The Evening Star. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3659, 13 November 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1874.

Mr Ormond, at the dinner to Sir D. M‘Lkan, »ave his reasons for desiring the abolition of the Provincial system in the North Island, and they are well worthy of consideration. He evidently refers the more particularly to the North Island, for many of his observations would not be true in regard to Canterbury and Otago. Taking it for granted, therefore, that in what he said he referred to the operation of Provincialism in the North, he gave ample reasons why a change of system should be adopted. The first objection was one which has had much to do with the troubles through which the Colony has passed—“ Under the Provincial system there was clashing in Native affairs.” We are not likely to again experience how war was fostered and the Colony weakened, by the adverse action of Provinces seeking their separate interests irrespective of the general good. Unity of action, so far ,as Native administration is concerned, was forced upon the General Government when the Mother Country threw the responsiility of Belt-defence upon us. The principal d.fficalty since that time lias been how to prevent the Provinces interfering, so as to render that concentration ineffectual : nor could the Colonial Government have succeeded but for the support, divided as it was, the Government received from the South. Had the Northern Provinces, been left to settle the Native question for themselves, there would have been Maori troubles to this day. The land in the North was, and even yet is the source of trouble. Maori rights and titles to its ownership or occupation continue a difficulty. We should be expecting too much of individual patriotism wore we to suppose that land speculators would cease from troubling, lest they should involve their fellow-colonists in a difficulty. All past experience shows that their own interest, and not that of their neighbors, is solely considered ; and if they can acquire a block of land at any price between a penny and two shillings an acre, no matter whether those who sell it have any right in it or not, they expect the Government to secure them in posse,ssion. Nor has this recklessness of consequences been confined to individuals. If they happen to be rich enough to do a little log-rolling in a Provincial Council, or through a Provincial Government, they individually go far towards coercing the General Government into espousing their cause, at great expense to the public—as may be seen in the records of the proceedings in the Native Land Courts. The cost may be distributed over intervals of years, but it is not the less real to the Colony. The period is lessened, and the process hastened, where a Province becomes the speculator, as in the case of the Manawatu Block. In such cases all idea of conscience is put on one side. Like committees, men collectively are prepared to do what, individually, they would shrink from ; and a Province, albeit only an aggregation of larger or smaller individual interests, can exert an influence upon any Government, not only in proportion to its wealth, but according to the force and character of its representatives. To avoid these complications has been a difficult legislative problem with all Governments, and since Crown grants are expected to secure purchasers of land in possession of their territory, it has been latterly determined that the Crown shall become the sole purchaser from the Natives. Some of them may feel this to bo a hardship, as may be gathered from the telegraphic paragraph auent the meeting at fShortland, Their idea evidently is that, by restricting the sellers to one buyer, they will be debarred from obtaining so good a price as they might have done had there been competition for possession, We are not

to suppose the Maoris so completely insensible to their own interests as not to see in limiting competition their apparent chances of turning a penny to advantage are reduced. We say apparent, for we believe their real chances are bettor, and it is not in the least uncharitable to believe they are aided and instigated in their discontent by interested colonists, who grudge having to pay the extra price that the Government will have to charge them for ability to secure them an undoubted title. So far as the Maoris are concerned, we believe the arrangement to be equally and oven more beneficial than to the colonists. Their interests will- be protected, and -we have no doubt they will obtain a better price from the Government than private speculators would give them. In this South Island, where Europeans so preponderate iu> numbers as to reduce Maori influence to a minimum, we are apt to forget the temptations to swindle on the part of Native sellers and Colonial buyers of laud that the difficulties of Maori titles present. Our troubles on that score, though not altogether extinct, are light, and it is to avoid occasion of heartburnings and jealousies of that sort that the prudential action of the Government lias been taken. The white tempters to discontent know this, but care too little for the general interest to sink their selfishness and accept so beneficial an arrangement. It may be difficult to convince the Maoris of the necessity for it for their own sakes and for the sake of peace; but this is plain : if the Government is expected to guarantee possession of land, it must acquire a right to confer it, and this can only be obtained by having itself possessed the title to it. Were white men ready to abide by the proclamation, as they ought to be as subjects to Her Majesty, the Natives might easily be cured of their disc on Lent, for there would be no buyers.

No nominations have been received from Mol bourne for the Dunedin Cop The entire list therefore, appeared in our .Saturday's issue. A e-icket match between the D.G.C. and Oamarn has been arranged, and will take p’ace at Oamaru most probably on New Year’s day. Mr R. S. Smyths, manager for Madame Arabel a Goddard, arrived by the Ladybird, ibis great pianiste will give her first concert in Dunedin at the Queen’s Theatre.

some day next week.

By the Wellington to day there .arrived thirty-four immigrants, who reached the Colony by the Star of Indii, thejra bdug at the time of the departure of that vessel from Loudon no ship on the birth for Otago.

“ Elisabeth ” was repeated at the Princess’ last evening, and Mrs Bit.s’s efforts in the title rule, though slightly marred by the cold from which she suli'ered, give every satisfaction to her audience, who rccal'od her at the end of every act “East Lynne” is to bo produced this evening. Volunteering appears to bo in a most deplorable state in this Province. Tin: Government monthly parade of the Naval Brigade was ca : led for last nigh , but only Mae men put in an appearance f Under these circumstances Major \tkinson decide 1 not to hold the parade, which, together with an important meeting, which was to have have been held afterwards, lapsed. Owing to the nrevajence of meas’es the Tokom.driro G rammer School has been closed for a we. k. The ‘ Herald ’ tells us fche attendance during the last few davs hsi dwindled down from" over 300 to 70. Mr M‘lntyro, assistant master, has resigned, having received an spp intment in Dunedin. The B ihdutha school had also to bo dosed for a fortnight, the attendance having dwindled down fr. m 130 to 20, owing to the prevalence of measles in the district.

The following is from the London ‘ Field’: —“ n Ihe match Godmanchcster v. M iiiingham, Cambridgeshire, Mr Charles Brawn, of Godmauchester, Hm t'mgdon, bowled six wickets in six successsive ba'is. The two first Willingham bats hid sored 20, when Mr Brawn gob Klwood ‘ leg before,’ and with the next two balls lie bowled Askew and Thoddy, and the umpire called ‘ over.’ With the first ball of his next over Brawn bowled a crack batsman, Mr Few, with the second Fro hock, airi the third Cleaves, making six good wickets with six consecutive ba’K •Such a performance would not lie likely to pass unrecognised by those who were fielding. and presents in the form of cricket u:>-o-sarics were suggested on the ground. Mr Brawn's bowling had not been overlooked by the county captain ; the victory obtained by sixteen colts of the county a.-ainst the County Cleveo, last May, was partly, credited to tins same fast good bowler ” We find also that at the match North v. D cited tlouih of English, played at Todmorden, Cheshire, on Thursday. July 30, a Air Hicks bowled the two Graces—W. G. and G, F.—in three balls for four runs.

The ‘ Argus ’ draws a houeful picture of quartz mining in the Cromwell district : “ Some doubts may have existed as to the value of the reefs at a great depth, but the discoveries in the Cromwell Co.’s mine at Lend'go have been sufficient to dispel the illusion; and every day reefs, which under the old pluu of working had to be ahandoue 1, are again finding favor. Foremost among the tunnelling quartz claims stands the Lucknow, at Bendigo, aud as their tunn -1 advances towards the abandoned Aurora reef, that claim at once assumes a valu it could never otherwise have hoped for. The Lucknow succeeded in adding that reef to their property after sufficient litigation to satisfy us that it is looked upon now as a very variable property. The .Star of tin East, the Heart of Oak, the Elizabeth, Caledonian, aud a host of othersare prosecuting tunnelling work vigorously. In one instance —tin Heart of Oak—it j§ intended to pierce the hill a distance of SOftht. Las", but not least, we have a new, aud, we may add, gigantic tunnelling enterprise just started at Bendigo, to drive across some half-dozen reefs, including the beat in tbe district, and at such a depth as, if successful, will prove tbe reefs in that locality to a depth hitherto unknown in Otago. This latest enterprise, which was only floated last, week, was acfcu ally reshed, and the whole of the shares (some 1.40,0!J0) taken np in a single day. .So much for restored coufi fence. It aff rrls us pleasure to he to day able to congratulate them, aud the Province generally, upon the healthy and prosperous position occupied by that industry.” Yesterday, while the tug Geelong was returning from towiug to sea the barque Woodville, she met the pilot boat and one of the Maori whaleboats, in charge of George Robertson, who informed Captain Sinclair that the whaleboat Maori Boy left the Kaik at U a.m. for Waikouaiti, and that Michael

Peacock was the only one in the boat, wh : ch had beau seen to capsize orf Blueskin Bay, about an hour after it left. (Japtain Sinclair immediately took the boat in t nv, the Geelong's course was altered, and she went full speed in search, a sharp look-out'being at the m st-bead. For a long time nothing could bo seen of either the boat or the man ; b t, Just as Captain Sincla'r was thmkiugof giving up the search and returning. Robertson, who was aloft, e pied, about a mile to leeward, the bent bottom upwards with Peacock sitting on her, Ibe Geelong steamed in that-direction, and took Peacock onboard. Ha had been nearly throe hours in his perilous position. The boat, with all her gear, was recovered avid taken in tow, the Geelong lauding the party at the Kaik, Peacock states that the boat \va-s di.ng with the win-5 abeam, and she shipped a qiiant'.ty of watc*’. iTo made ihe. sheet fast to enable nisn t-r* halo the water out, and while so engaged a sudden squall struck her au i she immediately c.ip-isvd. he however managed to right her, -nd hoisted the walu.r Kog at the ma t-head --is a signal if distress, but shor ly afterwards the boat again went over, ami rho keg was io.-,t. He states that the boat went over six times Peacock exprcs*ca his sincere thanks to Captain Sinclair for the assistance rendered to him. but for which he wou-d have met a lingering death.

A m eting of the Caversham Presbyterian c n irogation was held in hue church on Wed nesday^eveiling, the llthinst, the Rev. Mr Gow, Moderator of the congregation, prosiding. Af er the meeting was constituted, the part «.f tlie last meeting of c nnmutee in reference to M r Johnston's desire to ho relieved from li l 3 duties, and Mr Johnston’s letter to Mr Gow, ask ng to be relieved o his duties hv the end of wo -..- read. Mr J -iiiistou assigned as his chief reason for j\ signing that he would thereby hive more lime ami strength to (lush his course of study. Mr Go v having died on several members of the congregation to exp ess their minds on the matter, it was agned to ask Air Johnston to give one service every rabb.ith day during the time he continues his studios, and the ..ongregat on to refrain from exacting a promi.e irom him to accept a call when licensed, a id that during his time of study he should not be expected to visit, except in c sis of sickness. A. deputation was appointed to wait upon Mr Johnston, and to communicate the decision of th s congregation to him, (the congregation waiting until their return). J'he deputation on their return expressed regret that Mr Johnston could not se-‘ nis way clear to recede to their request and that he adh re 1 to iii i letter ask ag to bJ rein ve-.l of bis dutns It Was then agrfii?d to ask ihe Church Extension Comuntiec for pjilpifc supply, the 'Jhairm.ui intimating to the & mgMgatbn that they being now a sanctioned charge were at full libortv and en’icli d to hear any of the miaist.-rs of the Church, and to call on any of them if they so decided. It may be stated here that the Caversham congregation owe much to Mr Johnston. The Church, when that gentlenun took charge of it, was merely a preach ing station and struggling for existence ; he leaves it a crowded Church and a sanctioned charge.

Wo have received from Mr Enj.ithwaite, of Fleet .street, the October numbers of tf The Young Ladies’ Journal.” The usual meeting of the Pioneer LorW No. 1, P. N.F.H., will be held in Wilton Hall on Monday evening at eight o’clock.

Messrs MT/andres-s, Hepburn, and Co. will to-morrow offer by auction a large number of sections in the Forbury Township. The demand for land is, if anything, on the increase ; and from the number of plans inquired fyr a large attendance at the sale may be anticp pated. A more favorable opportunity of acquiring a small freehold could lint be had, as the upset price is fixed very low, and the terms such as to bring it within the reach of everybody.

Last evening the Good Intent Lodge, 1.0.6. T., Caversliam, celebrated its second anniversary by a tea and public meeting in the Drilbsbed, which was appropriately decorated for the occasion with flags, motto?, flowers, and evergreens. After lea the chair was taken by Bro. John lugs, W.C.T., who gave some interesting particulars of the institution and spread of the Order of Good Templars in America, and generally throughout all civilised ifations. The Lodges of the Order are now numbered by tens of thousands, and its membership is nearly one million. Addresses were subsequently deliver eel by Mr J. W. Jago, of Dunedin ; Mr B. Short, late of Sydney ; and Mr Todd, of Caversliam, the speeches being interspersed with vocal and instrumental ninsio.