The Evening Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 31 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3595, 31 August 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 31 1874

Mr Stout is a talented man. He never speaks in public without saying something calculated to lead men to think. He generally fortifies himself with reasons that sound well when they are uttered, and never quotes anything but what is strictly and literally true. Yet with all this in his favor we do not know of anyone whose opinions require more carefully sifting than his. His reasons, which are so ably given, are frequently based upon quotations without the explanatory context, and consequently bear the character of half truths; and the generalisations he would have his hearers to arrive at are those which suit the particular purpose he has in view, rather than the fair iu- ! fereuce that candid criticism would lead to. Mr Stout’s professed purpose in his address to the electors of Caversham was to give an account of the manner in which he had fulfilled his representative duties. The real objects seem to have been to support Mr Macandrew’s views on Provincialism, to detract from Mr Yogel’s merits, and to exalt those of Mr Stafford. Mr Stout tells us he has no intention of offering himself as a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives, and therefore we are not to infer his speech is a feeler. Acquitting him of such an ulterior object, what could he mean by persistently charging Mr Yogel with motives contradicted by the whole tenor of his words and actions'? He surely could not suppose that men who can read the full reports of Iris speeches published daily in the papers could be so easily deceived as to imagine a statesman in Mr Vogel’s high position could propose one thing when he meant another. Every Government, even Mr Stafford’s, Mr Stout’s ideal or idol—either, perhaps, might be read indifferently has suffered through Northern combinations. But for them localisation of expenditure—we believe the term was for years exclusively our own—would have been secured long ago. We are glad to find the phrase very nearly adopted in Mr Yogel’s amendment on Mr Fitzheubert’s motion, and would recommend those who have read Mr Stout’s comments on Mr Yogel’s proposals to read the report of his speech, to compare them together, and to ask whether the representative of Gaversham is justified in the conclusions he would have others draw regarding the proposal to abolish North Island Provincialism. It is to be regretted that men like Mr Stout take so much pains to weaken confidence in practical measures proposed by able men like Mr Yogel, There is a field quite wide enough for exertion, apart from indulging in personal spleen, or allowing personal prejudices to warp the judgment so far as to condescend to half-quotations for the purpose of spreading them. Mr Vogel is not perfect: we differ from many of his views, but we agree with him in the main ; and so does Mr Stout, if, as he says, he agrees with what Mr Stafford said. Mr Stout’s address contained many very valuable hints. His views respecting the personnel of the Upper House, and their overwhelming influence in regard to occupation and monopoly of land, are very sound, although like all reformers Mr Stout, and those who agree with his opinions, are, and will remain, in a minority for years to come. A change will take place when the vested interests that have grown up under a false system will have to be compensated heavily. Our descendants will one day pay dearly because of the ignorance of first principles of their forefathers. We are already feeling the effects of our .mistake in our system of laud tenure in the heavy cost of buying back land for public works construction. Men ask hundreds for what cost pounds, and the public have the money to pay for the privilege.of making a road, which adds tenfold to the value of the whole estate. This is one consequence of an erroneous system of land tenure, but is mainly owing to permitting land-owners to legislate on their own interest#. Nor do we know that we should better ourselves were they excluded from more than a fair share in legislation on what is really the interest of all men ; for, viewed in our best dress, so far as the lifetime of nations is concerned, we are only now emancipating ourselves from the thraldom in which the lords of the soil held vassals in one form of bondage or other through untold ages. la Great Britain, in fact, laud legislation has retrograded instead of advancing, and many duties formerly pertaining to land have been thrown upon the public without any equiva- i lent being given. Like the efforts that were made to abolish bribery and corruption at elections, in our endeavors to cure the evils of monopoly we trust to those who are personally interested in keeping it up : we try all crooked ways in order to avoid the one straightforward plan. There never was but one cure for bribery and curruptiou, and that is the ballot j there is but one cure for the evils of a landocracy, and that is making the State the landlord.

, WoUm^ton correspondent 13 unavoidably crowded out Wo that k Mr I idsbury for PaVliamfentalV tfhpeVa rfeceivhd by th'o Plweb'g. y

Dr F. M. B. Stewart is gazetted as Medical Referee for the district of Tokoiaairiro, under the Government Annuities Act. The Westport contract of the Mount Rocbfort .Railway has been taken by Mr John M‘Lean, of Grcymouth, for L 16,795. 'I here were seven other tenders, one of which was informal. The highest tender was L 28.741.

The last of the Variety entertainments was given at the Princess’s on Saturday evening to a good downstairs attendance. Madame Jeannette sang several popular songs in capital style, although she was not entirely free from hoarseness.

A meeting of the members of the Dunedin Bowling Club was held ou Friday night, at the shamrock Hotel, when the following appointments were made President,. Mr G. Turnbull ; Vice-President, Mr Nichols ; Treasurer, Mr Wbitelaw ; Secretary, Mr T. Callender ; Committee of Management, Messrs Butterworth, Harris, Park, and Watt.

We observe that Mr Towers and party have arrived from Wellington by the Tararua, en route for Melbourne, after a very successful tour in the Northern Provinces. Miss Rosa Towers was the centre of attraction in each place visi ed by the company, and we have n-> doubt her performances will prove equally attractive in Australia.

At this morning’s sitting of the Supreme Court (in bankruptcy), a final order of ischarge was granted to Charles Edward Bird; James Middleton and David Black Sorley were adjudicated bankrupts—first meetings to be held on September 8 ; and a claim by Thomas Josling, against the estate of Alfred Lawrence, was, after the hearing of evidence, disallowed.

The first meeting of the District Court was held to-day, before Judge Bathgate On opening the Court hia Honor delivered a formal address, after which Mr Barton, as senior member of the Bar present, congratulated the City ou the establishment of the Couit, and complimented his Honor on the manner in which he had filled the post of magistrate since his appointment to the Bench. A condensed report of the proceedings will be found in another column. Mr Armstrong, whose lecture on behalf of the Seamen’s Home will be given in the Masmic Hall to-morrow evening, is not unknown to the public, he having sat in the Provincial Council as representative for Mount da. We believe he gave the substance of his promised lecture at Naseby and o'her up-country towns, and has since revised it with some care. It is thus noticed m the • Tuapeka Times’ of sth November, 1873 .“The lecture was extemporaneous, impulsive, and necessarily digressive. It possessed a charm which many pretentious and elaborate discourses fail to convey. It lasted one hour ; and every person who can sympathise sifch that which is natural, in contradiction to that which is artificial, must have been eminently satisfied with the sixty minutes expended in listening to the best serio comic discourse that the people of Lawrence ever listened to. ” Apart from the amusement and instruction that may be derived from a narration of Mr Armstrong’s experience, the object to which the proceeds are to be devoted commends itself as so praiseworthy that we look forward confidently to a numerous attendance.

The last performance of the Kennedy Family took place on Saturday night, all parts of the hall being crowded, owing to which it w.is thought advisable for .the comfort of ihe audience to give the whole entertainment without intermission. The pro-gramme--a well-selected one—seemed to be enjoyed by all present, particularly “Scots wha hae wT Wallace bled,” given by Mr Kennedy; and a trio, “The stammerers,” by Messrs R, D., and J. Kennedy, which latter was deservedi}' encored. At the c n elusion of the proceedings Mr Kennedy thanked the inhabitants of Dunedin for the cordial support he had received from them on various occasions. He al=o referred to the proposed Working Men’s Club and Mechanic* 7 institute, impressing upon the audience the necessity uf such an es-abliah-menr, and recommending above all things o have connected with it a rnusfc class. To the funds of the institute he intimat d his wiilingue:-s to contribute the sum of LlO ■ and when communicated with by the secretary, bis ‘-bawbees” would be in roidinesjs. A gentleman in the hall proposed three cheers for the Kennedy Family, which was heartily responded to, as weil as an extra one for the “ guid wife,”

A. Napier correspondent writes to us “ I sejpd yqq a copy of the first Maori paper ever printed jq i Se*y The articles a>e written by Henare T"Wioan!>, ,-} chief, who is editor. The compositors are Maoris! The first article is an address saluting the different tribes, and there are accounts of the Duke of Edinburgh’s m image, prices pprreut, shipping, &e, Mr White, the great Pakeha Maori, has something to do with it and as he is reputed clever the impression is that the paper will do some good. I visited the pah where the paper is printed op Sun day, and for the first time had an opportunity of hraring a Maori clergyman. The ceremony was similar to the reading of the first lesson in the English Church, They all squat down on a large whare, and seemed to be a model congregation Not a word or a movement to interrupt, and they answer the questions'without hesitation. I visited another old Maori place of worship, where images, most artistically carved, had been for gpodnesg knows how long. They showed me several tine mats of flax and kiwi. I tried hard to make a purchase but could not. Henare Tomoam had a sword presented to him by the Queen for loyalty, of wjjieh he seemed very proud, as he may well he. It is a most gorgeous turnout, and on its bladt* is a most flattering presentation insoription.’’

The business marked out for the City Council at its meeting on Wednesday evening, is as follows :—l. The consideration of Dr BakewelPs letter anept City sewerage 2. Deferred tenders for numbering houses on the main streets. These twp items stand over from previous meetings. Mr Carroll' has given three notices of moiion-r-1. Relates to kerbing and channeling Frederick street from Cumberland street to Athol place, and making a boulder channel across Athol place. ?• That a public Health Committee be established. 3. That at the next session of the General Assembly the Corporation shall apply for a Bill empowering leasing the Town Bolt for building purposes, leaving sufficient for recreation, Mr Beeves has three notices , °_f motion on the order paper—l. A resolui tion similar in effect to that of Mr Carroll’s third, but which takes precedence of it. The substance of it is that, “ in view of the heavy expense of forming and metalling the Town Belt road, and in order to make the reserve healthful, ornamental, and profitable, the Deserves Committee consider the advisability of laying it out in building allotments, reserving areas, at intervals, for recreation grounds, gardens, and roads. 2. That Brook street from Leith to Cumberland streets, and Cattle aud Leith streets from ITowe to Brook street, be formed and metalled. 3. That Queen street, cutting from Forth place to Duke street be fenced, and n footpath formed andpitc ed on the side next to Duke street Mrßtck bos three motions on the paper—l. That the woiks in London streei be'stepped until the ratepayers have opportunity of meeting the Works Comraite - 3. That the footpaths in Grange street (Bell Wal'd) be gravelled. 3. That in ordor

to form a permanent way, the footpaths from I Frederick street to St. Andrew street be kerbed and channelled. Mr Isaac intend* to move that the foot oath and road in Rati ray arreet from » rawford to Castle streets be p rmanently formed and metalled. Mr Grant intends to atk—lf it is true that permission has been given to Messrs Guthrie and Larnach to occupy a piece of land between r 'rawford and Bond streets; if so, who gave the authority, and to move, on the answers being given, that the Council decide the matter on its merits. He will then move that a lamp be placed at the junction of Albany and Queen streets. A meeting of bathers will he held in the Dower Hall of the Athenreum, to-morrow evening, at 7.30. The annual meeting of the Dunedin Golf Club will be held at. Wain’s Hotel, to-morrow evening, at eight o’clock. Smith’s English and Continental Troupe having arrived from the North, will open this evening at the Princess Theatre. Entries for the Canary and Poultry Show must be made to-morrow, at the Bull and Mouth Hotel, from 7 to 10 p.m. The quarterly meeting of the Otago Eicensed Victuallers Association will be held at the Fire Brigade rooms, to-morrow evening, at 7.30. The fortnightly meeting of the Commercial Building and Mutual Investment Society will be held this evening, from six to eight o’clock.