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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2130, 4 March 1870, Page 2

J.P.—Mr James Hutcheson, of Waikawa Station, has been appointed Justice of the Peace for the Colony. The Emigration Agent. For the information of our contemporary, the Dally Times, and the public, we may state that the Emigration Agent, Mr Auld, only receives a salary of L4OO a year, without commission, instead of L7OO and other emoluments, as stated in the Daily Times. The Clutha Railway. —We are in a position to state that the only tender received for the construction of the the Clutha Railway was from Mr John Millar, F.S, A., under the provision in the conditions that alternative oenders would be received, which would have the attention of the Government. No decision has yet been arrived at concerning it, and it will in all probability form a subject for the consideration of the Provincial Council next month. The Council of the New Zealand Law Society. —The following 'gentlemen have been appointed members of the Council of the Lew Zealand Law Society Mr J. Prendergast, of Wellington, President; Mr T. J. Duncan, of Christchurch, VicePresident ; and Messrs H. Adams (Nelson), C.B. Borlase, A. de B. Brandon (Wellington), F. J. Garrick (Christchurch), B. C. Haggitt, H. Howorth (Dunedin), J. C. M'Cormick (Auckland), W. T. L. Travers (Wellington), and W. H. W. Williams, of Christchurch.

The Dunedin Presbytery.—Wc are requested to state, on the authority of a gentleman present, that the decision of the Presbytery in the Ilev.- Mr Scrymgeour’s case was by the casting vote of the Moderator —“ That matters had transpired since the last enquiry which rendered further enquiry advisable” —and that a Committee was appointed for that purpose. The result of this affair shows that it would be much better in cases like the present, where public curiosity is excited, that the Clerk of the Presbytery should give some authoritative information to the Press, and that they should not be left to gather information from interested persons. The meeting of the Presbytery was not even announced. Post Office Savings Banks. —The results of the operations in connection with the Post Office Savings Banks throughout the colony during the quarter ending 31st December last are shown by a table published recently in the New Zealand Gazette.. The total amount of deposits was L 55,505 10s 6d, of which L 23.317 Is representd 881 new accounts, and L 38.548 9s 6d was added to 3,407 open accounts. The amount of principal withdrawn was L 41,665 5s 6d, by 2,539 operations upon 2,164 accounts; and 470 closed accounts represented L 14,006 16s lOd. The last December quarter does not compare favorably with the corresponding quarter of 1868 ; for while the total of deposits decreased by about LB3O only, the withdrawals were very greatly in excess, seeingthatin the 1868 quarter the amount of principal withdrawn was L 27,399 I3s 7d, upon 1,537 accounts, while the total of the closed accounts (269) was L 7.061 17s 3d. The balances remaining in deposit amounted to L 29,291 18s 9d at the end of 1868, and to L 14,200 5s at the end of 1869. Looking to the Province of Auckland, it appears that, at the 13 offices, 254 new accounts were opened last quarter, and L 5,774 Is deposited ; and that the additions made to 790 previouslyopened accounts amounted to L 5,765 18s. The total of deposits was thus LI 1,539 19s. There were 629 withdrawals upon 515 accounts, the amount being L 7,964 8s lid ; and 161 closed accounts represented L 2,832 19s. In Otago there are 17 banks, and 182 accounts, amounting to L 4.708 is, were opened ; while the additions to 822 open accounts amounted to L 7,603 19s. The total of deposits was L 12,312. By 598 operations on 496 accounts, L 12,458 10s 8d was withdrawn; and 125 accounts, representing L 5,179 17s Id, were closed. In Canterbury, L 10,845 was deposited' during the quarter, and L 8,399 withdrawn. The excess of withdrawals, taking the Colony as a whole during the last quarter of 1869, over the corresponding quarter of 1868, may of course be accounted for by causes other than those resulting from bad trade or want of employment. The next meeting of the members of the Otago Institute will be held in the Provincial Council Chambers, on Tuesday evening next. We understand that the subject of the papers to be read will be duly announced, and that the Council of the Institute will also meet on Tuesday evening.