The Evening Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 3784, 10 April 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1876.

When Mr Stout speaks he invariably suggests much that deserves consideration. He has the faculty of picking out weak portions of opposing theories, of exposing their faults, and of putting behind him, out of sight, whatever might be said in them favor. He has set for himself the difficult task of propping up Northern Provincialism in opposition to the abolition scheme of the General Government. It must, 3 ” ~ - W., W fl-i- . . U.V U.UU&OX u. which he deals with the subject that, known or unknown to himself, there is something that interposes between his reason and his prejudices, inducing in him a distorted view of things as they are. Who but Mr Stout ever supposes, for instance, that, as reported in the ‘ Guardian,’ if “ the functions at present discharged by the Provincial Government should cease, gaols, schools, and benevolent institutions ” would be kept up no longer 1 } This style of argument is very telling, but, fairly looked at, it is pure claptrap. Had it been adopted by anyone less accurately informed than Mr Stout, it might have been set down to ignorance of facts in the speaker j but when used by one who is so perfectly master of himself, who knows exactly what to say and how to say it—who knows where and when to stop—the irresistible conclusion is that he looks upon his hearers as beings to be played upon. He would “ seem to know their stops he would “ pluck out the heart of their mystery he would “ sound them from their lowest note to the top of their compass ’, he would draw from them precisely the answers in their own minds he seeks to obtain. Transfer the scene from Otago to Auckland, and how would Mr Stout’s argument apply ? Let him ask the people there : “ Gentlemen, if Provincialism is abolished in the North Island, is our gaol to be kept up no longer?” A voice might haply and happily reply : “Our gaol! We have had to send prisoners to Dunedin for safe keeping." Mr Stout goes on : “ Gentlemen, are our schools to be closed ?” “ Schools !” replies the voice, “ little have we to thank the Province for in the shape of schools j we can hardly raise the wind to pay our schoolmasters, even with the help of an education tax.*’ Mr Stout— with increasing earnestness—approaching his climax : “Gentlemen, is our .Benevolent Institution to cease to exist?” The voice (loq.) : “ Much benevolence was there in throwing our land away for the well-being of a few large runholders." Let Mr Stout repeat hist panegyric on Provincialism in Taranaki, Wellington, Marlborough, and Westland, and similar replies would, at any rate in the first three, be pertinent. Mr Stout states the matter truly when he says: “ At one time the Provinces received a portion of the Customs duties, but since the change from that to the system of capitation allowance, the poverty of the North has become manifest.” Divested of all prejudice, it must be very plain that the utility of Provincial arrangements depends so much upon the personal fitness of Superintendents and Councils for administrative duties, ihat the benefit derivable from them is accidental. The Northern Provinces had a fair start, but they wasted opportunity. They, like the Maoriea of whom they purchased their estate, did

not know its value. Those who had a glimmering of what might be, had the rule and the opportunity j they made laws to suit themselves, they acquired large estates, and they took no thought for gaols, schools, or benevolent institutes. It has been a mete accident that we are better off in Otago. Things, a few years ago, were travelling much in a Northern direction. If the two great interests that divide our Provincial legislation between them had united instead of quarrelling for power, there would not have been an acre of land unalienated in the Province. As it was, it was at one time disposed of in blocks of from fifteen to fifty thousand acres; and only a few months back Sir F. D. Bell had the boldness to suggest the sale of runs at ten shillings an acre for the benefit of the pastoral interest. Agreeing with the soundness of Mr Stout’s theory of leasing the public estate, we would suggest to him that such a plan, to be successful, would require to be administered in the same skilful manner as noblemen’s estates are managed at Home. Unless equitable conditions for improvement were adopted and strictly enforced, our present system is preferable, notwithstanding its folly and injustice ; and the necessary conditions would require to be such that no Provincial Government could carry them out. It would be overborne by the grasping of the tenants who elected its members. There is not a proposal for a railway, or a public improvement, that might not have engraved on its principal feature, '' Erected by the Government in spite of the opposition of Messrs Jones, Brown, and Robinson, who wanted it at Blind Man’s Corner for the improvement of their own private property.” The deputations to the Minister of Public Works and the Superintendent on railway matters showed how much more independently the General Government can deal with such matters than th® Provincial. Two lines of raih way are proposed by two different interests. Very probably neither of them is exactly that which will serve the public the best, but each would put money into the pocket of the projectors. The Minister of the General Government will not promise anything until he is accurately informed on the subject. The representative of the Province says: “The Provincial Government has power to make the railway, or to delegate its construction to a company.” Very Hkely—but it cannot compel the General Government to provide it with rolling stock, if it acts in diametric opposition to public utility. Possibly inquiry might elicit that one of the moving spirits in one of two schemes is intimately connected with the Provincial Executive. Who knows ? It is part -f oyntam. Local administration has the advantage of knowing what is wanted, but independent administration alone can do justice irrespective of individual interests.

The Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court will be opened on Monday by his Honor the Chief Justice.

The number of nominations of immigrants forwarded from the Dunedin office by the out going mail is 135, equal to 112 statute adults.

< ver a hundred persons attended the Temperance Hall last evening, and listened to a lecture on “ Klocu'ion ” by Mr *. ' arrett. who treated his subj ct well, and illustrated it with s >me readings, the best o: which was “ Beautiful Snow.” Mrs Glutsam officiated at the piano. For a few minutes yesterday Chief Justice Prendergast ; at in banco and heard Mr H. W Smytbes, sen., in support of bis petition to be re-admitted as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court. The further hearing o. the matter was adjourned to the Court of Appeal.

ilia Hon, the Minister of Public Works was a passenger by the Ladybird for the Worth this afternoon. This morning, accompanied by hia Honor the Superintendent, he paid a visit to Watsoira restaurant, and had explained to him the economic plan on which •me culinary department of that establishment is carried on.

A lecture on “Life Assurance” was delivered by Mr B. Short, the Australian Mutual Provident Society’s agent, in the ' chool-room, Caversham, last evening. The attendance was large, and the lecture was listened to with marked attention. The lecturer met the cuirent objections in a very happy and convincing manner, and instanced many cases which had come under his own notice, showing the wisdom of at once insuring one’s life, A vote of thanks to the lecturer brought the proceedings to a close. Afterwards about twelve persona filled in forms of application. “Prompter ” informs us that the Rev. C. Clark’s lecture on “ Christmas in Old (/nglaud," with which he brought to a close hia platform appearances in Christchurch, was a great success. The lecture was divided into three classes: the ecclesiastical, whi hj incl ded the Adeste Fideles ; the popular, i eluding “When Christ was born,” “God rest you, merry gentlemen,” and the “Golden Carol and the festive, including “The Koast Beef of Hid England,” ,md ‘ Come round the ilearth.” These weio musically illustrated, Miss Christian bring aaaisted by Miss A. «. Taylor, Mr Parker, and a choir.

There are only two notices on the City Council order paper for Wednesday. Cr. Prosser will ask the Council to affirm the proposition That after the new Municipal Act comes into force, all kerbing and channelling not yet constructed be paid for out of a loan to be raised for the purpose ; and that the interest and sinking fund upon the same be rais ;d by a special rate to be levied upon the property benefited,” Cr. Reeves will move that “ the Government be again communicated with, asking how soon prison labor, as already promised, will be available for Water of Leith embankment reclamation at the old Botanical Gardens ”

A passage from the speech of Mr Maude in explaining to the Provincial Council of Canterbury the position of the rail way'affairs of that Province is not without interest: “ The policy of the Government has been to make such reductions m the rates as it was theughtsafetomake. keeping iu view that the railways should pay wot king expenses and hj little more besides. Tins polity has beeri ex pressiy assented to oy this Council, auu nas generally received with satisfaction by the

public. As an average reduction for the pur pose of getting at results as nearly as approximate as possible, it may be calculated as onesixth all round. But there are items in which the redaction has been much larger. In passenger fares on the Lyttelton and Christchurch line, the first-class, 2s for a single ticket, or say four sixpences, has been reduced by one sixpence, which is 25 per omt; th - second-class fare, of Is fid, or three sixpence >’ has been reduced by one sixpence, wf ich is thirty-three and a-thiid per cent. Besides this, on Saturdays ticket •re issued over all lines at single fares, available for the return journey up to Mon lay night. In goods, on the country lines —heavy goods—where the charge wa |3d, er six halfpence per ton per mile, the rate is now five halfpence per ton per mile.*’ Mr H. A. M 4 Gregor, foreman at Messrs Davidson and Company’s Otago Foundry, is about leaving the service of that firm, and last evening upwards of fifty of his fellow met at Carroll’s Hibernian Hotel to show the esteem in which they held Mr M‘Gregor by presenting him with a silver lever watch, with a massive gold Albert chain and appendages Mr D. Braide was nailed to the chair and Mr R, Jones then addressed Mr M'Gregor, saying that the present was made to show the respect and esteem with which the workmen regarded him. The speaker said it would be needless for him to enumerate the recipient’s good qualities, but he would remark that while he carried out his duties with strict regard for he_ interests of his employer, he also exhibited the greatest cjurteay and good eeling for the employ (k Mr Jouea concluded by expressing the general reret felt at Mr M‘<»regor’a departure, though all were glad that he had made a ?tep in advance, and by wishing him health prosperity, and still further advancement. " fter a long rou»d of applause Mr M ‘Gregor feelingly returned thanks for the gratifying mark of their esteem and for their good vi-ihes, especially as he had been only a short i.ime in tie firm’s employment. Mr Palmer the., lose and told Mr M'Gregor that he had been deputed by Messrs Uavidsou and Convers to present him, for Mrs MMregor, with a brooch, together with their hearty good wishes for his future success. Mr M'Gregor expressed his gratitude for this second gift, and said he had no doubt Mrs M'Gregor would value it highly. The brooch was of gold, set with pearls and emeralds; and the watch bore the following inscription; *'Presented to H. A. M'Gregor, foreman, by the workmen of Messrs Davidson and Conyers, engineers, Dunedin, as a token of their regard on his leaving them. April 10,1875. ” Mr M'Gregor has received from Government the appointment of Inspector of Machinery and leaves for /Wellington shortly, 'she watch and chain were obtained from Mr Hislop, and the locket from Mr Young.

We would remind our readers of the change which will take place on the I2th inst. in the mode of telegraphing the arrival and departure of steamers to and from the various ports in the Colony. Hitherto the reports have been handed into the Telegraph Department by the Customs officers ; but tnis duty has now been undertaken by the agents of the steamers; and should any delay in future occur in reporting the arrival or departure of any steamer, the agents, and not the Government, will be responsible for the same.

The Ladder of Hope Juvenile Lodgel.O.Gr.T., held its regular meeting in Milton Hall on Thursday evening, when there was a very fair attendance of members. Five candidates were admitted to membership. The President was instructed to obtain Constitutions and Ode Books; and the business of the Lodge having been disposed of the meeting went into harmony, recitations, songs, and readings beiug by Bros. Brown, Jewitt, and Stewart, and Sisters Davidson, Brothers, Nelson, and ■cnr-- j v , iUv T -Mud Asaisianc Ouueriutendent.