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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2490, 8 February 1871, Page 2

Census. —The police have commenced taking the Census in Dunedin, and, in order to economise labor, are majdng up the new jury list at the same time. The Corporation Debentures.— The tenders for the City loan were opened in Melbourne a fortnight ago. A great portion of the debentures have been alloted at 110 to 112, and the balance is still in the market.

Statistical. The population of Westland is estimated by the police at 15,600, but these figures are said to be considerably within the truth. The estimate in the schedule to the Payment to Provinces Act, passed last session of the Assembly, is 13500.

The Volunteers.—We understand that the task of presenting the district prizes at to-morrow’s parade, has been accepted by the Bishop of Auckland. The choice may seem strange to many, hut by the volunteers, to most of whom Dr Cowie’s life as a soldierclergyman in India must be known, it cannot fail to be properly appreciated. On Sunday next his Lordship will preach to the battalion in St Paul’s Church.

New Works.—We have received from Messrs Ueitli anil Wilkie copies of new works that deserve more extended notice than we can give at a cursory glance. They are Cassell’s reprint of the “ Lay of the ' ast Minstrel,” “The Household Guide,” “Cassell’s Book of Birds,” and “Cassell’s Technical Educator.” We have so high an opinion of the works published by Cass 11 that we shall take an opportunity of referring to them.

Pout Chal.meks. —The anniversary sermons of the Port Chalmers Congregational Church, were preached on Sunday last, in the nmming by the ilev. Win. Johnston, in the afternoon and evening by the Kev, G. Sutherland ; the attendance throughout was good. The sermon in the afternoon was especially addressed to the young. At the close of the services collections were made on behalf of the Building Fund ; and tiie annual tea meeting was held in the church last evening, when about 270 persons partook of the good things provided for the occasion by the ladies of the congregation. The church was tastefully decorated by evercreens and flowers. After tea the business of ,the evening commenced by prayer and praise ; the pastor, Lev. Mr Smith, in the chair, introduced the following gentlemen, who addressed the meetingilevs. Mr Evans, Bull, Wiiliams, Johnston, Messrs Jairy. Morris, MVFie, and the treasurer, Mr who read the financial report, which shewed that considerable progress had been made during the past year. Mr Jago submitted a scheme by which the balance of debt, L2OO, might bo soon extinguished ; it was received and approved of. Votes of thanks to the various speakers, the choir of the Dunedin Congregational Church, and to the ladies, were carried by acclamation, and the proceedings terminated with the llev. Mr Evans pronouncing tne benediction. Election Puactices,—We do not know a more disgraceful feature in electoral morality than that of inducing a gentleman to offer himself a candidate by promising to support him, and failing to fulfil the promise at the day of election. It ought to ho considered that a candidate’s time and money should not be carelessly wasted by those whom, in answer to their invitation, lie consents to serve ; but this is really the re suit of asking him to offer himself, and then breaking faith with him. None can read the following explananation by Mr Julius without the conviction that Mr Macassey was vilely treated at Oamaru. Mr Julius said “ In the first place, gentlemen, allow me to say that I, and I alone, am the cause of Mr Macassey having come forward and contested the election, and that the many statements made to the contrary, for election purposes, were untrue. Jfeelipg that it would be a great benefit to the district if it should he fortunate enough to secure the services of a representative of such well-known integrity and ability as Mr Macassey. I, on my sole responsibility, telegraphed to that gentleman asking him to become a candidate, and assuring him that I anticipated no opposition. He consented, but clearly stated that he did not wish to come forward if his return was in any way doubtful. I then ascertained the feeling of the electors by seeing some, writing to others, and sending round a requisition in which I purposely and plainly inserted a clear and stronsly-worded pledge that if Mr Macassey would come forward all those who signed the requisition * would use their best endeavors to secure his return.’ From the result of the first canvass 1 had no hesitation in telegraphing to Mp Macassey that I had no fear as to his election, and asking him at once to address the electors. Since the requisition was signed, every voter not known to he opposed lias been canvassed, and so numerous were the distinct pledges and promises of support given that no reasonable man (unacquainted with the amount of duplicity and hypocrisy existing amongst the electors of this district) could doubt the result. I regret to say, .gentlemen, that to the discredit of this district the state of the poll proves that the word of a considerate portion of the electors is of no value whatever, even when, as in many cases, reduced to writing. I now distinctly, and after the excitement of the election has subsided, say that those who in the first instance by their distinct promises, whether verbal or written, induced Mr Macassey to incur the worry and trouble of a contested election, and then turned round, and, in a cowardly and clandestine manner, under cover of the ballotbox, by their votes caused his defeat, have been one and all guilty of conduct cowardly, disgraceful, and dishonest. I have no hesitation in saying that in almost every portion of the district numerous pledges and promises given to Mr Macassey were broken, although the miners, who, without exception, and the Otepopo voters, who, with scarcely

any exception, kept their promises to both sides, stand in favorable contrast to other parts of the district. ”

The Dunedin Volunteer Artillery are requested to muster at the gunshed tomorrow, at 2.30 p.m., for battalion parade. The attention of Volunteers is directed to a general order which appears in our advertising columns.