The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1956, 12 April 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1875.

The question of transferriag the control of the police of the Province from the General to the Provincial Government was made a great deal of at the time the late Mr Williamson was elected to the Superintendency. During his canvas he was repeatedly assailed with queries as to what course he would pursue in tnis matter, and it was made an election question with the other candidates. The opinion seemed to be almost general at that time that the police should not be interfered with. 2s Tow Sir George Grey has been elected, it is said he wants the police to fee. retransferred to the Protincial Government, yet no protest •|s made —no fuss. "What would have been looked upon as treason in Mr Williamson is right and proper in Sir George Greyi; How is thi3 to be accounted for? For ourselves we say that so long as the police force continues to be well managed, the Provincial Government cannot better it, and the chances are in favor of something of the old regime being introduced. If it was right for the General Government to have tbe controlof the police duringthe terms of office of Mr Gillies and Mr Williamson, we cannot perceive that any circumstances have arisen to mate it desirable that an alteration should be made; They who so sturdily protested against any change before ought now to let their voices be heard, and let us see if they were actuated by opposition to Mr Williamson, or a desire to see the police efficiently controlled.

The advocates of funeral reform in the i Southern Provinces appear to be in earnest. In Dunedin and. Christchurch associations hare been formed to bring about what they conceive to be a muchneeded alteration in the customs attending the burial of the dead, especially those outward displays which consist of the employment of hireling mourners, hearses and coaches, with- the conventional plumes and other trappings of woe. There is reason to fear that these associations will go too far in their first efforts, and instead of inducing people to accept what they propose as reforms, they will shock public sensibilities bj attempts at revolution, in the conduct of funerals. Many persons approach the subject of funerals with reluctance. They are averse to discussing how they will act at over which they may have control," and would rather not enter into details too closely. The ■'" declarations" proposed to be inflicted on members; are, we consider, the most objectionable features of the proposed reform. While there is much to be approved in the objects of these associations, we think it wculd be better to confine their reforms to those features which .the arbitrariness of custom imposes upon people who perhaps can ill afford the expense of; and would be glad to dispense with the outward signs of mourning which have become the fashion.