The Evening Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 280, 2 December 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDA Y, DECEMBER 2, 1870.

Thebe Las been a storm in a tea-pot. The Provincial Council has been indignant. In the person of its Speaker its dignity has been offended ; it has risen in might and majesty, and smitten the Superintendent hip aud thigh. Imperial Ukase and Eussian serf, and all the highest nights of Auckland spreadeasflism have barely sufficed to relieve the throbbing bosoms of honorable councillors, and henceforth woe betide' the man that will come between the wind and their nobility. If there is any thing supremely grotesque, it is to see a Colonial Legislature on a question of privilege ; and to. any one really wishing well to representative institutions and sensitive regarding their honor the attempt of a small parish-vestry kind of institution to ape the dignity of the House of Gommons is almost a painful bui'lesque. There is something sublime in seeing the representatives of the people in the House of Commons rising to resent an indignity offered to him who is supposed to embody the dignity of that august assembly. It is a tumble from the sublime to the ridiculous'to see the Provincial Council of Auckland defending its honor in the person of the honorable member for Onehunga. This sight was to be witnessed lastnight in our Provincial Council, and it is written in the records of the House, according to the desires of honorable members, in perpetuam memoriam rei. The circumstance from which this eventful incident arose is 'simple. The Superintendent issued an order that the provincial officers should refrain from taking part in electioneering. The necessity for the order was only too painfully evident from the thoroughly scandalous proceedings of the past. It is .very well known that officers in receipt' of public pay have used their influence, and employed their time in canvassing ; that the police, and even a paid magistrate, have abused their position, and prostituted the character of impartiality, to influence an important election. It is notorious that from the Hospital, and even the Lunatic Asylum, patients have been carried to the polling booth, and now when Mr. Gillies might take precedent from the past and prostitute in a similar manner his power, and the influence which he must possess over his subordinates in the impending elections, he, in perfect accordance with the public character which lie has held hitherto, determines that so far as in him lies, the scandals of the past shall not disgrace his administration. In almost every other place but this, public, officers of every kind are absolutely prohibited, on pain of dismissal, from taking any part in influencing elections, and in most cases have to endure the penalty for being in the public service by being prevented even from recording their votes. Here the first attempt to purify the public service stirs up the corruption that was festering below; and the fancied slight put upon the Speaker of the Provincial Council is the excuse for a tirade of abuse against the reformer. It appears that the rule on the subject was put in the form of a circular, and by misadventure, though we cannot see impropriety, one was transmitted to Mr. (x. Maurice O'Rorke. To this, Mr. O'Eorke's reply is simply impertinent; and the Provincial Secretary, seeing that he had moved the ingenium -perfervidum of that gentleman, endeavored to sooth him in the manner usual with gentlemen. The whole thing, in the artless way known to legislators, is extracted by a question, and then the storm rages.

We sincerely trust that neither the touchiness of Mr. O'JJorke, nor yet the frothy utterances of those members "whose bile was moved by the inferences regarding the past contained in the Superintendent's circular, will deter th at. gentleman from strictly enforcing the salutary rule. And. we shall be glad to learn of the dismissal of every office-holder in the provincial service who will dare to perpetuate the corruption of the past.

We were under misapprehension yesterday wlihii penning our remarks respecting the phbificititm taken in this city on tho Permissive Bill. It appears that one section of the city has been canvassed, and that in an incomplete manner, and the small number of dissen tiehts which appeared to us to nof> equal the publicans of the city, reprejented the opposition of this section only. We have heard from reliable information that the inmost effort has been made to procure an honest expression of the views of the whole city on the subject, and that the returns when complete cannot be otherwise than a fair representation of the desires of the people. We hasten to make this explanation, as it was only from considering the small number of votes, and especially of dissentient votes as representing the whole city, that we denounced the returns as a sham.

If the advocates of the principles of the " Permissive Bill " desired a painful illustration of the effects of drink, it was to be found in the Police Court to-day, when a young and rising actor, respected and esteemed, appeared to answer the charge of having taken an organ —accordcon—from the'^City Hall, evidently not knowing what he was doing, from the effects of that which " steals away the brains." His playing the instrument", when Avails ing up the public street, and at once briuging it to the constable when asked for it showed the absence of felonious intent; and the lenient sentence of the Bench, while making allowance for the temporary absence of mental and moral control, affirmed the principle that intoxication is no excuse for wrongdoing.

The inspection parade of the Auckland Rifle Volunteers took place last night. There was a good muster. Various evolutions were very creditably gone through, such as " open column, right in front," " changing front on the centre," &c, &c. After which the men were inspected by Major and Adjutant •»t.. Clair Tisdall, and dismissed.

Constable Bullen yesferday returned from Henderson's Mill, bringing with him the bones of the late Captain Weston. An inquest will be held upon the remains at the Railway Terminus hotel, at three o'clock this afternoon.

At the Onehunga Police Court, yesterday, John Fearon was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, for stealing a kit pf tools, the property of Samuel Piper. Mr Robert Heller left, for Sydney to-day, by tho steamer James Patorson.

At the Prince of Wale 3 Theatre last evening Mr. Howe again appeared as Rip Van Winkle, and was well received. This evening Shakespeare's " Hamlet" will be produced, and His Excellency the G-overnor and Lady Bowen have signified their intention of being present.

A woman, well connected, who has recently been charged with drunkenness descended the watermen's steps yesterday morning, evidently with the intention of throwing herself into the water. She was fortunately prevented from so doing by the timely interference of one of the watermen.

A meeting of the members of the Jewish persuasion was held yesterday afternoon, afc the stores of Mr. H. S. Meyers. Queen-street, when Messrs, Barnstt, Levy, E. Isaacs, and P. A. Philips, were appointed additional trustees for the Jewish burial-ground. There was-some other business to have come before the meeting, but ft was not brought forward, in consequence of the smallness of the attendance.

The Kuranui G.M.C., yesterday paid a dividend of two shilings and sixpence per share.

Information has been given to the police by Mrs. Ilog.an that her husbind, John Hogiw, left his residence, Springhatik, on the 3rd of October, for the purpose of proceeding to the" Waikato to purchase a farm in that distinct, and that he has not since been heard of. He left on a pony, the bridle and stirrups of which were marked wih the initials " J.H." He is 23 years of age, has light hair and moustache and whiskers, and is of slight stature. When lie left home lie was wearing a black sack coat and vest, a round hat, and lace-up boots. He came with his wife from Adelaide about four months ago. Any intelligence of his whereabouts will be gratefully received by his wife.

The anniinl sale of tolls on behalf of the Provincial Government will beheld by Samuel Cochrane and -on on the 19th instant.