The Evening Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2282, 30 August 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 1870.

Xhe particulars of the Clyde robbery are now fully before the public. All that is true, and we are bound to say many thiugs that may not be true, have been told about it. The informer has told his story, and secured his position ] and as a just retribution, his accomplice the policeman, guilty alike of robbery and gross- breach of public trust, stands a chance, should the facts be proved against him* of n sentence commensurate with the magnitude of his crime. bThe public have had enough of the romance of the affair ; it is time a little 1 - thought was given to ode feature of it that should press itself upona our attention. The police have evinced 'great skill in tracing out the affair. They have »ot. allowed the smallest matter connected with it to escape their jaotide., 2jrfwy--had their ears opento every rumor likely to lead .) V 1 v Zi b‘i ''

to the the robbers, and their eyes '-Uo, trifling circumstance- So apparent matter in leather 'between a > slvoiaa^p!' f and a saddler, was one pf incidents that led to the Bennie. So far, theil, as in tracking the criminals, tltey/did it faithfully and successfully. - secondary duty of a - jidlicwfprce. • ;The primary is tne prevention,_of ci’ime. The public are too much inclined to regard the duty of policemen as commencing only when a crime has been

committed.' It may. ; bs then only that their value, as conservators of social order, .'is prominently brought into view,-. But ■ that ...really is .one the least important of their functions. Moral disease in society is made manifest by outrages against person and property, and, the police are remedial agents.. Occasional outbursts will inevitably occur, however watchful they may be ; but their true value is best evinced when the course of events is smooth, It is a good thing to be so

watchful, energetic, and skilful, that ho criminal, however cunning, shall escape; but it is much better to be so •thoroughly alert that no one has a chance of committing crime. In either case, as a rule people may sleep safely in their beds, in full security that no harm will come to them. These are the social duties of the police, for which society pays and expects return —tne mere ordinary, every-day work which they have to do. But in the Clyde affair there was superadded a special duty. To that section of the force there was committed the charge of the escort. The fact of the police being employed to guard it, is of itself sufficient to point out the special risk. It was too valuable to be left to private guardianship. The safe transmission of treasure adds to the value of the goldfields. It gives security to the miner avlio procures the gold, and to the bankers and merchants who purchase it. Clearly it is within the province of the police to take charge of it for safe keeping. But how was that charge fulfilled? The imprisonment of Rennie and MacLennon, the anxiety consequent upon the robbery, the loss to the public through the necessity to offer a large reward, and the heavy percentage the banks have to pay for the recovery of the lost treasure, form a sufficient answer. No sophistry, nor attempt at diverting and concentrating public indignation upon the actual perpetrators of the robbery, can conceal the fact that had due caution been observed it could not have taken place. We feel, as a public duty, _ we ought not to pass over this most important feature In the case, that in this instance the details, which have been so abundantly given to the public, prove such laxity and indifference on the part of those in charge of the station at Clyde as to invite the commission of the offence. It has been said in excuse that the place in which the treasure was deposited was not fitted for the purpose; that it was insecure, and so on. We are quite willing to admit that it was not so well adapted for the safe keeping of treasure as a banker’s safe. But this, so far from palliating the relaxation of discipline, really renders it more culpable, When in the hands of the police, treasure should be as safe within a tent as enclosed within thrice locked iron doors. It has been also stated as an excuse that the officer in charge of the district had too weak a force at his command. This we cannot understand. We suppose he had but to order those men who brought the gold to remain, in addition to those at the station, until the treasure was forwarded in the regular course, and he would have had the requisite number. Nor does this absence of effective discipline appear to have been accidental or occasional. It must have been chronic, otherwise the long-de-vised scheme of MacLennon —devised months before it was carried into execution—would in all probability have never entered his mind, or it would have been frustrated. We are not aware what steps have been taken in the matter. We have seen by the public prints that some well-meant, but foolish, attempts arc made to influence the Government to retain the services of the officer in command. We cannot for a moment imagine that the Executive will be weak enough to listen to them. The public service requires that the discipline of the force shall be maintained, and, no matter how high the office, where this has been neglected, public safety requires that the duty shall be remitted to other hands. Pass this over, and every policeman discharged for neglect of duty may complain of injustice. When George the Third hesitated to sign the death warrant for the execution of Dr Dodd, the last argument used was:—“ Sire, “ if this man is not hanged all those “ who have suffered for this crime have “ been murdered,” His Majesty felt the force of the argument and signed his death warrant. We leave the lesson to the consideration of the Executive.

The Mayor’s Present.—We Relieve that tile subscriptions for the to be presenter! to the Mayor, amo^^ '"tXv Dit.itlie tiL tlie long robe ar<Aiq&tn>Ye. oyment furnipfifd them by tw6 cases which will shortly eouveotifor trial in the Supreme Court. One o? the in has _ reference to an alleged fracas in a publicdiouae, in which a medical gentleman was concerned, and in the other a clergyman is said to occupy a prominent position.

The Tariff.—At a public meeting held at the Thames on the (ith instant, the following resolutions-were unanimously carried “I. That the miners and others located on the Thames goldfield hereby protest against the protective duties contained in the new tariff, inasmuch as they deem them an injustice to every person not an actual producer of the articles taxed. 2. Th t this meeting is of opinion that no person supporting a tax on provisions is capable of holding a place in any legislative body in any civilised country.” Concert.—The complimentary benefit to Mr Chas. Sykes at the Masonic Hall, was a decided success in every way. The concert opened with the overture “ Tancredi,” which, it is almost needless to say, was well played by Mr Sykes. Then a lady amateur gave the canzonet, “My mother bids mo hind my hair,” veiyfairiy. Mr Leslie appeared to he in excellent voice, and gave “The village blacksmith ” in such a manner as to justify a very hearty encore. He substituted “The moon behind the hill,” in which he was not so successful. What was to our thinking the gem of too concert, was the pianoforte and flute duett by Mr Sykes and Mr S;-rcat. It was capitally played, and very deservedly encored. Another lady amateur who has been heard to advantage at recent concerts, gave “Ditcslui” from the Grand Duchess, hut wo cannot say much of her effort. A song sung with less feeling we never heard. “ Peace to thy spirit,” by a lady amateur and Mr Leslie, was well sung ; and the duett on the piano by Mr Sykes and Master Solomon, was excellent. Later in the evening this young gentleman p’ayed a solo admirably, and in answer to an encore, gave “ Souvenir do Ecossc ” with equal success. There was also in the second part a trio by Messrs Sykes (piano), Sprcat (flute), and Martin (claironet) ; and a solo by Mr Sykes, both of which were warmly applauded. Messrs Taylor, Marsdcu, and rawshaw, took part in several glees, and Mr Marsdcu give “When the swallows,” very nicely, and was encored. Mr Hilton was very well received, his two songs coming in for unanimous encores. After the concert the room was cleared for dancing, which was indulged in with spirit until an early hour this morning. Shipping Disasters.—Writing on the subject of the loss of the Tauranga, the Advertiser says There can he no doubt that our Marine Department has been altogether too remiss in enforcing regulations which would tend to the safety of all. The captains and crows engaged in our coasting trade are so accustomed to danger that they become insensible to it, and are unintentionally reckless. It is only when some appalling catastrophe occurs that they can he induced to reflect, or prevailed upon even to listen to argument. Like coal minors, our coast navigators would rather risk any disaster than adopt a little habitual cautiousness. The Davy lamp, had it been used, would have averted hundreds of fatal explosions in mines. So a lamp carried by intercolonial and coasting vessels of all sizes would avert much loss of life and property. The Legislature should take this matter in hand, if the Marine Department will not sec to it. It is useless to trust to owners or captains of vessels. The necessary precautions must he enforced, under heavy penalties, by the strong hand of the law. The Marine Board of Victoria recently offered a reward to anyone who would give information sufficient to convict any master mariner who did not carry the required safety lights at sea. Something of the same kind should he done by the Government of this Colony.

Inquest. - The enquiry into the cause of the death of Francis TI. Malloch, by the Coroner, Dr Hoekcn, took place at the Maitland Hotel yesterday afternoon at two o’clock. The evidence disclosed the fact that the deceased was a few months ago a clerk in the Bank of Otago, and had been dismissed. Latterly ho had given way to intemperance. On Saturday he purchased an ounce bottle of laudanum from Mr I’eid, chemist, and in going to his bedroom about eleven o’clock on Saturday night, he was observed by a fellow lodger to drink something from a bottle. Nothing further was noticed until a servant went to call him .at noon on Sunday, -when she found him dead in his bed. A post mortem examination was made by Dr Alexander, who was unable to detect any trace of laudanum in the body in consequence of decomposition having ct in, but he gave it as his opinion, grounded upon the general appearance of the body, and the evidence of the witnesses, that the deceased had poisoned himself. The jury after hearing the evidence, consulted for two or three hours, but not arriving at a conclusion, they were locked up about an hour, after which they returned a verdict of “Selfdestruction,”

Protection.— Strange as it may seem, there appears to be a movement in Auckland in favor of protective duties. A largely-attended meeting of merchants, manufacturers, and traders, we are informed, avas held on Wednesday last, in the Mechanics’ Institute, for the purpose of considering the Reciprocity Bill uoav before the General Assembly. The speakers generally appeared to be in favor of increased duties upon articles of the growth, produce, or manufacture of the Australian colonies, and against the proposals of reciprocity now under discussion. Of course the old exploded fallacies of the (Protective school were reproduced, but still there avere found a few with courage enough to protest against them, and this in the face of the manifest feeling of the majority. Mr Clark proposed a resolution condemnatory of the Reciprocity Bill. He said heAvas connected with the “makingup clothing trade,” “ Avhich had groAvn up Avithout any protection whatever against the manufacturers both of England and Melbourne,” but Avhich “ Avould be ruined if Melbourne manufacturers were admitted duty free;” and, “if cloth manufactured in the Australian colonies Avere introduced free, the tweed trade in Nelson Avould be ruined ” A Mr Cater— in the boot trade —said that Sydney boots could be obtained at about two-thirds of the price of Auckland • made goods, He

would rather duties than goods should come the'Aus.feAlian colonies. Mr D. a free tßader like, such a/dutyonflour as would prevent aib’iinportation.,. aml the same in the'ease of eogs, bacon, Ac, He was .a free trader in [and, but approved of protection on all articles that we can produce. Mr Freer followed iu a similar strain He would prevent the exportation of hides and the importation of boots. &c., so that we should be obliged to manufacture them. Other speakers followed, proposing resolutions in favor of

protective duties, and of keeping back Aust alian competition, winding up with one to petition the Governor in Council to remit no duties on articles of Australian inanufa •- ture, except only such as are not—or cannot at present be—manufactured in New Zealand. The principal opponent of the movement appears to have been Mr Eastwood, who said what the people wanted was to get their goods in the cheapest market, without caring where they came from. Colonial manufactures had nothing to fear while they continued to be of a superior quality—that was th best kind of protection, and the only protection that was needed. He, however, could scarcely get a hearing ; though from what we see reported his words were almost the only ones that were not the merest fallacies. We bad no idea Auckland was so far behind the age as to wish for dear food an I dear clothing, believing it be a boon.

The Cental System.—The cental system, although accepted by the Chambers of Commerce throughout the Colony, can hardly be said to have been adopted by the public generally. There is no doubt, however, that it will soon come into use, being a far more convenient method of calculation than the old plan, in which measurement and weight were mixed up in a manner m st perplexing to all but those “to the manner bora.” The following short and expeditious mode of calculating mentally will be found useful by farmers and others, pending the universal adoption of (he “ cental •' ’ — Centals. 5 Bushels wheat, maize, grain, beans, or rye are equal to ... 3 5 ditto malt or oats ditto 2 5 ditto bran or grass seed ditto ... I 2 ditto barley ditto 1 So that one-third the price of five bushels of wheat is equivalent to one cental; the half of live bushels of oats is equal to one cental; the price of five bushels of bran or of two bushels of bariey is equal to one cental. To calculate the price of one cental of wheat, it may he convenient to remember that one cental is equal to as many pence as there are shillings in the price of twenty bushels ; thus, if twenty bushels are worth L 4 10s or 90 shillings, the cental will bo 90 pence or 7s Gd. If the decimal system of coinage were adopted the calculation would he simplified to the utmost. Southland JVeicvj.