THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1874.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3917, 5 September 1874, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1874.

We have been asked to suggest a remedy for the wholesale desertion that, it seems, is becoming a chronic complaint amongst the crews of fche vessels which visit this port. In this the port of Dunedin is not at all singular, desertion from ships being the rule in all ports of the Colonies where vessels trade to. • Colonial, or rather Australasian, ports have certainly earned a reputation under this head; for ever since they became trading marts to the commerce of the world, they have been invested with peculiar attractions to the roving seaman, and hence to desert in the Colonies has been, and still is, a parfc of "Jack's" creed. And the cause h not far to seek; for Australasia consists of new lands, open to all comers, and so offers extraordinary inducements to men of energy and enterprise, whether landsmen or seamen, to better their condition by joining in that great march of progress which is rapidly elevating the Colonies from the position of mere dependencies to the rank of nations destined to play an important part in the history of the world. This is the general view of the case; its details are more intricate, and are scarcely to be dealt with legislatively, but will rather continue to be as they have hitherto been, governed by the natural laws that regulate supply and demand. So long as the Colonies continue to offer a lucrative field for

labour, so will the potency of their at, tractions suffer no abatement, especially where seamen are concerned, for it is no exaggeration to slate that seamen as a rule are not wedded tp their occupation, but are always ready to exchange it for one on shore tliat will ensure them a comfortable livelihood. Colonial society is extensively leavened by the seafaring clement. The goldfields drained the British and American mercantile marine of tho best of their seamen, and since thoso halcyon days the stvadily increasing demand for labour lias proved scarcely less effective in absorbing all and every who come withiii its influence. What wonder then, that seamen desert their ships, and that the existing- laws to prevent them doing so should prove next to inoperative. Indeed, in the majority of instances, masters of vessels are disinclined t) incur the expense and trouble incidental to putting tlie law in motion, hut rather prefer to let the men go, ancl then, as the time for sailing approaches, replace them by others as opportunity serves. This course, like desertion, has become almost a custom, but is one nevertheless that ought to receive as little encouragement as possible, for it strikes a blow at discipline, and moreover renders the law of agreement between master and man almost a dead letter. Viewing the question from our standpoint, it appears to us to hinge upon one of two alternatives. Either ! rigorously enforce the law so far as practicable whenever desertion occurs, ! or else, and we think the suggestion we are about to offer is by far the bettor plan, let the agreement between the principals lie as lightly as possible on the shoulders of each. Iv other words, instead of shipping seamen for the round voyage, as is now the practice, ship them only for the run out, with a verbal understanding that, providing they prove themselves to be suitable men, it will be optional on their part to return home with, or go wherever the ship goes. If this plan were put in operation, we are convinced that it would tend to very considerably check desertion. The desertions of the present day are, in seven cases out of ten, induced either by false representations on the part of the crimping crew, with which all Colonial sea-port towns are infested to a greater or less degree, or by false impressions entertained by seamen. Sailors are an enthusiastic and impulsive race, easily misled; and no wonder, for restricted as they are from obtaining certain and reliable information concerning the countries they visit, they of necessity fall an easy prey to designing land sharks, and are apt to regard the future through a distorted medium. Urged onwards by glowingaccountsof abundance of labour, and high wages, and lacking opportunity of investigating and judging for themselves they blindly take a leap in the dark, and very frequently have reason to afterwards regret their impetuosity. Eminently prosperous as the Colonies are, the attractions they offer to the mere adventurer are steadily on the wane, for the bloom ofthe goldfields has been rifled, the lands are becoming occupied, and a fair day's pay for a fair da3^'s work is the law here as elsewhere. Let this be thoroughly understood by seamen; place witliin their reach the means of testing the question, and they would soon ascertain that liie in the Colonies is not all holiday time —that money is not to bs picked up in the streets—that in the majority of instances 'twould be far better for them to stick by their ship than to enter upon-another and entirely foreign, and possibly uncongenial occupation. We are aware that seamen very often desert for the purpose of obtaining the higher rate of wages that rules in the Colonial marine, and that they are nearly as often miserably disappointed in the result—for the demand for labour in that direction is not limitless ; on the contrary, there is an ample supply of Colonial seamen—men who have made the Colonies their home —to mau Colonial ships, and, as a rule, | they are far superior in a working, j sense to the majority of sailors" who constitute the crews of British ships ! trading to the Colonies. Here, again, the axiom of " a good dsy's wage for a ood day's woi-k" b. comes applicable— for, if Colonial seamen's wages rule higher than those <£ their European confreres, it takes first-class men to earn them. Scrubbers and loafers—the terms are almost synonymous—find no permanent resting place on.board Colonial vessels. If it were otherwise, the rate of wages could not be maintained, for the constant influx from visiting vessels of seamen so called must, if the question of quality had not arisen, have long ere this reduced the Colonial rate of pay to the level of the British. The question resolves itself into oue of free trade. Away with protective enactments ; give the seaman a fair chance to better himself— if lie can —in the Colonies; and that he will very soon find his level, and be taught to think twice before he acts once, is as certain as that two men will not find employment where one is sufficient. We shall then hear less about wholesale desertion of ships' companies.

The tenth annual report of tho Telegraph Department presented last month to both Houses of tlie General Assembly states that the progresi of the department during the year 1873-4 has been highly satisfactory. The revenue for the year, which was estimated at £45,000, has exceeded that amount by nearly £2000; and we have no doubt that this increase in the business of the department may in a great measure be attributed to the reductions in the tariff for messages, which caa c into operation on the Ist of November, 1873. From that date the charge hr the transmission of private messages has been one shilling for ten. words, and one penny for every additional word, the address and signature up to ten words not being charged for. At the same time the Press rates between eight a.in. and five p.m. were made one-half the private rates, the charge after five p.m. being reduced to sixpence for the first twenty-five wordr, and threepence for eveiy additional twenty-five words. In order thafc the evening newspapers might not have cause to complain of the increase in the day rates for Press messages, rendered necessary by these alterations, provision was made to enable them to receive during the day two hundred words of interprovincial newd at evening rates, and alao to receive, upon the arrival of the English <yr Australian mail, an additional two hundred words of either or both at the same rates. The result of this reduction was that the number of Press telegrams sent during the year exceeded that of the previous year by about 17,000, or au increase of over 50 per cent.; while the cash receipts from this source were nearly £GOO less than during the previous year. This trifling falling off in the revenue dtrived from the transmission of

Press messages, however, ia not likely to exist for any length of time, as the newspapers throughout the Colony are daily taking more advantage of the reduced rates to furnish their readers at the earliest moment with telegraphic reports of important events taking place at a distance, and even did the reduction in the charge for transmission of Press tele grams in vol ye a loss to the revenue from this source that was likely to extend over many years, we are of opinion that this loss woulcl have to be a large one before the public would complain. Newspapers are private enterprises, but they are a neessBity to the public, and as snch are entitled to receive consideration at the hands of the Government. This was the view of the case taken iv Victoria some time ago, wheft it was actually firoposed that the Government cf that Colony should vote an annual sum as a subsidy for the (supplying of European telegrams to the Press of Victoria. To return to the figures given in the report to which we are referring. During the year 1873-4, 952,899 telegrams of all kinds were transmitted, being an increase of 183,939, or more than 24 per cent., over 1872-3. The number of money order telegrams sent during the year was 8001, representing a value of £38,052 14a 9d, or au increase of 2210 messages, and of £994518s ld, as compared with the previous year. Lunedin, Wellington, and Chriatchurch, and their respective sub-offices, issued the largest number of orders during the year, and the same offices paid the largest number, except that Auckland and its sub-offices stand second in this respect. The length of line maintained was 2530 miles, at a cost of £6 3s lid per mile, and during the year twelve new offices were opened. The total earnings of the department during the year were £59,875 0a lid, i which, deducting the cost of the Signals department and tlie maintenance of lines, leaves £6,026 63 as interest on the capital expended—£249,s94 12s 9d. This result is pointed out as highly satisfactory. To show the general use made of the electric telegraph, it is stated that the total number of telegrams sent durin 4 the year is somewhat in excess of two and a-half per head of the population of the Colony. The increasing business of the department renders it necessary to largely increase the length of some of the lines, and this will be done during the present year. The following lines which were in course of construction at the date of the last report have been completed :—Fourth wire between Palmerston and Dunedin, third wire between Grahamstown and Napier, and the Manukau line. The following lines were projected and finished during the past year:—Maketu to Opotiki, the reconstruction of the line between Cambridge and Alexandra, the secord wire between Wellington and Wanganui, the line between Clinton, Tapanui, and Switzers, the line between Keefton and Lyell, the fourth wire between Blenheim and Christchurch, the railway wire between Dunedin and Tokomaiiiro, and the railway wire between Hampden and Waitaki. The lines in course of construction at the present time are : Auckland to Bay of Islands and Hokianga, Naseby to Clyde, Poverty Bay line, ; Southbridge line, and the third wire between Masterton and Waipukurau. A number of lines have also had to be repaired, and in some cases- a thorough overhaul was found to he necessary. That most important portion of our telegraph system, the Cook Strait Cable, is reported to be maintaining ito good working order. The Commissioner, at the conclusion of the report, pays a high tribute to the scientific skill and the perseverance of Mr C. Lemon, the General Manager of the Department, in the introduction of the Duplex system of telegraphy. But for this introduction, the rapidly-increas-ing business would soon have necessitated the laying of a second cable across Cook Strait. Uhia report certainly shows the Telegraphic Department to be in a flourishing condition ; but we must not overlook the fact that during the last few months we have heard various complaints —some of them made in the House of Assembly—-of unreasonable delay in the transmission of messages. If the department wishes to gain a reputation for thorough efficiency—and we do not see anything standing in its way—all such causes of complaint should be removed.

We were very glad indeed to find so large a proportion of the members of the City Council at their Wednesday night's meeting prepared to support the recommendation of the Public Reserves Committee in respect to a site for the Provincial Museum. It is true there waa some little opposition, which assumed the form first of a recommendation that it be placed at the top of Rattray street, near the site of the proposed new University; and next of a proposition, by way of amendment to the Committee's recommendation—"That tlie question te referred to the University Professors." But still, after all, the opposition was very slight and very short lived, and the recommendation of the Committee was eventually carried by a large majority. The recommendation, as it stood in the report, and as adopted by the Council, is as follows :— " As to the application by the Provincial Government for a ehangein the proposed site for 4 a Museum, that the Council endeavour to make arrangements with the (government, with a view to granting them the use of portion of block XXIX. (Chinaman's garden) for a site." We have quoted the recommendation in full, because from what transpired at the meeting, Aye fear some of the Councillors, at least, have but very inadequate ideas of the amount of land necessary to be set ] apart for the purpose. One of their! number asked for the recommendation to . be read over again, and finding he was correct in his surmise that only a " por- ' tion" of the ground was to be granted, he withdrew what little objection he seemed: seemed otherwise disposed to offer. An-! other seemed considerably mollified by the \ same consideration. He would like to see one portion of the block laid off as "a quoiting ground," and another for "a: bowling green," Ac, but as there would still be room for all these after the "por- ; tion" for the Museum had been taken, he also withdrew the amount of opposition with which he was previously charged. Now, as we have on previous occasions pointed out, and as a mere glauce at the spot will prove, portions of this reserve have already been pre-occupied. There is the District School, the Police Station, and the Fire Brigade Station. This be ng the case, it is manifestly impossible out of what yefc remains of the block to set apart a really suitable site for a Museum, and yet i eserve enough for " quoiting grounds," " bowling greens," a,zid we don't know what else bjsides. There never was a ease in which tlie old proverb, " What's worth doing at all is worth doing well," applied better than the present, and therefore we say let a really good site be given ; one suitable for all tiim:-. What we wonld suggest is this : the police station at the corner of Albany street has long been aa eyesore of no small magnitude, cocked up as ifc is upon au unsightly clay bank of some four or six feet in height; let it therefore—with the Fire Brigade Station—be moved down to the school fence, and then let fche whole of the remaining " portion " be placed at the disposal of the Government for Museum purposes. As to quoiting grounds and bowling greens, they can be had in abundance either in the old Botanical Gardens iii Albany street, or on the Great King street Keserve, leased to the Caledonian Society; in the latter of which, by the way, -if we mistake not, some have already Keen 4 laid out. Tlie course we have suggested would afford a very good site with three separate frontages, which would afford the public entrance to the grounds on as many sides, and so be most convenient of access to visitors e< lining from all parts of the City. Sufficient r oum would also be al!brded"for tastefully

laidout grounds, planted with ornamental trees and shrubs, which will add greatly to the appearance of the locality, besides turning the reserve to the legitimate purpose for which it was granted. Indeed we don t know whether it might not be lound possible to fence off a small portion of it, sufficient to depasture a few kangaroos, emus, &c, and sa give our youngsters an opportunity, on a small scale, of studying living specimens of the Fauna or our own or sinter Colonies. At all events, if we are to have a site at all, let us have a really good and s-iitable one ; and we know not v/here a better could be found thau the one in question, if only the whole of the available portion be granted as we have suggested.

A Wellington correspondent telegraphs that the 20,000 acre block in the Oro.ua district, wliich has been purchased by Messrs •T. Douglas and R. Campbell, of Otago, for 12s 6d pet acre, would, if put up to auction-, fetch 30s an acre. He adds, that Mr Fitzherbert and Mr Bunny say that tt.ey will sell every acre they can in the Province while they are in power, at ,the best price that can be got. •

Another salmon trout has been caught in the Harbour, this time the fish, which proved to be a female, weighing 31b., and full of roe, was taken in a set net yesterday morning at Pelichet Bay. This makes the third or fourth fish of this sort that has been netted in Ofcago Harbour within a few months. Bearing in mind the small number of salmon trout which the Acclimatisation Society succeeded in turning out, it is to be hoped that some steps will soon be taken to prevent netting near the mouths of creeks in the Harbour, at least during the breeding season of those fish.

A return published ia the last issue of the New Zsaland Gazette gives the number, amount, &c. f of Money Order and Savings Bank transactions in the several postal districts of the Colony of New Zealand during the quarter ending 30th June, 1874. The total number of Money Order and Savings Bank Offices open is 98, of which 24 are in Otago. For the corresponding quarter of 1573 the number was 95. The number of money orders issued was 15,741; the amount £67,189 0s ld ; the number paid 10,875, and the amount £46,355 7s Sd. For Dunedin the number of money orders issued was 3521, and the amount £16,813' 17s lid; the number paid 2555, and the amount £11,420 19s 10d. This shows a large increase in the business of the corresponding quarter, of the previous year, Dunedin standing first on the list. The number of accounts opened at Savings Banks for the quarter was 2567, and the number closed 1356; the number of deposits was 13,100, and the withdrawals 6596. The amount of the -deposits was £171,745 10s, and the withdrawals £160,836 5s 2d. In Dunedin, where by far the largest business is transacted, 693 accounts were opened, and 320 closed, the deposits amounting to £47,823 7s lid, and the withdrawals to £42,354 17s 7d, the excess of deposits over withdrawals being £4968 10d 4d. The Savings Bank business for the quarter ending June 30th, 1874, compares very favour, ably with that of the corresponding quarter of 1873.

Much satisfaction is expressed at the astonishing rapidity with which the harbour reclamation works are being pushed forward. Following the system previously adopted, a large bay aboufc CO x 70 is- being formed opposite the Supreme Court, and this of course will eventually be filled «p with the useful material of which the remains of Bell Hill are composed.

At the Police Courfc, Port Chalraerß, yesterday, John Robertson was fined 20s, or in default to undergo three days' imprisonment, for being drunk and disorderly. The case of M; St. Anna v. Captain Miller, of the Splendid, to recover wages due to him as cook and steward, wa3 dismissed, in default of the appearance of plaintiff. It was settled out of Court afterwards.

Instead of the unsightly block which comprises the Fire Brigade Station being removed, another unwelcome addition in the shape of aa ofiice for Inspector Cairns has been made. This block is undoubtedly a disgrace to the city, and should be demolished as soon as possible.

The old-established storerooms in Bond street, recently occupied by Mr Henry Miller, are about to be transformed into a printing establishment. A great many improvements will therefore be necessary, and we understand that the proprietor intends to erect an imposing fagade. In the early days a considerable amount of business was transacted iv the store, which was then recognised as one of the principal establishments in the City.

Mr Shand and Mr A. Holmes play off the final rounds to-day on the Mornington Links for the St. Andrew's Cross. The monthly handicap for members of the Golf Club will also be played to-day.

One of those very rare bccurrehcesi an accident to a waterman's boat, happened at the Port on Thursday evening, and was all j bufc attended by fatal results. The two watermen, Barton and Fail, who manned the boat, were placed inthe greatest peril, for unmindful of their own safety in their anxiety for that of those they had in charge, they were drifted away from the ship, and were some distance down the harbour before picked up. The accident was brought about by the stapidifcy of several passengers who were in the boat. The latter it appears left the jetty with eight of them on boar I, and proceeded to tbe Otago, where, in spite of the entreaties and warnings of the watermen ', a general rush was made for the ship's ladder. Three of the passengers got out all right, and thea the weight of the remaining five being on one side, the boat careened over and swamped. Luckily the five men had hold of the ladder and the gear about it, whilst the unfortunate watermen went astern with the boat, one of them (Barton) being ! under her. He, however, managed to clear ; himself, and climbed upon the boat's bottom. Fail, who had % heavy coat on, was some: distance from the boat, but fortuuately succeeded making a lifebuoy that had been thrown from the Ofcago. The two men drifted down to abreast of the Caroline, and were then picked up by a boat despatched from the Otago. The passengers were also , rescued, and, excepting the ducking, were none the worse f~r the mishap. They were immigrants by the ship. We know ifc is a very common practice on the parfc of the inexperienced to rise up in a boat as soon as bhe reaches her destination, and it is a practice fraught with peril. Passengers should ait quietly in a boat, and leave her one by one, orderly and; without hurry, and at the same time pay the mosfc implicit obedience to the directions of the watermen. We have every reason to place the greatest confidence in the skill and reliability of the Porfc watermen, and feel very sure that bufc for the headstrong ignorance displayed by those thafc Messrs Barton and Fail had in charge, the accident of Thursday evening would not have happened.

A meeting of the Committee of the Working Men's Club was held last night, Mr Keith Rarasay, the Mayor, in the chair. The following gentlemen were preseut— Messrs Uobin, Burt, Lees, Johnson, Miller, Powers, Muir, Wisharfc, W. Mercer, D. R. Hay, iiligo, and J. B. Thomson. After a discussion, ifc waß resolved fchafc Messrs Sligo, Thomson, and Itamsay, shoukl be appoinud a Sab-comniittee to draw up a statement «>f what had been done in the matt.rPof the Club, such statement fco embody the general

principles upon which such institutions are founded. It was also decided thafc the vari ous trades, workshops, &c, should be asked to send delegates to a Committee meeting to be held at an early date. The Committee were of opinion that the Institution should simply be called a Working Man's Club.

There were a few engagements at the Barracks yesterday, and the last of the Otago's passengers were conveyed to Caversham. The remaining immigrants of the Corono aiid Otago will be open for engagement to-day. Tenders are being called for the whole of the stonework of the new Knox Church; the first contract having been completed,' and the second one will be commenced forthwith. The Tweed, which arrived yesterday brings 374 souls, equal to 259 statute adults'. Among them are 168 general aiid farm labourers, 6 gardeners, 9 navvies, 7 ploughj men, 8 carpenters, 9 blacksmiths, 3 platelayers, 2 brickmakers, 4 bricklayers, 2 plasterers, 9 bootmakers, 4 painters, 7 shepherds, I printer, 2 masons, 2 miners, 4 cooks, 60 general servants, 7 housemaids; 2 housekeepers,- 2 laundresses, 2 barmaids. The ship Parsee, from Glasgow, brings 382 souls, equal to 312 statute adults. Her passengersinclude—Farm and general labourers, 39 ; ploughmen, 13 ; miners, 12 ; joiners and cabinetmakers, 6; blacksmiths, 8; engine-drivers, 2 • masons, 7 ; shepherds, 3 ; bootmakers, 5 ; domestic servants, 49 ; machinist, 1. Their nationalities are—English, 6; Scotch, 344; Irish, 32. The next vessel due is the Christian M'Ausland, from London, which left Gravesend on June 27th. Her passengers amount to 280 statute adults. Their occupations include 77 farm and general labourers, 3 ploughmen, 2 gardeners, 5 carpenters, 5 bootmakers, 3 shepherds, 22 general servants. 1 housemaid, and 1 nursemaid.

The handsome two-storey building erected at the corner of Frederick and George streets will shortly be occupied by the proprietor, Mr Bremner, tinsmith. The lower portion is eet apart for a commodious shop-room, and the rest of the structure comprises rooms for household purposes, and a workshop. The building will not present a finished appearance until the adjoining vacant sections in Frederick street are supplied with similar ornaments.

The New Zealand Wesleyan for September is a very good number, and contains a quantity of interesting original and extract Butter.

In the Government Gazette, His Excellency the Governor has appointed sitings of the District Courfc, to be held at Naseby on October 14th, Clyde on October 19fch, Queenstown on Octaber 26th, and Lawrence on the 10th of November.

The Bruce Herald is of opinion that the gentler sex are sometimes capable of performing heroic acta when under the influence, of great excitement, and especially when their children are in danger. The Herald then gives the following Bto?y :— "Mrs Fletcher was on a visit to Mrs Aitchison, who lives close to Tokomairiro river, and her little boy, about three years of age, was playing outside the door. She missed him, ran down to the riverside, and there found him, struggling in the water. Without hesitation she plunged in, and succeeded in rescuing the little fellow, who was just at his last gasp. Ws are happy to say that the child is now doing well,, and is likely to be none the worse for his wetting.'»

Regarding the suddenly announced resignation of the Governor, the Hokitika Register remarks:—" The abrupt resignation of the present Governor of New Zealand will no doubt occasion some little surprise throughout the Colouy, although we are unable to see that he was under any obligation:to apprise his Ministry of his intentions! Our last two Governors have formed a remarkable contrast to one another—the one hunting for popularity with might and main, and dearly loving the adulation of Cblciniai flunkeys ; the other repelling brusquely the reasonable exhibitions of loyalty made to Her Majesty through himself by the colonists. The former of these is still pursuing his career of cajolery in Victoria; the latter goes home, and will probably retire into private life. Let us hope that the coming man will manage to hit the happy mean between the two."

Speaking-of little Eosa Towers, the actress, the New Zealand Times Bays:—" Miss Rosa goes to Melbourne to pursue her profession onthe stage of that city. In doing so, she enters upon a great undertaking, but one which, from the talent she has already dis played, she may fairly be pronounced equal to.- The Melbourne public, whilst being a critical one, ahd difficult to please, is one which readily recognises and appreciates talent. Under such circumstances.'this little lady's advent may be looked forward to with confidence, as-oae. which-.will prove highly satisfactory and successful." •;

To the surprise of Everybody (says the South Canterbury Times, of the"3rd inst.), Mr Elliott, the engineer appointed to report on the practicability or otherwise of harbour improvements in. the. Timaru roadstead, arrived in town bn Tuesday night last, from England. It had not been previously intimated that he had arrived in the Colony, and at last all parties concerned will have the matter put to the most scientific test as to whether a breakwater or other harbour improvements can be effected or not. We learn that he most successfully carried out the superintendence- of the breakwater at Alexandria, as its engineer, and that he is also a-professional gentleman of considerable experience.

Messrs Steele and Keogh's Dramatic Company opened at Christchurch on Saturday last, and we see by the local newspapers thafc they met with a very favourable reception.

The entertainment given in the Masonic Hall lasfc evening—in aid of an orphan boy who had, through accident at Messrs Guthrie and Larnach's Saw Mills, lost his right; hand—was a great success. Mr H. S. Fish, jun., occupied the chair, and explained that Mr Thos. Birch, who was to have pre sided, had heen obliged to leave town on important business. He, however, having been requested to take the chair, would do his best to supply Mr. Birch's place. Messrs Guthrie and Larnach's employes had prepared the entertainment, and he was glad to see the hall crowded. Mr Birch had telegraphed thafc he wished to subscribe a guinea towards the object, and he (Mr Fish) would be bappy to give a similar donation. The proceeds bf the entertainment would enable the boy to be stnt home to England, and, though that was not likely to compensate him for the loss of his hand, it would serve to illustrate thafc the people of Dunedin possessed hearts sufiiciently warm to assist auyoue iv distress.—(Applause.) The Artillery String Band commenced the programme wifch some choice selections, and also played an overture in the second parfc. Miss M. Hesford sang two songs, and was encored. This lady's rendering of "Good-bye, Sweetheart, good-bye," was exquisite, and would have been even better had she displayed more confidence. Miss F. Hesford's ballad, "In Days of Yore," was sweetly given. The reeitafcion of "The Orangeman " by Miss Whittingham, though rather lengthy, appeared to chain fche attention of those present. She was letter perfect, and in concluding was loudly applauded. Mr Denovau's comic songs caused a deal of merriment; his "Oh, for a Hus-

band," deserves special mention. Messnfr Thomson, Jones, and Johnston gave tooloßg and Mr Anderson danced a sailor's hornpipe, and was encored. Messrs Hannagan. and Dixon, upon being recalled for their double song aad dance, sang a localised version of " Love amongst the Roses." Mr Dl Little's comic song, " He's gone to Join the Army," was encored ;. his make up wa» really excellent. The instrumentation con-* sisted of a solo (horn), by Mr W. Oliver; duet (flutes), by Mess-* Wright and Hogg \ and a duet (horn), by the Messrs Oliver. We had almost forgot to mention Mr Connell'e solo on the violin, and he gave a remarkably clever imitation of the bagpipes, carrying the audience completely with him. Art. encore was demanded, and responded to, although the Chairman had previously requested that no repetitions shonld h asked in the second part of the programme. The double dance by Messrs Hannagan and Buchanan brought; the concert to a close. Mr Hume, o» behalf of the Committee, returned thanks to those present for their attendance, and particularly to the Chairman, for having consented to preside on so short a notice. Mr Fish briefly responded, and proposed a hearty vote o£ thanks to the ladies and gentlemen who had provided such an excellent ■ musical treat. During the interval the Chairman called the attention of " the boys," who had-'been inconsiderately whistling, to the fact of a large number of ladies being present, and it is te be hoped that the young men will kindly take the hint for future reference. The cou- : cert concluded shortly before eleven o'clock, when arrangements were made for dancing. Some excellent music was provided, and the | devotees of Terpsichore enjoyed themselves to their hearts' content until the " wee sma? hours." A handsome sum will nodoubfc be j realised for the beneficiaire.

The Princess Theatre was exceedingly well filled in all parts last evening, when the English and Continental Combination Troupe gave one of their amusing entertainments. Tcere will be an afternoon performance today for children, a programme having beent arranged especially for the occasion. 'There will be a change of programme this evening.

The first concert, of the season will W given this evening in the Hall of the Univeraifcy.r "Naaman"is the Oratorio to be produced.