The Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7473, 17 March 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1888.

Our supplement to-day contains an interesting account of G. R. Sims'a visit to Monte Carlo, special correspondence from London, a report of Mr G. Aldridge's lecture on Tuesday night, cricket notes, leaves from an Indian diary, correspondence, and other matter. The insurances on the Balclutha Athemeum were L 250. The 'Leader' states that Mr Dunne estimates the damage to the Crown Hotel at Ll5O, and that Mackenzie and Co. estimate their loss at L 2.000 above insurances. The delegates to the Tariff Conference were received at the Christchurch station by the representatives of the New Zealand Protection Association, and were handsomely entertained by Mr Eden George last night. The Minister of Public Works, en route for Invercargill, inspected the Catlin River district in company with Mr Mackenzie, M.H.R., and the officials of the Railway and Public Works Departments. At Clinton the Minister received a deputation in reference to station requirements. We understand that the line of omnibuses recently started in Wellington has proved so successful that the promoters intend starting a similar line here. Mr Cottrell, one of the proprietors—the firm is Cottrell and -young—will arrive in Dunedin in the coarse of a few days to make the preliminary arrangements. It is not yet decided as to what system the J buses will be worked on, but in Wellington the t f penny section system is adopted, and that seems to be the source of the great success that has been achieved. By that system passengers can ride from one point to another, according as the blocks are laid off, for the sum of one penny, instead of as at present having to pay *« B*»e threepenny fare for a short as for a long trip. Applications for sp*ce at the Melbourne Exhibition are now coming in in large numbers, and the New Zealand court Wfo be an assured success, occupying 20,000 ft floor space in a most favorable situation. Agricultural machinery will he well represented, and something like 4,000 ft is already applied for in tfie machinery department. Forty-nine exhibitors have applied for over 3 000 ft in the art section, Educational, furniture, alimentary products, and the mining industry will be largely represented. The total number of applications is now 209, and when the entries close to-morrow will probably reach fully 300 or more. The Midland Railway Company have applied for 400 ft, and intend to erect a trophy showing all the tiiabeiß found on their landß. It will be in the recollection of our readers that when the Presbyterian and Anglican Synods were in session at Dunedin in October last a joint resolution was adopted by them respecting the protection of the missions carried on in the New Hebrides, for transmission to the Secretary for the Colonies. The resolution was forwarded by His Excellency the Governor to the Colonial Office, from which an answer has been received, and forwarded to the clerk of the Presbyterian Synod from the Premier's office/Wellington, to the effect "that the missionaries *UI be protected by the joint Naval Commission which is to be charged with the duty of administering order apd of protecting the lives and prpperty qi British subjects and French citizens on thw group."

The Resident Magistrate's Court case of Swan v. Houlder was not concluded when the Courtadjourt.ed yesterday. The further hearing is fixed for Monday. The Minister for Works promised a Clinton deputation that, if the cost were not too great, a verandah should be erected at the Clinton railway station as a protection from bad weather. He could not promise entirely new station buildings. The business for the next meeting of the City Council is a motion by Cr Lee Smith, "That the Gas Committee minutes of the meetings held on January 20th, 24th, February 3rd, 17th, and 28th, referring to the office staff, be now read and considered. The special business will be to declare the general municipal rates and the water rates for the ensuing municipal year. Two schoolboys at Tumut, Victoria, exploded a packet of Chinese crackerß, which accidentally set fire to the dress of a girl named Mary Hcrlihy, who was standing by. The girl rushed along the road with her dress in (lames, and was so badly burnt that she died shortly afterwards. The deceased twenty years ago had a brother crippled for life through falling into the fire when a child. A worthy priest at Goulburn, New South Wales, had been giving his flock some good practical advice. In a recent sermon he forcibly urged upon them the fulfilment of a much neglected duty—to pay the printer. This portion of his discourse deserves to be printed in prominent type in every paper in the world:—" How often," said the good pastor, "had the proprietors to lose heavy, amounts in paper and postage stampß ! and how often did they lose all! To take their papers and not pay for them was positive dishonesty." Scoffers may talk glibly of the " decline of the pulpit," butwhile sound doctrine like this is preached the pulpit will remain a power in the land. Anniversary nodal meeting of First Church on Wednesday evening. Court Pride of Dunedin, A.0.F., quarterly meeting on Tuesday evening. The s.s. Shag leaves Rattray street wharf for the Opal to-morrow afternoon. St. Andrew's Church Blue Ribbon Army opening meeting on Tuesday evening in the hall of the church. I Adjourned meeting of erfditors In estate of ' A. R. Livingston at office of Official Assignee on Monday afternoon. MrAldridge lectures to-morrow evening in the Garrison Hall, at 6.45 p.m., on the subject of " Eternal Fire." The discourse is repeated by special request, and will doubtless attract a large congregation. The publication of the full programme of the farewell complimentary concert to Herr Benno Scherek fully justifies the claim of the promoters as to this being the most brilliant array of local musical talent ever before associated together in this city. The high standard of musical culture previously bora? by Dunedin has been considerably raised by the enthusiastic efforts of Herr Scherek during the past eight years—efforts, we are pleased to see, which are receiving appropriate recognition by our leading artists. Apart from his undoubted claims upon the musical public. Herr Scherek has made for himself hosts of friends during his residence here, who will be glad to help on Tuosday in making this concert a substantial demonstration of esteem. ,