YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

Evening Star, Issue 3128, 27 February 1873, Page 3

YESTERDAY’S NEWS.

His Honor the Superintendent received a telegram on Monday from the Hon. the Native Minister, who is now in Auckland, in which the latter says “ Matters are very quiet up here. Public works are progressing, and there is less discontent than I have noticed for a long t.me.”

The programme of the previous evening at Chtariiii’s Circus was repeated last night to a full house. The various performances of this exceptionally clever company, and superior stud of well-trained horses, excited enthusiastic admiration and deserved applause. This evening there will be an entire change of performance.

There was a slight improvement in the attendance at the Princess Theatre last evening. The drama of “Eltie, or tb© Cherry "‘Tee Inn,” composed the entertainment. Tfye company, one and all, played well, and received deserved applause. In the second or sensational act, where a sectional view of the interior of the inn is presented, and where the burglary is committed, Mrs Hill and Messrs Musgrave, Douglas, and Collier acted with such a degree of judgment, care, and accuracy as to make the illusion perfect. Here at one view were presented the dark and the light sides of life truthfully and impressively. Weliave no hesitation in rec mmendiug this performance to the public as being one well worthy of patronage.

A meeting of the members of the Otago Freight Association was held at the City Council Chambers. The report of the London agents was received aud read. It showed that there' was no possibility of carrying out the objects of the Association, as contemplated. After some discussion it was resolved that the Association-be liquidated and dissolved. Mr Coster, the manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, then explained the objects, aims, and prospects of the Company. Messrs Turnbull, Scoular, and Prosser were appointed a committee to wait on the importers in Dunedin and ascertain the number of shares they would be likely to take in the Company. A cordial vote oi thanks was accorded to Mr Coster for the explanation given, and the meeting adjourned until three o’clock today, when the report of the committee will be brought Up. Frequently ’surprise is expressed at the growth of our Colonial towns; bub rapidly as some communities in this part of the world become the centres of large populations, instances are to be found of places in some districts of England expanding their dimensions, and having an increase of inhabitants almost equalling anything of the kind in these Colonies. Midcllesborough, a seaport town, in the North Riding of the County of York, near the mouth of the river Tees, had in JSSO a population of 7,431 inhabitants; but in October last year its population was estimated at 50,000, being an increase of 42,569 souls in sixteen years During the municipal year ending last October, 997 houses were erected there, and 5,000 persons idded to its residents ; and for the two last municipal years 1,501 new residences had been erected there, and the population increased about 8 000. Barrow-iu-Furness, a seaport town of North Lancashire, has grown into a populous town with a rapidity equal to Middlesborougb. The secret of the prosperity of these towns is the large iron deposits which are being developed in their neighborhoods. Cheap iron has caused manufactures and industries to spring up, and population to gather and flourish, wlure before a very quiet and listless state of affairs existed.

tjome men fall in pleasant places ; as wit* ness Mr C. C. Fitzgerald, of Hokitika, who fulfils, or pretends to fulfil, such a multi* plicity of oificea, all more or less profitable, that would astonish our readers were they aware of them. He is Resident Magistrate, at LSOO ayear; Returning Officer, at L 25 a-year ; Sheriff, at LSO ; Visiting Justice, at LfiO; Chairman of Waste Lands Board, at L1U0; and other things of which we have no knowledge. In addition to this there is a Coroner, who is paid; there are wardens who are unnecessary. The Grey flirer Ari/ux, commenting upon this plurality of offices, which is not confined to Hokitika, remarks Though the array of offices would be enough to startle ordinary mortals, were they ad enumerated, still, the whole work pertaining to them is not more than e-in easily he got through by one man, without distressing himself, and the extra emoluments are wholly uncalled for. In the new Civil Service regulations and the late County Council report, tbia hot i* realised,

and it is probable that the old idea of six single gentlemen rolled into one will yet b; realised in connection with other officers a well as the one referred to. It is ven clear* that the desire of both the local and General Governments is to reduce hitherto useless expenditure, and organise a hardworking and well-paid staff who shall earn salaries that shall he liberal, hut who will, on the other hand, be expected to give full value for the money they receive. No one can object to such reorganisation. On our part we can only hope that it will be carried out to the uttermost; if su hj bo the case, the County throughout will be better and more cheaply served.” An influential meeting of Peninsula set tiers was held in the school-house, Northeast Harbor, on Tuesday evening last, for '.he purpose of considering the action of Mi Scott, tenant at Grant s Braes, in obstructing the main road along the beach, the only practical outlet by land for many of the settlers, Mr James Sim was called to the chair. He explained to the meeting that the action taken in the Resident Magistrate’s Court against Mr Cassels, who had removed the fence across the road was likely to be abandoned, and the case removed to the Supreme Court. After some very forcible remarks by the chairman, Messrs Christie, Bacon, asd others, as to the hardships which the Peninsula settlers had for so many years been subjected to from want of a road, and the neglect with which the district has been treated by the Provincial Council, the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to, viz. : —Resolved, Ist. “That the following settlers be appointed a deputation to wait on the Provincial Government for the purpose of urging upon it the duty, on public grounds, of defending any action which may be raised against Mr Cassels in respect of his having vindicated the rights of the public to the beach road ; and that failing a favorable response on the part of the Government, the same deputation do wait upon the District Road Board for the like purpose, viz. Messrs Sim. Bacon, Raynbird, Hooper, and Christie.” 2. “That, in the event of both the Provincial Government and the local Road Board refusing to provide the means of defending the public rights, this meeting pledges itself to raise the funds necessary to defend the threatened action against Mr Cassels.” 3. “That the Government be urged to place at least LI,OOO upon the next estimates towards the completion of the beach road to Portobello, and that, failing this, the District Board be requested to raise the money on loan for this purpose, such loan to be provided for by toll, supplemented if need be, by rate upon the properties interested.”