The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4188, 29 July 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 29, 1876.

The Rev. Hugh Cowie, late of the Presbyterian Church at Amoy, and who is appointed missionary to the Chinese residents in Otago, arrived by the Ringarooma.

The nomination for Mayor took place today, when only Messrs Woodland and and Reevei were proposed. Considerable reluctance was evinced by both candidates to speak first. The poll will be taken on Thursday. The business at the City Police Court this morning was soon terminated, there being only two charges of drunkenness on the sheet. Mr E. ff. Ward presided, and imposed a fine of ss, with the usual alternative, upon the offenders—Edward Edwards and Samuel Tucker.

.. We are continually receiving letters which we are unable to publish, owing to the writers omitting to furnish their names or to the communications being written on both sides of the paper. Correspondents are again informed that no notice will be taken of such letters.

Professor Salmond continued his series of leotores on "The Christian Evidences," at the Knox Church class-room last evening, before a large audience. The lecture appoaved to be much appreciated by those present.

Mr Talbot repeated his tho wily Cardinal in "Richelieu i.* the Queen's Theatre last evening, Mrs Hi U appearing aa Julie. ' : Othello is anno,am »d for to-night. , The following shows the extent to wltf en the various Insurances Compares 'are affected by the wreck of tho Hope i at Moeraki:—New Zealaud, \M'j on lra'l; National, LS7S ; Victoria, L2>. ~ ; a;id btau I danl, L23S on cargo.

a n inquest was held yesterday aftei"uoon at* Port nlxa l mere > before Dr O'Donoghue, district kroner; torching the death itf Alfred Nooncy, wh,\^ a ft kli \ ed down a cliff at on f TwJS last. After hearing the e-4 encc ot . the * W ° mates of the deceased/ the turned a verdict of accidental death. At a meeting of the Field Naturalist °™. b held la3t evening, Mr T. Mackenzie ing, the secretary read a paper descriptive of a tour of the Lakes district made by him last summer. An interesting discussion followed, after which a vote of thanks to the author of the paper was unanimously passed on the motion of Mr Moritzon, seconded by MrW. Melvin.

The fortnightly meeting of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association was held in St. Paul's schoolroom last evening, when there was a good attendance, and the Ven. Archdeacon Edwards presided. Mr W. A. Wathen read a paper on " Ambition." The •lectnre proved very interesting, and it was listened to attentively by the audience. The proceedings closed with the passing of a vote of thanks to Mr Wathen and the chairman.

our ('Tuapeka Times') reports from the Round Hill tunnel still continue favorable. Very little more than a chain and a half now remains to be lifted. The country is now much harder than heretofore, and only three rings of bricks are required in the retaining wall. The work ia the cutting on tie Lawrence end of the tunnel is being prosecuted with all possible speed; but it is anticipated that the tunnel will be completed throughout ere this face can be secured, Th,e Government have given orders for very heav>' masonry to be used in retaining the face oi the tunnel on the Milton side, and every possible precaution is being taken to prevent further delay in the com pietion of the \7orks. The plate-laying contract on the Glenorc sections is gomg on satisfactorily, and a large quantity of ballast is being lifted daily by the locomotive. The following [paragraph from the ' Age of the 22nd inst. explains the cablegram in another column stating that Mr M'Kean has been expelled from the Victorian Assembly :—Mr M'Kean, M.L.A,, created some excitement in the Collingwood Court yesterday morning.. He was engaged for I the defendant in a debt ca:<o, and contended j that his client was a minor at the time he contracted the debt, and therefore not liable in law. The chairman of the bench, Mr Morgan, expressed his belief that the defendant looked much older than the age stated, ail J Mr M'Kean answered by producing his client's certificate of birth, at the same time remarking w^ at n^s Worship's attempt to be smart had been checkmated. A discussion followed in connection with the document, during which Mr M'ku™ proclaimed his knowledge of the law. One of the magistrates remarked, "If such is the law, the sooner our legislators altar it the better. The word "legislators" acted like magic on Mr M'Kean, and he gave vent to some forcible expressions against the present Assembly. " Call such a drunken and immoral lot legislators," he cried; "why, they are worse than the lowest in Collingwood.' The comedy of "Saratoga," of which great anticipations had been formed, was substituted for " Our Boys " at the Prineess's Theatre last evening. The principal scenes are laid in America, and the east is a very strong one—there not being a double part throughout. Thecomedyhowever is destitute of plot, the material of which it is written is exceedingly weak, and there is nothing whatever in the piece, except boisterous humor, to commend it. The first act is decidedly the best, and as it contains some sparkling language and introduces most of the principal characters we were led to expect that the comedy would prove a good, one; but as the play progressed this idea was completely dispelled. The piece turns upon the difficulties encountered by one Robert Sackett through becoming enchanted by too many members of the gentler sex ; and the dialogue (though some what broad in places) is sufficiently amusing to keep the audience in a state of merriment. Sackett, the hero of the piece, was well represented by Mr Lingard, though a faint suspicion of the character of the butterman, Middlewick, was occasionally noticeable. Mr Dougla9, aa the jilted bachelor, who becomes avenged on the wh de sex by proving a determined hater of them, was well suited; while Mr Musgrave, as the deaf and hen-pecked husband, was irrestibly amusing. Mrs Lingard appeared as a Saratoga bello, and in the third act sang a pleasing ballad; but the selection of her encore Bong could not be deemed a happy one. Miss Colville made a charming widow, and dressed with considerable taste; while Mr Hoskiiis was highly amusing as the swell, Sir Mortimer Muttonleg. We* had almost omitted to mention that there was a very large audience. " Saratoga " will be repeated to-night, when a late train will be ran to the Port. In describing Mr Wharton's recent attempt to smelt the Taranaki iron-sand, the * Herald' says :—" Several tons of metal is the result of the present trial, and which is believed to be the product of Para Para ore. The only consolation to shareholders is, that the furnace is properly blown out, and will be in. good condition for either the present manager or any other person to make a trial. The result of the trial has shown that the Para Para ore can be smelted, as several tons of metal have been obtained, but the same cannot be said as with regard to the iron sand. The present failure is attributed to many causes. It is said that the men were worn out with continued attention to the furnace, that the charcoal was bad, and that there was some slight defect in the furnace. It is also said that it was not capacious enough to smelt successfully with coke. However, these are all surmises, and as the manager is silent on the subject they must be taken for what they are worth." To this the 'Post' adds :—"By private telegrams received from Mr Whatton we hear that the smelting of the iron sand has not yet been accomplished; but neither has there been a failure. Mr Whatton and the two other practical men witli him are trying a series of tentative experiments, cautiously feeling their way and always bo conducting operations that the furnace is kept clear for future trials. There is hope yet that the problem of smelting the iron sand will be successfully solved. In the meantime Mr Whatton will continue to make other trials."

All Nations Lodge 1.0. G.T., Port Chalmers, mil meet on Monday, at 7 p m. Members of the Hopo of Mernington 1.0.G T. are requested to attend on Monday evening. Election of officers. Mr Woodland's Comru ttee meets at the Rooms, opposite Cargih's Monument, this evening, at 8 o'clock. We are requested to draw attention to at adverti ement of Mr Sydney Jame», re the auditership, which appeals in another column. The performing menibc s of the Choral Society a ; .e requested to meet for practice in St. Paul's schoolroom on Tuosday evening-, at JJ o'clock.

viv. *Mori a ffi*? < Si Matthew's Church, th» ob. "' S bsin ? * n ai <* o? the Sunday School. A concert ahJ <kttc6, ifi aid" of the British Hearts of Oak Sici' Fund, will be held in the Temperance Hall. On Monday evening next, emme'enpr at fight o'clock. he weekly meeting of Lod?e Pride of the City. 1.0.0.T.. took place o•>. Thursday, when tha eVctio.T of officers for the ensuing quarter uook place with th followhg' esult:—w o t Bw P. WV.T., Ero Jonn Brown! jun ; w S., I ro John Brown, sen.; W.F.S riro. R. Wilson ; W.T , Bro John Wilson, inn.; WO Bro Cooper; W.M., Bro. Wib .W?; W.I.' 3 -.. B:o. I. Dick; W.0.G., Wo Willis; WR.H.S, Sistei Marion MasonW.L H a ., Bro. Dow j W.D.M., Slstr Jane Wilson : W. A.S„ Sister Grace Wilson; L D Bro. John Wilson, sen.; P C.T., Bro. Wood''