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Evening Star, Issue 3253, 24 July 1873, Page 2

We understand that a numerou?ly-signed requisition has been presented to Mr Prosser, asking him to contest the election for .South Ward, and that he will make his intention known to-morrow. There was no alteration of programme at the Princess Theatre last evening. The performances passed off successfully. The drama of “ Gilderoy ” will be produced tonight, followed by the extravaganza of “ Cupid and Psyche. ”J An accident occurred at about six o’clock last evening to Mr Thomas Godfrey, of Great King street. As he was entering the yard of bis hay and corn store, on his return from the Taieri, a light startled the horse; the animal being young and becoming unmanageable, threw him and trod upon him. On br Sorley’s arrival, it was ascertained that the wrist had been dislocated and one of the bones of the right arm fractured ; but though in other respects strained and somewhat injured, it ia expected he will do well. The principal business in the Provincial Council this afternoon, was the discussion of the Government resolutions re altering the management of the bunedin Hospital. The Government struck out from the third resolution the clause which provided that the three proposed additional appointments to the medical staff should be honorary, Dr Webster explaining that it was found such officers were paid in all towns except where there was an university or medical school, from which they derived fees. The general opinion was that the proposed reform was premature, and several hon. members counselled tbe withdrawal of the resolutions.

There was a good attendance at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, when “The Lady of Lyons” was played for the first time under the present management. The interest of the piece centres in the three principal characters - Pauline, Claude Melnotte, and Colonel Lamas, represented by Miss Colville, Mr Douglas, and Mr Hoskins ; and when we say that those artists surpassed themselves, it would be superfluous to add anything more. Miss Anstead’s Widow Melnotte was a conscientious and truthful effort; while Mr Booth, as Beauseant, played capitally. “The Lady of Lyons" will be repeated this evening, when Mr Steele will appear as Claude. 1 he amusing farce of “ Founded on Facts ” will be the afterpiece. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that when leave of absence was asked in the Lower House on Wednesday for several of the Otago members, who are at present attending the session of the Provincial Council, a strong opposition was raised to granting the request, and it was suggested that the absentees should be held guilty of contempt, and lined LSO in terms of the Standing Orders. When three weeks’ leave was asked for Mr Creighton, the member for Franklin (Mr Buckiand) got up and talked about the constituency of Mount Eden being virtually disfranchised. This remark from Mr Buckiand, whose absence from the House is almost greater than that of any other member, is rather good. However, the leave asked for was granted, and a week to Messrs Maeandrew, Brown, .Reid, M'Glashan, and Taiaroa. At the usual quarterly meeting of the Antidote Division of the Sons of Temperance, the following officers were installed for the current term, now extended to six instead of three months W.P., Bro. J ihn W. Jago ; W.A., Bro. Bead ; 8.5., Bro. E. M. Moss ; A.H.8., Bro. Cameron ; F.S., Bro. James James ; Treasurer, Bro. Mackay ; Chaplain, Bro. Shackleford ; Conductor, Bro. Selby ; A.C., Bro. Purvis; IS, bro. Carr; 0.-b, Bro. Symmonds. The treasurer and recording scribe reported favorably of the finances and general condition of the Division—the balance at the credit of the Society being L 440; the members good on the books ; financial, 135; honorary, ten. Ten new members had been initiated during the past quarter. A Spiritualist’s funeral in this Colony is a rarity, but we notice by our exchanges that one took place at the Thames the other day. The local paper tell us that the first funeral in connection with the “Harmonial Progressionists ” there took place in the consigning of the body of Mary Williamson to the grave, her spirit having passed away (as the brethren would say) into the summer-land, on the evening of July 8. The Spiritualists who took part in the proceedings wore evergreens and immortelles, bound with white ribbon on the left breast, and were further distinguished by bouquets of flowers in their hands. On the arrival of the funeral cortege at the grave, Dunbar’s hymn of “ We are going to the Spirit-land ” w’as very well rendered by the “Thames Aurelian choir.” A Mr R, T, Cunningham then delivered a very feeling address of encouragement suitable to the occasion, when the flowers and evergreens were cast on the coffin; apd the singing of Byron’s “ Hymn of Immortality ” closed the proceeding. The Roman Catholics at Napier have set a praiseworthy example to other denominations. The Provincial Council of Hawke’s Bay had voted a sum of money for the purpose of building an industrial school for des-; titute and neglected children, but it has ; occurred to the Superintendent that it might be better if arrangements could be made with the denominational schools to take charge of the children. Mr Ormond brought forward a motion to this effect in the Council a few days ago, and in the course of his remarks stated that be had received a letter from the Rer. Father Forest to the effect the Sisters of Charity would take the girls j a.ud the Rev. Father Keignur would, ha was informed, take the boys. Children of all denominations would be admitted, and ministers of their respective faiths would have access at fixed hours for the purpose of imparting religious instruction. The Kev. S. Williams expressed his willingness j to do the same, Mr Ormond’s motion was carried. There was a meeting of the City Council last evening, but the business transacted was unimportant. The Finance Committee re*

ported the result of the L 12,000 loan. Tenders to the amount of f 43/50 were lodged of which amount L29,()00 was at or over par. and 1.14.050 under par; and tenders for L 12,0 0 had been accepted, the average being LIOJ 4s 3d. The sura of L2O was ordered to ha handed over annually to the Fire Brigade to cover the cost of boots worn by the members on occasions of fires. In adjourning the Council to August 7, the Mayor remarked ns that was probably the last opportunity he would have of addressing the Council before his term of office expired, he wished to thank them most heartily for the kindness he had at all times received at their hands, and the uniform support they had always given him. As regarded the Mayor elect, he had always received from him ever} 7 assistance, and he should he glad to help him the best he could during his year of Mayoralty. Mr Mercer thereupon said that he should endeavor to the best of his ability to fill the Mayoral office faithfully and judiciously, and hoped to go through his duties as successfully as his predecessor had done. With this exchange of compliments, the City Council of 1872-3 broke up. Messrs Morrow and Parry, Melbourne clothing manufacturers, have come to the help of the Legislature in its desire to prepare a Bill to shorten the hours of female labor, by publishing, in a small pamphlet, some reliable statistics, hints, Ac., regarding the machine and sowing-girls of Melbourne. The factory appears to find employment for 403 women and girls. Of these 15S arc single, 140 live with their parents, 10 live with relations, 8 live in lodgings, and 47 are married ; 23 are machinists, and 14 apprentices. The ages range from 10 to 63, of which there is one of each. The ages most common in the occupation am those from 14 to 23 inclusive. After these the ages of 26 and 38 furnish most representatives. Messrs Morrow and Parry say the question is frequently asked, “ Why do the females in your employ prefer factory work to domestic service ?” A few of the reasons given are as follow :—(1) That they are more independent; (2) that they have their Sabbaths, Saturday afternoons, holidays, and evenings to themselves ; (3) that they can live with their parents, relatives, or friends; (4) that they were never brought up to domestic labor. The average working day of the girls is seven and a half hours. In reference to “piece workers” and their hours of labor, the firm have no control. Tbe married have their household work to do before coming to business of a morning, and many of them leave early in the afternoon for the purpose of preparing the evening meal for their husbands, sons, and daughters, on their return from the day’s toil or school. The same rule applies to numbers of the single, who have infirm or aged parents, for whom they have to perform like duties morning and evening.

The 114 th monthly meeting of the Permanent Building Society of Otago will be held in the Society’s office, Princes street, to-morrow (Friday) evening, at seven o’clock. We advertise Mr Clapcott’s readings for tomorrow night, at the Athcnrcum. We hope the evening may be fine, and that those persons who were prevented by the inclemency of the weather from being present last week will not again be disappointed.