The Evening Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1872.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2789, 25 January 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1872.

Yesterday the Waste Land Board finally committed itself to a contest with Mr Clarke, and took a stand which we fear will in the end prove detrimental to the credit and character of the Province. Whether or not they have a legal right to act as they have done is not the question for us or the people to decide. That will be tried by a higher tribunal than the Board ; but apart from legal questions, the inhabitants of the Province have a right to require that those to whom the administration of the Land Laws are entrusted shall be guided by principle, purified from political and private motives, anxious only to do right between man and man. Whatever opinions may be held as to the best land systems, they have no right to be imported into the consideration of this question. X't is simply one of bargain

or no bargain. On an examination of the evidence laid before the Select Committee of the Legislative Council, coupled with the uncontiadicted evidence of Mr Conned, before the Board that the very possibility of the course now taken by the Board was anticipated and specially guarded against in the agreement made, we can arrive at no other conclusion than that there was a specific bargain; that Mr Clarke has acted in good faith : that he has literally and honorably fulfilled his part of the contract, and that the Board have weakly and dishonorably refused to fulfil theirs. We will give an outline of the matter as it appears on the minutes of evidence lest it should be imagined we are not justified in our condemnation of the proceedings of the Board. On the 13th July, 1871, the Superintendent, by message to the Provincial Council, suggested “ the necessity of making “ provision for meeting the past defi “ ciency in the revenue ” by selling 50,000 acres of land in “ one or more “ blocks.” On the motion of Mr Reid, the Council resolved that such a coarse of action was desirable, and recommended that “ brfore the sale ” full and careful inquiry should be made, in order that no sale should be made detrimental to the public interests. The Hon. Matthew Holmes, in his speech on the subject in the Legislative Council, affirmed that “ the man- “ ager for Mr Clarke (Mr Kitchen), “ who actually sailed for M elbourne in “ the Rangitoto, had an offer ” of the land in question “in his pocket.” When the question came before the Waste Land Board in the form of an application on this offer, the Chief Commissioner and Mr Reid were in Wellington. What was done by them, therefore, was done by telegraph. The Bank of New Zealand had been treated by the Provincial authorities in a very cavalier style: promises had been made that were not kept, and in the ordinary routine of banking business the manager requested that the Provincial overdraft should bo reduced, and plainly stated, under date September 22nd—“ I shall not be disposed to “ allow any overdraft after the Ist ■“ October.”' The following telegrams afford a glimpse of the perplexities of the acting Provincial Treasurer. They were sent by Mr Cutten to Mr J. B. Bradshaw, the Provincial Treasurer, then in Wellington ; No. I.—l3th September, 1871. Clarke willing to purchase 50,000. Ido not like responsibility, and wish you to return to Dunedin.

No. 3.—loth September, 1871- —Cannot wait for letter. Clarke’s agent limits time of offer. I shall resign to-morrow. No. 6.—lSth September, 1871. Clarke’s terms not settled. Progressing smoothly. Think it better not to discuss the question at a distance. No. 7. —18th September, 1871. Clarke will not agree unless he comes within red lines. Wants to include 2ns improvements and the block lately .cancelled, and to come to the road line outside the ten chains reserved for mining from Island Block to Etterick. Without, this he is of. Shall agree unless I hear from you to the contrary before twelve o’clock to-morrow. Here we must insert a reply, in fairness to Messrs 11 mo, Bathgate, and Bradshaw. No. B.—(From Bradshaw to Cutten) 19th September, 1871.—-After consulting Executive, cannot aurec to allow “Clarke” to come within red line on plan left with you, excepting so far as to include the improvements to tho extent recommended in M'Korrow’s report. No. 9, —(Same to same, same-day)—l think my previous telegram, approved by Superinteudent, Reid, and Bathgate will enable you to close with Clarke. I hope you wifi endeavour to close with Clarke, if possible, and thus enable ns to open the remainder of hi oa Flat Block for agricultural settlement at once. No. 10. (Same date. Cutten to Bradshaw). Your telegram too late. Clarke’s offer closed with, and application granted by Waste Land Board. Will write you fully as to terms. In the minutes of evidence respecting this matter appear certain allegations, with replies from the Deputy-Superin-tendent and Chief Commissioner of Waste Lands; and appended to these is the following query and answers ; Is the sale complete and with the sanction of the Waste Laud Board ? The Deputy-Superintendent : Yes. The Waste Land Board consider the sale complete. The Chief Commissioner ; It cannotj.be completed till the survey be approved of. The two replies present marked contrasts. The Deputy-Superintendent expresses the opinion of a man altogether beyond the reach of the routine of the Departments : the frank, open, straightforward opinion of a man of business. It in effect says the terms of the bargain are agreed to on both sides. The second is “ red tape ” caution : a mere truism. He might have gone further and said the transaction cannot be said to be complete until the money is paid and the Crown grant issued. Very serious considerations arise out of this transaction which cannot be overlooked ; for they are of grave, public importance. To these we shall direct attention shortly.

Fatal Accident. —We regret to hear that an accident occurred in the tunnel on the railway works at Port Chalmers this morning, which was fatal in its results, to a man named Eobert Johnston, about forty years of age, a quarryman, employed on the works. He was struck on the head by a stone from a heavy blast, and survived but a few minutes. Spurious Gold. —That “Heathen Chinee ” has been victimising the banks in Southland to the tune of LSOO. The perpetrator of the swindle rejoices in the name of Kee Chang, and has several aliases. He was acting as “boss” of a mining party of his countrymen at Orepuki, for the last three mouths, and disposed of spurious gold ou these separate occasions. The first was on the 15th instant, to a Mr Howell, buyer for the Bank of New Zealand, who purchased a cake of amalgam, weighing 27 ozs. ; the next day he got rid of a cake of 25 ozs. to another buyer from the same bank; and subsequently disposed of a cake of 100 ozs. to the agent of the Bank of Otago. He then left the distdet and has not yet been heard of, although the police are undefatigable in their endeavors to capture him. Two men have been arrested as accomplices of Chang, and the police found L3B on them, and suceeded in intercepting two , letters of credit for sums amounting to L 330. Concert. —A concert in connexion with the Abstainers Union was held at the Oddfellows Hall last evening for the benefit of Master Parker, the well-known juvenile violinist. Mr J. Hughes, vice-president of the Union, occupied the chair. The hall was crowded to excess, many persons being hardly able to obtain room even to stand. Amongst the contributors to the entertainment the Mornington Band of Hope young men are specially worthy of notice, and much credit is due to them for the able manner in which they conducted their several parts. “The trial by jury of a publican” was exceedingly amusing. Messrs McNair, Warren, and Mitchell sang a few songs, which, judging from the amount of applause, highly pleased the audience. A few members of the Sons of Temperance Harmonic Society attended and sang two glees. They are certainly rapidly improving. Master Parker played the violin solo, “ Life let us cherish,” in a manner which, while reflecting great credit on so youthful a performer, gave unbounded satisfaction. On being recalled he substituted a scotch reel, which was also well received. Master Parker is only ten years of age, and bids fair to become a brilliant violinist. The audience dispersed shortly after ten o’clock, and we may safely say delighted with the evening’s amusement. We understand that the halfyearly meeting of the Society will be held in the course of a few days for the election of officers for the ensuing term, due notice of which will be given to the members.

To Corkksponbnets.— We have received “Peregrine’s” letter, which deals with a matter of such supreme importance, that we do not think it right to give it insertion under cover of a nom de. plume. If there be anything in the charges contained in the letter, it is a subject for investigation by the Executive, and to them the complaint should be remitted. If they will not investigate the matter, it should be brought before the Provincial Council, whose duty it would be to institute a starching examination into the allegations. Uur rule is never to allow our columns to be made the medium of a personal attack by anonymous correspondents, upon men, who, in consequence of their official position are prohibited by the etiquette of the service from replying. We think “Peregrine” will see the reasonableness of this. If we acted otherwise we should open the way to stabbi- g reputations, which might really be spotless, and degrade the press to complicity with moral assassins. While quite willing, therefore, to aid in delivering any one who is oppressed from injustice, we cannot allow our columns to become weapons of attack by an unseen enemy, upon one who cannot retaliate. By so doing the responsibility would be thrown on us. If what is said be true, the champions of the man alleged to be treated unjustly, should not seek to advocate his cause behind a screen. It would do an irreparable injury without securing a permanent remedy. We believe we consult his interest by not giving publicity to a letter that contains allegations which may be true, but which merely express the opinion of the writer upon a matter affecting on one side an individual, on the other a system, which may require reform, butwhich should not be weakened by anonymous attacks.

Telegraphic Mistake. —Our telegjraips Melbourne briefly stated yesterday that )£ing, the‘companion of the ill-fated explorers Burke and Wills, wa§ drqwned, This proves to have been a mistake. The Artjus of the 10th instant gives the following account of bis death It is with regret that we have to announce the death of Mr John King, a prominent member of the Burke and Wills Exploring Expedition, who expired yesterday morning, at seven o’clock, at his residence, Octavia street, St Kilda, Wc learn that he had suffered very much from the heat of the last few days, but sank into a very quiet state before his death. His decease revives one of the most painful chapters in the history of Australian exploration; while at the same time ft brings to mind the rare courage and endurance exhibited by King and his leaders under circumstances the most trying and painful. Referring to this event in a short biographical sketch, the article closes as follows: 1 When he reached Melbourne, he received a very warm welcome, and the Parliament recognised his services by voting a sum of L 3,000 for the purchase of debentures for his benefit. Such a reward was fully deserved. From first to last King did his duty well, He was brave, faithful, and enduring, and by bis exertions helped to prolong the lives of Burke and Wills for many days. The last word written by the commander of the expedition vere, “King has behaved nobly, and deserves to be well rewarded.” The ordeal through which he had passed had a lasting effect on King’s constitution, and it was a long time before he recovered even the sembance of health or spirits. He never afterwards enjoyed thoroughly sound health, and about four years ago symptoms of pulmonary comsumption made their appearance. The medical treatment ho received, and tho careful nursing of his sister, who has exhibited the greatest devotion in her care of him during many years, checked if it could not overcome the disease. There were times when hopes of ultimate recovery were saijguincly entertained, and not many months ago King was marripd to one of his cousins. Latterly the malady bepuje more pronounced in its character find mere r^pid

in it progress. The end was soon at hand, and King at last passed peacefully and quietly away.

The attention of Volunteers is directed to a General Order which we this day publish in another column.