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Otago Daily Times, Issue 1789, 24 September 1867, Page 4

A numerously attended meeting of the Public Baths Committee was held last evening, when it was resolved that for the purpose of canvassing for subscriptions that portion of the city lying north of the Octagon, the following gentlemen should act as a subcommittee :—Dr Robert Burns, Messrs Gr. K. Turton, W. M. Douglas and A. H. Lakeuian —From the Octagon to Cobb's Corner: Messrs; A. BL Jack, J. H. Maclean, C. E/ Peterson, and John Hay.—Cobb's Corner to the Imperial Hotel: /Messrs Wm. Dalrymple' junr., James Cppeland, C. R. Howden, and Robert Hunter! In ihe course of the meeting it was. stated that the LIOO promised by the Government in aid of the projected Baths, would be placed at the disposal of the Committee whenever the arork was : initiated.

A meeting of the Committee of the Early Closing Association was held last evening, in. Farley's Rooms, Princes street. Mr. Cato^ Vice-President of the Society, was in thet chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The resignation of Mr Beveridge, the Treasurer, Vas received and accepted, Mr Low being appointed Treasurer pro tern. ; It-was resolved that the names of the various firms who have consented to close at the hour desired by the Society should be advertised. .The other business was of a formal nature.

The erection of a Masonic Hall, including a room 6r hall specially designed for musical performances, will shortly be commenced. We publish to-day a report of a meeting held on the subject last evening! The site selected by the meeting, out of ■ aboutten offered to the Provisional Committee, is in Moray Place, opposite the premises and grounds of Mr Q. Matthews.

This evening, the installation of R.W\M. and officers of the Hiram Lodge, EC, will take place. The members of St. Andrew's Lodge, Diinedin, are requested to attend.)

There was an improvement in the attendance at the Polytechnic last evening, when Messrs Varley and Howard gave their seventh enteVtainment. The entertainment was com- ' menced, ; as usual with Mr Varley's panorama, which has already? been noticed as comprissing some tine illustrations of English, Scotch, and Irish scenery Colonel Stodare's illusion of "The Sphinx' was afterwards produced. " The Sphinx" ii undoubtedly a very plever trick. It is ceriainly difficult to account for the fact of an apparently perfect human, head, or its accurate resemblance," using its eyes and mouth, after: the manner of, ordinaryihuman living heads, and carrying on well"enunciated,- if not.highly instructive,' , discourse with its exhibitors and questioner^, although placed in such a situation1 that it is seen to \>e perfectly detached.from.any human or living body. This optical illusion, which it is auaounced tqtbe, and which it-no doubt

is, was produced by Colonel Stodare, a few years, ago,, at-the, Egyptian Hall, London, where it attracted as much attention as any novelty of the kind lately produced. Mr Howard announced* that, if the lovers of the marvellous only manifested the. necessary aniount of interest in the same kind of production to make it" pecuniarily a success, therejwpuld bo produced; the great Indian basket-trick, the "floating cherubs," and other: startling necromantic marvels. '' The Sphinx" was succeeded, as part of the programme, by songs and recitative by Mrs Howard, as "Billy Barlow," and a very enjoyable evening's entertainment was concluded with the farce, " The Two Pigeons." The same programme will be repeated this evening, and for Wednesday evening, Messrs Varley ai.d Howard announce their farewell benefit.

A discussion upon the question of Total Abstinence took place last evening, in. the room: beneath the Congregational Church, Moray Place. Mr Jago presided, and there was a;good attendance. Messrs Bessemeres and F^aser opposed the doctrines 'advocated by the total abstainers ; and their remarks were replied to by, Messrs Hooper and Grant. Mr Jago announced that at the next meeting he would fully review the speeches of the advocates of "Moderation."

The second of the twelve preliminary contests between the members of the Volunteer Naval Brigade, for the Rifle presented by Capt. Stavely, took place on Saturday afternoon, at the Brigade's butts, Ocean Beach. The conditions of these preliminary matches are—Bsmges, 200, 400, 500, and 600 yards ; five shots at each; Hythe position. The winner on Saturday was Sub-lieutenant Stewart, whose score was 52; the first match having been won by Senior Petty Officer Smith, with a score of 56. The matches are arranged to cake place fortnightly, each, being open to all members of the Brigade, except best men in the previous matches. The 12 best scores will, in the end, compete for the rifle.