The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6, 1865.

Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 807, 6 December 1865, Page 2

The Evening Star. DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6, 1865.

In the Provincial Council this afternoon Mr Grant moved “ That an Address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that a sum of £20,000 be placed on the Estimates towards the erection and formation of a nucleus of a Free Public Library in the city of Dunedin.” The hon. member, in a somewhat rambling speech, which no one but the Speaker appeared to listen to, urged the necessity of the Council affirming the principle that a free library was necessary. He stigmatised the library of the Athenaeum as inferior to the collection of books possessed by fishermen or weavers in Kilmarnock or some other places in Scotland, and stated that he knew many old women who could not find the necessary mental at the Manse street Institute. Mr Adam said that the motion—to use a scarcaly Parliamentary term—was “bosh.” Mr Grant replied that the remark that had just fallen from the hon. member (Mr Adam) was just what might be expected from one whose mind was a tabula rasa. The motion was put and negatived.

The Otago Kilwinning Lodge will hold an Emergency Meeting to-morrow evening at half-past seven o’clock.

In the Supreme Court this morning Richard Campbell Shaw pleaded guilty to a charge of forgery and embezzlement at Dunstan Creek, and was sentenced to 4 year’s imprisonment with hard labor. Walter Dudney, convicted of forge ry at Dunedin, who for a similar offence at Invercargill in July, 1864, received 12 month’s imprisonment, was sentenced to four years imprisonment with hard labor. William Hayden alias Billy Ken the Packer, convicted of horse stealing at Wetherstone’s, was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor, Donald M‘Donnell, convicted of stealing money at the Upper Taieri Hotel, was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor. Emma Ann Hunter and Mary Ann Middleton were charged with stealing gold at the Manor Burn. The former was found guilty and sentenced to 12 month’s imprisonment, the latter was aquitted. The Court was engaged with the trial of Thos. Morris for shooting with intent at Sandfly Bay, when our reporter left.

The Proprietors of the Californian Circus have notified their intention of giving a grand performance at the Princess Theatre on Tues--day evening next, for the Benefit of the Otago .Benevolent 'lnstitution. We believe the various local Volunteer Corps desirous of assisting in the laudable, object will‘be present, and that on the occasion a few friends of Mr Foley intend to present him with a silver cup as a recognition of ?the amusement his company has afforded the yfaaniliss of the town.

The following is the Report of the Select Committee appointed to enquire and report generally into the circumstances connected with the erection of the New Rost Office, 'and as to the expediency of devoting any portion of that building to other objects s—“ Your Committee has the honor to report that the building now in course of erection for the Rost Office is altogether beyond the present requirements of that department, notwithstanding the vast increase of correspondence which is now passing through the same. That making every allowance for a steady and continuous increase of the business of the department for many years to come, there is ample accommodation for it all in the lower floor of the building, and that the upper storey, with its numerous and extensive apartments, must remain unoccupied, in as far as the necessary requirements of the Rost Office are concerned. After some enquiry as to how the vacant floor can be turned to some good account and be made most advantageous to the public, the Committe finds that one side of the same would be sufficient as a Hall and Offices for the City Council, and that the City would in all probability be willing to pay an annual rental for it. The numerous apartments remaining might be devoted to various objects—such as a Provincial Museum, Public Reference Library and Reading Rooms, Mercantile Exchange, or Hall for the Chamber of Commerce ; or arrangements might be made for the occupation of these apartments by the Dunedin Athenaeum, — there being much more available space than that Institution at present possesses. The floor in question can be rendered accessible by a distinct entrance, and so as not in aqy way to interfere or come into contact with the Rost Office ; in fact, the respective entrances would be from different streets. The necessary alterations can be effected at a cost within £6OO ; and so as not to interfere with the original object or design of the building, should the exigencies of the public service at any future time require the whole for Rost Office purposes. In the event of a part of the upper floor being devoted to a Museum, Public Library, and Reading Roomthe rental which might be derived from the other portion would suffice to defray the cost connected with these, as well as the amount involved in effecting the necessary alterations. The Committee would therefore recommend that the Executive Government be requested to take the necessary steps towards giving effect to the foregoing suggestions, —James Macandbew, Chairman. ”