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Evening Star, Issue 3240, 9 July 1873, Page 2

A private letter from London states that Mr Aspinall, the well-known Victorian barrister, is still in Bethlehem Hospital, and fears are entertained that his recovery is hopeless. A requisition signed by 163 ratepayers of Leith Ward has been presented to Mr C. S. Reeves, asking him to represent their interests in the City Council. We are informed that Mr Reeves has consented to come forward, and, judging from the number of influential names on the requisition, we imagine with every prospect of success. Mr Mercer’s meeting on the subject of his candidature for the Mayoralty, at Cotter s Hotel last night, was well attended, despite the uninviting state of the weather. Between seventy and eighty attended. Mr Mercer having at some length referred to the several municipal matters of interest, the usual vote of confidence was proposed by Mr John Hay and seconded by Mr James Lindsay, and carried with but two dissentients.. Subsequently twenty-two of those present volunteered to act on the local committee.

Saturday’s programme was repeated at the Princess Theatre last evening, consisting of “The Sea ; or, The Ocean Child,” and “ The Spectre Bridegroom.” As on the former occasion, iKe performance passed, off successfully. We would again remind our readers that Mr Joseph Rayner takes his benefit this evening. Independent of the claims this clever actor has on the Dunedin public, a very enticing is announced—“ The Lady of Lyons,” with Mrs Hill as Pauline, and Mr Rayner as Claude; and “The Day after the Wedding.” By late English news to hand, we learn that Mr Holman Hunt’s great picture “The Shadow of Death,” on which the artist has been engaged for over four years, has been sold for ten thousand guineas, being the highest price ever obtained for a modem work of art, to say nothing of what the copyright may realise. A sketch of the principal figure in the production, viz., our Saviour, is to be copied for her Majesty the Queen, who gives one thousand guineas for it. The picture was exhibited at Buckingham Palace on 3rd April last by special request. The Auckland Provincial Gazette , published on June 18, gave a statement of four companies, which have at one time, or do now, stand A lon the field. They are the Caledonian, Golden Crown, All Nations, and Long Drive Goldmining Companies. Of these companies the total dividends paid are : Caledonian, L 554.870 ; Golden Crown, L 125.868; All Nations, L 40,095 ; Long Drive, L 79.940. Total, I 830,773. The total from four companies gives considerably over three-quarters of a million paid in dividends. The amounts paid in calls are not given, but it is satisfactory to observe that no calls have been made during the past halfyear.

A horrible murder (says the Gazette) is reported from Taviuoi. The unfortunate deceased was a Sandwich man, but as he spoke English very well he was employed by Mr Maitland as an overseer. One of the laborers under his charge—it seems without provocation conceived a grudge against him, and, watching an opportunity, crept up behind and cleft his skull M'ith an axe. The murderer at once absconded and defied the pursuit instituted for some two or three days, although the whole length and breadth of the island was after him. On May 16, however, ho went to the plantation of Mr Fisher (late of Dunediu) at Korovulu, and there was recognised. Mrs Fisher, with the pluck of an Englishwoman, at once confronted him with a revolver, and thip pqwed criminal yielded himself to help speedily called by her. He will take his trial at the criminal session in due course of law,

There was a larger attendance at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, when Mr and Mrs Glover took their benefit, than has been the case for some time past. The chief attraction was the “Colleen Bawu,” which was averagely well played throughout. Some very appropriate scenery was painted, and for the cave scene, the prettiest painting of the kind we remember seeing Mr Perriman turn out, he received a unanimous call before the curtain. A Highland fling by the Masters Allan and the “ Cramond Brig” concluded the entertainment. Between the pieces Mr Hydps announced that it was intended to close the theatqe for two nights to make alterations, and Intimated that on Friday Messrs South and Thorp would take a benefit. On Saturday a season woujd be commenced by one of the strongest companies in the Colonies, which would include Miss Colville, Mr Hoskins, Mr Steele, Mr Newton, Mr Booth, &c. Messrs Gibbs, Bright, and Co. are sanguine of establishing a steam service via the Cape. At a public meeting in a western town in Wales, Mr r l yndall Bright, on the part of the promoters, explained that it was proposed to provide a service of six fullpowered steaipers. to do the passage between Milford and Melbourne in forty-two days outward and fourty-four days homewards; that all passengers, mails, specie, wqol, ftp , would be landed at Milford, and the Vic.torian Government were willing to grant a liberal subsidy for the conveyance of the mails, Mr Hamilton Fulton, the engineer to the proprietors of the town of Milford, explained to the meeting that they were prepared to provide the necessary dock and warehouse accommodation for the trade which is likely to be pleated by these important facilities f- r steam cpmjnumcation. Resolutions were carried affirming Jbhe approval by the meeting of the scheme, apd it Vfts announced that the Great Western Company were prepared, when the steamers are ready, to run trains from London to Milford in eight hours, We ( Waikato Times) trust that at the next sitting of the Assembly some member will introduce a BUI to deal with imbibing doc-' tors. If the master of a vessel drinks to. excess, he is liable to have his certificate; suspended. Lives and property are entrusted to his care; it is, therefore, very aer that such should bo the case. The' of lier Majesty’s subjects are almost: equally aF’ the TfWW of drunkon doctors. We are not to suggest the best! means of dealing with these meju, but think | the power should vest in two Justices of the ■ Peace to temporally sus P t]a6 certificate i| of any medical man guilty of drunkenness: whilst on duty; and that after two temporary suspensions it should be competent to bring the guilty party before a superior tribunal, : in order to his prohibition to practice in the ■ Colon}'. We have had more than one glaring instance of the evil above alluded to in this district. # . 1 Ou the Provincial Council meeting this afternooh, Mr Tolmie intimated that, in ac- , cordance with the statement he made in the j early part of the session, he had that da} , placed hia resignation in the hands of the Superintendent, ami recommended his colleague, the member for Dunedin (Mi Turnbull), to be sent for to form , a Government; that that gentleman had undertaken the task, and would be pre-

pared to meet the House in the evening with the newly-formed Government. In moving an adjournment till seven o’clock, MrTolnrt explained that he had only taken office for the purpose of using what little influence and power ho possessed as a check upon Mr Reid’s Government, which he considered to bs one of prej udico and not of reason. He considered the present—when his conduct both as a head of the Government and a member of the Waste Land Board had been vindicated by the Council —when others would have been inclined to follow up their victory—the most fitting time to give up bis position, from which he retired with an unsullied reputation. There was a short debate, in which Messrs Reid, Lumsdcn, M'Lean, Bastings, Brown, and Sumpter took part, after which the Council adjourned till 7 p.m.

The usual monthly meeting of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge is postponed until next week. Mr Reid’s lecture at the Mornington Schoolhouse is postponed till Thursday evening. Mr Barnes will address the ratepayers this evening at Watson’s Royal Hotel, Walker street.

Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co., have just completed a contract for uniforms for No. 3, Akaroa Volunteer Company, Canterbury. Apart from the style of workmanship, it is worthy of notice on account of its being the first complete uniform made in the Colony from the Mosgicl tweeds. The colors are simple—the trousers of dark grey, with a red stripe, and the tunic of the same color, with scarlet facings. The officers’ uniforms are ornamental, with the Austrian knot of royal silver cord, intertwined with tracing. The effect is good. We learn that tenders were received from Melbourne and elsewhere, but they were not equally satisfactory.