donian Society was held at Wain’s Hotel last evening, and was largely attended, The chief business transacted was the making of final arrangements for the celebration of the anniversary of the Scottish poet. Burns, by a dinner at Wain’s Hot* 1 on Monday evening. It was stated that Professor Blaok will propose the toast of the evening. The competition for prizes for recitations of Burns’s poems will take place at the University buildings at 2.30 this afternoon. They say that when Mr Woods, one of King Cakobau’s Cabinet Ministers, was lately in Sydney, ho conceived that he was not treated with the courtesy and ceremony to which his high office entitled him, Mr Parkes, to whom the complaint was made, delicately hinted that there was, perhaps, some difference between the relative importance and dignity of the offices they respectively occupied. “< f course there is,” retorted Woods; “I am the Prime Minister of a kingdom—you are the Chief Secretary of a dependency I” The competition for prizes offered by the Caledonian Society, with a view to encouraging the study of the Burns literature, took place in the Tj niversi y Hall this afternoon. Tin President, Mr K. Ramsay, and the judges, Messrs Callender, Kirkca tly, and Findlater, were present. There were ten competitors. The prizes were awarded as follows r—l, John Brown, “ Burns’s Address to a Haggis;” 2, Jane Macdonald, “Man was made to Mourn.” Elizabeth Park, Jane Blakely, and Cha lea A£onteith, were awarded prizes for the recitation of “Mary in Heaven.” The President stated that the competition was merely experimental on the part of the Society, but that, from the success that had attended it, no doubt the directors would give a greater number of more valuable prizes next year.

The pedestrian world was astounded some months ago by the splendid time made by Hewitt in Christchprcb, New Zealand, when he ran half-a-mile on a road in 1 minute 53 £ seconds, or one second and a half under the best time on record for this distance. Hewitt, having heard that many people in Melbourne have expressed doubts as to the correctness of the time and distance, advertises that he is prepared to run in the same time over the same distance of ground, if a sufficient sum of money be subscribed to make it worth his while to go into training, and if he fails to accomplish the feat he is willing to forfeit all. The offer is regarded as a fair one, and it is said there will be no difficulty in raising sufficient money by subscription to put Hewitt to the test whether he can do the fastest half-mile on record. I he conditions spoken of are that Hewitt must have five weeks for training, and he must select the day on which to perform, so that he may not be compelled to run in the teeth of a strong wind, or adverse weather. With regard to the assault committed on the Kev. Father DoprtVan a few days ago, au4 qM in 9> letter jo yes-

terday’s Evening Btar, we are informed that an ample apology has been made, and accepted by the Rev. Father Donovan ; and that it is the desire of the latter that no further notice should bo taken of the matter. “The offender” writes to us as follows : - “With reference to the letter headed 4 Cowardly Assault,’ I beg, as the person who jostled the Kev. Father Donovan on the occasion referred to, to explain that your correspondent ‘ A lover of order,’ is entirely wrong in stating that three persons were concerned in the affair. Xu justice to the gentlemen who were with me, and who witnessed the assault, I beg to state that they had nothing whatever to do with it, and entirely disapproved of it; and in simple justice to them I entirely exonerate them from an\ participation in the affair. In conclusion, 1 may state that no one can regret the affair more than I do, and that every possible means of repairing the injury has.been adopted to, I hope and believe, the entire satisfaction of the rev. gentleman.”

A special meeting of the Canary and Poultry Association will be held in the Bub and Mouth Hotel on Monday, Jan 27, at b p.m.

Mr Britton begs to acknowledge the receipt of several gifts of poultry, toys, pastry &c., for the Industrial school during the holidays.

In the Mayor’s Court, yesterday, one of the prisoners referred to the landlord of tin Australasian Hotel as Mr Hutton ; it should have been Mr Shields.

A lecture will be delivered by Bro. R. Stout, in the Lodge Room of the Loyal Leith Lodge, I, 0.0. F., on Monday evening next at 8 o’clock. Subject: 44 Chit-chat.” We are glad to see that coal from the lower seam at Mr Pollock’s collieries, at Green Island, may now be obtained at tht road side. We understand toe c >al is of a very superior quality to any hitherto ob taiued.

This evening, Madame Cora do Lamono makes her first appearance at the Masonic Hall. The attractions promised are various as in addition fo the entertainment in legerdemain, at which Mademoiselle Christina, and Master Walter, will assist, there are to becertain presents distributed, some of which are valuable. This evening the leading gift is to be a silver-plated tea and coffee set.