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Evening Star, Issue 3409, 24 January 1874, Page 2

Our report of Messrs Stout and Macassey’s speeches, and his Honor’s summing up in Orkney v. Bell, are unavoidably held over till Monday. . Over LIOO has been collected for Captain Johnson, The “ Cricket on the Hearth” was played at the Princess’s last evening, to a moderate attendance, “Fettered” is announced for this evening. The committee of shipmasters appointed to consider the case of Captain Johnson, of the Surat, held a meeting last evening on board the ship Warrior Queen, to consider the draft of the petition to bo sent to the Board of Trade. The draft was agreed to. We are requested to explain that tfc.e accident on the Lovell’s Mat road, reported by the ‘ Bruce Herald,’ and mentioned by us yesterday, was .incorrect in particulars. Mr Thomson, of Messrs W. and J. Scoular, was not hurt, but Mr Hunter, connected with the same firm, received smi injury. He has, however, fully recovered. In view of the approaching meeting of the members of the Atheaeum, the following extract from the ‘ Bendigo Advertiser ’ will be of interest:—“To the committee of the Oustlemaine Mechanics’ Institute belongs the credit of throwing open a part of the institution on Sundays. Henceforth the commodious and well-arranged free library and reading-room will be opened on ever} day of the week. We venture to predict moral and social improvement in Gastlemaiue, and trust that the example will be followed here and elsewhere.” Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there was another large attendance at the Kennedys’ entertainment at the Masonic Hall, last evening. Mr Kennedy’s selections were all well rendered, the song “The Laird o’Cockpen” and the introductory narrative proving highly amusing, as did the dialogue song “ Saw ye my wee thing.” Mr David’s “ The March of the Cameron men,” was loudly applauded. As tonight and Monday will be the company’s last performances, we would recommend those who have not yet heard this talented family not to lose the opportunity of doing so. The investigation of the charge of neglecting to signal the steamer Wanganui preferred against Captain Johnson, of the ship Surat, begun before Mr Maitland, R.M., this morning. More than two hours were occupied in discussing a question of law, which was settled against Mr Stout; and two witnesses were examined, after which the Court adjourned until Tuesday. It was intimated in the course of theargument that two other charges—of neglecting to take soundings and of having improper charts—will probably be preferred against Captain Johnson. An inquest into the circumstances of the recent fire at Otepopo, was held on Thursday by Mr T. W. Parker, District Coroner. The fire occurred on the 18th inst., the building destroyed being a wooden house on the leasehold property of Mr John Dodds. The building was insured in the Royal Insurance Office for LSO, and in the New Zealand Insurance Office for LIOO. Both insurances were effected on the. 3rd December. The following is the verdict: —“ The jury are of opinion that the fire took place under very suspicious circumstances, bub now caused there is no evidence to show;” to which the following rider was added—“ That if ordinaly care had been taken this.inquiry would not have been held!” An accident, fortunately unattended with any serious consequences, happened at Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon, A young man in the employ of Mr Kroon, baker, of Dunedin, -was driving a horse and cart along Wickliff Terrace, when the horse shied and commenced backing towards the edge of the embankment. The driver jumped off the cart, and in its descent of the embankment the cart fortunately came in contact with a stump, which held it until assistance was obtained. On the harness being loosened, the horse tried to get up, when the cart and all went over the embankment on to the beach. The cart then capsized, thus enabling the horse to get clear without injury. We learn from Gatlin’s River that the weather for the last two or three days was very favorable to the operations on board the Surat, and that in consequence a good deal of cargo was got out of her. Most of the passengers’ luggage has now been recovered. The divers do not appear to agree in their opinion of the extent of the damage to the ship—one saying he could only discover seven or eight small holes in her bottom, while another saw a. hole large enough to put “ a couple of bullocks ” through. As was to be expected, the removal of so much cargo has raised the vessel by the head, but her stem is much deeper in the sand. We are told that she sank as much as twenty inches in three daya» The Wallabi to-day brought back the family who were left at the mill on the 3rd inst. on account of the dangerous illness of the woman, who is now in tolerably good health.

In a recent letter to Mr. Demon a correspondent grumbled about the “chaotic jumble of sentences which occasionally present themselves in telegrams.” Mr Lemon’s reply is so much to the point, and offers such a useful lesson to all persons sending telegrams for transmission, whether private persons or Press correspondents, that it deserves the widest publication, both for the sake of securing accuracy in the despatches and also of releasing the clerks from the worry of attempting to decipher almost indecipherable hieroglyphics. Mr Lemon says:—“lf you were to see the manner in which a great number of telegrams are presented for transmission, you would wonder that complaints of inaccuracy are not a great deal more numerous. I myself have seen hundreds of telegrams the caligraphy of which. I would defy the cleverest male or female operators to make out. If the outside public would only devote a little care when writing their telegrams, I will undertake that they will not undergo mutilation at the hands of my officers,” Fuller particulars of the two accidents at the Wakatip races are given by the ‘Cromwell Argus’;—A party, consisting of Mr D. Powell, his son, Captain Hutchison, Mr Wrightson, Mr Henry, and others, had an almost miraculous escape from serious injury on Friday, while driving from Queenstown to the race-course in Mr Powell’s trap. About half-way between Queenstown and Franktou, they had to pass a waggon loaded with wool; and at a place where they were going down hill, one side of the road being a steep sidling, although there was hardly .room—partly the waggoner’s fault, we have heard—Mr Powell rather incautiously tried to pass. To clear the waggon, one side of the trap gave a lurch, causing Mr Powell’s foot to slip off the break, and himself to fall out. He being driving, the reins, of course, got among the horses’ feet, and they immediately bolted, Capt. Hutchison being thrown forward on the pole between the horses. Mr Wrightson assisted the gentleman to get back into the trap, and then lie, the captain, and Mr Powell’s son made their escape by jumping off behind the trap, leaving Mr Henry and Mr Barton in possession of the vehicle. They stuck to it for about a mile and a quarter, when- they also made their escape. The horses continued their mad career till they reached Frankton, where they were fortunately secured. A person named Callaghan met with an accident at the races, whereby his arm was broken. He was the worse of liquor, and had for some time been riding about the course in a careless and reckless fashion.

_ The Artillery Band celebrated the termination of the first year of its existence by a supper, held in St. George’s Hall, last night. Conductor Hume occupied the chair, and Sergeant Millar the vice, and the • guests, including Captains Jack, Wales, and Copeland, Lieut'. Muir, Sub-lieutenant Frankeiss, and SergeantMajor Greenfield. Justice having been done to the’ excellent spread laid by Host Donaldson, of the Glasgow Pie House, the usual loyal toasts were disposed of, and Lieut. Muir proposed “ The Artillery Band.” Ho paid a compliment to the band for the progress jt had

made, in spite of considerable obstacles. So well satisfied was he with its progress that he offered to give a prize to be competed for at the class firing, on the same conditions as the class firing. From the balance sheet he read that the band’s liabilities during the year for instruments, uniform, &c., had been L 231; while its present liabilities were only L 5 10s. —Captain Jack, at a later stage, proposed the health of the Conductor, and advised the band now to study discipline, andmakeitself athoroughlyfirst-chiss military band, which might make its cultivation of music a source of profit to its members, —Conductor Hume, in, replying to both toasts, said the band had been a success both financially and musically. Many obstacles and much prejudice had to be contended with, but they had been overcome. It was at first intended to make it a private band, but hearing that the Artillery would be willing to accept their services, they endeavored to attach themselves to that corps, and the band he thought had reason to be proud of the amalgamation. In reference to what had fallen from Captain Jack, he had to say that the band had not been formed for any purposes of profit, and it would be a bad day for it when it studied that. For himself, he would not care what became of it if it did so. Some people imagined that the Colored Opera Troupe had made a deal of money, but such was not the fact, as the members well knew, some of them having been considerably out of pocket. When the artillery bund got clear of its liabilities it would be a little independent. The band was not perfect, but it was as good as most amateur bands, and he spoke with considerable experience of them. It now numbered 27 members, ad it was intended to increase the number to 33, but in future only persons with musical knowledge would be admitted. It was also intended to strengthen the band by the introduction of reed instruments, as clarionettes, oboes, and bassoons. Several other toasts were given, and during the evening a presentation was made (in accordance with the custom of the Colored Opera Troupe), of a handsome timepiece to ah old member, Mr W. L. Oliver, on the occasion of his marriage. The following description of a new instrument is from a recent number of the Melbourne ‘ Argus’;—The “pianista,” a French invention, is an instrument which, being wheeled up and suitably placed in front of an ordinary piano or harmomium, may be made to play any tune desired upon these by simply turning a handle, just as if it were a barrelorgan or a French piano. The only example of this ingenious piece of mechanism in Australia has just been imported by Mr Huenerbien, of Kussell street, and we are indebted to Mr Uaselmayer, who, at some cost of time and trouble, has got it into working order, for the opportunity of inspecting it. The construction of the pianista represents a very marvel of mechanical skill, and though simple enough as to the principle adapted by the inventor, is extremely complicated in detail. When brought up in front of the key-board of a piano, it is found that, over each key, at a properly regulated distance, there is a hammer very similar to the leather-faced hammers which strike the wires and produce the notes in a piano. On removing the other side of the pianista a number of wooden rods, about the length and thickness of stair rods, are observed. These are at one end to cranks, which, being lifted, the hammers are made to shake, and at the other end they are connected with small bellows, in each of which there is, as a matter of course, a valve. In the upper part of the instrument there is a large bellows which forces the air, when required, into any one of the smaller bellows. The valves in the small bellows are opened by the raising of a number of other rods, the upper extremities of which end in brass points, and these project in , a row, over which revolves a spirally-grooved cylinder. Between the row of these brass points and the cylinder, a long length of cardboard is made to pass, just as if it were paper being printed. It is this length of cardboard, which* when folded up, resembles a book of tailors’ patterns* only much longer, that contains the tune to be played ; but the notes, instead of being printed in the ordinary way, are perforated. So long as the cardboard presses down any one of the points, the note it represents is silent, but when, as it travels onwards, the perforated part arrives over the point, the latter rises, and so the note is produced. 'We have heard several operatic selections played by means of this instrument, and the effect is that of a well-practised pianist performing. The cost both of the instrument and the perforated music cards is considerable, but the latter no doubt would be very much reduced in price if there were a large demand. As a curiosity of ingenuity in the way of mechanical contrivance the whole thing is in the last degree interesting. For those who desire music, but to whom the labor of learning is irksome, the pianista will afford an inexhaustible supply with no more trouble than the grinding of so much coffee.

The Dunedin Choral Society will will hold a rehearsal on Monday evening, at 8 o’clock. An adjourned meeting of the council of the Otago Rifle Association will be held on Monday evening, at eight o’clock, in Mr Sydney James’s office, .Princes street.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Union Permanent Building Society will bo held in the Society’s office, Princes street, oh Monday evening, at eight o’clock.

The Rev. J. P. Paton, of the New Hebrides Mission, will preach in St. Andrew’s Church tomorrow evening, at half-past six, when a collection will be made in aid of the Mission.