DONATION TO THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 2331, 11 August 1875, Page 3

DONATION TO THE ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY.

It is with considerable pleasure we notice that the funds of the Acclimatisation Society havo been increased by a liberal donation from the late Egmont Rifle Volunteers. On Monday last Mr, C. D. Whitcombe, the Hon. Secretary, received the following letter aud enclosure from Mr. John Ellis : — New Plymouth, August 9th, 1875. Dear Sir, — At a meeting of the Egmont Rifle YoluQteevs previous to sending their resignation to the Government, it was resolved that the balance of the funds of the Corps be handed over to the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society. I havo now great pleasure in enclosing a cheque for £52 lGs. 4d. being tbo amount of such balance. — Yours truly, John Ellis, Lieutenant late Egmont Rifles. To Secretary Taranaki Acclimatisation Society.

Inspector of Prisons.— The Estimates provide for the appointment of an Inspector of Prisons, at a salary of £000. The New District Judge at Auckland. — Mr. F. D. Fenton, has been gazetted District Judge and Resident Magistrate of Auckland, vice Thomas Beckham, deceased; but as will be seen by our telegrams, the appointment is only temporary. Coming to Blows. — Tho Echo says that Mr. J. Sherwood, a supplementary clerk to Parliament, punched tho head of Mr. Gillon, editor of the Evening Post, within tho precincts of the House. The Mutual Improvement Society held its postponed meeting on Monday evening last, at which there was tho largest attendance we have yet seen. Mr, Marchant read an elegant essay on "Mechanics" in which tho knowledge displayed by tho writer seemed to deter most of those present from making rash criticisms ; consequently the debate closed earlier than usual. The subject for next week is to be " Vogcl's Policy," by Mr. W. Courtney. Mrs. Ford's Pension Bill.— Sir Donald McLean in tho House, on Friday last, moved tho second reading of Ford and Others' Pension Bill. — Mr. George McLean objected strongly to these pensions. If the Native Minister thought these persons had a good claim upon the Colony, let him put a certain sum uponthe estimates, nnd if, upon investigation, .the claim was found good, the hon. gentleman would have his support. Let him get a sum of money to buy an annuity for these persons, but give no pensions. Mr. T. Kelly, though generally [opposed to granting pousions, was not so in this particular case. Mr. Sheehan supported the bill which provided for the children of those who had sacrificed their lives in the defence o£ the Colony. The bill was read, a second time. Local Public Works. — The contingent expenditure for local public works in Provinces is set down as follows : — Auckland, £25,529 ; Taranaki, £10,099; Wellington, £110,019; Hawke's Bay, £23,030; Nelson, £26,850; Marlborough, £5,490; Canterbury, £815,221; Westhmd, £22,282; Otago, £555,000. The total contingent expenditure is £1,000,150. These amounts nro takon from the various estimates of expenditure of the different Provinces, but us many of them have appropriated hundreds of thousands above their expected income, very littlo of the amount will bo expended.