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Otago Daily Times, Issue 3244, 29 June 1872, Page 2

The offertories at the services at St. Paul's Church to-morrow will be in aid of the Episcopalian Church at Portobello. The sermons will be preached by tiie Rev. R. L. Stanford, of Tokomairiro. The music at both the services is enumerated in our advertising columns.

"No Thoroughfare" was presented for the last time at the Princess Theatre last evening. To-night "Edendale" will be produced.

At a meeting called a few days ago by the Mayor of Auckland, for the relief of starving Persians, there were only fifteen persons present. Subscription lists were opened, and subscriptions have since been more liberally given than might have been expected from the small attendance at the meeting. The annual report of the Board of Educacation in Victoria, which was presented a few days ago to the Legislature of that Colony, contains the following passage:— '' We have had under consideration for some time, and hope shortly to submit to the Government, rules for establishing exhibitions for girls. The principal difficulty in the way has been that, although the University will permit female candidates to come up for fche matriculation examination, they will not allow them to matriculate and proceed through the University course to their degrees. We are glad to see that the j senate of the University has pronounced in favour of the abolition of this restriction, and we hope that the Council will concur. This is a matter of considerable importance as regards the common schools, because the number of female teachers is likely to in crease in a higher ratio than the number of males, and it is our desire to give such increase every encouragement." The Masonic Ball last night was undoubtedly the most successful affair of the kind that has taken place here, in spite of the wretched weather; and the restriction that Masons alone should be admitted, appeared to have the effect of increasing rather than diminishing the number of the dancers. Above 200 persons were present, and dancing was kept up with the greatest spirit. The Regalia worn were principally the Regalia of the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand, S.C, the Royal Chapters {Euglish, Scottish, and Irish), and of the several sister Lodges of Masons in Dunedin. All the arrangements, which were superintended by subcommittees, were satisfactory, and supper

was served in excellent style by Messrs Donaldson and Galloway.

Carpenters and draymen are at a premium at Westport, to remove buildings threatened by the sea.

Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, and all but impassable state of the roads, there was a very good attendance of theßruce Volunteers at Commanding Officer's parade on Wednesday evening last, when the following prizes were presented to the successful competitors by Major Jone3 :—To Volunteer Nutsford—A handsome Spencer rifle, a silver shield on the butt bearing the following inscription :—" Presented by Sergeant Adam to the Bruce Rifles for competition ; to be won three times —twice in succession—won by Private Nutsford, January 27th, 1572." lst prize, Volunteer Jno. Gillies, junior—rWaterproof coat, value £3, and range pr'ze, £1. 2nd prize, Volunteer M'Latchie—l dozen silk pocket-handker-chiefs. 3rd prize, Volunteer F. Tansley— Aneroid barometer. 4th prize, Volunteer Robert Murray — Handsome meerschaum pipe. sth prize, Volunteer W. Hislop—l dozen photographs, and £1. " 6th prize, Volunteer J. L. Gillies—l pair spurs, ?jid 17s 6d. 7fch prize. Volunteer H, Marryait —'Book, and 12s 6d. To those wis 6 hftd Hot taken a prize previously :—lst prize, Volunteer Juo. Tough—£l ; 2nd prize, Volunteer M. Matheson, senior—15s; 3rd prize, Volunteer A. Y. Smith— 10s. 'Rangeprizes :—4OO yards—£l, Volunteer J. Gillies, junior; 500 yards—£l, Volunteer Walter Hislop; 6QO yards—£l, Ensign Popple well.

Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co., the Nevada's agents, received a telegram yesterday from Lyttelton, stating that she would not leave for Port Chalmers nntil 4 o'clock this morning, and that she might be expected to reach the Port about daylight tomorrow. We may also direct attention here to the fact thafc the departure of the outward mail is appointed to take place on Thursday, instead of Friday, the date laid down in the official time-table.

A fire was discovered in the glass aud china warehouse of Messrs R. Macleod and Co., Princes street, at about twenty-five minutes to four o'clock yesterday morning, by Constable Fitzpatrick. The fire-bell did not ring till twenty minutes after; but when it did, the firemen turned out with promptitude, and soon had streams of water directed against the building. By a quarter past four, or so, all danger of the fire spreading to the buildings on either side was over. We hear that before the arrival of the firemen the front shutters were pulled down, it is said by members of the police force, and to this the spreading of the fire is to some extent attributed. A length of hose burst also, but was quickly replaced by another piece. The amount of insurance over the premises and stock was as follows :—New Zealand Co., on stock, £2000 ;on building, £500. Northern Co., on building, £500; on stock, £1000. London and Lancashire Co., £2000 on stock. Victoria Co., £1000 on stock. The total is. thus £6000 on stock, and £1000 on building —£7000, and hot £8000, as was generally reported yesterday. The building is of brick, and the property of Messrs Calvert and Campbell, and the back wall at least, which was much injured, will have to be rebuilt. The books were in a Milner's safe, and were only slightly scorched in the binding. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire. MrMacleodandone of the storemenlocked up the premises at the usual hour on the previous evening, and noticed nothing unusual. There had been a fire in the fireplace in the afternoon, but by that time it had burnt quite low, only a few embers being left. The only woodwork near the fireplace was that of the desk and staircase. There were half a dozen cases of kerosene at the back of the shop, and a tin in one of them had been opened in the afternoon before for the purpose of seeing the quality of the oil. Strange to say, while fche wood of the cases in which the kerosene tins were enclosed was burnt, and some of the solderiugjof the taps was melted off, the contents ofthe tins, even to those of the tin that had been opened, did nofc ignite, although they actually boiled. The oil was Devoe's. The goods in the wholesale shed in the yard behind were uninjured. We hear that an enquiry into the cause of the fire will be held.

The citizens engaged in transacting business at the Post Office yesterday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, were startled by a loud crash on the stone floor of the Post Office Hall. It was caused by the fall of a large pane of glass from one of the windows in the roof of the lofty room. We believe this is the second time that such an accident has occurred—on the first occasion both windowsash and glass toppling down, to the imminent risk of the numerous passers to and fro.

A beautiful specimen of the Alpine parrot, btfestor notahilis, has just been presented to the Otago Museum by Mr Henry Campbell, of Wanaka station. Mr Campbell having last year suffered considerable loss to his flocks through the destructive habits of the birds of this class, caused large numbers to be destroyed, and Aye understand the locality is now tolerably free from them. On the western shores pf Lake Wakatipu, however, they have begun to make their appearance, and the runholders in that part of the country are already" complaining of their ravages.

At a Committee meeting of the Dunedin Rifle Club held last evening, it Avas decided to hold tho next match on Saturday, July 20th. The conditions will be—Banges, 200 and 600 yards, 7 shots at each range; standing at the former, any position at the latter range; Wimbledon targets and scoring throughout.

The City Council, at a special meeting held yes'erday, agreed to accept the offer made by the Water Works Company for the saie of the Works, subject to the condition that the Council will assume only legal responsibility which the Company may be under as regards Colonel Kitchener's claim. The motion, adopted at a recent meeting of the Company, was to the folloAving effect:—

" That the works be offered to the Corporation at £5 per share premium on 5050 shares allotted, on the conditions arranged with the Corporation as per report, and that the

Collector receive six months' salary." The Council also adopted a report from the Lighting Committee, recommending that the City Solicitors be instructed to take such steps as they may deem advisable in order to compel Mr Hankey's attorney to execute a contract in conformity with his written agreement. From the discussion which took place, it appears that the difficulty which exists lias arisen tlirough a misunderstanding regarding what took place between the Lighting Committee and Mr Larnach on the question. Tho Committee contend that Mr Larnach agreed to contract with the Council to supply private consumers with gas at 12s Gd ; Mr Larnach admits that he agreed to supply them at that price, but denies that he agreed to contract with the Council to do so. The boy, Robert Hagen, who lately stabbed himself with a shoemaker's knife, is doing well. Pat rson, the carrier injured at Blueskin, and who h*>d his leg amputated below the knee, is also doing very well.

A footbridge, which is useful, elegant, and inexpensive, is now being constructed over the Water of Leith, in the line of St. David street. The bridge is built on a plan which is new to this locality. Two girders, 60 feet long, rising from the bank on each side, extend across the river, forming an arch from which springs the woodwork upon which the roadway rests. Each girder is made of nine thicknesses of one-inch planking bound together. The arch at each side is eight feet above the ordinary level of the water, and in the centre fourteen feet, and tho bridge has the advantage of not being supported on any pier in the stream .tliat- might be struck by material brought down by floods. The bridge will be much appreciated by the inhabitants in the neighbourhood, some of whom do not care about walking along the paths under the trees in the old Botanic Gardens Reserve after dark, which they have to do in going by the bridge a little lower down. The contract price of this bridge was £53, and the total cost, including approaches and steps on each side, will be about £60.

Those who are desirous of securing oil paintings of some merit are offered an opportunity of doing so to-day, by Messrs Bare aud Co., auctioneers, who announce that they intend offering for sale twelve pictures of European scenery. The paintings are altogether very good, representing almost every phase of landscape—mountain and valley, peasant's cot and nobleman's chateau. As such an opportunity of purchasing fine art productions of value is but rarely afforded, it will doubtless be gladly availed of.

The addition to the market buildings in the Octagon of the central portion, as at first contemplated, is now about complete. The addition has been put up on what was formerly the open space between the two sheds. The new building has a frontage of 31 feet by a depth of 42 feet, and the design that distinguishes the part first put np is reproduced in it. The height is 30 feet, and the gables at each end will be lighted with glass windows. A cartway is to lead through the centre of the building, but as the carts will not be allowed to enter during market hours tho space can, if necessary, be also used for stalls. While the side sheds are open on the sides above a certain height, the central part will be closed in altogether. The contractors are Messrs R. Forester and Co., and the contract price is i'27o.