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Evening Star, Issue 3262, 4 August 1873, Page 2

There was on view at Port Chalmers this morning a line specimen of a fish, named by the Maoris t J ar tonga-tonga, caught by Mr Hunter, of Purakanui It very much resembles a bream, only differs in color, being of a reddish pink, about eighteen inches long, and weighing three pounds. (in Tuesday last the Roslyn and Kaikorai Institute held their weekly meeting in the uoslyn Hall. The attendance was very numerous, including a number of the ladies in the district, One of the members read a

most instructive essay on “ The Life and Writings of Carlyle,” which evidently gave much satisfaction to the audience. The subject of the essay for Tuesday next is “ Observation.” As the books in the library are to be readjusted, members are requested to return books in their possession next Tuesday evening.

The number of inmates at the Benevolent Institution, Caversham. on the 31st July, was 76, comprising 16 men, 3 women, 36 boys, and 21 girls. The number of cases of out-door relief during the month of July was 266, comprising 15 men, 70 women, and 181 children. This was effected at a weekly cost of Lls Bs.

A correspondent from Wellington writes : “There will be a fierce attack on I r. Eeatherstou this session- Ministers will throw the blame of the failure of immigration on the Agent-General. This is the role: Featherston failed here and everywhere —his personal influence is his only merit.”

Mr Barron was well received by the ratepayers of High Ward at his meeting at the Athemeum Hall, on Saturday night. Mr Conner was called to the chair. After the address, the candidate gave satisfactory replies to several questions. Mr Chapman moved, and Mr Farley seconded the customary vote of confidence, which was carried unanimously.

In the Legislative Council on the 29th ult. the Hon. Captain Fraser presented a petition from the directors of the Dunedin Waterworks Company, praying that before any action is taken by the Legislature in the matter of the petition for the repea: < f the Dunedin Waterworks Act, the petitioners may be heard in refutation of its allegations.

Our Wellington correspondent writes : “ There is no organised Opposition, but considerable dissatisfaction is expressed with some of the Ministerial propositions, particularly with the increased taxation under the new tariff. It is likely that an Opposition will be formed next week. Mr Fitzherbert states that his leadership is only assumed vice Stafford.”

From private telegrams we learn that the s.s. Pretty Jane, which sailed on Saturday evening with the large steam crane for the harbor works at Oamaru, was discharged yesterday (Sunday) alongside the breakwater. This speaks volumes for the efficiciency of even the small portion of the breakwater already completed, when the Pretty Jane was able to go alongside and discharge over sixty tons of machinery in one day, most of the pieces weighing between two and three tons each.

“ Camille” was played at the Queen’s Theatre on Saturday evening to a good attendance. So much and so often have we written in praise of Miss Colville’s impersonation of the heroine that it would be supererogation to give any lengthened notice of it. Suffice it to say that her acting in this piece is as powerful as ever, and that on Saturday she was most abiy supported by Miss Anstead and Messrs Douglas and Booth. To-night “ Love’s Sacrifice” will be played, Mr Musgrave appearing as Paul Lafont.

Mr G. W. Collier, the stage manager at the Princess’s Theatre, took a benefit on Saturday evening. There was a large attendance in the lower parts of the bouse, and the dress circle was moderately patronised. The first piece was “The Willow Pond,” a play abounding in highly sensational situations, with scarcely the vestige of a plot. The drama was followed by a musical interlude, the most noticeable feature of which was the manner in which Miss Sara sang the beautiful melody, “Tell me, my heart.” The entertainment concluded with the farce of “Nan, the Good-for-nothing.” Wo perceive by advertisement that this nlace of amusement will be closed this week, in order to enable the management to make arrangements for producing a new piece received by the Alhambra, The name of the play will be announced in a few days.

Mr Steward, the member for the Waitaki, on the 18th ult. asked the Minister for Public Works if blunders had been committed in carrying out jetty works at Moeraki ; under whose advice the site was chosen, and whether the Government proposed amending the shipping facilities of the port. In justification of his question, he said the Provincial Government had arranged to construct the jetty at Moeraki of plant material ordered from Home. The site chosen gave 16ft. of water alongside, but some person had ordered the contractors to change the site, and there was only about 10ft. of water at the new place, while the top of the jetty was 6ft. or 7ft. above a vessel’s deck. Mr Richardson replied that he was not aware of a y blunder. Had the jetty been built where first contemplated, protection to shipping would have been lost. There would have been more water, but no shelter. Mr Carruthers was responsible. The Government did not do anything but use up present materials. In reference to the notice which we published recently regarding the confiscated estates of “John Whitelaw the Martyr,” who was put to death for his religious opinions, Mr John Whitelaw, of Alexandra (Victoria), writes to the Australasian that he is one of those interested, and adds :—“I may mention to you that in 1826 my father and other claimants, lineal and collateral, conjointly commenced proceedings for the recovery of this property, but as the Whitelawa were then, as they are now, not remarkable for their wealth, the calls to meet the heavy law expenses were not forthcoming, and so the case was abandoned, Co-operative companies and the Limited Liability Act were not then in force. As, however, it has been recently shown that law proceedings can be carried on under the limited and co-operative system, the descendants of ‘John Whitelaw the Martyr’ may now have an opportunity of establishing their legal claims to this million sterling, which, by the way, was over a million sterling forty-five years ago.”

An amateur concert, in aid of the local li« brary, will be held in the Momington Hall on Friday evening. A meeting of the Standard Building Society will be held at the Society’s office, Princes street, on Wednesday evening, from six to eight o’clock. Election meetings will be held this evening, as follow .-—Milton Hall, Stuart street—Mr J. P. Millar, at 7.30. Mission House, Russell gtree—Mr A. Burt, at 7.30. Bull and Mouth Hotel—Mr Barron, at 8. It will be seen by the advertisement that a varied and interesting entertainment is announced for to-morrow evening, at. the Drillshed, when, in compliance with a requisition, Miss Aitken’s farewell readings will be given. Miss Aitken is deservedly popular in Dunedin, to which she has always been a welcome visitor, and to the public institutions to which she has frequently lent her aid. Had she, therefore, proffered no other attractions than her own splendid readings, it would have been sufficient to lead her many friends to flock to her benefit; but on this occasion she will be assisted by Mr Joseph Kayner, who, we believe, also intends shortly to leave, as well as by Mr Winter and Mr A. J. Towscy. The selections, elocutionary aud musical, are from works by the best authors and composers.