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Evening Star, Issue 3306, 24 September 1873, Page 2

We learn that 7,500 shares in the National Insurance Company have been applied for in Oamaru.

Invercargill boasts of a female compositor. The lady w said to be an excellent and speedy manipulator of type, and to have thoroughly acquired the art of. setting m much less time than is usually occupied by compositors of the masculine gender. Mr Justice Chapman gave judgment today in the Masonic Hall case in favor of the Company, whose application for an infunction to restrain the defendants from proceeding further with the sde he granted. The defendants gave notice of their intention to appeal. The Bruce Herald observes from the last "Fiee Church Record’* to hand that Otago possesses at least one friend in Scotland who is prepared to lend a helping hand in procuring ministerial supply for this Province. The gift is all the more valuable in its j opinion that it is given anonymously. The ! terms arc thus couched by the unknown ; giver Otago Presbyterian Church, for sending out ministers, L2HO.” A similar gift of L2OO, evidently from the same donor, is destined for .Sydney. The Free Church Assembly proposes to send out a deputation from that Church to visit the churches of Australia and New Zealand. Ihe convonci of the Committee of the Free Church of Scotland, in submitting his annual report to the late Assembly, made honorable mention of the Rev. D. M. Stuart, D.D., of Dunedin, whom he instanced as bearing testimony to the quality of the ministers sent out by that Church to the Colonies. The entertainment provided for the amusement of visitors to the Queen’s Theatre fairly entitled it to a larger patronage than was extended last evening. It is not to he wondered at that the management should feel disheartened when such a programme—comprising a« did three such excellent pieces Uhj Checkmate, 1 ” “A Fast Tram, and “ The family ’’—fails to draw a large audience. We mpftfP. t( l S ‘Y th, . l s* the performance as a Jp could not be surpassed in the Australian teams, ihe representatives of the principal characters in each piece played with zeal and conscieir-» tiousness, despite the meagre attendance, and it is only just to say that their efforts were appreciated. To-night Sheridan’s comedy ot “‘Tlw School for Scandal” will be played, to bo followed by th « farce of “ A Kiss in the Dark.’ —ln reference to the remarks that appeared in our issue of Monday.- commenting upon the maimer in which miss represented the part of Miami on Saturday evening, had we been aware that this Indy far from being well on the occasion, we should l)/!VO refrained from being so critical. As it diysa /f-op, however, form part of our duty tp inquire p> the state of health of performers, male cr £ej»ab, }ye xnakc tips explanation, trusting it will be m the spirit iu which jt Is givep. '

Through the winning of tfie Champion l Belt at the Thames by Volunteer Hpaki’is, and the Cavalry Champion Belt by Trooper Douglas, of the Hoviick Troop (Auckland), as tuc first Champion Belt is retained by Captain Wales, it was determined to have two new ones made, similar to the last and equal to them in value. Messrs Harrop and Neill, .Of this City, who have already made so many hefts for different corps throughout the Colony, were entrusted with executing the order, which they have .completed in a manner fully equal to their former workman- I

ship. The rifle Champion Bolt is of blue morocco, and the silver work consists of a breast-piece, eight clasps, buckle, slide, lastpiece, and end-piece, and silver mountings on the cartouche or dispatch box. The breast-badge is oval in shape, and bears the New Zealand coat of arms, consisting of a bishop, a Native, and an altar, the whole surrounded by a wreath of ferns, and surmounted by the royal crown. The end-pie.es is also very handsomely worked It is circular, and has two crossed rifles in the centre, surrounded by a wreath of ferns and flax. The pouches are of black enamelled leather, with silver edging, with the backs covered by a silver design illustrating the interior of a gun battery. In the centre is a stand of arms, with banners, helmets, shields, &0,, and grouped around are piles of shot and shell. A sentry is shown on the look-out; and on each side of the design a mounted gun is seen on the battery. The whole of the groundwork of the end-piece and breast-plate is of frosted silver, while the raised portions arc polished. With the exception that the rifle belt for the infantry is blue, while that for the cavalry is red, there is little difference between them, the mountings being the same in both. Around the badge on the infantry belt are enamelled in bine letters the words—“ Colonial Champion Belt for Rifle Competition.” The cavalry badge bears in blue enamel — “Cavalry Champion Belt, New Zealand.” The altar on both belts before referred to is also worked with enamel. 9ho silver used is the product of the Auckland mines. The design was drawn by Mr Neill, and the whole of the silver work has been executed by Mr K. Harrop as well as the blue enamelling. The engraving was done by Mr Brown, Princes street ; the chasing entrusted to sir Baxter; and the leather work, including some very handsome stitching, to _Mr Smith, saddler, of Hope street. The eight clasps are of plain silver, without inscription. The design is to be left with the winner, and Messrs Hoskins and Douglas will have the inscriptions placed upon the first clasp according to their individual tastes. As the belts are won on successive years, the clasps will, of course, be filled up with the names of the winners. They will be forwarded to Auckland in a few days for presentation to Messrs Hoskins and Dongles.

A farewell meeting of the members and congregation of the Moray place Congregational Church, will be held to-morrow, on the occasion of the removal to (Christchurch of Air and Mrs Hart, who have been connected with the church from its formation. Tea will be provided at half-past six o’clock.