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Evening Star, Issue 4216, 31 August 1876, Page 2

..TJ 0 cottages in Albany street, in which the fire occurred yesterday, were insured in the New Zealand office for Ll5O, and in the Koyal for a like amount. Mr Burn estimates his loss at LIOO.

A billiard-match, in which a good deal of interest was taken locally, was played at Invercargjll last night between Messrs Manson « smxth'5 mxth ' for L 2° aside - W ll6ll game was called, the scores stood Manson. 1,000: Smith, 884.

The committee who organised the political meeting on Monday will continue to watch the course of events by holding weekly meetings, will hold themselves in readiness to take further action should circumstances require it, and will communicate with country committees with a view to combined action.

At the meeting yesterday the City Council determined to advertise for tenders for the construction of horse-tramways, and agreed to make the Cricket Ground the southern terminus and the Water of Leith the northern terminus, the route being along Princes and George streets, then along Albany streot into Great King street, and along that street as far as the Leith.

At the Queen's Theatre last evening "East Lynne" was played, Mre Darrell sustaining her favorite dual character. Mr Darreli's impersonation of the villainous Levison was a capital one; and Miss Vivian's rendering of the part of the garrulous Corney willbe familiar with most of our theatrical-going readers. For Mrs Darreli's benefit to-night a most attractive programme has been prepared.

" Our Boys" and the burlesque were again played at the Princess's last evening, but owing to the continued indisposition of Miss Colville her part in both pieces had to be filled by Miss Vernon. There was a fairly numerous attendance in the lower parts of the house. The same programme will be presented to-night, and to-morrow the Lingards make their final appearance; when the comedy of "A Life's Dream" will be presented for Mrs Lingard's benefit.

That judicial clemency is often misapplied was instanced in the City Poliae Court this morning. Mary OXeary, whiTwas yesterday discharged on a charge of drunkenness on her importunity and promises never to taste agaiu, was again placed in the dock on a like charge and for habitual drunkenness. To both charges she pleaded guilty, and the Bench marked their disapproval of the manner in which she had misabused their leniency by sending her to gaol for three months.

Laughable incidents sometimes occur even at prayer-meetings. Our Lswrencs contemporary is responsible for the statement that at a recent meeting of this description in that neighborhood a gentleman was reading an account of Baraboolaga experiences, where it was recounted that fowls were sold at 2s a pair. One of the ladies present, feeling that she had been swindled* exclaimed: "Ahi Mrs B and you charged me 3s 6d." The laughter evoked was of course done behind handkerchiefs, but we are afraid the solemnity of the meeting was dispelled for. the time being. We understand that the Provincial Government is now prepared to proceed with the erection of the new Middle District School, in either stone or brick, on the two acres of land at the head of Cargill street, which was given in exchange for the Old Botanical Gardens site, now the pro-, perty of the University Council. Yesterday, the Inspector of Buildings (Mr Somerville), who is preparing the plans of the new sohool, the Secretary of theliducation Board, and several members of the Dunedin School Committee met upon, the ground and marked off a spot upon which they consider it advisable the building should be erected.

Lawrence boasts of a veritable wild man of the woods in the person of a "hatter" named Armstrong, of whom the 'Times' writes :—"This man, who was in the habit of visiting the township clothed in bags fastened together withjflax, much resembling the cut of a modern Robinson Crusoe, has without doubt become a prey to melancholia. Recently he was seen on the ranges near Bungtown by Wm. Brown, a digger there, and on his trying to, get within speaking distance, Armstrong fled like a wild deer, making pursuit hopeless. He is said to be covered with hair. A gentleman who has been in the habit of supplying the solitary diggers in this inhospitable region with rations, says that Armstrong has not purchased food for four months/'

The three resolutions concerning the Fever Hospital in the name of Mr Fish, which appeared on the City Council's order paper yesterday, are not to be discussed until a future meeting, on the suggestion of the Mayor, who mentioned that there was present need of the continuance of the hospital, as there had been brought under his notice a ease in the City where seven or eight children were now down with the fever. Mr Eish himself took advantage of the opportunitv to correct an impression that had gained ground in some quarters that his action was intended to reflect on the Health Officer. Ho disclaimed any such intention, his opinion being that Dr Gillies had performed The disagreeable duties of his office praiseworthily and skilfully; his action resulting from the belief he held that it was no part of the Council's duty to carry on an institution of this kind.

Rev. W. Bannerman, of Balclutha, was present at a Conference of Ministers andi Elders of adhering churches, held in Edinburgh. Mr 8., in the course of his speech, took notice of our Sabbath keeping, and the faithfulness of our Upper House in throwing out the Bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister. He also observed " that it was by the world being populated by Christian people that there would come an increasing Christian community, absorbing, in course of time, the very heathenism of the world. One of the chief objects which this Council should have in view was jußt how they could unite themselves as one Church, and present themselves as one Church to the world. In Otago this Council had had a large place in the thoughts of the elder* of the Church; they had taken a very deep interest in it, and hence in a very short space of time they raised the necessary funds to pay the expenses of their delegates, and this fact proved that they looked for good practical results flowing to the Church of Christ from this Council, and especially those branches of the Church planted in the remote Colonies of Australia," : z

A Wellington telegram in the 'Press' says the duties of Under-Secretary for Immigration are now carried on by Mr J. H. Elliot, who is succeeded as Provincial Immigration Officer by Mr Redward. The man who was supposed tb, be Cunningham, the Lake Ohau munlejrer/ with at Cromwell, but as he did not tear the tatoo marks on his arm (though answering many of the ' Gazette ' particulawiof.Cunningham) he was not detained lm-Inspector Thomson. <**:>>•• X "

The Presbyterian Synod will meet, ad hunt efectum, in the First Church, on Wednesday, the 13th September, at 11 a.m., to receive returns from Presbyteries on the basis of union with the Northern Church, withaview the Bubject.

The counter petition in re the Wharves and Quays reserves, prepared by the City Unncil, receivedin the.coTwse of yesterdaKJ and to-day upwardsfof 1,800 signatures. The < Council yesterday determined to despatch Mr Walter to Wellington to urge before the ±*ublic Petitions Committee the Council's view upon this matter.

An inquest was held at the gaol this afternoon, before the District Coroner, on the body of Ehas Messuriery a prisoner undergoing a sentence of two months' imprisonment, who died yesterday. The jury found that deceased died from an epileptic fit- and added a rider that every care had been taken on the part of the gaol authorities, It is expected that the Bteamer conveying ova will leave San Francisco on October 11. At a; meeting of the Christchurch Acclimatisation Society the other day, Mr-Mellish, R.M., stated that he had been formed by a gentleman who had had considerable experience with American salmon that these,fish will not rise to a fly, nor' even take a bait unless in tidal waters. ' An express-driver named Mortmann was summoned to the City Police Court this morning for passing over the Rattray street Railway crossing when a train was approaching. It was stated that the instructions given to the man stationed there for the purpose of clearing, the fine. when trains were passing to and fro were completely" set at defiance, and it was feared that Borne fatal accident would result.- The Bench inflicted a fine of L2, hoping that, an example havmg-ibeen made, it would have the effect intended.

On the conclusion of the business at the City Police Court this morning, and after"* number of bye-law cases had been disposed of, Inspector Nimon, in a tone of indignation, addressing the • Bench, said—" WeDi that is my last case in the Court. ; I hare done now>" and was about to leave the Court when he was asked:by the Bench what he irieant. He then explained that his services were ended, that his official capacity had ceased, and that he would not take out any more summonses. Mr Birch said he was veiy sorry to hear it; he could only testify that he had known Mr Nimon for years, and thought the citizens were losing an honest and trustworthy servaßt-—one who had filled a «hankless position in a highly satisfactory manner.. Mr Black also bore testimony to Mr Nimon'a efficiency. The new" Post and Telegraph Office at Port Chalmers—a much-needed institution —is to be built on the reclaimed ground near the railway station. It will be two storeys, have concrete foundations, be about 27ft high, have a frontage of 50ft to Beach street and of 63ft to George street, and be built of Port Chalmers ashlar, with dressed architraves. The entrance will be from Beach street, through double doors, which lead, on the right hand side, to the Annuities Department, 16ft by 14ft, and to the Postmaster's room, 16 by 14ft. Vn the left hand of the entrance is a spare or store room. A room, 45ft by 30ft, facing the entrance, will do duty for postal and telegraphic purposes, the part devoted to sorting letteKi being divided from the instruments by a screen. The public entrance to the private letter-boxes, which are to be placed under a verandah at the end, of the building, will be from George street. The upper floor will form the residence of the Postmaster, and on it will be parlor, four bedrooms, kitchen, &c. The mail and sort-ing-room, which is 16ft high, will be lighted from a large laatern lighter the other rooms on the ground floor are 12ft, and those upstairs lift high. Though the design is exceedingly plain, the building will present a nice appearance. The' Port people should next, agitate for improved railway .station accommodation.; -'■<■. .-;..;

The quarterly meeting, Railway Employer Benefit Society-wai fehfeia at the railway station to-morrow (Friday),, at 8 p.m. The time for receiving'Jtenders for the new Post-office and Telegraph-office; Port Chalmers, has been extended to the 3d of October. Plans may now be seen at the Public Works Office

The second of the series of lectures' in connecdoa with the. Caversham Presbyterian Church will be delivered jby Mr J. Bathgate on "Old Times' in Scotland," to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 7-30. ,

Jhe 'Evangelist'for September is an unHly good number, a large portion of its contents (some of which we find place for in our column) being devoted to local matters. In an editorial deaUag-wiih -Profess ir-Sale's letters on the University, the 'Evangelist' expresses surprise at their style, and goes en to say " Granted that some of the students are not : as Wfll read in Latin as they-should be, we do not see why, with opportunities of having them in hand for several sessions,-he might not turn out fairly-instructed scholars. We have no sympathy with his lamentation over the present attendance as being too large. On the contrary, if we had the tar of our youth, our counsel would be. crowd the halls of the University, and - drink: as deeply as you can from her fountains. It surprises us that a man with bo large experience of colonial life ehould look for an acquaintance with classical lore, which can only be secured where the population U sufficiently large and wealthy to support secondary schools. In a letter which we received the ether day, we read that one: or our Otago students, whose classical knowledge when he entered the Uni- : vemty as meagre as could be, is now em-' ployed in Edinburgh in giving tutorial instruction in Latin and Greek to twenty-eight young men, who are prepar ng forengagingin Mission work in tome of the necessitous fields of our colonial empire." . . -_- it*- - -^