YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3141, 14 March 1873, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

The Ardmore Station has been purchased by Mr J. F. Herbert, of Lawrence, for the sum of L‘20,000. His Honor Judge Gray has received twelve months’ leave of absence. During his wellearned holiday, the District Court of the Otago goldfields will probably be presided over by Judge Ward. It is said that a “Tourists’ Book to Lake Wakatip” is shortly to be published at Queenstown. Mr Richardson, late town clerk of that place, is spoken of as the author, and the work is to be printed and published by the Wakatip Mail office. It is proposed to illustrate the book with photographs. A full length portrait in oil of the late Mr John M'Glashan, whose name is closely and honorably associated ■with, the early history of this Province, was hung in the hall of the Provincial Council yesterday, in close proximity to those of the Rev. I ’r. Bums and Captain Cargill, It, like the other two painted, is by Mr Irvine, and those who knew Mr M'Glashan, and have seen the picture, pronounce it an excellent likeness. The background and surroundings are carefully and artistically worked out. The drama of “The Hop-pickers and Gipsies” and the farce of “The Widow’s Victim” were repeated at the Princess Theatre, last evening. The former piece was excellently played and entertaining, and the latter was very amusing, particularly the scene in which Mr Collier imitates Mr Hoskins and several other well-known actors. This evening, Mrs Walter Hill will take a benefit, when it is hoped she will receive the acknowledgment her talents so well deserve —a crowded house. The programme advertised is excellent of itself, and sufficiently attractive to ensure a large patronage. The drama of “ East Lynne” and the farce of “ State Secrets, or the Tailor of Tamworth,” are the pieces announced.

Between the Ist November and the 30th April, remarks the Tuapcha Times, on an average L 9,500 are given annually away in prizes for horseracing iu the Province of Otago. During the Christmas and New Year holidays the amount expended in prizes for various sports exceeds 12,500. On the various racecourses of the Province there is annually spent L 21,500 in liquor. This makes a total of L 33,500 devoted every year to sporting. Not so bad for a Province of 70,000 inhabitants of essentially not sporting tastes. Nearly one-half of the population never visits a racecourse, and a considerable proportion consider sporting 'of every description disreputable. There is scarcely a legitimate sporting man in the whole Province, scarcely a decent racehorse owned in it, and betting is not indulged in to any extent. The principal part of the money given as prizes goes to horse breeders and livery stable keepers resident in Canterbury, who annually send their horses to the Otago meets, thereby annually draining Otago of a considerable sura.