NEWS OF THE DAY.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1610, 25 February 1873, Page 3

NEWS OF THE DAY.

THE PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY'S CONCERT. The performance la9t evening at the Provincial Hall fully justified the hopes conceived by the numerous audience of amateurs, attracted thither by their love for music, and their desire to give Mrs Scaife and Mr Walcot a proof of tho esteem they entertain for their musical talents and the appreciation of the zeal they have so often displayed at our Philharmonic gatherings. The proceedings began with the beautiful symphony of "Der Freischiitz," to which full justice was rendered by the band, under the able leadership of Mr Walcot. The well-known glee, "Awake Moliarx Lyre," came next, and was received with favor. " Only," a song by Virginia Gabriel, was rendered with considerable taste by a gentleman possessing a very sympathetic baritone voice. A very melodious quartette of Pohlenz, "Banish O Maiden," seemed to captivate the attention of the audience; and was followed by one of Glover's ballads, " Nanette." Then we noticed "L' Astro di Belta" (tho Star of Beauty), a plain but charming melody of Luigi Negri, sung in very good style, and with a nice tenor voice by a gentleman, who accompanied himself. A duet, by Parry, was well received; also, Donizetti's " See yon rose so freshly blooming," rendered by a lady gifted with a very pure soprano voice. Mr. Walcot sang with hia usual capital style an air of Francesco Berger's "At Last," and was rewarded by enthusiastic applause, and loudly encored. "The Messenger," a duet by Mrs. Hemans, and "Scene of my Youth," by Benediot, were admirably sung, and were also encored. An air from Wallace's "Maritana" by a baritone accustomed to the applause of Nelson audiences, and very well supported on the present occasion by the cornet-a-piston obligato, deserves special mention. The comical part was supplied by two humorous songs, capitally rendered by a gentleman, whom we would be glad to hear oftener; and by the very pleasant catch of " Mr. Speaker," which convulsed the whole house with laughter. The instrumental part consisted of a p;anoforte duet from " Lucia di Lammermoor," in which Mrs. Scaife displayed her brilliant qualities as a pianist, as well as her most accomplished maestria of the instrument; and of a pianoforte solo, " Les Chant de Naiaides," which was excellently played by one of her best pupils. We come now to a part of the concert which, in our opinion, deserves great enconium ; we allude to the operatic selections. We admit that English songs and ballads may have a great charm for many, and we do not hesitate to say that there are whole operas which are not worth a melody of Moore's, or one of those admirable Scotch lays ; but when the public is invited to give its attention to music during a whole evening, we think that something of a more substantial character than songs and ballads should be produced, and that efforts should always be made to widen musical taste and knowledge of the dilettanti. The " Gipsy Chorus" of that splendid Opera of Balfj's " The Bohemian Girl" followed by a duet and march, and the grand chorus " Fays and Elves" from Martha, though full of difficulties, were very creditably produced- An operatic selection from Donizetti's " Lucia," though perhaps not so successfully rendered, yet deserves more than the rapid mention which want of space allows us to give. We must notice also the inspiriting choral and march of Verdi, " Onward to battle," which was greeted by unanimous and well deserved applause. But we feel compelled to say that this ohorus was not written for female voices, and, perhaps, this will be remembered on another occasion. In conclusion, it should bo mentioned that nearly all the accompaniments on the piano were played with the greatest artietical discretion by Mrs. Scaife herself, who, throughout the whole evening, received the most unmistakable proofs of the favor of the audience. *

Lectctee.—Oar readers are reminded of the lecture that Mr. T. ¥. M'Donog!) will give in the Masonic Hallj this evening, explanatory of the Government life assurance and annuity scheme. Mr. M'Donogh has the ability to render the subject amusing, as wall a 9 instructive, and no doubt there will be a large attendance.

It is reported from Collingwood that good goldbearing stone has been struck in the Perseverance mine, at a place about ihe same depth as the former good patch was found, and at the other side of the " break" which stopped them. Crushing will probably be resumed in a few days.

The Keception Committee. —At a meeting of the Committee last night, it was reported that the Provincial Grovernment had consented to give £150 towards the funds which are being raised, and up to last night £50 besides had been collected from the public, so that up to that time only two-thirds of the requisite sum had been collected. A telngrain from an official la9t night stated that 90 representatives in all would arrive. Tenders for supplying the luncheon are advertised for, and the Committee meet again to-morrow night. Several minor matters were discussed before the meeting separated.

Inland Communication.—To-morrow evening, the members of the General Committee are requested to meet at the Grovernment Buildings, to consider and discußS the draft report on the above-named subject.

District Phizes. —The City Kifles oommenoe firing this morning, at the Maifai butts, for the district prizes given by the G-eneral Government, for competition by the Nelson and Marlborough corps. The value of the prizeß are : — First Set. £ s. d. Ist Prize 7 0 0 2nd Prize 5 0 0 3rd Prize 4 10 0 Three prizes of (each) ... 210 3 t, ~ „ „ ... ... 2 0 0 „ „ .» „ ... - 10 0 Total value „. v . ... £33 0 0 Second Set. £ a. d. lßt Prize 5 0 0 2nd Prize 3 0 0 Two Prizes of (each) 2 0 0 ~ „ „ „ 110 0 Three „ „ „ 10 0 Total value £18 0 0 The Waimea Kifles fire on Thursday next. We wish our local companies success, and hope they will show their Marlborough comrades that they are formidable opponents. Anotheb Crushing- at the Inangahua.—The gold, the result of the crushing of the Energetic Company Inangab.ua, was brought to town on Tuesday night, and lodged in the Bank of Few Zealand. The correot return is as follows :—297 tons of quartz were put through the machine, which yielded 108oz. lldwt. of retorted gold ; but the blankets and tables were not touohed. The latter are supposed to contain between 50oz. and 6Ooz. of amalgam. We have heard from good authority that the first 150 tons put through was very poor stone, and did not yield more than 4dwts. to the ton. The stone the Company's men are now taking out shows gold, and it is expected that the next crushing will give a better return.— Grey River Argus, February 20th.

WiHiiAM Moebis, a contractor, of Westport, has become a bankrupt.

"Vehx Pbomising."—The Charleston Herald of February 19th, states: —'* His Honor the Superintendent, Oswald Curtis, Esq., promises that he will meet the inhabitants of Charleston on Thursday evening next, when, he promises, he will promise anything asked him to promise, ns alao promises to explain why he has not peiformed all the promises he has heretofore promised. The result of this meeting promises to be about as profitable to the inhabitants as all the promises the Super has promised under morn promising aspects than tho forthcoming meeting promises to assume. A meeting of political individuals was to take place last night in order to review the previous promises of his Honor, and to draw up a series of other promises for him to promise on Thursday evening. Very promising the meeting will doubtless end altogether." Owing to the slackness of the market at Beefton, and the abundance of the crop, potatoes are selling there at £7 per ton. It is a striking incongruity (says the Grey Valley Times of February 15th) that potatoes should be £16 here, where the market is almost insatiable. The present year does not promise well for the farmers. Chaff has dropped to £9 per ton t *ndiirtmontb«d.«Qiitt« >

Race Meetings,—The Nelson race meeting, for this year, is advertised for March 26th and 27th next. The stakes offered consists of £310 in money and two gentlemen's saddles.—The Westland Autumn meeting is fixed for April 14th and 15th, and the money offered amounts to £410.—The Greymouth races come off on March 17th and 18th; the stakes amount to £620. Dkowned in A Well—A.t Blenheim, a little girl, the daughter of Mr Harry Silvius, has been drowned in a well which had been carelessly left uncovered by some person fetching water therefrom. Registration on the Nelson Southwest Goldfields. —Mr- Ivees, the newly-elected member for the district in the Provincial Council, is taking steps to procure the registration of all those residents of the district who are qualified to have their names inserted on the electoral roll (says the Grey Miver Argus of February 17th) and, in the shape of a letter in the columns of the Herald, he to-day urges on the other districts of the Southwest Goldfields the desirability of forming committees for the purpose of securing the registration of their suicidally apathetetic neighbors, After reminding his fellowcitizens of the less-than-nothing that has resulted from the nuneroua petitions for the redress of grievances which have from time to time been forwarded to Nelson, ho quotes from a recent return the following figures, which are eminently suggestive of the reason why the authorities could afford to systematically ignore the wishes of the inhabitants of the West Coast. It seems ihat while male population over 21 years of age, residing in Nelson city and suburbs, numbered 2935 souls, of whom 1181 are registered electors (about 72 per cent.), in the Buller district, the corresponding numbers wore 2935, of whom 812, or 29 per cent availed themselves of registration; and that in the Waimea, Motueka. and Collingwood districts, out of a population of 1722 adults, 1121 are enrolled electors, or nearly 64 per cent. He then goes on to prove that there must be at least 2000 persons residing in the Grey Valley, who are one and all eligible for registration. After the experience of the last few years surely the residents of the goldfields have learnt the value of their political privileges, and will not any longer suffer their interests to be governed by people who do not in the lea9t understand them, and whose habits and thoughts are entirely uncongenial to theirs. [Only a few days longer remain for sending in claims. Registration forms may be procured at this office.] As some testimony cf the value of the Grey Valley coal and coke, the following from a letter written by a gentleman in Melbourne to a resident in Greymouth is worthy of quotatiou :—"I was talking to one of the gentlemen engaged at the new Mint, and he told me that the Greymouth coal was far superior to the English for its coke. ; the price paid for five tons of your coal was £3 10s., the English £4 10s. It was shipped by Spence Brothers, and they are aadly wanting some more of it. They, the authorities at the Victorian Mint, pronounce it superior, and are astonished that thore is not more sent to this market than there is. When will the railway ba completed?" — Argus. Gold fboh the Inangahua.—lt is satisfactory to learn that the quality of the gold produced from the reefs in this district is very superior. Late parcels have been disposed of at £3 18s. per ounce, with the understanding that a further payment will be made of one to two shillings per ounce, after receiving the result of assay from Mcl bourne.— Herald.

The Charleston Herald of the 19th instant, in an article relating to the miserable pay of Gbneral Government officials, and particularly of those of the Telegraph Department, says : —We atate it for a positive faot that we know of one lad's salary being .advanced from £70 to £100, the docenr to the M.H.R. obtaining that advance being a £10 cheque. With such an odour on the service, what can it be expected that those who are employed therein can be. As at present conducted, men had better make their Bona chimney-sweeps than telegraphists. The Auckland Goldfields. —The yield from the crushings on the Auckland Goldfields from January 22nd to February 17th, this year, was:— Stone Yield crushed. gold Tons. Ounces Total for month ... 7,206 ... 8,955 Previous month ... 3,837 ... 3,384 Increase 3,369 ... 5,571 The Court Pride of Parnell, Ancient Order of Foresters, celebrated their anniversary by an excur* sion to Ohinemuri, on February 13th. There were 360 excursionists. Dbo"W"slNG.—•lnformation wasbroughtintoHokitika late lust night of the death by drowning of Mr. Henry Friend, a very well-known resident in Hokitika. The deceased went up, last evening, with two lads to get some pigeons from Mr. Glossop. When they reached the old Islay Hotel, he wanted to go into the river for a bathe, but wan persuaded to go on to his original destination. When he readied the cricket-ground, he found that GHossop had removed, and then he undressed and went into the river. The lads did not see him sink, but a man that ■was passing by distinctly heard a gurgle as the poor fellow went down. Mr. Friend wa3 W6ll known iv musical circles in Hokitika, and has been teaching a clas3 at the Kanieri for some time. He also worked as a lithographer, and very recently brought out a richly embelished almanac for the present year.— West Coast Times of February 15. [Deceased was formerly a resident of Nelson.]

A Sad Death ok the South-west Goldmelds. —An inquest was held before 0. Whitefoord, 'Esq., Coroner, on Saturday, 15th February, at Kelly's Hotel, at the Twolvre-mile Landing, on the body of a young woman named Ellen Sweeney, who died on the previous day. According to the evidence irf a miner, she went from his hut to Sunnybank to procure liquor, and she did not return for some days ; in fact she did not return at all. She evidently got possession of a quantity of liquor by some moans, although how she did bo did not transpire. She at length found her way into the hut of another miner, who, when he returned from work, found her lying upon his bed, with a bottle partly full of brandy alongside her. Of course the first thing he did was to drink the brandy, and also, of course, more had to be obtained. This went on until the unfortunate girl got into such a state that she could take no more spirits, when she began drinking water in immoderate quantities. The evidence on this point was curious. A witness stated that the deceased drank between 20 and 30 " billiesful" of cold water in one day, and each of these billies would hold about half a gallon. She was during the time retching and vomiting violently. At length two local medioal practitioners were called in, and through this the police became aware of the case. Steps were taken, as soon as it was deemed advisable to move the poor creature, to forward her to Greymouth, but she died in the dray in which she was being conveyed before the Twelvemile Landing was reached. Dr. Phillips made a post mortem examination of the body, and found the viscera rent and torn in all directions from the effects of the retching from which the deceased suffered before she died. " There wa3 not a trace of solid food in the stomach, but there was a smell of alcohol." The cause of death was exhaustion and prostration from the effects of alcoholic poisoning, and consequent inflammation. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. The remains were interred in the presence of a few strangers immediately the inquest was over, at the cemetery at the Twelve-mile. The deceased was a native of Lancashire, England, and about 24 years of age. Notwithstanding the suffering which must have preceded such a miserable death, the features of the deceased bore some traces of a handsomeness which, it is said, she possessed in her lifetime. — Grey River

Argus. A eielb match was fired, on February 13th, by the First Westland Rifles, against the Christohurch Artillery. The conditions were ten men aside; distances, 200, 400, and 500 yards ; seven shots at each range. Positions —200 yards, standing ; 400 and 500 any position. The shooting of the Westland Rifles was very good. The result being a victory for the latter team by a majority of 131 points, the total score of the Christchurch men being 528, and the Westland, 659.

The most striking difference between a fool and a looking-glass is, that the fool speaks without reflecting, a#d. the looking-glMi reflaot* without »p«kking,

Robbery at the Inangahtta.—A hut situated at the Invincible Company's ciaim, the Inangahua, has been entered by a thief, and a gold watch (valued at £35) and two £1 notes stolen.

What may happen to a procrastinating prosecutor on the West Coast says the Greymouth Star, was strikingly exemplified on Wednesday, last in the District Court. A man named Patrick Brophy, seduced by the oharms of the fair sex, accompanied one of its houris home, having at the time £21 in his pocket. After houra of delightful dalliance he rose to take his loavo and found that the money was missing, and no eloquence that he was master of could effect its restoration. The aid of the police was invoked and the fair enslaver wbb oommitted for trial, but on the case being called no Brophy put in an appearance and a £50 recognizance was estreated. Shortly afterwards he turned up but too late, for his Deliah had been realised, and lie was informed that he would have to pay the above amount for the privilege of initiating her prosecution unless the Minister of Justice would remit the penalty. In case of not cashing up he must go to gaol, and if that takes place he will have to lie there till circumlocution has run its course and the sought-for release is granted. What with losing £21 in the first place, being punished with another £50 in the second, and the risk of gaol as a climax, we fancy that My. Brophy will be more select in his associates in future, and that he will not look back on the Christmas 1872 as either being a very fortunate or very merry one.

WOBTHLESB Mothees.—The Greymouth Star of February 19th, states: —The proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court; this morning show dearly on what unworthy objects public charity can ba sometimes bestowed. It may be remembered that attention was drawn a tew weeks ago to the destitute and miserable condition of a married woman named Ellen Taggart, in her confinement. She was without medical or other assistance, and when discovered was entirely by herself, and enduring the pangs of childbirth. Dr. Smith, on hearing the circumstances, at once rendered his professional services, and through the active exertions of the Mayor and other benevolent people the woman was comfortably provided for. Ever since her convalescence, it seems she has celebrated her recovery by getting constantly intoxioated in company with the lowest prostitutes, and when the Mayor endeavored to reooncile the matrimonial differences she abused her husband in Mr. Masters' presence, and refused to have anything to do with him. Yesterday about noon, the police were informed that she was in company with a woman of bad oharactor named Turner, that they were drunk together in a house next door to Weston and Grant's tinsmiths, in Mackay-street and unless assistance was rendered it was probable that her infant, only a few weeks old, would be killed. Inspector Hickson at once sent a constable down, who on arriving found the woman Taggart drunk as described j the child perfectly naked, and evidently suffering from the treatment it had been subjected to, and the other woman in an equally intoxicated condition. Seeing that the infant's life was in danger, it was taken from the mother by foroe, and on following it out of the house the latter was a'so locked up. Dr. Smith was at once oalled in, and pronounced the child in a precarious condition, and it was then given by the police to another woman to take proper care of. Inspector Hickson asked the Magistrate to deal with the infant under the Neglected and Criminal Children Act, and take it away from the mother, but Mr. Revell said he would further look into the Act before doing so. The unnatural and UDgrateful mother was fined 10s., or 24 hours imprisonment, a very inadequate way of dealing with her indeed, but the Bench, under the charge of drunkenness only, could do no more. Elizabeth Turner, a notorious character, who was with her, having been convicted before was fined 20s. or 48 hours imprisonment. In connection with the latter case, Constable M'Kenna said that only a few nights ago that woman was lying next the Queen's hotel and went to bed drunk, leaving a flaming oandle in close proximity to ignitabla material, so dangerous did he consider it, that he got in at the, window and took the candle away. A man named Miohael Scanlan, supposed to be of unsound mind, wai remanded for medical examination. We omitted to state that the woman Turner had also a little girl with her, of about cix years of age, who had been necessarilly locked up with her mother. The Inspector BBked the Magistrate to deal with this girl too, but after protestations of amendment the mother was allowed to retain her.

A TEAKFtJii picture of the manner in which a number of human beings were found living in the civilised and Christian city of Melbourne was afforded the other day by a case heard at the City Police Court. The place where they were found was in a small lane close to the premises of Mr. George Robe'rtson, and it was in consequence of his complaint that the police were set in motion. We do not wish to repeat the statements made as to the horrible squalor in which these people lived, the worse than bestiil vice and profligacy which marked their lives, which set alike the opinion of others and the feelings of ordinary decency at defiance. It wa« evident that it was a bad specimen of that hideous form of savagery which is one o t the foul products of civilisation and compared with which the bloodthirsty habits and, cannibalism of a Carib is respectable. To speak of sending missionaries to reform unhappy creatures such as these would, of course, be useless. Their lives have been poisoned by their own vices, and perhaps by the effect of outer conditions; and beyond sending them to gaol out of further mischief, it i 3 hard to nee what can be done with them. But, although it would be unfair to accuße the religious teachers of neglect in permitting the existence of a state of things against whioh, perhaps, all their agencies would be powerless, there is one person closely connected with the performance of the functions of religion who stands, it was stated, in a very close relation to all this barbarism, to whom it yields income and profit. A man was named as the owner of the wretched huts in which these people lived, who is a deacon or church officer of some kind, a rigid teetotaller, and altogether a " most respectable member of society." No doubt he would draw his rent without the slightest qualms of conscience as to the sources whonce they came, perhaps turn up his eyes in pious horror at the sinful condition of his tenants, thank Heaven he was not as they were, and perform his public religious duties with great regularity. He, in all likelihood, does not hold himself at all accountable for the state of things that he foaters and encourages, and from which he derives his weekly payments. It is even doubtful whether his fellow church members do. No doubt many places in Melbourne of something similar in character are owned by men of "respectable" position, who are perfectly aware of the habits of their tenants, and quite willing to share in their ill-gotten gains. But until complicity in any shape in such unhappy conditions as these is universally looked upon as reprehensible and disgraceful, all attempts at reform are insincere and half-hearted, and cannot go beyond an occasional descent of the police, and the packing off of the wretched tenants to gaol, their places to be immediately filled by others of the same class and of the same mode of life.— Australasian.

Pbteb—"Mornin', Bquire ! You be up early!" Squire—" Good morning, Peter; I'm obliged to bo up and out early to get an appetite for my breakfast. But what brings you out ?" " Well, I be trying to get a breakfast for my appetite."