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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 225, 27 June 1873, Page 4

The Provincial Council meets for business on Monday, the 30th instant. The { Star * seems to think nothing'will be clone except to grant supplies, in which case a few days will probably close the session till after-the prorogation of the Assembly. The Assembly meets at Wellington on the 15th of July, and no doubt the session will stormy. .. The Stafford party have lost a strong adherent in the resignation of Sir David Monro: Mr. David Maitland has advertised his thanks to his supporters at the late contest for Matau. He says:—" I am sorry I cannot accommodate my views, to. suit the majority of the, electors,- and am sadly afraid I should have to take a- liip Van Winkle sleep prior to there being any chance of my getting returned for Matau." - - The St. Bathans grand art union is to be - drawn on Thursday, July 3rdr. All who have not yet secured' a ticket should at once do so. The cause is a, 'good - one/ and the,chance; of. winning-a: valuable prize is- not to- ; pised. : ' The Presbyterian Church was opened for 'the first time on Sunday, last. Dr. Stuart conducted Divine service both morning and evening, preaching eloquently to good congregations. The severe weather kept a great !many unwillingly at home. The collections, however, we understand were very good. On Wednesday evening the soiree, which had been duly advertised, came off. Letters of apology were received from the Revds. Mr Clark and Mr Christie, and also from the Revd. Mr Flamank, who was detained by illhealth. The tea was a great success, everything being served on a thoroughly good and ample scale, leaving little to be desired, and reflecting great credit on those energetic Committeemen on whose shoulders the burden had rested of attending to the more material comforts. After tea, the Rev. J. M 'Cosh Smith explained how he had been disappointed—the speakers he had relied on not having been able to come. However, they had their good friend Dr. Stuart, who was a host in himself. Dr. Stuart gave an able address, principally on education, telling, in an interesting way, the struggles of the early efforts of philanthropic men who took up the cause of neglected children, and approving very strongly of the principle of grouping children in families, rather than in large masses, where the influence of the head is lost. Mr Glenn, the Treasurer, gave a statement as to what had been done, how it had been done, and what still remained to be done. Messrs Bremner, de Lautour, and Armstrong also were called upon to speak, the speeches being interspersed with singing. Dr. Dick proposed a vote of thanks to the singers, Mr Wilson to the speakers, and Mr James Brown was called upon to propose a similar vote to the purveyors. Mr Bremner then, in a few appropriate words, proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman (the Rev. J. M'Cosh Smith), which concluded the evening's entertainment. We must not forget to say that the Church Choir, aided by Mr Paice and his singing class, rendered the selections in an effective and pleasing manner, contributing materially to the enjoyment of those present. The fall of snow, which set in early in the afternoon, kept a great number at home; we were surprised, "however, to see what a large attendance there was, and only wondered, if "the evening had been fine, what could have been done with all that would have come. The local banks have made a change in the hour of closing on Saturdays. This appears/ to those who have been in the habit of seUin CT gold on Saturday evenings, a hardship, and the Miners' Association have taken the matter up. In justice to. the banks it should be remembered that no other bank agencies in Otago keep open on Saturday night, so thai the bank agents may very well say.—lnstead of abusing us now you should thank us for the concession —if it is a concession—that you have so lorn* enjoyed. We have always heard that the local agents have been ready to accommodate

themselves to the requirements of the place, and we do not the least doubt that they are open to reason in this matter. If it can be shown that it is really a matter of importance, and not one of habit only, they will be easily induced to reconsider tlieir action. One reason indeed has been mentioned to us, and that is that the gold keeps getting "finer and more difficult to clean, necessitating either a large addition of sand to the banks' parcel or a severe handling of small parcels that the sellers would not appreciate. We are sorry to hear of a land slip that occurred yesterday morning at Deep Creek, which has done considerable injury to the property of the Undaunted and Extended Companies. It. appears that the Undaunted Company's fluming was attached on one side to a mass of rock by means of two wire^ropes the Extended Company's fluming wound round the same rock below. From the cracks produced by the iron bars driven behind, or from natural causes, about twenty feet of rock—some fifty tons—slipped down, dragging with it the Undaunted Company's fluming, and driving before it the Extended Company's boxes underneath. Messrs Indeb, and G-eoeg-e are instructed to sell-the estate of John O' Loughlan, deceased, to-morrow. This includes an interest in claim, tailrace, tools, hut, &c. At 2 p.m., they will we are requested to state, offer for sale the iron dwelling house, built on a securely-fenced residence area, near the Catholic Church, and occupied by Mr. JohnErater, who is leaving the district. The installation of officers of the Mount Ida Lodge, E.C., took place on St. John's Day, the sixth anniversary of the lodge. The attendance of the brethren was very satisfactory. The following brethren were duly installed for the ensuing twelve months, ac-, cording to antient custom, by Installing Master, P.M. Bro Grumitt, ably assisted by P.M's. Bros. Bremner and Newman:—W.M., Bro. H. W. Robinson; S.W., Bro. James Brown j J.W., Bro. Hugh Wilson ; Treasurer, Bro. John Dick; Secretary, Bro. Gv E. Newmarch ; I.GK, Bro. George Stephens; S.©., Bro. J. Jepson j J.D., Bro. R. Hore; ; Tyler, Bro. W. BaassStewards, Bros. M. Young and J. Green. After the ceremony, a banquet took place in the Old Victorian Hotel. The bill of fare presented by Host Millar was an excellent one, embracing, in abundance, the choicest delicacies of the season, and the care and attention displayed throughout must have been highly satisfactory ,to the brethren. The ' Southern Cioss' says The fact that Auckland ig already overstocked with clerks and young men desirious of so- called ' genteel' employment, cannot be toos/widely circulated or too loudly proclaimed. . Men of this description must go elsewhere if they would stand a fair chance of getting what they desire ; and if they come here, they must be prepared t.o make use.pf_.fcheir muscles and sinews till an opening is found for employment in a higher class of labor." . "ri v •'* - The existing Canterbury lines—-only about forty-miles in extent—in March and April last brought in a gross revenue to the Province of very nearly £9,000 per month, or at the rate of £IOO,OOO a-year, nearly one-fourth of which was for passenger traffic alone;— 1 ' Star.' The_ New Zealand Government have intimated their willingness to join Victoria in the Suez mail arrangements under Earl Kimberley's proposal. Negotiations are still pending with Messrs M'Meckan, Blackwood and Co. for a connecting service. The Rangitoto will take the next mail, leaving on the sth July. < The Heart of Oak and Star of the East Companies, Cromwell, have reduced the rates? of wages from 72s and 70s to 65s per week of 49 hours. All hands (about twenty) - have struck. The Elizabeth Company also intends reducing the wages. We understand that a concert, to be followed by a dance, will take place in the Masonic Hall on Monday week, in aid of the funds of the Naseby Brass Band.