POSTAL REDUCTION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3349, 10 April 1868, Page 2

POSTAL REDUCTION.

We understand that no answer Las yet been received from the Ministry with, regard to the general redaction proposed by the Provincial Government in the salaries of Government officers, provincially charged. The Ministry, however, have informed his Honor that a reduction of .£723 can be effected in the Post-office, partly by a reduction of salaries, that of the Chief Post-master being cut down by £100, and partly by employing a smaller number of persons. We are informed that in order to effect this saving there will only be one delivery per diem at Newton and One-, hunga, and only one per week at Wairoa, Kapanga, and elsewhere. The telegraph and post-offices at Onehunga and at the stations on the Great South Road will be combined, and several of the country offices, as at Awhitu and Te Eore, will be abolished. The salaries of .country postmasters are also to be reduced in amounts varying from five to fifty pounds.

The despatch of the supplementary mail vift Suez/ it will be observed, has been postponed until tomorrow morning. ' A great natire meeting is, it appears, to take place at the Waitangi, Bay of Island*, on the 17th insi,' and the s.s. 'Tauranga has been laid on to make a special trip to the Bay. Our Biverhead correspondent mention!, in a letter received dated the 9th instant, that the districts jof Helensyille, Riverhead, and Hobsonville are now united into a charge under the Auckland Presbytery. A committee has been appointed to carry but the arrangements, and a church is to be erected at Riverhead, The sum of £50 has been already subscribed, and an acre of ground hat been given as a site by Mr. J. S. Macf ulane. The monster specimen of gold-bearing quartz picked up recently in a creek at the Thames is now on view as Mr. BeoVt, jewellejyQnetn-street.... ]

* The annual public meeting in aid of the Auckland Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society was held last evening, at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. The attendance was not numerous. Hit Honor the Superintendent, J. Williamson, Esq., presided. Several interesting addresses were delivered in support of the various resolutions, but, owing to the length to which the committee's report extends, we are precluded from publishing them. An accident, oE a somewhat serious nature, occurred at Otahuhu, on Saturday last, to a little girl, about four years of age, the daughter of Mr. Pikett, oarpenter. It appears the child had only left the house about two or three minutes, and crept through the fenqe into the adjoining allotment, where some more children were playing. She was passing by a horse, belonging ,to Mr. Patteson, whioh had got into the allotment, when suddenly the horse kicked out, striking the poor child in the face. She was knocked down senseless* The assistance of Dr. Hemsly was quickly obtained, and the injured parts dressed. The poor child was blind for three days, and the nose is severely crushed, but it is hoped' she is now in a fair way of recovery. It appears the horse is a noted kicker, and ought not to be allowed to run at large. We believe that it is intended by Mr. Dilworth to build a large and handsome hotel upon his allotment at the foot of Queen-street (where Mr. Taylors stand is now ereoted.) The new building, it is stated, will be designated the Miners' Hotel, and will be conducted by Mr. J. Copland, so long and favourably known as the very obliging host of the old Waitemata Hotel. An inquest was held yesterday afternoon, at the Perth and Dundee Hotel, on view of the body of Edward Malcolm, sailmaker, who was killed on the previous evening by tumbling don n the stairs leading from the saiUoft, as stated in our issue of yesterday. The inquiry was held before T. M. Philson/ Esq., M.D., Coroner. The evidence addaoed is published elsewhere, and a verdict in accordance with the faots disclosed was returned by the jury. The deceased was 4 2 years of age, and a steady industrious man. We are glad to notice that the Wairoa Highway Trustees are about to take the initiatory step towards bringing into effect the Education Act, 1868, in their district. A notice will be found in our advertising columns to the effect that, a public meeting of the ratepayers is to be held at the Wairoa Schoolhouse on the afternoon of Tuesday next at two o'clock, when the desirability of leying a rate for educational purposes will be discussed. We shall look with interest for a report of the proceedings. A complaint was made at the Police Office last night, which we think ought to be attended to by the Volunteer officers. A lady was going home about nine o'clock in the evening, accompanied by her daughters, and when near the Mount Eden toll* bar they met two Volunteers, one of whom discharged his rifle close to the lady, who, being in weak health, fell and fainted. This practice of the Volunteers discharging their rifles in the public road is, it seems, rather common, and ought to be put a stop to. The names of the offenders in the present case are known to the police. We learn that a soiree will be held on Thursday evening next at the Otahuhu Publio Hall, in aid of the parochial fund. The Rev. J. Macky will preside, and, besides the Rev, F. Oould, it is 'expected that the Rev. Dr. Purchas, the Rev. E. H. Heywood, and others will take part in the proceedings. A boy, ag6d eiiht or nine years, the son of Mr. Bedford, blacksmith, Onehuuga, was thrown from his father's horse just before the arrival of the Governor in that town on Wednesday last. His foot was caught in the stirrup, and he was dragged along about twenty yards, with his head knocking on the ground. When taken up he was insensible, and has cendnued in that state up to the present time. Dr. Purohas however thinks he will reoover. The usual weekly sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court was held yesterday, when a number of cases were disposed of. At the Police Court yesterday, Riohard Casey was charged with assault on Eiohard Sewell, but, as prosecutor stated that he did not wish to go on with the case, prisoner was discharged. Gavin B. Shanks was, on the evidence of Drs. Nicholson and Wilson, adjudged to be a dangerous lunatic, and ordered to be sent to the Lunatic Asylum. Catherine Beaoh was charged with stealing £18 from the person of John Allison, and after the evidenoe had been taken she was committed for trial, The members of the Maori and European Reform Association are convened to attend a meeting this afternoon at 2 o'clock, at the Orakei Hall. The anniversary tea meeting is appointed to be held this evening at 6 o'clock, in the Pitt-street Wesleyan Sunday-schoolroom, after whioh a public meetiug is to take place in the church— the chair to be taken at half-past seven o'clock.^ Several clergymen and other gentlemen have kindly promised to address the meeting. We regret to le»rn that Mr. W. F. Lodge, chief clerk of the Resident Magistrate's Court, was severely injured on Tuesday evening, owing to his carriage coming into collision with the lamp-post at the corner of Alten Road and Symondsstreet, and has in consequence been confined to his bed. Mr. Lodge is suffering principally from concussion of the spine, but it is feared a serious shock to the system has been received. Mrs. and Master Lodge, who were in the trap at the same time, were also rather severely shaken. Dr. Goldsbro' is in medical charge of the patient, and we sincerely hope to hear of a speedy recovery, although it is stated that at least a couple of weeks must elapse before Mr. Lodge, will be able to resume his duties at the Court.