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Evening Star, Issue 3258, 30 July 1873, Page 2

“ Much Ado about Nothing ” was played at the Queen’s last evening to a moderate attendance. Pressure upon our space prevents us from noticing at any length the performance, which was an enjoyable one, though, with the exception of Mr Hoskins, all the performers were more or less unacquainted with their parts ; and Mr Hydes burlesqued the character of Dogberry. Of the afterpiece, the less said the better, though we cannot help observing that the quarrels of members of the company should not be paraded before the public. The performance at the Princess’s Theatre last evening was for the benefit of Mr and Mrs Macgowan. We were pleased to observe that there was a large attendance in all parts of the house. “The Man of the World” was the first piece, in which Mr Macgowan appeared as Sir Pertinax Macsycophant, and he played exceedingly well. Mrs Hill enacted the part of Lady Lumbercourt with taste and feeling. The other characters were well represented. “The Field of the Cloth of Cold ” concluded the entertainment. We would recommend those who have not yet seen the burlesque to avail themselves of the present opportunity, as it decidedly improves on repetition. There will be no change of programme this evening. As Mr Edward Brown, proprietor of the Yark Stables, George street, was riding to Portobello this forenoon, the horse, on making a quick turn to get a drink at Mr Cotton’s trough, came down with its rider under him, seriously injuring one of his feet, which unfortunately had become entangled in the stirrup iron. When Ur Sorley, who was sent for, arrived, it was found that two of the short hones near the ankle of the foot that had been entangled were fractured. Although the swelling and pain arc great, the accident is not likely to incapacitate M r Brown from attention to business for any great length of time.—Mr Caleb Moore met with an accident to-day. He was endeavoring to get to the Belt irom the head of .Stafford street, whan his horse fell, and rolling over, broke the ankle of his right foot. He was attended by Mr Hocken. There was the usual sessional fight to day over the honorarium. The Government brought clown an Ordinance which fixed the rate for town members and members who resided in the City at ten sh Hinge, and country members at twenty shillings, and mileage. Mr M'Lean at oncemoved the exci ion of the words “ten shillings,” which "was negatived by 15 against 14. Then the kon. member for Waihopai moved that the allowance to town members should be twelve shillings ; but this also was negatived. Mr M'Lean next moved that the sum should be twenty shillings to all members, which was carried by 17 to 13. It became necessary to obtain the suspension of the Standing Orders, to allow of the Ordinance being passed through its remaining stages. This was opposed by Mr Reid, who went to a division ; but the ayes were overwhelming, and the Bill passed, the voice of the hon. member for the Taieri being heard against it to the last.

The Caledonian Society have been more successful in their efforts to promote education, by means of free schooling, than was anticipated, nearly one hundred youths having availed themselves of the advantages offered. We are sorry to say that some of the lads, instead of showing their appreciation of the liberality of the Society, by keeping quiet while waiting for the school in, caused the otherwise peaceful neighborhood to be turned into a scene of rowdyism. Last evening, between the hours of seven and eight, nearly eighty of them (their ages ranging from six to sixteen) assembled in front of the Athenaeum, and not being content with “ sky-larking,” insulted some females who were going into the building, and tormented the Chinamen living close by by knocking at their doors, and addressing them in anything but appropriate language when they appeared. It is to be hoped the presence of the police on the spot will prevent a recurrence of this larrakinism. The City Police Court was crowded this morning during the hearing of a charge against Jas. Campbell, proprietor of the Crown Hotel, of allowing gambling to take place iu his licensed hotel. The de.endant was fined 20s and costs. A charge was then heard against Jeremiah Jerome and John Wilson. the men who had been playing ear is in the hotel, of playing an unlawful game—viz., euchre. This case was dismissed, as the Bench held an objection raised by defendant’s counsel to be good, and they (the Bench) stated that no ordinance had been passed by which men could be punished for playing cards, but they hoped the Legislature would attend to the matter, Mr M‘Keay defended Jerome, and Mr E. Cook, Wilson. It was elicited in evidence that a man named Gallagher had lost LlO, that sum having been bet on the result of the game.—Ellen Andrews was fined 5s for trespassing on the premises of one Cllen Page. Owing to pressure on our space, we have been compelled to hold over our report. There was hotter work in the expiring moments of the thirty-third session of the Provincial Council than on any other day’s sitting. The debate on the honorarium over, the Speaker asked for directions as to the request of Mr Hawthorne, who had that morning written to him, requesting that he should be allowed to reply to Professor dale’s reply, and that that answer of his should be bound up with the Professor’s, if it was decided to include the latter in the votes and proceedings of the Council. Members then re-opcned the whole question of the policy of this dispute; and Mr Stout, to cut the matter short, moved that Mr Hawthorne’s statement, Professor Sale’s reply to it, and the promised letter from Mr Hawthorne, should not be bound up with the Council journals, which was carried. Mr Keid wanted to exclude the High School Commission report from the journals, but was unsuccessful. Mr Haggitt next moved the adjournment, and lectured the House for having stultified its previous action, being particularly severe on the members for Caversham and Waihopai. Mr Kinross was iu the middle of a long speech on Southland laud s when the Superintendent was announced. The reading of the prorogation speech was the work of a few minutes ; and at a little after 1.30 p.m., the thirtysecond session, which is remarkable for the large amount of work done iu a very short time, came to an end.

We agree with the correspondent of one of the Wellington papers who says that the Swede, who displayed such presence of mind and powers of endurance as are indicated in the following extract, showed himself to be of the right class of emigrants for Government agents to procure;—At four o’clock in the afternoon he attempted to eross the Makokohi river, which at that time was much swollen. He was carried down far below the ford, but at last found firm footing upon a small island in the middle of the river, where he stood until daybreak next morning, or fully fifteen hours. Part of the time he was immersed in the water, and in

constant dread of being washed off his little piece of terra firma. Directly it was sufficiently light for him to discern the nature of the nearest bank he undressed, tied his •clothes in a bundle, and, making an impromptu anchor of a large stone, he anchored bis apparel where lie stood, intending to regain it directly the flood had subsided. He then struck out for the shore, which he succeeded in reaching safe'y after being carried down a distance of fifteen chains. But alas for human hopes, his troubles were not at an end, as a very steep hill presented itself directly opposite the landing place, when he very plucki'y committed himself again to the mercy of the watery element. On swimming round the hill ho succeeded in reaching a camp, but in an almost exhausted condition. After a few simple restoratives being applied, he regained his former strength. There is in the Timavu gaol a prisoner named Bickle, who appears to be greatly desirous of outdoing Plummer in notoriety. It will be remembered that he was one of the Messrs Brogden’a immigrants ; that he was convicted of stealing coins from the foundation stone of the local Masonic Hall; and that after conviction he feigned madness, but failing to establish his claim for transmission from a cell in the Tiraaru gaol to a more comfortable residence in the Sunnyside Asylum, he (for the ostensible purpose of easing his coneience, but in reality to imperil the liberty of a fellow-creature) made a confession of his guilt, which led to the arrest of a follow-workman, who, after trial, was discharged without a stain on his character. Dickie’s latest bid for notoriety was made on Saturday week, when, accordingto th bGazeUc, be attempted to commit suicide in gaol, while the prisoners were shaving and cleaning for the Sunday ; and while the gaoler was looking out his clothes in the adjacent room, Hickle concealed a razor, taking it with him to the water-closet, where be was afterwards found with his throat cut, but the wound, on examination, was found to be merely a flesh one. A doctor was sent for, and he sewed up the wound ; but the next cay Bickle, who had bis hands handcuffed behind him, managed by some means to get them in front of him, and obtained possession of a pannikin, and broke the handle off, with which he cut the stitches of the wound, but they were quickly resevvn. Ho even now feigns madness.

The attention of Volunteers is directed to the general orders in another column. A meeting of Sir Barron’s supporters will be held at Murray’s Hotel, this evening, at eight o’clock.

The eleventh anniversary of the Court Pride of Dunedin, A.0.F., will be celebrated by a soiree and concert in the Head-quarters Drill Shed on Friday evening, at seven o'clock. We have been requested to state that Miss Aitken’s reading, announced to take place on Monday next at the Octagon Drill-shed, is postponed till Tuesday, on account of the departure of the English mail that day. Meetings will be addressed this evening by the various candidates for the municipal elections as follows Baxter’s Maitland Hotel: Mr Prosser, at half-past seven; Fagan’s Carrier’s Arms Hotel: Mr Prosser, at half-past eight; Melican’s Rising Sun Hotel, Walker street, Mr Fish, at eight; Ayrshire Hotel, Great King street, Mr R. Paterson, at eight o’clock; White Horse Hotel, Mr Beck, at eight.