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Evening Star, Issue 4168, 6 July 1876, Page 2

In the ' General Government Gazette' of June 20th "The Richardson Rifles" have been re-gazetted under the designation of "The Richardson Fusiliers."

The Combination Company at the Queen's Theatre had a capital house last evening, when "Cramond Brig" was played, followed by a miscellaneous piogramme by the members of the Variety Troupe. Professor Duncan M'Gregor, M.A. and MB., has been appointed medical officer of the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum in th« room of Dr Hulme, who lately resigned that position. Tue new appointment takes effect from the Ist of the present month.

A football match will be played on Saturday afternoon on the southern cricket ground, when the game will be between sides —merchants and agents v. the world. Rugby Union rules will be played, and all who take an intfrest in the game, though not members of the club, are invited to play. Mr A. C. Strode, Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lauds, has placed at our disposal a telegram received by him from Major Atkinson, to the effect that the resolution passed by the Assembly affecting the price of laud does not apply to land of special value, the upset price of which has been iixed at less than 2fis per acre.

The performance by the Press Dramatic Club, iu aid of the building fund of the Working Men's Club, takes place at the Princess s to-morrow night. The programme consists of "His Last Legs," in which Mr Bracken will impersonate O'Callaghan, and the farce of "Matchmaking." The Club will receive the very valuable assistance of Miss Colville and other lady members of the Princess's company. Both pieces are in active rehearsal.

The squatters and farmers of Southland are opposed to each other on the rabbit nuisance The 'Southland Times' informs its readers that a Bill has L»cen drafted by the former providing that on the application of six settlers a district, under the Babbit Nuisance Act, may bo proclaimed, and farmers taxed to the amount of 2s in the LI on the aui'Ual letting value of the farms ; and squatters on leasehold rur s are to be rated at half their letting value—that is, half the nominal rent per acre paid to the Crown. As the farmers state they are able to deal with the nuisance without Government help, the ' Southland Times' regards the proposal so monstrous that nothing sihou'd or is likely to hi done jn the matter,

A petition signed, by 800 residents in South Dunedin Las been posted by the mail 1 o-day asking the House of Representatives to p?.3 3 Mr Stout's Validation Act. The Gardeners' Association met at the Pout/las Hotel last evening, but, after i-leot-Hi; 4 several new members, adjourned the discussion on the rose aphis till next meeting.

Wrrk has been re-commenced on the Peninmlaaiid Ocean Beach Railway, the Government having sanctioned its convolution. It w hoped that the line will be ready for traffic as far as the Ocean Beach in two mi nths from the present time, and that the Anderson's Bay section will bo completed before the JS T ew Year. The line to Portobello will then be proceeded with. At the Princess's Theatre last night the popular drama " Rip Van Winkle " was produced, Mr Collier's representation of the principal character being highly appreciated. In the second piece—"The Widow's Victim" --Mr Collier's imitations of Mr Hoskins, Herr Bandnunn, the late G. V. Brooke, and other theatrical celebrities, were excellent. A good programme has been issued for to-night. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr T A Mansford, R.M., and Dr Drysdale, J.P.j James Linton, Thomas Barnes, and Robert Wharton, for drunkennes and disorderly conduct, were each ordered to pay a fine of ss, in defaalt twenty-four hours' imprisonment. James Pascoe, for indecent language, and Joseph Coaper, for indecent exposure, were each ordered to pay a penalty of 10s, with the usual alternative.

"Prompter" informs us that the BatesHoward Company opened, at Wellington, ou Monday, in "Elizabeth," an I the Opera Company's season closed at the Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday. The troupe left for Napier after the performance. Miss Jenny Nye has written to the 'Post,' denying the statement that she was engaged to Mr Sam Howard. The fallowing private telegram, received to-day from Melbourne, has been placed at our disposal:-"Mr William Horace Lingard and Miss Alice Dunning (Mrs Lingard), the celebrated American and English actors, sailed to-day in the s.s. Otago for Dunedin under engagement to Mr Wm. Hoskins, of the Princess's Theatre. Thev open there on Saturday, the 15th inst." The Lingards' have just finished one of the most successful engagements ever played in Melbourne. They bring a number of novelties, amongst which are Mr Lingard's "Lightning Sketches," during which he impersonates local celebrities. Miss Alice Dunning ranks as one of the first comedy actresses of the day.

At yesterday's sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court, Mr A. Bathgate, in complaining of a summons not having been served in a case in which his client (the plaintiff) was concerned, said he did not blame the officers of the Court as he knew there was more work than can be overtaken by the existing staff. He blamed the parsimony of the General Government in drawing a revenue from the Court which must greatly exceed the expenditure, and yet they did not provide a staff sufficiently numerous to overtake the work. In fact, the reduction which had recently been made by dispensing with one of the assistant bailiffs would no doubt lead to many cases of inconvenience to the public, as was shown iu this instance. The monthly battalion parade of the Volunteer companies took place last evening. The various corps showed up well, but owing to some dissatisfaction the Artillery Company came in private clothes, and did not join in the parade. The companies were marched to the Caledonian Grounds, where they were put through some marching exercise, &c, by Lieut. King, Acting-Adjutant. They then marched to the Drill-shed with the Artillery and City Guards bands, and were dismissed. Captain Stavely complimented the first named band highly, not only for its excellent playing but for always having au excellent muster. The committee of the Artillery Band met last evening in the Hibernian Hotel, and decided to give a concert in a month or six weeks.

We thank the Education Board for the annual report on education to hand to day. From it we learn that, including the Industrial School, the Benevolent Institution ecliool, and subsidised private schools at Havelock and Pine Hill, there were 157 elementary schools in Otago in 1874. The teachers number 288, viz., 161 schoolmasters, 47 schoolmistresses, 14 teachers of sewing, 17 male and 49 female pupli teachers. Several other schools have been sanctioned. The number of children receiving education is 8,709 boys, and 16,097 girls, of whom 2G5 boys and 105 girls are above fifteen years old. The number of pupils "learning the higher rules of arithmetic during the year was 2,420: mathematics, 312; geography, 9,323; history, 1,933 ; English grammar, 8,858 ; bookkeeping, 374; drawing or mapping, 3,815; singing from notes, 5,623; Latin, 287; ■French, 143 ; Gfeek, 6 ; sewing (girls only), 4,171. The schools are examined by two inspectors, whose reports are appended." The demand for teachers has greatly exceeded the s -pply, and the want of trained masters and m:stresses has too often rendered it necessary to employ persons who, although possessing fur scholar.-hip and other qualifications, have had little or no experience in school teaching. With a view to increase the number of competent teachers in the Province, free passages were authorised from Britain by the Government, and by this means the services of several able i eachers Lave been secured. Since Mr Norrie took the rectorship of the High School, the number of pupils attending there has increased from 103 to 180, and to meet the school space required the Board has rented the room foimerly used as a school by the Pev. Mr Stanley. The attendance at the Girls' High School has also increased, the average enrolment of pupils averaging 168, including twenty-seven resident boarders. The Board have eighty-eight public libraries connected with the schools, and books valued at L 1,700 were distributed during the year. In art during the year Mr Hutton gave instruction to 2,061 pupils. L 25,000 voted for school buildings has been expended.

Tie usual monthly mpeti'-g of of Ota, o Temp'e. 1.0 0.T., will be held in the Temperance Hall to morrow evening, at 7 30.

The Athenaeum Committe have made arrangements for delivery of a course of lectures by everr.l well-known gentlemen. '1 he Kev. A. K. Fitchett will deliver the first of the seri s on Wednesday next. Wehive received the 'Temperance Advocate and Good Templar' for July 1. The articl- s are numerous and to the point, and in the leading < olunms is a. review of the progress m :de in the cause of temperance.

At the weekly meeting of the Bayspring Lodge 1.0.G.T, iCensmgton, held last evening, the L D. read an inte e-ting essay on the ■'Life of Benjamin Franklin." The local Op'ion Bill met with the approval and support of a'l pres nt

The Star of Freedom Lodge, 1.0 G-.T., No. 5 held its w ekly meeting in the Schoolhouse, i i:u !en, last evening The following resolution w a pioposed and carried unanimously:— ■ This i odge eypresses its approval of the eniire I oc 1 Option Bill, and directs the seereary to forward a c py of this resolution to our member in the Hou e " A petition in favor of the measure was largely signed,