The Evening Post. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 195, 22 September 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1865.

Notwithstanding the immense draw made on the Government in the despatch of public business at the present time, they have- shown themselves not unmiud-. fulof the interest*, of the working classes. JTa bill hai been intro luced to the Home Representatives/, to authorise the establishment of Post Office Savings Banks throughout the colony. The bill differs little from the one . now in operation in Victoria, where it has proved of great benefit .to the masses , 6t the peopleTT^rhou?anda who otherwise would now Ise on the brink of poverty 1 are> through the thriftincss of their wives .and the agency of the bank, iti comfortable circumstances, nncl have a handsome deposit in the Savings Bank. The 'bill before the House provides that the Postmaster General shall have power to direct such of his officers as he shall think fit to receive deposits of a shilling or a multiple of that sum. The depositor shall be provided with a book, and every sum paid into the bank shall be entered therein and'< 'attested by the dated stamp of the office ; interest will' be paid on fill deposits, and the moneys deposited will be paid over to a board of trustees appointed by the Governor, and invested on* securities of the Government. By way of additional security to the depositors, it U provided that if the investment of the deposits does not meet the lawful claims of the depositors, the Colonial Treasurer shall have power to issue, on the warrant of the Governor,, the amount of such deficiency out of the colonial revenue. All depositors shall be entitled to repayment of their deposits withiu a week at furthest after the lapse of the time when his authority for repayment could by ordinary post be received by him at the Post Office named in his application. The authority for repayment is derivable only from the chief postmaster of the province in which the .iepositoT's account is kept, but the

repayment may he made in any part of the col<»ny. The Postmaster-General shall make or alter regulations for superintending, inspecting, and regulating the mode of keeping the accounts of the Bauk, so f.ir as the carrying of the act into execution in his department,. An annual account of all deposits received and paid by the bank, and of the expenses incurred during ihe current year, shall be laid before the House of Representatives during the next session of tho General Assembly, and the expenses of the bank shall be paid out of its funds. The bill is not likely to meet with opposition in its passage through the House, ior a more carefully constructed measure could scarcely be laid before it. Every facility is afforded the public of availing themselves of the use of the bank to any extent, while every security is afforded the depositor for the repayment of his savings We shall take occasion, as the bill passes through the House, to point out the beneficial effects of the operation of similar acts in other countries.

Yesterday, in the House of Representatives. Mr. C. Wilson asked the Premier the reason why the officer commanding the garrison of the Wereroa Pa allowed gangs of Maoris to prowl about the pa without taking measures to dislodge them. Mr. Weld replied that the G ivernment had nothing to do with the direction of British troops and he might be considered presumptuous to offjr an opinion on the matter, lie said, however, that such a course as had been referred to, and which ha 1 been pursued, had helped to keep the end of the war more distant than it had been. The soreness of tho Auckland and some of th'i Southern members at the success of the present Ministry in carrying on the governmunt of the country, is becoming more palpable daily. Yesterday, before the House went into Committee of Supply, several members objected to the Estimates being passed in their present form, and refused to remain dn their seats if the House proceeded to puss Such a policy as this is very, reprehensible, and certainly Will not meet with the approval of their constituencies. They ari» bound in honor to attend to the busmen* of the session, and give their influence in whatever direction conscience directs them. Mr. Vogel entered his protest on the grounds that the House was not n parish vestry, and that it was not the duty of lion, members to sit haggling over the estimates. He would not sit and haggle over them, but would be happy to watch from the gallery the proceedings of the House in the matter. Major Richardson replied that the gentleman who had ju»f: spoken (Mr. Vogel) was much more fitted ior the gallery than the body of the House. There had beci too much washing of hands on the question. The hon. member for Nelson had said he would wash his hands of all responsibility in the estimates, and many other members had followed suit. (^ Lieutenant Westrupp arrived last night from Wanganui by lha Storm Bird, bringing wiih him Major Yon Tempsky's Volunteer Rangers. Owing to the pay being reduced the corps now is very small, numbering only about fifty men It will, however, be considerably reinforced at Wellington by vo'unteers and gentlemen volunteers. Their next scene of operation will he Opotik', where they will join the expedition recently sent there under the command of Major Brassey. It is not known, however, who will have command after the arrival of Major Yon Terapsky. Tthe N.Z.S.N. s.s. Storm Bird, Captain Thompson, arrived in port from Wanganui last night. She left Wellington on the 15th inst, nnd arrived at Wanganui on the following day. During the passage she had fresh northerly winds. On the following day she took in provisions, amniuniUon, and stores for the East Coast expedition. The ('ay after embarked Major Yon Tempsky's corps, forty-nine in all. Ou the 21st she left Wanganui, and arrived as above. The s.s Wanganui arrived soon after, having left Wanganui in the morning at ten o'clock. When oft the Mana light-house the air pump rod broke, and the steamer was detained thereby for some time. Captain Lowe reports having spoken with the ship Queen of India, steering to westward between Kaplta and Mana Island. The news by the Wiuiganui is not important, and of no interest^^l The brig Wild Wave, Capt. Fisher, eight days out from Hobarfc Town, arrived yesterday evening, but brings no news of import-

ance. The greater part of her cargo consists of timber. She brings twenty-eight Negretti rams and twenty ewes, one Southdown ram and nine ewes, and ten horses, consigned to Mr. Edward Pearce. The P.N Z. and A R.M. Co.'s s.s. Airedale, 11. Harris commander, left Auckland at 2 p.m. on the 19th. arrived at Napier at 10 a m. on the 21st ; left again at 1 p.m. same day, and arrived here this day at 12 noon. She brings 141 cabin and steerage passengers for for Hukitika. The ss. Ofagn, Captain Smith, arrived in port at 11.30 to-day from Sydney by way of Nelson. When stie left Sydney, on tie 1 5i h, there was no intelligence of the English mail. The Prince Alfred was to leave Sydney for Auckland on the 16th inst, but if the arrival of the mail should have b»en telegraphed before the time fixed for her departure, she would be detained for the purpose of conveying the mail to Auckland. We have seen the geological Bketch map, and map showing the geological sections of the Province of Wellington, drawn by the Hon. James Coutts Crawford, Provincial Geologist. Both are very tastefully, and, it may be presumed, from Mr. Crawford's high attainments and intimate acquaintance with the country, accurately got up. They are in size about three feet by two feet six, and mounted on fine paper. They are published by the Provincial Government, and sold by Mr. William Lyon, bookseller, Willis street. The Wellington private subscription quadrille party hold its usual monthly assembly last night at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lambton Quay. There were about Bixty ladies and gentlemen present. Dancing commenned at nine o'clock, and was kept up to an early hour this morning. In to-day's Advertiser it is stated Captain Levy applied for liberty after the Brisk arrived in port. Captain Levy informs us that he did not apply for liberty, but simply demanded by letter an inquirj into the cause of his being kept in custody. It is necessary to the well-being of any public institution that the Committee or Board of Management should give due attention to the responsibilities entrusted to them. Questions are ever arising which require attention, and which, if neglected, will lead to decay and prostration. For some time past great difficulty has been experienced in bringing together tlie committee of the Athenoßura for the dispatch of businessWednesday evening was fixed for a meeting, but no one attended. Next Wednesday evening a meeting will be convened, when it is hoped members will put in an appearauce. Tne institute is now in a flourishing condition, and it is not only the duty but the privilege of the committee to make it more so. The year 5626 of the Jewish era commenced yesterday, and being the beginning of this most solemn festival of the year, it was observed by the Hebrews in Wellington by closing their places of business. To-day they remain closed through the same cause