THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 3, IS7I.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 837, 3 April 1871, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, APRIL 3, IS7I.

Now that the war between France and Prussia may be considered practically at an end, France has still a task before her far more difficult of solution than that of peace or war which has agitated the nation so much latterly. The Emperor dethroned, the whole military resources of the country prostrated, and the population only yearning for peace and good government, what form is the future government of France to assume ? Is it to be republican or monarchical ? Is the restoration of the Empire to be desired or possible ? These are questions which at the departure of the last mail were coming to the front, and rapidly forcing themselves to a conclusion. The Republic— that is to say. the Republic of Rochefort and the Reds, which simply meant anarchy, violence, and insecurity, had already, proved itself impossible*. The Republic of Gambetta and Favre had failed to accomplish the salvation ofjjh^ country, and it remained to Ja^M^J whether it would survive the^^^^^H of the Constituent Assembhj^^^^^^H tions for this body beta^^^^^^^J that there was a ve £^^^^^^^^^^H the France outside 9^^^^^^^^^^| Monarchical Governn^^^^^^^^^^^f recognised claimants been sent to the Assen^^^^^^^^^H tive Council, though <^^^^^^^^^| Republicans, by adoptinf|^^^^^^H ship of. Tlriers affordel^^^^^H of a gradual return to a more con^P^^ policy. The exiled Emperor had clearly not lost all hopes of regaining his crown. His proclamation, carefully guarded as was its language, said plainly that he was still the wily person who conic) save France. The Orleanista were actively pressing their claims to the sovereignty, and the Republicans as Btrongiy preaching against monarchy in any form. The probabilities of the situation pointed to a monarchical form of government. To the agricultural classes, the bourgeois, the manufacturers and traders, republicanism is abhorent. To them it has always been the accompaniment of domestic discords and disturbances of the arts of peace. They are sick of the endless political struggles, the constant change, and insecurity of Republicanism as they have experienced it. They prefer the iron authority of the Empire, or the jog-trot harmless policy of Louis Phillippe. It is difficult to estimate the t chances which the ' Orleanists have as compared with the Bonapartists. To the bulk of the provincial population the name of Napoleon is still a charmed one. To Napoleon, the great manufacturers owe chiefly the enor- , mous expansion of trade which his policy created. JThey know little, and perhaps, care little about the faults, the intrigues, the wasteful extravagance and political j hollowness of the Imperial system ; all they know is, that under Napoleoa they flourished. The Orleanists have many adherents, but cannot be said to constitute a powerful party. As the venerable Guizot, in a most eloquenUetter, recently published, on the subject of the Provisional Government and the French nation, says : — "As to those who are said to be Orleanists, it is a mistake to call them a party. The government of Louis Philippe left some faithful friends and the memory of many good deeds, which as time goes on are more and more widely known and appreciated ; but it neither created nor left any party. It is impossible to give the name of party to the mass of orderly and intelligent men, essentially conservative and moderate liberals, who ask nothing more from the Government than that it shall uphold law and order at home, keep peace abroad, and protect and promote the development of the different national interests, according to their relative importance and claims. These men do not^form a party ; they are that vast, industrious, placid population, not discontented with their lot, who are often spoken of as le juste milieu. They fill up a large place in the life of France, serving both as bnllast and as the source of progress. But they are too timid and too complaisant ; they submit in turns -to those who refuse liberty in the name of order, and those who destroy peace in the name of liberty. Their chief fault is that they do not know how to assert their claims, take their place, and use their power in all that concerns the action, authority, and responsibility of the government of the country." The opinions of such a writer are worth considering, and the question may rather pertinently be put can France now be entrusted safely to the inheritors of the policy of Louis Philippe ? The nation would seem to require something more positive alike for its own security and that of its neighbors. Is a Republicstrong, united, patriotic, and backed by the will of the people, possible? We doubt it. Although the Republic of today sprang out of a time of national disaster, and when, if ever, the circumstances of the country should have bound all parties together in it and expurgated all the faults of former experiments, there have been too much of the same dissensions, excesses, and want of unity of action. Guizot asks the question— "Will it be capable of becoming the Government of France? Will it have anything more to offer than the stormy and uncertain reign of a political party and a revolutionary faction? Will it ever become a calm and orderly Government, able to protect the interests, the rights, the freedom of all ? " The convocation of a Constituent Assembly was the only true course to pursue, and upon that body would depend the selection of a Government. We are inclined to think that the Republic would be in the first instance accepted; J that in fact the choice would really lie between a Republic or the Empire. A i middle course would throw open innumerable difficulties. There would be the rival claims of the Bourbons in the person ; of the Comte de Chambord on the one ' side, and of the Orleanists on the other. 1 Then which of the Orleans family would j be the most eligible if that family's claims were admitted ? The Comte de Paris or j the Prince de Joinville ? The restoration , of Napoleon, although a possible contin- j gericy, is in the existing state of things i

distant. It may be that £fe Republic failing the voice of France may again call him to the tSlfone. But the Empire after and the Empire before Sedan would be two different things. France has less to fear from Napoleon now than ever, and after carefully estimating the many bearings of the question we anticipate that the Emperor will, at no very distant date, sit again in the Tuilleries. Ifhe Republic will last for a time most probably, but it will break down at the end and give way to the Empire.'

It appears that His Excellency the Governor will arrive at Hokitika from Christchurch on Thursday — being several days sooner than he was expectod. He has notified his intention to avoid any ceremonial recognition until Easter Monday, on which day his Excellency will hold a levee, and then proceed to visib the various places and objects of interest. Most probably he will arrive in Greymouth on Wednesday or Thursday week, but of course the exact date of arrival will be officially notified to his Worship the Mayor. We notice that his Worship lias convened a public meeting of the citizens, to be held at the Town Hall, at eight o'clock this evening, for the purpose of electing a committee to co-operate with the Borough Council in providing his Excellency with a fitting reception. His Worship specially invite the members or officers of the various Friendly Societies and the Volunteers- rifle, and fire-brigade ; his object being, we pre^ I snme, to organise arrangements for unity of ■Mbu amongst these bodies. It is iuterestthat Sir George Bowen partithat there may be no expenfor his reception, so that all Greymouth need to do is to welcome as will best consort s desire. We hope there at the meetin, as it that whatever may be done without any hitch. the Paroa Road Board will evening at the Road Board We understand that the business relates to the- audit of the piccounts of the late secretary, and other matters i» connection with the recent misunderstanding between the Board and that gentleman. The results of this meeting are I rather anxiously looked forward to by the i ! residents and ratepayers oi bhe cYiabricb. At fclie Resident Magistrate's Court at Camptown, on Wednesday, the 29tli iustant, before C. Wlifcef ocrd, Esq., the caseProfihb v. Haisfcy was disposed of. The action was brought by the plaintiff, a butcher at No Town, against defendant, a publican, of the same place, for shooting some of his (plaintiffs) pigs. The plaintiff claimed LlO for the pigs and LlO special damages. After the case had been partly gone into the plaintiff was nonsuited. Air Staite appeared for the defendant. The plaintiff expressed his intention to bring the action on again. There were a number of undefended cases in the Eesident Magistrate's Court. In the Warden's Court the business was confined to the hearing and disposal of a few unimportant applications. Both Courts were adjourned to the 12th April. A trial was made on Saturday at the shop of Mr Simmons of an instrument constructed for the purpose of weighing the cargo of a vessel, by means of an indicator which, the inventor (Mr S. Roff) affirms can be placed in the cabin of the master of a ship and tell him at a glance whether the vessel has gained or lost a ton of weight. The model was tested by weights placed in it up to :01b, and every five pounds was accurately indidated. It did not matter whether the weights were placed. at the bows, stern, or amidships, the indication was in every instance correct. What the precise principle of the invention is we are as yet unable to say, but from what we have seen, we believe that the invention is one of great importance, and will, ere long, be generally adopted. It is, we believe, the intention of the inventor to take out a patent at an. early day. When a test is made on a large scale we may give a fuller description.

A Southland paper mentions that a census sub-enumerator, rinding that, under the heading "occupation," there was nothing stated with regard to the wife of the "head of the family" upon whoru he called, mildly suggested that the words •• domestic duties" should be inserted. His astonishment was great when he found the door slammed in his face by the evidently enraged husband, who blurted out, " Damn you sir, do you wish to insult me. My wife perform domestic duties indeed !"

It will be observed by a telegram in another column that the General Government have at last decided to appoint Land Brokers under the Land Transfer Act . This step has been taken in deference to the strong opinions expressed in Dunedin, Christchurch, and elsewhere against placing the whole of the business in the hands of the legal profession, to the exclusion of persons who have larger experience in land broking. The Land Transfer Act provides for the appointment by the Government of licensed brokers who upon finding security for the faithful per-, formance of their duties, and a payment of L 5 annually as license fee may transact business for their clients in relation to the registration of their titles or mortgages at certain fixed charges. In order that these appointments may be most reliably conferred it is the intention of the Registrar General of Land, Mr Moorhouse, to visit the various divisions of the Colony, and decide upon such applications as may be made to him . It may be as well to state that each Licensed Land Broker must find two sureties in LSOO each for the performance of His duties, and that he must be sworn "to faithfully and to the best of his ability execute and perform all such business or duties as may be intrusted to or imposed upon him according to the provisions of the Land Transfer Act, 1870. " The following is the scale of fees and charges authorised to be made by Land Brokers under the Act :..." For, application to bring land under ' The Land Transfer Act, 1870,' where the land remains in the original grantee, although it may have been or still remains subject to lease or mortgage, 10s; where the value does not exceed, L4OD; one-eight per cent ; where the value does not exceed LBOO, Ll ; for filling up and entering caveats, exclusive of any professional charges incident to litigation pending, 10s; memorandum of transfer, lease, mortgage, or encumbrance — Where the value does not exceed L4OO, 10s ; where it exceeds LIOO, oneeigth per cent ; where it exceeds LBOO, Ll ; : whenever any implied covenant is modified, I or any co\enant not being of those for which abbreviated forms of words are hereinbefore prescribed is introduced in any instrument, extra 5s ; whenever any original section or allotment or parcel of land included in an existing grant or other instrument is broken in any dealing, extra 10s ; transfer of mortgage or lease or surrender of.lease, ss ; power of attorney without registration abstract, 10s ; power of .attorney with registration abstract, Ll. These charges include filling up application, procuring declaration and signatures, procuring diagram from Land Office, and attendance and delivery at Registry Office. When the title has not remained In the original grantee, an extra charge may be made proportioned to the trouble, such cases being more in the nature of conveyancing. In the case of lease, and of annuity secured by encumbrance, ten years' rent, or ten years of such annuity, to be assumed as the value for the purpose of calculating the percent' age,