The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2830, 14 March 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1872.

The defeat of Mr Macassey at Queenstown must not be regarded merely as an expression of opinion on the part oi

the constituency in favor of a local representative. We have n right to look upbriitas a .condemnation of the political conduct of Mr Thomas Luther Shepherd and of the educational 1 theories of Dt Moran. Mr Macassey must blame himself in a great measure for his repeated defeats. Every one does full justice to his talent and industry. Few men have achieved so deservedly high a reputation at the bar as he, in so short a time. He has had able men to contend with, but has, through his energy and knowledge of the law, taken his stand in the front rank. But he has not succeeded as a politician, because he has not advanced with the progress of political knowledge. So far as the present Government is concerned, he seems to have identified himself with the Opposition, the senseless character of which is embodied in Mr Shepherd ; and on the great question of national education he has allied himself with the false stand taken by the Most Reverend Bishop Moran. We are at such a distance from the scene of action that the personal animosities, bickerings, slanders, and Police Court proceedings have excited little attention amongst us. It is to be regretted that elections cannot be conducted without such unseemly accompaniments. They never forward the cause of those who adopt them as aids, and have a tendency to blind constituencies to the real merits of the candidates. It is especially

ill-judged when they allow themselves to become mixed up with such proceedings, for then they invariably rouse feeling against themselves. For the time being candidates for electoral honors are marks for every one to shoot at. This is one of the inevitable consequences of an election contest, and every one placing himself in such a position should be prepared to bear and to forbear. He must not be too thinskinned nor flinch when he is too keenly pricked. He must be prepared to be patient under insult, to smile at misrepresentation, to return courtesy for vulgarity, to bear with the ignorant, and to be calm under provocation. He must repel calumny with truth, and reprove folly with wit. Above all, he must be able to give good reasons for the views he holds—reasons that will satisfy every man that at least he is animated by sincere desire to forward the public weal, and has no hidden purpose to serve. From the glimpses given by the local papers of the proceedings in Mr Macassey’s election, he seems to have overlooked those elements to success. He has professionally been mixed up with one or two cases in which he no doubt felt it his duty to Vila olion h to adopt, very proceedings against both the General and the Provincial Governments. For instance, in the stupid Daily Times telegram case, and in regard to the Anderson’s Bay road. These, however, would not have identified him with the Opposition, as what he did was in the course of his duly as an advocate. But when he allowed himself to be taken under the patronage of such men as Mr G. B. Barton, Mr T. L. Shepherd, and Dr Moran, he put the issue of his election distinctly before the people. He showed himself ready to run a tilt against the General Government measures in regard to the industrial development of the Colony, and against the popular feeling in favor of a denominational system of education. Highly as we estimate Mr Macassey’s talent, we cannot regret the result of the election. Bo firmly convinced are we of the necessity for the great works projected, and if an extensive system of immigration, that we should have been sorry to have seen the measures of the Government imperilled by the mistaken advocacy of a powerful intellect in denunciation of them. So long as opposition is confined to men of the Shepherd class, there is nothing to fear. He is one of those politicians who might pass for wise if he never opened his mouth, but who never utters a sound that does not betray his emptiness. Placed beside Mr Macassey, however, he might play the part of Boswell, and although he cannot convince the House, his “ aye ” and “ nay ” count for more than they are worth. Dr Moran must accept his share of the responsibility of Mr Macassey’s defeat, and he should, from it, learn that the stand he has taken with regard to the education question is condemned by the constituencies as unsound. We have good reason to believe that the advocates of purely secular education are numerically very strong both in Otago and Canterbury. In Christchurch there is a strong party in favor of aided schools, but outside of the City there is a powerful feeling in favor of secularism. We do not expect his Lordship will acknowledge the result of the election at Queenstown as a condemnation of his views, or that he will change them if he does : but it must be gratifying to find that the heart of the people is sound, and that they are prepared to repel all influences likely to retard progress, or endanger civil and religious liberty.

Early Closing.— A committee meeting of the Saturday Half-holiday Association was held Hat night in the lower hall of the Athenteum, to receive the report of the deputation appointed at the public meeting on Tuesday night to wait upon the shopkeepers in town to ascertain their opinions on the question. We are glad to find that, so far as the various deputations representing different trades had gone, they have met with a great amount of sympathy and a cheerful willingness to support the movement ; but as the deputations were unable, owing to the time being so limited, to call upon all the shopkeepers, the meeting was adjourned to eight o’clock this evening, so as to give time to the deputations before sending in their final report. Everything so far has been more successful than even the most sanguine could have anticipated ; but as the sympathy of the public has been so thoroughly enlisted in their cause, it cannot be long before closing on Saturday at one o’clock will be an established fact. Novel Entertainment. — The announcement that one man would talk, sing, play, orbanjoise, as the operation is termed in the bills, and do business with bis audience above all with free admission—-could scarcely

fail to draw together a large number of persons ; but even the conceiver of this mode of advertising wares must have been surprised to find himself surrounded by the crowd that assembled at the Masonic Hall last evening to whet their curiosity as to who the ‘ Wizard Oil Prince ’ is, and what is the character of his article. Owing to other engagements and inabdity to gain admittance to the hall, we did not hear much of Mr Weston’s entertainment. _ We certainly heard him extol the good qualities of his oil; and at the same time tell the audience that ho did not expect them to believe all he had said. One thing he made pretty plain ; that he expects to do plenty of business in the city before he leaves it; and he appears to have the necessary energy. Mr Weston is to be again heard' of at the Masonic Hall to-night.

Invercargill's Member.— Mr W. H. Calder, M.H.R. for Invercargill, has refused to comply with a request made to him to address his constituents, for reasons which are best explained by quoting from his letter;—" I have the honor to state that 1 would not have waited for a request before doing so if I had thought it of advantage to my constituents. I was of opinion, on my return from Wellington, and am of the same opinion still, that your interests were better secured by my silence, at least for a time. The fact is, as I believe, we have a Government which in its reckless financial career will brook no opposition ; and, having the power, may possibly possess the will to visit the shortcomings in this respect of representatives upon their constituents. My time, moreover, has been fully occupied with ray own affairs since my return, an absence of three months naturally disturbing them somewhat ; I will, however, do what I can to meet the electors should I find a convenient opportunity.” The South and Times takes Mr Calder to task for his “insolent” reply, and warns him that he may at some time find that when it is convenient for him to address the electors, they will not be disposed to meet him so well as he might expect.

The Maories. —The Maori chiefs from the North, visited the gaol yesterday and after a !on_' " korero” with Hie Maories released by tlie lion Mr M'l.caii, they ad came to the conclusion that it would bo tjetbei" bo i emove bo tUe Immigration Depot, as being more suitable for receiving some expected visits from the Waikouaiti natives, a number of whom have arrived in town on lousiness connected with their laud. Accordingly at six o’clock last evening the Maories left the gaol, which has been their abode for the last two years and a-half, and we have since observed them in all parts of the town enjoying their newly acquired freedom. They seem to take great pleasure in visiting the Water of Leith, Anderson’s Bay Read, Russell street, the Hospital, Botanical Gardens, and the other places where they have been at work. The Gardens, however, seem the chief attraction, as they justly look with particular pride on them as the result of their almost unaided labor. We think it will be a subject for regret if the City authorities allow those Maoris to leave without recognising in some way, however slight, the great advantage their presence amongst us has undoubtedly been toj the city. A small gratuity would no doubt be most acceptable, as they are entirely without money; and we would ask obir readers, when considering this matter, to mind, that the Maories are mere polit cal prisoners and as such not to be classed with the ordinary run of our European prisoners. They complain that their quarters in the Immigration Barracks are ve y cold, and not so warm as their cells in the Gaol, or “ Wharo here here.’

Soiree. —A soiree in celebration of the first anniversary of the North Dunedin Presbyterian Church, was held in the church last evening. There was a large attendance, the pastor (the Rev. Dr. Copland) presided ; and on the platform were the Revs. D. M. Stuart, W. Will, M. Watt, J. Gow, J. Williams, and other gentlemen. After tea the committee’s report was read by Mr A. Fraser, the secretary. The document stated that since the settlement of tho Rev. Dr. Copland among the congregation it had greatly increased in numbers, and it was thought that the present building would in a short time be found too small The Sabbath School had greatly increased in numbers since first instituted, the attendance when it was held at the Drill-shed averaged 25, now the average attendance was 90, and there were 120 names on the roll. A Sunday school library was a felt want, and one would seon be opened. The Sunday School in the North-east Valley had again been opened, and was now fairly attended. The Bible Class opened by the minister was well attended. There being room for improvement in the psalmody of the Church, directions had been given to arrange a place where the choir could sit together ; and it was hoped that the new committee would aid the precentor in getting up a properly organised choir. The prayer meetings on Thursday evening had been but poorly attended. There had been a great increase to the revenue within the past three months, the Church collections during that time had averaged L 4 1 Os per day, and over 200 sittings were now let. There had been onty at the rate of LOO per year contributed to the Su.itentation Fund, but there was a hope of the amount being greatly increased, as soon as a properly organised Committee and Session had been formed. The debt remaining upon Jthe Church amounted to L 719. Excepting by means of lectures given, little

had been done towards reducing it the past six mouths. The Commitee elected for the ensuing,twelve months were—Messrs A. Hunter, Glendining, Hutton, and Fraser. Dr. Copland, in the course of his remarks, said his intercourse with his congregation had been most cordial, while the attendance at Divine service had been all that he could have anticipated. While it was the fact that the chu'-ch was often inconveniently crowded, he could not counsel its enlargement while the present debt exi ted. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. D. M. Stuart, Williams, Will, and Gow; and between the speeches the choir, which was augmented and assisted by violinists, sang some anthems very nicely. Would-Be Burglars. Six men, severally named Henry Mathews, Alexander Dean, Alfred Binks, Wm. M'Cutchen, Geo. Miller, and John Rae, were received into the Gaol last evening, to undergo virions terms of imprisonment for attempted burglary at Balcliuha. The circumstances attending their capture are thus related by the local correspondent of the Bruce Herald :—“ You may have bea’-d of men who go about ostensibly looking for won and fervently praying the while that they may find it not. of such a class was the accession to our popula ion at thetime when, owing to theTokomairiro races, a considerable number of citizens were sixteen mites away. At this particular season of the year, when the harvest is supposed to draw an increased number of laborers into country districts, the unsuspecting eyes of civilians are not disposed to scnltiuise the physiognomy of the wayfarer; but immediately Constable Dunn returned from Milton on Saturday, his professional nose sniffed mischief; and having satisfied himself that dangerous birds were at large, he put his cage in order, and adroitly devised a means of capture. Circumstances favored him so far that an uninhabited hut on the ontskirts of the town had suggested desirable shelter to the objects of his watchfulness, and with a view to obtaining some knowledge of them, he contrived, under cover of darkness, to creep to the hut and overheard their conversation. He heard sufficient to warrant him in gathering together a small force of assistants whom he marched with all the pomp and circumstance of a siege to the threshold of the whare, where iu a stentorian voice, he cried “ halt,” thus deluding his game into the belief that an imposing force awaited any attempt to escape. On entering the hut, however, two or three of the party who did’nt “ fox” drunkenness, assumed an attitude winch showed the wisdom of the precautionary measures taken by the constable, who did not effect the capture without having to contend against a considerable show of resistance, eventually, however, the whole six were secured in the lock-up.” The constable was highly complimented on his vigilance by Mr Maitland, R. M.

We have been requested- to state that the Harbor: Compauy will convey to town, at cheap fares, residents at Port Uhal raers who may be desirous of seeing the' flower show to-morrow. The North Dunedin Volunteer Rifle Company will parade in the Caledonian Grounds to-morrow (Friday) evening, at 7 o clock, and on Monday evening at 6 o clock, for Colonel Harrington’s annual inspection. The adjourned committee meeting of the -.diirday Ha.f-Holiday ■■ ssociation, vvill be held in the Lower Hall of the Atheiuenm, this evening at eight o’clock. General entries for the forthcoming Dunediu Jockey Club Races, are to be made at the Empire Hotel, on Saturday, the 16th inst., before Sp m.