Hawkes Bay Times. Nullius addictus in jurare verba magistri. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 772, 24 March 1870, Page 2

Hawkes Bay Times. Nullius addictus in jurare verba magistri. THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1870.

Luna.—This steamer, as may b«? seen by reference to our shipping news, is now the property of the New Zealand Government. Telegraphic Communication has been extended to the Hurt, in the Province of Wellington ; and to Patea, in the Province of Taranaki. Mr. Locke, who has been on a visit to the various settlements of the East Coast and Auckland, returned to Napier by the Wellington yesterday. We have to thank Mr Moss, purser of the Wellington, for files of Auckland papers to Monday last. The live stock market reports and other extracts will be found elsewhere. We regret to record that, in consequence of certain charges brought; against the Kesident Magistrate, that, gentleman has been suspended by order of the Colonial Secretary, until the matter shall have been investigated. Total Abstinence Society.—We direct attention to an advertisement which appears in another column, calling a meeting of those interest eel in the cause of temperance, for the purpose of forming a total abstinence society. The meeting is to be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, in the Presbyterian school-room. The Leotakd Troupe e given an entertainment every evening since our last issue, to large and appreciative audiences. Apart from the marvellous grace and dexterity of the acrobatic performances, the physical strength displayed by these ac complished brothers is very remark able. The entertainments were diversified by popular songs, princi pally sung by Mr H. Morgan. Mr E. Leotard's song, "On the Beach at Brighton," in the character of the "Girl of the Period,*' was highly applauded, the make-up and acting very effective. We believe this talented company intend performing this evening at Waipawa. Napier Debating Club.— This society held its usual meeting on the evening of Tuesday last, March 22, the subject for debate being—"ls the present system of Provincial Government suited to the requirements of the country?" The arguments for the affirmative were principally these—that glaring as had been the misgovernment of some of the provinces, the defects were in the ad ministiation, not in the system ;, that the same constituency would always return the same class of representatives to a legislative body, general or provincial, and that, therefore, the objectionable features of the smaller body would be found in a proportionately exaggerated form in the larger one; that the county system, which had been tried in Westland, had not been found to be in any way an improvement on the original plan; that the only way to remove existing defects was to adopt the constitutional plan of electing better representatives —the mere form of government being, in comparison with this, a very minor consideration. It was urged that the ten dency of successive governments in this colony was far too much in the direction of destroying aftd demolishing the work of their predecessors, instead of availing themselves ot what had already been done, of fol lowing up and working out those points of policy already initiated which were worth)- of retention, and rejecting only such as were decidedly objectionable. —In the arguments on the negative side of the question the waste, expense, extravagance, and occasional arrogant pretensions of provincial governments were forcibly pointed out; as well as the successful working of the road-board system wherever it had been introduced; and it was argued that a community would be more likely to fix upon their best men as. their representatives if confined to two or three, than where they could elect eighteen or twenty. —The discussion was long and animated, and the reply having been given, the question was put and. decided in the negative.

Moee Malicious Libels. —A " gentleman in Auckland" writes as follows to the Ballarat Courier:—" It is my opinion, and tne opinion of a groat many more, that they don't want to catch To Kooti. His capture would throw too many Government officials, officers, and loafers out of a billet, as the war could then be ended. Their occupation, in fact, would then be gone. It is absurd to hear the tales told by some of the militiamen who have been out. Some have been in the field for a year without striking a blow, for the officers would not let their got near the Maoris,"