The Evening Star: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 240, 15 October 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1870.

This forenoon a circumstance occurred in the reading-rooni of the Mechaniisft'r Institute to which it is desirable to draw WbtentiOn. A gentleman of respectability—a subscriber to tha reading-rooiiiji of tb^tyjnstituti&n, and one of the moat.unqb'^tfsivp persons in the citywas qijietjjr rcadiftig ■wnenrhe was accolted by; ;j&;poliMman, wlio oidered'him to leave,!^, pn h^Vdeclir.ing, laid hands on him and jejectedJbimXvThe gentleman in question had iii bis pocket his card of membership—which have'seen-^-and has been one of-, the most regular attendants at the institution "since his .arrival in the.,city.., It appears he had Jeltit his*duty*«to*«lay-<'- several* complaints against the Secretary, whose insulting behaviour to membe s of the Mechanics' Institute lias been so frequently commented on in our TOlmnnran^th«eof^i^<»nt©mporaJ?ies.»-ift. consequence', some unkindly feeling" existsbetween him and the Secretary, and a difference haying arisen between them regarding an alleged breakage of a lamp occurring ninny months ago, and a charge of a paltry eighteen?p_enee . which the. member objects" to pay, opportunities have been taken of subjecting him to indignity. We do not know in what way-,Mr Inspector Broham will view this officious intermeddling of his subordinate, but such intervention, where the Courts are opefl to every plaint, does not consort with our- English- idea 3of liberty! or the right position of our police forced As we understand legal steps have been instituted, we shall not remark further on this side of the subject; but really the time has come when steps .must be taken to bring the Mechanics' Institute more in harmouy with the courtesies of civilised society. We do not say a word against the urbanity of the Secretary ; but if these constantly- reiterated charges of 'churlishness, urged by freqnfenters of; the. reading-room against him are true, it is intolerable that they should be longer ignored.

We are gratified to learn that arrangements haveTJeenTSacfirfor temporarily abating the offensive character of the nuisance arising from the main sewer ; and that in the beginning of next week men will be employed to scrape,- the .beach, and cuf a channel beside the wharf, by which the emptyings of the sewer may be carried into deep crater, without spreading over the intake. This, of course, is but a. temporary expedient,-but,-as being inexpensive, and-comparatively effective for the' time, it will"be a boon to suffering- eit liens? It really seems strange that so small a quantity of fluid as pours from the sewer in dry ■weather, when the nuisance is the worst, should present'insuperable difficulties in its removal. With the wind that is for ever blowing at the wharf, a simple form of little windmill would be sufficient, one might suppose, to raise the stuffy from a small reservoir or tank at tho sew.erlfljnduth to jyicli ah'eighth that it could flow in a trough or piping, and pour out into the stream. The liquid is so concentrated in its poisonous qualities, and so small in quantity after dry weather, that its regular removal should not be very difficult; while, in wet weather, the sewer is sufficiently flushed to comparatively abate the nuisance. The ateps to be taken next week will give:.an immediate relief; but it is to be hoped that attention will not cease to be directed to this abominable offence. to decency until the most complete suppression of it is effected.

A general meeting of the Waikato Jockey Club will be held, at the Hamilton Hotel, on the sth November. '• r.' '

The entertainment last night at the City Hall was fairly attended, and Mr. George Cotterell was exceedingly .successful in giving delight to all assembled, by his thoroughly clever and excellent performances