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Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 3011, 11 December 1879, Page 2

A specimen of the coal found in sinking on Mr Beedell's property, North Koad, has been forwarded to our office, where it may be seen by anyone interested.

We are informed that the secretary of the Chiniquy Reception Committee has been advised by cablegram that the reverend lecturer leaves Sydney for Auckland on the 23rd inst., so that he may be expected to arrive on the 28th.

We acknowledge with thanks £1 fromJDr. Kenderdiue on behalf of widow Boyle. _„

uilvertisomontfelscwherc that tlie meeting of the delegates of the.various friendly societies re the purposed '-united deiuonstntiou will be held in the lodge-room of the Young Men's Christian Association building, Wellesley-street, to-morrow (Friday evening), at 8 o'clock.

vMr DeOourcy, of 2GO Queen-street, announces in art union of forty valuable works of art, at 10s per member. The drawing is to take place as early as possible.

Mr P. Doran still adheres to the old adage "never despair," and has arranged for a variety troupe entertainment on Wednesday evening next, in the Dcvonport Hall, North Shore. The programme will be crowded Yfithnovelties in song, music,and tarce. Mr K. Love, the popular vocalist, and several comic melodists will appear with a new budget of ballads. A golden clog dance will be given, and other specimens of dancing. The North Shore people therefore may anticipate a varied treat, agreeable and mirthful

The Weslcyan friends of Ponsonby will be pleased to learn that the Rev. Mr Griffin has arrived South, and may be expected next week in Auckland.

The members of thebattcry ol Artillery are notified by advertisement in another column that their presence is required at a parade this evening, which has been ordered for the consideration of some important business. In our last issue the parade was erroneously referred to as that of the new battery of Artillery.

Professor Fraser is threading his way pleasantly through the natural beauties of the Waikato districts. He is sojourning at present in Cambridge, and last night delivered a. lecture on " What is Phrenology?" A respectable and appreciative audience, consisting of members of the most respectable families of the neighbourhood, and bj a generally expressed wiah he consented to give a second lecture on the same subject. .Professor Frnscr is highly delighted with the country, which is promising and capable of almost unlimited development by culture. The professor will return to Auckland towards the end of the next week, aud remain at his residence in Piiuces-street during the Christinas and New Year ho'idays

A meeting of the crcdiors of J. M. Stephen, formerly of Shurtland - street, Auckland, took place this morning, at the Supreme Court buildings. The liabilities were declared at £277, of which £IG9 is secured, and assets £50, nominal. Mr Thos ( Muciliirlano was appointed trustee.

At the Hotham Town Hall, Melbourne, Mr Jas. J. Brcunun, GS. "of the United Order of Druids, was entertained at a social reunion to celebrate his return from New Zealand, where he has lately been in'the interest of the Druids. A large nunibor of members of the order and friends attended, and everything passed of in a pleasant manner.

Tlio " Molbourno Age" gives the following opening notice to tho Victoria Loftus Troupe : '" The Victoria Loftus Troupe of blondes, who havo arrived recently from America via Kow Zealand, made their lirst appearance in Melbourne at the Opera House last: evening. They were welcomed by a very large audience, standing room in tho theatre being eonrcoly obtainable ; but whatever may have been the powerful source i f attraction, we are afraid that the entertainment can scarcely have realised expectations. The performance, which is of tho music-hall style, is not of high order of merit, though some members of tho company are clever in their particular lines.

Tke Zingara Royal Italian Steam Circus was largely patronised last evening, aud much fun was the result. The young ladies especially retained their seats upon tho swift steeds with admirable tact, without a fall. The lads were immensely noisy, and enjoyed the round ride, although one or two cumplaiued of temporary giddiness. The following conundrums were passable, and the piizos duly awarded :—" Why is the Zi agora Circus like the earth 2" " Because it goes round aud round, and is crowded with stars." "Why are the circus horses like pamphlets for the people?" " Because they were the work of Mr Kocburk." For the information of readers, and as a key to tho last conundrum we may stato that the circus horses wore mndo by Mr Roebuck, of Newton, and that " Pamphlet* for the People" were written by Mr John Arthur Roebuck, who represented Shetlicld for many years in the English parliament. Tho circus will be open every evening until further notice. The unemployed cf Sydney to tho number of six hundred signed a memorial to the Government, urging on public works.

A gentleman from the provinces went into the shop of a Parisian tailor to order .some clothes; While his measure was being taken ho said to tho sartorial Aristarchus, " You must find that I am very badly dressed !" " Oh, no," replied tlie artist ; "you arc not dressed—you are simply covered."

Another effort-will be made to contest Mr Williamson's right to the copyright of 11.M.5. Pinafore by Kelly aud Leon.

The committee of the Ucgatta Club met last night at fie Cosmopolitan Hotel, and drew up a capital programme of sailing and rowing matches for Anniversary Day, 1880. The events are 1(J in number, and the value of the prizes should ensure a large number of entries and close competitions. The first prizo,"for tlie'ctiampionschooner race, U £100 in rash and v. sextant presented by the secretary, and the sccoud prize £30, while the piizes for the large cutter raco are :—First, a silver cup worth £35, prosenlcd by Mr M. Gallagher, witli £15 added, second, £'20 in cash, aud third, £10 in cosh. A letter was received from His Worship the Mayor announcing his desire to oiler a silver cup worth teu guineas for compctiton by Mnnil yachts, while Mr A. JK. Isaacs also wroto intimating his intention to present a silver cup as a piize for tho open boat race. Wo understand that if sullicicnt entries arc received a whaloboat race will be inserted in the programme. The committee will now comtneuco the work of canvassing for subscriptions, and for tho credit of the port it is to bo hoped that they will moot with a hearty response from the citizens.

The following account of n death by lightning is given in a. Victorian paper:— Y)t Youl held an inquest on the body of George Macuirc, a lad, nine years of ago, who was killed by lightning at Brunswick on Monclny afternoon. John V. Mnguirc, father of the deceased, state that his son went to school on the afternoon in question, and was broucht home deadataboutSo'clock. His clothes smelt ot sulphur, his hair was burned on the back of the head, his back was blistered and a tree was photographed on his stomach. There was a thunderstorm at tie time. John Macgniro, brother of the deceased deposed that l'c and his brother left school to go homo at half-past 3 o'clock. It was then thunderiug and raining. Witness stopped to get a drink and deceased ran on. Soon afterwards there was a heavy clap of thunder, and witness saw his brother lying dead on the footpath. He ran home and favo tho alarm. James liyan, a publican, who picked the body up, said that life was quite extinct, and the clothes and boots of the doceuscd wore burned and torn.

The Temperance and General Provident Institution has published its thirty-eighth animal report: a document of sterling vnluo. It refers to an insurance instution, which, .formed in December, 1840, has now a capital of two aud a-lialf millions. The nett profits in 1878 were £166,000. One paragraph in tho report is of singular importance as bearing on the' question of vital statistics. Since 18!5O this institution has had two sections—one for total abstainers and one for moderate drinkers—respectively called the Temperance]! and General sections. During tho whole of that period the Temperance suction hai shown a superiority over the Genera) section, as evinced by the greater amount of bonus payable to the Temperance insurers. This superiority has becu maintained in every year of the entire series. What it was last year is attested by tho paragraph we now quote—"Theactuary, Mr U. P. Hardy, report:) the mortality on the LiEe Policies to have buen as follows, viz. :-Expected clnims iv tho temperance section IS7 for £35,873 : the actual claims were 117 for £24,338. In the general section 299 claims were expected for £62,451; the actual have been 317 for £63,735. It thus appears that the total claims were 434; but those in the temperance' section were 117 instead of 187 as expected, and those .in the general section 317 instead of 299 as expected ; in tho ono case 70 fewer than expected, in the other 18 more. If the temperance section claims had been according to the general section rate they would have been 19S, whereas they were only 117 ; and had tho claims in the general auction boon as thoso in the tempcrauce section were, they would have been 191, whereas they wore actually 317! Allowing a broad niarpin for accidental fluctuation, the disparity is so remarkable that, taken in conjunction with the facts of twentyeight preceding years, it ought to put an end to the fallacy which associates the use of strong drink with longevity and health."

"Alliance News," June 7th, 1879.

At a large party the other evening the conversation appeared to lie dying out, when a bilious man'suddenly observed to a lady on his right, "I dou't think they make pills as largo ts they used to.'-—" Court journal,"