THE EVENING POST. SATURDAY, MARCH 11,1865.

Evening Post, Issue 28, 11 March 1865, Page 2

THE EVENING POST. SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1865.

The Otago Daily Times of Saturday last, while commenting on the mystery that envelopes all his Excellency's movements, indulges in a sharp attack on the Ministry and the aeat of Government. It has been long generally understood that Wellington was, for the future, to he considered the capital of the colony, consequently it was to be expected the residence of the Queen's representative, pro tern, and all governors io come. It would be rather too much to ¦ay with the Daily Times that because Sir George Grey will not come to his Ministry, his Ministry must go to him, as we conceive it to be the duty of the head of the colony to take up his abode in the metropolis of the country he is sent to govern. We do not desire to see the

Government divided into two, the Governor and his responsible advisers constituting themselves into two quasi independent administrations, each assuming functions that, wanting the sanction of the other, are thoroughly unconstitutional. Mr. Weld is sensitively jealous of an infringment on the powers (f his ministry, and, seeing the urgent necessity for united action, intimated to Sir George Grey that his presence was absolutely necessary at the present crisis. The Governor came ; he knew it was his duty to do so, he was far too clever a man to imagine Mr. Weld and his colleagues would so far neglect their bounden duty as to dance attendance on him at any port to which he might convene them; the Commissioners had pointed out the suitability of Wellington for the chief city of the colony — the General Assembly, at the last session, considered the question of the removal of the seat of Government — he himself had sanctioned it, and now some people take upon themselves to say Sir George only yielded in order that he might make political capital at home by pointing out the indignity he was subject to, having to submit to leaving his city of delight at the beck and call of a parliament he was supposed to govern. We are so accustomed to the attacks of interested parties in Auckland, that, may be, like the eels, we are getting hardened ; at least, knowing the animus, we disregard the numerous philippi.s emanating from them ; but we are somewhat astonished that Otago should throw her little stone, forsooth, because, after having gone to great expense in removing the records and Government staff to Wellington, the ministry will persist in carrying on their business there, instead of marching backwards and forwards, dancing attendance on the person who is to blame in not inaugurating with his presence the capital of the colony. That Sir George Grey will attempt to make capital for his hou-e correspondence; that he will enlarge on Wellington funaticism, and hold himself up as a modern martyr to bigoted intolerance,we do not in the least doubt, but that Mr. Cardwt.ll will be convinced by his arguments and decree that his Excellency is to be an -antipodean ignns fatuis, to be chased by the representatives of the people from Wangauui to Auckland, and from thence to his pleasant little domain at the Kawau, we consider extremely problematic ; moreover, it will be equally hard to make him bJieve that the Ministry have but the one absorbiag desire of colonising Wellington, when their despatches will show how fully they are tackling with the many great difficulties and dangers financial, external and internal, that threaten to swamp the colony at large.

The inhabitants of Kiawara held a meeting on Thursday night; to take into consideration the mean 8 to be adopted for the establishment of a school. We beliere that sufficient money was collected to purchase a site for the building. Captain Sharp, of this city, has made the committee a most liberal offer of a i ieee of land, in every way adapted for the purpose, at a mere nominal price ; we believe 4s per foot. This is a step in the right direction. Surely the Government will contribute something to meet the wishes of the residents at Kiawara. We hear that procuring a site for the Government demesne is not the easy matter that the gentlemen delegated for that purpose imagined. A beautiful spot was selected, .and two arbitrators appointed to settle with the landholders. These gentlemen made their awards some time ago ; but, through the dog-in-the-mangerism of one or two parties concerned, the affair is likely to drop through. Mr. J. H. Wallace sold at his Auction Mart, yesterday, ten of the N.Z. Steam Navigation Company's shares ; they only realised jG4 10s per share, being nearly 60 per cent, below par. It really is difficult to account for the depreciation in the shares of this important company/; the steamers meet with full employment, and the coastal trade is rapidly improving. We would ask if the affairs of the company are as well managed as they might be ; perhaps, by injudiciously purchasing old vessels, the expenditure for repairs has been necessarily great. In the Resilient Magistrate's Court, yester-

day, the adjourned case of Ezekiel Thorby v. James Smith was heard. This action arose from a claim made by plaintiff for work and labor done on the Island Morm, The account rendered for same' was j£74 10s. Uffendent paid, on account, £35, leaving a balance of £39 10s, which amount plaint iff sued. Verdict for plaintiff, 4s Id, wi h costs. The Bruce steamer is laid on at Dunedin for Okitiki gold fields, her light draught of water enabling her to cross the bar. As Captain Semraes was for a time sup posed to be on board the Shenandoah, and as some interest is taken in his movements, we may state that, on the 15th of Octoberl last, he reached Bagdad, in Mexico, on his way to Richmond via Matnmonw, The steamer Gothenburg, which put in at the Bluff on her way from Melbourne to Dunedin, has brought intelligence, telegraphed from Invercargill, of a case of homicide at the Mataura diggings on Friday last. The name of the alleged murderer is Thomas Whitehead (alias Brummy), and that of the unfortunate victim Daniel Stewart. Both men were mates, and were engaged sawing in the bush. It appeared that Whitehead accused Stewart of having stolen money from him, a charge which the latter denied, whereupou Whitehead struck him from behind on the head with an axe. Stewart, although desperately wounded, managed to make his way out of the bush, and gave information to Sergeant Bullen, who lost no time in arresting Whitehead. The declaration of Stewart was taken by Dr. Menzies, shortly before the poor fellow's death, and the prisoner has been lodged in Invercargill gaol. Inspector Mortdn/has been despatched to the Mataura to attend an inquest, which will be held on the body.— Otago Times. We notice that our enterprising fellow townsman, Mr. Osgood,is having an immense iron tank laid down in his yard, for the purpose of forming a reservoir. We would draw the attention of the authorities to the necessity of furnishing the reclaimed laud with water, as all persons have not the means of providing their premises with the appurtenances of a water company ; nor is it right that they should; there are certain duties that appertain to the Municipal Board, and this is one. We a*e glad to see further evidence of the increasing prosperity of the Waikato, in the extensive building operations which are going on in some of the principal settlements. The hotel accommodation provided in many of these places is so perfect that it is not now, as formerly, a treat to get shelter in a rudelyconstructed whare, for those who visit the Waikato may now truly take their ease in their inn.— Southern Gross. The Band of Hope Company washed out as much as 290 ounces one day, and ,1226 ounces during the six days of last week.— Argus. Dr. Macadam, whose evidence in the case of Captain Jarvey, awaiting trial on a charge of murder, is essential, arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday. The s.B. Albion, 453 tons, Captain Edward Kidney, from Melbourne, left Lyttelton at ten p.m, on Thursday last, the 9th inst, experienced fresh easterly winds until six a.m. on the 10th inst, when it became very thick with every appearance of a heavy gale. Captain Kidney hauled off the shore as it commenced to blow hard, gradually working into a heavy gale with a high eea. l'he Albion arrived in port at nine o'clock this morning, and to the courtesy of Captain Kidney we are indebted for our Australian files. A benefit for the widow and family of the late Mr. J. M. Wolfe is announced to take place at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin. Miss Joey Gougenheim and Mis * Aitken have offered their services to assist the regular dramatic company. The question of payment of members was debated in the Legislative Assembly, Melbourne. It is shelved for the*present session. To the list of steamships now lying unemployed in Hobson's Bay, the name of the Omeo is to be added. This fine vessel has for five or six years past been engaged in the New Zealand trade. Latterly, however, freights have been cut low by competition, aud now the amount of traffic has fallen off so, considerably that it is found better to lay the vessel up than to continue to run her. — Argus. To the long list of fires with which Dunedin has unfortunately been visited within sue last sis weeks, another is now to be added.

Exactly at half-past three o'clock yesterday morning Cays the Times of Tuesday), the peals of the fire bell announced that a fresh catastrophe had occurred, but in what direction of the town the fire had broken out, for some little time remained a mystery. Eventually, however, the glare which illuminated the heavens conveyed the intelligence that the conflagration had its origin in the neighbourhood of Duncan street. The flames, it appears, had broken out on the promises of Mr. Dryden, grocer, on the one side of wliich Btoed a boot shop, and on the other a couple of private cottages. Before the flames caught the latter, most of the furniture, &c, was carried out with every possible expedition and deposited on the opposite side of the street, where it was taken in charge by the members of the different Volunteer corps -who had arrived on the scene. The grocery store and cottages adjoining were burned to the ground. Mr. Dryden was insured for about £6<X). The cottages were the property of Mr. Wain, tailor.