The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3386, 27 December 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1873.

We are compelled to hold over our report of the Oddfellows’ feto until our next issue. The adjourned inquiry into the cause of tho fire at the rear of the Prince of Wales Hotel, on the morning of tho 21st instant, will be held at the Imperial Hotel at two o’clock on Monday afternoon. The Shamrock claim, near Palmerston, has had a trial crushing of forty tons of stone taken at random from the reef, and tho result has been very satisfactory, tho yield being upwards of three-quarters of an ounce to the ton, Wc learn from Waipori that the proprietors of the O.P.Q. mine have traced the reef to a considerable distance, with every prospect of success. Several experienced reefers in tho neighbourhood, encouraged by their example, have prospected other parts of the district, and have discovered what promise to bo valuable reefs. The Oamaru Railway Station, tho contract for which lias been let to Mr J. Campbell, of Dunedin, for_Ll,loo, has been commenced. Tho site chosen is at tire east end of Wansbeck street, close to where the Government flagstaff stood. The building, which is to be of wood, resting on stone piles, is of neat design, and will cover an area of 01 by 21 feet; containing passage with entrance from the platform and from Wansbeck street, ticket room, general waiting room, ladies’ waiting room, lamp room, &c. 11 is to he completed in two months from date. The ‘ Bruce Herald’s’ Oamaru correspondent says A more suitable and contra! position for traffic could not well have been chosen. The effect of the railway in progress is seen in the demand for sections having a frontage to the main business street, and I Lave heard of a sale of one small corner at Ll2O, being an advance of over L2O on tho reserve price, Tho pur-

chaser was Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton, who paid a Hying visit to the town, and he was so highly pleased with the prospects as to induce the investment.”

The Dunedin correspondent of the ‘ Bruce Herald,’ who maybe regarded as an authority on matters connected with the Temperance organisations, writes as follows “ The difficulty i foretold as to the bringing into operation of the new Licensing Act has presented itself, and the would-be publicans, at all events, arc in a fix. Some of them in Dunedin had made Lot haste to have their houses ready, so that they might lie able to apply for certificates to the December meeting of Justices, and they have been sadly put out by the Justices refusing to take any action in the matter. The legal advisors of these disappointed aspirants for the honors of retail liquor dealers have, I believe, had a conference with the Executive on the subject, with what result I have not yet been able to learn. I should not think the Executive likely to interfere in the matter. I apprehend existing licenses will be renewed as before on payment of the fees, and under the protection of tho old licenses the trade will be continued by the present licensees till the new Court sits in March or April. I have no doubt we will manage to get over the intervening few mouths, though there may be no increased facilities afforded us for the obtaining of grog. If this course is taken, I am informed that the Temperance party will take no action in the mattei. Lnt if tho Executive grant certificates, and it is attempted to sell under licenses so obtained, informations will be laid against some of the parties who may so sell, and the question of the legality of the whole traffic will be raised. Money has been already voted by at least one of the Good Templar Lodges in Dunedin to try the rpiestion. ’ ’

A meeting of the Pioneer Lodge, Protestant Alliance Friendly Society, will be held in Milton Hall, on Monday, at 8 p.m. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Star of Freedom Lodge I. U. C.T. will be held on Monday instead of Wednesday. A summoned meeting of tho Pioneer Lodge 1.0.0. E. will be held in the Lodge Rooms, Oriental Hotel, on Monday evening, at eight o’clock.

The Rev. T. M’Kcnzic Eraser will lecture in tho First Church, on Monday evening, at 7.30. Subject: Hymnology—with musical illustrations by tho choir. We are in receipt of a copy of Wise’s Shilling Almanac, for 1874, which, for cheapness and usefulness, is to be highly commonded. The printing is quite a specimen of the art, and a great improvement upon former years, in fact, surpassing that of more expensive publications of the kind. The Directory of this Pcovince, with that of Akaroa, Temuka, Timaru, and Waimate in the adjoining one, have apparently been very carefully compiled, as also the other information, among them being several novel ties, the whole making a truly wonderful shilling’s worth. We can highly recommend our readers to procure one.