THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1609, 8 September 1874, Page 350

THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1874.

The news of Sir James Fergnsson's re-. signation was sudden enough to excite surprise, but the people of the Colony are not likely to be much exercised overit, to use a Puritanical expression now in great currency. His stay amongst us has been so short, and his wandei--ings and cruises so promiscuous and purely personal in character, as to have prevented him from making any very sensible impression upon the feelings of , the people. He has played his part sufficiently well, but his personal influence upon the affairs of the Colony has necessarily been almost nil, and the recollections of his governorship will be of a neutral tint. He has acted the Itoyal automaton as any gentleman of methodical habits and education might have done, with just sufficient display of originality and abiljty to redeem him from the charge of being a mere cypher. The farewell dinner given to him the other day at the close of the session was merely one of those, courtesies of life to which no significance can be attached, and the very high value which his Excellency ssemel to invest,it with in his well-conned speech, was, we presume, the response courteous, in accordance with the amenities of life. Altogether the speech was a pleasant one, and artistic withal. It contained just the proper admixture of flattery and mild censure to make it palatable, and one is not surprised that it was cheered to the echo. It would appear that in his eyes at least we are a model Colony in enterprise, and on the high road to become a "great nation "•'—the vanity of all young and rising Colonies-; and no one can be so dense as not to admit the truth when he tells us that our jails, lunatic asylums, hospitals, and schools are not what they ought to be, and not equal to those of the older Colonies in these seas. We know the reason of all this, and fancy wc can see the remedy —a thing which need not now be discussed. It may be a matter of surprise to many people that the dignity and ease of the position of Governor of a constitutional Colony should be held so cheaply as to be voluntarily resigned, but looked at by the light of Sir James Fergusson's character and antecedents the announcement of his resignation ought not to create any astonishment. Endowed with considerable ability, deeply imbued with aristocratic ideas, accustomed to command, having won some renown in the tented field, and in some degree made his mark in the councils of his country and the conflicts of his party, it is but natural that the ambitious desires which incited him to attain to those varied distinctions, should make him averse to the monotonous career of going through the round of well-established conventionalities appertaining to the office of Governor of New Zealand. We doubt very much whether Sir James ever brought any heart to his work in either New Zealand or South Australia. The natural hauteur of the man seemed to forbid his ever becoming popular, and the stiff and formal surroundings in which he has been accustomed to move would be an insuperable barrier to any affinity with the unceremonious but bounding life of this democratic Colony. One cannot help admiring the graceful tact and delicate satire of that fine old colonist, soldier, and politican, the Hon. Major Richardson, as shown in his closing remarks while proposing the health of his Excellency, when he said "His Excellency will agree with me that while he has found a people who would have nothing to do with aristocratic exclusivcness, ho found a people who would not subject themselves to the demoralizing influences of ultra-demo-cracy." In other words, we take it to mean, that the people of this Colony are shrewd and sensible enough to appraise men and things at their proper worth,, and show but small regard for vice-regal pomps and vanities. Like the present Premier of Great Britain, it would appear that Sir James Fergusson has been playing a waiting race. Mr Disraeli, after " patient watch and vigil long " has availed himself of the stupid stumble of the great Liberal leader and out-jock eyed him. For a time at least he is certain of holding the reins of power; but he is sadly in want of young men of promising parts; for the last oracular utterance of the author of " Sybil" was that England was to be saved by her young men. The present Cabinet has a little too much of the verdant in its composition ; and as Sir James Fergusson is a young man, politically speaking, he is just the stamp for England's sanguine Premier, aud wc have no doubt will be gladly inducted by him into some ministerial office. We can only hope that when Sir James enters upon the active political career he is panting for, he may realize all that will satisfy his ambition.

The way in which the question of the Provinces in this Island has passed out of the domain of argument, is as great a surprise as the way in which it was introduced. " Colonial experience," as it is called, is not more marked by the adaptability of human nature than oar colonial politics arc. So far the history of the question has been merely an illustration of the month of March—it came in like a lion and went out like a lamb. The veriest " tempest in a teapot" could not have been much less. The storm of indignation that was to shake the Colony to its foundations has so far been local in its nature—it was as a passing squall over the " beautiful waters of Waitemata" as Auckland delights to speak" of her pretty harbor —a popular puff: and nothing more. The little community of Port Chalmers, which is like a pocket borough to Mr \Jacandrew, contemplated something or other, which could not amount to much in any case. The fact of the three daily papers of Duuedin declaring

against the Superintendent of Otago, practically stifled any outcry there. Canterbury has shown no choking emotion at the thoughts of a shattered Constitution. Wellington is sensibly silent and looks on complacently ; and if her Superintendent does not see on which side the bread is buttered her citizens do. The memorable " Car penters' wages" may vanish, but that will scarcely bo considered a public grievance :, and Mr Henry Bunny may at last have an opportunity of gratifying what was the clearest wish of his heart when he was the stentor of the ■ u tooralooral" party, namely, acting as undertaker at the obsequies of' the Province.

After all, the question has only been advanced a stage. There is still a great deal to do ; one class at least are not likely to be idle. Those who are. bound to the existing system by ties of direct interest and long association will leave no stone unturned during the. recess that will help to fortify their position and increase their power of resistance next session, when the real battle will have to be fought. - There will be more political concentration amongst this class during the next few months than was to be seen in their ranks during the session just closed. Bat there are others whose duty and interest it is not to be idle in the meantime. Above all, the people of every community in this Island should take the earliest opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the questions one way or another. They should either give the lie to the Government when they say that the voice of the people is with them, if it is not; or, if it be the other way, they should say so, and strengthen their hands. To do either the one or the other is a clear and unmis\akeable. duty. It is not always well for the public to leave the lead entirely in the hands of the Press —to follow it blindly, unquestioningly —and when a large organic change is impending some decided expression of popular opinion should be given: first, as to whether a change is desirable ; and, second, us to the nature of the machinery to supersede that which is to be thrown on one side. That this should be done is as necessary to the Government as it is incumbent on the people. Whatever scheme they may have in view must necessarily be vague and without shape, and very much must depend upon the expression of the public in favor of any particular description of local powers of legislation. In order that sure work may be made next session, and a character of finality given, to it, the settlers of this Province, and of every other Province in this Island, should " take time by the forelock."

A Hampden correspondent kindly sends ns the following :—" Knowing the unfailing interest you take in the temperance cause, I am sure you will be pleased to insert in your valuable paper any information connected with its progress in this Province. On the 29r.h August Mr J. Harding, of Mount Vernon, delivered a lecture in the Hampden school-room, on the effects of alcohol on the human stomach, with illustrative diagrams. The lecturer—a worthy representative of the ancient Rechabites—made a most effective and interesting address, combining a great amount of information with the utmost simplicity. The lecture was given on behalf of the Hampden Lodge, 1.0.G.T. [We shall always be glad to receive and find room for items of interest from outlying districts.] Since onr last the Opera Company have performed " Martha," " Blue Beard," and " Satanella." Of the former we may remark that wc look upon it as the most pleasing and perfect performance the Company has yet given. Last night the Hall was crowded in every part—there being scarce standingroom, and the romantic opera of " Satanella" was most successfully performed. While Miss May's brilliant performances are nightly the main attraction, it should not be forgotten how much of the success of the various pieces is due to the able support afforded by other members of the Company. Without being invidious, we may mention Mr Hallam's splendid singing, and Miss Lambert's graceful acting and pleasing voice, as powerfully contributing to the undoubted success of these performances. Our Tauranga correspondent telegraphs:—" 7th September.—lmportant intelligence reached here yesterday concerning the Cambridge and Taupo road. Captain Turner's party have been forbidden to proceed with the survey, and great excitement exists. Maori notices have been posted across the Waikato, along the intended line, commencing at the Niho-a-te-kiore bridge, cautioning the surveyors. A great meeting of the tribes interested is to be held to-day, at the Hauhau settlement of Te Whetu. Mr John C. Young has left Eotorua to be present. Mr Mackay is blamed, for not having obtained the consent of the rightful owners before permitting the survey party to proceed. Severe westerly gales have interrupted communication with this port. The Southern Cross left on Thursday, reaching Auckland on Saturday. She returns to-night. Mr R. Harding is a passenger. The Good Templars hold a great special meeting to morrow." There has been little of importance in the Resident Magistrate's Court since our last. On Piiday the case Mathews v. Reynolds was heard—a disputed claim of £ls wages on a contract.—The Magistrate held the defendant not liable, and nonsuited the plaintiff without costs. Bowman v, Connor.—Defendant was charged under the Masters and Servants Act with leaving plaintiff's service without due notice. The evidence was conflicting, and as the case appeared to arise from a misunderstanding, the Magistrate dismissed the case, Hirai v. Paora Kai 7 whatu.—Claim of £24 for two horses unlawfully detained, and £1 for a saddle. No appearance of plaintiff, who had gone into the interior, De-

fendant claimed expenses, which the Court was willing to allow to the extent of £l, in addition to 12s costs of Court, but the plaintiff finding'that he would have to pay the fee of 12s at once if judgment was recorded, waived hU claim for costs. "Yesterday Arnold Newstead, a seaman On board the Southern Cross, was charged with assaulting the mate at sea, by striking him in the face. Provocation was pleaded, but the plea was unsupported by evidence. Sentenced to four weeks imprisonment with hard labor. An inebriate, for the third offence within a very short period, was fined £l. From the evidence it appeared that he had contrived to get iuto a disgraceful state of drunkenness by 10 o'clock on Sunday morning. We publish in another column of to-day's issue the Waka Maori article finding fault with the translation of a debate, in the Legislative Council which appeared in our columns. We need only say that the author of the article in question is unable to write the Maori language correctly, and is not qualified for the criticism he has undertaken.

An inquest was held at Pohui on Friday, before S. Begg, Coroner, on the body of Edward Saunders. The evidence showed that the deceased had come to his death by his dray upsetting. He was found lying with one arm beneath one of the wheels, and his head in the mud with a bag of sugar upon it. He was extricated almost immediately after the accident, but was past recovery. It was also proved that he was in a state of intoxication when the accident occurred, and that to this cause it was attributable. The Coroner wished this fact to be embodied in the verdict, in order that the accident might not be attributed to the fault of the road ; but the jury—as is too common in such cases —declined to indicate the source of the mischief, and found that Edward Saunders "came to his death by the accidental overturning of the dray he was driving."