The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. MONDAY, JULY 19, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1690, 19 July 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News.

MONDAY, JULY 19, 1875.

Bth» cause that lacks assistance, the wrone that neetla resist* -*.-», tha fmture in the distance, -«^ Ami tha S«od that we can 4a :

People who fall into the hands of a constable are not usually disposed to view those necessary public guardians with favour, and complaints which are made from time to time of police tyranny must, therefore, be taken with caution. But that constables do sometimes presume on their little authority is nevertheless true and we believe it would not be difficult to adduce instances where gross and shameful brutality h aa been perpetrated by thos» minions «f the law. A case arose last week in which a constable was guilty of unwarrantable conduct in dealing with a respectable carter charged with a petty assault ; and in the Police Court to-day one of the force admitted having struck a man a violent blow on the head with his baton: while arresting him on a •cHarge of drunkenness. Of course the inevitable second constable was there to: .swear that the man was drunk and very disorderly, but three or four respectable* witnesses came forward and swore to the contrary and the Bench evidently thought the balance of testimony was on their side for the prisoner was discharged. What we [have to do with now, however, is not whether the man was drunk or whether he was sober, but to condemn in unqualified terms:theaction of the constable inmakinguse of his baton without, any reasonable pretext. The offence in the present case was seen by several witnesses and therefore there was no opportunity for denying it, but can we'doub" that the same recklessness characterises som° I

members of the force in making arrests-in the dark, where there is no one to bring them to book. That prisoners frequently complain of such treatment is notorious, although they are seldom prepared with witnesses to substantiate their charges ; butjj the. cases, just alluded to, give considerable weight to the other allegations. One or two members of the force, who have been drafted from the country, have evidently yet to learn that the rough practice of bush stations will not answer in the city, and the sooner they recognise this fact the better. The majority of the people will always be on the side of law and order, but police tyranny is no more tolerable than rowdyism. We hope the conduct disclosed to-day, will be investigated by the Inspector, and that such action will be taken as will relieve the public mind of that uneasy feeling which such highhanded proceedings are calculated to excite. The practice of locking up men on Charges of drunkenness who may be perfectly able to take care of themselves and offer no offence to the public, is also one that requires some check. The liberty of a man, even though he may occasionally indulge in more tipple *han is good for him, is not a thing to be so lightly regarded as some gentlemen in blue I appear to think.

As might be expected, the recent failures in London have caused a semi-panic in the Stock Exchange. A cablegram, received by the Alhambra, informs ns of this fact, and adds : " The London and Westminster banks paid dividends of the usual per centage, but their losses are estimated at half a million Stirling, and the bank deposit reserve, of fourteen millions, had to be drawn upon." What all this means is not very clear. The telegram has evidently been mangled in transmission, as is very often the case with our English telegrams. Our contemporary the Herald assumes that the loss is wholly sustained by the London and Westminster Bank, and founds on that text a homily on reckless trading. We are of opinion that their assumption in this instance is just as correct as their assumption that the reserve fund of fourteen millions alluded to is the reserve fund of the same bank. We know as a fact that the reserve of the London and Westminster Bank was only a few years back raised from £500,000 to £1,000,000, and even at that it stands considerably higher than that of any other Joint-stock Bank. During the panic which ten years' ago followed upon the stoppage of Overend, Gurney and Co., when there was a run upon almost every other Bank in London, the doers of the London and Westminster Bank were besieged by people not drawing their money out, but opening fresh accounts. During the two or three days which immediately succeeded the crash, upwards of two hundred new accounts were opened in the Bank ledgers, a fact which was proof incontrovertible of the public enfidence amid the general distrust. Another fact about the Loudon and Westminster Bank is worthy of notice. Wjhile every other Joint Stock Bank has been in the habit of allowing interest at one per cent, less than the Bank rate on all deposits, the "Westminster" has never allowed this except on sums over £500. Smaller deposits were only conceded two per cent less than the Bank rate. On these terms so unfavourable to their customers, but favourable to themselves with the ready oj)portunities afforded of profitable reinvestment, the directors have for the last eight or ten years managed to keep their deposits up to the enormous sum of over £15,000,000. Against this the amounts shewn in the halfyearly balance-sheets as due to the Bank on account of acceptances has invariably been very small. Under these circumstances there is little necessity for reckless trading to bo lugged in to explain the large dividends — nearly 30 per cent, per annum on the psidup capital—which the London and Westminster Bank has been in the habit of paying. Jio banking institution in the world, we will venture to say, can shew sucb ah uninterrupted career of success attained by legitimate operations only as the London and Westminster Bank. Bringing these facts to bear upon the mutilated telegram just received, while fully prepared to admit that a change may have come over the rosy paths trodden by the pioneer joint stock bank, we should be inclined to translate it as follows : —" The London and Westmins'.er Bank has paid its usual dividend : but other banks losses are estimated at half a million sterling, aud the Bank deposit reserve of £14,000,000 (that is the agglomerated reserves of all the Banks) had to be drawn upon." .

A gentlemen in Symonds-street bought a goose on Saturday, and the goose wasbfought by a boy in a cart secured, it was thought, in a wicker-work frame. The arrival of Sunday's dinner was announced, and the purchaser came to the door,*, waiting while the little boy ran down the steps to fetch up the goose. While doing so, the goose as if anxious to be eat by the purchaser, flew out of its cage towards the house. The boy made a plunge to catch it, when it rose on its wings, soared over the boy's head, over the cart, over the house of its purchaser, over in fact, everything which : could have any, claim to it. .Then without further delay stretching its broad pinions; "Sunday's Dinner " swept down the valley towards the Domain, wheeled round in the direction of Fraser and Tinne's Foundry, and though still to memory .dear was lost to sight. A gentleman on horseback who was standing by the cart was asked by the boy, if he would mind galloping after, the goose and catch it, but as the horse could not fly, norfollow after the goose up sewers and drain pipes or where ever it might chance to run, the horseman declined the chase.

, To the Editor : Sir,—Of flail the Highway Boards that have met, they have given an account of the money received aud how it was expended, and stated the streets, nd the amount of money laid out on each 3treet footpath, culvert or broken metal, or scoria ash, but the Ponsonby and or Deo" wood Board that* was. Mr. Morton said they received £683 16s 7d j £40 spent on Alma place, £40 on Richmond Road. Mr. McRinstry asked what part of the Richmond Road £40 were spent on. Mr. Morton said on works with the Newton Board. That would leave a balance of £603 16s 7d for all works not. enumerated ; that is a large sum ; only Wallace street and Dublin street, the amount on both streets hot stated. It Would have been better for the ratepayers to have paid secretary, and to know where their m»ney was; Spent. Mr. Tole, the present chairman of the Board, stated when he was a member of the late Board, that they were watched by the watchful eye of a bull-dog. It is a pity there was not two bull-dogs watching for the ratepayers on such a large amount of money. Mr. Tole will perhaps tell whether the bull-dog is of English breed or has any of the Scotch terrier in him, or if he is an Irish cur. An educated gentleman like Mr.-Tole, who knows how to behave, and it is not difficult for him' to give the breed as he is a high authority, a Barrister-at-Law in New Zealand.—A Black.

- A Newcastle telegram in Saturday's Waiftato Times says :—"The diver from the bridge is going down on Saturday to examine the damage done to the Rangiriri. If the river continues falling, she can be pumped out. Thirty-two single men, eight married couples, and nine children, immigrants per Forfarshire, have arrived per Bluenose. The sub-Immigration Agent intends distributing them between Hamilton, Cambridge,' and Alexandra.".:; .'.-

'{ The reputation of Atkinson's perfumes is well known to all dwellers in the West End : of the great/Metropolis. There is no London perfumery_-;depot which enjoys a greater fame for the exquisite delicacy arid purity of its fragrant essences than the Bond-street emporium of Mr Atkinson. Very few London belles consider their toilet table complete without these delicious scents. It is therefore very'gratifying to our Auckland "fair." that an agency for the sale of Atkinson's perfumes has been established in our midst. Mr Aicken, the chemist, of Queen-street, has already received large shipments of these beautiful goods, and visitors may be sure of getting a genuine article for their money. The variety of Atkinson's perfumes is only Equally by their consistent excellence, and we shall expect to hear of Mr A.icken largely increasing his business by importing these fashionable toilette requisites.

:' Mr Joseph Brown will open a weekly singing class in the High School, Symondss_treefc, on Wednesday evening next, on the Huliah system, for the benefit of young persons of both sexes, who may desire to acquire a knowledge of music and singing. Mrs Shayle George will afford information respecting the particulars of the projected Huliah singing class.

The Waikato Times evidently admires Sir George Grey. It says : " The spectacle of a man like fc^ir Geooge Grey standing in a Colonial House of Representatives will be unique in the annals of history. An experienced statesman, a skilful diplomatist, a gifted and persuasive orator, and probably a splendid debater, with all the influence of wealth and rank, the respect that attaches to one known to be far above selfish or mean considerations, the flve-tiirle3 Governor and great Pro Coisul will stand in the New Zealand House of Representatives like a giant amongst, pigmies." The ratepayers of Mdunt Eden District will hold their first meeting this evening, in the Eden Vine Hotel, for the purpose of striking a rate, appointing trustees, auditors and fence viewers. The monthiy inspection of the Victoria Company, A.R.V., will take place in the new drill shed, Wellesley street, East, tomorrow evening at half-past seven. Every member is ordered to attend. Grey uniform with waist belts only. Mr P. Doran, long and favourably known to the public as the leader of a troupe of minstrels whose mission is human charity, drove round the city on Saturday in his new capacity of expressman, in his new and prettily decorated express-van, christened the " Favorite," drawn by a fine horse in new harness. Mr Doran has for some years been employed in a firm in Vulcan Lane, aud in consequence of changes which come about, Mr Doran has been obliged to shift his quarters. Mr Doran has been thrifty, and to his credit has been enabled through his forethought to order an express-van, buy a splendid horse, and start expressman for himself. The ''Favorite" is perhaps the prettiest turn-out of the kind in Auckland. An interesting gathering will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) evening in the United Methodist Free Church, corner of Pitt and Vincent-street, when a new service of sacred song will be presented to the audience entitled the "Exodus of Israel," with connected readings by Rev. G. H. Turner. The efficient choir connected with the chapel will take part in the proceedings which will •be of an instructive character. A general meeting of the members of the Carpenters and Joiners Protection Society will be held this evening in the Young Men's Rooms, Wellesley-street. Among the full particulars of the starting of the Arctic Expedition given in the Illustrated London News, wc find short accounts of the careers of the officers engaged. Some of them may not be unknown to Ancklanders. Commander Albert Hastings Mark ham, the senior executive officer on board the Alert, in IS7I. held command of H.M.s Rosario, and while in that capacity, from October to February in that year, was occupied in a cruise among the; New Hebrides and Santa Cruz Islands putting 40Wn the Polynesian slave trade. Commander Markham wrote an interesting account of this voyage, which was published by Messrs. Sampson Low and Sons. He was also cruising about on the Australian station. Lieutenant Lewis Anthony Beaumont holds a similar position on board the Discovery, the companion ship. Of him it is recorded that in 1868 he was appointed to the corvette Blanche (under Captain. J. *E. Montgnmerie), from which vessel he was paid off in October, 1871 Captain Nares, the leader of the expedition, was lately in command of the exploring ship Challenger, which not long ago visited Wellington, while the chaplain of the Alert (the Rev. H. W. Pullen) is best known as the author of the political skit—" A Bow in Dame Europa's School I"

The monthly inspection of the Auckland Battery of New Zealand Artillery will be held to-morrow evening in the new Drillshed. ' After the parade a meeting will be held to elect a lieutenant vice J. B. Mclntyre, resigned. : j Tbe Coronet has undergone a thorough overhaul at Mr. D. Gouk's yard. She has been Btripped, caulked, and re-coppered. Extra fastenings have been added throughout. She is now quite ready for re launching, and is only awaiting a good tide for the operation. When again afloat she will be moored into the berth astern of the ship Foifarshire, where she will receive her new masts and take in cargo for the islands. She will be ready for sea in about a fortnight's sime.

The monthly inspection of No. 2 Company ■will take place on Thursday next. Those who have not yet returned their arras should do so at once.

The annual meeting of the One Tree Hill ratepayers was held at the Junction Hotel to-day.