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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1920, 1 July 1869, Page 2

Supreme Court. —Mr Justice Ward sat in Banco this morning, when the case of Stamper v. Wilson, which was set clown for argument on a rule nisi for a new trial, was adjourned for a week. Accident. —This morning a horse, with an express attached, came into collision with the lamp-post opposite the Bank of New Zealand, but no damage was done, beyond the destruction of the shafts of the express. Wc have observed that it is becoming a very prevalent practice to drive young and half-unbroken horses about the townf and it is a matter of wonder that no serious accidents have resulted from it If the Corporation could enact a bye- aw to meet the case, the effect would, we think, be most salutory.

Acclimitizatiox. —The meeting of the council of the Acclimitization Society, convened for this afternoon, laps d, owing to there not being a quorum of members present. We have been requested to acknowledge the rccei t by the hon. secretary of the sum of L3O from the Queenstown branch society, to cover the expense of conducting the young trout from Dunedin to that place. The Queenstown Society are anxious to acclimitize tench and perch, and an excellent place at Frank'own has been selected, in view of the fish being received.

The New Ministry, The Waikouaiti Herald thinks that it will not be a ver difficult thing for Mr Stafford, Mr H dl, and Mr Fitzherbert, to combine witli Mr Fox, Mr M'Leau, and Dr Feathcrst n or with men of like o iuions. It is all but impossible for them to combine with those members of the House who are determinedly setting their faces against a new war loan, — against an indefinite prolongation of the liability of the .Southern sett ors to pay for the defence of their fellow colonists in the North ; —who in fact look upon Se aration as the ultim dc goal to be. striven for, and the only road to a really good government for the M ddle Isl-nul, With th- se men no member of the late administration has anything in common Yet they are undoubtedly the men whose political doctrines suit the ideas of the vast majority amongst ourselves. It would then be unwise to look upon the victory of the Opposition as likely to lead to any immediate results satisfactory to the p ople of Otago. As a slop towards something beyond it was desirable nay, absolutely necessary. But it gives us little clue to tne date when the political opinions we ourselves cherish, will obtain that victory towards which, whether it be near or far off the whole course of events is nevertheless steadily tending.

The Goorkhas. — The expediency of employing some of the native troops of India for the suppression of the Maori rebellion in New Zealand continues to bo discussed by the Indian papers. The Goorkhas are strongly recommended for the purpose. It is said they become ‘ ‘ greatly attached to their officers, and in no regiment in her Majesty’s service, British or native, does a better and kindlier feeling exist between officers and men than in Goorkha regiments. They arc gay, cheery, light-hearted little men, full of fun and laughter, fond of music, readily picking up English airs, which you may hear than constantly whistling, and possessed with a keen sense of the humorous, and with more of the characteristics of British soldiers about them than any other natives, They enter heartily into all the games and sports of their English officers - such as cricket, foot-ball, rounders, Ac. ; they are keen sportsmen, and are never more happy than when accompanying their officers on shooting or fishing expeditions ; they like smooking, too, taking to either pipes or cheroots, and are fond of their ' tot,'and yet not drunkards, it is a refreshing sight to see Gooikha soldiers and British s > fliers on service laughing and joking with each other, examining each other’s arms, or exchanging whiffs of a pipe, and sometimes not above taking a sip from each other’s canteens, if there is anything in them stronger than water !’’— Lyttelton Times.

Independence. —The fact that this ! question is now being discussed in any shape, will undoubtedly tend to hasten its consummation. The Lyttelton Times devotes a leading article to the subject, from which we have only space to extract the following paragraph : —“We apprehend that the dangers to the colony, if it were to become an independent Sta e, would be more from within than without. The European powers would certainly leave us alone. They would gain little by annexing New Zealand, and the trouble of governing an English population would of itself be sufficient to deter them from the a'tempt. Th- United States might possibly wish to join New Zea'and to their vat empire, but the chance is remote. We are a g eat distance off in another h“misphere, and there is little reason todi'eadthat a republican nation would interfere with the liberties of a small and distant country where the same form of government prevailed It would nevertheless be greatly to our interest to enter into treaties of coni merce with a kindred people of such vast power and resources. Were we independent, a war between Great Biitain and a maritime power would certainly not injuriously affect us. The carrying trade l>3 r sea would be in ;,he hands of neutrals, and we should be able to compete noth others for a share. Our coasts would he free from attack, and we should not be exposed to the danger of ruin from wars which we did not originate. We have not suggested any liability to the attacks of mere pirates or filibusters. These we are strong enough to resist, even if there were any real danger to be apprehended from them, and in this we should have the support, and if necessary, the material assistance of the civilized world.”

A meeting of tlie members of the Otago Political Association will be held in the old Masonic Hall, this evening, at -fight o’clock. Mr M‘lndoe is announced to deliver an address on “ Customs Union.”