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Evening Star, Issue 4150, 15 June 1876, Page 2

We consider the evening papers, when they approached Parliament last year and asked for a remission of telegraphic rates in their favor, were modest in the request they made. Having shown, as we think, the unfairness of a tariff that imposes upon them charges 25 per cent, more than are paid by morning journals, who have unlimited use of the wires so long as their messages are banded in for transmission during stated hours of the evening, it was asked that the evening papers should either be permitted to send during any part of the day at cheap rates 500 instead of. 200 words as now, or that they could do so during one hour, in the first part of the morning, say from eight to nine, up to 1,000 words in ordinary times and up to 2,000 words during the sitting of Parliament, all additional messages, save news by cable, to be charged at the full Press rate. Had these concessions been granted, we do not hesitate to state that the department would have suffered no pecuniary loss; on the contrary, have been gainers, while the blockage of the wires by Press messages—at all events, by the messages of the evening papers—during the day to the detriment of the commercial part of the business would have been next to impossible. desirous were 'they of preventing, as far as they could, .any such possibility, that they pointed out means by wliich the labor , of the department might be materially reduced, in order to ensure speedy transmission, and so leave the wires practically free for “commercial” purposes during the busy hours of the day. The proposition is not an unreasonable one, and the department should in common fairness to a large section of the Press of this Colony, favorably consider it. Its practicability might be tested at once. The approaching sessioji will, it is generally admitted, be a most important one, and naturally the public will expect the proceedings to be well reported. Their limited space and the necessity for their dealing with events at the time of their occurrence, compel evening papers to be large customers of the telegraph. But however anxious we might be to give our readers tolerably full reports of the important debates in the House in the issue after they take place, the expensive telegraph tariff will not allow us to do so. Last session’s experience will illustrate our meaning. The principal debates occurred at the evening sittings ; and many times the bare outlines of them would run into messages of 1,000 words, for which we had to pay £2 10s; and then it not happen unfrequently that they were not delivered till after we had gone to press, while our morning contemporaries would receive the same message for a trifle over ten shillings. Is not this unjustly handicapping the evening journals, and restricting their enterprise in one of its essential branches. Of course it will be many years ere there is a wire devoted exclusively to the use of the Press. ■ This is the true remedy, and we are not sure but that it would be to the mutual advantage of the department and the Press, if one were erected, and a contribution levied upon all newspapers sufficient to pay the interest and sinking fund on the money required for its construction, the Press in return being allowed to use it on all occasions, night or day, save when absolutely needed for public purposes, at rates that would pay for maintenance and the salaries of the officers actually employed upon it. This, however, is a digression. We repeat that in fairness the evening papers should receive, and at once, concessions similar to what were asked last year. If Mr Lemon is still possessed of the' idea that to grant them would occasion a pecuniary loss to the department, let him adopt* tho English plan - make it a sine qtu'. non that a sufficient quantity of jiews matter shall be sent to pay expensed, or that the 'deficiency shall he made up by a

special payment. From the-Opinions expressed by the proprietors of the journals with whom we placed ourselves in communication, when we first moved in the matter, we have no hesitation in saying that they would be willing to enter into such an ajrrangement. For our own parts, we fail to see the necessity for it. We have always declined to endorse the statement that the telegraph is conducted at a loss, and cannot more forcibly express our views on that point than by quoting from an English paper’s remarks upon Mr Weaver’s report■

Oar opinion is, that the telegraph system should be looked upon as a vital branch, establishment of the Post Office, and that although every effort should be made, by catting down useless and extravagant expenditure, to make it pay its own way, yet that some of the surplus revenue of the postal department should ba placed at the disposal of the telegraph system, at any rate for a few years to come. It must be remembered that the Post Office did not realise a profit for many years after the penny ;K>stagehad been introduced, but by judicious re- : orm and careful management it ultimately became —and still continues—a profitable feeder to the State. Lti some of the heavy expenditure of the telegraph department be cut down, and farther facilities given to the public and the Press, and we have every confidence that in a very short time the telegraph will follow the example of the Post Office, and pay a fair interest ou the capital laid out in the first instance.

[Since the above was in type, we learn from Wellington that the Government have acceded to the request the evening papers made last session. “Half a loaf Is better than none,” and we are thankful for the concession, such as it is, though 500 words is of very little assistance during the session. We trust Sir Julius Vogel will re-consider the matter. It would be more like justice to the evening papers Were he to extend the concession to 500 wordsat all times, andtolOOOwordsdnringthe session, it being a condition that the Parliamentary messages of that length should be handed in for transmission before 9 a.m. We ask the Commissioner what idea of the debates on the Abolition Bill can be conveyed in a 600 word message ?]

The Chief Commissioner of the Waste Land Board still refuses to sign the licenses of the occupiers of the deferred payment sections in the Herriot Hundred; consequently, many of the settlers, having no title to their holdings, do not care to make improvements thereon. Sorely this unsatisfactory state of affairs ought not to exist. The Queen’s Star Variety Company gave another performance last night at the Princess’s Theatre. The entertainment, which embraces much variety, went very smoothly. Three silver cups are offered for competition on Friday night in sentimental singing, step dancing, and hornpipe. Mr Musgrave, late of the Queen’s Theatre, will take a benefit on Monday evening. Our readers may recollect the particulars we gave from the 1 Southland Times’ a short time back of the discreditable delay of tliO Provincial Government in paying Mr Thos. Price, a contractor, the money due to him oh a contract finished a year ago. At the end of last week, since the affair was exposed in the Press, Mr Price received a telegram from the Provincial Government promising to pay him what was due, but asking , for time, and agreeing to allow interest at the rate of. 10 per cent, on the amount. The Carnival Committee meeting was held in the City Council Chambers last night, to make a final settlement of all moneys received and paid in connection with the late Carnival, of which the following is a correct statement Sundry accounts, Lll3 8s; outstanding accounts, L 59 14s 9d ; cash in the bank, L 1,629 7s lOd; do in hand, L2 4s. Receipts; Cash by subscriptions, L 282 7s 6d; do taken at the door, L 556 17s; sale of tickets, L 142 6s 6d ; refreshments, L 206 Os Id; ‘Gazette,’ L 37 10s; Turkish Baths weighing-machine, L 9 19s 6d; sundries, L 76 Is 3d ; Bruee auction, L 457 14s 3d; sale of live stock, L 35 19s—total, L 1,805 15s 7d. it was mentioned that there were a few articles left which would realise about L 2 5 :. Messrs Fergusson and Mitchell wrote stating that they had all the type set up belonging to the ‘ Carnival Gazette,” and they proposed to print the lot in one volume for sale, half the proceeds of which they would give to the committee.

At a meeting of representatives of the various Friendly Societies held in the Oddfellows’ -Hall, George street, last evening, to consider the proposed Bill about to be introduced into Parliament, the following resolutions were passed : the Societies in Dunedin should send three delegates to attend a conference for the parpose of considering the Friendly Societies Bill to be introduced by the Government.*' In order to give an opportunity for the Bill being considered it was resolved, “That this meeting begs to express its appreciation of the action of the Government in drafting the new Friendly Societies Bill, but would urge upon the Government the desirability of not submitting the Bill to Parliament for at least a month after the -opening of the session, as the Societies have not yet had time to thoroughly examine the proposed measure.” It was also agreed that the conference should take place in the Oddfellows’ Hall, George street, on June 23. The net profits on the whole of the Canterbury railways—main* and branch lines —for the year ending March 31st, 1876, appear to have been rather over L 60,000, or, deducting carriage of material, &c., say L 55.000. That is to say, they do hot pay 4 per cent, on their cost. But it does not follow that next year they will not pay more. The profits for 1874-75 were only about L 12,000, Since then several other lines have been opened, and the profits have nearly quadrupled. When Abolition is effected the Colony proposes to take over Canterbury's railways at a valuation of L 600,000; but the ‘Press’ opposes the valuation, our contemporary urging that the Province should receive more, seeing that her railways have cost her pretty near a million and a-half, and expresses the hope that “the Canterbury members will not fail to see that in the adjustment of accounts, which must necessarily take place shortly, justice is done, to Canterbury for the she has made in the construction of railways and harbor' works.”

“ Prompter "Aells us that “ theDeMurska season at Christchurch, which has been an exceedingly profitable one, came to a close last night; and the company proceed to Nelson in the Albion to-morrow. Mr Hoskins’s present intention is to keep both the Duhedin and Christchurch theatres going simultaneously. Dunedin playgoers will be glad to know that he is in treaty for the appearance here of Emmet, the character actor {whose “ Our German Cousin ” continued to fill the opera house in Melbourne for nine Weeks), and the Lingards. The Simonsons have no teasyn to complain of the patronage accorded them by the people of Wellington. Their last production was ‘ Faust’ on Friday last. Their orchestra was augmented by the really fine band of the local Artillery, and, to add to the general effect, Mr Edwards, in the cathedral scene, played behind the stage on the splendid organ which Messrs Cutler and Moore recently manufactured. Altogether, it appears to have been a most creditable performance, and the local critics speak in terms of praise of Madarae’s Marguerite and of Mr Barrington’s Mephistophiles, while Mr Morley is thought overweighted as Faust, * La Perichole ’ and * Madame Augot ’ (the latter being expected to run for a week) will bring the season to a close, and

the company then betake themselves to Napier and Auckland. The Lydia Howard troupe are expected in Christchurch next week. There is not much from the other side. Emmet has betaken himself to the Provinces, the Opera House how; being tenanted by Mr Lister’s English. Opera Company, with Euulie Melville as prima donna. Mr Talbot is at the Royal, supported by Miss Carey; and at St. George's ! Sail there is a Combination Troupe, the only familiar name among which is Johnny Moran’s. Mrs Scott-Siddons is performing with success at Sydney, and will shortly visit Melbourne.”

The Lawrence escort, • onTuesday,, amounted to 1,9250z 4dwts, and the Woitahuna to 3490z Idwts. The quantity of gold sent from Lawrence has been gradually increasing for some time paat,andere long, we expect to see it considerably over 2,0006z per month. The ‘Tuapeka Times ’ tells ns that the larger portion of the gold is, of course, obtained from the Blue fc’pur, where one claim alone; is taming out a cake of about 300oz every four weeks. Within a few months double the number of stampers at present employed will be at work, and, with the increased gold returns, a new. era; of prosperity will be opened to that district.'

A concert and ball were given in St. George’s Hall, Milton, last evening by the members of the Artillery Band and 0. O. T. An excellent programme was pat forward,;, but the patronage bestowed by the residents of that district was anything but complimentary to the members of the band. * At eight o’clock, When the curtain rose, there were not above one hundred people in the room, though a great crowd assembled at the railway station to welcome the visitors, end the band played a coupleof lively tunes through, the streets and in front of the hadl. Judging by the great concourse assembled outside the building a large attendance might reasonably have been expected, but .when the doors were opened’ things did not look encouraging, only about sixty or seventy persons paying for admittance. Fully throe rimes that number enjoyed the concert •on the cheap. The concert waS opened with a selection from “ Maritana,” Which was followed by a ballad, by Mr Marsden, “ When the com is- waving.” After this , songs were given by Messrs Morrison, Sinclair, and Matheson in their customary style. Messrs Haig, and Murray gave a couple of dances, which were' highly appreciated, and an Irish jig by a well-known member of the band was loudly applauded. The band was under: the leadersnip of Mr M. Hume, and playud selections from “Madame Angot.” “ Songjs of .'Scotland," &c.. A .fiute duet by Messrs* Hogg and Wright, •nd a comet duet by Messrs Stratton and Oliver, were both, warmly applauded. After the concert, the; room was cleared, for dancing, andthose who; waited enjoyed themselves thoroughly. 7

The annual social ball of Lodge St. Andrew 432 S.C. (<Maeonic) will take place in the J emperance Hall, Monday, June 26.

A special general meeting of the Ayrshire:: Association will be, held m the Provincial Hotel to-morrow (Friday) evening, .at 8 o’clock. A general meetinsr of enrolled members of the Britannia Rifle Cadets will be held in the lower hall, Athenjeum, to-morrow (Friday), at.. 7.30 p.m. .. S | ■ The first annual ball of the Yorkshire Cub will be held in the Temperance Hall bn Friday next. The names of the committee of whom tickets may be obtained will be found in the advertisement.

At the Queen’s Theatre this evening the ** White Cockade ” will be produced, with Mr J. B. tteele and Mrs Walter Hill in the leading characters. To-morrow Mr JBL fcitoneham will take a benefit.'