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Otago Daily Times, Issue 617, 9 December 1863, Page 5

The Supplement to this paper contains further Parliamentary reports, the letters from our Lake and Danstan correspondents, a letter from th Mount Benger district, our Melbourne correspondence, reports of the Town Board and Police Court, and other matter of interest-,

Among the passengers by the Hero we observe the name of Mr George Eawcett, the favorite comedian, whose impersonations of " Wilkins Micawber," " Cinderella," and " Sir Charles Coldstream," are favorably remembered, as among the best histrionic efforts displayed qu the Dune<Jin stage.

The programme at tjie Princess Theatre deserved a larger attendance than was assembled last evening. . " Grist to the Mill " may almost be classed as the very best, piece of its kind pro duced this season, and the hearty laughter aud approbation bestowed by the audience are sufficient tests of its popularity. The burlesque of "Beautiful -Haidec" now plays very smdothly, and the whole of the dramatis personce deserve great praise for the attention bestowed upon their several parts. Miss Julia Mathews' rendering of "When the Swallow," is a very sweet piece of vocalization, and received a hearty encore. Both pieces will be reproduced to-night,.when we hope to see a full house.

The Criminal Sitting of the Supreme Court closed yesterday evening at a late hour. The jury not being discharged until a quarter past twelve o'clock. As our report is of great length, we are obliged to hold it over till to-morrow. George Pickup, convicted on Monday of larceny, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment with hard labor. Thomas Frost and . John James were convicted of horse stealing. The former was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and the latter, having been recommended to mercy by the Jury, to six months' hard labor. On a second charge of horse stealing, Frost was pronounced not guilty. Mr C. R. Swyer, charged with forcible entry into the coal shed and platform of Georga Green, was pronounced not guilty, but deserving of censure on account of the ?durse he had taken. His Honor adjourned the Court to Monday next at 11 o'clock.

On dismissing the Jury from further attendance at the Supreme Court yesterday evening, the Foreman of the Jury asked Mr Justice Richmond if there was any remuneration allowed to Jurors, His Honor said he was afraid not, but recommended them to apply at the Treasury. For, bis own part he certainly thought the poorer class of jurymen ought to be compensated for the loss they sustained in their attendance. That opinion was not coincided in by all his brother Judges, hut Mr Justice Gresson fully concurred in his views on the subject.

To-night the members of the Philharmonic Society hold their weekly rehearsal at the Assembly Rooms, Princes street.

Miss Aitken and Mr Shiels are announced to appear at Port Chalmers on Friday evening at the new Masonic Hall, which has just been completed, it having been secured for the occasion.

The Eesident Magistrate at Port Chalmers now holds his Court in the new Masonic Hall, a commodious building, situated near Mussel Bay, and immediately contiguous to George-street, which is the principal thoroughfare. Though a change for the better has thus been temporarily made, there is still urgent necessity for the erection of proper court buildings, the situation ot the hall not being the most convenient, especially at the present time, when the portion of street leading thereto is frequently impassable.

The new Provincial Hotel] at Port Chalmers, which is in many respects" the finest building yet erected in the Port, was formally openedlast week by the spirited proprietor, Mr Galbraith, inviting to a public entertainment a large majority of the inhabitants. At this reunion, which was one of the most pleasant festive meetings which have yet taken place in Port Chalmers, a sumptuous supper was laid in the spacious diningroom of the house, and the billiard-room, since fitted up with the second prize Exhibition table, was converted into a ball room, where, under a canopy of colors and evergreens, the party kept up to the dance to an advanced hour. Of course during the evening, all honor was paid to the host in speeches and in toast, for the enterprise he has shown in erecting both at the Junction and the Port, two of the best hotels in the Province.

It will be seen from an advertisement, that Mr aid "Mrs Bird take a benefit at the Californian Circus this evening ; when the one will appear in some of his most favorite acts of horsemanship, and the other in a popular farce. As they have gained many admirers here, it may be assumed that there will be a good attendance.

Owing to the resignation of Mr Switzer, a vacancy has been occasioned in the Town Board, and the election of a member to fill it will take place on the 16th instant.

The West Taieri weekly escort arrived in town at a quarter to four yesterday afternoon, bringing down 868oz Bdwt gold. The roads are described as being in a worse condition than they were a few weeks ago, when it was supposed they could hardly be more disagreeable or dangerous.

Amongst the imports by the steamer Hero, from Melbourne, may be noticed four mushrooms and one iron gun, consigned to the New Zealand Government.

A pair oar rowing match between Messrs Turnbull and Bowie took place at Port Chalmers yesterday. The course was round the white buoy in Deborah Bay, starting from the jetty. The distance was done in twenty-nine minutes. Bowie, the Port Chalmers champion, was in first by several lengths, and he was loudly cheered by the spectators.

During the argument of some great mining appeals in the Supreme Court of Victoria last week, counsel argued that on one view of the law a company might lose its shait, and all the enormous capital laid out in forming it, by discovering the wrong lead. Counsel on the other side fired this pellet in answer :— Full many a shaft at random sent Finds lords the sinkers little meant j . And by decrees at random spoken, A paying company is broken. The members of the Choral Society, who usually assemble at tue Masonic Hall, will meet for practice this evening at Dr Burns' Church.

We are given to understand that the new Judgeship for the Southland and Diggings District lias been conferred on Mr Sewell, the Attorney General under the l^st 3Tox Ministry.

Speaking of Mr Grace, a gentleman' player —one of the All England party of cricketers now on board the Great Britain — the " Court Journal "says :—'! Mr Gfrace, the great amateur cricketer—perhaps the finest pi ayer in the world, including even professionals—is a temperance man, at least during cricketing times, Mr. Grace then takes no stimulants, not even tea; and he smokes not at all."

The Argus of the 2nd inst. says •—«At a meeting of the International and Intercolonial Cricket Committee, which was held at the Clarance Hotel yesterday afternoon, Mr S. Woolley in the chair, it was resolved that the first match to be played in, the CQlqny qu the. arrival of the English team should be twenty-two of Viptqi ja against the All-England Eleven, and that it should take place on the Ist, 2nd, and 4th days of January. It was also agreed that, in the event of an eleven of the Albert Club of Sydney accepting a challenge, sent fro.m the Melbourne Club, to play an eleven of the latter here, of which there is at present some prospect, they should be asked to' play in a united twenty-two i match against the Englishmen,