New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4859, 18 October 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18.

We 'understand " that ’a/ is in course of .signature .Jor, presentation to the Parliament, its iprayer being for a change in tho..ex%i.ng,rales r ,9f}.,fe» l , allow-, ing books to be taken from the j : library while the-Houses are not sitting. The particular change prayed for ’is, *we belie vei that the Chairman of |he Library Committee may be enabled to grant this privilege to whomsoever he pleases. ■Without doubt*'the existing pra-ctice is very unsatisfactory., That practice (in obedience to what principle we do not" know) is, we ,believe, as follows:—The general body'of'those who are permitted during ireoesa to-ait ; in the library and read the books there are not allowed to take books out. But from the operation" of.this rule a certain few persons are very invidiously 1 excepted. The 1 rule itself seems to us .very , illiberal and of the dog-in-the-ihanger order of policy, and nits ilbberality ,is . thrpwn/.intp: relief -by the strikingly invidious nature of the exceptions. i These nre.few, and while it would not do any good to name them here,,,we must say that we are pnable .to appreciate the' grounds ’on which they are made exceptions at ..all. , Although, however, ttiings are not' satisfactory' as they are now, we, fear that, if i the prayer of .this petition were granted it would place the Chairman-of. the Library Committee in a very unpleasant position, and lay on his 1 ' shoulders * a 'duty' most difficult,; indeed nearly imposaible to perform with satisfaction, to .himself or others. It seems to be proposing to apply on h much larger scale r the present most invidious principle of exceptiona. There is agreatly felt want of somethingAn " the shape of a good, public library in this city; but on the one ’hand'the Parliamentary Library, from,its special character, is not suitable for such’ general use; and on thp other’ if,2lt were,;it could not possibly be opened to the public without distinction. We think that without laying on the Chairman an obbgation so unpleasant as tKat - ]proposed;' certain 1 wide lines' might be drawn, .which would include | within them all those persons who are likely to feel / with - persistency and keenness the ..exclusion-from, a.,privilege .which is ‘ now allowed to, a few. If, for instance, it were' 'settled -that-'all ministers pf ; the. Gospel; of ■ any-,denomination,.; all-, persons ,on i the roll, of ;barristersLand solicitors of ■ the; Supreme Court,.:.:and all persons ; legally registered as/physicians arid sur; georis, should have the right ;of taking out books; every real case of [hardship! might be met. But 'if : these : iinea ; be passed it would ;be : almost impossible'to'draw sthern clearly any where else/, case whatever ’ would" we; allow . novels; ito be taken out ;• for pn .Whatever grounds the claim may be' rested of having the external .use,,of. other -books, . everyone, of these reasons must- bo-jinapplioable-to novels. We think it a . great;pity . that that class of literature/ wasiipermittedji atr ;all toform apart of. the-Parliamentary Library. Besides, we“oonsider it very unjust that a library" to' which r those using it pay no fees should come into competition with an institution like pupAthenseum; .which, unlike its fellows in other provinces, has had so little/help from any public source, and therefore had ito depend on its subscriptions: from': its meiribers.s/ There can be'no,doubt that' to ‘professional men in ‘general 1 (it‘would*' be*a/great*boonjto be enabled - ’to have a : book bn some special ■ subject.occasionally, from the Parliament-’ ary Library. ..Lawyers in particular, even •’those who-, possess a ’good private library, every now and them..feel that' some 1 special point/turns- up on : which/ their afford no; informationf ‘lt is in .such' cases ; almost futile to tell' them to * ' to thp Assembly Library, and .there Vconsult .the book orbooks. A . visit there would, (to jbe -of any •./use( ; <take,':a considerable sp'ace of ; time..out of their .working/hours, and; is for that i reason-jimpracticable. Doctors -would perhaps feel this in adessetf degree', 1 ' but still with* them too the objection'is substantial. ! Clergymen ■ also, though i perhaps'they ; have 'more time atj their/ disposal during the day, do certainly pomplain much of the. present .restriction. ‘ ( (.If tthe" privilege,, were,,.allowed to[ the members of the three leading,professions, all real hardship, or inyidiousnessi would rperhaps .be removed. !f Pat-,if; this line, iwhich is broad/an d. Cl ear,* ; be passed,'we Pan see' great difficulty cin - the way of clfawingj 'any -line* ''elsewhere-which the ’Parliament wouldpiv f c'b*ald.adopt. 1 Moreover , J there' is now, we are ’pleased jto; see,; a fair, beginning made iri the" courageous .work undertaken by the committee! of’the; Atherise'umlio' put that, institution on new. and 'better basis.;. Once the new building is up, on impetus will be given to’the'/iriterest'of the * public in it; new members will join,' and among the projected improvements is * the’formatiori of a good‘reference ’library, which | would meet the wants of the general public in that respecL . ~, ( j We trust, therefore, t that the Assembly, will take -a< liberal view of this matter ; for-it is,- be it-remembered,: not.merely or chiefly 'a question 6f<''amri3emeut,((r plea l sure,’ but eminently a-claim which lean be and.is rested by those making it upon utility. /Whatever’ change''bo made, ~it. must pVobably he ! ,a a chhnge for ( the jbetter,, since looking^hij : Hhe i ',matte/k/we do" we’ are unable to Bee'in the'existirilg.plan anything,/ but/;illiber^lity,, inyidibusuess, 7 and something very like.injustice.

The debate on the motion o£ Sir George Grey, ;for~a vot6:hf'£spoO,"tpbe‘devoted to- defraying ’ the ''expenses 'of .a’ legal 1 investigatibn* as >t6 the validity of''the 'Abolition Act, was "Wat of an exciting, character,. It had, however, 1 ’ one’ 1 recommendation, 1 which’ was that certain members of the 1 Opposition gave'birth to sentiments, : that were certainly' original, while they might be regarded at the'same time as 'ridiculods in' the extreme;, 1 Sir : George ; Grey said little’ in supjiort'of his ; mdtioß, i! J doubt assumirig that" the, Government; having duo regard! to the feelings'of “posterity,’.’ to say, nothing ‘of the 1 “ human be rej'oioefl to accent; it ' thanMufly. |T.’ he Government did hot accept it; * but//on < tile;/cyntjraryj-seemed tp*regard the motion as one which hot only~'tKe ,ri^oalous, l :foraßjnucli i jtt3 jits (acceptance by them; sbuld, simply mean /an ‘ acknowledguiStit' ’ of a ilpubt on their part regarding,,the I validity pfjthp/ Abplitiqn Act; when, as a matter of; fact;'no doiitt existed. Then Dr. Hodgkihioh ■ ,rose,andde voted Jumself_and .the tin|e of the : . Hottsei.te'the' tatk.ofrjipholdingsSii! George’ 'Gfeyl/WheUiit is/statedr.tbat Dr. Hodgkinson spoke iit ;wlll- bo; quite,yunderstood ihat f tlib' : • speech;delivered was-.as, .abortus dtjWha'fchWacterised Toy commonsensa or coherency. s '-The' speech; vmwlong,: £beboni gentleman coin- ;■ . .menced by telling the House that thb Aboil- :: ■tion- Act . was BJ* communicating, in, different words, fl»e same interesting intelligence. He .was Careful to ek- 1 plain that it was'nocessrtry’to approach the j subject'Srith/ai “ blear view;*"' 'andbefore" her 'concluded Itbecaihe 1 perfectly'ovidbntithattha ’ Atmosphere increased in density- : Oeitahijy the view, was defective to'many’of th'e'/hbcbssit’y (painful 'orhtherwibe) ’ of listening tef the hon. gentleman. As his; speech progressed towards the peroration, Dr.

"Ho/lgkiuson had'accumulated round and alscut him niapy documents. He had quoted largely from I* various sources, with tl)e. object of exposing 'corruption ‘on the p./rt of the Government and all who supported them. Mr. Stafford he .complacently designated as a conspirator, a delicate reflection on his character which that gentleman was happily innocent of. Apparently so, at least, for ho seemed to., be, fast asleep ~at . the time. The hen, gentleman then told the committee that the gentlemen sitting on the Government benches were a‘revolutionary committee, and in effect, .becoming personally appropriate, remarked, as- a certain old woman did of her friends,: that they-were no better than they ought to be. As before stated, it was an original speech ; perhaps it would have been difficult to conceive of one more so. The effect übori the House was noticeable. Moat of the members slumbered, and the remainder appeared’to be looking forward anxiously to the latter end.

The debate on the second reading of the Bluff Harbor Board Bill last night in the Legislative. Council, - showed, that the feeling of the majority of the members was decidedly against ■. both endowments and borrowing powers. There are a number of the Bills which are of no practical importance; but .some of them*'are ! au absolute necessity, and. ; the deprivation of, .the: power to construct works, which will virtually be the result of last night’s proceedings, will operate as a great hardship on more, than one district where the' accommodation is totally inadequate to meet/ the’* demands of the traffic. The point which was raised by the Hon. Mr. Hall during the debate, viz., that in most of the Bills pilotage rates are included in the revenue of the l Boardsj' is an important one, and his view. of . the. case most equitable. It is hardly fair that the pilots,‘pilot stations, etc., should be maintained out of the colonial purse, and that the receipts for pilotage should be handed over to the Harbor Boards ; but this, is altogether, a different-matter from tying the hands of the Boards so that 'when created they will be practically useless. Undoubtedly a most propenuse is* made -of land'by devoting it to the formation; and maintenance of outlets for its produce, and in fact it could not be applied to ho better purpose. It would possibly be better that the Council should'throw out all the Bills .than that a number, of Harbor Boards should •be created all through the country, which will exist only, in;name,/and perhaps be the cause of delaying, next session, legislation which the. increasing commerce of the colony makes Df vital importance. | - .

Mr. Joyce, M.H.R., has developed a peculiar theory as to the acquisition of land from the date :of /the earliest European; settlement in New Zealand. Mr. Joyce considers that the early settlers should 1 never have recognised the native title ■to the land, but should have sold it by jauction in the Queen’s name; This would have been undoubtedly a most expeditiohs 'way of- arranging matters,' arid; could it, have been’ carried, out, would have once and for all disposed of the native difficulty in as facile a manner; as the gentleman disposed of the capture of Cronstadt —after dinner. ■ But if Mr. Joyce will take the trouble to inform himself about the early colonisation of this country,;, he will >■ probably, see that it would have been impossible to have carried out his plan; and if he will only further reflect,a little !0n the question; of possession’of land in the -abstract* he, who claims to. hold_.moat j liberal ideas on the question;’will allow perhaps that to have coolly appropriated the lands of New Zealand without regard to the indisputable title of the Maoris, would have simply been to have performed an act of high-handed injustice, at which none would have, .railed more loudly in the future ’than gentlemen professing the universal patriotism which continually emanates from Mr. Joyce. •

Mb.: John : Sheehan,/ M.H.K., with that nice feeling of honor which characterises the ; action of a few of the more manly members of the Opposition, went out of his,* way last evening to make a most- cowardly attack upon Sir Donald McLean. Sir George Grey, Mr f Reader Wood, Mr.’Rees, and others were never so bitter as when Sir JuliiiH was- absent, and . M(. John Sheehan.was exceedingly effective last evening "when the victim of his spleen and his ignorance was lying on a sick bed, unable to hear and , unable to;answer ibis cowardly assailant. Mr. Sheehan may rest assured he never will be of such value to the colony as Sir Donald McLean has been.

* : Jt is ..hardly necessary to.remind the public of Wellington that the presentation to Sir Julius Vogel will take place to-day at the Theatre Royal at half-past twelve.

There was one'pleasant feature in the debate on the Native department grant in the' House 0f... Representatives' last night, the ; really ' earnest desire to vote any money necessary for the efficient conduct of Maori schools. Several members objected, to many items, but when the vote for schools came on there was every desire evinced to increase the amount' placed on the Estimates if necessary. Mr. Sheehan mentioned one. fact which, shows conclusively that the Maoris themselves. are quite as anxious on the 1 subject of'education as are Europeans. One great chief in Hawke’s Bay has, set aside for the support of a school 60,000 acres Of land, from- which quite a respectable rental npw accrues. 7 Mr. Barff, in a sudden fit of economy, fvahted to Strike off the Government grant in aid of .this particular school,:on the ground, that it Was unnecessary, but.it was very properly pointed out that the liberality of the chief should rather be encouraged by a larger ydte. ' An'idea of the progress the children are making in-the native schools might have been gained by inspecting a number of copybooks, drawing-books, and arithmetical: papers brought from some of the 'schools, which were exhibited .in, the lobbies last evening. Several of the'drawings were remarkably well done, and the copybooks would compare favorably with'those’from any European schools. The characters are admirably formed, and throughout the books are. models of neatness and accuracy. . ; : 1 The annual meeting of the Caledonian Society was held at the Now Zealander Hotel last ; evening, ,and it is satisfactory to observe that the- operations of the society during the past year were of a satisfactory character, and its presept condition,; as disclosed by. the report and balance-sheet presented .to the meeting, encourages the hope that .the society will before long be entirely unencumbered by debt, their ; Indebtedness at, the present time being (very, much less than it was at the last annual meetipg, notwithstanding that a considerable ,sum has been expended during the yearin effecting very necessary improvements in the grand stand. Such a result is satisfactory, not only in an ordinary sense, but because the Basin Reserve ■ is,the only suitable recreation, ground we have in the city. : ~ The ‘‘Green Hushes” was produced at the Theatre Royal last night, there being a fair attendance in-the dress-circle, pit,; and stalls, and ■ the! performance gave t complete! satisfaction. Mra.' F. M. Bates-appeared as Miami, and succeeded admirably in the representation of that character,Jaa also did Miss Morgan as Geraldine,, aud-Miss Stoneliftm. as. Meg. ; Messrs. .Metcalfe,- i Deering, and ; Howard appeared to advahtage.iniithe: parts entrusted to them, and; acted creditably.,,,,Proper regard was paid to the importance!oflfscenic---effect,., and. generally speaking the representation of “ Green Bushes ” ; bras: highly satisfactory.:-: - , 7 I -

•i On Sunday last there were no less than f6ur ! •religious"-service ' held-dn ! the rising little 1 'township of -Pahnerstbn North, viz., one by the Presbyterians ; one by the Episcopalians, per•forraedin'tho' schoolhouse ; the Scandinavian '-Wesleyan l Service in the 'Wesleyan Chapel; ■and a Maori' Church of‘England service in the •English Church.' All thd l services were‘well attended by tho different religious 'denominations,' ‘ ■’ O’n Mouday -there was considerable excitement;'! four taken ■•place, service ;was rperfOrmed in, the Church'of England, and a [Maori 'clergy- 1 ,mah ! otecia^d. ; ' ■l’‘o-morrow, a grand ball is .to ;bo ,; gl?^n l ' ! lit Epilding to, celebrate .the opening l cf “the* line f ci that tpwnship^'Aßailivay Ball ’been ‘appointed, who have issued a large number of invitations. It is an-

nounced that a free train will run from i Pox- . ton to Feilding, and it,-is - anticipated that there will, be ajlarge attendance'.to celebrate-• the auspicious event. At the Resident Magistrate's Cdurt yesterday the charge-sheet was light. A woman who had on a previous occasion been brought up on suspicion of lunacy and remanded for a week, was again remanded, the reason being that she was suffering from excessive indulgence in alcohol, and the remand was granted in order to permit of her recovery. There was only one other ease before the Court, "and that was one ofo ordinary drunkenness, the offender being punished in the usual manner. Gratifying intelligence to the shareholders in the Public' Hall Company is communicated by an advertisement in another column, where it is notified that ah interim (the first) dividend of 10 per cent, has been declared. Considering, the very lamentable condition into which the affairs of the company had fallen somel years, ago, the present state of prosperity affords subject for congratalation, and'reflects credit on . the directors, and their secretary, Mr. Charles Hillsden, since '‘whose appointment the old condition of mismanagement has changed into the existing one of carefulness and 1 profit. A kind friend (says the Tuapeka Times ) has sent us a Press telegram of a public meeting held at Kaitangata, consisting of five hundred words, for which we have had to' pay one guinea ; but as the subject matter has no interest whatever to our readers, we! refrain from giving it insertion. It our Balcluthaand Kaitangata friends are desirous that their insane ravings about the General Assembly having no power to abolish provincial'institutions, should have full' circulation in the province, we should advise them to institute a" fund. for the'payment of their own Press telegrams. We are quite satisfied to bow to the will of’the'majority, and to accept the/new form of government, whatever it may be, feeling,; confident that as a goldfields community we 'cannot possibly fare worse under , the new than we have done under the old Constitution, and the probabilities are that we will be better under the new. ! Cold weather increases the mortality returns,, and hot weather, ;it appears, exercises the same effect on the criminal returns.' .This remarkable fact was referred to by Mr. Higgiri, chairman of the Salford. Hundred . Intermediate Sessions, when charging the, jury. It seems that, instead of there being any gratifying -diminution of crime in the Salford district, there is an uncomfortable expansion: of evil doings, arid the governor of the gaol in his report points out that as the suirimer advances and the weather gets warmer so the number, of prisoner's increases. Whether it is because people get more thirsty during hot weather he (the : governor) ’ cannot tell ; but it is, in his opinion, ■ a very curious fact. Por instance, the daily average of prisoners; for the quarter ending the 31st ot August, 1873, was 930; on the 30th November in. the same year the number fell to 875 ; and on the 29th February, 1076, it had gone down to 834. By the 20th of May, 1876, it had'risen to 844, and would doubtless reach,its culminating point in the extreme hot : weather. Without committing himself to this hot-weather theory as to,; the propagation of, crime, the chairman agreed with the governor of the gaol that “it was a very curious circumstance.” It would be interesting (remarks the Pall Mall Gazette) to try the effect of putting a sinful child into a refrigerator; it might possibly effect a startling diminution of his evil propensities, and it is moreover worthy of note that serious persons whose goodness is beyond a doubt are as a rule remarkable for the frigidity of thendemeanor. Mr. G. H. Vennell will hold, an extensive unreserved sale of wines, spirits, and general merchandise at his rooms this day at two o’clock.