SAYINGS AND DOINGS OF THE CHIT-CHAT CLUB.

Evening Star, Issue 3993, 11 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

SAYINGS AND DOINGS OF THE CHIT-CHAT CLUB.

A few quiet, well-to-do old gentlemen meet | in a snug parlor, no matter where, in Cunedin, I and pass their evenings in calmly talking over current events. Their names are not of much consequence, for they do not thrust themselves before the public. They are not of the rowdy class who jump at conclusions, swallow a canard, and pick a hole in tho coat of a man who, to tho best of his judgment, has fulfilled public duties. They are neither Grants nor Garricks, proposing time-serving, flimsy resolutions meaning nothing, f r the sake of popularity, and to afford them the opportunity of making clap-trap speeches at public meetings. In fact, were it not that our reporter has played the part of eavesdropper, and has heard their conversations through a hole in tho wall, the outside world might never have known of the existence of the Chit-Chats. No doubt he knows many things he does not choose to tell, for occasionally private matters crop up, hut with those the public have nothing to do, and ho holds them as sacred as the Chit Chats themselves. He has not felt hound to he so reticent on subjects of a public character, and as their ideas on such matters are not without

instruction, wo feel they will excuse their being made public through our columns. Thev ;uv not all of one mind, but generally defer to the president whom they jokingly address as Old Joe. 'I ha rest are Ben and Harry, and Will aud_ Ned. The first two incline to Provincialism, the others towards Unity of Government. When Mr Macandrew’s “ Address to the people of Otago - ’ apj eared, Ben walk d into the room holding it in his hand, and, throwing it on the tabic with a flourish, exclaimed, ‘'There, my boys—(not one of them is under fifty)— there's a nut for the Abolitionists to crack Mae’s always to the fore ; be knows bow to put it.” It was agreed that it should be read without comment, in order that at another time its merits might be considered; and Ben, as the mouthpiece of the party, after filling his meerschaum and mixing his toddy, read it alloud, contriving at the same time to keep his pipe alight. He occasionally halted and gave a few rapid whiffs as some of the extraordinary statements met his gaze ; and once or twice ho checked himself, as unwarily he caught himself saying “ that’s a ” ; but he never got further, so it is not clear wlie.th-.-r he meant “ that’s a sticker,” or some 'ess comolimcntary phrase. The reading over, the following confab took place : Uabby : I should like to have it made clear what is the best form of Government for the Colony. I have no other view in my mind than the good of the country. Old Jok : I think, to arrive at a conclusion, we shall have to agree upon the object of all government; and having settled that, we shall be better able to determine the arrangements for carrying on its functions. Nothing can be plainer than that, so far as legislation is concerned, the first duties of government are the

adoption of equitable civil and criminal lawa. The next duties are their prudent admiuistiation. Now although the foundations of both classes of laws are alike in all civilised countries, there may be variations in the manners and customs of the people, tending to modify the application of their fundamental principle?. “It is law, indeed,’' says Amo?, “ which determines decisively the constitution of the family, which _ marks out the subject matter and conditions of ownership; and which gives definiteness and precision, as well as what may be called physical validity to business transactions,” Where variations of custom do not exist, it is advisable to adopt a uniform system of legislation throughout a countrjq and this can bo best secured by having one legislature only. Nothing but confusion can result from different governments legislating for the same people.

Ben : Does not your reasoning justify the proposal to separate the North Island from the South ? In the North Island there are two nationalities, the colonists and the Maoris. It may be conceded that like civil and criminal laws apply to all European colonists through* out both islands ; but the Maoris require exceptional _ legislation. In this respect, therefore, the interests of the two islands differ. Will ; You are a first-rate hand at fine drawing, Ben. It is not the “interest” of either North or South to have different laws for the colonists and for the Maoris. It is quite true that Maori tribal customs —social and territorial—

differ from our own, and by treaty are bound to be respected; but there is no more difficulty, and perhaps much less, in adopting just exceptional legislation by the Colony as a whole than in remitting the sole responsibility of it to the North Island. We have had enough of that. Just consider the enormous jobbery iu land brought to light last session. Had our South Island representatives done their duty could those swindles have taken place ? And if they weie perpetrated with the South looking on, what is to bo expected should its influence be withdrawn ? It seems to be forgotten that the Natives are fellow-subjects of the Queen, and that our elastic Constitution can quite meet their condition without in the least interI fering with the rights and equities of the Colonists. It only grafting a little wild slip on to a magnificent branch. It may exist for awhile, a sickly nursling, but in a very few years it will be overgrown by the more vigorous vegetation of the main stock, and will die or become undistinguishable from the rest of the tree.

Buy : You aio quite poetical "Will. Perhaps I was wrong in using the word “{interest ” without explanation. Is it not true that the revenue collected in this Province was devoted to paying the expense of Maori wars, and on various pretences was spent in different ways in improvements of the North Island? Is it not true that to this hour a largo sum is paid out of revenue for a trained army to protect northern property from spoliation by the Natives ? And could this have happened if the two Islands had been separate Colonies ? Will : I have always opposed the mal-appro-priation of general revenue to purposes so purely local, and consider that on a variety of grounds the North Island should have been

charged with the whole expense of defending Northern property. And who have we thank for so unjust an arrangement as has been adopted ? Were not they who advocate separation now that, in my epinion, the need for it is done away, the very men who consented to throwing away our money ? Did not Sir J. L. (J. Richardson, Mr D. Reid, and men of the “cantankerous” school of politics oppose every move towards separation ? The conduct of the Southern members in relation to Maori matten is a standing illustration of the proverb, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” I consider it a public insult on their parts to come forward, now that unity rather ' ban division is our interest, and to ask praise for turning a pirouet, and, like a balletdancer, standing a tip-toe with outstretched arms and their faces smiling towards those whom seven years ago they, regarded with an angry scowl, 'ihen it was —“You are a set of sneaking, mercenary cowards, who would not give a sixpence to save your fellow-colonists frsm destruction.” Now it is, in blandest accents, “Gentlemen, you advocated separation some years ago, I am now quite of your opinion.” Hero Will rose with the occasion, and forgetful of propriety, dashed upon the table the hand which he'd his pipe, saying vehemently, “ political weathercocks !” Smash went the pipe, while the burning ashes spread themselves in the air, and fell on the table-cover in sparkles, mixed with broken fragments. Will looked unutterably mournful: it was his best meerschaum.

Ben : Served you right, my boy. Learn to keep your temper. You have not yet answered my separation argument. W ill : I hate hypocrisy, Ben. The very idea of it as put my pipe out. If the Richardsons and Rollestons, and Fitxherberts and Greys—thank God the whole lot was under thirty last session—would only speak the truth, they would say, “Wo hate Vogel, and would do anything to ruin him. He has made us rich when we should without him have been poor, and we are very glad to share in the country’s progress, but we hate him still. The reasou why we cannot tell Wo do not like you, J. Vogel. Old Joe : A most atrocious parody, Will. It’s a sign that you have lost your balance when you break your pipe and blunder into sarcastic rhyme. Suppose we stick to our oiigiual resolution and postpone further discussion ?

All : Agreed. The glasses were replenished, Will borrowed a new pipe, and the conversation turned upon things indifferent and private.