The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7431, 28 January 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1888.

Our supplement to-day, in addition to the usual serial matter, contains Mr PoweM’s interesting paper on “ Some of the Difficulties that Gardeners have to contend against”; an account of the careers of Messrs Wood and Brown, the bicyclists, who perform here next week ; Lord Rosebery on tho Colonies; and another chapter of a New Zealander’s impressions of America. Parliament has been formally prorogued to March 23. Mr Peacock has received a vote of confidence from nis constituents at Ponsonby, The Primitive Methodist Conference closed at Invercargill yesterday. Pastor George Muller, of Bristol, addressed the delegates. It was resolved that in view of the grievous evils inflicted upon society by gambling, horse-racing, social impurity, and intemperance, the Conference pledges itself to do the utmost in every possible way to suppress these vices. In response to a telegram forwarded by Mr H. S. Valentine, M.H.R., to the chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce congratulating him on the action the Chamber has taken with reference to the proposed issue of a loan in the Colony, Mr A. H. Nathan has replied thanking him, and stating that the object of the loan is engaging the attention of the Chamber. Mr Valentine hopes that the Christchurch and Dunedin Chambers will also take up the matter and urge the Government in the same direction. Sir Frederick Whitaker was interviewed at Auckland on Thursday with respect to the wording of clause 10 of the Loan Act passed last session. Ho pointed out that according to the terms of the clause there was nothing to prevent the floating of the North Island Trunk Railway loan at once, whilst the million loan can be raised temporarily in the colonies if the Government are anxious to borrow before 1891. Sir Frederick said the error in clause 19 could bo amended by special Act next session. There was a fair attendance at the Princess’s Theatre last evening, when Mrs Greenwood and her daughters gave another or their concerts. Miss Agatha played a violin sc/lo very nicely, and later on gaim.d an encore for her singing of the waltz song from 1 The Pirates,’ Misses Maribel and Nora’s contributions were well received, while Miss Ruby’s efforts in the comic numbers wese fully appreciated. Mr C. ■ Umbers and Mr J. Jago also sang a couple of songs. The latter gentleman was in capital voice, and the audience insisted on repetitions. A final concert will be given this evening, when both the above gentlemen, with Mr Jones, will assist. This entertainment is to be under tho patronage of tho interprovincial cricket teams. On Monday and Tuesday the Port Chalmers people will have an opportunity of hearing; the family at the Foresters’ Hall.

The following appointments in the Volunteer Force are gazetted Lieutenant Cassidy to be captain of the South District Rangers ; J, W. Paterson to 1)0 captain, and J. Clark and G. S. Young to he lieutenants of the Otepopo Rifles ; T. A. White to he lieutenant of the West Taieri Rifles. Pastor George Midler, of whose life work as the founder of the Orphan Houses situated at Ashley Downs, near Bristol, we published a somewhat lengthy account in a recent issue, is expected to arrive in Dunedin by the train from the South this evening. lie proposes holding a number of meetings in this City, commencing with to-morrow, when he will preach in the First Church in the morning and the Garrison Hall at night. The Dunedin Cycling Club’s race meeting on Saturday next promises to be a great success. A good number of entries have already been received, including some from Oamaru and Christchurch, The grass track is in capital order, and is being improved by the groundman, so that Fred Wood (the English champion) will have every chance to succeed in his attempt to break the halfmile record. The Christchurch and English visitors are expected to come down on Tuesday next. The fellow-employes of Mr JohuMThee (who met with an accident some six months ago while working at Findlay and Co.s) organised an entertainment for his benefit, which was held in the Choral Hall last evening. The building was ciwdcd, and the programme was a good one, though drawn out to too great a length, owing principally to the numerous encores. Mr Collett supplied the music for the dance which followed the conceit. MrE. H. Carcw, R.M., presided at the Port Chalmers Police Court this forenoon. Michael Moore was charged with stealing one silk handkerchief and some lace, of the value of 3s Cd, from the shop of D. M'Grcgor, and also with stealing two silk handkerchiefs, of the value of Bs, from the shop of J. Watson. Mr Platts, who dofended the prisoner, asked that, it being his first offence, ho might be placed under the Probation Act; hut Sergeant Fhmigan, w'ho prosecuted, objected, as the accused was of very drunken habits, and he was sentenced to tw'o months’ imprisonment on each charge ; the sentences to run concurrent, Stewart M'Comhe was charged with depasturing cattle on Crown lands at Otago Heads, without being licensed, and the case was dismissed. The two last eases heard in the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, after we went to press, were L. Rosenberg v. J. Trotter, a efaim of Gs Gd, for tobacco and other articles supplied, and D. Theomin v. L. Rosenberg, a claim of L 25 5s 7d, for goods supplied. Rosenberg (for whom Mr D. M. Stuart appeared) won his case against Trotter, the Magistrate giving judgment for 4s Cd and costs; hut when Rosenberg came to figure as a defendant, he calmly put forward the plea of infancy, and said that before he got the goods he had explained to the plaintiff' that he was under age. Plaintiff denied that this was true. Mr Gallaway pointed out that even if the explanation had been made it was no evidence of infancy, and said that it was an extraordinary thing that after succeeding in one case Rosenberg should put forward this plea. The Magistrate said that he must ignore the plea of infancy, as he had no evidence on the point, and judgment was given for the amount claimed, with costs. We have to record the death of Mrs Isabella M'Glashan, widow of the late Mr John M’Glashan, of Balmacewan, Maori Hill. The deceased lady, who was considerably over eighty years of age, came to the Colony witii her husband about three years after the formation of the Otago settlement, and leaves a family consisting of seven daughters and three sons. Mrs M'Glashan, though confined to the house during the past few years, enjoyed good health until the day of her death, and her mental faculties were remarkably keen to the last. On Thursday evening she was engaged in the transaction of some business, and appeared to he more than usually hearty; hut on the following morning she was taken seriously ill, and Dr Burns was sent for. He arrived at 7.30, and prescribed, but at 2.30 a fit of apoplexy came on, and this proved fatal. At the invitation of Mr J. C. Brown, says the ‘ Tuapeka Times,’ a number of delegates from the Blue Spur claim-holders and water companies waited on him at the local Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Brown explained that he had received a cablegram on the previous day from the London syndicate, with whom he had arranged for the purchase of the Blue Spur properties. The syndicate suggested that a minimum sum of L 30.000 in cash he paid, of which the new company will retain L 5.000 for working expenses, it being agreed that any capital subscribed beyond that amount he credited to the vendors, and that the whole of the shares left unallotted should be accepted by the vendors as part payment of the purchase iruouey. The delegates were of opinion that the proposition made by Mr Brown would not be entertained by the respective companies; but suggested terms which they thought would be acceptable—viz., onc-third in cash on thelSth February, one-third in cash within four months from that date, and the balance in paid-up shares. The matter rests here for the present, but it is thought something definite will result shortly. The ‘ Clutha Leader ’ asserts that the operation of the Charitable A‘d Act has been fraught with disastrous results. “ People began to pay grudgingly as a rate what they had cheerfully given as charity, and paupers came boldly forth to claim as a right what they had formerly been ashamed to ask as a favor. The old spirit of independence disappeared, and the manly pride which would not allow a relation to eat the bread of charity vanished. The same thing, only within narrower limits, has already boon showing itself under the operation of the Charitable Aid Board. We have all read of applications for relief coming from persons who possessed considerable property, and who were even surrounded with the luxuries of modern civilisation. Every loafer looks upon the public rates as his peculiar heritage, and he never hesitates to throw the burden of his support upon them, and thus every inducement to cultivate habits of frugality and thrift is withdrawn. In short, an assessment for the relief of the poor has a demoralising effect upon the country generally, and it should never he levied until all available sources of revenue have failed.” Special meeting of Lodge Ivanhoe, U.A.0.D., on Monday evening. Mr C. R. Chapman is a candidate for the vacancy in the representation of Leith Ward. The annual meeting of the subscribers of the Athonreum will be he'd on Monday evening, at eight o’clock, in the lower hall. In the list of those who successfully marticulated was the name of 0, Barrett, of the Boys’ High School, instead of Barnett as telegraphed. Dr Hislop has handed in his resignation as councillor for Leith Ward. His reasons for doing so are explained in an announcement appearing elsewhere. The Rev, 0. B. Ward, who is passing through Dunedin on his way from the Primitive Methodist Conference at Invercargill, will preacli to morrow morning and evening at St. John's, York place; and in the afternoon at Kew. An immense supply of school books, school slates, school requisites, exercise books; also boys’ and girls’ high schools and university books have just been opened at Braithwaite’s Book Arcade, the cheapest and largest book warehouse in New Zealand.—[A DVT. ] A concert and dramatic entertainment in aid of Holy Trinity Church was hold in the Foresters’ Hall yesterday evening. There was agx .d attendance. The first part of the pro gramme comprised an overture played by Mesdames Shelmerdino and Platts, a quartet -■ and several songs by several well-known amateurs, and a cornet solo by Mr T, M‘Connell. The entertainment concluded with the farce ‘Whitebait at Greenwich,’ which passed off satisfactorily. A correspondent writes:—The Lynch Family Bellringer s are passengers by the Waihora, for Melbourne, to-morrow. They have postponed their American tour for the present in consequence of the serious illness of Mr Henry Lynch, sen., the founder of the family, who is now living retired in Melbourne. Bellringers are very pleased with their tour in this Colony, and propose returning in about eight months’ time and revisiting the principal towns cn route to San Francisco. In a Press letter to-day Mr Harry Lynch estimates that th* profits of tho New Zealand tour [amount to over L 3,000,

The delegatee of the different breweries met last night at the Robert Burns Hotel for the purpose of making arrangement! for holding their annual picnic. There being a large muster at the first meeting, it was resolved to hold it early next month, and from the large amount of interest taken in the affair it promises to be a great success. Major Dane, the American lecturer, has decided on making the acquaintance of the Dunedin public from the lecture platform, and will appear at the Garrison Hall on Friday next, when bo will speak on the Eastern question, which he has made a special study. The ‘ Argus’ says of him “ Major Dane possesses a strong sonorous voice, capable of a good deal of light and shade, an animated delivery, combined with dramatic action and gesture, a good memory, great fluency, and a copious command of language. He imparted a rare amount of humor and pathos to his incidents and illustrations.”