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Evening Star, Issue 3205, 29 May 1873, Page 2

Thursday, the 12th proximo, being the Presbyterian Fastday in Dunedin, will be observed as a public holiday. With the exception of about ten chains the rails for the£Clutha line have been laid as for Green Island. A good deal of the permanent way has also been laid.

Messrs Geddes and Willis’s dramatic company returned from Christchurch by the Beautiful Star yesterday, and intend, we believe, to open in the Princess’s early next week. MrM. C. Orbell has announced himself as a candidate for the representation of Waikouaiti North. There is not likely to be any opposition to Mr John M'Kenzie, the late member for Waihemo, who offers himself for re-election.

The adaptation of the Southland district for construction of railways is exemplified in the fact that a twenty-two mile section of the Winton-Kingston line was taken for L 12.700, while the same length of line, between Tokomairiro and Lawrence (Tuapeka), is estimated at a cost of LOS 000.

The following coincidence in the cost of tendering for railway works has been brought under our notice. The successful tender for the Wintou-Kingston line amounted to a net sum of L12.70J, being L 6,300 below the highest tender received for the work. A tender from the same party was lodged for the Tuapeka line, and, in this instance, his amount, as far as is yet known, is L 34,000 in excess of the successful tender.

' The successful tenderers for the Tuapeka and Tokomairiro railway are Messrs John and Norman Campbell. The amount has not transpired, but it is understood to bo about L 68,000. The nature of the work may be briefly described as twenty-two miles of formation over a rough tract of country. Two tunnels are also included in the work, viz, one 484 and the other 170 yards in length. The Messrs Campbell are at present engaged upon what is known as the heavy cutting on the line from Invercargill to Mataura. For the Tuapeka line it has been stated that five tenders were received for the entire work, and eleven for sectional parts. The amount of the highest tender was close upon L 130,000.

Last night, Mr E. W ; Nuttall, of Melbourne, delivered a lecture, under the auspices of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society, in the lower hall of the Athenjeum, Mr Bolt presided. The subject selected bore the unique appellation of “Begin at the Bottom ; or, Colonial Wants and Colonial Absurdities. ” In introducing the subject, the lecturer gave the following brief summary of its aims—“ To begin at the bottom, I mast necessarily touch upon mankind in its more primitive state, and trace the development of knowledge and progression acquired from experiment and transmitted to posterity, to be increased and re-transmitted from generation % to generation, and thus, however slowly,*ever pushing forward to increase enlightenment.” The remarks were listened to throughout with marked attention, and elicited repeated applause from the audience.

In the Canterbury Provincial Council, Mr Kennaway, who is the head of the Government, tabled the following resolution on the subject of immigration :—“That this Council, seeing that the amount of immigration to this Province under the present system has, up to this time, been inadequate to meet its requirements, are of opinion—l. That the province should be represented, in the United Kingdom by an agent nominated by the Provincial Government, whose chief duty shall be to collect emigrants for Canterbury. 2. That instructions as to the number and description of emigrants required, and other matters relating to immigration, should be given to such agent by the provincial Government, such instructions to"be never*

theless subject to the approval of the Genera Government, 3. That the salaries and othc necessary expenses connected with this agency should be defrayed out of the Immigratio Loan. 4. That the system of free .passage should extend not only to emigrants selectd' by the English agents, but also to those wh' are nominated by persons clready settled ir the Province. 5. That his Honor the Super intendent bo respectfully requested to place on the estimates a sura not exceeding L*2o 000, to be used for the purpose of promoting immigration to the Province, in case arrangements cannot be made with the General Government, in accordance with th< above resolutions.” It will be seen by our telegrams that the resolutions have been carried.

Miss Carrie Emanuel’s benefit, which took place at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, was largely patronised. The curtain rose to Lord Lyttori s play of the “ Lady of Lyons; ’ and we are forced to admit we have never seen, and trust wo shall never again see, such a Claude Melnottc on the stage. Were it not out of consecration for those who were unfortunate enough to have their lots cast with him, there is little room for doubt that Claude would have made his final appearance before the close of the first act. His forte is not in that line. Miss Stephenson’s Pauline was an extremely natural impersonation; but owingto surrounding circumstances, this lady did not appear to as great advantage as the merits of her performance fairly entitled her to. We think we are not g-ing too far in stating we have not seen as good a Colonel Damas as that of Mr Burford’s, in the < olony. His interpretation of the peculiarities rf the blunt soldier was even throughout, and his military bearing and address were to the life. The Colonel’s soliloquy on woman’s constancy, when he heard of the approaching marriage of Pauline with Beaus&mt, was delivered in an unctuous style, and he deservedly secured a lound of applause. The other characters wefe well filled—notably the part of the Widow Melnotte, which was represented by Miss Raymond, who, 'however, looked more like Clause’s sister than. his mother. The principal performers were called before the curtan several times in the courseof the evening. In the interval between the pieces, Miss Emanuel sang some of her best selections. Her fine voice was heard to advantage in the Theatre ; and we thought we had never’ heard her sing the mad scene from “ Lucia ” nor the ever welcome “ Casta T'iva ” better. The ballad “ Say once more I love thee,” was sang with such taste and expression as to gain an unanimous encore, and “ When the roses bloom again,” was substituted. Mr Winter, who assisted, gained a deserved encore for bis rendering of the “ Death of Kelson,” and took part with the bene/tciare in a duet from “ Lucia,” the only fault of which was its incompleteness. The after-piece was the burlesque of “Aladdin.” On Saturday th re will be an afternoon performance, when the burlesque of ‘ * Aladdin ” will be played, Miss Aitken will give readings, and Mr Winter sing several ballads.

A meeting of persons favorable to the return of Mr John Davie to the Provincial Council will be hold in Wain’s Hotel, tomorrow, at eight o’clock.

The Rev. J. Clark will deliver a lecture in the First Church, on Monday evening next, at half-past seven o’clock. Subject: “Heat,” illustrated by experiments. The Rev. B. G. Penny will lecture in the Mornington Schoolroom, to-morrow (Fdday) evening, at eight o’clock. A special meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society will be held in Wain’s Hotel, to morrow evening, at eight o’clock. We have been requested to draw attention to the postponement of the p s. Samson, for Oamaru, till to morrow (Friday). She will take her departure from Rattray street wharf at 8 a m.

The concert in aid of the H. A. C. B. Society takes place at the Headquarters Drill Shed to-morrow evening, when a capital programme, Comprising readings by Ailken and a. gentiemaft amateur, vocal and instrumental music, will be presented. Judging by tbe number of tickets already sold, there will be a large attendance.