THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1878.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2812, 18 February 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1878.

Mil Geobge McLean, M.H.R., an exMinister of the Crown—one who was regarded as the least useful member of the Atkinson Ministry—has received votes of confidence at the hands of constituents in three different places. This cannot be credited to any accession of popularity on the part of the honorable member; it must therefore be accounted for by the loss of caste o» Sir George Grey's part. Mr McLean was made a Minister, not so much for any heaven-born gifts of statesmanship, as to conciliate a section of Southern politicians; and while he waa a, member of the Atkinson Cabinet ho failed to distinguish himself by any «ct which could redeem his appointment

from being called ono of expediency. The hon. member did, however, apply himself conscientiously to master the details of the departments ov.er which ho had Ministerial eoutrol, and' so far succeeded that he was able to reply intelligibly to questions in the House regarding his departments when intelligibly put; and his previous training as a banker enabled him to deal familiarly with figures. As a debater,however, he waa too choleric, and frequently excited tho laughter of the Opposition. He was generally put forward at au early stage of any important debate in which his Government had an interest at stake. He has, however, steered his political course so satisfactorily as to elicit votes of confidence' from his constituents in several places, which is more than some of tho political leviathans have been able to achieve — Sir George Grey's triumphal tour of the Colony being the only other instance of such uniform success.

We publish to-day the first, portion of a "Retrospect of 1577," from the last number to hand of The Home News. This carefully compiled resume* of the events of the past year will be found interesting, and as the circulation of the Home News is comparatively limited, we make no apology for transferring the article to our columns.

The members of the Borough and County Councils who were present at the Conference at Hamilton last week returned (with ihe exception of Dr TCilgour and Mr W. L. Thorburn) on Saturday night.

We are requested to call altention to the time of departure of the steamer Enterprise from Curtis' Wharf to-morrow morning, namely 8 o'clock —not 6 a.m. as erroneously printed by a contemporary.

These was a partial eclipse of the moon last night, and the fineness of tho evening allowed the same to be fully observed. The duration of the eclipse was nearly four hours, the first observation being visible about half-past eight o'clock, and the lunar orb shining out bright and clear again shortly after 1 a.m. Forgetting that the moon was not at the full till yesterday, some people, misled by the Auckland Star's Almanac, were looking out for the eclipse on Saturday night, as that authority stated the partial eclipse of the moon would occur on the 16th.

The nine-inch pipes for fire extinguishing purposes in Albert, Brown and Owen streets are now laid down along the route, and tenders are called for laying the same, together withfire-plugs. Itmightbeaswell to consider whether there does not exist a necessity to carry the extension of this main.up Brown street south for, say one hundred feet. The Academy of Music and opposite buildings are so closely approximate that in case of fire on either side the other must go.

We would remind all those taking an interest in the matter that the adjourned meeting re the formation of a Horticultural Society will take place at the Governor Bowen Hotel this evening at halfpast seven. It is to be hoped that there will be a good attendance.

The annual picnic and fdte of the Catholic Sunday School children will take place on Wednesday next in one of the public gardens. The weather seems more settled now than for some time past, and we trust the children will hare it continue so for their annual outing, when, from the preparations in progress, they may be sure of a day's hearty enjoyment.

Fob some time past a movement has been on foot here amongst the various friendly societies to start a funeral reform association in connection with the lodges, all of which have admitted the desirability of such an institution. All preliminaries have now being arranged, and in another column tenders are called for conducting the funerals for members of friendly societies and their families, as per specification to ha seen at Mr Baleke's, Mary street.

These was lost during the commune an autograph letter from JNaria Sahib to Na poleon 111. offering to make him master of India if he would make war upon England. This letter used to be kept in the Tuilleries. The French Emperor answered the Indian chieftain by allowing British troops a free passage through France on their way to India.

S. Geobge's Sunday School is largely indebted to Miss Lush for the success of the children's Church Services and Ora torios, she having conducted all the practices and taken the organ on those occasions. A presentation from the teachers, as a mark of their regard for Miss Lush and sense of the value of her exertions, was made on their behalf by Mr G. JS T. Phillips, Superintendent, yesterday afternoon, with an address bearing their signatures. The gift was a very handsome Japanese cabinet, selected from the stock of Mr 11. Surra, and fitted up with writing and other requisites. Miss Lusb, in thanking the teachers, expressed the great pleasure she felt at this mark of Ihcir esteem, which was enhanced by its being totally unexpected.

We have been favored by Captain Butt with a boiling of what he calls ''peabeans," a vegetable in much favor with our American Cousins and those who have resided long enough in their country to become at all Americanised. The " pea-bean" is so called because when used as a winter vegetable (a dried bean very similar to that known as the " haricot") it possesses the minimum flavor of the bean, and approaches nearly to the pea. It has these advantagos —(1.) That when grown in summer it ;« a most prolific producer of green beans, which arf* better than the Fronph or scarlet runner, in being free from the " strings," requiring only the stalil and point to be broken off; and (2) that those left on the vines to mature can be picked and shelled, the beans forming a fine winter dish. To treat the latter properly they require to bo boiled for two hours with a bunch of mint. When so cooked they may be eaten as a vegetable with either roast or boiled—either plain, with a lump of butter and a sprinkling of b'acJc pepper, or with white sauce. Captain Butt has imported a large quantity of these beans, and he will be happy to give further information as to their culture, which when generally diffused will, we feel sure, conduce to the extensive culture of the: peabean.

A lady seeing a long-faced man holding himself nloof from the rest of the com* pany,< who were having a pleasant and merry tjme/snid, "If you are a fool, you act wisely ; if you are wise,' you act foolishly/ He proposed fcjiMjipn the spot, aad was accepted^^^rf^^^