The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4131, 24 May 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1876.

A football player writes to us suggesting that a football match between the Union and Dunedin clubs be arranged for an early date, when a charge for admission should be made, and the proceeds handed over to the Carnival Committee. As a deal of rivalry exists between the clubs the victory would be a hard-fought one, and no doubt many persons would witness the match. More incendiary fires. A few nights ago three stacks belonging to Mr Thomas Henderson, of Trotter s Creek, were burned, and it is thought, by the hand of an incendiary. The stacks stood at a considerable distance from any house, and the fire broke out in the thatch of the middle stack at 10 o'clock at night. Mr Henderson estimates his loss at L2OO, and was insured for Ll3O. A little girl named Elizabeth Duncan, aged four and a-half years, was severely burned at Green Island yesterday. She and a sister, aged seven, were left alone in the house, and the little one’s clothes caught fire as she was looking up the chimney. Her screams brought the assistance of neighbors, and the flames were quickly extinguished. She was attended by Dr. Fairfield, who entertains hopes of her recovery. “Othello” was repeated at the Queen’s Theatre last evening, the cast of the two principal male characters being reversed. Without contrasting the merits of Messrs Steele and Byers in the respective characters, and merely dealing with last night’s performance, we have only to say that Mr Steele’s Moor at times lacked sufficient dignity, and that Mr Byers spoiled some well-delivered passages as lago by unseemly ranting. Of Mrs HUl’s Desdemona we have to speak in terms of unqualified praise. A good bill is announced for to-night. The annual concert and ball of the Ayrshire Association took place last evening in the Temperance Hall, when there was a large attendance in all parts of the building. Mr Seaton, M.H.R., occupied the chair, and in a few well-chosen remarks said that he was glad to be able to state the Association since its inauguration had been a great success financially and otherwise. The concert was then begun, and a capital programme was gone through to the entire satisfaction of the audience, nearly all the songs being well rendered, and finished by the company singing “ Auld Lang Syne.” The room was then cleared for dancing, and those who waited enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Mr Sykes officiated at the piano, and Mr Donaldson catered.

The following items are from the ‘ Bruce Herald’ of yesterday;—Mounted-Constable Alexander Aitchison died yesterday evening. The immediate cause of death was disease of the heart, but the deceased had been suffering from a complication of disorders, and his illness was a very painful one. He had seen a great deal of service in the police force in this Colony and Victoria, was present at the Ballarat riots in December, 1854, and left Victoria to come over here with the late St. John Branigan. He was well known for many years as the driver of the gold escort in this Province, and had been stationed in this district for about nine years.—The bridges on the Tuapeka branch line of railway between Clarksville and the Glenore tunnel will be finished this week. It will then be possible for the contractors to place an engine on the line, and complete the ballasting without delay.—The daily passenger train that runs between Stirling andKaitangatais very well patronised by the travelling public. Grain and other produce has also been conveyed over the company’s line, and in a short time a regular supply of coal will be sent from the mine.-- The trotting match between Frost and Quicksand has been postponed until after the Dunedin Races.—A tire occurred last week at Wangaloa, which resulted in Mr Donald Mitchell losing his entire stock of grain, and the destruction of a steam thresher which was employed to thresh out the stacks. The fire broke out about midnight, and before it was discovered had gone too far to be subdued. As to the cause no clue has been obtained, —There are a party of Chinamen mining on Mr Murray’s property at Manuka Creek are reported to be getting plenty of gold. They pay Mr Murray a royalty of 25 per cent., and he supplies them with a portion of the material used in carrying on the operations. We have not heard any further reports with reference to the new rush near Mr George Coombe’s claim. The Richardson fusiliers will parade for drill at the High chool ground to morr >w evening, at eight o'clock shar