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Evening Star, Issue 3953, 26 October 1875, Page 2

The Albion, with the Superintendental party on board, may be expected to arrive at Port Chalmers at daylight to-morrow, she having called at Timaru on her way down. The reception at Port Chalmers will be of a very formal character. It is anticipated that the Hampden* Moeraki section of the main Northern line will be ready for opening in March next, and the platelaying be completed to Kakaaui in a month. “Cora” was repeated at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, and was again well received. Mrs Bates played excellently as the heroine, and was fairly supported. Tonight “ Still Waters Run Deep ” will be performed. The ‘ Bruce Herald ’ reports that work is being pushed on vigorously at the Manuka Creek tunnel, and over sixty men are employed. They are at work at both end*, and less than seven chains of the hill remains to be tunnelled. With reference to the approaching general election the ‘ Bruce Herald ’ says it has not yet heard whether Mr W. A. Murray intends to offer himself for re-election for Bruce, but it believes that if he does ho is likely to bs opposed by Mr W. J. Dyer. A man named James Williams was received into gaol this forenoon, from Outram, sentenced on the 25th inst., by Mr j! Fulton, RM,, to one calender month’s imprisonment with hard labor, for being a rogue and vagabond in the West Taieri district. The banquet to be given to Mr Thomson, M.H.R., for the Olutha district, is fixed for Friday, the 29th inst. Sir George Grey will be present; Mr Murray has telegraphed that ho will attend ; and Filzherbert and Holleston have also signified their intention of being present. The whole of the Otago members who voted against Abolition are invited to attend the demonstration, as the guest* of the Ciutha settlers.

The friends of Mr B. L. Farjeon will be pleased to learn that he maintains his reputation as a successful novelist. “Love’s Victory” is the title of his latest work, which is in keeping with the spirit of the hour in its allusions to the villainy of shipowners and the unseawarthine-is <f ships, and its exposures of the social scandals of the day. Tn its review of the work the ‘Times’ says “ If M r Farjeon did not seek to make his books so instructive ho would succeed much better in making them amusing, for bo writes in a lively style, and keeps up the interest of his stories to a certain level from first to last,” The draina. e machine competition for the prizes of LIOO and LSO, offered by the Provincial Government, will take place on Thursday next, at Mr E'Laren’s Springfield farm, within a short distance of Milton. In reply to a telegram requesting a list of those who had entered their machines, Mr J. Logan, cf the Superintendent’s office, supplied the ‘ Bruce Llerald ’ with the following names;— Joseph Graham, Thomas Mu ray, Reid and Grey, and H. Howarth. Mr Graham has two machines for trial, and we are also informed that Mr Gillies, of the Toktmairiro Plain, has entered a machine for competition. The members of the Provincial Government will be present at the trial, and tiny have issued invitations to about thirty-five of the leading citizens of Dunedin. Sir George Grey, and Me era Bunny, Sheehan, and Kolleston, will also be invited, and it is probable that they will put in an appearance. The system of post cards which has within the last few years become so popular in the United Kingdom, has been introduced into New South Wales. The cards, which are .shout the size of an ordinary envelope, a-.o exceedingly neat and bandy, and could easily

be ca- ried about ; n a pooketbook, so that, at a moment’s notice, a short fitter may be sent co any place within New South Wales, without the troub'e of hiving to affix a stamp. The border of ;he card is nicely ornamsnted, and altogether presents a very neat appearance. Amongst the rules and regulaproviding for the transmission of these eards is one that adhesive stamps must not be used, and if such stamp be put upon the card, twopence will be charged upon delivery. 1 here is another proviso which says, “ Should a post card be observed to bear on it anything of an obscene, libellous, or otherwise obviously obj ctiouable nature, it will not be delivered.” This morning Messrs K. Ramsay, G. F. Reid, W. Guthrie, Id, Guthrie, and Russell waited upon the Deputy-Superintendent and brought under the notice of hia Honor the immediate necessity for taking steps to improve the entrance to Gatlin’s Riv<r. It was explained by Mr Ramsay that in consequence of recent casualties at that port the insurance companies had fixed somewhat prohibitory rates upon vessels trading there. On the expiration of the pie sent policies on hulfi, the companies w«.uld not be prepared t) renew them; and on cargo the rates had been raised from 30s to 60s per ton - that would be the means of altogether stopping trade to Citiiu’s River. A large amount of busmess was done there-700 tons of timber b ing expoited monthly. The mills also gave employment to a large number of men, and the trade this represented would certainly collapse if the action of the insurance companies was continued, as it certainly would be, unless steps were taken to improve the harbor. What was wanted was the removal of a rock in midchannel, and it was the opinion of Captain Hayward, the harb r-mastc-p, that it could be done for LI,OOO. It was further pointed out that Gatlin’s River was the only outlet for the produce of the settlers on the upper and lower flats ; that they and the mills would export close upon 9,000 tons this year ; and that the owners of vessels would be willing to pay a small tonnage rate as a contribution towards tho cost of the work. His Honor was afraid the cost would be too much for the Government to undertake ; but be promised to bring the matter before the Executive, and to communicate their decision to Mr Ramsay, Farley’s Royal Arcade was formally opened by a promenade concert last evening. The Arcade was gaily decorated with evergreens ana flags, and tho Artillery Band played some excellent operatic selections during the evening. The proceeds wore to bo handed over to the Benevolent Institution, and, judging by th* large numbers who attended, a considerable sum must have been realised.