The Evening Star THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1876.

Evening Star, Volume 4246, Issue 4246, 5 October 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1876.

A telegraph station is now open at Kumara, the scene of the new rush. "'►The Rev. Mr t'aterson lectured in the First Church last night on “ Dr. Guthrie.”

Mons P. Carme, the celebrated French billiard player, has arrived at Dunedin, and will probably give a series of exhibition matches.

“ Whitefriars ” was played at the Princess’s Theatre last night to a moderate attendance, This evening the performances are for Mrs Walter Hill’s benefit, and “Henry Dunbar ” will be produced, to be followed by recitations and dancing. A number of gentlemen waited upon the Superintendent yesterday afternoon as a deputation from South Dunedin, but rs this journal had not extended to it the courtesy of being informed of the intention of the deputation to wait on his Honor, we are unable to say what transpired at tho interview.

The “Mirror of the World” drew a fair audience at the Temperance Hall last evening, w ;en a number of Scottish views and representations of pieces of statuary were exhibited. The pictures were much appreciated, and the entertainment is evidently gaining in popularity every day. A performance will be given en Saturday afternoon specially for children.

A peculiar claim for compensation was brought uader the notice of the Harbor !>• ard to-day. A Mr Thomas Brown cl iimod L 5 13a 6d from the Board, the ( ity Council, “or whom it may concern” for extra cartage, because of the bad road from Rattray jetty. The claim was referred to tho Corporation, Mr M'Kiauon suggesting that that body should have power to aet.

A horse attached to on# of the Corporation’s water carts bolted in Princes street this forenoon, carrying with it the shafts of the cart. Though it traversed part of Princes street, Alanse street, and High street, as far as the railway sheds, at a furious pace no accident resulted; and when it was stopped it was found its injuries were slight, they being caused by the end of the shafts striking against its legs. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansfard, H.M., Valentine Malley and .Edward Cotter, seamen belonging to the ship Thomasina M'Lellan, were brought up on remand with embezzling part of the ship’s cargo while on the voyage from London to this port. Mr B.ithgate appeared for Capt. Gii.bs, and Mr Joyce for the defendants. The prisoner Cotter pleaded guilty, and af- er hearing the evidence of some of the witnesses Mr Bathgate pnt Cotter into the witness box, who stated that shortly before r-aching Rio he was sent down into the fore hold to get some rope, when he noticed a case of clothing broken open. He took out about twelve pairs of trousers, put them into a basket, and handed them to Alalley on deck, who took them into the forecastle. Shortly afterwards witness repented and told]some of the passengers, who acquainted the chief officer of the fact. He on hearing the news searched the forecastle and took the trousers away. The Magistrate sentenced the prisoners to hard labor for twelve weeks, and to forfeit the sum of L 3 from their wages. A charge of assault was then preferred by Cotter against Captain Gibb, and at 1 p.m. the Magistrate adjourned the Court for one hour, several more witnesses having to be examined. The following extracts from the recent report of the Postal Department are of general interestA large number of book packets and newspapers are received without covers in each mail from the United Kingdom, and although every effort is made to restore these articles to their owners, a considerable portion remains undelivered. Much disappointment to the public and trouble to the department would be saved if, in the case of book packets, the senders were to use strong paper covers, and in the case of newspapers if the addresses were written on the newspapers themselves instead of on flimsy wrappers. Another cause of disappointment through non-receipt of newspapers is, that when they mo posted later than eight days after the date of issue, they are liable on account of insufficient postage. And again, should any newspaper posted in the United Kingdom exceed four ounces in weight, it is detained unless it bears a double rate of postage.” Packets containing articles of wearing apparel, &c., alleged to have been posted in the United Kingdom, are frequently repoited by the addressees to be missing, and the explanation ef the non-re-ceipt is, that only bona Jidg patterns ©r samples are admissible for transmission through the post at less than letter rates of postage. When articles, obviously not patterns, are posted prepaid at packet rates only, they are nob forwarded, but detained and, if practicable, returned to the senders. The Rev. Mr Elmslie, of Christchurch, recently delivered a lecture on the times, entitled “ Chinks in our social system.” In the main, it is a denunciation of the evils of “ excessive drinking, gambling, extravagances,” and other social vices. .The display at La ly Vogel’s fanny dress ball is said to l -ive icon “more culpable, irreligious, and =ff nrive than that witnessed in tie r-yai banqur Iting Lease at Babylon nearly thus thousand years since.” The lecturer expressed soma strong opinion on Wellington society and political demoralisation. Ho says : tone of political morality which exists, an evil which must be ascribed to the recklessness o' particular constituencies, as much as to the unhappy influence of Sir Julius Vogel and his natural confreres, Kor do I refer merely to the demoralising tendency which our great political congress has been showing during the lAst few years, in its influence upon v ollington society. We have it on the authority of men who are neither ascetics nor icntiaieutaliits, that, durin" Uie last live years, the presence of our Colonial PaiHament has had tho most prejudicial effect upon the interests of morality and rel'gion throughout the Empire City; r-nd this, notwithstanding the couuteractiug influence of those honorable member* whose advent is always hailed by the Wellington churches. But, taking a much broadt r view of the question, and leaving politicians, both high and low, to find their own level in our general economy, wo cannot but remark the low tone of both morality and religion that prevails throughout ‘ the uppei°ten thousand ’ of Colonial society, ”

The new dredge i* to be launched on the top of the spring tides, about ten days from tins date.

Mr Connell, late constable at the railway station, has received the appointment of Inspector of Nuisances. Messrs Fish and Niven, J.P.’s, sat at the Police Court to-day and disposed of the business on the charge-sheet, which consisted of two cases of drunkenness and one of obscene language. Signor Giamxnom, since his return to Melbourne, has come before the Melbourne publ’c in the new capacity of composer. His song of “ Unforgotten ” is spoken of by the 1 Argus,’ which says it is tuneful and original, and exhibits abundant resource of rich harmony. In the course of a speeeh in Committee on the Counties Bill, the other night, Sir George Grey stated it as his deliberate opinion that Great Britain would never have risen to her present position if the Queen had had the power of appelating auditors to audit the accounts of the counties.

The members of the Assembly have forwarded to Lady Yogel a cheque for 200 guineas, with a request that she will, when at Home, obtain with it some article which will serve to remind her of her residence in Wellington, and be regarded as a small return for the hospitalities the hoa. gentlemen received at her hands.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court concluded this afternoon. Of the thirteen cases in which true bills were found, three prisoners pleaded guilty. Of the remaining ten, which were sent before common juries, five were convicted, and a like number acquitted. Marshall was, this afternoon, covicted of rape, and was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. There were seventeen applications for the appointment of engineer to the dredge “New Era,” but the selection of one of the candidates, by the Inspector of Works, on coming before the Harbor Board to day for confirmation, was warmly discussed, the Board unanimously condemning the action of the Inspector in making the appointment in the manner he did. The ex-Yolunteers of Caversham seem to be very funny fellows, and their fun sometimes shows itself in very peculiar ways, as, for example, when at a meeting a little time ago, they tried the practical joke of handing over their Drill Shed and ireehold to the Road Board. However, at the meeting last evening matters took a serious turn, and steps were taken to put a stop to this practical joking. A meeting of persons favorable to the formation of a Volunteer Rifle Company in the Caversham and Forbury districts, was held last evening in the L)rill-shed there, when the names of some thirty persons were enrolled. A committee was appointed, and as soon as a sufficient number of names are obtained, tin?, services of the late company will be tendered to the Governor. The districts named are large enough to produce a company in point of numbers second to none in New Zealand.

The Animal Importation Prohibition Bill provides that the Governor in Council may prohibit the importation of cattle and other animals, provided it appears to his satisfaction that the disease is believed to exist in the country or Colony from which the animals are imported. An order in Council is to fix the day when the same is to take effect, and prescribe a limit to its operation. Tho Order may be applied to one class of animals, and only in respect of part of the Colony. .All offenders are liable to not less than LIOO penalty, or what may be fixed by the Governor in Council. The penalties are recoverable summarily. Considerable excitement was yesterday created at Caversham—usually a very quiet locality—when, on the arrival of a train from Dunedin, it was observed that one of the long carriages was placarded on each window with the word “engaged.” This naturally excited curiosity as to whom the occupants were. All the passengers by the train remained, the alarm was raised, and all who could get upon the platform assembled. They were gratified by seeing a newly-wedded couple descend from the carriage, tho bride about fifteen years of age, the groom at least thirty. The bride’s hair was dishevelled ; she was very naturally confused on receiving unexpected congratulations in the shape of loud cheering. Rather a novel mode this of ensuring privacy when people get married.

Mr Wheeler has sent us * Bradshaw * for October.

# A meeting of the Roslyn residents to consid. r the political situation, will be held in the Roslyn Hall on Monday evening next. The Green Island Lodge will be opened tomorrow evening, at 7 p.m., io the Baptist Church. Green Island, by the Grand Lodge officers from Dunedin. Omnibusses leave end of Arcade at 6.30 p m.