The Evening Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4300, 7 December 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1876.

Mr Donald Reid addresses his constituents at Mosgiel on Thursday next. Last week (says the local paper) a robbery of 75ozs of gold was reported from Kawarau Gorge. The engines of the new dredge Vulcan are so far advanced that the contractors will probably get up steam to try them within a week from this data, but the dredging machinery will not be ready for a fortnight or three weeks. The Peninsula Caledonian Society held a meeting on Saturday, for the purpose of electing judges and transacting other busi ness connected with the carrying out of the sports to be held on Christmas Day on the Lagoon Flat, Tomahawk. The crimiual session opens at Invercargill on Monday, before Mr Justice Williams. The calendar comprises the foilowing cases : —John Campbell, perjury, Wm. Silchrist, horse-stealing; Wolford (female), stealing money at Harisville; Wm. Marshall, obtaining money by false pretences ; Tord, threatening to shoot a policeman; and Church, an unmentionable offence. "Fritz" was played last night at the Princess's Theatre for the ninth time, which, considering the other attractions exhibited elsewhere, speaks volumes in favor of Mr Emmett's skill. The house was well filled, and we have no doubt the piece would run longer if desired ; but to-night we are promised "Jan," another of Mr Emmett's specialities, in which he has gained much credit. Referring to the Tuapeka railway, the local ' Times' says :—"The plates are now being rapidly laid across Murray's Flat, in the direction of Havelock; and we now expect to see the line finished to that place by Christmas. Ballasting the permanent way is also being rapidly-proceeded with. The works at the Lawrence terminus are still delayed, pending the dispute between the contractors and laborers. The employers offer 7s per day, and the men hold out for the standard wage of Bs." At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Port Chalmers, this morhiiig, before Mr T t A. MansforJ, R.tf., Charles Miller was fined 5s for being drunk. Alfred Dean, about 14 years of age, was charged with stealing a hay fork of the value oi ss, the property of George Warren. The boy stated that his younger brother found it on the roadside. His Worship sentenced him to three hours' imprisonment, at the expiration of which time he would be sent to the Industrial School for twelve months. The performance of "Lucia di Lammerinoor " and " Trial by Jury " last night wa«, if possible, more successful than on the previous evening. The former piece is one of the most extraordinary jumbles of amusing absurdities that lias been seen m Dunediu tor some time, and the music includes selections from the "Urand Duellos*," "Bohemian Girl," " Martlia," and " Lucia," besides some of the popular comic songs. All these are strung together by the incidents from the opera in such an incongruous and comical manner as to cause the most rigid Puritan to relax his sternness,' aud he would be a confirmed cynic who could see the burlesque without giving expression to a hearty laugh. " Trial by Jury " is immensely funny, and is a humorous satire upon law court proceeding. The several characters were dressed and acted very well indeed ; and, excepting an occasional difference between the musicians and the vocalists as to the time of the music, " all went merry as a marriage bell." Mr Cary deserves a word of praise for the clearness with which he utters the wovds of the songs which tall to h;s part. Tn<v 33,039 pieces will be repeated to-night.

The secretary to the Fire Brigade Demon- i stration Committee to-day received a cable message intimating that the Ballarat brigade had entered for all the events at the forthcoming demonstration. This makes the third distant brigade that has entered, The business at the Police Court to-day was not very heavy. Two drunkards, named William Jones and John Bairns, received the customary reward of their deeds; three little boys named William, Robert, and Maurice Edwards, arrested as destitute children, were * discharged, the Bench recommending their parents to look after them; and a cabman named Charles Kverett was fined 10s and costs for neglecting to drive a passenger to the destination agreed upon. His Worship the Mayor and Mr J. Logan, J.P.'s, presided. The Harbor Board met this afternoon; present—Messrs Reid (in the chair), Davie' Tewsley, Ritchie, and M'Kinnon. Nine tenders were opened for the extension of the Jetty street wharf, the loweat and highest of ™* were as follows :—David ProudW* L2 > 95 °5 Hector Reid, L 3,977 16s Bd. All were referred to the engineer. The eng neer was instructed to prepare a record map of the whole of the Board's property, surveyed into sections, with a view to its ( being placed in the market at as early a date as possible.

Mr Smythies wil meet the electors of the North-east Valley hiding, County of Waikouaiti, in the Rothsay Schoolhouse, on Friday at 7 p.m. '* Mr Charles Bright will deliver his lectureSSnS lf°iC *> , WM °* barbarians; or, t,w ® n *J-"«venth anniversary of the Loyal r^ and Heart Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.P., will tt ?f l V b y a supper in the Oddfellows' Hall, George stree , to-morrow evening, at nme o'clock. Gentlemen desirous of forming a committee to secure a course of lectures bv Mr • right during his stay here are solicited" to attend at .the temperance Hall on Friday evening next at the conclusion of his lecture.