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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2010, 14 October 1869, Page 2

Erratu.il — By an error the name of Bates was substituted for that of Blake in our police report of Tuesday. Cricket. —A match between sides chosen by the secretary and treasurer respectively, of the Citizen’s Cricket Club, will be played on Saturday afternoon. A cclimatisatiok, — A meeting of the Council of the Society was held this afternoon, Mr Mnrisan in the chair. The manager (Mr Clifford) gave a report of his journey to Tasmania for the ova. The ova were placed on hoard the Eucalyptus on tho '24tii u!t. The vessel sailed on the 2Sth. Pelichet Bay was reached on the 6th October, and the ova was placed in the hatching boxes, Opoho Creek, at 11 o’clock at night. The number supposed to have been given was 1000. The result was 1000 gooff, 18 bad, 2 hatched out and dead. On the Bth, instructions were received to take the Southland and Canterbury ova to the hatching boxes. They were safely deposited in separate boxes by 8 on the morning of the 9th, The number supposed supplied to each was 800. The result was—Southland, 920 good, 6 bad, 3 hatched out and dead ; Canterbury, 535 good, 12 bad, 164 hatched out and dead. Two cases of water snails were also landed in good order. Mr Morton Allport’s gift of perch all died from the effect of paint and saltwater. The Glass Blowers.— Tho counterattraction of tho concert last evening, proved insufficient to make any sensible withdrawal of public support from this clever entertainment. There was a good house ; nor can we wonder at the interest manifested by the public in an entertainment which is at once novel and ingenious. There is no workshop so capable of affording such curious information, or, in its ever-varying manipulations, more diverting than that of glass-blowers generally; but here we have the additional advantage of a graphic exposition of the various metamorphosis during the stages of their development. Mr and Mrs Woodroflc are unquestionably clever artistes. They transform, as by magic, a lump of crude glass into a hundred elegant trifles and articles of beauty • and all this is done without apparent effort and as tliougU they wprp. the simplest things in the world to produce. Thus glass ships, glass rings, glass tobacco pipes, vases, jugs, baskets of flowers and fruit, pins and other articles are produced in endless variety, and can never fail to awaken the interest and curiosity of the spectator. Equally curious too is the glass-spinning which we have here an opportunity of witnessing. One cubic inch of glass can, it has been ascertained, be spun into 140 miles in length, and Mr Woodroffe gives us in the course of a few minutes, several miles length of spun glass. The common notion of glass is that it is extremely brittle and, when cold, incapable of being bent; but this is an error. Glass, in its spun form is highly flexible, and though it is curious to hear of a lady’s wig having been made out of old broken bottles, we have no reason to doubt Mr Woodroffe’s statement to this effect. Wo know of no entertainment to which persons, desirous of being instructed as well as amused, can devote an evening, more worthy of attention or more deserving of support, than the glass-blowers now exhibiting at the Masonic Hall. Concert. —The concert given by the Dunedin Private Musical Society in tho new Post Office Hall last evening was a success in every sense of the word. The ball was crowded, and many were unable to obtain even standing room. As on tho last occasion, the programme was composed of sacred aud secular music. The first portion comprised selections from the works of Haydn, Romberg, Handel, and Mendelsohn. The concert was opened with one of Romberg’s symphonies, which was very fairly played. The choruses were evenly sung, and the solos rendered with excellent taste; that of “ Every Valley,” from the “ Messiah,” by a tenor voice, aud “ He shall feed my flock,” by a soprano voice, being much appreciated by the audience. The duet “Oh lovely peace,” from “Judas Maccabeus,” by two ladies, was also warmly applauded. The second part of the programme was commenced with the overture of ‘ ‘ The Caliph of Bagdad,” which was played very evenly and in good time. All the solos were encored, tho lady who sang “Phoebe Morel” substituting “ Killarney “Constance,” being given by the lady who sang “Love’s request and Miss Edhouse, who gave “ Molly Asthore,” received a double encore. A violin and pianoforte duet, by Mr Little and Miss Bell, was well received, and a solo by the same lady, “Spinnlied,” was encored. The duet “I’ve wandered in dreams,” was also encored. The performances concluded with the National Anthem. The pianoforte, which is an excellent instrument, was lent by Mrßegg, of Princes street. We might mention that the programmes and posters were gratuitously supplied by Mr Dick, of Stafford street. Mr Coote conducted, and Mr Little led tho orchestra. The concert was admittedly one of the best that has been given in the City ; and we are glad to learn that tho result of it will be that close upon 170 will be handed over to the Benevolent Institution. The Waikouaiti Jetty. — lt is with feelings of the highest satisfaction that we learn there is a prospect of this important work being carried out shortly. During the latter part of last week Mr Oliver, the Engineer of Roads, assisted by Mr D, Gardiner of this place, was taking soundings at or near the site recommended by the

Harbor Commissioners, and we understand that the plans and specifications are in course of preparation by the Provincial Government, in anticipation, we presume, of calling for tenders. — Herald. Colonial Conference. Mr Verdun (in a despatch to the Victorian Government on the above subject) first refers to the angry feeling excited by the publication of the despatch from Pari Granville to the Governor of New Zeiland, refusing the assistance solicited by that colony. On the 4th of August, a meeting of colonists was held, the representatives of nearly ail the colonics being present. A general opinion was expressed that the existing relations between the Crown and the colonies were on a most unsatisfactory footing, which could not be long maintained without danger to the Imperial Government, and that the action taken towards : New Zealand evinced a deliberate policy, the effect of which must bo—sooner or later —to break up the empire. Mr Vcrdoa says that, in the discussion which arose, he stated that he could only give expression to ’the opinion of the people of Victoria, and could not presume to state what that opinion might be, without definite instructions. With regard to the proposal to form an association in London, he pointed out to the meeting that the responsible Governments of Australia would regard with great jealousy any attempt to set up a qua-ii representative self-constituted body between the Imperial Government and themselves, and that well-meant, and perhaps beneficial interference would rather be resented than approved. In his despatch the agentgeneral also alluded to the complications likely to arise from the opinion of a large section of the British public on one hand, and the expression of wrong and resentment which such views would elicit from the colonists on the other. Me did not wish to evade the responsibility devolving upon him, but ho drew attention to the difficulty of framing regulations for his guidance, and, therefore, contented himself with stating the case as it existed. From Messrs Jewell and Blaine, hon. secretaries of thc v Colonial Conference Committee, a communication has been received, calling attention to the policy of the mother rountry with regard to the Colonics, which appeared to be “That—except to the extent of partial protection in case of foreign war with civilised powers—the mother country recognises no responsibility for their welfare or safety nor any obligation to help them even in circumstances of great danger and pressing need,” This seemed to point, as an ulterior result, to the severance of the connexion between the mother country and the Colonies, perhaps hurriedly and in an unfriendly spirit, disastrous to the mother country and the Colonies. Under these circumstances, it was thought desirable that the colonies, especially those possessing responsible Government, should meet in conference with each other. It had been suggested that the evils pointed out might be remedied by the colonies being represented in the Imperial Parliament, or by constituting an Imperial Congress, charged with special functions, in which all the colonies might be represented, or to place the administration of colonial affairs under a Board of Control, similar to the India Board. The committee offered no opinion on these schemes, and suggested that the colony should be represented by one or more persons at the conference which it was proposed to hold on the subject in February next, such conference to recommend measures for the consideration of the Imperial Government. The Naval Brigade will muster at the Drill Shed for inspection of arms, to morrow evening, at 7.30. We notice that the schedules of prizes for the Royal Horticultural Society of Otago are ready, and may be had at the Hon. Secretary’s, Mr J. Allan, Cutting, or from any members of Committee. From the liberal amounts offered as prize money, and various special prizes offered by gentlemen and business firms in the town, an inducement to compete is presented which has not before been afforded. The first Show, which is to be held on the 17th December, in the New Post Office Hall, kindly granted by his Honor the Superintendent, will, we anticipate, be an attractive competition.