The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3775, 31 March 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1875.

«ome weeks have passed since arrangements were completed for the early delivery of the Evening Stir, which, however, through a number of petty hindrances, was delayed muA longer than was intended by the proprietor. Although we by no means consider that all has been done that may in the course of time be necessary, we think, as a matter of local history, that a short account should be placed on record of the changes that have been made, and we do not doubt they will prove interesting to the majority of our readers. Perhaps not many are aware that the Eveniko Stab was first projected and conducted by Mr Mulholland, a gentleman well-known in Dunedin some ten years ago hil, Jtath 86 r y . eara Bince PMsed to his grave. From him it was transferred to Mr Henninoham, and reached a circulation l '°°°-, A* that time it was a small e u^ BOme^ lxfceen 00 lunms of matter, of which two or three at most were devoted to a detail of passing events. In 1866 a change was made in its form, but the size of the sheet was not increased until June 14. 1869 when the journal became the property of the present proprietor. The time o! issue prior to that period had been fitful, varying from seven m the evening to ten of even later; but uncertain as it was the day s news was sought for, although occasionally only a few subscribers received * he P a P 0r prior to retiring to rest. In 1869 efforts were made to secure an early and regular issue, and so much were the? appreciated by the public that the oirculatio? rose rapidly from 1,000 or 1,200 to 2 600 daily, and gradually from that number to the present large issue of 4,700. Durine lfc wa9 found necessary to still further enlarge the paper, as the advertising public rightly judged that publicity is morf cheaply secured by advertising in one journal of general circulation, than by advertisinglin is Um r {tod 0re ’ 01 f culafc ‘ 0Q «ach of whmh is limited and most probably confined nrinolpally to the same* subscribers. * hi™. Greasing demand for the paper very soon overran the means of early lapT Sort C *u SeqUently i B in Of ev P e?y effort, the year 1874 closed with well founded complaints, both by the public and the runners, that they could not beran plied with copies of the paper so as to E kn«U°i ,0 „Hl, y e ‘ rly ' A t>M ‘ wk “ *«• "O ing mavnofr!fl 6 P r ?p eßß ?f newspaper printmg may not reflect that since the sheets are L a tl “ 8 ‘ °f uecessity some must be the last to receive their paper, however perfect the arrangements for delivery may . Tv 7T ,n P erha Pß read with some surprise that the rate at which the Stab was worked off (even when complaints of late f-«v.I e r y *T® r f m °st rife) was from twentyeight to thirty per minute j but oven at that Speed, owing to unavoidable interruptions, from three hours to three hours and a-half were required daily to print the issue, and as some of the runners walk several miles although printing commenced a few minutei after five o clock, in distant districts it was inevitably between nine and ten o’clock before readers living there received their papers. Finding the limit of the capacity of the printing machine had b-.eu reached, and ;.' 18 demand tiill extending, increased faeilia,j*ce,BitJr. »ud as the term for d _P remiß «« the corner of exiS 1 ! P " nc v e> ,treßtß were leased Se P temb * r « and a removal to the present offices was determined upon, it was change “ fittmg °PP° rt anity ■ to make the i*i*. it became neoersary ll ?[° v o lde 4 qui , clter Printing machine, an? as time was of .consequence, rather than

moor the delay of receiving one from Englaii4« arrangements were made for purchasing .one that had been need by the Melbourne * Age,’ with which 223,600 copies of that journal had been printed daily. The history of this printing machine is interesting. Constructed, in the first instance for the ‘ London Times,’ it became too slow for the immense daily circulation of that journal, and unsuitable to the mode of working in that office when : circular instead of flat forms were adopted. It was therefore transferred from London to Newcastle-npon-Tyne, and served the purpose ef the ‘Newcastle Courant* until its cirdulatien rendered more rapid printing necessary. The proprietor of the Melbourne * Age ’ purchased it, and worked it until he, too, feund It too slew for his needs, and we trust n °i' ™ aD y y«ars will elapse before tkeEVßwin o Star will have to supersede it by a nimble* successor. Tet this printing machine, which in its turn has served the requirements of the ‘London Times,’ the Newcastle Courant,’ and the Melbourne Age, can, in need, throw off about 5,000 copies per hour, and nightly prints at the rate about 70 copies per minute. It will be concluded that with increased speed, an increase of motive power was needed. This is true; bat even here improvement has kept pace with demand. The EyiNiNe Stab has always been printed by water-power, and although by many it was doubted whether sufficient power of that description could be obtained to drive the more complicated machinery now in use, Messrs, A. and T. Bttrt undertook to provide a hydraulic engine that would do the W °u 1 ... 18 they have done, and not only so but their engine has not been found to render an increased supply of water neeesI Q »*ot, so simple and efficient is their mode of construction that she printing of 4,700 copies, on account of the rapidity with which they are threwn off. involves a l e^° onßnmption of ater than when only 3,000 were printed. The power exerted by the engine originally in use was estimated at about two horses, that constricted by Messrs Burt is nearly three times as great: the feed-pipe is identical in diameter, and thutune required is not one-third. notenter upon the story of the oitnculties to be overcome, in bringing this more powerful machine into use: how a mischievous boy smashed part of the old machinery, how illness of valuable servants caused delay, how first one impediment then another occurring day after day, formed a senes of small tribulations requiring the daily exercise of faith and patienoe. Those two excellent qualities were, however, exhibited by the employes of this journal in a remarkable degree, and to their efforts and cheerful co-operation the proprietor is much indebted for the degree of success that has been attained. We have also to thank our readers and advertisers for their steady support, notwithstanding the anaoyauee they must oooaoionallv have felt at our shortcomings : they have their reward in the large and daily increasing circulation ef the journal, and consequent wide publieity of their advertisement's. J

Several letters are unavoidably held over. A telegram received in town to-day from Naseby has been placed at our disposal It states that Morgan’s hotel, store, and postoffice, at the Kyebum, was destroyed by fire

At the Police Court to-day, before Messrs ■£■ >*,«■ <>«»•*• Lribb, charged with drunkenness, was fined 10s, with the option of forty-eight hours’ imprisonment, and Ellen Donnoghue, 20s or fourteen days. ’

The last cylinder of thojWaitaki bridge .was sunk on Thursday last. There is »ow no doubt of the successful completion of the undertaking by the contract date, the 27th October next.

An inquiry into the death of Simon Hooper, at Portobello, was held yesterday, and resulted in a verdict of “ Accidentally kilied, the jury adding a rider that the District Road Boards should in future exercise greater supervision over their works.

A London telegram, dated March 20, states that the Dunedin Waterworks loan has been subscribed at 99. L 65.000 worth of six per cent, debentures were sent home. The neglect of the Press Agency in overlooking such an important piece of news—which appeared m the Melbourne papers some days before the Omeo left—is inexcusable. An extraordinary occurrence is reported *2 Taurangvthe whole of the telegraph staff there being at present prostrated with measles, which is said to be very Iprevalent in the district. The line was closed for a tune, until the arrival of an operator from another station. But who is to insure him against measles ?

The Geneva Cross ” again attracted a capital attendance to all parts of the Princess’ last evening Miss Howard, although suffering from hoarseness, played spiritedly throughout, and was called before the curtain at the close of each act. To-night the drama will give place to ah adaptation of 4< East Lynne, written expressly for Miss Howard.

Mr Lindsay, who for ’the pa-4 four years has been connected with the Middle Districn School as third master, and succeeds Mr Stables as second master of the South School, was to-day presented by his late pupils with a very handsome silver cup, and ? w if aoherß with a beautiful inlaid hir n T ?u was made by Mr Halhwell, the head-master, who, on behalf , ■ . < ?°, l J c^r n ® c L expressed great regret at the Middle School’s losing Mr Lindsays Services. J

In an article entitled progress of public V U W ‘ Z “ ala “d Times’ givL the following highly interesting information regarding the progress of railways j—Exolu- !! ve demoted to Christchurch and Dunedin hues, the amount appropriated up to December 31st, 1874, was L 5.818 900; the length of lines authorised. 1,048 miles: open for traffic (exclusive of Provincial lines), 168 miles; total length under sontraot, not yet opened, 62? miles. The following are the Provincial!, D ea open for traffic i-Lyttelton t <K* h j . Ur °\ e, « ht miles 1 Christchurch to Selwyn, twenty.two miles j Bluff to Wiuton, forty miles.

The members of the Artillery Band met iMt evening at the Hibernian Hotel and discussed position. After some remarks Mr M. Hume, the conduetor, tendered his resignation, which, however, he subsequently withdrew at the unanimous request of those, present. The conductor having pointed'out the necessity for a chance of management, those in whose hands the band s affairs have lately been resigned, and the following were elected in their stead Secretary, Mr Jas. Oliver; treasurer, Mr Haig • committee, Messrs Oliver. Connolly and Fowler; auditors, Messrs Palmer and Keys. .

The entertainment at the Temperance Hall m aid of the Hibernian Band Fund was very largely attended, and was more *Vn averagely successful, though some of the arrangements in the programme did not give general satisfaction. The latter might have been avoided if any of the committee of management had explained the reason —a good reason, we happen to know— for the programme being departed from. 1 ho Hibermcon Company gave their services, and the other performers were Miss Hesferd, Messrs Fraser. Carroll, WrighS Hogg, &c. Messrs Bykes (acoompanyist) and Cullimore also played some favorite selections. After j&e concert the room was cleared fo^danomgT

A well-known shipowner of Hobart Town —Contain Charles B;iley-diol lately, leavmg the whole of bis property, valued at L 200.000, to hie brother.Captain James Bailey. The deceased was chief or sole owner of- twenty-si* vessels sailing from Hobart Town in the Intercolonial trade. The mejori portion of the deceased’s fertune was madejin whaling enterprises.

Pome additional particulars concerning the recent case of drowning in the Waitaki are famished by the *N. O, Times.’ The deceased, Philip Smith, employed, at the ferry at the main road crossing, was seeking a new ford in the river on Sunday evening ou horseback, when his horse being swept off his feet by the current, Smith was tbrown into the stream, from which he never emerged. The horse got to the bank, bnt the body of its Tiderbas not yet been recovered. . Deceased was about thirty-four or thirty-five years of age.

The earliest opportunity that occurred after Lent was taken advantage ©f by the members of the Church of St Barnabas, Blaeskin, to hold a harvest thanksgiving service on Sunday last, being Easier Day. The Church was tastefully , decorated, com, fruit, and be .utifiil flowers being used proand the addition of branches of oak with acorns and ho.ly, b°sHes some texts made with letters of stru .v on a crimson ground, Lad a most effective appearance. The Rev. T. L Stanley was the officiating clergyman.

A. fall of earth took place at nine o’clock this morning in a cutting in (George street, Port Chalmers, opposite CriokmoreV Hotel, by which one James Gardiner and a Chinese named An Hong were injured. The men were engaged cutting the underneath portion for a fall, when the ground above suddenly slipped, knocking them down. They were luckily able to escape without farther injury than a severe shook, which will necessitate Gardiner laying np for a few days. The success of a similar institution in Melbourne after an existence .of only three years should be encouraging to the wellwishers of the Dunedin Female Refuge. The report for 1874 of the Secretary of the Melbourne Refuge reads “ Two substantiallybuilt houses in a central position have been purchased during the year, and through the generosity of subscribers a portion ot this purchase money has been paid off, leaving a balance of L 350 on mortgage. Of eightyfour females admitted during 1874; with six remaining from 1873, ten have been restored to their friends or families, fifty-five have been provided for bytervioe or other employ* meat, fifteen left of their own accord, and there were ten remaining at the end of the year. On several occasions friendless and destitute women were admitted for a night or two, and assisted in getting otherwise provided for. Two or three marriages of inmates took place during the year, and five other couples were legally united in the Home, who had beeu discovered living together in au unmarried condition. Referringto the permanent Californian service the * Argus’s ’ Sydney correspondent writes:—“ The advertisement for tenders for the Pacific Mail Service is now out, but, as the date of their reception is the 6th of May next, this involves at least two months’ delay before we can tell what steamship owners will be willing to do. Separate tenders are required for 11, -114, wi 12 knots respectively. Tenderers have also the alternative of offering not only 1 for the forked service, but for au arrangement by whioh all the outgoing steamers should start from Port Chalmers oa a terminus a quo, and should all (return to Sydney as a terminus. ad quern; As a matter ef fact, they would under this arrangement all start from Sydney, and proceed via Port Chalmers, the journey between these two ports, however, not being in the contract. This arrangement was much discussed with Mr Russel when he was last in Sydney, and he was willing to accept it as giving an equal division of the trunk line service. It would suit the goods traffic better than the forked line, and would greatly simplify the working ef the steamers.

A meeting of .the members of the late Dunedin Scottish Company will be held in Wain’s Hotel this evening at 7.30, A soirSe and concert will be held to-morrow evening, to celebrate the inauguration of the Lander of Hope Juvenile Lodge of Good Templars. Tea will be on the table at a quarter to seven o’elock.