Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 212, 10 September 1877, Page 2

A cable message from our Special Correspondent at Sydney records the wreck of the s.s. Lord Ashley on Saturday night, between Newcastle and Melbourne. The Lord Ashley was one of the first steamers trading regularly to the New Zealand coast, being one of the Intercolonial Royal Mail Company's original fleet, which then comprised the Lord Ashley, Lord Worsley, Airedale, and Prince Alfred. Three of the four are now wrecked, only the last named surviving. The Lord Ashley was the second to arrive in New Zealand, making the passage out in 140 days. She was 435 tons gross, 290 tons net. The Lord Ashley latterly has been trading as a collier between Melbourne and Newcastle, under command of Captain Randall, who was in charge at the time of the wreck. The s.s. Wanaka did not get away from Nelson until shortly before 10 o'clock this morning, therefore is not likely to reach Wellington until to-morrow morning, especially as the weather is very thick, and she will be obliged to coast round to Picton under easy steam. The mail probably will be delivered by business hours to-morrow. On Saturday evening, a select company, among whom were many M.H.R.'s, assembled at the Museum to pass judgment upon a series of photographic views of New Zealand, shown by lime-light. Mr. Clifford, the exhibitor, proposes to make a tour round the Old World with his views, and he asks the Government to subsidize him, in consideration of the interest in New Zealand which such a diorama would excite. Under these circumstances, it behoves us to speak very plainly. We agree with the idea of subsidizing an exhibition such as that proposed, but we cannot approve of one penny of the public money being given to Mr. Clifford, unless great changes are made in his programme. Some few of the views are worthy of being classed as works of art; the majority are very mediocre ; and the rest are unmitigatedly bad. So far as an experience' of many years has enabled us to observe, New Zealand houses are generally built on the perpendicular; but the good folk at Home, if they pin their faith on Mr. Clifford's views, will* inevitably conclude that everything here, from trees to houses, is what can but be described by that horrid Americanism, " slantindicular." The choice of views could not well be worse. About five-sixths are views of Dunedin/ the vest of New Zealand furnishing the other sixth. Mr. Clifford's heart is in Dunedin, and we can sympathise witn his pride in his adopted town; but it is not necessary for him to praise it to the disparagement of Christchurch and Wellington. We can certainly name fifty buildings in Wellington of vastly suporior character to the small houses, second-rate hotels, and ordinary shops, which, because they Mong to his Dunedin friends, Mr. Clifford has taken the opportunity to advertise. Before we can back up the claim of Mr. Clifford for a subsidy, at least three-fourths of his present views must be thrown aside, and others, superior in class, and more general in character, must take their place. By-the-bye, when several of the views were exceptionally indistinct, Mr. Clifford explained that he intended to paint all the slides, and so improve them. They might be improved by the painting; they might be rendered even worse; any way, Mr. Clifford should have painted one or two dozen plates as a specimen of the work. How can the Government subsidize him when in the dark with regard to such an important detail ? On Saturday about midnight a fire occurred in a four-roomed cottage in Sydney-street, off Molesworth-street which for a time threatened to prove somewhat disastrous to a large number of similar tenements situated in that locality. The cottage was occupied by a working man named Seivere, who states that he had left the place early in the evening, and his family, who were out at Karon had not returned. He had not the slightest idea how the fire occurred, and his furniture was totally uninsured. Shortly after the appearance of the central Brigade, which was first on the spot, the fire was speedily got under, and, although the building itself was completely gutted and the furniture of coure damaged, the flames were prevented spreading to the adjoining buildings, a large number of which were as already stated in the most imminent danger of being destroyed. The only occupier of the cottage was a little poodle which escaped with a severe ducking, but was not otherwise any the worse for the dangerous confinement it had undergone. Certainly the brigades deserve credit for their prompt attendance not only at this but at other city fire 3 generally. A dinner wUI be given this evening at the Theatre Royal Hotel by the Licensed Victuallers Association to the delegates from the other provinces who have attended in Wellington to confer as to the Local Option Bill. The dinner is likely to be largely attended and in addition to the trade, the representatives of some of the leading mercantile firms are likely to ba present, together with a sprinkliug of members of the House rf Representatives to whom special invitations have been sent. The Octoroon was repeated on Saturday evening for the last time at the Theatre Royal to a very good general house, and the entertainment appeared to be very well received. We notice that this evening the somewhat sensational American production entitled " Buffalo Bill, or life on the frontier," will be produced for the first time, and, according to the brief published description of the drama, it should be one full of startling incidents, and thrilling situations, being a representation of life in the wilds ot the far west of America, amongst the Indians, in which Buffalo Bill acted as scout, trail, and hunter in the Sioux Indian campaign. With such a sensational programme it may be fairly expected there will be a liberal attendance, the management having made every arrangement to render the drama a success. The new petit comely of the " Illustrious Stranger " will conclude the entertainment. We predicted, on tbo opening of the Pictorial Exhibition and Fine Arts Union in St. George's Hall, that it was likely to be a success; and how far that promises to be true may be judged from the fact that- up till Saturday evening something like 3000 tickets have been sold. The Variety performance in itself is sufficiently attractive to draw an audience at the price charged, and when accompanied with a view of the splendid collection of pictures and articles of vertu arranged about the Hall, a vL.it to the place is rendered exceptionally interesting. The Hall was crowded on Saturday evening. We notice that the favorite actress Miss Lizzie Morgan will make her appearance to-night with the Variety Company, so that a treat may be expected. The Bantam Minstrels, as they are pleased to call themselves, gave a very successful entertainment in the Odd Fellows' Hall, Lower Hutt, on Saturday evening, in aid of the building fund of St. James' Church. The performance, which comprised various solos choruses, together with the farce " Half-a-crown per annum," was very well received by tho audience, who appeared to appreciate the efforts of the troupe in forwwding the laudable i