The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 726, 2 July 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1887.

Sir Robert Stout attempted to be very funny at our expense last night, and, in consonance with his invariable practice, he mixed up matters ih such a way as to produce the effect of misrepresentation. Referring to the expenditure for Police and Defence, he said that the actual estimated expenditure for 1883-84 was £206,466, “ the “ exact figures he gave, and that the pro- “ posed expenditure of last year—and that “ was the fair way to contrast the two esti- “ mated expenditures for the two years—- “ was £183,701, so that the saying he “mentioned had actually begun.” Why is the estimated expenditure for 1883-84 drugged in, except for misleading purposes? Only a few seconds before he challenged our morning contemporary for seeking to include the expenditure of 1883-84 in its calculations, asserting, and rightly so, that his Government were only responsible for 1884-85, and that only in part. The true comparison, therefore, must be between that period and 1887-88, and here are the figures extracted from the printed Estimates: ISS4-35 £181,427 IS >7-38 186,201 Increase .. ~ £2,774 lint to this sum of £2,774 there requires to he added, as we have already explained, £15,000 part cost of the “Permanent Militia ” proposed to be charged to “ harbor defences.” It is sheer arithmetical jugglery to go back further than the period when the Stout-Yog et, Ministry assumed ofiice. We do not require to be “ coached ” by a Secretary to the Treasury to comprehend that. As to cur not understanding that up to last year the Armed Constabulary and the Police were one vote, why this was fully explained in our columns, although, for the purpose of showing how expenditure was shifted from one heading to another, we analysed the various items in detail. If Sir Robert Stout has no other objections than these to our figures—and we are prepared to prove them all—his reiterated assertions of having effected any “ savings ” are utter moonshine. As to the blunder which caused him so much saturnine mirth, he may thank himself for not having made his meaning understood at his Knox Church meeting. He was reported to have said there that a saving of £31,406 had been made “ in the Treasurer's Department and in land revenue.” It was so given in every Dunedin newspaper, with only some trifling verbal differences in no way altering the sense; and the jumbling together of the two departments seemed so extraordinary that we italicised the words as above. He now says that ho was “not so foolish as to mix together the expenditure.” Perhaps not; hut his peculiar pronunciation appears to have led the reporters astray.

Our supplement to-day contains our London correspondence, accounts of the wreck of the mail steamer Tasmania and of the great race for the Jubilee Stake at Kempton (England), literary and art notes, topics of the day at Home, and a report of Mr Justice Williams’s lecture in Melbourne on the administration of the criminal law.

Sir R. Stout addressed a mass meeting of the electors at the Princess’s Theatre last evening, and received a vote of thanks and confidence. Our report is held over. According to the 1 Mail,’,] the Oamaru Football Club have cause for complaint in regard to tho unenviable treatment they received from the Dunedin Club on the occasion of their recent holiday visit.

In the civil libel case of Baldwin v. Pro prietors of the ‘ Herald.’ heard at Gisborne yesterday, in which LSOO damages was claimed, the special jury gave a verdict for defendants, with costs on tho highest scale. The alleged libel was contained in a statement that Baldwin was acting for others in becoming the nominal plaintiff in obstructive litigation against the Harbor Board; also that he interrupted the proceedings of the Board when drunk.

The Port Chalmers District High School Committee held their usual monthly meeting yesterday evening ; present—Messrs A. Thomson (chairman), J. Morgan, J. Cook, D, Law, W. Murray, and Rev. T. Fee. The Works Committee reported that seven new ventilators had been fitted to the school, which would prove a great boon; and after the transaction of other business Messrs Morgan and Law were appointed the Visiting Committee for the current month. The Social Enterprise Minstrels gave an entertainment in the Caveraham Hall last evening. The programme consisted of songs, dances, sketches, and a farce. Tho corner-men created great amusement with their comic songs, jokes, etc. The choruses were all nicely rendered, and the same may be said of the ballads. Two stepdances were very neatly executed, and contributed in no small manner to the evening’s enjoyment. . Altogether the performance was a very pleasing one, and the literary fund (in aid of which the entertainment was given) will receive a substantial sum.

The Sawyers Bay Choral Society, under the conduutorship of Mr Cleghorn, gave a very successful concert last evening in the school-room, Sawyers Bay, in aid of the Benevolent Institution. The principal items of the programme were a quartette (“ Pro Basso Fundo ”), excellently rendered by Misses Hooper and Thomson and Messrs Cleghorn and Rennie; a violin solo by Miss M. M’Neil; and a piano solo by Miss G. M'Neil. The other contributors were Misses Elder, Styles, Davidson, and Paton, and Messrs Glanville and Maurais, Captain W. Thomson (chairman) thanked the audience for their attendance.

The quarterly meeting of the delegates to the Friendly Societies’ Dispensary was held last evening. The chairman (Mr A. S. Adams) stated in detail what had been done since the Board of Management had been appointed three months ago, and said tho result was that that day the institution was an accomplished fact, and was now in full operation. During the three months overtures had been made by the Hand and Heart Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., which numbered nearly 400 members, to join the dispensary, and as a consequence of these overtures the Board of Management had resolved to place their resignations in the hands of the General Committee in order that that lodge might be represented on the Board. The resignation was accordingly accepted, and a hew Board elected as follows President, Mr A. S, Adams; vicepresident, Mr W. Woodland ; treasurer, Mr A. H. Shelton; secretary, Mr James Macfie ; Committee of Management—Messrs A. A. Adams, Miller, Capstick, Slater, Watson, Dodds, and Clark. An interim balance-sheet .was read, which showed the institution to be in a satisfactory financial position. j

Tiie estate of the late Monsignbr Fyncs has been sworn at under LIO,OOO. The Bradshaw fund is to be closed next week. It has reached close on L3OO,

Over L 1,500 has already been collected in kid of the Christchurch Jubilee Memorial fund, !

It fa stated by the ‘ Ttlap'eka Times-’ that waggons on therOad between Dunedin and successfully, compete with the Railway, and that, while the trains are running half empty, the waggoners are doing very well.

A novel and very pleasing “ Shakespeare Matinee ” was given at the Girls’ High School this afternoon, interspersed with select music of a high character. The audience, a very large one, attended by invitation. Mr A, Wilson, the rector, in troduced the subject with a few observations, stating that correct reading had been carefully attended to during the school curriculum, and that on that account he hoped the audience would be pleased with the selections, although reading in class was easier than in a spacious hall, the latter requiring greater volume of voice, which was much against the pupi's. The test of Shakespearian readings is a severe one, but although from the form of the hall there was in some places a difficulty in hearing, the reading went off exceedingly well. The readings were interspersed with very highclass music—solos, duos, and a quartette without accompaniment —by ladies and gentlemen who kindly assisted, Mr A. J. Barth and Miss M. Hume giving their professional services. It is no exaggeration to say that every piece was rendered brilliantly.

The Auckland criminal sittings were concluded yesterday with the case against Hoeri Mimiha of unlawfully wounding Charles Wight by cutting off his ear. This charge arose out of the recent Ohinemuri criminal assault case against Wight. The jury convicted him. Mr O’Meagher applied that sentence be deferred until the charge of perjury was heard. His Honor refused the application, and sentenced the prisoner to twelve months’ imprisonment—first three without hard labor, the remainder with hard labor. The Crown Prosecutor applied to Court for permission to present the grand jury at the next criminal sittings with a fresh indictment against Alexander Campbell for perjury, without previously holding a preliminary inquiry before a magistrate. It will be remembered Campbell was discharged on Thurday because of a technical point. His Honor adjourned this application, and the application for a new trial in the case of Mrs M'Phee, convicted of arson, until Monday, as the Chief Justice was coming to Auckland, and he would probably secure the benefit of his opinion on the point raised, A decee nisi was granted in the divorcejoase Howard v. Howard and Ryle.

Mr Ross’s friends and supporters meet on Wednesday. Concert and ball in Clarke’s Hall, South Dunedin, on Tuesday.

American concert in Hanover street school room on Monday. Sir R. Stout’s meetings for next week are advertised in this issue.

Mr J, Fulton’s meetings at the Taieri are announced in this issue.

Creditors of New All Nations Gold-mining Company meet on Bth inst. Mr Hallensteiu’s address tj the electors of Dunedin Central appears on our third page.

We have received the first number of the ‘ Federated Union Shipping Gazette,’ which is published at Port Chalmers, Tiie Grange Cricket Club, in the list published by us yesterday, were set down as having lost three matches last season, whereas they lost only one, that against Carisbrook.

The annual ball of the New Zealand Clothing Factory employes takes place in the Lyceum Hall on the 22nd inst., and will no doubt be as successful and enjoyable as any of the pn • vious gatherings. The Monthly Penny-Reading hold on Friday at Lcav.tt House was a success. Muses Cannon, Morrison, and Bulau gave three trios, Miss Jones contributed two songs, Miss Lac* violin solos, Mr Watson, junr,, a reading, Mr Barclay a song, with a number of well rendered recitations by the young people. Mr R. Brown was in the chair, and Miss Blackidder presided at the organ.

Messrs Moore and Ashton’s Mammoth Minsstreis arrive here by the next Melbourne steamer, and open at the Princess’s on Wednesday night. Although most of the combination are new to a Dunedin audience, we recognise among the names of the hdies some members of the Hugo Minstrels, who established themselves favorites here a couple of years ago. The troupe is a strong ■ one, consisting of twenty-five persons, and repeated changes in the programme ate promised during the short season here. The scenery is new, and is being brought from Melbourne. The subject of Professor Chainey’s lecture tomorrow night is “Ingeisoll and Froethought in America.” Sir Robert Stout will uke tho chair. Colonel Ingcrsoll says that “Mr Chainey is one of the best t linkers in this country. Ho has a wonderful command of language, is full of imaeery, comparison, antithesis, logic, and beauty. Ho feels what he says with his whole hear t. and perceives it with his entire brain. He is perfectly honed, and for that very reason is intellectually keen. Downright honesty in such a man is genius. Ho gives a true transcript of his mind, and gives it with great power. His lectures stir me like trumpets. They are filled with the loftiest spirit. Eloquent, logical, and poetic, they are as welcome and refreshing as the breeze of morning on the cheek of fever.”