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Evening Star, Issue 4013, 6 January 1876, Page 2

A breach of promise case, in which the defendant is a well-known member of the Provincial Council, is to occupy the attention of Mr Justice Williams and a common jury next week. The damages are laid at L 3,000. Barlow’s Circus Company gave their final performance this evening, as they leave for the South by steamer to-morrow. To those who have not seen the wonderful dogs and monkeys we would recommend the taking of this opportunity.

The Presbyterian Synod’s opening sitting will be held in the First Church on Wednesday evening next, when the retiring moderator (the Rev. J. M. Allan) will conduct the services, and his successor in the chair (the Rev. T. Alexander) will deliver his inaugural address. At the Queen’s theatre the pantomime continues to draw large houses, its popularity showing no signs of diminution. Last evening it went better than ever, all the company playing with life and energy. To-mor-row evening has been fixed upon as a juvenile night, and on Saturday there will be a performance at half-past two in the afternoon. The immigrants ex Nelson, forwarded to Oamaru found ready employment in that district, the depot having almost been cleared in one day. The ‘Times’ publishes a telegram from the Minister for Immigration to Mr Steward, to the effect that, in August last, instructions were sent to the Agent-General to select emigrants specially for Oamaru.

MrPykehasintimated that if he has to deal with aggravated cases of neglecting to keep premises clean, or with persons who seem to glory in repeating the offence, he will inflict the full penalty the law allows. This morning Inspector Nimon brought a batch of these offenders before the City Police Court, but they were let off with a nominal fine. In the majority of the cases it was shown that the landlords were charmingly indifferent to their duties; and the Bench expressed regret that they were unable to reach those individuals.

Smith’s Combination Troupe is still performing at the Temperance Hall with unwavering success. Two programmes have now been gone through, and this evening a third will be submitted, introducing Mr Willard in new character sketches, and Azelia and Verona in more startling feats. The ballad singing of Miss Lane and Mr Carey is one of the most attractive portions of the entertainment. To-morrow will be a special night, and each visitor on that occasion will be presented with a copy of Mr Smith’s “ Travels,” an amusing and interesting work. The report of the Examiners for the Nelson Provincial Scholarship (Messrs. F. G. Simmons and W. C. Hodgson) is published in the ‘ Colonist.’ One remark is worthy of notice. Referring to the result of the examination in English, they say : “ Throughout it was a failure. This scorns a grave matter. Too much attention cannot bo bestowed on English.” This is most true, yet the language of the report itself suggests the text, “ Physician heal thyself,” for even passing over the curious and ambiguous style of the sentences quoted, the free use of colloquial slang on the part of these English purists is very noticeable, They state that they made the examination much “ stiffer ” than formerly ; but that nevertheless three country boys “ floored ” the paper, and that one of them was a “ good all-round man,” while in the next paragraph the want of “form” is deplored. Now, wo (Post) do not in the least degree object to the use of mild slang in ordinary conversation, but it strikes us as singularly out of place in a report of this kind, which presumably should be framed in the classical English which is its subject. Wo take no exception to the statement that ‘ Harold was the ‘ awful ’ King of England, ” but we have been accustomed to regard W ilium the Conqueror as “much more awfuller,” aud so poor Harold found him to his cost.

OnjNewfYettr’sjDay B,ooopersons were conconveyed by rail from Christchurch to Lyttelton to witness the regatta at the latter place. As a proof of the expedition used by the railway authorities, who were able to keep three trains running continually, it is mentioned that 4,000 people were sent through in two hours.

Two inquests will be held at the Hospital to-morrow. Last evening the body of Williams, one of the young men who was drowned near Tomahawk on Christmas Day, was discovered floating near the Anderson’s Bay beach by some boys. The other case is that of the man whoso sudden death at Caversham we noticed yesterday. A genuine old English custon was revived at Auckland at Christmas time. By the liberality of Sir George Grey, the relieving officer was able to provide all poor families upon the relief list in the city, suburbs, and adjacent villages and towns, with a sufficient quantity of meat for a substantial Christmas dinner, varying from four pounds to fifteen pounds, according to the number of persons in each family. During this morning’s sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Mr Harris brought under his Worship’s notice the shocking condition of the writing material supplied to the legal gentlemen. He had previously spoken to the Court officials, but without effect. Mr Bathgate promised to have the matter attended to. We venture to express a doubt whether worse pens than those supplied in this Court could be found anywhere.

An old offender named Frederick Williams, alias Nancams, a late arrival from London, well known to the police of Canterbuiy and Otago, and also to the gaol officials, was received into the Gaol yesterday afternoon, from Tokomairiro, G whence he was escorted by Constable White. He is under committal for trial at the ensuing sessions of the District Court at Tokomairiro, on a charge of having, on the 29th ult,, at Tokomainro, assaulted a man named. Sydney Dyer, with intent to rob. Mr Maitland, R.M., was the committing Magistrate. Mr Justice Johnston appears to be very fond of giving advice. A good deal of it is; however, exceedingly wholesome. For instance, he expresses the opinion that publicans who give drink to men while in a state of intoxicatiod deserved ,to forfeit their licenses. A policeman, in giving evidence, remarked that after arresting his man he read the warrant to him, and cautioned bim in the usual manner, t.e., by telling him that anything he said would be given in evidence against him, which was highly improper, and it is a constable’s duty to hold his tongue, and if anything important is said by a prisoner the constable should take it down as soon as he can. If a constable say anything at all it should be this:—“ You need not say anything unless you please; but remember, if you do say anything, it may be used in evidence against you. ” On Monday a lad named Taylor was drowned while bathing in the Molyneux, near Tuapoka Mouth, He was bathing with a companion close to the bank of the stream, when he endeavored to catch hold of a piece of timber that was passing, and in doing so was carried off his feet by the strong current, the river being in a flooded state. The lad who was on the bank had not the presence of mind to call for assistance, although a man was close at hand. The drowning lad, however, sang out to his companion to go for assistance, but it was then too late. The ‘ Tuapeka Times’ says a strange fatality appears to hang over this family. In the first place the boy’s father (Henry Nehoff) found a watery grave near the spot where his son now came to an early death, and his mother only recently lost her second husband (Andrew Taylor), by accident. Such !a chapter of accidents seldom falls to "the ot of one family.

The adjourned summoned meeting of the Loyal Hand and Heart Lodge M.U.1.0.0.F. was held at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday, when the following newly-elected officers took their various positions for the ensuing sk months, viz,G.M.J. Lucas, N.G..W. Gow, V.G., J. Reid, E.S,, J. Wood. After the ordinary business had been concluded, G.M. Lucas, on behalf of the Lodge, presented P.G,, J. Marshall with an emblematic certificate for services rendered to the Lodge durihg his term of office. The auditors (P.G.’s Black and Sherwin) presented their balance-sheet for the past half-year, from which we take the following figures, viz,:— Total receipts for half-year from all sources £671 17s lOd ; disbursements, L 383 14s 4d, leaving a balance in favor of the Lodge of L2BB 3s 6d., the total of Lodge fund being L 6,363 Is Bd, giving an average value per member of. L 23 18s sd. The sick pay amounted to L 53 9s, or an average of 4s per member. Funeral donations paid, L3O. The number of members initiated was 11; by clearance 9; giving the total number of Lodge members 266. The District Officers intimated that they intend holding a Purple Lodge at Balclutha on the 22nd inst., after which the Lodge closed. ’

A meeting of shareholders of the Kaniera Lake Water Race Company will be held at Mr Webb’s office on Monday next, at 4 p.m. Ratepayers of Opoho and surrounding districts are invited to attend a meeting at the Cattle Market Hotel, to consider matters re municipality, to-morrow, (Friday) at 8 p.m. The exhibition of pictures at Messrs Clifford and Braithwaite’s establishment in the Arcade daily attracts a large number of visitors. These works of art (include aquagraphs, oleographs, water colors, steel-plate engravings, Ac., and are a very excellent selection for the purpose to which .they are to be devoted, namely—their distribution by means of an art union. _ln our limited space,'it is impossible to give a list of the many choice pictures on view, but we may state that amongst the best are some splendid oleographs, and the water colors (many after Biiket Forster) alone are worth a visit. The number of subscribers to the art union is limited to 500, and the prizes number 150.