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Evening Star, Issue 4361, 19 February 1877, Page 2

The Governor and the Premier are to be entertained at a banquet at Hokitika on Wednesday evening.

At the lt.M.'s Court at Switzers on the 12th inst., a man named Wm. Fielding, from the Upper Waikaia, was fined LSO and costs for sly grog selling on the 14th Janmry.

We hear that Mr M. intends to visit the principal towns of the Colony, with the view of ascertaining if favorable arrangements can be made for the appearance of Mr Lazar's Italian Opera Company after the Melbourne season.

Amongst the passengers by the steamer Ringarooma yesterday was the Hon. George M'Lean, Commissioner of Customs. The Ringarooma's arrival being too late for the first train fr im the port, a special train was run to convey her passengers to town, which was also taken advantage of by those who arrived by the steamer Wanganui.

*. Some special nobodies at Reefton recently g~>t up a bachelors' picuio, and in sending out invitations to lady guests they decided to draw the line at barmaids. The indignation thus aroused among the fair Hebes may be imagined. Considering that three-fourths of the wives and matrons on the Coast have graduated in bars, and are none the leas good and respectable helpmates to their husbandß, the Reefton bachelors decidedly ventured on dangerous ground. Judge Harvey has given judgment for the plaintiff in the case of Macandrew v. Patterson, which involved the right to recover the rent for the Wakatip runs, but admits that he does not see how the fruits of it are to be obtained, the question having become one of difficulty because of the late Provincial Government having stepped out of the line of action prescribed by the Goldfields Act, under which the licenses were granted. Notice of appeal has been given. We understand that the governor of the Gaol to-day received the Governor's fres pardon in favor of prisoner Michael Golding, who was convicted at the Supreme Court, Dunediu, on the 4fch October, ls-75, upon two charges of stealing from a dwelling and sentenced to two years' imprisonment with hard labor. Prisoner haa been in hospital i'ui' several months suffering from chronic bronchia's &ud consumption, and was sps* dally recommended for a pardon on account of bad health ; kie release before the proper time in accordant'? With his sentence and the gaol regulations. The Waipori sludge channel may be s'st'd to be a thing of the past. The ' Tuapeka Times' learns, on good authority, that the channel has been to all intents and purposes rendered completely useless by the late floods. It is filled with debris from bank to bank, all the claims and particular works have been washed away, and it is estimated that it would take at least 1.2,000 to repair the damage done. As there is not the least shadow of a hope that such a sum, or anything approaching it, will be expended, the channel maybe considered completely closed to mining. By this disaster eighty men have been thrown out of work, and an expenditure of from L6O to L7O a week in the town of Waipori has been suddenly cut off. The miners on the Flat are men in a worse position than they were before tbe channel was constructed, as they cannot drain their claims. This is a very pitiable termination to the Waipori sludge channel, which was to be so ranch for Waipori, and upon which the large sum of LI 1,000 of public money w»3 expended.

It is proposed to form a Farmers' Club at .Lawrence.

Mr J. B. Steele leaves here on Saturday to support Mrs iu Christchurch and Wellington.

At the Queen's Theatre on Saturday evening Messrs Biker and Farroi brought their season to a close with a miscellaneous periortnanco. The company appears at Oamaru on Wednesday.

On Saturday evening the Tomporanco Hall was again filled, and tho popularity of liowoiths Hibornici shows no signs of abatement. A ohauso of programme is announced for to-night". Mr Kitcbing has boon ic-elcctcd for James lading, in tho Tuapcka County Council, by a majority of two over his opponent, the respective numbers being -Kitching, 40; \Vaugb.3S. At the lirst election Kitchiug polled 23 to Waugh's 18.

The very sudden death of a little girl occurred at Broad Bay on Saturday. The deceased was five years of age, and daughter of Mr Puchard Hall, a aettler there. She went to bed on Friday evening in her usual health, and was found dead in her bed on Saturday moruing. We undei stand from Mr W. 1). Stewart that the local in this morning's 'Times' respecting his child is calculated to create unnecessary alarm, and that, although Dr. Borrows wa3 cousulted, the child is running about in the house and iu good spirits. The case, if one of scarlet fever, is of the mildest type.

At the City Police Court tb-day John King wa* sentenced to three months* impntomnent for vagrancy. For being drunk John Beaton was fined ss, with the alternative of twenty-four hours' imprisonment: Bridget K. BeUet, 20s, or three days; James Mahon, 40s, or one week. Messrs Logan and Hislop, J.P.'s, presided. Mr Watt, R.M., attended at South Dunedin and St. Kilda this afternoon for the purpose of adjudicating upen any objections to the assessment rate. At the former place no objections were lodged. Those who had objected in St. Kilda did not appear, and the appeals were consequently dismissed. The Ocean Beach railway and Messrs Proudfoot's matter was adjourned to the Supreme Court-house, Dunedin, on March 6. Mrs Siddons's engagement at the Princess's terminated on Saturday evening, when "Romeo and Juliet" was played, Mrs Davrell appearing as Romeo, Mrs Siddons as Juliet, and Mr Steele as Mercutio. The piece went swimmingly. To-night Mr Darrein latest comedy, "The Four Fetes," is to be produced, with a capital cast, and some excellent scenery painted expressly for it by Mr Willis. J A very unusual case was hea-d before Mr M'Culloch, R.M. at the other day. The local Athenaeum trustees summoned a Mr Whileford who re "used to pay a life membership subsjription after promising it and putting his name down on the list. On judgment being given against him, he hadn't the money unless his Worship lent him the money ; he also used the expression when the Court ruled as to costs, "I wish ye may get it." After being detained in custody for a couple of houis Whileford was brought up charged with contempt of Court, and lie pleaded his unacquaintanee with Court forms as his excuse. Mr M'Culloch termed his conduct "unbecoming and disgraceful," and fined him 20s.

At 8.20 o'clock on Saturday night Mr Caldwell (g. vernor of the Gaol) received a telegram from the Hon. the Minister of Justice ordering the discharge of prisoner William Bachelor, who was convicted at the City Police Court oa the 13th inst. for indecent exposure between Princes and Bond streets, near the Sailors' Home, and sentenced to three calender months' imprisonment, with hard labor. Some favorable circumstances in the case having been reported to him induced Mr Watt, the committing magistrate, to send a telegram to the Minister of Justice on Saturday afternoon recommending the prisoner to the favorable consideration of his Excellency the Governor; hence the order for his discharge. A miscellaneous entertainment was given in the Albany street hall on Saturday evening, when there was a good attendance, taking into consideration the fact of Saturday night being a bad one for amateur performances, and also the many other counter attractions; nevertheless those present enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and a long programme was got through in good time. Mr Charles Russell presided at the piano and gave a couple of songs, which were warmly applauded; while two ladies sang some really good ballads, which helped in no small degree to the success of the concert. Messrs Ibbotson, Burke, Connolly, and Rogers also took part, and the programme concluded with the laughable farce, " The Mesmerist,'' which created immense fun. It is stated by the ' Southland Times' that Mr William Brunton, C.E., has been appointed to act with Mr Higginson, Inspector of Constructed Railways, in valuing the Otago railways in order to arrive at an adjustment of accounts between the Government and the provincial district.—The 'News' also states that Messrs Bews and Austin are at present engaged in an inspection of the Western district railway works as a preliminary to the preparation of fresh specifications aud the calling for tenders for their completion by the General Government, and that Mr Alexander Burns, of the Survey Department in lnvercargill, has been promoted to the department in Christchurch, where he will be assistant draughtsman.

Our Outram correspondent writes : " The weather here for the past few days has been intensely hot, and, having had the eftect of rapidly ripening the crops, harvesting is now in full swing. Th<? crops laid with the flood have all to be cut with the scythe, which will protract the harvest somewhat. On some farms twelve to fourteen scythes are kept going. On some farms there is still water lying in the paddocks, and drains will have to be cut to let it off before the orop can be cut. lhe reaping-machines can only wovk on the ridges, and the ground there is very heavy, Oa Saturday mght there wag the brightest and most continued light- ing throughout the night. Over Waipori, at about 10 p.m., there appeared a very large meteor or bail of electric fire, which lasted a few seconds, and lit up the immediate locality with the brilliance of noonday. Heavy peals of thunder accompanied the lightning, but very little raiu fell."

Finns for tV.e district prizes will take place at 5 30 instead of 6.30 ;is advertised. Tlie annual meeting of übscribere to the Ha 1 on Tuursday aft'moon, at four o'olook. Mr W. H. Raworth, whose fine water olor pic Mir-s have been more than ones exhibited in Duuedin, ha* been in the Lake diit ict and has pain'e'l several beautiful views of Lake scenery, remarkable alike for their accurate drawing and truthful brilliancy of coloring. Mr Raworth purposes d'sposing of them on the art UDjon prineip'e. and in a spirit of fairness ha* so arranged that e.tch subscriber will have an original *ket hj presented to h>J»— in our opinion fu ly equal iu valuo to the amount Bubsc;|bed—in addition to hb chunce of drawing one of the larger pictures Mr Raworth haß not placed too hijh an e-sia?at* on the value of his work, as he allots one picture io. Qtdy t«R subscriber*. It will be thus seen thivt for paintings of so high a stiunp Mr Kaworth must necessarily be but po>ily rewarded for his work. There Bhoußi be no difficulty in oiling up the list on terms so liberal, *

Lodge will be held onWedaesday, at 8 p m., at the lodge-room.

The North Duned n Kißea will compete for J. Ji. Hutchinsons prize and the company's trophy at the North Dunedin range to-morrow (lueaday), at 5 a.m.

We notice by advertisement elsewhere in our columns that Mr J. Donaldson, of the Glasgow lie House, has imported one of Goby and Lambert b ice-making machines, and that he now supplies iced drinks without extra charge.