THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2792, 25 January 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1878.

A concert in aid or the " Harmonium Fund" took place last evening, in the Tararu school-house, before a large and appreciative audience. A young lady opened the entertainment with a piano solo well-played, and after a glee had been given Miss Hunter and Mr .Paul sang the duet, " I know a bank," very effectively. Mr Day made his debut before a Thames audience in " Happy moments." This gentleman is possessed of a baritone voice of good quality and large compass, and he sang with expression. Miss Cleave was encored in "Give me freedom ever." Mr Fricker sang very sue* cessfully "My Old Friend John." After a duet by Miss Hunter and Mr Steedman, Miss McNeill sang a song, and Mr Steward rendered " Take back the heart" in a pleasing manner. Mra Gribble also sang "We parted by the river side." A solo on the piano "Silvery Waves" by Miss Clark was well played, and after another glee had been sung, Mr McGregor gave "The Scout" very successfully. Tito Mattel's romanza " JNon Ever " by Misa Hunter was probably the gem of the evening; Mr Paul followed with "Ye Gallants of England," after which Miss Taylor made her debut, and in response to an encore gave "An Ivy Leaf" very sweetly. Mr Hope gave " I would I were a bird ;" Misses Hunter and McNeill followed in a duet, after which Mr Day sang the only comic song of the evening, and was applauded. Mr Forbes' song, " The Lass of Gowrie," was next on the programme, and the evening's entertainment concluded with the glee, " Chough and Crow." Great praise must be given to the piano accompaniments, especially Miss Steedman's and those by Mr Bell and Mr Paul. A word of praise mutt also be given to Mr Steedman for his courteous attention to the visitors.

DtrßiNO the interruption of the Singapore and Batavia cable, messages will be forwarded by steamers tearing Batavia on the evenings of the 25th and 31st of January.

A pigeonsbxm was received this mornIng stating that an accident had occurred at the Waitekauri Ccimpany'i battery, by which ft man named Morton had the small bone of his leg broken by getting it entangled in a pulley. Arrangements were being made for bringing the man into Paeroa, and it is expected that he will be brought down to the Hospital today.

The first of the series of erangelistical services conducted by the Be? Dr Somerville took place at the Wesleyan church at noon to day, there being about 200 people present. On the platform, besides the Rev Dr Somerville, were the Revs J. T. Hinton, E. S. Bunn, 8. J. Neil), J. Nixon, and all the Protestant denominations were represented in the audience. Several of the ministers present engaged in prayer, and then the Rev Dr Somerville delivered a soul-stir-ring address, taking for his text the words "Be of good cheer." The address was full of that passionate earnestness and eloquence that characterises Mr Somervillo's oratory, and his many beautiful similjes from Holy Writ were peculiarly striking, and could not fail to have an effect on his hearers. During the service a number of the hymns in Mr Sankey's beautiful collection were sung by an improvised choir under the leadership of Mr Somerville, junior. The services concluded with the pronouncing of the benediction by the Rev. S. J. Neill. The acoustic properties of the building were greatly assisted by the stretching of a number of wires across the main body of the building. Another service will be held at the Theatre Royal to-night, and it will be noticed from the advertisement in to-day's issue that some changes in the programme have been made.

Ix connection with the musical treat offered to the Thames public to-night by the Levy Concert . Company we would take the opportunity to remark that the public are indebted to the enterprise of Mr C. Curtis, who hai assumed -the responsibility of bringing the company down bere. Jt is not the first time Mr Curtis has shown the same speculative spirit, and we trust that the patronage this evening will not only be such as to en-, courage him in tbe same direction, but give him a handsome profit on his venture.

In another column appears an advertisement detailing the various contracts to be let for tbe County works on tbe Obinemuri road, tenders for which will be received up to Thursday the 31st inst. at the County Council Chambers, pollen street. There are eight contracts to be let, comprising the construction of two bridges, making of various culverts, fencing, clearing, cutting, filling and forming the road. Tbe County officials are at present busily employed both in office aud field work preparing plans,

specifications, estimates and surveying and laying off' the- different sections, and the County uuthorities certainly deserve credit for tho energy which they hare exhibited in ranking Hsenecessary preparation to get a start made at this important work as soon as possible. This is~ advisable lo enable advantage to be taken of tho fine weather, and also to employ speedily the surplus labor of which it may bo mentioned there is a good deal hero at present. We understand that when these works are completed the Ohinemuri road will be passable for ft buggy as far as Hikutaia,

The monthly inspection of the No. 2, H.8.V., and the Naval Brigade, will take place at their respective drill sheds this evening at the usual time. The No. 2 are reminded of the usual church parade on Sunday.

An advertisement re the T.E..E. prizefiring, to-morrow, appeari in another column.

Ax the Resident Magistrate's Court today tho usual civil sitting was held. Messrs Kilgour and Lawlor occupied the Bench for the first case, an application for rehearing in the matter of the Collector of County Bates versus A. Hume, which they refused. Captain Fraser took the remainder of the cases, which were quickly disposed of. There were 44 oases on the list, in most of which the amounts were paid or judgments confessed. A report appears elsewhere.

Cliffobd's Mirror of the World will open at the Academy of Music on the evening of the 29th instant. This exhibition, which comprises some 2030 views of the most interesting and historical places and buildings in the world, has been got together by Mr G. P. Clifford, an old colonist, who conceived the idea, that correct views of places of public interest at home would prove acceptable to colonists. He has succeeded in accumulating the best collections of views and statuary ever shown out of England, and his oxy-bydrogen lime light apparatus is the most powerful of its kind made. A real treat it in store for old colonists.

Many of our readers will be glad to hear of the success of an old favorite on the stage, Mr J. L. Hall. "Utility Man," the theatrical writer of the New Zealand Sun, refers to Mr Hall's success with the Christmas pantomime as follows t —The Soldene Troupe do not seem to draw in Dunedin as was universally expected. The upper part of the theatre will not fill, while the pit and stalls are generally overflowing. And lam glad to see that Johnny H all has been drawing in the dollars very luxuriantly with hii pantomime. Many people there were who had predicted an utter prostration and collapse of his little troupe, when the Soldenea advented in " Auld Eeekie," but the result has been of a totally different nature. The Dunedin Star of the 2nd thus records Hall's sue* cuss : —Mr Hall is reaping quite a harvest with his Christmas pantomime at the Queen's. Last night so large was the attendance in the lower part of the house that long before eight o clock Mr Wiseman was compelled to have a notice posted in the passage that "standing room only " could be obtained. Mr Emmet introduced a hew local song on the "Dunedin Juries," which took immensely. The pantomime will be repeated until further notice.

The German Postmaster-General, Here Stephen, hag showed a telephonic instrument to the German Emperor, and explained the manner in which it. is worked. The Emperor .took an interest in the explanation, and remarked that if Herr Stepban had produced such an instrument 600 years ago he would have been burned* as a sorcerer. The Emperor then proposed (hat a German name should be given to the instrument, and upon Herr Stepban suggesting " Fernsprecher "— far-speaker—the Emperor signified his approval. By that name, therefore, the telephone will henceforth be known in Germany.