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Evening Star, Issue 3892, 14 August 1875, Page 2

Mr W. J. M. Larnach, having been repeatedly requested to contest the Uaversham election against Mr Stout, has consented to do so.

The Sau Francisco mail steamers keep up their reputation for fast passages. The Macgregor, which arrived at Auckland to-day, is a day in advance of her contract time.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the St. Paul’s Young Men’s Association was held last evening in the vestry, when the * Quarterly Magazine’ was read. The subjects treated on were “Liberty,” “Total Abstinence,” “The late Stuart Hawthorne,” and some others, upon each of which a discussion ensued.

At the special meeting of the City Council yesterday afternoon that body resolved itself into committee. After a discussion which lasted nearly two hours, the following motion was carried : —“ That this Council is of opinion that the Dunedin Waterworks Extension Bill, 1875, as now bffore Parliament, should be passed without any alteration in the matter of compensation.” The heavy easterly swell which prevailed during Monday night and Tuesday tested very severely the stability of the breakwater at Uasnaru, says the *N. 0. Times.’ “Some of the heaviest seas ever known in Oamaru rolled completely over the top of the wall, but the work stood the test bravely, not the slightest damage being done. After this last severe teat, we may rest assured that it will withstand the heaviest seas that we are ever likely to be troubled with.” The police have lately ferreted out a band of young ruffiansi whose thievish propensities have made themselves only too well acquainted with shopkeepers carrying on business iu the noithern part of the City. A number of these lads were brought before the Court yesterday, and received their desert-, aud others will be proceeded against next week. It is to be hoped now that the police have dispersed this mob that it will

not again make its appearance amongst ns. The best thanks of the public of Dunedin are due to Sergeant Hanlon, who has been instrumental in bringing these young scamps to justice. At the Lunatic Asylum last night a very orjoyable entertainment was given by the Artillery Band, and a very pleasant evening was spent by those • present. The hall was crowded, and the band, under the leadership of Bandmaster Bailey, played some capital selections. Songs were giv n by members of the band, and dances by some of the patients, and all were well received. The principle features of the evening were the operatic ballads sung by two ladies, which were loudly applauded. The evening’s entertainment concluded by the band playing “God Save the Queen.” We should like to see the band go up to the Asylum more frequently.

The City Council order paper for next Wednesday’s meeting contains, .among others, the following notices of motion : By Cr. Woodland—-That tenders be immediately called for the construction of a sewer down Frederick street, from Pitt street to the Bay, .as previously carried; and that a sewer be put down King street and Moray place, from Stuart street to St Andrew street. By Cr. Leary—That the City Surveyor be instructed to submit a plan for putting the asphalte footpaths in a proper state of repair, together with an estimate of the cost thereof per chain ; and that a committee, consisting of Crs. Reeves, Carroll, and the mover, be appointed to inquire into and report upon the management of the stone-crushing machine and the disposal of the metal; and to re-

commend what alterations, if any, the committee deem necessary to ensure greater economy and efficiency. There are also some adjourned notices, which have already been published. Mr Darrell must have felt more than gratified at the large audience which assembled at the Queen’s on the occasion of his benefit last evening, thus alike bearing tebt - mony to the strides he has made in his profession, and paying a just tribute to an old Dunedin resident, So packed was the house in all parts that several persons, unable to bear the heat, were compelled to withdraw without seeing the play through. “ Hamlet” constituted the performance. In Dunedin we have seen many representations of this tragedy and although several impersonators of the Danish Prince have been Jess pretentious than Mr Darrell, their renderings of the part have been, in our idea, preferable to his. His

innovations were by no means animprovement on the manner in which we have been accustomed to see the character played, while his gestures at times were most inappropriate, not to say peculiar. Rarely is it our pleasure to witness such an excellent representative of Gertrude as Mrs Darrell, and her rendering of this part may be considered an unqualified success. Miss Willis was undoubtedly overweighted as Ophelia, and the same may be said of Mr Hooper as Horatio. The Ghost, Polonius, and Laertes were respectively entrusted to Messrs Steele, Musgrave, and Stoneham, and all were suitably played. Tonight the “Green Bushes ” will be produced, and on Monday “Under the Ban,” one of Mr Darrell’s productions, will bo given. There were two narrow escapes from what might have proved destructive fires in Stafford street this morning. The first was discovered by Constable Todd, who, at 3.50 a.m,, found that the premises of Messrs Mills, Dick, and Co. were on fire. With the assistance of Sergeant O’Neill (who had despatched a messenger to the Bell Tower to give the alarm), he burst open the back door of the premises, and with the assistance of some willing hands and a few backets of water succeeded in extinguishing the flames before the arrival of the Fire Brigade, The fire had evidently been caused through some live-ashes falling from the fireplace, on to some paper beneath, owing to the defective construction of the fire-place. Tbiss is the second time that Messrs Mills and Dick’s establishment has had a narrow escape from total destruction by fire. The other fire was at Messrs Murray, Roberts, av;d Oo.’s warehouse, and was discovered by Constable Stewart at 5.40 a.m., who observed smoke through the crevice of the door. With the assistance of Sergeant Anderson and another man the constable burst open the door and discovered the fire had arisen from a box of cinders which had been left there and had smouldered. The fire was extinguished by a few buckets of water, after the floor had been cut open so as to get at some crates beneath which were on tire. The damage in both instances was merely nominal. Tfit? first anniversary of the opening of the '1 entrance in all was celebrated last evening by £ soiree, concert, and dance. Mr J. W. Jago o'f-cupied the chair, and there were present on ti?® platform the Revs. Messrs Will and Christ®* Mr A. Rennie, and other gentlemen. After tea had been concluded the chairman addressed the meeting, and in a few well-chosen remarks pointed out the great goed the introduction of Good Templary had effected—not only in Dunedin, hut in other parts of the world. He stated that the debt upon the building had been reduced from L6OO to about 150, and paid a compliment to Mr Nicholson, the proprietor of the ground upon which the Hall was erected, for the courtesy and kindness he had extended to the directors. The Rev. Mr Will also addressed those present, selecting for his subject, “ Total Abstinence the best remedy for Intemperance,” which he treated in a masterly manner. The Rev. John Christie, deputy from the Waikouaiti Lodge of Good Templars, in a lengthy speech dealt with the question of the liquor traffic, and compared the system to a barrel, which, if the staves were not supported by the licensed victuallers, would fall asunder. He looked upon all vendors of intoxicating liquors as a standing insult to the community, and stigmatised all those connected with the vending of such pernicious articles as “fiends and sneaking tools of the devil.” The rev. gentleman in the course of his remarks twitted Lis Honor the Superintendent with regard to his advocacy of “ moral suasion ” as a motive power; but he would recommend him and others of the same stamp to show an example, and have less to aay. Some of the speaker’s remarks were received with disapprobation by a section of the audience, but the chairman rebuked them for their misconduct, and succeeded in maintaining order. The vocal part of the entertainment proved a great success. Mis? Webb sang “ Kate O’Shane ” very effectively ; but the effort of the evening was the duet, ‘ 0 lovely peace,” by the Misses Webb and Jago, which was given with great taste and precision, their voices blending most harmoniously. Miss Jago als> sang the ever-popular ballad, “Constance,” and a better selection could not have been made, as it is a song suited to this young lady's sweet and sympathetic voice. Messrs Denovan and Marsden lent invaluable assistance in their respective lines, and received their due meed of applause. At the termination of the concert the hall was cleared, and the large company turned their attention to dancing, which was kept up with spirit till an early hour this morning.

A meeting of the Education Board will be held at the Government Buildings, on Monday at noon.

In our advertising columns Mr G. Darrell returns thanks to hisfiieuda for the bumper house accorded Him last night; and also intimates Ins intention of playing Hamlet again during his engagement at the Queen’s,

Profeswr Qoughtwy will Isobars at ths All bamts School-room next Taasday on ** !Tbl organ of Hearing.”

The Rev, J. Upton Davis, B.A, will lecture on Hammer and Tongs” at the Hanover street Church on Tuesday aext.

Leary will address the of Bell Ward on the gas question, (in the Oddfellows Hail, on Monday evening at 8 p.m. The annual statutory meeting of the Halfway Bush District Road Board will be held at the Waikari School-house on Wednesday, the 18th, at noon. Mr Robert Stout will address the electors at Anderson’s Bay Schoolhouse on Monday at 8 p.m., and at Green Island Drill-shed on Tuesday at 8 p.m.