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Evening Star, Issue 3144, 18 March 1873, Page 2

Our readers must not forget to see that their names are placed on the Electoral Roll, with their proper addresses, before the 31st of this month. There is a tendency to overlook this in the hurry and bustle of everyday life, and some persons are apt to think it of no moment, as there is no likelihood of their being called upon to exercise the franchise for a year or two. Under this impression many persons neglect to register, and find, to their regret, when an unexpected election takes place, that, through their apathy, they have lost the opportunity cf supporting one would much like to see in the Provincial Council, or in Parliament. We have just now an instance in point through the resignation of Mr E. B. Cargill: another resignation is probable, audit is far from unlikely that, before anothei year, there will be a general election for the House of Representatives. Under these circumstances it would amount to political suicide, to become politically annihilated, through sheer neglect. Senselessly enough, even the right to speak in a public meeting objecting to or supporting a resolution, is denied to non-electors, as if all wisdom lay with the men whose names are on the roll, and no others had a right to think or speak ; while in reality those gatherings were originally intended to give non-electors the opportunity of expressing their ideas, so that the electors might understand their wants and wishes. But as our modern politicians generally silence non-voters by claiming the political right to put them down, the mistake, when coincided in, becomes a fitting penalty for the neglect of acquiring so valuaable a privilege. We recommend all who have the right—political friends and political opponents—to qualify themselves to vote, by seeing that their names are properly registered.

Coach fare from Winton to Kingston, a distance of seventy-five miles, is two shillings each way. 'This is rather a hot opposition. Messrs Nikle and Co, have undertaken the construction of a bridge over the Clutha Kiver at Beaumont, which will be at once proceeded with. The cases set down for hearing before his Honor Mr Justice Chapman at the Supreme Court, to-morrow, have been postponed until the 2(3th inst. The lowest tenderers for the construction of the Naseby Sludge Channel were Messrs John Farmer and Co., whose tender of LIB,OOO has been accepted. There were two other tenders within LSOO each.

While a child, two years of age, son of Mr MTfae, Lovell’s Flat, was on Friday afternoon amusing himself at the fireside in his father’s house, he fell into the ash-pan, and before he was rescued he was severely burnt npon the back, and down the left leg to the foot. The Dunedin branch of the H.A.C.B.S.* which is a friendly society conducted on Catholic principles, was inaugurated last evening in St, Joseph’s schoolroom by Mr Joyce, of the St. Ignatius branch, Richmond, Victoria, who read an address, after which the initiation of rnembers and the election of office-bearers took place. The office-bearers arc, president, Mr E. Carrol, 1 .; vice-prc-sient, Mr if. Carroll ; treasurer, Mr E. Downey; secretary, Mr F. J. Bunny; warden, Mr C. Bunny ; guardian, C. Fearon; The secretary made a short statement of the movement, branches of which are to be established throughout the Province ; and it was intimated that it was intended to hold a conceit t;p enable the Society to clear off its small debt.

A meeting of residents in the Kaikorai district was held in the drill-shed there last evening, to consider the state of the bridge across the swamp near the Kaikorai Church. Mr Cunningham was called t,o the chair. After some discussion the following resolution was carried : —“That it being tjic opinion of this meeting that the bridge proposed to he erected on the Half-way Basil road, across the swamp, near the Kaikorai Church, is not of sufficient width to allow of the water being carried away, it is hereby resolved that a deputation consisting of the Rev. Mr Blake, Messrs Driver, Stout, Hepburn, C. Allan, Cunningham, Taylor, and Newman be appointed a deputation to wait upon his Honor the Superintendent, and request that such be raised at teast eight feet from its present level, and also that the channel be widened to the extent of eight feet.” The question of draining the swamp was afterwards considered, and Mr C. Taylor appointed to convene a meeting of landowners interested, with a view to getting the work carried out at the earliest possible date. The drapery firm of Messrs A. and T, Inglis, in George street, is about to make such extensive additions to its present premises as will materially improve the appearance of that portion of the city. The present buildings cover an area of seventythree feet by sixty-two, and are one storey in height. It is proposed to extend these to a depth ef 143 feet from George street, and raise them to'a height Of three storeys. The first floor will comprise the shop ; it “will bo furnished with handsome fittings, and when finished wifi present an attractive appearance. The show and work rooms will be immediately over the shop, and will be provided with all the necessary accommodation for lady customers. The upper storey will he used as workshops and storerooms, Means of communication between the various parts of the building seem perfect, while arrangeineats for the. convenience of the

public have not been omitted. The alterations, amounting almost to a new building, will be carried out in brick, with stone facings. Mr David Ross is the architect. Our correspondent “Local Abstainer” will obtain the infnrmtion he seeks from the subjoined paragraph of the Bruce. HerahV.f Dunedin correspondent’s last letter : “The Rev. Mr Reid has done a thing which most people I come across strongly condemn. It is a striking comment on the religious liberty of this nineteenth century. Dr Dunn is a teetotaler, and for years has been recognised in .America as an able advocate of temperance principles. It is one of the glories of the temperance movement that it is wholly unsectarian in its character, and has united men of all shades of religious opinions in one common effort for the accomplishment of a great good to our common humanity. Acting on this well recognised principle, the committee of the Dunedin Rand of Hope, which holds its meetings in the schoolroom of Trinity Wesleyan Church, invited Dr Dunn to take part in an entertaiment to take place on Friday next. Mr Reid, I am informed, has interdicted Dr Dunn speaking in the schoolroom of his church. He may not come there even to advocate total ab tinencc from strong drink I am not sure whdher Mr Reid is personally responsib'e for this act, or whether the trustees of the Church have had to do with it, nor do I know what their motive was. if they desired to preserve their building from the contaminating influence of Dr Dunn's presence, they have failed in their purpose, For he was in their < hurch last Sabbath evening. If they wished to express their disapproval of Dr Dunn’s religious teaching, they did that very emphatically and more Clieiently last Sabbath evening in the lecture, of Mr Reid. If they desired to prevent Dr Dunn speaking to the young people, or to others, they have taken the worst possible means to effect their object. The entertainment is not hindered, nor is Dr. Dunn prevented from taking part in it, only the place of meeting is changed ; the cost of the Oddfellows’ Hall, which has been engaged for the occasion, is lost to the Band of Hope, and by so much is that institution injured, while the enemies of our faith have got a new cause of offenc *, and increased interest is given to the proscribed man and his sayings. Had Dr Dunn been chargeable with any impropriety, irre gnlarity, or immorality, I could have understood this personal persecution of him ; as it is, I cannot, except as a piece of religious intolerance.”

A meeting of the member.-) of the A.0.F., Court Pride of Dunedin, o. .3780, will be held in the Friendly Societies’ Hall, Princes street, to-morrow evening at 8 oV-lock. Amongst the members of the Royal Magnet Troupe, which opens on Thursday, we notice some familiar names ; Mos-rs Herman, Buckley, and Holly are old favorites here, while we feel sure that the reappearance of Mr Small will be hailed with satisfaction.