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Evening Star, Issue 3270, 13 August 1873, Page 2

So intense was last night’s frost that a sheet of ice 5-16th’s of an inch in thickness was taken off a water tank this morning, A petition signed by the leading merchants in Dunedin has been transmitted to the General Government, expressing approval of the principle of ad valorem duties, and praying that the excessive taxes on tea and sugar may be reduced, should any revision of the tariff take place this session. “ It would seem,” says the Evening Post, “that Mr Moorhouse did not after all make such a bad thing out of standing unsuccessfully for Egmont. During his visit to Taranaki on that occasion he purchased tome property, and it is stated that during a flying visit made a few days ago, he resold the property at an advance of L 1,600.” A correspondent suggests that we should warn those who write their telegrams at the desk provided for the public at the Telegraph Office against leaving copies of their confidential messages lying about there, He instances the following, which he found there to-day (names suppressed):—" has asked me to marry him. Shall I do so? Come.” This is not the first case of the sort we have heard of. The road to the Port Chalmers Cemetery is iu a most disgraceful state. A proof of this was given yesterday, as when the hearse containing the remains of the late Mr Wm. Waters ascended the hill, the horses we-e brought to a stand-still on account of the very deep ruts. As this, the oniy road to the Cemetery, is u r ed for carting the heavy stones from the quarry, a good road might be formed on the other side. Some time back the fences were put in order, and trees planted, but the road was neglected. It is to be hoped now that we have a new Mayor and Councillors they will see the necessity of making a better approach. In the Banco Court to-day, the only case argued was Hutchinson, appellant, v. Oxenhould and another, respondents—an appeal from the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Lawrence, The question to be decided was whether the plaintiffs below were entitled to rescind a contract of exchange entered into by them with the defendant, whereby a mare and foal belonging to the plaintiffs were to be exchanged for a horse, the property of the defendant, which the defendant declared bo be sound, whereas it appeared to be unsound. The plaintiffs, however, bad used the horse, and had neglected to return it for four months. A full report of the case will appear in our issue of to-morrow. The usual half-yearly meeting of the Dunedin Scottish Company was held in Wain’s Motel, last evening, Captain Jamieson being in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the ! reasurer’a statement for the past half -year was read, showing a balance in cash in the Bank to the credit of the company of LllO 19s 4d ; and a total value of assets over liabilities amounting to L 241 10s id. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the hon, treasurer, and also to the hon. secretary for their services during the last half-year ; and Corporal J. Gibson being obliged, by press of work, to resign the secretaryship, Corporal I*. Mercer was elected to fill the vacant office. Vol. J. Hogg was transferred, at Ida own request, to the Clutha Rifles, and Vol. G. A. Smyth’s resignation as a member of the company was accepted. Vols. J. M'Kenzie, W. Cowie, and L. C. Galbraith were elected a committee for the ensuing six months. A hearty and unanimous vote of thanks was then given to Lieut. W. Henderson, who is leaving Dunedin, for the manner iu which he has performed the duties of the various offices he has held in the company for the past four years. The rest of the evening was spent by the company iu a most social and agreeable manner. At the Queen’s Theatre, last evening, the performances consisted of Sheridan Knowles’s play of “The Hunchback,” and the farce of “ Who Speaks First ? ’ In the first piece the cast was the same as on its last representation, with the exception of the, parts of Master Walter and Sir Thomas Clifford, which were taken by Messrs Hoskins and Steele. We have alluded so often iu favorable terms to Miss Colville’s Julia, that we may merely add that her performance last night was as brilliant as heretofore. Miss Anstead, as Helen, played with spirit, and in the scene where she forces Master Modus to declare his love for her, her arch and coquettish action provoked the merriment of the audience. Mr Booth’s Master Modus was exceedingly good, and we have seldom seen a better representative of the character. Master Walter, in the person of Mr Hoskins, could not possibly be excelled ; but Mr Steele, in the part pf Sir Thomas Clifford, evinced the samp want of ummation observable in most of the characters sustained by him, and was evidently not well up in his text. Mr South, as Lord Tinsel, gave one a very good idea of the extravagant fop. The remaining characters were up to the mark. Miss Colville takes her benefit to-night, and

it will only be a just recognition of the esteem in which this lady is held that there should be a Isrge attendance. We trust her numerous friends wjil rally round her on this occasion. The pieces selected are “An Unequal Match,” and “A Comical Countess.”