The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3683, 11 December 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1874.

Mr J. Park has been elected Secretary of the Poultry Association, in the room of Mr Sly, resigned. We are obliged to hold over reports of School Examinations, Harbor Hoard meeting, Courts, and other local matter. The Harbor Board (Captain M'Kinnon dissenting) to-day resolved to dredge the long channel to a depth of nine feet. The complimentary concert to Miss liesford took place at the Temperance Hall last evening, and those present heard something more than averagely good music. “Rob Boy” was played at the Princess * heatre last night, and this evening Mr Bates will take his benefit, “Caste” and “The Married Bake” constituting the programme. Ihe next escort is expected to be a heavy one. The ‘Argus’ says not only will it bring down the Cromwell Company’s cake of 1,4090z5., but cakes from the {star of the tlast and other claims. ',’ur telegram yesterday announcing the arrival of the San Francisco mail at Auckand, and containing the briefest of sura maries, occupied only six hours in transmis sion. We shall recur to this matter. The following were last night installed race bearers of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge ■or the ensuing year Bro. J. tl. Sanders, t.W.M. ; Bro. J. Lauseigiu;, P.M, ; Bro. S.’ t. Iverr, D. M, ; Bro. K. H. Leary, S. M, • i>o. J. M. Brown, S.W. ; Bro J. Mills’ J. W.'} Bro. W. S. Dougl as, Treasurer; >n.». Tait, Secretary; Bro. J. Gore, S.L). ; Bro. Forrest, J.D, ; Bro. W. J. Burton, 1.6. J and Bro. Schunburg, Tyler, At a conference of building trades last evening the following resolutions were carried * — “That in tbe opinion of the meeting, the half-holiday on Saturdays would be a great boov to the building trades, therefore

we gladly accept the recommendation of the Builders’ Associaton that all branches of the above trades leave work at 12 o’clock noon on Saturdays.” “That the half-holi-day commences on the first Saturday in January, 1875.” 3

The following telegram appears in the Auckland Star ;—“The atmosphere of Wellington does not agree with the talent. The police are too attentive altogether. A case of the l iter bit came into Court yesterday. Solomon Collins, Alfred Drake, and Nathan s impson were charged with card-sharping by Henry C. Williams at poker. They rung in what is called “ cold deck” upon him, and took his bottom dollar. The prosecutor was more rook than pigeon. He says to one of the trio—“Collins has a heap of sugar; let us have him to night at poker. Sharp No. 2 agreed, but Collins being his friend, he put him fly, and went back upon the other, *he case was put into the bands of Mr Travers, but as the respectability of the sharps was prejudiced, they squared it with the prosecutor, and finding the police had gotten hold of the affair, they spirited the prosecutor away, ”

A special meeting of the Bendigo Deep Level Company was held last week, to take into consideration the best means of refuting the stat meats made by the Dunedin papers—the ‘Guardian,’ more particularly -with reference to the allotment of shares in the company. The ‘ Argus ’ states the feeling of the majority of those present appeared to be in favor of some strong measure being taken in vindication of the company’s honor, and a motion was proposed to the effect that if, on a true statement of the facts of the case being sent to the ‘ Guardian ’ for publication, that paper did not apologise, the opinion of a high legal authority in Dunedin be obtained as to whether action for slander would lie. This, however, was not carried, it being urged that the matter now rested with the directors, and the cone uaion come to was that any action taken by them—legal or otherwise would be supported. The following resolutions were carried at the last meeting of the Southland Immigration and Railway Committee That the manner of introducing immigrants to Southland is altogether unsatisfactory, and not m terms of the reunion compact, under which every third ship was to land at the Bluff. That the reason given from time to time—‘that vessels could not be got to charter for the Bluff’—is found to have been erroneous, inasmuch as several of the finest ships coming to the Colony have been chartered to discharge and land cargoes at the Bluff after landing their passengers at Port Chalmers and elsewhere ” “ l hat it is matter for regret that the Mataura and Invercargill Railway is so far from completion, notwithstanding the expiry of the contract time; that ten miles only of the forty between Invercargill and the Longf .rd can be used with safety ; and that this appears extraordinary, as the country is nearly a dead level throughout the whole distance, and the Committee are led to believe that there are no engineering difficulties along the line.” A meeting of the shareholders of the Ocean Beach and Pe> insula Kail way Company for the purpose of e’ecting five directors, was held at the Friendly Societies’ Hall this afternoon ; when. there were present- - Messrs James Smith (in the chair), R. M Robertson, G. W. Eliott, Reynolds, Dowse, Bacon, Turnbull, M‘lndoe, Wright, George Proudfoot, and J. B Bradshaw (secretary). The following gentlemen were elected Messrs G. W. Eliott, R. M. Roberts m, Thos, Reynolds, J. T. Wright, and G. Proudfoot, In conformity with the articles, the election of auditors was postponed til'i the first general meeting, Mr Eliott would like to take the sense of the meeting as to whether the directors should proceed at once with the railway to Forbury, or advertise for tenders. Mr Hodgkins was i f opinion that the work should he proceeded with forthwith ; and Mr Kliott said there was every probability of the railway to Forbury being completed by the March race m eting. The Chairman congratulated the shareholders present on the choice they had made in selecting such vigorous directors; and after the usual vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting terminated.

Most of oar readers will recollect (says the 'Past') the name of Mr George Ve.ev Stewart, v, ho came out to this Colony in the Mongol, with the view of forming a special settlement. He ultimately fixed on the neighborhood of Taurama as a suitable place. We hare now before us a copy of the ‘Tyrone Constitution’ of 18th September, containing an account of Mr Stewart’s reception on his return to Ba'lygawley. He is reported to have received a truly Irish welcome from all classes and denominations. A gentleman in this city has received a letter from Mr Stewart, dated 20th September, stating that the necessary applications have already been lodged in reject to the 10,000 acres, that his list of immigrants to occupy it was filled in ten days, and that he could have ootained suitable immigrants to take up three times the quantity" of land. Arrangements for the departure of the immi'rants w :re beina rapidly carried on It may be iale e->ti. g' to note that each head of a family emigrating under Mr Stewart’s ■scheme is required to procure a draft for LilOO. payable in the (Jolonv, so that we are iikely to have in his settlement a valuable ■iccc'ssLn of excellent settlers, each in his way a small capitalist. Another suburban township is to be added t°_the many which, since the opening up of our railways, have been offered to the public. Abbotsford is advertised for sale by Messrs Maclean Bros. Inis new township is pleasantly situated in the neighborhood of the railway station at Green Island. We have no doubt , the prices the sections will fetch will afford another illustration of the “indirect benefit” of our railway system.