The Evening Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 287, 10 December 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1870.

The amended estimates, as produced last night in the Provincial Council by the Provincial Secretary of the new hxecutive, were received with approbation by honorable members, as we believe they will be also by their constituents. The financial statement was prefaced by a respectful but spirited reference to the position taken by the new Executive on finance; which ye have no doubt will tell more favorably on the minds of honorable members than the maudlin expressions of inability and deprecation of criticism which usually characterises such statements. The'party that overthrew the late administration had taken their stand on finance, and the Executive was bound to make the effort to show a " more excellent way." In this effort we believe the new Government have achieved 3uccess ; and not only in the alterations made in dispensing the revenue of the province, but in the form of the tabulated accounts, and in the clear and intelligible and able Financial Statement of Mr Lusk, have done much to strengthen their position in public estimation, and in the confidence of the legislature.

The Estimates unavoidably bear a general resemblance to those of the late . Executive ; but the several alterations are manifestly in the direction of greater public good. The retrenchment in salaries is of the most sweeping kind, and there has been the evident intention to " not keep more cats than catch mice." The cutting down of the civil service in either numbers or remuneration is generally a dangerous thing ; and if thereby the efficiency of the public service is likely to be impaired, it may be a* very false economy. But looking at the morbid inflation of departmental expenses, one cannot help seeing the germs of the mortal decay of provincialism; and it has shown a considerable amount of moral courage on the part of our young administration, in defiance of the outcry that is sure to be raised by those who will feel the operation, to boldly grapple with the difficulty, and " stifle the parasite" that is stifling the Provincial system.

The saving of £4000 in salaries and contingencies in the public service, should produce a determination on the part of the Council to silence intrigue, and extend a fair and generous trial to the Government; and as the small incomes now attaching to the Executive are really no longer worth fighting for, we mtiy hope that the scheme of financial reform inaugurated, will be thoroughly carried out The estimated revenue for 1871 is £110,381 ; and the estimated expendi. ture, £100,246 ; which with £16,324 of liabilities for the present year,makes a total to be expended of £ 116,570 ; or an excess of expenditure over anticipated receipts, of £6,189. However, as the £20,000 to be expended on the Kaipara railway will not be wholly spent during the year, as the sum of £5,120, some time due on the contractfor the Post Office and Custom House, may possibly not be required during the year; and as the great schemes of colonial works and immigration will take effect, during the year, to the benefit of the revenue, the deficit apparent on the Estimates will not be felt at the Treasury. Some of the additions on the previous Estimates are of the most interesting kind. The City of Auckland gets £2,000 to relieve the interest on the city loan, pending the remission of the* city debt; and the addition of such a sum to the financial means of the coming Municipal Council will inaugurate the new regime with eclat. Grants are also proposed to the Mechanics' Institutes at Auckand the Thames, to the Auckland Institute, the Provincial library, and to the Highways^ibraries. A grant of £1,500 to start the Harbour Board, a large increase to the grants for roads North and douth, and the grant of £10,000 for the bona fide extension and development of the goldfields, being an addition of £2,000 to the previous goldfields estimates, will all be hailed as the dawn of better things. But it is on their treatment of the question of education that the new Executive may take their stand, and the Ministry which has effected such a ■living from expense of salaries, At to feel warranted in nearly doubling the grant in aid of education, deserves the support of the country. Whatever doubt may have been in the mind regarding the stability of the new Ministry must'vanish before the production of their financial policy ; and we sincerely trust the spirit of judicious saving and wise expending will receive ' its reward at the hauds of our Provin- i cial Legislature. !

Mr. Connor Eoach, a gentleman well known in theatrical circles as a delineator of Irish manners, will have a complimentary benefit tendered to him, at the Catholic Institute, on Wednesday evening next. We may mention that the Duke of Edinburgh's Visiting Book is at Government House.

The new ferry steamer Devonpor.t made a trial trip down the harbor, this morning, previous to being placed on the ferry service to the North Shore. She appears to steam well, averaging over nine knots. At St. Paul's, to-morrow, the sermon in the morning will be preached by the Rev. the Chaplain of H.M.S. Galatea, and in the evening by the Rev. E. R. Otway, newly-ordained den con.

The second and last musical and literary 'entertainment for the season in connection with the library fund of the Young M en's Christian Association, will take place on Monday evening next. A varied programme (which, will be found in our advertising columns) has been providi-d for the occasion. Mr. T. F. S. Tinne will deliver a public lecture, on Thursday evening next, at the Mechanics' Institute, on " Protection of Local Industries." The lecture is to be given under the auspices of the Local Industry League. An accident occurred yesterday near Freeman's Bay, which, was attended by rather serious consequences. A butcher's boy was riding along the road, when the horse knocked down two little children, injuring one of them severely by breaking its arm. The other was also a good deal bruised and shaken. They were at once removed to their homes, and attended to by a medical man, and are now, we believe, progressing favorably. A dividend of five shillings per share will be payable to the shareholders of the Thames Gold Mining Company on Tuesday next. Applications for the position of master of St. Matthew's School are required to be sent in immediately to the Rev. D. Jones.

The committee of the Choral Society will be glad to see all the old members in theii places on the orchestra for the " Messiah." Practice on Tuesday, at 7.30 p.m.

An extraordinary discovery has been made in a house occupied by a Mrs. Armstrong, 96 Mansforth Terrace, New Hendon, Sunderland. A thinly-clad woman of haggard-like appearance was found by the officers, who stated that she has been confined and chained up in bed. and appeared to be pid'ly when exposed to the open air. The detective intimated to Mrs. Armstrong that he must at once see the bedroom. On getting into the b-droom the officer states that the stench was so st'ong that he was at first obliged to beat a retreat. \fter he had overcome the effects of the loathinmc smell, lie observed the whole contents of the room comprised a narrow bedstefld and a square broken box, which the woman avers wns used to plnce her dinner upon. The window was nailed and immovably fast, and ropes were lying about the floor. It was stated tlwt the woman had been there nine years, that her name was Mary Ann Hobson, and some annuity had been left for her maiutainance, but no further particulai-s have as yet been gleaned. The woman, who, it is alleged, is a lunatic, says she hsd been beaten, and chained up in a state of nudity, and otherwise badly used. Comparisons are odious. We are introduced to a regular old " curiosity shop," full of furniture of a most miscellaneous A young married couple (the husband probably a banker's clerk) are in treaty for a chair, and to them says the proprietor:—" Four shillings for a chair like this ! Why, I sold the fellow to it this very morning to a poor Ibouring man, and I let 'im aye it for six-and-sixpence, and that was only 'cos he 'ad to work for 'is livin'!" The would-be purchaser : —" So hare I got to work for my living!" Proprietor:- " 'Are yer ?Ah ! but you're a gentleman compared to 'im ! !" The s.s. City of Melbourne, with the English mail, may be expected about Monday or Tuesday next.