Evening Post. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1879.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 309, 2 January 1879, Page 2

Evening Post. THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 1879.

VlßTtrAtiiV the Afghan war ia at an end. What we mentioned last week as the certain remit of the election of Yakoob Khan as Ameer has taken place. Oar special telegrams, which hare been delayed through cable interruptions, now announce that Yakoob has lost no time in going to Jellalabad, which the British forces recently took, and tendering his submission and that of his people to the British Government. Thus, after a brief contest, marked by rapid preparation, prompt action, and the customary British pluck, the hostile Ameer fled from Mb dominions, a thoroughly friendly successor, one who seeks the progress of his people through the influences of western civilisation, reigns in his stead, and Russian intrigue in Afghanistan has been completely foiled, her influence greatly injured, and the prestige and power of Britain throughout the Ameer's dominions and the neighbouring States fully restored and enhanced. The injury to Russian influence in Central Asia will be considerable. The wild tribes there look to results and value success. They can compare these satisfactory results with Russia's rather pretentious and pompous letter to the late Ameer, which letter accompanied the presentation sword, and the vaunted promise of protection, for surely " not a hair of the head of .Russia's friend" would she suffer to be injured! A few weeks pass; British forces enter Afghanistan, defeat the Afghan forces in every encounter, and the people of Cabul rise against Shkre Ali ; he flees from his capital ; his son is elected in his room ; a new order of things is established; Russian power in Affghanistan is reduced to zero, 'and, if wise counsels and a bold front prevail in India, at that point of the politico-diplo-matic thermometer it will remain. The rapid and successful Affghan campaign will prove also to be a salutary lesson all over India wherever any latent disaffection may exist either among the subject states of India or other parts of that Empire. The- rapidity with which the Affghan chief has been snbdued, the ease with which the British have vindicated their honor and their power, and the story of their succesaea will be disseminated throughout large portions of the land by means of the native press, and will tell effectually in securing respect for and confirming the British raj throughout all Hindostan, advancing our power in Central Asia, and at the same time weakening that of Russia, wherever the interests of the two powers. may conflict. A number of voluble individuals, with " wheels of fortune " and other instruments of gaming, opened operations at the Caledonian Sports yesterday, but, we are pleased to say that their "little game" was speedily stopped by the police. It seems almost incredible that persons are found ntupid enough to throw away their money by investing it with these gaming tablckeepers, since it must be evident, one would imagine, to the most shallow thinker that the astute speculators who carry on this species of swindling take goci care that they shall not be the losers by \tbeir "enterprise." The gentry who adopt this questionable means of making a livelihood may not be aware that under sec. 4 of the Vagrant Act of 1866, they are liable to be sent to gaol' for one year with hard labour as "rogues and vagabonds." Should they be found pursuing their avocation on any future occasion it would be well to make an example of a few of them. Though not yet formally decided, it is practically certain that the.Hon. Major Richmond will b8 appointed to the vacant Speakerehip of the Legislative Council. A special steamer was to leave Batavia for Singapore at noon to-day, taking on all messages. It speaks well for Wellington that there was not a jingle charge of drunkenness before Mr. Mansford, R.M , this morning. The only 6uuueso was-n charge of broaching cargo, preferred against George Wise and William Pitt, two of the Hermione'B crew. They were remanded until to-morrow, no evidence bsine taken. ' It is very probable that the new Supreme and Resident Magistrate's Courts. will not face Lambton Quay, aboriginally intended, bubthat they will be built in one of the streets io? the centre of ibe reclaimed land, the site next to St. George's Hall being sold. The advantage of this plan would be that the business of the Courts would be less likely to be disturbed from the noise of the street traffic, while, on the other band, the Courthouses would, if facing Lambton Quay, be an ornament to the chief st-eet of the city. His Excellency the Governor has informed Mr. hllaby, the secretary of the Wellington Regatta Committee, that he will have much pleasure in patronising the Wellington Annirersary Regatta, to be held on 22nd January. It has been finally decided by the Government to issue a free railway pass to each newspaper in the colony. The Wellington vital statistics for the year just expired cannot but be regarded as highly satisfactory. While the number of births showed a large increase as compared with 1877 —being 986 as against 888— there was an equally large diminution in the number of deaths, which were only 296 in 1878, as* compared with 338 in 1877. Thus the births showed an increase and the deaths a decrease each of nearly 12 per cent. The marriages were 348, iis against 268 in 1877, an increase of 80, or more thao 30 per cent. It is noteworthy, also, that 62 marriages were celebrated before the Registrar ia 1878, whereas in the preceding year only 38 marriages took place at the Registrar's Office. The Harbor Master, Captain Holliday, is about to pnsecute two persons for taking gravel from the Te Aro foreshore below highwater mark, contrary to law. During the month of December, 1878, 113 births were registered in this city, the largest number ever yet recorded in Wellington. The deaths were 28, and the marriages 33. The tender of John Dooley for cartage required by the Corporation during the year 1879, at Us 6d per horse, cart and driver, has been accepted by the Public Works Committee of the City Council, to whom the matter was delegated. The amount of Customs revenue collected at Wellington during the raonth of December, 1878, was £14,548 Is 3tl, as compared with £15,128 17s Od in December, 1877. The Customs revenue for the quarter ended 91st December, 1878, was £47,880 10s 4d, as against £45,586 93 3d for the corresponding quarter of the year 1877. On Boxing Night some person or persons unknown took the boat belonging to H. M. Customs from the davits, at the Queen's Wharf, and she was found next morning on the beach with five of her planks stove in. The authorities are on the watch for the offenders. Mr. D. Hall, the city missionary, thankfully acknowledges the receipt of the following sums in aid, for December : — Captain G. T., 10s ; Captain X, of Jessie Roadman, £1; Kis. 14., & 6d; J. ML, £1; Mrs. W, Nfc6d: T. s! and Co, £1 Is; Mrs. D. ss: J. and Co., £1 1»: Dr. H., £1; J. G., 10s; H. B.£l Is: Friend, 3s 6d. Total, £8 4s 6d. The return of patients in the Provincial Hospital of Wellington during the month of December, 1878, is as follows:— Admitted: Male*, 11 ; females, 2. D-scharged : Males, 14 ; females, 5. Died: Hales, 1; Female, 1. Left in Hospital: Males, 39 j females, 11. Total, 50. The idiotic practice which hitherto has prevailed on New Year's Eve, of risking the total destruction by fire of tbi? wooden city and of the shippiog in port, by indif jiminate discharges of rockets and other fireworks from the ships at tho wharf, w«s relinquished on this occasion. It may be remembered that last Mew Tear s Eve a burning rocket stick ftll cm the roof of one of the principal warehouses in Custom- Bouse Quay and peoa- I truted it, but fortunately became extinguished in its passage through the iron roof, otherwise i a most disastrous conflagration in the very he»rt of the city must have been tha result. We hope that the memory of this narrow escape will continue to bear fruit in the discouragement of such perileus tomfoeler; as discharging fireworks in the centra of a wooden city The children of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School, Sydney-street, went by tramway to Newtown yesterday, and had a picnic in a paddock kindly lest for the occasion by Mr. Wilson. Various games were indulged in, and the little oaes thoroughly enjoyed them.sel r 6s. A most extraordinary escape from drowning was reported to the police yesterday. Some boys, sons of Mm. Redman, of Courtney PJace, were playing on the beach near Messrs. Greenfield and Stewart's saw-mills, about 9 o'clock in the morning, when they saw a child, about three yean of age, floating in the water. They managed to get it askore in an insecdble state, and took it to then* mother, who undressed the little waif, bathed it in warm water, and poured wine and water down its throat, and she was at last rewarded for her trouble by seeing tin child return to life. Mrs. RedmaQ tnen dreesed it in some of her own children's clothes. Dr. Watts was called in, but found that Mrs. Redman's judicious measures had rendered his tenstaoce

unnecessary. Every attention was piid to the little stranger until tbe evening, when lit father appeared to claim it. The parents, who are named Quinlivan, live in Tara-naki-stmet, and the child moat have wandered all tbe distance down to the beach, when somehow it managed to get iato tbe water. The father, who, it is stated, was intoxicated, never even thanked Mrs. Redman for the care and attention she had bestowed on the child, nor has he since had the common decency to return the c.othes which it was ¦wearing when taken away. The Government steamer StoUa leave? ior Caps Campbell at 12 o'clock to-night She takes Captain Johnson and two surveyors, to tike souudings in the vicinity of the place where tbe ship Southminster U said to htve struck, causing her wreck. A new and greatly improved time-table comes into force to-day on the Wellington and Feathercton Railway. Tht 730 a.m train starts at 7.40, ten minutes later than before, and reaches Feathcrston at 11, half-an-hour earlier, 40 minutes, thus being saved on the journey. The 11.10 a-m. train to Lower Hutt is discontinued. A new train leaves at 12 20 p.m. for Upper Hutt. The 1.15 pm. will run on Saturday's only, and not beyond Lower Hutt. The 3 p.m. train arrives at Featherston 40 minutes earlier than before, viz., at 6 20 p.m. Tbe 3.45 to Lower Hutt is discontinued. A new train haves at 4.45 p.m. for Upper Hutt. The 5.15 p.m. itarts at 5.35, 20 minutes later. A new train leaves Upper Hutt at 630 am, reaching Wellington At 7.35. The 755 a.m. from Upper Hutt starts 15 minutes later, viz., at 8.10. Tbe 7.15 a.m. goods train from Featherston is discontinued. The first train from Featherston leaves at 9.5 a.m., 15 minutes later than before, and reaches Wellington at 12 10, 45 minutes earlier than before, thus saving 55 minute* on the journey. A new train leaves Upper Hutt at 235 p m. for Wellington. The 2.55 from Featherston starts 25 minutes later, viz , at 3.20, and reaches Wellington half-an-hour earlier than hitherto, thus saving 55 minutes. Trains leave Upper Hatt for Cross Creek at 7.20 a m., and the fummit for Upper Hutt at 5.40 p.m. i The 11.15 p.m. to Lower Hutt runs on Wednesday as well as Saturday. The trains not mentioned above remain unaltered. Every train calls at all intermediate stations when required, as hitherto. Mr. Ashcroft deserves I great credit for his efforts to suit the public convenience, which will be thoroughly appreciated by all who use the railway. Yesterday Mr. J. F. E. Wright was presented with a very handsome gold watch and chain by his brother promoters in the West Wanganui Coal Company. The presentation was made D* Mr. E. W. Mills, chairman of the company. The watch bears the following inscription :— " Presented to J. F. E. Wright, Esq., by the promoters of the West Wanganui Coal Company, as a slight recognition of his services in floating the company.— E. W. Mills chairman, 1878." As the steamer Ladybird was entering the harbor yesterday afternoon, and when she was about 200 yards inside the Heads, a sailing yacht deliberately persisted in crossing an<i re-crossing the steamer's bows. This senseless and dangerous freak was repeated several times, and Captain Garrard, after putting the helm first to port and then to starboard, and the yacht still keeping right in the steamer's course, was obliged to order the engines to be kept dead slow in order to avoid running down the yacht The fools who could perpetrate such an imbecile and childish trick well deserved a ducking, and it weuld have served them quite right if they had come to grief while they were endeavoring to delay the steamer by their stupid larrikinism. The jury, attending the inquest at the , Morgue this afternoon, bad to view the body of the deceased while the post mortem examination was being conducted. Dr. Johnston, the Coroner, apologised for having to take them in before the body was ready for them, adding that he gave notice to the police yesterday morning, and fully expected that the post mortem examination would have been made yesterday. Certainly there seems to have been gross neglect somewhere, and it is to be hoped, for the sake of jurymen who have a sufficently unpleasant duty to perform under the best of circumstances, that a similar thing may not occur again. A couple of Chinamen were discharging I fireworks on the wharf yesterday, when some I roughs raised the cry of " Down with the Chinese." The Celestials were rather roughly handled, and had to take refuge in the Pier Hotel. The doors were locked and the aid of the police invoked. Inspector Atchison personally attended to the summons, and dispersed the crowd several times. At last the Chinamen left the hotel and proceeded homewards, but were again assaulted, and this time they sought safety in the Empire Hotel. The crowd remained outside until ,4 o'clock this morning, and it was not until the last man left that the hunted Chinamen could pluck up courage to leave. A. case of assault, in which Alexander Holmes was comnlatnant and Isaac Watt i defendant, was being heard at the Resident Mugistrate's Court, before' Mr. Wallfe/jip., and Mr. D. Lewis, J.P., when we went to press. The Star of Wellington Lodge, 1.0. G.T., will hold their usual weekly meeting this evening, at 7.30. The Standard says:— "A meeting of the shareholders of the Walrarapa tialeyards Company was held on Monday. Mr. Pharazyn was voted to the chai-, and stated that there was very little business to put to the meeting, but It had been called to give the shareholders a chance of hewing what had been done. He said that 1720 shares had been taken up, and that the cost of tbe yards and everything in conneciion with them would be something like £1200. Mr. J. P. Russell and Mr. ft. Barton were then duly elected a* directors to make up the number. At the meeting of the directors, held afterwards, we believe Mr. H. H. Walters was appointed secretary to the Company Between Crws Creek and Featherston on Friday night, the roof was blown clean off a luggage van, and carried a ditsance of several hundred yards by the gale, which was something terrific.