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Evening Star, Issue 4152, 17 June 1876, Page 2

The name of Mr 0. S. Beeves, of this City, has been added to the Commission of the Peace for the Colony. The schoolroom adjoining Knox Church was again crowded last evening, when the Rev. Professor Salmond delivered the sixth of his series of lectures on " The Christian Evidences."

The prediction that when the boats of the permanent service were placed upon the line contract time would be made is receiving verification. The City of San Francisco has for the second time anchored in the Waitemate a day before her due date. The Yorkshire Club celebrated its first anniversary by a ball in the Temperance Hall last evening. About fifty couples Were present, and dancing was spiritedly kept up till four o'clock this morning. Music was provided by an efficient band under Mr Buckingham's superintendence, and consisting of Messrs Sykes (piano), Buckingham (cornet), Leech (violin), and Martin (flute). The ball proved a great success. By a telegram from Hokitika we learn that an assay of tbe Mount Eangitoto silver ore has just been completed by Mr Manton, who lately came down ( from Sydney to inspect the mine. This assay confirms the reports on this ore made by Mr Kirkland, of Melbourne, giving 4300z5., ldwt., l£grs. to the ton of rough ore. The silver is found to be richly impregnated with gold. There appears to be no doubt a very rich silver mine has been discovered, and as the lode has been traced already for more than a mile it seems probable that other extensive deposits will be found in the same district.

The firstjgeneral meeting of the Britannia Rifles was-held last evening at the lower hall of the Athenaeum, and was numerously attended. The object of this meeting was to inaugurate an Independent Volunteer Cadet Corps under the above title. Stringent regulations were adopted; after, which, Sub Lieutenant Allan Douglas, recently of the No. 1 City Guards Cadets,, was unanimously elected captain, and Mr Robert Wicks secretary, to both of whom the thanks of the meeting were accorded. The spirit of harmony and enthusiasm which prevailed bids well for the future of the Britannia Rifles.

At the anniial meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association, last evening, it was resolved:—" That, while this Association approves of Mr Ashcroft's scheme, its members are of opinion that the proposed sphere of action should be enlarged, and that the new Association should be called •The Otago Church of England Society'; and further, that a Committee be appointed to confer with the All Saints' Young Men's Association." The following officers were appointed for the ensuing year :—President, Ven. Archdeacon Edwards; Vice-President, Mr R. T. Wheeler; Secretary, Mr F. M'Carthy ; .Committee —Messrs Anderson, S. M'Carthy, Cotton, Holme 3, and Inder. The Variety Troupe's entertainment at the Princess's Theatre last evening drew a large attendance in the lower parts of the house. The first part consisted of songs and dances by Miss Polly Leake, Messrs Wilkinson, Alex. O'Brien, Ac., concluding with a comic sketch, entitled, "Rooms to Rent," in which Messrs Love, O'Brien, and Wilkinson took part. The second part opened with Mr Love in some songs, and another comic sketch, which afforded some uproarious amusement. A novelty was then introduced, being a competition in clog dancing, song and dance, and sentimental singing, for threo silver cups. Only one having entered for sentimental singing, the contest was deferred till this evening, when entries will close. There were three entries for each of the other contests. The audience, who greeted the competitors with much cheering, were almost unanimous in awarding the clog'hornpipe prize to Mr Thoraley, and the song and dance prize to a Mr Smith. The company will perform'{this evening. Monday evening is set apart for a benefit to Mr Mußgrave, when we hope to see a crowded bou^e.

Mr Stoneham's benefit at the Queen's Theatre last evening drew a large audience in the lower parts of the house, and "Behind the Curtain T ' was played In a satisfactory manner. For to-night a capital programme is provided.

Judge Ward is Unsparing in his criticism of the Bankruptcy Act of last session. At Invercargill the other day» when dealing with an application iOf Service of Summons in the case of an absconding debtor, ho remarked that it seemed absurd, as enacted by the 20th section of the " Debtors and Creditors Act for 1876," that in ordinary cases of bankruptcy the Registrar had power to issue a summons, while in oases where the debtor had absconded, and where delay might prove fatal to the interests of the creditors, no aetiori obuloVbe takenuntil the matter had come before the Court.

China is evidently the land 6f giants. By the Torres Strait steamer on her last trip I there arrived at Sydney a Chinese giant, who puts Chang in the shade completely. He is thus described by the 'S. M. Herald': —"His name is Chin Ki Te*u. • He is 7ft 3in in height, and weighs 2971b. He is 30 yeaTß old, and is a native of Wang Hsien, of the Province of Shantung. He is in charge of an Italian, who purposes exhibiting him at the American Centennial at Philadelphia. He was picked up by his present proprietor in Chefoo, where he was found seeking employment as a coolie. He has an enormous appetite : it is said he was allowed fourteen large Chinese bowls of boiled rice and vegetables ea<}h' meal on his way down, and ate it all without complaining." A meeting of the Ayrshire Association was held in the Provincial Hotel last evening. The "Vice President, Mr W. Caldwell, occupied the chair* The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed the Re-union Committee brought up their report and balance-sheet, which were considered satisfactory. The ordinary busi ness being concluded the question of form ing a club in connection with the Association was brought before the meeting. After considerable discussion' it was agreed to postpone further consideration of the matter until the annual meeting in August next, and in the meantime the secretary was instructed to ascertain to what extent the kindred associations would be willing to cooperate.

In reference to railway works in the Oamaru district the local 'Tim.es' writes that the relaying of the permanent way, ballaflting, and general .fixing Up of the Awamoko branch line, which has been for some months past going on, under the supervision of Mr Dennison, assistant-rail-way engineer, is now nearly completed, and will be finished by the end of the current month, so that, as the necessary notice of intention to open it ior passage traffic was given something like two months ago, there should be no difficulty in-running passenger trains on and after the Ist July. Brogden's contract—the Oamaru-Moeraki portion of the Main South Line—is likely to be completed in two or three months at most, so that it will not be long before we shall begin to reap the advantages of railway communication. One of these will be that passengers overland to Dunedin, instead of leaving Oamaru at the unpleasantly early hour of 5 a.m. will be able to leave by a train starting from Oamaru at 7 a.m., and take the road at Hampden at the same hour as the coach now leaves there—viz., about half-past 8. —Yesterday a requisition was in course of signature through the town, calling upon his Worship the Mayor to convene a public meeting, with a view to urging upon the Government to take prompt action for the completion of the railway line northwards from the Waitaki. The following is its text:—." We the undersigned citizens of Oamaru, feeling that it is a matter of the most vital importance to the town and district that railway communication With South Canterbury shonld be opened up at the earliest date, and that there is cause for complaint of the delay which has occurred in the prosecution of the necessary works, respectfully request thai; you will convene a public meeting in order to give an opportunity for discussing, the best means of bringing about the prompt completion of the line, and making the most urgent representations to the Government and the members of the district in the General Assembly to that end."

A general meeting of the Artilleryßand will be held at the Hibernian Hotel, on Wednesday next, at 8 p.m. The -Pioneer Encampment, No. 3,1.0.0. F., will meet in the hall, Albany street, on Wednesday next, at 7.30 p.m. In our advertising columns will be found an address to the ratepayers, re the Mayoralty, by Mr H. J. Walter, the present Mayor. A special summoned meeting of the Court Pride of Dane<?in, A OF., will be held in the South Australian Hall, Princes street, on Monday, at 7. pm. We bave been requested to mention that in the R. M. Court yesterday, after we went to wess. judgment was given for plaintiffs for 1/7 3s, with c>sts, in the case of Caversham Road Hoard v. W. Kennedy. The rsu>»l weekly meeting of the Welcome All Lodge, No. 102, 1.0. G.T., was held in the West Taieri School-bouse on Thursday evening. There was a large attendance of members. Brother J. James, I :W.S. of the Pioneer Lodge, Dunediu, paid an official visit.