The Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3630, 10 October 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1874.

la Napier, new potatoes are Lls a ton, and batter is scarcely to be bad for love or money. The share list of the Dunedin and Ocean Beach Railway will not close till November 9, Yesterday two gentlemen took shares amounting to L 5.000. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansford, K.M., Sandemere Shields,’ for being drunk, was fined ss, or twenty-four hours’ hard labor. Tne Schoolmasters’ Association met at the Athenseuin Hall this morning, when the Board of Education’s new rules were discussed. We are compelled to hold over our report till Monday. Under the heading of “ Honesty Rewarded” the ‘ Post’ tells us of a lad at the opera at Wellington receiving a sovereign for a shilling, and, on leturning it to the owner, getting sixpence for a reward ! We would remind those who have not vet seen the Combination troupe or the Liy vis that this evening will be their last opportunity of doing so, and they should not neglect it. There was an afternoon performance to-day, which was largely attended. On Thursday evening, Mr John Boyett, compositor, who is about to try his fortunes it the Palmer, was entertained at the Royal Hotel by some of those with whom he has worked in different printing offices in the ,’olony, and by them presented with a hj nd*ome locket as a token of their esteem. The assentation was made by Mr Woodifield, foreman at Messrs Mills, Dick, and Co.’s. Mr Cashel Hoey has, it is reported by the Victorian papers, resigned his position as a member of the London Bocird of Advice to the Agent-General of that Colony. The reason assigned is because he had received the appointment of Secretary to the AgentGeneral of New Zealand, and it was considered that ho could not serve the two Colonies at the same time. He will now be in the very unfortunate position of having no master at all. The following business will come before the ensuing meeting of the City Council Or. Fish will mo/e that with a view of at once proceeding with the widening of Princes street, the Council forthwith appoint t' eir arbitrators. The Council will consider and make Regulation 15 prohib tory of keeping swine within any portion of the City ; and Regulation 16, which is intended to legalise certain hackney carriage stands, and to fix fares in certain cases. The Auckland ‘Star’ tells the following story as illustrative of what it terms the blessings of our immigration system as at present conducted Per the Miltiades came a bricklayer with his wife and three children. Seldom perhaps has the building trade been brisker, or would there have been Jess difficulty in obtaining employment in this man’s particular handicraft. Yet when the Miltiades sailed, he sailed ton, for Melbourne, leaving his wife and children in the confident belief, no doubt, “that they would not starve among the charities of Auckland.” They are utterly destitute, and are now applicants for rations and relief from the Provincial Government. •

We lately published a telegram stating that LI,OOO prize would be given at the anniversary regatta at Sydney. From the Sydney ‘Town and Country’ we take the following on the subject“ The auniversary regatta committee adopted the programme for the regatta of 1875 on Tuesday. There are fourteen events. In case of gentlemen amateur crews coming from England ■ and America to compete with Australian craws, a prize of LI,OOO will be given. As the regatta takes p'ace in January, there will be little time for ‘ gentlemen crews ’ to avail themselves of the liberal offer of LI,OOO, which is no doubt a modification of the proposal made by some enthusiastic sportsmen some time ag-i to invite the champion pullers of the world to meet on the Sydney c urse, and frank them out, besides giving them a of LI 000 to pull for against a picked Australian crew.”

“ Prompter ” informs us that “the English Opera Company continue to draw immense houses at Wellington. ‘Der Freiachutz’ was produced the other evening with great success. The occasion was noticeable as being the first appearance in public of Mr Hallam since his bereavement.” Of that gentleman it is said that “he was received with a spontaneous outburst of cheering, which lasted some minutes, and was continually renewed whenever it began to slacken. The band was compelled to stop until the popular sympathy for Mr Hallam and admira ion of his pluck in so resolutely carrying out bis engagement with the public, should have exhausted its power of manifestation. He both sang and acted excellently, and with Messrs Rainford and Willis was called before the curtain at the close of the third act, which comprises the celebrated incantation scene. This went off capitally, although the accumulating hoirors were nob so well graduated as last time, hut the grand climax surpassed all other efforts ” At the conclusion of the Wellington season the company proceeds to Wanganui to fulfil a subscription engagement there. A private letter received to-day says, “The newspaper accounts of Hallam’s reception was quite true. On his appearance the audience were frantic in their efforts to show him their sympathy. He stood motionless for about ten minutes, during all which time the applause was defeaning. Though he looked very bad he stood it well. We expect to be m Dunedin about a week before Christmas.” An elocutionary and musical entertainment in aid of the funds for the formation of a Scott Scholarship was given in the Temperance Hall last evening ; but the attendance was not so large as we had hoped to see considering the very deserving object f r which the entertainment was given. Mr J. Bathgate, R. M., who occupied the chair, spoke at considerable length on the lifp and writings of Sir Walter Scott, and also alluded to the proposed scholarship which was to be founded in his memory. After au overture ou the piano, Mr Bracken and Mr Duncan gave the famous dialogue scene from “Julius cuesar.” This was followed by the favorite song, “Come Back to Erin,” wed rendered by a lady amateur, The same lady afterwards sang “ Bonnie Prince Charlie,” with considerable pathos. Mr Bracken's reading of Mrs Norton’s well-known work, •‘Bingen on the Rhine,” was heartily applauded ; the piece being the best which wc have heard that gentleman recite. A lady whose appearances in public are always received with marks of approbation then *am> “O, Fond Dove,” which was undoubtedly the gem of the concert. “ The Laird o’ Oockpen ” was humorously rendered by a gentleman. In the second part M r Sykes played on the piano the ever-popular “Sunshine and Tempest.” Mr Bathgate’s reading, “Edinburgh after Flodden,” was an excellent piece ofelocution. A pleasing feature of the performance was the read ing of “ Only a mistrab e Wretch” and “ Gua lin a Chiel,” the works of Mr Bracken, and both pieces of considerable literary merit Mr Barrett, who read the last mentioned, said that he hau selected the piece which all pnsem would remember as the prize poem as the Caledonian Society for 1871—for two reasons ; firstly, because of the excellence of the work ; and secondly, because he was proud of its author, who was a member of his senior elocution class.- Mr Barrett’s remarks were well received. “Here upon my vessel’s deck ” was nicely sung by Mr P. Duncan. By the members of the elocution class several selections from different plays were given, Mr Cook making a splendid Shylock in the scene from the “ Merchant of Venice”; but the effect of the whole was spoiled by the miserable representation made by the person who appeared as Antonio. Scenes were also given from-“ The Rivals” (with Mr J. P. Armstrong as a most amusing Sir Anthony Absolute); from “Hamlet” and from “The Attractive Young Lady” Mr D. H. Hay, the indefatigable secretary of the Scholarship Committee, returned thanks for their services to Mr Barrett’s pupils, who had taken the principal parts in the performance; and also to the lady amateurs. The entertainment, which was one of the most enjoyable held in this City for a long time, was not over till after eleven o’clock.

The monthly meeting of the Union Permanent Building Society will be held on Monday evening at seven o’clock.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building Society will be held on Monday evening at six o’clock.

The anniversary of the Dawn of Light Division Daughters of Temperance will be celebrated by a concert, &c,, on Friday next, in the Temperance Hall.