The Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2364, 29 October 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1870.

■Whatever other differences subsist in the opinions of the different candidates for legislative honors, there is one on which they agree, namely, that “ The “ North Island should in future bear “ the burden-of its own defence, and “ pay the cost of improvements on it.” This is not a question with which Provincial Councils can directly deal. If they exert any influence whatever on the subject, it is indirect; but it should not be a matter of indifference to the electors in selecting Provincial representatives, as it marks opinion. Argument on the subject, taking into consideration the length of time it has been before the country, ought before (this time to be needless. We have had meeting after meeting at which 'Separation was pronounced absolutely necessary ; we have had resolutions of the Provincial Council to the same •effect; men who have been blind to

its justice have been hooted for their opposition to it; petitions, illuminated and otherwise, have been forwarded to Her Majesty in favor of it: and yet it has not been accomplished. Since the agitation for localisation of North Island expenditure took place, many changes have occurred in the relation between the two islands that very much alter the political aspect of the question. The consideration of loans has created a common interest in sustaining the credit of the Colony ; and the Acts passed last session, authorising borrowing for reproductive works, render insular severance a very delicate question. Unless it is approached in a very cautious manner, and dealt with in such a way us to lead the world to a conviction of the equity of the arrangements made, and of the stability of the guarantee on the faith of which money is lent, the credit of New Zealand might be seriously damaged. This argument was urged against Mr Reynolds’s resolutions in favor of Separation, and against his amendment on Mr Yogel’s financial policy. We admit it to be specious. We admit that there is a time for all things. It was said that it was not the time to introduce the question of localisation of liability, and that to attempt to define the proportion which each island should bear of the debts to be incurred, would be to endanger the whole scheme. Wo have no hesitation in saying we think this was a mistake. Consent was a kind of log-rolling far more likely to injure than to benefit the credit of the Colony. It was a virtual bribe to the North Island members to support a plan by which they received more than their fair share of the benefits derivable from the loans. It was a virtual condemnation of the sense of justice of the men of the North—for it was as much as saying, “No matter how great the “ benefit to the Colony as a whole, “ unless you of the Middle Island con- “ sent to give to the North a premium “ for their votes, they will neither let “ you have a railway system, nor have “ one themselves.” Measured by population or by revenue, they were not entitled to the proportion proposed to be spent upon them. Without the plea of danger to justify the grasping after Middle Island capital, with no necessity whatever to excuse such a misappropriation, it was deliberately proposed and accepted as a necessity, that although the Middle Island contributes two-thirds to the revenue, and contains nearly two-thirds of the European population, only one-half of the amount of the loans for reproductive works should be expended there, and that they should pay one-half the interest. We have no hesitation in saying that when the Treasurer proposed this, it was saying more than was pleasing to North Island members, for it was far more liberal towards the South than anything ever before conceded. In times past two-thirds of the weight of the war and of Northern improvements have been borne by the South ; so that it was a clear point in advance when it was proposed to allow it the difference between one-third and one-half. But that really was the price paid for the support of the Northern members, and it would seem for the support of the Southern ones too. It was very ingeniously put at the time. It was represented that by so much money being spent on Northern improvements, very probably the North Island would so advance in prosperity as ultimately to pay one-half the interest. Rather an Irish way of looking at a thing. It reminds one of two men comparing ages. One was twenty, the other thirty. “Ah ! ” says the younger, “in ten years I shall be as “ old as you.” “ You suppose,” said the other, “ that I shall wait for you “ then.” Just in the same way we suppose the Middle Island must cease to progress if the North Island is to pay half the interest. Even according to present appearances, the probability is that its progress will be so much more rapid than that of the North Island, that instead of only paying half the interest, three-fourths will be contributed by it; and should there be Northern wars or a change of Ministry, no one knows how much more in the coarse of years. There cannot be a greater mistake than to imagine that it is not expedient, before giving authority to borrow, to determine who is to pay the interest of the debt. The first principle of justice is, that the party benefitted by the loan should pay for the use of the money ; and one of the essentials to support of candidates at the coming elections for the Assembly should be Separation of the two islands in some shape—call it by what name seems preferable, “ Financial Separation,” or “ localisa- “ tion of expenditure,” or anything else, A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Gift Auction to extinguish the Debt on St. Paul’s Church. —We are glad to learn that great liberality has been shewn by the people of Dunedin in* contributing goods of all descriptions, for the purpose of paying off the debt on St. Paul’s Church. Contributors will be called upon for the goods promised on Tuesday. The Land Registry Act. —Mr Gawler, solicitor under the South Australian Real Property Act, has obtained leave of absence for a short time from his Government, with a view to his proceeding to Wellington to initiate the working of o ir Act In the working of the South Australian Act Mr Gawler has had great experience, and he is therefore considered well qualified to fulfil the mission entrusted to him by the General Government.

Princess Theatre. —“ Frou-Frou ” was repeated last evening to a moderate house. No doubt a piece of this character but for the counter attractions would have drawn largely. A great treat is offered through this evening’s programme. “The House on the Bridge,” which secured so long a run and was so favorably spoken of both in London and Australia, is to be produced this evening. We may predict a crowded house.

Gaol Return.—The following is the s l ate of H.M. Gaol, Dunedin, for the week ending the 29th October, 1870 : Awaiting trial, 7 men, 0 women ; under remand, 0 men, 1 woman; penal servitude, 92 men, 0 women ; hard labor, 53 men, 13 women ; in default of bail, 2 men, 0 women ; debtors, 4 men total, 158 men, 14 women. Received during the week, 2 men, 3 women; discharged, 7 men, I woman. Complimentary Benefit. —We trust Mr Henry’s complimentary benefit was as profitable to him as the promoters intended. We cannot compliment the whole of the performers on their success. In fact, some of them clearly overrated their powers of pleasing, though their failure does not lessen the kindly oliject they had in view in coming forward. We need not too critically examine the performance of amateurs, but in cases where personal profit is not the object, accept the will to please for the deed.

Ball. Everything considered, the North Dunedin Company have every reason to be satisfied with the success of their annivsrsary ball, which was held in the Company’s Shed last evening. The counter attractions, in a great measure, and the unfavorable appearance of the weather dining the earlier part of yesterday in a lesser degree, tended of course to prevent the possibility of there being such a large attendance as might reasonably have been expected. There -were, nevertheless, about 3S couples present; aud among the company we noticed Majors Bathgate and Atkinson, Captain Stavely, Lieut. Jack, and other representatives of companies. The Shed was very tastefully decorated with evergreens and armorial devices, the effect being very strik ing. Dancing «as kept up until an early hour to the strains of Mr Anderson's quadrille band, wlrch performed in a manner that left nothing to be desired. The viands were supplied by Volunteer Hutchinson, the refreshments by Mr R. K. Murray, and each gave general satisfaction.

Tuapeka.—Most of the lands that have been cropped for years, it is reported, will be laiil in permanent grass this season.— The local correspondent of a provincial paper draws an unfavorable comparison between the Lawrence and other goldfields districts further inland.—The recent fine weather has so far improved the roads that travelling is now, comparatively speaking, a pleasant movement.—Popular indignation was roused some time ago in connection with a matrimonial alliance projected between a Chinaman and a young female belonging to the Anglo-Saxon race. In spite of remonstrances, the parties consulted their own minds, and took each other upon the usual conjugal terms—for better or for worse. Although this occurred only a few weeks ago, the spell of their romantic alliance appears to have been already broken, and the protection of the laws —whose amenities their union is supposed to have set at naught—has been invoked by the parties respectively for protection from the incompatibility of each other’s temperaments. The aforesaid correspondent jilts up the interjectory part of the perf Durance in the following lively colors : —“ It aeems the lady in question has a temper of her own, the undue exhibition of which was not in compliance with the ideas of John, and he remonstrated {in what manner I can’t tell, as he can’t talk English, and she don’t understand Chinese) but apparently without producing the desired effect. They had a scrimmage outside the house. The lady has a sister, aged sweet 15, who is assiduously following in the footsteps of her elder sister, and she adroitly tripped behind John and quickly undid his tail and vixenly clung to it, having what ‘ Jack ’ would call a ‘ powerful purchase.’ Whilst John was thus in leading stiings, his wife had a kettle of boiling water, which she applied to John’s person. Both the principal combatants on examination exhibited appearances which told a tale. The female must have used her weapons to some purpose, as John’s physiognomy presented the appearance of having had a claw hammer drawn across his face. ” The Kev. Robert Scrimgeouv wil preach in St. Andrew’s Church, Melville Street, to-morrow morning and evening, and at the usual hours. 'A special meeting of the members of the Otago Institute will be held in the Provincial Council Chambers on Monday, at 3 p.m. A special meeting of Mr Eisli’s committee is announced to be held at the Masonic Hall, this evening, at 8 o’clock, to consider important business. The fortnightly meeting of tho Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society for receiving Subscriptions, &c., will be held on Monday evening between 6 and 8 o’clock. We see by advertisement that his Honor Judge Chapman will deliver a lecture at the Masonic Hall, on Monday evening, at 8 o’clock, in aid of All Saint’s Church fund. Subject :—“ Fossilised words.” with some illustrations of the history and development of the English language. We have received the Illustrated New Zealand Herald for October. It contains views of the road from Christchurch to Hokitika, the Sydney Exhibition, the opening of the Melbourne Town Hall, and an unusually interesting selection of reading matter, Mr Bathgate announces his inten-

tion to address the electors at the Oddfellows’ Hall, George street, on Monday, at 7.30 p.m., and at the North Dunedin Drill Shed, on Tuesday evening, at 7.30. Mr Fish will address the electors at the North Dunedin drill shed on Monday evening, at 8 o’clock.