The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3759, 11 March 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1875.

Sir George Grey appears to have modified his ideas regarding Provincialism, so as to leave hims 1 If open to adopt any course that at the moment for recording his decision may seem best. From his petitions addressed to Her Majesty, we formed the impression that he was opposed to any change whatever in the constitution of the Colony, and entertained the idea that the Legislature had no power to alter or amend existing arrangements without the express sanction of the Mother Country. IE those were his notions, they appear to have become sobered down, and now he has adopted a new theory. He is not content to stop at the abolition of Provincialism; be has arrived at the conclusion that the Governor has no necessity to reside in a Colony, but should be a sort of ambassador at the English Court; an official go-between—a mere medium of communication between New Zealand and Downing street. He says he has entertained this idea some time, and that it is ‘'favorably entertained by the Colonial Institute at Home, only one member opposing it.” The advantage to be gained by such an arrange ment is very doubtful (while the disadvantages are palpable), notwithstanding the proviso that the proposed non-resident Governor" would be elected from amongst the colonists themselves. There is much to be urged elected Governors They may represent the popular feeling of the hour ; but the world’s expedience proves that that may be beneficial or not; aa it may happen. We do not remember an usance in history where a chief citizen’s being electeu by the people hasresulted insecuringstability in the ultimate progress of a county. In Poland an elective monarchy proved its ruin; and, not to multiply proofs, even in the United States it cannot be said that the periodical election of a President has proved advantageous tc the country. It has been frequently urged that a Colonial Governor is really “a dummy,” and that the true rulers of a constitutionally governed country are the Executive Ministers of the day. There is so much truth in the latter clause of this assertion, that it is difficult to understand what would begainedby the proposed change. The theory of our constitution undoubtedly is that in the government of every Colony, the Queen shall take part through her appointed agent; that he shall reside on the spot, make himself acquainted with every circumstance concerning passing events, and report faithfully to the Colonial Minister at Home. It seems to be thought necessary to change Governors frequently on similar grounds to those urged in favor of appointing circuits for judges ; mainly that neither sensibly or insensibly shall they become so mixed up with the society of a particular country as to lead to a bias in favor of institutions or individuals. It is not even considered advisable that they should possess large interests in the country. Theoretically, too, it might be dangerous to the supremacy of the Crown were any governor to become so completely identified with a Colony as to be regarded in the light of an iuoepenoent ruler. The objects contentplated by the present system are, therefore, stability in legislation ; freedom from bias in reporting on the affairs of a Colony; freedom from personal interest in property in tho Colony, so that there may be no leaning to special legislation ; immediate supervision of every circumstance, social and political, that occurs ; and such dependence upon the approval of conduct by the Queen, through her i>3 misters, as will tend to secure the supremacy of the Crown. Of course there are other functions exercised by Colonial Governors beyond those mentioned, but they are mainly included in them, and are occasionally brought to the front through passing events. Governors are .the regulators of the machinery of Government. We do not see that the desiderata enumerated would be likely to be secured by an elective nonresident Governor, and cannot help thinking that the treatment of Sir George Grey by the Colonial Office is consciously or unconsciously at the root of his theory. That the country should be made acquainted with the machinery proposed to be substituted for Provincialism is no more than reasonable We do not suppose the Ministry of the day imagine for one moment that they will be able to produce a plan that will be so perfect in its details as to bo acceptable to a minority of tho Legislature; and from the tactics of the Opposition in their proposal to sweep away Provincialism altogether, there is some probability that a new Parliament will be called upon to settle the question. Should this be the case, Sir George Gkry’s elective Governor question will very probably find a place among the conflicting theories of the day. It is not quite new, for, as Sir George Grey says, it has formed one of the dreams of the Colonial Institute ; but, notwithstanding the claims put forward by many old colonists to superior discernment, mainly on the idea of wisdom dwelling at the bottom of a welllined breeches pocket, we must have better reasons than have been given for reducing a Governor to the position of a paid resident agent for a Colony before we can consent to such a change. A Governor appointed by the Crown must be a man of education, independence, and probity ; a man elected by the Colony might be, and probably would be, neither one nor the other. He would, in all likelihood, desire cilice in order to secure the adoption of some favorite theory, and, .'nstead of holding the balance between contacting parties, lie must, almost of necessity, identify himself with that which, bein’/ j>ro iem in the ascendant, had elected him. °

A petition to the Minister of Justice is in course of signature by th ? inhabitants of Palmerston and surrounding district, praying that the jurisdiction of the Resident Magistrate’s Court there, in civil cases, may be extended from L2O to LSO. At the third of the United Prayer Meetings held in Trinity Church List ev uing, addresses on “Christian agencies andPhilantrophic Institution?, Bible, ard Tract Societies,” were delivered by the Revs. Messrs Gow and Maxwell, and Messrs Torrance, Barr, and Gairdner. In consequence of the numerous accidents which have oceured during the past week at Port Chalmers, a requisition, signed by over 300 persons, has been presented to his Worship the Mayor, aa'dng him to convene a public meeting to take steps for the establishment of a local infirmary, an institution sorely needed in the Port.

It ia gratifying to be in a position to state that the present harvest is one of the most prolific that the farmers have experienced. In every part of the electoral district we (‘Waikouiati Herald*)hear of tuusuaUy heavy crops, and a predicted yield of from sixty lo seventy bushels of oats to the acre. A large proportion of the grain has al :o been stacked in excellent condition. The probable yield of wheat we have not heard, but believe it will be proportionately large. The supports of the concrete roof of the colonnade of the Lawrence Court-house are are expected to be removed this week in the presence of the architect. A large number of persons will be present to witness the operation, as grave doubts are entertained as to its stability. The concrete mass which forms the roof of the colonnade is 55ft long, sft wide, and has a thickness of lOin to 7in, thus giving an arch of only 3in, and altogether must weigh close upon forty tons. An accident happened this morning on board the ship City of Dunedin, lying at the Railway pier, to one of the seamen, named James Jones, who was working at the winch, hoisting out cargo, and by some meins got his foot between the winch and the bit. Dr Gregg, who happened to be passing at the time, attended the man, who, it was found, had severely sprained the small bones of the foot, and, having applied lotion and bandages, Dr Gregg recommended his removal to the hospital. While many will regret the resignation by the Rev. Mr Dasent of his pastoral charge as curate of the parishes of Waikouaiti and Palmerston, with which he has for so many years been connected, it will be gratifying to learn that the curacy is not likely to go abegging for a successor. There are no less than six candidates for the office, amongst whom the following have been mentioned : —The Rev, E. H. Grainger, late of All Saints’, Dunedin, but now of Wellington; Leeson, Port Chalmers; A. Williams, Naseby ; T, L. Stanley, Dunedin; and Wells, Canterbury. Between thirty and forty persona met at Mr F. Patterson’s workshop, Pelichet Bay, last evening, to take steps for the organisation of a rowing c’ub. Mr John Bowers filled the chair, and after stating the object of the meeting, the following motion was put and carried unanimously “ That a rowing club be formed, to be called the Dunedin Tradesmen’s Rowing Club.” A committee was formed to draw up a code of rules and suu. na iV'h ‘m to t'k® next meeting, to be held next evening Mr W. Edgar was elected secretary pro. tern. At two o’clock this afternoon, His Worship the Mayor and Mr H. S. Fish, J.P., attended at the gaol and investigated a further charge of rape preferred against prisoner George J ohnston. The offence is alleged to have been committed on or about the 15th October, 1873, the complainant being Jane Brown, prisoner’s stepdaughter. Johnson was committed for trial at the ensuing session of the Supreme Court. A prisoner named Frederick Harris, at present undergoing a sentence of three months’ imprisonment for felony, was to-day charged with stealing a pair of boots, the property of one John (Reddy, and sentenced to six months’ hard labor, the sentence to be cumulative upon his former one. It is quite refreshing to find a prominent man and leading mind in the Wesleyan denomination displaying such liberal opinions as those expressed by the Rev. Mr Fitehett, at the Monday’s mesting of the Wesleyan Conference. Speaking of the religious and philanthropic tendencies ot the present age, Mr Fitehett said he “ thought the Church was progressing to a condition in which more importance would be attached to philanthropy and other manifestations of practical goodness, and less to mere religious feelings and experiences; and that religious life was being more 4 and more subjected to the test laid down by St. John in the words, ‘ Little children, let no man deceive you ; he that docth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.’” This is true practical religion.

Deserved example was made at the City Police Court by the presiding justices today of a man giving the name of Alfred Guernsey Horley, charged with indecenct behaviour to several little girls. Although he was identified by seven girls, who saw him commit the offence, the police deemed it advisable to bring only four counts against him, and to each of these he pleaded suilty. This step fortunately saved the children from recounting the facts connected with the several occurrences, which were described by the police as disgusting and revolting in the extreme. Sergt. Hanlon’s promptness in arresting the prisoner ought not to be overlooked ; for within forty-eight hours of the matter being reported as the police station, he had his man lodged in the North Dunedin lock-up. The prisoner was sentenced to two and a-half-years’ imprisonment with hard labor.

A moat miraculous escape from serious injury or death occurred this morning at that portion of the railway works known as Cameron’s cutting, at Port Chalmers. Two men, named Patrick Crowley aud Patrick Lean, were working, with a number of other men, at the cutting, which is cut to a depth of 2lft, 6in., when a natural slip of earth, estimated at ah ut fOO rom, shelved off the rocks, filling up the cutting and burying the two men under about twelve ton of stuff. Fortunately they were both standing ab the time in a hole, aul when the earth came down it formed a complete arch over them. They were soon extricated, when it was found that Lean had slightly injured his ankle, but was able to go to work again. Crowley, who was assisted home, after examination by Dr Drysdale, was found to have received severe injuries to his chest, producing emphysema. A meeting of the Grand Lodge, 1.0.0. F., will be hold on Friday evening, in the Pioneer Lodgeroom, at 8 o’clock. We would call attention to the fact that tenders for Dunedin Corporation bonds close in Dunedin on Friday, 12th March, at 4 p.m. A meeting of natives of Perthshire and Forfarshire will be hold in Murray’s Hotel to-morrow evening, for the purpose of forming an association.