YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3122, 20 February 1873, Page 3

YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

Our Wellington telegrams yesterday mentioned that the Governor had given LIOO to the New Zealand University to found a scholarship. Tbe Press understands that it is to found a prize, to be called the “ f’owen Prize,” for an English essay.

An inquest was held at Otakia, on Tuesday, before Mr James Fulton, district coroner, touching the death of John B. Kirk, aged ten years. Ifc transpired that on the morning of the 17th the lad was told by his father to pull a boat across the Taieri river, and being missed a short time afterwards, a search was instituted, resulting in the recovery of the body at ten o’clock the same night. A verdict of “ Accidently drowned ” was returned.

It may be interesting to many of our readers to learn that, according to an announcement in the Melbourne Anjus, it appears that a movement to establish in the Colony a Masonic Grand Lodge has been started by a number of the craft, who think that the lodges of Victoria have now become so numerous and influential, that they need no longer be subject to a grand lodge at the other end of the world, especially as the maintenance of existing relations takes annually very considerable suras from the revenue of the colonial lodges. A meeting of the craft has been called to consider the question.

In replying for New Zealand to the toast of “ The Delegates,” at the banquet to the Intercolonial representatives, Mr Reynolds is reported to have said : —“ On behalf of the Colony of New Zealand, and as sole repreiefatative of that Colony present on that occasion [Mr Vogel being absent through illness], he thanked them for the honor they had conferred, not only upon himself, but tfcp Colqny of New Zealand, which, he was afraid, was very little known in Australia. The population of New Zealand was comparatively small, but ho could boast that before five years had passed it wonld exceed the population of Victoria. He would not say it would exceed the population of New South Wales, because he had great faith in the prosperity of New South Wales. Tie had said it behind the backs of the delegates ns well as in their presence ; he had said it in Victoria and in the presence of his brother delegates, that he believed in hew South Wales and Queensland taking the lead of the Australian group, and after New South Wales and Queensland he expected that New Zealand would be placed third. New Zealand was third at the piescnt time, and he believed would continue to be so. 1 .’ 1 hj ;i i-i -i t- 1 >• An experiment has recently been made at the large hall of the Melbourne Athemoum which is well worth the notice of those who have to do with rooms which, on account of their defective acoustic properties, are imsuited for public speakers. When the congregation of the Scots’ Church commenced worshipping at the Athonnmm it was found that a great strain was placed upon the Rev, P. S. Menzics’ voice, and it was with great difficulty that he could make himself heard throughout the hall. Various experiments were made to obviate this difficulty, but these were in vain. At last one of the committee of management saw a suggestion in a Caithness paper, which was taken from an American scientific paper. It was to the effect that wires should be stretched a ross the room so as to break the waves of round, and prevent any echo of the voice of the speaker. The suggestion was put into practice, and several wires were placed in position. They were found to answer admirably. and tlie following week several more were placed in position. Mr Menjpes, was then heard throughout the •bujldjng with perfipt easo. One advantage attending the of Wires is that the buiimpg is ip no tvayffisfigured, as they are almost imperceptible, audio no way annoy the vi-ion,

‘The Bells” was presented at the Prince« last evening. The scene of the play is laid m the Province of Alsace, France, and the plot is as follows :-Fifteen years befo e the opening of the dyama a Polish Jew was ipurdcyecl in a treacherous manner by Mathias Sjan innkeeper), who committed the f|e£d in order to obtain possession of a largo Bum pf money which was op tbe person of vjvMw- Ik? Olives

ill gotten gain, and ultimately became chief magistrate of his native village, and was respected by all who knew him. Although successful as far as worldy matters were concerned, the conscience of the burgomaster was incessantly at work. At the time when t ! 'o murder was committed, the Jew had just left the Iruse of the innkeeper in as l dgo, ii being winter time. As is usual, the trappings of the horse were hung with hells, and, in the midst of festive scenes, the round of these bells rung in the crts of Mathias, calling to his recollection the fearful circumstances under which he had taken the life of his guest. His mind is so much wrought upon that he sleeps in a room alono, afraid that a word might drop from him, tending to attract suspicion. During the progress of the piece he retires to rest, and has a fearful dream, which is realised to the audience hy the scene being drawn aside, and a court of justice is presented to view, with Mathias on his trial for ths murder of the Jew. In the course of his examination he contradicts himself several times, hut in the end justice is satisfied by toe introduction of a professor of mesmerism, who, by the aid of the power he possesses, draws forth from the guilty man a circumstantial and vivid account of how the deed was done, and bis motive for doing it. The piece terminates in the death of the burgomaster from the constant strain on his nerves arising from the prickings of a guilty mini. The weight of the drama falls upon Mr Colber, who enacted the part of Mathias in a most creditable manner, Mrs Walter Hill, as Annette, the daughter of the burgomaster, acted and dressed hrr part admirably. What little Mr Douglas had to do was done well, and the same may be said of Messrs Musgrave and Hill in their respective parts. “ That Nose” concluded the evening’s entertainment. The same programme will be repeated this evening ; and we may safely promise all lovers of the sensational that there is a rich treat in store for them.