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Evening Star, Issue 3304, 22 September 1873, Page 2

There was no sitting of the Supreme Court to-day, the business for the day being adjourned to to-morrow. The Borough Council of Westport have a vacancy for rising genius, as they require an “ interim” Town Clerk at a weekly salary of two guineas ! A nother accident occurred at the Railway Pier on Saturday night; a man fell overboard while attempting to go on board the Omeo. Excepting a few bruises and a good ducking he was none the worse, thus making three accidents in one week.

As an illustration of the difficulty of communication with the interior, we have to-day received up-country papers a week later than the date on which thev should have arrived. The Wakalip Mail is dated the 10th of this month, and the Mount Ida Chronicle of the 12th and 10th are both to hand together. The first pile for the extension of the Railway Pier was driven on Saturday afternoon, being the commencement of a considerable addition to the wharf accommodation at the Port. When this is completed it will he 1,220 feet long by 26 feet in width. The whole will be finished in about fifteen months.

A meeting of compositors, pressmen, ami others connected with the printing trade, was held on Saturday evening at Hayley’a Hotel, for the purpose of taking stops to form an Otago Typographical Association. Mr David Stark was in the chair, and thorn was a large attendance. A committee wmi appointed to revise the regulations of the original associations, and report to the mnt meeting, to bo held in a fortnight’s time. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. “Jock” Crabara’s impudence knows no bounds He wrote the other day to the Canterbury Education Hoard, challenging the truth of Father Chatagnicr’s statements ; and in one part of his letter said ; “I am not a Spiritist, as represented, hut the opposite, having nearly stamped out that superstition in Otago by my lectures, which I delivered in forty-lonr schools, which are under the watchful care of Mr Hislop, Inspector for that .Province ; and my success has been so great that I hold complimentary letters from thirty-six of the teachers, and might hare had them from the rest if 1 had chosen.” The Aotea correspondent of the Southern■ Cross gives the following as the latest phase

df Hauhauism :-~“Two now prophets have arisen .among the Ngatiamaniapoto, both young men They are sanguine of being able to drive the Pakchas away. Thov must, bo sporting characters, for one part of th'-ir programme is to got up a horse race between the Kuropoans and llauhaiiH, the supremacy of the contending parties in New Zealand to be decided by tint event of the race, Hf course the Maori horses will be supported by the Maori (ieds. They will require to be good ‘stayers,’ for I,lie race is to be a four mile one. The Haulms generally don’t believe in the super natural powers of then wise men, but tlm promise la jiirl am miracles produces u pleasing excitement until the impostor tries his powers ami tails.’’ There was a strange mee,ting ol discharged soldiers at Auckland lately. One ol our eon temporaries informs iim that about sixty veterans were present, ami tbat it was announced by the conveners oI the meeting that they had called the pensioners together for the purpose of inviting ex ■ ' ssistant < Ininmissionary Times to a banquet immediately upon his liberation from the Stockade. It was stated that Mr limes would be set at liberty by the end of the present month, and that a deputation of pensioners should wait upon him in gaol and request his acceptance of the proffered token of respect. A warm discussion ensued, very little sympathy being shown towards Mr Innes or the conveners of the meeting, and a resolution, moved by Patrick O’ Oonnel, and seconded by Mr Hardy, was carried almost unanimously to the effect that a most gross insult was conveyed to the pensioners of Auckland by the conveners of that meeting in calling them together for such a purpose. This terminated the proceedings.

The annual meeting of. the .Jewish congretion was held yesterday, in the vestry-roora underneath the Synagogue. Mr Nathan presided, and in referring to the past year, mentioned that the membership roll numbered forty-three persons, being five less than the previous year, hut the present year would commence with a membership of forty-six. The number, however, might he larger, as there were resident in the City eighteen fellow-religionists who did not contribute to the fnmls of the Synagogue, which was a circumstance to be much regretted. The Treasurer’s balance-sheet, read by Mr Joel, showed the financial position of the congregation to be flourishing. It was decided to form a branch of the Anglo-Jewish Association in New Zealand : and after discussion the proposal to borrow money to complete the Synagogue and build a residence for the minister, was referred to the committee to report as to ways and means. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows :—President (re-elected), Mr S. Nathan; treasurer (also re elected), Mr Joel ; committee, Messrs G. Jacobs, Mendelssohn, de Beer, B. Isaacs, and Friedlisch.

The evergreen “Green Bushes” was revived at the Queen’s Theatre on Saturday evening to a very large audience, the lower parts of the house being crowded to excess. Miss Colville appeared as Miami, and it must be admitted that her performance was an unequal one. At times her acting almost approached the sublime; but, taken altogether, the character of the Indian huntress is not one in which this talented lady shines. Miss Anstead, as Nelly O’Neill, played naturally ; while Miss Raymond's Geraldine seemed to us an artificial effort. Mias Alice Bray’s Tigertail was good, and her general appearance and dress were appropriate. Mr Steele, as Connor O’Kennedy, had a part for which he was well adapted, and he made the most of it; it was decidedly a clever representation. Mr Douglas’s Wild Murtough, and Mr Booth’s George O’Kennedy were both good in their way. The part of Grinnidge was filled by Mr Dydes, and that of •Jack Gong by Mr Musgravs. We may simply say, with reference to these two gentlemen, that if they had contented themselves with following the words of the author, which are sufficiently funny in themselves, their efforts would have been much more successful. The extent to which their “gag” was carried was outrageous, and they decidedly overshot the mark in taking such liberties with the text. We had almost forgotten to mention the excellent acting of Miss Ward, as Eveleen, daughter of Connor O’Kennedy ; it was childlike and pretty, and the applause that greeted her was deserved. The remaining characters were tolerably well filled. The entertainment commenced with the amusing trifle, “A Fast Train.” We were glad to perceive that Mr Hoskins’s late indisposition has not detracted from his power to amuse ; he never played better or with more vigor than as Colonel Jack Delaware on Saturday evening. To-night, the comedy of “Checkmate” and “JNarcisse” will be played.

A. special meeting of the Pioneer Lodge, 1.0.0. E., will bo held in the Lodge room, tomorrow evening, at 8 o’clock, for conferring degrees.

The fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society will be held in the lower hall of the Athemuuin, to-morrow, Tuesday, evening, at 8 o’clock. The weekly meeting of the Roslyn Institute will be held to-morrow evening in the Roslyn Hall, at 8 o’clock. Mr Hows will read a paper on tho “ Goruish Miners .Dowsing a Divining Rod.”

Companions of the E. A. Chapter of Otago, 81-1, E. 0., are requested to meet at the Masonic Hall, to-morrow evening, at 7.30, to attend the installation of the of beers of the Kilwinning Otago E.A. Chapter. Wc have received from the publisher, Mr J. Hughes, Wellington, “A Letter to Mr Gladstone on behalf of the Ngatiraukawau Tribe,” by T. C. Williams. We have not had time to glance over its contents. The Dunedin Artillery now possess a band numberingtwenty-six performers, who will make their first appearance in public this evening. The baud gives a concert in the Drill-shed, and the proceeds are to go towards liquidating the debt incurred in providing them with uniforms. A very good programme has been put forward. In addition to songs there will he given a number of instrumental selections, and the entertainment will conclude with a dance, Wo have received from Messrs Burton Bros, some photographs of different portions of tho interior of the First Church, which, whether considered as pictures, or as architectural studies, arc worthy of a place in every album. < fin- is a view in which the Gothic windows, roof, and arches are beautifully brought out. There is in this photograph that soft haziness, that “ dim religious light,” which gives such a ehiinn to Gothic ecclesiastical buildings. The m-reirn mid gallery, with its half-lights, and the (all ndnmiiH in the distance, with their capitals, niif: Rented rather than brought out, but in winch every feature can be traced, combine to hum an admirable picture. But while, for general effect wc admire this view of the church, l.hone photographs which represent details are I he mo il, to la- appreciated. There is an idea, dial we, in tmr days, with improved tools and medio,ln of working, are inferior as artists to dm eiieieiila. lii proof of this wo are bid to look el. the columns of their temples, and mo frwqueiitly told we cannot equal the I leant v ol (heir capitals, nor even that of dm i-mving-i "I flic mediaeval ages of Europe. Wo admit, there were giants in those days, but we think it very likely that when the artists who .InUMie.l ; ,nd cut the richly ornamented capital* m (he hirst Ghui'oh have been some rent ni ie» at rest, future generations will recognise the originality and beauty of their work. 'l',, 1,0 it for granted that the Greeks discovered dm !mu proportions of the column, and set the e v:i mpte in t -orinth of adorning it with beautiful in aiitlms leaves and spiral horns-they were eliaructcristic of their country, and have slavishly followediuEurope,inlands where dm acanthus is unknown, or where certainly no myths arc connected with its introduction. Wo arc glad, therefore, that while adopting the 1

column into the First Church in its admittedly beautiful proportions, the capital is adorned with purely New Zealand flora. Th« beautiful fern takes the place of the horns and volutes, and gracefully arranged indigenous leaves form one of the most elegantly ornamented capitals that art has produced. 'The form and design of the pulpit will be eipially admired. Though free from those grim caricatures which form a distinguishing feature of ancient (iothic ornaments, the more difficult task <if introducing graceful figures has been adopted with success; and we look upon this, too, as a mark of independent thought in regard to art. The peculiar flora of New Zealand stamps the work as originating in these islands. Tlieiie pictures, reproduced at Home in the illustrated periodicals, would do good service as emigration agents. They would convince that where art is so successfully followed, there must be high civilisation, prosperity, and a chance of comfort.