The Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3213, 7 June 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1873.

Miss Aitken opened at Invercargill last night and had a bumper house. Referring to the Volunteer system of the Colony, the Southern Cross says, that “ extensive reform is necessary, and it must be made.”

The mail by the barque Stormy Petrel consisted of United States letters for all parts of New Zealand and Australia ; but there was no correspondence whatever from England. We understand the result of the concert given by the Colored Opera Troupe, m aid of Mrs Roberts and family, was that the handsome sum of LOO will be presented to that lady. The North Otago Times is authorised by Mr Steward, AI.H.R., to state that he has received information that the tender of Mr George Proudfoot, for the sum of L 7,231155, for the Awaraoko line, including earthwork and formation (everything but rails), has been accepted. The work will be commenced at once.

At a meeting of the Roslyn Road Board, held in the school-house to-day at noon, Messrs A. C. Begg and Air Jas. Lambert were re-elected members of the Board for the ensuing twelve months. Mr A, H. Ross has been elected without opposition as a member of the Roslyn Road Board.

Two Australian witnesses in the Tichborne case went Home by the Suez mail, for the purpose of giving evidence for the Crown ‘They are Mr and Mrs Alacalister, of Sale, Gipps Land, who, it is under* stood, will be able to give testimony regarding the identity of Arthur Orton. They will receive LI,OOO, and L 3 per day during their stay in England. In an article on the crisis in this Province, the Lyttlelon Times admits the question resolves itself into a mere “ personal squabble” between Mr Macandrew and Air Reid, and it is probable that both are to blame. (t cannot be denied, however, that throughout the whole affair, Air Reid has been offensive in his manner, and that Air Macandrew has shown great forbearance as well as complete devotion to the public interests.

As a Mr Gregg and a friend were returning from Green Island about four o’clock yesterday afternoon, Mr Gregg’s horse shied at a butcher’s cart a short distance from Caversham, and threw him from his saddle. He was removed in a state of insensibility to Mr Porter’s Hotel, and Dr Sorley sent for. On the arrival of the medical attendant it was found the injuries, though somewhat severe, were not of so serious a character as to justify the recommendation of his being removed to the hospital.

His Honor the Superintendent has brought under the notice of the Premier the circumstance of the recent rise in the River Molyneux, and the consequent heavy losses to the miners—losses which bis Honor thinks might have been avoided, had arrangements been in existence at the various telegraph stations to forward down the river notices of the commencement of flood or rainfall. His Honor baa urged the Government to give instructions that in future directions in the way suggested should be issued by the telegraph department. An official return shows that the number of messages forwarded through the New Zealand telegraph during the March quarter of 1873 was 145,781, for which L 9.744 was received in cash; being an excess in messages of 41,671, and in cash receipts of L.2,991 over the corresponding quarter of last year. We are glad to find a marked decrease ia the valuo of the Government telegrams transmitted during the quarter, which was 1j2,832, while in the March quarter of 1872 it reached the sum of L 3,325,

Mr Burford might reasonably have anticipated a better attendance than there was at his benefit last night, for he has proved himself a very deserving actor; but he must seek consolation in the knowledge that while people are politically mad, as they appear to be at present, the best actor to be found in these parts would fail to draw a crowded house. Nevertheless, the attendance last night was anything hut small, the pit and stalls being very well attended. “ Marcelline,” the third act of the “Octoroon,” and the burlesque constituted the programme, and between the pieces Miss Stephenson sang “ The Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock,” and was encored.

The feat of walking a thousand miles in a thousand hours, which is being attempted by Wiltshire, in Christchurch, is to be attempted here by young Austin, the long distance runner. It is intended that he shall walk in the Head-quarters Drill-shed, if that room can be obtained ; and he stipulates to forfeit the sum of L 25 to a committee that is to be appointed to conduct the arrangements of the match, if he fails to walk at the appointed times ; and the committee will pay a portion of that sum to anyone who may detect him not doing so. It will take Austin six weeks, less eight hours’ to complete his task ; and it is proposed to fill out the time at nights by improvising concerts. The first meeting of the shareholders of the Shotover Terrace Gold Mining Company, Limited, which was numerously attended, was held yesterday afternoon, in the Athenaeum. The Hon. James Paterson was called to the chair. Mr George Grant, the legal manager, having read the notice calling the meeting, the Company’s solicitors (Messrs Smith and Anderson) produced and explained the rules and regulations of the Company, which, after considerable discussion and full deliberation, were finally approved and adopted. The following directors were elected :—Messrs M. J. Malaghan, James Douglas, M.D., James W. Robertson, John M‘Bride, James H. Lawton, Hon. J. Paterson, G. W. Eliot, H, F. Hardy, W. T. Winchester, and Hobt. Gillies. Messrs George Turnbull, and A, W, Morris were elected auditors of the Company. Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting separated.

It might interest some of our grain growers to know that Australian seed wheat is in great demand in England. An Australian contemporary publishes an apparently authentic reason, but for some reason or another does not quote the source from whence the information is obtained. It appears, however, that some few years ago a few sacks of Australian seed wheat were forwarded to a Staffordshire farmer, and answered admirably as a spring wheat. The same authority states that it is now very popular, and is rapidly extending over the midland counties. The kind is known as the White Australian, and is said to be fetching 20s to 25s per bushel, while other noted “ pedigree” wheats are only fetching for seed, 10s to 13s per bushel. The question naturally arises whether—to paraphrase the extract in question—“ it might be worth the attention of New Zealand farmers to ship occasionally any fine samples of cereals for seed purposes ; they would be readily purchased where good cultivators are alive to the advantages of a decided change from time to time in the character of the seed used.”

Election times do not agree with theatrical managers, as Messrs Geddes and Willis and the excellent company they have at the Princess’s know to their cost. It has been their misfortune during their week to play to rather indifferent houses—indifferent only in point of attendance, for the audiences, though not large in point of numbers, have been enthusiastic in their praise of the efforts

of the principal performers. This is not to be wondered at, for Mrs M'Gowan and Miss Anstead, Messrs Rayner, M'Gowan, and Musgrave would obtain praise anywhere. Last night “Don Cffisar de Bazan” was played with as much evenness as if there had been a fu 1 house, while in the burlesque of “Macbeth” Mr M'Gowan was immeusely good, and gives an indication of what may be expected when he plays Bailie Nicol Jarvie and similar characters. On Tuesday the company will be strengthened by two decided favorites, Mrs Walter Hill and Mr Douglas, and then without doubt it will be the strongest in the Colony.

We are pleased to observe that, notwithstanding the various counter-attractions with which it has had to contend, the really interesting and instructive entertainment now provided at the Masonic Hall, is succeeding in drawing nightly increasingly numerous audiences. Last night, the front part of the house was especially well patronised, and all present seemed to enjoy themselves amazingly. Many of the paintings are very artistic productions, and much superior to the general run of those usually exhibited in entertainments of a similar character, while the more sensational views are powerful aids towards a full realisation of the horrors of war and the carnage of the battle-field. To-day there will be an afternoon exhibition for the convenience of families, and we doubt not the opportunity will be largely taken advantage of, as it affords such an opportunity of the youngsters being at once pleased and profited, amused and instructed, as rarely occurs. The mechanical arrangements are perfect, and their effects striking to a degree. And, now that the management has become acquainted with the peculiar acoustic properties of the hall, the running comments of Mr Perrier may be listened to, as they richly deserve, with much pleasure. The hon. sec. of the Canterbury Temperance Alliance has received sheets containing the signatures of 361 Maoris in favor of the Permissive Bill. These signatures were obtained at the following plac s : —Kaiapoi: 23 men, 18 women; Raupaki: 18 men, 11 women; TaumutuJ: 16 men, 10 women; Wairena : 40 men, 30 women ; Arowhenua : 29 men, 26 women ; Waimate : 58 men, 20 women; Moeraki (‘Hugo) : 35 men, 27 women; total—men, 219; women, 142; grand total, 361. The Rev. J. W. Stack, in forwarding the sheets, writes:—“ I may state that a translation accompanied the petitions you sent me, and that all who signed knew perfectly what they were doing.” Very satisfactory intelligence of the progress of the movement continues to be received from different part of the Colony. The secretary of the Otago Temperance Alliance, writing from Dunedin, states : —“ I enclose you a circular which we have forwarded to all the clergy in Otago, and if we have not a monster petition this time, it is not for the want of using the means to gain the desired result. I venture, however, to hope that the day is not far distant when temperance shall be beneficially felt throughout • the length and breadth of the land; and although we may be unsuccessful in bringing about the Permissive Bill in its entirety, still I am confident that our agitation will be the means of bring : ng about some good results.”

There will be special services at St. Paul’s Church to-morrow, the offertories being for the Sunday School.