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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1912, 22 June 1869, Page 2

It is intended to put down a layer of the hardest of the Bell Hill rock as a foundation, which will then be coated with hard metal to the depth of about three inches, thus making the road like granite. Crawford street, from the Jetty street tanks to the end of Rattray street Jetty, is to be completed without delay by prison labor. Princess Theatre. —The remarks which we felt bound to make a few evenings since in reference to the Princess Theatre, have not been accepted in the kindly spirit we think they deserved; we regret this. The management has thought itself justified in showing some resentment, and refused last evenhig to admit our representative to the house. We do not complain of this, as it is a privilege, and not a right, on the part of the Press to obtain free entrde to places of amusement. But whilst admitting the right of the management to refuse admittance, we may be permitted to take exception to the motive, so far as the public is concerned, which led to this refusal. It would seem that the admittance of members of the Press is to be regarded as a bribe to secure either silence or fulsome eulogy; and that the least exhibition of air independent opinion is to be visited by exclusion. We would submit, for the consideration of the management, that a notice should be posted against the walls of the theatre, that *“ No reporter will in future be admitted, unless he be prepared to guarantee that an extravagantly commendatory notice will be given.” But upon such terms we must most emphatically decline to be admitted. We shall continued a very Persian style unhesitatingly to speak the truth; and, whilst correcting what we conceive to be offensive or derogatory to the purity.or dignity of the stage, shall still keep our readers correctly posted up in theatrical doings. Upon this the management may safely calculate; that when a piece is deserving of favorable mention, it shad have justice done it at our hands; but when a piece is presented like that upon which we had occasion to comment recently, we shall not be unmindful of our paramount duty to the public.

Public Meeting.—The meeting of citizens under the auspices of the Otago Poli.ical Association, “ to take into consideration the proposal to borrpw a million and a half pounds sterling, to be expended in the North Island for the prosecution of the war, and native purposes,” was held in the Masonic Hall. Moray place, last evening; Mr H. S. Fish being voted to the chair. The attendance was numerous, but not so large as might have been expected. The hour aho en—five o’clock—was pot the most convenient for the community as a whole ; and to this fact, also, the absence of businessmen may be attributed. There were very few persons of standing in the city present, and this was much to be wondered at, considering the importance of the subject discussed. The resolutions, adopted by the Association, were approved of by the meeting, and were well supported by the persons who spoke to them. Of course, there was a considerable amount of opposition, but ror the most part it was indulged iu by persons who attended the meeting solely to be amused. These persons boding the to be unanimous in its disapproval of the Government proposals, soon discontinued their opposition, and towards the close of the proceedings, the speakers had their way. The only additional resolution was one moved by Mr W. A. Murray, of Glenore, and seconded by Mr Sligo. It was as follows That this meeting view with regret the manner in which the Imperial authorities have withdrawn from their responsibilities, and abandoned the colonists to the consequences of wars begun under Imperial policy.” The resolution did not meet with such favor as the other resolutions, for when it was first put, the show of hands pro and con was so nearly equal that the chairman was obliged to put it again. It was then carried by a small majority. The proceedings terminated a little after halfpast seven o’clook. Warden’s Report. —Mr Warden Pyke, Dunstan district, writing under date the 15th inst., reports as follows I have the honor to report that on the 3rd inst., I visited and inspected the mine, workings, and plant of the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company, situated on what is best known as the Bencligo gully reef, about three miles from the Government township of Wakefield above Cromwell. I have much p l easure in reporting that the company are now in full ■work, they having purchased and re-erected on their ground the plant of the (late) Hindon company. At present only five stampers are at work; but it is the intention of the company to erect two new batteries of fifteen stampers each, as scon as necessary arrangements can be effected. From the crushings already made very good results have been obtained in the shape of three fine cakes of gold of excellent quality. The vein or lode has been fairly tested for stone, and has been struck wherever tried for along the line, across the leased ground. It has been wrought to some extent and at considerable depth in two main drives. The main lode has (approximately) an east and west bearing—the “dip” or underlie having a northern declination, and the strike, apparently, a westerly direction. Some leaders have however been cut, which show a north and south hearing. On examination of the main drives, I was forcibly impressed by the appearance of the reef. The lode has both face and hj ick as correctly defined as in any mine I ever visited in Victoria. This is an unusual circumstance in New Zealand quartz workings. There is also a tolerably thick “casing,”seemingly richly impregnated with the precious metal. The casing, and to some extent, the lode itself, is vividly tinctured with red coloring matter, which I am inclined to think is partly composed of cinnabar, but I have not yet been able to apply such tests as would enable me to speak positively. From the general appearance of the lode, I am led to the conclusion that it is a true vein, and of very great extent; and I am further of opinion that the adjacent country will turn out one of the finest reefing districts yet opened in Otago. Encouraged by the success of the Cromwell Quartz Mining Company, other miners have turned their attention to that branch of mining industry. One party has already applied for, and obtained temporary protection for a prospecting claim on a parallel reef, and more are examining the surrounding spurs for other reefs. I will keep the Government acquainted with the progress of the company’s works, and of discoveries in the same direction.

Shipping Telegrams. —ln the House of Representatives, on the 10th inst, Mr W. H. Harrison called attention to the manner in which arrivals and departures of vessels were posted up at the various seaports of the

colony, and asked the Colonial Secretary if he had taken any steps to ensure, a greater accuracy in future. In reply, Mr Stafford said that the difficulty of obtaining correct information as to the movements of shipping, arose from the fact that the telegraphic officers were obliged to remain in their offices : they could not go out and seek information, which must be conveyed to them by persons from without. The Customs’ officers were requested to give that information, but the Customs’ officers were confined in their offices, and were not obliged to remain longer in their offices than the usual hours, except on certain occasions. Therefore, unless they were prepared to have in each port a person who should receive a sa ary for furnishing at all hours the earliest information of the arrival and departure of vessels, he did not see how auy complete aci.Uiacy could be obtained Mr Harrison had indicated the opinion that the harbor masters would be the proper pe .-.ons to discharge the duty. Harbor masters were Provincial officers, and nob under the control of the General Government, and they had very important duties to perform, which might prevent them discharging the duty. He had not the slightest objection to communicate with the respective Provincial Governments, calling their attention to the opinion expressed. The Comm'ssioner of Customs, who was in charge of a Bill to amend the law with regard to merchant shipping, had intimaied tO hilH tllllt, if til tit BUI were passed, the shipping masters in larger ports might possibly be appointed to ensure that accurate information was given. The Government would give the most stringent instructions to the Customs to do as much as lay in their power to give reliable in'ormation.

Mr Thomas Russell. —By the English mail, just arrived, we learn that a splendid testimonial, of the value of about LoOO, for presentation to M r Thomas Bussel 1 , late Defence Minister of New Zea'aud, has been on exhibition to the initiated at the rooms of Mr Stephen Smith, of (,'ovent Garden, Loudon, by whom it has been designed and manufactured, at the request of a body of provincial bondholders. The testimonial consists of a on plateau, two end pieces, and four lower pieces in sdver. The centre is a magnificent fern-tree on a rock base, sur.ounded by a Maori chief, his wife, and child, the whole is placed on a hand-ome plateau, with three arms carrying glasses for fruit or flowers. The two end pieces represent smaller fern trees, with models of native birds on their base. The four corner pieces are mode's of New Zealand flora, flax, cabbage, palm, &c. The whole treatment of the device is frested silver, relieved with burnished parts.

An Inhuman Nurse. —Having no superfluous reputation to spare —the Industrial School at Prince’s Bridge has just come under the shadow of another outrage upon humanity. “ Nurse” Grant is one of those ministering angels who, having been a mother herself, is intrusted with the care of little waifs and strays bereft of their natural guardians, and her latest charge was one William Wainwright, an illegitimate baby, six or seven months old- Somehow or other, little Wainwright, instead of thriving under the tenderness of his foster-mother, gradually pined away until he faded out of existence altogether ; and certain peculiarities in the case led to a coroner’s inquest and a post mortem. Very shocking were the revelations that ensued. Externally, the poor little baby was found to he emaciated almost to a skeleton, and several portions of the skin bore marks of injuries which could have resulted only from neglect or more active illtreatment in short, the conditions were such as proved that the hapless infant had been literally starved to death. She had often not only left it without any food at all, but had frequently beaten it —this little creature of six or seven months old, quite a common expression of hers being, “Why don’t you die, you little devil?” So much was deposed to by her colleagues iu the nursery, Well, the “little devil” was good enough to die at last; and heaven knows it was a happy release from the tender mercies of Nurse Grant. How is it that a woman like Grant, devoid as it would seem of the instinct which often attaches mere brutes to helpless infancy, was intrusted with such a charge ? How is it that those other nurses, so glibe with their evidence at the inquest, were silent as mutes while the “ little devil ” was being starved and tortured to death ? How is it tha,t Dr. M ‘Gowan, the medical officer of the school, who declares that he “ attended the deceased regularly,” and had noticed him “fading away ;” how is it that this worthy gentleman did not trace the effect to its cause, a feat which would scarcely require a prodigy of medical skill ? Above all, how is it that such things should go on in an institution which is supposed to be under the surveillance of the Chief Medical Officer? How many nurses are there like Grant —how many victims like little Wainwright? It seems to us that the spirit of civilisation and humanity, not to speak of higher influences, is still sufficiently active among the publio to compel an investigation into a system which, if not checked, might sooner or later develop into organised infanticide. Melbourne Leader, 22nd ult.

It will be seen by advertisement in another column, that the No. 1 Company City Guards hold their Annual Ball in the New Post Office Hall, on Friday evening text. The committee of management are working hard to ensure success, and we hope their expectations will not be disappointed.