The Evening Star. MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2518, 13 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1871.

Our morning contemporary at last shews some sign of taking an interest in the welfare of the Province, and regrets that the Clio has sailed to Sydney for repairs—and, still more wonderful, would be glad to know the reasons why the Commodore “ arrived at the ‘ determination.” Wc. do not think it at all likely that will be gratified ; for the s||pßfiiiodore is not answerable to any but his own Sove-

reigu' fdr liis acts, and not even the influence of hia Excellency the Governor CQuld'^yail' to induce him to take a stej^fnot,authorised by his instructions. We*hiWa no doubt Sir George Bowen would veiy’gladly have had it reported at Home that there was a Graving Dock in the Colony of New Zealand in which one of Her Majesty’s ships had been successfully repaired. It would have been even profitable to the Province and the Colony itself to have repaired her free of charge rather than she should have gone to Sydney. As however the Commodore is not likely to give the Daily Times his reasons, we may perhaps be excused trying to divine them. First of all, then, we are not assuming too much when we imagine it possible that the Commodore occasionally reads the Daily Times , or at least those articles in it that bear upon his professional duties. We forget how long he has been on this station; but even had it been a few months, it would have been sufficient for him to read a number of articles expressly designed to shew that Port Chalmers is not a safe port for large vessels. We do not suppose the Commodore cares a fig for New Zealand politics. It does not matter to him whether Mr Fox or Mr Stafford is at the bead of the Government, or whether Mr Vogel’s postal arrangements arc carried out or not. All he cares about is the fulfilment of his duty, and when an accident happens to one of the fleet, to place her in such a port as will ensure the repairs being made with the greatest certainty, the least expense, and the greatest safety. When therefore articles are placed before him disparaging Port Chalmers, and pointing out that it is unfit to be the terminus of the postal service, his natural conclusion must be that the journal once so reliable for the truthfulness of its reports would not, when Provincial interests were at stake, misrepresent the Port. As one main reason, then, for Sydney being preferred to Port Chalmers, we refer our contemporary to his own columns, and to his tinreasoning opposition to measures calculated so largely to benefit Otago in making Port Chalmers the terminus of the postal service. Another reason probably is the Commodore’s instructions. We are not in possession of them, but from what we know of the rule in such cases, it is more than probable that they require him, if it be safe to do so, to take his vessel to Sydney, where there is a depot of Government stores and other appliances, which we have not yet at Port Chalmers. If the damage to the vessel had been such as to have rendered reaching the nearest port a matter of importance, no doubt our Graving Dock would have been chosen. It would not have been prudent to risk a voyage of over a thousand miles, when one of two or three hundred would have done. But there is another reason which will require very severe scrutiny, if the report which we hear be true. Notwithstanding the comparatively short distance overland, and the money expended in forming a track, as is customary in the road engineering of Otago, the most difficult, instead of the easiest, gradient has been selected between Lake Wakatip and Martin’s Bay. The consequence is that the track intended to connect the Lake district with Martin’s Bay is almost useless. Had Dr Hector’s track been adopted, it would not have been difficult to have forwarded intelligence to the Commodore that the Port Chalmers Graving Dock was available for the reception of the Clio. But in consequence of our brave grappling with difficulties two thousand feet above the sea on the face of a perpendicular rock, instead of avoiding them by taking the track that Nature pointed out, we have great part of that track unfinished. Amongst other probable reasons, then, why the Clio did not go to Port Chalmers, may be placed the uncertainty in the mind of the Commodore whether the Dock would be ready for her reception. It would be quite possible to find other reasons that might weigh with the officers of the vessel, who have formed friendships at Sydney, and would naturally desire to be amongst their friends during the time necessary to overhaul and thoroughly repair the vessel; but as we never knew a British officer allow private feelings to interfere with duty, we would not do them the injustice of insinuating that such motives had any other than trifling weight in the consideration. We trust these very probable. reasons will have their due weight in inducing us to a revision of our Provincial misdoings. Our senseless opposition to most advantageous public works cannot induce high opinions of our intelligence in the minds of officers of the Navy ; the disparagement of the capabilities of the Port, for political purposes, is coming back upon our heads; and the perpetrator of the mischief, gazes, and wonders how it is that his own acts should have produced their natural consequences : and the repeated vile road engines ring points alike to the

incapacity of the department and of the Minister who sanctioned such a departure from the simplest principles of road mechanics. Th & Daily Times cannot repair the damage it has done ; but the provincial Council that is to be has a task .before it, that if well and cleterminately performed will go far to reinstate the confidence of the people of tho Province in its utility as a means of promoting Provincial progress. The road and bridge engineering must be minutely examined into.

Telegraphic. —The wives are now laid to Riverton, and communication with that place will be established in a day or two.

Mesmerism, —We believe that Capt. Wilson, the celebrated mesmerist, will be here in a few days, and give a series of popular entertainments. The Southern Trunk Railway.— Messrs Chaplin and Co., the successful contractors for section 1, break ground to-mor-row. It is not intended that the work shou'd he inaugurated by any public demo • stration.

Canvassing. —Canvasser, connected with the Watcrwo; Its Company, loq. : Sir, as a personal favor I request you to vote for C. Elector: Sir I will vote for C. if you will vote for D. Canvasser : No, no, I cannot do that. Elector : Then, sir, it cannot B.

Death from Eating Tutu.—We hear of a second vict m to tutu eating. Last week a girl a.;ed three years, named Rosctti, residing at the New River Ferry, cat some berries while out walking. She died shortly afterwards. An elder sister, who had also partaken of the fruit, recovered.

Princess Theatre. —His Excellency the Governor having signified his inteniion to patronise the theatre this evening, a full house may be anticipated. Tiie performance will commence with the “ Winning Hazard,” to be followed by (express desire) “Caste,” and concluding'with “Widow White.”

The Tinsmiths’ Strike.—The Governor, before leaving Invercargill, exercised his prerogative of mitigating sentences on behalf of the tinsmiths recently ordered to be incarcerated for one month, on condition that the men returned to their work at the Meat Preserving Works, Woodland. This the men agreed to do, and they have been set at liberty.

The Norwegian Immigrants. —The refusal of the Provincial Government to accept any of these immigrants is condemned in Queenstown. There they are thought to be the very men required in the district. There is any amount of work for them in the forests up Lake Wakatip ; and the whole of them might have found profitable employment in chopping, splitting, and sawing wood, firewood being exceedingly scarce. Death from Scarlet Fever, —We regret to have to record a fatal case of scarlet fever that occurred this morning at Port Chalmers. The deceased, Mrs V> m, Whyte, who resided in Currie street, had only been a few days ill; was young, and remarkably healthy in appearance. From what we learn, she appears to have contracted the fatal disease through visiting ami performing kindly offices to a neighbor’s children who. though then suffering, have since recove - ed.

The Way the Money Goes.— ln the Lakes district the roads are almost entirely neglected, not one farthing having been expended on them fur months. The .Shotovcr Bridge stands a very good chance of being -washed away with the His 1 flood, unless the works commenced for its security are completed. One of the piers is already undermined. A little bridge at Lake Hayes is falling to pieces for the want of a few nails being driven into the Homing—this neglect of the expenditure of half a day’s work for one man will probably cost LIOO in less than a fortnight,' if the drainage is not repaired.

A Waif,— A strange waif of the sea has recently been purchased by Mr Hart, of the Old Curiosity hhop, at the corner of the Arcade, Melbourne. It is a boat-shaped piece of wood picked up on the coast of New Zealand some mouths since, and it bears this inscription “ Ship Gen, Grant, wrkd Auckland Isles, May 14,18—{last two figures illegible)—U) survive on Endorbys, Dec. 1, 1867. Want relief.” The autheneity of this little billet of wood is apparent, it being thoroughly waterworn, and presenting all the appearance of having been immersed for years.

Religious. — Yesterday, the North Dunedin Presbyterian Church, which by the way is a very neat and comfortable erection was opened for public worship for the first time. The Rev. G. Sutherland preached a very appropriate sermon in the morning, and the Rev. W. Will conducted the service in the evening. The church was well filled on both occasions. The collections which were devoted to the building fund amounted fo L 22 Is sd. We notice from our advertising columns that the opening will bo celebrated by a soiree, to bo held to-morrow evening, and the proceeds are to be devoted to the buildiag fund. A large attendance may be expected should the weather he at all propitious.

The Governor’s Visit.—By proclamation to-morrow will be observed as a general holiday, in honor of his Excellency's visit. The offices of the General and Provincial Governments will be closed for the day, as will no doubt most mercantile houses. His Excellency will hold a levee in the Provincial Council Chamber at 2 o'clock p.m. The Volunteers are to fall in at 2 p.m., when a guard of honor will be chosen. At the reception his Excellency will receive addresses from public bodies ; and we have been requested to state that it is not expected that the general public should appear at the levee in evening dress. After the levee his Excellency will open the Flower Show, which, considering the short notice given, is likely to be a great success. After the Flower Show his Excellency will inspect the Volunteers. OAMARU AND THE GOVERNMENT.— The electors of Oamarp town have returned as their member for the Provincial Council the hon. John M'Leau, who is likely to prove a thorn in the sides of the Reid Ministry. The hon. gentleman appears to be particularly sore about the vacillating way the Government have treated the Oamaru

clofk question, and ait the conclusion of a recent speech, expressed himself as follows : —“He wished to get rid of Provincial Governments in their present shape. They had done their work and should be done away with : until they were done away with lie was prepared to do his beat to get all he could out of them. When the only means of communication between the different portions of the Colony was hy an old brig which took as maiiy days as it now takes minutes to carry news from port to port, Provincial Governments were necessary, hut as he had said their time was now past and they should make way for a better system. One thing was certain that the present Executive of Otago had eyes only for one district, and their political creed might be summed up in two propositions. These were, Ist, Otaso is New Zealand, and 2nd, Dunedin, Taieri, and Tokomairiro, constitute Otago. They hated the very name, even the smell of Oamaru, and he for one, as their representative, would endeavor to effect a radical change, and to bring about a more just state of things. ”

The Mayor, by advertisement, rcqne ts that a general holiday will he observed from 12 o’clock to-morrow, on account ef the Gov rnor’s levee.

It will he seen on reference to our advertising columns that the Harbor Company’s steamer Golden Age will make special trips to Port (Chalmers and Portohello tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10.30 a m. and 2 p.m., returning at 4 30 p m.