The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2088, 14 January 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1870.

Public opinion, the will of the majority, is the rough and ready way of arriving at conclusions in countries enjoying Representative institutions. It does not follow, therefore, that public opinion is always right. The only conclusion that can be arrived at is, be-

cause tlie majority accept certain theories as true, though they may be absolutely false and pernicious, they are the only measures they are prepared to carry out. It is thus that so many laws that oppress the mass of the public at Home, and were absolutely obstacles to general progress, were submitted to until at length they were looked upon as unavoidable. We yesterday briefly alluded to the rough .and illogical manner in which people content themselves with examining a question. Me advocate constant and regular immigration, not for the. sake of reducing wages as the desire of some is, but for the sake of providing regular and increasing employment for those here and those that are to come. And in order to prove the truth of our theory, we pointed to the effect of immigration on the rate of wages in the United States.—One of our correspondents, whom we take to be a representation man, wrote to inform us that he and f others who worked for wages, were not opposed to immigration, but they were opposed to the nonsense of comparing little New Zealand with maguilicient America. It is not often that we think it necessary to comment on the ideas expressed by our correspondents. As a rule we learn them to explain themselves, but this notion is one that for the sake of all classes should freed from the haziness that envelopes it. A reference to history carefully and impartially examined will shew how very little bearing the argument has upon the point revised ; and the illustrations that might be given only confirm the sound deductions of reason. The widest difference in the I'iite of wages between Great Britain anT America was when the United States wore only about eight times as populous as New Zealand. The extent of country available for settlement was not a that time what it now is. Men do not as a rule push into a wilderness and expose themselves to be murderedby savages,and deprivedof the comforts and enjoyments of Society. The far west, when first the tide of immigration set in, Avas almost inaccessible thinly peopled, and Avith scarcely a market for its produce. It is accession of population that has rendered cheap and ready means of communication Avith the seaboard necessary, and Avhich has brought at last the vast area of the immense continent itself into a position to support and find profitable employment for thousands of millions of people. But just in proportion to the vast increase of numbers does the influence of immigration upon A\ r ages decline. An influx of people that Avould render necessary the aid of every artisan and ploughman to provide house room, necessaries, and foqcl in Ncav Zealand Avould not iioav be felt in the United States. A few thousands pouring in there annually are not appreciably felt. They take the place of those going Avestward, and an accession to the population that would at one time have had a sensible effect on employment, ceases to exert any perceptible influence upon Avages, either in one direction or another. But Otago is not so contemptible a field, even in extent, as our correspondent seems to imagine. Perhaps few districts in the Avorld contain so much mineral Avealth in an equal area of country. There is amply sufficient land for extensive agricultural and pastoral settlement, and when, through the increase of population, cheap lines of communication are formed betAveen the interior and the ports, it Avill he found that even the United States do not present the temptations to intending emigrants that Otago does. But our correspondent must not imagine that the Province is surrounded by impassable barriers, that prevent an immigrant going beyond its limits. The whole of the Middle Island is before him—a country as large in area as England, and probably richer in mineral wealth, in gold, other metals, and coal. It is a country capable of supporting many millions of inhabitants in comfort and affluence, and the more rapidly it is settled the better for those avlio are here, those avlio come, and for the Avorld. The greatest mistake that any class whatever can make in regard to immigration is to use the political machinery of Representative Government to put a stop to it. There are those avlio will start other objections, and begin to talk very mysteriously about importation of capital as well as labor. They may save themselves the trouble. There will be plenty of capital found Avhen there is prospect of profitable investment for it. It is the business of bankers and merchants to find out where the best market is to be had for money, and the more men try to direct the stream, the more certain they are to drive it aAvay, When Louis Piiillippe of France asked a number of merchants and bankers, in conference, what, measures could bo adopted to forward their interests, he was met by the wise and ready reply, “ Let us “ alone.” It is an old, if not an elegant proverb, “ Where the carcase is, “ the- vultures Avill gather together,” Wo leave our readers to apply it.

Crowded Out. —Want of space compels us to hold over Presbyterian bynod lieport, Resident Magistrate’s Court, and other matter. Tun Late Mr. Baleour. —The body found at the Timavu beach on Saturday last, and brought down for interment in the D.inedin Cemetery, will bo buried to-morrow in the grave of the late Mr Paterson.. lids is at tiie request of the widow, Mrs Balfour. Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway. —We understand that the contract for the construction of the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway was signed today, and tbe contractors expect to be ready to commence the work in about throe -weeks. Spiritualism. —We have received a pamphlet on “ Spiritual!an.” The writer is evidently sincere in his convictions ; but as wc must acknowledge our inability to follow clearly his arguments, it would be presumptuous to attempt to comment upon it. It is published by Mr Watson. Cricket. —The return match between the Tokomairiro and the Albion Cricket Clubs took place on the Dunedin ground this day. The Albion team wont first to the wickets, scoring 34 ; the Tokomairiro followed, making, it is reported, a much higher score. The full report had not reached ns. Frankton Flat. From Frankton Flat, we learn that the late rains have done a vast amount of good to the wheat crop. It is reported to be ripening fast, and in tho course of three weeks or a month a large breadth will be ready for the sickle. Haymaking has been going on for the last week or so. The Shotover Bridge. The last tier of piles for the Shotover bridge were driven the latter end of last week. The contract time for completing the bridge is March, and it is expected that the contractor will bo able to keep up to time. At present the crossing is very deep, but the bottom is said to be farm. Concerts.— —lt is we believe the intention of Mon. Floury andothcrprofcssionals to give a scries of concerts, vocal and instrumental, at the new Masonic Hall. The first of the series is announced to take place tomorrow (Saturday) evening. As the services of Miss Forde, and Miss Jenny Nyc have been secured wc may safely predict a success for the enterprise. Congregational. — ;We understand that the Rev. A. Copland, of Manchester, who visited these colonies in search of health, will preach in the Congregational Church, next Sunday, morning and evening. We lear that the Rev. gentleman came introduced by the Rev. R. Connchcc, late pastor of the Church, who is labouring with success at his former Church, atKew, near Melbourne. The Weather.— -Late advices from the Goldfields state that tho weather still remains unsettled. Heavy clouds hang about the atmosphere, with intervals of rain. Communication with Dunedin via Waikouaiti had been opened, but it is very questionable if it would remain so long. Serious disasters to mining and other property are reported from Mount Ida and Manuhcrikia. The Molyncux has risen considerably within the last few days, Queenstown. —A singular event, writes our Queenstown correspondent, took place here within the last few weeks. A sheep farmer, long resident in the neighborhood, betrayed symptoms of mental derangement, and was removed to the hospital. On the 23rd nit., he got away unobserved, and immediately on his absence being discovered, search was made for him. No tidings could he got of his whereabouts, ami the natural inference was that he had got into the Kawarau river and been drowned. A search was at once made, and the river dragged,for some distance, but nothing was found to confirm the painful suspicion. On the morning of the 20th, the Kawarau ferryman discovered the unfortunate gentleman crouching amongst the flax in an exhausted state. He was secured, and restoratives administered. How he subsisted during the six days he was missing, is a mystery. Lake Wanaka. —At the stations on the lower end of the Wanaka, shearing is reported to bo well advanced. The muster will be close upon 73,000. Of this number, Campbell’s sheep alone arc estimated at 50,000 ; 30,000 of which had been shorn at the date of onr advices (Bth instant). The muster at Thomson’s station is set clown at 6,000, the half of which have been completed. Bathgate’s station will muster about the same number. The work is going on, but scarcely so far advanced as at Thomson’s. The wool is all washed, either hot or cold. It is looking remarkably well. The stations higher up the lake are late, and will not commence clipping for a week or two. Hands are scarce, still flic rate per hundred has not as yet exceeded 15s, An advance of 2s Gd, however, is expected. Cromwell. —Our Cioniwell correspondent sends us tho following items ; —The coach, via Waikouaiti, from Dunedin arrived in Cromwell yesterday ’(Monday) morning, bringing us tho mail, which should have arrived the previous Wednesday. The late disastrous Hoods, which seem to have completely shut up tho road between Shag Valley and tho Manuhcrikia crossing, was of course the cause of the delay. —The cattledcalcr, Robert Ralston, who went amissing a week ago, has not yet turned up ; indeed, it is very evident that he has been drowned in tho Clutha, and the chances are that his body may never ho found.—The Chinaman who disappeared from Goodycr’s hotel about the same time, has not yet been accounted for, and there is only too much reason to fear that he has fallen another victim to the treacherous waters of the Molyneux.—'The young man, Steele, who is positively known to have been drowned about four weeks ago, has not been found. These accidents coupled with the accident which befel Mr J. W. Garrett, put rather a clamper upon onr holi-day-making.