THE EVENING POST. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 19, 1 March 1865, Page 2

THE EVENING POST. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1865.

A little while ago, Chief Justice Arney made some very snubbing remaiks relative to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and it is now clearly evident that not only has the Chamber lost public respect, but its own also. In the excess of our charity we can make allowances for even the bitter diatribes and shameless untruths relative to Wellington, which some portion of the

Auckland press has indulged in, but we can make none for a body of mercantile men if they are so lost to all self-respect as deliberately and formally to report, in a public document, what they well know to be untrue. In the Southern Cross of the 10th February, there is the account of a meeting of the Chamber held on the day previously. It appears that the Melbourne Chamber hnd asked the opinion of the Chamber at Auckland,relative to certain matters afftctting the European mail service, and requested information as to what had been done in reference to Panama. The subcommittee appointed to prepare a reply delivered in their report at the meeting alluded to. It will scarcely be believed that in this report the following paragraph occurs : — "iWith reference to the inquiry as to the legislation in the New Zealand Assembly on the Panama Contract, your committee beg to report that, in consequence of the change of Ministry, the extreme shortness of the session and the hasty character of the legislation, it was impossible to take any action in the matter." No action taken in the Panama matter ! Is it possible that Auckland merchants can be guilty of putting forward a statement so opposite to fact ? Are they ignorant that the Panama question was debated, and that, short und crowded with business as the session was, an act was passed, voting £63,000 a-year, and authorising the Weld Ministry to enter into a contract to that extent on certain modified conditions? The Auckland Chamber could not be ignorant of the passing of that Act, and yet they adopt the false report above quoted, and direct it to be forwarded to Melbourne* This bold-faced attempt to deceive will' however, recoil on their own heads, and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce will become, in the Australian colonies, and the New Zealand provinces, a byeword and reproach. But mcamvh.lc it should teach us a lesson. We have alwaj s had at the head of this province a gentleman, whose integrity and honorable disinterestedness gaitied for us an influence in the Legislature of the colony, of which we may well be proud. That influence is more than ever needed now. It is needed to consolidate the advantages that have been but scarcely secured. Those who are desirous of depriving us of them will not (as this Chamber of Commerce attempt proves) be by any means qualmish as to the means they employ, and, if we are wise, we shall think twice ere we weaken Dr. Featherston's hands. Rather let its strengthen his influence, and thus take one of the most effective steps in our power for securing permanently what we have as yet so barely gained.