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Evening Star, Issue 3272, 15 August 1873, Page 2

It is rumored (says the Tuapeka Times) that Mr J. B. Borton, Warden at Koxburgh, intends retiring from service.

A sign of progress. The Tuapeka, Times announces that in a few weeks, as soon as it can obtain the necessary material from Melbourne, it will come out bi-weekly. The Directors of the Shotover Terrace Gold Mining Company iufsrm us that they have received telegrams, stating the works are stopped in consequence of intense frost. The yield of gold to the 9bh inst., was 261 ozs.

The Tuapeka Times's Parliamentary correspondent telegraphs “The Government express themselves anxious to bring the session to a close, and state their intention to drop many of their Bills. There are now over fifty Bills before the House {for consideration. ”

In his election address at Queenstown, Mr Vincent Pyke said he was totally opposed to imprisonment for debt, but considered that when a man was found guilty of defrauding his creditors he should be treated as a criminal, and set to hard labor like an ordinary felon. The girl Lamb, charged, at the Geelong Police Court, with stabbing her father in the face with a putty knife, has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. As she left the Court she shook her clenched fist, and said she had not the slightest objection to swing on the gallows if it would afford the public any amusement. From the auditors’ report of the Cromwell Municipal Corporation accounts, it appears the books have been kept in a very irregular manner. When the audit was made L 65 ils lls is shown to have been in the hands of the Town Clerk, while the Council were paying interest on an overdraft. Bookkeeping appears to have been altogether discarded in conducting the affairs of the Cromwell Corporation,

In the House of Representatives, on the Ist instant, the Minister for Public Works stated in reply to a question by Mr Steward that the Waitaki-Oaraaru and Oamaru-Moe-raki portions of the Waitaki-Moeraki Railway would be finished, so far as the present contract went, viz., to make it ready for the permanent way, upon the 14th of December next, and that there was every probability of its being open within four or five months from that date.

A very enjoyable comedy that has not seen the light in these parts fbr many years is to be produced at the Queen’s Theatre this evening. “ High Life Below Stairs ” hits off the attempts of servants to ape the manners of their employers; and seeing that the whole strength of the company will be engaged in the representation of the comedy, and that it is to be well put on the stage, a very enjoyable evening may be reasonably anticipated. “Woodcock’s Little Lame” will precede the comedy. The Independent Order of Good Templars, remarks a Home paper, are having a nice little quarrel among themselves. Certain of their number have been quenching their thirst with a liquid called “ Botanic Beer, which, when analysed, was found to contain from 14 to 2 per cent, of alcohol. The news reaching the ears of a very big dignatary of the Order, whose titles are set forth by the letters D.D.G. W.G.T., ho issued an order, declaring that anyone hereafter indulging in the “Botanic” liquid would be expelled from the Brotherhood. This the mysterious liquid drinkers refused to stand, so they, in their turn, called a meeting. The dispute between the rival factions is now in the height of its glory. A new order is spoken of, and the greatest amount of dissatisfaction prevails in the ranks of this body. It is certainly a curious thing that when temperance people quarrel among themselves the subject should be beer. In Sir James Fergusson’s commission as Governor of Mew Zealand, he is specially forbidden to give his assent to any Bill imposing differential duties. As this commission was issued prior to the passing of the recent Imperial Act, under which the imposition of such duties between the Australasian Colonies has become permissible, it is to be supposed that it will now be altered accordingly. It is a curious fact that in the document in question, Sir James is especially directed and enjoined to the utmost of his power to promote religion and education among the Native inhabitants of N-w Zealand and the islands thereto adjoining, while no particular direction of the kind is given with respect to the promotion of the same desirable things amongst the European race. From this it may be inferred that the Imperial Government considers the white man in New Zealand quite religious and educated

enough. It is a pleasant thing to receive compliments, however little they may be deso ved.

Writing of the Peeress case, “Bohemian” in the Lyttelton Times says Bookmakers (not publishers or authors, hut professional betting men) are credited with certain “ milking” propensities. The public is supposed to be a vast cow, which is to be milked for the benefit of the bookmakers liecent events assure us that they are justly so credited. They must be filled with the “milk of human kindness.” Was there ever a more striking instance of this fact than their treatment of Mr Redwood junior? They clubbed together for the purpose of giving him LBOO ! Now this was real kindness, and is proof that a large amount of “milk” is secreted by these honorable men. And in return for this gift they only required Mr Redwood to write these few lines :—“ Sir, —Will you scratch Peeress for the Metropolitan Cup ?” '! he Jockey Club lias shown its appreciation of this generosity by allowing the bookmakers to collect all the “ milk” which the public were prepared to give, but Peeress must not he entered again. Mysterious are the ways of |man —the “ honest” horse debarred for ever from running on the course; the honest bookmakers still having entree, to the betting rooms and racing stand.

The anniversary supper given by the employes in the Victoria Brewery to Mr (Strachau, was held at the British Hotel, George street, last evening. The manner in which Host Macgregor catered for his guests reflects the utmost credit upon him, and it was quite evident that his efforts to please were appreciated. The chair was occupied by Mr Kilgonr, the well-known traveller connected with the brewery, and the vicechair by Mr Kussell, one of the oldest employes in the establishment. The cloth having been removed, and the usual loyal toasts proposed and duly acknowledged, the chairman gave the toast of the evening •’Mr iStrachau, and success to the Victoria Brewery in a few well-chosen remarks. The toast was drank with musical honors. Mr Strachan, in respmding. expressed his gratification at meeting those present once more, and stated that with the exception of Vlr Davis, who had left his employment to better himself, there had been no change in his establishment during the last twelve months. He stated that they held their own, and their business was gradually increasing. He trusted their relations would he as amicable in the future as they had been in the past. On resuming his seat Mr Strachan was loudly applauded. In the course of the evening some excellent sougs and recitations were given in good style, and altogether the reunion passed off most harmoniously. An example worthy of imitation has been set by Mr Strachan’s employes, and it is to be regretted that it is not more generally carried out; for there can be no doubt that nothing tends to establish good-feeling and a proper understanding between employer and employed as a meeting such as we had the pleasure of attending last night. On the 25th ult., Mr Webster inquired of the Ministry to what authority Commissioners of Crown Lands are subject, in the official capacity, and whether Provincial authorities are justified in interfering with their administration of the land Acts ? Mr O’liorke in reply, read the following opinion of the Law Officers on the matter :—“ With reference to the first part of the question, Commissioners of Crown Lands are appointed by the Governor in Council, under “The Commissioners of Crown Lands Act, 1869/ and in their official capacity they are subject to the directions of the Secretary for Crown Lands. Their special duty is to carry out the provisions of ‘The Crown Lands Act. 18t)2,’ and within the Provinces for which they are appointed, they are also charged with the duties imposed upon them by the land laws of the Province. These latter duties, of course, depend on the enactments in question. Touching the second part of the question, Commissioners of Crown Lands do not, strictly speaking, administer laud laws (if by ‘ land ’ laws is meant the laws relating to waste lands). Commissioners are almost always merabe/s of Waste Lands Boards—often Chief Commissioners of such Boards ; but of course the Board administer the land laws. Different modes are adopted in different Provinces. In Marlborough the Superintendent himself and his Executive, with a. Commissioner of Crown Lands, are the Waste Lands Board. In the abstract, Provincial authorities ara not justified in interfering with Waste Lands Boards (Commissioners) in administering Land Acts ; but most of these Acts impose duties, and give powers to Superintendents and their Executives, or to Superintendents alone, or to Superintendents and their Provincial Councils, which necessitate action on the part of the latter. Of these may be instanced cases where Superintendents are authorised to fix prices of land or terms of sale, make reserves for special settlement or other purposes, and to this extent no doubt the Waste Lands Board is interfered with. But if the question points to an unauthorised interference with the duties of a Commissioner or a Waste Lands Board, of course the Provincial authorities could not be justified in so doing.”

A meeting of the Pioneer Lodge, 1.0. G.T., will be held this evening in the Congregational Hall, Moray Place, at 7.30, for the purpose of conferring the 3rd degree.

To-day we had the pleasure of inspecting a sample of the Greymouth coal sent us by Mr G. F. Reid. Certainly the sample is quite equal to Newcastle, and will bear favorable comparison with any Home product. There is reason to think, from the number of applications already sent in, there is every probability of the Greymouth Coal Mining Company receiving a large share of support in Dunedin. The sample in Mr Reid’s possession is worth inspection.