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Evening Star, Issue 3437, 26 February 1874, Page 2

The * Western Star’ is informed on “ reliable” authority that the Provincial Council will meet the first week in April, From October 23 to the 19th inst, 2,038 immigrants have been nominated through the Invercargill Immigration Office. The Premier telegraphed to the Chairman of the Southland Bailway and Immigration Committee that the Government had received advices that the ship Nawie had sailed from London for the Bluff during January, with 300 immigrants. Everyone who takes any interest In the Colonial Prize Firing, will regret to learn that Captain Wales is unable to go to Napier, owing to business engagements. The Otago contingent this year is weaker than it has been for many years, but wo have strong faith in such tried shots as Richardson, |the two Buchanans, and Creagh being able to keep up the reputation of the Province in shooting. The Star of Freedom Lodge, 1.0. G.T., held its fortnightly meeting on Wednesday, February 11, when delegates from the Grand Lodge met for the purpose of installing the following officers for the ensuing termßro. George Davidson, P.W.0.T., Bro. 0. Taylor, W.C T Bro. David Dickie, W.Y.T.. Bro. E. Fleming W.S., Sister M. Bigger, 'ft.P.S., Bro. John Cunningham, W.P., Bro. Jaa. Birrill, W C Sister Mahone, W.M., Bro. Jas. Bowring, J.G.’ Bio. Jas. Mahone, O.S. After the ceremony a hearty vote of thanks was tendered to the officers of the Grand Lodge, and the meeting terminated. There was only one police case broaght before Mr Bathgate this morning. A woman named Catherine Anderson, the keeper of a brothel in Caversham, was charged with stealing a silver watoh and chain, valued at L 4 10s It appeared that a farm servant named William ±Ceid went te the prisoner’s house on the evening of the 12th inst., and stayed with her that night and part of the next day. While there, prisoner took his watch, and admitted to him that she took it for the purpose of getting drink. He went away on the u&derstandmg that she was to bring it to him at the Gridiron Hotel, Princes street, on the following Saturday, but she did not keep her promise. In the meantime, she and a woman named M Laughlan, whe lived with her, quarrelled the result being that the latter told Const;. An-

derson of the watch-taking circumstance. Prisoner now denied having obtained drink on the security of the watch, and said she kept it, expecting Reid would call at her house for it. His Worship considered the case proved, and sentenced her to sixty days’ imprisonment. It was only natural to find very sparse attendances at the Theatres last evening. The weather was bad enough to have prevented any person from going out of doors. A few musical enthusiasts (found their way to the Princess, where, despite the chilling influence of almost empty benches, the Claus Rekel Company performed with as much conscientiousness as if there had been a crowded house. As usual Miss Claus s performances were applauded to the echo, and she was obliged to respond twice to the demands for encores. We regret to hear that this talented lady met this forenoon with an accident, which will prevent her appearing for a couple of nights. She had the misfortune to cut her left hand so badly as to render it impossible for her to play with credit to herself or satisfaction to an audience. It does not require any explanation to convince people that the concerts could not be continued without Miss Claus reappearance. On Saturday evening it is hoped she will be in a position to resume her delightful concerts, and be heartily welcomed.— Ireland as it was ” was played at the Queen’s Theatre.

. ,^ e ,| iav ? keen favored by Mr Lanseigne with the following extract from a letter he has received from Cant. Jacquemart of the Vire : We had a splendid voyage of nine and a*half days to Noeuma (New Caledonia), arriving in port at 8 o clock in the morning of Jan. 22. You know that when I left Port Chalmers my intention was to keep well out to sea, so as to the N.E. breezes which are generally met with on your coast, but on the day following our departure we were favored with a beautiful breeze from tbe south, which tempted me to go through Cook Strait. We passed through at midnight on tho 16th, the weather being magnificent, nnd the sea quite calm. Once on the other side, and away from tho lee of the land of the Middle Island we had splendid southerly breezes, which continued till we made the tropical calms. The remainder of the passage was done in three days. I was very lucky, and greatly astonished the JN oeuma people by arriving here so early. When we left Dunedin, we were so tired of all the pleasure we had there, and were almost glad to leave it, but on the following day regrets came upon us, as every one had made acquaintances, with whom we were very sorry to part. lam happy to inform you that M. Rathouis has been promoted to the grade of lieutenant. We will likely go to Tahiti for a short tnp, and will probably be back in Dunedin about September.” We call the attention of Volunteers to a general order in our advertising columns as to the departure of representatives for Napier. We have been requested to remind those Volunteers who go to Napier that, as the Colonial firing will be under encampment, it will be necessary for them to provide themselves with sufficient blankets. The attention of capitalists and speculators is called to the proposal to throw Stephenson’s quartz claim, on the Garrick Range, into a joint-stock company. The mine has been opened up nearly two years; and its energetic proprietor has exhausted all his capital (over L 2,500) in prospecting and developing it to its present state. It is sunk to a depth of 200 ft and tunnelled some 500 ft in a most substantial manner. The prospectus states that “a considerable quantity of stone (over 700 tons) has been raised and crushed during prospecting, which has averaged one ounce to the ton, and as a greater depth is reached, the stone gives evidence of increasing richness. Two shafts have been sunk from the upper level to a depth of 80ft each, but, owing to the quantity of water in the reef, the sinking has in the meantime been suspended; but the tunnel, now in course of construction—in over 140 ft.—will not only drain the reef to the depth of 450 ft, but will open up an extensive field of quartz capable of affording continuous crushings. Nearly 500 shares are already applied for by residents in Cromwell, where the mine is well known and highly thought of.” The English Opera Company will be passengers by the Omeo, which is to leave Melbourne on Saturday next, and should be here about the 6th proximo. The season commences on Monday, the 9th, and Donizetti’s “ Daughter of the Regiment” has been selected as the opening piece. In addition to the favorite operas of Balfe, Benedict, Wallace, Auber, Bellini, Rossini, and Offenbach, we are promised several novelties, among which will be “ Genevieve de Brabant,” “ Barbe Bleu,” and ‘The Rose of Auvergne.” The prima donna is Mrs Allen (Mias Alice May), of whom the ‘Argus’ recently spoke thus;—“ This lady has achieved a very satisfactory position in public esteem here by dint of sheer hard work. It is only recently that she has adopted the stage as a profession, and all her studies have been undertaken in Melbourne.” Miss Bessie Harrison, another soprano, has also received her musical education in Melbourne, where she made a very brilliant and successful debut. Messrs Hallam and Vemon are the leading tenors ; our old acquaintance Mr T. H, Rainford, the basso ; and Mr Templeton, baritone. The conductor is Mr G. B. Allen, while the mention of M. Fleury’s name is a sufficient guarantee that the orchestral arrangements will be perfect. The company -will include a chorus comprising picked voices from the Italian Opera Chorus, and a ballet. Mr Willis is engaged day and night in the preparation of scenery, the management having determined that each opera shall be produced in the completest manner possible. In short, there is every reason to believe that the approaching season will be a very successful one.