The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2840, 26 March 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1872.

Amongst other curiosities which will be laid up in the records of the proceedings of the New Zealand Parliament is' Paper C, No. 9, 1871 : “a schedule « of the petitions presented to the Pro- « vincial Council of Otago, relative to “ throwing open the lands for settle- “ ment.” This piece of information was presented gratis to the House of Hepresentatives, in accordance with a resolution proposed by Mr Lasungs,

Tvito jU) considered he had given | ii c'oup <&grjm to all opposing Otago , members by overwhelming evidence of the popular -feeling in regard to the wickedness of thd land system of the Province. And In order to render this exposition pf public- opinion more conclusive in, its .-condemnation of the Hundreds Regulation Act of 18G9j_the terms of the resolution required that all petitions should be enumerated that had been presented on that subject since the year 18613. Bearingin mind the clamor that has been raised about -thjs land question, and, the “ tall talk V of those who hold ,ex-. treiue views-upon it, it might naturally have been imagined that the list would have been extremely long.' Every one would have been prepared to expect such an accumulated ox pres-; sion of gradually increasing indignation as would convince the House the people were not to be played with j that discontent was, rapidly tending to revolution, and that unless something was done to allay it, Otago would set up business on its own account; Those who coincide with the views of the land agitators, on reading the title-page of the paper would be inclined to say to themselves, “Ah ! now we shall « have wherewith to justify us in all ■ “we have said on the question. Who, “ after this, will dare to say the people “ are indifferent 1 ” But when he looked at the petition, and found that in five years only twenty mine petitions bearing directly and remotely on land legislation and administration had been presented, we fancy he would feel grievously disappointed. An average from all parts of Otago on every grievance in connection with the land of 5.8 petitions annually is not very extravagant. Still less would he be satisfied if lie hoped to receive assistance in his agitation from the prayers of the petitions themselves or the numbers of signatures attached to them. Of the twenty-nine petitions, the greater number relate to subjects of local interest : not of general land regulation. Eight of them ask for the proclamation or extension of hundreds, many of which were opposed by the majority in the Provincial Council itself; and the refusal to grant which caused the passing of the Hundreds Regulation Act. The settlers in the East and West Clutha Hundreds asked, in addition to their privilege of grazing stock within the Hundreds, that they should have the perpetual right to the use of a grazing country by the reservation of a large area as commonage: which would have been a nice little bonus on their investments at a pound an acre. Failing in that, they petitioned again for new Hundreds southwards. There appear to have been only three other petitions for commonage; one from Blacks, one from - .Macraes, and one from Cromwell. Three petitions ask that certain laud shall be thrown open for settlement, one of which was complied with, and, no bidders coming forward, the land passed in ylobo into the hands of the rnn-holders. The prayer of one of the petitions is calculated to amuse. It does not ask for laud in any shape : it wants neither commonage, hundreds, agricultural settlement, nor any settlement at all, excepting according to strict reading that of the meaning of a term. One hundred and eighty-six miners, farmers, and residents of Blacks (including, Dry bread, Tinkers, German Hill, &c.), goldfield, pray that “an agricultural settlement “ may be defined.” What a splendid theme for our debating societies ! We commend it to them as something novel to wrangle about. Women's mental inferiority to man, woman’s lights, the character, times, and doings of Oliver Cromwell, and all such like themes are worn out: but what is an agricultural settlement? We do not remember whether the wisdom of the Provincial Council was displayed in their silence or their answer. In either case it is open to discussion, and law, logic, and imagination may be employed in considering the subject. Seeing that so many petitions were presented for personal advantages merely ; that the farmers who asked for new Hundreds and commonage, ami induced the miners and storekeepers to join them, only made cats paws of them to secure their help to obtain additional grazing ground, and that the majority of the petitions were clearly within the power of the Provincial Council to grant or reject, it is plain very little room is left for any general expression on the hug-bear of the last three years, the Hundreds Regulation A.ct. Notwithstanding all that has been said and written on the subject; notwithstanding it was made a leading question at Provincial elections, and lias been made the excuse for not throwing land into the market, only six petitions were presented in three years for its repeal. We confess we were somewhat astonished, Petitions arc so easily got up and so readily signed by persons who have no strong opinions on a subject, that it is evident even common industry lias not been shewn by the opponents ,of the Act, or they would have made a better shew.

Teleob^wE* ic. -xA&tati&n was opened at to-day. rj ‘ - ' Presentation.— On Saturday week, Mr H, Barlow, who has been secretary and collector for the Danstan Hospital since its esta’ lialuneut, -. and who has since left for Melbourne, was presented with a richly illuminated /address,' as ft token "Of the comappreciation- of his services. The presentation was made by the Mayor of Clyde. - City Police Cdu rt.—The; business brought before the Mayor this morning, was disposed- of-very quickly- Alice-Hawley was fined 205., with the alternative of three days’ imprisonment, for drunkenness, and Ellen Gately, charged with stealing a brooch, received the benefit of the doubt that his Worship had as to her guilt, and was discharged with a caution.

Gold-rearing Rock.—A gentleman living in the neighbourhood of tJnibu street, shewed us a piece of road metal picked up by one of his children, which, on examination, proved to contain gold, numerous, specks being visible to the naked eye. Another metal is also visible which he believes to be platinum. We should recommend the Government to test the stone before allowing it to be wasted.

Land Sale.—Sections in the North Harbor, Blueskiu, Peninsula, and Greytown districts were sold by auction in the Land Office yesterday. Three sections in the Peninsula, comprising 174 acres, were purchased by Mr John Reid for LB6 ; two sections in the North Harbor and Blueskiu district, comprising 23 acres, were knocked down to Mr George Anderson for L 77 ; and three acres at Greytown for L 3 each, Messrs Kirkland and Holland being the purchasers. How, Opposition is Formed. —Mr Wrigg, late General Government District Engineer, was a candidate for the representation of Waikato, vice Capt. Macpherson, resigned, but retired, his canvass convincing him that he stood no chance against Major Jackson, who has been returned. It is understood that Mr Wrigg had a dispute with Government, and declines to give up some documents or plans connected with surveys. Now he is opposed to the present Ministry, and wanted to get into Parliament to air his grievances there. Treat. The feast of “ Purim,” which celebrates the event narrated in the Book of Esther, is a high holiday season with the Jewish members of the community, and accordingly the custom has grown up h-re of entertaining the Sabbath school children on that day. Last evening, the children, to the number of about eighty, with their friends and relations, were entertained in St. George’s Hall, and spent a very pleasant evening. The adults indulged in dancing, which was kept up till an early hour this morning, Mr Moss presiding at the piano. Princess Theatre.—We were glad to see a greatly improved attendance last evening, { when “Roland for an Oliver” was repeated, Mr Hydes being very good as Sir Alfred Highflyer. The Star Troupe followed in their entertainment, which was well received. Mr Clark had to repeat his song, while Mr O‘N eill, who was heard to greater advantage than in the Masonic Hall, was very successful in his character-song of “Dancing Mad.” Mr O'Brien’s dancing came in for the invariable encore. To-night “Old Honesty” and “My Precious Betsy” will bo produced. An Awkakd Situation.—A few minutes after the paddle-steamer Nebraska had come to an anchor in Auckland harbor on the 4th instant, the steamer Devonport went alongside and got just under the sponson abaft the paddle-box. Her bowline was hardly made fast when the paddle itself began to revolve backwards, and one of the floats catching against the bulwarks of the Devonport drove that vessel deep into the water, so that the occupants for the moment thought she was going under. “ Full speed astern,” roared out the captain of the little boat, but the bow line had been made fast, and the order could not be obeyed. Round went the big paddle again, catching its puny sister amidships, and turning her almost on her beam ends. The ladies on board screamed with fear, the men turned white, and several of them tried to leap on board the Nebraska. One lady jumped incontinently over the bulwarks into the police boat alongside for safety, thinking only of the motto of mace qui pent. Bhe was speedily followed by another lady and one of the masculine gender. But the storm was soon over ; the big paddle became quiescent; the little boat righted, and nobody was hurt. A waterman’s boat alongside the Devonport was, however, swamped.

Immigration.— The agreement between the General Government and the Hon. Colonel Fielding respecting the purchase of 100,000 acres of the Manawatn land, provides that it shall be sold at Ids per acre, to be paid for in three promissory notes of L 25,000, each payable on the Ist April, 1877, 1879, and 1882. The Corporation is to place upon the land at least 2,000 emigrants before the Ist of April, 1877. Not less than 100 of the number shall he placed on the settlement during the year ending the Ist April, 1873, and not less than 200 in any one of the succeeding years. The emigrants are to be approved of by the Agent-General, and to sail from some port in the United Kingdom. Should the stipulated numbers not be placed on the land as agreed, a penalty of LK) for each one deficient will he instituted. All emigrants introduced Gy the Corporation arc to be provided by the colony with suitable barrack accommodation, and food for two days after arrival in Wellington. The General Government is to find employment for each able bodied male emigrant upon some public or other work in or within ten miles of the settlement at such rates as will enable him to earn one pound by four days in each week ; but the Government will not be called upon to prov de for more than 200 at any one time, or for any emigrant for more than one year. The attention of Volunteers is directed to a General Order which appeared in our advertising columns to-day.