The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1873.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1190, 15 November 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1873.

For the cause that lacks assistance, l''or?the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the d'stance, And the good that we can do

We can bear with much in political manoeuvring, but an indecent attempt to blind people and divert odium on the innocent we shall not tolerate, whatever others may do. We had resolved to make no further reference to the late Superintendency election, but to let bygones be bygones, and give our sympathy and support to the candidate to whom the will of the people had committed the administration of affairs ; and in departing from this course wo do not wish to be understood as reflectingin any way on Mr Williamson himself, whom we do not believe capable of an unworthy or ungenerous course of conduct. But some of his unscrupulous followers are not similarly honourable ; and

the cloven foot of party is seen in the ungenerous attempt to fasten on Mr Dargaville and Mr Lusk the odium of demanding a scrutiny of the votes in the late polling. Neither the one nor the other has made such demand. The law demands a

scrutiny, ami every effort that it has been possible to make to hush up the enquiry has been made. First, an appeal was made to Mr Lusk to induce him to make a formal application to the Returning Officer, asking that no scrutiny shoiild bo held. Mr Lusk very properly

declined to interfere with the course prescribed by law. Then a similar appeal was made to Mr Dargavillo. who after taking legal advice resolved that he should take no steps to interfere with the course of law. And thereupon an excitement is got up about the wrong done in needless delay being caused in the public business

by this " scrutiny asked for by Messrs Lusk and Dargaville." Such trickery as this is simply disgusting ; and it excites a suspicion that there must be something to conceal or so desperate efforts would not have been made to have the pro-

ceedings in the late election hushed up, and worse still to bring the pressure of public opinion to bear on the two defeated candi dates so as to make them the direct tools in doing the nasty business. It is very clear that the vermin that used to infest Mr Wil-

liamson are beginning to come out again, and try to crawl over his back. And we trust that as he promised, he will shake himself and fling them off. Neither Mr Lusk nor Mr Dargavillo has demanded a scrutiny. The law demands a scrutiny, and angry public feeling will now demand it with a loudness that palaver and oily gammon will not silence. It matters not whether the result affects the position of Mr Dargavillo or Mr Lusk, or both. It is clear there is villainy to hide, and it must be dragged out. And one word we would give of advice. Let there be no further antics attempted that will make people look at the cloven foot. The province will accept the position; it may be reluctantly, or it may be cheerfully, but if we are to have quietness let people he quiet.

The requisition from the City East electorate to Mr Lusk at present bears one hundred and ten signatures, including the greater portion of the influential electors of the district. With the exception of a very small number who declare they never commit themselves by signing any requisition, we believe there has not been one refusal, and there appears a universal reeling that to whomsoever their two other votes may be given Mr Lusk should, have one. Although the unusual number of signatures already attached warrant the immediate presentation of the requisition, it is deemed advisable by those who have taken charge of the document to continue the reception of signatures, so as to make the requisition assume tho form rather of a demonstration than an ordinary requisition • and it speaks well for the good feeling of parties to find that numbers of those who strongly supported oneortheother of this gentleman's opponents in the late election very cordially give their signatures to the requisition inviting Mr Lusk to continue his services to the province.

The winning prizes of the Occidental Melbourne Cup Sweep of £250 are : Mr Caffrey Edger, Don Juan, £150; Mr A. Griffiths, Dagworfch, £G0 ; MrW. Dunn, Horatio, £25. The winners of the Occidental Calcutta Sweep on the cup, amounting to £03, were : Mr E. Perkins, Don Juan, £41 10s ; Mr Linabury, Dagworth, £15 10,s ; Mr Caflroy Edgor, Horatio, £0 Gs,

We have rend ,i strongly-worded para-.l graph in this mornings Herald respecting *' the shameful treatment meted out to the inhabitants and visitors to the North Shore on Wednesday last" by no boat going to the Devonport Wharf throughout the day. We have received numerous and warm expressions of opinion on the same subject, nor do Arc, nor can we raise our voice in one word of defence of that treatment. We do not hesitate to' admit with one of our correspondents that such treatment, if continued, will lead to opposition being started, end an opposition that would meet M; ith sympathy from many of those who took active part' in establishing the present company. We would however ask those who now feel so strongly on this subject to suspend judgment for a few days, when if equal justice to the two wharves is not resolved on, a general meeting of shareholders should be called in terms of the deed of settlement. We would strongly deprecate any positive action previous to such meeting ; but we believe such a course will be taken by the directors as will prevent the repetition of such treatment or any other irregularities.

There Las been considerable misapprehension apparently with regard to the amount of insurance on the wlieaton stacks recently consumed, the property ot; Mr .lames Wallace; and from the peculiar manner in which the statement has appeared in one of our contemporaries a reader might think that Mr Wallace had been over-insuring his stock. We arc quite certain that nothing hsy appeared in the Star to convey such impression, but in order that the correct state of the c;ise may be apparent we have to state the various stacks were separately insured, the total amount covered in one policy being £53G. In this ten oaten stacks had been insured for £320, and had boon UEed tip before this fire. Two stacks of meadow hay had been insured for £SO. One stack of meadow hay about a mile away had been insured for JMO, and this one was burnt in July hist. There remained therefore the three wheaten stacks, which were represented in the policy by £90, and of which the one-half of one had been also used. The two and a-half stacks therefore which remained, and which were rccontly consumed, were covered by insurance to the extent of £80.

We understand that in consequence of disappointment in obtaining supply there will be no service to-morrow at the Picsby^ terian Church, Devonport, or in the Chapel at the Lake.

We have frequently referred to instances brought under our notice of honest actions on the part of the little " run boys " of this journal, and we have done so at the earnest request of people who have had personal e%;dence of the incidents. None have attracted more attention than the brothers McKay, and the amount of commendation that these two lads have received from persons who had given half-crowns in mistake for pennies, and half-sovereigns in mistake for sixpences, is something exceedingly flattering. We have before us a very strongly worded letter addressed to us by a Gentleman who, some few nights ago, had had his half-crown returned, which had been previously given in mistake to little Archie Maekay, and who desires us to make public mention of' the incident. Hut Aye have something else to tell of a different kind i>s to the treatment given to the same honest little fellow the other evening. A message was conveyed to the boy's father from a peuon residing in the neighbourhood of Franklyn Road and Napier-street to the effect thr.t the lad had obtained from him a hp'f-crown in mistake for a penny. The Jittlo follow was sent to hear- what the person had to say, and gave his assurance that either he had not received the money or had paid it away again in mistake, the night being very dark. Whereupon the rtoi dimnl loser of the money, whose name we can hardly resist the temptation to publish, called the poor child a thief and a rogue and vagabond, and ordered him off his place in the most brutal language. As the lad has not only honest but sensitive feelings his state of mind on returning home may be imagined. Such are the shadows as well as the sunshine in a run-boy's life.

A statement, was made a short time ago that somo children had been sent away from Mr Brabnzon's tcliool because they went there without shoes on their feet. Mr Beckham (Resident Magistrate) referred to this matter in some remarks from the Bench. The statement was subsequently contradicted, and the Eesidont Magistrate's remarks called into question. To-day Mrs Cornor, a widow in receipt of Government rations, and exempt from payment of the tax on the ground of poverty, came before Mr Beckham and made such a statement on oath as leaves little doubt that her children were sent away from this school because they had no shoes. Mr Beckham is going to the Thames on Monday, and on his return further evidence will be taken and the matter fully enquired into.

A very respectable looking young man appeared afc the Police Court "to-day to ask advice under the fellowing circumstances :— Ho stated that he had lately arrived here, and was quite a stranger. lie had a letter of credit on the Bank of Australasia, but he could not get it cashed because ho could get no one to identify hint, and therefore the document was to him nothing but useless paper. A friend who came over from Sydney in the Phcebe with him would require also to be " identified " before the Bank would pay up. What was he to do ? Here he was with no cash in his pocket, but he was nevertheless in receipt of a regular income allowed by his father at home, and had monthly letters of credit remitted, of which the document produced was one. There can be no doubt the position is an awkward one, and one in which almost any stranger is liable to be placed. The bank of course desires to be protected against paying the wrong man, and the stranger, rightly entitled to the money, naturally feels it hard lines to be sent away from the bank empty-handed. After a consultation with the Bench Clerk a declaration was drawn up, and ultimately the bank paid the money just as the doors were closing, a solution of the difficulty most satisfactory to all parties.

We learn that ,a scrutiny of the voting papers in the late Superintendency election is demanded. This is not, of course, from any calling in question of the accuracy of the Returning Officer or his deputies. But as Colonel Balneavis had announced that in case any one man was polled twice both votes would be invalid, it is supposed that a comparison of tho polling in the sixty-three electorates may sesult in throwing out a large number of such double votes, and so. modify the general aggregate.

The names of Messrs Kerr, Taylor, and Checseman are mentioned as probable cairdidates for tho representation of the Electoral District of Tamaki, in the Provincial Council. The nomination takes place on Tuesday next, at noon, at St. John's College.

The shareholders and members of the

Auckland Permanant Co-operative Building and Investment Society will hold their halfyearly meeting on Tuesday evening, the 10th .December next ensuing.

An information has been laid against a householder living in Wyndham-street for grog-selling without a license. The cate comes on for hearing at the Police Court on Monday.

Mr Wm. McEvoy, of Lushington-row, states that lie was not the man who was fined 10s yesterday at the Police Court for taking several drops too much. Tiie real offender, of tho same name, we learn, lately arrived from Timbuctoo, in Central Africa, formerly of Ireland, and is a fugitive member of the family of the McEvoys, of Ballyconnel, of Cavan.

The Rev. Alexander Reid, Wesloyan minister, delivered his able lecturo on " Genesis and Ueology" last evening to a numerous audience, in Grafton-road Wesleyan Church. The Kov. Mr Lawry occupied the chair. The lecture was well received, and at it", close a unanimous vote of thanks was given to the talented lecturer.

We notice that nine ladien, in the order of the nine muses, have formed themselves into a committee or sisterhood for the purpose of soliciting end receiving subscriptions for the projected United Methodist IJYee Church Bazaar, to be held i-i the hist week of the present month. The bazaar, in its principal features, wilJ be a novel one, as it will consist chiefly1 of the more substantial productions of nature, and compose butter, .icon, cheese, cabbage, and strawberries, bhe venture will, we believe, be successful.

Tho Good Templars of the Pioneer Lodge, Ho. 5, will hold a special lodge meeting this evening in the Cook-street haP, for the* purpose of considering the Provincial elections and other business.

The talented dramatic company at the theatre of the Prince wil'., this evening, introduce tho lively and muck-admired drama of " Sixteen-Rtring Jack," which for half a century has been the delight of the younger branches of communities. Tho entertainment will conclude with " The Manner's Dream," a pathetic piece of a different complexion, and of a higher type. On Monday next the two favourite actresses, Mrs McGowan and Miss Lizzie Busche, will take their benefit, for which occasion a splendid bill of fare is provided.

The half-yearly meeting of shareholders of the South British Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand will be held in the Company's offices on Monday next, ;-.t two o'clock in the afternoon, when the Directors' report for the half-year will be submitted, and other business brought before the meeting.

Discourses will be delivered to-morrow (Sunday) at the following places of worship : —Newton Kirk, by Rev. Ur Wyllis,— morning—" The Influence of the Gospel,"— evening—"The Principles of Culvanistn."— Choral Hall, by Samuel Kdger, B.A.—morning—" On Taking Thought for To-mbn-ow," —evening —" On the Beautiful in Life picl Religion." Services at the usual hours, according to advertisements, at the United Free Methodists Church, (Key. G. 11. Turner) ; Cook-street ChristiaiiH'Mcuting House. Kdwardesstrcot. (Uev. (J. Waters). Newton Hall, and I'rimitive Methodists, (Mr T. I jooth) Sheridan street.

By the death of Mr. Kempthorne, announced in yesterday's issue, a vacancy occurs in the office of Visiting Justice to the Gaol, &c. This appointment, it is understood, will be filled up immediately, and will probably be one of the last little bits of patronage that will fall to the present incumbent of office, :is in a very short time a new Superintendent and lOxecutivo will be in power. The "loaves and fishes" to be given away are however very small indeed nowa-dayn.

To the Editor : Sir, —Will you kindly permit me to draw the attention of the public to the wholesale system of personation carried on at the Thames at the late election. J. am in possession of facts to prove that false voting, double, treblu and <]ii:ulruple was carried on to an extent unparalleled, and conliued solely in the interest of one candidate. A would-be respectable citizen and many others of the Thames who took a prominent part for John Williamson got individuals to personate. There can be distinct charges brought against them. It is time that honest electors of the province should rebel against the .scandalous means adopted by a certain party to accomplish their end. I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that if a scrutiny were taken there would be discovered seven or eight false votes and impersonations in the late election The unsatisfactory manner in which the Thames Roll has been made up is now abundantly manifested. Who is responsible for this state of things ? There is a political ring in the province of Auckland which bids fair to out-match the Tammany ring of New York. They have their ageuts m all departments of the Government, even to the magisterial bench. It is to be hoped that some action will be taken at the next meeting of the Assembly, and thereby do away with the possibility of such wholesale corruption as now exists. —Hekorai.