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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2708, 21 October 1871, Page 2

Heroism Reward. —At the lust meeting of the Eoyal Humane Society of England, the Society’s bronze medal was awarded to John Gurney, and a testimonial on vellum to James MHntosh, for saving a man named Kobertson, who jumped overhoard while intoxicated, at Port Chalmers, in five fathoms of water. The occasion was on the depar ure of the ship Ota-o for England, in February last. <'ur report of the occurrence states that, “ although there was a strong wind and a nasty sea on at the time, the second officer, followed by one of the hoys of the Otago, sprang overboard and placed a lifebuoy over the man’s head and shoulders, thus supporting him until all three were rescued by the pilot-boat which happened to he close handy.” MTutosh was the hoy referred to; and Mr Gurner, the second mate of the Otago. Princess Theatre. —We are glad to say that the programme of last night drew a good audience to the Princess Theatre. “Kind to a Fault,’' a comedy never played in the Colonics, was presented. The plot reveals a hasty runaway match and its consequences, which created much amusement. Mb.a Dully Gmcn anpo.Ted as M»s Prewitt, Mr Musgrave as MDrewi t, Mr Wolfe as Frank Goldsworthy, and they were especially good. They were kindly assisted by Messrs White, Thornton, and Massey, who appeared on the whole to great advantage. A musical melange followed, in which Messrs Westropp and Dixon took the principal parts, and wore well received. Mons. Floury played several operatic selections with great effect. Ho was very ably assisted by Mr Oliver on the cornct-a-piston. To night the sensation drama of “Jesie Brown” will be given with mechanical effects. “The Lady and the Devil ” will appear for the last time. Masonic Hall.—An entertainment consisting of a series of dissolving views was given at the above hall last evening. The opening part consisted of illustrations of

some of the heavenly bodies, together with their movements through the system. Some of these views were really good, and had they been accompanied by an interesting lecture, would have proved highly instructive. Views of rural scenery and tcenes from the Holy Land followed, interspersed with pictures of animals of somewhat ridiculous shapes and only tit to arau*e children. Some views of statuary were really excellent, but here again, as before, the audience was left to draw upon its imagination as to what the representation was intended for. Of the lecture and the maimer in which it was delivered, we would say, as to the first, that it requires to be remodelled, and as to the second, that the lecturer should pay greater attention to his subject. The Manx Budget—A Pattern for our Colonial Administration. —The Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Wan has issued his annual return of revenue .and expenditure of the island for the year ending 81st March last, together witli his observations thereon, 'there was a sum of L 9147 to the credit of the island at the beginning of the financial year. 1.7000 oi which was invested in Exchequer Bills, the remainder being invested in loans to the Telegraph Company and ihs Lunatic Asylum Committee The expenditure amounted to L 48,776, Aihich being deducted from the total amount received and in hand, leaves a balance to the credit of the island of L15,(502, The governor also gives an approximate estimate of revenue and expenditure for the ensuing year, in which he estimates the customs revenue at L 43.200, which amount, with the balauce carried forward from this year and income from other sources, would make a total credit of L 62,510. The expenditure is estimated at slightly below' that of this year, the prircipal reduction being in the cost of the volunteers. The total expenditure is set down at L 53,159, leaving a balance to the credit of the island on the 31st March, 1872, of L 29.351. A Legal Ornament.—A short time ago we gave a most remarkable exhibition of legal erudition possessed by a certain magnate of 100 miles from Riverhead, by publishing a copy of probably the most curious criminal information ever read in a Court. From the fame sagacious magistrate the following wonderful “information” or “complaint,” whichever it may be, was read at the Police Court. The case was withdrawn between the parties, but the information should be kept a a record “ (6).—lnformation or complaint.--River-head, in the province of Auckland, 3rd October 1871. —Whereas complaint was made before the undermentioned, one of her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for tbo colony of New Zealand, for .that one George Grochen, of Onehunga, did, on the 17th day of June, 1871, wilfully and maliciously kill one of my fowls in my presence; and, moreover, threatened that ho would kill them all ; I have lost 36 since then, all of which, 1 have good reason to believe, have been killed by the said George Grochen—aaid fowls belonging to me John Lawrence.— John (his ft mark) Lawrence. Taken under my hand this 3rd day of October, 1871, at Riverton, in the province aforesaid.” Here follow's the signature of the magistrate. It may be remarked that the charge is written upon a printed form of “summons of a witness,” and great portions of the printed form are erased, but none of the erasures are initial ,d by the signing magistrate. — Southern Cross.

The Tables Turned. —From attaching too much credence to the evidence of constables in Victoria there seems to be a danger of juries and judges falling into the opposite extreme of attaching too little. Not very long ago a policeman’s oath in the sister Colony was pretty generally considered to be worth at least twice as much as an ordinary citizen ; but that absurd delusion has been dis>ipated, anda reaction lias set in, the former privileged class, by having abused its privileges, is made to suffer proportionately. A recent case tried in Melbourne shows upon the face of it that juries there are beginning to treat jxdicemcn’s evidence too cavalierly. The facts were-some two couples were standing talking together at three o’clock on a rainy morning in a public street. These early, or rather late, birds had no right to complain if Constable Doody did issue the time-honored mandate to them to move on. He did so, and a dispute was the resub. Afmr interchanging some words, and the evidence was conflicting as to which side was the abusive one, the representative of tne law proceeded on bis temporarily interrupted journey to the East Collingwood lock-up. The plaintiffs had taken his number, but not content to wait till later in the morning, they followed him to the lock up for the purpose for reporting him to his superior—abusing him, so he says, all the way. On their arrival there he gave them in custody for insulting behavior. Both Doody and the lock-up keeper deposed at trial that Henderson and his wife and Mrs Foot were slightly, though not much, the worse for liquor, but that evidence was directly contradicted. At all events they were locked up and bailed out iu an hour’s time. For this the 3' were awarded LOO.

The volunteer battalion parade ordered for Friday the 27th inst., will, we are informed, take place on Thursday the 26th inst.