THE POLICE STRIKE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 229, 20 June 1872, Page 6

THE POLICE STRIKE.

The following letter from the Clerk to the Executive Council on the above subject was received by his Worship the Mayor of Dunedin :—: — " Provincial Government Offices, " June 12.

" Referring to the interview the deputation of citizens had with his Honor the Superintendent yesterday on the subject of the reinstatement in the public service of the men who recently, in violation of their oaths and without notice in a, spirit of mutiny refused to discharge their duty as members of the Otago Constabulary, I am directed to request that you will be good enough to intimate te the gentlemen who formed the deputation that the whole subject has been re-considered, but that the Government does not see its way to depart from its previous decision. lam to state that while the Government sympathise with the motives which prompted the action of the deputation in this matter, and while it fully reciprocates their expressions of regret at the unfortunate position in which the ex-constables have by their own unjustifiable act of insubordination placed themselves, at the same time it cannot allow its own personal feelings to tend to weaken a branch ef the public service in which, above all others, the most rigid discipline is essential. The Government has acted in this matter under a very grave seme of responsibility, which it regrets to think does not appear to have been appreciated by yourself and others. I am to add that the steps the (Government has taken should relieve the citizens from any feelings of apprehension as to the future efficiency of the force ; and they feel assured that the members of the deputation and the citizens generally will accord it their support in the action which, on public grounds alone, it was compelled to adopt. "I have, &c, " Alex. Willis."

How Shares are Affected. — It is not often that one reads of such a strange depreciation in the value of shares as befel the scrip of the Green Harp Co. at Coromandel a few days ago. It appears that Mr Rowe, late manager of the Caledonian, had been visiting the Coromandel claims on business, and suspicion was aroused by a refusal to admit him to inspect the Green Harp : hence the decline in its scrip.

Quartz Crushing. — There was a formal trial to-day of the machinery erected on the Reclaimed Ground for the Provincial Government, in the presence of Mr BradBhaw, Secretary for Works. The trial was considered very satisfactory ; and on the Provincial Engineer certifying to that effect, as he will probably do on Monday, the Government will take over the machine. There was a good pressure of water on while the stampers were going, and it is estimated that twenty tons can be put through weekly. It is, however, intended not to crush more than ten tons of stuff at a time for a company. — Star, Isth.

The Right Sort of Immigrants. — Under this heading a correspondent writes to the Wellington Independent ;— I note in your issue of the 15th "ult., an extract from the Warangn Chronicle as follows :: — •• A farmer residing within a hundred miles of Muddy Creek, and whose age is 56, states that be has an uncle living who is 99 years of age ; his father is 94, and is still hale and hearty ; his aunt died at the advanced age of 104 ; he has fourteen children slill living, of whom six are married, and nineteen grandchildren. We would draw the attention of the 'Government of Action' to the above facts, and suggest the advisability of imp6rting a few more of his family. Not much need for assisted immigration then !" T would ask you which has most assisted the population of a colony, the farmer above mentioned or Mr , who lives within a hundred miles of Rangitikei, and who has 1C children living, 7 of whom are married (one alone of whom has ,18 children), 65 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren (his own age is 85), making a total of nearly 100 people, many of whom are in a fair way to augment that number.