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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2728, 14 November 1871, Page 2

Acclimatisation.— By the Nevada on her next trip the Auckland Society will receive a shipment of salmon ova from California. Princess Theatre, Though the house was small last evening, the pieces presented gave unbounded satisfaction to the audience. To-night a change of programme is announced, and we hope to see a fuller attendance. Acknowledgment,— We have received from the author a copy of a paper on “ Railway Gauges,” read by Mr R F. Fairlie before the session of the British Association at Edinburgh. We return Mr Fairlie our thanks. A Jeeemaid. —Mr Bolleston concluded a short speech on the Public Revenues Bill by declaring that the policy of the Government “ seemed to him likely to end in an accumulation of debt, which, instead of the settlement, would tend to the

depopulation and demoralization of the country. ” Cricket. —Thereturn match between the Citizen’s Club and the University team ] is to be played on Saturday, the players being much the same as those who played on the last occasion. We would recommend the University men to turn up at the appointed time, and that the players choseu should put in an appearance. The Volunteers. A Hampden correspondent says : —The local Volunteers had a match upon the anniversary of the Prince of Wales birthday—nine of the married against nine of the single—which resulted in a tie ; and being shot off, the married men were the victors. The company intend to challenge the Dunedin Artillery shortly. Religious. —The annual district session of the Southern district, in connection with the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Conference, opened its sittings in the Durham street Chapel, Christchnrch, on the 9th inst.; the Lev. Alexander Reed, of Dunedin, chairman of the district, presiding. On the opening day sixteen ministers were present, and the conference is expected to last fourteen days. Meat Preserving.—With reference to the New Zealand Meat Preserving Company, the Herald says it commenced work f r the season at its Washdyke establishment last week, and such is the amount of work “booked” that it it is amply sufficient to keep the establishment in full swing till August, there being no less than 100,000 sheep already promised, to be turned into tinned meat or tallow. Criminal. — Robert Johnston and Laurence Power were yesterday charged at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, before William Thomson, Esq., J.P., with the offence of habitual drunkenness, and were each sentenced to one month’s hard labor in Dunedin Gaol, where they were received this forenoon. James Isteed, of Tuapeka, has been committed for trial at the ensuing Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court, and aftewards admitted on bail, charged with stealing from Tuapeka, in September last, one bay horse, the property of John M'Kenzie. Another Horsewhipping Case.—A case of horsewhipping occurred at Ross a fortnight ago. A Mrs O’Hara, keeping a dance-room there, took offence at certain remarks published in the Boss Guardian (Westland), and vented her rage on the poor unfortunate editor, by attempting to thrash him with a horsewhip. The editors says he was not much hurt, but got his clothes torn, and the following day laid an information against the would-be Lola Montes. The case, however, was dismissed; the magistrate considered that the enraged lady had had considerable provocation. TiT-FoR-TaT.—ln the House of Representatives the other evening, in Committee of Supply, a question arose about paying the Bank of New Zealand a certain sum of money for commission on debentures negotiated by them. Mr Rolleston “presumed the sum would not be paid out of the ordinary moneys available if, on farther inquiry, it should he found that the bank was entitled to it. “The Government did not wish to have proceedings similar to those which had taken place in a certain province.” Mr Rolleston “thought the allusion was perfectly unnecessary. ’ ’ Perhaps, but it was very pat nevertheless, and not undeserved. The Challenge Rifle Match.— The day on which Ensign Christie, of West Taieri, will try conclusions with Mr Walker, of the Thames, has been fixed for the 20th inst. Some negociations have been carried on since Mr Walker’s arrival here as to where the match should be fired. The Forbury Park was, we believe, first suggested, but the idea was abandoned. Subsequently the Kaikorai wag named, but that place was open to the objection that Mr Christie had fired on that range. Then the Government range at Anderson’s Bay was named, and being new to both of the competitors, it was chosen. We understand that a small sum of money is needed to make the range available for the match, At present it can only be used to the extent of 700 yards; and the proposal is to carry it in an oblique direction, in order to gain more tight, for the 900 and 1000 yards ranges. Perhaps the volunteer companies will see to the matter. Friendly Societies’ Hall, —At a meeting of the members of the various friendly societies, and others interested in the erection of a friendly societies’ hall, last evening, it was resolved to form a company for the purpose, with a capital of L3OOO, in 1500 shares of L2 each—the various friendly societies and the public generally to be asked to co-operate. It was mentioned at the meeting that shares amounting in value to over L 600 have been taken up. The scheme that will be submitted to the public is to erect suitable buildings on that piece of ground in the Princes street Cutting, opposite the City Buffet. It is intended, in the first instance, to erect a building in the front portion of the ground sufficient for immediate requirements, at an outlay of LIOOO, and eventually to build a public hall at the rere, at a further cost of L2OOO. The promoters anticipate that the venture will realise a good return on the capital invested. Caledonian Society. —At a meeting of the Education Committee of the Caledonian Society last evening, it was resolved to offer a first prize of L 5, and a second of Jy2 10s, for the best essays on the writings of Sjr Walter Scott, ail d their influence on the present age ; also that the subjects of examination for school children who have attended any elementary school in the Proviuce during the current year he as fob lows :—(1.) British History from the acceslon of George I. to the outbreak of the French Revolution, 1759. Text Books : British Empire Scottish. School Book Association, Collier’s British History, and “Tales of a Grandfather.” (2.) Analysis of a portion of “ Gloomy Winter’s noo awa,” by Tannahill. (3.) Recitation from an English Poat. (4.) Recitation from a Scottish Poet. The prizes to be as follows For first prize on each subject, LI 10s .■ second do, LI; third do, 10s. A prize of LI IQs wfil also he given for general excellence in the examination, which will take place on Saturday, the gOth December. The Opera in Auckland. —So far as we are able to glean from the papers to hand by the last mail, Cagli and Pompie's opera company are doing capital business at Auckland, where despite dull times, overflowing houses have been the rule. The company consists of thirty-two members, of whom four are sopranos; and the opening was “ Trovatore,” which was followed

by “Lucia de Lammermore,” “The Barber of Seville,” and “Lucrzia,” in quick succession. Of the second night’s performance, which served to introduce Signora Tamburuu Coy, the Herald says So far as the rendering of the several parts was concerned, there was nothing to complain of, allowance of course being made for disadvantages which the artists themselves could not control. The prima donna has a soprano of limited range but of great purity, and some of the middle notes are surpassingly sweet and delicate. In the sccna with Enrico, in the second act, she displayed very fine appreciation of the music. The conclusion of this scene brought down the house, and the stage was covered with bouquets. Signor Coliva is a baritone of considerable strength, and an excellent actor. His voice is robust, but not very flexible. His enunciation is, however, very distinct, and his accentuation in the main correct. Signor Coy is an excellent tenor, but we thought we discovered a remarkable impurity in the delivery of his fortissimo passages, for which we cannot at this moment adequately account. At the same time his voice is sweet and flexible, and the upper notes remarkably pure. He is also a really good actor. Signor Benso is also a fair tenor, but of his acting we can say nothing. Apart from these individual peculiarities it must be said that the more arduous scenes were admirably performed. Not to speak of power, there was a manifest ease, a completeness, which practice could only secure ; a harmony and variety of color, which produced an effect that isolated excellence would have palled. It is not too much praise to bestow upon this company to say that they possess every : essential requisite for the lyric stage. Whatever may be individual opinion, there was no doubt that the audience was delighted, and the performers were repeatedly called before the curtain to acknowledge the plaudits of every part of the house. _____ Commanding officer’s parade and quarterly meeting of the North Dunedin Rifles, will be held at the Company’s drillshed to-morrow (Wednesday), at 7.30 p.to. Uniform and rifles. An instrumental and vocal concert, consisting, of songs, musical selections, and recitations, in aid of; the Total Abstainers’, Union, will be given in the Oddfellows’ Hall to morrow (Wednesday) evening, commencing at eight o’clock. The Committee of the Otago Benevolent Institution acknowledge in our advertising columns the receipt of L3l, being the amount collected by the ladies of Waitahuna, assisted by the local dramatic club, in aid of this charity. The Secretary of the Otago Rifle Association announces that he will attend on Friday next, the 17th instant, Saturday, the 18th, and Monday, the 20th, at Wain’s Hotel, from 8 to 10 p.m., to receive subscriptions for the forthcoming matches. Intending members are also reminded that they must pay before the last-named evening.