The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JULY 6, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 158, 6 July 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY, JULY 6, 1874.

Vabious rumors have been abroad of late with reference to alterations about to be made by the present Executive in tbe Provincial Government service. It will be interesting to the public to learn to what extent tbe proposed amalgamations and reductions are to be cairied out, and whom they are likely to affect. We have therefore made enquiries and can give tho following statement as beiDg correct, subject to any fnrtber alteration tbat may be deemed desirable.

Iv tho Harbor department it is proposed to recommend the General Government, with whom the appointment lies, to dispense with the services of Mr Cross, the present harbor master And pilot, at the end of the year nod to appoint in bis place Mr Lowe, the present assistant pilot, at the same salury that he now receives in that capacity. A coxswain ia also lo be appointed who will, when accessary, be competent to act as pilot. With reregard to this change we would remark -that it is one tbat should not be decided upon without the fullest consideration, for to impair the efficiency of the pilot department would be moat damaging to the interests of tho port, and would certainly not be atoned for by the saving ol £300 or £400 a year. We are not prepared just now, and without further information, to assert that the proposed alterations would have this effect, but would woru the Government that it ia necessary that they should use the utmost discretion in making arrangements that are so iotimaiely connected with the trade of the principal harbor of the province. We cannot afford to diive vessels away from our port or to furnish them with any excuse whatever for not coming down Blind Bay, but should rather afford tbem every facility and encouragement. At Westport tbe services of the signalman are to be

dispensed witb, and the harbor master will be required to perform his duties. At Charleston the office of harbor master is deemed to be no longer necessary. At Brighton the duties of signalman are lo te performed by the police. At Ngaknwhao the signalman is to receive no salary, but to be allowed tbe lease of certain reserves in consideration of

his services.

In the Wardens' Courts, several important changes are contemplated. It is proposed that the General Government shall be recommended to dispense with tbe services of Mr Warden Whitefoord, and that Mr Broad, who now lives at Reefton, Bball reside at tbe Ahaura, and take charge of tne Reefton and Grey Valley districts, while Mr Warden Giles' jurisdiction is to include Westport, Charleston, Lyell, and Matakitaki. By way of assisting him it is proposed that some gentleman resident at Reefton shall be placed on the Commission of the Peace. Several reductions will also be effected in allowances and contingencies. Among the subordinates the following changes wiil probably be made : — The services of Mr Graham Greenwood at Ahaura, and of Meesrs Lucas nnd Pownall at Reefton, are to be dispensed witb. At the former place the sub-inspector of police is to act as clerk of the Court and receiver'of goldfields' revenue, and to the latter Mr Kelling will be removed from Charleston, where his duties are to be performed by the police.

In the Gaol Department there are also to be changes. Mr Shallcrass, Inspector of Police, is to reside at the Nelson Gaol and assume tbe duties of gaoler, while the present holder of the office is to be appointed turnkey at the same salary received by Mr Edwards, whose set vices will be dispensed witb, and house allowance. Certain changes are also contemplated at tbe Westport gaol, but what they will be we have not yet been able lo learn.

In the Police Department two officers are to be struck off the roll, namely, Constables Dixon and Sherwood, the latter of whom will probably be reinstated as a servant of the General Government as messenger to the Supreme and Resident Magistrate's Courts. One of the constables now on the West Coast will be removed to Nelson, where, when occasion requires, he will render clerical assistance in the Superintendent's and Provincial Secretary's offices. At the Lyell there will for the future be only one constable instead of two.

The amalgamation of offices and reduction iv the numbers of Provincial Government officers above mentioned will be tbe means of relieving tbe revenue of a draft upon it of from £3000 to £4000 a year, but whether the convenience of the public has been sufficiently studied by the Government in their zeal for retrenchment remains yet to be seen. If it should prove that the desire to economise has been duly tempered by discretion, we shall be among tho first to congratulate the Executive upon the savings they have -ffected.

Parish of Christ Church.— -The annual meeting of parishioners for the purpose of electing churchwardens, &c, will be held at the Bishop's Schoolroom tbis evening at 8 o'clock.

Smoked Fish. — Mr Levy has sent us a sample of smoked haddock, of which he has received a consignment from Dunedin. After giving it a trial we can recommend it os the most delicate and delicious fish of tbe kind that we ever tasted.

"All's Well."— -This is a cry tbat is to be heard in our streets now every night after the striking of the hours as they are sounded from Christ Church. Mr. Lloyd has been employed by several of the business people in town to perambulate the streets with a view to giving timely wurning of any fire tbat may break out, and the regularity with which the old cry of the watchman is heard through the night is sufficient proof that he is moving and on the alert.

Charles Kingsley is on a lecturing tour through America.

Mr Hoskina and Miss Colville are acting at Salt Lake C ity.

Mrs Robert Heir was a failure in New York, but successful elsewhere.

Rose Evans, who was a great success in San Francisco, and a failure in New York, is now playing in London to crowded houses.

Four thousand immigrants landed in New York on May 25. Italians are emigrating to America in large numbers.

Some very rich sp.cimens of quartz from tho Manukau mine, Thames, aro being exhibited iv Auckland. Tbe quartz has not yet been crushed, but it is equal in riOhuess to any found in the once famous Caledonian mine. Tbe Manukau mine is the property of three shareholders.

Public house property at Charleston is changing bands. Nahr's Empire Hotel has been turned into a pie shop. Miss Conneil's Globe Hotel was put up for auctiou on Saturday, and to-day the hostess of the Harp and Shamrock will dispose of her property aud effects, preparatory to s.archiug for a new and more bustling location, :— Westport Times.

A firm of Dunedin merchants, a few* days a»o, sued the captain of the ship Himalaya at the Resident Magistrate's Court for £100 damages sustained iv a consignment of merchandise through bad stowage. The Magistrate considered the allegations correct, and gave judgment ior the fall amount claimed, with costa.