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Evening Star, Issue 3431, 19 February 1874, Page 2

Several correspondents’ letters will appear to-morrow. This morning the Port Chalmers police boat proceeded down to the s.s. Mongol, and brought on shore one of the crew of that vessel, who was in a frantic state through drink. It is believed that the ship’s cargo has been broached by the crew. _ The man will be taken before the Port magistrates to-morrow, and it is believed others will be implicated.’ In blew Plymouth, the Institute reading-room has, for many years, been opened on a Sunday. It has (remarks the ‘ Herald ’) in no way acted detrimentally to the places of worship, and has been a source of great convenience to many, who, during the afternoon, have an opportunity of perusing the papers that are laid on the tables, which, from their occupations, they are unable to do during the week. We are glad to be able to state that the report of the death at Lawrence of Mr H. Eastwood, the well known agent for Bachelder’s diorama, which was current in town last evening, and to which reference was made by the morning papers, is wholly without foundation. We have been shown a telegram from Mr Eastwood. who appears to be progressing towards recovery as quickly as can be expected, considering the nature of the injuries ho has received. The following extract, from a despatch of Dr Feathers ton, has been handed to the ‘Western Star’ for publication c—“ In the case of Scandinavian or Gorman emigrants, I would suggest that the nominees should be recommended to place themselves in communication with the agents of this office, at one or other of the following places, viz., in Christiana, Messrs Gunnestad and Go., Skippergaden, 27 ; in Copenhagen, Messrs Nomeman and Petersen, Nyhaon, 13 ; and in Hamburg, Mr August Bohrens.” It is reported at Singapore (says the ‘ Broad Arrow’) that Captain Speedy, formerly tutor to Prince Alamayu, of Abyssinia, and lately superintendent of police in Penang, has entered the service of the Rajah of Larut, upon the very handsome pay of 5,000d01. a mouth. Out of this, however, be has to pay for the keep-up of aboht 150 Sikh policemen or sol- 1 diers, whom he is to enlist in India. Captain 1

Speedy was formerly a captain in the 2nd Regiment Waikato Militia, and was for some time stationed at Ngaruawahia in staff employ. In addition to the railway carriage shed, tenders have been called for the erection of an engine-shed on the reclaimed ground. This building will be of wood, 65ft by 40ft., and will have room for a large number of engines. Three engine pits'will run almost from end to end of the shed, the beds of them being formed of concrete, under 15 inches of asphaste, and separate drains will be laid down at the extremity of each. The flooring of the entire building will be of gravel, with a layer of asphalte. Medical examination of the bodies of the two criminals who were executed at the Adelaide Gaol proved that the statements in Taylor’s “Medical Jurispnideuce” of the post mortem indications of death by hanging are quite unreliable, Taylor says that in cases of fatal strangulation the face will be livid, the eyes contracted, and the tongue protruded and lacerated. Except a very slight discoloration of the woman’s face, not one of these appearwas presented by either of the corpses mentioned; and other marked effects, which the author referred to states must be produced by such a mode of death, were also entirely wanting.

The force of habit was fully illustrated at the expense of one of the officials in the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning. It is the rule there when any offender is called on to answer a charge of infringing the bye-laws for the Clerk of the Court to inquire of the person appearing if he is the person named in the information, and, in accordance with that custom Mr Street, on a man who appeared for one Mary Cooper coming forward to answer on the plaint, with the greatest gravity asked if he were Mary Cooper—a question that naturally gave rise to a good deal of amusement. But the person questioned was equal to the occasion, for he at once expressed his opinion that there were not many full-bearded women in the country.

There has been a tremendous outcry in India about a certain Mr Melville, an Indian civil servant, who has lately abjured Christianity, gone over to Islam, and being a married man, has carried a native wife. The papers and the public have raised. a tremendous hue and cry, and demanded his dismissal from the service. Now, Government have no power to dismiss him ; but they have reduced him to the lowest allowance possible, and suspended him from employment. Of course people all say that it was a dodge on Mr Melville’s part to escape the penalties of bigamy. _ The wife elect of Mr Melville is a young girl aged eight years, and the convert is the son of a rather famous English preacher. The superintendent of the Melbourne Retreat for Inebriates furnishes some interesting statistics regarding the working of that institution. In his report, read at a recent-meeting of subscribers to the Retreat, he states that of the patients under his care “ three had received a common school education, and two were University men; all had had delirium tremens ; all were tobacco smokers ; three were married and two single ; by occupation they were a clergyman, a bookkeeper, a student, a publican, and an ironmonger ; three were constant drinkers, and two periodical; the oldest was 48, and the youngest 22, the average being It) years ; three had had intemperate parents ; our entered voluntarily, and one compulsorily. One had been discharged with great hopes of cure, and four others had been received during last month, so that there were now eight im mates.” The want of accommodation for females was regretted, and the superintendent suggested that ladies should collect funds for the purpose of providing it. The Queen’s Theatre was re-opened last evening by a combination company under the management of Mr O’Brien. There was a very fair attendance in the lower parts of the house. “ The Daughter of the Regiment” formed the chief attraction. Miss Lizzie Watson appeared as Josephine, and played very carefully throughout. She seemed to be in excellent voice, and rendered well the-various smigs incidental to the part. Air Hydes, as Guillot, succeeded in keeping his audience amused. Miss Matthews would have been more effective as the Duchess had she been thoroughly conversant with the text, but Air Kemp was,unable to do justice to Scalade. The minor characters, notably Mr Searle’s Pumpernickel, were fairly sustained. “We all have Our Little Faults” was the afterpiece. If the management expect to have a successful season they will need to exercise greater punctuality than was observed last evening, when the curtain did not rise till nearly twenty minutes after the advertised time.

A meeting of dairymen was held this morning at the Royal George Hotel, to take into consideration the present price of milk. Mr Sanderson was in the chair. After discussion it was resolved on the motion of Mr Mathieson, seconded by Mr Robertson, that on and after the Ist of March the wholesale price of milk be Is per gallon ; from one gallon and upwards Is 4d per gallon; and in quantities under one gallon Super quart. On the recommendation of Messrs Hawker and Mitchell, the time during which those prices are to rule was fixed to be till “after the winter season.” The following committee was appointed to carry out the resolutions—-Messrs Fletcher, Hawker, Grey, Mathieson, Mitchell, Nicoll, Parker, Spencer, and Thomson, who undertook to call on those _ members of the trade who were not present, in order to gain their adherence to the advance in price. It was decided that the names of those who supported the committee should be advertised, and a vote of thanks to the secretary, Mr Murray, concluded the proceedings. A new policy is about to be initiated in Victoria with respect to railway goods and passenger charges. Hitherto railway travelling (says the ‘ Argus’) has been confined to those who were compelled to use the lines, and out of these people the last penny has been squeezed. But it has been found by returns obtained from various English railway companies that, in proportion as fares and freights are reduced, the receipts are very considerably, and this at only a trifling increase in the working expenses. In Victoria passengers have to pay at the rate of sixteen shillings per hundred miles for railway travelling. It is now estimated, taking the experience of old lines of railways, that if the charges are reduced 20 per cent,, the increase in the business, after deducting extra working expenses, will reach 40 per cent. Of course there must be a minimum of reduction below which a railway line can only be worked at a toss. But it is believed that the Victorian railways can bo worked at a tariff 30 per cent, below present rates, from which a still greater increase of profits will accrue. The experiment of reduced fares is to be tried, and we shall look with some interest to the result. It will perhaps be a guide when the tariff courts to be fixed for our own lines, • 1

The following resolutions wore at the last meeting of the Southland Railway and Immigration Committee “That in the opinion of this Committee the time has arrived for the commencement of the second section of the Wiuton aud Kingston rail way, and they would therefore urge the Government to call for tenders accordingly.”—“That in view of the rapid and general enlargement of the railway system throughout this Colony, involving as it does a large and increasing consumption of coal, it is important that branches of rail or tramway should be laid from the main lines of railway to the most suitable coal formations known to exist adjacent thereto, and, with that view, would earnestly urge on the Government the importance of taking immediate steps to so connect the_ Mount Nightcap coal formation with the Wiuton and Invercargill main line of railway.” Mr M‘Arthur gave notice that at next meeting he would move that the necessity of connecting the Mount Nightcap coalfield with the Winton railway be urged on the Provincial Government, with special reference to the tact that the land sales in that district had produced upwards of LIOO.OOO to, the Provincial revenue, and that much of the laud had been bought on the strength of such a branch line being constructed. Wc call the attention of Volunteers to a general order postponing the firing for district prizes. The Rev, Dr Roseby will deliver the inaugural address of the Sabbath School Union, ift the Wesleyan Hall, to-morrow (Friday) evening, at eight o’clock, on which occasion some choral selections will be given.

The Artillery Bond will muster for practice and inspection on Friday, at half-past seven. We have received a copy of the ‘ New Zealand Wesleyan ;’ a well edited paper. This month’s contents are wholly connected with the doings of the Conference, just closed. It will be seen, from an announcement in our advertising columns, that the Sons of Temperance in this City are about to celebrate their anniversary by an entertainment in the D'rill®hed, on the evening of Monday, 2nd March. This celebration is to be under the patronage of his Honor the Superintendent, Air Justice Chapman, his Worship the Mayor, Mr Strode, K M., and other gentlemen. The Artillery Band is engaged, and the services of a number of well-known amateurs are secured, so that a first-class entertainment may be anticipated. After the concert there will be a few hours’ dancing. Tickets can be obtained from the committee of management.