The Evening Star. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4134, 27 May 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1876.

Bishop M:mL, uu ibc (ir «t day 0 f tj J0 Car nival, invited those who ’/verc so handsomely giving their services on b cha'f of the destitute, to assist in coutinur ag the proceedings for the construction ot tb e Servants’ Home. Littlo has boon hcaid of this institution for some time, and we bar ■ to fear it had been lost sight of. it therefore gratifying to find that, so far fivm this being the case, the building is in course of construction, and in a feAV Avceks may become • available for the purpoio designed. Imjjerativc as are the claims of the Benevolent Institution to liberal support, we do not know Ahat the Servants ’ Home is of less importance. If it were possible to organise society perfectly, in a'l probability those arrangements intended to prevent any class sinking irate poverty Avould be esteemed more really bstieflcial than those designed to relieve it. The aid given by the Benevolent Institution i*to those who are helpless. Want, degradation, vice, come within the range’of its charities as well as destitution arising from sfickness or unavoid able misfortune. It caiur.ot be considered a conservative institution but a relieving one, although Ave are glad to knoAv that in many cases tho timely help given from its funds has been the means to many families of tiding oA’er an evil true, and saving from utter nriu many who are now living in comparative comfort and independence. The object of Sailors’ Homes and Servants’ Homes is different from that. It is not relief from poverty but salvation from it that is aimed at. It is like the difference between calling in a doctor when sick and preserving health without his help. The cure of disease is a costly thing—tho keeping in good health costs nothing extra. The simile may be carried still further : Avhile in sickness there is no self-help, but during health people can help themselves. Just so is it with those relieved by the Benevolent Institute—they aro unable to do anything for themselves. They are tied doAvn ; their Avay seems hedged up ; starvation and death ave in front, destitution around them—misery is present, darkness and horror in the future. Theologians preach against the temptations of the Avealthy, We suppose they have their temptations as Avell as others, but they must be purity itself compared with those of poverty. It is therefore one of tho duties of wealth, uobly fulfilled in Dunedin, of liberally sujpportiug those institutions that have for their object relief of the sufferings of the poor. But if these sufferings can be prevented, property saved, character preserved, and the way to honorable employment kept open, how much higher are the objects accomplished ! It is exactly these that are aimed at by the establishment of a Servants’ Home. There is not a well-to-do family in the Colony but is vitally interested in the matter, for very much of their comfort, and more than is usually imagined of the purity of the younger branches of a household depend upon the class of domestics employed. It is therefore of the highest importance that there should be a home available to them to which they can resort whenever for a time the}’ have no engagement. This is the more necessary as most of them are among strangers, with sixteen thousand miles of sea separating them from their relatives and friends, hior is the matter of protection Avhile, not engaged a slight one in these Colonies, Although domestic servants by tho faithfulness with Avhich they fulfil their duties can render the families With Avhom they live comparatively comfortable, it is equally essential that they should have opportunity of leaving those who care nothing for their happiu.ss and welfare. All the responsibility is not on one side only. If the servant should Ire faithful and industrious, the employer should be kind and considerate, It is qu.te possible that, forgetful of t .is obvious duty, a really good servant might feel it advisable to make a change, and might therefore require shelter until a more eligible situation opened for her. r i bus a Servants’ Homo Avell conducted works beneficially both for employer and employed, and AVill tend to place them relatively in higher positions. If servants possessing the self-respect that all con cions of ability for duty should have are needed, they are likely to be met with there, for in such an institute that self-respect is intended to be retained. And it is necessary to Ibis end that the Servants’ Home should not assume the character of a charitable institution, but that those who avail themselves of its advantages should pay for them—at least if and when able. It is not contemplated that beyond a start much further public help will be necessary after the building is up, but that it Aviil bo a self-sustaining institute. As a branch of social economy, therefore, a Servants’ Home must be regarded as very impoi taut. It prevents absorption of earnings in paying for expensive lodgings during temporary want of employment; it affords opportunity of rest from OA’er Avork at a moderate cost; it tends to the respectability of those Avho make it their home from whatever cause, because character is the only key that can gain admittance to its shelter; and it affords a means of ready commuuication between those who want help and those Avho can give it. Wo know of no higher claims upon public sympathy and support, and those Avho accede to the Bishop’s imitation will have tho satisfaction of aiding in a good and necessary Avork.

The Artillery annual ball was held in the Temperance Hall last night, and was a thorough success. An attractive programme is provided for the patrons of the Queen's Theatre this evening, the bill scomprising “Mary, Queen of Scots,” and “The Corsican Brothers.” The chess match matter is still unsettled. Only one game was finished, and that resulted in Auckland’s favor. Mr Paul’s game was unfinished. The question of the three games claimed by Otago for excess of time in playing has been relegated to the Otago umpire in Auckland for settlement. A sale of racing stock was held at the Provincial Yards this morning.by Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. Mr H, Good man’s Glengarry was first put up and bought in at L 73 ; Mr 11. Gourley’s Swaggerer was passed in at 1.34 ; Mr T. Milner’s Flying Beauty was purchased by Mr Owens' for L3O ; and Mr Lnnn’s Itob Roy was bought in at LI 12, After the sale Mr Gonriey bought Rob Roy privately for Ll3O. in reference to the list of ratepayers to be furnished to the Registration Officer, under, the third section of the Registration of Electors Act of last session, the Town Clerk that he informed Mr Ure that “as no rate had keen declared or struck during the twelve months ended 3lst March last, no persons had paid any each rate, and that consequently no return could bo made in conformity with the third section.” Obviously there Is q, defect 5a the Act, which the Government will doubtless take immediate stojis to rectify.

Canterbury is going to import an Inspecter of Prisons in that Province, Mr Restall, who has creditably filled the position of gaoler at Lyttelton for many years, is about to be permitted to retire on full allowance, and the Provincial Government have sent Home for a successor, who to tho duties of gaoler will add the Inspectorship of Prisons in Canterbury. The salary is to be L3OO a-year. Ihe second case at the criminal sitting of toe District Court at Oamaru, Regina v. Duncan Buchanan, resulted in the conviction of the accused of] common assault. TJc was charged with assault Avith intent, and it will bo remembered that at the first magisterial investigation he was acquitted, the prosecutrix stating that she permitted him to take liberties Avith her, but a fresh heajmg was ordered, Avhen it was explained that not speaking English, she had misunderstood the questions put to her. Judge AVard sentenced the prisoner to fourteen days imprisonment. The Under-Secretary informs the Municipal Couneil of Oamaru that tho result of their representations on the subject of slygrog selling in their district is that tho Commissioner of Police has been consulted, but he is unable to advise the Superintendent as to what should be done to check the evil, save by additional legislation, and with that view his Honor has brought the matter under the notice of the General GoA’ernment. His Honor has agreed to extend to Oamaru P ovisions of the Common Lodging-house Ordinance, 1862, and its Amendment, 1864, which it is thought will be sufficient for the present requirements.

We would remind intending purchasers of the sales of land in the tOAvnshij s of Dunoon and Ke singtoa on Monday.

r , of . * h ® lo y ftl Unity LocLe, 1.0.0vF., will be held at Maloney’s Hotel on Monday evening, at 7 o’clock.

Mr Braitlnvaite has sent us tho ‘ Young 1 adies Journal ’ and ‘ Bow Bells ’ for April, and the London Journal’ for March.

A lecture on the Land Question will be de hvered in the Lower Hall of the Athenaeum on > hnnday next, at 8 p.m., to which udm's8i n will he free. J Ihe Commttee of the Dunedin Fdrvants* Ho-i-c expre.s their thanks to the ladies gen lemcn (vocalists and instrumentalist*;) who have promised th ir aid at the f£te in aid of the above institution. The Dunedin Choral Society will their fom th concert of the season in Messrs Guthrie and Larnach’s new building (kindly trrante I for the purpose) on Friday next, at 8 p.m. r ullor particulars may be found in our advertising columns.