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Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 833, 6 January 1866, Page 2

In the interest of the public we are glad to announce that a few private boxes in the Dunedin Post Office are now vacant. Such an announcement should properly form the subject of an advertisement, but as it appears that the head of the department here is not entrusted by the General Government with the power to spend the trifle necessary to promulgate such a fact in a legitimate manner, we gladly insert the only advertisement we were ever honored with by the Postal Department, for nothing. It will be as well also to remind all private box holders that they will not receive any benefit from them after to-night until their annual subscriptions are paid.

One nuisance—the Provincial Council—is no sooner got rid of, than another—wet weather—sets in, to prevent the public from obtaining any relaxation. To-night there is a very good programme at the Princess Theatre ; indeed, so good, that a crowded house would only be a fair compliment to the manager for his spirited and successful efforts to produce a succession of novelties. The comjaany is now a strong one, and capable of producing almost every comedy or drama worth seeing ; and the piece selected for to-night—“lreland as it was” —is said to be one which will afford an admirable opportunity for displaying the talents of the various artistes. There is an interlude of music and dancing, and the ever-fresh burlesque of “La Sonnambula” to conclude with. In the latter, Miss Julia Matthews sings three beautiful pieces, to hear which even a walk through a shower might be ungrudgingly made, viz., “ Come where my lovelies dreaming,” “II largo factotum,” and the ear-haunting solo and chorus from the Enchantress, “ Our task is ended.”

We are informed upon credible authority that Mr Hardy has evaded all further enquiry into the “ Tokomairiro Auriferous Lands ” question by sending his resignation to the Government. Our surprise is, not that he has done so, but that the Executive ever allowed him the opportunity. The “final action” hinted at by the Treasurer in the Council a few days since should have been taken immediately the Executive received the report of the Select Committee. In expressive, but what Mr Hardy will perhaps consider “ vulgar ” language, he should have received the reward which is frequently handed to officials holding a much inferior office to the one he lately filled, viz., “the sack.” We hope that the disclosure which has caused this gentleman to retire from the public service, and an advertisement for sale by private contract of “ 800 acres of auriferous land, ” together with an ‘ ‘ extensive and valuable quartz reef ' and large masses of auriferous soil ” will induce our representatives to watch carefully the actions of those whom they may in future entrust with the power of obtaining valuable information which may be used for personal purposes, and to the detriment of tire public interest.

In another column appears the result of the first match of the Hifle Association to-day for the cup presented two years ago by W. Mason, Esq., .(the Mayor). It will be noticed that the gentleman who won it at the first match was very near becoming the permanent owner of it. To-night there will be another “grand fashionable night ” at the Theatre Royal, and several new tricks are to be introduced. The engagement of Professor Jacobs is drawing rapidly to a close, and all who have not seen his “mystical” delusions may invest their money with the certainty of receiving good value. The Grey River Argus of the 23rd ult. says : place to the Puller about three weeks ago, appears to have been unfavorable. The s. s. Thane called at the Buller on Tuesday, and brought away nearly all the men who left here to prospect that district.” The Australasian thus speaks of the diggers who leave Victoria for New Zealand :—“ We have no particular delight, of course, in alluding to the miseries of our fellow citizens. But why, why, why, will they not allow the exercise (a certain section of them, of course) of common sense ? Look at our diggers, for instance. Walk up to a great hairy fellow, in a Crimean shirt, comfortably smoking his pipe beside his pan akin of tea, or belike of grog, and tell him he is a big baby, and he would probably retort with what poor dear Charles Lamb’s Mrs Battle said made the game of cribbage so very ungenteel—one for his nob. But our friend with the brown face, strong arms, and ferocious though he may look, has a kindly heart, and is really often only fit to be put into swaddling clothes and have a nurse to look after him. It is quite true that a Victorian miner cannot always be a millionaire, but he can always be a decent and comfortable fellow if—but only if—he pleases. He earns, we will say, taking the statistical tables, about five shillings a day,—and a very good sum too. It is the pay of a Prussian captain of the guards. His wife, if she be worth her salt, ought to make half as much again. He can' always get this on the old leads, but the moment he hears of a new rush a thousand miles off away he is, and whenruined by his folly expects to be commiserated. We are not going to commiserate him. He has rushed to Hokitika, from comfort to starvation —well, let him starve ; it has been the lot of better men than he.”

The Waihouaiti Herald , in concluding an article upon the present Government, says : ‘ ‘ The time has now come when a general election is a necessity—the present Council does not represent the intelligence of the people. His Honor the Superintendent would add to his own popularity if he took this subject up in earnest, and recommended a dissolution. If he boldly and sharply took this course, his own re-election would be almost sure. Should he procrastinate, he may not meet with success. It is patent that at present the Council will not settle down to the despatch of business —they gallop over Bills in a few minutes which should be ventilated for days, and spend weeks in squabbling about the merits and demerits of the different gentlemen who form the Government—they blow ‘ £ hot and cold” with a “Jim Crow dexterity” marvellous to behold. This playing at legislation must be put an end to. There are only two modes of doing it ; either change your men, or smash up the Provincial Council altogether. The latter is perhaps the best.” But then, “Who believed that what the newspapers said was an expression of public of opinion?” —Vide the Provincial Treasurer’s Speech.

The want of female domestic servants now so severely felt is likely soon to be partially supplied. The Edinburgh Weekly Scotsman says : ‘ ‘ The emigrant ship Paria, one of Messrs Patrick Henderson & Co.’s line of Clyde and New Zealand Packets, sailed from the Tail of the Bank, on October 11th, for Otago, N.Z., with a full cargo of goods, and her complement of cabin and steerage pasengers—a number of the latter being single females, who have received assisted passages from the agent of the Provincial Government of Otago. Tne succeeding packet of this line is the favourite ship Helenslee, to sail in November.”

The Bruce Herald says that :—“ A meeting of the Provisional Directors of the Canada Quartz Crushing (Limited) was held in the White Plorse Hotel, on Tuesday evening last, for the purpose of alloting the shares. Although the share list was only open for a couple of days, upwards of 580 applications had been lodged, to meet which there were only 300 shares to allot. The applications were dealt with as liberally as possible, the desire being to have a numerous proprietary, and as little speculation as can be managed. We understand that a meeting of shareholders is to be held in about a fortnight, to elect the permanent Directors, and that tenders for the supply of the required quartz crashing machinery are to be at once called for.”