The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2516, 10 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1871.

Mr Stafford, the representative of Titnaru in the House of Representatives, has been amusing- the people there, and through them the Colony, with his ideas of the state of affairs in New Zealand. As a matter of course, his speech was a long one ; and as the sayings of Ministers and ex-Ministers are always supposed to be more profound than those of other people, it was fully reported. We have no doubt it was very pleasant to listen to it is not very dry to read; but this

is mainly attributable to the absence of anything abstract. It is sketchy, and in some parts humorous ; but in the main very much resembles other speeches of men not in power, and tells nothing but what most people know. Mr Stafford does not indulge in any virulent opposition to the present Executive. In fact, he seems to approve so nearly of their measures that it would create no surprise to us were he to consent to join them on the first vacancy occurring. He is for cheap railways, bridging dangerous rivers, opening up roads, a federation of the Australian Colonies, the San Francisco Mail Service (but ending anywhere rather than Port Chalmers), and more intimate commercial relations with the United States, He has travelled over Southland and been through Otago, examined the Graving Dock, and arrived at the conclusion that were it large enough to admit the Nebraska, it might be an inducement to change his opinion. Perhaps Mr Stafford,in his tender consideration for the docking of Mr Webb’s steamers, would be able to say where in the Australian Colonies they can ‘be;,decked .if they cannot at Port Chalmers. It has been shewn more than once that in case of need there would be no practical difficulty, and that the same objection applies to Sydney as to Port Chalmers, for the paddle-wheels present the same obstruction to entering the graving dock there as here. Mr Stafford said :

If they could go into the dock that is now being made at Port Chalmers, and some profit could be got from the repairs of these steamers, it might be different, but they are about forty-five feet too wide to eider that dock. They might*]use as well be ten thousand miles away for any good that they could do to Fort Chalmers. It is as great a delusion to the people of Port Chalmers as has ever yet been imposed by a bold financier on a confiding public.—(Laughter and cheers )

Mr Stafford evidently Ims not made himself acquainted with facts he might have known had he enquired of the agents here; and in his desire to throw discredit upon the efforts of the Treasurer, he adopted a tone that he must have learnt from Mr Thomson, of the Clutha, Mr J. C. Brown, or some other rabid opponent of Mr Yogel, who sees evil in every effort made by him to benefit Otago. But if it was discreditable in Mr Stafford to misrepresent facts either wilfully or ignorantly, we cannot understand that morbid je donsy that led to the laughter and cheers of the people of Timaru. If there is one thing likely to benefit Timaru more than another, it is bringing the chief ports of New Zealand into intimate commercial relationship with the United States. Instead of rejoicing at any hitch in Mi* Vogel’s arrangements, their interest is to bid Mr Stafford see to it that he supports eveiy measure calculated to induce their being carried out. Mr Stafford’s personal antagonism to Otago ought not to stand in the way of the interests of both Provinces. Had it been that Timaru was a rival port, such rivalry might be comprehensible ; but Nature has denied that. No mail steamer could ever be induced even to (all there. Whatever the advantage to the Province of Otago therefore of Port Chalmers becoming the terminus, those districts nearer to us in other Provinces will be indirectly immediate gainers; and should the predictions of Mr Stafford and the Daily Times be realised, we shall be involved in one common loss. To us it seems strange that such plain and self-evident advantages as retaining within New Zealand the victualling and repairing, not only of the American, hut haply of Australian steamers too, should not be so manifest as to induce a common effort to secure them. If they cannot be enjoyed at Auckland or Wellington, and they can at Port Chalmers, it is the interest of Auckland and Wellington to help Port Chalmers. Their profit in it may be remote, but it will be real; while the commercial loss will be common to all and certain. But if it be the plain and self-evident duty of even the most remote Provinces to unite to secure a common good, there can be but one opinion as to the conduct of the representatives and Press of Otago and the statesmen of New Zealand in seeking to divert the stream of commerce. We may shortly and emphatically say they arc unworthy of the confidence of the people, because they betray a determination to sacrifice the public weal to political revenge.

census paper as “member of the House of Representatives.” He will probably have a column to himself in the analysis laid before Parliament !

Accident.— A painful accident occurred at the Universal Bond this afternoon. Mr Stewart, the warehouse-keeper, was standing on the water-lift, engaged in conveisati n, when the lift was raised; his right foot caught in one of the cross beams, and before his position was noticed it was most severely crushed. Princess Theatre. —Duo, no doubt, to the excitement offered elsewhere by the political meetings, there was but a meagre attendance at the theatre last night ; nevertheless the “ Home Wreck” went off with spirit, and to the evident satisfaction of those present. This evening will be presented “Time and the Hour;” probably it will be in the recollection of play-goers that this drama was played in Dunedin some two years ago, and was then pronounced a decided success.

The Liquor Question in Wanoaniti. — The question of the prohibition of the sale of drink on Sunday, is agitating the public mind in Wanganui at present. The Chronicle advocates the closing of public houses from eleven o’clock on Saturday night until six o’clock on Monday morning ; while the Herald declares that “this is a piece in keeping with the intolerance and blind bigotry of a pack of zealot?. ” . Scarlet Fever. — We regret to learn from the Tuapeka Times that scarlatina has found its way to Lawrence, where, several cases have broken out in different families during the past week. From Switzus we learn that tour deaths have occurred from scarlet fever. The deaths of two children— James Walter Dore, aged three years, and Geo. S. Dorc, seven months—occurred at places nine miles apart, and within two hours of each other. Two other deaths have occurred. It high time that the authorities took some active stops to prevent the further spread of this most infectio is of all epidemics. Working Men in Auckland.— The Superintendent of Auck'and, a few days ago, had the following question put to him “ Will you oppose the wholesale bringing out of immigrants, as the place is already overstocked with labor, and use your influence to lay on a ship to enable those in a state of destitution to leave the colony ?” The reply of Mr Gillies was “I do not think we have a ship in the harbor small enough. There arc few who would like to take advantage of it if one were laid on. There may be a few men that it would really be an advantage to the revenue t > get rid of, but the great mass of the working people know well that this is better for them than any other place they have ev.-r been in.”

The attention of volunteers is directed to an important general order, which appears in our advertising columns. The North Dunedin Presbyterian Church will be opened for public worship on Sunday next. The Rev Geo. Sutherland will pivach in the morning and the Rev William Will in the evening.