THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1856, 17 July 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY FRIDAY , JULY 17, 1874.

Thr announcement that the Government is about to recall and pension off Dr Featherstone, and substitute in his place Mr Russell, indicates at least, that the remonstrances of the Press of the whole Colony against the system of free immigration, which has been carried on for some time past, are about to be listened to by the Government, and a change for the better brought about. While speaking in the Legislative Council the other day on the reply to the Governor's Speech, the Hon. Mr Waterhouse spoke out strongly on the manner in which thousands of most unsuitable immigrants had ' been landed on these shores, and heartily i condemned the present system of selecting — if there can possibly be such a thing as selection ever dreamt of by the Government officers at horne — suitable immigrants for this Colony. Notwithstanding the pettishneas exhibited by the hon. gentleman last session, there can be. no doubt as to his ability and far-sightedness as a statesmen, therefore it behoves us to consider well whether there are any grounds for his opposition, and it must be admitted he has made out a fair case and attacked the Government in a weak place. Much has been said as to the necessity of encouraging immigration, and with good reason, but there is the difference between encouraging immigration and forcing immigration, and it is this latter policy that the Government is carrying out. Day after day we have accounts of vessels arriving with their hundreds of human beings at some port in New Zealand, and--the cry is "still they come," till it becomes a matter of serious consideration whether we are not carrying the system too far. It does not seem to matter from whence " heads " come, so long as they can be obtained — the discontented of the agricultural population of England, the Bcourings of the reformatories and workhouses of Ireland, and never-do-wells of any part of Great Britain are seized upon with avidity and sent out to New Zealand, the question of fitness not being considered, and the consequence is that these heterogeneous consignments are thrown as a drug upon the labor market. As Mr Waterhouse truly observed, "the crash must come, and he believed it was very close." Our resources are being swallowed up in continuing this system, and some change must be made. Admitting that the Government had exceeded its powers, as Dr Pollen said, " the stream of immigration could not be kept up enough. If the Government had not sent for a larger number than authorised, they would have incurred censure." But this is at the best a lame defence ; and the real question will come at last- " What shall we do with this sudden influx of population ?" It is true that New Zealand is capable of supporting a far larger population than what it now possesses, but let ohe demand regulate the supply, which is not now being done, and with a due regard to its effects' on the finances of the Colony. Lord Bacon, writing some 250 years ago on this subject, makes some remarks; so full of sound sense and applicability: to the circumstances of tbe Colony, that we quote them. Speaking of immigr ttion to the American Colonies in his " Essay : on Plantations," he says : — "Let not the Government of the plantation depend upon too many councillors and undertakers in the country that planteth, but upon a temperate number ; and let those be rather noblemen and gentlemen than merchants j for they look to the present gain. Let there be freedom from custom, till the plantation be of strength; but not only freedom from custom, but freedom to carry their commodities where they may make the best of them, except there be some special cause of caution — cram not ie people by sending 9 in too fast company after company, but rather harken how they r waste, and send supplies proportionately, but so as the number may live well in the plantation, but not by surcharge be in penury." He then goes on to describe the class of immigrants fitted for a Colony or plantation. There is no doubt if this caution was necessary in the days of James, it is equally necessary now, and if care is not taken we shall find instead of benefiting we shall do harm to the Colony, for there is such a thing as paying too dear for one's whistle, and instead of progressing we shall retrograde through the very means we are taking to bolster ourselves up, and instead of having a Mich ie to tell us how Victoria suffered a recovery, we shall have some future lecturer telling us how New Zealand suffered a pnnic and stagnation. Already journals which are favorable to the immigration policy are complaining of the way in which the business is carried on, for the Timarn Herald says : — " The emigration officers are in the habit of giving free passages to incurable invalids, whose condition is perfectly apparent. What would a merchant Bay to an agent who should send him out good} in such bad condition at starting t]^at they could not, even with the best treatment, possibjy fail to decay on the voyage? The immigration scheme is really breaking down in a great measure through mismanagement and faults of detail, and the Colony is being cheated out of a great part of the million sterling which it has invested in this trade." There is no doubt but that the immigration policy will be fully investigated this session, and steps taken to remedy or mitigate the evil that is evidently impending. One of the results of the visit of Mr Holloway will most likely be the influx of a large agricultural population, but is a sudden accession of this class of labor desirable ? Already we hear of population leaving Westland and Nelson in.Bearch of employment, arid yet it is proposed to import more, and what for? Where there is remunerative: employment there T^ju' Wnd^'be fopd to ejeoute it f

without forcing the market and inducing an unhealthy state of things. This state of' things at present exists in several of the Provinces, more especially in Auckland, which is known as the worst Province for absorbing immigration, as labor of every description is cheaper there than in any other Province in the Colony. Only the other day 628 souls were landed, and the local papers, while admitting that they are a good likely lot of immigrants regret the possibility of their obtaining immediate employment. With regard to the system of immigration itself, the Southern Cross says : — " Come what may we must have respectable, decent people, and in the modd of selection care and examination must precede the passing o£ any emigrants from England. A remedy is necessary, and that remedj is, we think, the stoppage of indiscriminate free immigration, and the resort to the far better system of nomination by friends in the colony. This of itself will secure a far more respectable class of people, as settlers here, by the very fact of their nomination providing a guarantee as to the character of the persons they are desirous of bringing out to live with them. The nomination system is already being largely taken advantage of and is growing in favor. We hope the Government will foster that feeling, and at the same time greatly restrict, if not altogether stop, the free sy&tem which in many cases has been so badly worked by the Home agents, who appear to. have looked to quantity instead of quality."

There can now be no doubt of the correctness . of .'tha telegram .which, we published on Wednesday morning last, on the authority of a correspondent at Wellington, that two of the Judges of the Supreme Court are about to retire on pensions, and that younger men, better acquainted with modern law, will be ap- ' pointed in their places. These changes have evidently been contemplated for some time, as we find the following state. ment3 made regarding them in the Southern Gross, of the Bth inst. :— •'' Two vacancies on the bench of the Supreme Court of the Colony are evidently about to occur, from the fact that retiring pensions of the Chief Justice, Sir George A. Arney, and to Judge Chapman of Otago, are spoken of as being about to be proposed. It has been known for some time that the resignation of these Judges was imminent, andprobably the Government may take steps for remodelling the Supreme Court, and perhaps for limiting the number of Judges; It has been frequently mooted that the Judge? instead oi residing one in each province, should reside permanently in Wellington, and go on circuit. Whether this will be carried out we cannot undertake to say. It has advantages and disadvantages, but it is not unlikely, if this is resolved on, that the system of district judges will also be changed, and entirely new arrangements made in the judical administration of the colony. On the retirement of Judge Arney it is understood that the seat of the Chief Justice to which Judge Johnston will probably succeed, would be removed to Wellington, instead of being iii Auckland as at present. An arrangement, made by the Stafford Government, some years ago, provides that the Attor-ney-General, Mr Prendergast, will receive the offer of the first vacant judgeship. The name of Mr Gillies the member for City West has more than once been mentioned as that of one who may be a judge."

For the last two days we have received no ; Parliamentary or inter-provincial telegrams, owing to the wires being down between Wellington and Christchurch. The line is supposed to be badly damaged by a heavy flood in the Marlborough Province, The annual general meeting of tbe parishioners of Trinity Church, will take place at the church this evening, at eight o'clock, for the election of a vestry, and the transaction of other important business There have been • 140,000 Colonial Bank shares applied for throughout the colony, and large numbers are being applied for every day. The news of the rush, to Revell's Terrace at the Greenstone continues to improve, and says the West Coast Times, by all accounts there will be several hundred men on iihe ground before long- A miner from that quarter who reached town last night, informs us that there are about a dozen parties now on gold, and all are satisfied with their prospects, indeed, he expresses himself confident that the ground will carry a large number of men, and that the rush will soon be of considerable dimensions. The report received by the Commissioner of Police, which we have been favored to peruse likewise, speaks encouragingly of the prospects of the place. Sergeant M'lnnes reports from Greenstone on the 13th inst., after having visited the rush that "there are fifteen claims having frontages on the terraces, and nine or ten are on gold. Every foot of the front of the terrace is eagerly sought after, and taping off the ground is keenly practised. There are four cases of mining disputes from Revell's Terrace for hearing at the '.ourt on the 16th inst. There must be about one hundred and fifty men at present on the rush. Two parties are sinking shafts on the terrace, but, as yet, haye not bottomed. A share in Jim Riordan and party's gltim, RevelJ's Terrace, has changed hands for LSO. Some men on wages are reeeivfng L 4 per week, and many persons taking up claims, have found great difficulty in obtaining wages men. The Paroa Road Board is at present forming a bridle track to DAaaoa Point, which runs along Revell's Terrace. The track will be a great acquisition, for when the Greenstone is flooded communication was cut off between this place aid Maori Point. Once the trade is opened, communication will be always open between the two places." There was no business in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. At the Police Station, a female was brought before J. Greenwood, Esq., J.P., and fined in the usual penalty for being drunk and incapable on the streets the previous afternoon. A Coroner's inquest was held on Wednesday, before W. H. Revell, Esq., at the Paroa Hotel, Paroa, on the body of a Chinese miner named Ah Chow, who died the previous day. A rumor was current on Tuesday that the deceased was suffering before his death from some infectious disease, but this report arose it appears from the fact that he had been removed and placed at a distance fr«m the rest of the huts of the camp during his illness. It is the custom, it is said, among the Chinese to isolate sufferers in this manner when there is no hope of recovery. Dr Morice made a post mortem examination on the remains, and on the medical evidence a verdict ot death from natural causes was returnee' by the jury. The police had great difficulty in getting the countrymen of the deceased to assist in preparing the body for burial from i

cheir repugnance to touch the dead bot?y. The remains were interred yesterday in the Greymoath cemetery in the presence of a number of European spectators, who gathered from curiosity to witness the ceremonies of a Chinese funeral. The opening performance of the Greymouth Amateur Ethiopean Minstrels, last evening, at the Volunteer Hall, was successful in every respect. The large hatl was filled in every part, indeed it was difficult to get even standing room at the back parts of the building, long before the curtain rose." Owing to the excellent arrangements made, the ladies, who formed a" lafge~p'ropartion of the audience, were comfortably provided for ; but tbe males among the spectators, who were not lucky enough to effect an early entrance, had to take their chance, as regards sitting-room The performance commenced with an instrumental overture, followed by an operatic chorus by the company ; the first part consisting of negro songs, sentimental ballads, and '■■ local songs It is not usual to particularise 7he efforts of individual performers in amateur entertainments, but the singing of Messrs Redmaylae and Bish, and the local songs of Mr Leech 'so pleased the audience that especial mention must be made of these gentlemen. The " corner business " of Messrs Williams and Leech, as Bones and Toney, was so far above the usual style of amateur performers, that the audience actually roared ; with laughter at their vagaries. The allusions of Mr Leech in one of hia songs 'to several of our local notabilities, political and commercial, were productive of uproarious merriment, and some of his " hits," although given good-bumoredly, told excellently with the audience. In the second part Mr Marrvatt distinguished himself in the üßigu ßig Sun Fiower," a character song which seemed to suit him admirably. A solo on the harmonium by Mr Seymour was rendered artistically, and in a manner worth} the musical reputation of the player. The Stump Speech, in this: part, by Mr D. Williams, was an entirely new thing of the sort on. matter and manner of delivery, the peculiar "make-up" of the learned Doctor and his confrere being grotesque and laughable in the extreme. The orator confined himself chiefly to an exposition of the anatomy of tne human body, and the scientific relation he so logically explained between certain actions of the heart and the growth of red hair, convulsed his hearers.; A double song and dance in character by Messrs Williams and Marryatt was very successful ; the former looked the colored lady coquette to the life. : A descriptive song; by Mr Redmayne, and ballads by Messrs Woolfe and Bish, were finely rendered. The second part concluded with a Chinese son?, with musical accompaniment, by Mr Williams, which was given with startling tidelity in manner,- voice, and dress. • The performance concluded with a burlesque, in which the performers acquitted themselves with credit, showing that by attention to rehersa! they had perfected themselves in their several parts. Indeed this was the most noticeable feature in the entertainment, as a whole, far contrary to the usual practice of amateurs, especially on a first night, there was not a single breakdown, or anything approaching it, during the : performance. With respect to the burlesque, the electro-biological sceance between Messrs Williams and Leech was as good a bit of pantomimic acting as could be wished for. The audience seemed to be thoroughly satisfied, and no doubt the next performance of the Amateurs will be as well patronised. After the fall of the curtain at the conclusion of the burlesque, Mr Seymour thanked the audience on behalf of the Minstrels, and announced that another and entirely new performance would shortly be given for the benefit of one of the public charitable institutions. The ToWn Band assisted efficiently during the Evening in filling up, with good music, the intervals between the different parts of the entertainment. : A Provincial Government Gazette, published on Wednesday, contains ia proclamation! authorising the collection of certain tolls at Messrs Cheffings and Whitten's punt on the Tetemakau. The Register points out that this proclamation is quite unique in its w.ay. In the first place, it purports to be given under the hand of the Superintendent, whereas it is not printed as under anybody's hand at all. Secondly, it states that the undermentioned persons is appointed a tollkeeper at the ferry set opposite his name,'*! but the only mention of either person, or^ ferry is contained in the words " Cbeffinijs and Whitten's punt," which it is, apparently, open to the owners to place any- . where they please. Lastly, amongst the conditions it is stated that "should the Government think fit to construct a bridge: across the Teremakau during the term of protection the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds is to be paid to the lessee." No special locality for the bridge being mentioned, it is to be supposed that if the Government should put even a foot plank across the river, though it might be miles away from the punt, the compensation would have to be paid. The first omission alluded to will necessitate a new edition of the. Proclamation, and we trust that in its revised form the other points will also be attended to. We are loth to find fault with the Provincial Executive, but this is surely a matter which falls within the Secretary's department, and we think he must apply himself very deligently to the study of official formulae, if he is to escape more serious blunders. . Two men named Pascoe and Dobbins have been committed for trial, in Auckland, on a charge of the wilful murder of one William : Wright. It appears that the accused went to the house of a native woman named Katberine on tbe evening of the Ist instant, and endeavored to force their way into her bedroom. Deceased, who was in the house, tried to prevent this, whereupon he was I knocked down by Pascoe, and; the two prisoners stamped upon him, causing injuries from the effects of which he died upon the following day. It was stated at the inquest that all three men were under the influence of liquor. His Excellency Governor Bowen will not soon again go out of his way to lavish viceregal attention on visitors whom he knows only by name. (So aays "Simon," of the Weekly Times.) It is said on very good authority that by the last mail steamer from Galle came a gentleman rejoicing in so distinguished an appellation that he was at once made free of the Melbourne Club, where Sir George Bowen met him, took him out for a drive in his own carriage, and: invited him to dine with him at Bishopscourt. Shortly after the arrival of the interesting stranger he was chatting with Sir George at the club, when who should put in an appearance but the Chief Commissioner of Police. His Excellency at once availed himself of the opportunity of introducing the stranger €o Captain Standish, requesting the latter to pay the former any little attention in his way, and to sho w him as many of the " ljom ''as he could. The captain was somewhat puzzled, but he promised to do what was required. The Governor then left them together, j whereupon Captain Standish pulled.out of his pocket a telegram from Galle to the effect ' that the new arrival was travelling under, an ; I assumed name. The stranger instantly confessed the fact, but protested that he belonged to "an Irish branch of thefamily.;"! and left Melbourne the ! same day with' somuch haste that he didn't even wait to pack up his clothes, which still remain in one of! our fashionable' hotels; ".(Egles,'' of thft^MStralasian, writing upon the Bftme Bubjeot,

says : — "A naval uniform and a sword have largely aided in the maintenance of the delusion. T suppose if; was the unfailing' and instinctive sympathy of caste which impelled one Colonial honorable to give a diuner, and another a luncheon, to the Honorable Mr Mendax." A curious action for libel, writes the Dalesfdrd correspondent of the Castlemaine Representative, was tried a -few days ago, before Judge Bunny. "Dr Raird sued Mr Izett^jJie.town clerk, for LIOO damages, for havine~ characterised him . as a ' bounding medical katigafoa' ; His Honor, in nopsuiting the plaintiff, ridiculed the notion of the words being in; any , respect libellous jthe doctor, in fact, might have appropriated them; 'in- a) complimentary sense.; .Had the parties been in Kneland, and Izett called the doctor a • British Lion, ' ■or in Calcutta, arid the name chosen was • Royal Bengal tiger,' there could be no possible- damage to his income or to his reputation, and the doctor could take; -the term as ;synonymous with •redoubtable' or 'indomitable^' Here the kangaroo wasthe national animal, and to be likened to it was rather a compliment than otherwise. Nonsuit with costs ; cos's, to be taxed." ""■ ' Highlanders have the habit, when talking their English, such as it is, of interjecting the- personal pronoun '! he" where not required, such as "The king he has come," instead of "To c . king has come. "■ Often, in consequence, a sentence or an expression is renderedsnfficieritly ludicrous, as : the r sequel will show. A gentleman says he has had the pleasure of listening to. a clever man, the Rev Mr r-— — . (letrhislocality be a secret), : and he recently, began his discourse thus: '"My friends, you will find the subject 1 of discourse this afternoon in the First Epistle General of the Apostle Peter,' fifth and eigthth verse, ; in- ' the' words, ■ ■•■ The' ( devil '■ he goeth about like; a roaring lion,. [seeking \ whom he may devour.' Now, my friends, with your leave, we will divide the slubject of our text to-day into four hieaids. Firstly.^ we shall endeavor to ascertain • Who'Sthe'devil Jie was.' Secondly^ ,we. shall ririquiref into his geographical > position,- namely : ' .Where the devil he was,' 'Where the deyil he was going.' Thirdly— and '^tHis of l a personal character— ': Who the devil he- was seekidg.' And fourthly and lasty,.; we shall endeavor to solve a question which has never been solved yet, ' What tlie devil 7te was roaring about M> •■'■■-■ —'• -■■ /l ;- ! ;' • The Anglo- Australian in 5 ' thb : European Mail writes : — "Great numbers of 'people — the very bone and sinew of the island population — are on the eve of leaving Skye in search of more smiling homes and greater material comfort in/ the settlements of New Zealand. The reason of this exodus is given in language which Lowiandera may be apt to pronounce ' strained' and exaggerated, but which there is only too, good ground for believing is little more than fairly descriptive of the actual state of affairs. ,A correspondent characterises the island as gradually becoming an intolerable place for human-beings to live in. Owing to the frightfully gloomy and stormy, weather that prevails, continually during the summer and winter, spring and autumn, the very wealtKiest can have no earthly pleasure in living in Skye; ; Beyond question, Skye and the Hebrides generally are subject to the heaviest rainfall known in this quarter of the world ; but if people were comfortable otherwise, they would survive the showers ; even though they liv.cd undar the shadow of the storm- worn Cuchullins. It is the absence of physical comfort and the presence of misery which: renders the gloom oppressive beyond endurance. The: common people have enormous rents to.pay for their wretched holdings, .upon which they endure life, but never enjoy ifc ; •.; and ofE which they can hardly secure any corn crops but in a half-rotten condition, owing to the rainy state of the harvests; Under these circumstances, a large number are. about to emigrate to New ; Zealand;" l■ ■ •'■ ; ;