THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2782, 14 January 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 1878.

We learn that to-morrow tenders will be called for the first section of the Kauaeranga Valley .Koad, which will be for cutting down Eewi's hill another tweuty feet from the present crown. This work will be a great convenience to a number of settlers in the valley, who have been delayed in extending farming operations by the difficulty and expense of carrying implements and stores to their farms. It will also bo of servico in another direction, in that it will render available for settlement a considerable block of land at the disposal of the Waste Lands Board—a block which we have been informed contains some hundreds of acres of very good land. Surveys for the completion of the road are being energetically prosecuted.

At the Roman Catholic Church yesterday, during both morning and evening services, several members of the U.S. Minstrel troupe were present, and assisted the choir. In the morning, during the offertory, Mr E. Amery sang Clifton's " Ecce Deus," and his fine bass voice was heard to great, advantage in the rendition of that piece ; and Mr Eobinson, a local amateur, who possesses an exceeding good voice, sang the " Gloria" solo. Jn the evening Mr T. Campbell sang Weiss's " O Salutaris." This fine piece of music was done ample justice to by the singer, whose strong rich baritone was well suited to the music. Mr Amery's singing of the " Tandem Ergo" was also much admired. We must say that the thanks of the congregation are due to these talented vocalists who came forward so willingly to assist in the vocal portion of the service of their church.

The Bey. Father Chastagnon delivered a discourse at the Willoughby street Catholic Church last night on the new Education Act, a resume of which is crowded out by a pressure of local and telegraphic matter.

By an error, the name oF W. Adam instead of W. Adams, appeared in our report of the R.M. Court sitting. Mr J. W. Adlam called 'our attention to the error and wishes ifc corrected, as many persons might think he was the person intended by the name W. Adlam appearing.

" Tahite," the theatrical' critic of The Australasian notices the return to the colonies of a gentleman who may be expected shortly at the Thames. He says: —I have received a letter informing me that Mr Stephen Massett, whose norn de plume and norn de theatre —for he is both actor and author—is " Jeems Pipes, of Pipesville," ha 9 renewed his intention of coming again to Australia. With the letters has come also a photograph wirier tells me that this pleasant entertainer is not now the dapper young man he was when he was here 20 years ago, but that he has grown grey and furrowed. But if the picture tells the truth, he has lost none of the cheery brightness he had at that time. He was truly a merry companion, and I remember most agreeably how well able he was to amuse tin audience during a couple of hours without any aid to his own efforts. If he has not lost his cunning he will be welcome, and if he has he will be welcome still, for old acquaintance sake, to those who knew him when he was here before.

A special telegram to the Auckland Star says :—lt is rumoured that Mr Bullance will become Minister of Lands, in place of Mr Macandrew, but it is not known what new port'olio the latter will take. Mr Stout is expected to join the Ministry as Attorney-General. Mr Stout, however, has a good business of his own in JDunedin, and his joining the Ministry would be a pecuniary loss not a gain.