The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1673, 29 June 1875, Page 2

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 1875.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that neeri9 resinttacat *sr the fmture in the distance. And the stoi that wm c&d tie.

Without any desire to speak harshly of the action of our contemporary the Cross, whioh of course has a distinct mission to fulfil, we cannot help deprecating the tone which it assumes with reference to the present effort of the Superintendent for obtaining simple justice to Auckland. We feel confident that in doing so, our contemporary neither represents public feeling in this province nor carries with it the sympathy of the people. The aspect presented to an impartial eye by Sir George Grey at the present hour is that of a man chivalrously c ontending for mere justice, and so contending with a person incomparably his inferior in every quality, but who being by the chapter of accidents placed in a position of great power assumes an air of flippancy and mock diplomatic courtesy. Irrespective of the fact that it is for the interests of this district—interests that have been unquestionably wronged—our Superintendent is contending inch by inch, the spirit of fair play might suggest that one fighting against such odds should have'his efforts respectfully spoken of ; but we regret to see that our contemporary persists in the attempt to bring Sir George Grey's efforts into contempt as being much ado about nothing, or a contention for contention's sake. The struggle is a perfectly intelligible one, and we believe it is perfectly appreciated by all in this city. Dr. Pollen has, beyond any question, endeavoured to embarrass the Superintendent and the province, so as to force a desire for abolition. In doing so, he has committed acts of deliberate injustice, and then offers to repair this injustice if Sir George Grey will only sue for it as a favor. Sir George Grey will not sue for it, but, taking up a position that commands the sympathy of every man with a spark of manliness in his breast, demands simply the rights of the province as by law fixed. On a superficial glance, it might seem that the same purpose would be served by the acceptance in any form—it would be so much money in the Provincial Treasury, all the same. And if no action were subsequently based on the v anner of acceptance, it probably would be all the same. But if the province, in the person of Sir George Grey, submits thus to become the pensioner of Dr. Pollen's bounty, how-, ever it might serve temporary purposes, experience of the cruel " tender mercies " of the Colonial Secretary in relation to Auckland, afford sufficient testimony as to how the Buppliant would subsequently fare. Sir George Grey takes his stand on the principle that what belongs of right to the province the province should get as of right. Dr; Pollen t would have it given as of grace. We believe that no special pleading on the part of our contemporary the Cross wi

blind our citizens to ihe true merits of the contention, and in such circumstances the assumed conciliatory spirit of Dr. Pollen and his assurances of a desire to show every "kindness" to the province will be accepted exactly for what they are worth. Such are his assurances of a willingness to strain a point to grant the balance of confiscated land funds, "as the sum may help to relieve the existing difficulties of the Provincial Treasury" a sum which, unless with the breach of all faith and honor as embodied in a formal agreement, he could not by any possibility withold. Such was the assurance, "I have endeavoured, as your Honor no doubt knows, to obviate any inconvenience to the Provincial Treasury by remitting a sum of six thousand pounds in anticipation of its due date," when said sum was due some ten weeks before, in strict accordance with the positive arrangement made with the General Government, and in terms of the Assembly's vote. And such is the assurance in the most recent tele gram, " It is to be regretted that you will not see that this Government is disposed to do, and is doing all that it can, consistently with its duty to the colony, to assist the Provincial Government of Auckland in its present financial embarrassment." And this is the state and these are the circumstances to which our contemporary the Cross this morning points and says "here was the olive branch somewhat tenderly and deprecatingly held ont." We think there are few residents in Auckland who will not feel that the " olive branch" is somewhat out of place. The litigant who appeals to the law courts for restitution of his property does not usually accept the " olive branch" from the defendant that merely urges let things be as they are, and let bygones be bygones. A man who has given over his watch and purse to the highwayman may be pardoned if he is reluctant to accept the olive branch in lien thereof. And so we believe that the Superintendent of Auckland having right on his side, and many a wrong to rectify, will carry with him the encouraging sympathy of the whole of our people in doing that for which all eyes turned to him when he was in his reti rtment at Kawau, and for which there is admittedly no man in New Zealand more competent. If Auckland js to resume the position in New Zealand which she is fitted by nature to hold, it wilj not be by thab crawling attitude to which Dr Pollen would pludly reduce her Chief Magistrate, but by a bold and vigorous assertion of her position ; and we cannot refrain from saying that the never-ceasing sneering tone wherewith our contemporary would second the efforts of "Dr Pollen, is as unbecoming in an Auckland journal as it is unlikely to impair the coiiiidence and the esteem of the people for Sir George Grey.