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Evening Star, Issue 4319, 30 December 1876, Page 2

There will be no publication of the Evening Star on Monday. The City of Sydney, with the inward mail, arrived this morning, at Auckland, nearly two days ill advance of contract time. The negotiations between the two contracting Governments and the contractors for a modification of the service seem to be very far from settlement.

On the 9th prox., in the First Church, at 7 p.m., the Presbyterian Synod of Otago wiil commence its sessions. The * Evangelist ' informs us that the Rev. Wm. Bannerman, the retiring Moderator, will preach the opening sermoD, the Rev. John Gow, of St; Andrew's Church, who was designated to the chair by the last Synod will, on taking his place, addre»3 the Synod. At the Queen's Theatre " The White Cat" was again played last night to a fair audience. Thoae who have not seen this pantomime should not miaa it this evening, when it is announced to be played for the last teme. On Monday "Aula Scotland Revisited" will be produced, in which a number of favorite Scotch songs will be introduced.

The annual meeting of the Caithness, iutherlafld, Orkney, and Shetland Association was held in Murray's Hotel last night; Mr Gr. C. Mathieaon in the chair. The treasurer read his annual report, showing a balance of L 77 14s 8d to the credit of the association, which has been invested in the -taudard Investment Society, on open account. There are still subscriptions due to the amount of about L3O, and it was decided to send circulars to those members who are in arrears requesting payment. During the year the sum of LlO was expended in donations to deserving charities, and LlO had beea advanced to assist those who required temporary aid. LlO 10s extia had, through the exertions of the association, been subscri' ed to the Clythe widows' fund. A young man who brought a letter of introduction to the secretary had received employment half-au-hour after landing, and others had been equally well looked after, who were fortunate enough not to escape the notice of the office-bearers. Mr Larnach was unanimously re-elected presi* ?tent for the ensuing year, Mr W. D. Su'ther3arid was elected vice-president, Mr Elder reelected secretary, and Mr Alex. Gunn treasurer, with a cummittee of twelve members, ''he annual social meeting will be held on the 12th January. The usual vote of thank* to the chairman concluded the of &e evening.

At Winton, George Gary, sixty years of age, has been arrested for committing rape upon a girl twelve years old. In Taranaki no less than thirty-three cncket-players have been selected to go into practice for the forthcoming match with the All England Eleven.

At the Temperance Hall the Pantascope continues its attractive exhibition, and it is generally well patronised. A performance was also given this afternoon.

In our report of the witness Hair's evi--7T% 2? " T alker ' s case yesterday it was stated that Hair said he was beastly drunk, while what he really said was that it was the prisoner who was beastly drunk. ~, M * J ' P ' Ma itiand bas been appointed Chief Commissioner of Waste Lands. The magisterial duties hitherto performed by Mr Maitland will now be undertaken by j rew » wno wi U merge the Tokomairiro and Clutha districts into that of Tuapeka. ,T ne . Government have appointed the following gentlemen as a committee of management for the Hospital:—The Mayor of Dunedin (for the time being), Sir John Richardson, Messrs Strode, Jas. Fulton, Rattray, John Cargill, R. GiUies, P. C. Neill, and R. Wilson.

By Victorian papers we learn that the fanal game of the biUiard match between Roberts and Carme has not yet been played, owing to the non-arrivul of M. Carme's table from Sydney by the day fixed. As soon as the table arrives in Melbourne the French game, which is looked for with great interest, will be played. The railway at Blenheim is not one of the paying lines. The * Express' remarks:—lf it be true, as we have heard, that on a recent occasion there was not one passenger in or out by the train, the prospects of continued profit by the railway will be very poor indeed. On another day the takings are said to have been 9d at one of the principal stations."

A good deal of annoyance was caused this morning to several persons owing to the clock in the Post Office being seven minutes faster than the town clock. Through this discrepancy many letters were too late for the mail which left for the North per s.s. Hawea. While on the subject we may mention that the town clock has not been lighted up for the past few evenings. " Troo-ku-len-tos" drew another good house to the Princess's Theatre last evening, and this capital pantomime went spiritedly from beginning to end. Miss Patty Holt was loudly applauded for her singing, and Messrs Poole, O'Neill, and Stoneham created their usual amount of amusement. On Monday "Troo-ku-len-tos" will be rendered even more attractive by the introduction of the " Zingari" Christy Minstrels.

Writing of New Zealand in a recent issue, the * Melbourne Argus' remarks that the best statesmanship in this Colony has directed its efforts to transform it—in the language of comparative anatomy—from an invertebrate to a vertebrate organism. This is being accomplished socially, commercially, and geographically, by a railway system, which, when completed, will run like a backbone from Auckland to Wellington in the Northern Island, and from Nelson to Invercargill in the Middle Island. In reporting to the Oamaru Board of Health the progress of the fever case in that town Dr Fleming writes :—" The exception referred to, however, shows the necessity of adopting fully the precautions taken in the Anderson case, as the mere exchange of a telegram and its receipt seems to have been the occasion of the infection of the messenger, though the atmosphere of the place was saturated with the disinfectant. Other likely causes were indeed present, but if not communicated as I have stated, it is remarkable that although exposed to the influence of other causes for months without taking it, the date of delivery of telegram and the appearance of the fever correspond with the period of incubation. This unforseen loop-hole shows the necessity of not placing too much reliance on the employment of disinfectants, as, however, admirable they may be as helps in preventing infection, nothing can take the place of a plentiful supply of pure water to sweep away, when possible, the cause."

The Dunedin Savings Bank will be closed every evening till Friday, January 12. Lieutenant Pell, of the North Dunedin Bifl.es is appointed Acting-Adjutant for the month of January. The steamer Balcutha will ply between Dunedin and Portobello on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday as per advertisement. The Antidote Division Sons of Temperance will meet on We nesday evening next in the upper room of the Temperance Hall. Mr Charles Bright will lecture in the Princess's Theatre to-morrow (Sunday) evening, at eight o'clock, on " Materialism and Spiritualism."

Plenty of amusement is afforded for holidayseekers on Monday. Of cour.-e the Caledonian Gathering at Kensington will form the chief attraction ) while several will wend their way to the Taieri meet in r at Mosgiel A splendid and maivellou-tly cheap way of spending the day, and one which is sure to be largely availed of, is afforded by the Kotoma, which conveys passengers to Oamaru at 8 a.m., permitting a few hour&' stay at that port, and returning to Port Chalmers in time to catch the 9 30 p.m. train. The Union Company also despa ch the Samson to the Heads and Wwikouaiti Bay; while the Iron Agejwill ply down the Harbor Jn the evening public patronage will be divided amongst the different places of amusement.