The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 1705, 5 August 1875, Page 2

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1875.

[by telegraph.]

T«r tht o»n«« that lacks assistant*. For the wronf that needs resistutcOh far th« Altai* In the distance. ▲at Uw fto* that w* c*n te.

It must be admitted that the Government occupy a vantage ground over their opponents in having placed defined and specific proposals before the country. It matters not how merely specious and entirely impracticable they be, still there they are in their concrete form, which is at all times so attractive to the vulgar eye. If, therefore, the unreflecting are carried away by the specific promises of those who have for the time the further advantage of speaking from the place of power, there is no room for surprise. While the Ministerial proposals have this important and effective quality of definite' ness, opportunity is given to those so disposed to fill up the Opposition programme with al] kinds of vague and shadowy things. For example, it has been sedulously circulated by the enemy t at the partition of New Zealand into four dis inct but federal colonies is one of the cardinal points in the programme, an idea to which we are 'in a position to give the most unqualified denial. Indeed, | anything of so distinct and specific a character could not be included, from the fa.ct that

the necessity of an appeal to the country, the ventilation and consideration which that will entail, and the decision of the people themselves, are the fundamental principles at the basis of the action of the Opposition. But while such an appeal is the first great object for which a struggle will be made, we are in a position to assert that the principles on which the Opposition take their stand will include the following : —

First, a reduction of expenditure in all the departments of Government; second, a change in the incidence of taxation of such. a character that property, and especially the property of those who from absence do not contribute otherwise to the revenue shall bear its just share of taxation; third, a change in the constitution of the Upper House, and the Central Government and Legislature before the present representative institutions are surrendered ; fourth, if Centralism is to take the place of Provincialism that greater powers should be given to centres of population, so that like great free cities, they may impose, collect, and disburse their own taxation independent of. the Government. Fiftb, to take steps for the preservation of political life and education iD political knowledge. The plans for the contemplated changes will be submitted for discussion during the recess, and after the elections are over, the party will reform and determine on the definite course of action to be adopted. Such is a general outline of the proposals and of the basis of action of Her Majesty's Opposition.

A pamphlet has just been issued from the press on "Politics," which forms, as it is intended to do, a contribution to the question of the day. The body of the pamplet is a reprint of a number of articles on the Constitution, which appeared from time to time in the Herald, but the preface is an ablywritten dissertation on the present aspect of the Constitutional question, from which we make the following extract :—" It requires but a moment's consideration to see that this bill abolishes nothing but the right of the people to elect their local government—a right which, cannot be surrendered as long as those local governments are an integral part of the Constitution of the colony. The provinces are to exist still as provincial districts. They are to have separate purses and separate administrations. The only difference proposed is this, that the Administrators should be appointed by the Ministry of the day, instead of being elected by the direct votes of the people. What a vista of corruption does this open ! What crouching and toadying to the powers that be, and in whose hands this great patronage will be vested ! Let who will say to the contrary, it is honesty of purpose, independence of character and devotion to the public welfare, that are now the surest roads to the confidence of the people and to the power which that confidence bestows. Qualities like these will be the deadliest bar to advancement when the po-tronage is taken from the people to be used for their own passing purposes by the Ministry of the day. I am not blind to the shortcomings of Provincial Governments in the past, and to the eagerness with which centres of population have striven for the expenditure, while less populous out-districts are neglected. But it is not to be forgotten that to these same Councils our Highway Boards, Harbour Boards, Corporations, and all the so-called " local governments " are indebted for existence. When we are all "out-districts," will human nature be changed, and will there be less disposition in the Assembly to court the votes of rich and populous districts, and to centre in them the expenditure at their command ? There i 3 nothing in the Bill to secure that this will not be done. On the contrary, to the rich it gives in proportion to their riches, and with the poor it deals hardly, subsidising all in proportion to their wealth and district rates and district land sales, without attempting to remedy in the least the disparities by which these are necessarily marked. Will abuses, when they do come, be more readily set right in the Assembly at Wellington than they could be in the Council at Auckland ? That I take to be the real question which people have to ask themselves when complaining of provincial deeds or provincial legislation. * * * The land fund appropriation is the real bone of contention, the real wedge whose thin end was inserted in 1856, and driven home in 1858. It is the wedge that has severed effectually the landless from the landed provinces, that has given to the latter political predominance and commercial wealth. The gift of the Colonial land was a grand 'donation. It was a deadly wrong done'by the Assembly to the people. It was an illegal and an unconstitutional gift, but is one which the South will tell us time has consecrated, and against the recall of which we may depend they will resist to a man. On the other hand, we see that the North cannot endure the wrong;. We cannot continue to see our province reduced to beggary by, the whole burden of Government, and the whole charge of the loans being thrown upon the Customs revenue. If we are to continue one colony (and if the system of land sales is not to give way to one designed to encourage iona fide settlement alone), the land revenue must bear its share of these burdens. Certain I am that we shall not continue one colony unless this be done, and certain do I also feel that the Assembly, as at present constituted, is not a fitting body to settle the difficulty before us." The pamhlet, coming at the present tiaae, will no doubt ba widely read and carefully considered by those who take a true interest in the welfare of this colony. Mr G. T. Chapman is the publisher.

The intentions of the Opposition party and their programme is sketched in the leader forwarded to us by telegraph to-day, which should receive more careful perusal than is usually allotted to leading comment.

The Cross has several timea. appropriated our special parliamentary telegrams without acknowledgement. We have said nothing about it hitherto in the hope that the practice would be discontinued, but the items in today's issue of our contemporary headed " Volunteers, " " Grant to Natives, " "Tauranga Lands," "Napier Swamp Bill," " Hawkes' Bay Petition," " Pahutahi block," "Tauranga roads," "The Chief Justice on Abolition," "Public Account Committee," " New Zealand University, " and v our correspondent's summary of the new " Electors Qualification Bill" are taken bodily, without the slightest acknowledgement, from our issue of last evening. There is no excuse for this, as we are invariably careful to acknowledge all messages received from the Press Agency which may be used by subscribing journals, and, in the summary of the Electors Qualification Bill, our special correspondent placed its source beyond all dispute by the remark : "I have just read the two bills through. They are not yet in the hands of the members " —a sentence which the Cross carefully erased in copying it. The practice is the more remarkable, seeing that our contemporary to-day specially acknowledges—not from the Star —a Press Agency telegram on Mr Eolleston's motion which it was perfectly entitled to use without acknowledgement. As the Herald to-day has honorably acknowledged the various special telegrams extracted Irom our columns, we hope the Cros3 will make the amende honorable to-morrow.

A very pleasant party of about eight gentlemen ran down to Motatupu yesterday in Messrs Niccol and Sons new steam launch. The weather was magnificent and as the little vessel quickly clave the water 3 of the harbour the fresh bree2e and general beauty of the scene had an exhilarating effect on the spirits '(animal) of the passengers. Some ; good work was recorded by the engines and ! the island was reached in a remarkably short time. Arrived, the party Were met by Messrs Seed Bros, who in their usual hospitable stylo invited them to kill aud slay the ga\n'e of their hills and to eat and drink in the true Scotch large-hearted fashion. The gentlemen returned home in th<s evening highly delighted with the capabilities of the boat and their days enjoyment on the island : nor did they return empty-handed, for the piles of turkeys and rabbits were wondrous to behold. We did hear that a certain gentleman Was very nearly taking a sly shot at ah emu, mistaking it for a deer, but the catastrophe was fortunately prevented by the timely intervention of one who had seen himjly, and was quite sure it wasn't a stag. But perhaps we ought not to dilate upon this. The distance from the Wharf to Home Bay, quite ten miles, was accomplished S5 minutes going down, and in G5 on the return run,—excellent travelling for co small a craft.

The Prince of Wales Theatre was again crowded by persona desirous of witnessing the really wonderful performances of the Fakir of Oolu. The magical representations were much of the same character as those of the previous evening, but the humour aud ever new importations from the doctor's exhaitstlcss fancy, give a continued freshness to the entertainment, and which defy monotony. The entranced lady in her varied appearances, wherein she gracefully represented, not only the genius of England, Scotland and Ireland, but many astronomical and mythological figures, such as Mercury, Venus, Apollo, Proserpine and others, were full of significance and beautiful to the eye; while the brilliancy and rainbow-hues of the fairy fountain, tend to make the Fakir of Oolu'sevenings the pleasantest that the people have experienced at the Prince of Wales Theatre for many a day.

An inquest was held yesterday at the Manukau Hotel, before R. C. Barstow, Esq., on the body of a man found floating in the harbour. John Vause first discovered the body on Tuesday afternoon about four o'clock ; the face was lying in the mud ; he first took it for a bundle of clothes; he communicated the fact to the officer in charge at the Onehunga police-station. Constable Greene had the body removed ; the man appeared to be about forty years of age ; there were no marks of violence on the body, which must have been a fortnight in the water ; knew of no one missing in the neighbourhood. Dr. Zinzan examined the body, and was of opinion that death was caused by drowning. There was no evidence as to the identity of the deceased, and the jury returned the common verdict, " Found Drowned."

The following is a copy of the prayer read by the Speaker daily in the House of Representatives, on the members assembling for business :—" Almighty God, we Thine unworthy servants do must numbly beseech Thee to grant that, we having thy fear always before our eyes, and laying aside all private interests, prejudices, and partial affections, the result of our counsels may be to the glory of Thy Name, the maintenance of true religion and justice, the honor of the Queen, and the public wealth, peace, and tranquility of the Colony, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

The announcement by Messrs Baker that their excellent Hibernian entertainment would be exhibited in the City Hall for the last time in Auckland and for the benefit of the Catholic Orphanage of St. Mary (an institution under the care of the Sisters of Mercy) was sufficient to fill the hall and shew to the public that this graceful act on the partof theproprietors was keenly appreciated, The Bcenes presented are not new to a portion at least of the people, and represented sunny places which have an historic interest iv connection with the struggles of the Irish people. The sentimental songs of Mr Baker and the comic song 3of Mr Verner, the lively strains of the Sfc Patrick's Drum and Fife Band and the Hobson Band, under Mr McComish, aided in rendering the entertainment completely successful. We must not omit to mention however, that the efforts" of Revs. Father Macdonald and J. O'Dwyer, in rallying the friends together in favour of the orphan children were deserving of commendation ; these gentlemen take much interest in the progress of Sfc. Mary's Orphanage, and Father Walter is never happier than he is when surrounded by the little ones. The example of Messrs. Baker, redounds to their credit and will be remembered with gratitude.

The Eev. Edward Lewis will deliver a lecture this evening in the Christian Meeting House, Cook-street, on the " Christian system." At the close of Mr. Lewis's lecture, a reasonable time will be allowed for discussion.

The New OrleaDS - Times intemperately observes that whiskey ia always kicking up a rumpus somewhere. Sometimes it nestles in the hat of a man as a jolly brick, sometimes in the boots of a man as a hissing serpent, and anon it wraps the pavement around the weary traveller, and induces him to believe the flags a patchwork quilt, and a stone sill a soft bolster, the street lamp a bedpost, and the gutter a babbling brook. It is worse than Banquo's ghost, yet, unlike the classic-spook, it will "down" at any man's bidding.

The inhabitants of the localities around the popular gaol of Mount Eden are complaining because they cannot be sure of their fowls when they awake in the morning. The neighbourhood is infested with fowl stealers, and bantams, pullets, and even roost-cocks disappear in a very mysterious manner. Several persons have been suspected, and others have been hauled up to Court, but not proven has been the result. Another suspected person will be brought up at the Police Court, to-morrow to answer for a similar charge, namely, that of stealing four fine turkeys as well as twelve fowls. It appears that fowh literally swarm in the glades of Mount Eden, where the pass is green and tempting, and where the crowing of a hundred cocks announce the break of day, and stir the drowsy labourer from his nocturnal slumbers. The gaol of Mount Eden seems to exercise no influence on fowl stealing, and the feminine cry of the district still is, "Tis no use, we can't keep fowls."

We lately referred to the practice of stopping young women in Graf ton road at night indulged in by some loafing vagabond, who evidently has not sufficiently the fear of the law before his eyes. A correspondent, " H.," sends us the following particulars of another case :^- "Great numbers of ruffians exist about the neighbourhoods of Symonds-streeb and Grafton road. Last night one of these fellows attempted to stop two young ladies who were returning to their homes, and might have succeeded, had they not taken to their heels. I would suggest that Constable Mulville should leave his old war path for a time, and take a few turns in this neighbourhood, as something ought to be done to stop this."

Under the heading " Whofis to Blame 1" " Go-ahead" writes :—"Sir,—Are we never to get our shipping business transacted in this port? Two ships arrived early last week; both made long passages, which circumstance is certainly annoying enoTigh to importers, without their lying in the stream for goodness knows how long before they begin to discharge. Why all this delay ? No wonder it is said down South that they d« more business in Dunedin in a day; than we do in Auckland in a week. -— Yours, Go-ahead." V/

A man of comic aspect and small stature named Charles Barnes, waa brought to the Police-station this morning on a warrant issued against him some ten months ago, for failing to contribute towards the support of his child then in the Industrial School, when an order for halfca-crown a week was made upon him, which he promised faithfully to pay, but upon escaping from the vicinity of the court, he left the city and was no more seen. Enquiries were instituted and information of description sent to Nelson, where it was said he was gone, but no tidings of the fugitive Could be fomid. His wife professed to mourn, and actually shed unavailing tears for her Charlie, whose small form she feared she should never see more. At length it seems Charlie relented, and grew weary of life in the bush. He returned to town yesterday to visrt his wife, but did not exercise due caution. He longed for a wee drop of brandy, and was detected in. one of our hotels, disclaiming on the glorious freedom of bush life, by the vigilant eye of Detective Jeffrey, who " run him in " with his pocket well lined with gold and notes. At the station, Charlie objected to pay the amount demanded. He did not see why he should be filched for the keep of his child, Which the public were better able to maintain than he. Upon being informed that he must pay up at once or have probably a month of it at Mount Eden, and still have to pay, Charlie began to prance and cut a lot of capers to the amusement of the spectators. At length finding resistance useless, and freedom impossible without the cost, Charlie said in a boisterous tone, "Take the money and let me go, but I'll be too smart for Jeffrey next time." The money was paid, and Charlie was allowed to go. We regret, however, to state that Charlie's case is not a solitary one, as numbers of persons like Charlie waste their money in drunkenness, and impose upon public charities in the same manner.

We have to thank the Captain of the Glance for 5s in aid of the widow Doble. The thanks of the Ladies' Committee of the Home for Neglected and Destitute Children are presented to Mr J. B, Russell for three boxes of oranges, and to Dr Kenderdine for one box of the same ; also, for various other gifts presented anonymously. Some humourous notes on the public men of Napier, were made by Dr. Carr in a recent lecture of an officer notable in New Zealand history. He said : " Colouel Whitmore, like the great Napoleon, is little ; like him he has been a commander, and like him he has displayed daring, courage and method, and utter disregard for men's blood or men's feelings when the desired end was attainable. He sought success with the energy or doggedness of a bloodhound, a brave soldier and a respectable general. Napoleon, however, had genius; Whitmore has none. .Napoleon must be an Emperor or a philoso-, pher ; Whitmore grows mutton and studies bucholics, not natural science ; it pays best. Doznitian laid down his sceptre to grow cabbages ; Cincinnatus forsook the luxury of war to till the ground. Whitmore is all business, pluck, energy, and selfishness; every line of the biain exhibits the man fitted for emergency."

Many of our readers will recollect Captain Beveridge, about six years ago pilot at Hokianga. It will not be forgotten how he boarded the brig Cantero (the present hulk of that name), which had been abandoned by her crew off the entrance to the harbour of that place, and bringing her on to Auckland, claimed and obtained £200 salvage at the expense of his billet, the duties which had been neglected in the traasaction. Then Captain Beveridge was known in Auckland for some time. He tried to float two or three companies, and tried his hand at sharebroking. But he was a restless spirit, and met with scant success. He obtained considerable fame as a preserver of human life. Seve-al times were his exertions successful in rescuing a fellow-creature from a watery grave, and he had the medal of the Humane Society presented him in acknowledgment of these services. Then ho went home and was lost sight of. We now hear through Captain Macfarlane, of the s.s. Taupo, that the man who saved so many f romdrowninghas met that fate himself. While in London, Captain Beveridge obtained the command of a vessel trading to Florida for timber. The vessel left her port for England eighteen months ago, and has never since been heard of. There is no doubb she ha 3 been lost at sea. The Captain wa3 one of those adventurous restless spirits who never do much good for themselves, but whose lives are invested with a halo of romance which is to a certain extent attractive.

Sir Donald McLean and Mr James Mackay were thus described by Dr. Carr in a recent lecture :—" Mount Cook is a baby mountain compaied to the Himalayas ; and Sir Donald McLean is intellectually a child compared to Gladstone. There are points of comparison, but they are few and exist only so far as one mountain may resemble another : alike in being mountains, but unlike in points of magnitude. McLean has proved himself as indispensable to the balance of our national politics as Mount Cook to the polarity of our globe. Brain massive, deep, prominent in the anterior region ; noble over the organs of the perceptive faculties ; firm as a rock ; an adept in flattery, and, like the noble Timon of Athens, he is charmed with flattery. Love of approbativeness is the only discoverable avenue wherein, you can find access to his soul, his sympathies, his favors, or his purse ; inquisitive, of indomitable perseverance, and patience. He reads little, gleans a great deal, he has tact, cunning, and splendid ability. He uses ordinary men like so many automatons, and even able men he converts into puppets. He makes all work and think for him. He reaps their labors. Herein lies the secret of his success, in his subtle knowledge of human nature ; his penetration ib that of a giant —selfish, not sordid ; he trusts no one ; nothing fanciful. Ideality is small; veneration less ; the world of poetry, religious sentiment, the beautiful ,in art or eloquence has little charm for this man. Esthetics is beyond his taste. Sir Donald is brave, a sturdy, fine manly appearance, the perfection of self-reliant energy, the whole expression daring and fall of power ; his success with the natives is mostly based on this; he inspires confidence, respect, and awe. Brain power, facial expression, personal appearance, and that he knows the art of listening. James Mackay has a splendid resolute and courageous type of head, but he cannot listen so well : Mackay must talk. This man will be the future Sir Donald ; too impetuous, perhaps, but he has progress and capacity standing out bold on his head. McLean knows his duty, and does it fearless of public censure, notwithstanding his love of pomp, of flatterers, and flunkies. The honor of knighthood has been well earned. The dignity sits well, if not gracefully on his manly brain.

A poor woman with her child, which she led by the hand, solicited alms from a gentleman in Paris, writes a correspondent. She had the appearance of true distress, and he searched for his purse, but found he had forgotten it. Doubly disappointed, the applicant exclaimed, "Since no one will relieve my child, I will destroy it," and she rushed to throw it into a sewer attempting first; to twist its neck. The army officer in private clothes, for such was the gentleman, ran after her, and calling upon some of his men near the barracks, seized her in time. The woman was conveyed to the lunatic asylum, and her child to the. foundling hospital. She was a respectable female, and her case thus revealed must have been desperate. There is no lazy poverty in Prance as a rule ; the most indigent exhausts every ingenuity before throwing up the sponge. Genius is positively displayed in the shifts to eke out the means to live. Poverty is of a protean type in Paris, and not the "less prevalent in broadcloth than in rags—the former conceal their misery better, and carry their secret with them to the grave.

It's quite impossible is it? Fortune*, are not made in the colonies out of the show business 1 Population is too scattered and travelling expenses too high, eh ! Inati w your notion, my friend, but ask the Rev. Charles Clark whether catering for people s pleasures or for their spiritual interests is the more profitable, and whether that £1800 nett which he drew fron> New Zealand for two or three months' pleasure trip was not the easiest earned money that he has P^ed up on this side of the earth's belt,— and paid more cheerfully too. Or ask Alien whether he considers that £2,UUU clear tt fait recompense for an operatic manager " doing" a little place like New Zealand. Or our old friend Smith, of the Varieties and other startling novelties. But if you really want to know what making a show pay means just drop in on J. U Rainerwhois now augmenting his P} le> and conferring a real benefit on the public at the same time, with the Fakir of Oolu, and ask him what he reckons the splendid diorama of the American War has turned him in. Bachelder, who first exhibited it, cleared £14,000. Eainer then bought it oft him, and has already cleared £8000 by lfc during its four years' perambulation about the colonies. But, you see, that requires management, and Rainer knows how to manage,—none better in the colonies. Has he done with the diorama yet ? Oh, dear ; no. At last advices (June), it was minting money for him in India, and staadily journeying towards China. You may expect to see it back in Auckland again in eight months,sand it will draw too, for it's a good stock piece, which will always be appreciated, whether exhibited in the torrid zone or up Iceland way. It hag been the biggest success in the show line that these colonies have seen — large houses and small expenses. Bub without good management it might ere this have been sold for old calico. Well, do you think it possible to make the show business pay in the colonies now, eh ! It's not everyone can do it, but when the right man goes about it you may believe, my boy, that he's not spending his valuable time in a foreign country for nothing.—Old Sawdust.

Jodon, the soldier condemned to death for the murder of his friend, Florence, a cashier, in the vicinity of Rouen, in Novembers la3t, has fuliy confessed his crime, writes a Faris correspondent, which is a grtat relief to the public, so undecided about his guilt, from the air of innocence and sincerity lie displayed during his trial. Jodon states that he called on Florence in his office, and the latter showed him the new safe full of gold, silver, notes and financial scrip, and in confidence, the, ingenious way for opening it, by first placing a series of letters to represent the word "Abel" the open sesame, and a name of singular coincidence, into the bargain. On a Sunday morning, Jodon and Florence breakfasted together in a restaurant, the former bein» in private clothes. They then set out for a walk, and when Florence was a few yards ahead in a by-path, Jodon shot him with a revolver, in the back of the neck and fired two balls into his body after he fell. Assured he was dead, he took the keys of the safe from his pocket, returned to the office, emptied the safe, buried the money and valuables in the cellar of his mother's kitchen, then put on his uniform, and threw the keys and the revolver into a public basin. The money was found where it was.

It is rumoured (says the Dunedin correspondent of the New Zealand Times) that the head of a banking establishment has been informed his presence at the CJub would be dispensed with, in consequence of his having spoken of a prominent Dunedin citizen, and member of the Club, as a swindler. When summoned before the Club committee, he denied having used the word swindler, bub admitted that he considered him a dishonest man. Feeling runs very high on the matter amongst the upper ten thousand, and it is not improbable there may be a pulling of noses in consequence.

We have received 5s for Mr George Pate and family, from "a shipmate J.T.," and 5s from "Nemo."

At a meeting held last night of the Excelsior (No. 1) Lodge, 1.0. G.T., Bro. Booth, L.D., assisted by Bros. Worms and Salmon, installed the following members as officers for the ensuing quarter, viz. : Bro. Smith, W.C.T. ; Sister Booth, W.R.H.S. j Sister Maynard, W.L.H.S. ; Bro. Trays, W.V.T.; Bros. S. Salmon, W.S.; Bro. W. Hughes, W.A.S. ; Bro. Maynard, W.F.S.; Bro. Clarke, W.T. ; Bro. "Carter. W.C.; Bro. A. Warburton, W.M.; Sister M. Rose, W.D.M.; Bro. G. Warburton, W.1.G.; Bro. Springford, W.O.G.

The Princess of Wales is constantly chronicled as wearing exquisite toilets. At a recent drawing-room she was attired in a dress of tca-r~-se satin, with revers of chest-nut-colored velvet, trimmed with Honiton lace, and ribbons of pale blue satin, tying bunches of crimson and tea-roses. At the last drawing-room she wore a dress and train of faille poult-de-soie, richly embroidered in faille and nacre, with draperies of tulle embroidered to correspond. The headdress was of diamonds and feathers, and the ornaments of Marguerites.

Our telegrams yesterday announced that F. D. Fenton Esq., Chief Judge of the Native Lands Court, will preside at the District and Resident Magistrate's Courts until a permanent successor to the late Mr. Beckham is appointed.