TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1871

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 606, 19 December 1871, Page 2

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1871

It is a singular thing that the name of this journal is so frequently in the mouths of angry people, although they profess so much disregard for our strictures. We were yesterday honored with a large share of the proceedings of the City Council, wherein friends and foes seem to have vied with one another in abusing the Evening Stab. It is to be regretted, however, that certain members, such as Messrs Macready and George, cannot discuss questions without showing anger and giving a personal turn to criticism that does not help argument and exposes irritation. What profit in the question of personal beauty as raised by Mr Macready ? We claim that we exhibit a magnanimous self-denial in refraining from retort. Mr G-eorge has apparently but one string to his Karp, and the music of "reverend scribbler " has become rather monotonous. If he could introduce a little variety it would conduce to greater effectiveness. However, our protests against the reproduction of the abuses of former days are not prompted by anything in the remotest degree resembling personal feeling. Mr Mac-

ready is respected by a large section of the community, and we have no doubt ia deserving of respect. But in debate in the Council yesterday he made admissions that serve to confirm us in the desire that neither lie nor his clique should control tho distribution of the present loan as they did the past. It is not reported in the morning papers, but it is nevertheless true, that Mr Macready yesterday made capital of his public-spiritedness in those old days in having personally advanced inonoy to the contractors under the City Board. He appealed to Mr G-eorge to bear him out in his statement that they had both signed and rneeted promissory notes'to pay large sums of money to carry on the public works. Ear be it from us to question the purely disinterested character of these generous acts. It _is known that in those days the City Board did its chief business in the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, and we have no doubt the quiet little social arrangements of commissioners, money lenders, secretaries, contractors and workmen at wages time, have embalmed the bar-parlours of tho Duke of Marlborough with fragrant remembrance. Wo have not the slightest doubt that every thing was honorable and straightforward in tho extreme, although people must think it strange that tho City Board should have so miscalculated their resources as not to have retained enough in tho coffers, or made arrangements for an overdraft at the Bank, or pledged the city rates, or done one or another of a thousand things, instead of trespassing on the kindness of Mess-s Macready, George & Co. in the matter of these bar-parlour promissory notes. And it is because we should deeply regret the possibility of tho City Council reverting to a similar style of doing business that we have brought our guns to bear on tho present election. It is not from any. personal feeling against either Mr Macready, Mr George, or any other ; or in favor of Mr Philips, or any of his supporters. Personally, both he and they aro to us of utter indifference. Our strife is for a principle, not a person, measures not men. It so happens that ho and they are identified with that principle in the public mind, which is but an accidental circumstance; and in other circumstances we shall find as much pleasure in attacking Mr Philips as wo have experienced in defending his candidature. Indeed, he seems himself to have been under the impression tkat our advocacy was of a personal character, and he was yesterday at some pains in Council to disclaim connection with the articles in the Star. This is an idle conceit on the part of Mr Philips. He stated truly that he has had nothing to do with our moop lportunity"oF once*knowing what his views are respecting the election, and to those views and to his personal wishes, whatever they may be, we are alike indifferent. But we have protested, and we shall, coute qul eoute, again protest against tho faintest attempt at re-introducing to the control of this city a clique that has made tho administration of the city in days past to stink in the nostrils of the whole colony.

Our remarks on the behaviour of the youths who frequent the rock baths, on Sundays, were not uncalled for, as their conduct last Sabbath morning clearly showed. Neither the Police are blameless. One of the proprietors informs us that on that day, which ought to be devoted to peace and quiet, a horde of unmannerly, godless cubs, completely took the place by storm, and held possession in spite of all the endeavours of the custodian. Their noise might have been heard at the other side of the Waitemata. The bath-keeper had no alternative but to hoist the signal for police assistance, which was kept flying till 6 p.m., without being in the slightest degree attended to by the conservators of the public peace. One would have thought that the noise alone j-would have brought them to the spot.

A short time ago we pointed out the peculiar merits of the various kinds of paving, and gave the preference to asphalt. A circumstance has come under our observation within the last few days which has confirmed us in our impression of its vast superiority over flagstones—at all events in one respect. Anyone passing by the Exchange while the fierce rays of the sun were beating on the white stone, must have noticed the effect of the reflected beams on the eyes of the sharebrokers. They were all blinking like a lot of sick owls. One person with weak optics remarked that if this kind of glare continued much longer he feared losing his sight, and indeed should pavement of the same kind be continued all along the unshaded side of the street, there really would appear to be some danger of what is known in the hot interior of Australia as " sandy blight."

The Provincial Council, in order to expedite the business of the session, sat yesterday. Some formal business was disposed of. A large portion of the time was taken up with a debate on the police estimates- The item was eventually carried. A motion " that a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent requesting him to terminate the present arrangement with reference to the police force in' this province, and to resume the management and control of the police force," was after considerable discussion carried. The Licensing Act Amendment Bill and the Highway Act Amendment Bill were both read a third time and passed. Motions to recommit the Bills for the purpose of inserting clauses were both. lost. The Council adjourned at 11 o'clock.

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