The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2115, 15 February 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1870.

The Waikouaiti Election is exciting more than usual interest, on account of the number of candidates that have come forward to contest the seat, and the curious political situation of parties in the Provincial Council. No doubt the Hundreds Regulation Act will be a fertile theme on which candidates will descant. Those who take the settlers’ view of the question will point to what they will term the victory achieved in the Provincial Council, and the consequent condemnation of the Act itself. This will be based upon the fact that a majority voted with the Government in the final division on the subject. But the victory itself was of a very questionable kind. It looks very much like one of the victories in the North in which the Colonists

contrive to claim the superiority by letting the Natives take up a better position than they held before. Through causes over which the publishers had no control, the issue of the Hansard that reports the debates on the subject has been delayed beyond the time originally anticipated. The first part will appear in the course of the week, and we have no hesitation in saying that the discussion will repay the trouble of reading. The question was thoroughly argued according to present light, and the views of the opposing parties are fully and freely developed, Popular ideas on abstract subjects are seldom well defined and accurate. On the land question especially, there has yet been no theory founded upon the natural relation of man to the soil on which, and by means of which, he lives. On morals we have authoritative laws, and on examination of their tendencies, it is found that the restraints which they impose upon human passions tend alike to the well-being of individuals and society. In mechanics and physical science theory and practice mutually aid each other, but the question of right to land is based on no such welldefined laws, and accordingly varies with the modes of living of its occupants. Thus the North American Indian claimed a right to the possession ot vast areas of desert tracts, the hiding and feeding grounds of the wild animals that formed his food. Without effort on his part they were reared and fed. No matter to him that that land of which he assumed to be lord, was equally the birthright of every child of Adam as it was his, and might be made to sustain a million times more human beings than lived upon it, he claimed it as his own, and in defence of it is gradually perishing. So the Maori, with his unwritten and conveniently complicated law of possession, claims to dig his fern roots and other food over thousands of square miles of country, to the exclusion of those who know how to use the soil to better advantage. Pretty much with the same misty notion of right we find the early settlers of Otago speaking of birthrights in connection with the land, and denouncing those who dared to alter the law as violators of that which was due to them. and their children after them. It is quite competent to every man in an argument to lay down his own definition of a term. It may be very wide of the true meaning, interpreted according to the accepted signification of language. But since that is his idea of it, men are bound if they wish to know his reasons, for arriving at that conclusion, to accept his version as the basis of his argument. But we very much question if those gentlemen who thus claimed the use of the lands of the Province on prescribed conditions as a right, could give any very clear definition of the word, even as applied by themselves ; and it is quite competent to others to dispute the claim thus sef up, and to point to the arrangement as a mere temporary expedient, that must of necessity be superseded when the increase of population and varieties of industrial occupations required an alteration in the regulations. Perhaps it is seldom that two persons in an argument use the word “ right ” in the same sense. One will probably employ it to signify a claim that can be enforced by legal remedies, in which case it pre-supposes an existing law. Another may merely have in his mind moral claims, which can only be enforced by public opinion. In either sense, both the settlers and the runholders might use it with equal justice and equal force. But in whatever sense the term “ right ” was used by the contending parties, it does not follow that a third view would not be more equitable than any expressed. The difficulty of referring the terms of the occupation of land to any natural or moral right may be judged of by anyone who is curious on the matter, by turning to the works of Locke, Paley, or, in later days, to Stuart Mill and others. We believe with Paley that “ The “ real foundation of our right (to “ landed property) is the law of the “ landand as one of the chief points in the dispute was as to who had the right to make the laws—whether they should originate in the Provincial Council or the General Assembly—perhaps, taking into consideration that no man immediately interested should make laws for the guidance of others, it may be concluded by lookers-on that, as the Assembly was very remotely interested in the matter, they were the more likely to do that which was equitable than either clodocrat or squattocrat. If, therefore, our advice could by any possibility influence the electors of Waikouaiti, we should recommend them to choose a man who would not commit himself to the utter condemnation of either party.

St. George’s Hall.—Madame Car* andini takes her farewell benefit to-night, when we hope to sco a full house. In addi* tion to the entertainment, which should be sufficient to draw all lovers of high-class music, there is, we notice in to-day’s advertisement, to be a distribution of photographic portraits of Madame and the Misses (.Vandini to all taking reserved scat®. Masonic Hall. —There is no apparent falling off in the attendance at this place of amusement. The programme presented last evening included two new songs by Mr Thatcher, both being well received. That of “ St. Valentine’s Day ” is above the average of Mr Thatcher’s songs. Mr Small and Mr Daniels were very successful, but we should like to hear the latter gentleman in something other than the “oldsongs.” The programme of last evening will bo repeated to-night. "Waikouaiti Election. —At Blueskin, last evening, a meeting of the electors was held on the invitation of Mr A. 11. Urc. About 40 gentlemen were present, and after hearing Mr lire’s statements and opinions on the different questions relative to the district, a vote that he was a fit and proper person to represent the Waikouaiti district, was, on the motion of Mr Jones, seconded by Mr Pulier, unanimously carried. We are informed that Mr lire’s candidature is favorably regarded by this portion of the constituency. The Pacific Mail Route.— The Post Office department of the United States Government keeps a register of the time occupied in the transmission of the mail between San Francisco and the chief eastern cities. The average time between New York and San Francisco is 7 days 2 hours 23 minutes ; but frequent trips have been made in less than 6 days and 16 hours. It is intended to reduce the schedule time, so as to bring it down by half a day on the average. Postal. The Secretary of the General Post Office, London, has issued the following circular :— Many persons are in the habit of addressing letters for wellknown firms and individuals to “London” only ; but this practice not unfreqnently occasions delay in such letters reaching their rightful owners. In all cases, however well the firm or individual for whom a letter is intended may be known, it is most essential, to ensure its correct delivery, that the street or locality in which they reside, and the number of the house, should form a part of the address.

The Bendigo Gully Reef. —In a recent issue wo stated tha 1 the lino of reef east from the prospectors’ claim on Coldough’s line had not been found. Writing from Logaritown yesterday afternoon, our corre'pon lent says : —I am happy to inform you that the lead has now been struck on claims Nos. 1, 2, and 3, and about 70 yards distant from the lino at which the parties had been at work. At No. 1 claim it was got on the surface, and lias already been traced a distance of IhO feet, 'iho stone Lears a striking resemblance to that of Colclough’s, although the gold has all the appearance of being much more finely distributed, A shaft is about to be sunk. The accounts from the Aurora are very favorable. It is understood that the first washing will take place in the course of a week or ten days. — Guardian. The Front.—We have been favored with the following extract from a private letter just received from Napier. The position of the writer is a guarantee for the correctness of the information: —“ Branigan’s new regulations have been received with great satisfaction by the men of the force. The reason is that one of the rules allows any man to leave on giving three months notice. This is an unhoped-for boon, and upwards of two hundred of tho best men in the force hkye eagerly seized on the chance of quitting and have sent their notices oi resignation *Vo head-quarters. Our Superintendent Ormond is in a great state of dismay at this, and it is reported that an express has been sent for Mr Branigan, in order that a consultation may be hold, and some remedy devised. The Native allies have not been paid for some months, and are growling about it.” —Evening Post. Theatrical. — Mr Charles Matthews will, says a contemporary, on the last day of January, 1870, leave London for Melbourne. The regret which the playgoing public of this hemisphere will feel at parting with a comedian who has done 10 much to enrich their theatrical recollections, will be to some extent compensated by tho pleasure they will derive from a knowledge of the enjoyment in store for the admirers of dramatic art in the Australian colonies. Of the enthusiastic reception which Mr Charles _ Matthews will experience on his landing in Australia no doubt can be entertained. The most finished comedian of the English stage, who with the greatest buoyancy of spirit unites the utmost repose, and always gives the fullest assurance of the polished gentleman being before the audience, carries along with him the highest recommendations. Mrs Charles Matthews, who will accompany her husband, and share his professional triumphs, has deservedly won good opinions as an actress of marked ability; and a brilliant career through the colonies would seem to be before them. Artist, actor, author, and musician, Mr Charles Matthews has more varied acquirements than any performer who has hitherto visited the Australian shore.

A Succession of Earthquakes.— Shocks of earthquake have been felt at Gross-Gerau. A letter from that place states that, from the 14th November to the 15th, within the space of four hours and a half, twenty - four peals of subterranean thunder, seven of them accompanied by shocks violout enough to waken the soundest sleepers, were distinctly heard. From the 16th November to the 17th the thunder was repeated sixty times in three hours, and a shock was felt which shook the houses and made the walls and beams creak. At present there seems to be alternate intervals of repose and of convulsion, the duration of each being a few hours. On the 19th November, at half-past six o’clock in the •evening, another pretty severe shock was felt at Gross-Gerau. The Bheinischier Courier says that, according to measurements taken by engineer officers, the whole site of the little town is now two or three inches lower than it was before the earthquake visitations. Notwithstanding the great number of shocks that have been felt, none of the houses have fallen, though walls are to bo seen in many places curving outwards, and between forty and fifty chimneys are in a precarious condition. A letter from Darmstadt, dated 22nd November, announces that the shocks in Gross-Gerau are again increasing in frequency and intensity. The writer adds that many of the inhabitants are

suffering from various forms of nervoui disease, and even insanity has in some cases been produced by the perpetual anxiety to which these alarming phenomena have given rise. The “ Cave.”—The leading Wellington paner of Feb. 5 has the following : During the last session of the Assembly a small party was formed outside of the two larger parties iu the House, which was generally known by lire name of the “Gave. A reference to the 22nd chapter of the first book of Samuel, will explain the title. The composition of the parly in question was very similar to that which David gathered together when a refugee in the Cave of Adullaui. “ Everyone that was in distress, everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him,” we read, “and he became a captain over them.” With such qualifications for admission into the clique it might he supposed that it would have been much more powerful than it w r as; and it probably would have been, but that the party was weak in the head. They had no leader like David, able to smite political giants such as Stafford or Fox. Though they were not powerful in numbers or ability they were ft troublesome lot. They always threw themselves into the scale on the wrong side, and structed the business of the session. _ Out of the incongruous elements of which the party was composed, there was a sufficient supply of brains in the less respectable among them, to mako up the deficiency in those who happened to bo honest. Those who were short of intellect made up for it in length of tongue, and those who lacked political honesty helped the party by an aptitude to manufacture fact whenever it might be convenient so to do. Barring the unequal distribution of honesty and brains, the party had all the necessary tools 'with ■which to work. It had its financier at is head, whose figures would defy the most apt accountant to make head or tail of what they were intended to show, and was capable of making obscure, after the manner of Treasurers, on any point on which light might have been thrown. There ■was a Native Minister ready cut and dried, ■with a large-hearted sympathy for the injured race over whom he proposed to reign. There was a most convenient man to put up to talk against time, and who has May’s Parliametary practice at his fingers’ ends. A whip well qualified for the dirty work of the party. And in fact, but for the want of numbers, and just sufficient honesty of purpose to pass muster In the Assembly, the party was a perfect model of a successful opposition. Among other tenets of this party, there was one which amounted to a monomania, it had an inveterate dislike to the Provinces ; and its leader, who was understood to be in training for the Colonial Treasury, had a disagreeable habit of compiling tables of figures to show that the Provincial system was entirely wrong. Unfortunately the House did not think so, especially as the Treasurer in embryo was able to devise no feasible scheme for carrying on the work of the Provinces "with, less iunds than were allocated to them; and the various proposals emanating from the Cave were rejected generally by both parties in the House. Now that the doors of the Assembly are closed, the Gave enunciates its political views to the public through the columns of the Press, a Canterbury paper immediately under the influence of the member who figures so largely as the leader of the party. He has been some time, engaged in an attempt to prove to his own constituents that he has their interests at heart; but having signally failed in this endeavour, he has lately devoted bis paper, and probably his pen, to a renewed attack upon the Provincial system. We understand that he is going the round of the Provinces, giving an article to each. Progress of France. —In the course of his speech on the occasion of the opening of the French Chambers, the Emperor Napoleon is reported to have said The statement of the situation of the Empire presents satisfactory results. Commerce is not at a standstill, and the indirect revenues whose national increase is a sign of prosperity and confidence, have produced up to the present, 30,000,000 of francs more than last year. The current Budgets show notable surpluses, and the Budget for 1870- will allow of our undertaking to effect an improvement in several branches of the public service, and to make suitable grants for public works. But it is not enough to propose reforms, to introduce savings in the finances, and to administer affairs in an effective manner; it is also necessary that by a clear and firm attitude the public bodies, in accordance with the Government, should show that the more we widen the paths of liberty the more we are determined to preserve the interests of society and the principles of the constitution intact, and superior to all acts of violence. It is the duty and within the power of a Government which is the legitimate expression of the national will, to cause that will to be respected, for it has right and might upon its side. From homo affairs, if 1 gaze beyond qur frontier, I congratulate myself on seeing foreign Powers maintaining with us friendly relations. Sovereigns and nations desire peace, and they are engaged in advancing civilisation. Whatever reproaches may be made against our century, we have certainly many reasons to be proud of it. The New World suppresses slavery, Russia liberates her serfs, England does justice to Ireland, the litoral countries of the Mediterranean seem to be once more calling to mind their ancient splendour, and from the assembled Catholic at Romo we need only expect a work of wisdom and conciliation. The progress of science brings nations together. While America joins the Pacific with the Atlantic Ocean by a railroad 1000 leagues in length, and in all parts capitalists and intellects agree to unite by electric communication the most distant countries of the globe, France and Italy are about to clasp hands through the tunnel of the Alps, and the waters of the Mediterranean and the Red Sea mingle already hy means of the Suez Canal. All Europe was represented in Egypt at the inauguration of this gigantic enterprise, and if the Empress is not here to-day at the opening of tho Chamber, it is because I have been desirous that by her presence in a country where our arms were once rendered illustrious, she might testify to the sympathy of France towards a work duo to the perseverance and genius of a Frenchman.

The bell at the Post Office is to be tested as to its capabilities for fire purposes to-morrow evening. The pic-nic of the children in connection with the St. Paul’s Sunday School is announced to take place to-morrow (Wed-

noflday), *.t 1 o'clock, on tho ground adjoining the Botanical Gardens. The children will meet at the New Market, Octagon, at 12.30. Should the weather be wet, the meeting will take place in St. George’s flail, at 4 p.m, The Artillery, Naval, and First Battalion, O.R.V. will parade for inspection and drill to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, at 7.30, in front of the Custom House.