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Otago Daily Times, Issue 263, 23 October 1862, Page 4

The usual meeting of the Dunedin Debating Club was held at the Temperance Hotel, "on Monday evening last. t Mr White occupied the chair. After the proceedings had been opened Mr" W. D. Stewart read an interesting essay upon the preservation of health. As the ■"essay? combined nearly all the arguments in favor of the subject, there was very little discussion.. ,A vote of thanks to the chairman and essayist concluded the business of the evening. ; V \ . It appears probable that a large addition will be made to the female population in tins jirpyince during the next six months. From'information received from the .agents in.; Britain, we- gather that the Star of Tasmania, from London, brings 25' female adults ; v the Sevilla, from the Gly'e, s which sailed on tHe Ist August, had on hoard ;127: female adults'- and the Pladda, also from the Clyde, will bring about 2obV-tne Chile, whicli was to sail;frorn liondonjon the.2Bth August, will:ilso. bring a. considerable-number The agents expect to despatch the Ben Lomond from the Ciydesome time in October, with 200 passengers. She.is stated to be an entirely new ship, and owned by Donaldson, Rise & Co.-, of Aberdeen, and is believed to'be -as fine a passenger ship as ever left the Clyde.. Her commander, Captain Smart, is very highly spoken of, and the agents intend sending a* large number of females under his charge., It is'anticipated-that a large number of .immigrants will be despatched during-the month of November^ but,as yet tb.e ( agents Mvo not made any definite arrangements regarding a Yeaseljior that date,,; -' /

We understand from a pri/ate source that the Christcllu.rch Election for the Provincial Council did not terminate as expected. Instead of Mr Tancred being the successful candidate his oppo. neut, 'Mr Hawkes, polled about 230 votes to his 70. Mr Williams was returned for Heathcote by a majority of 24 votes. . * ;

" The Utility of the Science of Natural History," was the title of a lecture delivered in Knox's Church, last evening, by Dr. Hector, Provincial Geologist; it being the second of the course in connection with the Young Men'B Christian Association. Mr Street, vice-president, occupied the chair. The lecture was an able ex.position of the special advantages derivable from the study of natural history, in training the mind to the comparative observation of natural objects, which is the best preparative for the real business of life, whether in its practical or philosophical aspects. The lecturer especially pointed out how this skill of observation would have an important influence on the future of this'colony; for extensive and careful observations and records, by many persons, of the results of the introduction of sheep upon the virgin soil—of what plants and grasses appeared or disappeared; and how their destruction was affected—must tend to increase the powers of wool production. His Honor the Superintendent moved a vote of thanks to Dr Hector, for his very interesting address. His Honor said that he did not pretend to be in the secrets of the Government, but he believed it was their intention to organise an expedition to the West Coast, in which Dr Hector would accompany the SurveyorGeneral. (Applause.) He hoped that about this time next year, probably, he might have the honor of asking Dr. Hector to give to the members of the Association, an account of the proceedings of that expedition. (Applause.) We i propose to publish Dr Hector's lecture in extenso.

A very interesting comedy of character was produced at the Princess' Theatre last evening, under the title of " Caspar Lavater." If we mistake not, it is of French origin, and certainly as " Not a Bad Judge," Mr Webster, by his impersonation of the hero, made it a great favorite in London. The plot consists in the great physiognomist, by the aid of his science, being enabled to save a young girl from an unjust charge of murder, and to foil an escaped convict, one Mariani, who assumes the name of the Marquis de Trcval, whom he has murdered and plundered. The chief interest centres in Lavater—a character exceedingly difficult for an actor, because true effect can only be given to it by the abandonment of all the ordinary tricks or arts of stage effect. A meditative old man lias to be represented, calmly impenetrable because of , his temperament; or still more so, perhaps, from the effects upon that temperament of the severe study and reflection out of which has grown that loved science, in the truth of which he believes unshakenly, although circumstances f>r a time seem to give it the lie. The calm gaze upon the face of the man whom he suspects to be the villain ;—the hesitating utterance while ho notes features, and tries to connect apparently disconnected events—these and similar traits are not likely to be ordinarily of interest to playa goers ; but in the hands of one who has clearly conceived the character of the old philosopher, and has the courage to act it out, they become essential elements in the composition of a part which can never be well played without deeply interesting any reflective person. Mr. George Fawcett succeeded thoroughly in the task which we have indicated, and so he mainly contributed to the success achieved for the piece last evening Mr T. Fawcett was fairly effective as the rascal who pretends to be the Marquis. Mr J. Dunn, sen., was good as- the empty-headed fussy burgomaster ; and Miss E. Wiseman deserves a word of commendation for her acting of Louise. Miss Fanny Wiseman danced an Irish jig so spiritedly, that she was encored, and she repeated the perlormance. The burlesque " Cinderella " was the concluding piece.

" Ambition" was played a third time at the Theatre Royal last evening, to a good house. The tomb scene was especially applauded. It is an excellent piece of architectural painting, and reflects much credit upon the artist. The drama is to be repeated this evening ; and on Friday, Mr Ryan, a good actor and a general favorite, takes his benefit.

A short time since, in noticing the performance of the English Opera Troupe at the Commercial Concert Hall,.we took occasion to remark that it would be well if they could manage to give a morning concert. The hint thus thrown out, has been taken and improved upon. It has been decided to give a Grand Morning Concert at the Princess' Theatre, in which not only Madame ' Carandini and her company, but Miss Emma Neville and all the musical talent of the theatre, will take part. The concert will take place on - Friday, 24th October, at 2 p.m. The programme has already been published, and presents a very attractive bill jpf fare, comprising operatic selec- ■-■•- tions, ballads, duets and glees, besides a great variety of instrumental performances, among which we notice a duet for violin and piano, by Messrs Fleury and Loder ; and a duet for two cornopeans, by Messrs R. and J. Kohler. It can hardly fail to attract a full audience, the more especially as the prices of admission have been fixed at a low rate for the pit and stalls,—all the upstairs portion of the house being reserved.

Yesterday evening, a man entered a shop for tlie purpose of making some trifling purchase, when he laid down a half-crown in payment. .Tue shopkeeper doubting the genuineness of thecoin, refused to receive it, when Mr Holt, who! was present afc the time, exchanged it for its equivalent in smaller coin. The half-crown, on examination, turned out to be one of Charles 11.,. dated 1663, being one year short of two hundred years old. The face of the coin bears theinscrip- ■ ,! tion " Carolus It., D.G. ;" the obverse side having the words* V Rx. Mag. Br, Fra. et Hib." The coin is in excellent preservation. By its appear- ; ance it could not liave been much in circulation : for the last hundred and fiity yearsMany of our readers will have. doubtless observed during the last day or two a number, of > pipes being laid? along the principal streets of Duriedin. These are the pipes for the supply of gas, and are the property of the Dnnedin Gas Company. Mr Hutchison, the ■ engineer to the Company,, returned from Ifcl bourne, by the Aldinga, having purchased on ad- < vantagebus' terms, and shipped, all the ' plant necessary for the starting 'of the Company, and, as a considerable portion , of the plant has already arrived it has, been decided to commence the wo/ks this morning. J It is anticipated that the City will be lighted up - with gas within fourteen -weeks from the present •' time. In the laying down of the pipes it has been. •!• arranged to begin at the^ Cavershara end of '\ Princes-street, the object being to gefrasmuch of ,' the.piping as possible laid, before the pavement, I to avoid the expense and annoyance of cutting up • Vj " the asphalte.-s < r.>^h .•- -• >

The iron bridge for tbcvTaieri River, the first of the kind, we believe, to be-constructed in this province, .is;; expected by the ship Pladda, which ■was to leave the Clyde in September. The convict Fratsoh has become much calmer than he was during the first few- days after his conviction. He for a considerable time refused to touch any food, but he now takes his meals regularly. He .has been several times visited by the Rev. Mr Edwards ; and the Rev. Mr Smith, the chaplain, is in almost constant attendance upon the wretched man. The criminal business of the Supreme Court will,, no doubt, be finished by Friday evening, and on Monday the civil case 3 will be commenced. Yesterday, John Patten, solicitor, was acquitted ■ on the charge of fraudulently converting money to his own use ; but Mr Justice Gresson said that the facts of the case were such that he should order Patten to show cause why he should not be struck off the rolls ot the Supreme Court. Michael Morgan was sentenced to six mouths' hard labor for feloniously receiving a watch, chain, and scarf, stoleu at Waitahnna. The only cases now remaining are the three of rape, which will be commenced this morning, and a charge of embezzlement against Benjamin Bristow.