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Evening Star, Issue 4021, 15 January 1876, Page 2

The special jury cases 'commence on Monday with Webb v. the National Bank, and on Wednesday the breach of promise case ughes v. Shand will be tried. At the St. Kilda Municipal Council's meeting on Thursday night, Mr J. H. Cook was appointed town clerk, valuator, and collector.

Owing to Tuesday being mail day, the commencement of the Interprovincial Cricket Match has been postponed till Wednesday. The Canterbury team leave Lyttelton by the Taupo to-day. Our Wellington exchanges inform us that wages are going down in that Province. Cail penters can be obtained at 10s per day, and the supply of labor is greater than the demand. On many of the railway contracts the best navvies are being paid 7s per day.

It has been decided to form a Volunteer Company, to be composed of ex-High School pupils. Messrs Henderson, Macandrew, Smith, Brown, and Strode were appointed a committee to obtain the names of those wishing to enrol themselves, and Mr F. R. Smith interim secretary.

Oamaru is determined to have salt water baths. At a joint meeting of the Municipal Council and the citizens it was decided to call for tenders for the erection of baths, to cost about LI, 000. It is proposed that they shall be under the control of the Corporation.

The* "Ticket-of-Leave Man" constituted the programme at the Queen's Theatre last evening. Mr Stoneham appeared as Bob Brierley, Mr Keogh as the detective, and Miss Leake, as May Edwards. On Monday "Grif" k will be played. Miss Stephenson's representation of the Australian larrikin is well spoken of by the northern Press.

The police at Oamaru arrested on Wednesday one John Liston, who is charged under warrant with deserting his wife at Dunedin in January, last year. When brought before Mr Parker, R.M., he said that in November last he received a letter from his wife. She did not say anything about a warrant. He then sent her LB. He has been remanded to Dunedin.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansford, R.M., Thomas Allen and? John Davidson were each fined ss, with the usual alternative, for drunkenness, and John Brown alias George Baker, charged on sus. picion with stealing one pah- of trousers of the value of 30s, the property of Daniel Stow, was sentenced to four weeks' imprisonment, with hard labor.

There was a capital attendance at the I Temperance Hall last night on the occasion of Miss Lane and Mr Gary's benefit. In ad dition to the usual programme by members of the Combination Troupe, Herr Schott played a couple of obeo solos and was warmly applauded. Mr Sykes and Miss Melvin also assisted. An afternoon performance was given to-day. The troupe appear for the last time to-night. The first meeting of the newly-elected School Committee last night was attended by Messrs Bell, Fish, Livingston, Ramsay, Strode, Street, Shenvin, and Wright. Mr Robin Was elected chairman, Mr Ramsay treasurer, and Mr James re-elected secretary at a salary of LI 25. Messrs Livingstone, Wright, Robin, and Bell were re-appointed ■A Works Oomtjiitiee, and td them was referred a proposition by Mr HalHwell that the infant classes of the Middle School j should be temporarily accommodated in the Mission Hoitee. A committee waifcppointed to assist the secretary in deciding eligible cases for free education.' It was resolved, after some discussion, that a deputation should wait on the Government in reference to the Middle District School*

The or«lor paper for Tuesday's meeting- of the City Council contains a string of nolL-es having reference to the repairs of streets. Or. Grant wants Clyde street and Regent Road attended to; Or. Roberts, Princes and Hope streets looked to—the former metalled ats far as the'south (oil barj and the kerbing o jid channelling of the latter completed. Cr. Woodland, in addition to looking after what required to be d<?nc to Cargill, Leifch, and Filkul streets, has given notice of the following :—" That notice be given to the offlcci 1 iri command of the Dunedin Volunteers, for the immediate removal of the two guns and carriages now placed on the footpath in front of the Drill-shed in the Market Reserve, the same being an abominable nuisance to pedestrians, especially to ladies."

There was a narrow escape last week from the total destruction of the magnificent bush at Waikaia, concerning the preservation of which the authorities do not appear to greatly trouble themselves. We learn by our Tuapeka contemporary that in the present instance the fire—or rather fires, for there were several—originated at the top of the Argyle range ; two of them, which were fjevural miles apprt, penetrated each about a mile into the heavy timber, and there was every appearance of the greater part, if not the wliole, of the bush being reduced to ashes. Luckily, there was no wind at the time, and, aa in some of the previous cases, heavy rains came on and put a stop to the conflagration. One end of the bush is situated within twelve miles (as the crow flics) of Teviot, and the other a much less distanuo from Switzora, the whole covering a space little if anything short of 100 square miles, with trees (principally red birch) touching each, other,- their trunks measuring as much as up to 2J feet in circumference, and IQ/Q feet to tae brancaes.

The licensed expre&3 drivers in connection with the central railway station now wear a neat distinguishing badge. The Hon. E. W. Stafford is proving his devotion to the principle of self-government by serving as a member of the road board in which % he lives in Canterbury. He has just been elected a member of the Board.

At Lawrence, on Thursday, a man named Macready, in the employ of Messrs Hay and Kofoed, local brewers, fell over a steep bank and received injuries which brought on concussion of the brain and consequent unconsciousness. The 'Times' says it is feared the result will be fatal.

There is a right-of-way in the neighborhood of Kensington which was fast gaining a notoriety almost equal to that possessed by tie well-known Devil's Half«aere in Walker street, but we are glad to learn that the police have taken steps to clear the firstmentioned locality of the presence of some very undesirable characters. .

The business before the Police Court this moriling Was of the ordinary Saturday desorip" tion. Wm.Tracey was fined 5s for drunkenness, and Thomas Jar&ine, who admitted having no lawful means of support, and was also charged with stealing a cornelian watch-key, was remanded until Monday. Edward Spray was summoned by his wife, Isabella Spray, for refusing to pay an order for the payment of LI 15s a-week towards her support the arrears being L 8 15s. Mr Denniston appeared for complainant and Mr Cook for defendant, who was ordered to pay the amount within four days, otherwise a distress warrant would be issued, with. LI 8s 6d costs. Mr Pyke, J.P., presided. The Otago Society of Artists intend to hold their first exhibition in June next, and each working member Is to contribute at least two pictures. A committee, consisting of Messrs Percival, Power, Hodgkins, Brown, and Welch, with power to add to their number, was appointed to draft rules, and Messrs Brown and Low were appointed to secure a room, for the business purposes of the society. The most notable feature of the meeting was the unanimous desire which prevailed relative to the holding of an exhibition in June, for the display {of pictures and other works of art by the members. Such a proceeding, if thoroughly given effect to, would be fraught with considerable benefit to lovers of the fine arts and to the general public. Last evening a tea and public meeting were held in 'the School-room, North-East Harbor, in aid of the funds of the District Public Library. There was a good attendance, about 200 being present, and Mr James Macandrew occupied the chair. The report of the Library Committee was read by Mr Bell, and was very satisfactory. It stated that there is about L6O worth of wellassorted books of the library, and that these are read by most of the families in the district in about equal proportions of history, travels and discovery, biographies, and novels. The meeting last night was held to raise funds in order that the library might obtain a portion of a shipment of books now in the hands of the Government, and which is likely to be the last for some time. After the reading of the report appropriate addresses were delivered by his Honor, the Rev Dr Roseby, and Messrs Macfie, Jago, and Bell. Some singing served to complete a very enjoyable, instructive, and profitable entertainment.

A meeting of the Yorkshire Club will be held on Monday next, at 8 o'clock. The annual meeting of the Artillery Band will be "held next friday, at 8 p.m., in the Hibernian Hotel. The annual meet in; of subscribers to the Oaversh*m Library will be held on Monday uext, at 7.30 p.m. Mr T. F. M'Donogb, Chief Government Life Insurance agent for Dunedin, will addreßS the inhabitants of South Dunedin on''Life Insurance "in the long-r.'om, Ocean View Hotel, on Wednesday next, at 8 p.m. A concert in connection with the Hope of Mornington Lodge, I 0.G.T., will be given in the Mornington Hall on Monday next, commencing at eight o'clock. As concerts are of rare occurrence in this district, a large attendance may be expected. Last evening the. Kensington Band of Hope held it usual meeting, the attendance being very fair. A programme of the usual nature was presented, and was greatly appreciated by the audience. It was intimated that the meetings would for the present bs told every Friday.