The Evening Star TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3971, 16 November 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1875.

Few persons would refuse assent to Mr Stout's view that there is a necessity, under a constitutional Government, for the existence of an Opposition which may act as a drag on an over-active Ministry, as a goad to a sluggish one, or as a check on a Ministry that is not over-honest or scrupulous. In the same way, too, most merchants would be inclined to admit that a night watchman is a most useful functionary to have in a store that contains large quantities of valuable merchandise of a portable or perishable nature. It by no means follows, however, that a merchant would at once gratefully accept the services of anyone who liked to offer them for such a purpose, especially if there was every reason to believe that the applicant for the post was by nature or education altogether unfitted to occupy it. If, for instance, there was every reason to apprehend that the very first thing the new candidate for employment would do would be to help to make away with the property committed to his guardianship, there can be little doubt that his services would be declined with thanks, or possibly without them. This, we apprehend, represents pretty accurately the state of public feeling with regard to Her Majesty’s late Opposition in New Zealand. Every one, as we said, allows that a properly organised and fairly homogeneous Opposition is of very great utility, but almost no one seems prepared to admit that the fortuitous concourse of political atoms, which, during the last session formed the heterogeneous mass to which the name Opposition was given, was or could be of the slightest conceivable use to anybody. Never before, we believe, has there been seen in New Zealand such an extraordinary gathering into a seemingly compact party, of persons of altogether different tastes and habits of thought, holding diametrically opposite views on nearly every subject, and whose attitude towards each other had hitherto been that of determined, and, in some cases, personal hostility. It is indeed a matter for profound astonishment that Mr Reid should have become an ardent admirer of the Superintendent, that the philosophical and acute Mr Stout should have fraternised with the unphilosophical and obtuse—well, let us say “Smith'’ —that Mr Reader Wood. who hates Provincialism, should be own brother to Sir George Grey, who adores it ; that Otago members who want to keep their land fund should be on the best of terms with Auckland members, who want to take it away from them. In fact, it would be quite impossible for persons outside of the Colony to understand how such a motley crew could have been got together. Those who have been acquainted with New Zealand history for the last few years, however, are able to understand to some extent how it has come about. To those who know what “ Vogel-phobia ” is—to those who have observed the tenacity with which political barnacles cling to their political posts, and to those who know fl how

difficult it often is to get new ideas into old brains, the whole thing becomes very much simplified. For them it is not impossible to understand the genesis of such an opposition. But it by no means follows that when the mode in which an opposition has come into being has been understood, that that opposition will be accepted by the people as a useful one. Quite the contrary: here as often in other matters “ the better known the less trusted.” It is all very well for Mr Stout to endeavor to palliate the fact that the Opposition has no policy, and can have no policy, by saying that the Government is in the same fix. But it is plain enough, even if it be conceded for the sake of argument that this is the case, that the Government party is not an incoherent mass like the Opposition. The Government had certain objects in view : it went straight forward towards the attainment of these objects; but the Opposition policy was purely negative, and even so, it was policy that dealt with only one point. If this Opposition had been successful during the late campaign in overthrowing the Government, it is plain that it would have been quite unable to form a Ministry capable of surviving for a single week. In fact, if it had defeated the Government the Opposition would have fallen to pieces like a rope of sand, composed as it was, of individuals concerning each of whom it may justly be said that every man was his own party with regard to every question except that of Abolition. In short, the policy of the Opposition was quite of the “ dog in the manger ” kind : it could do nothing towards solving the political problems which have presented themselves for solution, and it did its best to prevent any one else from solving them. This may be Mr Stout’s idea of the function of constitutional Opposition : it is not ours, and we believe that the constituencies will show at the approaching elections that it is not theirs either. Amy way, we do hope that the Opposition will see their way to enlighten the public as views on the questions of the day if they have any views. We must confess, however, that in our opinion their long reticence is not without a cause. The Opposition tell us little or nothing, because, in fact, they have little or nothing to tell. Mr J. J. Eagerty has been elected Mayor of Green Island for 1875-6. He polled 45 votes against 20 by Mr Pollock and 14 by Mr Runciman. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Port Chalmers, this morning, before Mr T. A. Mansford, R.M., Thomas Watson, for drunkenness, was fined 5s or twenty-four ■‘ ours’. Ihe civil cases were unimportant. No local committee having been formed here, all Dunedinites who purpose taking part in the Intercolonial Exhibition at Philadelphia have sent their exhibits direct to Wellington. These, however, only include samples of rheumatic balsam, a few dried bones, and such like. At a recent meeting of the Matanra Pastoral Society, Mr Cuthbertson, M.H R., stated that he had bespoken the favorable attention of the Government towards granting a subsidy to agricultura societies in proportion to the amount of their subscriptions. and that he hoped |to see the suggestion carried out next session. A man named Henry Vesey was committed for trial at the City Police Court this morning, on a charge of burglariously entering Mr Henry Howorth’s dwelling house, Upper Walker street. Vesey is on old offender, having already served two sentences for larceny besides several convictions for petty offences. The only bridge on the Kaitangata railway has certainly the merit of simplicity. Three ponderous beams of the finest heart of totara, each twenty-four feet long and measuring sixteen by fourteen inches, have been thrown across the stream, and the under beam is supported by tremendous piles driven into the banks on each side, this beam carrying the two upper ones on which the rails will be laid. The ‘Bruce Herald,’ which tells us that the cost of the bridge was LI6O, expects it to be in a good state of preservation when other bridges have been repaired or replaced. The Martin’s Bay settlers are anxious to enjoy the benefits of self-government, which the more fortunate occupants of the Jackson’s Bay special settlement possess, and have petitioned the General Government to place them on the same footing as the latter. At Jackson’s Bay the settlers have the right to purchase at 20s per acre for rural lands after two years’ bond fide settlement, and cultivation of one-fifth of the land, or 42s for suburban land, after seven deferred payments of 6s per annum. All the land revenue is devoted to encouraging' the establishment industries, such as timber and flour mills, of brick and pottery fisheries, &c., and the making of roads and bridges. A deputation consisting of Messrs Wyber, Carey, and M‘lndoe, waited on the Superintendent to-day with a petition from residents on the Flat objecting t© the proposed municipality of Forbury, &c., on the ground that it was too limited in extent, and that the requirements of the Act as to publicity and other matters had not been complied with. His Honor expressed his sympathy with the movement in favor of a municipality, and said if the proper forms had not been gone through h : s hands would be tied up against proclaiming it. He expressed a hope that some arrangement might he come to, as the district stood in need of something being done. However, no further steps would be taken i i the meantime.

The Bible Society held its annual meeting at the Baptist Church last night, Mr Wales, M.H. R., occupying the chair. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. From the latter it appeared that the collections in aid of the society during 1875 had amounted to‘ L 196, while Llsl had I een realised by the sale ©f books, and that after making the usual contributions to theparent and kindred societies and meeting ordinary expenses, there was a credit balance on the year’s transactions of L 344. In moving that L7O should be donated to the British and Foreign, and L6O to the .National Scottish Societies, the Rev. Mr Maxwell after complaining of the want of interest in Dunedin in the society’s meeting, quoted Froude on the commercial morality of Eng land, saying that the remarks of the historian thereon were applicable to the Colonies, and chat the circulation of the "criptures was the means of rectifying the corruption that existed in trade. Mr Cargill having taken exception in strong terms to Mr Maxwell’s observation#, the latter repudiated any in*

tention to cast reflection upon the commercial morality of this community. The following were elected office bearers for the ensuing year Presidmt, Mr A. Barr; vice-presi-dent, Mr J Fulton ; committee, Messrs Strode, Cargill, Rennie, Wales, G1 endinning, Hindle, and T. Dick; treasurer, Mr Joyce; and secretary, Rev. A. Blake. Votes of thanks ta the lady collectors, the sec etary, and the treasurer brought the proceedings to a close. A meeting of the residents of St. Kilda and Musselburgh was held last evening in the Forbury schoolhouse. Mr Paxton, who presided, said that the endeavors of the committee formed for the purpose of having these districts formed into a separate municipality had so far proved successful, and that the municipality would be gazetted on Wednesday Lt appeared, however, that the Cavershatn Road Board had a claim upon them for L 195 15s 4d, and before this municipality wan gazetted that sum must be guaranteed. The meeting unanimously decided to pay all j ast demands|due to the Road Board, and a committee was appointed to examine the account. B® r ore the meeting closed the chairman cautioned those present not to pay the rates now being levied by the Road Board, for in his opinion they would have to pay them again to the new municipality, Queenstown posses es a gaol the accommodation provided by which is generally admitted to be scandalously defective. The municipal authorities called Mr i yke’s attention to the matter, and from him received this reply :—“ I should perhaps have been able to have induced the General Government to have made provision for a gaol, but I find that this is purely a provincial matter, and that large sums were voted by the Provincial Council during its last session to provide for the erection of gaols and lock ups. These votes, I also find, include a sum of LSOO for the erection of a gaol at Arrowtown, and with regard to the Queenstown lock-up it is considered to be so excellently well adapted to the purpose for which it is used, and so perfect in its arrangements, that there is no intention to meddle with it. You will perceive that this is a matter which your representatives in the Provincial Council have had already under their purview, and that my functions as your representative in the Assembly, will not admit of any further interference.” he Council hardly saw the sarcasm which underlies Mr Pyke’s letter, and have directed Mr Wallenstein's notice to the urgent n oessity that exists for increased gaol accommodation at Qu eustown. Of the twenty-five persons who attended the meeting at Kaihiku on Friday, to take into consideration the Waitepeka deviation, twelve voted in favor of a resolution affirming the desirability of the Balclutha-Clinton section of the main south line being proceeded with at once, and strongly recommending the Four mile Creek route in preference to that of Waitepeka. The seconder of the resolution (Mr JSTcoI), while of opinion that the proposed deviation by way o Waitepeka would be of great advantage to the settlers of that district, considered it was absurd to think that they should be benefited at the expense of those living between Kaihiku and Clinton, 'ihe ‘Bruce Herald’s’ report states that the weight of argument was in favor of no action being taken. It was argued that the ques tion had been before the country for two years ; that the Provincial Council and A ssembly had reported strongly in favor of the proposed deviation; and that, as they had let slip previous opport nities of opposing the Waitepeka route, it would now be ungenerous on their part to bring any supposed influence they might have to bearon the Minister of Public Works, who was about to visit the Clutba and finally decide the vexed question for himself. A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to the Minister for Public Works. *

The old Fire Brigade finding-that their late ball left them, after paying expenses, with a small amount of cash in hand, last evening made up the sum to five guineas and have handed it to the Benevolent Institution.