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Evening Star, Issue 2894, 29 May 1872, Page 2

The Loan.—The General Government have received information by the mail that the second instalment of L 1,000,000 of the loan authorised by the Assembly in IS7O has been negotiated through the Bank of New Zealand, the whole being taken at LIOO4.

The Mails.—The Dunedin portion of the mails received by the Nebraska yesterday comprised 9528 letters and 31, GOO newspapers ; while the mail received in April (also a double mail) comprised 9206 letters and 29,070 newspapers : so that there has been an increase of 322 letters and 2530 newspapers.

Railway Construction. —We learn from Wellington that the Government have entered into a contract with Mr Brogdcn for the construction of the Vie ton and Blenheim Railway, and that in a day or two the Invercargill and Mataura Railway will be contracted for. Messrs 11,11 and M‘Gregor, G.E.’s, are now engaged ou that section, of the main trunk line between Oamaru and Otepopo, having completed the survey of the portion between Otepopo and Mocraki.

The Richardson Scholarship. —lt will be remembered that two of the competitors for the Richardson Scholarship—Park and Wihnot—were so nearly equal that the Professors hesitated to make the award to either, and that it was resolved a second competition should take place between these two. We understand- that Park has since withdrawn from the contest, on the ground that it would necessitate his resigning a scholarship of superior value already held by him in the High School. Wihnot has therefore to-day been declared, the successful competitor. Mobnincton, — A little excitement was caused in Mornington about half-past 9 o’clock last night, by the breaking out of fire, which appeared from one part of the township to be issuing from Mr Attwood’s store. One or two of the residents hastily provided themselves with buckets to aid in extinguishing the (lames, but their services, happily, were not required, as the fire was got under before they had proceeded many yards. It was a cottage chimney that had taken fire, and had the flames not been so soon subdued, much loss of property might have been occasioned, as a strong wind was blowing at the time, and the roofs of the cottages which are pretty closely packed together in that part of the village, are of wood. The inhabitants of the small townships around Dunedin ought to take some steps to protect themselves in eases of fire, as under existing circumstances many houses might be swept away before any effectual means could be brought to arrest the flames.

Mutual Improvement Society.— The usual fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society was held last evening, hi the hall below the Athenaeum. There was a good attendance, and Mr Chi-istie delivered an interesting lecture on “ The Extension of Colonial Literature.” The essayist at considerable length spoke of the great influence of the literature of a country on the morals and mental ability of its people, and condemned the prominence given at present to tho light cheap works of fiction over the more solid and thoughtful works which required a deeper study, ahd consequently had a better training effect on the minds of the community. A discussion followed, at the close of which a hearty vote of thanks was given to the lecturer and the chairman ; and the secretary, in the name of the Society, thanked the ladies for so often patronising the meetings of the Society this session, and hoped those present would not only continue to attend, but that in future they would even have a larger attendance.

“ The Gazette.”—The last number of the Ncn: Zmlmd <Ja:.dU■ contains several important intimations. Mr J. K. Warburton has been appointed Accountant of the chief Money Order and Savings Bank Office, vice W. Pagan, deceased ; and Mr W. Gray, jun., has boon appointed Chief Clerk in the General Post Office, vice Warburton, promoted. Letters of naturalisation have been granted to Laurent Clorick, Clutha, and Henry Pratt, Dunedin. Some very Stringent and necessary regulations, which have been prepared by the medical department of the Privy Council, are published, and every public vaccinator should have a copy of them. A despatch on the subject of public nuisances is also published. The instructions were first issued by the Governor of St Lucia in view of a threatened cpcdciuic, and in alluding to them Lord Kimberly says : —“I wish you to consider whether, even without the immediate motive of a threatened epidemic, it would not be desirable to take similar steps, with such variations as local circumstances may require. ” The Police. —The action of the Provincial Council yesterday in refusing to raise the salaries of the police to the rate existing prior to the estimates being brought down last year, led to the members of the force stationed in Dunedin resigning in a body. When tho men were called in at five o’clock this morning to relieve the night watch, it was intimated to Sergeant Mallard, who is in charge of the depot, that they would strike for an increase of pay ; and accordingly they declined to go on duty. At 8.30 a.m. the Commissioner came on parade, and we believe he was given to understand that the reasons which had urged

the men take the course they hid, were—that theywere receiving lower pay than the working men," and 3s per day less than the gaol warders; that they could not live on their present rate of pay ; while some of the old members of the force referred to the argument? that had been used in the Provincial Counsel, which implied that the services of the police were not in the eyes of members of the Council equal to those of the gaol warders, while they (the police) considered themselves to be superior, anil farther that the language used by several members in the Provincial Council was insulting to the force and derogatory to them as men. We understand that at the noon parade the men were given to understand that the Government will not consent to any reduction, and that they had till six o’clock this evening to consider whether they , would continue in the force or leave it. —This afternoon a deputation, consisting of Messrs Beal, Davie, Jackson, Lawson, Martin, Miller, Mason, and Turnbull waited upon his Worship the Mayor to press upon him the desirability of taking steps for the protection of the city in case the police should refuse to return to their duties. His Worship said he had put himself in communication with his Honor the Superintendent and the Executive, and they were quite prepared to accept the responsibility of the situation. He would, however, again see them at the request of the deputation, and had no doubt the necessary precautions would be adopted. All the members, with the exception of four sergeants, have struck.

We have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr James Brown, j un., of further collections made by him amounting to Lid 2s in aid of the Young Belief Fund.

The liev. Mr Roseby will deliver a lecture to-night in the Oddfellow’s Hall, on “ Total Abstinence tested, or what saith the Scripture ?”