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Evening Star, Issue 3450, 13 March 1874, Page 2

Four thousand three hundred and fifty-six head of cattle and 11,322 sheep were preserved last season, at the New Zealand Meat Preserving company’s works at Woodlands. Messrs Butterworth Bros, purchased the Club Hotel last evening, for the purpose, we are informed, of building on its site warehouses suitable to their rapidly extending business. The only case at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, was the adjourned one of Dr O’Donoghue v. George Dodson, for using irritable and insulting language. The plaintiff not being present, the case was dismissed. Captain Thomson and Dr Drysdale, J.P’s,, presided. The only police business brought before the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning was a charge of drunkenness preferred against Henry Feschol, in which the defendant was fined ss, with the alternative of 48 hours’ imprisonment. The civil eases set down for hearing were adjourned. Mr Bathgate, R.M., presided. ' Tenders have been accepted for the erection of an engine-shed and carriage-shed in connection with the Dunedin Station. Mr John Campbell, whose tender was L 899, is the successful tenderer for the carriage-shed; and Messrs Meikle and Campbell tendered successfully .for the engine-shed, the amount of their offer being L 1,235. The ‘ Bruce Herald 5 says that several of the oldest and most successful of thn Blue Spur gold miners have lately purchased large interests in claims upon the Maerewhenua goldfield, after Snally inspecting the locality of operations, is said to have been paid by them for an interest in one claim, and LSOO for a one-eighth share in another, which fact speaks well for the probable fortune yet in store for this promising goldfield—barring Borton and M'Master s lawsuit. The Provincial Government have invited tenders for tlie building of a number of cottages suitable for immigrants, and which they will have the privilege of purchasing pn reasonable terms when they find themselves iii a position to do so. It is intended to build twenty "at Kensington, and a similar number at Greyton Waihola, and such other centres of population as are likely to afford permanent employment to them. We consider this step an absolutely necessary course to be adopted, if the population so rapidly pouring in are to have shelter, and one that will prove equally advantageous to the immigrants and employers of labor. “ The Grand Duchess” was repeated last evpningto a very good attendance in all parts of the JPrincess’s, and was so well received as to justify the belief that a third representation at an early date would be a profitable tiling for the management. Miss May’s excellent singing and piquante acting would carry any piece through; but success was rendered certain by the able assistance of Miss Lambert, and Messrs Hallam, Eainford, Templeton, and Vernon. “ Thfe BegulatioH,”." Lo, here the sabre.” ,apd i “Tn6 Hamburg Jolir'nal,” isccurbU plentiful

applause, and “ The song of the glass ” had to be repeated. We should not have objected to have heard “ Say to him” over again, so well was it given. Mr Rainford was not in such good voice as on the previous evening. Tonight Donizetti’s well-known and popular “Daughter of the Regiment” will be produced.

A correspondent writes from Fiji, in reference to the movements of the commissioners who have been recently sent by the Imperial Government The Pearl has been to Bau, where the commissioners interviewed King Cakobau, and the result was most satisfactory from an annexationist point of view. Whilst they were down there, Maafu, the viceroy, arrived in Levuka, and at once proceeded after the man-of-war, which he found at Bau. On January 27th, the King and Maafu bad an interview with the commissioners, and that also was very satisfactory. A good deal of concern was felt by the annexationists on Maafu’s account, lest he might oppose the cession of Fiji to Britain, but these fears appear to have been, or to less. Tui-Cakau, the next chief of importance to the two above-named, has openly expressed himself in favor of annexation, while Bitova, the famous Macuata chigf, has written to the commissioners in its favor. The other chiefs and people are mostly in favor of the same thing. So at the present time the prospects of Fiji appear much brighter than they have ever yet done. ”

A new piece bearing the high-sounding title of “ The Dead Witness; or, Sin and its Shadow, ’’ was produced at the Queen’s Theatre last evening to a numerous audience. Miss Stephenson, who appeared as Mary Vernon, tne principal female character, enacted the part with all her wonted vigor, and was called before the curtain several times in the course of the performance. Mr O’Brien deserves the utmost credit for the manner in which he played the part of Charles Vernon, having undertaken it at very short notice, owing to the defection of one of the members of the company. Messrs Hydes and South, as two detectives, were very effective, and they succeeded in contributing in no small degree to the amusement of those present, Mr Inglis is also entitled to a word of praise for his rendering of Toby the Crow, The minor characters were tolerably well filled, Mr Kemp’s “ vision scene” was very well got up, and the scenery generally in the piece was good. The afterpiece was “ Stage Struck," the part of Sally Soraggs being sustained by Miss Stephenson, and that of Tom Tape by Mr Soutii. The farce was evidently highly relished by the audience, who gave frequent manifestations of their approval. The same programme will be presented to-night.

It was reported in Port Chalmers yesterday ftftgrnoon that a man named Murphy had been drowned in the harbor. Upon making inquiries we found the report, was only too true. It appears that deceased and another man, named Le Bruu, went off in a waterman's boat to the lighter Alexandra, lying off Boiler Point, for the purpose of taking her alongside the ship Margaret Galbraith. Upon getting on board, Le Brun went down into the cabin to get a book, and the deceased pulled off his coat, ready to begin work. Le Brun had hardly entered the cabin, when he heard cries for help, and, coming up on deck, found the shouting came from' the s.s. Lady of the Lake and that Murphy had fallen overboard. He did aU he could to save him, and just afterwards a man named Hamlin came past in a fishing boat and threw the degeasgd an oar, which he took hold of but let it go again, Ife shortly afterwards sank, and was not again seen, A boat containing two men went from the Lady of the Lake, but they were not able to render any assistance. Le Brun then came on shore and reported the occurrence to the police, who immediately went off and commenced to drag for the body. There was a strong N.E. wind and nasty sea at the time. The deceased’s eame was John Murphy; he was a single man, aged twenty-three years, a native of County Wexford, Ireland, and arrived here in September, 1873, in the ship Allahabad. The police continued to drag for the body this morning, but without success. The proposal for a federation of the Southern Colonies is being as strongly advocated in Victoria as it is in the Home country, Mr Thos. Loader, well known in Victoria as a staunch and able partisan for Colonial federation, has again taken up the subject. He contends that the spectacle of the Australian Colonies, with a of about 2,000,000, being governed by six Colonial Legislatures, with six Imperial Governors, enacting laws antagonistic to each other upon common interest to the group, presents, whether viewed from an Imperial or Colonial point, an anomaly productive of great public inconvenience, which will eventually driye jibe Colonies into regarding each other as foreign States rather than members of one nation and family. %fv leader says “ Let there be a Congress of Australian Parliaments, to decide questions common t» the group, and to frame a Constitution for a federal union. Let a quorum of each House of Parliament, elected by ballot, represent each Colony. Let the meetings be held at Hobart Town, or some inland border town. Let the members in congress adopt the standing orders of Parliament, and possess its privileges and authority to discuss and vote upon questions the same as in their respective Parliaments. Let a clear majority (of say two-thirds) carry questions affecting the interests of the group. Let the Press be present during th? debates. Let the expenses to bo contributed by each Gqlony be fixed by the congress. Now to create the com gress, and to give it legislative authority, the first step would be for each Parliament to pass a set of resolutions, somewhat as follows That this Council or House agree to an Australian Congress being held within six months from the date of this resolution. That this House be represented thereat by a quorum of its members, elected by ballot. That this House will accept the resolutions adopted by a ma-

jority of two-tUmls of the congress, and will pass the same into law. That it be an instruction to congress to draft a Federal Constitution Act for the consideration of the several Parliaments. The second step might be the election of the representatives, a majority of whom might then fix the time and place of meeting. Thus we might secure uniformity of legislation, and a system of federal government, without applying to the Imperial Parliament for an Act of Confederation.”

The list of subscribers to the monster sweep at Wain’s closes at noon on the 21st, and the drawing takes place at 2 p.m. the same day. We are requested to remind intending purchasers that the booths, grand-stand, and other privileges a t the ensuing Jockey Club Races, will be sold by auction to-morrow, Saturday morning, at the Provincial Yards : the hour of sale is fixed for 11 o’clock,' instead of 12, which has usually been the time.