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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2259, 3 August 1870, Page 2

To our Readers.-—We regret that, in consequence of oue of our runners suddenly refusing to take his round, the Evcnhaj Stay was not delivered in 'Pelichcfc Bay, Cumberland, and the adjacent streets. We trust the arrangements made will prevent a recurrence of this contretemps. Supreme Court. —In consequence of the indisposition of Mr Justice Chapman there was no sitting in banco to day. Personal. —ln Waikouaiti steps are being taken to get up a testimonial to Mr R. Mitchell, who is about to leave the district. South Ward. —A very numerously and influentially-signed requisition has been presented to Mr E. B. Cargill, asking him to allow himself to he nominated for the vacancy for South Ward in the City Conned. We believe that ho has consented to become a candidate, and if so, there is little doubt but he will be returned. The Robbery at Clyde.—The total loss sustained by the Clyde robbery has been finally ascertained ns follows Bank of New South Wales, 1,3300z5. gold, L 3,063 notes : Bank of New Zealand, 7690z. gold and L 2,265 in notes. We believe such a reward will be offered as should lead to the restoration of the property and the conviction of the thieves. The Chinese. The influx of Chinese with which we are threatened can be accounted for by the fact that Chinese immigration to America has been stopped by legislation. At San Francisco, Chinese labor has almost superseded white labor, and they have now been warned not to go there, and have been recommended to iry Australia and New Zealand. Nearly all the hands in the Alta California printing-office are Chinese. Their labor, costs about onethird of that of whites.

A Suggestion.— Mr C. O’JSTeill in his speech in the House of Bepreientativus on the Financial Statement suggested that forty acres of land should be given to every child born in this Colony. We should think that parents would heartily concur in the- bon. member's proposal, and if acquiesced in by the Government, it would be a substantial premium held out for the purpose of colonisation and for the single people to get married and the married to be happy. Lecture.—Wo notice from our advertising columns that Mr O’Donoghue, M.D., of Port Chalmers, is to give a lecture on Chemistry on Friday evening, the sth instant, in the North Dunedin Drill Shed. We arc given to’nnderstand that this is the first lecture under the auspices of the North Denedin Mutual Improvement Association. We have no doubt but that Mr O’Douoghue will gi w e a very interesting lecture, having spared no expense in getting the necessary appliances for carrying out with effect his chemical experiments. City Council.—Before the hour of meetibg, the City Council Chamber presented a very unusual appearance, that portion of it devoted to the public being crowded by an audience who, it was but too evident, came with the expectation o£ some fuu. But in this they were disappointed, for the bit of comedy, which rumor said was to be acted, was not given. When the minutes were read, Mr Woodland, acting, we believe, on legal advice, came forward and demanded to be allowed to take his seat at the Council table as Councillor for Bell Ward, on the grounds stated by him ;

but the Mayor told him that if he had any claim t® the scat, he would have to take the necessary steps to Court, Mr Woodland tnep The Mayor on enteringjthe received with some applause, ’■ 4 Dunf,din Mutual Improvement Society. —A meeting of the members of this Society was held at the Athenaeum last evening, Mr Chas. Smith (President), in the chair. Before proceeding with the business of the evening, Mr Smith suggested a variety of subjects of an interesting character that might, he contended, be discussed with advantage at future meetings. Mr Beaver then read an essay on “ Poland ; past and present, ’’ which embodied all the most prominent features in the history of this oppressed people, and whilst indicating the general causes which led to the final overthrow of the nation, the essayist proved that he had been a close and attentive student of the history of Poland. A discussion ensued, in which, whilst all the members were agreed that the essay was an aide one, it was hinted that the domestic character of the Poles and their religious contentions might have been fully dealt with ; but Mr Beaver stated that covering aa’did his pessay the whole field of Polish history, it would have been impossible to devote more time to any oue branch, hut that he would be glad on some future occasion to read another essay, when he would take advantage of the suggestions thrown out. A unanimous vote of thanks was tendered to Mr Beaver, and acknowledged.

The Police.—Some time ago we mentioned that the country press were milch dissatisfied with the proposed reduction in the pay of the police force. The latest instance is the Wahatip Mail, which with very bad taste tells ns that the police in town' have been favored, and denies that when the estimates were passed either the Government, or the public considered the pay was too high. Our contemporary says ; —“ Mr Weldon issued tho c rcular mentioned above, reducing tho pay of the non-commissioned officers and men by taking Is per day from their already small salary, and thus reducing the pay of the police to 9s per day—a rate of pay a Chinaman will obtain on most of the goldfields. For this munificent sum of 9s they are expected not only to perform their duries as police, but have also to fill the offices of registrar of brands, inspectors of licenses, slaughter-yards, Chinese miners’ right l , and weights ami measures, Crown lands ranger, collectors of immigration and toll moneys, acting as curators of intestate estates, &c.—all of which duties they fill without any extra pay. Tho Daily Turns thinks they do not enough, but the real truth on the Goldfields is that the force is overworked. Very xneny of the men have often to be for a period of.'four or five days of the week in the saddle, travelling through a cold and rough country like this, and have often to pay at the rate of 2s 6d per meal for their food. This, together with supply themselves with, a costly uniform will, we believe, make it repugnant for any man worth his salt to remain in the service if this reduction scheme of Mr Weldon’s is allowed to be carried out.”—-There is a good deal of truth in the last-mentioned ground of complaint, and the uniform ought to he rendered much less expensive, and that quickly. The Million Loan.— Taranaki Iris put in a claim for a share of the million loan. At a public meeting held at New Plymouth, resolutions were passed to the effect that the principal portion of the loan should be expended in those districts which had suffered most from the war. Writing ou the subject of the loan, the Southland Times says, “It is however, to some extent reassuring, that, in apparent anticipation of rival clamors for a share of the expenditure, Ministers have already spokell out' distinctly on tho point, asserting unequivocally that small attention \vill he paid to absurd applications. It is to be hoped they will adhere to that resolution, for it is quite certain that the utmost firmness will be required. Over all the co’ony little settlements will be pushing their pretensions, and demanding the prosecution of public works in localities where such works could not possibly benefit the colony, and even their utility to the immediate district concerned might be questioned. The number of insignificant sea-side places which severally claim to be “the natural outlet of a large and fertile district,” and on these slende • grounds demand the construction of extensive and costly ha hors, is something st .rtling, IV ere a tithe even of such requests granted, the whole proposed loan could be buried in the sea without the slightest benefit to the country. The expert nee of older maritime countries shows that as trade increases it concentrates itself in a few of the best natural harbors, from whence cargoes have to bo distributed, both with regard to interior, and less favorably situated coast towns, by land transport. As the Government proposals embrace a complete railway system, the creation of numerous ports of entry becomes unnecessary. The main harbors only should have Government assistance, and from them should radiate the lines of railway intended to open up the country. As a matter of course the Bluff harbor must he regarded as the most important in the southern island, it requires nothing to render t safe, and nothing to keep it accessible at all hours to the largest vessels With deep water close in-shore, very little money would extend the present wharf sufficiently to accommodate the cnirc flapping of the Middle Island, while its position in relation to tin other colonics mark it as the natural entrepot of the Australian trade. With the offer of Messrs Fox and Sous, mentioned in otir telegrams, for the construction of railways, there is nothing to prevent the Bluff becoming the harbor for Dunedin itself. New Zealand University.—Now that the question of a Colonial University is receiving a considerable share of public attention, the following remarks from a Melbourne contemporary will not be altogether inopportune : —A class, wo see, has been established at the Sydney University for the purpose of affording young men an opportunity of obtaining an accurate knowledge of analysis and of assaying. Would not a public class, such as tho law class, be a most desirable; institution here ? Our University is a State institution, and it would serve the State more if it took for its model the practical Cornell rather than the practical Oxford —the American Cornell, where the students, like the pupils of Mr Whackforcl Squcers, not only learn to conjugate the verb “to dig,” but proceed to exemplify its meaning. The classic studies to which English, and in a great measure American University teaching is now confined, are graceful accomplishments. They refine the taste, they polish the manners, hut then we must remember that the prizes of life arc won now by other

weapons than ! atin quotations. Pitt used to take the House of Commons by sfcorau with a paragraph [from Horace, Bright smites his adversary on the forehead with a stone from the Authorised, Version, or a rough pebble from “The Biglow Papers.” The ancient lore is, we trust, not doomed, as many believe, not even '‘ after many a summer, ”to decay and passjysvay. : It has its place ; but it is very true that in the everyday world the battle is fought by means of those applied sciences which English’'Universities do almost ignore. In Australia, a keensighted student, whose knowledge of assay enabled him to detect the presence of minerals on the paternal run, would do more for himself and his country than if he occupied his leisure in rendering Tennyson into Latin verse. The practical class at the University might well be popularised.