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Evening Star, Issue 3516, 1 June 1874, Page 2

E are glad to find that we had, before writing our last Saturday’s leading article overlooked the fact that something really has been done by the Hon. the Commissioner of Customs in the way of establishing a Storm Signal Service in this Colony. We have been informed that a commencement was made a few weeks ago, and though all the necessary appliances have not yet been provided, good service has been already rendered by the office, noticeably during the last week’s heavy weather. We need hardly say that we wish the new “ Bureau” every success.

The Financial Statement was to have been delivered this afternoon, but the Speaker ruled that, under the new Standing Orders, notice must be first given of intention to go into Committee, and the Council supported that ruling. The Statement is now to be delivered on Wednesday afternoon. The attendanpo at the law classes is so large that the University Council contemplate appointing a second law lecturer this session. Both places of amusement were very well attended on Saturday evening, and the programme offered at each seemed to give general satisfaction. A deputation from the City Council waited upon his Honor the Superintendent, this after noon, with reference to several City matters; but want of space compels us to hold over our report. We learn that Messrs Steele and Co. will shortly make their re-appearance in Dunedin and will supply a long-felt want—namely, a legitimate entertainment, The company left Wellington yesterday, and intend to open at the Princess’ in a new piece, entitled “The Orange Girl.” At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Drs Drysdale and 0 Donoghue, J.P.’s, Andrew Bell, on bail, was fined 20s and costs, for being drunk; and Henry Stevens and Morris Cavanagb, for a breach of the piece, were each fined 40s. In the April number of the ‘ Family Herald ’ just to hand, appear the opening chapters of a new tale, entitled “ A Strange Friendship : a Story of New, Zealand Life,” written by a lady resident in Otago. So far as it has gone, it is pleasantly written, and gives promise ©f developing a highly interesting plot. Mr Registrar Ward held a sitting in hankruptcy this morning, when, discharges were gi anted to Robert Home, Robert Lambert John Meilde, Henry Hedderwick, and George Mitchell J. Blakely and Achille Fleury were adjudged bankrupts ; first meetings to be held on the 9th mst. The loth inst. was fixed for the final examinations of William Goodison and Andrew 0 Conner. An inquest was held before Dr O’Donoghue, at Port Chalmers, this afternoon, on the bodies of Andrew Skene and Frank Cassells, who were drowned by the capsizing of a boat on the Jotti May, After hearing the evidence of John stronghold, Rrnest Godfrey, and William i .f? J ur y returned a verdict of accidentally drowned, but were of opinion that it Was not a fit day for sailing, A meeting of ratepayers entitled to vote in the election of members of the Roslyn Road Board was held at noon to-day in the kaikorai District schoolhouse, for the purpose of nominating candidates to fill the vacancies occasioned by the retirement of Messrs James Curie and William Farley, in accordance with the ifith section of the Otago Roads Ordinance, Wl, which provides that one-third of the members retire annually. The retiring members having been duly proposed and seconded were, in the absence of any other candidate, declared by the Returning Officer (Mr A H Ross) to be duly elected. A meeting of the Kaikorai School Committee, all of whom were present—Mr A. Ross being in the chair was held in the Schoolhouse, .Lmaen, on Saturday evening, for the purpose ot electing a schoolmistress, in the room of Miss Stuart, who retires with the best wishes ® committee, and we might have added with their regret, were it not that she is about to undertake more important duties in another sphere. There were several candidates for the vacancy; and Miss Isabella Turnbull, at present mistress of the North-East Yalley School was unanimously chosen to succeed Miss Stuart. Miss Ellen Wilson, of Maori hill was elected to the position of pupil teacher. ’ Tenders have been called for the Erection of a passenger station at Dunedin in connection with the Clutha and Port Chalmers railways. .cm th c plans it appears that the structure will be of a permanent nature, and of considerable size. The building itself is to be 206 ft in length, by 25ft, while the platform, which will project at each end, will be 400 ft long by 18ft. A great advantage will bo that the part of the platform which is in front of the building will be roofed in. The departments into which the mam building will be divided are refreshment room, waiting room, ladies’ waiting room, booking office, manager’s office and office for his staff, lamp room, luggage room, and store rpom. This station will not be erected on the site of the present one, but will eventually do away with it. At the banquet given by the City of London to the chiefs of the Ashantee Expedition, Sir Garnet Wolseley, in replying to the toast of his health, is reported to have said ; “The military world of late years has been employed in discussing many plans for campaigns on a large scale, and that without reference to England • hut it is a great blessing to us that these little wars, such as those of Abyssinia and Ashantee, teach us a lesson —that when we have selected a general to take command of an expedition, it is necessary to trust him, to give him what be asks, to rely on him, and, above all things, not

to trammel him. That was the mistake of the iNew Zealand war, and I trust no general will ever again be sent who is not entrusted with the charge of the whole of the affairs connected with the country into which he is to advance. If I had had a civil governor at my elbow or an ambassador to control me in such things, I hrmly believe I should never have reached Goomassie.” On Saturday last three scratch matches came off at Port Chalmers between some boats that happened to be down there for a stretch. One race was between the gigs belonging to the ships Undine and William Davie. '1 he Undine won the race on Monday last, but the William Davie was reckoned to ghave a good chance against her. They went away together, but in rounding a buoy the Undine fouled the Davie, which boat at once stopped, but afterwards pulled round the course, and claimed the money; the prize was, however, subsequently divided. A canoe race, for which four started, resulted in a victory for young Turton. There was also a contest between the four-oared boats Union, Dob Roy,-and Lily. There was some mistake as to who was to start the boats, and in consequence the Union lost two or three lengths at the outset. They pulled well, however, but on rounding the buoy came into collision with it, which knocked two of the men off the thwarts, and materially impeded the boat. Another accident carried away their yoke-lines; but, despite these drawbacks, they kept on. The Dob Doy, which was manned by Grant’s crew, was a little too good for its opponents, and ultimately won easily, the Rowing Club’s boat, with Green as stroke, being second, and the Union, Edgar stroke, third. The day was remarkably favorable for racing, and a good deal of interest was manifested by the public. Some of the proceedings of the General Synod are very interesting. On the 25th ultimo, the Bishop of Dunedin had a motion affirming the desirability of cultivating a closer intimacy between the Church of England in New Zealand and Australia, in supporting which the Bishop of Wellington said it gave him pain to hear the Bishop of Dunedin speak in such light terms of the work which had been done in the Province of Wellington. Although he agreed as to the desirableness of exchanging communications hetweeUthe Provinces, he did not consider that the circulation of books and reports conqirised the whole heart and kernel of the work of the Church. The employment of such language was not by any means gratifying to those who had done the drudgery in years past in this Colony. He did not think there ought to be distinctions dx-awn between different kinds of work. The man who swept the streets and the man who ploughed the fields, if they did their duty honestly and conscientiously, were deserving of as much praise as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Bishop of ' kinedin was a young member of the Synod, and possibly was not aware of what had been done in this Colony when he spoke of what constituted the heart and kernel of the work of the Church. During another debate, the same prelate is reported, speaking of certain developments of modern thought, to have dismissed them as “ modern stuff and nonsense.” The phrase (remarks the ‘ Tribune ’) is liable to misconcep tion. No one, possessing even a limited knowledge of the scientific and philosophic discussion, of our time, as conducted by Darwin, Huxley, and other thinkers, would dream of apt dying to it the designation either of “ stuff ” or “ nonsense.” But spoken in the sense in which the Bishop no doubt used the terms, they are applicable enough. He was referring to the numbers of people here and elsewhere—mere smatterers—who, having turned their attention carefully to the subject—without being able to assign a reason for their belief or unbelief—fancy it gives them an air. of superiority to speak of Christianity as effete and used up, and that they must be exceedingly wise for sneering at it. Honest doubt and difficulty are to he treated with all courtesy ; scientific investigation demands the fullest attention; but the glib repetition of a few phrases by rote is “ modern stuff and nonsense,” A meeting of the Doslyn Institute will be held to-morrow evening at eight o’clock. We observe that the Star Juvenile Troupe will open at the Queen’s Theatre on Wednesday next. The monthly meeting of the Standard Property Investment Society, will be held on Wednesday evening, at six o’clock, in the Society’s office, Princes street. The fifth annual meeting of the Otago Licensed Victuallers’ Association -will be held in the Fire Brigade Rooms to-morrow evening, at half-past seven o’clock.