The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4113, 3 May 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1876.

The rumor that the Defence Minister intends proceeding to England has received an authoritative denial.

"Prompter” mentions that Madame De Murska gives two concerts en route to Christchurch ; that Mr and Mrs Darrell returned yesterday from Invercargill; and that Mr and Mrs R. W. Lawrence (Carry George) are coming to Dunedin in a fortnight. The ‘ Post ’ understands that the Premier has forwarded to the Superintendent a lengthy reply, in which he traverses all the points raised in Mr Macandrew’s last letter, and enters fully into explanations of the writer’s present political position, and justifies his action.

Two accidents at Palmerston last week are reported by tbe local paper. On Friday a lad in the employ of Mr Sutherland bad his thigh broken by the fall of a horse which he was riding at the time ; and on Saturday when Mr Glassford, of Messrs Jenhieon and Glassford, was in the act of alighting from Smith’s coach his coat got entangled with some. portion of the vehicle and he fell, breaking hi* left arm,

We are compelled to hold over our report of this day’s sitting of the Supreme Court in banco.

We are authorised to state that Mr Frederick Chapman, Barrister-at-law, has been appointed Law Lecturer to the University.

The Anderson’s Bay School Committee have appointed Mr Hume to the head-mas-tership of that school, vice Mr S. M. Clark, resigned. The only business at the Port Chalmers Police Court this morning was a charge of drunkenness preferred against David Cockle, who, after receiving a severe reprimand, was discharged with a caution. Dr O’Donoghue, J.P., presided.

Among the passengers by the City of San Francisco on her inward trip was Miss Mary Lee, daughter of the celebrated Confederate general, who comes to Dunedin to recruit her health. The City is now commanded by Captain Waddell, who commanded the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah.

The Fishery Company meeting, announced to be held at the Provincial Council Hall this afternoon, was only attended by the Superintendent and the reporters of the Stab and the ‘Guardian.’ It was stated that the departure of the mail prevented several persons from attending. On Monday Mr T. S. Pratt, who was one of the starters of and for many years conducted the ‘Waikouaiti Herald,' and for five consecutive years filled the position of Mayor of that borough, was presented by the inhabitants of the district with a gold watch, valued at thirty-five guineas, in recognition of his “self-devotion and disintersted services rendered to the town and district.” The ‘Herald' tells us that Mr Pratt intends to settle at Christchurch.

Professors Black and Macgregor and Messrs Begg and Somerville this morning waited upon the Superintendent, as a deputation from the Anderson’s Bay School Committee, with a view to having some urgent repairs done to the teacher’s residence, which is in a wretched condition, owing to the faulty manner in which previous repairs were done, and also to the school premises, which are in a very dilapidated state. The Superintendent informed the deputation that a sum of LSO was placed upon the estimates, which sum, if it could be obtained, would be expended for the purposes represented by the deputation. The ‘North Otago Times’ understands that the line between Oamaru and Maheno is now ready for opening, the Messrs Brogden being willing to allow trains to be run on it, provided the Provincial Railway Department will undertake the haulage of their material and the maintenance of way. This should surely be acceded to, and the line opened^at once, as a large amount of freight is being daily lost to the line through grain finding its way to market and port by dray instead of by rail. We are aware that strong representations have been made to the Government on the subject, and the result is looked for with much interest.

The Princess’s being almost completed, a number of gentlemen attended there at Mr Sibbald’s invitation last night, when it was lighted up. The gas arrangements are most complete, more than ordinary attention having been paid to the lighting of the stage. Some capital scenery has been painted by Mr Williams ; while the pretty effect caused by the proscenium and stage surroundings has been much enhanced by the work over the private-boxes by Mr Redmayne—a crest on the one, and a lion and unicorn on the other. Madame De Mur ska will open the theatre on Tuesday night, and the spacious promenade at the rear of the dress-circle is sure to be largely availed of and much appreciated by the patrons of this part of the new theatre.

There was a capital downstairs attendance at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, when “ Susan Hopley ” was played. Mrs Hill, as the heroine, ably depicted the ups and downs often experienced by a servant-girl, and was well supported by the other members of the company. The burlesque Of i “ Little Giselle,” which followed, seemed to be very much appreciated, particularly some step-dancing by Mr Hooper who, as the Princess Beraha, fairly took the house by storm. When Mr Clinton, who was left in possession of the stage, attempted to address the audience, they refused to listen to him, and when the beadle appeared, bell in hand, to demand order, they became more demonstrative than ever. At length silence was obtained, Mr Hooper having appeared and bowed his acknowledgments. The singing and dancing of Mrs Hdl, as Albert, and of Miss Willis, as Giselle, were much admired. The burlesque will be repeated tomorrow night. A singular story of crass ignorance comes to the ‘ Telegraph ’ from the country not very many miles from Napier. In a household in a certain district a child was bom, which, from the hour of its birth, gave evidence of an early death. A travelling preacher was accordingly called in to perform the baptismal rites ; but the holy man confessed his inability to accede to the request, as he had not been admitted to Orders A few days afterwards the child died; and the same itinerant “lay reader” was requested to give some ghostly consolation on the oecasion. This he did to the best of his ability, but he took care to inform the bereaved that the child having died unbaptised, it could not receive Christian burial. It would have to be taken at the dead of night to the cemetery, and at midnight thrust into the grave. Under these circumstances the parents did not see why they should go to the expense and trouble of such nonsense, and accordingly buried the baby in the garden. The “lav preacher ” should certainly receive some token of public recog. nition of his knowledge of the religious persuasion of which he is supposea to be a chosen and burning light.

The district prizes won at the recent competition are now payable at the Militia Office.

Ihe North Dunedin Rifles are to parade th ; s evening, at eight o’clock, for ii spection paiade.

T he inauguration meeting of the London and Provincial Club will take place at the Hibernian Hotel this evening, at eight o’clock. Mdlle, de Murska’s fourth concert takes place at the Queen’s theatre to-night, when she will give the mad scene from Lucia (with flute obligato), said to i e her greatest success. Signor Susini will sing “ La» ahm'a,” from ‘‘ J1 Barbiere.” On Saturday, the sixth and last concert of the season will be given.