The Evening Star MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1670.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2150, 28 March 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1670.

The quiet tone of the news from England is a gratifying feature. It proves that statesmen are more bent on attending to the internal improvements of their respective countries than on extending their boundaries or interfering with other Governments. Every successive mail points to the extension

of enterprises tending to bind nil nations of the earth in amicable relations. Experience, unfortunately, has shown in all ages that war’s will arise from trifling causes ; but they are now-a-days so expensive and destructive that they exhaust the victor as well as the vanquished, and so derange the affairs of neutrals that the world begins to feel interested in putting them down. It is through the prevalence of peace that the Suez Canal has been completed, ocean telegraphs laid, and railway lines through different countries permitted. That mechanical ingenuity which has latterly devised engines of destruction so terrible as to render war more to be feaied than ever on account of its physical dangois, has also so interwoven the interests of the civilised world as to cause its social effects to be felt throughout its bounds. With disturbances in prospect, commercial and manufacturing enterprise is paralysed. When, therefore, we read of new projects for inter-communica-tion, which depend for their success upon the stability of existing international relations, there is good reason to hope for a continuance of that quiet which is necessary to material progress. On these grounds, the voyage of the Great Eastern with the Red Sea telegraph, the schemes for telegraphic communication between Australia and Great Britain, the improvement of the navigation of the Suez Canal, by the removal of the rock at Scrapeum j the project of Mr Green for a new line of vessels between India and Great Britain, the meeting of merchants in London for establishing a route between Australia and England to be travelled in fortv days, aro of far greater importance than the progress of tho insurrectionary movements in Spain or the sittings of tho (Ecumenical Council in Rome. So long as measures like these can be carried out with success, we may leave our fellow-colonists in London to amuse themselves with Utojim schemes of Imperial consolidation; foi while they are debating, surer foundations aro being laid ; for at no very distant day there will be such a fusion of international interests that Governments will only be sections of a world-wide community. Directly, there is little in the English news bearing immediately on New Zealand’s interests. Earl Granville has not receded from the position he laid down on his first accession to office, that the Colonies should maintain peace within their own borders. He does not seem to consider the case of New Zealand exceptional, but includes it in the same class as Colonies that have no internal enemies. We arc to be practically taught self-reliance, by having all help withheld. Amongst other curiosities connected with Colonial relationship, it will be noticed that a memorial has been presented from British Columbia to the President of the United States, praying to be permitted to annex themselves with the States. This is rather a startling proceeding, and, if true, it will be interesting to watch tho conduct of the British Government in relation to it. It is hardly likely that any serious opposition will be offered, for in all probability any commercial advantage derivable from a Colony so situated will be equally enjoyed under one rule as under the other. The United States themsohes never were really good customers to Great Britain until they were freed from the control of her Government. Amongst other peaceful signs of the times, not the least is the decision arrived at by the French Chambers not to abrogate the commercial treaty with Great Britain. The reason given is that a good understanding between tho two countries may be maintained. This treaty was one negotiated by the late Richard Cobden, and was a successful breaking through of that war of tariffs, which placed such impassable fiscal barriers upon commerce between tho two countries. Under its provisions, Franco and England, instead of striving to become rich at each other’s expense, have grown rich together, and have proved the truth of that wholesome commercial maxim that the richer our customers are the more extensive, safe, and profitable our trade is with them. Protectionists have assailed the treaty, and it was prophesied that when its period was fulfilled France would go back to tho old restrictive system. The result, as might have been expected, has falsified these predictions. Common sense in such matters, though usually of slow growth, for the most part asserts itself, and prevents a relapse into those errors from which the people had been delivered. Exceptions are to bo found in the Colonies, but time and an increase of knowledge will provide the cure. The fall in the price of flax is the most unpleasant news recorded, No sufficient reason is assigned, for the stock does not appear to bo excessive. It will be necessary to search carefully into the cause, and no doubt, whatever it is, a remedy will be found that, applied, will give increased value to it in future. i

The ex-Premier — Mr Stafford is at present on a visit to Canterbury, Supreme Court.—The sitting in bankruptcy fixed for to-day was adjourned until to-morrow.

Resignation. The resignation of Lieut. Jas, .F. Robbie, Dunedin Naval Volunteers, has been accepted.

New J.P.’s. —Messrs Alex. Mollison, of Waihola Park ; William Park and William Duff, of Waihola, have been appointed justices of peace for the Colony. Personal. —His Honor Judge Chapman and lady were passengers by the Some: sc shire, which sailed from Plymouth for Melbourne on January 2ii.

Bremner’s Reef, Strath Tai eri.— A trial crushing of 3 tons of s'one taken fom the above reef, was made last week at Mr Alves Mill, Macraes fiat; the average yield being 0 dwts. per ton. Footrace. — On Saturday afternoon, at the Southern becivatiou Ground, afootrace of 100 yards, between J. Boag and a mail whose name we have nut been able to learn, for L 5 aside, resulted in the defeat of the latter.

Appointments. —• The undermentioned persons have been appointed Inspectors of weights and measures in this Province ; Sergeant-Major Samuel Moore; Sergeants William Cobden and Jas. Deane.

Wool Sale.—Messrs Driver, Maclean, and Co. report as follows : —The sale of wool and flax at our warehouses this day was fairly attended, but the bidding was extremely dull, and only a limited quantity of wool changed hands. Greasy fleece fetched 6Jdto7Jd. WaJied,—None sold. Flax.— Only a few bales were offered, which, consequent on the depressing hews received to-day from the Home market, were passed without a bid.

Colonial Prize Firing. —Wo hear that the sito chosen for tho Colonial firing is on Mr John Lindsay’s property, N. E. Valley, almost opposite tho schoolhouse, — From the Canterbury papers we learn that the firing of the Northern Companies of the Canterbury Volunteers for representatives took place on Wednesday, and that Sergeant W. Cameron, No. 3 Company, and Private Wearing', No. 5 Company, are tho successful competitors, with scores of 41 and 40 respectively. Theatrical. — Wo understand Mr and Mrs W. H. Newton, two great favorites in tho Northern Island, are about paying ns a professional visit, they will no doubt be remembered as having played here some years ago under the management of Messrs Holt arid Wolfe, and were then acknowledged favorites with the Dunedin audiences. Mr Newton is an actor of great ability, and Mrs Newton a sterling comedy and burlesque actress. From a private letter wo learn that the Rainer ministrels will also visit Dunedin shortly. They have been playing with immense success at Auckland, taking in one week tire large sum of L4OO. Imperial Despatch. Tho following despatch has been published for general information :—Downing street, 13th Dec., 1809. Sir,—l have received your despatch No. 124, of the IStlr September last, recommending that the members of the Lvc ministry of New Zealand, viz., Messrs E. V , Staff>rd, W. Fitzherbert, J, Hall, J. C. Richmond, and Colonel T. M. Hanltain, should he permit* ed to retain the title of Honorable; and J have to acquaint you that the Queen has been graciously to approve of those gentlemen retaining the title within New Zealand. In conveying her Majesty’s decision, I have much pleasure in placing on record my appreciation of the services rendered to the Colony by Mr •Stafford during a long and distinguished political career, and by Mr Fitzherbert iu the able and judicious conduct of his recent negociations with the Government of this country, respecting the adjustment of the Imperial and Colonial claims arising out of tlie war iu New Zealand. I have &c., Granville. Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.”

Supplying Arms to Rebels. —lt is announced in the (loveviiuwit Gazette, that a reward of LIOO will be paid to anyone giving Si'.eb information as will lead to the conviction of any person guilty of the capital offence of supplying arms and ammunition to rebels, under the 23rd section of the Arms Act Amendment Act, 1869. A reward of LSO will bo paid to anyone giving such information as will lead to the conviction of any person of a felony or misdemeanor under the following sections of the Arms Act, 18*10, that is to say, sections 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 36, 38,—0r any amendment or alteration thereof. The above rewards will be paid only after conviction. The informant’s name will not he divulged without his own consent, except where it is necessary that he should give evidence in Court. In the case of accomplices giving information leading to conviction, a free pardon will be granted in addition to the reward.

Latest Thames Kews.—A great gloom lias been thrown over this town this morning by the reported deatlx of Captain Massey. On enquiry wc find it is only too true. It took place this morning at six o’clock. The deceased had complained for several days back, but nothing unusual had been observed in his appearance to cause uneasiness to his friends. At the above-named hour ho rose with the intention of taking his accustomed morning bath, and, in reply to an enquiry from his wife as to his health, lie said that he felt a little better. .No sooner had this been uttered than he fell back upon the bed and expired. Dr Trosseau had been attending him, and believed that the pain ho complained of in his head proceeded from neuralgia; but it is now supposed that an abscess on the brain is the cause of death.—A fatal accident occurred lately at the Otago Company’s mine. A little after eight o'clock in the morning, as three of the men were engaged in removing the old poppet heads from seven to eight feet high from the mouth of the shaft, to make room for more powerful ones ip connection with the whim just erected. In lowering them from their position to the ground, the deceased, as far as could be gathered, was holding the cappiece, and the strength available not being sufficiently powerful, or some seem to be of the opinion it was owing to the greasy state of the ground, the whole of the cap piece and logs, composed of tiijibci’, 10 feet by S feet, came down upon his chest, \yhieh caused Ids death almost instantaneously. Dp Croft was called in immediately, but medical skill was useless. The deceased’s name was Patrick Gorham, a native of County Galway, Ireland, shareholder in the company, and had been employed at the mine for upwards of twelve

months. Ho came from Hokitika to the Thames, but previous to that had been in Victoria, having landed there in 1857.—A. Z. Herald.