The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4554, 9 August 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1883.

Thb numerous friends of Mr T. Aitken, late Hospital dispenser, will regret to learn that he lies in a hopeless condition, and that his death is daily expected.

About ten o'clock last night a small glare attractod the attention of some Shortland residents. The cause turned out to be a chimney of the Railwayl Terminus Hotel which had caught fire, and was promptly put ont. ' '" .''"•. ' ':'r. '"■'■■

It is stated that the Horn W. W. Johnston, Minister of Public Works, is likely to leave for England early next year, and does not intend to seek reelection for his present Beat in Parliament. - >

:: Thb.following telegram was posted at the Corner this afternoon :—" 801bs specimens to-day from slope going east; gold showing in face.—J. Gabvey, Bright Smile."'

Da .Kii.aoua presided at this morniag's sitting of the Police Court, and fined a bushman named Robs 5s with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment for drunkenness. It is a pity that the Blue Bibbon Army cannot extend its usefulness to buelimen, as during the lost month the major portion of bacchanalians „ brought before the Court have been of this class.

Thb Queen's Variety Troupe gave their firßt performance in the Acadomy of Music last night, in aid of Mr' J McNamaru. There was a capital attendance, front seats, gallery, and pit being well filled. The entertainment was a great success, and reflects credit on the manager, Mr W. Connon, aiid all who took part in it. The drawing-room entertainment was well received by the audience, and the songs by Messrs Targett, J. Jones, and others were loudly applauded. The performance on the horizontal bar, in which W. Connon, J. Sullivan, J. McConnell, W. Grundy, C. O'Brien, and E. Inglis took part, was the next item on the programme. A comic song by G. Martin followed, and W. Connon and E. Otter then gave an exhibition on the double trapeze, for which they received well-merited applause. Then came a mirthprovoking farce, and after an interval "of five minutes; Mr G. Bryant Bang " The Comet of the West," for which he was encored, giving " Beautiful Nell" in response. More acrobatic feats followed, aud a farce, " The Great Arrival," brought the performance to a close: The hall was then cleared for dancing. The amount taken at the doors was £19, and the fatal propeede will be about £36. After

paying expenses, it is expected that £20 will be available for preseutation to the beneficiary. DtraiNG the summer large quantities of flounders &o. are caught by our local fishermen, and there is always ft steady demand for them in Auckland. The hot weather, however, very often prevents the fisher from obtaining the reward of his toil, as the fish in many instances will not keep long enough to ensure their selling in town. Mr Payne, of Shortland, with commendable enterprise, has determined if possible, to utilise the large " takes" of, fish during the warm weather, and has j ordered an ice-making machine from America. It will be here in about two months' time, and will be capable of turning out 12 cwt of ice in 24 hours. With this convenience the fish will be frozea directly the boats come in> and—packed in ice—be sonfc to Auckland by steamer* A regular supply will thus be kept up. We hope the undertaking will meet with the succets it deserves. i>

The steamer Haihou yesterday took the remains of 280 Chinese away from Dunedin to be re-interred in the Flowery Land. Ib. is understood that £7 per body is paid for their conveyance to Hongkong. A quanhty of.beef and pork is being exported from Auckland to Mauritius, via Sydney, previous exportation proving. satisfactory to the consignees. A late telegram says:—The Fiery Cross mine at Beefton has struck a reef in the 450 feet level. The stone haa not been broken into, but the borings show good gold. Mrs Mabton Sooti, a widow in Auckland, aged 65, who was frightened the other day by the monkey which savagely assaulted an infant, and who has been ailing ever sinoe, died suddenly this morning. An inquest is to be held.

Ai yesterday's sitting of the Wellington Supreme Court in banco, before Justice Richmond, Mr E. Shaw, the leading counsel for plaintiff, intimated that he and Mr Bernard had agreed that both motions for a new trial in the action Hunt v. Sir A. Gordon should be granted ; the rules to be returnable in two month's time. His Honor accordingly made an order to that effect. Mr Bell,asked that the proceedings should be printed for the Court of Appeal, to which his Honor consented. ' Mb John EichabdSon, printer, aged 76, the oldest member of the craft in New Zealand, was buried yesterday. He went to Auckland from Sydney for the New Zealand Printing Company in 1841 The Auckland manager of the New Zealand Shipping Co. is advised by wire that tha s.B'. Doric arrived at St. Vincent on the sth instant, making an excellent passage. The Doric is en route from Plymouth to Auckland. The "Union Sash and Dor Company have voted £25 to the sick and accident fund of the Auckland Fire Brigade, in recognition of their wervicea at the late fire at the factory.

The Dunedin gaol inquiry concluded yesterday. Mr Caldwell was cross-examined by Captain Hume and afterwards by Mr Whiteford. —Mr Solomon, counsel for Mr Caldwell, then made a lengthy speech, reviewing? the evidence. Captain Hume then asked leave to reply to the personal allusions made concerning him by Mr Solomon, to which that gentlemen strongly objected. The Commmissioners took till Friday to consider the point.

The conTaleßcent patients by the Oxford at the Wellington quarantine station are complaining of being detained there, and are making application to be released. Owing to the length of time since they embarked (seven months) some of them' are greatly in need of clothing and other necessaries. Subscriptions on their behalf hare been started. The Public Petitions Committee report on the petition of Mrs Withers, widow of; the late Major Withers, recommending her case to the favourable consideration of the House. The first issue of shares in the Auckland Freezing Company (20,000 at £5) has been more than coyered by the applications sent in. The cutter Chelsea,-which has been lying at anchor in.the intake for months past, has changed hands, and her new owners are fitting her up ready to resume trading. A PABOEii of about 4cwtstone from the Retreat claim, Karangahake, was being put through the tingle stamper at the Alburnia mill to-day. The quartz is brown in nature, and showed up pretty well on the plates, but as it contains a good deal of silver, this cannot be taken as a criterion of its worth The proprietors of the claim have a five-ton lot ready to forward here, but thought it best tofirßt crush a smaller parcel.

An error appeared in our leading article last night owing to a figure being left out; it. was ..in the amount granted to the County untfer "Theßoads and' Bridges Construction Acjj" and instead of reading " a little over £1100 was granted, &c," the figures should hare been £11,000.