The Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, 5TH NOVEMBER, 1873.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1522, 5 November 1873, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, STH NOVEMBER, 1873.

In our last issue, published oi\ the 31st December hist, in announcing our intention 1?. suspend for a time the publication pV,our journal, wc stated tlist this, was intended to be

merely temporary, and that wc contem-

plated, ere long, resuming our issue, in an improved form, and under more favorable circumstances. This inten-

.tion we have glow carried into effect; and we have to thank our subscribers and supporters, old and now, for the liberal support already given us. We ji.sk the indulgence of our readers for the imperfections inseparable from the production of a first number, mid take tins opportunity of assuring there that we will spare no effort to make tup Hawke's Bay Times increasingly worthy of their support.

Peiihavs the most striking feature of the present political situation in this Colony is the marvellous change that jfoas taken place in the position occupied bv Mr Vogel in public estimation. The change we speak of, although felt by .<omo persons to be come about somewhat earlier than was to have been expected ; and has been, no doubt. materially hastened by his ill-advised course of action during the late session of itlao General Assembly. But a few short imoiiths ago, it was almost treason to say a word calculated to cast the shadow of a doubt .either on the wisdom of Ids policy or on his ability to carry it out to n successful issue: and, what is well worthy of notice, while his partisans appeared still to believe in him as fully as ever, it was himself that disabused the public mind, and showed himself to be the political charlatan he really is, by las practical confession of the failure of his scheme, as exhibited in his attempt {to ;r<?euscitatc the defunct system of provincial borrowing. It would be hard to say whether that proposal surprised attest his friends or W foes—coming, as at did, so unexpectedly, and,-for his own credit, Neithei did the .argument*; be advanced in favor of the •proposal, tend in .an/ way to better his position in the eyes of titbOlV fr ll * rather the reverse; for they amounted Jto little •else than a confession that his scherne works had miscarried, fom the

impossibility of straining the credit of the Colony to the extent necessary for their completion. It was, in effect, an assertion that the borrowed millions would not suffice for more than a foundation —on which each different Province might raise its own superstructure —they might enable the Colony to construct certain trunk lines of railway, but to make these available for practical utility, the Provinces must, each for itself, construct its branches. To enable them to do this, he was willing that each should borrow on its own account, and add their several quotas of of debt to that of the already overburdened Colony. But not only did his character as an astute politician suffer by this virtual confession of failure—it suffered even more from his vacillating conduct afterwards. Instead of standing or falling by his policy, as it was asserted he would do, we find him occupying the most undignified position of a defeated political leader, holding fast on to the emoluments of office. Wc believe that even ■ his most violent partizans would have justified him in his resignation at that time; while all must admit that he would have held an infinitely more creditable position; because then, at least, he would have had some claim to the merit of political consistency. After all, however, this docs not fully account for the altered tone adopted by his late supporters in the public press. If he, during the late session, abandoned his several positions one after the other, in accordance with the necessities of the moment, it is no more than he has been doing during the whole of his term of office; and the writers who now turn against him, can scarcely find anything new in it sufficiently strange to warrant their altered views'. The whole history of his policy has been one of trimming and patching, in order to gain support 01; retain supporters; and we believe that one main cause of its non-success hqs been its disintegration and adaptation to the wild notions of those whom 110 has felt forced to satisfy, lest they should desert to the ranks of his opponents. This vacillation, then, being nothing new or unprecedented on his part, can hardly be the whole reason of the different aspect in which he is regarded by a section of the colonial press. Wc think we shall come nearer the mark if wc assume that the support he formerly received from it way more superficial than genuine that the writers who have lauded him to the skies have often done so, not so much from a belief in him on their own part, as from a desire to side with what they believed to be the popular view. The progress of events having, to a great extent, opened the eyes of the public to tilings as they are, and stripped the popular idol of much of its glory, these are fast enough to note the change, and pass from one to the opposite extreme, hoping still to be in. accord with the popular voice. The explanation is a very simple one, and though it does not reflect credit on those who have adopted this course, it shows them to be apt imitators of their great exemplar, in political vacillation—Julius Vogcl.

"Wc have to acknowledge the courtesy of a number of our contemporary journalists, in continuing their exchanges regularly during the suspension of the Hawke's Bay Times. Wc have also to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr Didsbury, the Government printer, in forwarding us a complete set of Parliamentary papers and reports of last session.

A narrow escape from serious accident took place near the Post Office corner yesterday forenoon. As a hired carriage, containing two ladies and two gentlemen, was being driven down Sbak/inciire-road, the horses suddenly took fright opposite, the quarry, and bolted at a furious gallop towards the Post Office. One of the gentlemen sought safety in jumping cut of the vehicle ; the others of the party kept their sekts, Opposite the Post Office, the carriage ran into Dr Hitchings's bucigy, which was standing outside, shattering one of the. wheels into fragments, and doing other damage. Still unchecked in their furious career, the horses .crossed the street, and ran violently against M? U Campbells' verandah, striking it, throwing the party out, and shattering two of the yey&wdfth supports, and smashing the shaft of the carriage. The I'aey occupants sustained on'iy very slight injuries ; but all who saw the accident regard the escape as an exceedingly narrow one One of the run-away* horses was much injured.

A meiancholy and fatal accident occurred on Friday last to a man named Thouas Hardy, residing at Clivc, He had been long in weak health; but feeling better on the day in question, he went to the beach in a boat to gather firewood, a strong current running out at the time. He did not return, and after an absence of five hours, a search was made. His boat was found cast up on the beach, still containing the firewood he had collected ; and half-a-mile further on his body was found in process o'f being washed ashore by the tide. It it'surmised that the deeense.il must have jumped out of the boat, and'tried to gain the shore, but was drowned in the attempt. An inquest was held, and a verdict in accordance with the facts was returned,

Our obituary today contains the name of Alexander M'Lcan, Esq., of Maraekakaho. The deceased was an old and well-known settler, and his funeral, which took place on Monday, was largely and respectably attended. Monday, the 3rd inst., as the anniversary of the Province, was observed as a general holiday. The weather was everything that could be desired, and almost the entire population of Napier turned out for the purpose of spending the day in out-door enjoyment, a creat centre of attraction was Taradale, where the Oddfellows and Foresters held a very successful fete, at which it was estimated about 600 persons were present. A cricket match was played between the town and country Cricket Clubs—resulting in the town being declared the victor, with several wickets to fall. Sports of various kinds were enjoyed; the admirable band of the N. R. V. was in attendance, and the day's proceedings passed over very pleasantly. A case of assault, presenting some singular features, came before the Resi dent Magistrate during the last week. The complaint was laid by Mrs Blom, a Norwegian woman, against one of her countrymen, named Lauritz Kjelsen. Mr Kjelsen's views of the rights of a landlord appears to have been of an unusually broad and liberal character. Accordingly he enters his own house in the small hours of a Sunday morning, to eject an undesirable lodger. Upon Mrs Blom, another lodger, objecting to the disturbance ho makes, he tells her he will teach her to bo quiet, and entering her room, seizes her by the throat, also giving her a black eye. Mr Blom finds" it essential to dress himself and obtain a light before assisting his wife, and though a lamp is burning in the next room, it is not until other inmates of the house have interfered, that he brings it to bear on the subject, Such were the curious features of a case which is reported at length in another column. Mr Kjelsen will do well to profit by his first lesson in English law, and may congratulate himself on the light penalty—£4, including costs, with which his offence was visited.

In another part of to-day's issue we publish the General Report of his Honor Mr Justice Richmond, the Chairman of the Hawke's Bay Native Lands Alienation Commission. "We arc aware that extensive extracts have already appeared in our morning contemporary; but in view of the importance of the subject, and the special interest it possesses for Hawke's Bay readers, we have transferred it to our columns in a complete form. Our exchanges are at present rather few in number, and those to hand are somewhat barren of news ; which will account for the deficiency of interprovincial items in our columns this morning. ■?— POVERTY BAY. Our files of the Standard extend to the 29th ultimo. We gather the follow* ing items from the latest numbers: — • A requisition pretty numerously signed, is in circulation in the district, supporting the candidature of Captain G. E. Read, as a member to represent the district oil Turangaiuii,;in the Provincial Council. AVe believe Captain Read has expressed his willingness to be put in nomination provided that he be requested by the settlers to represent them. The requisition will be presented on his return from Aucklaud in the course of a week or two. The Standard of the 22nd devotes a leader to Captain Read's candidature, warmly supporting his claims. Wc quote a portion : "Captain G. E. Read may be looked upon as the father of the Bay. Ho is the Patriarch, who, after all the buffetings and discomforts of pioneering, and early settlement, can look around now on the happy change of scene which he has been mainly instrumental iu effecting. It is his energy, aud the leverages of a large capital, that has made Poverty Bay what it is, There arc scores of settlers iu this district who have grateful recollections of the helping hand he freely extended, to aid them in making this their future home. There are other scores also, who, but for his great desire to see a prosperous and contented population settle on these magnificent plains, would not have been the happy possessors of the small but valuable estates they now enjoy. These are the people who, we arc glad to find, are now returning like for like Captain Read, sr.y they, has shown himself so far a friend of the settlers, that wo spontaneously confide our political necessities to his care."

A slight shock of earthquake—the. second within ten clays —was felt hi Gisborne on the 18th instant.

It is contemplation to form cither a Philharmonic or Choral Soeiety, in Gisborue, and that a meeting of those interested has been requested for that purpose. Musica] talent, vocal and instrumental, is very fairly represented how in Poverty Bay, and the coming summer months will, wc trust, enable our friends residing in the country to take an active part in the development of it, By the Comcrang, which arrived on Sun* day, 20th October, from Aucklaud, 22 immigrants were passengers ex Hydaspes from London. ' They were accommodated temporarily -in the Court-house ; and all of them, we believe, have found ready employment at remunerative terms.

We regret to record a painful accident which happened to Mr. Bousficld on Friday night, 'iiih October, resulting in a simple fracture of the leg, between the knee and Ankle joint, Mr. Bousficld, it appears, was returning from Orrnond to Taureka, and just before reaching home, on attempting to pass one of the gates, his horso shied, and canje in contact with it in such a way as to precipitate his rider to the ground ; the gate, at the same moment swinging to the animal's quarters caused it to kick and strike Mr. Bousneld's leg. Assistance, luckily, happened to be at hand, and a messenger was quickly despatched to town for Dr. Nesbitt, who, wo understand has re-set the limb in a very satisfactory way. The patient, we learn, is doing well.