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Evening Star, Issue 3206, 30 May 1873, Page 2

The Government have decided to erect a *a ; lway station at Pelichet Bay, at the Albany street crossing. It will be opened on the Ist prox., and will be of great convenience to re sidents in that part of the City. The cake of amalgam from the last crushing of the Gabriel’s Gully Quartz Mining Company, which was shown in Mr Mendershausen’s window a fortnight ago, lost only I 5 per cent, in smelting, which is said to be the smallest percentage known in the Province. The Dunedin Quartz Mining Company, at Saddle Hill, washed up a thirteen days crushing the other day, the result being 51ozs. from 126 tons of stone, the estimated value of the gold being L 475. The cost ol crushing 300 tong was L 135, and a balance VM left of L 340.

The idea of an extensive sludge channel at Waipori Flat has been developed, and steps 'aken to get a survey made to test its prac cicability. The Tuapeka Times is informed ;hab the Provincial Engineer has been instructed to proceed to Waipori for the purpose of taking the necessary levels for the work.

A movement is on foot at Aucklanl to organise a team of cricketers to proceed to Canterbury or Otago in the spring, to play against any of the Southern elevens who may be willing to meet them. The Cross says that something more than talk has already been done, inasmuch as upwards of L4O has been guaranteed towards the expenses of the trip. The members of the Thames and Coromandel Clubs have expressed their willingness to co-operate in carrying out the idea, and their readiness to supply as far as they can men and money for the undertaking, Waipori is becoming decimated : every week adds to the number of families who are leaving for fresh fields, owing to the smallness ot the quantity of gold that is being got. An average of twenty-five to thirty shillings a-week has been the utmost amount made by alluvial miners in Waipori for a considerable time past, and a general feeling appears to have got abroad amongst them that they can do better elsewhere. Meanwhile the storekeepers, who are generally the greatest sufferers in these times of exodus, are not without hope; they think the present excitement is but of a temporary character, and that before many weeks those who have gone will be only too glad to return. A meeting of the Port Chalmers Regatta Committee was hold in Dench’s hotel, last evening, there being present Messrs Murray (in the chair), Dench, Goldie, M‘Callum, Hudson, Captain Peacock, and the secretary. The secretary read a letter from Messrs Stewart and Joyce, solicitors, claiming L2O (being the amount of the first prize in the Whale Boat Race) on behalf of tbe crew of the Shark, which boat the committee had disqualified. The Secretary was instructed to inform Messrs and Joyce that the committee would adhere to their decision. It was resolved that all subscription lists not yet returned, he forwarded to the secretary not later than Saturday evening. Mr Goldie gave notice that at next meeting he would move that a permanent Regatta Committee be appointed to make arrangements for a regatta to be held on the Prinee of Wales’s Birthday'. The meeting then adjourned. Upon looking through the draft estimates, as framed by Mr Tolmie’s Government, we (Tuapeka Times) were struck with the fact that more attention has been paid to the requirements of up-country districts (including the goldfields) than ever before by any Government, and this fact alone should go, and doubtless will go, a long way to secure for the gentlemen now in office a continuance of public support. For instance, under the head of “ Miscellaneous Roads and Tracks,” are found fifty-seven such provided for—consisting of the very roads the bad state of which we are continually hearing of every winter; and upon these and necessary bridges it is proposed to spend L 108.039 7s 9d, a distincc amount being allocated to each separate work ; and we may remark? that very considerable knowledge of the Province must have been brought to bear on the compilation of this portion of the estimates, which probably is the result of having in the Executive an energetic and practical man like Mr Bastings —one who knows well every district in the Province, and almost every mile of road. We observe also an item of L 5,000, “ Subsidies to Progress Committees on Goldfields.” We have not heard how this originated ; but we can plainly see the utility and reasonableness of the vote—in fact, we can hardly imagine a more useful expenditure, as it is doubtless intended for those more remote and thinly populated places which are at present unable to take advantage of the municipal laws, but who, nevertheless, require aud are entitled to a share of the public money. We hope that when the new Council meets the same programme will be presented and adhered to. It is the creation of men who are alive to the fact that Otago meaus something more than Dunedin and the Taieri, who are liberal in something besides name, having proved by their acts, even more than by their words, that steady, safe progress is their aim and object. “Kip Van Winkle” was reproduced at the Queen’s Theatre last evening. The cast was the same as on its first representation, with the exception of the part of Dame Van Winkle, which was undertaken at very short notice by Mr Aveling. Mr Burford may justly be proud of his impersonation of Rip —in fact, we consider that this gentleman is only excelled by Mr Joseph Jefferson in his interpretation of this character. As the interest of the piece depends on the proper delineation of the principal part, we single out Mr Burford for especial mention, without wishing to detract from the merits of Miss Stephenson, who acquitted herself admirably as Alice Van Winkle. Mr Hydes, as Knickerbocker, contributed to the comic element, and be appeared to thoroughly enjoy himself. The performance concluded with “ Aladdin,” which de.idedly improves upon acquaintance. We regret exceedingly to have to be compelled to draw attention to an evident want of unanimity on the part of the members of this company. In the first place, Mr Burford, at the termination of the first act of the drama, came forward, aud stated that, owing to the sudden indisposition of Mbs Bray, Mr Aveling had consented to play the part of the Dame. Soon after the commencement of the second act—as far as wo could judge, in consequence of a mistake made by Mr South, who appeared as the Burgo master—Mr Burford again came forward, and stated it was impossible for him to play his part properly, in cousequence of the utter want of support accorded to him by the members of the company. “ Rip Van Winkle” was a play that required every character to be properly represented; and he could not understand tbe treatment Miss Stephenson and himself were subjected to in a large city such as Dunedin, wete it not with a view to crush them, being, as they were, comparatively strangers here. He concluded by announcing bis intention to finish the piece as well as be possibly could under the circumstances. Mr Burford, as might he expected, appeared to be greatly annoyed, and to our mind with good reason. We cordially sympathise with Mr Burford in the painful position in which be was placed, and trust we shall have no occasion to take notice of a similar ebullition. It, was apparent to all present that Mr Burford had good ground for complaint; for it was quite evident that the artist who attempted to essay the character of Abanazar the magician, in the burlesque, was not a rigid disciple of Father Matthew. The close the drama saw Mr O’Brien come to the footlights to make an explanation. He stated that he was very sorry that he should have to do so: and equally sorry that Mr Burford should have felt it necessary to address the audience. With regard to Miss Stephenson and Mr Burford, they had done everything in their power since they had been there to advance the interests of the establishment ; and he felt bound publicly to say so. While admitting that a mishap had occurred on the part of a member of his company—there was no occasion to mention names, as the audience was av. are to whom he referred —he had to request that the patrons of the theatre would fairly consider the matter before giving a decision. He was doing all m his power to bring to the place talent from all i-he Colonies : had engaged Mr Fairclough, who m as to appear next week, and would be succeeded by Miss Colville and Mr Hoskins ; and he particularly reminded bi-: 'iearers that his lease of the theatre was not ’or a week or two, but for a considerable amc, so that he was interested in conducing it in a manner to entitle him to public support. He Concluded by thanking the public for their past liberal patronage, A meeting of the ratepayers „of Leith Ward was held in the Caledonia hotel, King street, last evening, to hear Councilhr Barnes’s views, au4 to take into considera-^

tion the proposed alterations and amendments of the Municipal Ordinance. There wen about twenty-five . ratepayers present, and Mr Elliot was called, to the chair. Councillor Barnes said that when elected as representative of the Ward, he promised them if be -hould hear of anything detrimental to their interests he would call a meeting, and he was now only carrying out that promise. A committee had been formed by the Council, and though they had been three months making a report, they had not submitted it yet. The substance of it was that the franchise should be taken away from the electors, inasmuch as the Council, which was to consist of twelve members, should elect the Mayor from among themselves. Were not something done immediately to prevent this, it would be sure to be carried out, as only Councillor Woodland and himself were opposed to it. The second grievance was an alteration in the assessment roll; it having been proposed to allow any owner of property of the value of LSO one vote, of LIOO two votes, and of Ll5O three votes in a ward. He was strongly opposed to both of the proposed alterations, and he had called his constituents together to see if they agreed with him IE they did not, then he would become neutral and vote neither one way nor the other; if they did, he would vote against any such alteration. The other point which he wished to refer to was the way in which the money set aside for the benefit of the ward was being expended. He had got it set aside for kerbing and other necessary improvements, the tenders for which were now out. He concluded by inviting an expression of the views of those present on the matters he had referred to. Mr Gibson then moved, and Mr Cherrie seconded, “That this meeting thanks Mi Barnes for the information supplied, and it strongly protests against the action which the Municipal Council are taking, with regard to depriving the ratepayers of the franchise hitherto enjoyed by them in respect to the election of their Mayor. ’ —Mr Sherwin remarked that the Mayor had been thrice elected by the people, each time by a largo majority, and he should have been the last to favor snch a proposition. He (Mr feherwin) had a conversation with the Mayor as to the manner in which the Mayor was elected in Adelaide, and it was not the first time he had given him information ; but if he should vote for the Councillors electing the Mayor, he should not have his (Mr Sherwin’s) support. Mr Sherwin moved, and Mr Matthew s seconded, “Tlvit the original principle of voting be adhered to, and that the meeting protests against any alteration at present in the Electoral Act for the Municipality of the City of Dunedin, and against making any distinction between ratepayers.”—The motion was carried unanimously, —Mr Barnes said he had expected that Mr Tboneman would have been present, but he was not; and seeing that Mr Davie, one of those contesting the Provincial Council Election, was present, he might favbr the meeting with his views. He then proposed, “ That this meeting requests the Mayor to call a public meeting as early as possible, and before any action be taken in the matter of the foregoing resolutions.” He had asked the Mayor to convene ajneeting, and that gentleman bad promised to do so; but it appealed that be was not going to do so, at all events until after the report was adopted. The motion was seconded by Mrßinnie, and carried unanimously.— Ihe Chairman said that Councillor i arncs bad always fairly represented the ward, and were his colleagues like himself, there would be none of that underground working going on as had been exemplified that night. By Mr Barnes the ratepayers were represented better than by another Councillor, and he was worthy of the trust reposed in him. —Mr Barnes again requested Mr Davie to address the meeting, and that gentleman said, seeing the announcement of the meeting in the papers, he had attended it, thinking he might learn something, and be had done so. He would not address them just then, as they would have ample opportunity of hearing him. With reference to what Mr Fames had said, unless very strong reasons were adduced, he should object to the taking of the franchise from the electors, and no reasoning would make him alter his opinion about the assessment. He believed in the present system of allowing every one who paid rates to have a vote, and he should support anything to the effect cf sharing and sharing alike. He would move “That the thanks of this meeting be heartily accorded to Mr Barnes for bringing himself before the electors, and that th*y assure him that their confidence is placed in him,” which being seconded by Mr Warren, was carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.

Mr Reeves will address t u e electors this evening, in the Water of Leith Driil-shed, after Mr M‘Glashan.

The quarterly meeting of the Waikari RifLs will be held in the Drill Shed, Kaikorai, on Monday evening.