The Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 11, 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3499, 11 May 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, MAY 11, 1874

The sale of the block on which the Oriental Hotel stands was effected to-day, as will be seen by our commercial columns, at the rate of L 90,000 an acre! Mr M'Glashan intends to-morrow to call the attention of the Government to the case of the Asiatic’s immigrants, with a view to ascertaining how far the statements that have been circulated in reference to them are correct. There was an excellent downstairs attendance at the Princess’s on Saturday night, when the circus and Siamese entertainment were repeated. The various feats of horsemanship and tumbling, and the tricks on the bamboo, seemed to give satisfaction. There will be another performance this evening. At the Queen’s Theatre, on Saturday evening, the programme as announced was slightly altered, the comedy of “ Why don’t she marry him?” being substituted for “Nick of the Woods,” owing, it was stated, to the “sudden illness” of one of the company. This evening, one of its hard-working members, Mr Burford, takes a benefit, when the nautical drama of “ Jenny Forster” will be produced. In the Provincial Council this afternoon the Provincial Secretary stated it was the intention of the Government to take into consideration the desirability of constructing a branch railway through the Seawood Bush, connecting with the Bluff Harbor and Invercargill railway. With reference to proposals to construct this railway by private enterprise, the Government were of opinion that it would be better to retain the work in their own hands. A numerously attended public meeting was held at Crickmon’s Assembly Rooms, Port Chalmers, on Friday last, to hear the views of a deputation from No. 1 Loyal Pioneer Lodge, P. A. F. Society, Dunedin, Mr Asher being voted to the chair. Brother J. Walker, S.D.G.M., and Bro. Skelton, Chaplain No. 1, entered fully into the principles and objects of the society, its rise and progress, its advautages as a benefit society, and its necessity as a Protestant institution; also, the desirability of closer unity among Protestants generally. Several gentlemen formed themselves into a committee, with the object of forming a Lodge of the Order, after which a vote of thanks was accorded to the deputation and the chairman brought the meeting to a close. Mr William Conyers, who has been transferred from Invercargill to the management of the Otago railways, was entertained at dinner before leaving that place, and presented with a handsome solid silver salver, a claret jug, and inkstand, and had the following address given to him :—“Dear Sir—ln requesting your acceptance of the accompanying tokens of our esteem for you, both in your official capacity and as a private citizen, we desire to express the hope that you may be long spared to fulfil the duties of your new position with the business ability, untiring vigilance, and faithfulness that have always distinguished you during the many years you have dieen managing the Southland railways. When the you have so Jong and creditably occupied in our midst shall know you no more, you may rest assured that your courteous demeanor and the efficiency you displayed in conducting the onerous duties of your office will never be effaced from the minds of those who came in contact with jyou, nor your agreeable social qualities from the memory of those who hu v £ enjoyed the pleasure of your acquaintance and friendship. We heartily wish yourself, Mrs Conyers, and family _ the enjoyment of every social and domestic blessing.” . The following is the concluding paragraph of Mr Caldwell’s report on the gaol“ I beg to convey to the Government my approval of the conduct of the Gaol officers during the past year, and to x’eiterate my frequently expressed opinion that no reasonable effort should he spared to retain competent officers in such a trying and peculiar service. It should be home m mind that it is only by the payment of adequate salaries for the very special services required—the hours of duty being much longer than in any other Government department—that it can be hoped to obtain the necessary capacity, integrity, and experience; and thus only can the temptation to increase an inadequate salary by fraud, or the acceptance of bribes be effectually rendered nugatory. A gaol may be likened to a hospital, filled with the victims of disease, sent there to be cured. Surely none but .qualified officers should be placed in charge of such an establishment. Men designed for all other skilled pursuits—the lawyer, the preacher, the doctor, the engineer, the merchant, and the artisan, &c.—must have a training which can fit them each for his own business. Prison officers, therefore, need a special education for their work : special training schools should be instituted for them, and prison administration should be raised to the dignity of a profession. Thus alone can the details of gaol di.cipline be gradually perfected and uniformity in its application attained. For only when the administration of publio punishment is made a profession, will it become scientific, uniform, and successful.” The atttendance of jurors in the ease of Holt v. Reid will not be required. The Rev. C. W. Rigg will deliver a lecture in the Congregational Church to-morrow evening at 7.30, bi The monthly meeting of the Union Permanent Building Society will be held this (Monday) evening, from 7 to 8 o’clock. meeting of shareholders in the Sha<>»™WV. nin £at 7.30 w « d ' experiencing gre£f n J fami ]ies of this City are ency of proper housb^ SCOm * or fc , * T . om insufficito the loss of our popufas nnio ° a ? lon ’ that, been able to find shelter oiTiJ 3 , rs hav * not is gratifying to be able to refer to!? ripfcion ’ {t tus of the Dunedin Land Building an^ ospec ' ment Company in another column The u Z es^' 5,»i d r iVed Cifc y trough the juT cions operations of such a company as this are many, and from the social position of the gentlemen forming the provisional directory, Ind their known business habits, there is a cua ran tee that, while the wants of the community are faithfully provided for. the undertaking wS be an entire pecuniary success. We believe it is the intention of the company to begin first with the erection of working men’s cottages of and four u . f00 , m9 each J and after the pressSfed tES? Claß i °- f hoUßes is in a measure Sertaken T w? joined houses will be ÜBdertaken. These houses, we are informed substantial, permanent charac-•herla-fSj ir ?P rov ements and conveniences their limited size will permit • bnt from tt, high price of land So®‘C Will be no attempt made to provide gardens From an abortive attempt of this kind and a desire of every one “ to sit under his own vine and fig tree, as sole occupier of his own little section, we have less regularity of design in

some parts of Dunedin, than might be expected from a shower of aerolite habitations. Looking, therefore, at tho matter from a general point of view, it can be easily seen that blocks of houses erected uniformly on the most approved plan, by a company of this kind, will very materially improve the appearance of the City. Owing to the limited number of shares to be issued at present, and the attention the prospectus of the fcompany is attracting, there is a likelihood the second issue will be put forth at a premium.