The Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2358, 22 October 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1870.

We do not see that there is anything requiring special notice in Mr Warden Beetham’s report from Queenstown. It is pretty much of the same tenor as that of last quarter. Wo gather from it that mining industry is there combined with agriculture, and that the inhabitants of that mining district are, as a rule, thriving and well-to-do. There is, however, again the same story : the Chinese arc outnumbering the European miners. Our readers must not imagine that wo do wrong in persistently bringing this fact before the public. Some ten thousand Euvo-

pean miners left the Province in 18GI or 1865, and all classes of tradesmen have suffered since that time. Acting upon the most approved laissez fairc principle, the Provincial Government, no matter who had the administration of affairs, have left the gap to be tilled up as it pleased Providence —and it would appear that the Chines'* have come to point out the way by which Europeans may grow rich. We are dealing with a fact, not with an idea. Those men throughout a broken winter, amid rough weather, in spite of snow, and storm, and tempest, have been earning thirty shillings or two pounds a week each. We want to know why they should have been doing so well, and so many of our own people so badly, during the last three months 1 There must be a reason lor this—and if so, it is easily discoverable by inquiry. It appears to us that the Provincial Government, whose special duty it is to develop the resources of the Province, has confined its views too exclusively to the regulation of two industries already fully developed. We know there are people who object to what they are pleased to term Government meddling in industrial occupations ; yet, strangely enough, they admit its right to do so in some of primary importance. They advocate Government provision for the education of boys and girls, Government Schools of Art, Government roads, Government railways, Government docks; and many of them would even urge upon the Government to impose protective duties upon imports, to support a special class at the expense of the rest. But suggest to them a

Government gold mine, where Euro-

peans could be employed in the absence of other work, and where they could be trained, with profit to themselves and the Province, in the practical knowledge requisite to successfully prosecuting one of its most important interests, and they at once start up in arms against it. What Mill asserts of this class is perfectly true : they have “ often dealt largely in general “ arguments, far outstretching the “ special application made of them, “ and have shewn a sufficiently strong “ bias either in favor of letting tinners “ alone or in favor of meddling; but “ have seldom declared, or apparently “ decided in their own minds, how far “ they would carry either principle.” If this truth is applicable to okl countries, it is much more forcible in its application to new ones. It is not that there is anything in the condition of *an infint country that renders the application of social laws differing in nature from those suitable to older communities necessary. Some imagine otherwise ; but since human nature is the same everywhere, and since right and wrong are absolute and immutable, that whicli is just and true is universally applicable. Now we have a set of circumstances to deal with that are somewhat exceptional, and that, in our opinion, require dealing with in an exceptional manner. Wc have two fullblown industries—the pastoral and agricultural. They have developed because men came here who had some knowledge of them beforehand, and who easily applied that knowledge to the new circumstances in which they were placed. But they have grown into large proportions by themselves, and one cause of their languishing is that there is not a constant and increasing market for their produce. They flourished before the exodus to the West Coast, and they have been‘in a state of struggle ever since. Could there have been some thousands of able miners brought into the Province to supply the places of those who left, this depression would not have been experienced. But the ground has been lelt vacant The Government have thought it sufficient to survey, and to report. If. is true a book was written idling of the beauty, the fertility, and tlm richness of the land. We believe a number of copies were sent Home; but not all its glowing pictures have induced immigrants to wend their way hither. If a book lias been written by order of the Government, letters giving different pictures have been written by men who were discontented, or by professional detractors, contradicting its statements. In the meantime, with truer information —however obtained we know not—a number of Chinese have come to sojourn for a time, and when they have capitalised sufficient they will go away again. With these facts before ns, we cannot but imagine that by inquiry and investigation a system adapted to our position may be devised by which, without competing with other men’s labor, but with profit to the Province and constant employment to all immigrants or others willing to work, a class of men may be induced to come and settle amongst ns who will intelligently, nud to their own immense advantage, devote themselves to raining industry. What wo wish to bo said at Home is, “ If you go to “ Otago, you will go to a place where “ there is always work for those who “ will work.”

Political.—lt will be seen by the advertisement that Mr Reeves is a candidate for membership of the Provincial Council. Body Found. —The body of a man found in the Mataura on the 18th instant, supposed to have been drowned—bn 4, upon examination found to have his throat cut — lias been conveyed to Invercargill.

The Weather.—An extraordinary change has taken place in the condition of the weather to-day. The thermometer registered at 2 o’clock 107 0 in the sun and 82 ° in the shade.

Mayor’s Court.—The only cases brought before his Worship the Mayor today were James Smith, charged with being drunk and disorderly. Being his lirst known otl'cnco lie was discharged Avith a caution. John Laugh.am, for a like oilcnce, being an old offender, was flood 295, or 48 hours’ imprisonment.

Gaol Return.—The following is the s'ate of H. M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 22nd October, 1870 : Awaiting trial, 7 men, 0 women ; under remand, (Until, 0 women ; penal servitude, 92 men, 0 women ; hard labor, o7 men, 12 worn- n ; in default of bail, 2 man, 0 women ; debtors, 4 men total, 162 men, 12 women. Received during the week, 10 men, 2 women; discharged, 5 men, 4 woman. Supper. —The Loyal Albion Lodge of M.U., 1.0.0. F., celebrated their anniversary by a supper at the Oriental Hotel, Princes street last evening. F.G,M. Hro. J, Shcrwin occupied the chair, and a large number of the brethren sat down to the supper, which was supplied by Bro, (J. Armstrong, and gaa'e every satisfac-.iou, the viands’ and cataH s being of the 1 est description. The guests included his Worship the Mayor. The evening Avas spent in a very convivial manner.

Princess Theatre. — Last evening the drama of the “Marble Heart” Avas repeated, so far as the pci formers aye concerned. Avith great success. It is a .singular conception, not easily described in its plot, and requiring great artistic skill on the part of the actors. Of the first we cannot speak so confidently as to the la t, for being unfortunately late iu consequence of a mishap through riding in a car driven b. a drunken cabman, avc missed the first act—tho keystone to the plot. What wc saw were scenes of beauty never surpassed on the stage in Dunedin, coteries of ladies and gentlemen avlio avere bandying snort sayings and repartee, an artist avlio avhile rusticating falls in’love with a lady avith a marble heart and who in the pursuit of her sacrifices fame, wealth, friends, manly self-re-spect, .and ultimately dies. Improbable as are the events—and wc arc gla I for the sake of the comfort of society that such exaggerated passion on the one part and worldly calculat'd! on the other aie rare - the splendid acting of the company invested the two 1 «sfc ants Avith an interest that the second seemed to lack. It is a play intended for the pouvtrayal of situations and tableaux. Each time avc AVitness the actum of Miss Carry George, avc arc Hie more deeply convinced of her poAver. Nor Avei-e the ladies to whom the o‘her parts were ailoted less successful in their efforts. they were well supported by Messrs Collier, 1 anVCHCC I\ob rtS'on, txiul Vv iliCltlSOll. The scenery, the dresses, and every appurtenance were elegant and appropriate and now one quiet word for ths peopl' of Dunedin For six months or more the theatre was closed. During that period several ontertainments were projected anvmgst us. Some deserved support nnd got it, borne did not deserve it, hut it is somewhat smgular, though not very complimentary to say that with the single exception of Mr Heller, those who least deserved support on account of artistic talent and attainments, received the greatest amount of it. whether deserving or not they paid for their board, and took the balance of their earnings to spend in other places. The estimate they formed of Dunedin and its people the Jdenbj J hues very kindly gave us when it published Air Heller’s letter to George O-rppin. Through the enterprise of Mr Willis avc have brought together a company Avhose united talent has never before be'n equalled. 1 hey have produced the best pieces of the day ; the most fastidious taste could not hud fault Avith a word that has been uttered, and the most moral might bao'e learned ;i a\ hole-ome lesson; they arc avoeklv disbursing a luge amount of money, Avhich gives employment to a number of people; there is a place of amusement provided where taste miy be cultivated, manners refined, .and sentiment corrected or purified, aul it is allowed to languish—'why avc cannot guess. Io the taste of the less wealthy the support, poor as iu has berm that the Theatre has roc ived, isowing. To those avlio might reasonably bo expected from their affluence to give support to elevating and intellectual agencies, thus far it owes little. It may be Avant of thought, it may be through prejudice, it may be— avc Avill not pursue the speculation _but it must bo evident to everyone that the billiard and bagatelle rooms, with their accompanying iiobbbrs, must be most cx(/■nsivcly patronised Avbcn no theatre is open ; ami no philanthropist would hesitate in deciding Avliich should lie f-u; ported. Me In me the merits of the company will secure for them in future the hc’p of all classes. To-night “ Grist to the Mill ” will be played, and avc trust that the house Aviii be tilled.

A Meeting of journeymen cabinetmakers Avill be held in the Hibernian Hotel, on Monday evening, at 8 p.m.

The Rev. Robert Scrimgcour will preach in St. Andrew’s Church, Melville Street, to-morrow morning and evening, and at Caversham, at the usual hours.

We notice Unit the p.s. Peninsula makes an excursion trip to kerb Chalmers tomorrow'. If the weather continue fine no doubt a large number of persons will avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded for a thorough day’s enjoyment.

We sec by advertisement (hat a meeting of gentlemen favorable fo the return of Mr Fish in the forthcoming election, will bo held at the Metropolitan Hotel, tins evening, at 8 o’clock.