The Evening Star FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1882.

Evening Star, Issue 5968, 28 April 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1882.

The Rev. Father Crowley is about to resign the pastorate of the Roman Catholic Church at Lawrence owing to ill health, and proceeds to America, The ‘ Cromwell Argus ’ reports the burning of Mr W. Grant’s farmhouse at Mount Barker. It was insured with the New Zealand Company for L2OO. James Thorn was killed by the upsetting of a cart, the wheel of which passed over his neck.

The body found at the mouth of the Shag River on Tuesday has not yet been identified. At the coroner’s inquiry one of the witnesses stated that the deceased spoke to him on Monday, and informed him that he had spent in drink the sum of L 27 between Dunedin and Waikouaiti. Nothing else is at present known of the man, as ho is a perfect stranger, and from his general appearance and the nature of his swag he was evidently a seafaring man about fortyfive years of age. A verdict of “Found drowned ” was returned.

The parish of All Saints’ has followed the example of the parish of St. Paul’s in the formation of a Mutual Improvement Society. Last evening a well attended meeting was held in All Saints’ school-room, when several resolutions were passed by way of preliminaries, and the following were elected officers for the ensuing year The Rev. A. R. Fitchett, president; Mr Wilson, vice-presi dent; Messrs J. Howlison, W. C. M. Hawkins, and R. Brinsley, committeemen; MrT. A. White, hon. secretary; and Mr W. J. M'Lougliu, assistant secretary. It was intimated that Professor Parker would deliver a lecture to the members very shortly, and Mr Brinsley volunteered to give an essay on “Richard III.” The hon, secretary of St. Paul’s Young Men’s Association cordially invited the members of the newlyformed Society to an evening’s debate and entertainment, which invitation was accepted with enthusiasm.

The, opening ceremonies in connection with the new Music Hall at Momington took place on Tuesday evening, as reported, and the first entertainment was given therein last evening, under the auspices of the Order of Druids. A goodly number of people were present; and Mr J. Bathgate, M.H.R., Who occupied the chair, gave as his reason for acting in that capacity that he was willing to undertake any duty which he believed would conduce to the wellbeing of any district. He also stated that the object of such societies as the Druids was mutual support. Such an object was most praiseworthy, and commended itself to everyone. He strongly urged all who had not joined such a society to seriously consider the matter, and join at once. He instanced the early stages of such societies. First, guilds were formed, each handicraft forming itself into a separate guild. These answered until they became rich, exclusive, and afterwards conservative, and rotten; so that the first intention Was entirely lost sight of. From this state of affairs sprung the friendly societies, which, being more liberal in their ideas and actions, soon made rapid progress. One society—the Hearts of Oak—now numbered 80,000 members. The Druids are the newest society of the kind in the colonies. They have made rapid progress, as their report shows. In 1870 the funds were L 2.120, and in 1881 they had increased to L 20,226. The Lodge (the Ivy Glen) under whose auspices they were met boasted of forty-eight members, and was in a flourishing state financially. ; A programme consisting of songs, dances, and recitations was then proceeded with. The pieces were well rendered, many of them receiving encores. Mr M. A. Jones acted as accompanyist. Mr Bathgate having;to leave before the close of the entertainment, a vote of thanks was passed for his attendance and services, and Mr Stanfield was called to the chair. At the close of the entertainment a dance was given and kqpt up with great spirit until the early hours ; of the morning, Mir J, Ruston acting as M.C;

At the Port Chalmers Police Court this forenoon David M'Kenzie, on remand, charged with deserting from the barque Mataura at Lyttelton, was ordered to go on board, Captain Greenstreet not wishing to prosecute.

It is not generally known that Mr Gladstone offered a knighthood to Mr William Chambers, the well-known publisher, last year. Mr Chambers declinea the honor, but fully appreciated the spirit in which the Premier sought to recognise his services to literature. It would seem from a communication addressed by Mr Hobbs, of the wellknown firm of Hobbs and Co., Christchurch, to the promoters of the Ashburton Woollen Factory that the woollen trade is capable of considerable extension. He writes“ About two months ago I gave an order to the Mosgiel and Kaiapoi factories for twelve pieces of cloth, each containing about 140 yards, and up to the 23rd inst. have only received from the Mosgiel two pieces, and from the Kaiapoi three pieces, the managers of these factories having informed me that it would be from six weeks to two months before I could receive the balance of the order; and further, that to ensure delivery of spring goods, I should have to order the same six months beforehand, owing to the fact that, although working night and day, they were not able to keep pace with the demand.” In cases where the contending parties are Chinamen, the interpreter is liable to the imputation of having colored the evidence so as to make it suit one aide or the other, according as he happens to be biassed. Drawing conclusions from an assault case that was heard at the City Police Court this morning, it would seem that it would be a wise policy for each party to engage its own interpreter. The two interpreters would then act as checks upon each other. This morning, in the case referred to, the interEreters several times charged each other with aving misinterpreted the evidence, thus necessitating the repetition of the questions to the witnesses. On one occasion the dispute grew so warm that they completely ignored the case in hand, and commenced to abuse each other in good solid English. The interpreter whose translation was called into question averred that his countrymen’s interference arose through jealousy. The Bench had eventually to interpose by threatening to turn out the interpreter who should again set at defiance the dignity of the Court.

Recent storms on the West Coast of the South Island appear to have been unusually severe. The ‘ Grey River Argus *of Wednesday last thus describes the scene at Greymouth: —“Such a sight as the south-west portion of the town presented yesterday from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. has not been seen here for years. The whole flat was one unbroken sheet of water. Boats were plying about the streets, people were cooped up in their houses, very few being able to move about in that part of the town unless by the aid of a boat or a good pair of gum boots. The rain came down on Monday night in torrents, and continued to pour down in that way at intervals during the greater part of the night. As heavy rain had been falling at Reefton and throughout the district generally all the day, a fresh of more than usual dimensions was expected, and early next morning the masters and mates of the vessels lying alongside the wharf put out extra warps to resist the increased strain of such a current. By nine in the morning the river was foaming within a couple of feet of the surface of the wharf. The flood subsided a couple of hours afterwards.”

The annual concert and dance of the Albion Cricket Club took place in the North Dunedin Drill-shed last night, the building being well filled. The programme, which comprised songs and dances, cannot, with the exception of a few items, be classed as a success. However, had it not been for the continual interruption of some half-dozen larrikins in the back seats there is no doubt but that the concert would have been much more enjoyable. Some of . the contributors were evidently nervous, and as a consequence were not heard to advantage. The items deserving of most notice were a violin solo by Miss Buckland, aged ten years’, and a comic recitation, “My Neighbors.” The other performers came in for a fair share of applause. Mr E. Wilson occupied the chair, and at the conclusion of the concert characterised the conduct of those who had made noises during the entertainment as disgraceful, and expressed the hope that on future occasions when concerts were being given in the shed steps would be taken to exclude the larrikin element. Mr A. H. Shelton, who we may mention is the hardest working member of the Club, in fact the mainstay of it, proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman. The room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up till nearly four o’clock this morning. Messrs W. Hogg and Shelton acted efficiently as M.C.’s.

Public meeting at Fort to-night re ltt<ing the quarry.

Return railway tickets at single fares to Palmerston races. Local option polling South Dunedin East Ward to-morrow.