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Evening Star, Issue 4023, 18 January 1876, Page 2

It is stated that young salmon, in a very healthy condition, have been seen in Jacob’s river.

His Honor the Superintendent, accompanied by the Rev. 0. Fraser of Christchurch, and other gentlemen, paid a visit of inspection to the Industrial School to-day. A Working Men’s Association has been formed at Kensington. At a preliminary meeting last night twenty members were enrolled. It i t proposed to establish a reading room Aild library. Neva has been received at ths Arrow of the death at the Palmer diggings of Mr H. Eager, who will bo remembered as one of the parties to the great mining case of Grace v. Eager a couple of years ago.

We take the following items from to-day’a from to day's ‘ Bruce Herald ’ :—A number of caeca of cattle and sheep stealing have been reported from the Akatore district lately. The bridge over the Molyneux at .Roxburgh will probably be finished'in June, and the total cost of the structure will be afcmt Lb,ooo. By the Celestial Queen 47(5 volumes of various classes of literature were received for the Athcnreuni. The greater part are entirely new to the Colony. As a matter of course “light] reading’' forms the major part of the importation, and included in it are some of the latest works by the most celebrated writers.

Phillips is not Cunningham. There can be no doubt of that. Several people in Wellington (remarks the ‘Argus’) who know the Ohau murderer would have recognised Phillips at once had he been the right man, but they say there is a marked disparity in the physical development of the two men. Cunningham is a stout, robust man, fourteen stone in weight; Phillips, the suspect, is not more than eleven stone. There are points of resemblance between them, it is true, but there are other circumstances which far outweigh them. Inspector Atchison has, however, dealt very discreetly with the matter from the lif&t. He has not

jumped at any hasty conclusions, but has adopted the best of all methods of determining the identity or otherwise. Phillips’s photograph was forwarded to Dunedin, and in due time Mr Commissioner Weldon will communicate the result. Meantime Phillips undergoes trying suspense. The Athenreum Committee last night adopted a report which is to he submitted to the annual meeting of subscribers on the 24th inst. In accordance with the prayer of a memorial signed by 200 subscribers, the election of a new librarian was deferred till after the annual meeting. It was stated incidentally that there were forty applications for the post. The annual picnic of the scholars attached to Holy Trinity Church, Port Chalmers, took place to-day in Air Hugh M'Dermid’s paddock, Sawyer’s Bay. The committee appointed tocarryoutthearrangeraents had evidently left nothingundone which couldlead to thfl comfort and amusement of the children, who were plentifully supplied with suitable refreshments during the day, and passed a most enjoyable time under the supervision of their teachers. A return to the Port was made towards evening. It is reported by the * News ’ that the proposed arrangement between the Provincial Government and the contractors for the Orepuki railway in reference to a settlement of their dispute, viz., to refer matters to the arbitration of Air Blair, C.E., has fallen through; another stoppage of the works, and the throwing of a large number of men out of employment is the consequence, The ‘News’ recommends that the Government should take over the contract at valuation.

Important discoveries of anthracite coal and of silver have been made within a short distance of the township of Herbert, Otepopo. The ‘N. O. Times ’ has seen a sample of the coal, which is apparently pure anthracite, and is said to exist in large quantities. The indications in another locality promise the development of a payable silver mine. Our contemporary is in possession of detailed information, but the discoverer, Mr Francis Hancock, desire? it, for obvious reasons, to be for the present withheld. A very successful concert took place last evening in the Alornington Hall, the proceeds of which are to be applied to the reduction of the debt caused by the institution of the Hope of Momington Lodge, LO.G.T, Mr J. W. Jago, who presided, opened with an address on the liquor laws, and the entertainment, which was very varied, appeared to give general satisfaction. Mr Charles Sykes accompanied. Votes of thanks to the Chairman and the ladies and gentlemen who had assisted, brought a pleasant evening to a close.

The forthcoming breach of promise case promises to be somewhat lively, we should imagine, from the fact that a very large number of summonses have been issued to the members of old identity families resident in Dunedin, male and female, who (says the ‘ Bruce Herald’) are quite at a loss to understand why they should have been favored by such attention, as they know neither plaintiff nor defendant. They have certainly seen Mr James Shand, M.P.C., but this is about the extent of their knowledge of him ; and Miss Caroline Mason Hughes they have neither seen or heard of.

The case of Webb v. The National Bank of New Zealand was continued at the Supreme Court to-day. Messrs Barton, Stout, and Mowatt are counsel for plaintiff; Messrs Smith, Taylor, and Sinclair for defendants. The evidence of Mrs Langley having been concluded at yesterday’s sitting, the following witnesses for plaintiff were called to-day Alexander Webb (plaintiff), George Reid (groom), Harry Webb (in Mr Capstick’s employ), Edward Henwood (hotel keeper), and W. J. Dyer (Mayor of Tokomairiro). The case for the defence was proceeding as we went to press.

“Grif,” which it will be remembered was first played here during Miss Towers’s engagement, was produced at the Queen’s Theatre last night. The character of the street Arab is one Miss Stephenson is well qualified to play. It had evidently been carefully studied by her, and her endeavors to please were well rewarded by the audience. Mr Musgrave was in his element as the “moral” Mr Blemish; Miss Willis played naturally as Ally, the ill-used wife and the constant friend of Grif; Miss Vivian as the garrulous Mrs Nicholby, and Mr Clinton as the “ tender-’arted oysterman,” filled their respective parts most creditably. The play will be repeated to-night.

The complimentary benefit to Miss Edhouse, at the Temperance Hall last night, was well attended, the front seats being well filled. The programme was a long one, and it might have been curtailed with general advantage. The benefidare sang “Thou art so near,” to which Mr Oliver played a cornet obligato, and, being encored, she gave “Barney O’Hea”; and in the second part she sang “Vashti.” Miss Jago’s contributions were “ Oh, fair dove ! ” which mev*t e 4 the encore it received, and Will ixC come ?” which narrowly escaped a similar Mrs Bartlett, besides singing “ ’'here art thou?” took part in two duets. The otuC vocalists were Mrs Sanders, Mrs Humffray (wm 036 was e " scrvedly applauded), and Miss Hay 6B ; Mr Marsden and Mr .Denovan—who&c L nn S 'Y as encored. Of the instrumentation, \>’hieh occupied a considerable space in the pro-' gramme, we must first notice the violin solo —Do Beriot’s fifth air—of Mr G. Jones, which was a genuine treat, and was heartily encored, Messrs Hogg and Wright’s flute duet and Mr Oliver’s comet solo also came in for a share of the applause. The Artillery Baud, in the two selections they played, showed how careful and painstaking has been their training by Mr Hume. Mr Bracken’s rcciation “ Bingen on the Rhine,” which wc bad almost forgotten to mention, can always be listened to with pleasure, The Provincial Executive have incurred the displeasure of the ‘ Wakatip Mail,’ which charges them with neglecting the goldfields. Among other hard things, our contemporary says “it is utterly impossible to find any excuse for the unnecessary delays that have and are taking place in the carrying out of votes to which legal sanction has been given. Nino months have elapsed, and hardly any progress made with public works in this district or upon any other of the goldfields districts— I Tuapeka excepted. Cromwell is no better oft, though it has an Executive Minister as a member to represent its interests. Our members chose to relegate Mr Bastings's Executive to the cold shade of the House. Evidently this was a mistake, or now seems to be one. Horace Bastings and loads for the goldfields were of yore synonymous words. Would that the department as now constituted had adopted this gentleman’s line of vigorous action. Despite other faults characterising his career they might have learnt the easy lesson of promptness of execution of road works in the proper season. It is too bad to have to say that the ablest efforts of the reigning Provincial authorities have been devoted to the consideration of Dunedin interests and the construction of a railway line from Mosgiel to Kaitangata. This is a lesson our new member should take to heart. It is our intention to protest in the future against Dunedin being made the vortex into which our revenue shall be engulphed. They might as well go at one© to Wellington. The action of the Ileid;Green Executive deserves a censure.”

Dunedin and Auckland appear to be alike in matters other than political. Here we possessed a most efficient Fire Brigade, which»»as disbanded, because some of the civic authorities lent it anything but cordial support and; because a section of the local Press was constantly and unnecessarily finding fault with the men; and we see by our files that in Auckland, the body of men Mr Hughes was at such pains to organise and train are about to disband from a similar cause. We read that, at the Auckland Brigade’s meeting on the 11th inst., the following resolution was carried :—“ That in consequence of the remarks made by a Councillor, and the scurrilous sub-leaders which appeared in the ‘Star,’the Brigade give notice that they will disband this day month.” If Mr Bradshaw is correct, and his ten years’ experience as a sitting member entitles him to speak with some degree of authority, new members of the Assembly will have to take up with them a body guard to protect themselves from being got at, “ Young members,” Mr Bradshaw tells us, “are caught sometimes by the old ones who laughed at their simplicity. Talleyrand had said that speech was made in order that man might conceal his thought, and a young member would find this pretty true when he entered the Assembly, where hard-headed men would smile and smile upon one till they got his vote, and squeeze him till he was as dry as a sponge. Yes, in that House there were many smart and cunning politicians given to flattery, who would invite a new member to their residences and give him champagne till he danced—was made drunk—and that was no ‘sham.’ Still such things were done until men often became helpless idiots. A young member would find when he got there that no credit was given for oratory—everything was done by means of influence and hard-headedness.”

The fish caught at Port Chalmers yesterday will be exhibited at the Queen’s Theatre this evening.

Mr Braithwaite sends us the Christmas and New Y ear numbei s of * Bow Bells ’ and * The Young Ladies’Journal’; the December part of the ‘London Journal,’ and the November part of the ‘Family Herald.’ The Peninsula Caledonian Gathering, which was only partially held on Boxing Day owing to the wet weather, is to be resumed at Tomahawk on Anniversary Day, March 23, when, in addition to the former programme, a swimming match and a boat race will be contested.

Mr Howell’s exhibition of prizes, to be disposed of on'the art union principle, is well worth a visit of inspection. Instead of the room in the Octagon, where it was held the last and two previous years, Mr Howell has engaged premises in George street; and as the subscription list is rapidly filling up, the drawing may be expected shortly to take place. There are 150 prizes, some of t&em of great value. The cabinet work, which forms the chief attraction, consists of a 100 table, 4ft 2in in diameter, and several small work tables, formed of New Zealand wood of various sorts, without artificial coloring, beautifully inlaid, and of elegant designs. The 100 table, which Mr Howell values at LIOO, would readily command even a higher figure in Great Britain, aS' the_ workmanship is fully equal to anything in Europe. The elaboration required for its construction may be estimated by the fact that this beautiful piece of furniture is composed of 3,110 separate pieces. Equally skilful arrangement and handicraft are displayed in the smaller tables, each of which is a masterpiece of art. The minor prizes are valuable each after its own fashion. There are several tea-caddies, ladies’ work-boxes, jewel-boxes, glove-boxes, cribbage boards, and other articles combining elegance with usefulness, or contributing to amusement, ea.h of which will be considered a prize worth having. The pictorial prizes this year are not so numerous as on former occasions, but they are of a higher class of art. They include several oleographs of more than ordinary merit, a few photographs of celebrated pictures, and well-executed obromo-lithqgraphs. Mr Howell’s annual drawings appear now to have become an institution, and one that should be encouraged equally with other branches of art and design. It is not often the public have opportunity of a chance of obtaining elegancies in furniture on such terms, and even those who are not successful drawers will have fulfilled a duty in contributing a subscription to the encouragement of an industrial art that tends to foster a refined taste in the decoration of our homes. Mr Howell’s art union should be well supported.