The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1888.

Evening Star, Issue 7788, 8 December 1888, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1888.

Our supplement to-day contains ‘ Table Talk,’ ‘The Parnell Commission,’ Bishop Hannington’s last African Journals,’ ‘A Sketch of Sydney ’ by a recent visitor, the conclusion of ‘ A Holiday Trip Round New Zealand,’ and other matter. We have made arrangements for the publication of a new serial, of which particulars will be announced shortly.

The Taieri paper records the death of Mr David Kirby, of Kuri Bush, for many years a large contractor under the Provincial Government, and latterly a breeder of blood stock.

The final match of the Otago Rifle Association (the Maiden Match, of -200, 400, and 500 yards) is being fired as we go to press. Competitors who have never won a prize of the value of LI or upwards are only allowed to participate in this match. The Union Steanj Ship Company’s s.s, Takapuna left tho Rattray street wharf this afternoon for a trip dowjp the harbor with some 300 excursionists on board, including the Ordnance Band, which played several selections before her departure and during the trip, Tho 1 Temperance Herald ’ states that it is .the intention of Mr Goads, who has for some years been a prominent worker under the Alliance in England, to pay a visit to thi« colony in August next. The New Zealand Alliance expects to hie Able to arrange with him for holding temperance fissions in each of the principal towns, occupying about three months altogether between Auckland and the Bluff.

The annual concert given by Miss A. E. Wilson and her pianoforte students came off at St. Paul’s schoolroom last evening, _ and there w» 3 a go°d attendance considering the Vfixy unfavorable state of the weather. Tho first part of the programme was made up, altnoai; entirely, of selections by Miss Wilson’s pupils. These were all performed iu very creditable style, but those which seemed best appreciated wore Beethoven’* ‘Sonata pathetique,' played by Mias Price ( one of Mendelssohn’s ‘Lieder obne worte’KNo. 18), by Miss Dale; and an overture arranged as a duet and executed by these two young lafiies. Very*well played, too, were Archer's .‘Mazurka de Traineaux,’ by Miss L. and Master Qeorge Fenwick, arid a slow movement from ope of Haydn’s symphonies, by Miss Fenwick jand Mias Young; while a quartet of playerctfave a very spirited rendering of Lee’s ‘ Louis %¥.’ gavotte. Miss Marshall, whose vocalisation is ftlwnys worth listening to, sang Abt’s ‘ Messengers ’ during this portion of the entertainment, a#d.Cowans song * Because * later on. Master Jjlijen played as a pianoforte solo Heller's ‘ Tarawa i telle - ' ip admirable style; and Moskowski s; ‘ Valae Brifiante,’ arranged for a quartet of players, was nicejy executed by the Misses; Martin, Lo .Keopg, and Wilson. The main feature of the JSWfcWI pa?t of the entertainment was Miss Wilson's ‘.Centennial Exhibition Cantata,’ in whipfa .the soprano part was taken by Mrs Marshal!,» contralto by M rs Res®, tenor by_ Mr A. Finch, and basso by Mr Gully. Thia wqrk, which received full and favorable criticism at the time of its performance ftt the Melbourne Exhibition, was’very well rendered and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. '

At the next meeting of the City Council Cr Lee Smith will move—“ That during the continuance of the forthcoming Exhibition gas be supplied to it at manufacturing cost, exclusive of any charge for interest, sinking fund, managerial, and office expenses.” At the installation of the Mayor of Geelong (Victoria) the other day, Councillor Humble, after returning thanks for the honor done him, invited the aldermen and councillors to meet him on the following Sunday morning at the vestry of the Wesleyan Church a few minutes before the service commenced, and to give an expression of what they felt in matters of religion and religious institutions, and to attend the service in the church. He said it was customary in Old England to do that, and he believed it would give a better tone to the business of the Corporation during the year. The Council agreed to act on the suggestion. The Social Reform Association held their second meeting last evening, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there were fully as many present as at the previous meeting. The business of the evening consisted of the adoption of rules for the working of the society and the election of office bearers. The following persons were elected to hold office until the general business meeting, which is to be held in May next: —President, Mr A. Bathgate ; vice-presidents, Messrs William Bolt and J, William Milnes; secretary, Mr H. K. Wilkinson; treasurer, Mr R. Pairman, It was decided to hold the next meeting on January 12,

An ingenious contributor to the Berlin ‘ Neue Musikzeitung’ elaborates the theory that the character of a man is to be predicated from the special vowel which predominates in his laughter. For instance, persons in whose laughter the letter A (sound ah) is dominant, are open, jovial, honest folk, who delight in noise and movement. “ Laughter in E ” is an indication of the phlegmatia and melancholic. Children almost invariably “ laugh in I,” and this is also observable in persons of a naive, docile, modest, or ifndeoided character. Laughter in O,” which the writer regards as the most dignified of all the laughing tones, is the mark of noble and bold tempers. The worst of all the laughters is that in U, which is the characteristic of the misanthropical.

The concert given last evening by the Fisk Jubilee Singers was only moderately attended, the wet weather doubtless being the cause. The majority of the choruses were, as usual encored, and every item was favorably received. Miss Patty Malone repeated, by request, the ballad ‘ The old folks at home, (which was enthusiastically encored the previous evening), and was forced to respond to the inevitable encore, Mr R. Williams sang ‘Trusty as steel' very well; and Mr Loudin’s deep bass was again heard to advantage iu ‘ I fear no foe.’ The selections savoring of the comic element which found most favor with the audience were ‘ The Gospel train’ and ‘ Peter, go ring dem bells.’ To-night the Singers give their last concert in Dunedin, when a most varied and entertaining programme will be put forward.

The ‘ Neue Freie Presse 1 publishes the report of a conversation held between Prince Bismarck and Dr Franz, president of the Austrian Evangelical Church Council. Two items only are of general interest. The Chancellor, pointing to a small conservatory in the garden of his official residence at Berlin, said that it contained four gensdarmes, whose business it was to protect him. “ After Blind’s attempt on my life,” said Prince Bismarck, “ the Emperor insisted that I should have a bodyguard. But I sometimes forget these good fellows, and once at Versailles, seeing one of them appear suddenly before me in a corner of my garden, I drew my revolver, thinking he meant mischief.” Referring to the AustroGorman alliance, the Chancellor said : “ This was my work exclusively. When I went from Gastein to Berlin, in 1878, with the instrument still unsigned, I was quite resolved to resign if the Emperor did not ratify the Treaty. It was ratified, and ever since it has aided my policy. ’

The congregation of the Elsternwick Presbyterian Church had something of a surprise on a recent Sunday. When the pastor (tho Rev. Joseph Hay) ascended the pulpit, ho announced that he had been requested by the Presbytery to pray for rain ; but, be added, he had no intention of complying with the request. He regarded it (reports the Melbourne ‘ Herald ’) as little short of impious that the Lord should be asked to upset the natural order of things to oblige an improvident people. Some countries had less rain than Australia, and the inhabitants there had to put by something—not for a rainy day, but for a dry day. If, the reverend gentleman continued, people would, through avarice or thoughtlessness, insist upon grazing five sheep where only one should be, they must expect to bear the burden when the evil days came and the pastures were burnt brown and bare; when the unfed and unwatered sheep, dying in their hundreds and thousands, bore mute but terrible testimony to the improvidence of the Australian people. He therefore declined to accede to the request of the Presbytery, and he would not pray for rain. A resident of Nigh street experienced a very bad quarter of ap hour last Thursday. A hive of bees, owned by him. had “cast,” or hived, and had clustered in a thick mass upon a tree in the garden. During the day the brown-colored mass attracted the attention of a number of schoolboys, who, after passing various opinions upon the nature of the object, thought that by throwing a brick at the tree the problem would be solved. The brick was accordingly thrown, and landed in the centre of the “ ball ”; and the youths departed satisfied. The owner during the day, however, approached the tree, intending to endeavor to transfer the bees into the hive, but in a he was literally covered with the infuriated insects; and it would have fared hard with him had not a couple of the neighbors come upon the scene, with gloved hands, and succeeded in brushing the bees off. The victim of youthful inquisitiveness was severely stung about the eyes, nose, ears, and neck, but, through the speedy application of suitable remedies, escaped with a painfully-swollen face and head.

Mr William J. Hammer, the electrical expert at the Cincinnati Exposition, is, according to the ‘ New York Electrical Review,’ preparing a novel and unique exhibit. It is a mammoth Efiiaop electrical globe, composed of 15,000 of the regular electrical globes. This exhibit will be nearly ijOft high. It will glow as one colossal lamp of 100.000 candle-power. It stands on a base of about 3,200 globes that will gleam pure white, except where the word “Edison” will flash and glow in colored effects. There is the immense socket 3ft upholding the great globe enclosing the myriad smaller ones. From this great globe, which resembles a balloon, will come a soft radiance of colored lights, whose effect will be very beautiful- At the front, just over the base, in tablet form, is a shield which will gleam in red, white, and blue stripes, and the stars in blue field. On this shield will be the inscription in infinitesimally small globes of lettering “ Exhibit of Edison Lamp Company, Harrison, N.J., employing nearly 15.000 Edison lamps, and illustrating the capacity for manufacture of the factory per twenty-four hours. Designed by William J, Rammer.”

Radicalism in Geneva (says a London con temporary) seems to be almost as Socialistic as Bismarckism in Germany. The latest aosal made by M. Favon, one of the ng Genevese Radicals, is a scheme of compulsory insurance against sickness. According to this proposal (which has been referred to a select committee), every citizen, of either sex, above eighteen years of age, is to pay IBfr (or, in the case of married couples, 15fr each) to the sick insurance fund. In return for this payment, every invalid is to receive gratuitous medical attendance, an allowance of 2fr a f day in the case of unmarried persons, and 3fr a fiay in the case of married persons. , The medical attendance is to be given without any questions being asked. The daily allowance is not to do given until the’ persons applying can prove that their poverty is not the result' of their own “misconduct.” This curious scheme has,, ptrange to relate, been approved by a ; majority of the Committee. But there is a ; general Mention pending in Geneva; and; legislators 'are dften wonderfully philanthropic—as the correspondent who sends i this item of news remarks—on the eve of' general elections. 1 1 j

The Lawrence High School Committee voted for Mr Jago, We believe that the returns now in render Mr Jago's return absolutely certain. The Lee Stream School, of which Miss Whinam is mistress, was examined this week by Mr Taylor, and 100 per cent, of passes were obtained. Mr Thomas Short (proposed by George Calder and seconded by J. H. Lamb) was to-day nominated as a councillor to fill the extraordinary vacancy caused in the Northeast Valley Borough Counil by the resignation of Or Duncan. This being the only nomination, Mr Short was declared duly elected. By the establishment of the “Home Reading Circles Union ” —the latest development of the evangelising zeal of the old universities—it is sought (says the ‘Standard’) to foster systematic study in the homes of the people. Wherever two or more students can be brought into association a circle is to be formed. The members are to read books, carefully prescribed by their University advisers, on specific subjects. Correspondence, lectures, and a monthly journal are to give cohesion to the various groups. Periodic examination is to furnish the competitive zest and the means o£ testing progress, while, to crown all, a gathering of the kind held lately at Oxford is to supply the social bond and the proper atmosphere of romantic association. The scheme (to put its merits at the lowest) is attractive. The limitation of the field, the guidance of acknowledged authority, and the certainty that a rigid test of accurate attainment will be applied, will, no doubt, develop in many minds a habit of thoroughness and exactitude which the mere indulgence of casual tastes does not always give. The young university men who have devoted their energies to the extension movement will have enormously extended the sphere of their influence. As lecturers they were friars who did not always, and never easily, collect an audience. But, under the new dispensation, they will be the guides of thousands of households. The Highland Rifles No. 1 Company want a few recruits, Saturday return tickets to Tapanui will be issued on the 12th inst, John Cunningham issues a challenge to box any man in New Zealand. Wakari Rifles’ annual picnic and sports in Frazer’s paddock, Kaikorai, on Christmas Day. An extraordinary general meeting ef the El Dorado Sluicing Company (Limited) will be held on January 4 to consider an increase of capital. A silver medal has been presented by the Mayor of South Dunedin to each dux of the Forbury, Macandrew road, and St. Patrick’s Schools. The Band contest on Monday evening appears to be exciting much interest, a large number of tickets having already been sold and seats reserved for the occasion. The Mayor has called a meeting of the citizens to be held in the Princess’s Theatre on Friday evening to discuss Exhibition affairs and hear the Premier. The anniversary of St, John’s Church, York place, is to be celebrated to-morrow with a tea meeting and sale of work on Tuesday. Tomorrow’s services ore to be conducted by Revs, Garlick and Baumber, and Mr R. B, Williams, of Augusta (Georgia). Messrs Stone, Son, and Co. announce the early issue of their ‘Otago and Southland Directory and New Zealand Annual ’ for 1889, The forthcoming issue will include the district of Waimate, also several other important additions and alterations, including the new Customs Tariff, with the exemptions and decisions, A bazaar will be held on Monday and Tuesday next in the hall of the Young Women’s Christian Association building. In the language of the programme “the ladies and gentlemen of Dunedin are earnestly invited to come, and see, and buy.” The programme promises a musical treat as well as other entertainments. A meeting of the officers and committee of the No. 1 Company Highland Rifles was held in the Garrison Ball last evening (Captain Gunn in the chair) to consider the new volunteer regulations. It was unanimously decided to raise the company up to the strength of the uniforms in stock —viz., eighty—at present, and as soon as new uniforms can be procured to ,goup to the 100. There are thus vacancies for eligible men. Conditions of joining appear elsewhere, and those wishing to .join should apply early, as the vacancies are likely to he filled up.quickly. The captain commanding the Highlanders has resolved that from the Ist January, 1889, the strictest discipline will bn enforced and the company brought to a state of efficiency second to none in the colony.

The annual bazaar and sale of work in connection with St. Paul’s Ladies’ Guild will be held in the Choral Hall next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons and evenings. The ladies, as usual, have been well to the fore in making all the necessary preparations, and we understand au unusually attractive programme has boon arranged. There will be a good supply of plain and fancy needlework and other useful and ornamental articles ; besides stalls for tho sale of refreshments, flowers, dolls, and lollies, A special feature will be the produce stall, which all are advised to visit before laying in their stock of Christmas cheer. Laughable farces, tragic comedies, and other amusements have been arranged for each evening; besides a special attraction for children on Saturday afternoon. Altogether the bazaar should be a success in every way. It is scarcely necessary to remind our readers that the initial performance of the Shakespeare Revival Society takes place on Monday evening at the Princess’s Theatre, Thu cast, which is advertised elsewhere, is an unusually strong one, and includes the names of most of our best known amateurs. Mr Willis has painted some excellent scenery, and the dressing of the piece will be on a scale rarely attempted here in similar performances. During the performance Miss Horne will sing the ‘Willow Song.’ The orchestra of a dozen performers will be led by Mr Leech. It will, therefore, be seen that the society have done everything that can be reasonably expected in order to ensure success, and judging from the earnestness with which the rehearsals have been conducted there is every prospect of a satisfactory performance. It is encouraging to know that the sale of tickets has been good, and that there will in all probability be full bouses on each of the three nights of the peformancea.