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Evening Star, Issue 3329, 21 October 1873, Page 2

A young man named John Dclany, formerly telegraphist, t'amaru, was removed from gaol this morning, per escort to Oamaru for examination before the Resident Magistrate, charged uith fraudulently embezzling L 25, the property of the General Government. It will be novel information for many to hoar for the first time that the first suggestion for colonising New Zealand was made by an American—the famous Benjamin Franklin. So states Mr Alex, Mackay, in his interesting report on the New Zealand Company’s tenths. The first meeting of the National Building Society, for the payment of subscriptions, &c., was held at the acting secretary’s office last evening. A large sum of money was taken in the shape of subscriptions and entrance fees, and a large number of new shares taken up. We must congratulate the promoters of this society on the success which already seems to have rewarded their efforts. Manor House, in Rattray street, which is occupied as a boarding establishment, bad a narrow escape from being burnt down this morning. A boiler pipe which is carried through the wall of the building from the wash-house to the outside became heated, and set tire to the woodwork. Only the presehca of a number of men on the spot pre vented the flames from spreading. As it was, no damage was done. The forthcoming Nelson it appears, is likely to have its funny side The bachelor’s great difficulty, well-sown buttons, is already provided for by a special prize, although it has not been arranged a s to the particular test to be applied, and therefore the judges may have some difficulty in deciding. Mr .Sha'lcrass, of iNclson, offers a guinea for one pair of the best mended, an t one pair of the best “darned”—nothinworse, observe ! —pair of cotton stockings by spiutera The Government printing returns for tie year ending last June, presented to the General Assembly, shew the enormous outlay of LI 3,222, and evi n this large sun . as far as we gather from the returns, dorr not include the cost of the paper. The fo - lowing admission in the return shews thro there is a very unnecessary and wasteful di: tribution of documents issued from the office. The printer says : —“ The number of Par lie mentary papers which the extensive free issue in this Colony readers it accessary to '

mint—a number largely in excess of those printed in the Australian Colonies—adds materially to the coat of printing and binding, and largcdy increases the consumption of printing paper. In Victoria only 750 copies are printed of all papers presented by coin - mand ; in New South VN ales, 050 ; while in ew Zealand the average for the present year is 1,300 copies.” Why this Colony should issue 550 sets of Parliamentary papers more than is allowed by the Vic orian Government, and 350 more than that of New Honlh W ales, requires an explanation, which is not afforded. Mr Gillies, in the course of one of his speeches during ths past session, attempted to maintain that the present prosperous state ■f things, as regarded the North Island at anv rate, was little better than a delusion. There was no question, he was forced to admit, that property had attained a high value, but he considered that it was a significant fact that the purchasers wej’C, for the most part, not residents in the districts, who really knew what the property was worth, but strangers from the South Island, who did not. In short, that the long prices were given, not owing to the intrinsic value of the land or the stock, but, as Mr Vogel put it in replying, owing to the verdancy of the Southern capitalists. 'I he Hawke'h Bay Herald paints Mr Gillies’s attention to a couple of cases in Hawke’s Bay which his theory could not be made to fit by any degree of contortion. One is the Clive Grange pro perty, which, together with that at Matapiro, was sold in the first instance to some “verdant” gentlemen from the South, but which has now been re-sold by them to an old Hawke’s Biy settler, l.ieut.-Colonel Whitmore. * It is needless to say that it was not re-sold at a loss. How much the profit was we aro not a war-', hut rumor pieces it at something like Lid,ooo ! The Australian Bellringers produced their third programme at the Masonic Hall last evening to a very large audience. The success that has attended the efforts of these clever performers is mainly due to the at truetiveutss of the entertainment, but it is also to a great degree owing to t lie rapidity with which each item in the bill follows the preceding one. The bellringers rendered the various melodics on the handbells with their accustomed ability, and especial mention must be made of the “ Chime Changes,’’ in the second part, which were magnificently executed. Mr Virten introduced two s >ngs for the first time last evening—“ The False Friend,” and “The Anchor’s Weighed.” This gentleman also gave some of his characteristic negro delineations, and we must say we consider it very unreasonable on the part of the audience to insist on an encore, for although no doubt it is a flattering recognition of Mr Verten’s exertions, still a little more consideration ought to be extended. The comic song and dance, “ Nicodemus John sou,” was repeated by special request, and Vlr Vcrten may safely challenge competition in characters such as these. Mr Sykes afforded able assistance as accompanyist ; and a'together the performance, judging by the frequent and loud applause, seemed to bo highly relished by The same programme will be repeated this evening. In seconding a vote of thanks to the Rev. Dr Lang for a lecture rn Colonisation, at the Thames, the Advr.rCiwr says the Rev. J. Hill related an incident in the life of the rev. lecturer as illustrative of the influence which his name carried in the Australian Colonies. 11 e said that at a meeting held in the suburbs of Auckland the incident was related to the company by a gentleman present. He said he once saw a portrait of Dr Lang in the Illustrated Xews. He was represented standing with an umbrella below his arm and a couple of bushrangers standing before him. Dr Lang was trave ling to Melbourne, and two or three others were in the coach. They were intercepted by three bushrangers, who ordered all the gentlemen out, Dr Lang amongst the rest. One of -the bushrangers ordered him to sake off his boots, for at that tine it was the custom to carry money concealed in the boots. The doctor, in obedience to the command, took off one boot, but seeing the newlv spread metal on the road, he thought he should hurt his feet. He assured the bushranger that he had no money in his boots. He had given up all his money and his watch. He was again met with the peremp'ory order to take off his boot. He said, “ 1 assure you I have no money in my boots; I am Dr Lang, of Sydney.” The bushranger begged ten thousand pardons, ami handed him back his watch and purse. Dr Lang had assured him (Mr Hill) that this was quite true, and that he sat down and saw the other occupants cf the coach disposed of as regarded their watches, money, and boots. The North Dunedin Cadets.will muster in their drill-shed to-morrow evening, at 7 o’clock, A lodge of the Independent Order of Good TtJinplnrs will "be opened to-morrow evening in Knox Church schooohoom. The Dunedin Bowling and Quoting Club will play their opening match on Saturday next, commencing at 2 o’clock. A meeting of the residents in the Leith district will be held to-morrow (Wednesday) even’ ing, in the schoolroom, lower end of Albany street, at 8 o'clock.