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Evening Star, Issue 2943, 25 July 1872, Page 2

Princess Theatre. “ Payable on Demand” and “We all have our Little Faults ” were played last evening to a moderate attendance, and are announced for repetition this evening. Tjie Caversham Road Board.—We understand that Mr Alfred Oswin, who was nominated a candidate for representation of the district in the Caversham Road Board, in consequence of his official position, deems it expedient to hold such an office, and retires from the contest.

New Roads Ordinance,—The election of three members for-the Green Island subdivision of the Suburban Road District took place at Mr D, Andrew’s at noon today, and resulted in Messrs James Kirkland, David Andrew, and William Thomson, being declared duly elected, as no poll was demanded. The Suburban District has thus its full complement of membrrs/who are now in a position to act under the new Ordinances.

Interesting. —The Edinburgh papers received by Hi ■ last mail, notice, in Hioir local columns, the marriage, at .St James’s, ■’ ondon, of Mr W. Fenwick, of Marcwaka station. mar Qaniaru, to the third of the lato Mr Karquharson of Invcrcauld. The Id'vh’ir says the Queen presented the biidcwith a handsome Indian shawl, and the tenants and residents on the Invcrcauld estates presented her with a magnificent silver epergne, or centre-piece, as well a« a gold bracelet in blue and white enamel, and with a diamond star.

The Permissive Bill.—The advocates of this measure appear to be gaining strength in the country districts. At Tokomairiro the other night, the Lev. Mr C hisholm. in presiding at the annual meeting of the local temperance society, strongly urged the signing of petitions in favor of the measure, and condemned the proposed JHH of the Otago Licensed Victuallers' Association as being intended to modify existing restrictions, and thus to increase the number of publicans. On Wednesday last, the Rev. Mr Roseby lectured ou the Permissive Bill at Mosgiel, and at the conclusion of his address several gentlemen volunteered to go round their several districts with petitions in favor of the Bill.

Spiritualism.— The Rev. M. Watt, of Green Island, lectured on the above subject, under the auspices of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society, at the A thenannn on Tuesday evening, lie disclaimed that he had thrust himself forward as the champion of Christianity ; he was simply fulfilling his promise to lecture on the subject, certain conditions having been complied with. Wo acknowledged that he believed in the vast mass of the phenomena witnessed hy those who investigated Spiritualism. A pcr-ccntage of them was due no doubt to imposture, considerable deductions could ho made for imagination, but a large margin would remain of a kind Avhich must bo accepted on human testimony. _ If he ,vero asked his opinion of table-turning, the levitation of bodies, the playing of musical instruments when suspended in the air and unsupported by human hands, the introduction of flowers and fruit into moms the win dows and doors of which had been fastened —facts which set aside the laws of gravitation aiid the known properties of matter — his reply would be that being stated on the evidence of reliable persons, he believed them. He accepted the manifestations of spiritualism on the same grounds that he accepted the miracles recorded in the Bible. But the teachings of spiritualism had an immoral tendency ; their influence was demoralising. The sins of Christians must be charged to corrupt inclinations, but those of spiritualists could only bo charged to spiritualism itself. As to the cures said to have been effected by spirits, through healing mediums, be believed that the spirits gave the diseases and then applied the remedy.

The demonstration of a future life afforded I by it ,was useless as a moral infleunce. He was not opposed to the investigation of the subject, but as a means of grace it was worthless. At the conclusion of the lecture, which occupied nearly an hour and a half in delivery, a vote of thanks was moved by Hr .1. G. S. Grant and seconded by Mr H. Carrick.

The All England Eleven.—We are glad to leira that an effort is to be made to endeavor to get the English Eleven, who it is expected will visit Australia about Christmas, to come to Ke>v Zealand. Ihc Christchurch Club have considered the subject, and invite the co-operation of cricketers in this Province. Their proposal, so far as wc understand it, embraces a series of matches with an eighteen or twenty-two of Otago and Canterbury against the hnglishmen, which should be played at Christchurch during the week of the Inter-Provincial match. Canterbury lays claim to this consideration, on the ground that the visit of the English Eleven in 18G4 was to Dunedin, and that Canterbury players then remained here to take part in the matches against Parr’s team. In favor of their view this is to be said. If the English Eleven are brought over, the matches must either be played in Canterbury or the Interprovincial match must fall through, as players could not afford to give time to both matches if they are played in different Provinces, Besides, the expense would he too great; and, however much we should like to sec the Englishmen here, we incline to the opinion that on the score of economy, and in order to secure a better display of cricket on the part of the Colony, it would be better that the great match, if it can he arranged, should he played in the sistei capital. The whole subject is to he hi ought under the notice of the town clubs to night, and we hope the attendance of cricketers will he as large as its importance demands. Anrnpos of the glorious uncertainty which distinguishes cricket, we eotnim-nd those who fike the noble game to turn up the Loudon papers of May last, in which they w r ill find a report of an extraordinary match played between the Surrey and Marylebone Clubs, in which the latter, including the renowned Grace himself, went out for a total of lb runs. Eight of that side signalised themselves by ducks’ eggs, and probab.jf such an innings was never before chronicled in the records of a Marylebone club.

Mu Jas. Brown will address the electors of South Ward at Watson’s Royal Hotel, Walker street, to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 8 o’clock. The 102 nd monthly meeting of the Permanent Building Society of Otago will he held to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 7 o’clock, at the Society’s office, Temple Chambers, Princes street.

Mr H. J. Walter will address the ratepayers of South Ward at the Imperial Hotel to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 7.30 o’clock. Committee Rooms opposite Immigrat.ojr Barracks. A meeting of those favorable to the return of Mr Livingston as representative of Bell Ward will be held in M‘Gregor’s British Hotel, George street, this evening, at 8 o’clock.