Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 3512, 26 May 1874, Page 2

Mr Chapman’s entertainment at the Queen’s ■ Theatre was not so well patronized last evenir 'g as might have been expected, the numerous co. inter attractions lessening the’attendance. The’ various tricks and the other parts of the ente. ’rtainment were fully appreciated. The 1 statement that has been publicly made in one or two places during the past ;few days that th o Corporation has succeeded in purchasing , v he Waterworks is without foundation. We belieN 'e 1 that’negotiations are still in progress; an A that they may result in a satisfactory cone lesion must be the wish of everyone. The Salmon. 'I ariety Troupe opened at the Princess’s last e vOning, there being a full downstairs attendance. Thy entertainment was of a mixed character, «. wnsisting of singers, dancers, and performing ani. 'wal*. The audience was an unusually rowdy one, , each successive item being alternately hissed and applauded. Up to the last few days a po.’i eejna ii has always been stationed at this theatre, but latterly, for. some unaccountable reason, he lias been removed. Some doubt having ark'en as to the power conferred on the Govermnei.’t by the Southland Land Act of 1873, to proclaim deferred payment blocks on runs held under the Southland Waste Lands Act, 1865, aev£valrunholders have taken Mr James Macassey’s opinion on the question. The * Southland Times’ understands that that gentleman’s opinion is to the effect that the Act of 1873 does not r-onfer on the Government the power of proclaiming deferred payment blocks on the Southland ru.ns. No. 1 City Guards celebrated its fourteenth anniversary ?by a ball, which was held in the Drill-shed, last evening. There can be ]ittle doubt that had the weather been at all fine there would havoj been a very large company. As it Was, nearly sixty couples braved the rain to enjoy several hours’ dancing, to the excellent music provided by Mrs Martin and Messrs Anderson and Linn. That all enjoyed themselves was evidenced by the fact that almost the entire company waited till the close of the programme. The arrangements of the committee were very creditable indeed. Doctor Moffatt, a well-known resident in the Waikouaiti district, was received into the gaol last night, escorted by police-constable Jones, of Hawksbury. Prisoner was under sentence by Mr Murdoch, 8.M., of three days’ imprisonment, without labor, for being drunk and disorderly at Palmerston ; also to six weeks’ im- , pvisonment, without labor, cumulative on the

previous sentence, for being a habitual drunkard 1 —having been convicted of drunkenness three times within the preceding twelve months. It is very singular to relate that during the last month three members of the medical profession were inmates of the Dunedin gaol. _ Considerable amusement was created in the Provincial Council this afternoon by the reading of Message No. 13, which dealt-with blocks intended to be thrown open on deferred pay-. I mo.nts., As read from the chair, it appeared to be the intention of the Government to lay a large hand upon the runs, and effect such an opening up of the lands as could not have been dreamed by the most rabid land agitator. The hearts of those whose cry is “land, laud,” were made glad by the prospect of 11,000 acres being tnrown open for settlement on this run; 27,000 acres on another; 20,000 acres on a third; and so the figures went on until the Speaker read out a list of between 160,000 and. 170,000 acres. The Government were as much astonished as Kon. members who are interested as pastoral pursuits. But a glance at the message showed that copying the Executive minutes the clerk had mistaken the figures and included in the Message those which represented the .actual acreage of the runs. The Message had, of course, to bo withdrawn, and as amended showed that about 18,000 acres are to be thrown open. The Masonic Hall was crowded 30 excess last evening, when the twelfth anniversary of Loyal' Lodge of Duudin. M.U.1.0.0.F., was celebrated by a concert, .soiree, and ball.. The spread provided by Bro. Kroon having been done justice to, Bro. Hall proposed prosperity to the Lodge, and in doing so sketched its podtion at the end of the prist year. The number of new members admitted Was 26—19 by initiation and seven by clearance— makin" the strength of members 35. The total receipts were L 503 18s sd, and the expenditure for relief of sick and distressed L 26 16s 8d ; doctor’s and chemist’s services about LIOO, and sundry expenses L 223 9s od; leaving a .balance of L2BO 9s Od. In the Bank there is L47913s 0d and out on interest LI ,455—making the total sum to the credit of the Lodge, L 1,949 13s. The concert programme, the length of which had been judiciously curtailed, comprised vocal selections by the Misses Hesford; recitations by Misses Geddes and Whittington and Mr Moir, a pianoforte solo by Master Bayiey'; songs by Messrs Oliver and Sherwin • eccentricities by Messrs Dixon and Hannigan • concertina sobs by Messrs Smith; and a horn duet by the Messrs Oliver. Over a hundred couples remained to the dance, the music for which was supplied)by Messrs Moss, Bailey, and Wright. A very enjoyable evening was spent. ...

The Otago Institute advertise a meeting in the University Budding for next Thursday, at 8 p.m, ; ;

The examination, for the New Zealand University scholarships will commence to-morrow morning at ten o clock, at All Saints’ parsonage. f reraiud . intending shareholders tuat the list for the L 5 permanent shares in the Dunedin Land, Building, and Investment Company (Limited) is advertised to close on Satur day, the 30th instant.