The Evening Star. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2892, 27 May 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, MAY 27, 1872.

It is very proper that every matter concerning the public estate should be strictly conducted according to law ; but unfortunately a certain class of politicians are everlastingly meddling to prevent this. They are generally somewhat old fogoyish in their motions and always so in their logic. It is therefore no wonder that they take upon themselves to thwart everything that has the appearance of progress. New Zealand, unfortunately, is plagued with such imbeciles as well as other countries, and still move unfortunately they belong to that class from which the Legislative Council is selected—men who shrink with horror from democracy ; men who have not the mental daring to throw off the trammels of the past; men who would keep the people in bondage lest they should dare to stand “ between the wind and their nobility.” In the year 1870, the Fro* vincial Council resolved to reserve certain land for* specified purposes, in accordance with the 62nd clause of the Waste Lands Act, 1866, which empowers the Superintendent, on their “ recommendation” to do so “ for the uses of the Provincial Government and for other public purposes.” Every requirement of the Act was fulfilled, application was made for the issue of the Crown grants. The purposes to which the revenue to be derived from the occupation of the reserves was to be devoted were as follows : 1, For the establishment and maintenance of certain public schools in different parts of the Province somewhere [about 60 acres.

2. For commonage for the use of the inhabitants of Port Molyneux, 554 acres. 3. A site for a Court House at Roxburgh. 4. Municipality of Port Chalmers, la, 2r. 17p. 5. Reserve for public recreation, Lake district, about 100 acres. 6 A second reserve for a Court House, Roxburgh. 7. Endowments for the establishment and maintenance of High, Grammar, and District schools, 1,100,580 acres. Probable income L 8.650 8. Benevolent Institution, 353,00 acres, Probable income, L 1,863 15s. 9. Clutha River Trust, 50,200 acres. Probable income, L 550. 10. Endowments for hospitals, 487,750 acres. Probable income, L 2,900.

Any one glancing liis eye over this list might perhaps be startled at the acreage, but would hardly dispute that every object proposed may be fairly considered a “ public ” purpose within the meaning of the Act. And moreover, the estimated revenue sufficiently indicates that the land proposed to be reserved is of the poorest of Otago’s poorest land. At any rate about Educational, Hospital, and Benevolent Institution purposes, there ought to have been no question. There is no speciality in them—they are clearly and unraistakeably public purposes. But some of these Crown Grants are refused. The reasons alleged for the refusal were stated in a paragraph in the Evening Star of Saturday. No doubt the General Government was placed in a dilemma which ought to have been avoided, at least as to some of the reserves. To some of them the law officer objected ; but with regard to the educational reserves, the Executive themselves took alarm : or at least professed it. They, therefore, raised obiections in opposition to the opinion of the Attorney-General, and evidently looked at the Act just as the sons of the testator did as related by Swift in his “ Tale of a Tub”—they scanned it to find a hole to creep out at. They wanted evidently to find a way to throw the responsibility of refusal on to irresponsible shoulders, and so introduced a Bill professedly to justify them in issuing the Crown grants, but apparently to enable them to say, “The Government would not be justified in flying in the face of the Legislative Council,” whose aristocracy could not endure the democracy of Otago. The Hon. Mr Water-

house, then representing the Government in the Council, in moving the second reading of the Bill, gave a short history of the affair, and said that on the 4th of -October (of last year)

The Attorney-General reported, on the 4th October last, to the effect that, so far as the question of the validity of the reserves set apart as endowments for high, grammar, and district schools were concerned, he thought the reserve was sufficiently made, but with regard to the minor reserves he considered there existed some doubt. Those were the Clutha endowment, consisting of 50,000 acres, the benevolent institutions endowment of 350,000 acres, the hospital endowment of 50,000. and a small endowment for the municipal purposes of Port Chalmers. With regard to these four reserves, he doubted whether they were valid. * * *

Although, on the part of AttorneyGeneral, there was no doubt that, so far as the endowment for schools was concerned, there was a power of making those reserves under the Act indicated; still, when the question came under the notice of the Government, it was felt that the reserves set apart were of a much more extensive character than there was reason to believe the Legislature contemplated originally in giving this power to make reserves, anil that a decision as to issuing the grants should not be hastily arrived at. The matter involved so great a question of policy that the Government shrank from giving the grant in accordance with the powers which they possessed under “ The Public Reserves Act, 185t,” until the subject had been brought under the notice of the Legislature,

The language uttered by many of the members during the debate was most insulting to this Province. There was the usual nonsense talked about “ the public creditor.” The Hon. Mr Sewell maintained that, after paying departmental charges and providing for interest on debts, there was no land revenue whatever resulting to the Province of Otago. The Hon. Mr Mantell charged the Province with chronic dishonesty. The Hon. Colonel Whitmore said, “ The one Province that wished to take the cost of its education out of the pockets of the nation was the “ Province of Otago ” ! The Hon. Captain Baillie said : They boasted in Otago of their wealth, but he did not see that there was any provision made in that Province for the support of public schools by taxation, which was done in all the other Provinces, almost without exception. When they cou d come down and say that they put their hands in their pockets to support their schools by taxation, then they might say, “We have established schools and support them out of our own private funds, and the Legislature should let us have a certain portion of the land in the Colony.” The Hon. Dr Grace said ; He thought that it avas recognised that the test of the civilization of a people was to be found in their preparedness to bear taxation, and more particularly so where taxation was laid on for purposes of education and benevolent objects. It was wise and necessary to check the growth of an unruly democracy by taxation, for if the people got into the habit of having their wants supplied by the State, they would be in a position to dictate to the lauded proprietors, and no check, such as the responsibility and burdens of taxation involved, would remain to secure their steadiness and strengthen their good sense. This Bill—needless so far as the educational reserves are concerned—was thrown out on a division. The result is not surprising when the narrow political bigotry of its opponents is considered. We are hardly justified in saying the Government did not wish it to pass, as the Leader of the Council brought it forward and advocated it ; but as a general educational measure is in contemplation, probably its defeat was not displeasing to them. One point deserves sjiecial attention : the whole of these old obstructionists spoke of the land of Otago as Colonial jD’oporty. They ncknowledged the Province had power to sell and invest the money for the purposes mentioned, but to set aside land as endowment! —it was not to be thought of. One thing is certain that were the members for Otago and Southland united, they are able to carry out the wishes of the Council. Our weakness is in division, but on this point we trust they will be as one. In order that Otago may know its friends, we subjoin the division list, in which will be found the names of more than one Otago man in Opposition. For the measure, 7: —The Hon. Messrs Farmer, Captain Fraser, M'Lean, Miller, Paterson, Pharazyn, and Waterhouse.

Against, 15 : The Hon. Messrs Acklancl, Captain Baillie, Colonel Brett, Dr. Buchanan, Chamberlin, Dr. Grace, Mantell, Nurse, Major Richmond, C.8.; Colonel Russell, H. R, Russell, Seymoui, Stokes, J. P. Taylor, Colonel Whitmore.

Princes Theatre.— The programme of Friday evening was repeated on Saturday aud was well received by a fair house. Tonight the play of “The Watch I)og o£ the Walsinghams,” will be produced. Supreme Court. Mr Registrar Ward held a sitting in bankruptcy this morning. William Smith and James W. Fish were adjudged bankrupts; and James Martin, Wm. Grant, and John Dawson, received final orders of discharge. Football. —The game played last Saturday was between sides chosen on the ground by Mr Eeade and Mr Begg. After an hour’s* play a goal was secured for the latter’s side by Mr Henderson. The play was good throughout, but the attendance, we arc sorry to say, was limited. The Otago University.—From the annual report of the Council of the Otago University recently laid on the table of last

Provincial Council, we gather, .that, there were 81 students entered during the year, and that the attendance at-the closes was as follows i—English literature, '2l; Latin, 32 ; Greek, 18; mathematics, 31; mental science, 19.

The Norman Romance;-— Mr Jones, of the Club hotel, requests us to state there is not a word of truth in the statement which has been going the round of the press and on the authority of the Thames Advertiser, found insertion in our columns on Saturday, that a settlement has been come to with the claimant to the estate of the late Mr Norman, or that he ever had an interview with hex*.

Shocking Accident. A painful case, illustrating the danger of leaving little children alone in houses and within the reach of fire, occurred on Saturday evening. Mr and Mrs Wanston, who reside in Melville street, having occasion to come down town, left in bed their only child, a fine little girl of about four years of age, looking the door, but leaving a lighted candle on a table in the room where the child was. It is surmised that the child, after its parents’ departure, nnxst have climbed on to a chair to look out of the window, and thus its clothes took fire. Its situation was first observed by a lady, who had. passed the house a few minutes before, and noticing an unusual glare from the window, hurried back and gave the alarm, which led to the door being burst open, when it was found that the child had been severely burnt on the left side, arm, and face. Dr Cowie was sent for, and did all that could be done ; but no hope is entertained of the recovery of the child, which we believe is still in a convulsive state.

The Circus. —The opening performance, on Saturday night, of Murray’s World Circus was a gi'eat success. Every seat in the spacious tent was soon occupied, and a considerable number of persons, unable to obtain sitting accommodation, readily availed themselves of the standing-room afforded in the two entrances which were also crammed. There could hardly have been less than a thousand persons present, all of whom seemed more or less to enjoy themselves, while a very large proportion did so immensely. The programme, a rather lengthy one by the bye, considering so largo a part of the audience were children, was a good one, and the various performers, both biped and quadruped, acquitted themselves with great credit. The applause was frequent and well merited, and the mirth and fun provoked was at times quite boisterous We were sorry to see that the management had cause to complain of the misconduct of certain roughs outside the tent, and hope ample precautions will be takcu to prevent future annoyance. A ehange of performance is announced for each evening.

The Tradesmen’s Races. —The protest entered by the owner of Bobby Burns against paying the amount accruing from the sweeptakes to the owner of Saladin, the second horse in the Birthday Handicap, was considered at a meeting of the stewards on Saturday evening. After Cv d nee had been taken, which entirely corroborated the allegations in the protest, the protest was sustained, and the stakes awarded to the owner of Bobby Burns ; the horse placed third by the judge. Fn this instance we are informed that the jockey weighed out with his bridle, and was then just weight; he returned to scale without the bridle, and was then under weight —the horse iu the meantime having been led away from the scale. The following is the Dunedin Jockey Club rule bearing on the subject, under which the races were held : —Rule 43. If a horse be led away from the scales before the rider shall be declared “ weight,” no article (bridle or saddle) shall be taken off such horse for the purpose of being weighed with the rider, although the rider shall not be the proper weight without it. ”

Fire. —Through a fortunate combination of coolness and promptitude on the part of several persons this morning, the Club Hotel was saved from destruction by (ire. About 3.30, a nurse, attending a sick gentleman there, perceiving the room which she occupies, and in which it is necess iry to keep a fire constantly burning to be close, opened the window, when immediately she saw smoke issuing from beneath the floor near the hearth-stone. She at once informed some gentlemen in the house and the head waiter, Mr Booker; and Mr Scott at the stables hearing confusion in the house and a cry of fire, despatched a messenger for Mr Wain, Captain of the Dunedin Fire Brigade, and another to ring the fire bell. Mr Wain was on the spot with the hand pump in a few minutes, and the fire bell having given the alarm, at 3.33 he was met by all the members of the Brigade on duty excepting two. In the meantime Booker had not been idle Through the falling of burning embers into the diningrrom, he had discovered the seat of the fire, and with the assistance of some of the police had taken down a pier-glass ; thus preparing a way for the immediate application of water to the burning ceiling. After about threequarters of an hour’s exertion all danger was over. On examination it was found that the fire had arisen through the faulty construction of the hearth, which was only made of brick with insufficient bedding, and through which the flooring joists were carried into the flue. The damage is considered to be about fifty pounds.

Street Crossings.—Foot, passengers traversing the western side of Princes street, between the Cutting ard Stafford street, have the advantage of two tolerably good pitched crossings in continuation of their course. The one at Eattray street, and the other at High street; this in wet sloppy weather, when the streets are necessarily muddy, is a great convenience, especially for ladies. Those, however, whose business requires them to take the opposite side of the street are not so highly favored, and have some ground of complaint that their requirements have been overlooked. True, they have the advantage of a good flagged or ashphalt pavement as far as the corner of the Bank of New Zealand, but beyond that they have often either to wade ankle deep in mud through the intervening space between it, and the University Building, or to make two crossings of Princes street, to reach their destination. On behalf of those, and they are many, who daily traverse this route, we would suggest to the Corporation authorities the advisability of taking advantage of the present spell of fine weather to bridge over this portion of the road with a pitched causeway. To illustrate the convenience this would afford to very large numbers of citizens, wo need only refer to the fact that it is the direct line of communication for persons residing on that side

of the street between the point indicated and/ the University, the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Provincial Council Clumbers, Genera Post Office; and the vari<m* offiocd'of the Provincial Government. To one of other of these instntions not a few persons have occasion to go boh by night and day, and in wet weather, and on a' dafk’ntght it is almost impassible. The cost whnld be comparatively small, and we hope, therefore, something will be done before the really bad weather fully sets in. Inquest. —An inquest was held at the Hospital this day at noon by Dr. Hocken, Coroner, and a jury, on the body of Alexander Dillon Harvey, clerk, when after hearing the evidence of Mr Caldwell (Governor of the Gaol), Mr Torrance (Gaol Chaplin), and Dr. Yates (Resident Surgeon), the inry returned a verdict, “ Died of consumption.” It was stated at the inquest by a juryman that deceased was a few years ago a clerk in the Union Bank, Dunedin. Deceased was due for discharge from Gaol on the 30th iust.

The correct acreage of the laud reservations appears in our leader to-day.

Professor Haselmayer proceeds to Invercargill where he opens his 'entertainment on Wednesday next.

A lecture will be delivered by the Rev. T. Roseby, M. A., L. L.B , in the Oddfellow’s Hall, on Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Mutual Improvement Society will be held in the hall below the Athenaeum, tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. Mr Christie will deliver an essay on “The extension of our colonial literature.”

The entertainment to recoup the Rowing Club for expenses in connection with the late international match, will take place to-morrow evening in the, Masonic Mall. An . attractive programme has been prepared, and we have no doubt the entertainment will be successful.