The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3336, 29 October 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1873.

We understand that Mr J. B. M‘Cnlloch has been appointed Secretary to the National Building Society. Mr Pearce .Power lias been appointed an inspector of sheep and inspector of goldlields depasturing districts. The local agent at Oaraaru received applications under the uevv regulations on Saturday last for the passage of twenty-seven persons to the Colony. The trial of White v. MTvollar was continued to-day. Mr John White, one of the plaintiffs, was in the witness box till 2.J0 p.m., when the Court adjourned till to-morrow morning. Journalism appears to flourish in Napier. The Herald enlarges to news size shortly ; the Times re-appears in a month, and the Trleijrapk intends to enlarge to the same size as the fe'i'AK. The management of the Otago Museum has been placed in the hands of a committee consisting of the Provincial Geologist, Professor Black, Dr Alexander, and Messrs L. Beal, A. Beverly, and W. D. Murison. Captain Hutton has been appointed curator, Mr Wheatley informed the North OUujo Times that on Friday last Mr P. F. Soddart took up from Dunedin to that district 900 young trout from the Dunedin Acclimatisatian Society. Not a single fish was lost iu transitu, and the consignment was turned out in the ppper and lower portions of the Waiareka and the Kakauui mill race. Cricket is flourishing in Oamaru, and, a correspondent writes, has “ received an impetus from the presence amongst us of Mr L. E. Reade. A very good game was played on Saturday between sides chosen by Messrs L. E. Reade and G. Sumpter. The formerteam only made .‘M to their opponents’ 71. Bor the latter Lynch made a fine score of 2J, and w as success! ul in I ionv ling, taking Reade s wicket for 0, and Macann’s for six.”

There, waa a rumor in town, on Saturday, says the North Otnyo Tim w, that a young Lothario, living not a hundred miles from Oamaru, had eloped with a tickle fair, the wife of a laborer. A stanza of an old song says, “When a lady elopes down a ladder of rope?, she may go to Hong Kong for me ; but this doesn’t seem to have been the feeling of the husband in this case, who is reported to have accepted the modest sum of L 5 in full satisfaction for the loss of the lady. The first public entertainment given by the Black Brigade took place at the North I uimdin Drill-shed last evening, for_ the benefit of the sufferers at the recent accident in the Cutting. The room was crowded m every part, and we are glad that the benevolent efforts of the promoters of the entertainment have betn so well seconded by the public. The entertainment was of a mixed character. The first part consisted of selections from the simple and always pleasing melodies and harmonised buulens, known as 4 Chrhtys.” As a rule, when fairly sung or played, they are successful, and although this society has been in existence oidv a very short time and the members had to grapple with the inevitable nervousness that seizes on all debutants, their efforts were above the average. This is partly attriDatable to there being amongst them very superior voices, that only require careful training to be capable of high artistic efforts. The jokes were, on the whole, good. Ihe second part was of a miscellaneous character, singing, and dancing ; and the third introduced a comedietta, which created great amusement, “The Haunted House.” The Provincial brass band kindly gave their services, and performed some overtures and introductory pieces very effectively. Mrs Clutaam accompanied with the piano, which, however, we think, was not judiciously placed to insure complete unity of purpose with the singers. Luckily the lady’s skill compensated this disadvantage. The applause which greeted most of the efforts justify us in saying that the audience was thoroughly satisfied.

The members of JNo. 1 Company will meet for parade and inspection at the Headquarters Drill-shed to morrow evening, at 7.30. The current number of the Illustrated Near Zealand Herald contains a full sized engraving of the Dallam Tower in a gale, and other views, but none of them have reference to New Zealand subjects, several of which are promised next month. The issue is, however, a readable one.

Wo have received from Mr William Hay a copy of the “History of the Missions of the Free Church of Scotland in India and Africa,” by tho Lev. Robert Hunter. We aiiticipate much pleasure and information from its perusal, and shall give a more extended notice when we have had the opportunity of examining its contents. The work is beautifully bound and lettered, well printed, not more bulky than an orthodox novel, and as the period embraced in the narrative comprises some stirring times in Indian history, many of tho details must be intensely interesting.