The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4305, 13 December 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1876.

A short sharp shock of earthquake was felt at Oamaru on Monday. Scarlet fever has broken out at Oamaru and North Taieri.

The bazaar at Oamaru recently in aid of St. Luke’s Church there realised close upon L4OO.

The Oamaru Municipal Council Lave it in contemplation to borrow L 60,000 for a water supply. Neill M‘Cowan, charged with incendiarism at Waitaki, has been tried at theTimaru Sessions and convicted. A sentence of ten years’ penal servitude was passed upon him. Mr Charles Bright’s numerous committee met last night, when it was decided that the first of that gentleman’s series of six Sunday evening lectures should take place at the Princess’s Theatre on the 17th inst,, the subject being “Progress and its opponent Popery—Roman Catholic and Protestant.” It was stated that the dress circle tickets as issued were well nigh disposed of. # Mr Bathgate, R.M., this morning delivered a very lengthy judgment, which will be found in extenso on our fourth page, in the case of Smythies v. Russell. The facts of the case are fully reviewed, and the conclusion arrived at by his Worship was that the information had not been supported by such evidence as was required to substantiate a charge of perjury. The information was consequently dismissed. The Kakanui harbor works are making satisfactory progress, the wharves having been completed and the south training wall nearly so, while the north wall is also in a forward state, there being only some 70ft to finish it in accordance with the original design. The ‘N. 0. Times ’ tells us that available funds are, however, it believes, nearly exhausted. The littoral shingle carrying current appears to have been entirely intercepted.

The session of the All Saints’ Grammar School was closed on Monday last after an examination of the school extending over a week. Yesterday a picnic was held on the Forbury Beach, whither the youngsters were conveyed by train, a most enjoyable aay being spent. During Mr Kirby’s proprietorship of this school he has gained for himself an excellent reputation as a master, and has won the sincere regard of his pupils. He has recently, we are informed, accepted the mastership of the new Main School at Ravensbourne and Rothesay. At this morning’s sitting of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, before Mr T. A. Mausford, R.M., there were several cases called on, but none of any public importance. In R, Cowan and Co. v. Robert Rennie, claim L 3 3s Bd, for work done, judgment went for plaintiffs by default. In the following defended cases judgment was given for plaintiffs for the amounts chimed, with costs :—Thomas Hutchinson v. John Mouat, claim L 4 11s 9d (in payments of L2 per month or fourteen days’ imprisonment); Same v. John Jelly, Lll 18s (5s per week or two months’ imprisonment); Thomas Uefferuan v. John Brooker, L 3 19s 7d (10s a month or one month’s imprisonment); Edward M‘Connell v. William Roberts, LI 10s 3d.

One good result from the Railway Commiasioners y visit has been to classify the different kind of goods conveyed by rail, so that now the freight will be payable by weight, and the rates will beequalisedtbroughouttheColony. We believe the effect of this, so far as Otago is concerned, will be to the advantage of the public, several other districts a higher rate will have to be imposed, at which these districts will have no cause to grumble, seeing that the rates are considerably under those of Victoria and other Australian Colonies. With regard to passenger rates no change here will take place ; but the facilities enjoyed by the travelling public here, in the shape of Saturday season tickets available for Mondays, will now be enjoyed by other parts of the Colony.

Professor Shand has been appointed a member of the Education Board iu the room of Mr Davie, resigned. The St. Hilda and South Dunedin Councils last night elected Mr R. Uutherford, of Caversham, as their representative at the Harbor Board. The other nominations were Messrs MTndoe and Burt.

At the Port Chalmers Police Court this morning John Thompson pleaded guilty to being drunk on the railway platform last evening, but as it was his first offence he was discharged with a caution. Air Elder, J.P., presided.

The Harbor Board meeting fixed for this afternoon has been adjourned till Friday at noon. We hear that the Hou. W. H. Reynolds and Mr Reid will be nominated to the new Board by the Governor. The Chamber of Commerce elects its representatives on Friday.

An application was made the other day at Charleston .by a lady who requested that her husband might be bound over to keep the peace, as on the previous evening he had turned in between the clean sheets with his dirty, muddy boots on. This, although very provoking, was not considered a sufficient reason to “ tie the old man up ” on.

The Lydia-Howarde troupe repeated at the Queen’s I heatre last evening the burlesque “ Kenilworth ” and the cantata “ Trial by Jury.” The first piece cannot be considered a success, and it wib. be withdrawn after tonight in favor of “IlTrovatore ” ; but “ Trial by Jury ” is as great a favorite as ever, and creates the nsual amount of amusement nightly. Another serious accident occurred this morning on the Dunedin and Moeraki railway works, near Deborah Bay, to a young man named John Sime, who had his thigh broken. It appears that at the time of the accident irime was engaged loading waggons at Bray cutting, when a landslip took place completely burying him. He was extricated as soon as possible, carried on a stretcher to Port Chalmers, and conveyed Dunedin by the special train which was leaving at the time. The Fidelity and Accident Guarantee Company, the headquarters of which are in Wellington, commenced operations at the beginning of the year. Its objects are to proride security to employers for clerks and others in a position of trust and responsibility, and to grant insurances against injury or loss of life resulting from accidents of whatever character. The institution is not to bo merely local in its character, but Colonial, and the hoards of directors appointed for the different cities throughout the Colony are a guarantee that it will be carried out on wide principles For Dunedin the Board consists of the Hon. W. H. Reynolds. Messrs Wilson, Reeve?, Mills, and E. B. Cargill (chairman), with Mr Hawkins as local agent.

There was a more than moderate attendance, but not so large as we had expected to see, at the Princess’s last evening, when Mr and Mrs J. L. Hall made their reappearance, after many years’ absence. However, the welcome extended to them was thoroughly cordial. They re-introduced themselves in a three-act comedy by H. J. Byron, entitled “ Old Soldiers, ” which, while possessing much smartness does not rank with many of the same author’s successful pieces, and is not to be mentioned along with “Our Boys.” Tiie plot briefly stated is this : Lionel Leveret, the fortunate possessor of a substantial rentroll, really loves May Moss (Miss Willis), but in a sullen mood proposes to Kate M‘lavish (Mrs Hall), the daughter of a thorough scamp. Miss M‘lavish, in her turn, cares little for Leverdt, her affections having previously been bestowed on Gordon Lockhart, who has only hisgood looks to commend him, but spurred on by her designing father she almost sacrifices love for position. Mrs Major Moss (Miss Vivian) and Major M‘Tavish (Mr tlinton) are the “old soldiers ” at match-making, who are engaged in the straggle to secure Leveret for their respective children, which ends in the Major’s discomfirture and the real lovers being paired. The only subsidiary character is Cassidy, also an old soldier, who acts as a combined body and conscience guard of Leveret. The first act dragged somewhat, but the remaining acts went well. Mr Hall is thoroughly at home as Leveret and receives excellent support from his wife, from Misses Vivian Clinton, and Keogh. The performance closed and Willis, and from Messrs Stonehara, with a musical farce entitled “ Jhe Professor,” in which Mr and Mrs Hall were infinitely amusing, and, aided by Miss Vivian, succeeded in keeping the audience in thorough good humor until the fall of the curtain. Both pieces are to be repeated this evening.

The adjourned meeting of the Morningt''n ratepayers will be held in the District Hall .his evening at eight o'clock. The monthly Degree meeting, J.0.0.F., will be held in the Star of < dago Lodge room to-morrow evening at eight o’clock. The children at ending the District Schools’ picnic at the Forbnry on Friday are requested to take mugs with them. A special train will run to-morrow in onnection with the opening of the Matau Bridge, leaving Port Chalmers at 8.15, and Dunedin at 9 am. Return tickets will be issued at single rates.

By advertisement in another column it is notified that the works executed by the students of the School of Art will be exhibited in th« Normal school, Moray place, on Friday and Saturday, Mr R T. Wheeler has forwarded to us a copy of the second part of ‘ The New Zealand Justice of the Peace.’ We regard this work as invaluable both to those who have to ad minister justice and those who expect justice at their bauds The information ou points of law and practice forma very valuable aids to both, and tends not only to recurs administration of law, but to prevent useless litigation th ough disseminating some knowledge on the subject. A cricket match will be played on the Oval on Thursday between the Albion C.C. and the Citizens’C C. Play to commence at 11 a.m. Ihe fol owing aie the names of the Albion team: T. Hutchinson. W. Hutchinson, Miller, H. Grater, B. Gowdio. J. Cowdie, Blunshard, Simkin, Fankcy, Douglas, Dickson, Keefer, Barrow, D, Grater, Tattersall, and Gollar. The Citizens team will comprise:— Lov ■, Clarke, U’Hask-dl, W. Mor.ison, G. Stokes J. Aden, F. Wei's, A, G1 n, Anyus, Tai , Shephe d, J. Leith, G. Fulton, F. S Stokes, and A. Barber. A match will be played on the oval to-morrow between an eleven of the D. C. C. and a Carisbrook team. The following are the names of the players ; D.C.C.—Bouch, Russell, Quinlan, M’l.ellan, Lynn, Blackburn, 'lhomson. Alf. Cary ill, Dodson, Coates Harri . Carisbrook —P. Austin, E. A ustin, Brodrick, W. Cargill, A Cargill, Dixon, M'A’eil, Pike, Holland, Rose, Valpy; emergency, Teuton and Ea* tray. Play will commence at 11 a.m. sharp.