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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2196, 21 May 1870, Page 2

The English Mail, The Omco with the March mail on hoard arrived at the Bluff at 3.30 p.m. to-day. We will issue a second edition with the English news. To Our Readers.—We fear several of our readers will complain of the lateness of the issue of the ft tar this last two evenings, hut we know it will he excused, as in consequence of the bursting of a pipe the Waterworks Company have not beau able to supply the water necessary to working the machinery, City Police C'ouet.—The business transacted at this Court this morning was unimportant. James Hare was fined 19s for being drunk; and James Madison, an old offender, Ld, or fourteen days, for a similar offence. The Home Agency.—The expenditure on* account of the Home Agency during the year 1807 amounted to L 2115 11s Id,

Of that sum L 615 16s 8d was paid for salaries, L 47 8s 6d for commission to country agents, LS9 19s for printing, LB9 Is Id for office expenses, and the extraordinarily large sum of LI 170 2s 3d for advertising. Perhaps the Government would enlighten a curious public as to the number of papers patronised or rather subsidised by the Homo. Agent. Gaol Return. —The following is the state of Her Majesty’s gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending May 21 : Awaiting trial, 0 men, 0 women; under remand, 0 men, 0 woman ; penal servitude, 95 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 53 men, 22 women ; default of bail, 3 men, 1 woman ; debtors, 3 men, 0 women; total, ICO men, -23 women. Received during the week, 5 men, 5 women ; discharged, 4 men, 3 women. Political. —By our Auckland iilos wc learn that Mr Reader Wood has been returned as a member of the House of Representatives for Parnell without opposition Mr Wood declared himself a supporter of the Fox Government and a staunch ITovincialist. His presence in the House will therefore tend to strengthen the hands of Ministers.—Mr T. Gallagher purposes tendering His resignation as member for Westland North in the Assembly. Business engagements have necessitated this step. His retirement will be no loss to the country or his constituents. Retrenchment. — In the Provincial Council yesterday, Mr Ashcroft gave notice of his intention to move on the next sitting Jay : —l. That further retrenchment in the departmental expenditure lias become imperative in order that a fair share of the revenue may he applied to the carrying out of public works. 2. That the item of L7S,OGS 11s Sd in the present estimates for salaries is out of reasonable proportion to the whole sum at the disposal of tbs Province, representing nearly one-third of the entire revenue after deducting permanent charges for interest on loans. 3. That any reductions ought to be recommended to the Council by the Executive, and should be carried out on general principles and with a due regard to the efficiency of the departments, 4. That the expenditure under the heads of waste lands, survey, education, and police, requires special attention. 5. That a gradual reduction in the pay of the police force should be made, and the uniform of the force he made less expensive. 6. That the Government he requested during the recess to take steps to carry out such reductions as may be found practicable, so that the next estimates may be framed on a lower scale. 7. That the public accounts should he stated in a clearer form, showing on one side charges under each hea l, and on the other receipts under the same heads, and that the value of prison labor shpuld he stated as a receipt, and its disposal shown in the expenditure. The North.—We cull the following items from our Northern flies:—Th e Hawks'ft Bay Herald informs us that a feeling largely prevails among the Armed Constabulary that Power, the celebrated bushranger in a neighboring Colony, is identical with a man named Powell, who deserted from the force and msdp bis way to that part of the world.—A slight fchock flf earthquake was felt in Nelson on Friday mimpinge gbont a quarter after five o’clock. —There are now at Vork in the Province of Taranaki, or in process of construction. thirty flax machines.—The shooting season commenced in Auckland on the Ist inst. Birds wore found to be unusually numerous, but from their shyness it was evident they had been shot at.—A hat manufactory is about to he started in Auckland. The manufacturer is a Mr Chapman, who hns carried on business for the lari four years in Melbourne. —The Charles Edward arrived at Nelson early on Saturday nprpijig last. It appears that her machinery had accidentally broken down, and that she had been driven to the northward by the strong S.E. gales whirh prevailed on the coast last week. The Estimates. The Provincial Council managed to get through that part of the Estimates devoted to salaries. At last niglff’s sitting nearly all the items, with a few exceptions under the heads of hospital, lunatic asylum, collection of jetty dues, miscellaneous, collection of tolls; industrial school, Crown lauds, wore passed without discussion. On the item of LOUD, Crown Lands Commissioner and Surveyor, Mr Hay moved as an amendment that it be reduced to LSOO, and a further reduction to 1-400 was moved by Mr M ‘Donald. Most of the members of the committee spoke on the question—a majority being of opinion that the Commissioner should not he allowed to engage in private practice. The reduction of LSOO was carried by the casting vote of the Chairman. There was considerable discussioiuivcf tip ijiejijs under the head goldfields On the item wardens, L.‘i2(|l), Mr Ashcroft moved that the item he reiliped by LSO, in order to make the salaries of the wardens equal; and as a further amendment Mr Hutcheson moved that the amount be reduced to L 2950, which was carried by 13 to 10. On the item L 2700 for gold receivers, a Reduction to L 2400 was moved by Mr Hgiclieson, aipl carried by 11 to 8. Mr Fraser thereupm- nroyed tb;;t progress be reported, and characterised jche c.OiMpct of the Government in not sticking by their''Esti- , mates, and in members of the Government leaving the House to avoid voting, ns repre hcnsible in the extreme. Mr Ashcroft spoke in a similar strain. The Secretary for Land and Works pointed out if the I-louse were dissatislied with the way the business was bejug conducted, there was a course open for it My Gillies excused bis absence on the ground of having paired; and the Provincial Treasurer blamed Up fh e /.‘>bri - for North Harbor, with his c,Qnstq,nt ihtcmip- ; tious ami speeches, for being tlie .cause of Ins leaving the House, Mr M ‘Dennid at once got up to acknowledge that Ip have been more pleased if, instead of four members of the Government leaving the House, the whole live bad gone, but he did not get credit for the candid admission. The Treasurer invited the non. member to accompany him to the refreshment room, remarking his absence would be no loss, but Mr M ‘L.m'imd did, not see it, preferring to remain to r poJre fun at the Treasurer, and bother the House by rising every ten minutes to object to something or thp other. If was curious to watch the efforts made to go on •with business. On one 'side there anas a party determined to retrench by any possible, on the other, members who while wishing to reduce, would not do so unless recommended by tl f c Government, and a third party opposed to reductions air together. The first-mentioned party 1 ’had resolved tp kpock off l.8,0(j(J before they were done, and have )pt succeeded very well. The motion for reporting progress was lost. An effort was made to reduce tip salaries of Chinese interpreters from 1,450 to L4OO, but without success. An item of

L2OOO for mining surveyor was unanimously struck off, and the travelling expenses of wardens, reduced from L 7-50 to L 325, On the item LSOO to chief engineer of roads and works, the Government explained that the increase of LSO was proposed to that officer, because he was to superintend the construction of the Port Chalmers An amendment to reduce the item to L 450 was carried on the voices. The reductions effected up to the present time amount to L 4175. Brethren of the M.U.1.0.0.F. are invited to attend the funeral of the late Bro. P. Stewart, of the Hand and Heart Lodge, to morrow, at two o’clock. We notice that an excursion trip to Portohello and Port Chalmers is announced for Tuesday next, being the Queen’s birthday. The steamer Golden Age will leave the old jetty at 10 30 a.m., reluming at 4 p.m. If the weather he line, a large number will no doubt take advantage of this outing.