The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 55, 12 April 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1865.

While a large amount of individual hard" sVp is caused by the gold fields, they also produce a great deal of general good, and our experience teaches that wherever extensive gold fields existed they have been the means of opening up the roads, colonising the country", and are, in fact, one of the chief characteristics of prosperity. We cannot expect to have immense good without also having a proportionate share of evil, but certainly 'payable gold fields are great assistants to progression. The hardships experienced by diggers are often caused by the avidity with which they listen to glowing descriptions of new discoveries ; and their faith in a new rush almost amounts to, superstition. California, Australia and Dunedin, are remarkable illustrations of what a gold mining population will do. If we look at the increased Customs revenue of Nelson, we find that in the receipts of the quarter ending 31st March of the present year, as compared with the corresponding period last year, there is an increase of £6288. There can be no doubt that th : s gratifying result has been in a great measure attained by the West Coast Gold Fields. It is ¦within the recollection of many that before the gold fields of Australia were discovered there existed in that country the greatest dearth of commercial enterprise — property was of little value, and, as might be expected, the stream of immigration ceased. What were the causes of the stagnation of colonial prosperity it is no use entering into now; the discovery of gold in Australia removed the crisis, and has been the means of populating that country with sturdy settlers. The diggers are a transitory population,

but let their stay be ever so short, they leave a certain amount of good behind. The value of gold fields has become so well recognised that large rewards have been invariably offered by the different Governments for their discovery, and in a young colony we know of no other element likely to advance prosperity and progression so effectively as a large population, and plenty of employment for them. With regard to the morality of a digger's life we have little to do; we acknowledge the pursuit of gold has a demoralising effect on some people, but the advantages that accrue to a country possessing a payable gold field outweighs the evil. Knowing this, it is greatly to be regretted that all seeming exertion in this direction should have ceased, and that the Provincial Government of Wellington should be contented with one or two unsuccessful attempts to find the precious metal in this province. Experienced diggers have frequently given their; opinion that Wellington will some day possess a payable gold field; gold has been found in different districts of this province, proving beyond dispute that energy and perseverance might lead to the coveted discovery.

In the New Zealand Gazette, published on the Bth inst., are the Governors' proclamations, appointing the sevaral polling places for the Electoral Districts of the province of Wellington, for the election of members for the Provincial Council. The principal polling place for the districts of the Cit^, Porirua, Karori, and Makara, is the li.M. Court, Wellington ; for Lower Hutt, the Mechanics' Institute; Wairarapa East, school house, Masterton ; Wairarapa* West, R.M. Court, Grey Town ; Wanganui, R.M. Court ; Rangitiki, the premises of Mr Duncan Fraser. We believe that the day fixed for the nomination of candidates for the city is the 24th inst., and the polling day the 25th. The polling day for country districts will be within a fortnight of the town. By the same Gazette we find that it is notified to the Commissioners who were appointed on the 29th .February, 1864, to select sites for public buildings in Auckland, that they are lo except out of their list ths erection of a Government House in the Domain at Auckland. There is also an official notification of the appointment of Mr. R. H. Huntly to the office of overseer to the public domains, belonging to the General Government, in the province of Wellington. All officers of the General Government are prohibited from taking an active part in any election, beyond recording their votes. We have to hand the last issue of the Wanganui Chronicle, but there is no news whatever in it concerning the movements of General Cameron. Although we have no war news, we can witness the effect the war has on the regular routine of busiciess life. Our contemporary in Wanganui has had the duties of the office sadly interrupted by three of their hands being taken for militia duty on the day of publication, causing a great delay in the of the paper. On the day in question there were but ten men on duty, and that three out of the ten should be taken from the office of the Wanganui Chronicle seems to us unjust and inexplicable" We really think, that unless in cases of great necessity, people connected with the important functions of a paper should be exempt from militia duty. The news from the " Okitiki Rush," to which we gave publicity yesterday, should have been quoted from the Otago Times. The ship Viola, from Glasgow, 116 days out, arrived at Auckland on the 4th instant, with 348 passengers, all in good health. Yesterday evening a meeting of the City of Wellington Band of Hope was held in the Wesleyan School Room, ninety children attended. Mr. Solby occupied the. chair. A gentleman, named Taylor, who Has been for twenty-seven years Temperance Missionary in the East Indies, and Mr. Head, addressed the assembly, after which singing and recitation by the juvenile portion followed. The amount collected at the Penny Bank was A meeting of gentlemen took Place S|^ ne New Zealander Hotel, last night, for tfflPfurpose of forming a Jockey Club ; the meeting wus well attended, and, by the earnest manner in which the subject was discussed, it was evident that the importance of a Jockey Club was fully recognised. A committee was formed, and a secretary appointed. Before

adjourning, the Secretary read over the list of subscriptions. Ifc was then proposed that the meeting should adjourn until eight pm. this evening, to give the gentlemen who had been proposed as members, and who were not present, an opportunity of attending. The resolution being carried, with a vote of thanks to the chairman (Mr. Chevannes), the proceedings ended. In almost all sporting districts a jockey club is considered necessary, and we have known instances of gentlemen offering a high premium to become members of established clubs. For improving the breed of stock, the Jockey Club is invaluable; it desseminates a better knowledge of the most useful of animals, and the members, by meeting and discussing the various points of a horse, and listening to the conversation of those who thoroughly understand the subject, gain information not to be had outside the club. We are glad to see that a feeling pervades the public of Auckland that a substantial recompense should be made to Captain Levy, who, it may be remembered, rescued the Rev. Mr. Grace, at great personal risk, and at the sacrifice of all his goods, from the hands of the fanatics of Opotiki. The losses of Capt. Levy have been very large, and while something is being done to reimburse him, those who accompanied him on the memorable occasion should not be forgotten. We learn by the New Zealand Herald that a very interesting ceremony took place at the Catholic Church at Otahuhu last Sunday week. Several new aisles have been added to the church, and the ceremony consisted in blessing the new portions of the church, by Right Rev. Dr. Pompallier, Bishop of Auckland, assisted by the very Rev. Walter M'Donald and the Rev. Michael D. O'Hara. The church is considerably enlarged, and will now accommodate about 600 persons. The usual weekly meeting of the Council of the Northern Association was held at Auckland on the sth instant. The Council transacted some business of considerable importance. It would be well, we think, if the Council would give from time to time official reports to the Press of the business done by the Council, excepting, of course, when by doing so they would be exposing their hand to the South. The public are very anxiou, to know what is being done on their behalf atid we think the Council might very well afford to grant them occasional information through the several local journals. — N. Z. Herald April 6. The New Zealand Herald of April 6 says — " We took an early occasion yesterday of contradicting the rumours respecting the fate of the settlers at Coromandel, which had caused so general an alarm throughout the town, and we then showed how the report arose. It was brought on shoie by one of H.M.S. Brisk, to which Mr. Mackay, the Native Commissioner of the Thames district, had gone off during the morning for the purpose of making arrangements for her departure to Coromandel for the protection of the settlers there. Some words must have been overheard by the crew, and the report, when it reached the pier, and bf-came circulated from mouth to mouth through the city, was to the eflect that sixty-five Europeans at Coromandel had been slaughtered by the Pai Marires. Although matters have not reached this alarming state, there are, we are sorry to learn, grave apprehensions felt for the safety of the district. Intelligence is said to have been furnished to the loual authorities, by two natives who arrived yesterday morning, that a massacre of the European residents at Coromandel and Kennedy's Bay is planned for Friday next, to morrow. Be this as it may, and it is likely enough, H.M.S. Brisk, having Mr. Mackay on board, will drop down to Ooromandel to-day, and will take with her several stand of arms and quantity of ammunition, which Mr. Mackay will serve out to the Europeans if he considers there is any further danger." Last night "The Daughter of the Regiment " was repeated to a good house, and as is always the case with a second performance, when everybody seems settled in their respective parts and positions, was received with even greater enthusiasm than on the evening. Miss Marian Dunn is undoubtedly one of the best soubrettes in the colonies, and the role of Josephine is remarkably suited to her piquant and pleasing style of acting. Her easy transition in many portions of the drama from glee to sadness, and many of her songs, especially "Ask me not why," was affecting in the extreme. The Sergeant Annibal Scalade of Mr. John Dunn needs no reccommendation from us,

having been played by that gentlemen in almost every city in England, America, and the Australian colonies ; his make up, like his acting, was inimitable. Mr. Towers as Guillot, the lover of Josephine, was comical in the extreme, and assisted materially to give effect to the piece. Mr. Howe as Pumpernickel displayed an amount of good taste as well as good acting, and was favorably received. Miss Anstead's Marchioness was remarkably well played; this is a difficult character, especially for so young a lady to undertake ; and the Duchess of Grand Tete was also made a feature of by Miss Maggie Griffiths. The rest of the characters were well sustained ; and the dresses and scenery were perfection. Dance by Miss Maggie Griffiths, and the screaming farce of' 1 Whitebait at Greenwich," concluded the enterment. To-night "Used Up" and "The Daughter of the Regiment " will be produced