The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3082, 4 January 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1873.

Some of tin* corrospondonts of the Daily Times. ami notably one who has ;^ unod , the quaint mm dc fhme of Master Humphrey,” seem to vie with the editorial staff of that journal m recklessness of assertion and disregard ot tacts, it, oy any moans, however disingenuous, they can damage the personal reputation ott ic Colonial Treasurer. There were, not long since, a series of letters on financial matters, which, by a little distortion here, and insinuation there, were made to indicate results totally different from the reality. It is not our practice to enter into controversies with our own correspondents or with those of any of our contemporaries ; nor should we have noticed this “ Master Humphrey” at all, had no. many of the public been led to imagine that be must have bad some reason tor what be has said, because be gave figures in support of h._ His garbled financial rigmarole is a thing of the past, hut be has not finished his dirty ' vo . : His new move is to show that the Colonial Treasurer attempted to “ hoodwink and bamboozle ” the country in bis ably am statesmanlike Financial Statement in the House of Representatives on the 20th ot August last. “Master Humphrey should telfus what lie understands by the terms, “hoodwink and bamboozle;’ for if they arc applicable to the statistics given by the Treasurer, it appears to us they mean speaking the truth. But since it is evident that “Master Humphrey’ does not intend readers to entertain that impression, we suppose he uses them with the purpose of insinuating that the case is falsely put, in order that people may believe a lie. In order to give coloring to this style of stnjacstio falsi, a very specious assumption is introduced, Mr Vogel said, “ I desire to direct the attention of the Committee to a few comparative statistics which I have prepared. ’ Amongst those statistics were the following :

Tins very plain and straightforward comparison is objected to by “ Master Humphrey ” on tin; ground that the period selected by Mr Vogel is one exceptionally favorable to New Zealand, and if we wish to draw any correct inferences from the relative progress of tiie two countries, we must compare corresponding periods in the history of eacln The whole character of the writer is developed in this most astounding statement. Wo need not comment on the loose ambiguity of his verbiage—his meaning his plain. He must imagine that people have bad memories, or that he is writing to children of ten years old, who arc totally ignorant of the history of the Colony during their babyhood and childhood. It is not at all necessary to say a word upon the absurd argument that, to test the comparative progress of two countries, some imaginary analogy should be found in the conditions. That formed no part of the Treasurer’s intention. Mr Vogel’s design in presenting the statistics is thus expressed :

They were compiled in accordance with my directions ; and I will admit that those directions were given in consequence of the detraction to which the Colony has been subjected by a section of the Colonial Tress. It is my practice to read most of the newspapers published in the Colony, and I observed that some of them persistently asserted, in issue after issue, that the state of New Zealand was such as reasonably to excite the gravest alarm—to describe mildly the sort of criticism employed. It is true that those gloomy statements were made by that section of the press which opposed the present Government, and that, more or less, it was attempted to ascribe the alleged'misfortnnesto the Government. Still it was incredible that party spirit should go so far as to attempt to decry and prejudice that which all parties ought to have at heart, however various their opinions as to the inode of attaining the result—the well-being of the Colony. 1 thought it desirable to ascertain, by comparisons with other countries and colonies, whether this Colony was really in the unfortunate position those critics loved to describe. Broadly, the statements were to the effect that the Colony was in great financial difficulties ; that it was governed at an extravagant expense; that its taxation was crnshingly burdensome ; and, generally, that its inhabitants were very unfortunate people. I think the whole facts of the Budget are a disproof of the existence of any financial difficulties calculated to create the slightest apprehension. That the Colony has passed through a period of some depression is of course undeniable ; but the difficulties entailed by that depression have not been of a more serious nature than might have been anticipated.

It was during the currency of the ten years that the false statements he complains of were made ; they were, in fact, levelled at the Government then in power, and which had only held office for three years. Will “Master Humphrey favor the public with an exposition of the bearing of the rush for gold to Victoria, upon Mr Vogel’s defence of the Ministry of which lie was a member? But we will lake this bilious scribe _ on his own grounds. If he will have likeness of conditions as a basis for comparison, let. him state, during the ten years he has chosen, how much "a native war cost Victoria, and whether he thinks that a period, clurwhieh some millions of money were expended in Hew Zealand in suppressing rebellion, is the most favourable period in its history to compare its progress with that of another Colony in which, during that whole time, there has boon profound peace. In our opinion, no decade could have been taken more unfavourable to Hew Zealand than from 1861 to 1871. There is another rock on to which “Master Humphrey” has recklessly run, in his tilt against the _ Treasurer. He points out that the increase of population in Victoria was drawn from Europe, and not from a neighboring Colony, as in the ease of Hew Zealand. There is nothing so blind as bigotry. To men of clear, sound intellect the conclusion would be irresistible that, if Victoria presented such inducements to settlement above Hew Zealand, those who migrated thence would have cither remained there or returned when they found they had made a wrong move. Hot having done either the one nor the other, is proof presumptive that there are superior attractions in Hew Zealand. The conclusion we have arrived at from perusal of the silly letter of “ Master

Humphrey ” is, that it is he who has attempted “ Icgerdcmaiu ” with the intention of “hoodwinking and bamboozling” the public; and that (he sooner he turns over a new leaf in his code of political morality, the better for his reputation.

While many Bir Yan Winkles are looking with astonishment and apprehension at the expenditure going on in railway construction in New Zealand, our neighbors in Australia are seriously discussing the advisability of making a line from Adelaide to Port Darwin. The scheme was mooted by Mr Artkuk Jllytii in the South Australian Legislature in May last, has formed the subject of public discussion in Melbourne, and will in all likelihood be one of the questions considered by the Intercolonial Conference. In comparison with tins underlaking, the success of our most unpromising lines seems like certainty itself; yet nothing is more likely than that it would succeed. Mr Blyth is not a member of the Executive, and the Speaker of the House ruled that no such Bill could be introduced by a private member; but before pronouncing that condemnatory sentence, the matter had been fully discussed, and the Ministry promised to give it their attentive consideration during the recess. At first sight, the idea of a Colony with half-a-million of inhabitants contemplating such a work, looks almost like madness. Wo in New Zealand seem nervously apprehensive about our lines. Our Senators quake with apprehension at the idea of forming a line through country not densely populated. They seem to think that the chief advantage of a line of railway is cheap communication between settled districts ; it does not seem to enter into their heads that fully greater benefits maybe secured by creating settled districts. Yet such has over been the result of railway construction. America has proved this many years ago, and South Australia has adopted the idea. It was a hold conception, that Atlantic and Pacific Bailway; and many people, hearing for the first time of the South Australian scheme, and, comparing the two, will exclaim, thonghit waspnssibJcfortheUnitedStatos, with forty millions of inhabitants, to form 3000 miles of railway, it is not likely that more than half that length can he made by half a million of people. But in reality there seems to he almost as little dilliculty in the one scheme as in the other. South Australia does not intend to he troubled with taxation, nor to take any risk iu the formation of the line, but proposes to adopt the American system of paying for it in land. The idea is that there are millions of acres of land Iving waste to which value might be given by providing access to it. A few millions of acres would never be missed, and so, as the lowest estimated cost of the lino is £10,000,000, they think if they offer 200,000,000 of acres of this desert in return for a railway, English capitalists will readily take up the scheme, and carry it through. That is to say they are to have the laud iu blocks of 10,000 to 12,0(X) acres on each side of the line atone shilling an acre. The anticipation is that by this means the whole of the interior of that vast continent from Port Augusta to Port Darwin would be rapidly colonised for 200 or 300 miles on each side of the line; and as the British Government, before many years, will have secured direct railway communication between Calais and Calcutta within thirteen days ; thirteen days more, or fewer than that, would take passengers and mails in swift vessels to Port Darwin. Objection to this scheme seems likely to he raised by Yictoria and New South Wales, as they do not like to he left out iu the cold. It appears that in Melbourne they do not relish the idea of South Australia possessing privileges they are not in a position to claim. It is proposed by the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce that a line should be constructed connecting Adelaide and Melbourne, but even this does not meet the aspirations of the Melbourne magnates, who object “ to have to go to Adelaide ” to put Melbourne “in connection with the Trans-Australian railway line.” So says the Ary ns. But in this respect South Australia has the whip hand of Yictoria. for the latter has no laud to give at a shilling an acre, and any alteration in the scheme would involve payment _iu hard cash. The nearest point at which a junction could be effected from Echuca, the most northerly point of the Victorian railway system, with the proposed TransAustralian line, would involve the construction of 300 miles of railway at a cost of £1,500,000, and then permission would have to he obtained from the Government of New South Wales before a sod could be turned. We do not see in this instance that the opposition of Victoria can affect the question in any degree. It is purely a matter for South Australia to deal with, and will probably sooner or later bo done. It will then be imperative on the Colonies of Yictoria, New South Wales, and Queensland to make special efforts to form direct communication by branch linos with the main trunk line, if they desire to divert direct mail and passenger traffic to their own Colonies.

The ball on Monday, if we may judge by the demand for tickets, is likely to bo exceedingly well attended. We hear that a great number have been disposed of, and that the arrangements will be most satisfactory in regard to comfort. We understand that it is contemplated by several gentlemen to make a tour of Mount Cook and the glaciers, about the end of the present month, the company to include, among others, his Excellency the Governor, Mr Strode, R.M., and the Superintendent of Canterbury. It is rumored that Captain Edward Hardinge {18(53) will relieve Commodore Stirling as second-class commodore in command of the Australian squadron, and that he will commission the Doris at Devenport as his “ pendant” ship. A contemporary says:— “ The vastly-growing importance of the Australian Colonics, together with the organised system of kidnapping which is now being carried on among the islands, not only call for a larger squadron, hut that the station should bo a Rear Admiral’s command. The bugbear of economy, it is presumed, bars the way to so desirable and necessary a change.”

A meeting of the Dawn of Light Division Daughters of Temperance was held in the Congregational Hall, last evening, for the purpose of installing the officers for the ensuing quarter. Bro. Rev. T. Roseby acted as D.M. W. P., and Bro. Wicks as D.M.W.C. The following officers were installed : —Bro. J. Todd, W. P. ; Bro. D. C. Cameron, P. W. P.; Sister E, Williams, W.A, ; Sister M. C. Nicol, E.S. ; Sister E. Kroon, A.R.S. ; Sister E. M'Laren, F.S. ; Msters F. Palmer, Treasurer; Sister Selby, Conti. ; Sister Bendy, A.C. ; Sister C. M’Ncil, J.S. The report of the R.S. was very satisfactory, showing an increase of eight members during the past quarter, making a total of 118 members. The average attendance has been on the decrease, notwithstanding the increase of membership, and it is earnestly hoped that the Sisters will bestir themselves to attend more regularly.

We have been furnished with the follow- 1 ing particulars of the fire that took place at Portobello yesterday morning, by which the Highcfiffe Hotel was destroyed. The hotel was leased by Mr Robert Coneys, and was the property of MiHenry Fairbank. On the evening of the .nd instant, Mr Coneys waj the only person who slept iu the hotel. After examininr the tire-place in the kitchen to see that all was safe, he went to bed about half-past eleven o’clock. 'ibe following morning, about half-past three o’clock, he awoke and found his bed-room tilled with smoke. Hastily drawing on his trousers, he went to the front door, and looking out saw that the back part of the house, iu which wore the ator. -room and kitchen, was on fire. He alarmed the neighbors, and returning hast’ly to his bed-room only succeeded in saving three empty boxes and bis bed, which be carried into the yard. Unfortunately bis cash box, which contained L 65, and his stock of clothing were in the store-room, and were destroyed with it. The hotel contained eight rooms, a kitch n and ha**. It was a wooden budding, with a roof formed partly of shingles, and partly of iron. The whole was burnt within an hour. About three months ago Mr Coneys had added three new rooms at a cost of L 73. He estimates his loss in. stock, furniture, and money at !2d , and is not insured. Mr Fairbank valued the house at L 260, and is also uninsured. The cause of the fire is unknown, but incendiarism is suspected.

In consequence of the Citizens’ Ball being held on Monday evening, the parade of the No. 1 Company will not take place. The usual week of prayer, in connection with the Evangelical Alliance, will be observed during next week. The various places of meeting will be found in our advertising columns. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society, will be held next Monday evening, from six to eight o’clock.

Population Population Percentage in 18(51. in 1871. of increase. New Zealand 9(5,595 250,111 163.14 Victoria - 534,8(53 729,226 30.34