THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2580, 14 April 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1877.

. We have not space for a leading article to-day, and several items of interest are suppressed or but referred to in brief. To-day's.".calograms, taken in conjunction with yesterday's, afford food for reflection for the thoughtful who have watched the course of events from the commencement of hostilities in the Turkish tributary provinces, during the long course of negotiations by the Great Powers, down to the present. Yesterday we were informed that "War was inevitable;" to-day we learn that Russia will advance her army unless Turkey resumes negotiations with Montenegro. If the struggle could be left to Russia and Turkey we firmly believe that ah almost unanimous wish would arise to see the two nations try conclusions, aud bring about a final settlement.

A feeling of suspense pervaded the minds of speculators and holders of Moanataiii scrip during yesterday, and even well on into the evening. This was caused by the uncertainty which prevailed regarding the decision arrived at by tho directors as to the future working of the mine. At one t:.ne it was reported that the winze was to be put down

on the gold. Then, shortly after, the hopes of those who had bought at high prices were damped by a contradiction of this rumour, and a positive assertion that I the mine was to be worked as had been already, settled; and the latter report was somewhat strengthened by another report, that Mr Comer had, with characteristic bluntness, threatened to send in his resignation if the directors decided to put the winze down on the gold. The anniversary sermons in connection with the Congregational Sunday School will be preached to-morrow by the Rev. Mr Robertson, late of Melbourne, and successor to the Rev. J. T. Warlow Davies of Auckland. An address will bo delivered in the afternoon by the Rev. R. S. Bunn. Special collections will be made at all the services in aid of the school funds.

The programme of the concert in aid of the Catholic Boys' School, Walters street, to take place next Tuesday, appears in our advertising columns today. Wb notice the p.s. Lai la Rookh will leave Grahamstown wharf for Auckland to-morrow, Sunday afternoon, at four o'clock.

We understand that the contract for filling in the Parawai school-house ground has-been given to a Mr Adams, the amount being £44. A new culvert, of larger siza than the old one, has been laid down this week across the road from the Bank of New Zealand corner to the Wharf Hotel corier. The work has been carried , out under the direction of the Foreman of Works, and was completed to-day, considerable expedition having been shown in the work. Mb J. D. Wickham intimates that he does business on 'Change at one and-a-quarter per cent, less than the associated mining agents, and that he furnishes, viva voce, quotations when required. Hegabty's "Globe Combination Artistes " will appear for the first time at the Theatre Royal this evening. We have seen some favorable notices of these artistes in our southern contemporaries, from which we augur a good reception for them this evening. Amongst other items in the programme is a feat known aa " the Arabian Box Mystery," which has never been seen here. There will be ventriloquism and magic, and that ever popular illusion the aerial suspension. Mb Sevebn, we are glad to notice, is meeting with great success as a lecturer in Punedin. lhe Of ago Guardian, noticing his first lecture, says :—"lt speaks significantly of the scientific tastes of this city when the mere announcement of a series )6f^scientific lectures by a gentleman personally unknown in the city, but having a^'high scientific repute, sufficed to draw together suck an audience as last night thronged the University Hall." On the second night Bishop Neville was to take the chair, and the subject of the lecture was to be artificial illumination. We are pleased to learn that Mr Severn's experience in Christchurch is not re* peated in Dunedin. . The Wangarei Comet has been resuscitated under the proprietorship of Messrs Alderton and Laogbridge, with the latter as editor. Mr Langbridge was one of the original proprietors of the Bay of Plenty Times, and more recently proprietor of the Waikato Times. . It will be seen that the bazaar in aid of the residence fund of the Baptist Church will be held in the Academy of Music on Friday and Saturday, the 27th and 28th April, and it is intimated to friends that they will oblige by sending in their contributions without delay. The performance of tte Brothers Reed for their complimentary benefit will take 'place at the Academy of Music on Monday evening next. We have pleasure in calling attention to the programme in today's issue. It "omprises twenty-three items —vocal, instrumental, foreign, and local, the latter being a favorite line with Mr W. H. Reed. We would bespeak for the brothers a bumper house, in recognition of their many gratuitous services in the cause of local charities. The Bishop of Lincoln has written to Sir Antonio Brady, objecting to the use of bags for the offertory as at variance (1) with the spirit and letter of the law of the Church, which prescribes " a decent basin;" (2) with the usage of the ancient Church of God ; (3) a3 leading to great evils, being the receptacles of scurrilous scraps from newspapers, and other things which had better not be mentioned, and" (4) as against a true interpretation of St. Matthew iv., 5 and 6, which is not directed aga:nst public almsgiving ; and (5) because, by means of the secrecy of bags some rich men, who ought to cast much into the treasury of God, do in fact put in the widow's two mites, without the widow's faith and love. His lordship adds, that the use of bags has been discontinued in several large churches in the diocese wilii good effect.—Pall MaU Gazette.

An elector at one of Mr Hutchinson's meetings in Wellington is stated by the Argus to have made, unintentionally, a very funny joke. He referred to the ques. tion of religion and nationality, and said he did not like to see such questions brought up at political meetings. What did it matter.what a man's nationality was? For his|part he was an Englishman, bufhe could rnive been born in Scotland or Ireland if he liked. It was nothing to do with anybody. This created a roar of laughter, in- which only the innocent elector could not join. The laugh was still more furious when he indignantly repeated that he was an Englishman, and that his "old woman " was an Irishman, but for all that it concerned no one.