The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3185, 6 May 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1873.

A well-informed correspondent telegraphs to us from Wanganui“ The general Maori opinion here is that Tawhaio will shield Sullivan’s murderers. They recognise it a 8 a political offence, and think the Government 'will take no notice of ft, citing Todd’s murder as a precedent.”

Amongst the items of news respecting Dunedin and the doings of its inhabitants, that occasionally surprise us, we extract the following from the Wanganui Weekly Herald : —“ It is reported that Mr Copeland, late of Marshall and Copeland, the celebrated brewers of Dunedin, has seld out of the firm for L 36,000.” The football match—Scotch v. English—came off on Saturday; but, after a two hours’ hard struggle, neither side managed to secure a goal, although several times during the game both sides all but obtained one. It is proposed to play a match at Oamaru on the 24th inst., or on the 12th of next month, which will be decided at the meeting on Wednesday as per our advertising columns. At the sitting of the Provincial Council this • morning, Mr H. S. Fish gave notice hat to-morrow he would move an address, !n reply to that of his Honor the Superintendent. Some amusement was by vJr Thomson giving notice that to-morrow he would ask why Mr John Bathgate, Provincial Solicitor, did not, in virtue of his iffice, take his seat on the Executive benches. The usual fortnightly meeting of the doming ton Band of Hope ws*s held in the tehoolhouse, Mornington, last night. The .’resident in the chair. The meeting was lot so well attended as usual, the wet .reather no doubt having ujnch to do with t. The programme was a very fair one, and he Mugs, readings, and recitations were iven with spirit, and were loudly applauded.

A. meeting of the Protestant Alliance was held in the hall of the Athenaeum last evening. There was a large attendance, and a number of now members was added to the roll. The Victorian Deputy Grand Master was in the chair. It was resolved to open the lodge on Monday, the 19th inst. Dr Deck was appointed medical, officer to the lodge, pro tern. At' the next meeting, the officers and a medical officer will I>e permanently appointed. The regalia, and necessary books have been ordered in Victoria, and arc expected shortly to arrive.

A return of the Customs revenue' at the several ports of the Colony during the quarter ended 31st March, 1873, shows the following totals from the principal ports Wellington, L15,2.i9 ; Wanganui, L 4,976; Auckland, L 43.061 j Dunedin, L 60,507 ; Lyttelton, L 29,825 ; Invercargill, L 4,672 ; Nelson, 17,917; Westport, L 3.280; Greymouth, L 7,143; Hokitika, L 7,548. The total revenue is L 210,467, the amount for the corresponding quarter of 1872 being L 196.291, thns showing an aggregate increase, though at a number of ports—chiefly Sorts to gold-mining districts— the revenue as fallen off. These are the Thames, Westport, Greymouth, Hokitika, Okarita, and the port of Hokianga.

The monthly meeting of the Volunteer Fire Brigade was held last evening at the brigade station—Capt. Wain in the chair. Several excuses were read and received. Mr Walter Adams was elected a working member. The necessary information relative to uniforms was ordered to be forwarded to the City Council, as requested by Mr Massey ; also, a reply to the request for further information relative to boots for the brigade. Mr M'Kenzie, a late member, not having complied with the rules of the brigade, and having sent in his uniform in very bad condition, was struck off the roll. It was proposed and carried that the patronage of the brigade be given to an entertainment by the Colored Opera Troupe, at - the Princess Theatre, for the benefit of the widow of the late Mr R. Roberts, comedian. The meeting then adjourned. ' , We have been shown a copy of the Toronto Olebe, in which a Dr Miller gives a very peculiar description of what he saw during a visit to Now Zealand. In summing up the (Qualities of the country, he says;—“ The land in both Islands is very far from what it has been represented. Even the cream of it will scarcely raise grass, and is almost utterly worthless for any other purpose. In short it is a vast sponge, which has sucked up many a rich and poor man’s all, and left nothing to show for it. Many of Uncle S ’s cattle have died this winter from sheer starvation, as the grass docs not grow in winter, although it remains green. And again, it will not raise vegetables without much manure ; even with it they are very insignificant in size, poor in quality, and not nearly in as great variety as we have seen them even in the very coldest parts of Canada. We have not seen a good orchard in the country, and I much doubt if such a thing exists. Most of the fruit is brought from Tasmania, Australia, and Tahiti Wo have gone over the best of the inhabitable parts of New Zealand, and have conversed with many of the settlers in regard to the capabilities of the country, and it took hut a very short time to disenchant us of all our preconceived notions of these island countries. Most of the settlers we found living in small mean-looking frame houses, scantily furnished, and nearly everything about them has at least the look of squalid poverty. Even if the soil were productive, the nights at all times of the year are so cold, and so very much rainfalls, that vegetation is retarded beyond conception.” A metering ofthe’ Port Chalmers Regatta Committee was held last evening at Dench’s Hotel. There were present- -His Worship the Mayor, Messrs Goldie, Law, Hackly, lanes, Murray, D. Stevens, and Hudson. Mr D. Stevens was elected secretary, and his Worship the Mayor, treasurer. Several of the committee were appointed to canvass for subscriptions in Dunedin and Port Chalmers, and also from the shipping. It was agreed to ask the Dunedin Yacht Club to cooperate with them and endeavor to provide a handsome prize for a yacht race, so as to induce the owners of yachts to compete. It was also agreed to have fewer races and larger prizes. The committee then adjourned till Friday evening next, at 8 o’clock.

Mr M'Dermjd, M.P.C., addressed a meeting of his constituents last night, at Crickmore’s Royal Assembly Rqoms, Port Chalmers. Mr Andrew M'Kinnpn was in the chair. Mr M'Dermid stated that he had not met them for the purpose of telling them what had taken place last session, but to find eut the wants of the place, so that he might lay them before the Council at the forthcoming session. He explained bus views with regard to education, and stated that he supported qnsectarian education, without distinctive teaching in any of the public schools. He would not have the Bible excluded, but would have the schools regulated, so that the parents of the children might please themselves whether it was read or not. In reply to a question by Mr Millar, ho would be in favor of the Harbor being dredged to the extent of twenty or thirty feet; but ho would let those who wanted it done pay for it, and not defray the expense out of the public moiuyi. He would be in favor of the northern line of railway being brought direct to Port Chalmers ; because, if the line was made from Waitati to Port Chalmers, it would be a saving of seven miles in the distance. By that route the distance to Dunedin would be twenty-four miles ; and he thought it would be ridiculous to take such a roundabout way. Mr M'Dermid also stated that it jvas the intention of the Government to keep the prisoners at work at the Port, till the road was formed to Hayward’s Point, On a question by Mr Murray, relative to a crane being erected capable of lifting forty tons, he stated that the Dock Trust had borrowed Llo,ooo, and that some of the money would be appropriated to constructing the crane. Dr, Drysdale then moved a vote of thanks to Mr M'Dermid, and a vote of confidence in him as their member, which were carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting. Mr T. W. Maude, who was secretary to Mr Reeves during his occupancy of the office of Resident Minister, was elected unopposed the other day member for Rangiora in the Canterbury Provincial Council. In his hustings speech he made the following observations in reference to immigration While there was money to bp spent in carrying out public works, he should like to see the question of immigration well looked after; but to shew bow it was managed, he would read some extracts from some figures published in the Lyttelton Tirn.es> which showed that the number of ships bringing immigrants to the Province were eight between May 7th, 1872, an,d March 3rd, 1873, and the number of statute adults brought into the Province in the same period was only 1,0374, which compared unfavorably with the immigration as it was carried on by the Provincial Government, when it was more satisfactorily conducted than at present under the General Government. In a recent session of the Council Mr Knight moved a resolution that L 20,000 be placed on the estimates for immigration, and also that the Park street Commissioner be telegraphed to send out females and single women. Peeling at the time that this would be an interference with the General Government, who had taken up the matter of immigration, he (Mr Maude) was not inclined'to vote for the motion, but voted for a motioa that the Generajl Government should have their attention drawn to the way in which the immigration was being conducted. This latter resolution was no doubt jn due course sent to the General Government; but he must! express his disappointment at the result, and if any proposals were made for a Provincial Government vote be would give it his cordial support. In England there must be maladministration, as he would show by reading the following extract from a letter which had been put into bis hands yesterday, dated Louden, <)bh January, 1873, from a person holding a nosijsted order from the Co

lony :— ‘ I have often wondered you have never delegated any one to call upon me, as surely there must be some one that ventures .from the Colony to Old England in the way of business or pleasure, and London is the place where most people come to. I should very much like to here from the lips of some one that, had the pleasure your acquaintance a description of you aiid your new home It is very strange, but I have'never come in direct contact with any one that knows about New Zealand.’ H6 did not think from this that Mew Zealand was made known and represented at it ought to be.”

The next meeting of the Otago Institute will be held on Tuesday next, when a paper bn “ Salmon Acclimatisation in New Zealand-” will be read. The first general meeting of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society Will be held in the hall below the Athemeum this evening, at eight o’clock, when members and gentlemen wishing to join the Society are requested to attend. , The Colored Opera Troupe have very generously complied with a request to give a performance in aid of the widow and orphans of the late Mr R. Roberts, and it will take place on or about the 12th instant, when the Princess Theatre will be re-opened So worthy an object will doubtless meet with liberal encouragement. We have been favored with a few particulars of Mr Roberts’s career, which will interest many of those who were acquainted with him. Mr Richard Robertson, or Roberts, as he was professionally called, hailed from Dundee, and when a youth played two or three times at amateur dramatic performances at the Soho Theatre, London. His first appearance as a professional was made'at Bendigo, in\Jß63, when he met and married the lady who is now his widow. He afterwards played at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, during the engagements of Mr Jefferson, Lady Don, &o. Though he learned a good deal during his early Victorian career, it was in Dunedin that he made the progress which Raised him to a good position among Colonial actors. His subsequent career, and the circumstances gi his death are so fresh in the minds’of our readers that it is unnecessary to repeat them. A more deserving case for public support could not bo conceived, and We feel confident that those who remember poor Dick Roberts, who had a warm heart and always a ready hand in ilia good days to assist those in misfortune, will crowd the theatre on Thursday week.