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Evening Star, Issue 3467, 2 April 1874, Page 2

There will be no publication of the Evening biAB to-morrow.

The population of Riverton, according to the last census, is 820.

From a telegram sent to Southland by the Premier, it would appear that the ship William Davie is to call at the Bluff, and brings 294 immigrants for that port.

The whole question of the salaries paid to the Corporation officers is to be discussed at the n .®?* meeting of the City Council, when Councillor Walter will move that the salaries of the Town Clerk and City Engineer be increased to L 450 a year each.

As two men were returning yesterday afternoon from Hooper’s Inlet, they came upon an old man named Alexander Sinclair, lying on his face dead. They immediately conveyed the body to Portobello, there took a boat, came to Port Chalmers and gave information to the police, and Sergeant Neil accompanied them back to Portobello. Deceased resided in Dunedin, and had been on a visit to his daughter. _ We are glad to notice that deserved promotion has been made in the police force. It will be remembered that at the strike amongst the old members Sergeant Anderson left with the others, but joined again in a day or two, when he was reduced to the grade of an ordinary constable, his act being looked upon as insubordi--nation. Since that time he has had charge of the Caversham and Green Island districts, in which he has given great satisfaction, was recommended for promotion, and yesterday was reinstated in his former position.

At a meeting of the Southland Railway and Immigration Committee on Monday last, it was resolved to ask the Superintendent to forward “as many female servants as possible” from Dunedin to Invercargill. It was also resolved to memorialise the Government to run three trains daily on the Bluff and two on the Mataura line; also to increase the wharf accommodation at the port. Mr J. R. Cuthbertson, is reported to have said that through the parsimony of the Government, there wore neither a sufficient number of officials, men, or trucks on the Southland railways.

The official returns show that the number of marriages in New Zealand, for the ten years tended 1872, was 18,963. The proportion to the respective years, beginning with 1863, was as follows 1485—1878—1908—2038—2050—2085 —1931 —1851—1864—1873. These figures appear to verify what statisticians have long asserted—that the marriage rate is influenced by national prosperity. From ’63 to ’6B there was a steady increase, and in ’69 and 70 a falling off. In 71 a slight improvement was perceptible, continued in 1872. If the theory bolds good, the returns for 1873 should show a marked accession to the ranks of the Benedicts. .

The already heavy list for the ensiling Session of the Supreme Court was this morning augmented by the addition of a case from the Magistrate’s Court. A womannamed Jane Glass, who has been in the Province only a fortnight, and appeared as a witness in a case on Tuesday, when she stated that her name was Mary Blane, was charged with stealing from the person of one Edwin Belcher, the sum of LB, on the previous evening. The money was not found, but prosecutor distinctly swore that' prisoner, in the open street, placed her arms round his neck and stole his pocket-book from his*pocket. His Worship considered a pnma facie case had been made out, and committed the woman for trial. This makes eighteen cases in all, the heaviest calendar presented to his Honor for some years past. The only refererence to Mr Potter (Lottie’s husband), made by the Melbourne papers, is contained in the following telegram from Benella, in the ' Age of the 25thVictor, Lottie’s husband, was drowned at three o’clock this afternoon whilst bathing in a deep waterhole called Headman’s Hole, in the Broken River, a quarter of a mile from the township. Another of the troupe and two residents named Loach were bathing with him. Victor could not swim, and slipped off a shallow neck of land into deep water. Young Louch, who could swim slightly, attempted to save Victor, but without avail, he being nearly pulled under. The hole was dragged, but being full of snags the body has not been found.”

Last evening a meeting was held in the meeting house, Broad Bay, to hear an address from Mr J. W. Jago, on the “ Nature and objects of Good Templary.” Mr Jago, who was accompanied from town by several members of the order, entered at length into a statement of the constitution, working, and purposes of the order of Good Templars, and gave someinterestiuginformationas to the progressof theorder and the results of its operation. The meeting was subsequently addressed briefly by Bros. Hughes and Lenton. Mr Bacon occupied the chair. At the close, thanks were cordially voted to Mr Jago and the other friends from town. There is, we eyery likelihood of a Good Templar Lodge being formed at Broad Bay, so soon as the necessary arrangements can be completed. .A boat-race between the United Brothers, Pioneer, and Excelsior crews will come off at half-past nine to-morrow morning. The crew of the United Brothers will pull in the Challenge, that of the Pioneer in the Queen Victoria, and the. Excelsior crew in the Return. The course will be from the old jetty, round a beacon at the end of the training wall, to a boat stationed off Grassy Point; thence round a yacht at Vauxhall, and over to the Blue Jacket in the middle of the bay, returning to the starting point—in all a distance of four miles. The course is a good one, as the boats can be seen all the way, and the race is likely to be wellcontested, the crews having been in active training for some time past. The subject of cab fares was brought under the notice of the City Council last evening by Mr George Bell, who wrote suggesting that a revision of cab fares is advisable, as far as certain public places of resort are concerned. This had been brought under his notice through a complaint made by a resident near the Water of Leith of having been charged Is each for his family for conveyance to the Princess Theatre, on the plea that the cabs are entitled to charge double fare after passing the cab* stand; while he had also heard of other extortionate charges for conveyance to other places of amusement, and to the Railway Station. In moving that the matter should be referred to the Bye-laws Committee, Councillor Barnes said he hoped the committee would take into consideration the charges made by cabmen for taking passengers to the racecourse. The following letter from the factor of the First Church, on the subject of the extension of Cumberland street, was read at the City Council meeting, yesterday “I have to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 25th ultimo, intimating that in the opinion of His Honor the Superintendent the Church ought not to claim any compensation for the land to be taken for the extension of/Dumberland street, ’ whilst admitting that the proposed work, if earned out, would' materially benefit the citizens of Dunedin. As the Corporation apparently endorsed His Honor’s opinion, the Committee of the Church can only express their inability to agree to any such arrangement. I am instructed, however, to reiterate the expression of their willingness to aid the Corporation by granting the land on fair compensation being given for the loss of property. So far as the amount of compensation is concerned, they are prepared to'refer the matter to two arbitrators mutually agreed upon, the cost of such arbitration being borne by the Corporation. They stipulate, however, that the arrangement must be completed within’one month from this date, as tb§ long di»lay thatjbas already occurred has caused the loss of a considerable revenue. Failing the completion of the arrangement within the term specified, the Committee will feel themselves justified in giving instructions for the granting of building leases.” A Committee of the Counoil is to wait on the Finance Committee of the Church, and on the Superintendent, and report to a special meeting of the Council.

Some sort > of legislation appeal’s to be required to relief to men who have been tried and convicted of criminal offences, and who, after undergoing a portion or the whole of thefr sentence, have been able to show their entire innocence of the crime for whieh they have suffered, In all the gases coming under our notice, the conviqted have been unable to, engage the assistance of counsel, and the law, so to speak, has been allowed to “ take its course.” That is, nothing has_ been omitted on the part of the prosecution to make the case as strong against the accused as the subpoenaing of witnesses at any cost, and the energies oI a Crown pro*’.

secution and the straining of the law will allow. In Melbourne we (‘N. Z. Herald’) read of a man being imprisoned for life under sentence for rape. Six years expires, and his innocence is ascertained beyond the shadow of a doubt. Ho is discharged, ruined in character and beggared in means. He asks the Government for some aidto reinstate him in his former position ; but he is told his application cannot be entertained. He is simply to be looked upon as a discharged criminal. Another man named Grenham, charged “on suspicion” of murder, has been kept in gaol for twelve months' andps discharged, there being no grounds whatever for his having been kept in durance, fee, too, loses his employment, while his character w blasted and his (prospects in life shattered. In Adelaide a man is sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for forgery. Ic turns out the signature he was alleged to have forged was genuine, and so, after serving a portion of his term, he is liberated; but the Government cannot recognize any claim the accused makes on it. _____ A general meeting of journeymen bakers and confectioners will be held in the Glasgow Piehouse, on Monday evening next. In consequence of to-morrow being Good hnday, the usual meeting of the Imperial Building Society is postponed till Friday, 10th inst. Wowould direct the attention of parents and guardians of youths to the advertisement by the General Manager of Telegraphs calling for applications for cadetships in his department.