New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4853, 11 October 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11.

Sib. Geokob , Grey’s heart bleeds for his country, whose lands are the subject of vile [speculations by acorrupt Ministry for the benefit of their favorites, whose people are taxed by an unscrupulous Government that the happy few- at whose will they hold office may be enriched, arid robbed of their fights and liberties to satiate the lust for power of a Colonial Treasurer who utterly disregards, the rights of posterity and f „the race. ' This was the gist of ah indictment brought against the Ministry last night in the House of Representatives, because Sir George had been subjected to rudeness, such rudeness consisting in the fact that the Hon. Major Atkinson, had explained''in plain unvarnished lahguage that the doughty champion of generations yot unborn was utterly ignorant of the finances and wants of the,country. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones, and Sir George Geex,. should have considered whether or not: his tmpot , provincial Ministry were quite immaculate—not that wo admit m the slightest degree that there is any foundation in the charges against the Govern,ment—for we ' have 'heard tales of a Treasurer from the' North 5 wbo, on: bne occasion, had to ( explain certain little irregularities i» , ih® way of, speculation. ’ Speculations ( in land, are not'

uncommon in Auckland, and the whole body of Auckland members were stigmatised the other night by an Otago confrere as a parcel of land-jobbers, .and we have no wish to - dispute the dictum of a poli- . tical friend in this respect/ K.l he-rights and liberties Of posterity and the .'human 'race are altogether too tiiuclß arid the ghllant knight’s allusion Vto r ‘this ofl-toM ''tale in his usual high style- giyes rise to a suspicion that he was again at-Jqnipting,to-,play the only on^ ■the 1 stage'of-our-jbegislature.y ■ Wnether ; Sir George ever studied the jhistrionip art •we know not, but shad he .filled a~ different position„ in , life, ...he . would urn, doubtedly have made an excellent actor, some of his representations during the present session having evidenced;; com siderable ‘powers in' delineating 'suqhr characters as the weeping parent. We often think how the hon. member must laugh; ’ in' his-Sleeve ’ wherii he gets homo, and fondly imagines that he has as ’twere held' up' a mirror to ’ nature*; 1 but he'is sometimes mistaken, and rude people Only laugh and'Say* “ bunkum.”

Some curious ideas bn finance were developed in the discussion on the Estimates last night. A few hon. gentlemen treated imports arid 'exports as 1 they would treat' revenue and expenditure. .They argued that because imports' exceeded exports rliin must be the consequence. Tfiey simply showed! their ignorance, riot only of the technical,! teachings of political economy, but of the ordinary experience of countries which the most casual perusal of the daily ne wspaper‘ press •■’should teach them. Nations, are, but after all agglomerated individuals. ‘ If a farmer produces exports to the value. of £IOO, and is ‘therewith only able to import to the value of £9O, he suffers a clear loss in the market of the world. If, he is able with his produce, locally valued-at £IOO, to import that which is locally valued at £l2O, the difference simply represents his profits. We have put a simple case which it was almost unnecessary to mem tion. The real way to regard the matter is in the light of;; experienced ‘Not 'a modern State has been a healthy condition so far as trade was whilst its exports exceeded its r imports. The excess simply meant that'the State had to produce material and.sell it.at an.absolute loss. Wo present this simple lesson to those members who have, yet to learn the alphabet of finance.

■The English mail arrived -in Wellington, per Australia, at 10.30 last night.

For want of space we are .compelled to, hold over, reports. of Resident .Magistrate’s Court/ Synod, and other matter.

The , Legislative Council yesterday threw out the New Zealand Forests Act Repeal Bill by 22 to 9. ;

•In the bri -the Estimates last night, Mr. Manders insinuated that the Government,, in taking the trouble' to" explain their' figures to the Opposition, were" casting pearls before swine. ~-* '• " *, ’

The committee appointed at a meeting to consider the’most suitable 1 way 'of bidding farewell to Sir Julius Vogel will meet at Mr. George Hunter’s rooms this evening at eight o’clock. ‘' ...

V During the sitting of the Supreme Court yesterday in, Mr. Barton’s. case, his Honor, the Chief Justice ; and Mr. Barton bore . testimony to' the accuracy' and carefulness i of, the full report of the previous days’ proceed; ings which had appeared in the New Zealand Times. , ■ " * . ~ ,

The Anglican Synod brought its deliberations, to a close-last night. Daring the evening there was-a discussion on the temperance question, in which the Bishop very emphatically expressed his opinions bn the queation in so far as the action of. the Church as a body was concerned. We are,,compelled, to: hold oyer our report. i *■ ....

Somemembers of the Opposition are ashamed’ of !a little festivity; though they- catt enjey the, same. . They have>'' no hesitation in sending telegrams and spreading reports of' all kinds if any supporters of tne Ministry de-: sire “ calces and’ale;” but they object to their 1 own proclivities in this direction,being noticed, and of course they are not -.without a literary bravo who will assume modesty for 'anyone, or outrage all decent feeling if properly encouraged. Hence fault has been found with our notice ,of the dinner given bj OtagbTOppdsition members to ‘Auckland Opposition members' bn Saturday. An apology in this regard ,is, we adniit, necessary.. For sins of omission rather than bif commission. We omitted to state that Messrs. Tole and Sheehan did not leave Mr. Murray “alone in bis .glory”! as a violinist; but themselves performed several airs of the class known popularly as that “ the bid cow; died of.”i Also thatjafter the party,had been thld, at twelve o’clock that they could not keep" it’, up any longer, they marched up^Mplesworth-. .street 'staging martial airs,and, as the saying is,, “drew” Mr. Shrimski, who had retired soihe’ time previously. Mr. Shrimski received them in a, costume which may be described as that of obr first father in a nightgown. It istob’e hoped that this apology will allay all, feelings of irritation, more especially when we state that we got our copies] of the bill of fare from members present at the banquet. . There was a meeting of the Athenaeum Committee last night at eight .o’clock ; his Worship the Mayor in the chair. Negotiations were concluded with the -New Zealand Loan and; Mercantile Agency for the loan' of £6500. It is proposed to use this money in the erection of, a handsome new building on the‘present site. We'congratulate the committee on the conclusion of .the matter; .and hope soon to see the fruit of their labors in the Bha.po.of the completion of. that- which,, asra design; bids fair to become one of the- archie tectural lions of the town. .

, .Last night, in the House thq Hon. G. -McLean quoted a statement from a speech of Mr. jj^ut of funis falling in. Mr.' Stout. of course rose to a point of order, and it turned out' that the quotation -was from a newspaper. Mr. Stout; then ,B y aid that he washot aware that tho hon. gentleman .was in the habit of perusing His speeches'.Mr., McLean replied that if he, ([Mr, Stout); had been aware of the fact) he would probably take more care in what he said, the retort being received by the House \rith considerable laughter. Daring yesterday afternoon’s sitting of the House of Representatives a petition was presented by-Sir George Grey-from one Singleton; Rochfoft, described aa a legal practitioner, residing in Auckland. The gist of the complaint was that the Attorney-General should be allowed to practise the profession of the law [privately. Mr. Roohfort’s , petition will carry its own condemnation in the eyes of [his', professional brethren, and, it is needless to comment here oh the excessive'bad taste bf one legal gentleman acHng in such'V ddg-in-the-ihangef- fashion to another. We can only wonder that Sir George Grey,-who is such a stickler for, cdnstitutioharauthdrity.shquld.pre-, sent a dbchment of [this [kind to the House; fob' [he must well know that the Law Officers qf the Crown in Great Britain have always been allowed the ‘ privilege of private practice.' It will be rethembered that a few. weeks ago Mri Singleton ’ Rochfort f presented, a petition to the House asking that Sir Julius Vogel should not be appointed Ageut-Gcueraluntil he satisfaetdrily, explained why ho , had declined to give [him (Mri. Rqchfprt) ji ffistriot, judgeship, i: The - distribution. of ; prizes vin - the .grand midwinter; handicap took place- last night at the Victoria Hotel. Blithe, with 20 points, took I first prize Donovan,' with d3,-'.second ; and Jones, 10 points, third. Major and Webb_ tied for 'fouHK' prized "and’ 1 will’ fun' IC'off : on: ■ Saturday next:in ; a 300 yards face/ -A-sthey are well .matched,, an exciting face 'may -be looked for.' Two or three'evehts will’be added' to the- programme ! to make np an afternqotf s sports, so that' the public should- visit - the grounds in:large numbers. " - .7,7: ,

Attention is directed to the advertisement in another column in reference to the ploughing match and sports at the Taita. Mr. Seaton, M.H.R., left for Dunedin yesterday. Strawberries are coming into season in' Otago.: ;i v . 1 ■ />., Y ; ;!u/)ur report of the Resident Magistrate’s Court prqoeedings-.,yestefd?.yij Mr. Oliver’s 'pientionied) instead ithat of .Mv.y Fitzinr’two ,bivll,uases. * and Mra. Bates reappeared at the Theatre Royal last night, in the drama en,titled'“The Hidden Hand.” ■ Mr Bates played the part of Black Dougald, and Mrs. Bates CapitolA? There, was a; very good house, and the performanca was ririnsually successful. •To-night the* sensational - drama * “ The Streets of New York” will, be,produced. This anriouncement should draw a good house.

i Aimeeling of-the genera! committee re the. visit of the English cricketers -to Wellington was held last evening in the Post Office Hotel, Mr. E. Pearce, M.H.R, in the chair. The following names were' xtdded 'to the general committee :—Hon. J. Johnston, Dr. Diver, 'MessrSi 'Kenneth* Wilson, John'Martin, P. Moeller, Evans, Edmonds, J. Bryce, J. A. N. Marohant,;C. Moody,’ J/ E. ■ Fitz Gerald, 0. Buckland, J. B. Lockett, J. Bennett* H. Farrington, F. A. Krull, J. S. Thompson, J. McDowell,. sa.T N. Hair,' ;H. Williamson, Pollen, O, Johnston, P. M. Betts, Anson, A. F. Halcombe, : R. G. Williams, T. Cameron, J Paton, T. Bould, E. Kiddiford, and N. Valentine. A working committee was also. formed for the purpose of carrying out the necessary arrangements, ; as follows ; Messrs. Bell, Enapp, Evans, Werry, Bromley, Gair, Bryce, Dixon, Farrington, I. J. Salmon, and the hon. secretary and treasurer. A subscription list was opened, and liberal support from a large number was promised, and altogether the arrangements,for the, visit of the team aro progressing satisfactorily. iAfter Sir v George Grey’s motion in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, that the inquiry as to the cost of Sir . Julius Vogel’s two visits to England should be referred to a select committee, had been lost by, a 1 considerable majority, the Hon. Major Atkinson’s proposal that the matter should be referred to the'Finance Committee was put before the House. On the-Speaker declaring that the “ayes” had it, Mr. Joyce in a jocular manner remarked, ‘‘ The noes have it,” and the bell was ordered to be', rung. , Mr. Joyce then very sensibly put on his hat, and said that he thought-the, feeling of the House was against him, and he would not press for a division.' : After the question was again put to the voices, the “ayes” evidently being in a large majority, Dr. Hodgkinson, one of the most brilliant members in the House, oratorically and otherwise, and decidedly the rara avis of Southland provincialism, said he would call for a division whether the sense of the House was against him or not. A division was accordingly.taken*, and, the question was decided in favor of, the Government by a majority of three to one. Doubtless when he returns to Southland, and : speaks of the prodigal luxuriousness »f ■; the Wellingtonians and the aristocratic bearing of Canterbury men, iwho’ will "turn - up ’about midnight in swallowtails and full war paint, to vote with the Government and rile plebeian Otago, he will also; add that never, loh never, wouldlhe countenance the corruption of “ those men” on the Ministerial benches, and.cite his conduct yesterday as an evidence of his stern dettrmina--tidntpu this subject. Perhaps the Southlanders will fshbut “hooray;” but probably not. At 'all'events, he may feel perfectly certain that whatever’they: may do or think, there are a good few people in the colony who will only, look upon his 1 action as a piece of foolish- stu-. pidity, and some may think it attributable to downright pigheadedness. Mr. Ancell, who has been for many years managing'man for the firm of Messrs Kempthbrne,, Prosser, and Co., of Dunedin, is about to takecharge of a new branch lately opened by;the same firm in Wellington. Before he left forj Wellington, according to the Guardian, Mr. Harrison, on behalf of the employes of Messrs. Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co., presented Mr. Ancell with a handsome souvenir as a mark of the 1 esteem and respect in which he was held by; all in the same employ. In making the presentation, Mr. Harrison spoke in the highest terms of the recipient, and wished him every prosperity in his new appointment. The-,usual fortnightly meeting of the committee of the,(Wellington Benevolent Institution was ield yesterday afternoon. Present — Mr. J. C.' Crawford (chairman), Bishop Had- , field, Rev. - W;, H.,West, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Messrs. J, G. Holdsworth, D. Lewis, and the secretary. The following subscriptions were received:—Mrs. Eebbell, i£3 ; A. D., 10s. 6d.; and for, Paul; Reidal, and Young, £5 4s ; 6d. from the Evening Post office. The committee being anxious to Consider and decide upon the 'distribution of the moneys collected for these three men; .will: be glad if any persons who have such moneys in their, hands will pay them over to the secretary, Mr. O. P. Powles, in order " that, they may know what is the extent of the fund with which they have to deal.

1 The following tenders were received at the Public- Works Office,' Wellington, for the ■Lowther contract (permanent way, &c.), of the Winton'to Kingston railway Accepted— W. H. Topliam, Wanganui,' £2014. Declined John Whittaker, Dunedin; £2035 ; J. .B. Blair, Invercargill, £2036 ; Alexander Mcnzies; Invercargill, £2044 ; J. G. Proctor, Dunedin!, £2400 ; D. W. McArthur, Invercargill, £2761. ■Mr. J. H. Wallace will to-morrow hold an extensive land” sale , at; his' mart, . Hunter-street. This sale comprises attractive and valuable properties in the Upper Hutt, Karorl-road, Tinakori-road, Palmerston, Foiton, and.WeUington, and affords an opportunity for investors and for industrious settlers who want to go into the country.