The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 95, 10 August 1876, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1876. LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oar correspondent "Spirit Level" must address his communication to the paper containing the comments with which he finds fault. We never insert letters referring to matters which appear in another journal. The Unicycle Circus has our best wishes. We hope it will go on and prosper. If it do not the fault cannot he said to lie with its energetic proprietor, for no one could possibly work "a afiow "on more economic principles than does our friend Mr. Morris. Mr. Morris gets his paddock for the tent rent free. He pays as much for his advertising, at least that is our experience, and, wc believe, ottr contemporary is much in the same fix. Mr. Morris iliA very well tit this town, and when he left he " did " us. However, as we do not yet wish to part company with ottr friend, we have sent him a small piece of {>»p«r, on which is neatly engraved *' Victoria, by the grate of i"»od." Mr. Morris will have ttrtif between this and Tuesday to decide whether he will " ant.- up " or allow in an opportunity uf -itarttit"' opposition to him hy stjuing a icw •>£ his mechanical horse*, and. of course, the orchestra—barrel organ. We aro sorry to have to add another to the long catalogue of fatal accidents which have lately occurred within t hut district. It would appear that Mr. Somcrville. of Aln-street, had employed a man, named Fleming, lately arrived in the Colony, to make some excavations for foundations on his property. Deceased, who had !<eett so employed for the past few days, went to his dinner, yesterday. as visual, and subsequently resumed work, but tint returning home at the usual hour, his faintly booming uneasy at his alienee, made enquiries of Mr. Somerville, which ended in tltt; discovery of the body of the unfortunate man, buried up to the waist under a fall of earth, and quite dead. As the mass of stuff under which he was found did not appear sufficient to cause death, it is presumed that he must have lieen struck by some large atone, which afterwards rolled away from deceased. The Iwidy lies now at th>; Shamrock Hotel, aud an inquest is to he held this evening, but at au hour which precludes our giving a report in this issue. Everett's Hihernicon and Comedy Company opened at the Masonic Hall, last evening, before a large aud enthusiastic audience. The performance commenced with an overture r>n the pianoforte, finely played by Mr. I". F. Ctttlimore, after which the curtain rose t-.-a view of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, with Mr. Fred Dalton and his charming sifter. Miss Lucy Vernon, as prominent personages. The former is supposed to represent an American tourist about to take his departure for Ireland with his sister, and as the views of Irish scenery paa3 before the audience, he relates something which beam a strong contrast to the melodies

rendered by the lady. Mr. Charles Wallace fairly sustained the character of the colored sen-ant, and Mr. J. O'Neill creditably performed the part allotted him. Some well-executed jig 3 -were played by Mr. John Coughlan, on the recently-invented American Pipes, which, by the way, appear to be of a very superior and elaborate description. The mechanical arrangements to display the scenes were perfect, and throughout the evening the audience frequently expressed their approbation by hearty applause. The company will appear again to-night. We notice by the "Daily Times" of yes' terday that the Albion arrived at the Bluff with the English mails at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. With its usual " consistency," the Press Agency, while telegraphing items which can have no earthly interest for the public, have entirely ignored the Albion's arrival. Consequently we are unable, as we otherwise should have been, to furnish our readers with the latest English intelligence. A concert was given last evening in the New Hall, Tees-street, under the auspices of the Star of Hope Lodge of the Good Templars. The entertainment was in aid of the Oainaru Hospital, and from the large number who patronised it, we should imagine a very respectable sum will be available for so deserving an objci-t. The programme submitted was, a most varied one, embracing s-oiii;.-'. ballads, readings, and recitations, and judging from the amount of applause bestowed during the evening, it proved as entertaining to tin: audience as we trust it will be successful from a pecuniary point of view. A gentleman read an .amusing piece entitled, "The Mj'stery of Belgravia," but although given with much humor, we cannot endorse the wisdom of the selection, owing to its extreme length. As a rule, readings, when exceeding a certain length, are injudicious, and apt to tire an audience, a fact which was plainly evident last evening. Miss Allison sang a .Scotch song in capital style, and being heartily encored, gave " Comin' thro' the Rye." Although possessed of a clear ringing voice, wc are bound to confess that she was not nearly so successful as in her first effort, it being given with a sad gravity, lacking animation and vivacity,and totally at variance with the generally recognised conception of the ballad. Where all were so good, it would be invidious to further particularise, but wc arc quite sure those who patronised the entertainment spent a most enjoyable evening. Wc might hint to the Committee that on future occasions the furnishing of programmes, of the various items would obviate a waut which appeared to be very generally felt. Wc are delighted to find, from a "Gazette ' notice, that in connection with the Eichardson Fusiliers, the Governnor has adopted the only course left open to him, namely, in disbanding of the corps. A Sydney cablegram states that the English mail left San Francisco on the 18th July, or one day before contract time. The steamer should arrive in Auckland on the 12th inst., and our letters should be delivered here on the evening of the ISth. This mail brings London dates of June 29. A German carrier on the Maryborough road (says the " Gympie Times'") was lately heard lamenting the state of that thoroughfare (I!), his dray having been capsized by a rut of more than the usual depth, as follows : " Mine Gott, I have been dravellin' mit mine dray on dis ere roat glose up vive years, and I never zaw it in der state it is in now. I have a lot of lithofracteur and caps on my dray, ami when she capsized I left horses and dray and run for mine life.'' A telegram appeared in onr columns last evening stating that a man named Butler had been arrested for a number of serious burglaries committed in Duncdin. The following from yesterday's " Guardian " will explain the message:—"Avery clever arrest was made by Detective Henderson last night, for which he deserves the thanks of the citizens generally. It appears that on last Sunday week Bishop Moran's house was broken into, and a pair of silver-mounted opera glasses stolen therefrom. Last Sunday night again Mr. Graham's residence, and also that of Mrs. G. K. 'l'tirton. was entered by a burglar. From the former £81) worth of jeweller}' was taken, and from the latter a gold watch and chain. Last night Detective Henderson arrested a man named Edward Butler, alias Donnelly, and found some of the articles which had been stolen from each house in Butler's possession. There is very little doubt but that the police have the right man. He will be brought up at the Police Court this morning." Things don't appear to be conducted altogether in a very amicable style in the Port Chalmers Town Council, if one may be allowed to judge by the following little scene which is reported by a Dunedin contemporary : —" During the proceedings of the Port Chalmers Town Council on Monday evening, a scene a la the Victorian Parliament, occurred. It was in reference to the appointment of the various committees, upon which Councillor Dodson remarked that he seconded the appointment of the last committee, as they were a parcel of fools. Councillor M'Kiulaj- objected to Councillor Dodson using such expressions, and appealed to the Mayor to request Councillor Dodson to withdraw his offensive remarks. Councillor Dodson stated he would be before he

withdrew any remark. He- reiterated that the committee were fools. Councillor M'Kinlay would not permit Councillor Dodson to apply any such term to him, and, seeing the Mayor would not interfere, he rose to request the reporters for-the several newspapers present to give the matter publicity. The Mayor trusted that Councillors would not interrupt the proceedings by squabblings, and the matter dropped. A Mr. John Kingsland is particularly severe on the maimer of walking indulged in by the people of Invercargill. At a recent meeting of a school committee, he said that there was nothing more contemptible than to see men, ignorant of deportment, walking the streets with their shoulders about their ears, and their legs stuck out everywhere—disposed in grotesque and ungainly positions. He would sooner go to the expense of buying two or three sets of boxing-gloves for use among the boys than see them deprived of the opportunity of enjoying physical exercise. By all means let the schools retain their system of drill instruction. The ordinary monthly meeting of the North Otago Horticultural Society will take place at the usual place this evening, at eight o'clock. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Harbour Board will be held to-morrow afternoon, at two o'clock. In our advertising columns the Headquarter's Companies are ordered to parade for monthly inspection, to-morrow evening, at half-past seven o'clock. A committee meeting of the North Otago Turf Club will be held at the Empire Hotel, to-morrow evening, at seven o'clock; and the adjourned half-yearly meeting of the same at eight o'clock.