New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4868, 28 October 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28.

The Otago Daily Times, of October 21st, contains'a leading article on the correspondence -between his Excellency the Governor, Sir 'George •• Grey, and Earl Carnarvon. The article is most vulgar and offensive in tone, and treats' facts They,"fact that'“the ’ Governor’s despatch, rendered necessary by Sir, George Grey’s letter Home, is conclusive . and satisfactory,- is easily.disr posed of by the admission, on the part of our Otago contemporary, that “we are not disinclined to admit • that- Sir— George Grey has got the worst of it.” But, since the ridiculous assertions. of. Sir George Grey had been also put forward .by the Otago Daily Times, that paper now seems to feel that it has got very much the worst of it, and therefore proceeds to abuse the Marquis of NoRMANBY in good set terms. He is spoken of as having done a clever trick, which would have won the applause, of rowdy politicians, but which sits oddly oh the august shoulders of the represehtative of British Royalty ; and next, the whole facts ; of the case are distorted. The Daily ,Times deliberately ignores the truth. that the Governor’s despatch was ' merely the legitimate outcome of the conduct’ of Sir;, George Grey. - That gentleman writes to the Colonial Office a tissue, of the most, extraordinary;, and unfounded assertions possible, andsomehpW manages to send a copy of his letter to the Governor just in time to be too late ‘ for' her Ma jesty’s representative to coyer ’it by a despatch giving the truth, which should arrive in, London simultaneously with it.’ The device is not a new one in New Zealand, as ah experience; o£> Sir George Grey, in past times'has proved; but the Daily Times hasnocondemnation for,the device, probably; thinking .that it was' h 1 very pretty thing by ' means of' a ruse ( to- get the ear of Ear! Carnarvon" a full month in advance of hiV Excellency. Our contemporary quite disregards . this,, circumstance now, and writes of the.(jroverhor’s despatch End Sir. 'George’s .letters, as incidents in a political warfare, winding up by saying as regards the former: —“ It is ! to be hoped that tho J strong expressions ■pf opinion from men of honor as to the dastardly character 6f' this 1 method of warfare will not bo without its advantages.” Now,‘.as we have pointed out, such expressions as .these amount to a wilful ignoring, of fact.: Sir George Grey for two sessions has; persistently insulted her Majesty’s ■ representative, has impugned the good faith of his motives,- and his accused him of political partisanship.. Finally, ■ the ; ex-Governor wound lip by writing Home a. letter, cramiped full of misrepresentation as to the feelings of the people of the colony as to the intentions of' the Governor and the Government, and endeavoring to persuade the Home authorities -to.interfere' with the work of our Parliament by stating that Governor and ■ 'Government were About to_ carry out tyrannous. designs by the assistance of her Majesty’s vessels 1 of war.- ' And’when, consequent upon, 'this,; the 'Marquis ‘of Normahby 'actually finds himself forced into writing tho plain, and simple truth about Sir: George Grey, the Otago Daili) Times insolently classes him in , the same category as'that" foolish and somewhat incendiary politician, i and .characterises his despatch as a dastardly method, of warfare, •' ’ ’ ■ '■

‘But , our contemporary is not' content. with-aSusing, the Governor for his despatch', "The Tidily;Times impudently asserts that the despatch' was the production of Sir , Junius Yooei,’ and’ the then Ministry,, and does, this, in the face of' a direct contradiction giyen ~by its WelV- .U>. 'm ’(<! v.-,Vb «ij |

lington correspondent in the same issue. This gentleman, whoever he may he, is not, our readers will remember, remarkable for l an adherence to veracity; .but that djoes not prevent his ■,occasionally tellingithe ,truth by accident; and in the same issue of the Daily Times , as that which contains ’'the leading article ijnder notice >a letter, ■from /him*,/appears; in which occurs-the following'-.passage “The Opposition seemed to be under the impression that the despatch was really written by Sir J dlids V Ooel, but Thavo good .authority .for. saying that this idea is a mistaken-one, Lord NormAnby being author, , and po member of the Ministry having seen the despatch before it was posted.” Now we know that the practice of the Daily Times is to disregard consistency iii_ every sense, to veer and change-in politics continually; but this last proceeding is the sweetest and most innocent specimen of utter selfcontradiction that we ever came across; all ’ the 1 more 1 remarkable too- in oonse-, quence of the complete reliance which the Daily Times has. ever professed to place upon the accuracy of its Wellington correspondent. ;

The. action of the Legislative Council in throwing out the Bill, the purpose of which has been facetiously described as for the abolition of Captain CampbellWalkbr, considering that had it become; law there would have been absolutely _no machinery in the colony dealing with forest management, cannot' be too' highly commended, Mr. Donald Reid’s proposals to place the control of forests in the hands of the’various Waste Lands Boards would, in our opinion, have met the necessities of the case, had the Act not been repealed ; but as ■ they were brought down so late in the session, it is undoubtedly better that the whole matter should be postponed until next year. Not only the productive character of a whole country, but its climatic conditions also, may be so modified,-or even completely changed, by the reckless extermination or careless conservation of forest vegetation, that it gives to us a power well nigh irresistible. To produce “ shady, springs in the dry land and water-brooks in the desert,’’, is not only possible with the skilled forester, but is evidenced by ac-, complished facts; and ignorant and impetuous destruction has equally proved the converse proposition—that land,; however, fertile,. may be . converted into ah arid waste'. As the material for so many industries, our timber cannot. be adequately valued looking at the mere exports , and imports,! and excepting for fuel purposes there’is no known substitute for wood, that substitute being itself the mineral product of extinct vegetation. The coal supply cannot last for ever, and if when it ceases the forests have been destroyed, we shall have but a,gloomy future. The wholesale destruction of timber which is at present going on is such that if it continue it will be as impossible ere long to restore the forests as to ‘.win back the coal already consumed. It is all very well for legislators of the Bakff and Ldmsden type to get on their legs and say that this matter does hot affect New . Zealand, as there is enough timber bn the West Coast and in Southland to last for the next 5000 years, and we can only say to such men that they can’t or:.won’t understand, figures. Twenty millions of acres were under forests in the colony in 1830, out of a total area of sixty-six millions ; and in 1873 this area was' reduced to twelve millions of acres, being,a jump, in. under half a. century, from 1 30 tb 18 > per • cent. If either Messrs.. Lumsdbn or Barfp are’ capable of making an'arithmetical calculation from the -returns, they will find that if the destruction' continues at; its present rate, ’ the entire woodland' of New Zealand will ’be destroyed’ by 1893'; 'and, to the great advantage of the House and the country, they will probably become less metaphysical—used in the sense' bf ’ explaining tb other people what they don’t understand ! themselves. ’ The subject both from an industrial point of view, and on account of - the value of timber as fuel, is. full of interest, but undoubtedly the most important point for our • consideration is ’the influence of vegetation on climate. The desolating floods which occurred in France in 1875 are fresh in the memory of all, and are distinctly traceable to forest destruction. From the report of Mr. Brown on this subject,; we learn that complaints came in from the, Pyrenees to the Moselle that the rainfall,was diminished, the temperature changed and uncertain* and that partial and irregular storms had proved curses, rather than blessings wherever the forests had been ruthlessly swept away, To men such as Mr. Donald Reid, who can approach this grave question in a statesmanlike spirit, the country may well be .thankful; but to,the host of incompetents who. during Jhe_session have .been* I playing at legislation -it may not be amiss to speak plainly on the ‘matter, ' and let them understand that for a paltry saving of a few hundreds they may ruin, and desolate the whole face of the’ country!. To ask our modest economists to 1 thirtk of scenery, or beauty would be idle talk, but they ’should understand that in destroying the'lines of shelter which break the- fury of the ■ winds they commit, an economic offence, and that by the ruthless zeal of their wholesale * demolitions they deteriorate the character of‘ the.climate and diminish the rainfall of the country. The “ municipal spirit” in our midst would’ deduce our forests to a means of short-lived revenue, and the natural fertility of the country, unless:' the' matter is seriously' attended to, will become exhausted with the growth of that miserably selfish spirit which looks on every foot of ground as so much area! for the manufacture of food, and which seeks from nature nothing but satisfaction of the appetite, a feeling akin to the brute beasts of the field.

, A few days back the public appeared to be .getting tired ,of the. Parliament; forasmuch as the strangers’‘gallery was very little patron-, ised, but as the session is on the eve of closing, the interest in the proceedings of the House of, Representatives, at least, seems to have revived. Last night the strangers’ gallery was crowded, and the ladies’ gallery was well patronised, albeit the proceedings could not have had an absorbing-interest for thelatter, being the consideration of amendments made by the Legislative Council in the, Counties Bill, and the speeches were necessarily not of an inspiring character. From time to time the monotony was relieved by a few restless members of bold natures endeavoring to cut things short (to use a common phrase) by calling “question” repeatedly, - and varying their tone of voice till four appeared .like forty. Sir Robert Douglas-objected that members who spoke could not be heard in consequence of this noise,' and the restless gentlemen then became quieter. ■ - ■ . : It is with regret that we record the death of Mr. James Osgood, a gentleman well knqwn in this city. Ho had been unwell for a considerable time, and expired yesterday afternoon. Mr. Osgood was proprietor ■of the Empire Hotel for some time, and on leaving it left this colony for England, afterwards returning and taking, possession of the Metropolitan Hotel. The .deceased gentleman was very generally respected; and his death will be re- ; grettod by a large circle of friends.

A meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society is called for this evening. Anniversary services in connection with thePrimitive Methodist Church, Webb-street, are to be held to-morrow. ' X There were a number of 'cases set down for hearing on the criminal sheet of the Resident Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, but none of them were of an important character, being chiefly cases of drunkenness and vagrancy. ’ The brigantine Hannah Barratt and the schooner Theresa were offered for sale at public auotionbyMK.Thomas yesterday. Neither were sold, the bidding not being sufficiently high. ■ An advertisement in another column announces that Professor'' Augustus'is about commencing business as,hairdresser and perfumer. He has taken those central and com-; modious premises lately occupied by Mr. Aplin, and no doubt will receive a fair share of patronage. ‘ In the Legislative Council last night the Intestate Native Succession Bill was read a second time, considered in committee, reported without amendments, read the third time, and passed. " The Otago Education Reserves Bill: and the Milton Athenaeum Reserves Bill were read a second time ■ and referred to the Waste' Lands Committee. The Wellington Corporate, Lands Bill was ordered’to bo read a second time this day. The New Zealand Consolidated 1 Stock Bill was ordered for second reading this day. The Patea Harbor Board Bill was reported from the Waste Lands .Committee; considered in committee of the whole, reported to the Council with amendments, and ordered to be read the third time this day. The Coun-: oil adjourned at 11 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. this day. ’ The progress made of late by the contractors for the reclamation of the foreshore is very noticeable. :It i would seem that a better method of obtaining the gravel has been discovered, for the work is certainly showing great progress, particularly since it reached the land on which is situated the new Govern- 1 ment Buildings. The tunnel scheme, from which so much was expected, has been entirely abandoned, but the work is proceeding very! satisfactorily, the contractor appearing to be’ determined on using all endeavor to push it; ahead, •

Papers have been presented to the House on the subject of the Princes-street reserve, Dunedin, a matter about which we have heard a great deal from time to time. A peculiar feature in the correspondence is a paragraph in a letter written by Sir George Grey, ‘when Governor, to the Duke of Buckingham, Secretary for State, in 1867. The paragraph says :—; “Your Grace will find from this memorandum, ' that my responsible advisers, at a meeting of the Executive Council, inadvertently advised me to sign a Crown grant, dated January 11, 1876, by which the reserve in dispute was, granted to the Superintendent of the province of Otago, and which grant I signed in Ignor-; ance of what I was doing.” This is the aimable old gentleman who is so continually declaiming about the official laches of others. There was a capital house at the Theatre last evening, when “ Richard III.” was produced. Mr. Bates, of course, took the part of Richard, and played the character excellently, Mrs. Bates appearing to great advantage as Elizabeth. The piece was well put upon ■ the stage, and was highly appreciated. This evening “Rip Van Winkle” is to be produced, Mr. G. W. Collier taking the leading character, which is regarded as one of his best efforts. For some time past sporting men in different' part s'; of the colony have been making, endeavors to , obtain one set of racing laws for the whole colony. Up to the present time each province has had its own; particular rule; and now, as racing is progressing, and horses are more frequently sent from one part of the colony ; to another, . the inconvenience of the diverse systems is; much felt, and hence the effort .to secure uniformity. It is proposed to hold a kind of; conference' in Canterbury during the coming racing meeting, and the various racing clubs' have received invitations to send.delegates.; A meeting of the committee of: the Wellington; Turf Club was convened; to consider the matter last; evening, but other engagements prevented some of the most prominent members from-being present, - and it was - considered desirable to postpone the' matter: till; next! Friday evening. On that evening the entries' for the Wellington Derby and Cup will be received, and a full attendance is then expected. •; A discussion took place in the Legislative Council yesterday on the subject of the cemetery. Mr. Mantell moved to the effect that it was desirable that it should be closed. Little need be said in favor of so doing. Intramural burials have been condemned by the common consent of mankind; and such a system is especially dangerous in this city, where we have defective drainage already to guard against. During the debate one hon. member remarked that "’he did hot believe there was another city in the world at this day which, like Wellington, buried its dead in its midst. It is so far satisfactory that Dr. Pollen informed the Council that it would soon be possible, for the Governor to act directly in such a case. Hitherto action on his part was not possible until the Superintendent had set apart land in some other position for another cemetery. Let us hope that the necessary steps will be taken, with the least possible delay, to shut up our present in every way unsuitable burying-ground. - . A case which is seemingly one of real distress came before the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday. About a week’’ago a man named Thomas Reil gave himself in charge to the police, having] been refused admittance to the hospital, although he represented to the authorities that he was suffering from chronic rheumatism, and was incapacitated from work. Dr. Bradford, who was examined in court, testified to the accuracy of the man’s statement, and Mr. Crawford dismissed Reil,:observing that he was evidently a case for the hospital. ■ !A Balclutha Correspondent supplies the following information to the Daily': Times : Your readers will know all about our public meeting on Saturday night last, and how we advised the Superintendent to take a plebiscitura (I wouldn’t like to tell you what our Mayor called it when he read the resolution). We were unanimous in the belief that Otago wfta New Zealand—“for if it isn’t,” one speaker asked, “I’d like to know what is New Zealand?”—(Applause.) And the sentiment that “ Otago must set up the flag of liberty, and paddle her own canoe,” was hailed with acclamation. The speakers were all innocent of argument, and guilty of more than the usual amount of flowery assertion. It is questionable whether the audience would .not have followed ‘ a good speaker like a flock of sheep. The meeting appointed a committee, composed of. gentlemen from all parts of the district, to ' watch political matters, and let us know when “ our rights and privileges” are next in danger. Let me mention the fact, in connection with this subject, that two of the deputation who waited upon his Honor to assure him of the sympathy of the Olutha electors ‘were those who brought Sir J. Vogel forward for the district at the last election. , Their professions then and now seem somewhat inconsistent. A cricket match will be played at the Hutt to-day between the Hutt Cricket Club and the Artillery Cricket Club. The following are the Artillery, team : Messrs. Russell; Book, Glasson, I. J. Salmon (captain),- Belcher, Kuchen, Humphries, Remington, Turner, Milne, Gell, Grimstone (umpire), Linklater (scorer). A coach will leave the .Duke of Edinburgh corner at one o’clock sharp. We have been requested to call attention to the sale of potatoes and chaff, ex Circe, from Lyttelton, by Mr. G. Thomas, on the Queen’s wharf, at 12 o clock, and not at 2, as stated in an evening paper. f loiui.ine I—Fon the Teeth and Breath.— A few drops of the liquid “ Florilino,” sprinkled on a net tooth-brush, produce a pleasant lather,’ which thoroughly cleanses tho teeth from all parasites or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, gives to the tooth a peculiarly pearlywhltenesa, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco smoke. “The Fragrant FloriUno,’ being composed In part of. Honey and sweet herbs. Is delicious to the taste,-and (the greatest toilet dm covery of the age. Sold everywhere at 2s. 6d. Pro pared by, Henry C. Gallup, Oxford-street London,—JApvt, ,