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Evening Star, Issue 4267, 30 October 1876, Page 2

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr Mansford, R.M., EvaLequin and James Bell were each fined 10s, with the usual alternative, for drunkenness. A second match at billiards between Mansen and Neabit was played at Invercargill on Friday, this time for L2O a-side, and Mansen was again the victor, winning by 147 points in fiOO up. The longest break by Mesbit was 39, by Mansen 34. Full choral service was held at St. Matthew's Church last evening. The Rev. E. G. i'enny < fnciattfd. The service throughout was of that hearty character which distinguishes St. Matthews. Kent's anthem, "Thiue, 0 Lord, is the Greatness," was the one selected for the evening. Mr Charles Sykes. of >t. Joseph's Church, assisted Mr Richardson at th« "rgan, and played as voluntaries Scotson: Clark's offertoire in D, and the "Hallelujah Chorus," with his usual good taste and skill.

Mrs Walter Hill, Mire May Hill, Mr Musgrave, Mr Starke, comedian, and Messrs Locke and Cole, mechanists, left by the Wellington this afternoon to join Mr Hoskros's Company at Christchurch.

The intermediate correspondence between himself and the Governor's Secretary, which Sir G. Grey called for, proves to be merely letters drawing Sir G. Grey's attention to the rule for three copies of such correspondence as his being sent to the Governor. Going from home for news, We see it stated in the • Australasian' by "jEgles"that in DUnedin the experiment of watering the streets with sea-water was tried; withpartial success. The stre ts, when dry, were wnite with enorusted salt; but the greatest objection was that the bright steel goods in the ironmongers' shops became speedily rusted.

The Public Accounts committee reported that the cost of Sir J. VogePs mission to England was L 3.163, exclusive of salary, amounting to L 638. The cost of his second mission was L 5.640, exclusive of a further claim for L 2,750, and exclusive of a salary, amounting to ! 2,172, with secretary's salary L&34. There were received and claimed by Sir J. Vogel during his second mission— Salary, L 2,172; travelling expenses, L2,i71; special, LI, 500; passages for himself and servant, L 283, amounting to L 6,127, which, with the additional vote of L 2,750, makes a total of L 8,877.

Shortly after five o'clock this morning Constable Mitchell, while on duty in George street, Port Chalmers, observed flames issuing from a house situated on Kilgour's Point, near Sawyers' Bay, and proceeding to the spot discovered a house owned and occupied by Mr David Kilgour in flames. It appears about 5 a.m. Betsy Geir, the servant, was in the act of lighting the fire when a spark caught the lining, and before water could be procured the whole of the build ; ng was in flames. The house, which was seven-roomed, was insured in the Standard Office for L2OO, and the furniture in the same office for LIOO. Mr Kilgour estimates his loss at L 450.

Our Outram correspondent writes:—"The weather has been very fine lately, but rather too dry. Farmers are wishing for rain, and a good steady shower would do a great deal of good, especially to the root crops. The Taieri Plain is assuming a verdant appearance, and the crops are coming on very nicely, grass being abundant. The lambing season has been very good, in some cases ovtr 100 per cent., but the average will be nearly 100 on the Plain. The protecting of the bank of the river is being pushed forward by the Board of Conservators, a number of men being employed on the work. The new Post and Telegraph Office is about finished, houses are being built in many directions, and this township is improving fast."

The Premier telegraphs to the Mayor of Riverton :—" The Abolition of Provinces will take place on the day after Parliament is prorogued, which will probably be on Tuesday," i.e., to-morrow. The Rivertonians have fallen into a mistake. They have assumed that the prorogation is to take place some time to-day, hence the following notification under the hand and seal of the Mayor:—"ln compliance with a general request to have a day appointed for public rejoicing on the extinction of the Provinces, I hereby set apart Tuesday next, the 31st October, being the day the Abolition Act comes into force, and by virtue of my office declare that day a public holiday." On the other hand, Invercargill is divided on the subject.

t Being in committee there is no record of he discussion on the Canterbury clauses of the Land Bill, and the only local report, on the authority of a member, is given by the 'Press.' On reaching the clause providing for a ten years' extension of the leases of the runs on their expiry in 1880, at an annual rental to be determined by duly authorised Government assessors, Mr Sheehan suggested that the division taken thereon should be regarded as a test question, and decide the fall of the subsequent or subsidiary clauses. This was, after a brief discussion, agreed to. Messrs Rolleston, Stafford, Stevens, and Fitzroy spoke in favor of the clause, the latter specially pointing out that the exceptional circumstances in which many of the runholders were placed, having, in their desire to extend an industry of great value to the Colony, incurred heavy liabilities en the security of their runs, gave them a fair claim to consideration. Mr Larnach was favorable to the proposal, and considered that a similar provision should be made for Southland.

A meeting of the Yorkshire Club will be held on Tutsday evening at the Empire Hotel

We would remind our readers that to-morrow evening a concert and dance will be held at the Temperance Hall for a very deserving charitable purpose. We understand that the Union Steam Company have arranged for one of their steamers to leive Port Chalmers on Saturday evening, with visitors for the Ohristchurch races.