SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 754, 18 May 1864, Page 5

SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC.

The Provincial Council met in St. Gorges Hall on Monday the 'Bth April, for the first time. The hall has beeo comfortably fitted, as well for t!ie public as for the members.

The agitation which has for some time past existerl arnon:? the laboring men of Uunedin in favor of the " ei^ht-hours system," resulted on Monday the 18th April in a Strike of nearly al- 1 the laboring >n*.n in the city. Yistevday morning the laborers in th<! employ of Messrs Pierce and Packham, Crawshaw and Mit-.hell, and Mr Mackenzie refused to commence work, an^i "visited the several parts of the town wbde the men were employed. Messrs Lonnie and Go 's men had;begun work, but knockel off on being visited by a bodyo"tlio;e who had already struck. The whole body, mouutad on thirty drays, then paraded the princhnl streets of the city, and were joined a f. intervals by additions to their numbers trom various quarters, every accession being greeted with loud cheers *n the evening: ameeting of the laborers wns held in the larjre hall of the Royal Gsorse Hotel, which was crowded to excess Resolutions were there arrived at to the effect that no laboring man would resume work except upon the "ei^ht-' ours system." We believe that, in all, ! early 400 men have struck work, anri all the public works in progress in the town ars consequently at a stand still. Ti)" Committee of the Benevolent Asylum have it iv c>nterop!ation at an early date to hold a. bazxar similar to that, which met with such sucee-s in Melbourne n year or two ago. The one in question was devised by Mr Biucp, and was termed "a new way to pay old debts. Instead of contributions of money, subscribers give all kinds of articles, of both an ornamental and usoful description. ' Th-se^ were collected and submitted for ?al? in Hie bazaar, first in the ordinary way, and then by auction. The Committee of th» Asylum have received exten-ive promise of support, and no pains will be spared to make the bazaar as productive as possible. The demands on the institution are constautly m-crflT-irifr, an-1 an addition to its funds is necessary to enable if. to m«et them. The monthly meeting of the Horticultural Society of Ota?", was held on the evening of Wednesday the 20th April, in the Athenaeum. Tlie President of the society (Mr B^a) occupied the chair A monster turnip of the green top yellow bullock variety was exhibited by Mr Richardson. <Rom the farm of Mr Kobeit Marshall, of the West Taieri. This turnip measured 34 inches in circumference, and i weighe 1 224 3- A m"~ p's ion wm made>,. I generally approved of by the members present, to , hold nn eveninir show on an early day of chry • | santliemums and winter vegetahles^ There is every probability of this suggestion being carried the Dunedin Volunteer Artillery Corps held their first quarterly meeting on Friday evening the 22nrt April, at the Shamrock Hotel, nt which a tolerable number of the member attended. Captain Poss occupied the chair. The acting- hoiisec. read the quarterly report, from which it appeared that _aliliouph the corps had received no great accession to its numbers, still its condition, both as regarded funds and I proficiency, was unexceptionable. Apropos of

this corps, we may mentioii that the majority of numbers have now obtained their uniforms, and tha corps already presents a smart arid soldierlike appearance. They turned out the other night for marching duty and paraded the principal streets of the town, going as far as Messrs Copeland and Marshall's hrewery, whence, after partaking of refreshment, they returned to the drill shed. A gentleman named Lockyer has exhibited to us a number of samples of pigments compounded irom earth found in the immediate noighborhood of Dunedin. The samples were eight in number, and comprise varieties of color from deep jet black to bright yellow. The siennas and violet shades are excellent, and one brown is of a, deep rich color. The samples have been submitted to practical painters and found to be superior to the imported article. Resides the earths adapted for krinding with oil. Mr Lockyer lound many others eminently suited for pipar staining. The discovery is undoubtedly an important one, and it is ti be hoped the discoverer will be enabled to turn it to a pro Stable purpoa", and to developea new branch of local industry. A very numerously attended and enthusiastic publio meeting.having for its object the institution of a loci' Athei:aj i~i, was held in the hall ot the Provincial Hotel. Port Chalmers, on Monday evening, the 25th April. The interim Secretary made a statement of the several minor institutions which it was proposed to organise, under the one institute, for the general objects of social and intellectual intercourse and improvement. Thrse included a reading room, library, course of lectures classes, an 1 m -etings for debate. A meeting of the Queenstown Improvement Committee was held on Friday, the 22nd of Api V. Resolutions were passe.l expressing a determination to obtain the establishment of a <saol and Supreme Court at Queenstown, as being the most suitable place on ihe gild fields. The nomination of candidates for the representation o r'the North Harbor District in the Provincial Council, in the pace of Mr Duncan, resigned, took placs at the School House, North East Valley, on Tuesday, the 4th instant, at noon, fhe candidates were Mr Frederick Walker, Mr OH. Sfeet, and Mr Kobert Murray. Mr Murray withdrew from the contest The election took place on Thurs lay the sth instant, and resulted in the return of Mr Street. It must be gratifying to the numerous friends of the deceased irfrJ. MulholJand, that the esteem in which he was held lias b?en market in so striking a marine', as the collection of upwards of L2lO which is available for placing Mr MuU'ollanu's family in a po3it:ou that will afford them the opportunity of supporting themselves, and, no doubt, whatever branch of business may be selected for Mrs Mulholland, the kinHy remembrance in which her late hmband is held will ivj suit in a hearty encou agement of her efforts to support her family. For obvious reasons a detailed suusc-iption list has not been published, for tru.3 btnavolanoe is at all times unobtrusive; but there is one instance of liberality which from its nature it was impossib'e to conceal, and is one that deserve* to be mentioned. Mr Farjeon, the trea'uror for the subscriptions, stated, the lessees of the Theatre mo3t generously gave_ half the proceeds of a performance, and in this manner added nearly L 5:) to the funds for the bereaved family.

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES,

Oa Sunday morning', the 17th ultimo, about ha'f past four o'ciocU, fire was observed issuing from some b -ilning-! situate in the block off George street, between Moray-place, and St. Andrew st-eet. The fire-bell was at once runs, and a few >ninute* thereafter the Volunteer Fire Brigade, with their engine and hooks and ladder carriage was oa the spot followed in about tea minutes by Jones's Fire Brigade with thair engine. Inspector Morton and a body of police arrived almost simultaneously with the Fire Brigade. At that time the <ir.j was found to be burning fiercely in the stables at the rear of the Wawrley Hotel, an-J to have communicated with the adjoining building, Mr Bardsley's soap and candle uvinu!fao.to>-y, which is entered from George street. Fortunately there wa« little wind at the rime an-i what little there was came trom the north, r.nd blsw the greater portion of the sparks ov-.r or on to the v'of of the Waverley Hotel, which bnina; made of corrugated iron, 'prevented that building from igniting. The loss sustained through the fire, as near as we are able to aa-<s<ivt-iin it, will ainjunt ti something under LSOO, a very small port'ou of which is overed by insuraucs. Mr Bardaley's loss is estimated at Ll5O, which, is not insured. Mr Brown, tenant of the Waverley Hotel, had upwards of LIOO in propsrty destroyed by the over zeal of insny persons throwing bottles, glass and furniture out into the street. The bar of the hotel was literally pulled to pieces, and barrels of liquor were rolled outint> the street with the taps open. The greatest order prevailed during the fire, owing to the exertions of the police, who protected the property carried out of the surrounding houses ; and every credit is due both to the Fire Brigades and the police, for the prompt manner in which th pv turn-d out, and the very effective assistance which they rendered. An inquest was held betore H. W. Robinson, Esq, Warden, on the 20th of April, at Thompson's Station, distance some twenty-two miles in the direction of the Dunstan Greek, on the body of a man named John Stephens, wbo died through injures received by being thrown from a horse and dragged some distance through his foot renaming entangled in the stirrup iron. A verdict of accidental death was recorded. An accident occurred on Wednesday, the sth instant, at the Government Works at Bell Hill, which, fortunately, wai not attended with serious consequences, but which caused some alarm at tin1, time. For the purpce of cutting down the face of the hill, the men are placd at different heights, takinsr care to ke?p them out of the line which it is probable the spoil will take in its descent. Two of the prisoners, named Walsh an I M'Kema, were working about half way uo the hill, and others at a considerable height above tliem—but at what was considered a safe distance on one side of them. It is uncertain whether a boulder of blue stone, with a small quantity of the slaiy rock, were loosened by tho?e men or whether from natural causes they had fallen from the higher part of the cuttings, but fVosn one cau^e or the other they commenced their descent, and, striking a projection, were directed to the spot where Walsh and M'Kenna wore employed, and striking them with considerabls force, knocked them down. They were at onca removed, and wer<s attended by Dr Burns within about five "ioutes after the accident, who reported that Walsh hid received a contunion on the side and shoulder, and M'Kenna a blow on the temple, but that neither of them vis severely hurt. No blame appears to be attributable to any of the officers superintending the works, one of whom was standing by the men at the time they were struck. A fatal accident ocurred on Pnday afternoon, the 4th iu*t., about two o'clock, to a man named William FurUy, who was engaged as pickman at the works, now being prosecuted in Princes street south, under Messrs Pearce and Packham's contract, He was working on the face of the hill wheu a large quantity of earth slipped down from above and falling upon the deceased crushed him to death. Dr Hardy was in immediate attendance npon him, but his death was instantaAn inquest was held by the Coroner. Dr Hocken, on Friday, May 6, on the body of a man named George Gardner, who was found dead on the Ocean Beach., on the Wednesday previous. The only marks on the body were slight abrasurea on the forehead and on the basks of the hands, which might have been cans- d by friction on the sand. The jury returned a verdict of Found Drowned " , A fatnl accident happened on Monday, the 2nd instant to one of the oldest and most respected inhabitants of Waitahuna, Mr. George Green. The deceased was at work at one end of the face of the claim, wliil't his mates were engaged at the other. About half an hour after commencing work the deceased wasengagedunderminingablock of some magnitude, when a portion of it from over his head fell on him, completely covering him, cau^ine: instant death. He was immediately extricated, but life was found to be extinct. What makes the flftair more melancholy is that he was the only aid and support of an aged m ther, to whom he had just paid a visit, and had only arrived a few days from Victoria after seeing her. kn inquest was held on the body next"'ay at the Golden Age Hotfl, before Dr. Simut-ls, district Coroner, when a verdict of ac- ' cidentnl death was recorded. A subscription was staited for vhe purpose of defraying the expenses of his funeral, and likewise rendering assistance to his aged parent who was wholly depending on him. The amount already subscribed exceeds £40. On Thursday, the sth instant, an inquest was held in the Court House, Mount Benger, before the Coroner, W. L. Simpson, Esq., R.M., on the body of Henry Pollard, a miner Deceased bad been a very hard drinker for a long time, and a few days before was brought in by his mate to the Teviot suffering from, delirioumtremem, and i placed in charge of the police. The Resident Magistrate procured for him accommodation in the Miners' Belief Fund House, and medical and : other attendance. The jury return«d a wdiet

to the effect that deceased died from natural causes, having brought about the same by the excessive use of strong drink. . A. destructive fire broke out in the sta"kyard or John *H*n, Esq , J. P, of this Oamaru, at about five o'clock ou Tuesday morning, the 10th mst In a very short time from its being discovered, many people gathered round, and evsry cfbrt was made to save some of the property, but without avail. Two stacks of oats in sheaf, one of hay, and one of wheat, were destroyed. How the matter originated, no one has the slightest idea. It is not, however, looked npin as the work of an incendiary, but simply as an accidentr for Mr Allen is esteemed by aU who know him, and respected by all who have been and are in his service. The amount of loss has not been as- , certained. ; Samuel Jones alias "Old Sara," was brought before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday morning, the 25th April, charged with having assaulted James Fraser, and robbed him. under arms, at the Hawkesbury Bush, near Waikouaiti, on the 9th instant. After evidence had been goae into at some length, the prisoner was committed to take hia trial at the next Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court. On Saturday, the 14th instant, as a lady was walking across the Octagon, she had the misfortune to misa her footing on the slippery and un even ground next to George street, and by the fall sustained a severe fracture of the bones near the ancle of the left leg. Assistance was readily given by two gentlemen who witnessed th° accident, and by them the lady was conveyer! to the Hibernian Hotel, by the proprietor of which every attention was shown until the arrival of Dr. Hecken, who was sent for, and under whose care the patient ia now progressing satisfactorily towards recovery. The body of a man name! John Stephens, who was recently lost oa hia way f-om Dunstan Creek to the Manuheriitia, was found on Thompson's run, on the mornina of the 19th of April, by a shepherd. Information of the circumstance was duly given to the police.

EDUCATIONAL,

On Saturday, the 7th inst, Mr Hislop, Secretary to the Board of Education, delivered an address at the inauguration of the Educational Institute, in St Andrew's Hhurch, Wa'kerstreet. There was a good attendance, and the lecture was listened to with due attention. A series of weekly lectures is in course of being delivered at the Rooms of the Duaedin Young Mens' Christian Association, by gentlemen and ministers connected with the City. The first wa3 given by Major RicharJson, the Speaker of the Provincial Council. He was followed bj the Ravds. Dr Burns and Mr Meikkjohn, who wfre succeeded by Mr Jago. His Honor Mr Justice Richmond was to have lectured on the 16th inst, but was prevented by ill health. The Revds. J. L Parsons and B. Oonnebee, are announced as haviDg consented to contribute their aid.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

A public meeting wa9 held on ihe evening of the 20th of last month, in Dr Burns's Church, in connection with the laying of the corner stone of the Baptist Church, under the pastoral care of the Rev. J. L. Parsons. Tho chair was occupied by His Honor Mr Justice Richmond, and around him on the platform were the Rev. Mes3rs Stewart, Smith, Barr, Parsons, Connebee and Meiklejohn and J. Bathgite, Ssq , Manager of the Bank of Otago, A report was read derail inu the events connected with the invitation to Dunedin of Mr Parson*, his acceptanca of the church, and the state and prospects of the Baptist Church. The number of members had increase I fiom 22 to 54; a Sunday school has been initi ated; arrangements for the distribution of tracts have been <made; open-air services on Sunday afternoons have been held ; and prayer meetings in various districts organised, A tea meeting was held at the Dunstan on Friday evening, 6th inst.,in aid of the funds of the church of England, the building having undergone a great renovation lately; it has been been floored, lined with skirting boards, and a ceiling has been added as well as extra sitting accommodation, and everything that will tend to the comfort of the congregation during the coining cDld winter months, has been done. The meeting was held in the Church itself, and was very successful, the attendance being all that could be desired. After removal of the tables, a public meeting w»s held, and Mr W. H. Robinson, the Warden of tbe district' was voted to the chair, and addressed those present in an appropriate speech. The following afternoon the school children were entertained to a feast, at which the little folks enjoyed them selves greatly. A Baziar commenced oa Thursday the 12th instant in the long-room in Rattray street in aid of the building fund of the Congregational Church. The sale continued afternoon and evening to Monday the 16th instant, up to which time about L4OO worth of goods had been sold and a considerable quantity remained undisposed of. It is probable upwards of LSOO will be realised.

FREEMASONRY.

A meeting was held on Friday, the 15th April, by the brethren of the " mystic craft," for the purpose of considering the advisability of raising a lodge in the Dunstan; 13 were present. The immediate reason for holding it was, the receipt of a letter from a brother in Dunedin, conveying information that it was possible to obtain a dispensation for a lodge under the Scottish Constitution, from the hon. W. 0. Haines, P G Iff. of Victoria. It was resolved that a lodge he pstablished and called the " Clyde Lodge,"' and that application for a charter be marfp under ths Scottish Constitution to the P.G.M. of Victoria. Brothers fiobinson, Edwards, Power, White and Currie were appointea a committee to cwry out the resolutions. A grand Masonic ceremony, in memory of His Grace the late Duke of Athole. Grand Master of Scotland, was held at the Masonic Hall, on Monday 25th instant, by the offioars and brethren of the Otago Kifwinning Lodge. Ceremonies of this kind occur but seldom, the last being on the occasion of the death of the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master of England, which occurred in th? year 1843 Consequently this is the first occasion on which such an event has taken place since the colonisation of the Province. Considerable interest was, therefore, manifested to witness the ceremony; and punctually at the appointed hour, 7 30 p.m., a large concourse of brethren attended jrf the Hall Altogether, about 150 were present : amongst whom were many visitors of high Masonic rank. The Hall was magnificently decorated for the occasion. The walls were hung with festoons of black cloth, relieved with bosses of the same material on the cornices. The great pillars in the West, the altar, and other portions of the furniture were also heavily draped. Behind the chair of the R. W. M., hung the banner of Scotland trimmed with crape borders and rosettes, and the Masonic banner— similarly decorated— was suspended over the Senior Warden's chair. In the centre of the Hall stood the bier, covered with a velvet pall, and on it were placed two swords crosswise, and a gilver-mountei maul - emblematical of the Grand Master's authority. Over the bier, a canopy of scarlet cloth with black hanging*, and looped at the corners and centres with rosettes, was supported by four brethren ; and three wax tapers were arranged in the form of a triangle at the head. Brother Flood, of St. Paul's Church, ably officiated aa organist, and Brothers Muir and Hanna lei the choir. Brother Mills, P.M., acted as the Director of Ceremonies, and assisted by the stewards, Brothers Lonnie and Goodfellow, marshalled the brethren to the place assigned for them ; -special seats being reserved for the officers and brethren of the Otago and Dunedm Lodges. The visiting Masters and Pa?t Masters were seated on a raised dais to the right and left of the Master. The Grand Lodge of England was represented by Brothers Foreman, P.G.S.; the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Australia, B,C, by Brother Lazaar, P.P.D.G.M • the Provincial Grand Lodge of Victoria, K.G., by Brother Chevannes, P.P.D.C : the Provincial Grand Lodge of Victoria, 1.C., by Brother M'Combe, P.P.D.G.M., and Brother Hyman PP.B.G.W. Brother E. Nathan, VF.M., and Brother Strelite.P.M., represented the Dunedm Lodge; and Brother Hodgkins, 8.W., the Lodge, of Otaao. We also observed Brother r.aldwell, P.M , of the Kilmarnock Kilwinnine Lodge and Master elect of the newly formed Lodge of bt. Andrew, on the dais.

SPORTING.

The First Dtmedin Steeple Chases came off op Saturday afternoon, the 28rd April at Anderson s Bay The running -was productive ot more fun than rood work ; but there -*W fortunately only one raa» tumble of a rider, and he was not much A "pigeon shooting match came 08 on Saturday afternoon, the 2nd inst., at Vauxhall Gardens, for a sweepstakei of L 5 each. There were fire competitors. The conditions were seven birds each, with 21 yards rise ; Llsforthe first prize, and LlO for the second. The result was as follows :—Harding, <S; Clark, 5; Dean, 5; Dyson, 5; and Stronach, 4. In shooting oft for the second priae, one bird each was allowed. As a start, each man brought down his bird; but in the second round Dean missed. Clark and Dyson being thw laft, ttwy each mads a siiw, and then

both killed his bird; ani then Clark misaadf, and Dyson hit, and won the second priz?. Two or three other matches were subsequently got up. There was only a small muster of spectators. On Thursday, April 23th, races were held at the townsuip of Hyde, and from the number »f persons visiting the numerous booths erected on. the ground, no doubt that persons erecting these booths did a good Btroke of business. Everything went off well, and the miners who generally are fond of a day's sport, w->re very jolly in the evening; and save a drunken frolic cow and then during the night, all went oft (>n Tuesday, May 3r4, Tokomairiro presented quite a gay scene, owing to the race meeting. A very large number of Dunedin and up-country visitors were present, and the races on the whole wer« probably the most successful ever held in the Province, with the exception of the Annual Dunediu Meet. The course, though rather short, was not a bad one, and the grouuu wa9 in capital order. The weather, which had looked threatening for some days previous, kept up through the day, an) al! present seemed to enjoy tke sport. The entries for the various races were as numerous as could ba expected, and most of the horses showed at the post As usual, the handicapping did not give universal satisfaciion, but scarcely this stall affected the results of the races, although two well known horses entered for the Hurdle Handicap were scratched upon the weighrs being announced Racing authorities declared that, judging from previous performances, their chances for the race were good, even with the weight, as all the other horepa baulked at more than one of the leaps. Considerable dissatisfaction was expressed at the time lost between the various events; and some slight unpleasantness arose on this account between the .-.towards and the Clerk of the Course. For a wonder, the state of the finances was satisfactory, chiefly owing to the exertions of Mr R. W. Capstick, treasurer, who not only used every exertion to collect subscriptions, but personally guaraateed the requisite amount. We understand tbere is to be a race meeting at Waikouaiti, on the Queen's Birth Day, ths 24th inst., and following day. The programme is promised immediately. It will include as a principle feature a steeplechase over the Cherry Farm pa'idoeks, and several otner races both of a district and open nature. AMUSEMENTS. Daring the month there have been several chauges in the pieces performed at the Princess Theatre, and some in the dramatic corps. On Saturday, the 23rd April, toe performances, were announced to be "in honor of Shakspere's birthday." A tableau was presented, representing some of the principal characters in Shaksperian dramas. It was a scene of surpassing loveliness, oa which the eye desired to rest for more than the passiog moment; and when, " Like the baseless fabric of a vision," it passed away and left " not a wreck behiad," a longing remained ft r another glimpse which was barely gratitie 1 by the momentary rising of the curtain in answer to the enthusiastic plaudits of the audience. The prologue, which was written by B. L. Farjeon, Esq.. was effectively recited by Mr Hole. The evening termiuated the engagement of Miss Julia Maihews, who had with great success being per'brming for some months. She had become a d -served favorite and was announc d to appear, but as with one consent, on the fall tif the curtain the audience rose and quitted the theatre, it having become generally known that during the forenoon Miss Mathews had been marrie i. ,„ Mr Shiels Barry, whose impersonation of Irish character has earned him popularity in Victoria, nas been playing sometime at the Princess with success. A drama taken from one of the most skilfully wi ought stories, of one of the most skilful of modern novelists, was pjoiuced on the evening of Monday, 9fch May. The salient features of the story had ceen seized on and skilfully adapted by a gentleman fully equal to the task, and whose knowledge «f the technicalities necessary to the successful performance, on the stage, of aa adapted piece, ensured a smoothness and " fitting in," which is generally beyond the reach of amateur dramatists. The " Captain of the Vulture," as presented to a Dunedin audience last week, is taken from Miss Braddon's novel bearing that title, and the author of the dramatised version of that story ia Mr Clarance Holt. The performance went off in a most satisfactory manner, and the piece has had a run of seven nights. The Philharmonic Society increases m efficiency, and is preparing to perform Stetndale Bennett's "May Queen." The society continue their weekly rehearsals, and it is anticipated the performance will be given in the course of a few weeks NL.W ZEALAND INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. The Local Committee of the New Zealand Exhibition meet weekly, and have latterly done good service in waiting upon the classes likely to send articles for exhibition. There is every reason to suppose that the indastry and talent of Otago will be well represented. At the meeting of the Committee on Wednesday, 11th May, it was stated that 139 applications for space had been made, rrquiring an area of 7000 square feet, and wall space equal to 3761 square feet. Several tradesmen are preparing articles expressly for the Kxhibition of a most elaborate kind, tending not only to evince their own artistic skill but the capabilities of many native product to usefulness and ornamentation. The building for their reception is rapidly progressing, and the interest in the neighboring Provinces appears to be on the increase. LAW AND POLICE. A regular raid was made by the police (acting under orders) upon the storekeepers at Mount Bentjer and the Onnstan, who had grog exposed for sale. Several had a good quantity of potent liquor consigned to the Government, which produced a large amount of mortification on the side of those consigning, and a good quantity of chaff from the public. The offending parties were brought before she Kesident Magistrate and bound over to appear again in heavy securities. The Civil Sessions of the Supreme Court were opened on Monday morning, the 3rd inst. The newly-appointed Ju^ge for the district—Mr Justice Chapman—took his seat at 11 o'cleck. The Crown Prosacutor, Mr Ho worth, in name of the legal profession of Dunedin, congratulated hfa Honor upon hi 9 appointment to this district, and expressed the confidence which they felt in hia abilities as judge. His Honor thanked the profession for their expression of kindness and confidence, and hoped that they would always be able to retain kindly feelings towards each other. His Honor then expressed a hope that the Provincial Government would, upon proper representations being made to them, take steps to remedy the very inadequate Court accommodation at present existing in Dunedin The business of the Court was then proceeded with. The cause list comprises eighteen common and eleven special jury cases.