The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 7403, 24 December 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1887.

There will be no publication of tho Evening Star on Monday. To-day we publish a four-page Christmas supplement containing a quantity of tales specially written and selected for this number. The original stories are 'My Friend tho Foreigner,' ' Dead Lips Speak,' and ' A Good Crop ;' and the selected ones 'Count Louis,' 'The fl street Afiair,' and the continuation of 'Mara, or The Earth Trembled.' A variety of short articles and selected poetry make up an interesting and readable supplement. . Mr Revell, R.M., has dismissed the petition against the return of Mr Simson as Mayor of Gore.

Mr Downes denies that he intends to resign his position as Commander of the Victorian Forces.

Edmund Kelly has been arrested at Opotiki on six charges of stealing mail bags and destroying letters. The Premier of Viotoria suggests that the British authorities be asked to commence the construction of tho federal Australian fleet without waiting for tho passing of the Naval Defence Bill by Queensland.

The annual dinner of the Commercial Travellers' Association was held last evening, and passed off very successfully, Owing to pressure of advertisements in this issue, we hold over our report until Tuesday.

Mr H. S. Fish, M.H.R., was met by a number of his friendß at the railway fetation on his return from Wellington last evening, and subsequently presented with an address in recognition of his Parliamentary services, to which he made a characteristic reply. The 'Gazette' notifies the appointment of James Irvine, of Otarja, as trustee of the Otariaroad district sinking fund; Lieutenant J. Hogg to be captain of the Clutha Rifles; also, that the transfer of the Sovth District Rifles from the second to the first battalion Otago Rifles is approved. At yesterday's sitting of the Supreme Court in Chambers an application in the matter of Jobberns v. Dow was heard. This is an action brought by plaintiff against defendant as endorser of a dishonored promissory note under the Bills of Exchange Procedure Act. On the motion of Mr Stuart, leave was granted to defend, and the trial of the case was fixed for the January sittings ef the Court. The futility of persons attempting to escape from this Colony after performing acts calculated to bring them within the meshes of the law has again been demonstrated by the arrest in Sydney of a man named Frederick Williams, who is "wanted" here for' a larceny (as a bailee) of a watch. He left here suddenly a little while back, leaving a wife and child unprovided fer. Detective Bain was yesterday despatched to Sydney to bring Williams back under warrant.

Half-vearly meeting of Court Pride of Dunedin, A.0.F.; on Tueuday. On Monday and Tuesday, the 26th and 27th Inst., the.Telegraph Office will only be open for business between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m., and 7 and 8 »m. The Telephone Exchange will be dosed between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, the 26th inst., but it will remain open all day on Tuesday, the 27th inst. The officers of the Postmaster-General's Department wish us a merry Christmas. We reciprocate the greeting. From a return on the back- of the missive we learn that 19,896,448 letters-and 7,479,209 newspapers have been delivered during 1386, while the total miles travelled by mail conveyances comes to 3,698,971. ,

t The quarterly meeting of the Otago Lodge of Druids was held on .Wednesday evening;. A.D. Broi Mouat in the chair. One candidate was initiated. It,was decided to co-'opcratb "with etho? lodges of the Order to urge the Grand Lodge'to reduce the initiation fees; also, that districts over SOO miles distant from the Grand Lodge be allowed dp vote by proxy at the Grand Lodge setslon~viz., ono vote for every seventy-■Sxt-meubeuL-- two candidates were proposed tfttnierobership.J The usual toaats and responses ■hi -rli U -;• .1 <!' ':.->••> ■.■ ■ .-..•.■ • ' ' .■'•ill;, i'

Examination of Volunteer officers (captains and subalterns) on the 11th prox. In enumerating the names of those who signod the testimonial to Mr M'Lauohlan, the name of B. M. Koaoh was accidentally omitted. Members of Union of Otago Degree Temple and Pride of Dunedin Lodge, 1.0. G.T., attend funeral of late Bro. R. Stevenson to-morrow afternoon. Members of Foresters''lodges are also invited. ... The Port Chalmers Garrison Band nave received by the s.s. Doric a completesetof new instruments made by Messrs Bposey and Son, of London. In all thero are twenty-five pieces, which are finished in that perfect style for which Messrs Boosoy are so iamous, A trial of the instruments was made yesterday evening in the Garrison Hall, in tho presenoe of the Mayor and several prominent citizens. Tho tone of the various instruments is all that can be desired, and gave great satis faction to Mr M'Connell (the oonductor) and the members of the band, who played several selections. Afterwards His Worship the Mayor addressed the band, and congratulated them on being in possession of such a splendid set of instruments. The half-yearly meeting of the Loyal Dunedin Lodge was held at Can oil's Hotol, Georgo street, on Thursday; N.G. Scoones presiding. The following officers were duly Installed for the ensuing terra: G.M., Bro. Thomas Scoones; N.G., Bro. James Smeaton; V.G., Bro. B. Benjamin ; 8.5., Bro. W. J. Wilson. P.O. Thomson, Hand-and-Heart Lodge, and P.G. Davie, Albion Lodge, acted as scrutineers. P.G. Forsyth was elected auditor vice P.G. Drew retired by rotation. It was resolved that P.G. Wallace's name be placed on the merit board and that he receive the usual emblematical certificate, and it was further resolved that the retiring officers receive the usual retiring officers' certificates. N.G. Smith (Albion Lodge), V.G. Bardsley (HandandHeart Lodge), Bro. Tomkins (Prince of Wales Lodge) responded on behalf of the visitors, and P.G.M. Ibbotson, in doing so for the district, congratulated the lodge on the admirable manner in which the business had been conducted. Tho receipts for tho evening were L 127 7s 3d.