The Evening Star. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4235, 22 September 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1876.

B Telegraphic communication with all the stations north of Ashburton has been interrupted during the whole of this afternoon. “Ruby” was repeated at the Princess’s last night, and will be played for the last time this evening. It is very likely that in a short time one of the Presbyterian Churches not a hundred miles from the Octagon will £>et the example of introducing instrumental music into its services.

The meeting ef the Fire Brigade Demonstration Committee which was to have taken place this afternoon lapsed owing to the sparse attendance. It is proposed to have competition for all comers in connection with the affair, in which members of the old company will be asked to take part. The young salmon at theMakarewa breeding ponds have not turned out in such numbers as was expected. What were developed, however, are remarkably strong and healthy and have attained a size of about two inches long. The ‘News’ informs ns that the curator (Mr Howard), acting under instructions from the Superintendent, forwarded 2,000 of trout ova to Wairarapa, and that in the absence of icethey were carefully packed in moss.

The culpable carelessness of stock-drivers received an exemplification at Outram on Monday^night. A mob of store cattle had been driven into the township, but one of the number, which had been knocked-up, was allowed to remain in the main street. Mr Donald Borrie, who happened to walk along the road, was attacked by the animal, ana had his clothes ripped up and received some bruises before assistance could be rendered him.

The Ocean Beach Bailway is now completed as far as the Sandhills, and the only thing required to be done is the laying of a few loads of ballast before handing over the line to the company. The formal opening will take place next week. The line will probably be opened to the public en the Ist prox,, and should the proprietors decide upon running Sunday trains the opportunity of spending the afternoon on the Beach will, no doubt, be largely availed of. The company’s offices are situate in. Moray place, near the Temperance Hall. We have been requested to state that the. letter to Mr A. J, Burns from the electors of Roslyn has received over eighty signatures. This is worthy of note, as it is the spontaneous expression of opinion of the artisan class residing in the district, who have only given time to obtaining signatures after their day’s work was over. In visiting the electors of the Roslyn district only nine refused to sign the letter, and most of those expressed their full concurrence in its contents, but withheld their signatures through, private considerations. The District Court held a very short sitting at Oamaru on Wednesday. There was no criminal or civil business, and onlyione. case on the appeal side of the Court. Michael Piper, of Cave Valley, who had been fined L2O and costs by Mr Parker, R.M., for sly grog-selling, appealed against that decision on the ground that the actual informant, Inspector M'Cluskey, had no power to appoint a deputy to lay the information. His Honor Judge Ward, held that the costa should have been awarded to SubInspector M'Cluakey, as he was the actual informant; and as this had not been done, the conviction was bad. The appeal Was, therefore, r flowed, but without costs. The following items are taken from today’s issues of our Clutha and Tokomairiro contemporaries: —Mr Hislop, builder, Dun edin, is the successful tenderer for the new church for the Inch Cluth Presbyterian congregation, for about L 1,400. - Mr Conyers has agreed to reduce the charge for carnage of produce to Dunedin from the Clutha to 3d per ton per mile. —The Clinton Road Board at their meeting on Wednesday passed a resolution requesting the member tor the district to oppose the Counties Bill now before Parliament as being unworkable and unsuited to the requirements of the district.— The other evening a Milton lady resident, aged 87, joined in a Scotch reel at a dancing party with great spirit, and kept time beautifully. Not baa this for one who remember* the Battle of the Nile.—The prospector of the Macetown reefs having some time ago sold out his interest (onesixth share) in the Homeward Bound for LI, 100, has since gone to the Serpentine, where, he informs us, he has discovered an excellent reef, the prospect yielding five or six ounces to the ton, with any quantity of stone.--An old offender named Thomson, alias Jackson, received three months’ hard labor on Tuesday for endeavoring to persuade a Milton publican that he bad LIOO in tbe Bank of New Zealand, when in truth he does not possess a penny piece of his own.

The Kev. Mr Stobo, in a letter on Union, says—“ The matter may again be taken up, perhaps at the first meeting of Synod, and 1 I believe that it will be proposed to effect a thorough union at once.’’

The usual monthly parade of the West Taien Rifles was held in the drill-shed, Outram, on Tuesday .night, when there were present—one lieutenant, one sub-lieutenant, two sergeants, two corporals, sad twentyfour rank and file, besides ten of the band. The company was put through drill and inspection pirado, after which the prizes won on the anniversary were presented to the suc--o(H3sml competitors by the commanding . is expected that the new organ gallery at k-t. Joseph’s, Dunedin, will bo opened in about three weeks, when it is intended to celebrate the opening by a performance of some selections of sacred music. The ‘Tablet ’ informs us that entrance into the Church On the occasion will be by ticket, as the matter has been undertaken for the purpose of helping to defray the expenses incurred by the. alterations being now carried out. Mr Charles Sykes will preside at the organ, and the choir be under his direction. On Sunday next the Rev. Richard Coffey who has officiated at St. John’s Church, Milton, for over three years, will preach his farewell sermon previous to his departure for Wellington, where he will aa«nm« the charge of St, Matthew’s Church. Some weeks ago a number of members of the congregation of St. John’s determined to present Mr and Mrs Coffey with some little token of the esteem and respect in which they are held and, on Wednesday night (says the ‘ Bruce Herald ’) about sixty ladies and gentlemen assembled in the Municipal Council Chambers to witness the presentation. The gift to the Rev. Mr Coffey consisted of a handsome silver inkstand, upon which the following words were engraved : “ Presented to the Rev. Mr Coffey, by his congregation, St. John’s Church, Milton, Otago, September 20, 187').” Mrs Coffey’s {iresent consisted of a set of silver salt celars and spoons, a silver biscuit box, and a silver butter dish and knife. Those articles bore the following inscription “Presented to Mrs Coffey, by the ladies of St. John’s Church, Milton, as a memorial of their affectionate regard, September 20, 1876.” In reference to James Hayes’ funeral, the * Tablet ’ of to-day remarks that * ‘ several statements have been made in the newspapers and in private, which are pure fabrications. For example, it has been stated that the clergy refused to grant a free grave for deceased, this is untrue; secondly, it has been stated that the clergy refused to bury Hayes, this is also untrue; thirdly, it has been said that a certain price was asked for a grave, again this is untrue. In fact, there is hardly a word of truth in all that has been said by all the daily papers, and the Good Templar organ. The clergy were under the impression that Hayes was to have been buried in the Catholic cemetery in the usual way, and one of them went at the appointed time to the cemetery to perform the burial service. On his arrival there, he was surprised to see no preparation made for the funeral, and he waited for two Hours after the arrival of the friends till the grave was made.” For such of the statements referred to as appeared in this journal, we had, as we stated at the tune, what we were justified in believing to be excellent authority ; indeed, we were assured by men who claimed to have been present at the interview with a reverend father, that the circumstances were as narrated by us.