The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4214, 29 August 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1876.

The Brittania Rifle Cadets have forwarded a second petition to the Defence Office, the first one having proved informal.

The only important business to come on at to-morrow's sitting of the Waste Land Board is a application on behalf the Oamaru Municipal Council to purchase some sections of land in the Awamoko district in connection with the supply of water to Oamaru. The question of the site for the new Sailors' Home is at length likely to be satisfactorily settled. At the City Council to-day the Reserves Committee recommended that sections 23 and 24, block 1, Wharves and Quays Reserves be granted to the Sailors' Home at an annual of L 25, the lease to contain the usual provisions as to valuation.

A seal measuring about 6ft was captured on the sand at the Ocean Beach yesterday morning, by Mr Ballard, of the Telegraph Office. He found it making its way back to the water, and intercepting its retreat, managed, after some effort, to stun it with a knotted root of seaweed, the only weapon available, and afterwards dispatched it with a bar of wood. He had it conveyed to town for the purpose of securing its skin. It is ©f the same species as those already in the Museum.

In the Police Court this morning a man named Peart, charged with keeping an unregistered dog, plea led that he could have brought forward a witness, a Mrs Lawson, to prove the registry of the dog, only that she was being married to-day and preferred a visit to the hymeneal altar to an interview with their Worships. The explanation naturally caused some amusement, and as the Bench had no desire to destroy the harmony of the proceedings so touchingly described the case was adjourned till next day, when it was promised the witness should be in attendance.

The following items are from to day's ' Bruce Herald':—" The Rev. Mr Coffey, of St. John's Church, Milton, will proceed to his new charge at Wellington at the beginning of October. It is the intention of a number of residents of Milton to present Mrs Coffey with a testimonial, previous to her departure, as a token of their appreciation of her efforts in connection with the Sabbath School, and of the services she has rendered in many charitable movements.— Sergeant Daty, at Balclutha, received a telegram from Mr James Mitchell, at Clinton, stating that a man was drowned in the Po mahaka River on Sunday night. The police immediately went to the scene, but up to last night no further particulars came to hand."

At the Queen's Theatre last evening "The Trump Card " was played, Mr Darrell sustaining the principal character—Richard Handsfield—admirably. In the third act he sang " Tommy make room for your Uncle," but a more inopportune moment than was chosen for the song could hardly have been selected. Mrs Darrell played faithfully as Kate Neville; while Mr Saville, as the chairman of the "Frisky Frogs," was all that could be desired both in make-up and acting. The piece will be repeated to-night and tomorrow. For MrsDarrell's benefit on Thursday "Masks and Faces" and the comedietta of " Who Killed CocE* Robin" will be played. We know the claims for supportare so generally admitted that they need not be urged by us, and we fully anticipate seeing a full house that night. Between the pieces Mrs Darrell's intimate friends will, through the medium of the Mayor, present her with a token of their esteem, and her husband will be the recipient of an address, which bears the signatures of those who have known him since he first came to Dunedin, and who adopt this form of expressing the interest with which they have watched his professional career, and pleasure at the success he has achieved both as an actor and an author. Little Nell, who opens at this theatre on Monday next, left Auckland where she has played a most succesful season yesterday. The proceedings connected with the political meeting at the Drill-shed last night lasted about two hours, and, on the whole, were orderly. There could be no question as to the unanimity of those present on two points, viz., to carry the resolutions submitted by the committee, and to put up with no nonsense from those persons whose sole object in attending public meetings here appears to be to create a disturbance. The meeting did not leave Mr Fish long in doubt as to its temper on the first point. It was as much as he could do to obtain a hearing while he read his amendment; and the concluding part of his speech was addressed to the reporters, who had all their work to catch the substance of his remarks, so great was the interruption at this time. When Mr Fish left the platform, unable to find a seconder, the pair of irrepressibles were anxious to have their say. M'Laren mounted the table from which the speakers addressed the meeting, and for two or three minutes seemed determined to brave the audience, who were saluting him with discordant and not complimentary noises, but the Mayer and Mr Sligo, by a well directed movement, cleared the table, after a short but exciting struggle, during which the note-books and hats of the reporters suffered a little, and M'Laren was forced to take, figuratively speaking, a back seat during the rest of the evening. For once Lloyd was not demonstrative : the method of disposing of M'Laren evidently checked his ardor, for he contented himself with requesting the reporters to take a copy of his proposed amendment; and as they did not humor him, he intimated his intention of publishing it as an advertisement. There was a third individual who, during the time he stood in front of the platform, indulged in a running commentary, in not over choice language, on the speakers and those about him, which the latter patiently listened to for some time, but when he become, defiant and decidedly noisy, he was quickly run out, and was only once more heard of, and that was during Mr Findlay's speech, when there was a couple of minutes' interruption to stop the fight at the back, in which he was said to be engaged. If there had been the ordinary arrangements for seating the people, these disturbances would not, in all probability, have occurred. As it was, everyone crowded round the table, on top of which the Mayor was seated ; and that circumstance suggested to some the

idea of a little row as a diversion. The committee submitted three resolutions, the second of which was to have been moved by Mr Macassey, but that gentleman did not put in an appearance. These three, aud two others which were drawn up during the progress of the meeting, were carried by acclamation.

There was again a large attendance at the the Princess's last evening, when "Our Boys" was repeated. The burlesque of "The Magic Lyre," which followed, went much more smoothly than on its original reEresentation, Mrs Lingard, as Orpheus, exibiting to advantage her versatility as a burlesque actress. Mr Lingard had to repeat his political song, and many of the dances came in.for a large share of applause. There will be ho change of programme this evening.

Lodge Hope of Mornington, 1.0. G.T., celebrated its first anniversary laßt evening in the District Hall, when Bro. J. W. Jago, who instituted the lodge some twelve months ago, presided and addressed those present on 'the liquor traffic. The entertainment consisted of songs by Bros. Flatman, Fail, Clayton, and Sisters Moody and Hildreth; recitations by Bros. J. Gibson and Attwood; and addresses by Bros. Greig, Bowmar, and the W.C.T. The report showed that the lodge was now free from debt, and that during the year it had raised and expenled L 25. During an interval refreshments were supplied; Bro. Calder catering. Votes of thanks to the chairman and to the ladies and gentleman who assisted during the evening, brought a pleasant meeting to a close. There was a very large attendance.

The Pioneer Encampment meets in the new Oddfellows' Hall to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, at 7.30.

Entries for the Dunedin Poultry Association Annual Show will be received at the'secretary's office until Friday, September 1. A testimonial will be presented to Mr Tunbndge -who it will be remembered ro gallantly saved the Dagmar's crew—at the City Council Chambers to-morrow afternoon, at 3 o'clock, by the Mayor. We have received from the St. Andrew pdge Ba 1 Committee the sum of L 5 5s on behalf of the Benevolent Institution, which we shall be happy to hmd over to the Secretary of the Institution on application. The first annual Bhowof the Otago Poultry and Canary Association will be held in the Friendly Societies' Hall on Tuesday and Wednesday, September sth and 6th. Particulars will be found elsewhere.