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Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 781, 6 November 1865, Page 2

On Thursday, the 9th inst., the new Rifle Range at "Waikari will be opened by a competition for a prize given by Lieut. Leggat, formerly a member of the Dunedin Volunteers.

An inquest was held on Saturday before the Coroner on the body of the man Crawford, whose death under mysterious circumstances has already been reported. The evidence tended to prove that the decased had been laboring under hullucinations, and had committed suicide during a fit of temporary insanity. A verdict in accordance "with the evidence was returned.

We are requested to state that in consequence of the incomplete condition of the Masonic Hall, the monthly meetings of the various Lodges have been postponed until Thursday the 16th inst.

If the present fine weather only continues, Thursday next will be a great pleasure day in Dunedin. The gardens at Vauxhall will be opened for the season by a fete under the auspices of the Order of Foresters, and there will be also a large attendence of the members of other Orders and Secret Societies. The Volunteers will have a grand parade at 11 o'clock , the different companies are to meet at the Custom House, and will then march out to the Recreation Ground to fire a feu de joi. The Port Chalmers Naval Brigade will have a shooting competition for prizes in Sawyer's Bay, and a good contest is anticipated. As already announced, the day will be observed as a public holiday.

One of the parties of miners which recently started for the West Coast from the Wakatip via Dr Hector's track to Martin's Bay, has safely returned, being compelled to turn back for provisions after reaching the coast. The party

started on the 9th, and returned on the 28th, being absent nineteen days. The names of the party, so far as we can learn, are John Small, John Goodall, Robert Booth, and another man whose name we have not ascertained. They encountered wet weather, and were delayed three days, in consequence, at a creek on one occasion. On the morning of the 21st, the coast was reached; the trip from end to end occupying twelve days. The return trip from fifteen miles north of Martin's Bay to "Von Tunzlernan's, on the Lake "Wakatip, was easily accomplished in five days. They spent two days about the coast, thus making up the nineteen days the party were absent. They followed the coast for some twelve or fourteen miles north of Martin's Bay, in the hope of reaching Jackson's Bay ; but after travelling a very rough road along the coast they were " brought up " by a wide river and a large point running otit into the sea. The Wakatip Mail, from which paper we have taken these particulars, states that in a small bay north of Martin's Bay the party found "every indication of gold," and that splendid looking quartz reefs abound about the bay. On their way back they met Blondell and party (14) about a day's march from the Kakapo Lake, ■who reported tnexciselves as all well, and determined to make Jackson's Bay. One of Small's party turned back -with them.

The General Committee for arranging the forthcoming banquet, given by the citizens of Dunedin, to W. H. Reynolds, Esq., M.H.R., met this morning at the Provincial Hotel. W. Mason, Esq., (the Mayor) -was in the chair. A snb-committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, viz., Messrs A. Carrick, J. Kyman, Geo. Smith, J. Sibbald, and T. Birch, was appointed to carry out the necessary arrangements ; and we understand that the event will take place on the evening of next Wednesday week.

We have been favored by a gentleman in town with some Hokitika intelligence, transmitted to hirn this afternoon from Mr Brookman, at Lyttelton. The latest news is to the effect that the Dart had not arrived, and that there was " no bar" to the river. We-presume that this latter paragraph means that the variable course of the freshets has, for the time being, removed that formidable obstruction to navigation. There will be a meeting of the "Lodge of Instruction A.1.0.0.E. held in the Oriental Hotel this evening at half-past seven o'clock.

A special general meeting of the members of the Caledonian Society is convened to take place this evening in the Society's rooms, Otago Hotel, at eight o'clock.