Evening Post. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1877.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 276, 24 November 1877, Page 2

Evening Post. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1877.

What will the Canterbury and Otago newspapers say to the proposal of the Ministry to deal with the Land Fund as Colonial revenue ? That is a question which many persons have asked themselves within the last few days > We expected that they would have protested furiously, and that their opinion of the Ministry would have become decidedly unfavorable. To our surprise, they have received the announcement with equanimity and resignation. The" Lyttelton Times says " that the proposal to treat the Land Fund as common property ought not to occasion any surprise. It is the inevitable result of Provincial Abolition. The guardians of the province were removed when that alteration was made in the constitution, and the Colony has, as Mr. Larnach puts it, ' been permitted ' ever since 'to drift into circumstances ' which are not pleasing to think upon. Moreover, it has been long evident that the Land Fund has been going by inches. The chief recommendation of Mr. Larnach's proposal to take it altogether is its honesty. He very openly says that the Colony cannot get on without it, and must have it." It will thus be seen that our contemporary accepts the proposal as one which was inevitable. The Canterbury Press/ which is a strong opponent of the present Ministry, assails the Financial Statement in a general way, but does not make any protest against colonialising the land fund. The Otago Daily Times is clear and decided in its expression of opinion. " Let it be be clearly understood," it says, " that the colonialisation of the land fund was practically determined upon last year, and that Mr, Larnach has only said plainly what the members of the former Ministry were afraid to say so plainly. It is not the present Ministry that are throwing into the common stock the savings in landed estate which we have stored up for bo many years. It is not Sir George Grey or Mr. Sheehan that are acting in the interests of the North against the South. Whoever bald the reins must have done the same thing, and musf. have offered the security to the lender without which money cannot be borrowed to advantage, cheaply and well. We spared no pains to impress on the public down here that as certainly as the interest became payable on the debt we had so recklessly accumulated and so rashly squandered, so certainly should we have to find the means for paying that interest, and have to find it in our land fund. We are very glad that the Ministry now in office have had the manfulness and boldness to put our financial condition fairly and 6quarely before us." If the proposal to make the land fund

common property k not condemned in Canterbury and Otago, it may be said to be accepted by every part of New Zealand. Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Nelson, and Westland are all in favor of the plan, and in the South, from which active resistance was expected, there is tacit acquiescence. The colonialisation of the land fund may now be regarded as an accepted proposal.

The second volume of the New Zealand Statistics for 1876, comprising Parts iv., v., and vi., has just reached us. It contains some very interesting items, which are worth quoting, as illustrating the condition and progress of the colony. It appears that in 1876 the total average liabilities of the banks in the colony amounted to £7,221,399, and their assets to £11,776,070, their paid-up capital to £4,826,632, and the total amount of reserved profits to £1,736.986. The number of mortgages ou land effected in 1876 was 7198, and their total amount to £4,230,958, while 2995 releases to the amount of £1,650,164 were effected, the excess of mortgages over releases being £2,580,794. The legal statistics show -that 1193 civil cases were tried in the Supreme Court, 450 in District Courts, and 27,367 in Resident Magistrate Courts. The declarations of insolvency numbered 542, the total assets as filed being £395,546, and liabilities £474,600, the latter being £79,054 in excess. The criminal calendar for the year, although less than that of 1875, yet appears very heavy. No fewer than 22,141 criminal charges were heard during 1876, which resulted in 16,331 convictions, and 5811 discharges, acquittals, or non-prosecutions. Of the various offences, drunkenness stands high at the head, there being no fewer than 7153 " drunks" called on to answer to their excesses. There were 1534 cases of common assault, 1242 of larceny, 1687 of vagrancy. Among the graver crimes there were 11 charges of murder, of which 5 were dismissed by the Magistrates, and 6 committed for trial. Of these latter only 1 was convicted, 2 were acquitted, and 2 found insane. There were 12 cases of attempted murder, 7 of manslaughter, 1 of infanticide, 13 of rape, 4 of bigamy, 17 of attempts to commit suicide, only 1 of robbery with violence, 22 burglaries, 54 of forgery, 3 of coining, 12 of arson, 2 of criminal libel, and 24 contempt of court. The inquests on deaths numbered 546. In 252 cases the deaths were attributed to accident, in 17 to intemperance, and 6 to the " Visitation of God." The "New Zealand death" — drowning — still maintains its pre-eminent fatality, as many as 162 deaths being recorded from this cause. The number of suicides was 38, of of which 34 were committed by males and 4 by females. The inquests on fires numbered 61, in 12 of which verdicts of incendiarism were returned. The total number of European schools were 928, employing 1893 teachers and attended by 61,975 pupils. It is estimated that 37 per cent, of the children in this colony are either receiving no education at all, or are dependent upon home tuition. The total strength of the A.C. is estimated at 610 men of all ranks, and of the volunteers at 6545. The fire brigades numbered 28, with a total strength of 90 officers and 655 men. The number of persons registered as electors for the year ending 31st August, 1877, was 61,753, equal to 28 per cent, of the male population in 1U76.

So, the Education Bill may come to nothing after all. After tremendous fighting it emerged from the Lower House a very different measure from that which went in. It was again patched, and added to, and deducted from, in the Legislative Council. The back door was opened to religious education, and the appropriation clause (providing for the cost of education being paid by the State) was struck out. Yesterday the bul was again referred to the House of Representatives, and the whole afternoon was spent in discussing it. Ultimately, by majorities of 43 to 13 and 45 to 15, the House decided to " disagree " with the amendments made by the Upper House. Three " managers," as they are technically called — Messrs. Sheeban, Bowen, and Montgomery — were appointed to meet a like number of gentlemen from the Council, to decide what is to be done under the circumstances. Each branch of the Legislature appears determined to stick to its own opinion, and if no basis of common agreement can be found, the bill will fall to the ground between the proverbial two stools. In that case we shall have the present unsatisfactory system in operation for another year, and then, in all probability, another long fight in Parliament over a new bill.

Our usual Saturday evening's supplement contains the customary amount of entertaining reading matter. A description of .some of the ladies' dresses on tlie Melbourne Cup day will be specially interesting to our readers of tho fair sex. The Bill to Amend the Civil List Act, 1863, Amendment Act. 1873, has been issued. It fixes the salary of the Premier at £1000, with the same amount tor six other members of the Executive. Provision is also made for two Maori members of the Executive, with salaries of £400 each. As Mr. Nahe is the only native Minister at present, another has still to be appointed. We hear that Mr. Tawiti is likely to yield to the wishes of his constituents, and support the Government, in which case the vac ant portfolio would probably fall to his lot An impudent robbery occurred yesterday evening in Abel Smith-street. A man entered the house of Mrs. Marshall, in bare feet, and with an evident intention of appropriating any valuable articles within reach. The servant, however, fortunately heard him and screamed out, when the man levanted, but he carried away a pair of new boots belonging to the girl. Latterly a series of petty robberies have occurred in the neighborhood, and a policeman stationed there might have a good effect on the morals of the thieves. The only case on the criminal list at the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day was one of drunkenness, in which the delinquent, G eorge Arnold, was fined 10s or 48 hours' imprisonment. Captain Holt and Mr. Hickson occupied the Bench. There were no cases on the civil list. " Ratepayer," writing from Sussex-square, complains strongly of the larriMnism in his neighbourhood, and the absence of any police supervision. He says that last Saturday evening "one of the most disgraceful riots and general fights ever witnessed in Wellington " took place in front of his house. " Men engaged in a general fight, women screaming and encouraging them, while the most obscene and filthy language was poured forth " — that is our correspondent's account of a scene which would have been considerably improved by the presence of a few blue-coated policemen. "Ratepayer" adds that such occurrences are not uncommon in Sussex-square, that missiles are continually thrown against his house, thar filth is deposited on his doorstep, and that other larrikin pranks are played on him every day. Sometimes, he says, drunken men will go further, and will enter his house ; while it is not safe for a lady to walk unprotected from Adelaide-road to Tasman-street at night time. Our correspondent says he can identify some of the offenders. We should advise him to give information to the police. There was another capital house at the Theatre Royal last evening, when the historical drama "Marie Antoinette" was repeated to a j most enthusiastic audience. His Excellency the Governor was present during the evening, and appeared thoroughly to enjoy the really splendid impersonation by Signora Majerom, whose acting was truly life-like. The piece went smoothly throughout, and drew repeated marks of applause. The same programme will be repeated this evening. The s.s. Moa has succeeded in recovering from the wreck of the schooner Waihopai about 20,000 feet of timber, besides the wincb, wheel, and a quantity of other gear. Captain Butt expects to get the vessel off next week, and says she is not so much damaged as was at first expected. There was a very good attendance last evening at the Odd Fellows' Hall, the " Mirror of the World " proving as interesting as it always is with its shifting scenes of home and long ago. The entertainment appeared to be thoroughly appreciated by the audience, some of the views shown coming in for loud marks of approbation; the freaks of the Dancing Skeleton in particular fairly convulsing the house. There will be a change in the programme this evening, and the views will comprise a variety of scenes in America and the Continent, as also Australian and New Zealand landscapes, together with a view of Mount Vesuvius in eruption. Taken altogether, the entertainment is really worthy a visit. One of those pleasing little episodes which occasionally happen to brighten the face of things, occurred yesterday afternoon in the Resident Magistrate's Court, when Mr. Baker, the clerk of the court, presented Mr. Wardell, R.M. (on behalf of the officers of the court), with a handsome meerschaum pipe, together with a complimentary letter, as a

token of the esteem in which he is held by those who have acted under him during the past few months. Mr. Wardell expressed himself greatly pleased with the gift, which he assured the officials he would highly value. Mr. Ollivier, the only member of the Bar present, then expressed in a few well chosen remarks, the thanks of the gentlemen of the profession for Mr. Wardell's courtesy during his term of office, a compliment which that gentleman suitably acknowledged. The Hon. Col. Brett has given notice that in the Legislative Council he will move, "That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that the Government should, during the recess, devote attention to the reorganisation of the volunteer system of the colony, having especial regard to the expediency of combining efficiency with economy, aud to the necessity of gradually replacing, within a short time, the arms of almost obsolete pattern by arms which late observation has proved to be so very material in aid of defensive operations." In another column appears the prospectus of the Wanganui Steam Navigation Company (Limited). The proposed capital is £30,000, in 3000 shares of £10 each, of which it is only proposed to call up £5 per share. Messrs. Krull and Co. are the Wellington agents. The inquiry held at the Customs by the Collector and Captain Johnson, touching certain complaints made by Chief Pilot Holmes against Pilot Holm, has concluded, the result being that it has been decided to dispense with the services of the latter, paying him, by way of compensation, a month's salary for each year he has been^in the service. We are pleased to see that the business of the Resident Magistrate's Court, in as far as regards the distribution of summonses, &c, shows a great improvement of late. Previously j there used to be complaints and complaints, j times out of number, regarding the issue of summonses, but now these seem to have ceased and business may (to use a commercial phrase) be considered as now placed on a sound substantial basis. Mr. Baker, with Mr. James, and Messrs. Short and DeNorville (the two bailiffs), have so arranged matters that in future the pressing claims of litigants will receive every attention. At Mr. Finnimore's sale of town sections at Bull's, Rangitikei, the terms will be 25 per cent, cash; balance by bills at 12 months, without interest, and special arrangements if desired. In consequence of alterations to plans, the time for receiving tenders for shops and dwellings for Mr. Madden has been extended to the 6th prox. At St. George's Hall this evening a really capital bill of fare is announced, comprising the popular burlesque "Little Don Giovanni," together with the farce " Odd or Even." We notice that the Alleen Troupe will make their first appearance in the hall on Monday night, and, judging by the reputation they have already obtained elsewhere, they should prove a great attraction. It will be seen by our advertising columns that the services of a competent person to assess the various properties in the KaroriMakara Highway District are required. Applications are to be sent to the Secretary up to the 30th instant. The Board sits on Saturday, the Ist December. The next of the series of united prayer meetings will be held in the Congregational Church, Woodward-street, on Monday evening, at 7.30. We are requested to call attention to Mr. R. J. Duncan's large and totally unreserved sale of new colonial furniture, on Monday, at 11.30. The selection is one of the finest we have seen, and in conjunction with furniture from the Vice-Regal Estate at Lowry Bay, should command the attention of those desirous of furnishing, and of buyers for the trade. To Indicate the traps of fraud, especially, when the snares are destined for the invalid public, is decidedly gratifying. It is, therefore, a pleasing task to stigmatise the imported pseudo tonics and the bogus invigorants, whose proprietors allege that they are identical with or as good as Udolpho Wolfe's Scheidam Aromatic Schnapps. They are all more or less adulterated, fiery, and injurious. Shun them. — Advt.