The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 31. 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3415, 31 January 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 31. 1874

We are obliged to hold over a quantity of correspondence.

There are 800 members of the Athenamm, and only 174 voted at last night’s meeting. The Linden School, which re-opens on Monday, has been furnished with some very necessary additional accommodation in the shape of a new class-room 40ft by 20ft, and an addition of 20ft square to an old class-room. This is the age of cheap literature. We have before us a trade circular, which tells us that Sir Walter Scott’s novels are being re-printed in London in halfpenny weekly numbers, and that the price of each complete novel is two pence halfpenny I

A musical and dramatic entertainment, followed by a ball, the proceeds of which were devoted to the Surat relief fund, took place at Oamaru on Tuesday last and realised a nett sum of L 37, which been forwarded to the Dunedin committee.

Yesterday, the prisoners employed at the new road at the point of Deborah Bay, while excavating, came upon a complete human skeleton, in a good state of preservation, .the bones being found in a hole all huddled together, and no vestige of a coffin. They are supposed to be the remains of a Maori.

A large number of parsons availed themselves of the invitation of the directors of the Submarine Goldmining Company to witness the public trial of Platypus, which was to take Slace near Burke’s brewery this afternoon, 'ne of the harbor company’s boats left the Stuart street jetty at 2.30 with a number of people, and with the Platypus in tow. The formal trial yesterday at Pelichet Bay was very successful, the boat being submerged for over three-quarters of an hour.

We intimated yesterday that Mr Clapcott, travelling Sub-Commissioner for the Government Insurance and Annuities, had received an appointment in the North Island. We now learn that Mr Clapcott’s success on the goldfields of this Province has been so marked that the head of his department has determined to give him a larger sphere of operations, which will comprise the Provinces of Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Marlborough and Nelson. He starts for this new field early in March.

A curious circumstance in connection with the case of Regina v. Dodd transpired at the healing. It appears that the form used when the accused signed the declaration upon which the charge was brought bore the date figures 186—, and that the Justices before whom the declaration was made, filled in the figure 4; thus making the date to stand 1864. The prisoner is charged with making a false declaration in January, 1874, and the question is whether the document as dated will, or will not, override any parole evidence that may be given.

Miss Follande’s benefit at the Princess’s Theatre was largely attended last evening, the lower parts of the house being well filled. “ The Colleen Bawn” formed the chief attraction; Mr Burtord appearing as Danny Mann and Miss Andrews as Bily, both parts being very fairly represented. Miss Foilande. as Anne Chute was decidedly overtaxed, while Mr Simmouds as Miles Na, Coppaleen was not at all at home. The afterpiece, the farce of “ The Quiet Family,” with Mr Hydes as Bamaby Bibb, was thoroughly enjoyed. The burlesque of ‘‘Cinderella” will be repeated this evening. Financially, the complimentary benefit to Mr A. J. Towsey at the Queen’s Theatre last evening was a complete success, but musically, it was not up to average concerts. The Choral Society did not muster its usual strength, and the choruses were correspondingly weak, though the part and unaccompanied songs were well given. The solos—if we except “ Robert toi que j’amie,’ finely rendered and deservedly applauded, and Miss Webb’s second effort —were nothing like what might have been expected. The orchestra was also weak, notwithstanding it included M. Fleury, but got through Hndyn’s symphony No. 2 with evenness and precisionqualities that were wanting in its execution of No. 5. The feature <;f the concert was the duo on two pianofortes by Miss Muir and Mr Towsey, which was enthusiastically encored.

The following extract from a letter from Mr Andrew Duncan, the Immigration Agent for Canterbury, ia published by the ‘Lyttelton Times’:—“l have been only nine days at actual work, and have picked out 170 from the number of applicants that have presented themselves. I could fill a ship a week, but that would not suit myself or the Province. The greatest difficulty I find ia in getting single girls; but I anticipate, when I have time to go through the country more, that many will be induced to venture out. I shall stay in Glasgow for five months in all, and have made the following arrangements, which I think you will concur with me in saying are about the best under the circumstancesl will stay in the office personally on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays; but during the remainder of the week will visit one or two of the agricultural centres in the various counties of Sootand the srcfttb of lrahKi, riyinp fecttutts cm Caatertiuryas & field for eWgntion. fhs

remaining seven months will bo devoted to England. But lam also going to take a run south every month, to do a little there in the interim, as I am invited to address a meeting of laboring men, at Cheltenham and Gloucester, on the sth and 6th of December. I gave an address in Glasgow last week, and am booked for Dumbarton on Saturday first.” The first shipment will be by the City of Glasgow, leaving the Clyde for Canterbury direct on 20th December.

We frequently meet with telegraphic messages requiring for interpretation a perception of language beyond what can be acquired by the study of all known tongues, but it has never been our fortune to have to elucidate one so complex as reached the General Government through Mr Henry Henty. of Melbourne, under date London, December 24, 1872, Those of our readers who delight in deciphering cypher will find a new pleasure in unravelling its mysteries. It was as follows :—“ Unless Saville’s congacte renewed impossible carry on emigration present; stval requisite shipping unprocurable instructions subsidy understood placed by Granville in communication African Minister promissory note signed Dahlia Agency established. If Yog in Melbourne give him this if we forward premier Wellington.—Featherstone,” Mr Henty attempted a rational reading of it, but failed in our opinion. The Linden (Kaikorai) school will be reopened on Monday. . The monthly meeting for prayer will be held in the Congregatoinal Church on Monday evening at half-past 7 o’clock. The members of Court Enterprise, A.0.F., will meet in the South Australian Hall, on Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock. The Rev. Dr Cameron will deliver a lecture in the hall of the First Church on Tuesday evening at quarter to 8 o’clock.