THE Otago Daily Times.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 238, 24 September 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times.

" Invariant viam aut faciam."

DUNKDIN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24.

The Pension of the Assembly has at length come to an end; we publish in another column Sir George Grey's closing address. To the last moment Mr. Fox continued his abortive efforts to regain an influence or a seat in the Cabinet. On the very day of prorogation he had a notice on the order paper to ask mother of his embirra*sing questions, relative to the vacant Attorney-Generalship. But so much was the feeling of House against hi* | attempt to injure a Ministry which had done *11 the heavy work of the Session, that amidst roars of laughter, Mr. J. C. Richmond, who had a prior notice on the paper, was encouraged to speak against time nntil Sir Geo. Grey's arrival, and so prevent Mr. Fox from makins a lother display of his malignancy. The Sew ell resignation episode h more fully explained. Mr. Sewell, after doing all he could to" embarrass the Ministry with respect to the principal measure of the session, the Native Land Bill, was anxious to obtain a seat in the Cabinet, besides the Attorney-Gene-ralship, at its close. To this purpose he urged Mr. Domett to make him a speed}' offer, and that gentleman, weakly, was led into doing so. The rest of the Cabinet refused to acquiesce in the offer without further consideration, as Mr. Sewell's joining entailed Mr. Russell's !eaving. Sir. Sewell, when he heard that the natter was still further postponed, in a moment of anger, authorised Mr. Fox.to announce his resignation of the Attorney Generalship, ajid the Ministry gl.adiy received it. Mr. Fox's last effort had probably in view the re-appointment of Mr. Sewell, but this was not to be. Mr. Fox as well as Mr. Sewell, both lost office through an exhibition of temper, and we believe the feeling of the country now that it is found their places can be supdied, is decidedly favorable to their retirement. We should say there ia little doubt bnt that Mr. Whitakcr will accept the Attor-ney-Generalship, with or without, according -as may be decided on, a seat in the Cabinet. On the whole the session may be pronounced as wretchedly unsatisfactory to the Middle Island, True, the new Ministry had the "race to introduce into the Governor's address, which closed the session, an allusion to the gold-fields md growing wealth of the South Island, which were markedly slurred over in the opening iddrcss. But still mere words are nothing xud the practical results are lamentably small. Che session was nearly wholly occupied with lative matters, in which, to do the house justice, it was not behind in liberality. But, teeing that the northern members are in the iscendant, and that votes for native purposes .vill, to the extent of two-thirds, come out »f the Southern Island revenue, whilst he whole benefit of the expanditure will be felt in the North, the liberality is not to be wondered at. It is so easy to be liberal tvhen the dispenser has hot to brave the consequences, but on the contrary is likely to be benefitted by the liberality. In domestic measures the session is almost a blank, and those which were passed were so hurriedly treated that it is too much to be ;eai ed they will be found, when put into operaion, lamentably faulty. One of the most important relating to Otago, we regret to have jood cause to think, will prove unfitted "to hold water,"—but .of this more another time. There was scarcely a division on any of the measures relating to domestic affairs, or in other words the House was willing to receive the dictation of the Ministry on anything but Native measures. In, other colonial legislatures, long sessions are devoted to discussing, clause by clause, any new measnres of domes- ! tie policy;; There may be a great deal of unnecessary talking, but at any rate the subjects

are well ventilated, and, a3 a consequence, the in^asures are comprehensively suited, to the requirements for they are destined. But New Zealand might a? well b3 without a Legislature as far iwits; darner tic policy is concerned, or ia other wariu, as far as anything that relates to the immediate itite rests of the Southern Island. Indeed, it would be better Withont any, hecause, if the Governor had the power to legislate himself, there woald be less of the faults that arise from hurried pas - sage of measures; through the House^ and there would nbtba the delays incidental to eighteen months' recesses. The measures most vital to the Southern Island were postponed till the following sesflon, and, at the last, it was coolly announced that in order * to allow a more lengthened experiment of the new native institutions, there would not bs another session for nearly two years. It wa* merely by an omission that the meeting of Parliament once within every year was not stipulated for by the Constitution Act. Such. wa3 provided for as far S3 Provincial Councils are concerned r and we do uot hesitate to say, that a two years' recess is thoroughly unconstitutional. History teaches what vastly disastrous effects have sprung from tampering with the Sittings of Parliament, and if less woeful results from the same causes are produced in New Zealand, we may thank other circumstances thaa the wisdom of the Legislature. The present condition of the Government in New Zealand, is worse than that which the most arbitary form of despotism would supply. It amounts to this; —the Ministry are irresponsible for two years, they can effect what injury they please, but they arc powerless to legislate for good. If a Despot chooses to do good he has the means, but the New Zealand Ministry; are un«ble legally to provide for .any necessities that may arise, whilst they can if they choose, under existing conditions, misuse their - authority without -having for two years to render an account. For instance, a3 Mr. Moorhouse put it, they may, if they please, indefinitely increase the inter-nal-protection force—and of every pound expended something like fourteen shillings will come out of the Middle Island—but they are powerless to remove the burden with which the Middle Island is afflicted in the injudicious j tariff that prevails. Jf, instead of prosperity, reverse should befall the Middle Island, i the crashing effects of the tariff might lead to popular riots. The Government and the House both admitted its injustice, and the urgent necessity of revising it, but they simply refused to do so, because there was not time. This was the way in which the measure most urgently affecting the Middle Island was treated, and the one cave is a sample of a dozen other similar instances. If the Middle Island is .true to itself, it should petition Sir George Grey, and, if necessary, the Home Government, for the immediate calling together again of Earliament, for a session to be devoted to purely domestic legislation. Meanwhile, the Separacionists should "be up and doing." Tbiie who have hesitated to join the movement alleged as their excuse, their desire to sea what the session just past would bring forward. -Surely it has supplied sufficient to any resident of the Middle Island to make the demand for separation an imperative one.

The audience at the Princess Theatre enjoyed a great treat last night. The chief feature in'the | programme waa the scena and duet, from the I opera of " Trovatore," in which Ma-Jams Caran- | dini unquestionably achieved a success. In the opening recitation her enunciation and expression were very coireet, and in the whole scena and I duett she manifested very considerable powers as !an actress in opera. The operatic selection was | admirably suited to Madame Carandini's voice, and ample room was afforded for the exhibition |of those qualities in which sbe excels. As the j Count, Mr. Sherwin sang very well, and he gave j the beautiful " Ah chc la Morte," -with great suc- | cess. Iv the daett passages, the voices of the two performers Wended well, and their united efforts were rewarded by *a hearty expression of the satisfaction of the audience. In the " Miserere " the choruses were too loud, and were given without any regard to thepiano3 and fortes.andin the band accompaniment there was a good deal of indecision, which perhaps greater care at rehearsal will remove. In the earlier part of the entertainment Madame Car.uidini gave the grand sceua from *' Ernaui," which her usual ability, and Madame Whyte sang the "Cantiniere" witii great vivacity and skill. Mr. Small's comic songs were well sslected, aud as well sung, his local allusions were very happy, and duly appreciated by the audience. The"lottery Ticket" concluded the performance. There was a fair house. The "Willow Copse" was repeated at the Thcntrc Boyal last eveuing to a better house than on Monday, and with greater spirit and finish, j The combat between Hulks and Twill was gro- \ tesqtiely and earnestly elaborated, and drew forth I roars of laughter, and the concluding scene was ! capitally sustained. - The members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, at their practice last evening, had two engines at work, one belonging to Messrs. It. B. Martin and Co., having but-a speci;i% lent by Mr. Martin. This engine is more powerful than that given tothe brigade by the Town Board, aud it is at the service of the members whenever a fire may unfortunately occur. The two engines were worked together, one feeding the other, all the available hose being used, and throughout there was a very successful bit of practice. London Punch publishes the following:—" Latest American Despatch.— By Horsemarine Telegraph. —Camp, Chickabiddy Chokee. -Monday afternoon. —The Federal troops have won another splendid victory. Seeing that the rebels were approaches hi great force at six a.m. this morning, I issued my directions fora general advance,an order which our brave fellows were prompt to carry out. The advance was made in the identical direction as tliat iv m hieh the rebel array were proceeding, and was achieved, I need not say, with the most complete success. Astonishing to say, the whole of our front line escaped without "a hurt; and with the exception of a few slight wounds and bruises in the rear. X really have °uo casualties worth mention to report. A good deal of our baggage, and some few hundred stand of arras, Ye left upon the field for a strategic purpose, and we likewise abandoned about a score of field-pieces, which were found to impede the rapid i movement of our troops. My next dispatch wUI probably be dated from Richmond, winch I in- I tend to sack, at half-pa^t five o'clock precisely, on Saturday morning next. (Signed), "Bunkum," General-Commandiug. ; To the \ Secretary of War." ■-■■■■ y. / OI

A telegram from Sydney in the Melbourne | U raid of 9th September &.iys ;—" The Danedin .fever Lj rising, and diggers arc flocking down from aIL parts," The Melbourne Herald statC3. upon private information, that Captain Darling, late Governor of Jamaica, has been appointed to succeed Sir Henry Barkly as Governor of Victoria. - By the Sylph and tneDunedin we have Auckland papers to 13th September; and by the Remark we have: papers from Wellington to the 18th. A selection of the news will &c found* elsewhere. - --■-..••■'>" v.i; _.-. The military ia camp at Otahuha are varying I . the monotony of catnp life by instituting a series of amateur theatrical performances. :A theatre, ander the sounding title of the " Royal Surrey," has been organised, anJ the performances appear to have proved decidedly successful. A cricket match, between the Royal Engineers and the 40th Regiment, took |>lace in the Barrack Sqhire, Auckland, on the 6th inst., resulting in the 40th Regiment being the winners. The scores were 29 to B*. The highest score was made by Adjutant Wheeler, 40th Regiment. We learn that immediately after the prorogation' of P4rliament, his Excellency the Governor started for Otaki and Wanganui, accompanied by * Mr. Cracroft Wilson, and -Mr. White, tlie inters preter, Dr. Fcatherstone, Mr. James Carter, and E. Pani, and several other; SatLve Chiefs. His , Excellency is expected to hold interviews with the principal Chiefs in the two districts of Otaki and Wanganui, and is to be present at a great feast to • be gi yen to celebrate the desertion of a large body ' of Natives from the "King" partyWe.understand that up to last evening the memorial to the Government urging the total r abolition of the plfcuro-pnenmonia clauses as - aflectiDg the importation of cattle, had received i fully 201*0 signatures. These ■were mam yap* c • pended to sheets placed near the Custom Houtt f and Post-office, only two canvassers being em- * f ployed. > "We have heard very little lately as to what I progress is being made for supplying the town r with gas. We were promised some time back, ■, that operations for Laying down the pipes were t$ - be commenced forthwith, bat at present there are . no signs of anything being done towards so desitj rablean end. c A number of men were discovered a few nights * h ago by a party-of miners at Cororaandel, working c 13 ia their claim, or " night fossicking." The * k owners of the claim made a rash on the intruders I and succeeded in securing one of them, who was afterwards brought up before the Resident Magise trate, an! senfceaesA to months' imprisonment with hard labor in Auckland gaol. , r It is said that the entire absence of beef and mutton from our market daring the greater part "_* of last weak, caused the total destruction of every , pig in the district to serve as a substitute. Last £ Saturday the price asked for pork in some of the • establishments ranged from Is. 9d. to 2s. per ie pound. The want of suffick-at church accommodation has been greatly felt since the large influx of population in Daneiin. The Wesleyau, Episco.V palian, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic churches i- were last Sunday crowded to excess, and although • every endeavour was made to provide room for [- all comers, many of the places of public worship it were so crowded that numbers could not obtain i. admittance. ' We have great pleasure in announcing, that Mr. Richmond lias signified Jiis willingness to ac- ~" cept the j uJgcship. We are sure the intelligence will be received with unmmgled safisfactioli on d every side. Nothing so much promotes the chaie racter of a place, as ths integrity of the adminisie tratica of its courts of justice. Mr. Richmond's ~ piercing intellect and great legal kuowledge je admirably adapt him for the office to whi-h he ia has been appointed, and perhaps in the corapamd fave leisure of his ne^r position/he may give to l 3 tlie Colony, in the shape'of a book, the benefit of ls his intunate knowledge of its past history ej such a work from such a hand would be n heart,ly welcomed and would supply a very much ia required desideratum. - ■c The asual meeting of the Danadin Debating - Cub and Mutual Improvement Society, w as held o ou Monday evening, at the Temperance Hall, - Georgs street. The most important business of a; the evening was the amendment of one of the rales regulating commute* meetings ; and a disa- cussion, introduced by Mr Adams, noon the «In » joiiouii effects arising from the use of tobacco." i- Several meni oers took part in the discussion, and ' at its coaclus lO n, a resolution affirming that it uiioiaas j» injurious to health was carried by a n large majority. Mr Lezard tendered his resignation as Secretary of the Society and stated at length his reasons for so doing. The resignation was accepted, and Mr William Cunningham elected in his stead. The room was well filled c so much so that it will be necessary for thTsl' >c ciety, ere long, to obtain more extensive accont modation. Mr J. Macassey presided, In a recant official «pD rt from Mr. Drummond, the ilimn/ Surveyor at the Tuapeka gold 10 . ne d, appears the following accountof the £c h ral condition and prospectsof the field —«olvW M to the rush to the DaaSao. mining'ope^on's • here, and at the other portions of° m /SSc? > ' haro been almost at a standstill. DurinT the • le, last week a few parties have returned and rt )n . P^ies are still at work near the old I M and are doing well. With a retur. f aVe, yard» , v . and the cutting of U,e Sm,^ I«f Population \ Wctherston's Flat IhavTn Ch™nel th™S* II 6^/ * to »Pi» this portion of my d£S> b Witnesses subnn»mvi *« • - nndbronchk^^Lr "- *arrhS 'SOrethroats. »' gently lrSuV ltlS- UUOWQ ' tO° ." absince of a cw^ ° *™™G.fnm the of House ia an -tSIST^ Ch emy

n.l??P> Californian journals chronicled tbe'fac that a moderate sized cabbage, sold for half-a-crown. Victoria, in 1852, was able to beatthis, as the .vegetable, establishments m Melbourne quoted cabbages at three shillings per head. In Dunedin, we are able to surpass either California or Victoria, feu- on Monday last, about twenty head of cabbages, remarkably fine ones, without doubt, were brought into town and retailed out at four shillings each. Whether this is something to'boast of, or considering our soil and climate, a cuvuaistauce to raise feelings akia to indigestion, we do aot pretend to decide. A cabbage at four saiuinga ought to be looked upou as a far greater cuibsity than newspaper.'gooseberries larger than hens' eggs, fills of fish or frog.?, or showers of red rain. T The iye!linglau\ Advertiser of the 18th, in a paragraph respecting the return of many of the Wellingtonians-who had joined the first rush to the Duustan, indulges in some very unfounded charges against the 6tago papers. Our Wellington contemporary insinuates that the reports of the new gold fields which have appeared in the columns of the Dunedin newspapers have been garbled for purposes of self-interest It appears that many of those who have returned to Wellington have given somewhat doleful accounts of the' Dunstan diggings ; but- it is very probable that most of these " croakers " never got beyond Dunedin, and having kicked their heels together at the various street corners for a few clays, had taken tha first steamer back to their dull and dusty town.