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Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 379, 16 June 1876, Page 2

The population of the Colony of Victoria at the end 'of March was over 800,000. 'We are glad to be in a position to state that the survey of the 2000 acrea of I*M at Hyde will ba commenced next week. Thb staff of the Bank of New Zealand in the Colonie3 presented, in Sydney, a handsome testimonial to Mr. D. L. Murdoch on the eve of his departure for London. Thkre were ninety-five entries for the Melbourne Cap, and tifty-one for the Champion Stakes, including Mr. Kedwood's Korari and Puriri; and the once renowned Barb. A man named Blighting, who for sometime past has been earning a living by selling periwinkles, and gathering rags and bottles in Christchurch, has jus; come into a fortune of £BO,OOO. _JBES3SCS3 The names of four gentlemen are now mentioned as probable candidates for Mayoral honors in Dunedin this year—Messrs. 1L J. Walter (the present Mayor), 13. Itaac, W. Woodland, and C. S. Reeves. Dr. Lake, who resided for some considerable time in the Cromwell district, and was one of the first applicants for the sargeonship of the Mount Ida District Hospital, intends commencing practice in Arrowtown. K. San do announces in our advertising columns that he has commenced business as hair-cutter, perfumer, and hosemaker, in the Victoria Hall buildings, where we have no doubt he will be well patronised. Messrs. Hart a:;d Campbell, photographers, are at present in Naseby. See advertisement. We were favored with an inspection of views and likenesses, and as works of art they are excellent and trnthfuL A concert for a benevolent purpose, undo: the auspices of the Philharmonic Society, is announced for Thursday next. As the object is truly charitable, we hope the attendance will be large. The complimentary concert to Mr. E. Hartman on Thursday evening last was a thorough success, the total proceeds amounting to over £l4. Mr. Hartmen left on Fri- ! day by coach, quite a number of his friends assembling to bid him farewell. Some Siamese noblemen, when they witnessed the gyrations of a Highland fling and Irish jig for the first time in their lives, fled from the house of their entertainer, a jEnropean merchant at Bangkok, firmly believing the " foreigners " had gone mad. They sent the Missionaries to give the n isguided dancers spiritual consolation and advice. The Town Council of Greymouth has gone in for a singular investment- The • Star' says : —The Town Band is now defunct, the Council having bought their instruments for £2O, which amount will be handed over to the Hospital. The instruments are 27 in number, and originally cosi £147. besideß £3O worth of music. Councillor Hamilton, in proposing that the instruments should be bought, stated that by this means the Council could give the property to some responsible person who would undertake the formation of a band, aud in the event of disagreement they could step in and take them, back. By this means the town would never be without a band. A verv pleasant evening was spent in the Masonic Hall on Monday last by the Good Templars, the special occasion being a visit of some ten brothers from the Anchor of Safety Lodge, Hamilton. The routine business of the was gone through, when those present devoted themselves to spending the evening pleasantly. The sisters succeeded in placing on the table a light repast, which was done full justice to. "Song then succeeded song till after midnight, when the party dispersed, after complimentary speeches from Bros. Al'Alpine and C. Koseveare, for the visiting brothers, and Bros. Ash and Baven for the local Lodge. The report of the Athenaeum annual meeting will be seen elsewhere. The institution was not opened on Sunday evening last, as it was understood at the meeting it would be, the librarian having changed his mind. It will remain to be seen whether, if ultimately carried out, the opening of the Athena;um on Sunday evenings, as well as in the day time, will prove a wise step. We hardly" think that the meeting, in the absence of a quorum of members, and without notice, was justified in making such an important change in the management. Certainly if it is desired "to fill the worst kept public houses on Sunday evenings, the way is to keep men in the town, until ten o'clock, with a reasonable excuse to loiter till respectability is asleep. The excuse that men cannot go somewhere is not of much account. A man, if inclined, can read his library book or other as well in most of our public houses as in the Athenseum, and better still in his own quarters. A public house is not necessarily a den of thieves. A lad could be better employed on Sunday evenings than attending the Athenaeum, although his juvenescence may be taken advantage of for that purpose. Otherwise the prospects of the" Athenteum are good,, and the spirit likely to be thrown into the work by the new Committee will be most salutary.