The Evening Star MONDAY, AUGUST 17 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3583, 17 August 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, AUGUST 17 1874

Log-rolling has given to Wellington another fifteen thousand, of which Otago has to pay a share. Well might Mr Vogel ask, where is this to end 1 ? Well may Otago ask, where is this to end! Sir Francis Dillon Bell’s peculiar notion of justice is at the bottom of this iniquitous transaction—for it is neither more nor less. It is the price the rest of the Colony has paid for a purchase that, on the face of it, was a clumsily managed business by a Wellington man in purely Wellington interest. Had the Speaker done his duty, such a result could never have happened. Mr M £ Lean spoke truly when he said the claim was a pure afterthought: the whole of the evidence proved it to be so. It was based upon specific grounds, and the arbitrator said they were untenable \ there should therefoi’e have been an end of the matter ; and if, as he weakly said, there were other well-founded reasons why the rest of the Colony should make the Province a present, at the least the Provincial authorities might have stated them, so that they could have been examined. Of that evidently they had no idea. It was a discovery on the part of the Speaker: one of those inspirations that come a man knows not whence, and for which he cannot account. The pet child wanted a sugar plum, and the tutor wanted an excuse for giving it one. Fitzherbert, the nurse, patched up a reason, but the tutor dared not pander to it on such a flimsy pretext. So he answered, “ My dear, I cannot give it you at all; the governor won’t stand it. What a pity you said you wanted it because you were robbed of your pocket money by Mr M‘Lean, who gave it to those nasty Maoris. You should have said something different, and then I would have given it to you.” It was of no consequence, however ; twenty-nine honorable members were found sufficiently subservient to give away fifteen thousand pounds, which we believe, with Mr Fox, to have been as unjust n claim as it was grasping and avaricious. We are prepared to expect that in this unholy alliance all the Wellington members and most of the Auckland ones will be found. We fear that in the division list some Otago names will also be included. It is the beginning of an organised opposition to the abolition of North Island Provincialism that must result in a dissolution. The constituencies will do well to remember at the coming election that this fifteen thousand pounds was not voted on the merits of the case : that the arbitrator agreed with the Government that the claim was unfounded, and, therefore, it must be concluded that some reason not disclosed influenced them in their decision. It was not a question of policy: it was one of right and wrong. Nor does it alter the complexion of the case that it was public money—not private funds the House was dealing with. Had they been called upon to make an award between two men, not a soul amongst them would have ventured to have voted in such a way. Had a tradesman done so, he would have sacrificed his reputation for uprightness, and henceforth ho would have been looked upon with suspicion in all his transactions. We do nob see that political considerations can justify a departure from the principles that should guide a referee in making an award. It is time that society marked its sense of such questionable doings by refusing to commit the dispensation of the revenue to representatives who have not learnt that their private honor is sacrificed when public funds are wrongly appropriated. But there is another aspect in which this little swindle must be regarded. The country must of necessity at no distant make up its mind as to the question of the Constitution, and there will be two parties in the country, one of which will raise the battle cry of “ Provincialism.” There is now forming in the House what will be called a Provincial party. We are not among those who desire to see the Provincial system abolished in the Middle Island. In the North Island it has done its work, and done it badly. The land has been sacrificed wantonly, and without securing for the Northern Provinces either population or prosperity. We have always consistently opposed North Island absorption of South Island revenues, and the time has come when we may get rid of the vampire. The disclosures made by the Premier prove the system to have been an utter failure there. The Provincial party will have to make their appeal to the constituencies, and will have to demonstrate how much better, and how much more advantageous it is to the country, that the Government of the North should continue as now constituted, than to place it under the new scheme, whatever that may be. And on this little vote of fifteen thousand pounds we are presented with a striking specimen of what Provincialism can do. Wlien candidates tell us at the hustings that government will be better coiiducted by the Provinces, we shall have to ask how about that fifteen thousand pounds handed over to Wellington to compensate it for not rushing the Colony into war. When they talk about Provin'Taiism being cheaper than Centralism, \rb shall have to ask them ho’w many

miles of railway two-thirds of fifteen thousand pounds paid by the Middle Island would have made between Dunedin and Moeraki. When they denounce Messrs 'Vogel, Fox, and M'Lean as political traitors, we shall have to ask them whether those able men have not had reason to change their opinions, if they have changed them, when they see representatives traitors to th eir trust and wasting their constituents’ money for the sake of purchasing the support of Wellington and Auckland to their party views. Had we not had the evidence before us which discloses the hollowness of the whole transaction, we should have hesitated to express an opinion, in the hope that some excuse might be found for the vote; but with the x*ecord of the evidence before us we cannot but arrive at the conclusion that Provincial log-rolling is an unmitigated evil; and that no stronger condemnation of the system can be found than the fact that in times past, and at the present time, Provincial combination is capable of such swindles. Had it not been for similar dodges, Otago and the Colony would have been far in advance of their present position.

A member in Wellington telegraphs to us as folio wn : “ I cannot understand the turncoats of the ‘ Guardian.’ It is said here that the Superintendent has the art of mesmerising the directors, and it is reported instructions have been given to Mr Pyke to write down the Ministry. It mist be a genial occupation to one who, like him, aspires to office. The shareholders here are indignant at the imbecility and weakness of the directors. The Ministerial phalanx is beeoming stronger.” On dit, that Mr Stout will shortly address bis constituents. It is notified that the steamer Alhambra is expected to leave the Bluff at 11 a.m, tomorrow, Telegrams for the Australian Colonies or Europe via Java Cable will be received at the Telegraph office for transmission to Bluff up till 10 o’clock to-morrow. Telegrams for the same destination will be received till the same hour at Hokitika for transmission per s.s. Omeo. The San Francisco mail was due at Auckland on Friday last, but there was no sign of her arrival at that port up to the time of our going to press. From our shipping telegrams it will be seen that the ship Rooparelle, which sailed recently from Auckland for Newcastle, has oeen seen dismasted, off the Australian coast. At this morning’s bankruptcy sitting of the Supreme Court the only business transacted was the declaration of complete execution of deed in the case of Alfred Lawrence, md the fixing of Monday next for the final examination of John Blakely. The Californian Minstrels made their last appearance in Dunedin at the Queen’s Theatre on Saturday night, when there was a very good attendance in all parts of the house. The troupe were passengers by the Wellington for the North yesterday. In the House of Representatives on Wednesday last, in answer to Mr Rolleston, Mr Vogel stated that Mr Julian, who acted as financial agent in floating the loan of Li 1,200,000 when he (Mr Vogel) was in England, received LI, OOO, or the twelve-hun-dredth part. Neither he (Mr Vogel) nor Dr Eeatherston had received any consideration ■n connection with the loan. Some of the immigrants are causing the authorities no small amount of trouble, and this morning the Provincial Government had go brim,' three of them before the Rtaidcnt Magistrate’s Court to get a warrant for their ej ctment from, the old Immigration Barracks. All had been in the dep6t for some months, and the defence set up in each case was inability to obtain house accommodations. The warrants as applied for were granted. “ It will be observed from our (‘ Lake Wakatip Mail’) report of the proceedings in the Warden’s Court that it has been attempted to protect the bush against the operations of the gold miner. If such a thing were attempted on the We,t Coast and elsewhere, mining pursuits would have to be given up, so that the trees might grow. Just I ancy the effect such a law would have upon the development of the gold of Australia, let alone our own. What next

The ‘Grey River Argus’ says;—“ Our youthful contemporary, the ‘Bullet News,’ makes the announcement that it has engaged a new editor, and in the samg issue, ‘ in otice is hereby given, that a call of three shillings per share in the ‘ Bullet News' Company is payable in three weeks.’ It is to bo hoped the shareholders will, under the circumstances, ‘ stump up ’ promptly, so that the new skipper may be able to keep his craft well to windward of the hidden dangers lying in the course of a joint stock newspaper proprietary.” “Atticus” contributes the following to the ‘ Lpader : ’ —“ I see that Governor Weld is to be promoted from Perth to Hobart Town. His Excellency entertains very exalted notions about his rank and prerogative as the representative of Her Majesty, and the etiquette at the little Swan River village over whieh he presided was as stiff as that of any German Court. Air Weld always insisted on being helped first at dinner, even when hg was playing the host, and it was de rigeur that no one should speak in the viceregal presence unless first addressed by the groat panjandrum himself.” Some sime back the watermen at the Port made application for a gridiron to enable them to haul their boats up ip case of need, which the Government granted- Yesterday we had one of the heaviest N. E, gales which have been experienced for some time, and the said gridiron would have been of some use, but as usual it was occupied by a number of boats which have been lying there tor some time, and consequently the watermen were compelled to let their boats swamp at the moorings. Fortunately there was very little damage done to them ; but it is-to be hoped that for the future the gridiron will only be used for the purpose for whieh it was intended.

A seaman late of the ship Wild Deer, named William Stanley, alias Burnett, alia* Smith, was received into the Gaol from Oamaru yesterday forenoon, under sentences amounting to twelve mouths. He was charged before Messrs Hassell and Maude, J P.'s, Oamaru, on the 13tb inst., with having stolen a gold albert (chain, the property of James Weir, of Kakanui, of the value of L 4 For this he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. He was also charged with having stolen at Kakanui a silver verge watch of the value of L 3, also two LI notes, and LI 5s 9d in money, the property of John Granston. He was for this sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, cumulative upon his former sentence. The following Sensible remarks are from th? columns of the * Grey llivter Argus’:— “ Gutb o!r twice of late We haVe haU teltf*

"rams of Orange celebrations in the Colony We think it is a pity that such things should be started in this new country, where it is so desirable that old feuds should be entirely forgotten. These celebrations do not spring from love to the memory of v\ illiam, but from hatred to the memory of somebody else, and we have generally found that ( rangemen had no more distinct conception of William the Third—the real man, the historical hero—as painted by Macaulay or Mackintosh, than they have of the elder Cyrus, For the sake of our common country, let us have done with old forms of party strife.” There was a full attendance in the lower parts of the house at the Princess’s on Saturday evening, when “The Octoroon” was produced. The piece went tolerably well, although it was evident some of the performers were cast for characters which proved too much for their abilities Mrs Hill played remarkably well as Zoe ; and Miss Martineau’s Paul is deserving of special praise. Mr Steele’s Salem Scudder, Mr Musgrave’s Captain Batts, and Mr Hooper’s Wah-na-tee, were all creditable efforts. M. Bed a afterwards went through some difficult performances on the flying rings and trapeze with great ability ; Miss Martineau followed with a ballad, and on I eing encored substituted a dance—the latter appearing to be this young lady’s forte rather than the former.

Mr J. W, Thomson, member for the Clntha. has given notice that he will move, as an amendment to Mr Vogel’s motion regarding the Provincial form of Government for the North Island That while admitting that the question of the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island is one of very great importance, yet, as the distinguishing feature in the administration of the present Government has been the policy of Public Works, any proposal that may result in a change of Government should be based on the merits of adra'nistration of this policy, or at least something connected with it 1 hat as during the last and present sessions there has been no organised Opposition, the leaders of which might constitutionally be expected to take the place of the retiring administration, the present is an inopportune time for any member of the House, and especially any member of the Government, to take action which may result in seriously retarding the progress of the Colony ; and that any division that may take place on the question of the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island cannot, under the circumstances, be considered as a fair index mind of the House on the question.” Mr Thomson’s customary confusion of ideas appears prominently id the novel idea of connecting public works with Provincialism, and imagining because there is no organised Opposition a yote of the House does not indicate the opinion of the members.

Mr Fox’s speech on the Licensing Act is thus noticed in the * Post ’ of the lltb inst. ; “The comedy of the Licensing Act was placed on the boards of the House last night to one of the largest audiences of the season, the galleries being crammed before the performance commenced. Mr Fox, of course, was the centre of attraction. The prologue, however, was the main feature, and was delivered by that gentleman in a manner characteristic of himself. His facial expression throughout was that of a consummate actor, and his versatile powers great. At times he convulsed his audience with laughter, and at others drew tears from the stoniest hearts at his pathetic talc of the sufferings and woe of thousands of families ruined and degraded by the demon ‘drink.’ And yet, he said, this was callel a Christian era, and we were ruled by a Christian Government. He spoke piteously of the poor lost creatures in the gaols and as/lums of the Colony, all of whom were there through drink or the sottish propensities of their parents, which illustrated the fact of the sins of the father being visited on the children. He would sweep from the face of the Colony everything in the shape (if spirituous or fermented liquor, and effect a reform with water. A t the conclusion of the harangue, which lasted two hours, Mr box sat down with the look of one who had eonferrei a great boon on his hearers, but a doubt was left on the minds of his listeners whether there were not others in this sublunary sphere who ought to be placed under the protecting wing of the Asylum, besides those who were brought there through alcoholic intemperance. The curtain fell on the scene at 1.30 a.m., and in all probability the play will be concluded to-night.”

In our report of the dinner given by the employes in the Victorian Brewery the name of the firm was inadvertently stated to be “Messrs Strachan and C 0.,” whereas it should have simply been “ Mr Strachan.”