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Evening Star, Issue 3814, 15 May 1875, Page 2

A little girl named Alice Carroll was today arrested by Detective Bain in a house in the Devil’s-balf-acre, Stafford street, on a ceafrge of obtaining goods by false pretences from Messrs Hurbcrt, Haynes, and Co., in- Pnctor, and Mr Thomas.

. -^, Critio »” P'eoeded by • Woodcock’s Little Game,” constituted the bill at the I uncess s last night, and, though the house was rather scantily attended, both pieces were played with spirit. To-night “For mosa ” will bo given, with Mr Hopkins as Apjor Jorum,

The case of Margaret Collins has, we earn, excited the attention of some ladies in Dunedin whose benevolence is well known. Yesterday ffie prisoner was visited by them; and a gentleman from Tokomairiro has consented to take her into his service after the termination of her sentence. Her conduct and industry in gaol have been highly commended. °

A u i a »?r de . happened yesterday to a man named William Robertson, employed at the railway tunnel, Deborah Bay. It appears he wa» engaged tipping trucks, when by some means an empty truck knocked him down and passed over his leg. He was immediately brought to Port Chalmers on a »n CJer ’ aud was examined by Dr. 0 Donoghue, who ordered his removal to the Dunedin Hospital.

Resolution Island was lately visited by the General Manager of Telegraphs, with a view to ascertaining how it could be connected by wire with the rest of the Colony. I he island seems well suited for a convict es tablishment, being virtually inaccessible except by sea, and far from settlements. It has abundance of granite, which is supposed to give very suitable occupation for convicts in quarrying. Such an establishment was recommended by a Commission in 1868, and the want of means for classifying prisons s has been complained of by Judges repeatedly. There are 500 long-sentence convicts now in the Colony whose removal would much relieve the gaols.

The Fakir of Oolu (Dr Sylvester) gave Lis first public entertainment at the Queen’s last evening, the building being packed in all parts, while admission had to be refused to the pit and stalls shortly after eight o clock. The first part of the performance consisted of the ordinary legerdemain illu sioas, and included the various tricks performed at the private seance on the previous evening. The most wonderful and undoubtedly the most attractive feature presented, however, was the prismatic fountain, which last evening played remarkably well, the ever-changing colors blending with the utmost harmony. The Fakir’s efforts were frequently rewarded by unmiatakeable marks of approval, and, judging by his reception last evening, we may safely predict a very successful ruu. Last night’s programme will be repeated this evening. Tho following information relative to the landed estate of tho Province on the 31st March last will be road with interest; Otago proper is estimated to contain 13,360,640 acres of territory, but of this area 2,356,240 acres are classed as barren, and 284,800 acres are occupied by lakes, leaving 10,729,600 acres only available for practical use. Of these, 9,684,734 acres have been either let or sold by the Crown. During the year 1874, the total land revenue deiived from Otago proper amounted/ to L 179.266, made up in this way Sales of rural laud, L 95.994; town land, L 8,520; license fees for depasturing stock on runs, L 10.48 4; assessment on stocks, L63.G31; fees on issue of pastoral leases. L 24 ; fees on transfer of pastoral leases, L 1,914 ; raised-lane-me, 1-41,292. Fractions are here omitted, The return of tho territorial revenue raised in Southland covers a period from 31st March, 1874, to the same date in 1875, during which it amounted to L 116,962. In Otago 6,454,218 acres are held under pastoral leases, and 20,000 acres under licenses. A deputation from the inhabitants of the township of Hawksbury, consisting of Messrs Malloch, Gardner, and Allcock, and introduced by Mr J. Mills, M.P.C, this morning waited upon the Superintendent to present a petition asking his Honor to withdraw his assent to tho West Hawksbury Reserves Management Ordinance, wdndi veils the reserves of the township of Hawksbury in the Corporation of West Hawksbury. His Honor thought it a pity the two townships could not work harmoniously together, there being only an imaginary line between ibem. It was urged by the deputation, however, that if joined they would bo too insignificant to sustain a mayor and corporation, as they would have a revenue of only LI SO per annum to administer. One member at the Road Board would be amply sufficient to represent the town. They had no objection to having the reserve vested in somebody, to long as it was not in tho Corporation of West Hawksbury. His Honor said be would bring tho matter before bis advisers, as the prayer of the petitioners seemed reasonable enough.

For squirting water upon an old lady and throwing her down when she ran after him, a lad at Auckland has been sentenced to a mouth’s imprisonment with hard labor. Chough severe, the sentence is coma;ended by tho local Press, as deserved in the present stats of incipient larrikinisra in that City. Apropos of larrikinism the * Herald ’ suggests that the Colonial law should be amended, and the continental plan adopted of mak ng the pajSnts responsible for offences com* mittorby children under their control. In Germany, Belgium, and Holland should a lajp living under the roof of his father be .ffrand committing any offence against the peace and good order of society, or, in other words, if he has been guilty of any act known to our own countries under the designation of larrikinism, the parent is made answerab’e for the offence, whether that offence when proved brings with it fine or imprisonment. The onus rests with the parent to prove that he has used every means to keep his son under due subjection j that he has administered chastisement to him f w being out after proscribed bouts ; and that ho has on all occasions been made to atone or make full reparation for every injury he has inflicted on bis neighbors. This having been shown to the satisfaction of the authorities, the parent is freed from blame, and the punishment with which he would have been visited is transferred in a mitigated form on the offending youth Wc incline to the ‘Herald’s ’ opinion that much of the evil arises from the children being neglected or entirely disregarded by their parents, and if these were made to understand or feel ■ hat the law held them responsible for the offences of their sons and daughters, we should certainly have much leas of the larrikin element in our midst.

The Artillery Band will practise in St. George s Hall on Monday evening, . -A- meeting of the Pioneer Ledge P. A.P. Society will be held on Monday evening. The Governor visited the establishment of Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co. yesterday. A special meeting of the City Guards, to make arrangements for their anniversary, will be held on Monday evening. The accident on the Jetty street wharf yesterday, by which a horse and dray fell into the water, was owing solely to the narrow planking at the wharfs edge. If similar accidents are to^be 11 ; prevented in future, stouterJs planking should 00 at oncelaid down, j■?

T°-.’.™v being Whitsunday, special ser- ' held m St. Paul’s. The offertories will be given to the Sunday School fund. tsWe would remind our readers that this will be the last evening of St. Matthew’s Church bazaar, and a large quantity of new and costly goods will be sold “at a great sacrifice.” The takings up to the ['resent are about L6OO. The senior classes of the Middle District oonool are to assemble in the Oddfellows’ Hall ? n Ida 1 day ’ Th ° brick building is now being pulled down ; aud when that work is completed building 1 Cla “ Seß Wlll be resumcii iu the wooden