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Evening Star, Issue 4092, 7 April 1876, Page 2

It is rather strange that the ‘Evangelist,’ a monthly periodical, should be made the favorite organ of the University Council whenever they wish to let the puolic know what they are doing. We certainly think such information would be better and more widely conveyed to the public through the agency of the daily papers than through the columns of a theological journal. In vain have our reporters asked permission to, attend those secret council meetings: in vain have we begged for even a morsel of nows to lay before the public. Have the Council made up their minds to all keep their doings hidden from the people, or are they of such a character that they are afraid of the public knowing them? Else, why this silence ? Certainly if the paragraph in the ‘Evangelist’ is only approximately true, things are not very encouraging. And this paragraph, judging from the style of its composition, the peculiar admixture of hope and belief, and the clothes in which it is presented to the public, has evidently been penned by some one who knew something more than ordinary people. There is the usual amount “of wise foresight” that has been displayed, but we find very little of it in the information concerning the medical school. Indeed matters there seem to be in a worse state than they were before. We should be extremely sorry to coincide with the advice of “ Ourselves ” in the paragraph we quote from, “that our University authorities will cease to petition the medical schools of the Home country.” It would be the very surest step towards introducing those American medical schools here, if “ Ourselves’s ” advice is followed. And we fancy “Ourselves” is one of those happy and joyous people who are ever ready to lay down their dogmatic opinions on any subject at five minutes’ notice, or he would not have made so foolish a proposal. If there be on Q thing above all others that the public desire about the medical school here, it is this, that it shall be one with some healthy tone about .it, and that it may be‘able to hold its own with some of the Home institutions, and be on reciprocal terms of friendship with them. It is time more was known about the medical school than those “ that be ” choose toilet out of the bag; but bo they members of Council or Professors, it is as well that they should understand the temper of the public will not palliate mismanagement in this, which ultimately should be not only the backbone of the University of Otago, out also, if due care be taken, the chief medical school in the Colony.

The arrangements concluded between the Governments of this Colony and New South Wales for the despatch of this month’s outward mail are that the Zealandia shall leave Sydney this afternoon, calling at Auckland for the New Zealand mail, and the City of San Francisco with the incoming mail annll also call at Auckland.

This morning Messrs E. C. Strode, Talbot, and Campbell waited upon Ids Honor the Superintendent for the purpose of ascertain* mg what steps were being taken towards forming the proposed district of Cranmore into a Municipality. Mr Strode said the petitioners did not wish the objecting townships to be included, but simply that Maori Hul should be proclaimed, and without delay. His Honor replied that that was the decision the Executive were likely to come to at their meeting today- Indeed the matter had been sent up to the Survey Department for the boundaries to be arranged, and he assured the deputation that the thing would be finally disposed of to-day, as they desired.

Chairmen of meetings and concerts occasionally say awkward things. Of course they are only slips of the tongne, but for all that they are awkward, and generally provoke a laugh. Recently at a meeting, the chairman, m making a presentation, referred in glowing terms to the qualities of the recipient, and said the articles were given as a small token of esteem. HWI he alted here it would have been all right, and the Man at the Corner, who contributes this to the ‘ Greymouth Star,’ would have had to hunt for another paragraph, but the chairman didn’t—hence the lapsus linguae, and “ regret that circumstances should have occurred to cause her to give up the duties she had performed so weU.” This was decidedly awkward under the circumstances, as it is understood that the young lady is about to be led to the altar of Hymen.

A post-prandial speech does not often occasion the comment that one recently mado by Captain Fraser, Warden at the Thames, appears tp have done. The place was Tauranga, and the occasion a dinner given to him oy settlers who during the war had been members of the first Waikato Regiment, which troop he had commanded. In replying to the toast of his health, he said that “ the Native Department was the bugbear of the place. The town was populated but the country was vacant, and until this was altered prosperity could not be looked for. He could not but see that by the misrule of the Native Department the wants of the European population had become secondary to moae of the natives, Every obstacle was put m the way of would-be seftkn.”

But Captain Fraser went a little too far. His other remarks lead to the belief that his official position is by no means secure, as he hinted his intention of seeking at a future date, the honor of representing the Thaffies and Tauranga in the Assembly. .A plowing entertainment was given in the Waikari schoolroom last night, when there was a good attendance. Mr 6. Hepburn was in the chair, and stated that the object of the concert was for raising funds for the benefit of the school committee. A good programme was presented, and those present seemed to enjoy themselves highly. Mr Moss officiated at the piano, and played a capital overture at the opening of the concert.

A “silver” epidemic has broken out at Greymonth. The‘Argus ’ says that at the last sitting of the Waste Lands Board nine applications for mineral leases of the strangely selected area of SOO acres each in all cases but one or two were made and granted. These areas are contiguous to the areas already leased at the recently discovered galena mine at Mount Eangitoto. At the same meeting of the Board Himilar areas were granted to three applicants for leases in the neighborhood of Jackson’s Bay, where, some eight years ago, a miner named Sinclair discovered mineral resembling that of the deposit at Mount Eangitoto, but which discovery he did not follow up at the time. As the succession of applicants came forward, it was an involuntary exclamation of the chief surveyor that the people seemed to be silver-mine mad.

The Dunedin Gun Club will shoot for sweeps at Mr Edwards’s paddock, Forbury, tomorrow, at 3 p.m. The attention of members of the No. 1 Company City Guards is directed to an advertise'ment appearing in this issue.

The Saturday Advertiser ’ contains a useful supplement, in'the shape of a Kailway Time Table for the Colony. The prize of LlO, offered by the proprietors for the best essay on “ The Form oi Local Government best suited to New Zealand,” has, we observe, been awarded to Mr Pyke, M.H. K. A series o£ Saturday evening popular concerts will be inaugurated to-morrow evening at the Temperance Hall, under the supervision of Mr Chas. Sykes, from whose experience we have no doubt programmes will be prepared worthy of the liberal support the public have heretofore accorded these entertainments.

The,* Illustrated New Zealand Herald’ this month is one of the best numbers that; has been issued for some time past, .and. we are glad to see New Zealand subjects receiving more attention. Romatah pah, in Hawke’s Bay, the new steamship Australia, for our mail service, and the harbor works at Lyttelton find a place in the current number.

Should the weather prove fine to-morrow afternoon a football match will be played between fifteen chosen from the Standard and a like number from the High School Club. Play will commence at half-past two o’clock. The Melbourne rules will be played this time, and a return m tch will be played with the High School rules, so as to give each side a fair chance at its own rules. Mr A. Bjrrett will be umpire for the Standard’s side.