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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 294, 16 October 1874, Page 2

- We learn that Bishop Neville is to lay the foundation si-one of the English Episcopal Church at Naseby early in November. We understand that Dr. Brown, who it was thought would be likely to settle in Naseby, has definitely decided. to remain in Dunedin. .. V \

At the next sitting of the Maefewhenua Court, all business, including applications, will be taken on the advertised day, '.November 10th, at the usual hours. It is rumored that the Rev. E. Williams, of Naseby, will succeed the Rev. Jackson Smith at Queenstown. The latter gentleman has accepted an English incumbency. We give the rumor for what it is worth. We are requested to intimate to collectors for the Dick Memorial Fund that it is desirable their cards, with amounts collected, should be sent in to the Treasurer, or any member of Committee, by the Ist November. A mah named Williams very determinedly committed suicide at Hampden on the 7th. instant, by swallowing a quantity of poison. Dr. Moffat, of Palmerston, who happened to be in the district at the time, was sent for, but his efforts were - unavailing. On being asked why-be took the poison, WilhanM" replied that he was tired uf his life. ■ ■ Provincialism, has come to this in Marllocal paper reports .—"The Provincial Government have appointed an additional constable, and on Thursday" Mr. Wm. Shepherd commenced his duties in that capacity." We wonder whether a special issue of the ' Marlborough Provincial Gazette' proclaimedthe fact.

Messrs. Carver and Co., 6f street, Dunedin, have earned for themselves a good name in the supply, - for up-country use, of well-seasoned traps of aU descriptions. We iave now on view at this office capitally executed photographs of buggies, express .waggons, waggonettes, and spring carts, at prices coming down to meet the requirements of all. . *

At the instance of Mr. B. Clarke, a motion was carried, during the last session of the Provincial Council:—"That there be laid upon the table a return showing, as nearly as possible, the amount of revenue derived from, and the amount of expenditure effected in, each electoral district of this Province, for last financial year." This return has never yet been furnished by the Government. In the Anglican Dipcesan Synod, sitting in Wellington, Archdeacon 'stork introduced a motion of very considerable importance, viz., " That the Bishop be requested to consider the desirability of admitting into deacon's orders suitable men willing to devote some port : ons of their time to the work of the ministry, without requiring them to give up the secular occupations by which they gain their livelihood."

An English mail via San Francisco will leave Uuuedih on the 23rd inst. The American mail is to be continued after all, and correspondents must be careful to indicate the route by which they wish letters sent,, as all unmarked correspondence will be sent bv the Amar.can mail. The mail will close ait "the district., ojiices at. the u*ual hours ou Monday tuv Xy.h instant! ■'

. Messrs. J. and B, Bbkmker advertise thei* very valuable business site and connection in Nasehy for sale or for lease. As the > energetic manner in which this business has been conducted is widely known, we need do little more titan s f Jite what a very valuable opening is offered to an enterprising business firm— especially at the present time, when the Public Works aro on the ere of comple- • tion. We Bhall have something more to say at a future date of the los» the district will sustain in the retirement of Mn.«rs. J. and R. Bremner. *

The 'weather has broken most favorably this sprinor for mining purnosps. The begin. ning of this week was exceedingly stormy, the wind, Bleet, and hail continually occurring, almost stopped travelling. The coach on Tuesday morning had a difficulty to get up from Pigroot, the storms coming right in the teeth of the horses. Yesterday the rain fell yery heavily, and floods are almost sure to follow. There should be no scarcity of water for some time. Ws! do not know the reason, but we believe it to be a fact, that not a shilling of the money voted by the Council in its last session for roads and works in this district has yet been expended, nor is work begun. The roads in the neighborhood of St. Bathans are in a disgraceful state. It is most unjust to a distriat that has contributed for years so largely to the revenue that this should be so. Representations are made in the matter, which, if baefced np by the people interested, should be successful.

Major Palmer, who is in charge of the Venus-Transit Expedition, when Captain Palrner, conducted conjointly with Captain Wilson a" careful survey of the desert of the Exodus, the objects being to identify, if possible, the s'tes mentioned in the Bible narrative, or at least collect such geographical and other information as should enable biblical criticß to form an opinion for themselves. Major Palmer is not unknown in literature, and any sketch from his pen of New Zealand will attract considerable attention. Writing humorously of the Sinai Expedition, he enu-

merates two of his duties :—"As well aa colw- lecting stories from the Arabs, I was also .»_'charged with the collection of entomological I often combined the two pursuits."

At the Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court, Sydney George Alexander charged on a, second indictment, wns found guilty of obtaining money under false pretences, and for V-tliut and a Birriilar offence of which he was' found guilty he was sentenced to two years! imprisonment with hard labor. 'William Williams, on a charge of watch-stealing wus. acquiitc'd: William Barrett,'who pleaded ' guilty to %ttcring a forged document, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment; with hard labor; and John Fitirgrenves; found guilty of biting a man's ear off, received a ; ; ncntence of eighteen months with hnrd labor. The Court then adjourned iin'il 10 oVlook tomorrow rooming, when tlie charge of nvirder .against Charles Dodd, the second mate of the Oneco", will be proceeded with. The reason it wa» not commenced to-day was because Mr. Stout who appears for the prisoner, was. not ready. Dhhing one of the last sittings of the Du-, • nedm Anglican Synod, there was some rather warm discussion as to the proposed Theolo- . gieal College : The Rev. Mr. Stanford spoke at considerable length on the matter. He said that he never heard any person speak in favorable terms of the College except the Bi•hop, and compared it to a baby whose whereabouts could not, be determined on account of the length of its clothes, and in the course of his remarks said it ought to be killed.—The Rev. Mr, Coffey spoke i-v favor of the College, and said that the raembprs of the Synod ought to follow the lead 'of the Bishop'rai.her than that of the Rev." Mr Stnnford.—Mr. Smith deprecated the opposition' shown towards the College by the Rev. Mr. Stanford, and said it was incumbent on him to suggest a substitute for the College, as he was so much opposed to it.—The President said that he was at present in communication with seven young men who were desirous of becoming students. There were three in the parish—he had nearly said diocese—of All Saints (Mr. Stanford's). (Laughter.) His object was to get the insr,ituti.>n into further development. He concluded by earnestly impressing on the members of the Synod to re- . toember that they were met for the purpose of forwarding the interest of the Church of Christ.

At the last meeting of the Otago Institute, the . Chairman read a paper "On the Moa ; f -Swamp at Hamilton.,'' written by Mr. B. S. Sooth. The paper showed considerable observation on 1 lie part of the writer. He-re-viewed nt great length the various theories set up by diflfrent scientists as to the' origin of the bones in this swamp, lie did not . ,yagree wiih-nny of them, but pare it ns his >■ opinion thnt Now Zealand was formerly much .warmer thnn at present. He considered the accumulation of the bones in the swamp wai .contemporaneous with the period when frost and snow began to set in this colony. He thought that there had been a warm spring .in existence whero this pit containing the moa bones was, and that the raoas had recourse to it for the purpose of seeking relief from the cold, and remained there until hunger put an end to their sufferings. On this supposition, he accounted for the entire absence of egg thells, as the birds would frequent the water < in winter time, which was not that of gestation. Ho considered that the motis did rot incubate their own egge, but that they were • hatched by the wnrmth of the climate, which becoming too cold for that purpose, the extinction of the moa followed. A ilisoussion ensued on the theories started by Mr. Booth Many of the members expressed themselves as being well pleased with the pap<»r, though differing from many of the opinions set forth by Mr. Booth.—' Guard'uuv.'

Last year, it will be remembered: £3OO was 4 Toted by t'.o General Assembly (at the instance of Mr. Mervyn) for a Court House at Naseby. This vote lapsed, as being insufficient. In the Provincial Council, the Government was asked to supplement the £3OO out of Provincial.Funds, and undcrtuke the work. JThe Provincial Secretary replied—"The Superintendent communicated -with the Colonial , Gbvernment in April last, pointing out that tbe sum of £3OO was insufficient, and asking for authority to expend £SOO on this building, but no reply has yet been received. It is not tbe intention of the Government to ask this Council for a supplementary vote, inasmuch As it is considered to be the duty of the General Government 1o erect proper buildings." During the late sessi: n in Wellington the Secretary tor the Goldfiekls ctmmunicnted with Mr. Beid, reminding him of the mutter. We have little doubt but that <be'building is provided for in the lump sum appropriated for all mch work". 'J he expending of* the sum must, howerer be strongly urged. The Court officers cannot move in the matter themselves, they must simply endure. It is tbe people's duty to protect them. During the sitting of the Licensing Court it is provided by the Act that the Bench are to retire to a room to consult on any doubtful application. At Naseby that would mean—the coal hole, or an order to all to leave the Court, ie , stand .outride in" perb»ps such*rain as is fulling as .we-write. Ihe Municipal Council might very well enquire from the Provincial authorities the position of the matter. On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings last the Dramatic Club gave their second amusing entertainment choosing for representation the farce of "The Blighted Being," and the burlesque of ''Aladdin, or the Wonderful Scamp." The first piece was well played throughout. The character of Job Wart' (Mr. was capitally sua-

t:itn«s 1,-the make-up being especially artistic. 'rs Sped ! ing as Susan Spanker was as i' l ;•'irming a--1 as lovely as the maiden hostess ol :i seaside hoM should be; and Mr. Spedding; in O'RafFerty,. was as happy and as rowdy as a stage Irishman could be. We were not aware that addressing the prompter and telling him to " speak out " formed any part of the original text; hut whether or not, it certainly amused all who heard it The parts of Ned Spanker (Mr. Ladd) and Cumming. the waiter (Mr. Grumitt), were carefully tilled. The shaving scene between dimming and Wart was irresistibly comic. After the farce a song was sung by Mr. and deservedly encored. The burlesque of Aladdin followed, and the occasional roars of laughter that followed the puns told how much the performance was appreciated by the audience. On the first night there seemed a little nervousness amongst the corps, and the prompter was heard a little too often, but on the second night all went as well as could be wished. Mrs. Clifford, as Aladdiri, acted with spirit and sang charmingly. Mrs. Spedding, as the Princess, dressed as elegantly and acted as gracefully as any real live princess would have done. We would suggest to these ladies that, having got over the nervousness of a first appearance, they "should, while singing, come to the front of the stage, and not stand as far hack as possible; their voices, which arc both good, would then be heard to greater advantage. The Abanazar of Mr. Newmarch was good, and the care with which he disguised his voice shows the interest he had taken in his study of the character. Messrs. r>6wlatt and Grumitt, as the Vizier and the Emperor, acted with their '.usual skill and humor, wn'ile Mr. Spedding i as Pekoe looked the to perfection, and, by his thorough knowledge of music, assisted in leading the occasional choruses with precision and effect. Messrs Ladd and ! . fader were the Genii of the Lamp and Ring, and well responded to all the devilment required of them. During the interval the ! band played some lively airs, and a waltz, with piano solo by W. Collett, deserves especial notice. We really must give the Club credit for the manner they dress these plays, and think they deserve well of the local public who they try to amuse, and occasionally benefit by a gratuity to some of the local charities, for which they are always ready to give their services.