The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4084, 29 March 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1876.

When a man is in the last stage of dissolution, he not uufrequently betrays symptoms of aberration of intellect. So also it happens with newspapers, of which a striking illustration has just been afforded. The ‘ Guardian ’ has dispovered a veritable mare’s

nest, and preached a political homily ther upon, The occasion is found in tho appoint* ment, or, more correctly speaking, the reappointment of the Hon. Mr SWAINsON to a seat in the Executive, which our contemporary wrongfully describes as a political appointment, and “ utterly subversive of Parliamentary government.” Nothing could well be more remote from the truth in its inception, or more incorrect in its conclusion. In the first place the appointment is not of a political character. Mr SWAINSON has been a non-official member of every Executive since he first held the office of At-

torney-General in 1854, and as such has been regularly re-sworn upon the advent of each Governor. The immediate cause of his having been re-appointed at the pre sent juncture is the visit of the Governor to Auckland. Whenever his Excellency travels beyond-the seat of Government it is necessary that he should be accompanied by two members of the Executive, who, with himself, constitute a quorum, for the transaction of any necessary business. In the present case, the only Minister whose services were available in Auckland was Dr Pollen, and thus arose the necessity for reinstating Mr Swainson in his Executive position. It does not follow, as |pr contemporary supposes, that he is, therefore, a member of the. Cabinet, which is distinct from the Executive Council, just in the same way as the Cabinet of England is distinct from the Privy Council. This is just where our usually well-informed con-

temporary blunders. And he is equally adrift in his interpretation of the Civu List Amendment Act, which does not, as he supposes, limit the entire Executive to seven persons, but merely fixes the travelling allowances and salaries of “members of the Executive Council holding Ministerial offices," and restricts the number of such office-holders to seven persons. Mr Swainson does not hold any Ministerial office, and we have excellent authority for stating that there is no intention to appoint mm as “Attorney-General, with a view to the first vacant Judgeship,” or in any other capacity. He simply continues to enjoy his pension, which would be forfeited were he t accept office, and in return he fulfils such executive functions as he may be called upon to discharge. The virtuous indignation of our contemporary has therefore been expended in vain. The Premier has not acted

“m defiance of public opinion ; ” he has not “ created ” a legislator either me.ro motu am or otherwise; nor has he entrusted an outsider with “a share in the Government.” Consequently all the tall talk about “the last feather,” the alienation of “quondam supporters,” and the resentment of slighted members of Parliament has been wasted. There is no danger of our being “landed in a dictatorship ” ; no “ political fossils ” have been exhumed, and “Mr Bowen’s digestion” remains unimpaired. Our contemporary has dreamed dreams—that is all—and his interpretation thereof hath been most unsound. We iare sorry for our contemporary, who we had hoped would have lived decently, if not in the very odor of sanctity, until at least the transfer of his allegiance to the new regime. But “coming events cast their shadows before ”; and it would

seem that the ‘ Guardian ’ is already tainted with the apostacy of Provincialism to which it will soon be altogether devoted. The half-regretful, halfangry view that it takes of Sir Julius Vogel's position is touchingly demonstrative of its present purgatorial existence. Like Mahomet’s much-abused coffin, it is just now suspended midway between a political heaven and a political hell, and sways to this faction and to that as either influence happens to predominate. But there is an old song which might convey to the editorial mind of the ‘ Guardian * —if such a luxury be yet remaining to it —some useful instruction, and such as is most pertinent to the occasion—

“ 'Tis well to be off with tbe old love, Before you are on with the new.”

And we cannot but think that our waning contemporary will best consult his own dignity and preserve what little * reputation still clings to him by adhering to the principles that have heretofore governed the paper, until at least it becomes the avowed and recognised organ of its purchasers and future masters.

The duck shooting season commences on Saturday next, and a large number of licenses have been issued.

At Wanganui the Premier, being pressed in reference to a Colonial Education Act, said “no measure on the subject would be introduced by the present Government which would not be of a thoroughly secular nature. ” The ‘Wellington Argus’ is responsible for the statement that the Union Steamship Company, in the way of giving additional comfort to their passengers, will on the new boats have ladies’ as well as gentlemen’s smoking-rooms. To-day’s ‘Gazette’ contains notifications of the appointmen • of Messrs Donald Borne and E. Menlove to be members of the Timaru Harbor Board ; and of the setting apart of 2,200 acres of land in the Chattonand Otakarama Hundreds for occupation on deferred payments.

On Monday week' the members of the Opera Company will give a concert in the University Hall in aid of the funds of the Jewish Philanthrophic Society. To say nothing of the musical treat that will afforded, the charitable object in Anew should secure a full attendance.

The cost to the City of the Sanitary and Health Officer’s Department during the past six months has been L 2,232, of which LI, 077 was expended on the hospital buildings and grounds; L 228 on furnishing the building; L 289 for special constables ; L 254 in supplies to families quarantined ; and L 382 in salaries, &c. A two-mile swim is np mean feat, but, says the ‘Greymouth Star,’ it was achieved,. Without distress, by two young men of Westport, a few mornings since, who pulled up the Duller in a canoe, then took to the water and came down with the tide ; a comrade on board the canoe keeping within hail to render aid in case of mishap. In its editorial to-day the ‘ Tuapeka Times’ says the Mount Ida sludge channel and head race, the Waipori channel, and the several water races, are palpable instances of the manner in which public money has been squandered. Competent men assert that the payable ground which the Mount Ida head race commands is, comparatively speakingsmall, and will be exhausted in a very short time. This is very consoling after the large expenditure the Colony has incurred on account of the works just mentioned. The following items are from this morn* ing’s ‘Tuapeka Times’{—“Mr M.H.R. for Bruce, has sold his property on the banks of the Molyneux to Mr James Smith, of Greenfield. The amount has not transpired, but we believe it is something over L 4 an acre. —The 2,800 acres of deferred payment land, sold at the District Land Office, Lawrence, yesterday, realised the handsome sum of L 7,900, being an average of L2 16s 6d an acre, or LI 6s 6d over the upset price of 30s. The Court-house at Lawrence in which the sale was held, was crowded with applicants, all of whom, with two exceptions, made their appearance. The bidding was very spirited. In some cases a spring of 10s was made from the upset price of 30s an acre, and 2s 6d and 5s bids came fast and furious.” i

The Hott. yf. Gisborne, Mr Wm. Seed (Secretary for Customs), and Mr John Knowles (Under-Secretary for Public Works), have been appointed a commission to visit the several Provinces and to obtain information with a view to the consolidation of offices when abolition shall be practically Carried out. They left Wellington for the South in the Phoebe yesterday afternoon. The Maerewhenua correspondent of the ‘N. 0. Times* writes as follows:—"The Maerewhenua harvest will be about 50,000 bushels. The landowners of Maerewhenua have leased the land for two years, at a nominal rental, for the purpose of clearing tussocks, and thus preparing the land for permanent depasturage. A large number of Awamoko farmers have leased the Maerewhenua farms.”

The Union Football.Club open the season by a scratch match on the Northern Recreation Ground on ■ aturday. At the Club’s annual meeting last night, the following were elected office-bearers for the ensuing year :—President, Mr R. Stoulr; Vice-Presi-dent, Rev. R. L. Stanford; Captain, Mr J. R. Cowie; Deputy-Captain, Mr A. Hunter; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr A. G. Barber; Commitee, Messrs Burke, Stuart, Beal, Treseder, and Monteith ;|Match Com mittee, Messrs Cowie, Hunter, and Barber. The railway station in town on the departure of the 12.15 p.m. train* to-day and the pier at Fort Chalmers an hour later presented an appearance of considerable bustle and activity, the cause thereof being the de parture northwards of a good many visitors to the late race meeting, and of a number of professional people. Among the latter we noticed Mr F. M. Bates’s agent and Mr Eastwood, who is advance agent for the Simonsen company. We are informed that Mr Simonsen has made arrangements with Mr Hoskins for a season in Christchurch, commencing on the 12th prox.

Last week Waikouaiti and Palmerston furnished two cases to the Dunedin Hospital. The first was that of Alexander Chambers, an old man, who was brought down to be treated for injuries sustained by a fall from his horse and by being dragged along by the stirrup irons, at Shag Valley. Chambers had a cut on the face, several bruises on the side, and his back was badly flayed. The other case was Mr Creoke, tailor, of Waikouaiti, who was hurt the other day when out rabbitshooting near Mount Cornish. A stone in the hill above Mr Crooke became disconnected, and in its descent struck the gun he had in his hand and caused it to go off, discharging the contents in his foot, near the big toe. It will be remembered that the Melbourne people with creditable liberality interested themselves in encouraging the marked musical talent displayed by a lad named Kruse, born in the Colony, and they raised the necessary funds for sending him to Berlin to study in the best musical schools. The ‘Argus’ states that by the last mail Mr Gatehouse, who took a prominent part in the matter as mayor, received a letter from Kruse, who states that he passed the examination for the Royal High School for Music on October 2nd. There were forty-five candidates, mostly young ladies, and eight young violinists, mostly young Russians, of whom four were plucked. He was examined by Joachim himself, and was at once accepted. The pupils have two violin lessons, and one theory lesson weekly, besides one quartette practice and one orchestra practice. They have also to attend lectures on music twice a week. They are allowed to attend the opera free of charge, and also the quartette soirdes of Joachim, De Alma, Rappoldi, and Muller. Master Kruse is a pupil of Rappoldi, whom he describes as a splendid teacher. He expresses himself as deeply grateful for the interest evinced on his behalf.

Mr F. G. Nariman will meet the ratepayers of North Ward, South Dunedin, at Miles's new bakery, oa Thursday evening, at 7.30 The annual general meeting of the ‘Tempnance Hall Company will be held in the Temp ranee Hall on Wednesday, the sth proximo.

On Saturday next the first number of the ‘ Mercantile Gazette’ will be published here. Its object is to supply information respecting those transactions between debtors and creditors which are regulated by the Bills of Sale Act, the Mortgages of Stock Act. the Agricultural Produce Lien Act, the Wool and Oil Securities Act, and the Debtors and Creditors Act, 1875.