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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2204, 31 May 1870, Page 2

Farewell Dinner.—We understand that Mr Justice Ward is to be entertained at dinner by a number of tbe citizens at Jones s Club Hotel, High street, on Thursday evening, at seven o’clock, on the occasion of his leaving the Province. Weights and Measures.— Mr Inspector Nimon, who has long held the appointment of Inspector of Weights and Measures, has been instructed to bring the provisions of the Act regulating them into operation. Weights of Coal. — A number of coal carters were fined at the Mayor’s Court this morning, for neglecting to have the weight of, their drays painted on them, and for neglecting to weigh their loads of coal at a weigh-bridge. Incendiarism. The Government have offered a reward of LSO to any one giving such information as will lead to the conviction of the person or persons who set fire to the stacks of Mr John Esher, at Lake Tuakitoto. Remand. —The man Hunter, alias Young, who has been in custody some time, on a charge of cattle stealing in the Wanganui district, was forwarded on remand to Wellington to-day. Princess Theatre. We notice that the members of the Garrick Club will tender a complimentary benefit to Mrs J. B. Steele on Friday evening, when “ The Lady of Lyons ” and “ More Plunders Than One ” will bo repreuted. A groit theatrical treat may therefore be confidently looked for. West Coast Settlements. ■ The total amount expended on tho Martin’s Bay settlement, under the superintendence of the survey department, np to the present time, is L 716 13s 5d ; and on the settlement at Preservation Inlet, L 793 18s 4d. In addition to these sums there was expended during the past month a sum of L 232 19s 9d on the road, being formed from Lake Wakatip to Martin’s Bay.

The Provincial Council. The greater portion of this afternoon’s sitting was occupied with the discussion on Mr Fraser’s motion for the appointment of a thoroughly competent engineer of known standing and repute to supervise the construction of Ad public works, such as roads, bridges, Ac. On the uiqtjop of Air Ashcroft, the resolution was amended si, tg read engineers of known standing, &c. , to supervise the construction of public works ; but, on being put, was negatived on the yoigea. Message No. 9 was read, enclosing a communication from Air W. J. Af. Larnach on the subject of the Clutha Railway, which will be found elsewhere.

The Land Question. —To-morrow, in committee, Mr MtDermid is to move the following resolutions That in order to attract population to the Province, both of the laboring classes and capitalists, it is desirable that the land laws be amended so as to embody the following principles : —l. That all unsold lands be open for selection. 2. That 2s Off au a.cre he charged for eight consecutive yeanj—dup payment to be made when the laud is taken up, ami eyery year an additional payment of 2s 6d uptu the sum of 20s is paid. 3. That so soon as the eighth payment shall have been made, the person making the same shall he entitled to receive his Crown grant. 4. That within agricultural areas on the goldfields, any person living already taken up land or who may yet apply for land, instead of paying 20s cash under the existing law, may elect to pay 2s Gd an acre for eight years. 5. That within Hundreds already proclaimed any person may either purchase, as at present, for 20s cash under the existing law, or may elect to pay 2s 6d an acre for eight years, without depasturing rights. 6. TLpat an address be presented to the Superintendent, requesting him to cause a Bill to be introduced at tbe next meeting of the General Assembly to give .effect tjO the foregoing .resolutions.

The Lunatic Asylum. —The annual report |of this institution has been printed, and" we learn from it that the number of patients, a’t the close of the year 18(59, ending March 3;lst, ,wffs 00, of whom 72 w'ere males and 27 females, arid during the year just ended w'as 112; 79 males and 33 females. During the past year 81 patients had been admitted, viz., 63 males and 18 females. The total number under care during the year was therefore 180, and the average number of resident patients 105 ; the jpimher discharged during that period was 62, 61 had recovered and 1 relieved. The deaths npinhered 6, 5 males and 1 female. The number of recoveries yields a per cejitage on the admissions qf fg and in the total mpqber under treatment of 34, certainly very favorable results. The deaths show a mortality of 3.3 on tbe mean average population, and exhibit a low percentage in comparison with the number of treated. It is stated that the clause in the Lunacy Act providing for patients going out on trial has been highly beneficial during the past year. Sixteen patients were sent out on trial, 14 of whom were discharged at the end of their probation and two were returned and are now in the Asylum. As our readers gre aware the insane of the Province of Southland are ipw treated in our asylum, and now application is made by the Province of Wellington for the reception qf the insane of that province. In conclusion tlip medfcal ofqcer (Dr Alexander) point? out that the building beiim now somewhat overcrowded a further extension of it, and additional arrangements for better classification are required. As the work can be done by Asylum labor, at a moderate cost, we hope the Government will give instructions for the improvements being carried out immediately. The Clutha Railway. —The following communication from Messrs Boss, IV alkem, and Peyman, respecting the Southern Trunk Bailway, w'as laid on the table of the Provincial Council last night : Piinccs street, Dunedin, May IGth, 1870. We have the honor qf submirting for your consideration the following pvqpqsitions in reference

to the construction of the Southern Trunk Railway, but would first remark that being old residents here, and having watched with great interest the various steps taking for the purpose of obtaining contractors for that purpose, we are necessarily aware of the various obstacles which have stood in the way of the undertaking being further advanced than it is. Chief among these is tbe fact that the plans already prepared are for works far in advance of the requirements of the Province, the capital also being limited. This points to the necessity of a new survey of the line, entailing, it may be, various important and saving alterations in tbe route. On the present proposed route are many difficult portions of country to be got over; to avoid these we have other routes in view, which we intend to submit to your consideration and survey it thought advisable by you. We propose as follows, viz., to survey the present and other routes irom Dunedin to the Clutha, prepare plans, specifications, and estimates of the cost of the whole, and also of various portions, such as from here to the Tnieri, from thence to Waihola, thence to Tokomairiro, &c., and to contract for either the whole or any of these sections. We propose to undertake these surveys, &c , and take all the necessary steps for commencing the works—loss legal and parliamentary charges at our own expense —of course submitting the plans, &c/, to your engineer for approval. We feel confident that we would bo able to construct a thoroughly good and substantial railway, equal to all tbe wants of the Province for many years to come, for about LO,OOO per mile. 'ln the event of our tender being accepted, we would charge nothing for the surveys, plans, &c. ; but should other parties be invited to tender, we would band over the plans, &c., to the Government, and expect a reasonable compensation for same. We propose to proceed with our surveys, &c., with the greatest possible despatch, but to allow us time to communicate with Mr Fairlie’s agent in Australia as to rolling stock, &c., and to arrange other preliminaries a period of three months would be required.”—The following letter was transmitted to the Provincial Council by message to-day ; —“ Dunedin, 30th May, 1870. Sir— I have the honor to submit, for the consideration of your Govemm°nt and the Provincial Council now in session, the Mowing proposal for constructing the Southern Trunk Railway from Dunedin to Balclutha, viz. First. That I will undertake, on behalf of the Province, to rai- o a sum of money sufficient for the purpose - say to the extent of half a million (L 500,000) if necessary, provided I am placad in a position to offer my friends terras and conditions as follow : Interest to be guaranteed on the money raised at eight per cent, per annum for a term of not has than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) years, at the option of the Province ; interest to be payable half yearly either in Dunedin, Melbourne, or London. That security for the money borrowed be given over the railway, plant, &c., together with land equal in acreage at 20s per acre to the sum advanced, or over land only, in which case the acreage would require to be double in proportion to the sum borrowed. I may take the liberty of pointing out that, if tire Province raised the money under the proposal above iudicatpcji the Government would have in its power to control the ex ; peiuliture of money in the construction of such a Hue as may be deemed advisable. I shall be glad of a reply at your early convenience.—l am, &c., W. J. M. Labnach. His Honor the Superintendent of Otago.” The adjourned meeting of the Otago Institute will take place to-night, when Air Hawthorne’s essay on “Co-operation” will be discussed ; and Mr P. Thomson will read a paper on, the “ Sandhills or Dunes near Dunedin.”