The Evening Star. THURSDAY JANUARY 5, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2461, 5 January 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. THURSDAY JANUARY 5, 1871.

» Mr. Vogel’s meeting ” once more cropped up at the City Council, and in bucli a form as ought to bring a blush of shame upon the face of every citizen who reflects upon it. We should think such a farce was never before enacted as the Mayor of a City, jealous of" his own dignity, driving a bargain with a gentleman as to the terms on which he shall comply with the request ot a large proportion of the ratepayers. We care not whether the Mayor’s idea of what passed agrees with Mr Vogel’s or not; the facts that are acknowledged are quite sufficient to condemn the whole affair as compromising the honor of every ratepayer in the City. In order to place it in its true light, a short review is necessary. One of the highest officials in the Colony visits the City. He has no special business to make public j he comes to consult with the Superintendent about carrying out measures decided upon by the Legislature, and might very properly have come and gone without any public demonstration for or by him. But as those measures had been much misunderstood, and still more misrepresented in the Provincial Council and out of it, a number of gentlemen asked him to address a meeting at the theatre, and thei/ pnul the expense. No one can doubt that they had a right to do this : and not only so, but they had a right, having paid or agreed to pay the expense, to choose their own chairman, and to exclude whom they did not think fit to admit. But, waiving those rights, they admitted every one who chose to attend ; and we need not say amongst the s > who chose to attend, were those whose wits and manners savor more of Bedlam than rational society. We have no doubt that the Mayor himself felt ashamed when they pretended to assert his dignity in so blackguard a manner. It will be remembered that these maniacs at large excused their brutality, on the plea that the Mayor was insulted by not being asked to convene the meeting. Amongst the redeeming features of this disgraceful transaction, is the feet that so large a number of the citizens disclaimed all participation in it, by signing a requisition to the Mayor, asking him to convene another meeting. It was a rebuke to those who interrupted the former one, and the most ample apology that could be- made for the insult offered to the Treasurer ; and on that ground it was only right that every name should be published. One would have thought the Mayor would have been glad that the world should see that the respectable portion of the City inhabitants were willing to pay the respect to him which had been so senselessly and rudely claimed for him. One would have thought that he would gladly, and at any reasonable cost, have seized upon the opportunity afforded of wiping out the disgrace brought upon Dunedin in his name. But instead of that, what did he do ? He went and presented the requisition, and then, in a huckstering spirit, haggled about the cost of calling the meeting ! What profit was it to Mr Vogel to speak 2 He had nothing to gain by it. It was not he who asked to speak—it was the citizens who asked him. His name had not suffered through the boorishness of the people ; it was Mr Fish’s name and the reputation of Dunedin that had suffered. It could not matter to Mr Vogel whether he was heard or not. Had he refused to have spoken, no one could have blamed him. He did not come as a candidate —and as for the Public Works Act, it had become law. His position could neither be made better nor worse by silence. He had a perfect right to name the terms on which he would consent to address the requisitionists—they were very reasonable. He had been insulted, and he wished to guard against a repetition of it; and the only way he could do it was, by publishing the names of those who wanted him again to speak—as by that means they were bound in honor to insist upon due courtesy being paid him. Then as to the “ dual capacity ”of Mr Fish. On behalf of the Masonic Hall Company, he was right in trying to guard against damage done by his lambs ; but as Mayor appointing a place of meeting, either ho or the City Council —that is, the citizens —were responsible—not Mr Vogel. Reviewing the whole affair from beginning to end, one hardly knows which to be most ashamed of—the disgrace of the first meeting, or the idea of inviting a gentleman to speak, and then making him pay the expense. Mr Vogel’s letter is a gentlemanly rebuke, which ought never to be forgotten. The Mayor and Council are quite right jealously to guard the expenditure of the City; but if, in deference to the wishes of a large portion of the citizens, the Mayor calls a public meeting, surely the City ought not to giumble to bear the cost, even though it is enhanced by the wrongheadedness of a few of the people.

Supreme Court.— His Honor Mr Justice Chapman held a sitting in banco today. The only business of importance was the application in re Bathgate v. the Bank of Otago, for a rule nisi for a new trial, which was granted. COLONEL HARRINGTON.—Wc understand that Colonel Harrington will inspect the Oamarn Company on the 12th, and inspect the other Northern Companies on Jus way down, reaching Dunedin about the 10th. He will then proceed to Southland, inspect the corps there, returning by the south, finishing his tour of inspection at Dunedin. The Week of Thayer.—ln accordance with the suggestion of the Evangelical Alliance, special '‘meetings for prayer are being held this week, iu the Wesleyan Chapel, Stuart street, every morning at halfpast six o’clock, and in Hanover street Baptist Chapel every evening at half-past seven o’clock, Christians of all denominations are invited to join in these services. Acclimatisation Society. The Council met this afternoon, but the business transacted was unimportant. It was intimated that there were GOO young trout ready for distribution, and that the Society was willing to receive applications for them. The Chairman (Mr Murisoul -was instructed to dispose of the live stock on the ground, and to employ Mr Deans as manager pro trill.

District Pries; Firing. —The various districts will fin for the Government district prizes in the following order : —First district, at Anderson’s Bay range, on the 18th and 20th hist. ; second district, atjhe same range, on the 2Jrd, 24th, and 25th ; third dis'rict, at their own range, on the 11th and 12th ; and the Waikonaiti Rifles on the 14th ami Kith. 'lhe East and West Taieri and Bruce Companies will compete in February. The Pantomime, —This evening arrangements have been made for a special treat to children at the Princess Theatre. The artistic effects produced in the puitomime cannot be witnessed without exciting the admiration of adults, ami must look like a beautiful vision to children,-who dn not speculate upon the way in which the illusions arc produced. The best commendation of it is the full houses it has drawn together, and as the hours are suitable, we know of no New Year’s treat that will be more acceptable to the young and these interested in seeing them delighted. The San Francisco Route. appears from the Home papers received by the Suez mail, that Mr John Knowles, who went to England as Secretary to the Cornmis doners, comes o it via America, with the view of reporting to the Government on Hie above route. He left Liverpool for Now York on November 1. and may be expected iu the Colony about the middle of January. The Home Katun says The New Zealand Commissioners and Mr Knowles have won “golden opinions” from all sorts of men during their stay in England, an 1 their visit must result in benefit to the Colonics for which they have worked so well. Flax—The following notice to flax manufacturers has been published iu the Gazette: The House of Representatives having resolved that there should be an exhibition in Wellington during the next session of the Assembly of all varieties of flax fibre prepared in the Colony, manufacturers arc invited to forward to the Flax Commissioners samples of the fibre, rope, sacking, or any other material prepared by them from the New Zealand flax. .'Hie samples of fibre should not be less than 201bs in weight, and 10 or 15 fathoms of each kind of rope will be suflicienb. It is desirable that a statement of the processes and estimated cast of manufacture should accompany the samples. The 8u pehintendency. —A requisition has been forwarded from Lawrence, asking Mr Macandrew to allow himself to be nominated a candidate for the Snperiutsndeucy. The requisitiouists express great * satisfaction and gr tilulc for the manner in which ho has upheld the people’s cause in spite of difficulties almost insurmountable ;” and they especially thank him “ for the unfaltering perseverance with which he has urged the claim of the mining population to a share of the public revenue, for the purpose of expenditure iu creating a system of water salvage and supply.” The requisitionists express their conviction that Mr Macandrew’s efforts have been frustrated an I his “ energies paralysed by the want of sympathy and support o.i the part of his Executive and Provincial Coir oil,” and pledge themselves to secure his return. As fie names of most of the leading men in the district arc attached to the requisition, and as the other names are very numerous, there seems every likelihood that, in spite of this being Mr Reid’s stronghold, Mi* Macandrew will have a majority there. The Volunteers.— Lieutenant Foe. ton. Lieutenant-commanding Auckland Naval Artillery Volunteers, writes as follows to the Daliu Southern Owns: —There is no disguising the fact, our Volunteer system is not what it should be, nor are our Volunteers what they should be. It is pleasing to us all to hear how liberally the present Gove nment have met our requirements ; it is equally unsatisfactory to us to know how a’oof the general public are in supporting the only protection they command. Honorary members are slow in rallying round us ; gilts of prizes are still wanting, and embroidered flags from fair fingers are still in perspective. Great Britain, in this present crisis, can confidently rely upon her 200,000 Volunteers, should every regular be drawn from her shores. Why should not every young man in Auckland, possessed of health and strength, swell the Volunteer ranks here '! It is only a part of his duty as a citizen ; and if there is a nobler duty in this world to perform than jto succor the old and shield the young from violence and misery, it is only when wc lay down our lives to save another’s. Let those who are already Volunteers be dutiful apd attentive —their conduct will emulate others to join their ranks ; let officers and non-commissioned officers be studious and persevering—not to be overcome lay small obstacles, but persisting in the execution of their respective duties ; and I have no hesitation iu saying that the Force will prosper, and that, if occasion should require them, they will not be found wanting. Anniversary of the Wesleyan Church, Port Chalmers.— -The anniversary sermons of this Church were preached on Sunday last—in the morning by the Rev. Henry Bull, and in tjie evening by the Rev. John Williams. The tea and ptiblic meeting took place on Tuesday evening. About 200 sat down to an excellent tea, provided by the ladies of the congregation. The arfstic pUill of Mr Asher was displayed in the flags

and flowers by which the Church was decorated. .After tea the public meeting was commenced. The chair was occupied by Rev. H. Bull, the minister of the Church ; and on the platform were Revs. A. Reid, W. Johnston, S, Smith, D. M'Nicoll, and Mr J ago; the Revs. J, Williams and T. L. Stanley were unable to be present. The choir of the Trinity Church, Dunedin, wore present, and afforded well-appreciated service during the evening. The chairman opened the" meeting by a short address, expressing his pleasure at seeing Dunedin and the surrounding districts sowo'l represented, and alluded to the beueli s which arose from gatherings such as the present. The treasurer, Mr J. Wright, presented the trustee’s financial report, which showed a debt upon the Church of L7S, towards the lupin nation of which the proceeds of the present services would be applied. The Rev, 8, Smith delivered a humorous address ; Rev. D. M'Nicoll gave an able review of Buckle’s ‘ History of Civilisationßev. W. Johnston next addressed the meeting on the advantages of gatherings ike the present one, and a’so upon the unity of the Christian Church. The Rev. A. Reid delivered an eloquent address, iu the course of which lie passed in review the leading events of the, past year, making special reference t) the Papal dogma of infallibility, and the FrancoGerman war. Mr Jago said it had been his pleasure to attend the anniversary meetings in Port Chabucrs for several years past, and lie was glad to he present that evening. Ho congratulated the meeting upon the condit on and prospects of the Church, and offered some sound advice anent the present debt. Votes of thanks were then presented to the | ladies for the excellent tea ; to the Trinity Church Chair for their choice and wellrendered pie, es ; to the speakers ; and to Mr Asher for his tasteful arr.igement of the flags an 1 flown rs. One of the most successful meetings in connection with the Wesleyan Church, Port Chalmers, was brought to a close by Mr Johnston pronouncing Ihe bsuedicton.