The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22. 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2888, 22 May 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MAY 22. 1872.

The Provincial Council is passing the Estimates at a rate that precludes the possibility of discussing many items that seem to have been somewhat thoughtlessly dealt with, and amongst these is the pay of the police. This has been played with, in our opinion, too much, and in such a way as to tend to dissatisfaction in the force. We do not advocate any class of men being paid more highly than their services deserve ; but we do object to their pay being annually made the subject of discussion in the Provincial Council, and of cheese-paring reductions. In common with all other servants of the Government, the police enter into an implied contract with the Government to perform certain duties at a given rate of salary. They do not enter < upon them on condition that their pay shall be subject to the whim of the Executive or the caprice of the Provincial Council. They give up all other employment, and enter upon their official duties on the faith that on due performance of their part of the contract, their employers the Government, on behalf of the public—will fulfil theirs. Instead of this, every Executive assumes the right to say, no matter from what cause, “ Our expenses are too large : it is true we agreed to pay you so much for the work you do, but we find we cannot afford it; so you must do the work you agreed to, but we will not give you the -pay Ave agreed to.” These one-sided transactions have very much the appearance of repudiation in them ; and so far as the Civil Service is concerned, tends to its demoralisation. No man feels himself secure. He cannot regulate the expenses of his family, for he is never sure for more than a year what his income will be. And this element of uncertainty tends to lower the tone of the service. It renders it distasteful to those engaged in it, has a tendency to drive the best men out of it, and prevent able men from entering it ; and in the end is far more expensive than if the inducement of a Avisely liberal salary Avere offered, together Avith all reasonable expectation that it would be continued so long as the duties of the office were required. Especially unwise is this false economy in the Police force. In no department of the public service is there higher responsibility. Yet this seems to be the favorite financial plaything of the Executive. It is made the subject of annual mischievous alterations. Admitting that some years ago the salaries paid were higher than the present reduced cost of living would justify, the extent to which the reductions have been carried, and the unwise distinctions made between men performing equally responsible duties are most unjustifiable. On Avhat ground, for instance, are the warders of the gaol supposed to be entitled to a higher rato of pay than men of corresponding rank, Avhose duty it is to preserve peace and order outside that establishment. If the duty of the warder is monotonous and irksome, that of the police constable or sergeant brings into play the habitual practice of higher and more difficult attributes. The police must not only be men armed with the authority of the laA\ r , but men knowing bow to put it in execution in an authorised and legal manner. They must not only be firm and resolute in carrying out their instructions, but possess intelligence and self-command, so that in protecting the lives ana property of their fellow citizens they may not needlessly endanger those of the criminal class with whom they so frequently have to deal. Then the office of Commissioner of Police is one of high responsibility. On the judicious arrangements made by him depend very materially the safety and well-being of society. It does not seem to enter into the minds of well-to-do people, that when they sleep so peacefully and securely, it is OAving to the care with which the criminal class is watched.

Their very existence is only known to the public through some unexpected outburst of crime. The arrangements by which this unceasing police supervision is exercised depends mainly upon the Commissioner, and yet he too has been subjected to such reductions of salary as must tend to lower the social status his onerous responsibilities entitle him to occupy. This, too, it must be considered, is in the face of increasing duties. When the salary attached to the office was £6OO a year, Otago alone was the area within which his duties were comprised : now Southland is added. We cannot but-think that the proposed arrangements of police salaries have been thoughtlessly adopted, and on public grounds should recommend a revision of them by the Government, or a reconsideration of them by the Council. In this department especially, a grinding economy tends to costly crime.

First Church. —The Dunedin correspond' nt of the Bruce, Herald writes that he hears that the Rev. George Sutherland has received a call to St John’s, in Sydney. Some of Mr Sutherland’s best friends, he adds, have not heard of this, so that it may not be true. It is, however, current about town.

Education. —This afternoon a Bill was read a first time in the Provincial Council, which proposes to confer on school committewS the power “to determine in each case whether the Bible shall be read ; and if the majority of a school committee are of opinion it should be read, then it shall ho so read before or after ordinary school hours, and without note or comment.” The Bill proposes to amend the Ordinance of ISG4 so as to confer the required powers. Princess Theatre. Thumb” was repeated to a good house last night. The success which has attended this piece is such that it will be played again this evi niiu'. A special attraction is also announced for this evening. Messrs Roberts ami* Prosser, the gymnasts, will make their first appearance, when doubtless those who admire the graceful feats on the horizontal bar or the more daring swung on the trapeze, will have an opportunity of enjoying themselves.

Legal. —Mr Harry Pitt, a solicitor, practising at Blenheim, has been suspended by Mr Justice Richmond pending a reference to the Court of Appeal. It appeared from the affidavits filed by the prosecutor that Mr Harry Pitt negotiated for his client, Mr M‘Galium, the purchase of certain lands, and received from him the sum of L 750 with which to pay the deposit thereon After the lapse of mere than six months .VI ‘Callum discovered that the vendor had not received the money, and that except L 125 it was not forthcoming.

Mutual Improvement Society.— Tire fortnightly meeting of thp Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society, was held in the Athenaeum last evening. A very interesting essay was read by Mr John Barron on “Trees, and their influence bn climate, &c,” The essayist pointed out the various climatic and other advantages of forest trees, especially to a young country, and considered it the duty of the Government to see to their preservation and cultivation throughout the colony. An animated discussion succeeded the essay, and the thanks of the meeting being presented to Mr Barron for hrs essay and to Mr Beveridge, tire vice president, for presiding, the meeting dispersed. Dunedin Rile Club. The 11th match of the club took place on Saturday last, but owing to the Anderson's Bay squad not firing, we are unable to give the scores. The Committee met last evening at the British Hotel to consider a protest lodged by some of the members who did not fire, and it was decided to allow them to fire on Saturday next. The Secretary of the Club has requested us to state that the Committee are not deserving of the blame applied to them by some members of the club. The providing of a marker for Anderson’s Bay was left to one member, at his own request, and with him must fault be found. Steps will be taken, however, to prevent a recurrence of such a contretemps.

Criminal. —The Criminal sitting of the Oamaru district was opened on M onday. Edward M'Artney, indicted for stealing jewellery and &c., valued at L 45, from a waggon at Oamaru, on April 3, was found guilty. The Justice Report showed him to be a very old hand, and Judge Ward, “to place him out of the way of doing further mischief for a considerable time,” sentenced him to three years’ penal servitude. George Ross pleaded guilty to a charge of attempt to commit suicide. Mr O'Meagher, who appeared for him, said his cliant had been for some time suffering from domestic afflictions. The Judge required the prisoner to enter into a personal recognisance for LSO, and tw'O sureties of L2O each to come up for judgment wdien called upon.

North-East Harbor. A social gathering was held in the schoolhouse last evening, to commemorate the establishment of a public library in this district. The chair was occupied by Mr Macandrew, and the meeting was addressed by the Rev. Mr i Gregg (Presbyterian minister of the district), the Rev. Mr Reid (Wesleyan Church, Dunedin), Mr Hay (district schoolmaster, Highcliffe), and Mr Bell (schoolmaster North-East Harbor). There were upwards of 200 present, old and young, all of whom enjoyed greatly the very able and interesting addresses of the various speakers. This is another instance of the good effects of the action of the Provincial Government in subsidising public libraries. The young men in the N. K H. district having collected upwards of L4O this amount with the Government subsidy has put them in possession of a very respectable number of really standard works, imported by the General Education Board, and supplied at cost price, A Gallant Rescue.—This morning about half-past ten o’clock a little boy of the name of Allan Duff, aged four years, fell from off the protection embankment lately constructed by prison labor at the bridge leading from Castle street to the hush of the old Botanic Garden. The part of the bank he fell from was about ninety-nine feet above the bridge ; but the current, which is still strong and deep from the late rain, carried him underneath the bridge. The warder on duty at the place where the accident occurred called Sergeant Eugussou, and showed

him the spot. The sergeant immediately went into the water and brought the drowning child from the bottom, the water at the spot being eight feet deep. Dr Sorloy was sent for, and is of opinion the boy will recover. We are given to understand that the , railings across the bridge are so wide apart that a child could easily fall through. We would commend this to the attention of Mr John Barnes. Saturday Half-Holiday Association. —A meeting of the Saturday Halfholiday Association was held last night in the room under the Athemeum. After disposing of the usual routine business, a member got up and stated that he was in a position to say that a certain drapery firm was so convinced of the desirability of giving the half-holiday, that no matter whether others closed on Saturdays or not, it would do so quite independently of them. We sincerely hope that other firms will follow this good example, as we are thoroughly convinced that they would actually be gainers in the long run by doing so. Deputation.—Messrs T. Calleudiir, H. Duncan, T. Kossbotham, and Short, as representing the Pioe Hill and Waikari lioad Boards, had an interview with His Honor the Superintendent this morning and presented a largely signed memorial, praying the Government to purchsse from Mr E. McGlashau a road line leading to the head of the Leith Valley, by which the residents in those dirstriets, who it was stated had purchased their land ten or twelve years before, giving as high a price as LIO par acre, and ha I paid taxes almost since the Beads Ordinance came into operation, would gain an outlet from their properties. It was also represented that the opening up of this road, which was at present closed, would benefit the citizens generally, because it could enable a good supply of building material to be obtained. His Honor, after reading the memorial, said that on going over the estimates it was proposed to p ace a sura of LSOO on the estimates for the purchaao of the road in question, if it were made a chain instead of half a chain wide as at present; but it was stated that Mr McGlashan positively declined to accept that sum, and in consequence the sum was not placed on the estimates. In the course of the discussion that followed, it was stated that if the Government gave the LSOO the Pine Hill Board and some land owners would give their share to make up the difference required by Mr McGlashan. The road has cost Mr McGlashan more than L 50 0; and Mx Usslier some time since had estimated that it was worth LSOO, as it stood half a chain wide. Mr Kossbotbam having stated that he had heard it from Mr McGlashan that he would accept the L/illO from the Government and give a road line a chain wide, and take his chance of getting the rest from the rest from the road Bo nab, His Honor said that he had removed the difficulty, and promised to lay the memorial before the Executive and see Mr McGlashan on the sybjeco. The Order Paper. —This document is fast assuming large proportions ; and if the matter that goes into it continues to increase in the proportion it has during the last week, it will attain the dignified size of a volume before the session is over. Of course, of the fifty-seven motions down for consideration to-day, about a third stand no chance of being discussed, much more carried. It would take too much space to give even a digest of them ; but we observe, in running over the list, that Mr Hutcheson wants a line of railway surveyed between and Dunedin ; Mr Hickey desires to have the miners’ to Chinese increased to L2, and a sitting of the Dunstan District Court at Cromwell ; Mr Mollison is dissatisfied with the charge made for boarders at the High School Rectory, and as the Rector has declined to reduce the charge, for the reason that boarders have been a loss to him, asks the Government to take steps to secure a qualified person to take cbai’ge of boarders at L3O per annum ; Mr Daniel wants to get the police an extra shilling a day all round and the Commissioner an extra LIO!); Mr Lumsden moves for a bonus of LI, 000 for the encouragement of the establi: hment of ham, bacon, cheese, and baiter manufacturing establishments ; Mr Sumpter requires another LI,OOO as a bonus for the establishment of a sack and woolpack manufactory. Among the motions likely to give rise to discussion is one by Mr Shand, empowering the Provincial Government to expend L 12,000 on Immigration during the year, should they see that the General Government are not competent to deal with the matter—one by Mr Tolmie—“That a Select Committee be appointed for the purpose of taking into consideration the position ef the Province in reference to the expenditure of the loans for immigration and public works ; and also to the distribution of the burdens of past loans, and the future management of public works within the Province: such committee to consist of Mr Speaker, Mr Reid, Mr Reynolds, Mr Lumsden, Hon. Dr Meuzies, Hon. Mr M‘Lcan, Mr Shepherd, and the mover and another by the same gentleman, that a sum not exceeding LSOO should be placed on the Estimates to provide for an endowment of LI for Ll on subscriptions raised towards the establishment of a library of reference in connection with the Otago University.—Mr M‘Arthur also asks for the production of all correspondence (if any) tending to throw light upon the statement of the Rev. Dr. Moran, reported in the press of the 7th and Bth current, as to an alleged violation of the faith of Roman Catholic children by the authorities of the Industrial School.”

The amateur dramatic performance, advertised to take place to-night, is unavoid ably postponed for a few days.

The M.U.1.0.0.F. Loyal Dunedin Lodge hold their Anniversary B'oiree and Concert at the Odd Fellows’ Hall, George street, on Friday evening next. Tea on the table at 6.3 U.

Sweeps in connection with the forthcoming Tradesmen’s Races will be drawn at the Empire Hotel to-night and to-morrow night.

We observe that the annual general meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society of Otago is announced to take place this evening at eight o’clock iu the lower room of the Athemeum. Among other matters to be brought forward, we understand, are various alterations and modifications of the Society’s rules, which are likely to lead to some rather animated debating. Professor Haselmayer returned f om his up-country trip to-day. Ho has been playing to overflowing houses since his departure from Dunedin, and expresses regret that the state of the roads would not

allow him to extend his tour b yond Lawrence. By reference to our advertising columns it will be seen the Professor will perform for three lights more, giving a school matinee on the Queen’s bir.hday, and his farewell matinee and performance on Saturday afternoon and evening. His first representation will take place to morrow evening.