The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1887.

Evening Star, Issue 7405, 28 December 1887, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1887.

Captain Tyson, late harbor-master at tho Bluff, is not applying for reappointment at the reduced salary offered. The Alameda, with tho English mails of 30th November, left San Francisco for Auckland on thf. 17th inst, one day late. Mr Robert D. Ross, whose death is announced in to-day's cablegrams, held the f>ortfolio of Treasurer in the South Austraian Ministry formed by Mr J. Colton in 1876. The large room of the Hospital was neatly decorated on Christmas Day, and the annual dinner given to the patients was made more enjoyable by donations of fruit from Dr Maunsell, Miss Mackenzie, and Messrs A. and J. Macfarlane, a cask of ale from Messrs Speight and Co., and a Christmas cake from Mr W. Wright. Dr Stuart was at the head of the table.

Mr J. T. Douglas, whose death is announced in the Taieri paper, arrived in Dunedin in the year 1858 by the ship Jura, and about a year afterwards obtained an appointment under the Provincial Government, first in the Superintendent's office, and afterwards in the Treasury. This position he held until the Abolition of the Provinces, when he was appointed clerk and treasurer to the Taieri County Council, which position he held until his death,

Miss Carrie Swain and company performed last night to a large audience. 'The Miner's Daughter,' which was repeated, gives the star an exceptional opportunity of snowing her great ability as a specialty actress, and this is taken advantage of to the fullest extent, with a result entirely satisfactory to the audience, and, we should judge, to the management also, for gaod houses are assured during the run of this piece. Bret Harte's play will be performed again this evening.

The sheep stealing case at Mataura lately reminds the Lawrence paper of an incident which occurred at Auckland a few years ago. The Stock and Pedigree Company imported from England two of the best Leicester rams obtainable, for which they paid L3OO. By some means these rams got into an outside paddock one night, where their fat and well-proportioned sides excited the admiration of some hungry Maoris passing that way to a Native meeting. They took the two costly rams along with them; and when the police arrived at the scene of the gathering they were just in time to see the thieves picking their teeth after a most delightful dinner, which cost the provider L3OO in hard cash. At the annual meeting of the benefit society in connection with the Roslyn Woollen Mills the report stated that L 145 had been received. The moneys paid to members as sick allowances during the year amounted to L 25, and LIO was granted in the ease of a lad who met with an accident. The balance of about 80 per cent, of the receipts was available for division amongst the members. Liberal donations had been received from Messrs Ross and Glcndininf!, proprietors of the Roslyn Mills, and Mr James Lillico, manager. Mr Parkinson, the secretary, was presented by the members with a token of the esteem with which he is regarded. Mr J. C. Brown, M.H.R., was to have been accorded a public reception on arriving at Lawrence, and it was intended to drive him from the railway station through the town, but owing to some misunderstanding the carriage did not turn up, the driver, doubtless, thinking that the distinguished gentlemen, as was at first rumored, would not arrive until the evening train. After waiting for some time, Mr Brown, accompanied by Mr Evans and Mr Goldsmith, proceeded through the town, the Kaikorai Band, which arrived by the same train, playing 'True till Death,' and so giving the occasion the appearance of a public demonstration. It was intended to accord the hon. gentleman an onthusiastie reception on arrival, but his friends appear to have been taken unexpectedly, and so had not time to make their arrangements.

A special meeting of the City Council, held at noon to-day, was attended by His Worship the Mayor, Crs Cramond, Uislop, Carroll, Solomon, Kimbell, Fish, Gourley, Barron, Hardy, and Leary. The business comprised an application from Mr John Donaldson for permission to blast rock in forming a cellar on the Oriental Hotel site, and the consideration of a deed between the Roslyn Tramway Company and the Union Bank, submitted by the City Solicitors for the Council's assent. In connection with Mr Donaldson's application, the City Solicitors wrote that the Act required permission from the Council or local authorities; that, in the interests of the citizens, the application should not be granted unless the Council were satisfied that no serious danger was to be apprehended ; and that, if granted, the Corporation workmen should not interfere in the work, as by so doing the Council might be involved in any difficulty that may hereafter arise. The Council decided to grant permission under conditions thought necessary by City Solicitors, and indemnity from any casualty that may arise ; costs to be paid by applicant. The Council's assent to the tramway deed was granted ; the Bank to be informed, at the same time, that the tramway shed, which encroached upon the street line, should only remain at the pleasure of the Council. We were glad to notice an improvement m the attendance at the Lyceum Hall last night, and have no doubt that as the merits of the Grenwood's entertainments become better known they will receive that recognition which they are justly entitled to. The programme was slightly altered from that of the previous evening, and as proof that it was appreciated thoroughly we need only mention that with the exception of a couple items the remainder were encored, so that the audience were well repaid for their visit. The Misses Maribel and Agatha Greenwood's songs were nicely rendered, while the former's' Comin' through the Rye' was given in a manner that pleased her auditors immensely. Misk Agatha's contributions gave further evidence, of her capabilities as a vocalist, as well as a violin player of no mean order. Of the remaining performers it will be sufficient to say that their efforts were more or less successful. There will be a change of programme to-night, when amongst the new items announced are Beethoven's 'Moon* light Sonata,' ' Reminscences of the opera 'lolanthc' (arranged as a duet for the pianoforte by Miss Maribel Greenwood), ' Sans Souci,' Weber's * Concert Stiiok' (for two pianos), and Victor Hugo's •Poor People' (recitation translated from the French, besides a couple of violin solos and several comic recitations.

The special correspondent of the ' New York Herald' telegraphs from London on the 30th November t—" London is threatened with another sensatipnal scandal, and this time the story, is to be brought out in the" courts. All the evening papers Bpeak of the case, saying: ' A great scandal will be developed if the guilty Baronet now in hiding is once arrested.' This Baronet, who is middle aged, and well know in society and at the clubs, is alleged to have decoyed from her parents and betrayed a girl thirteen years of age. Several weeks ago, on a sworn information embodying the facts, a Magistrate's warrant waa granted under the provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act for his arrest. The Baronet, having some idea that he might figure in the prisoner's dock at the Police Court, hurriedly left the country. A week ago an extradition warrant was privately applied for and obtained. This nas been entrusted to a Scotland Yard detective of large experience, who, it is said, has proceeded to the Continent.. The circumstances of the alleged outrage are of an extraordinary nature. The girl is the daughter of a professional man, and;it w said that for some considerable time before any discovery /Was made'she clandestinely met the Baronet in the neighborhood of Brompton, that he used to drive her about in his brougham, and that finally he took her to "a house in Pimlico, where her ruin was effected. Great efforts have been made to hush up the matter, but the warrant having beta once granted, cannot be withdrawn without the consent of the Court, and this is not at all likely to be obtained." '>■■->

Some of the Northern papers designate Messrs Hannay and Rotherham as members of the new Railway Board. A public meeting was called in Gisborne last week to consider the advisability of •hanging the name of the bay, The decision was in the negative.

A musical friend in England, writing to a gentleman in Christchurch, says: —"Have you heard 'The Revenge' by Stanford (Tennyson's words) ? It is a glorious thing. Try and get your society tb givo the work. A full orchestral accompaniment is, important ; nevertheless, it is worth hearing with pianoforte only." According to the ' Advocato,' Councillor Graham has protested against the resolution passed by the Taieri County Council relative to the levying of a toll upon wool-waggons. His protest is on the grounds that notice of the intention of bringing forward such a resolution had not been given to the councillors.

Last evening "The Stately Homes of Scotland," some grand photographs of statuary, and a tour on the Continent were shown by limelight *t tho Choral Hail. This is the first time these complete sets of pictures have been shown in Dunedin. This evening views in London, John Ploughman's Pictures, Beautiful Snow, and some new and magnificent mechanical effects will bo Bhown. In the course of his address at the distribution of prizes at tho Girls' College in Nelson, Judge Broad is reported in the 'Nelson Mail' to have told the following story:—"The other day I was travelling in a train in the South, and being tired out with a hard day's work I fell asleep, and was somewhat rudely awakened by the voice of a rather loud-tongued woman who was talking to her companion, and the first words I heard were—' Dear me! Isn't it dreadful to think that all the common people are coming to the front in our schools?' This thoroughly aroused me, for 1 was right glad to hear it, and the thought passed through my mind—Could there be any stronger proof than this unasked-for evidence of the grand work that is being done by our system of education, which refuses to recognise superiority of birth and knows nothing of the gilded priggishness of mere moneybags, but imparts teaching and training to all alike, and does homage only to the royal power of brains ? That, I look upon it, is the distinguishing feature of this school, which knows no difference of class, but throws open its doors to all, and admits of no distinction except that of real merit."

"Christmas Sympathy" forwards 5s to the Hayward relief fund,

Mr J. Harborow, agent for Englebert's lubricator, sends Us a handy office calendar for 1888.

The Anderson's Bay Presbyterian Church Choir presented their late conductor, Mr W. Fraser, with an address and a purse of sovereigns on the occasion of his resigning.

At the presentation of prizes won Wakari Rifles on Monday, Mr J. M'Millan, on his retiring from the company, was presented with a silver watcb, chain, and Maltese cross, inscribed: "Presented to late Color-scrgeint J. M'Millan by Wakari Bifles for paßt services. Deer., 1887." Captain Haigh said it gave him great pleasure to make tho presentation, as it was the unanimous gift of the company. Mr M'Millan thanked the company for their present, and said that he would keep it as a memento of the happy hours he had spent in the Wakari Rifles.

The following patents have been applied for during the week:—G. Goodlet, of Ravensboure, for converting malleablo cast-iron into malleable cast-3teel; Emanuel Wooffindin, of Temuka, for making pipes by roller pressure: John Rose, of Caversham Rise, for straining and holding wire; Frank Oakden, ol Dunedin, for straining wire fences; Thomas Ferguson, of Melbourne, for an apparatus for drawing abratod liquids from fonts or reservoir; Walter Cole, of Wellington, for fixing blocks for use in brick, stone, or concrete buildings ; T. G. Stevens, of Kent, England, for apparatus for controlling Bhips' rudders; Saul Joshua, of Melbourne, for an improved compound to be used as a substitute for methylated spirits; B. T. Lacey, of San Francisco, for improvements in crushing rolls; D. B. Bate, of Auckland, for the electrical comb nation machinery plant; Arthur Houghton, of Wellington, for on improved method of advertising; E. S. Smith, of St. Albans, Canterbury, for a telephone or microphone relay ; R. N. Cowan and R. A. Hearn, of Wellington, for an automatic water-flush for closets, etc. ; W. M. Taylor, of Ashburton, for an improved fire-t'3cape ; P. F. M. Borrows, of Auckland, for "Tho Novelty Foltli»g and Adjusting Step-ladder"; E. T. Firth, of Auckland, for the "Lone Star" eloctrie light mast-arm.