The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3247, 17 July 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1873.

A meeting of the Loyal Leith Lodge was held in the Frienedly Societies Hall, last evening, when Messrs Alexander and Reid were appointed trustees of the newly-amal-gamated Lodge. “Man and Wife ” was repeated at the Princess Theatre last evening to a fair house, and will be again played to-night. A burlesque season is announced to commence on Monday, when Miss Fanny Sara will make her first appearance in “Cupid and Psyche.” It is to be hoped the enterprise of the management will be liberally responded to. The sparkling comedy of “ London Assurance” was played at the Queen’s Theatre last evening to a large audience. The principal performers were successful in their representations of the various characters. Tonight Charles Dance’s play of “Delicate Ground ” will be produced, with Miss Colville as Pauline, and Mr Steele as Citizen Sangfroid; concluding with “The Love Chase.” Such an attractive programme ought to ensure a numerous attendance. In Committee of Supply yesterday, the Estimates were gone into, but opposed at every step in the votes for Departmental expenses. Mr Reid’s chief qbjection to the much needed additions to various salaries of officers in responsible positions was that, as the reductions some sessions back were made on a sliding scale, the increase should proceed on a similar principle. The Government dissented from the principle, and con sidered that amount of work and personal ability should be the guide.

Tho Southland Times thinks that the Suez mail contract has been framed for the benefit of Auckland exclusively; but, withal, the gain is an almost infinitely small item aa compared with the serious and disproportionate loss to Otago and Southland. The service could net have been worse managed, and, in addition, the arrangement has not the advantage of economy, as it could have been obtained by the way of the Bluff as first and last place of call for the same money. There are good grounds for raising an indignant outcry, and the only solace under the infliction is that the period of the agreement extends over six months only. The usual fortnightly meeting of tho City Council was held last evening, the business transacted being merely of an ordinary nature. A letter was received from Mr H. Driver relative to the widening of the outlet from Heriot Row to the Town Belt, andpressingupon the Council the desirability of imraediately purchasing a piece of ground for the purpose. The cost was stated to be L 75, the half of which could be raised by subscription. The Council then resolved itself into Committee, when Messrs Paul, Crawford, Findlater, and H. W. Murray were appointed presiding officers, and Messrs Holman, J. N. Merry, Morris, and Laing, polling clerks for the forthcoming election. The day of nomination for City Councillors was fixed for Friday, 25th inst. Who has the right to grant free passes on the railway, and to whom they are granted, was a question asked by Mr Wood, of the Government, yesterday, and answered by the Secretary of Works to the effect that he was the only person who issued passes, though his Honor the Superintendent had done so in a couple of instances. The only passes issued were to members of tho Provincial Council during the session, and to a poor weman and her family who were being sent out of the Colony by the aid of charity. Tho Government were determined to make the railway pay as well as possible, and had refused to grant passes to General Government servants. Mr Reid, in his usual sarcastic manner, advised the Government as a good move, which was likely to have a •‘soothing” effect, to grant passes indiscriminately to members of the Opposition, but had the laugh turned upon himself by the member for Oamaru Town, who recommended the Government to comply with the wish of tho member for the Taieri, and at the same time try the “soothing” effect of heavily laden goods trucks at the rear of trains, by invariably attaching them to the trains in which the Opposition members travelled.

This is the substance of what Judge Johnston said the other day in reference to Government discipline :—" Another topic of great importance was the condition of the prisons. This required serious reform. It was said that prisons were so well managed as to be not only self-supporting, but remunerative. If that were the case, now was the time to begin to do their duty. It would be a false inference to deduce that, because the prisons were self-supporting, therefore the system was a wise and good one. It was his duty to call the attention of the Grand Jury to this matter. He had the honor some years ago to preside at a commission on the subject, but nothing had been done to remedy the evils then pointed out. In no place is anything more attempted than to retain safe custody of the convict. Nothing is attempted either in the way of deterrent punishment or reformatory training. This was not attributable to the officers of the gaols, but to the absence of efficient arrangements. The present system was radically defective, and insufficient for even present requirements. It may be said that as yet there was no increase of crime, but although the harvest might not yet be ripe, he feared the crop was growing. Prisoners went into gaol comparatively innocent, and came out ready to join the criminal classes so soon as opportunity offered. He was aware it might be said be was 1 travelling beyond the record’ in making these remarks, but on occasions like this it was the duty of a Judge to speak out bis mind on such subjects to the influential members of society who formed a Grand Jury, in order that they might lose no time in seek* ing the proper remedy. ”

The Waikouaiti election is narrowed to a contest between Mr Gillies and Mr Pratt, Mr Oliver having withdrawn from the field, for reasons which are stated by the Herald to be that his duties in the Provincial Council do not permit him to absent himself to personally canvass the district, and the session being extended beyond the time it was expected when he first announced himself. Both Mr Pratt and Mr Gillies have addressed Urge meetings in various parts of the district, and been well received. The former has announced that he will go in for financial separation, with one Province in each Island; favors secular education; would support measures and not men; does not altogether disapprove of paying interest on loans out of borrowed money, until such time as the main trunk lines of railways were constructed and in working order. The next generation would reap immense benefit from those works, and it only seemed fair and proper that a share of the burden should be laid upon their shoulders. Besides, with increased population they would be in a better position to bear it than we were. An Income Tax would not be a very objectioual form for new taxation to take, provided it was restricted to incomes exceeding L4OO or LSOO a-year. If a Und tax was proposed, he should be in favor of its being levied upon all alienated lands—improved or otherwise. Its operation would not materially affect the acreage of small settlers, but the owners of tens of thousands. —Mr Gillies, while not blaming the Government for the result, disapproves of the manner in which the Public Werks and Immigration Policy has been carried out. He says he does not jome forward as a candidate adverse to the Government; but rather to strengthen their hands in carrying out their professions, which lad not hitherto been done. 80 long as ► they carry it out with equity and fairness, he will not oppose them, and he tells the electors they could not return a pioye earnest

supporter than himself. His chief objection is to the present mode of conducting immigration, and he considers that the money out of the loan ought never to have been taken for the purpose of promoting immigration, unless the Government were prepared with liberal land laws to settle people on the waste lands when they did come out. Like the other candidate, be favors financial separation and secular education. The first social gathering of the Lodge Pioneer of Dunedin, 1.0. G.T., was held in the Masonic Hall last evening. The hail was elegantly and tastefully decorated with ferns, evergreens, flags, and emblems. The banner of the Dunedin Band of Hope was hung at the end of the hall opposite the platform ; on the wall opposite the main entrance was a large white banner, bearing an anchor with the emblematic words of the Order, “Faith, Hope, Charity,” and “Successto GoodTemplarism farther down the room was the emblem of the Laws of Temperance, being a triangle with the words “Love, Purity, Fidelity ” inscribed upon it, surrounded with suitable quotations in scroll; above the entrance door inside the hall were the words “ Wine is a mocker,” and outside the word “Welcome.” About 300 sat down to tea provided by Bro. J. C, Kroon, and the several tables were presided over by sisters wearing the official regalia of the Order. After tea the chair was taken by Bro. C. de L. Graham, W.C.T., supported by Bro. Jago, P.W.C.T., Bro. Hughes. W.V.T., Bro. Greig, Lodge Deputy, Bro. Neil, and others. Viewed from the platform, the gay attire of the ladies present, combining with the varied colored regalia of the several orders and degrees represented in the meeting, together with the decorations of the room, presented a very pleasant and interesting appearance. The programme was opened by the assembly singing the Good Templar ode “ Come and join us,” after which the meeting was addressed by the Chairman, who, in the course of bis remarks, said that though the Lodge had been opened some eight months ago with twenty-two members, it had now a membership of 270 good on the books, with about fifty more on probation. Notwithstanding the small amount contributed by the members, the finances of the Lodge are in a most healthy condition. The regalia and Lodge furniture is all paid for, the Lodge owes nothing, and there is a good balance in the treasurer’s hands. The P.W.C.T. Bro. Jago afterwards addressed the meeting. The remainder of the evening till nine o’clock, was eccupied by vocal and instrumental music. The Good Templar ode, “Come, Friends and Brethren, all unite,” was then sung by the company to the air of “Auld Lang Syne” and the room cleared for dancing which was continued till twelve o'clock, at which hour, precisely, this very interesting and enjoyable gathering dispersed. The Port Chalmers railway occupied a prominent place in discussing the Estimates yesterday. When the vote Ll 1,000 for interest came on, Mr Stout asked for information in reference to it, and pointed out that the taking over of the line did not look as if it were to leave a very large margin for S refit, when the estimated revenue was set own at L 22.000, while on the other side were Ll 1,000 for interest, and L 8,458 for salaries and working expenses. The Government answered that the Province would be charged with interest on the cost of the line at the rate mentioned in the Immigration and Public Works Act, the Province receiving all receipts from the line. The Government believed that the returns would exceed L 22,000, and had thought it better to put down the full amount on which interest might have to be paid. But certain hon. members, Mr field and Mr Gillies in particular, were not satisfied, and pressed for further information, which was supplied by Mr Turnbull, Mr Bastings, and Mr Oliver, and, as given by them, was to this effect:—The cost of the railway to.the General Government was L 175,000, i.e., they gave the Dfcnedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company L 75.000, and took up the company’s debentures, which amounted to LIOO.OOO. Besides this, the Government took over a large and varied quantity of contractors’ plant, timber, piles (which would be used in the new jetty) extra raiL, &c. —plant which Mr Oliver said was well worth the money paid for it—which was valued and purchased for Ll 1,940, making the total cost of purchase as from the promoters L 186,940. But the purchase money, upon which the Province would pay 5i per cent, interest, would be close upon L 200,000, as the General Government were about to build a new wharf at the Fort, at a cost of about L 17,000, and enlarged goods sheds, and these works would be added to the cost of purchase. When the idea of purchasing it was first mooted, the General Government, which thought it was necessary the line should become the property of the Government, ask«d the Provincial Government to negotiate for its purchase ; but the latter would not give the price asked by the promoters, and on the General Government rested the responsibility of purchasing it at the contractors’ price of L 175.000. Then it became a question whether it was worth the Provincial Government’s while, for a small profit, to take over the line ; but seeing that private persons had made liberal offers to work the line and pay the interest on its total cost, the Government thought they would not be doing their duty if they did not work it. But with respect to the grievance of the West Harbor Board, which grievance the Government admitted did exist, they had ashed the General Government to retain in their hands LIO,OOO of the purchase money to be paid to the promoters, until the latter cleared up all matters of dispute between them and the Road Board. On this head Mr Oliver explained that the General Government had taken oyer the promoters’ responsibilities, and it was for them to make matters right with the Road Board. The purchase of the railway was defended by Mr Reid, who, however, expressed his doubts about the policy of the Government managing the railways. Two other subjects connected with the railway cropped up. The first was referred to by Mr Stout, and he mentioned that competent authorities had remarked upon the danger of the practice of putting goods trucks at the rear of carriages, while Mr Reid, as expressing the views of the “timidly-disposed,” objected to running any risk of being “telescoped” while travelling to the Port. Both hon. members appeared to have their fears calmed by Mr Oliver's assurance that the placing of goods trucks at the rear of carriages on the Port line was of no moment whatever, as the ordinary running rate was only sixteen miles an hour, and the momentum acquired by the heavily-laden trucks at that speed was not sufficient, in the opinion of competent judges, to break up a passenger carriage.

An extraordinary meeting of the shareholder* of the Masonic Hall Company (Limited) will be jieid in the Masonic Hall, this evening, at eight o'clockTim Rev. Alexander Reid will lecture this evening, at half-past seven, at Mprnington. Subject: “ Woman’s influence oh the worlds weal." The following election meetings arg announced for this evening Mr Mercer at Baxter’s Maitr land Hotel, at seven ; and at Fagan’s Carrier 8 Arms Hotel, Princes street south, at 0.3U o’clock. Mr Thoneman at Cotter’s Caledonian Hotel, Great King street, at 7.30; and at M‘Gregor’s British Hotel, George street, at 8.30 o’clock. Mr John Barnes at Webster a York Hotel, George street, at 7.30; and at Campbell’s Crown Hotel, Rattray street. Mr Clapcott will give readings in the Hall below the Athenaeum, to-morrow (Friday) evenin", at eight o’clock. Wo have been requested to°call attention to the fact that Mr Clapcott has reduced file price of admission to his readings in favor of children to half.pnce. We hope there are many boys and girls who Will avail themselves of the opportunity thus .‘uiQided or hearing selections from standard autliQib. We are of opinion that the art of reading well can be acquired, in a great measure, by listening to pieces well read. If this be so, the piesent opportunity should not be lost by our young friends, or indeed by any whose tastes he in tliis direction. We would remind those who may intend to be present that Mr Clapcott commences punctually at eight o clock, and 1 concludes very shortly after nine.