The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1872

Evening Star, Issue 3071, 21 December 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1872

We have now arrived at a holiday time, when polities cease io trouble men s minds, and when party strife is set aside for the enjoyment of time-honored forms of amusement. The pleasure that all will feel in witnessing the sport’s and pastimes incident to the season, will be enhanced by the presence of his Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen. Since Sir George Bowen was last here a great change has taken place in the trade and prospects of Dunedin. He turned the hrst sod of the Dunedin and Cluthaßailway, the cubankment for which now crosses the main south road, waiting for partial completion, in order to its being utilised for trallic. The Port Chalmers Railway, at that time scarcely begun, is now ready for the formal opening, and may be expected to be brought .at once into profitable use. The Graving Dock lias since been completed, ami is tenanted by one of Her Majesty’s ships. The University Hall has undergone a change of form that has added to its beauty, and fitted it for a higher work than was originally designed. Several noble warehouses have been constructed in different parts of the town ; a new theatre has just been completed; and the streets in the suburbs have been rendered comfortable for foot passengers by asphalted footpaths and kerbing. Dunedin is rapidly becoming a most desirable place for residence; a result of its commanding port and ifs well chosen commercial position. We do not know that its distance from the political centre is any very serious drawback. It may not in times past have exerted so powerful an influence over the councils of the country as its importance would have justified; but that has been partly the fault of the people of the Province, .Naturally dividing themselves into different leading forms of industry, each has endeavoured to secure its own superiority in our local and general governments, without giving due consideration to the claims of' the others. The miners, therefore, have striven against the pastoral interest and farmers, the run-holders against the farmers and miners, and the farmers against the run-holders and miners. A little consideration on the part of each would have shown how mutually dependent they arc, and how deeply interested in co-operation. This truth is forcing itself upon ns now, and we trust the conviction of it will lead to consultation instead of opposition, and to a cordial desire that each interest may be based upon a mutual recognition of each other’s rights. We think the evil has been aggravated by the mistake made some years ago of imposing a heavy rate of postage on newspapers. The consequence has been that while a great number of highly respectable local journals have been established, which circulate extensively within given areas, their advocacy has been confined mainly to the special interests of the district, and thus a sort of isolation has taken place that has tended to separation, instead of unity of purpose throughout the Province. Since Ids Excellency was here last year, a relaxation has been made in postal rates on newspapers that will very shortly come into operation. The Evening- Star has been expanded in anticipation of this, and its morning edition commands already a very large and increasing country and town circulation; and wc trust the result will be to acquaint the people of the interior -with the politics of the town, and to receive, in return, and disseminate such information of up-country requirements, as will lead to a common working together for the good of all.