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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1966, 24 August 1869, Page 2

Theatrical. —Mr Mothersill, agent for Mr Talbot, the tragedian, was a passenger by the Gothenburg, from Melbourne, to-day.

Political. —The following Government telegram has been placed at our disposal :—The Sinking Funds Act has passed through all its stages in the House of Representatives. It is equal to L 40,000 into the Provincial Treasury. The Audit Amendment Act has been read a second time,- by a majority of ten. This Act enables the Province to overdraw to the extent of one-fifth of the previous year’s revenue.

Princess Theatre.—The burlesque of Fortnnio was produced last evening to a fairly attended house. It is well put ou the Stage ; and ought to have a run. The acting last night was not however up to the mark ; and there were by far too many hitches. Miss Forde was good as the hero, and was well supported by Mrs Howard, Misses Nye and Mathews, and Messis Howard and Joyce. Miss Lilly Forde made her first appearance as the fairy and acquitted herself very creditably indeed. The burlesque was preceded by the comedy of ‘‘The Life of an Actress,” in which Mr Simmonds appeared as Grimaldi.

Stewart’s Island. —We are informed by a gentleman just returned from Stewart’s Island that there are at present about forty-five men at work there. They are distributed over three separate reefs, and, as yet, can of course only be said to be prospecting. About the half of the whole number are located on what is known as the Big Reef. One or two parties have set in on a reef running parallel to the first one, at no great distance, and known as the Little Reef; while the remainder are on another reef, about two miles off, called Blacklock’s Reef. It cannot be said that gold has yet been found, but practical hands are sanguine, being much pleased with the character of the stone. All are said to have set to work with a will, and the utmost good feeling and conduct prevails. The general determination is said to be, that if not successful where they have now commenced operations, other localities should be visited, and that the search should no; be given up until the whole island hus had a fair overhaul.—Southland Times.

A Dictatorship foe New Zealand. - “The true remedy,” says the Pall Mall GazetU, “ for the New Zealand difficulties, as it appears to ns, is one which can only point out with very little hope of its adoption. In well ordered republics, in a time of crisis like the present, the established resource has been the temporary appointment of a dictatorship. There is no hope that so loosely constituted : a body as the New Zealand federation will ever resort to so stringent but unpopular a measure as the concentration of the functions of government in a ruler or a board armed for the time with full executive and financial powers. But what New Zealand can scarcely do for herself the mother country might, if so inclined, do for her; and, as we firmly believe, with the general approval of sensible people in the colony and out of it. Let the Northern Island, or as much of it as is in peril of M aori insurrection, be separated from the remainder of the colony ; let it be placed, for a time to be limited by law, under a governor armed with both civil and military power ; aid him with a small permanent council for necessary purposes of legislation ; place at his disposal, for that time, the provincial revenue of the Northern provinces, and the federal revenue of the whole colony, imposing on him, of course, the liability to return so much as properly belongs to their share to the Southern Provincial Governments, which may be left to conduct their own affairs in their own way ; let all available resources, subject to these conditions, be placed in the hands of the Governor, who, for the time being, should be responsible to the home Government only ; and, thus fortified, let the home Government undertake the charge of putting down the Maoris, and preventing the recurrence of outbreaks at once so disastrous and so really contemptible.”

The usual weekly Masonic Hall Quadrille Assembly will not take place tomorrow evening.

The Naval Brigade will muster at the Drill Shed, for monthly inspection of arms, this evening at 7 p.m. After inspection, the adjourned general meeting will be held.