The Oamaru Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1055, 6 September 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 1879.

We observe that the Southland Time 3 and others of our contemporaries endeavor to prove the claim of the Opposition to tho title of the Liberal party by stating that it was that party that introduced the I'oblic Works and Immigration policy. We think, however, that we shall be able to prove that the claim is a very poor one, it this is the strongest ground on which it can be baaed. Of the leadens of tho Opposition—of those who were mentioned as the Ministry likety to succeed the Grey Government when the want of confidence motion was before the UoU3e btely—very few indeed had anything to do with the initiation of the Public Works and Immigration policy. Sir William Fox wa3 certainly the nominal Premier of the Ministry that introduced that policy to the country, but Sir Julius Voge! was unquestionably the real head of the Government, and the House evidently appreciated this fact when it drove the present leader of the Opposition from power, and shortly afterwards entrusted the reins of government to Sir Julius Veg&l. Neither Major Atkinson, nor Messrs. Wakefield, Oliver, Whitaker, Stevens, Boweti, and many other of the tending members of the Opposition, ; were members of the House at the time, land their claim to have originated the Public Works policy, or even to have assisted in carrying it into effect, is therefore a base imposition. Again, Mr. ItfiUcston, another of the prominent Oppositionists, was one of the strongest opponents of the policy of Sir Julius Voge!; bat, then, there is nothing particularly notable about this, for the exSuperintendent of Canterbury has opposed every Ministry and every policy during the time he has been in Parliament. He has done this probably from a desire to show his independence—an independence created possibly by hi 3 rapid transition from the TJnder-Secretaryship for Native Affairs to the Superintendency of Canter- ! nary ; or he may have adopted this peculiar method of gaining notoriety from a feeling that unless he did something extraordinary he could never occupy any other position in the House than that of a very small hair in a political tail. Now, what were the positions taken up in regard to the Public Works and Immigration scheme by numbers of the present Ministry who then occupied scats in Parliaments The Hon. 3lr. Gisborne was a member of the Cabinet that introduced the policy to the House and country; the Hon. Mr. Macandrew was one of Sir Jutius Vogel's strongest supporters, and I might have had a scat in the Ministry, we firmly believe, had he not preferred to retain the position of Superintendent of Otago, and a greater admirer of Public Works and Immigration never sat in Parliament j the Hon. Colonel hitmore, another of Sir George Grey's colleagues, if we are not mistaken, greatly assisted in carrying the Pnblic Works policy through the Legislative Council; of the Hon. Mr. Thompson we are not quite certain, but believe he was also a strong supporter of the policy—but on this point we are open to correction; Sir George Grt?y, the Hon. Mr. Sheehan, and tho Hon. Mr. Fisher were not members of Parliament when the Public Works policy was introduced. Thus it will be seen that, while nearly every one of the more prominent members of the Opposition were cither opposed to the Public Works policy, or were not members of the House at the time of its inception, the whole of the members of the present Ministry who held seats in Parliament in 1870 were supporters of the great policy. Were we «o inclined, wo might go further,

and show that, of the whole of those who i voted against the Ministry on the want of confidence motion, very few indeed can claim to have had any connection with the Public Works and Immigration policy : while many of those who voted tnith the Ministry occupied the positions of sup- ! porters "of that policy. These are facts that our contemporaries shut their eyes upon when writing up the claims of their pet politicians to the title of Liberals.

The war of political principles is creating almost unprecedented excitement throughout the Colony, and the result so far is greatly in favor of the Government. We observe that the Opposition are claiming—perhaps from their ignorance of the views of thcsielectcd—anumberof Ministerial supporters aa on their side. The exact position of parties up to the present time is—2l MinisCeraltat.*, 2 independent, 1 doubtful, and 14 Oppositionists. The news from I'alinerston to-day indicates that the Hon. George M'Lean has been l«atcn by Mr. Arkle, for, although the country returns have yet to come in, we think it scarcely possible that they will so swell the number of Mr. M 'Lean's votes as to place him at the head of the poll. Mr. M'Kenzie, who retired from the contest in favor of Mr. Arkle, is a popular man with the farmers, and it is therefore likely that they have recorded their votes in favor of his favorite candidate.

It is gratifying to learn that the Corporation will have the assistance of the AgentGeneral in connection with the floating of the waterworks loan of HO,OOO. At last night's meeting a letter was read from Sir Julius Vogel, promising to give all the assistance he can towards the successful floating of the loan. The town could have no better advocate, and if the loan is not successful it will not be for the want of influence.

We understand that the Rev. F. J. Sotiinm, of Port Chalmers, is to preach at St. Luke's Church to-morrow, morning and evening.

A special meeting of the Oamaru Branch of the Otago Railway Employes' Benefit Society was held last evening, for the purpose of considering a proposal to amalgamate the different branches with a view of forming one society for the whole of the Middle Island. Mr. T. W. Brebner, the representative at the meeting of delegates held at Christchurch last week, submitted a report, together with a code of rules and regulations drawn up for the guidance of the amalgamated Society, to the meeting last night, and a heart) - vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Brebner for his services a3 delegate, as also for his report. After some dicussion it was unanimously carried, " That, in the opinion of the meeting, it is desirable that amalgamation should take place also, "That a copy of the resolution be forwarded to the Committee of theDunedin branch,'' the resolution and their report to be submitted to the next meeting of delegates, when, it is expected, final arrangements for amalgamation will be made.

We arc glad to learn that at last steps are to be taken to prevent any further loss of life by falls over that treacherous embankment in Itchen-strcct. At last night's meeting of the Municipal Council a letter was read from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, stating that a protection fence would be erected along their property in front of the small cottages above the embankment. A meeting of ladie.? willing to assist in the establishment of a bazaar to supplement the funds of the Oamaru Athcnamin will he held on Tuesday afternoon next at tlie Athena-urn at 4 o'clock, and not at 5 o'clock, as stated by U3 yesterday. Wc have been shown the tenth annual report of the Mutual Life Association of Australasia. The annual revenue is LG4,000, and the yearly expenses amount to L 31,000 (including claims under assurance policies, endowments matured, and all expenses) thus leaving a sum of On,ooo of clear profit, the greater portion of which will be divided amongst policy holders itt the association. It would appear that the association has made rapid strides during the past year. The annual general meeting of the Excelsior Cricket Club will be held to-night in the- Koyal Hotel, at S o'clock. All players and intending members arc requested to attend. The Municipal Council has not yet succeeded in securing for the town the benefit of the prisoners who from time to time occupy the Oamaru f!aol. At the meeting of the Council last evening, the following letter from Superintendent Weldon was read :-.iir,—Referring to your letter of the •J.'itii instant relative to your employing the prisoners at Oamaru at hard labor on roads and streets there, I have the honor to state that I am under the impression that prisoners can be employed at such labor as the visiting justices may think fit. It is certainly not in my power to order prisoners to such work. But under any circumstmces, if prisoners arc to be employed as you suggest, it will entail an additional warder to guard them, which I presume will have to be sanctioned by tiie Minister of Justice. ' The Mayor stated that he had written to the Minister for Justice upon the subject, but had not yet received a reply. Councillor Headland thought they should make an application to the Visiting Justices of the flaol, and then if the labor were granted they could take steps to secure a second warder. After a little dissenssion the matter was left to the Mayor for arrangement.