The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 7167, 22 March 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1887.

The Governor proceeded to Elderslio this afternoon by special train.

In the ease of A. Sutherland v. A. H. Neill, which was heard at the Supreme Court yesterday, the jury found that the plaintiff had been libelled by defendant, and awarded L 5 damages. According to late cablegrams a growing feeling of antagonism is being exhibited by France towards Italy, in consequence of the latter’s joining an offensive and defensive alliance with Germany and Austria.—The import duty on wheat agreed to by the French Chamber of Deputies is Sfr per kilo, not sfr as first reported.

The action of a Melbourne Bench of Magistrates, presided over by Mr Panton, P.M., in sentencing a bookmaker named Sutton to imprisonment on the eve of his departure of England, while discharging Viscount Dcerhurst, A.D.C., who was charged with assaulting him, has called forth very strong expressions from the Melbourne Press, and the prominent part played in Court by the Earl of Dudley is much commented on. The ‘ Age ’ says that the Bench see by this time they made a serious mistake, and it discourages the proposal to hold an indignation meeting. It also advises the A.D.C. to brush up his French and avoid the company of bookmakers.

At the inquest on J. B. Kerr, hotelkeeper of Kingston, it was proved that on the morning of the 13th inst he went for a stroll on the railway pier-, and whilst walking along slowly between the rails (as though in an abstracted state of mind) a strong wind, which increased to a gale for a few moments, set in motion an _ empty covered luggage van a few yards behind him —although it had the brake on. The van, unobserved, overtook deceased, knocked him across one of the rails, and one of the wheels went over his body, causing injuries from which he died shortly afterwards. Deceased, who was a native of Dumfries, was fifty-seven years of age, and leaves a wife and nine children in poor circumstances. For some years he was engaged boating on the Lake.

The stereotyped phrase “ another crowded house” has again to be used with reference to the performance of “lolanthc” at the Princess’s Theatre last evening The fairy opera is drawing just as well as “ The Mikado” ; but as the management have promised to produce “Patience” and “The Pirates” before the rapidly approaching close of their season, “ lolanthe ” will be withdrawn after to-morrow evening To give the public an opportunity of seeing Miss Alice Barnett in her original characters of Lady Jane and Ruth, “lolanthe,” although it is drawing crowded houses, is to be drawn after to-morrow night; and on Thursday “ Patience, or Bun thorne’s Bride” is to be produced. In this ever-popular opera Mr Howard Vernon will appear in his celebrated part of Bunthorne, and Miss Elsa May will play Mabel. The company will appear in Christchurch next week. A novel scheme for forcing reluctant debtors to pay is reported from Birmingham. The name of this agency is the “Uniformed Collecting Company,” and to enjoy all the advantages it oilers, a yearly sura of five shillings is paid. Suppose you have a bad debt and put it into the hands of the company; they immediately send a gentlemanly personage, who politely asks your debtor to settle the account. If the persuasive powers of this gentleman be unavailable, a messenger in a particularly bright uniform, with the word “Collector ” in large letters on his hat, is neat despatched. In the event of this failing to move the debtor, the messenger goes home, changes the inscription on his hat to “ Collector of Doubtful Debts,” and then returns to badger your debtor at his private residence and place of business until the money is forthcoming

The Port Chalmers Naval Artillery were on the railway platform on the arrival of the Governor at Port yesterday, and formed a guard of honor. The takings at the Carnival yesterday were L 44. The Carnival will be open during the rest of the week. After the committal for trial at Unncdin of Walter Birchall for alleged cattle Stealing at Kinloch, Mr Finn, his counsel, made application that he might be dealt with under the Probationers Act, whereupon Mr Hickson, 8.M., is reported to have said : “ I must decline to do anything of the sort. For my own yaut I could never understand the good of the First Offenders' Probation Act, which I think is a very stupid Act.” Mr Finn replied : “These remarks, coming from a person whose chief duty is to administer the laws, are not very complimentary to the Legislature, However, one need not be greatly surprised at anything he sees or hears in the Queenstown Court, and these words' of wisdom from the lips of your Worship are of course superior to the combined wisdom of Parliament.” Mr Hickson was, however, very firm in his refusal, and, commenting on it, the‘Mail’ says: “We prefer to take the charitable view of supposing that His Worship has not really had time to carefully peruse it, otherwise he would not surely have passed such extraordinary strictures on an enactment which is drawn up on the lines of one which has been found to work so beneficially in the United States, and the adoption of which the Imperial Parliament is seriously considering as a means of preventing crime.”

Irish Bifles muster at 6 a.m. to-morrow, Dog Show in Garrison Hall on Friday and Saturday Annual installation of Cargill Kilwinning Lodge to-morrow, at 7 p.m.

Torchlight procession at Port Chalmers on Thursday in connection with the Carnival.

Members of M.U.1.0.0.F. meet at 2 p.m, on Saturday to take part ih laying of foundation stone of Burns statue.

Excursion trains on Saturday in connection with laying the foundation stone of Burns’s statue. Particulars appear in advertisements. Dunedin Choral Society meet this evening at eight o’clock in the Dresden Dep6t, for the purpose of receiving report and balance-sheet, and discussing the future operations of the Society.

The following players will represent the Southern Cricket Club in the match against Peninsula Combined ; —Austin, Butlin, Bung, Buchan, Crawford, Foster, Horne, Johnson, Forrester, 'VWson, and Cuddy.

At the quarterly meeting of the Leith Lodge, 1.0.0. F., held last evening, it was decided that the L- dge should rot take partin the laying of tire foundation-stone of the Burns statue, owing to many members being connected with the various Volunteers and other companies who wore going to take part, and for various other reasons whereby members would be unable to attend and represent the Lodge fairly. Bro. E. A. Joel was appointed a delegate to the Friendly Societies’ Conference on the matter of holding a fete in commemoration of the Queen's Jubilee. Songs of varied character filled up the interval during the evening.

The fetr. to be held at Bldcrslic (the estate of Sir John Reid) to-morrow promises to be a very successful affair. Mr and Mrs Reid are sparing no effort to minister to the comfort of tho excursionists, and the committees of tho Oamaru institutions that will be benefited arcablyaccondingtheircfforts by providing every kind of healthy amusement. Civen fine weather, of which, at the time of writing, there is every prospect, it ought to prove one of the pleasantest outings of tho year. There are sure to he crowds from Oamaru and Timnru, and wa hope Dunedin will send up n good contingent, as the fares are very reasonable—Ds Gd first and 6a fid second class, including admission to tho grounds—and the object a deserving one, as tho proceeds are to bo distributed equally between the Oamaru Hospital and Benevolent Institution, The Governor and par.y will be present.