THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, OCTOBER 21. 1878.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3021, 21 October 1878, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, OCTOBER 21. 1878.

It is really remarkable how difficult some people find it to dispossess their minds of an idea—when they get one. As per example: A number of correspondents and our contemporary have got an idea that the Mining Inspector does not do his duty, and that he should be held accountable for all the mining accidents—or, rather, we should say accidents in mines— which take place in this district. The Mining Inspector doe* not always do his duty, as we have frequently pointed out, or he would not have allowed companies to hold valuable areas of ground unwonted Zoe months at a time when he was frequently importuned by working men to re-enter and throw open the ground for competition. Moreover, if he always did his duty there would be fewer individuals taking up ground for speculative purposes, and letting it remain unworked until a discovery in some adjoining piece of ground largely enhanced its value. Ii is not, however, at this portion of the Mining Inspector's duties writers have recently been cavilling, but in respect of alleged negligence in regard to the lives and limbs of miners. Our contemporary positively asserts "one practical man is amply sufficient for the duty " of Mining Inspector, but modifies the assertion in a subsequent sentence by saying that " any qualified man with several years' experience ought to be well acquainted with the condition of any and every mine on the field." In to-day's paper we find a correspondent — "Prop"---says "it is some six years since he [Inspecto/j was established here," and cannot understand why any one should consider it unreasonable to assume that the Mining Inspector should be expected to be acquainted with all the workings of the mines under his supervision. To both we answer, that had the workings remained stationary for the past six years, "any qualified scan" might well be accused of negligence if he were not thoroughly acquainted with them; but both writers know perfectly well that the greater portion of the workings necessitating inspection have been carried out during the last six years, and that every, few weeks there mast necessarily be some change. •

Our object, we wish it to be understood, i& not to shield the Mining Inspector from j any blame he may incur by neglect of duty, but to remove erroneous impressions, and, by showing how deficient the law on i the matter is, to awaken people—especially ■ miners—to a sense of what is required in the direction of legislation, in order that the responsibility for accidents in mining may be tbvown upon mine managers and companies, or miners if they transgress regulations. Of the writers who have been so lavish of censure on the MitiDg Inspector, not one has pointed out his duties, or shown wherein he has failed; and we are now asked to enlighten the public. If " Prop " »?nd some others will look through our files they will see that we have pointed out how faulty the lair is on this matter, and in what directions it should be remedied, or rather, where the deficiencies should be supplied. They will discover that we gave a direst of the Victorian Act, setting forth the liabilities of companies, mar agers, ard all poisons holding,positions of trust in connection with mining, and how that miners in New Zealand were utterly at the mercy of those immediately in authority over them. Well, as we cannot now recapitulate what is desirable, we will indicate what is the real state of the law as it exists in this district. "The Goidmining Districts Act, 1873," is the lair under which the field is worked, and the " Appointment and duties of Inspector" will be found set forth in Clauses 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of Fart 111. Perhaps our contemporary will explain the enormous powers conferred in the clauses. As to the "important executive functions of the Mining Inspector,"; we have not a doubt that "Prop" knows more of this phase of the Inspector's duties than we do, and may possibly have the pleasura of farther acquaintance. In addition to what may be gathered from the clauses we hare referred to, there is a secf::on of the Regulations in force for; the ; working of this fielc, made under the hand of Sir George Grey, as Superintendent of the Auckland Province, to the following effect:—

77. The Mining Inspector shall yisit and inspect all sieam engines, steam boilers and other machinery us::i ?n mining operations iv the Heuraki Goldmining District, and may give instructions for the safe working of tae same; be may also visit any mine and other workings, and give inslrut tuns for tha safe working of the same. And it shall be the duty of the person to whom any such instruction shall be given lo obey the

This is about all the !iw on lbs matter we can discover, and there is not even provision for making regulations under which prosecutions can be instituted for breach of " instructions." As to the visits of the MiDirg Inspector and his subordinate, it will be seen that there is no slated t'me for such, rid the matter must be left to the discretion of the Inspector. If it can be proved that mines are consistently neglected, or but cursorily inspected, let such a ch?rge be made. If on examination our asser'^on be sustained, that the law is lamentably inefficient -o ensure the safe working of, our mines, or io punish offenders who, with a reckless disregard of life supervise or engage in mining operations, let us ask to bare the law remedied. Let the responsibility be divided, as it is in other mining countries", and make each one answerable for h's own sins. We are 1 thoroughly convinced that mrny of the accidenis on this field are Iraceaole to the recklessness of the victims, and that no amount of inspection, unless backed by a legal responsibility on mine managers and n>ining conipanie 3, would very materially reduce the number of mining, casualt'es.

In a mining paragraph re the City of Manchester crushing the yield was erroneously piinied 23ozs 12gri instead of 250z8 12dwts. The amount in the gold returns was coriect. ; 7

We would caU attention to the Be*. A. W. Webb's lecture at t^e Presbyterian Church thii evening. The subpct, a highly interestingone, is " Personal recollections of India aad its people," and should receive justice at ihe bands of an able speaker. J'ke the Eev. Mr Webb. The lecture is under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association.

On the first. and fourth pages of this issue will be found the follor'ng articles: —"Mr Charles Malhews," "An Ear for Mi sic," srid " A Peaceful Invasion,"

The prize offered wee'rly to allcomers at tha rifle gallery, Brown street, attracts a considerable number on every evening. The last two prizes, viz., a cigar case well filleu with exqv!sites, and a valuable mpevschaum pipe, were won respectively by Se ,n?an Casley wiia a sjcore of L 7, and by Cadet Pent, who made the possible— 30 points in six 5h01.3. : ; - - >.

On the occa jion of. the Queen's birthday the Earl of Diifferin, GovernorGeneral of Canada, reviewed 3,000 troops at Mon'-ieal, who were assembled under the comcißad of Lieulenant-General Sir Edward Selby femyth, in the presence of upwards of 15,( 30 or 20,(. )0 spsclato.'s. A pleasing incident of the day's proceedings was the presence oa tbe grourd of a company fiqm a battalion of United States Militia in the uniform of their corps, who asked permission io form into line with the British troops for the purpose of joining in the fcude-joie fired in honor of Her Mpjesty, and in the other manoeuvres of the day. After tbe inspection of the line Lord Dufferin addressed them in appropriate terms, complimenting them on their appearance, and in the evening, at a banquet, spoke in high te''ms of the loyal feeling displayed by the Canadians at. a time when it was feared the mother country would soon be involved in a great war. ; ;.

Some particulars of the British coinage are given in the following:—The year's Mint Eeport shows, as usual, no coinage of crowns. There has been, no issue of crowns, we beliere, since 1851, nor of groats or fourpenny pieces (except for Maundy money) since 1856. Half-crowns shared the fate of crowns for some years after 1851, but in 1873 the Mint issued a circular to bankers asking their opinion whether it would be for the public eon-

venience that the florin, fiisfc coined in 1849, or that the half-ciown should be the coin adopted, or that both should be in circulation; and about two-thirds of the answers received were in favour of having both in circulation. The coinage of half-crowns was thereupon resumed, and above four millions of them have been coined in the course of the last four years, and übout aa many florins also. The crown is a handsome coin, and the groat is sometimes convenient. »

We regret; to -lear-u that the Prince of Wales' birthday holiday is Uoly.to.be postponed in Auckland to Wednesday the 13th November, an ariaajemeat which, if adhered to, will preveafc the Auckland Volunteers joining those of the Thames in the projected review and sham fight to be held here on Monday, llti November, as the Auckland Volunteers can only attend if the parade is held on tae Monday.

A Calcutta correspondent of Tfeo | Times writes:—ln connection with the famine a painful case is reported from Bellary. A child aged saven years was confided of murder. The Judge stated that the tale was a sad one of want and misery in the house. The child's little sister, the deceased, was at tbe point ot death from lack of nourisbmeut, and the mother, was prostrated by fever and unable to feed, it. At last, distracted by its crying, the unfortunate woman suddenly put the child into the arms of the accused, who, by the mother's d?:ections, took it out and threw it into a well. The Judge recommended a free pardon. It is only by recording these individual instances of suffering when brought prominently forward, as in the present case, that we can, even 111 the slightest measure, realize the terrible ordeal through which the people of Southern India have been, and a,e, passing. It certainly rather perplexes ordinary understandings to conceive in this cuse how on the facis stated this poor infant could, under any possibility, have been convicted; but the ways of Irid'an 1, justice are oftoa si.rrngely inscrutable to the uninitiated. , - ]1n London a few woks ago, Sir Heavy Thompson demonstrated the vplue of th 3 microphone (the recent inventioa of Pro-; fessor Hughes) for discovering the exist-: enue ot, stone in the bladder, however, small the part I'clement be, in operating on a patient, in the presence of Mr Erichsen, Dt Yahdell (of the United States),' Mr B. M. Hill, Mr Glover, Mr B. Browne;, and others. By an application of the. same me Shod, the recognition of a bullet or other foreign body, or of diseased bone at the boitora.".of a deep wound, the microphone may be equally valuable.

Thj Herald's speoir.l at Wellington, writing on Thursday, says :— In the Legislative Council, S'r F. D. Bell has just made a bilier speech against the Govern men t, and especially against Colonel Whitawe on the Tariff" Bill. The la tier part was ve:y amusing. He went through the second schedule, item by item, accounting for the remission of duties proposed. Thus butter was to be relieved, in order ' , salve the feelings of the down-trcdden working man; arsenic was rendered cheap Jo facilitate the process of poisorinjj the minds of class against class; bellows were be relieved to enable Ministers to blow about the grert benefis they were corfening on the whole humsn lace; paint was admil tad free to c table Colonel Whitmore to put on the war paint which he was- so fond of assuming; while the remission on fireworks was also for the Colonial Secretary's especial beaefit, as he was exceedingly fond of such display in that Chamber; glue was *i be made cheap, also to ensure that some of (he mud which the Colonial Secretary threw about so freely should stick; photographic goods were to be admitted iree, to enable the features of the benefactors of the a anna race, the present Ministers, to be bonded down to posteiity; while buslimen would see a connection between.taking the duty off posts and rails and tea at the same time. To wind-up, cheap spirits of tar were to be given it the working men, even if their beer was taxed. This part of the speech caused gi'3at laughter, in which Colonel Whitmore joined heartily.

The Times concludes an article on the Fan-Anglican Synod recently sitting at Lambeth as. follows :—That its. foreign members could hare much to learn from us it would be impertinent to assume rs it would be unjust to the Primate of All England to suppose.that he countenances, even tacitly, the suggestion that he should be recognised as " Metropolitan of the Anglican Church." The Church of England may learn, however, something from its guests, whatever they may learn from it. It may learn, at least, how an Episcopalian Clergy can maintain order and keep the reverence of its flock without the aid of the State, the resources of a State endowment, or the support and patronage of a great aristocracy.

It may not be generally known, says a contemporary, whence the derivation " blue riband of the turf," as refers to the Derby, originated. It was on the occasion of a conversation between the present Premier of* Great Britain and Lord Bentinck in the Library of the House of. Commons. Lord George Bentinck remarked " You do not know what winning the Derby is," and the Premier in reply, "He had in his mind a race, the fame of which had penetrated to every cart of the earth where the English language was spoken.''. As the Blue Eiband of the Garter is the greatest honour the Sovereign can bestow on a Bubject, so Disraeli gave Lord Bentinok to understand by the expression he used, " the blue riband of the turf," that perfectly well appreciated the honour of win* ning the Epsom Derby, and that it was, in fact, the highest turf honour a true sportsman cared to obtain. The apt designation then conferred on tho great three year-old race at Epsom by Lord Beaeonsfield has clung to it ever since. That was in Surplice's year, when Lord George Bentinck had given up the turf for politics, and had sold his entire stud for a lump sum to Viscount Clifden, a young nobleman who had just made his debut on' the turf. That stud contained Surplice, the horse that is the first on record to have won the double event—the .Epsom Derby and Doncaster St. Leger; and it was the i splendid groin of G Bentinck on hearing ; the news of Surplice's victory at Epsom,' and the remark he made, as given above, that drew forth the appellation that ever since has clung to it, " the blue riband of the turf."