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Evening Star, Issue 4170, 8 July 1876, Page 2

We have received from the Government Printer, Wellington, No. 3 of 'Hansard" and a bundle of Parliamentary papers. The ' Argus' reports that it is rumored that a case of malpractice on the part of a medical man at Wellington is likely soon to be made the subject of judicial investigation.

There were only three charges of drunkenness on the charge sheet at the City Police Court this morning. Ann Kenny was fined 10s, or forty-eight hours', and the other two were lismissed. Messrs A. Mercer and C. S. Reoves, J.P.'s, presided. What may be termed a travelling postoffice system has been in operation on the Christchurch and Lyttelton railway, to the great convenience of the public. Attached to the guard's van there is a letter box, in which missives may be dropped and be despatched" by an outgoing mail after it has been closed at headquarters. The additional time this gives to answer letters is too obvious to need pointing out, and the extra trouble imposed on the officials is almost nil.

At Wellington on Monday evening the Simonsen Opera Company played " II Trovatore" for the benefit of Miss Lambert. The' Post,' in criticising the performance, says : - "The great feature was the magnificent singing of Signor Morley in ' Ah si ben mio,' which actually was interrupted several times by the irrepressible enthusiasm of his hearers, who fairly rose and cheered him at it 3 conclusion. The aria was repeated, if possible more superbly than before, and even then the singer was recalled again and again. In 'Di quella pira,' Signor Morley performed the wonderful feat of ascending straight from G to C in alt, which ho gave out clean from the ehest, and sustained with f>erfect roundness and stentorian power, the irst time the real high 0 (ut de poitrir.e) has been heard in this p. rt of the world, there being, indeed, very few men in Europe who have commanded this estra-i.:>'li!t;u-y svnge of the* p;iro e^e^ 4 . ::>'o:- Th." luab was received witu tliuudeiti ol appiwUbt', and Signor Morley was called before the ! curtain amidst tremendous cheering."

By the death of his paternal relative, Mr William Mason, who was employed in the office of the ' Charlestown Herald' for several years as a compositor, has eome into a legacy of L 9.000. There was a large attendance at the Queen's Theatre la3t evening, when "Niae Points of the Law" was played, followed by the Variety Troupe's entertainment. This evening Mr Har, and Miss Russell take & joint benefit, and a moat attractive programme has been put forward.

I The Port Chalmers Volunteer Fire Brigade held their usual weekly meeting in the TWn Hall on Thursday evening. The whole of the members were present, including Mr Job Wain, of Dunedin, who kindly gave the Brigade some very excellent advice as to the plant required and the workjmj of the same. Mr Wain also offeiieJl to give them any information and instruct them in a course of drilling. It is to be hoped that the. committee will soon take steps to get the plant required, as the members of the Brigade seem most anxious to commence their course of drill, and it would be a great pity to see such a line body of men disbanded through the want of energy on the part of the crmmittee and Corporation. Loud complaints are made in the ' Clutha Leader' as to the state of the roads in that district. The following are extracts from Thursday's issue:—"The main south road in the vicinity of Popotunoa is in a deplorable condition. The inhabitants of the district should agitate upon the subject. . . The state of the roads about Waipahi is something indescribable. We could confidently recommend to any of the Ministerial supporters who may be in want of at least one valid reason for supporting Vogel's borrowing policy to make a pilgrimage between Clinton and Tapanui in midwinter. The recital of their sufferings and hair breadth escapes would, we feel confident, completely convert the most penurious, stoney-hearted, and narrow-minded to the necessity of forming and metalling the road." There is some idea of manufacturing gas from timber in Masterton. The local paper says:—"Although never before attempted in New Zealand, the generating of gas from timber and forest refuse is, to a considerable extent, practised in some of the other Colopies. In the application a percentage of coal is made use of, the bulk of the material being the debris above mentioned, and we are assured that, when properly treated, the gas produced is as strong and pure as it is when wholly generated from coal. The matter is under consideration by a body of gentlemen belonging to the place. So impressed they with the intrinsic merits of the scheme that steps are already being taken to get a Bill passed through Parliament, so as to form an incorporated body to bring the project into operation. The intention is to work the affair on the joint-stock principle, so that shareholders and consumers may enjoy the advantages of a conjoined interest." The regular meeting of the Dunedin School Committee was held in the office of Mr S>. James last evening. Present—Mr Robin (in the chair), Messrs Sherwin, Livingston, Street, Wright, Ramsay, and Fish. The Secretary reported that the attendance and fees at the various schools for the past quarter was as follows: Middle School, attendance 163, fees L 56 8s 4d; South School, 392, L 136 9s 7d; Albany Street, 322, Llls Os 6d; North School, 550, LlB9 4s lOd; total attendance, 1,427 ; fees, L 497 3s 3d. Mr Chapman, of the Middle School, was placed in the position of second master as regards the division of fees for the la3t quarter. A letter was read from the Secretary of the Education Board, stating that the teachers t of the different schools had agreed upon a Ij uniform set of books. It was resolved on Mr Park's recommendation that Miss Spedding, who had succeeded to the post for merly; occupied by Mr Hendry, should receive the same salary from the school fees as he had been receiving. Referring to the "Four Colonies of the Confederated Dominion of New Zealand" policy announced by Mr Reader Wood, the Wellington 'Argus' says :—"Confederated Dominion " is a fine phrase, but it means a collection of wretched little powerless Provinces. Auckland and Otago want to be left to themselves, to be made each a separate Colony, and they are williifg to leave the rest of the Colony to form a third Province, or two Provinces, or as many as it likes, so that they are not interfered with, and that each may sooner or later absorb the rest of its island. Auckland and Otago would run riot, and New Zealand would be a laughing stock to the world. We are glad that the Opposition has thus shown its cards, and declared its' policy. This will simplify matters immensely, for that policy will never prove acceptable to the Colony. It is all very well for Mr Wood to pretend that he-speaks the mind of Auckland and Otago. He does not —the majority of people in those Provinces are not so mad as he would fain have people believe. They would, we are sure, shrink! rem a dismemberment of the Colony, such as is proposed, and, if a dissolution were to take place at the end of the preseat session, we venture to say that a number of the members who support Mr Wood's proposals, would, on that ground alone, fail to v secure re-election.

The Leith Lodge 1.0.0. F., will meet in the 1 ' new Oddfellows' Hall, Albany street, on Monday evening at 7 30. Business—lnstallation of officers.