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Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1699, 29 July 1875, Page 2

course they pursue, for in many instances bankruptcy is not the result of personal mismanagement, but has been brought about by failure on the part of others to meet their engagements through this very process of insolvency which the law provides-. Under a condition of the law. which recognises a legitimate discharge from pecuniary liabilities, we can hardly expect to find a fine sense of honour systematically demonstrating in a practical way, and in spite of the promptings of self-interest, that the moral principles of the statute from which they fmt suffered, although afterwards gained relief, are at fault. That the facility for avoiding payment of debts, and for getting quit entirely of even the liability for binding pecuniary obligations, has led to a recklessness in running into debt, every business man will admit, for all are sufferers by it—some even to the extent of compulsory insolvency and ruin ; and.a reform such as that which we assume to be contemplated in the new Bankruptcy Bill would, we believe, induce greater prudence. What we conceive to be the general scope of the new Bill, therefore, is one which coincides with our views of the legitimate onus attached to monetary obligations, but there are matters of detail of the utmost importance of which we possess no information in relation to the measure under review. While the creditor is entitled to the most ample consideration, the honest debtor requires some protection from yin" dictive proceedings and harrassment. A man's misfortunes must not subject him to a life's persecution from one of those miserable specimens of humanity whose souls are kept ia their cashboxes. Upon the judicious adjustment of the balance between derStor and creditor will depend entirely the success of the bill, but we do not see any insurmountable obstacle in the way of an arrangement affording justice to Ihe one without unnecessary harshness to the oilier. [By Telegraph.] Avvnouan full details of the new Representation Act are not definitely laid before the House, enough has leaked out to .show how Auckland stands affected. It may be that we should not be envious of Dunedin being elevated at a single jump to double the political influence and position of the Northern metropolis. It were bnt an exercise of Christian self-denial to rejoice that " Sleepy Hollow" has obtained the same position as that to be held in future by the Corinth of the South ; and it is but the triumph of magnanimity to learn with complaisance that Oamaru, the geographical position of which we venture to say would be a puzzle to nine-tenths of the colonists of New Zealand, has achieved >at once the importance of the ancient capital of New Zealand. Still theie are lesEons to be learned from the contemplation of the humiliation of our city, which may be none the less beneficial to a chastened spirit than this exercise of a noble self-denial, and, first, we can in this see the ripened fiuils of Mr. Vogcl's grand policy of immigration and public works—we mean the ripened fruit that Auckland plucks. We do not _ay that the favours accorded to Oamaru or Dunedin are unfair;, at least for our present purpose, we say not so. We assume that the distribution of representation is proportionate and fair, and this is what the policy has brought to Auckland. At the commencement of that era—the era ushered in by the right hand of her own representatives—she was peerless among the cities ; now she sits with Nelson, and OEmaru is her sister. Rejoice, ye people of Auckland ! and take in the fugling of these who have forests, or billets, or banking dividends in prospect, and sing praise to the prophet of progress. But another lesson : Blessed are they who believe and worship, for their seats shall be made secure. Oamaru has been a faithful follower, and even though such service may have proved repugnant to its people, its member shall have his seat secured by providing for him two chairs instead of one, but City East enriched by the possession and beneficence of a Ministerial member, has waxed fat and kicked, and listened to the wooing of Rees, and made Vogel flee from the platform and from the city in the clouds of night, and City East shall be swallowed up. It is but the retribution that power deals out in lieu of equity, and Auckland must bow and be contented. However, there cannot fail to be consolation to ardent Centralists in Auckland, in the fact that the diminshed number of her representatives will give to her that coveted boon—a more complete southern management of her local concerns. It is always well to be told the silver lining to the cloud. Auckland being, in the opinion of some of her children, unfit to manage her own affairs, it follows that the fewer her members in the Assembly it must be all tbe better for Auckland; and this is the silver lining.

[By Telegraph]

No longer any doubt exists as to the peculiar position occupied by Mr Stafford as wet nurse to tho Ministry. In fact he but faintly denies the soft impeachment contained in Sir George Grey's assertion that the Ministry could not hold their seats for a single week but for the guidance and succour of their ally, and Mr Reader Wood's production of evidence that the positions of Major Atkinson and Mr Bo wen are directly, owing to his nomination was accepted by the House as self-evident. The position; is anamolous and not without its cares aa well as joys. To be the object of anger to a number of those whom he formerly led in opposition and in denunciation of the policy of which he is now the sworn protector, is hardly less unpleasant than to be the envy of those old Government supporters whose hopes have been so long deferred as to have made their hearts sick, and who see in the approaching accession of Mr. Stafford to office the culmination of that system of neglecting friends and rewarding or buying off opponents which at the present hour is heart-burnin? among the old followers of Mr Vogel. That Mr. Stafford is only waiting till the close of the session to feel safe and join the Ministry is now unquestionable. If in the chapter of accidents the feeble remnant of the Vogelian dynasty is overthrown during the coming troubles, Mr Stafford's position is uncompromised. Should they survive the turmoil and reach that haven of peace, the pr6rogation, where the

wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest, then will his passage to office be easy and safe, and Stafford will receive at the hand of an old opponent the reward which he will have earned well by extending the cegis of his protection over the feeble colleagues of their absent leader. The helplessness of the Ministry till Mr Stafford rises in his place, and the valor of his fighting in their behalf are the admiration of all beholders.

Thk reports circulated with reference to the large majority which the Ministry are said to have at their commanl have not been borne out so for by the proceedings in the House of Representatives; and the statement made by Mr Bunny last night in the debate on Mr. Vogel's leave of absence —that the Opposition is now a better organised one than that which defeated Mr Stafford in 18G9, is significant. It seems very doubtful whether the accession of Mr. Stafford to their ranks will give the Ministry that security which they fondly hoped to achieve by it. That Auckland could possibly suffer by a change of dynasty is not now coatended for by anyone in Auckland who has watched the continued mismanagement of public affairs, the systematic depression of this part of the colony, and the arrogant disregard of every public representation ; so that we hail with complacent satisfaction the dawn of an era when Auckland influence is onco more making itself felt in the Councils of the colony.

We yesterday referred to the deliberate robbery of which evening papers are made the victims by the telegraph department, and a glaring; case occurred the same afternoon which illustrates our remarks. The Suez telegrams and .Australian news per Tararua was put in the Telegraph office (Bluff) yesterday afternoon at 3'lo and 3 20. it was delivered in Auckland at eitjlit o'clock a'G night, so late as to bo quite worthless, and we only give a few of the most interesting items of the intelligence in our fourth page to-day. The same telegrams wore transmitted to the morning papers, in ample time for their issues this morning, in which the news duly appears. We pay two pounds for the news they pay eleven shillings. But we suppose that a trilling injustice of this sort to a refractory newspaper is not worth mentioning as a charge against a Government which can cooly disfranchise four thousand people for a like offence.

A correspondent writes from Papakura : Sir,—Could not the detention of insuliiciently stamped letters be made known through the press in Auckland the same as elsewhere. Few people in bhe country care to send above onco a week to a post office, and by that timo the mail boat may be far at sea. On the other hand almost every one sees a paper daily, and might more promptly remedy the evil, at all events it would give the ignorant and out out the way another chance before opening their correspondence, which is not at all a pleasant alternative, and if the number of erring here in any way tallies with that in Hobart Town, I am not alone in the mess,—Yours truly, Twice Napt.—P.S. Let me remind you that newspapers for foreign parts only are charged pontage in those considerate regions, and that the one, from which the inclosed was taken came here for naught. How about ours in such a case.

Mr C. 0. Davis, we are sorry to hear, is seriously ill at Taupo.

By a private letter wo learn that A. McMillan, Esq., East poasfc Native Land Purchase Commissioner, will next week meet the Tokano natives. Ho will be accompanied byMrJ. C. Young This is one of the first appointments under the present ministry.

The remarks we made relative to the willingness of colonists to help on any deserving new-comer in sickness am] difficulty receives further illustration by receipt of £1 from ".Nemo "for Mr Jackson, which wo have here much pleasure in acknowledging.

We should very much like to hear Mr. .Stickley's explanation of the statement ho is reported in the Herald to have made, that the building chosen as a tempo ary hospital for typhoid patients from tho Home for Neglected and Desitute Children is '; in a paddock." ' The house is on an ordinary allotment barely fourteen paces from the adjoining tenement, and a most improper one for the isolation of fever patients. We notice that Mr Fclton, of Karaugahape road, ■w rites to the Cross to-day, protesting against it, and the committee of the Institution will do well if they retire from a false poaition before public feeling is aroused in a way that must be most injurious to the Home.

The Rev. R. H. Otway has been presented with a farewell address by his parishioners upon leaving the district of Mauku and Potumahoe, where he has been residing for twelve years.

There is a loafing vagabond who take 3up his position near the embankment inGrafton Road and waylays servant girls passing to or from town. On Saturday night he caught a girl, belonging to a house a little up the road, round the waist, and offered to carry her parcels. The girl was of course, very much terrified but succeeded in making her escape from him. The night was so dark that she could not identify her assailant. The police should look after this rascal.

The members of the Templar Benefit Society will hold their regular monthly business meeting this evening in the Cook-street Meeting-house at the usual hour.

A social gathering of the friends of St, Matthew's parish will take place this even ing in the Lome-street Hall.

"Music hath charms" said an old poet of the time of the Stuarts, and a skill greater poet of the time of Elizabeth expressed an opinion that the man without '' music in his soul was fit for any wicked deed " A reporter states that he was this morning almost unconsciously drawn into the shop of Mr. F. H. Lewisson, watchmaker and jeweller, by the sweet mellow sounds of. music issuing therefrom, and upon entering beheld one of the most beautifully toned musical-boxes that he remembers to have seen. This beautiful instrument, on view for a few days, was imported from Geneva by Mr.1 F. H. Lewisaon direct from the manufactory. The box plays eight tunes, selected from the music of various nations, viz. : Swiss, Italian, German, English, French, Welsh, Scotch, and Irish. The proprietor set the wonderful box in motion, and the representative of the Fourth Estate listened with a thrill of delight to the "Wishing Cap," "Willie Brewed a Peck o' Maut," "She Wore a Wreath of Roses," and other strains which charmed in days a-gone. The box is quite a novelty, chastely made, and would form a sweet addition to the home, and act as an antidote to family cares.

Mr H. T. Whittington, the energetic business secretary of the Fakir of Oolu, has been actively engaged during the week pressing forward the preparations at the Prince of Wales Theatre necessary for the appearance of Dr Silvester on Monday next. All the scenery and mechanical effects employed in the entertainment will be brought by the Fakir, and workmen have been employed clearing the stage, fittingup the water - tanks and fountain, and making other necessary preparations ; so that no delay shall occur after Dr. Sivester's arrival. The Southern press has unanimously confirmed the verdict of other countries which the Fakir has visited, in pronouncing Dr. Silvester's illusions most wonderful exhibitions of the wizard's art.

Since he went to Wellington bis Honor the Superintendent has again taken action with reference to the transfer of the police to the province. Sir Donald McLean has intimated to the members of the force through Mr Inspector Broham that it will remain wijh themselves to determine whether they shall continue with the General Government or go over to the province This places these men in a serious dilemma in the present unsettled state of the provinces, and we believe it is intended to asertain from the General Government what would be _ the position of the force in the event of abolition if they now entered the Provincial service.

We are glad to learn that the operetta of the " Crimson Scarf" will bo repeatel at the Choral Hall, by general desire, on Monday evening next.

Mr D. W. Macffarlane has executed a very good sketch of the Manukau Hotel, Onehunga, by the crayon process of lithography, alluded to in a former issue of the Stab. Views of this kind are well adapted for show cards on steamers, in windows, and in other public places, and should meet with a large demand.

The Oddfellows of the Auckland district will enjoy their annual dinner and dance in the Lorne-sfcreet Hall to-morrow evening.

Early this morning indications of a gale from the N.E. v/ere plentiful in the harbour. The sky to seaward had a nasty sullen appearance, and the wind was blowing up with fast-increasing force. The barometer, which last night stood at 30 45, and this morning at 30 29, also pointed to a change of an unfavourable character. As the day progressed, those signs were verified ; and, at noon, a stiff " noitieasfcer" was whistling through the rigging of the shipping. The barque Lochnagar, which lud Le >n alongside one of the hulks, in Retting away went aground on the back off Freeman's Bay. lc is to be hoped that she will come off with the turning tide, as she is very heavily laden and straining will do her no good. AS one o'clock things looked so threatening that the watermen mindful of the effects of last gale lugged their boats up on the wharf to prevent accidents in case of a sudden shifc. The The Lady Bowen did not make her accustomed trip to Mahurangi to-day. It is to be hoped the gale will subside after nightfall.

We notice that Messrs. Hurst and Co. have purchased the Tasmanian potatoes per Leslie, from Circular Mead. They are in first-class "condition. Iho arrival is most opportune, as good seed potatoes are badly wanted.