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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2386, 24 November 1870, Page 2

Coal. —A valuable seam of coal lias been discovered at Waikawa, Correspondence, Justice” was received too late for insertion to-day. Princess Theatre.—Miss Rowriug and Mr Steele make their re-appearance ton:ght in the favorite drama of ‘ ‘ East Lynne. ” It is perfectly unnecessary for us to descant upon the merits of Mias Bo wring’s assumption of the character of Lady Isabel, for they are well known to most playgoers. We hope to see a good house. Thomson’s Road Steamer.—We are glad to learn that so soon as the necessary arrangements are completed, a public trial of the road engine will be made; but wo should have been equally glad had Mr Gillies refrained from giving u8 credit for having made incorrect statements in regard to the engine, which wo have to observe never appeared in our columns. Representative Firinc. At the last competition by the Artillery Company, the following scores were made Captain M’Farland, Private Keid, (id; and

Corporal Ogilvie, 62. At the Naval Brigade firing this morning, Lieuts. Smith and Grant ■were the, highest marksmen. We have not been able to get the scores, but we believe the shooting was poor. Cricket. The annual match between the Batchers and the Citizens C.C , was played yesterday, on the ground of the latter, and resulted" in an easy victory for the club. The Butchers’ score was 50, and the C.tizcns OS, of which number Watson made - J9, and G. W. Hedges 21, not out. On .Saturday a match will be played b>-tween the lirst eleven of the club and a press eleven.

The Presbyterian Synod. The Bruce Herald says : —“ It fall, to the lot of iheClutlia Presbytery to have a member of its court elected for the honorable position of Moderator of Hie genera? meeting of .Synod to assemble in Dunedin early next year. We understand that the Rev. Mr Bannennan was unanimously chosen by his fellow laborers for the port, which he has declined in favor of the Rev. J. Urie, of Pomahaka, one of the most consistent and painstaking ministers in Otago.” The Temperance Movement. — At fie last me.ting of the Committee of the Tok'.m liriro .Society, the Secretary reported that he had received rep ies from almost all the .Societies within the Province, expressing tiieir willingness to co-operate with the Tokomairiro Society in the establishment ot a provincial alliance. It was considered that Dunedin should be the head quarters of the alliance, ami a meeting of delegates from country Societies is to be held in the City about the middle of December.

The Steam Dredge.—The Government steam dredge New Era, that recently sank whilst dredging the channel below Biack Jack’s Point, was yesterday evening towed by the steamers Geelong and Golden Age to Port Chalmers Jetty. The apparent cause of the sudden leak appears to have arisen from the chain or some substance getting between the ladder whilst it was being raised or depressed, some of the planks being apparently cut or forced inwards from the above cause, The injuries sustained do not appear at a'l serious, as with the temporary patoln-s nailed on little water comes in. Though the vessel s-wnis somewhat strained by the weight of the machinery m board, and the heavy work she l as lately been engager! in, she is still capable of doing good service, and having undergone repairs, will soon be in a position to resume work. The Public Works Bill Depate.— There is an idea abroad that the debate on this uestinn will be brought to a close tonight, but we do not think so. When the debate is resumed this evening, Mr MTudoc will move the following amen ’meat ; “'That consdciing the depressed state of the trade in the Province, and the decided expression of the opinion of the settlers, it is expedient that the works indicated in his Hon r’s Message No. 2, under the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870, should bo at once proceeded with, as well as those urged on the Colonial Government by the representatives of the Province, viz.; the survey of the branch railway from the main south line to Tuapeka, together with the survey of the goldfields with the view of an immediate water supply.” There is, however, little chance in the present temper of the Council, of the amendment being accepted. The Government are perfectly conscious that they have a large following, and arc determined to have nothing but their own motion adopted.

TIIK “ TIAIE.S ” AND THE Tei/EGBAI'H. —bcferring to this subject, the Wellington Independent of Nov. 12th, says : -It is now more than a month since the Evening Post and Otago Daily Times lashed themselves into a white foam on the subject of the telegram which they alleged had been stolen by the Government, in the Telegraph Office, from the summary furnished by the association from which those papers asserted that they had exclusive information. The charges made against the Government were of the most flagrant character, imputing an offence which was likened to picking a p cket or stealing a handkerchief. There was no end to the fierce talk of the editors of these papers and their telegraphic correspondent ; and they even went so far as to as to say that they had proof of their assertions, and vacant to take the case into the Supreme Court. We have now waited patiently for a month to witness the performance of this valorous threat, and we now ask —when is it going to be put in execution? Wc expected daily to read the exciting announcement that a criminal information had been moved for before Mr Justice Chapman or Mr Justice Johnston against the Colonial Secretary or Commissioner of Telegraphs, and that a great battle of giants was pending in the Supremo Court. It seems, however, that the giants, on one side at least, are not game to cuter the lists ; but, after having vehemently defied their antagonists, have wisely discovered discretion to bo the better part of valor, and left the field unstained by their blood, or that of the enemy they threatened to slay. The public, however, has not forgotten the hraggadocions threats which were so indecently held out, and of course will put its own estimate mi the conduct of the journalists mentioned To charge an opponent with stealing and picking of pockets —to declare that the proofs are forthcoming—to challenge him into the Stipreme Couit, and then quietly to drop the whole matter “ like a hot potatoo,” is a poor finale of the loud bluster to which the columns of the Times and Post gave vent hut three or four weeks ago. Are we really to hear no more about it? Not even in the Supreme Court ?

Retrenchment. —The report of tho Commissioners on Retrenchment has been published. Speaking generally as to the methods, they observe tho only means by which it can be effected are : Ist, by the correction of waste or extravagance in the internal management of the different departments ; 2nd, by the concentration or amalgamation of offices ; 3rd, by the reduction of salaries. 'Hie latter they consider higher than salaries outside the service and that the present position of the Province “ -warrants a gem-ral reduction in salaries, as in wag-s. upon an equitable ha-is ” They recommend a reduction of 20 per cent, from tho salaries of the Superintendent, official members of the Kxecutive, Speaker, ami Chairman of Committees, and 10 per cent, off the salaries of the permanent stuff, excepting officers in the Goldfields Department, officers receiving loss than 1/200 a-yoar, and certain special cases. The Commissioners recommend a further reduction in the p.a* of the police after six months notice, which however they consider might he re-imhurs- d to them by "lessening the cost of uniform. This outfit for foot constables is now

L 24 11s, and for mounted men, L2l 3s, and can be reduced to Ll3 4s 6d per man. The saving in the cost of the force is to be L 350 per annum. In the Harbor department, it is proposed to dispense with the harbor master at Kakauui, and the signal master at the Heads. The Commissioners consider the department satisfactorily as well as economically managed. By the alterations proposed, and a reduction of boatmen’s wage l to LS per month, they propose saving LGSO a year. In the Gaol Department no reduction is recommended. In the Treasury, the 10 per cent, reduction will effect a saving of LI 15. In the Sheep Inspector’s Departn'ent, by amalgamating the districts, 1.350 in addition to the 10 per cent, would be saved. in the Education Department no chance is recommended, as it is economically and successfully conduced, The Hospital is shewn to be worked at a less cost per patient annually than any hospital at Home. The lowest cost per patient in England is at the Westminster Hospital, L4O: the highest is at University College, L 77: the cost per patient at Dunedin is L3S 5s 5d per annum. The Lunatic Asylum affords no opportunity of retrenchment. With respect to the Jetties, should the present method of collecting dues be continued, it is recommended to dispense with the services of one co lector. It is suggested that rcducMons in the cost of messengers he. made to the amount of LlOd a year. In the Crown Lands and Survey Department, which cost the Province LIG,7SS a year, no reduction is recommended beyond the 10 per cent,; but it is recommended that fees for searching records, examining maps, copying sections and maps, shall be charged, which the Commissioners consider will yield considerable revenue. On the Goldfields they propose saving LI 100 annually by redistributing the work. In the Roads and Works, Steam Dredge, and Road Board Departments, no change is recommended. The estimated retrenchment is 1,4800 annually ; but it is stated, in conclusion, that “in regard to some recommendations made in the report, the Commissioners differed materially in opinion.” In such cases the ideas of the majority are represented, and it was agreed by the Commissioners “that no expression of individual dissent should bo tendered to his Honor the Superintendent.”

To-morro we venting the eighty-second monthly meeting of the Sesond New Zealand Building Society, will be held at the office of the secretary.

Mr Macassey announces by advertisement that he will address the electors of Dunedin at the Masonic Hall, to-morrow (Friday) evening, at S o’clock.