The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1667, 22 June 1875, Page 2

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1875.

>'or the cause that, lacks asstatanns. For the wrorirj Mia:, nei-iis niM^u^c.*, V9t tlic fcture in the dißtnnce, Asd l}u> sreoi that w<: ctu £n.

We are gratified to observe that the matters in dispute between the General and Provincial Governments give prospect of resolving themselves into a distinct isfrae ; and that the supercilious and contemptuous action of Dr. Pollen will prohobly be submitted to legal test. In the Provincial Government Gazelle, published last nighf; appear further and very interesting telegraphic despatches between the Colonial Secretary aud the Superintendent, which we regret we have not space to reproduce. They refer to the vexed questions of the impounded capitatation money, and the confiscated lands' funds. The stand which Sir George Orey takes is that the impounding of the capitation allowance for payment of interest on railways constructed in connection with the present public works policy, is contrary to law, and in his concluding telegram > transmitted as late as yesterday, he says : —-." If my belief on this point turns out to be right, and the capitation allowance is not paid, I propose to take means, in a. friendly spirit, to determine the great constitutional question whether or not there are legal means, by which the provinces can support their rights, instead of either craving them by an unbecoming submission, or engaging in disputes which might have most unhappy and dangerous results." In other words, His Honor means to compel payment by the Colonial Treasury, if such payment can be compelled by mandamus from the Supreme Court, and not vaguely hints at possible evils impending if the tyrannous and insolent conduct of the General Government is allowed to fructify. Whatever may be the upshot of this contention, it is impossible not to admire the spirited conduct of Sir George Grey; and in the telegrams, by the side of the snakelike wriggling of the Colonial Secretary, that conduct comes out in very"bold relief. Throughout, Dr Pollen clearly tries to force Sir George into the position of a mendicant, and insinuates the kindly forbearance and consideration shown to the province. "I have endeavoured," says Soapy Dan, "to obviate any immediate inconvenience to the Provincial Treasury arising out of this transaction by remitting a sum of £6,000 in anticipation of it 3 due-date." When it is remembered that this £6,000 was that due on the Ist of April last, and that Dr Pollen, asserting it was not due till the Ist of July, paid it to the province the other day, or about a fortnight sooner than the date most unjustly and wrongfully fixed by himself, the extent of his consideration for the province can be appreciated. With respect to the £728 14s, which is admitted by Dr Pollen himself to have been wrongfully withheld through an "error" of the Audit Commissioners, our unctuous Minister makes capital of the payment in this wise, "As your Honor appears to attach importance to it, and as this sum may help to relieve the existing difficulties of the Provincial Treasury, Ministers will take the responsibility of making the payment as unauthorised expenditure." As this gentleman, every bone and muscle of whose body is the growth of the bread and fishes of office, is now by the grace of Providence and the chance of politics, in the habit of presiding over the squandering of millions, he can afford to sneer at the small sum of £728 14s, and in his own oily way make a joke at the expense of a people who have spued him out of their mouths, saying, "it may help to relieve the existing difficulties of the Provincial Treasury." When such language is used" by a man who has all his life been a burthen on the people, it is not too much to say that it is time for a change; and the only pity is there is no way in which such can b6 brought face to face with the people, for a man who would utter such a cowardly insult, is just the sort that would cower and shake in hia breeches if face to

face with an angry crowd. In reply, hi 3 Honor hurls back the impertinence. It has '• been wrongfully and unlawfully withheld." "We are under no obliga:ion for its being now paid." "T. will not accept the sum as a boon. " I claim it as a right." " Kither in the latter light the payment must be made, or not at all." Such is the present spirit of this new memorandummiad, and the contrast between the Oily Gammon, whose whole life's hopes and views are circled within the circumference of office, and the man who ouly looks on office as service to the country, is brought out, in the latest interchange of telegrams, in a manner more striking and characteristic than anything that has heretofore reached the public eye.