The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4290, 25 November 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1876.

We understand that the ' Otago Licensed "Victuallers' Gazette' has ceased publication. To-night is the last occasion the public will have of seeing the American War Diorama. Some novel prizes are promised to be given away in addition to the show. The Diorama will be shown at Clutha on Monday and Tokomsiriro on Thursday evenings next week. Miss Vivian's benefit last night was not so well patronised as that lady deserved. Nevertheless, "Under the Gaslight," thepiece announced, was very fairly put upon the stage, considering the circumstances. A heavy "Saturday night" programme is billed for to-night. One of the latest military inventions (says ' Public Opinion') has been to work heavy guns by steam. Experiments have been made with a 38-ton gun at Shoeburyness. It is mounted, loaded, sponged, and traversed by steam-power. The runner of the gun consists of a chain whose links are united by a sub-joint. The experiment, which is said to have been a great success, is to be tried in connection with the 81-ton gun. By the s.s. Taupo, which arrived from the North this morning, a number of racehorses arrived to fulfil their engagements at our approaching spring meeting. Mr Walters brought down Kingfisher and Izaak Walton j Mr Logan had Dead Heat and Reefer, under the care of Stuart Waddell; and Mr D. O'Brien accompanied his horse Fishhook. In addition to these came Mr Kirkwoed's Major and Mr Milner's Blackboy, both trotters. All the horses were safely landed, and in apparently good condition. Mr Walters's horses are located at the Old Club Stables, Maclaggan street.

During the hearing of a charge of assault at the City Police Court this morning, the question of the sobriety of the principal witness was a moot point. It was urged on behalf of the defence that the man was drunk, while the prosecutor himself, though admitting that he had had a few nips, positively stated that he was " sensibly sober." Inspector Mallard suggested that the man had taken the average quantity of liqHor imbibed by a fishmonger, but this proved too much for the next witness, one White, who likewise being a fish-hawker, took care to inform the Court that he did not drink at all. The latter remark was " Hear, hear'd'' by Mr Birch, and the matter was not further referred to.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the New Zealand Eclectic Association was held last evening in the Athenteuni, for the purpose of taking steps to assist the fund now being raised for the relief of the Bulgarians. The following resolutions were unanimously passed :—lst. " That this society, recognising the bond of sympathy whioh ought to unite the whole of the human race, irre> spective of creed or nationality, regards with abhorrence and detestation the atrocities committed by .the Turks upon the Bulgarian people, and trusts that peao3 may be restored upon such terms as will render im possible the reccurence of such aots of violence and cruelty." 2nd. "That this society, sympathising with the victims of the Turkishjpoutrages, resolves to aid the iund now being raised for their relief, and for that purpose appoints the following members to be a committee to canvass members for subscriptions:—Mrs Walter, Messrs Tait, Bolt, Parnie<anduT. Stout, and that the proceeds be handed over to .the general fund as a donation from this swtoty, in terms of the previous revolution."

The Corpqratitn «vid*isly intend using ! «r«y atfcpt to prevent th* ipmi ofaeniet fto.-CMar. Aotin* ia tW oi% hiveSaVtiled iupfciß issr ; ae#ons |&Bl, C and "34 ;ci ffii IPulgoi ..HfUth A#fe|6 wlffiMl w« woWdrtfraw the;< attjantion ribadeM. , . : %;Mr Herbert dennition v of evolution:—"Evolution is a change from an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity, to a definite, coherent heterogeneity through continuous differentations and integrations." This has been translated into English by "Presbyter Anglicanus" in the Jaon. is a change from a no-howish, untalkaboutable, all-likeness, to a sbme-howißh and in-general-talkaboutable, not-all-like-ness 4>y continuous and Bticktogetherations."

The liberality of those who have just passed through the ordeal of being rivetted together for life is proverbial. The Rev. Mr Calder related a striking instance of this liberality at .the recent meeting of the Diocesan Synod in Auckland. It appears that a blushing bridegroom was so satisfied with the manaer in which Mr Calder had tied the nuptial knot that he presented him with a cheque for two guineas. This liberality was considerably more than that usual on these occasions, but when Mr Calder took the cheque to the bank to get cash for it—it was dishonored.

A silly oversight has been committed in negard to the new Debtors and Creditors Act. No copies of the Act reached Dunedin until three or four days ago, when it was discovered, for the first time, jthatitcame into operation on the; Ist The profession and the public not having been previously aware of this fact, several statements of insolvency had been filed and meetings of creditors held under the Act of 1875, all of which proceedings will have to be gone through afresh, thus entailiiig both expense and annQyance to the parties concerned. Why the" commencement of the. Act could not have been postponed until a date which would have given ample time for it tp be printect/ and distributed throughout" the Colony is one of the legislative, which the General Assembly seems to delight nrqppunding: In addition to, the inconvenience already mentioned, there! is the further one that no rules have yet been framed under [the new Act.

The concert given last night, in the new Oddfellows' Hall, under of the LoyaALeith Lodge, 1.0.0. F., was attended by an enthusiastic!, if not large audience. It does not say much for the lodge that so few of. its members should have been present, nor.|B it encouraging to those who so freely gave their services, to find them so indifferently appreciated. However, those who were present were able to spend a veiy pleasant evening, for the concert- was most enjoyable, and at its close there was dancing. " *ever More," by a lady, was undoubtedly the gem of the concert; but hardly less successful were "Strangers Yet," " Who Shall be Fairest," and "Danny Mann's Song," while a pretty part song by. Richards was given very effectively by a small, but efficient chorus. In addition, Messrs Barrett and Bracken gave readings to the thorough satisfaction of their hearers. Mr A. J. Towseysang, played, and conducted; and Mr Connell gave a clever imitation of the bagpipes on the violin. The chair was occupied by Mr Stout, M.H.R. It is a well-known fact (remarks the Melbourne ' Herald') that most of the persons employed in the banks of this Colony who have within the last few years been convicted of stealing moneys belonging to the ,bankß have been brought to ruin by betting | on horse races and gambling in other ways. \ The various banks have begun to recognise the danger of allowing their employes to gambla, and seem determined to prohibit it as far as may be practicable. It is stated that the other day a dialogue, ot which the following is the substance, took place between the manager of one of the banks in this city and one of the clerks :—Manager: "Is it true that yoH have won LSOO by betting on Nemesis ?'' Clerk :" It is." Manager: "Then you have your choice of two courses; furnish to me immediately an account of your debts and your assets, or resign your position here." The clerk chose the alternative first indicated, and the account showed a balance in his favor of LSOO. The manager then addressed him thus: " You mqit now lodge this LSOO to your credit; and if it is again discovered that you bet or gamble in any shape or form, you will render yourself liable to immediate dismissal." The clerk lodged the LSOO to his credit, as required, and it is to be hoped will also carry out the final salutary injunction of his manager. We publish iu this issue the programme of the sports, Ac, to be heM at Mosgiel on the occasion of the railway trip and picnic in connection with the Ayrshire Association on 'I hurpday next, St. Andrew's Day. Kntrie will close on Tuesday evening, at the Douglas Hotel. Special Evnngc'istic services will be conducted in the Christian Chapel, Ravensbourne, by Messrs J. J. Haley, D. Henderson, D. at Lean, and J. Fergus, commencing on Sunday mon>ing next, at eleven o'clock, and continuian every followiog Sabbith morning until further notice. The subject of Mr Haley's discourse next Sunday will be "The Ancient Gospel Identified." Printers' errors seem to be unavoidable, no matter what care is exercised in striving to against them. Two erept into our isßue y^ster^ay—one in an advert sement of Mr D. M Spedding's, in which section 2, block 2, was inserted instead of section 9, block 2. We trust no inconvenience will result from the error. In consequence of the transposition of a word in the report of a charge of theft the prosecutor is represented as the prisoner The error 1b too glaring to mislead, but we think an explanation due is to the prosecutor.