The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7496, 14 April 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1888.

Our supplement to-day contains 'Tabic Talk,' by our London correspondent; an interesting account of a visit to Mr Spurgcon's Tabernacle, by a well-known Dunedin resident; and the opening chapter of a new novel by the author of ' The Corsican Vendetta." 'Mr Potter, of Texas,'will prove to be an exciting and exceedingly readable story. We shall continue it in our Wednesday's issue. The appointment conferred on Mr W. Parker Street, and to which reference was made by him at the presentation on Wednesday night, is that of a Commissioner for the colony at the Victorian Exhibition. The officers' inspection parade of the Dunedin Naval Artillery was held last night at the Garrison Hall, Lieutenant Jacobs being in command. The parade state was as follows :—2 lieutenants, 1 chief officer, 1 quarter-master, 2 first-class petty officers, 4 second-class, 39 gunners—total, 49. After drill the Naval Brigade formed an athletic club, with a membership of forty. The following are the officers: — Captain C. R. Smith, president; Lieutenants Jacobs and Notman, vice-presidents; P.O. R. Donaldson, treasurer; Gunner Fredric, secretary. The monthly meeting of the George street School Committee, held last evening, was attended by Messrs Jago (chairman), Simpson, M'Donald, Cohen, and the Rev. Mr Beckenham. The head-master reported that there were 957 pupils on the roll, and the average attendance had been 843 for the last quarter. - The clerk having reported that Mr Hudson had prosented three fret saw machines to the school for the use of the technical class, it was resolved that the thanks of the Committee be accorded to Mr Hudson for his very useful gift. The chairman and the clerk were requested to prepare the report for the annual meeting. Mr R. J. O'Sullivan, who recently resigned the position of senior inspector of the Auckland schools, has submitted to the Board of Education his report for the year 'ended December 31, 1887, in which he condemns the system pursued by the Board in appointing teachers without consulting the inspectors; and further remarks that the present method of appointing probation teachers is a travesty of the system he set on foot. He says that notwithstanding all the " bother " about retrenching, the building of hurtful schools—that is schools which are not needed—goes merrily on, whilst the teaohing department is at present a body without a head. Mr O'Sullivan recommends that there should be a chief inspector, who, among other duties, should have a general supervision over the whole system,

The population of Queensland is estimated at 354,000. By a fire at Newton (Auckland) yesterday the Royal Office loses L 250. A man named Mart/, dropped down dead at Waiau (North Canterbury) on Thursday afternoon. Mr C. A. Henderson, Registrar of the Supreme Court at Invercargill, is to be transferred to Hokitika. H.M.S. Diamond liua been despatched to the New Hebrides to witness the evacuation of the group by the French. Mr Justice Williams proceeds to Invercargill on Monday for the half - yearly sitting of the Supreme Court at that place. During March the estates of eighteen deceased persons have been placed under control of the Public Trustee. They varied in amount from LI to L 1,400. Auckland was en fete to-day on account of the seventy-sixth birthday of Sir George Grey, who was the recipient of numberless congratulatory telegrams. The reported volcanic outbreak at the Bay of Islands turn? out to be a mistake. A stratum of an inflammable character has been ignited by bush fires. Two stacks of wheat on the farm of Mr John Honner, at Miller Flat, were burned down on Tuesday night. There was no insurance. Incendiarism is suspected. A mission will be opened in St. Joseph's Cathedral to-morrow evening. The opening sermon will be preached by the Rev. Father M'Enroe, a member of the Jesuit order. The Lawrence paper states that Barney O'Neill is now reported to be out of danger, but he was not well enough to give evidence on Friday ; therefore a further remand for a week was granted. The Governor presided at a meeting of the Exhibition Committee yesterday. A cablegram has been received from Melbourne stating that the Exhibtion opens on Ist August. The exhibits leave New Zealand by the Manapouri, starting from Auckland on 3rd May, and collecting southwards. A seaman named Hans, or Hansen, a Norwegian, was drowned in the Mataura River yesterday afternoon. He was in a bout running a line from the s.s, Kakanui to the shore, and in returning to the steamer was drowned. The body has not yet been found. From inquiries we have made wc believe that the deceased was a single man and had no friends in Dunedin. We do not think that it is generally known that there is in our midst an industry for canning and preserving milk and preserving butter. This is the establishment of Mr Richards, at Anderson Bay. The industry has been brought under the notice of the Premier, who emphatically declares that the preserved milk is, to his mind, far superior to the famed Swiss milk. Mr Richards cans about 700 gal ol milk per day. A serious accident occurred on board the steamer Mawhera at Timaru last night. Mr Mandle, the second officer, was superintending loading operations aft, when by making a false step he tripped and fell down the after hold. Dr Macintyrc found the officer's left arm broken between the elbow and shoulder, and also severe injuries had been sustained to the shoulder, chest, head, and back. Washington society was excited over a luncheon given by Mrs Robert R. Hill, wife of the Illinois politician, to the Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, in Washington, on February 22, and where there were eighteen beautiful girls assembled, Mr Chamberlain being the only male guest. The luncheon was superb, the young ladies charming, and the member from Birmingham at his best; but the taste of the thing made New Yorkers, New Engenders, and Southerner shudder. The Burns statue is practically out of debt. A meeting of the Committee was attended by the Hon. T. Fergus (in the chair), Messrs J. Gillies (deputy-treasurer), William Brown (lion, secretary), John Craig, John M'Gregor, William Richmond, and James Armour. It was resolved that the balance in the hands of the treasurer, and any other sums received on or before Tuesday, the 17th inst., be handed to His Worship the Mayor, who on that day will pay off all liabilities on the statue. The Hon. the Premier and the Minister for Defenee yesterday afternoon inspected Reid and Gray's woiks, Shaddock's foundry, the Mosgiel Woollen Company's premises, and Inglis's boot factory. To-day they went over A. and T. Burts' premises and Kincaid and M'Queen's foundry. The Premier made very minute investigations, and doubtless received a quantity of information which will lie of value to the Government in compiling their tariff. Both hon. gentlemen proceed to Invercargill on Monday. Sir Harry Atkinson returns here on Wednesday and leaves for Christchurch on Thursday, picking up the Mararoa at Lyttelton the same evening. It is possible that the Hon. Mr Fergus will pay a visit to the Lakes in regard to the changes in the police districts recently brought about. This morning a deputation from the unemployed waited on Mr Fish, M.H.R., and requested him to arrange, if possible, an interview between them and the Premier. Mr Fish replied that he thought it would be impracticable for the Premier to meet them that day, as his time was pretty fully occupied with previously arranged deputations, but having to sec Sir Harry later, he would endeavor to ascertain what arrangement could be made. Accordingly, Mr Fish consulted the Premier, and learned from him that it would be impossible for him to receive any deputation until after his return from Invercargill, and he expressed his willingness to meet them on the railway platform previous to his departure for the North on Thursday morning.. It will be well, therefore, for the unemployed, who claim to be in distress, to put in an appearance that morning at 7-45, when Mr Fish will be in attendance to introduce them.

The Supreme Court at Wellington was occupied yesterday with the hearing of a charge of murder preferred against Fong Chong and his wife, an English woman. The body of their infant, bearing marks of violence, was found wrapped in a bag on the beach at Evans Bay in January last. The jury, after an hour's dclibration, acquitted the accused of the more serious charge, and brought in a verdict of " Concealment of birth." The Chief Justice sentenced the prisoners to two years' imprisonment each, but reserved the question of corpus delicti for the Appeal Court, and ordered that execution should be arrested until the decision of that Court was given. A peculiar point arose after the verdict was given, it being ascertained that none of the evidence had been interpreted to the male prisoner. This His Honor said if anything amounted only *o a mis-trial, but he was not prepared at present to say what course should be adopted. An accident occurred on the Kingston line on Wednesday night. About two miles above Athol there are two bridges in close proximity, with a cutting between, and while the north train was passing through this, after dark, the engine run into a bullock, which was carried on the cow-catcher till the bridge was nearly crossed. The carcass then dropped off, and getting under the leading wheels derailed the engine. The locomotive did not diverge mueh from the track till clear of the bridge. As it was the engine ran down the side of the embankment, and lay there with the wheels upwards. Three waggons also left the rails ; but the couplings having parted the rear part of the train with the passenger carriage kept the road. Cockroft (the driver) and his fireman had a narrow escape. The line was repaired, and the train proceeded with another engine after six hours' detention. There will bo no meeting in tho Lyceum tomorrow evening. No. 1 Company City Guards have fixed the date for their annual ball in the Garrison Hall for the 15th of June. The local option poll in the Cavcrslum licensing district will take place on Thursday, April 19, at the Caversham Town Hall. Professor Dunlop will lecture on 'Hero Worship' in old Knox Church on Monday evening, in connection with the Knox Church Literary Society. ' Land and Sea,' modelled on the style of that most successful publication 'Tit Bits,'appears to be making good headway. Its general makeup is very creditable. What the doctors say: Don't use cocoa which thickens and makes an indigestible soup, but try Cadbury's cocoa essence, absolutely pure. Wholesale off Mackerras and Hazlett and E. Wilson and Co.—[Advt.]

Mr William Davidson will deliver ft lecture on 'Charles Dickons' :n Old Knox Chuich on Wednesday evening. The Phoenix. Cricket Club intend having a grand conrert on the 27th inst, the evening before the English football match. The Committee are doing all in their power to make tho concert a success. The free reading-roorn in tho Hanover street school buildings will be opened on Monday evening, when a public meeting will be held. Rev. A. North will take the chair at eight o'clock, and addresses will bo given by Rev. Dr Stuart, Hon. T. Dick, and Mr G. licll. It will be soon from our advertising columns that Miss Alice Wooldridge, formerly connected with Australian opera intends ••taiting the teaching of singing and pianoforteplaying in Dunedin. Miss Wooldridge comes highly accredit™!, having been a pupil of Madame Lury Chambeis and Zolman. The annual distribution of prizes in connection with St. Paul's Sunday School took place in the schoolroom last night, when there was a crowded attendance, the Ven. Archdeacon Edwards presiding. Addres'Cß were delivered by Dr Hockrm and MrOrowthcr, and the former havitig commented on the importance of Sunday schools, promised to give two special prize?. The Archdeacou mentioned that the Committee had resolved to vote 1/20 towards the school building fund, and the superintendent (Rev. Q. Bacon) assisted iu the distribution of the prizes, which were of a costly character. Songs were contributed by Messrs Wathen and Wilson, and Mr Dickie gave a clever vontrilcijuial performance, the entertainment closiug with tho National Anthem, Miss Collinson presided at the organ, and Mins Kehberg at the piano. The room was tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens.