The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2508, 1 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1871.

Were it not that the speech of Mr Reid at the hustings yesterday referred to the future equally with the past, we should not have again reverted to the subject. It was, of course, to be expected, in reviewing the events of the contest, that both the successful and defeated candidates should express themselves forcibly. But Mr Reid did more. He endeavored to shew that he had been defeated because the leading interests in Otago had combined against him, and affirmed that wherever his policy was understood be was vie-

torious. Wo wish our readers to separate all personal' preferences from the two ideas tluis set before them, and to think of what is implied in them ; because, although the Superintendent is returned, the victory of progress over stagnation has yet to be won at the coming election. As to the policy spoken of, as we never could discover any other than persistent opposition to the development of our industrial capabilities, we confess we cannot understand it. In pursuance of this opposition, revenue, settlement, goldfields, and improvement of internal communication have been sacrificed, and nothing has been proposed to be substituted but the ruin of the squatting interest for the sake of the farmers. That this would have been the consequence of the “ policy ” must be the conviction of every sound-thinking man ; and it cannot therefore be wondered at that the most important interests in the Province wore arrayed against his return. Although it does not seem to strike Mr Reid that the classes mentioned by him as his oppo nents represent the intelligence of the Province, every one not interested in , the struggle would arrive at that conclusion. They would reason thus : There is no class of persons who have so deep an interest in the. welfare of all classes as the moneyed interest, and no class is in a position to know so well the tendency of political measures as they. Suppose it granted that from certain transactions they expect to increase wealth, it can only be by profitably investing capital ; and if they invest capital profitably, it must be by directly or indirectly employing labor. This necessarily promotes the welfare not only of the immediate agents, but of all classes in the community ; for, more or less remotely, the prosperity of the whole is bound up in the success of individuals. It follows, therefore, that the interests of the moneyed classes is the common interest,, and any blow aimed at them is suicidal. Mr Reid has set himself in opposition to them, and wants men to believe he is the friend of the working man. Possibly the small farmers and their dependents up the country may believe it—no doubt they do. But, after all, it is just such a limited notion as the agricultural laborers of England used to be brought up in the belief of. The policy he has followed is greatly calculated to reproduce in Otago the dependence and drudgery of the farm laborers and small farmers of Great Britain—a condition above which it is the interest of banker’s, merchants, and tire intelligent classes to raise them. The mistake he has fallen into is that different classes have no common interest. He does not seem to imagine that farmers, squatters, and miners are each producers, employed in different departments, gathering riches from our common mother earth, and that the moneyed interest provide the capital by means of which the best machinery is procured to obtain the raw material at the cheapest possible rate. That without manufacturers in or outside the country, the raw material could not be utilised, and without distributors there would he no markets. He does not appear to have realised in his own mind that the less the cost at which an article can be produced and distributed, the wider the market and the greater the profit to all concerned. He has had but one idea, and that he terms “ a liberal land law ” ; but we dare engage that there is not a member of the moneyed classes but is equally ready to be more liberal than he would be in devising means to induce the settlement of a large population. He finds fault with the charge against his obstruct!venesa, which he terms “ policy,” that it has been termed “ narrow ” ; but no other term could be so applicable, since it has been an absurd attempt to benefit one class only. Could those, who were thus so prominently set against every other class, realise their own interest, they would be equally opposed to that socalled “ policy ” as the better-informed interests are. We have no fear that in the City the electors will be careful to elect men who arc well informed and likely to forward the best interests of the Province. It is in the country districts that the poison of ignorance and narrowness of view have been chiefly spread. We can hardly understand the mental twist that some clever men have in the City, nor the motives that lead them so persistently to misrepresent the measures that have been taken for the public benefit. It can hardly be that they cannot understand them. The most charitable view is that, like the Daily Times, when the Native question or the Public Works question is mentioned, they are affected with a Fox-YoGEL-phobia, that leads them to say, “ Evil bo thou my good,” rather than accept benefit at their hands. Like other contagious diseases it has its day ; but it is the duty of every man to keep clear of it, and to cultivate sound and healthy political views, in order that his vote may be intelligently given,

Bell Ward Election.—The address of Mr Woodland to the electors will be seen in onr advertising columns. Mr Livingston announces that he will meet the electors in the Odd Fellow’s Hall oa Thursday evening, at S o’clock.

Princess Theatre. —“London Assurance ” avas played last evening to a very goo 1 house. We did hot, however, see sufficient of the performance to enable ns to speak as to the manner in which it was played. To-night, Bulwer’s fine play of ‘ oney ” will be produced. Concert. —A concert in aid of the Widow and Orphan Fund, M.U. 1.0.0. F., will he given on Friday evening in the Now Masonic Hall. His Worship the Mayor will take the chair. The prog amine is a good one, and avc have no doubt there will be a large attendance.

Significant.—Thm-e are 126 medical practitioners duly registered in New Zealand, of which the great st number are in Auckland and Otago in proportion to the population over other parts of New Zealand. In Westland, where there are very few d ctors, the number of deaths is comparatively small. We do not say that this is to be ac counted for by the paucity of medical men, but wc think the coincidence singular.

On Dit.—That the Daily Twins is in the pay of some foreign power. This rumor, no doubt, hai arisen from the evidently stored-up number of paragraphs called during the month from all the obscure and scnrri'ous journals, which appeared in its .Summary of yesterday inimical to the inti rests of the Goloi y and the i arions rumois of war with winch its correspondents have furnished it during the month, which required a leader in its morning’s issue to explain why their prognosticate.is have not come to pass.

Thu Fkaxcui.se.— The Wakatip Midi considers the electoral right is lying made too cheap ; in America, people travel miles to record their votes. Here the voter expects to have, the urn brought up to his very door. This will have to be altered both on the merits of the esse and on economical grounds It is a tax upon the effort of the candidate—not a heavy one certainly, as he covets the honor. To appoint a returning officer for Skippers ; to use the services of a polling clerk ; a valuable policeman and his horse for a day ; and to record only two resident votes, is surely a farce.

A Miser.—Throe clays ago there died ill the Timaru Hospital a man named John Adic. Previous to his removal to the hospital he had been attended by Dr Fisher, to whom ho represented liimso'f as being utterly destitute, and the doctor very humanely not only gave up his debt hut paid himself for all the medicines required and for necessary attendance. After the man’s death, an old pair of trousers belonging to him were being thrown away, when someting bulky was found sewn up in the waistband, which, on being ripped open, disclosed securities, bank deposits, &c., to the amount of over L6OO.

The Wakatip,—Mr Lavnach, nianager of the Bank of Otago lias just visited the Wakatip district, and has arrived at a very favorable estimate of its resources. Harvesting operations are progressing rapidly in the Wakatip district; wages arc L2 per week and found, but labor is plentiful. Mails despatched from Queenstown now reach Invercargill the next night, being conveyed from Win ton by rail, thus saving a whole day. The Provincial elect ons locally speaking excite no interest. No one knows if a contest will take place or whether Messrs Haughton and Robertson are to have a walk over. A rush is setting in for land at the head of the Lake in the Martinaßay direction. The Mail wishes the Goldfields Act could be amended by adding a resi lenee clause, which could he honestly due when land worth L 4 to Lo per acre whenever offered nn ler the hammer, can be taken up at 2s 6 1 per acre with deferred payments for seven years. This is the more necessary because at present speculators are rushing the lands and emp’oy the dummy system. Citv Council. —At this afternoon’s sitting of the Council, an offer was read from Messrs Knight and Co , to lay down asphalte at 2s Cd per yard. The Public Works Committee were instructed to lay down asphalte instead of boulder pavements where necessary. The Reserves Committee reported, recommending steps should be taken for the purpose of having the Bill to set apart a portion of the Town Belt for a cemetery at the north end of the city introduce at the next sitting of the Provincial Council; and that the Mayor, as instructed, had purchased a number of sections on the reclaimed ground from the Government for L 1,700. 'I ke Finance Committee reported that, acting on the solicitor’s advice, they had declined to pay to Mr Hankey, of Loudon, the amount due for Jhj nary on account of the gas contract; and that LISOO had been received from the Government on account of subsidy in arrear. The rate for 1871-2 was fixed at Is 6d in the pound. In compliance with the Public Works’ Committee’s report, it {was agreed to allow the first two cabs on the rank, to meet Cobb’s coaches (on their arrival. Contracts were accepted for City works to the amount of L12i53. The Mayor called attention to the desirability of a committee being appointed to take stops for the reception of the Governor. This would ho his Excellency’s first official visit to the Province, and ho thought something should bo done towards presenting him with an address and according to him such other marks of respect as might be thought necessary. He yesterday waited upon the Superintendent but his Honor was unable to inform him exactly what direction his Excellency’s movements would take. If his Excellency came via Queenstown he would not be here for a fortnight; hut if lie • ame from the Bluff direct, he might he expected in two or three days. His Honor had promised to let him (the Mayor) know at the earliest poss : blc moment, and had informed him that it was his Excellency’s desire that the Corporation or county municipalities should not give him any expensive demonstration. The Mayor and Councillors Thoneman, Walter, and Cargill were appointed a committee to make arrangements for his Excellency’s visit.

Mr H. Howorth has accepted an invitation to become a candidate for the representation of tbe City in the Provincial C unci!. The requisition and reply appear in our advertising columns.