The Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7484, 31 March 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1888.

Our supplement to-day contains Eev. Dr; Talmage on worldly marriageß, Professor! Black on the School of Mines, continuation 1 .of our serial stories, and correspondence. ,/k ' .(Jazette' Extraordinary has beerr •iwiied fort&er proroguing Parliament till April*. The tempestuous that prevailed in the early part of tlw we^k. paused a ■breach in the sea , W aU between ment rooms and the St. Clair bath aiaw. ivards northward of last year's breakaway.; A -stitch in time wjll save ,nine ,fn thjs, .matt*!*.

Our Wellington correspondent wires :-- "It is improbable that Sir H. Atkinson will visit Dunedin, owing to the press of work in preparing for the session." Haddock, stationmuster at Johnsonville, has been convicted of embezzling the moneys of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company, and released on six months probation. No less than fifty-three certificates of marriages have been issued during the month ending this day. With one exception this is the "best on record" for upwards of a dozen years. Detective Inspector Browne will not be transferred to Auckland as at first proposed. His services will be retained in Wellington, and he will take the position of chief detective. A threshing mill at Ngapara, owned by Mr James Farquharson, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday. It was insured in the South British Office for L 175, and the loss will be about L2OO beyond that sum. The vital statistics for Dunedin for the month ending to-day are—Births 94, marriages 53, deathß 33. For the corresponding period of last year there were 142 births, 39 marriages, and 78 deaths. Thomas Scott, David Scott, and Mary Jane Scott have been committed for trial by Mr Revell, R.M., on a charge of having maliciously set fire to a five-roomed dwel-ling-house at German Flat with the intent to defraud the Equitable Insurance Association. The Invercargill Ministers' Association adopted the following resolution :—'_' The association, having regard to the existing unfavorable weather and the depressed condition of things, agricultural and commercial, think it advieablc to invito the members of the community to a special meeting for humiliation and prayer." The meeting was held on Thursday evening. In the Supreme Court on Thursday, after we went to press, evidence was led for the defence in re Peter Forrester, a bankrupt. This was a summons to set aside a sale of assets to bankrupt's son and their transfer to the mortgagee on the ground that the sale was fraudulent. Eventually the matter was ordered to stand over, a day to be fixed. The Cook Strait cable has broken, and communication has been secured with the South by means of the cable from Wanganui to Wakapuaka. The Telegraph Department have supplemented the staff at Wanganui with several operators from Wellington, and although some delay must necessarily occur from the unfortunate break, it is expected that no serious difficulty will be experienced in working off all messages without delay. A social gathering under the auspices of the Freethought Association was given in the Lyceum last night, but the attendance was only moderate. The interior of the building presented a pleasing appearance, and reflected credit on the decorators; while a fine string band contributed the musical portion of the affair in a manner that gave entire sitisfaction. The tables were presided over by Mesdames Jackson, Champion, and Farnie. The Broad Bay Wesleyan Church held their anniversary tea meeting on Thursday evening. The night proving fine, there was a very good attendance, a good number of friends coming from Port Chalmers. An excellent tea was provided by the members of the congregation, and superintended by the Misses Anderson (2), M'Lauchlau, Green, and Rodgers (2). Addresses were afterwards delivered by the Revs. Messrs Fee (Port Chalmers) and Lawes (Dunedin). The church was prettily decorated for the occasion, and the church choir added to the enjoyment of the evening. The following notice of motion, by Cr Fish, has been tabled for the next meeting of the City Council:—" That in the opinion of this council it is equitable and just that some relief should be given to those tenants of the Corporation who have applied for a reduction of their rent. That it be remitted to a committee consisting of to consider in what shape or form, and to what extent such relief should be afforded ; also to report whether, in the event of relief being afforded, it is necessarv to adopt the Public Bodies' Powers Act, 1887, or not." About 1,500 people were booked by the excursion train that left Dunedin yesterday morning for Mount Allan, and the department found it necessary to despatch a second train, the first with over twenty carriages proving insufficient. Both trains made a halt for some time at the Wingatui viaduct, and at Mount Allan the passengers were allowed two or three hours to explore the country. They were fortunate in altogether avoiding the rain that fe|l in Dunedin, and returned to town highly pleased with thejr trip. By the excursion train for Christchurch, which left on Thursday night, 120 passengers were booked. A deputation of delegates from the industrial Societies' Conference waited on the Premier on Wednesday for the purpose of presenting him with a copy of the report and resolutions adopted by the Conference during the session just finished. The deputation explained the object of the interview, and expressed the hope that the Government would further the protective movement in the colony and protect colonial industries, so as to provide employment for the people. The Premier aaked whether the Conference had considered the course which the manufacturers were said to bo pursuing in employing children, to the exclusion of artisans ; and if measures were to be taken to protect men, in the case of a protective tariff being adopted, after the factories had educated them. This specially applied to the boot and shoe and iron trades. Mr Macdonald said that, as regarded the boot and shoe trade, the tariff was so ungenerously framed as to practically exclude the best men in the trade. The report will be printed and circulated. Want of room prevents us giving details of the interview in this issue. At the annual meeting of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, held on Wednesday, the following were elected office-bearers for the ensuing year:—President, Mr C. F. Greenslade ; vice-president, Mr G. Jacobs ; treasurer, Mr W. L. Philp ; solicitor, Mr S. Solomon; auditors, Messrs James Barron and L. Court; members of committeeMessrs A. Smith. M. Joel, A. Thomson, W. Strachan, and E. Wilson; secretary, J. Wells. In speaking to the adoption of the report, Mr Carroll said that the necessity of organisation in the trade was shown by the recent speech of a Mr Houchins, who, no doubt unguardedly, but at the same time very truthfully, exposed the real feelings and ultimate aims of the party he represented. He trusted, however, that the great majority, consisting of the really temperate and moderate public, would not allow themselves to ,be misled by .the pretended moderation of the Prohibitionists, but would take care to keep the power in their own hands and not allow an organised, persistent, and fanatical minority ,to steal a march. Mr W. J. Ferguson, of the .Christchurch Caledonian Society (who is now on a lecturing tour through New Zealand), gave a lecture under the title of "Twa 'oors at Hame" in the Rattray street Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday night. The lecturer handled hia subject in a very able manner, and gav£ some humorous anecdotes and recitations in a style that could not fail to pleas* hlB hearers. Ur Ferguson has an easy stylo of delivery, and appeared to ,be thoroughly conversant with his subject. The main points of his address dealt with the songs and music of Scotland, and from the beginning of the lecture to the end he never allowed the interest with which his discourse was listened to to lose any of its features. At the' close of the'lecture Mr Ferguson spoke ra'thqr warmly on the apparent want of patriotism displayed by the Scotchmen of Dunedin. during his travels in the colony he had never lectured before a smaller audience. Even in some of the small settlements on the West Coast he could get ft fair audience; and he was really surprised that in Dunedin, which was considered thp' 'Scotch oefctJement of New Zealand, only a dozeja could T>e got ( to attend a Mure of the description given. He assured his audienpe that should anyone from here pay Christchurch a visit and'give a similar leoture they would have no pause to complain of the want of patronage. He had great difficulty in delivering his lecture that night before such an array of emfcty benches f but he might on some future occasion giyp &ao£her one, entitled ' A Njcht wi' Burns/

The s.b. Shag will run a trip to the Kuik on Monday. O.R.F.U. trial match postponed till Monday at 3 p.m. 'Bus leaves Dunedin for Portobello at 9.30 a.m. on Monday. We have received from Mr G. S. Brodriok the ' Stock and Share List' for March. A member will read a paper on "The Sun and Eastertide" at the Lyceum to-morrow night. Court Pride of Dunedin, A.0.F., meet in Rattray street Oddfellows' Hall on Tuesday, at 8 p.m. The s.s. Invercargill will make an excursion to Maori Kaik and outaido the Heads on Monday. A slip has occurred on the North Taieri road, and it has been closed during repairs. Traffic to Halfway Bush must now go through Broughton or by way of Kirkland Hill. The bakers and millers are to have a picnic at Sawyer Bay on Easter Monday. A lively interest exists among them, and everything is arranged in first-class style. All that is required is fine weather to make a good day's enjoyment. We have been asked to remind members of the Church of England that on Easter Day the offertories throughout the diocese will bo handed over to the clergymen of the parish or parochial district. The committee of carpenters and joiners who organised the concert in aid of Mr S. Churchill request us to announce that after paying expenses the sum of LlO 15s remained for the benefit of their afflicted brother. The committee deeply regret that owing to counter attractions the entertainment did not realise their expectations. The Rev. C. n. Laws, who had boon appointed to assist the Rev. William Morley I during his illness, and since the pastor's departure for England has had charge of the Trinity Wesleyan Church, takes his leave of Dunedin next week. He preaches his farewell sermon next Sunday evening, after which he proceeds ' to Christchurch, where he is stationed with the president of the Conference and Rev. W. Morley. The Princess's will be tenanted on Monday and the two following evenings by Mrs Rogers's Juvenile Comody and Burlesque Company, consisting of children from five to sixteen years of age. They belong to Invercargill, and have repeatedly appeared there with a good measure of success, The programme will consist of Morton's comedietta 'After a Storm comes a Calm,' and the extravaganza 'Cherry and Fair Star.' At the usual monthly meeting of the Good Templar and Protestant Alliance Sports Committee, held on Thursday evening, it was reported that all arrangements were made for a most successful gathering on Easter Monday. The chairman and secretary reported having purchased valuable trophies; also a large assortment of toys for little folks. A letter was read from the president stating that he could not be present, but enclosing his cheque for one guinea. The Diocesan Church Work Association, through their president (Miss Haggitt), have presented to All Saints' Church a set of Easter hangings for altar, pulpit, and lectern, in acknowledgment of the kindness of the incumbent and vestry in permitting the association tho use of the schoolroom fcr their weekly meetings. The material is wliito clotli; the superfrontal and orphreys are of ruby velvet embroidered with white lilies. The whole forms an exceedingly handsome specimen of art needlework. The Ravensbourne Primitive Methodist Sunday School celebrated its anniversary on Sunday last. Tho services, which were conducted by tho Revs. J. Sharp and H. E. Potter, the newlyappointed ministers to the Dunedin churches, were largely attended. On Wednesday tho usual soiree was held, which was well patronised. During tho evening addresses were delivered by the Rev, Mr Kelly and Messis M'Naughton, Graham, and King, the Rev. J. Sharp occupying the chair. Recitations and dialogues were given by the children, and hymns sung by the choir, Miss Aitken presiding at the harmonium. Altogether a most pleasant evening was Bpent. On Thursday afternoon, at tho Albany street School, Miss Liibbon, who lately resigned her position as assistant there, was piesented by her fellow-teachers with a momento of her period of service in the shape of a handsome gold bracelet. In making the presentation, tho head-master (Mr Ferguson) complimented Miss Gibson on the highly efficient manner in which she had conducted her classes in tho school, and said that doubtless Miss Gibson would be glad to know that her work would be continued by an equally able teacher in the person of Miss M'Millan, who bad served he- apprenticeship in tho school, and whose appointment as her [ successor had given the greatest pleasure to teachers and pupils. Another meeting of those interested in the proposed Shakespearian revival (to be commenced with tho production of 'A Midsummer Night'B Dream') was held last night at Girton College, when there was a moderate attendance of both ladies and gentlemen, Sir Robert Stout, who presided, explained that to avoid the risk of lois to those who undertook tho management of the project, a guarantee for the sale of L2OO worth of dress circle tickets would be necessary, which he thought might be obtained without much difficulty. This would be the first step to accomplish, and he suggested the appointment of a finance or managerial committee and a Shakespeare committeo, the appointment of a musical committee to be made subsequently. After a few remarks from those present, the following gentlemen were elee'ed a finance and managerial committee, on the motion of Mr Armstrong:—ProfeBSor Mainwaring Brown, Rev. Dr Belcher, Hon. R. Oliver, Dr Brown, Dr Ceughtrey, Professor Sale, Messrs J. E. Denniston, Theomin, C. F. Greenslade, and the Mayor (Mr W. Dawson). On the motion of Mr Barrett it was agreed to leave the appointment of the dramatic or Shakcßperian committee in the hands of the committeo abovenamed.