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Evening Star, Issue 4129, 22 May 1876, Page 2

Mr Cocmbe’s Bight Bovver was (at halfpast twelve o'clock) tri-day scratched for all his engagements at the ensuing Tradesmen's Races. We understand the Bower broke down ratuer badly while doing a gallop on Saturday morning. An int. resting game of football took place on the Oval on Saturday, when ex-High School pupils were pitted against members O' the Dunedin Football Club. The game resulted in favor of the ex-High Schoolites, who had *ome of the Club's- best players on their side. On the Northern oround the members of the Union Club played a scratch match, sides being chosen by Cleverdoa and M'Crae.

“ Black-eyed Susan ” and “ Sixteenstring Jack” were played at the Queen’s Theatre on Saturday, the latter piece, in Which Mfo Hill placed the principal part, appearing to be most relished. “Othello” is announced for to-night. From the Ballarat papers we learn that our contingent have entered for all the events at the Fire Brigade’s demonstration at Ballarat on Wednesday. As the result of the drawing for places in the cohlpetitiOh, the Dunedin men have been pitted against Talbot in the hose practice. At the Beal dent Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansford, E.M., Thomas Bacon, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was ordered to pay a fine of ss, in default, twentyfour hours; and Thomas Fogett, for a similar offence, was ordered to.pay a penalty of 10s, or forty-eight hours’ imprisonment. De Murska was a great success at Oamaru. Oil the occasion of the first concert the * N. 0. Times’admits that “the Masonic Hall since the day it was built was never so crowded.” The 500 persons in the hall represented over L2OO. The second concert was equally satisfactory pecuniarily. Madame and her company appear to have created the utmost enthusiasm.

It is now an understood thing in Auckland that Sir George Grey will elect to sit for Auckland City West. For the Thames seat, which he will resign immediately after the assemblage of Parliament, there is likely to be a keen contest. Captain Fraser, R.M., has stated positively that he has no intention of standing; and the Government will not countenance the nomination of Mr Thomas Russell, though a strong election committee could be formed on his behalf. The information we have leads ns to believe that either Mr James Mackay or Mr Macdonald, Mayor of the Thames, will be Mr Wm. Rowe’s colleague. The injured and grossly misrepresented runholders who were willing to sacrifice their leaseholds for freeholds, are sadly illused. We (‘ Mount Ida Chronicle ’) believe there is some little hitch about the bonus allowed them as compensation. They agreed to accept cancellation of their runs provided they were paid 2s per acre. Now the cancellation is effected, and it is merely a matter of the supremest chance that they should be the holders of the new licenses issued under the Goldfields Act. Clearly they are e-ititled to the compensation, and the Government must pay up. Sixty-four thousand acres at 2s per acre means L 6,400. That is the first cost to the Province of the miserable fiasco.

The Oamaru Harbor Board are going to send Messrs John M‘Lean and Meek, two of its members, as a deputation to Wellington, to urge the Colonial Government to take over and maintain the harbor light erected at Cape Wanbrow; and with reference to the proposed amendment of the Harbor Board Act, the maintenance of Harbor Light and Locket Brigade, and other matters. The Board has offered Captain Sewell the appointment of Harbor-master at a salary of L3OO a-year.—At Invercargill, the committee who were appointed at a public meeting to take the necessary steps for the formation of a Harbor Board for the Bluff have decided in favor of nominated members, and that the Board should have power to sell endowments.

Mr Pyke is endeavoring to wake up his constituents into a state of political activity. At Clyde he is reported to have said that “ he had not the most remote doubt but that the Abolition Act of last session would be confirmed in the coming one, but form an idea as to what further would be done he could not, as, from his experience of Hew Zealand legislation, it was nothing but a series of dramatic changes taking every one by surprise. However, with abolition of the Provinces would follow the constituting of the counties, but as counties with one or two, or even more municipalities dotted through them would never work, he was in favor of the municipalities verging into the counties—not that it should be compulsory, but to be the result of a vote by the majority of the citizens. He had, while at Cromwell, mooted the formation of what might be styled Local Political Protection Leagues throughout the district, whose duty it would be to watch the political horizon and to communicate with their member.” Meetings are to be held at Alexandra, Spear Grass Flat, and Blacks this week to take into consideration the political situation, and with the view of forming a league to watch over the interests of the district during the coming session of Parliament.

The annual reunion of the Ayrshire Associa tion will take place at the Temperance Hall to-morrow (Tuesday) evening. The concert will commence at 8 o’clock.

The Oddfellows’ Hall Concert on Saturd.y evening was attended by a large and very demonstrative audience, dancing forming a prominent feature of the programme.

To-morrow a rehearsal of the Dedication service for the new Oddfellows’ Hall will be held at eight o’clock in the evening The officers of the Order and those who take part in the service are requested to attend. The Temperance Hall Popular Concert was well patronised on Saturday evening, and a well-arranged programme was gone through. The effor-s of Mr Syke* to provide a select entert inment at a popular price appear to be fully appreciated by the public.