Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 3245, 15 July 1873, Page 2

An amateur concert was given in the Assembly Rooms, Port Chalmers, last night, the objeet being to raise a small sum to improve the library in connection with the Sawyer’s Bay school. The entertainment was under the management of Mr De Maus, who was ably assisted by the local talent of the Port and a gentleman amateur from Dunedin, who sang with great ta'-te, and was repeatedly encored, as were most of the other performers. The concert was brought to a close at ten o’clock, and the proceeds were about LI I.

In the Provincial Council this afternoon a Message was received covering the Estimates, and the House, after a short discussion, went into Committee of Supply, and Mr Turnbull made his financial statement. In the Estimates, as brought down to-day, it is proposed to increase the Superintendent’s salary from LBOO to LI,OOO, that of Goldfields Secretary from L4OO to L6OO ; and to have two non-official members of the Executive. Every department in the service is to benefit from the prevailing prosperity. The Clerk to the Executive Council is to have LSO added to his salary, the Speaker an extra L 75 ; the Chairman of Committees another L4O, and the Clerk an additional L 25. The following are the other principal increases :—Sub-Treasurer to L 400; his clerk to L4OO ; the cashier L 30 0; the Commissioner of Police to L 50 0; LSBO for distribution among sergeants and constables who have been ten years in the service ; the Chief Harbor Master to L 450 ; the assistant Harbor Master at Oamaru to L 250 ; the Gaoler at Dunedin to 1400; the Inspector of Schools to LSOO ; LI,OOO is asked for the reception of the new Governor. The estimated revenue for the year is L 502,743 ; the expenditure, L 518,688. The whole of the immigrants who arrived per ship James Nicol Fleming on the Istinst. have met with engagements, with the exception of eleven families and one single man, a baker, who are still in the Immigration Barracks. Ten times the number of females could have been disposed of without any difficulty. When it is considered that equal to 205 statute adults, numbering 226 souls, arrived by this ship, and that in the slack season of the year, it cannot be but gratifying to those who have the interests of the Province at heart, to see that the demand for labor continues so good. The immigrants per the Fleming, however, were altogether superior to the general class sent from Great Britain, being well adapted for the requirements of the Province. Three families who arrived per ship Cospatrick, and six faniiiies and four single men per ship Edwin Fox, from Lyttleton, are still in the barracks, and open for engagement. The rate of wages continues good, married couples being engaged at from L6O to L7O per annum, and found; ploughmen, L 62 to L 5 5; farm servants LSO ; female general servants, L3O to L 35 ; housemaids, L 25 ; blacksmiths, for stations, 40s per week, and found. Respecting telegraph office pens and ink, as supplied in the Auckland office and not only in Auckland —the gVew Zwlwul Meyo/ld

digooursea as follows If anyone should wish to be informed—although it is not probable that such a thing is likely—still, if any member of the community should be seized with a curious desire to learn where the very worst steel pens and the muddiest of ink in the dirtiest of ink bottles are to be obtained, he is requested to go to our telegraph office. If a pen is wanted that will not make a mark after any amount of wiping on coat shuts, here the anxious seeker will find it. Should he want a pen that splutters at every upstroke, here is his market; should it be a pen he wants good for the manufacture of blots, he will find pens here for such an object not to be equalled in any Government office in the world. Should he want a pen gone at the nib, or with a point that will rip holes in the paper, or a pen with six splits or no splits whatever, the telegiaph office is the establishment he mu&t go to. But if he wants a pen that will write a word legibly and with ease he must go next door or across the road. The ink (we write without prejudice) has the consistency and appearance of black currant jelly, without, however, possessing its pleasant smell and flavor. It could be highly recommended for painting ships’ bottoms or wharf piles, but it is not by any means adapted to writing small-band.” A Gatlin’s River correspondent of the jßruce herald writes :—“This little outside corner of the Province -although much overlooked and neglected by the powers that be —is yet destined, in my humble opinion, to become a place of vast importance in contributing to the wealth and prosperity of Otago. It has an almost inexhaustible store of magnificent timber of various kinds, including black, red, and white pines, totara, cedar, raero, red, white, black, and silver birch, ironwood, goai, large manuka, broadleaf and ribhonwood, &c., By-the-way, the bark of the latter tree at a certain season is very sweet, and indicates the presence of sugar or some other sweet substance; the bark, when dry, would make good matting for packing furniture, &c., and would very probably make excellent wrapping paper. Rich and extensive seams of blue limestone are found at various points, miles apart. Extensive beds of superior pipeclay, said, by practical men, to be the best yet found in the Province. I understand a company is at present forming for the purpose of purchasing some land here, and starting a pottery work on a large scale Such a work, having the raw material on the spot, abundance of the best kinds of firewood, and a navigable river adjoining its boundary, will have advantages rarely to be met with. It is to be hoped the Government will grant a subsidy for this new industry, and we may, ere long, see the proposed new work in a flourishing condition, and manufacturing crockery ware equal to any produced in Stafford.”

The following tenders have been accepted by the Government for the construction of five sections of the Toknmairiro and Lawrence railway Tokomairiro section, Messrs J. and N. Campbell, of Invercargill, LI 1,023; Glonore section, W. Strachan, of Wellington, L 16.491; Round Hill section, Messrs Morrison and Irwin, of Dunedin, L 19.780 ; Tuapeka section, Mr J. Goodfellow, of Dunedin, L 13,846; Waitahuna section, same, L 12.414 The following tenders were rejected :—Tokomairiro section, Proudfoot, L 12.626; Hawkins, L 17.437; Connor and Mackay, L 15,187 ; Goodfellow, L 13,230; Morrison and Irwin, L 13,940; Smith, L 14,141; Wilson, L 16.997; Watson, L 15.846. Glenore section For this, eleven tenders wero received, and Messrs J. andN. Campbell's L 15,334, was accepted, and afterwards thrown up by them: fresh tenders were called for, and Mr Strachau’s accepted. The following were rejected : - Salmon and M‘Konzie, Dunedin, Ll7,00;) ; D. Proudfoot, LIB,OOO ; Morrison and Irwin, L 21.300 ; D. Kirkwood, L 17.729; Round Hill section, Proudfoot, L 22,259; Hawkins, L 27.282; Connor and Mackay, L 28,284 ; Smyth, L 22.047 ; Campbell. LI 7,366 ; Wilson, L 27.944 ; Watson, L 26,813; Strachan, L 22.296; Kirkwood, L25,3G1 ; Tuapeka section, Proudfoot, LI 4,367 ; Hawkins, L2L762; Connor and Mackay, L 23.124; Morrison and Irwin, L 15.930 ; Smyth, L 17.212; Campbell, L12,74l ; Wilson, L 21,612 ; Watson, L 21,156; Waitahuna, Proudfoot, L12,85ff; Hawkins, L 18,932; Connor and Mackay, L 17,772 : Morrison and Irwin, L 13.770; Smyth, L 13,588; Campbell, LI 1,214; |Watson, 15,982. The {tenders of Campbell for the three last-named sections were declined, in consequence of the conditions not having been complied with. The annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club was held at the Empire Hotel last evening ; Mr John Stephenson being in the chair, and some thirty members in attendance. A report from the late committee of management, with a balance-sheet attached, was read and adopted. The report was in the following words:—“ Your committee beg to report that they have held three meetings during the past year, and the receipts, including the Tradesmen’s Races on the Queen’s Birthday, have been L 2,175 17s; the expenditure, L 2.075 6s 9d, leaving a balance to the credit of the Club of LIOO 10s 3d. They have repaid during the year the balance of the loan due, and expended various sums iu repairs to the grand stand and saddling paddock. They are, however, of opinion that before the next meeting some proper and more effectual means of covering the grand stand will have to be carried out, and recommend this subject to their successors. Some time since the idea was mooted for placing on the programme for the next annual races, the Dunedin Cup of 300 sovs., with a SweepStakes ojt ten sova. eacb. added.. A. subcommittee wag appointed to prepare the same, and as an addendum tp this report the Committee have attached the term" of this race, and recommend that they be at once advertised in the Melbourne and other papers. In conclusion, your Committee beg to congratulate the Club on its present financial position : its assets, as per annexed balance sheet, including grand stand, &c., being L 350 10s 3d, and its liabilities nil. For the Committee, Sydney James, Secretary.” A committee of management for the current year was then elected, and officers appointed, as follows:—President, Mr John Stephenson; Vice-President, Mr John Maclean ; Treasurer, Mr James Marshall ; Auditors, Messrs Stuart and Richolson ; Secretary, Mr Sydney James. The new Committee resolved to adopt (with some slight alterations) the programme for the Dunedin Cup, and to meet on Friday next for the despatch of that and other business.

The monthly meeting of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge will be held to-morrow evening, at eight o’clock. A meeting will bo held in the Congregational Hall, Moray place, this evening, at seven o’clock, for the purpose of explaining the nature and purposes of the Order of of_ Temperance, and of enrolling candidates for initiation. .