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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2235, 6 July 1870, Page 2

Union S.N. Company.—Wo are glad to Icaru that the promoters of this company are receiving every support in Wellington. Mr W. Bishop, the late manager of the New Zealand S.N. Company, is a passenger by the Wellington, and comes down hero to push the new company into favor with the business men of Dunedin.

Theatrical. —We understand that the Garrick Club contemplate giving a performance shortly in aid of the funds of the Benevolent Institution, when Sheridan’s “ Critic” will be the piece de resistance.

Princess Theatre, —lt was hardly to be expected that Miss Rose Evans should have so largo a house last night, considering it was cold and the B- ilringers were giving their entertaimn ,nt. To-night she will acaiu appear, and as there is no counter-attrac-tion, we have no doubt she will be well supported. The Bell Ringers. —The Lancashire Bell lingers give the first of their entertainments at Port Chalmers to-night. It is an unexpected treat for our Port Chalmers friends who, instead of having to come to a pleasant entertainment, have it provided for them at their own doors.

Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society. —A general meeting of this Society was held at the Athenseum yesterday ; Mr Charles Smith, the president, occuping the chair. The attendance was by no means large. An essay was read by Mr James Brown, on •* Otago : her prospects, and our duties.” The uanw new of the <iues-

tion tak*n by the essayist prevented any animated or lengthened discussion. We believe that it is in contemplation to hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday next, 13th inst., when Mr Hawking deliver a lecture on “The Building Societies.”

Mischievous Thick. —There appear to be disciples of Percival Keene at Oamaru, as fond of practical jokes as that hero was. Their last exploit apjiears to have been at a meeting hold at Oamaru ou Friday last, for the purpose of establishing a branch in connection with the Dunedin Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society ; when they succeeded in blowing into tho room the fumes of burning cayenne, or some other pungent article, the effect being to disperse those a-sembled in pretty quick time. Abusive Legislators. —Some sharp language has been passing between two of the public men of Marlborough. At the Police Court, Blenheim, ou the 15th inst. Mr Henry Dodson, the Mayor, charged Mr James Sinclair, a member of the Borough Council, with using threatening and abusive language to him, calculated to incite to a breach of the peace The offence was committed iu the Council Chamber, and sworn to by Mr Dodson, and, as reported by the Sxprtes, was as follows “He came close up to me ; I was not speaking of him in any way, for I sow him enter at the door. He talked more violently than ever, and said he knew who 1 was, and that I had to slink away from Ballarat for murderous proceedings, or words to that effect. Ho added more, but myself and others turned away and left him by biinself. It much astonished me, as he fairly hissed through his teeth.” Mr Sinclair was bound over on his own recognizances iu the sum of L2o to keep the peace towards all her Majesty’s subjects, and Mr Dodson iu particular, for 12 months, and to pay coats, L 3 17s. The witnesses declined to take fees.

The Fijis.—A correspondent of tlio Oomo.ra Times write*: — “That in the present disturbed state of the relations between the whites and natives capitalists arc afraid to invest in Fiji, and s tilers are deterred from embracing the advantages of its fertile soil and temperate climate. 1 do not m-au to imply by tbi- statement that Fiji is at a standstill; on the contrary, though not progressing so fast as it would do were all fears as to the safety of life and property removed, there are yet considerable numbers of Kuropcaus continually coming here from Sydney, Melbourne (via Sydney), and New Zealand. These buy their land from the whites and natives, and arc settling down in all directions. There are large tracts of available land in different parts of the larger islands, crops of cotton this season look remarkably well, and 1 think most of our planters will gather rich harvests. Labor is continually pouring in from'different quarters—great numbers of Tauna, Sandwich, and other islanders being employed in different parts. As to the living here, we have not much to complain of, except a w<ant of fresh meat. A regular supply of good fresh mutton or beef would be a great boon. Smoked mutton is in great favor here—the salt beef we get from Sydney being very indifferent. Fresh fat, tjt for culinary purposes, is also a great requisite. Vegetables are plentiful, but some of us would like much to get a good potatoe occasionally. Imports of ail kinds are continually coming from Sydn.ey, to which port our cotton is all sent, though I have heard some of the planters express an intention °f endeavoring to ship it to Lyttelton or Auckland, and bring supplies from Now Zealand—it being so much nearer Fiji than Sydney.” The 'Time* considers that there are two points in the letter of its correspondent which deserve careful attention, viz., the fact that there is in these islands a good market for various descriptions of produce which New Zealand can supply, and the other that there is a disposition on the part of the planters there to make New Zealand porta, rather than Sydney, the depdt or port of transhipment for their cotton—Auckland or Lyttelton being the ports mentioned, the former being considerably nearer to Fiji than is Sydney; while, £s a rule, passages between New Zealand an.d-.Eijl cap be ropre rapidly made than between Sydney apd Fiji, owing to the general prevalence of mpr'c favorable winds. Both these matters are of great interest to New Zealand generally, the former specially so to this and similar districts, as the article# wanted in Fiji are precisely those we produce in the largest quantities, and for which (viz. mutton and potatoes) we have the greatest difficulty in hading a market. Not only is fresh meat said to be granted in regular supply, but rolled mutton is nig spok nof as in great demand. There is a change here surely for our meat curers, of opening up a profitable trade, which, though likely to be comparatively small in the beginning .is certain to be of annually-increasing proportions as the Islands bocome mote thickly populated, for their climate is not well-suited either to the growth of sheep or the cultivation of that useful tuber for which, our correspondent says, the months of the Fijians are watering. Probably, also, there will be a good maruet in Fiji for flour, as the country generally .i? not adapter! for wheat. Outward freight, too, from New Zealand should be taken at a low rate, as there is a prospect of return cargo, iu the shape of cotton, coffee, or fruit. The Armed Constabulary. —The public have hoard so much against the demilitarised fpree, as some journals are pleased to call it, that a few words in its favor may not ho unacceptable. The Commissioner, in making his annual report, states that when entering upon his duties, ho became aware that an uneasy, unsettled feeling pervaded all ranks. In the camps there was an entire absence of any attempt on the part of the men to make themselves comfortable, and they appeared to take little interest in the service which they considered afforded them but temporary employment. Finding that the best men in the service were desirous of leaving, dissatisfied with the prospects itlmld out to them, lie personally explained, both to officer-) and constables, toe intentions of the Government with regard to the future of the force} to be—lst: To organise a small but highly-trained force, which, by superior intelligence and discipline, would in the course of a reasonable time supply the place of numbers. 2nd. That in order to induce the really good men at present in the foice to remain, with a view of attracting a fairly intelligent, respectable class to its ranks, the force would not cn'y afford permanent employment, but would also hold out and open up & career for men woo, by their own exertions and meritorious condorf, might reasonably hope to reach l!;e highest grades, promotions to which (i commissions) were, by the roles and regulations of the force, coufmsd) except iu very special cases, to the

ranks ; and that the pay would be increased! to such a reasonable rate as to induce such men to join the service. Those explanations in a very great measure had the desired effect. By weeding out indifferent and useless characters, the strength of the force which in July, 18(19, numbered 1,460, was reduced to 542 of the best and most reliable of the men. Since the establishment of a depot in Wellington, 239 have joined, of whom 32 proved during their prohationery term to be undesirable, and were therefore discharged ; T2L had been sent to various districts, and 81 proficient and fit for service remain in the depot. Besides performing their ordinary duties, the men in districts have been engaged, and have done a large amount'of road-making, constructing and repairing bridges, culverts, &c. ; removing and re erecting telegraph lines. &e. ; so that the pernicious evil of idleness has not been permitted to exist. Besides this, the mounted constables are being trained to act as line men when on ordinary patrol duty, and are to be employed extensively on the forthcoming census. Mr Branicaii concludes his report as follows “I beg leave to say that I have every reason to believe that all ranks of the force are now fast becoming settled and contented. Perhaps no better proof of this could be given than that resignations have been for some time past almost unknown ; while arrangements are being made by officers and constables in every district for the establishment of libraries and reading rooms. I confidently look forward, therefore, to the time as being not distant, when the Armed Constabulary of New Zealand may vie in point of efficiency, intelligence, and respectability with any force in the neighboring Colonies, in addition to being completely fitted to discharge those special duties which were mainly contemplated when the organisation of the force was authorised. ” The total number of Colonial forces on active fcrvico and pay on the 18th June last was— Armed Constabulary, 8 staff, including 2 field officers, 33 inspectors and sub-inspec-tors, and 773 men ; Volunteers (cavalry), 14; local Militia, 190; Volunteers (foot), 81 ; Natives, 16. Total, 1,034.