The Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1897.

Evening Star, Issue 10391, 12 August 1897, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1897.

Additional subscriptions to the Victoria Children's Ward fund:—Stone, Son, and Co., £1 la; J.C., 10s. District Judge Kettle said at Palmerafcon North the other day that grand juries often threw out cases when they should not do so. There was a very strong opinion amongst some of tho judges that the grand jjury system should be abolished.

The Peninsula Road Beard intend applying to the Government for a grant of £2,000 to enable the Board to do the necessary work on the Main read from Anderson Bay to Portobello, which they are unable to do without assistance.

It was stated in yesterday's paper in a Wellington message that the Moana's mail was the largest ever carried by the San Francisco route. This, however, is incorreot, ».s several officers in the postal service have brought in larger mails. Three yearßUgo Mr Martin, of the local office, had as mward mail of 767 bags. The monthly meeting of the North-east valley Sohool Committee was held last evening. The head-master reported the number of pupila on the roll to be: Boys 264, girls 262, total 526; and the average was: Boys 243, girls 231, total 474. The Committee deemed the examination results to be satisfactory, and it was agreed that the headmaster and the other teachers of the staff be accorded the Committee's approbation. At the City Hall last evening Mr Albert Lucas and the company controlled by him gave another of their enjoyable tri-weekly performances. The double bill of Monday evening—a scene from * Hamlet * and the comedy-drama 'The Factory Girl'— was repeated, and witnessed with evident pleasure. On Saturday evening next the bill will comprise a scene from' Richard lII.' and Pinero's favorite 'Sweet Lavender,' with Mr Lucas as Dick Phenyl and Miss Ogden as Lavender. •

The Eclipse Fair, in aid of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church building fund, was opened in the Volunteer Hall, Mosgiel, last night. In connection with the fair are four fancy goods stalls, a refreshment stall, a shooting gallery, and a "fish pond." The fair was formally opened by Mr Carncross, M.H.R., who, in a humorous speech, referred to the object for which it was promoted, and expressed a hope that all present would contribute liberally to that object. Sixteen young girls dressed in white subsequently went through a dance very gracefully under the direction of Miss M'Lachlau. An orchestra under the conductorship of Mr Robertshaw contributed a number of selections at intervals during the evening. The Mosgiel Brass Band played in front of the hall before the opening of tho fair, which will continue for three nights longer. Mr E. H. Carew, S.M., occupied the bench at the Police Court this morning, liiizabeth Harris was fined 5s for drunkenness or twenty - four hours' imprisonment. James Jennings was charged with driving a carriage without lights. Mr W. G. MacGregor, who appeared for the prosecution, stated that Mr Sidcy, of Caversham, and his groom, were driving along Princes street south, going in the direction of town, when the defendant's drag, which was only showing one light, collided with their vehicle, throwing the occupants out and smashing tho shafts. Several witnesses were called for the prosecution, after which the defendant gave evidence to the effect that the two lights outside and the light inside were all burning when ho left Manse street. The defendant was convicted and fined 2i Cd and costs (27s Cd). The schedule of the Dunedin Horticultural Society for the ensuing year, just issued, shows that the society is in a very flourishing condition. It has 350 members, and for the four shows of the coming twelve months it is offering £255 17s Grl in prizes, made up as follow :—Spring show £45 9s, summer £B9, autumn £BS 16s 63, winter £44 12s, included in this amount being £9O for special prizes. An analysis of the prizelists discloses that £122 is being offered for cut blooms, £7B for pot plants, £27 for fruit, and £2l for vegetables. The Committee have arranged that the competition in roses at the December show shall be a record one as far as the society is concerned. An extra competition shall hn heldfor thirtysix roses, and the prizes offered are made sufficient to tempt growers from a distance —viz , £5 5?, £3 3*. and £2 2*. Future shows are to be held in the Agricultural Hall. 6

Adelaide, like some of the northern cities of this colony, is seriously considering tho momentous question of juvenile depravity, A report on tho subjeot by tho Stuto Children's Council, ao organisation that con. oerna Itself with watching the operations of the boarding-out system, nvtkes theso reoon> mendationa for new provisions to tho State Cbildren'a Act :~1. Power for the police to warn children under a fixed age found in the streets at night to go home, and, if necessary, to late them home; atao power to punish parents who wilfully allow children to be in the streets after the hour fixed. 2. Making it penal for any person to supply tobacco in any form to a child. 3. Making it penal for any person to bet in any way with a child. 4. To prevent the sale to or by children of impure and demoralising literature. 5. Power for magistrates when dealing with juvenile delinquents in addition to existing methods to—Fine the child and require the parents to guarantee payment in a lump sum or by instalments ; to order the child to be whipped, or require the parent to be whipped, or require the parent to give security for his good behaviour ; to order the child to be sent to a probationary school. The Council also suggest that—l. Power should be given to the police to license and supervise marine store dealers and their premises. 2. A probationary school should be established.

Nominations for the vacant councillorship of South Ward (Citj) will be received till noon of the 20th inst.

Mr "Watt's limelight lecture on 'Nansen, the Arctic Hero,' in the Tabernacle, Great King street, to-morrow evening. The U.S.S. Company announce excursion tickets for the Christchurch rates. The Te Anau leaves to-morrow, and passengers may return here on Sunday. In the Mornington Wesleyan Church tomorrow evening Mr J. \v". Mellor will give an illustrated lecture, ' Messmates in the Struggle of Life,' in connection with the Mutual Improvement Society.

Special attention is directed to the change of date of the Tasmania fund entertainment. Wednesday, 18th inst, is fixed for the performance, instead of Saturday. This enables the Committee to secure the valuable assistance of Mr Fuller and his art'stes. The mayor and councillors of the City have resolved unanimously to give their support and patronage. 'The Socialist' is the latest aspirant for journalistic honors. It affects to be the exponent of the Labor cause, and its mission it to " popularise Socialism " and to hasten the time " when the people shall exercise a conscious and all-powerful control over the conditions of their labor and the distribution of the product of that labor." It will be issued monthly from Christchurch.

Mark Twain's ; Innocents Abroad ' is the subject of Mr John Fuller's opening entertainment next Saturday night at the Garrison Hall. This embraces a large area of travel through the chief cities of Europe and also the Holy Land, and, with short extracts from the work, should make the lecture both amusing and entertaining. Mis 3 Mongredien is engaged, and Mr John Fuller, jun., makes hia first appearance as a humorous vocalist. The popular tenor will sing the latest craze 'Love's serenade,' and Miss Hcttic Warden ' I want yer, ma honey.'