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Evening Star, Issue 3120, 18 February 1873, Page 2

Prosperity is very comfortable but somewhat dangerous. It induces satisfaction with things as they arc, and leads men to rest instead of continuous exertion.

“ When it rains,” says an old proverb, “ it often looks as if it would never give over.” It may rain blessings, or riches, or work —no matter what; it comes pouring down, blinding men, for the moment, to the fact that a change of weather must some time or other take place, and a season of quiet succeed. In Dunedin we appear to be somewhat in the happy condition of lethargy. Houses let without trouble; work is obtained without trouble; workmen arc obtained with trouble; customers roll into shops, and ships roll into the Port. Everybody says Dunedin is the most prosperous city in New Zealand. Travellers say it is; visitors say it is; the Customs returns show that it is, and we believe it. But “prosperity engenders slothso says the proverb, and it is to be feared iu our instance it is tending in that direction. At any rate we are closing our eyes to what-is passing around us. In other places exertions are making, which, if successful, will one day point

to us that while wc are content to rest with work half accomplished, other districts and Provinces arc on the look-out to deprive us of our advantageous position; and if we sit still, they will succeed -at least for a time. If we will retain our superiority we tiiust be up and doing, and look not only on that 'which is, but on what is in prospect. The prosperity of Dunedin is based upon its commercial position and the means adopted to improve it. It is the port of import and export for the Province; and not for Otago only, but for the southern parts of the Province of Canterbury. This commanding position has been attained by the necessity that has been forced upon the community of forming many miles of metalled roads, and thus rendering access to the port comparatively easy. The roads are clumsy enough, no doubt. They are badly contrived, and badly executed. To traverse them involves no small risk, and immense labor, for the gradients are heavy, and the cost of haulage enormous, compared with the result. Yet, bad as they arc, they are better than none, and it is just because of that nearly negative advantage, that they have thus far served our purpose. Wc must not, however, imagine that they will continue to help us. They have answered our purpose, because there were no rivals- no competitors. There was a time when the merchants of Dunedin looked with a jealous eye upon Invercargill. But Southland was poor; and, although the plan of a railway leading into the very heart of the Lake district was well conceived, in order to throw the trade into the hands of the Invercargill people, it was found to be too large an undertaking for Southland’s pocket. But times arc changed. The Southland railways are rapidly progressing, and although as an integral portion of the Province, it is our duty to feel gratified at the rapid change for the better going on there, it must not be forgotten that, eventually, if nothing is done to connect Dunedin with the interior, some trade will inevitably leave us and travel South. The Southland people arc sufficiently alive to this, and have a sort of vigilance committee constantly organised, who are ever on the look-out to press their claims upon the Government. Nor are they backward in setting forth their demands. There may be Master Humphreys there who like him can only see one side of a question; no matter, the committee can see the other, and have sense enough to understand that trade follows railways, and pays the interest of loans or capital for their construction without taxing the people; but on the contrary, taxation is eased by cheapening production. On the North, Dunedin is threatened with another competitor in Canterbury. There the people are leaving no stone unturned to connect the Waitaki with Lyttelton; they are projecting improving Lyttelton harbor, and thus, 3 no move is made by Dunedin to connect the Oamaru and Moeraki Railway with the Port, there will be another blow to the superiority of our trade. A patchwork of railways is so much waste of money. A line that begins at Lyttelton and ends at Oamaru must benefit the extremities, but it shuts out Port Chalmers, and this is one of the disadvantages resulting from the Government forming railways. It is everybody s interest, but nobody’s business. It is a serious question, whether we ought not to help ourselves. When George Huuson, the railway king, first entered into railway management, he was driven into it through being a large shareholder on a short line, twenty-four miles in length, between York and Normanton. It was a connecting line between North and South, but the South only was constructed. He foimd it necessary to use every energy to concentrate traffic upon it, and he succeeded. Had he not been led into jobbing speculations, and had he confined his efforts to the object with which ho set out, he would have died a rich mau. And this is precisely what must he done with our Dunediu lines. Wc do not know what the General Government purpose doing in regard to the Port Chalmers line, and wo think, for the sake of all parties, it should bo decided. We are not by any means sure that it will bo to the advantage of the Province for it to pass into the Government’s hands; for the Dunedin and Port Chalmers Railway Company nave a property on their bunds that would justify them in extending branches on every side, by inviting or even initiating other Companies connect,ing the coal mining, pastoral, and agricultural districts with the Port, with the certainty that econo-mically-coustvtieted railways are the .cheapest and best modes of transit, and are' certain, sooner or later, to return heavy interest' on the money laid out on their construction. r £h e . Government have done good service in taking the lead, i and nwvkwgoiit the lines._ uqfoHuuatoly, | they cannot Cfl.rpy put the|r views vs ithopt strong party fights, and before the pres? sure becomes so great that the Mopiahl and Oamaru line can no longer bo deferred, Dunedin may bo playing the second to Lyttelton or Invercargill, i le way to remedy that is by helping ourselves and making the railways, and when numbers feel interested in making the lines pay there will be an end to apathy.

The attendance at the Princess Theatre last night was not so good as that of Saturday evening, “The Knaves of Knaves’ repeated, and much applauded. The farcies of “Tfce Two Buzzards,” and V The Captain not a-Miss,” were also re* | peatted, and caused much merriment. We , again remind the admirers of Mr Musgrave j that he takes a benefit this evening, and j refer them to the bills for one of the most j attractive and varied programmes issued frdm this theatre for some time past. On the fourth of next month the annual competitive prize firing will take place at Nelson, The shooting by our representatives has been excellent, and thirty-four have qualified, of whom only seven can by the regulations be sent at the Government expense. The consequence is that, in all probability, some of the prizes that would come to Otago, did a larger number of our Volunteers compete, will be taken by representatives of other Provinces. In this restriction, as on some other points, there is evidence of a deliberate design to place Otago at a disadvantage. For instance, it seems rather strange that no staff officer from this Province, which has always been considered the heart of Volunteer efforts in rifle shooting, is going to Nelson to look after the interests of the Province. Indeed, we have not heard that any officer is appointed in the South Island. Some of our rifle corps, not content to be shut out from fair competition, are sending additional representatives by subscription. Riverton pluckily sends one, Invercargill one, Tokomairiro two 5 but Dunedin has not yet moved. We have no doubt, if Lieut.-Col. Cargill, and Messrs Copeland, Jack, '-tavely, and Torton were to devote a few hours to the work, they would find no difficulty in collecting subscriptions to send three or four of our townsmen, who have proved themselves : qualified by their skill in shooting, but are shut out of the competition by the regula tions. There is not much time to lose, as the whole of the arrangements must be completed before to-morrow week.

Yesterday evening, a meeting of members tbe Church of England interested in the formation of a new parish for South Dunedin was held at the City Council Chambers. There were present —Messrs Fish, Jun. (in the chair), Fraser, Haworth, G. F. Reid, Houghton, Austin, Blyth, Handers, Scott, Rote, Johnston, West, and the Rev. Mr Penney. Tbe minutes of the previous meeting w< r • read and confirmed. The report of the sub-ommittee was also read. It showed that the Committee, af'erduo enquiry, had fixed on two pieces of ground, either of which t ey rec mmeuded for selection as a site for the proposed church ; also that they had made arrangements with the Bank for borrowing L 1,500 for two years at 7 per cent, for the purpose o.' purchasing the site and proceeding with the erection of the church, and suggested that a number of gentbmen should give their names as a guarantee, ana that at the same time tbe ground and buildi gs should be vested in them until the loan was paid. It was also mentioned that a petition regarding the boundaries of the proposed parish had been forwarded to the Diocesan standing committee, and that another would be forwarded to the Vestry of St. Paul’s Church without delay. It was further stated that a fund had been established for the payment of the minister’s stipend and other incidental expenses, and that Mr R. B. Martin had kindly offered to supply, free of cost, the stone required for the foundations of toe church. The report was received, and the meeting proceeded to discuss the question of borrowing money. It was resolved, od the motion of Mr Prosser, that the sub-committee be empowered to borrow LIBOO from the Bank for one year at the rate of six per cent, Mr Reid then stated that be had received letters from Messrs W. Wray, E. Hammond, and G E. Barton, expressing their sympathy with tbe movement, and promises of cordial support with regard to the petition to St. Paul’s Vestry. The Wev Mr Penney said it was informal, in so far as it was necessary, in accordance with the Synodical regulations, that the vestry of Ul’ Saint's Parish should be petitioned in order that both parishes should act simultaneously in altering the boundaries of the parishes. The petition, therefor , was ordered to be remitted back to the subcommittee for further consideration. Mr Gore submitted plans for the church drawn bv Mr Mason, and stated that the nave, capable of seating 320 persons, could be completed in brick and stone for LIOOO. That sum would also complete the interior. The plans were remitted to the Building Committee for consideration. After some discussion as to which of the sites proposed by the committee was the most suitable, Mr Johnstoue proposed “that this meeting, having heard what has been done by the sub-committee at previous meetings in regard to the establishment of a new parish, the purchase oi ground, and the erection of a new church, hereby approves of the same, aud recommends the committee to purchase the ground as soon as possible, and proceed witli the erection of the church.” The motion was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Austin, the names of Messrs B'ish and Howorth were added to the Building Committee. The proceedings were concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. .