The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3704, 6 January 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1875.

From a private telegram we learn that the Steele-Keogh Dramatic Company are doing a splendid business at Invercargill. It is notified in to-day’s ‘ Gazette’ that Mr William Arthur, C.E., has been appointed Provincial Engineer, vice Mr Simpson resigned. Scandinavian immigration is being continued. The Humbold left on October 12 for Wellington with 315, and the Fri'Z Reuter for Hawkes Bay on November 2U with 475 immigrants. The sly grog-sellers in the Tuapeka district are being vigorously proceeded with. Yesterday two convictions were seemed against John Clymer, of Glenore, in L2O and L3O respectively, and two against Joseph Kilner, of Murray’s fiat, in 1,20. As showing the diflerence which the opening of the railway for traffic to Tokomairiro will cause, the ‘ Herald ’ mentions that, in the carriage of such timber as blue gum for instance, the difference will be represented by the sums of Is 7d and 15s. A local paper states that the Napier Gaol is crowded with prisoners and lunatics. But for fear that this statement might be taken as an indication of the fearful condition of society in Hawke’s Bay, it may be as well

bo mention that the total number of persons confined is only fifty, Cf this number, fourteen are lunatics. The two Maori carvers who have been so long engaged at the Christchurch Museum, in the construction of a Maori house, have returned to their home in Waiapu ; and the \ building is now being fitted up with show . cases for Maori ornaments. The bur ding is pronounced one of the best specimens of Maori architecture in existence. Amongst the passengers by the Macgregor from San Francisco, is the Hon. M. Hastings, Past Most Worthy Grand Templar, who has, we understand, undertaken to spend twelve months in the Australian Colonies to put the Order of Good Templars in proper working. After instituting a Grand Lodge of the Order in Auckland, Mr Hastings will come South. Yesterday evening a slight accident occurred a>/ Port Chalmers to Capt. Sampson, of the barque Duke of Edinburgh. He had been paying a visit to a friend in Deborah Bay 7, and. on returning was coming down the little jetty there, when stepping on to a plank it tilted, and threw Capt. Sampson on to the beach, where he struck his hip upon a large boulder. The injury sustained was fortunately not very serious. An accident, happily not attended with serious consequences, occurred this morning at Port Chalmers, at about nine o’clock. A light spring cart belonging to Mrs r ichie, baker, wa-i coming round the corner of George street, when a little girl named Beck ran into the road, and before the driver could stop the horse the w heel had passed over her. She was immediately picked up and convened home where she received medical attendance, and we are glad to say her injuries are nothing serious. The transit of Venus was successfully observed in Queensland. It was noticed there, however, as it was by the observers at the Hutt, that Venus did not make her appear ance exactly at the calculated time. Mr Jackson and Commander Hewett estimated that the contact took place about four minutes after time, as calculated on the formula supplied by the Nautical Almanack. At Brisbane, Venus was reckoned to be three minutes late. The day there was “ superbly fine, and the surroundings of the sun were absolutely cloudless during the whole time of the transit.”

The ‘ Post ’ has received copies of the official correspondence between Mr Andrew Young and the Colonial Secretary, rela ive to certain charges male by Mr Young against Mr W. R. c. Brown as Curator of Intestate Estates, but dares not publish it for fear of the penalties of the law of libel. Although Dr Pollen explains in his letter that the charges made by Mr Young have been disproved to the satisfaction of the Government, it would be a libel to publish those charges. Public cariosity on the subject must, therefore, remain unsatisfied until Parliament meets, when probably some inquisitive member may move for the production of the papers. At the Dry bread (writes a correspondent of the ‘ Bruce Herald ’), the whole of the miners are in the act of washing up, and their sluices are looking well. At Linden, three miles further on towards Clyde, almost every party are washing up, the Mountain Race Company being the furthest advanced, 1 hey have already divided L 324 per share, and there will be a fun her divide when they have completed their washing. < n an average the can only work five months out of the twelve, owing to a short supply of water. The whole of the ground from Drybread to Devonshire isjpaybaly auriferous—more than that, is the very best sluicing ground in Mew Zealand.

The Interprovincial cricket match has been fixed for the 27th and 28th (and 29th if necessary) instant. The ‘ Pre.*s ’ says the eighteen names selected for Canterbury, as they appeared a short time since are no

doubt a fair average batting and bowling team, but they must pay some attention to lidding. Practices for the future will take place every evening, special fielding practice bein<; set aside for Tuesday and Friday evenings The committee are -corking bard to make this an attractive match in supplying every convenience in the shape of a baud and tents for the amusement and accommodation of the ladies of Christchurch, and we hoj e to be able to chronicle a match that has been second to none in Canterbury,” It is stated on good authority by the Fiji correspondent of the ‘ Southern Cross ’ that the Wesleyan Minion have decided upon despatching the Rev, W. Brooks to a charge in ew Guinea. The rev. gentleman is to be accompanied by Fijian teachers and they are to be conveyed to their destination in the missionary barque John Wesley. The exact locality in New Guinea whereat the mission is to be stationed has not been made known, but it is believed it will be somewhere on the Eastern half of the island which is under t*>e protection of the British flag. How gratifying it most be to the friends of missionary efforts to see the Fijia now sending out Christian ministers to their still unenlightened brethren of New Guinea !

“Genevieve do Brabant” drew another good attendance to the theatre last evening. We were sorry to find Miss May’s hoarseness of the preceding night had increased to such an extent as to render jt impossible for her to do more than to speak her part, though in order to please the audience she bravely tried in the first act to slog the music. Later on it became necessary for the stave manager to come before the curtain, and ask the indulgence of the audience on Miss May’s behalf, and it is almost needless to say that the request was complied with Mr Hallam was in capital voice, and received a deserved encore for the tea song in the second act. The railway scene was again much applauded and Mr Huntley received a call. To-night “ Genevieve ” will be played for the special benefit of children, who will be admitted at half-price. Yesterday afternoon it was reported at the port by a man named Sydney Coutts, that a fisherman living close to the Heads, named George Aldridge, had suddenly dropped down dead, and it was further rumored that there were suspicions of foul play. Aa far as we could learn Coutts did not give information to the police, but as soon as it came to the ears of Sergeant Neil he immediately despatched the police boat, with Constables Nicol and Coffey, and then went dawn in another boat with Constable Carter to iuv< stigate the case. Shortly before eight they returned with the body of Aldridge, which was couveyed to the morgue, and having in custody a fisherman named Thomas number of men drinking '• tuber ou f e 29th ult , when a quarrel arose amongst them which resulted in Bi-sett striking the deceased ou th.-. temple—first with a tumbler, and then with a bottle. Thinking no great harm was done the men did not obtain any medical advice, although .-\kiridge was confined to his but. Deceased felt better ysterday, and after washing hims- If and putting on a bandage round hi- head cam.) out. of the hut and fell down dead, Au iuque. t will be held to-morrow forenoon

Some names, nob unknown in New Zealand, are mived up in the following curious case, which is reported by the ‘Sydney Empire’ of the 7th inst.: —“Frederick C. Lyster, a brewer, but now, or till just late y a theatrical agent in Sydney, was sued in t’:e City < lourt there by bis wife, Sarah Jane Liyater, for having deserted her. Mrs Lystov a lady.ljke person, appeared in court

with a young child in her arms. Ifc ‘ appeared from (re evidence given chat the ; complainant and defendant had been married about two years, but had lived together only twelvemonths; at marriage the complainant gave the defendant Ll5O or thereabout, for their mutual welfare He came to Sydney and his wife followed him. *ince in Sydney he had acted as a kind of agent for Miss May Howard, but got nothing for his labor. He was merely a friend—and had accompanied Miss Howard from Adelaide. He lived for some time past on his own private means ; these private means were loans from Miss Howard, an I amounted to about 1/100. He had no other money but that which he had received from Miss Howard, and it was by these means that he h*d supported himself. Of the LIOO he got, L 5 were given to his wife, and L 29 for furniture for her house. He did not live with her in Sydney, for reasons that he would not state. He was doing work now gratuitously for the new brewery. He was sure that his w fe’s brother did not give some money towards furnishing the house in Sydney. Ihe Bench (Messrs Jollie and Levy) made an order that LI be paid weekly, for six months, by defendant to comp’ainaut. r Merriman, who appeared for Mrs Lyster. asked i hat defendant he made to find sureties for the due compliance with the order. Mr ( arroll objected. The rench differed, and ordered that as the defendant, according to bis own statement, was in the habit of travelling about from place to pi ce, he should rind two sureties for payment in the sum of Ll3 each, or one in total amount. Professional costs allowed.”

It was mostly formal business that was brought before the Harbor Board at its meeting yesterday. It was reported that the survey of the harbor had commenced, and the Works Committee recommended, in respect to Captain Thomson’s suggestion that fire-engines and a supply of water should be available at the diffi-rmt jetties in the harbor in case of fire breaking out on board ships lying alongside, that as the Board had no control over the railway jetties at Port Chalmers, provision for the safety of Hie shipping there rested with the Government. A report of the Government Inspector of Works on the Rattray street sewer extension stated that the work was being proceeded with rapidly, and within four weeks would be completed to the cross wharf between Wat tray street wharf and the old steamboat wharf. It was suggested that a “catchpit” or cesspool should be formed at the mouth of the sewer to prevent the debris hi ought down by floods being discharged into the bay. The debris deposited in the catch-pitcould be removed more cheaply than if allowed to be carried into the bay, whence it would have to be removed by dredging, fn submitting this report, the Provincial Secretary stated that, if the Board approved of Mr Cairns’s suggestion, and desired the work to be carried out in connection with the construction of the sewer, the Government would arrange to have it done, provided the Board agreed to pay the actual cost. A memo on the subject was obtained from the Board’s engineer, who stated he did not think there could be a doubt as to the expediency of initiating some scheme for the prevention of seweral deposits in the harbor ; but that the Board should bear the expense of t he pit suggested appeared to him scarcely Cur, ami not warranted by the circumstances of the case. The sewer was being extended to toe cross wharf, because the area through which it. runs is p oposed to be r-claimed. Were this space unreclaimed, there would be no necessity for any provision of the nature indicated by Mr Cairns, as a very simple, efficient, and inexpensive method could be adopted to provide against the deposition of sediment in the harbor. If the Board were to bear the expense, he would recommend that the sediment be allowed to find its way into the harbor through the sewer, as the quantity could only be comparatively insignificant, and the cost of dredging it at least one-half that of removing it from the contemplated pit. Consideration of the matter was referred to the Works Committee, who were instructed to report at n< xt meeting.

The weekly drills of the Naval Brigade will be resumed on Thursday evening.