The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 7354, 28 October 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1887.

There was a clean sheet at the City Police Court this morning. The house of Mr M. Shaw, at Sefton (near Christchurch), was burned down yesterday. Insurance, LI 50 ft the Union Office. We learn from a private cablegram received in town this week that two fresh cases of smallpox have occurred at Lauiiceston.

The seven'roomed house of Mr J. H". Aldrioh, at Bunnythorpe (near Palmerst'on North), was burned down yesterday. There was no insurance.

Food for the gossips. It is currently reported in Wellington that the Marquis of Normanby, who is eii rtute for the colonies, is to be a resident of Wellington; The membeue of the Presbyterian Synod will take a trip down the harbor to-morrow, thes.s. Invercargill having been placed at their disposal by Mr K. Ramsay. Bishop Cowie is about to visit the Old Country, and the Anglicans of Auckland intend presenting him with a testimonial in recognition of his eighteen'years' episcopato. The Otago Regatta Committee held their usual weekly meeting in the Port Chalmers Hotel yesterday evening; Mr E. G. Allen in tha chair. It was resolved that the programme for the Boxing Day regatta be arranged at the next meeting. "Alone in London " will be played at the Princess's Theatre for the last time this evening, as, notwithstanding it great attrations, the management intend adhering to their announcement that " A Run of Luck " will be produced on Saturday night. The plot of this latter attractive drama appears in this issue.

An inquest on the body of the little girl Rose Stapleton, who died from the effects of falling into a tub of boiling water on Tuesday last, was held yesterday at the father's residence before Mr E. H. Carew, R.M. The evidence of Frank Cartwell, Phillip Stapleton, Mary Stapleton, and Dr Teevan was taken. A verdict of " Accidental death by scalding " was returned. The Mammoth Minstrels gave their second performance in the Lyceum last evening to an indifferent house. The eccentricities of Messrs Delowry and Failing, the stepdancing of Messrs Delowry, Holland, and Croydon, and the acrobatic feats of the Woodward brothers were greatly appreciated ; and the farce " Laughing Gas" wound up a very good programme.

Our attention has been drawn to an error in our last Monday's issue. Under the heading "Extra Notes" is .one dotailing "remarkable escapes," in which it is stated that Mr J. F. Graham was stage manager in "no fewer than four theatres when they were on fire —amongst these, it is stated, the Princess's, Dunedin, a wooden building, in which two women were burned alive." This statement escaped our notice, or it would certainly have been corrected. That about twelve years ago the Princess's Theatre, a wooden building, was burnt, is true, but it is not true that any loss of life occurred. The fire broke out about an hour and a-half after the performance closed.

The proceedings at this morning's sitting of the Presbyterian Synod were enlivened by two or three amusing incidents, and also by a few passages-at-arms. Some of the more strait-laced members were thunderstruck to hear one reverend gentleman boldly state that there was in the Synod a narrow orthodoxy and a narrow spirit which it would be better without; while later on a reverend doctor made another member fairly gasp with horror by giving fervent expression to his gratitude to God that he was in himself " not the Synod." This same genial member also caused great amusement during the sitting by quaintly declaring his willingness to receive Bishop Moran and Bishop Nevill into the Presbybyterian fold ; while at another stage of the proceedings he raised a pretty general laugh by hinting that at to-morrow's steamboa f excursion those who were not teetotallers might take creature comforts other than tea with them. Some smart skirmishing took place over the question of receiving the Rev. J. Gibson Smith, but our full report of that portion of the business is held over. It will be seen that Mr Smith was agreed to be received by an overwhelming majority.

We have received Mr Donald Reid's 'Farmer's Circu'ar' for 1887-88. Rem.al sale now on at Wood, Scott, and Co.'s, Princes street. See advertisement.— [Advt.] On Saturday afternoon the Dunedin Cycling Club run to Mosgiel, starting from the Octagon at two o'clock sharp Railway excursions for November appear in our advertising columns. The twenty-sixth annual agricultural i-how of the Taieri Society is advertised to be hold on the 27th December.

Mr, T. Lawson, of Palmerston, has joined Mr H. E. Muir in the proprietorship of the Tiraaru 'Evening News.'

Attention is directed to an advertisement of Mr J. B. Kirk re the opening of his new hairoutting saloon, "The Highlander," 95 George street.—[Advt.] Mr D. H. Hastings, secretary to the promoters, is prepared to receive entries by intending exhibitors at the International Exhibition of 1889.

The Mammoth Minstrels purpose giving a ooncert, after the style of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, on Sunday evening, at the Princess's Theatre. It is probable that some members of Mr Holt's company will assist.

We remind our readers that the benefit concert given by the Volunteers of the Dunedin district to ex-Colonel Stavely takes place at the Garrison Hall to-night. An attractive programme has been arranged, and we hope to see a large attendance. Dissolution Sale.—Mollison, Duthie, and Co. have sold over 250 pairs of lace curtains during this week. Lace curtains, a great bargain, from Is 9Jd. Seo advertisement. Speoial tomorrow. Window full of colored silks to be sold regardless of cost. See window and note prices.—[Advt.]. The annual benefit ball tendered to Vrs Dawson by the members of her danqjng class took place in St. Paul's schoolroom last evening. The hall was tastefully decorated with evergreens, and there were about thirty couples present. Messrs Gourley, Taylor, and Oarrick acted as M.O.s, and Mr Robertshaw supplied the dance music. Mr James Day, one of the clerks at the Port Chalmers railway station, who is being transferred to Wellington, was presented on Thursday evening with a gold pen and pencil-case Surchased by the other members of the st iff. Ir D. T. Kelly, in making the presentation, stated that during the time Mr Day had been in the service bis conduct had gained the esteem of all his fellow-clerks, who could not permit him to leave without showing him some mark of J their esteem. Mr Day returned thanks in a j few well-chosen words. - I