The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1885.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5277, 16 December 1885, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1885.

Thb Gorernment Insurance Board has decided on making a very useful innovation in dealing with its surplus funds, and it is to be hoped that satisfactory results will follow the determination armed at. It has been resolved that accumulated fundn shall be invested in securities of policy-holders and colonists generally on first mortgages of freehold property, asd to local bodies on County, Boad Board, Town Board, or Borough Council securities, which are issued within the colony under the authority of Parliament, ■nd are secured by special rate. This is a much more satisfactory manner of deal* ing with the accruing funds of a public institution than has been adopted by the Department previously, and leads in the direction of inducing a consideration of the td»i»ability of the Government of the Colony going eren further, in connection with identifying itself more plosely with the general finances of the people. A State bank of issue has long and frequently been advocated, and there is daily arising strong end unanswerable arguments in favor of its institution. The QoretattiGßb spcouot, the raising of loans,

and the thousand and one other advantages attached to the transaction of its own financial business, all tend to induce the immediate establishment of a national bank, more especially when it is considered that our present state of colonial indebtedness is so high, and sires little promise of material decrease, and when the large sums of money paid away for loan raising, commission, etc., are contemplated. It would, of course, be Tery wrong for any Government to enter into competition with private persons in ordinary enterprise, but in this case much is involved, the people or taxpayers have to bear the burden of interest on the colonial debt, the commissions and charges in connection with the raising of loans, and while considerable outlay is being made on Government account, there are sums accumulated which might be made available for use under proper regulations. A considerable sum would be saved to the colony, not only under the head of charges but by way of iuterest, were a bank of issue established. Without resorting to an absolute adoption of the Greenback system, which, notwithstanding the drawbacks it showed when in vogue some years back in America, there can be little doubt that a considerable saving could and would be effected by the issue of Goyernmant notesfrom a properly constituted bank, carried on with due regard to commercial principles. We trust that during the coming session some attention will be paid to this important matter, that it will be taken in hand by a competent member, and the result will be of colonial benefit.

Wo would again remind our renders of the See-Saw enteri»ii.'mant to take place this ovening in the Academy of Music, in nid of the funds of St George's Church. The programme is a moeb attractive one, ond we feel sure that there will be a full house to reward the efforts of those who have volunteered their services in so laudable a cause. Three w.b no sitting in Ibe Police Court this morning. The annual meeliog of the Borough Council, held for the installation of His Worship the Mayor, was held at nocn to-d»y. There were present. —The Major,andCrsMcG-owsn, Rensbaw, Danby, Wood, and Radford The übual declaration was made by Mr W. Fraser, M.H.R., and the brief fitting closed. The n any friends of Detective Herbe:t, of Aucklai.d, who waa for some time stationed at the Than.eß as a constable, will regret to learn that he has been seriously ill lately with a rheumatic complaint, and hoe had to vi»it the Te Aroha Springs. We un^orstatd that the Weehysn Central Church in Pol:en street wiil be so far advanced this week as to allow of services beirg held therein on Sunday next. It is probable that the pulpit will be occupied on the occasion by the Bey. Mr Bavin, of the Grafton road Wesley an Church, Auckland, and that he will also deliver a lecture on Monday evening mxfc. The entertainment to be given by the teachers and scholars of the Waio-Karaka School, will ttfke place in the Academy of Music to-morrcw evening, and we would draw attention to tbe programme, which appears elsewhere. It comprises a very carefully selected and choice number of songsi recitations, choiuses, Dialogues, and instrumental pieces, all of which will be given by pupils of tbe school. Two of the teachers have kindly volunteered to assist—Mr Q-rad-well, who has already won for hiaself in Auckland and elsewhere, a reputation both as a vocalist, and elocutionist, wiil give a specimen of his abilities in both accomplishments by singing " The Death of Nelson," and reciting "The Death of Montroee," while Mr H- Ellis will sing a comic song. Mr Stewart bas been working very hard indeed to ensure a satisfactory performance, and everyone in thn school bas entered heartily into tbe work. We were present at a rehearsal, »Bd were very much pleased at the state of proficiency which has been attained by the pupils iv singing. Two pieces esp-cially struck us as being capitally rendered, viz., " Sunny Hours," and ' Little sister's gone to sleep." The proceeds of the entertainment are to be devoted to the purchase of appliances for teaching the elementary principles of RsincorrTct^n^aioir^ouTcteanereianow about £280. The second ordinary general meeting of shareholders in the New Zealand Land Mortgage Co. was held in Auckland yeaterday, Sir p\ Whituker presiding. In tho course of his addreo^ the Ohajsroan e&id that so faf as the directors could sco and wejra adyiee^ ihty hid a reasonable expectation that tho shareholders wouU g?t for t'.:e half-year a dividend at the rate of tjght per cent, per annutn. The head ojjlco of the company is in London. Tho retiring directors Messrs T. B,udd)e, J. M. Clark, and Hon. if. Williamson, were roelected.

iBOUT 250 passengers left Dunedin for the opening of the Oatlin's Biver Railway yoater* day. Mr MacanJrew, in d daring the line open for traffic, detailed its history, which extended over twelve years. He said he was Clutha's first representative in Parliament, and if the line vrrre cztecded south it would open up 80,000 acres of laid.

John Robbetb^n, who was injured come time ago by a fall from a scaffolding at the Wellington Woollen Co.'s works, has suo» combed to his injuric.

By an advertisement appesv'ng in another column it will bo ec:n. that the Shortlacd Hotel, at tho corner of Pollen and Grey streets, hag been entirely ronov<iied. Th« house presents a changed oppearanca, and every attention has been paid to internal arrapgements ; there are 20 rooms, and first clas3 accommodation for boarders and visitors ja provided. A good billiard table and efficient marker tend tp the ppnvenii nco of patrons, and excellent BfcibKng U provided. To rest re nerve and br*in w.etp, nothing equals Hop Bitter*. 8.-ir»n ibis nod toko none but American Go.'t. isw,

The installation of the H.W.M. and officers of the Sir Walter Soott Lodge, No. 633, H.C., took place last, evening, 80. P.Gr.M. E. T. Wildman conducting the ceremony in his Uiual impressive manner. The following "are the new officers;— E.W.M., Bro. W. D. Reid; P.M, Bro S. J. Neill j D.M., Bro. Oeo. Prioej S.W. Bro. C. D. \Vaite ; J.W., Bro. H. Symonds; Treasurer, Bro. J. H. Smith, (this being the eighth year of office); Secretary, Bro. A. Bruoe; S.D, Bro. Geo. Taylor; J.D.Bro. R. Leslie; I Gv, Bro. J. West; Architect, Bro. B. Bowi-; Joweller, Bro. J. Hope ; Stewards, Bros. G. Symington (President), W. Davis, J. R. Sawyer, and B. Schofield.

Phofbssoe Black will deliver a lecture tomorrow evening in Auckland in tbe Choral Hall on the subjoct of a School of Mines for Thames. As tho subject is of vital importance to the mining community and to all others interestei in the development of the goldfields, we have no doubt there will be a large attendance, and that the. Professor will meet with a cordial reoeption.

Owing to negotiations for the purchase of land in the vicinity of Taumarumu which are now pending, tho Hon. J. Ballance has informed Mr Wilkinson, who is entrusted with the carrying out the arrangements for prospecting the King Country, that he does n6t consider it adri*ablo to prospect on this side of Taumarunui for the present. Several enquiries have been made by persons desiring to prospect, but r.o selections have yet been made, nor will they be for two or three days.

A hint for the unemployed cornea from the Waikato —that region of bucolio peaca and plenty. It points <o an opening for a new local industry. The Cambridge Nowi of Friday last says:—A young man had been fiddling about Cambridge during tbe last day or two, and having this morning fiddled sixpence out of a well known resident, the latter addressed him as to the necessity of adopting a les9 precarious avocation. In reply he stated that he is a bool maker, and in Auckland could barely get two days work per week. Ha therefore determined on doing Waikafo, and at the end of four days was able to send home £7 to his family, whilst he obtained 30s last night in Cambridge alone. As put up by the News, tbe moral is—Fiddle up.

The ship Waitangi has arrived at Port Chalmers from London. She encountered a heavy sea on November 1. A eea broke on board and washed George Macdonald, A.8., under the ppars. When picked up his skull was found completely crushed. . His real name is believed to be Gaor/e Hartness, and is said to have relations at Wellington.

Thb Auckland Star's Karangahake correspondent writes as follows :—'' Duilng the present week several misers have been out hunting for iron ore, acd have succeeded in discovering several large lodes which are said to.be admirably suited for fluxing purposes. One of tbeee lodes is situated within an eaey distance of the Woodstock furnace, to which it can be conveyed at a comparatively trifling coat. A search is now being instituted for lime, of which strong indications are obtain* able between here and at Owharoa. These facts give tbe lie direct to the writer of a paragraph in lust Friday's Herald, who stated that there were no fluxes suitable for smelting purposes in this neighborhood."

The ketch Zlllah arrived in the harbor yesterday afternoon from Kat.ikati with another cargo of 58 tons of quartz from the Roßemont Co.'s mice, Waihi, for treatment at the Thames Smelting Company's works. A public debate is being arranged in Auckland between Mr Thomas Walker, Freethought lecturer, and Mr George Aldridge, Conditional Immortality preacher. Mr Aldridge will affirm the divine origin of Christianity, Mr Walker taking the negative. A TBBDiGT of wilful incendiarism has been brought in by tho Coroner's jury, on the recent burning of the brewery at Whangarei, against Edward Downing, the proprietor. He will therefore be held for trial at the next criminal sessions of the 'Supreme Court, and meanwhile bail has been allowed in one surety of £500, ar;d two of £250 each.

The Dunedin unemployed grumble at the offer of work at 4s 6d a day which has been giren them, and hooted the Mayor because he

vriis not able to do anything to get them an increase. In Auckland, where there has been co much said about the number out of work,

we see by the Hera'd yesterday that though employment has been offered by tbe Railway Department »t Newmarket, up to yesterday only three bad applied. Government alsp is prepared to tale on at once 5Q of the unemployed laborers at the defence works at the North Shore at 48 Qi per day, and pay their ferry fare tp and from Auckland daily.