The Evening Star. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3656, 10 November 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1874.

Thebe is a wide contrast between the tone of the petition of Sir George Gbey and the reply of his Excellency Sir James Fergusson. The petition expresses blind admiration of the past, which proved so disastrous to the Colony ; the reply is that of a vigorous mind, well acquainted with affairs as they stand, and fully alive to the changes which have been found necessary and which are advisable in consequence of our Colonial development. Sir George Grey did good service to New Zealand that ought not to be undervalued ; but he seems not to have advanced with the times. He is like an old retired naan, whose family has grown up to strong maturity, but who has not learnt to regard tliem otherwise than as babies. They mav have

taught by him, protected and led by him in their childhood, and he remembers only that; he does not appreciate that to J: . > teaching is superadded much that ho never learnt, and that while his mind has been stationaiy through not mixing with the world and its concerns, changes have taken place of which the younger generation are aware, and on them has fallen the task of shaping their conduct, so as meet the new conditions. Sir George Grey seems to have become credulous, and accepted as true the silly stories circulated by so many of our contemporaries regarding the object of the Premier’s visit to England. Sir James tells him in very courteous terms not to be alarmed ; there is no intention to do anything underhand nor anything unconstitutional. What is intended is quite within the provisions of the powers with which the Parliament of New Zealand is invested. He tells him in effect that his petition is based upon mistake, and that in all probability, had he been better informed on the facts of the case, he would never have penned it. Taken as a whole, the character of Sir James Fergusson’s reply suggests the idea that he thinks the old ex-Governor has gone a step +oo far when he assumes that the Governor for the time being is not “ qualified,” or, as Sir James suggests, “ accredited” by Her Majesty’s Government “to negotiate or communicate with it on the abolition of Provincial institutions.” Although this is really the substance of the Governor’s reply to Sir George Grey, its tone is throughout courteous and considerate. It is decided and manly, as might naturally have been expected from a person like Sir James, whose whole course of conduct while among us has shown that he likes what is straightforward and to the point. In some things he has offended but they have been where his undisguised contempt for what is hollow has led to refusing to submit to shams, or, in some cases, the extortions, hitherto practised upon governors, As a matter of course, he has been bespattered by those who have been disappointed in their hopes of distinguishing themselves or reaping profit at his expense, and every journal has had its paragraphs, telling distorted stories of their snribbings. But Sir James’s public conduct has been marked by shrewd, sound sense, and in every case in which clear judgment has been required his undoubted ability has been manifested. So far as Provincialism in the North is concerned, if ever it was useful, its work is done. Powerless for good, it is a burden upon the whole Colony. For years it has proved a hindi’ance to sound Colonial legislation. Log-rolling and corruption have been the means adopted by the Northern Provinces to secure their ends. Not once only Northern representatives have led the Southern members to support them until a Ministry has given signs of yielding to the united pressure ; when on receiving what they sought, they have suddenly forsaken their toobelieving friends and abandoned the measures they had professed themselves intending to support. At all times selfseeking, they care not from what quarter they draw supplies ; and all this is distinctly traceable to their poverty. Sir James Fergusson, a comparative stranger, was not mixed up with the early history of the Colony like Sir George Grey. He, therefore, entertains no affection for institutions that at one time were necessary, owing to the peculiar character of our colonisation. He feels no regret in the decay of their usefulness, and sees only that a change is needed. Although said to hold Conservative principles, even Conservatives are willing to part with that which they find cannot be retained. Northern Provincialism has neither preserved peace, settled the country, educated the people, constructed public works, nor added wealth to the Colony. What has it to recommend it? Old colonists, who assisted in forming the Constitution, are so in love with their own theories that they cannot be brought to see they have not worked well in practice; but with the new generation the change must come, and in our opinion the sooner the better,

The Waitaki bridge is progressing steadily, owing to the fine season experienced for the purpose of cylinder sit king. The whole of the cylinders are now down, and the . covering work is being proceeded with with the utmost expedition.

At this morning’s sitting of the Supreme C urt, in bankruptcy, before Mg; DeputyRegistrar Gordon, the first meetings of creditors of the following bankrupts were held : —James Checseman, George Stuart Ncish, and James George Lewis. In all the cases a sufficient number of creditors did not attend, and consequently they were adjourned to this day week. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansford, R. M., James Smith, Daniel O’Connor, and John Dennis were each fined 10s, or twenty-four hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness. Edward Galloway, a seaman, for carrying a sheath knife in the town, pleaded ignorance, and was let off with a caution. John Thomson v, Lning (Town Clerk), a claim of L 5 for services rendered as auditor, judgment was given for L 4 and CO«'S.

The Mount Benger correspondent of tho ‘Bruce Herald’ writes There is something so charmingly attractive in the simple and peculiar manner the natives of this place have in doing their little affairs. The member for the district, Mr G. Ireland, a few days back intimated by notices, neatly written oa note paper and posted on any place but a public house, that he would (D.V.) address his constituents on Saturday evening in the Schoolhouse, whither I repaired ; and after repeated supplications to the slothful public by constant twanging at the school bell, a few patties, with elongated visages, putin an appearance. The proceedings were appropriately begun by a short and fervent prayer, The chairman had

several times to ask for some one to proposea vote of confidence in, and thanks to Mv Ireland, before he succeeded in attaining that end.”

Referring to the disinclination magistrates have to sentence prisoners convicted of a nrst offence, because of their likelihood to become worse if brought into contact with the hardened characters always to be found ***, establishment, the ‘Tim*, peka limes 5 asks whether it would not w preferable, till a system of classification is in vogue, to make the Lawrence prison a place where criminals under a first conviction should serve their term, and arrange the discipline and treatment accordingly ? In this way, the money expended by Government on Lawrence prison would be utilised, and a step be taken in the right direction. A decision was given in the Supreme Court, Melbourne, recently, in the case of Munro v. Sutherland, of some importance to others than miners in Victoria. The defendants occupied a claim near Castlemainc under miners rights. The Crown issued a lease of the same land for mining purposes to a person through whom the plaintiff derived the title. Plaintiff having obtained the lease, registered it under the Transfer of Land Statute, and obtained a certificate of title. On the authority of this certificate he obtained a judgment in an action of ejectment against the defendants, the Court holding that the certificate avas paramount to the miners’ righis. The plaintiff then brought an action to recover the value of the gold taken by the defendants from the claim during the time when they had wrongfully deprived him of posst-stion. The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff, whereupon the defendants moved to set this aside, '/ he Court held that under the certificate of title the plaintiff had only a till j to the surface and not to the gold ; and if he went behind the certificate and ait:mpted to show that it was iounded upon the mining lease which gave him the gold, then the defendants were at liberty to prove that they had a title which took precedence of the certificate. Under these circumstances the Court direct- d a new trial, unless the plaintiff consented to ieduce the damages to a nominal sum. Mr Justice Stephen appeared to be further of opinion that the defendants were entitled to a Virdict,

The members of No. 1 Company City Guards will compete for company representatives at the Wakari ranges, on Friday morning.

The anniversary tea meeting of the Good Latent Lodge 1.0. G.T. will be.held in the Cavorsham Drill-shed on Thursday evening.