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Evening Star, Issue 2826, 9 March 1872, Page 2

Crowded Out.— We are compelled to hold over several letters, local intelligence, &c. Waireka Railway.— The Omnafu Times is permitted to state this line will be constructed by tbe Colonial Government, if certain arrangements now in progress result satisfactorily. Sudden Death. been received to-day by telegraph from Wellington, that Mr William Pagan, well known in Dunedin in connection with the Money Order Department of tbe General Post Office, died suddenly yesterday. The deceased was controller of tbe Savings Banks, and held that office since his transference from Dunedin about lour years ago. “ The New Zealand Church News.” —This month’s number contains a variety of interesting clerical intelligence from England and the different dioceses in tbe Colonies. There are also letters and papers on tbe position of affairs in Melanesia, with a large amount of information on Church matters. Members of the Church of England will be interested in the new Lectionary, a full table of which appears in this month’s number. Gaol Return. —The following is the state of H. M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending March 9 Awaiting trial, 3 men ; 1 woman ; under remand, 1 men, 0 women, penal servitude, 82 men, 0 women ; haul labor, 37 men, 12 women; imprisonment, 0 men, 0 women; in default of bail, 2 men, 0 women ; debtors, 1. Total, 120 men ; 13 women. Received during thejjweek, 11 men, 1 women ; discharged, 4 men, 2 women. The Walker-Christib Match. It appears that there is every probability of another match, this time for LI ,000, coming off in Dunedin, between Walker and Christie. The latter will only tire in Dunedin, and the Thames Advertiser says Walker received a telegram to that effect last week. Of course he has to consult his backers before he accepts the conditions, but for himself he is quite willing to accept tbe challenge. The Advertiser “believes that all his backers, who have been consulted, are agreeable that he should. Some of them even express a determination to go to Dunedin with their champion ; and it is therefore more than likely that the match will tadc place.” Stamp and Cereal Duties. —The Premier, in reply to an address from the Borough Council of Hokitika, in which reference uas made to the stamp and cereal duties of last session, is re2>orted to have said :—“ With respect to the Stamp Act and what are termed the protective duties, those were passed purely for fiscal purposes. That they are burdens, he admitted, and he hoped that circumstances would soon enable their removal. A small duty had been imposed upon cereals, but without any intention on the part of the Ministry, generally, to institute a protective policy. The duty was imposed as a ready means of making up a deficiency in tbe revenue, and with no view whatever in the protection of direction. It was, also, a small solatium to a struggling industry, but he doubted whether it woula have much effect. At all events, >o far as revenue was concerned, he did not believe that the result of the tax would realise the expectations which had led to its imposition. Neither did he believe that the tax had had any injurious effect, as it was not sufficiently large to effect the price of bread to the consumer. With regard to the Stamp Act, there could be no doubt that its provisions were exceedingly troub esome, more particularly to persons engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was inclined to think it w r as a failure, and would not realise the expectations which had led to the enactment. It was devised for tbe purpose of augmenting the revenue, but no doubt it had become a source of considerable annoyance. He did not believe it would be continued, though he had not the authority of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for saying so.” Forestry. The anniversary of Court Enterprise, No. 3,990, A.0.F., was celebrated by a supper held at the Royal George Hotel, last evening. The chair was occupied by D. |S. Woodland, and there was a fair gathering of the fraternity. After the spread had been done full justice to, the secretary (Bro. T. J. Goodman) read the financial report of the Court, as follows : “Court Enterprise was established by the initiation of 14 members, as a commencement in 1863, and prospered until the year 1865, when its meetings were held in the Royal Exchange hotel, a house next the Bank of Otago Limited, and which being burnt the whole of the property of the Court, including its banner was also burnt; and about the same time the then treasurer left the Province, forgetting to refund a sum of about LlO, hold by him. The members, nothing discouraged, went on with the objects for which they are banded together, and have ever since steadily increased in numbers and in funds until the present time, when the Court has the satisfaction of informing their friends that they number 94 members, entitled to its privileges, and to participate in the accumulated funds of the Court, which amount to L 550. The Court, in addition to providing to its members medical attendance and medicines duriug|the past year, paid to sick brothers L7l, and yet made an increase in the same year of L 64. It has often been made matter of reproach against this Court and others that they meet in public houses, which the members, themselves, know has too often been unavoidable; but it may not be, as it deserves to be, known that after the night of making a new member, so long as he sends money to pay his contributions, he need never attend again, and yet at all times be entitled to the full benefits of membership. There are Foresters who are old members, and yet who arc never sccnin a Court room from year’s end to year’s end, although such conduct is

not approved by those who are attendants.” Among the other toasts given were the Superintendent and Provincial Government,” responded to by Mr Geo. Smith; “ The Mayor and Corporation responded to by his Worship and Councillor Barnes ; “ Visiting brethren,” responded to by Bro. Ma thews (Loyal Leith Lodge) ; and “ Kindred societies,” responded to by Bro. Sherwin, M,U.1., 0.0.P. A v ry plcssnt evening was spent. The Volunteers will meet for Batal'ion Parade in tbe South Dunedin Recreation Ground, at 5.30 a.m., on Monday. A good muster requested. A meeting of the Union Permanent Building Society for receiving subscriptions, applications for new shares, &c., will be held at the society’s office, Princes-street, on Monday evening next, from 7 to 8 o’clock.