ARRIVAL OF THE ESCORT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 144, 2 May 1862, Page 4

ARRIVAL OF THE ESCORT.

The Escort arrived in town yesterday afternoon with 4699 oz. of gold, of which quantity 3555 oz. were from Tuapeka, 1002 oz. 10 dwte. from Waitahuna, and an additional quantity from the Woolshed of 141 oz. 10 dwts. In to-morrow's issue we will publish a sboit analysis of some of tbe Bills it is proposed to introduce at the coming Session of the Assembly. We beg to call attention to an advertisement that appears in our columns of this day, relative to the opening of the New Church, in Walker. street. We find on inquiry that we were wrong in stating some little time ago that it was intended to accommodate only 300 people, we understand that it is capable of seating nearly SOC. The Princess Theatre w-as crowded to excess last night, on the occasion of Mr. Tom Fawcett's benefit. The pcrformauce commenced with the drama of Black-eyed Susan, in which Mr. Pawcet took the part of William. We so lately had occasion to notice this piece that it is hardly necessary for us to say more thau it was played with the same success as on the previous occasion. A double Dance by Miss Corcoran and Miss Ada Hart followed, and the entertainment concluded witb the " stunning burlesque" of Aladdin, or the Wonderful Lamp,- the first occasion of its being performed in Dunedin. The burlesque, was an undoubted success. It was capitally put upon the stage and was played with great spirit, and vivacity. The part of Aladdin was played by Miss Harriett Gordon, who enacted the " scamp" to the life, being dressed as a Chinaman, and putting on all the airs of tho sauciest London gamin or Melbourne " bedouin." Her singing of tbe song " I'm an idle vagabond' created much merriment. She ; also'; introduced a variety ,;of other songs,! and we must especially notice one to the air of " non piu mesta " in whicli she displayed her powers of vocalization to great advantage; ■ notwithstanding a defect in tbe accompaniment. The j Widow Twankay,'mother of Aladdin, was exceedingly well played, by Mr. Tom Pawcett, : - whose "make up" was a.perfect triumph, and he alsojmanaged tbroughout^to preserve his countenance to admiration. It was absolutely impossible to recognize Mr. Pawcett, in the horrid old harridan that he was personating. As Abnazor the magician, Mr. John Dunn, was, as usual, full of humor, the part of the vizier was well s usby Mr, Downey, and the Einpertir was played by Mr. Hydes with his accustomed vigor. The Princess was nicely played by Miss St. Clair; and as Pellor, the young Chinese Swell, Miss Ada Hart was " quite the thing." The piece itself is one ofthe best of its kind, abounding in puns and verbal quaintness, but having, in addi-. tion, a vein of real farce running through it. The songs and dances are numerous'and amusing, and were throughout rendered with that abandon which is so sure to tell with an audience. There was a report in circulation "last night* to ' the effect that there was a new rush' forty "miles from Gabriel's Gully, but we were unable to trace =. it to any authentic source. By some accident the letter of our Gold-Belt's corresdondent did not reach us last' night. This is the more to be regretted, as there was a rumor, of the existence of ■ a new rush, and it is morethan probable that tbe missing letter may contain some information respecting it. IMMIGRATION REPORT. . . We publish the following official reporbfor general information :— ' ' '•".' " Immigration Department, Bth April, 1862. . Sir —Since my ,la9t report to your Honor, the following ships with assisted immigrants arrived in port, vizi, the Derwentwater aud Chile, from London, with. 9i and 133 souls respectively, and' the Silistria, from Glasgow, with 217 souls. The demand for country laborers) and female domestic servants was brisk at the time, and the said classes were speedily engaged at good wages. • .■■■■- The temporary suspension of immigration enabled me to devote my whole attention to the recovery of Immigrants' Bills. The-following is the amount col-' lected from Ist October, 1861, to 31 st March, 1862, viz :— -.-.._ £ s. d.

Total for six montlis .-. ~.£4,457 18 : 5; v The success that attended my- efforts during the months of October and November, gave me brigl-t hopes as to the future, especially as the greater portion was contributed by immigrants of long standing ; but such hopes were delusive. "Notwithstanding repeated communications by letter, aud personabvisit , not a fewstill use the money justly due by them to tie Government, iv furfcheriug their own personal interes & The resolution of the Government to sue such individuals is the only effective means for bringing the money out of their pockets, arid legal proceedings would have been taken against them ere now, but ths discontinuance of the District Court retarded our progress for a time. The Provincial Solicitor intends taking action before the Supreme Court, Which w-ill be still more expensive to the parties concerned. It must be admitted that the Government have 'hitherto beeu lenient to a fault, and while they stillare inclined to extend the time of those who can- make out a just claim to such indulgence, they are equally determined that those having means sufficient for the payment of their pas?aqes should no longer be allowed to escape. The instructions given to me I am bound to carry out; as I see the apathy and disregard with which many treat my communications and demands, I cau have no can liave no compunction in proceeding against them according to law. It will be for the Government to judge, whether in the case of a few who absolutely refuse to pay, and whose personal. effects are not'bf sufficient value to cover the: debt, a term of imprisonment may not be necessary, lis an example to others of similar views. Allow me to state to your Honor here, a wide spreod fallacy that prevails amongst immigrants, particularly those who come out to the colony'four or five years ago. Whenasked for their passage money, they meet nic with the remark that the emigration agent at home told them that they would be three years iv the colony bjfore any demand would be made, and that they would be allowed some years longer to pay the whole amount due by them. I find no ■such conditions in the lists fnrnished by the British agents. The conditions there expressed are, that in the case of single men and single women, twelve months from thsdate'of sailing of the ship are' allowed for payment; and in the case of men with families, 12, 18, 24, and 30 mouths are allowed,- according to the amount due by them; and in no case can I find the term extended further than 36 months, it being clearly understood that a certain instalment was to be paid at tha end of each such term. The following is the present state of the Immigration Fund :—The amount due by Immigrants, according to the time allowed'by the British agents for payment is £32,030 103. 9d. Tho total amount collected during the six months ending 31st March, 1362, is. as already stated, £4,457 18s.-5d., whicli is at the rate of £9,000 per annum, and gives a percentage of £13} on the amount due. _ <■ ■ I have to report to your Honor that I intend leaving for the country districts in course of tliis week to collect Immigrants' Bills. I need not state that no efforts will be wanting on my part to reduce the debt for' Immigration.' The difficulties I have to contend with iri prosecuting my duties are numerous, and I beg respectfully to solicit your Honor's indulgence for any short comings in the past, in consideration of ray limited experience iv the duties I have undertaken. I have, kc, Colin Allan, Immigration Agent, ~ To his Honor the Superintendent, Gtago- ; "Letters from Vienna mention that the nephew of Count Degenfi-ld, Minister of War, had been killed by wolves. He was returning from hunting in a sledire when he was attacked by two of those ammais; he'fired on ihem, mid the coachman put his horse to a gallop to escape, but in doing so precipitated tne CJunt from the sledge. The coachman was not aware ofthe accident for some time, and on returning found only the mutilated body ofthe Count,

)ctober November December r anuary ?ebruary tfarch .-. .. : 890 J2:-6 .. ..- 1076 11 0 .. .: 730 16 .4 ' .. ... 712 9 7 ..-- ... 515 19 0 -.-..' 532 0 0