The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2468, 13 January 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1871.

- -- t We (juite expected, and therefore ar / * not at all disappointed at finding ' J Mr Reid and his party are j that ing to “ throw ft red hen-‘ ondeavor- “ scent ” by working nig across the “ tion *’ from a the “ land quesof view. M* ' .apposed popular point “ to sett 1 Macandrew is “ opposed I'tb'* .lenient,” Mr Macandrew is j squatter’s friend ” —in fact, the incarnation of everything illiberal, and the staunch friend of conservative monopolies. These tunes ad nauseam do we hear played upon the many tuneful organs of the country side, whose gifted editors do not deem it necessary to support invective by argument, are quite above recognising the stern logic of facts, resting happy in the pleasing delusion that they exert an influence, which happily is in an inverse x’atio to their circulation. Taking it as a whole, we believe the electoral body of the Province is sound, and will not be led away from the consideration of its plain duty by the dictation of hole-and-corner meetings of would-be politicians and self-dubbed champions of the people’s cause, Bath- [ gate to the front, let his foes tremble ! the forensic Barton, the eloquent 1 Gotten, the worshipful Fish, the thun- ’ dering Barnes ! are these to be thy gods, 0 Israel 1 Imbibe thy three- • penny beei*, and declaim to thy heart’s content ; but assume not to lead public b opinion, nor attempt to inoculate with \ thy incapacity. It is a regular case of i the “ wise men of Gotham,” who went 1 to sea in a bowl : “if the bowl had “ been stronger, their voyage would • “ have been longer.” They find the i people are against them upon the really - vital question of the day ; so they fall back upon the long-vexed land quesI tion, trusting to pull through their - candidate upon that. Mr Reid’s • opinions upon other matters they ace knowledge to be rather hazy, and his action not altogether consistent; but " they triumphantly point to his political career as one fight in favor of settlement against the ogre of squatterdom and the beatification of sheep. Wc venture to take exception upon this a point—and, arguing from the Reid party point of view, we maintain that ~ to the action of the Executive in the Special Session of 1869, we owe whatever is bad for the settler and good for n the squatter in the Hundreds Regulations Act now in force. Simply in 0 order to keep office—this cannot be denied—the Reid Government agreed i- to what they must have in their hearts considered a disgraceful compromise '* with the Opposition : the result being legislation by the Assembly of such a , character as to confer substantial bencj fits upon the pastoral tenant, without' 0 in any way moving towards the throwing open of land to the people for settlement. In the Session of May, 1870, when Mr Reid found himself strong t enough, owing to the return of two satellites from the North, to do as best ‘ pleased him, he distinctly refused his support to resolutions condemning the il action of the Special Session, and lias since distinctly used the influence of II the Government in the Council to f effectively burke the land question—not even taking a serious part in the 1 discussion of the long rigmarole about free selection brought forward by his warm supporter, Mr Shepherd. No doubt Mr Reid has done wisely : he has carefully kept back his trumps, not having many of them, and hoping to - win the “ odd trick ” of the Superintendency by a judicious Jinesse. It would have been a mistake to haveforced the land trick too early, and I wisted upon the desert air of a morit bund Provincial Council that which r may bloom and flourish on the hust- ® ings, and bear fruit in the Ballot boxes. “ Reid and a liberal land law ” reads II well; but why, the electors may ask, did not the aspiring candidate for the f Superintendency use his docile following to secure this for the Province during his two years of power 2

Acclimatisation.—What is sai,<l to be a young salmon was caught at ,the junction of the Manuherikia and ]\lolyneux, am measures seven inches in length.

Additional fe^Tii.—The efforts of Mr Macasgey have resulted in the Tsorth Dimediu School being appointed a palling booth for the election of City members for the Assembly. A notification to that effect appeared in yesterday’s New Zealand Oazdk.

Pedestiuanism.— We learn that the five mile match that was arranged for Wednesday, the ISth instant, will not come off, the hackers of W. Penticost having failed to deposit the balance of the stakes, thus forfeiting what was staked. Thos. Fairley, therefore, remains champion of Otago for long distances.

Merino Wool.—A sample of most beautifully washed wool, from Mr Tolmie’s celebrated merino sheep, is iu Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co.’s wool stores. The fibre is fine and long, and the texture silky. We are informed Mr Tolmie has given special, care to the washing, and his success, hot’n m quality and preparation, is placed heyor tt l a doubt by the sample exhibited.

The Princess Theatre.—Wo f cal . the numerous meetings of candid? ces W-. off ** e “ t f nerfon- - lfc " a , s f1 j 1 jls evcnl;l « the - .ance will he under jj ie patronage of _ Caledonian Society, v y J lcll “Love’s Sacrifice ” will be given. New Zealand, Flax. Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Go., have received from M‘Dermid’s Mill, Taieri, one of the best samples of flax we have seen. We believe better has not been iu the market. The color is pale straw, and uniform, and the fibre is tine and silky. The manner in which it is made up into bundles, also shows the care and attention given to every circumstance connected with its preparation. Such samples will no doubt command a good price.

Presbyterian Synod,—The Synod met to day. The report on Bills overture was read and accepted. After some discussion, by a majority of 15 to 5, in the appeal against the decision of the Presbytery of Clutha, it was resolved to sustain the appeal on the ground that the Presbytery and Kirk Session had made serious mistakes, and that Mr M ‘Master should send to the Kirk Session of Tokoniairiro his certificate, if he wished to have his name placed on the communion roll of the congregation, with a recommendation to the Presbytery to he more careful in future.

New Publication. —Messrs Mills, Dick, Lister, and Co., have published a new illustrated map of Dunedin. If not altogether a new idea, it is seldom that a design is so well carried out. The plan of the City occupies the centre, and to it an index is attached in the form of a directory. T.O the name of each firm or house a number is attached, which refers to a corresponding number on the map, so that the situation of the premises is found without difficulty. As an ornamental border are engravings of various public buildings, hotels, warehouses, stores, and places of business ; so that should a difficulty arise in tracing out the building wanted by its number, the likeness is there to help its recognition. The map is about 5 feet wide by 5 feet 6 inches, and forms a very handsome ornament for an office or library.

Sporting.— The following is the declaration of weights for the two principal events at the forthcoming Tuapeka meeting : —Prince’s Backbiter, aged, 9st 101b ; Sla iton’s Wildboy, 6 years, 9st 61b ; Pritchard’s Foretop, 5 years, fist; Taggart’s Bobby Burns, 5 years, Sst 61b ; Williams’s Duchess, 5 years, Bst ; Coomhe’s Catapult, 5 years, 7st lOib ; Leferre’s Tiger, aged, 7st 81b; Pillan’s Bedouin, 4 years, 7st 41b. Flying Handicap. —Prince’s Backbiter, aged, lOst; Stanton’s Wildboy. 6 years, 9st 111b ; Pritchard’s Foretop, 5 years, 9st 41h ; Taggart’s Bobby Burns, 5 years, fist 11b ; Williams s Banjo, aged, Sst Sib ; Stanton’s Little Nell, 6 years, Sst Sfb; Robiicsou’s Lyndon, aged, Sst 61h; Williams’s Duchess, 5 years, Sst 41b ; Prince’s Staekpole, 5 years, Sst 21h ; Leferre’s Tiger, aged, 7st 101b ; Goomhe’s Catapult, 5 years, 7st lOlb ; RolloAUs Raven, aged, 7st GIB ; Pillaii’s Saladin, 3 years, 7st; Pollock’s Young Lady of the Lake, 4 years, 6st 81b,

Extraordinary Scene at a Wedd no. —The London Standard of September 29, relates that considerable excitement M as caused in Leominster a few days previous, by the publication of a handbill stating that a wedding would take place on the following Tuesday, the 27th, at 10 o’clock, at the Primhivc Methodist Chapel, Leominster, and which concluded by stating that the attendance of the public was requested by the bridegroom. The names of the persons concerned were soon known in the town, and many were the statements made as to the reasons for the publication of the handbill. The service commenced at the appointed time, the chapel being crowded in every part. The bride and bridegroom with their friends were in attendance. The clergyman proceeded with the service, until it came to the place for the rev. gentleman to ask if there were any persons present who knew any cause or impediment why the marriage ceremony should not- be proceeded with, when the bridegroom at once rose to make some observations, but was interrupted by the father of the bride, who stated that if the bridegroom made any remarks he should have to say something in reply. The clergyman, however, pointed out that the only persons who could make statements wore the bride and bridegroom, whereupon the bridegroom stood up, and s.id that six months ago he asked the lady to release him from his engagement. !?he declined, and afterwards stated that her father would not consent to its being broken off, and had ex.pressed his determination to compel him to marry her. He went on to say that coercion had been resorted to to bring her to the ceremony, and he should marry her because he was bound by law to do so ; it wa* in this spirit only that he could proceed with the ceremony. The service was then continued ; but when the bride was asked whether she would take this man to be her husband, she replied emphatically, “No, X will not!” which caused intense excitement in the chapel. This, of course, Ijrought the service to an abrupt termination. The bride immediately left the chape], and the bridegroom (who seemed perfectly satisfied with the result) drove away, followed by an immense number of persons, who cheered him most heartily.