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Evening Star, Issue 3826, 29 May 1875, Page 2

A return baa been furnished shewing the amount of laud endowment granted to athenaeums throughout the Province, and also the amount of money grants paid to each athenaeum. The one must be taken with the other to give an idea of the real subsidy given to each by the Province. For instance, the land endowment credited to Dunedin is only five poles as against 600 acres granted to Waitahuna and Havelock, yet the cost of purchasing the five poles for the Dunedin Athenaeum appears to have been £2,500, swelling Dunedin’s money grant to £3,200, as against £IOO granted to Waitahuna. Cromwell has fared the best of the country institutions, receiving a fair land endowment for site, and £325 cash, Lawrence and jTilton come next with £3OO apiece; but Milton apparently has no land endowment. Oamaru has a valuable acre, which is equivalent to a heavy money grant, and accounts for the small sum of £SO credited to cash account. The same reason probably accounts for the small sum of £BS granted to Port Ohalmers, although, of course, the Dunedin Athenaeum is, for library purposes, equally available to the residents at the Port. Queenstown, Waikouuiti; and Nasehy are about on a level, havin'' received no land grant,’and about £2OO in subsidy. The return ns a whole is of interest, and shows that in this indirect mode of education good work has been done, £6,985 having been granted in cash. Setting aside the value of the Dunedin Athenaeum site included in the cash return, the value of the other land endowments must be largely in excess of the sum furnished for subsidies. The value of these institutions to the public can hardly be overestimated, and in nearly every case the management is excellent.

The much vexed question of gold duty reduction is at present greatly exercising members representing goldfields districts. It will be too bad if, after the strong hope held out in the Superintendent’s speech, this coveted reduction is not effected. Never having much sympathy with the cry raised of special taxation* yet we have always held that if there is the slightest chance of the tax making the difference between profit and loss in mining, and m effect starving out the industry, it had

better be foregone, for If not it will clearly cease to be productive. The remarkable reduction shown in revenue from gold duty this year we cannot account for. There is a disparity between the returns, showing the amount of gold brought down by escort and the duty collected—thatis, when we compare theamounts brought down for the last two years and the revenue obtained during the same period. It would appear as if there had been some mistake in the sum credited to gold duty for the year 1873-4, probably a bungle between the two items goldfields revenue .and gold duty. Until this year what was called goldfields revenue was to a great extent made up of pure land revenue—rent derived from agricultural leases. Practically, if the Colonial Government are willing to allow the Province to do what it likes with its revenue, we hardly see why the of Provincialism should object. Surely this is what they appear to be fighting for. x et, when the disposal of their own revenue is freely offered them, they raise legal quibbles as to why they should not be so entrusted. If the Government see fit to rebate the duty, they can do so. If they do not, no one can very well complain. The question is one of merely local policy,[and not ot legal technicalities. The sum is now so small, and is made so much of as a special mining grievance that it might as well be given up. At the most it only means that there will be a little less money available for roads and bridges.

The previous night’s programme was repeated at the Princess’s last evening to a fair house. To-night “ The Lost Life,” and “Mr and Mrs Pringle” will be given. On Monday, Mr and Mrs Bates aro to make their rc-appoaranco.

An old off (moor named Margaret Stevenson, alias Barrett, was received into gaol yesterday evening, sentenced at the District Court, Lawrence, on the 16th March, by his Honor Mr Justice Ward to three years’ imprisonment with hard labor for stealing a. quantity of wearing apparel.

The ‘ Wairarapa Standard ’ i? such a wellconducted journal that we did not think it was possible for it to have been so egregiously imposed upon as it was on the Bth inst,, when it published, as an original contribution from Gisborne, Bishop Heber’s hymn, “Thou art gone to the grave,” which is to be found in most hymn books. A promise was made by the Colonial Government some time before the last annual prize firing competition at the Thames, that Westland should be the next Province honored by the presence of the picked marksmen of New Zealand. The ‘ West Coast Times ’ urges that the Government should be now reminded of that promise, in order that the Colonial prize firing for the year 1876 may take place in Westland. Last evening a “Service of Song,” with introductory readings, illustrative of the “ Pilgrim’s Progress,” was given in the Congregational Church, Moray place. Mr John Bathgate, R.M., presided. The readings were admirably rendered by Dr Rosehy ; the singing was by the Sabbath school children, assisted by the Church choir. In the “ service,” readings and songs alternate, selections being made from the “Pilgrim’s Progress,”- each occupying about five minutes in reading, and each introduces an appropriate piece of music. Dr Roaeby occupied his usual position oa the platform, the singers being grouped together on his right and left and in front, the whole being screened off so that only Dr Roaeby could be seeu by the audience. The service occupied about an hour and a quarter, and was greatly enjoyed by the large number of people present. The children sang remarkably well, only one or two of the more difficult pieces being at all unsteady. The sweet voices of the children, strengthened and sustained by the Church choir, produced a most pleasing effect. The children had been trained by Mr M'Farlaue, to whom much credit is due for the efficiency to which he has brought them. Mr Little presided at the harmonium. By the kindness of Messrs Murray, Hudson, and Kimble buns, fruit, a-d lollies were distributed to the children. At the close of the service a collection was made in aid of the school library fund. There was another good attendance at the Queen’s last night. To-night, the Fakir will introduce a novel act, entitled “ Anatoes,” in describing which, one of the Melbourne papers sajisFirst of all the Fakir himself gave a brief idea of the story. A conspiracy has been detected by a German Grand Duke aga nst his life ; one ef the conspirators is arrested, and is beheaded without revealing bis accomplices. The Duke knows there is an alchemist in his dominions, possessed of wonderful powers, and him he summons, threatening him with the direst punishment if he does not succeed, with every reward if he does. The Fakir then slips behind the curtain, which soon after rises, disclosing a sombre scene, replete in every ghastly detail, the lime light adding to the weird and awful character of the illusion. The body of the conspirator lies on the stage, the head is on a tray that swings above the body. 'I he Fakir enters in appropriate dress and begins to weave his spells. Then he addresses the head. The body quivers, the head slowly rises on the tray and discloses the blanched and horrid features of the dead in life. From the lips issue out at the command of the alchemist a deep dreadful voice, and the conspirator reveals the secrets of his life. The scene closes with a vision of angels bending over the body of the dead. For weird and speetral effect, nothing like “Anatoes” has ever been produced in Melbourne. There is nothing in it of that horrible nature which has been witnessed in the “Decapitated Bead ” tricks. It is refined and finished—a more marvellous effort of the art of leget demain cannot be imagined.” In reference to the approaching session of Parliament, the * North Otago Times ’ writes “ Whatever fault may be found with Mr Vogel, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that the present prosperity of the Colony is due to the bold and statesman-like policy which he brought forward, and, in spite of much talented opposition, inaugurated. A glance at the various Provinces must convince any unprejudiced observer that the life instilled and breathing throughout New Zealand j in what were before as dried bones, has been the result of the scheme of Immigration and Public Works. This vigor Lai been communicated to Provinces, and even to municipalities, which have learned to work heartily for progress, instead of waiting listlessly for something to turn up. This much Mr Vogel has accomplished for the Colony, Since his administration our credit has risen ac Home, and it n w stands second to that of no part of her Majesty’s dominions. We might say, perhaps, that this was due to the fact that Home capitalists are convinced that we have energetically entered upon the work of developing our resources and peopling our lands —the aim, in fact, of Mr Vogel’s policy. To take advantage, therefore, of his enforced temporary absence to unseat his Ministry, would be but a poor return to make to the ablest naan in our political arena.” On the same subject the ‘ Lyttelton Times says that the actions and speeches of the Ministry all lead ns to form the belief that they will be fully prepared to face the House when it meets iu July. It is just as well for them that they will be, for they have committed themselves to a trial of strength. They gave notice that they would do so, and have thereby raised up for themselves a powerful Opposition. As this Opposition will be well organised and well led, it is tolerably certain that the question of altering the Constitut ion will lead to a severe struggle 1 during the coming session. ;

The Guiding Star Lodge, 1.0. G.T., will meet on Monday evening at seven o’clock. Mr W. D, Stewart will address the electors of Bell Ward in the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Monday evening, at eight o’clock. A meeting of directors of the Lucknow Quartz Mining Co. will be held in Messrs MLandress, Hepburn, and Co.’s offices on Monday afternoon, at four o’clock. Dr Coughtrey, Professor of Anatomy, will deliver his introductory address in the large hall of the University (which will be open to the public) at eight o’clock on Monday evening.