The Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4192, 3 August 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1876.

Vkiiy few will be surprised that Mr Whitaker's resolutions were rejected by the Assembly, although they were so framed a.s to in/ite tho. support of members of landless Provinces. "Whether the majority represents the strength of the Government or not remains to be seen. It is hardly likely that Sit George Grey's Separation resolutions will meet with general approval. If insular Separation was deeme'd inexpedient wheu the North Island was absorbing Southern revenues in support of a war waged ! entirely in Northern interests, what is there to justify it now 1 Our morning contemporary, the * Daily Times,' puts forward a* new batch of reasons, than which nothing can possibly be flimsier. During the election the cry was " Oppose the Government, for our land fund is in danger." New that Sir Julius Vooel has belied all tho predictions of his detractors, and proved that he has been faithful to his promise to reserve the land fund for local purposes, new reasons for Separation have to be found by the 'Daily Times,' niOßt of which form the strongest arguments

in favor of the unity of the Colony. Had we been in doubt previously to reading the article in the ' Daily Times,' we should have risen from its perusal convinced that under good government the two islands were capable of mutually enriching each other, and that for ail social, commercial, »nd economic purposes insular separation would be the worst step that could be taken. Tlien comes the question of Financial Separation. This at one time would have been a wise step— perhaps it would he so now if under one Government The question really ia, would it be wise to have two financing Governments ? It is not a mere question of spending money : that is easily enough done were it in hand. But so long as it is necessary to borrow money, is it wise to have two separate Governments for a population of 400,000 — Maories included % Each of these would probably be in the market at once, competing with and destroying each other's credit. Whatever may be said about the Provincial system, it has broken down purely through fiuancial difficulties. Its disadvantages in that respect were brought prominently into view when it was proved that Provincial loans found no favor with Home capitalists. Neither Otago, nor Canterbury, nor Auckland was recognised as a borrower—nothing less than New Zealand has satisfied the Stock Exchange of London, and nothing less will satisfy those who have lent and those who have money to lend. It may do for the ' Daily Times' to " make fun " of a county system, i but in serious matters " fun " should be left to ' Punch ': so pretentious a journal as the 'Times'should find better argument than "fun" where the present well-being and future welfare of the Colony arc concerned. It should bo able to tell its readers what is to be gained by Separation—how their material and social positions arc to be improved ; what better proßpect there is of being better governed from Cbristchurch as a centre than from Wellington; what saving there would be in such a By stem ; whether the credit of the Colony would stand higher, its material development be hastened, its settlement improved. It might be shown from the article in the 'Times' that so far from these advantages being likely to be realised all the disadvantages of government from Wellington would continue, with some additional drawbacks arising from more intense local jealousies and rivalry between thetwoisland&ThoseduTerences of climate, soil, and geological structure that are urged as reasons for separation should really form a bond of commerce between the two islands. If both produced precisely the ssme class of necessaries there could bo no mutual dfpfndence ; but instead of that there would be the jealously of competition, as each would endeavour to secure preference in the world's markets But now producers find their best customers in the Home market. It is only necessary to consult the shipping list cf Auckland to ascertain how largely that Province is dependent upon Otago and Canterbury for cereals. Separate the two islands financially or otherwise, and the way is opened for commercial restriction and other kinds of mutual annoyance, the evils of which, although sufficiently apparent, are, nevertheless, hailed aB the greatest good by hundreds of millions of our fellow men. Unless stronger reasons can be urged for Separation than those put forward by our fun-loving contemporary, we bad better ——- Roar those ilia we have Than fly to others that we know not ef-» but which loom sufficiently high to give ua warning of their dangerous existence.

His Kxcollonoy the Governor is on a viait to Mr W. Oldham, of Nelson, where he is enjoying a few tUys' quail shooting. At the weekly meeting of the Gardeners' Society held lad; evening it was decided that ail amateur gardeners,- or those who take a-i interest in horticultural matters, are eligible as members.

Owi.'.g to tho non - appearance of the -Acting-Adjutant for tho month last night's monthly inspection of the North Dunedin Rifles v?as adjourned. There wore twenty. fi>rc rank and file present, under the cominiiml of Lient. Pell.

"Saratoga" was repeated at tho Princess's Thoal-a last evening and will be played for the last time to-night. To-morrow is Bet apart for a benefit to Mrs Lingard. and "Frou-frou" is to be produced for the occasion, with Mrs Lingard in the title cbaracte , Miss Colville as Louise, Mr Lingard as the Barr>n, and Mr Hoskins as M. de Surtorys. With this strong cast an excellent performance may be looked forward to.

The double bill presented at the Queen's Theatre last evening, on the occasion of Mr Talbot's benefit, was the means of bringing together a very large audience. In the '•Merchaut of Venice" Mr Talbot gave an excellent rendering of the part of the exacting Jewish money-lender ; while his efforts to amuse, in the comedy of " Katherine and Petruehio" were no less successful. Mrs Hill also appeared in both pieces. To-night " R ;meo and Juliet" will be played. Mr Swanson, in tho House of Representatives a few nights ago took objection to the Juries Bill because it was increasing the exemptions from sitting on juries by exempting railway servants. He considered that, by exempting members of fire brigades and others, they were exempting some of the most intelligent men of the community, and whose presence on jurie3 it was desirable to retai i. He has given notice for a return to be laid Gn the table showing the classes of men who are exempt from serving on juries, stating as nearly as possible the number in each class.

The ' Cross' gives the report of a " washing boo " which took place at Auckland a week or two ago. There were but two competitors. Two bundles of clothes had been supplied, and the woman who came forward as the champion of hand-washing was allowed to cbosse which she liked. Mrs Brinsden acted as judge. In eleven minutes from starting Mrs Warton, who had one of the washing maciiiues imported by Mr Dennes, had finished her task, while her competitor was not half done. On Mrs Brinsden inspecting the different articles washed, she declared that the machine was not only incomparably the quickest, but the best washer. The prize, therefore, waa awarded to Mrs Warton, and the entertainment closed.

The ' Grey Biver Arguß' gives the following iufct;nce of tho manner in which the time of Parliament is sometimes taken up. During a discussion in committee on the Local Elections Regulations Bill, Mr Stout moved that voters should bs allowed to use any pencil they pleased, and not be conihied exclusively to black lead—which gave rise to some discussion, as most of the amendments of the hon. gentlemen representing Dunedin do. The member for Parnell wantod blue used; Mr Doaald Reid pen and ink—some other member red lesd —when the climax was put on the whole matter by the smiling .Superintendent of Taranaki inquiring why camel hair brashes should not be used, but he was rebuked by an important gentleman informing Lim that such articles were, called brushes and not pencils. After all this long discu sion, in which Messrs Gibbs, Baigent, Wakefield, Montgomery, Wood, and others took part, the words "black lead" were allowed to be expunged from the clause. It ought not, in the chronicling of this important debate, to be omitted that the Premier inquired why "Blate" pencil should not be used.

The Auckland 'Star' relates an extraordinary and fatal accident which occurred in that town a fortnight a*go. At about three o'clock one morning, Constable Dews, who was on duty near the Greyhound Hotel, had his attention attracted by hearing a window raised on the second floor of the hotel. On looking up he saw the body of a man come through the window as if trying to get out on to the ledge below the window Bill. Almost immediately afterwatds he saw the man fall to the pavement, a distance of about fifteen feet. He ran to the spot and found 1 homas Corcoran, aged eighteen, and nephew of the landlord, stretched on the stones apparently dead, and blood issuing from his nose and ears. Directly after the fall, the window next to that through which the unfortunate man had climbed was thrown ol en, and one of the barmaids who slept there put her head out. The constable called out to her, but she shut 'down the window. Tbe young man lingered for about twenty-four hours, and then expired withont regaining consciousness. The only explanation which can be given of the lamentable affair is that deceased was actuated in his midnight excursion by a desire to get at the barmaid's window, and play her some trick. The ledge along the stringcourse would render this possible to a bold adventurer, but under any circumstances it would be a hazardous undertaking.

* The Artillery wll parade for battalion drill at the Drill shed, t j morrow evening, at eight o'clock-

The * New Zealand Churchman' for August contains a large amount of useful matter, and devotes mere than usual attention to the very important subject of the Sunday School. The leading essay is a dream <t the reunion of Christendom. We recollect George Dawson—who we suppose, will be condemned as dox -saying. "Th re are onl« two st tea of mind in which men can possibly agree—a sta*e o £ perfect kuowle 'ge or of perfect ignorance. Be ween thtwo two there must be difference rnl doubt." If our Episcopal friends have attained perfect knowledge, they must raise others to th- sam« point before union i* possible If they have not. others may and therefore wait their rising. Jf none have there will be ''ivision and doubt, and sine.-* nothing 1 human is perfect—not even human apprehen ion of Divine truth—our belief is that rivirion tends more to advance than unif'Tiiitr- i hat others may differ from us only prove 3 the : ositio that "to err is human."