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Evening Star, Issue 4209, 23 August 1876, Page 2

It is stated by the *N. Z. Times ’ that it is probable a vacancy in the Colonial UnderSecretaryship may not arise. The AuditorGeneral (Dr Knight) is disposed to retain his post, and Mr Cooper will remain as heretofore Under-Secretary for the Colony, Messrs Lamach and Bastings retnrn to Wellington on Monday. A private telegram from a member of the House, who is generally well informed on matters political, hazards the opinion that the Counties Bill mil not be carried beyond a second reading this session, and that a month at the outset will witness the prorogation. Mr Darrell’s drama “Transported for Life ” was repeated at the Queen’s Theatre last evening to a large and apparently wellpleased audience. The mechanical devices worked excellently, and Mr Willis’s scenery excited general admiration. The principal characters were well sustained by Mr and Mrs Darrell, Mrs Hill, Messrs Clinton and Saville. The drama will be repeated tonight. One of the Post Office servants, named Horan, who arrived from Auckland in January last, was charged at the City Police Court to-day with stealing two newspapers, the property of the Postmaster-General. Inspector Mallard, in stating the case, said that the offence was a misdemeanor, and if proved accused must be committed for trial. On the application of the police the charge was adjourned for a week to enable the Chief Postmaster to decide what further action he would take.

The following are the names of the local team who play against Dunedin on the Oamaru ground on Saturday next: —Messrs E. Booth, J. Burnett, Chancellor, C. Fenwick, F. Fenwick, J. P. Hervey, F. D. Holdsworth, G. J. Millington, G.' C. M'Glashan, J. Nichols, J. Rice, D. Snodgrass, A. Y. Smith, J. Wait, J. Walls, with Messrs M. C. Hickey, E. Corliss, C. E. Tempest, and A. Procter as emergency men. The committee of the Dunedin Club have fixed the names of the players which appeared last week as the team to play Oamaru. They will proceed by the 5.15 train to Port Chalmers on Friday evening, and are especially requested to muster on the Oral tomorrow afternoon for final practice. At the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday afternoon, before Mr T. A. Mansford, R.M., Warren Holmes, steward of the barque Bobycito, was charged with stealing a pair of blankets from the Cornish board-ing-house. From the evidence it appeared that the accused slept at the house on Sunday night, and shortly after he left the blankets were missed. Information was at once given to the police, who found the blankets in his possession on board the barque. Accused, who pleaded guilty, said he was drunk at the time, and called Captain Condy, master of the vessel, who gave him an excellent character. His Worship sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment with hard labor.

Commenting upon the San Francisco mail contract, the ‘ Press ’ condemns the coastal service in no measured terms :—“ Could there be a more ridiculous spectacle than is presented by these big steamers, compelled under penalties to carry the mails to a port where they cannot deliver them when they get there, but have to hand them over to a little local vessel, and remain out at sea till “a very favorable tide” allows them to make an entrance. Unfortunately the farce has to be paid for. These abortive visits to Port Chalmers cost L 15,000 per annum. And this extra expense is incurred for what is not only unnecessary, but of no advantage to anyone. The contractors are anxious to be relieved from it, nor does any part of the Colony, except Port Chalmers and Dunedin, feel the slightest desire to continue it. The House of Representatives ought to insist on a change. Even were the coastal service successfully performed, the extra expense it involves would render it a piece of extravagance. As it is, it amounts to nothing less than a wanton, we may almost say a wicked waste of public money.” We would like to tell our Christchurch contemporary that the bulk of the people of Otago would gladly see the present farce discontinued and the coastal part of the service entrusted to the colonially-owned boats, which are in every way fitted to do it; and from what we know of the men comSosing the select committee of the House of Representatives, which has the matter under consideration, we feel sure that with the exception of Mr Macandrew they will recommend in the direction suggested by our contemporary.

At the Princess's last evening the pro* pramme of the previous night was repeated, and afforded much satisfaction to a numerous audience. For to -night a capital bill has been prepared, including some new character sketches, in which Mr Lingard is announced to impersonate Sir Julius Vogel and other well-known celebrities.

The sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day did not occupy more than ten minutes. George Bateman v. Thos. Copestick was a claim of L2 14s, and judgment wa? given for plaintiff by default, with costs. Mr Hansford, R.M., presided. It was Hugh M‘Dermot and not “M'Dermid ” as stated, who was summoned to this Court on Monday.

®P e<^m g v. G. B. Barton, in whichliioy 10s was claimed,was continued in the District Court this morning. For the defence a number of nonsuit points were raised, on which iris Honor Judge Bathgate reserved lodgment, Mr Barton was then examined and cross-examined at length, after the hearing of the case was further adjourned for additional evidence for the defence.

The Otago Institute inaugurated its popular i k when the president (Mr K Gillies) read a paper on “ The Pedigree of Man,” which led to a discussion in which Bishop Nevill, Captain Hatton, and Professors Salmond and Coughtrey took part; and a controversy as to the merits of Evolution between Professor Salmond and Mr Gillies. It was announced that the Rev. Dr Roseby and Mr C. Harris (Port Chalmers) had been elected members of the Institute. The next meeting is to be held in a fortnight. Mr Black, librarian at the Atheiueum, is opening out several cases of books received by the mail from the institute’s Loudon agent. There are upwards of 600 volumes, principally copies of the works of Charles Dickens, Mayne Reid, Whyte Melville, Misa Braddon, Mrs Henry Wood, and other popular authors. These it has been found necessary to get an entirely new set of, owing to those already in use being nearly worn out. In addition to these standard works, there are several of the latest additions to Home literature, and also “ The Dispatches of the Duke of Wellington” (28 vols.)|Moli«Sre’s dramatic works (3 vols.), and the full score of twenty-five of the most popular operas. The large increase that has taken place in the business connected with the deferred payment system was remarked upon by the members of the Waste Land Board at their meeting to-day. Mr Strode said that since he had had charge of the department he had observed the large increase of work the deferred payment and agricultural leasing systems had caused, indeed, it had more than trebled lately, while no corresponding increase in the clerical staff had been made. A further observation by Mr Strode that in Otago the work was fully four times heavier than the land systems of Wellington and Canterbury occasioned caused Mr Bastings to question whether the land systems of the other Provinces were half so good as ours. It is now very evident that there is need of a clerk in the Dunedin office, whose special duty it should be to attend to matters connected with the deferred payment and agricultural leasing systems. After the usual -monthly parade of the West Taieri Rifles, which was held last night and attended by 1 lieutenant, 1 sublieutenant, 2 sergeants, 1 corporal, and 26 rank and file, a meeting was held, when a series of resolutions submitted by the secretary of the baud committee was discussed, and it was decided to accept the services of the West Taieri band, conditionally that they joined as volunteers, the company undertaking to provide a distinctive cap for the band when out on company service, and to provide uniforms for those members who did not wish to join the company. A vote of thanks was accorded to the masters and members of the band for proffering their services to the eompany, the anniversary of which is to be celebrated by a ball. The meeting also decided ta institute a series of handicap rifle matches to be shot off on anniversary day. Among other matters discussed were four years’ arrears of rent for the use of the drill-shed as the R.M. Court, concerning which a committee was appointed to wait on Mr Fulton, R.M.; the instruction of the secretary to communicate with Major Stavely with the view of obtaining the services of a drill instructor; and the acceptance of the South District Rifles’ challenge. A Urge meeting of persons favorable to the establishment of a Lodge for Mosgiel and its immediate neighborhood took place last night in the Drill-shed at Mosgiel, and was attended by a deputation of Oddfellows from Dunedin, consisting of Bro. Braithwaite (in the chair), Grand Sec. Bro. Boyd, Grand Warden Bro. M'Nair, Grand Treasurer Bro. Alexander, P.G. Bro. Aldrich, N.G. Bro, M‘Kenzie, and Chaplain Bro. Haskell. Brief addresses were delivered by the chairman, Bros. Aldrich, Boyd, and M'Nair, explanatory of the principles and objects of the Order, after which thirty persons signed a petition asking the Grand Lodge to grant a charter for the opening of a Lodge. It was then decided by the petitioners that Mr A. Lee shall be recommended to the Grand Master as the first N.G., the name of the Lodge be “The Loyal Mosgiel,” and its meetings should be held every Monday fortnight. A committee consisting of Messrs Rollinson, Lees, and Dickie was formed to make arrangements for a suitable place to meet in, and to obtain the services of a surgeon to examine candidates previous to admission, and upon completion of their labors to forward report to the Grand Master when a date will be fixed for the installation of the Lodge. The business was concluded by a vote of thanks being awarded to the visitors from town.

The Rev. P. P. Agnew will lecture on the ”'New > South Wales Bushrangers ” in the Masonic Hall, Port Chalmers, to morrow (Thursday) evening. The usual weekly practice of the Harmonic Society last evening in the Friendly Societies’ Hall was attended (by nearly fifty members. Tie practice, which consisted of the rehearsal of the pieces selected for this evening s concert, was very successful.