THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 20th MARCH, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1560, 20 March 1874, Page 154

THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 20th MARCH, 1874.

Conservatism, as represented by its leading spirit in the Mother Country, Mr Disraeli, appears unable to withstand the influence of the present age of progress. In fact our own Premier, Mr Vogel, more nearly exemplifies the old Tory character than does the Premier of the new Tory Government in England, for while on the one hand we have Mr Vogel insisting on the necessity of his followers postponing their own convictions of the right and the true to the advancement of their party interests, Mr Disraeli has taught the more modern and liberal doctrine that party itself is to be sacrificed rather than individual principle. We are of course well enough aware that Mr Disraeli's doctrine is not the Toryism of the old school; yet for all that he does not lack sufficient precedent for the ground he has taken : nor, should it happen during his term of office that the popular will is unmistakably declared in favor of some measure antagonistic to the principles of his party, will he lack a precedent for leaving his party and yielding to the popular demand. In so doing he will but follow the noble example of the late Sir Robert Peel, who gave the nation a free loaf not only in antagonism to his own party as a body, but actually in advance of what the Liberals of that day were prepared to do. He will also be quite justified in such a course by the liberal sentiments he has expressed on his return to power. It will not, then, be matter of great surprise if the English nation shall receive at his hands not only the several reforms lately indicated by the leaders of the Liberals, but something more than they were bold enough to undertake. Mr Vogel is however far behind the spirit of the age. We believe that he will find very few of those who are sent as representatives of the people of this colony to the General Assembly willing to subordinate their own convictions to the interests of a party, however much as a whole they may approve of the policy of its leader. As a matter o f fact he has not found it to have been so hitherto, and hence the hacking away of the characteristic features of his greatest measures and the trimming them down to suit the demands of the House. In theory he appears to be a very despot, but in practice he knows how to conciliate? and his fine theory of being followed without question wheresoever he may please to lead, is found to sadly break down, and he seems only too prone to submit to the dictation of such as make their support to depend on the concessions he can be persuaded to make to them. Judging from what has been written on the subject of Mr Vogel's address at the Nelson banquet in the newspapers of the Colony, we conclude that it has not tended to elevate him in public estimation. The public know too well how to estimate the principles of independence in their representatives to allow any such sentiment as that we have referred to, to pass without challenge. In any election, whether at Nelson or elsewhere, the most important question put to a candidate for the popular suffrage, will not be " Will yo# invariably and without question vote for Mr Vtfgel?" nor will his election depend on his promise to do so, however popular that gentleman may be. There will always be questions of local or general importance altogether apart from party, and it is such as these that will be made prominent aud decisive of the suffrages of the electors. We haiu lv tWnk that Ml " V °£ e1 ' in WS , u *" , ~; -*nturc to insist calmer moments, will Vv.. on the principle enunciated by nu** before the Nelson audience. * Yesterday being the day which would settle the ownership for another year, of the Infantry Champion Belt of New Zealand, special interest was taken in the shooting, and an unusually large number of visitors made their way to the camp. The coveted prize, as will be seen from the report elsewhere, fell to the share of Mr Hamlin, of

Auckland, who made the fine aggregate pcore of 209. Humphries, of Taranaki, took the second, place, with an equal score, but he failed to win Hie belt, having scored less than Hamlin throughout the last match. Greer, of Napier, was the third on the list, having made 206 ; Perrin, Canterbury, followed, with 199 ; Hoskins, Thames, 197; and Cameron, Auckland, 197.

Church of England services will be held(D.V.) on Sunday, 22nd March, at Taradale at 11 a.rn., and at Puke- , tapu at 3 p.ra. In the Resident Magistrate’s Court, on Tuesday four seamen of the ship Invererne, named George Firbank, James Anderson, Samuel Drew, and Arthur Clarke, were charged with desertion. Sarnual Ladd, an apprentice on board the ship, was charged with the same offence, and was represented by Mr Cornford. All five were remanded to Thursday. Brogden & Sons v. Burton: Claim of 2s 6d, damages caused by defendant driving a cart across the railway line, Mr Dunbar who represented the plaintiffs, said he had inserted repeated warnings against this practice in the papers, but without avail. Now that the rails were being laid, the matter was really serious, and he had brought this case as a caution to the public.—The defendant admitted the claim; but mentioned that he had apologized to the plaintiff, and had not wished the case to come into court. — The plaintiff said he had no wish to press the charge.—The Magistrate said that as the defendant did not dispute the claim, his best course would be to pay the money into Court with the 5s costs, already incurred, and save costs of hearing.—This was accordingly done. The next case was a charge of assault brought against the old chief Te Hapuku by a young native named Tongi. Mr Cornford appeared for the defence, and Mr Hamlin interpreted. Plaintiff deposed : I live at Pakowhai. I went from Waipawa to Hapuku’s place with other natives. I took Hapuku a letter. I was struck by Hapuku because of an old quarrel with my brother. He first struck me with a patu, cutting my head and making it bleed. I became angry and struck him on the head.—Under cross-examination by Mr Cornford, plaintiff added : There were many natives present. I was not angry before the defendant struck me. I did not call him names. When we struggled I got hold of him by the neck with my left hand. With my right hand I had a desire to strike him, but my right arm was caught by the people. I had not then struck him. Hapuku struck me twice; the second blow was on the cheek ; it was in return for a blow I gave him. Myself and the other natives had been drinking that day at Waipawa, Kaikora, Te Aute, and Hapuku’s pa. Ido not remember how much drink I had had,—Several other natives, including Renata and Henare Matua, were examined. Their evidence showed that the plaintiff was the aggressor—that he was drunk and used offensive language to the old chief, who was also somewhat the worse for liquor.— The Resident Magistrate said it seemed to have been a drunken brawl. Had the parties been pakehas, he would simply have bound them both over to keep the peace; as it was, he would dismiss the information. On Wednesday one drunkard was fined ss. Yesterday the five absconding seamen of the Invererne were brought up on remand. The charge against Ladd was withdrawn ; it appeared that he was out of his time and was not legally bound to continue longer with the ship. The captain said he was acquainted with the lad’s father,—who had placed him specially in his charge, and had never intended him to remain in New Zealand.—The young man intimated that he considered he was quite competent to take care of himself. The other four men all admitted the charge of desertion, and refused to return to the ship. His Worship 'asked if they had any complaints to make. They replied that they, did not like the first aid second officers. The Magistrate asked if they could advance any specific ground of complaint against these officers ; but no reply was made. The captain said it was a mere excuse—no complaint had ever been made to him; and a more comfortable ship had never been sent to sea. If these men went to prison he should require them to be put on board when the ship was ready for sea; if they went back now, he would never mention against them the fact of their present misconduct. His Worship, after explaining to the men that nuder the Merchant Shipping Act their master was entitled to demand them on board, gave them the option of returning to their work, or going to prison for twelve weeks, or such less time as it might be before the vessel left. In the latter case, he reminded them, they would forfeit their wages.—The men still refused to return voluntarily, and were committed to prisop accordingly.