The Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1884.

Evening Star, Issue 6775, 15 December 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1884.

The Dunedin Orchestral Society, which started under such favorable auspices about a year ago, disbanded some time since, and another similar association, entitled “The Dunedin Amateur Orchestral Society,” of which Mr E. Fielden has been appointed conductor, has now been formed. The monthly escort was brought to town on Saturday evening in charge of Sergeantmajor Bavin and Bank-officers Cogan and Wothcrspoon. It comprised eleven boxes and one bag of gold, of the total value of over L 38.000. We understand that the Lake district sent down I.SOOoz, comprising 500oz of alluvial from the head of the Lake, S4ooz from the Pbccnix claim at Skippers, aud about 500oz ia private parcels.

It is understood that the Government are actively considering questions relating to improving the efficiency of the Civil Service an i promoting its economy. A plan is under consideration for making each department audit its own revenue, under the supervision of a Board of Audit, of which the Auditor-General is to be chairman. The audit of railway bills is to be left to the Department. Several changes are also intended in the Treasury in t e way of dispensing with unnecessary accounts. A Durban telegram says:—“ The text is published of an impassioned letter written by Mr Joubcrt tc the Yolksraad in sending in his resignation. He says that he is unable any longer, in justice to himself, to hold office under a Government which has deliberately broken faith with England and violated the Convention by annexing Montsioa’a territory. He appeals to the people, notwithstanding his resignation, to support the Government, and closely to watch the course of events. This letter is naturally calculated to make a great impression throughout the whole Dutch community to the advantage of Mr Joubcrt and the prejudice of the Government, He disclaims all personal animosity to Mr Kruger, but it ia evident that there is more behind than appears on the surface.” This significant paragraph is from the London ‘ Echo ’Under the stimulus of the franchise agitation tho dullest country towns felt tho thrill of a new life. During the last two months, in scores of places where Liberals have hitherto been hardly able to hold up their heads, large and successful meetings on tho Franchise Bill have been held. The other night the Liberals of Reigate, which is a hotbed of Toryism, held a public meeting, fully expecting to encounter an outbreak of violence with which they were threatened, but the enemy failed to put in an appearance. At Basingstoke was held the first public political meeting for the last twenty-five years. Although the town has only about 5,000 inhabitants, 1,000 were present, and hundreds failed to obtain admission to the hall, numbers having come in from the surrounding districts. In spite of the organised opposition of a small band of roughs, the resolutions were carried by great majorities. Chelmsford, another hotbed of Toryism, recently (jjatingpiished itself in the satpe manner.

It appears that it was not Fitzgerald wh6 was seen at Otakia on Friday night. A man was found who answered to the description published by the police, but on being taken into custody he easily proved tia disconnection with the Nenthoru tragedy.

There was an improved attendance at the Lyceum Hall on Saturday night, when several fresh views were exhibited in connection with Clifford’s . 11 Mirror of the World.” These included the Paris series, which were generally admired. The Mirror will remain on exhibition during the week.

The Port Cnalmers Amateur Dramatic Club gave another entertainment in the Foresters' Hall on Saturday evening, in aid of the organ fund of Holy Trinity Church. There was a very moderate attendance, The local brass band played several soleotions, and songs and duets were given by a number of amateurs. The entertainment was concluded with the farce “ Urgent Private Affairs."

Messrs A. Thomson and E. G. Allen, J P.H., presided at the Port Chalmers Police Court this forenoon. Edward Lane, for drunkenness, was convicted and discharged. Thomas Laverty and Thomas E. Jones pleaded guilty to being absent without leave from the Kaikoura on the 13th inst., and were ordered on board and to pay 5s each costs. Richard Salmon, charged with having no lawful visible means of support, was convicted and discharged, A serious accident occurred this morning on board the steamer Penguin, lying at the George street pier, William Carlwell, one of the crew, was engaged driving the forward winch, and by some means allowed a piece of waste to get into the cogs. Instead of stopping the winch, he foolishly caught hold of it, and his right hand was drawn into the cogs, the hand being completely crushed. He was attended by Dr De Lautonr, who ordered his removal to the Dunedin Hospital, whither he was sent by the 8 40 a,m. train,

A man answering the description of Fitzgerald, who is “ wanted ” in connection with the murder of William Meldrum at Nenthorn, was arrested by the police at Port Chalmers last night, when he gave his name as Richard Salmon. Ho was brought before the Dench this morning on a charge of having no visible means of support, to which he pleaded guilty. The police having no wish to press that charge, as they intended to forward him to Dunedin, he was convicted and discharged. The police subsequently ascertained that the man they had arrested was not Fitzgerald. A remarkable fish was recently stranded near the Moutere Bluffs (Nelson.) The ‘ Colonist ’ describes it as a large specimen of the sunfish ( Orthagoriscus ), being 10ft long, 3ft thick, and sft 6in across, whilst the diameter of its eye is 4in. The oil procured from its liver is valued as a cure for rheumatism, sprains, etc,, it being applied externally. The fish feeds upon seaweed, and the jaws are furnished with a cutting edge of bone instead of teeth. The specimen referred to weighs over a ton and a-balf, and the measurement from the tip of the dorsal fin to the tip of the anal fin is 10ft, being equal to its length; it is probably an oblong sunfish (Orthagoriscus oblongus).

In their final report, the Printing and Debates Committee of the House of Representatives stated that they had under consideration a scheme for the publication of a daily ‘Hansard,’ in which the speeches would be reported in the third person, the publication of course to be under proper editorial supervision. The further consideration of the matter they, however, deemed it desirable to leave over to next session. Some improvement on the present plan is imperatively demanded. Though Parliament was prorogued on November 10, No. 22 of ' Hansard (brought down to November 1) has only just been issued from the Government Printing Office, The sooner the Press of the Colony is entrusted with the duty of publishing a daily ‘ Hansard ’ the better for everybody interested. The Land Board Commissioners appointed to view thsKurow lands v ent overthe ground on Friday. The ‘ Oamaru Mail 1 reports that they were very favorably impressed with the land as a whole. At the beginning they were taken over some exceedingly rough ground ; but some of the Kurow people who are well acquainted with the land took them on to laud of a very different quality. They proposed to advise the Land Board to cut up the ground into blocks of about 500 or 600 acres. In this way, it is held, the better land will assist in working off about an equal quantity of inferior land, which, however, is well adapted for carrying sheep. Less than the above-namad areas would not cut up well, and as the deferred-payment system is limited to 320 acres it would be necessary to have recourse to the perpetual leasing system. The Commissioners also took some notice of the Otekaike land, and will advise that a portion be eel; apart under tho deferred-payment system.

Mr Joseph Mackay lectured in Wellington the other night on insurance, and the papers next day contained a notification that hia connection with the Equitable Insurance Company had been terminated. On this subject the ‘ Post ’ wites Competition is said to be the soul of trade, and, like all sayings, this has a great deal of truth in it, but certainly competition sometimes developes most undesirable features. The competition between life insurance institutions in this colony affords a deplorable instance of this. It has grown so keen as to become scandalous in the means resorted to in many cases by agents and lecturers. The disclosures which were made in the proceedings which terminated in tho severance of Mr George Thorne’s connection with the Government Insurance Department, and the exhibition made by a Mr Mackay last night, were calculated simply to disgust respectable people, and to bring useful institutions into disrepute. Life insurance is, no doubt, an excellent thing in its way, but nothing can justify such means as have in these and other instances been resorted to for the purpose of pressing its merits on people’s notice. We trust the new Government Insurance Board will steadily set its face against competing for business in the highly objectionable ways which have lately been resorted to in various quarters.”

Loyal Unity Lodge, 1.0.0. F., attend funeral on Wednesday, Another alteration in the closing of mails per direct steamer Kaikoura has been made. Bee mail notice We understand that Herr Sohmellltscheok will be in town at Christmas time and assist at the- forthcoming Choral Society's couoert. We understand that the gas that will be consumed in the City to-night has been manufactured from the Coalbrookdale West Coast Colllbiy Company's coal. The Crown Lands Department has sent us a copy of the regulations for tbe formation of special settlements; and tho Acting RegistrarGeneral has forwarded to us Part VI, of the Statistics for 1883,

Mr H, Johnson, the agont for Clark and Ryman’s American Comedy Company, has arrived in Dunedin, to make arrangements for their appearance at the Princess’s Theatre on tho 18th hut. Tbe company’s repertory comprises mu'-leal and dramatic sketches, mostly of a oomlo character, Tn speaking of thoie performances the ‘Melbour e Herald’ of January 13 says; —“ They keep the fun going continually for two hours and a-half, which is quite as long as one can oonven'eotly laugh withaut cessation worth speaking of.” The company open here with Samuel Lover’s “ Handy Andy,” with Mr F. M, Clark as the Irish simpleton, and Mr Byman as Squire Egan} and a comic musical sketch entitled '•Ail Sorts”; tho whole entertainment concluding with a farce. Doubtless the company will do good business here during their stay, which is, by tho way, a very short one.