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Evening Star, Issue 3201, 24 May 1873, Page 2

The Warr/anui Herald uiulerstands that the Hon. Mr Waterhouse proposes paying a visit to England during the next few months,

Our ,N»seby correspondent telegraphed yesterday afternoon The Mount Ida Chronicle extra announcing the dissolution was well received. Flags were displayed by tho Mayor."

There was only one case of drunkenness heard at the City Police Court to-day. The offender, Peter Johnson, was fined ss, or in default of payment twenty-four hours’ imprisonment.

We understand a requisition is being numerously signed requesting Mr John Davie, of the firm of M'i.andrcss, Hepburn, snd Co., to allow himself to be nominated as one of the members for the lity in the Provincial Council.

At a meeting of the committee of tho Port Chalmers Regatta last night, there were present Messrs M'Kimion (in the chair) Goldie, Murray, M'Callum, Maekley, Hudson, Capt W. Tnompson, Capt. Cummings, and the secretary. It was arranged that the entries for the whale boat race should be post entry, owing to the roughness of the weather preventing the boats coming up. It was also arranged that the entries for all other rac ?s should stand over till to-night. There are, however, a good number of boats entered, and all that is now required is fine weather, when a good day’s sport may be expected. At a meeting of the Society for Investigating Spiritualism, held last evening in tho lower room of the Athenaeum, it was resolved that, as many members who would not join a Society of Spiritualists, expressed their willingness to continue members of this Society, it should not bo dissolved. New office-bearers were elected, and a vote of thanks given to Mr Rcdmayne, the late president, for his services. A meeting of persons desirous of forming a new Society, to be independent of, but compatible with the present one, was then held, and officers W'ere appointed pro tem. The Society was named “The First Society of Progressive Spiritualists."

As we are going to press, we learn that requisitions are in course of signature to genmen of some standing, but who have hitherto taken no part in politics, asking them to allow themselves to be nominated to represent the City in the Provincial Council. Wo have already pointed out the gravity of the issue tho electors are called upon to determine ; and it behoves us now to caution them against pledging themselves in any way until they know what men will come forward, and the action that will be taken by the two parties who will control the e’ections. We shall take an early opportunity of recurring to this matter.

It will be in the recollection of our readers that on the day preceding the last annual races, the favorite for the great event, Captain ."cott, broke down so badly that it was considered he was rendered perfectly worthless, and his owner, Mr E. Devine, gave orders for him to be at once shot, Luckily, Mr Devine’s friends persuaded him to postpone his purpose ; and we are now glad to find the horse is, under the skilful treatment of Mr Farquh arson, veterinary surgeon, almost recovered, and in another month will be able to travel. Of course ho will never again be fit for racing, but will be a valuable animal for the stud. His stock, which is well known in the Waikouaiti district, is highly thought of. The break down in this case was of the most severe kind, and any idea of the horse being of the slightest use was thought ridiculous. In replying to the toast of “The Army, Navy, and Volunteers,” at the Hibernian A C.B. Society’s dinner, atOamaru, on Tuesday, Major Steward is reported to have said: “He would be guilty of no insubordination in refen ing to certain remarks purporting to have been made by Major Bathgate, which had recently appeared in print, lie thought those remarks were uncalled-for, particularly from a gentleman who wore the uniform of a staff officer in the Otago Regiment, Otago had long and justly been proud of her Volunteers, and they had up to last year carried off the chief prizes in the Colonial Tir National. Success could not be expected always to attend them, and it was a somewhat curious circumstance tba" their senior Major had not discovered their inefficiency until he became a Minister of the Crown, and they in the same year failed to carry off the chief prizes. The Otago Volunteers had not as yet been tried in the field, as, happily, circumstances had not arisen to require the calling of their services into requisition, but in the North Island Volunteers had accomplished what Imperial troops had failed to accomplish, and in physique and discipline the Volunteers of Otago were, to say the least, no whit their inferiors.” The performance at the Queen’s Theatre last evening was for the benefit of the Provincial Brass Band, when there was a very good attendance up-stairs, and a full pit, but the stalls were rather indifferently patronised. The first piece was* the two-act comedy of “Nothing Venture, Nothing Win,” which, notwithstanding that Miss Anstead exerted herself to the utmost, and was ably assisted by Mr Aveliug as Lord Lindsay, went very flatly, because the minor characters would persist in playing on their own account, instead of supporting the principal. There was a mu deal interlude, the performance concluding with “ Ixion,” which was as well . received as ever. In connection with the burlesque, we c/innot help alluding to the ouird dress and action of tfie representative of Minerva, who carries burlesque to an extremity when it almost borders on vulgarity. We know that this slight reference will work its own cure; and regret that it should be needed in the case of one whose long acquaintance with the stage, and position on it, we should have thought, would have prevented him from descending to subterfuges which may excite the risibility of a few, but disgust the major portion of his audience. To-night is the last night of the burlesque, anii if will be preceded by “The Octoroon.” Thp band wound up their entertainment by a ball ffye lylaaonjc Hall. In ap article on thp situation the Qayuir.u Times remarks f —lf any further argument were required to show the desirability of doing away with the present Provincial system, it will be found in the proceedings of the Otago Council during the past fortnight. The Council has done nothing absolutely but talk. The Chamber has bee i converted into an arena for a gladiatorial combat on grounds more personal than political. Whether Mr Reid was right or Mr Macandrew right in the action taken by each, or whether, as is probable, they were both partly to blame, because influenced by personal feelings, is in a sense beside the question; the fact remains that the time of the House has beeu wasted, and the country’s money to the tune of some LSO a day ; and now it is all but certain that there will have to be a general election, involving the expenditure of thousands of pounds, and the delaying of the public business for weeks, if not mouths. ... It is, however, much to be regretted that matters should have been brought into so awkward a position, and had Mr Reid accepted his old post as head of the Executive when offered to him months ago, the whole of this hubbub would have been avoided. But putting aside the particular point in dispute as to whether or nbt t)ie Superintendent acted imprudently, the whole histpf'y of tfie circumstances which have led up to the present adds another to the many reasons for doing away with so many subordinate Parliaments. The fact is the Colony has outgrown them, and it is high time that they were done away with, and that for each Island there were but one of these Councils. Public opinion is, we are glad to see, setting strongly in this direction, and it is to be hoped that the General Assembly at next session will decide upon bringing about a remodelling of our institutions, which has been Ipng talked about and long looked fop by a tyrge septum Of the public, and which ere long will be demanded.

Last night the members of the Loyal Dunedin Lodge M.U.1.0.0.F. celebrated their anniversary by a soiree and concert, held in the Oddfellows’ Hall. Upward of 300 ladies and gentlemen were present. After a service of tea and cake had been disposed of—Mr Kroon, of George street, being purveyor—the ball was re-arranged, and a well-selected wusieal program©, ccjapyuing

songs, ballads, solos, &c., gone through in a style which elicited tho hearty applause of the audience. N.G, Bro. M‘Allister oc copied the chair, and was supported by Bros, P.G.M. Bersel and P.G. Fish. The latter, at the close of the proceedings, gave as a toast “ The Prosperity of the Lodge," which was hailed by the audience with musical honors, in conformity with the usages of the order. In acknowledging the compliment, the chairman gave a short account of the progress of the lodge during the past year, the number of members good on the books at the end of 1872 was 103. Twentyone members were admitted by initiation, and three by clearance. The receipts from all sources amounted lo L4OO, the expenditure to L2lO, detailed particulars of which were given as follows : —Medical attendance, &c., LB3 ; pud to distressed and sick members district series—L2s ; salaries, rent, and other contingencies, LSB; the net gain for the year being LI9O. The total value of the lodge at the close of the year was estimated at LI, 702, allocated as follows : —Amount lent on freehold security at an average of nine percent, per annum, L 1,350 ; deposited in bank at four per cent, per annum, L 292 ; and at current account, L6O. The chairman concluded by saying that he believed he was correct in stating that, on an average, the first four months of the current year showed a progress even more mai ked than that of the same period of the preceding year. The remarks of the speaker were well received, and repeatedly applauded. Votes of thanks were given to the ladies and gentlemen by whom the musical part of the entertainment 1 was so ably sustained, also to the la ties, the committee, etc. The concert closed with tho National Anthem, in the singing of which the audience joined. The necessary arrangements were then made for a dance, which was kept up until an early hour of the morning. The annual soi<6e of the First Church Young Men’s Christian Association was held in the schoolroom under the church, last evening, and a most agreeable re-union it proved to be. The room was decorated with flags, and an ample supply of seats and tables added materially to the comfort of the 125 or 130 persons present. Mr Donaldson, the caterer, fulfilled his allotted work in a manner which left no ground for complaint. After ample justice had been done to the good things provided, the president, Mr Moore, expressed himself pleased at once more presiding at the annual gatheringof this Association, and 1 that he was glad to see such a goodly company present. He spoke at some length, and i the conclusion of his speech was heartily . applauded. The choir sang in good style the glee “ Here in cool grot," &c. The i Secretary then read the fifth annual report, in which he said he could not congratulate i the Society on its present prosperity; but ■ he considered it a matter of congratulation that the Society was still in existence. It i augured well for the future of the Association that they had kept so well together. If they would make some active exertion, he believed that exertion would be rewarded. During the past year, twenty-five meetings of the Association bad been held, at which eleven essays had been delivered on various subjects. Three lectures had been delivered, the first by the Rev. Mr Campbell, of Geelong, and the other two by the Rev. Mr Main. Two discussions had been held, and five evenings were spent in hearing readings by members of the Association. The average attendance for the past year has been twelve, and considering the meetings have been so small, they have been very interesting. The essayists were mostly young members, and the essays read would bear favorable comparison with those delivered by any kindred society. The lectures were very successful, and drew large audiences. In order to keep members posted up in all current topics, and to provide matter for discussion, they had sent Home for copies of the “ Edinburgh Review” and “Blackwood’s Magazine," and, if the funds still kept op, they would further extend their acquaintance with the standard magazines. A regular programme was then gone through, consisting of glees, duets, etc., very ably rendered by the members of the choir, readings, and • addresses, the latter being given by several gentlemen, delegates from similar institutions in the out districts. We were nearly forgetting to mention that the lady who presided at tho piano materially aided the vocal portion of the programme. Where all sang well, it is almost invidious to point out one as singing better than another; but we must compliment the lady who sang “ Flowers of the Forest,’’ for the very successful rendering of that song The audience were so well pleased that they demanded an encore, which was acceded to. The best concerted piece was Bishop’s “Keep while the soft evening breezes blow, ” which was sung in good time and tune. A duet, “The Danube River," was sung very nicely by a lady and gentleman. During the latter part of the evening, the Rev. J. Clarke addressed those assembled, and expressed himself much gratified at being present at such a meeting. He spoke of a similar institution in Melbourne, in which the members were not satisfied to simply give essays and readings, but they obtained lecturers to give lectures, and with the funds so obtained, they hired a room, and got clergymen to preach on Sunday afternoons. As many as 400 or 500 had been gathered together on a Sabbath afternoon. Ho recommended the Jciudred Societies to work together to carry oqt some sueja and then the Association would not simply be a Christian Association by name, but would be so in reality, and he (the speaker) believed they would find plenty of ground to work upon in Dunedin. He was sorry he had brought nothing with him to interest a meeting of this nature, but he would give a kcture on “ Heat” on Wednesday week. After a few more songs had been sung, j;he usual votes of thanks were tendered, apd, oh the National Anthem being sung, the audience retired, evidently very well satisfied with jiheir eyening’s entertainment.

Mr will qddregs tije electors in the Caversham Drill shed on Tuesday evening, at eight o’clock. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building Society will be held on Tuesday, instead of Monday evening. A meeting of electors for the formation of a Committee to secure the return of Mr Macandrew as Superintendent, also of members of the Provincial Council who will support his policy, will be held in the Masonic Hall, on Tuesday evening, 27th instant, at eight o’clock.