The Colonist. NELSON, TURSDAY, JULY 24, 1860.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 288, 24 July 1860, Page 2

The Colonist. NELSON, TURSDAY, JULY 24, 1860.

'If the public will not take a livelyjntereßt in public affairs, it is not likely that the public weal will be promoted.' We have extracted this sentence from the very clever article which will be found in our number for Tuesday, July 17th. We earnestly call the attention of our readers to this truthful and plainly written essay. It contains a lucid statement of the ' evils which press upon New Zealand so heavily. Truly is it stated that if the public would take the trouble to examine the laws passed by the General Legislature, they Would see that their: true interests had been 'designedly disregarded.' :' The apathy displayed by the settler* of; New Zealand in all public matters is staled; • stupid indifference.' It is more than this -—it is a perverse and wicked neglect of one of the primary,duties of a free citizen, How disgusting is it to hear a man, like a genuine flunkey, say—-' I never meddle with public affairs;' 'What's the public to me?' 'A man is a fool to lose time in public matters;' and so on. Such a man is truly fitted to wear the badge of slavery all his life, and entail the same symbol of disgrace on his children to the third and. fourth generation. What are public affairs? Do they not affect every act of private life. Is the payi ment sf taxes not a private affair ? Then why allow our; delegates in Council or Assembly to act against our interests, or without our approval and assistance ? Why permit a {ew men—chosen perhaps without consideration, or by viler means—to crush the young state by the heavy burden of useless, unjust, vexatious, and ridiculous statutes ? Why allow our delegates, \ after they have promised to vote oneway, but directly they have had an interview with the minister of .he day to vote just' the contrary, to escape without calling them to account, and branding him as an unjust and profligate public servant ? J, Will it"be believed that eighty statuteslaws they cannot be called—were passed in the last session of the General Assembly ? A few sessions like this will make a fine feast for the legal spiders, who crawl and creep about, defiling and poisoning every thing they touch : and what is it' they do not touch ? Talk not of the confessor of the catholic church, while in almost every act of our life are we compelled to resort to one of these supposed expositors of the intricate, verbose, and ludicrous quips and quibbles of modern legislation. Truly do we deserve the cutting sarcasm of a recent French writer, who terms English jurisprudence 'an imbroglio, composed of old patches of chicanery,fallen into decrepitude for ages, in which the feudal spirit still predominates, and where contradictions hold the place of abuses. And how dignified and imposing are the forms! The judge and accused juggling together.—the former making bad jokes, drawing on himself insults, and allowing the respectable character, of the magistrate to be degraded in his. person; and the jury who are imprisoned during the whole of the trial, to prove the confidence reposed in its incorruptibility. Compare this indescribable mass of laws, customs, and usages with the Admirable Code Napoleon.' And.;, who degraded English jurisprudence to this humiliating, state? , Corrupt, incapable, and lawyer-led representatives chosen by a fraction ofi interested electors. ; ! * Of the press the writer of the article we first quqted says—' It is true that political ignorance and a really free press cannot for any length of time coexist; but there is; unfortunately more probability that the former will banish the latter thanthe latter j it. A free and enlightened press is the; offspring not the parent of a free and en- j lightened people.' - ■:< ; , He ridicules the absurd attempt to imitate British legislators by the representatives of the people here; andsays that they, have ! dabbled just enough in political economy i to repeat by rote doctrines of the school at! present in vogue, *and to apply nostrums I to an infant in arms which were intended, only for the relief of sickly adults;.' All; our readers will agree with the fol-J lowing observations concerning the proper, men to meet together and discuss—not utter long, dreary, pompous speeches—all matters relating to the well-being of the people :■—'lt would be safer to trusjt the body politic in the hands bf l ,menpf practical observation, possessing common sense and experience, than in the hands of men lacking these, though they have all the works of the economists, from Adam Smith' to Ricardo, at their fingers' ends, or have worshipped faithfully frorritheir youth up at the.school of Parson Malthus,' None of the acts passed by the General Legislature are calculated to bring into use the vast raw materials of this colony, and thereby raise, foster, and reward industry, talenf, and perseverance, and create cheerful homes for thousands of hard-working but half-starved Englishmen. Ail that has. been done has been done for a class far too powerful in the Legislature,; and which has 1 managed ~to monopolise and wastefujly occupy most of the lands which have been alienated frorri the natives* /: ■'■"".• ; ' -.. If these obseryatidhs rouse buj one man from disgraceful apathy; make but one ta&n ashamed that he ever made a distinction between -public aniil private matteig; stir but one. languift 'sojiltQ, iisouiid, prin-ciple-.of action >■: then.,not jin vain hasi the author of 'Our Laws, arid-Legislators ;vyiittehjand:<|e^bfijnce;d,!,,;;,;1 1::':% ;,;;.;.', ■', ; ■~ ..,

The Airedale returned to port on Satur-* day last through strew of wqather^ We

have been informed' that every stitch. of canvas was carried away with a sound resembling that of a big gun, and her cabin filled ; with water, much, to the consternation and dismay -, of the passengers, among whom were several members of the House of Representatives, on whom it is hoped it will have a beneficial effect, and induce them, to make better laws and cur«, them. S6f making Jong speeches, and of aiding and abetting in passing long. acts. She sailed again for Taranaki and Auckland yesterday with the members of the General. Assembly from the Middle Island..

Acts of the Nelsok Provincial CouncJ:l.~The following' Acts passed by the Council have received the assent of the Governor :-rHackney Carriages Act, Rifle Prize Act, Appropriation Act, Act to authorise the.Trustees of the Nelson Institute to borrow Money upon Security of Property of> the Institute. : ■ Premium to Architects.—Some time ago we called the attention of i he Architects of New Zealand and other places tp the premiums of .£6OO aijid ',£3OO foe the best and Wcond) best designs for the new Houses of Parliamenti arid Public' Offices for Near South Wales. Our announcement of the fact is now confirmed by a notice in the General Government. Gazette, in which it is stated that 'Copiesof the general conditions, which include ample detail .of the accommodation required, may be seen, together with photographic, .views and colored plans of the site, on application to the Secretary for Crown Lands, Auckland.'. The time' given is up to the Ist March,lß6l. The designs, 'with specifications and estimates, will be received at the above office, Auckland, addressed to * The Sercetary for Public Works, Sydney,' and en-, dorsed * Design for new Houses of Parliament, &c, for New South Wales/ We presume- that it is "not imperative that New Zealand architects should send their designs through Auckland; it is not so stated in the notice. Gold Mining Leases.—The following leases have been granted by the General Government :■— Joseph Gibbs, 1280 acres, Parapara; London Metallurgic Company, 743 acres, Parapara. We have heard that the several small companies established at the Aorere gold-fields are now getting some return for their past heavy labors. When the large companies commence work in earnest, the value of the Nelson gold-fields will be fully ■tested.'; , ; . . ■■■■.' ■■.'..■■■■■ •' ; Volunteers and Militia. —The following officers have been gazetted:—Captain.N. Edwards, Lieutenant A. Kerr, and Ensign B. 0, Hodgson, in. the second; company of Nelson Volnriteers; and Major R..K. Newcome, in the Nelson regiment of New Zealand Militia. Waterworks.—The last Government Gazette contains a notice of an application to be made at the next sittings of the General Assembly for an act to enable a Company, to construct waterworks for the town and suburbs of Auckland; the supply to beobtained/fromthe Onehungasprings. \ New Zealand Flax.—The importance, of this long-neglected indigenous source of,wealth and means of employment for thousands has at last attracted the attention of several energetic men, who, in order to secure the full benefit of. their time and labour, are about to apply; for patents 4 for an invention for the preparation of the Phormium Tenax and other plants for manufacturing' purposes.' The applicants are 'A. G. Purchas and James Nimms.' ..,.-. ■:■.-■

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. '

. Wednesday,.July 10.- ■; (Before J. Pointer, Esquire, R. 51.) Charles Ross jj. John Frazer, to recover the sum of £20. Charles Ross of Nelson, labourer, sworn, saith: Bought some cattle (2 head) of defendant in J2853 or 1854. The defendant at the time of the purchase promised verbaly to deliver such cattle to James Bell, to take charge of on my account; the cattle consisted of two'cows. Bell has informed' me that the defendant never delivered the cattle as he promised'; brought an action against the defendant for the. delivery of the cattle in the year 1856; appeared at the time, defendant did not appear. Mr. Travers acted for .me at that, time and advised me to summons the defendant again. A fresh summons was issued against the defendant, but he could riot-appear in consequence ;df the rivers being up. Was then residing in the Waimea Village. Paid the defendant .£ls for the cattle,or rather gave, him orders.upon Mr. Stafford for. that amount; the orders were duly paid and Mr. Travers has the receipts; the damage of £5 plaintiff claims as the supposed increase of the cattle for the last five years.; Have subpoena'd; Mr. Bell, but he has not comedown from the Waimea. Cross-examined by defendant: .Went over to; see the cattle two days after their being purchased; you asked me if I was,satisfied with the purchase, > and plaintiff said yes. He was living at Motueka then. You were to' deliver the cattle to JBell,; you got something for taking care' of the catile. Bo not know how long you'were in the Motueka Valley after my purchase of the cattle. Do riotknow whether you were, or not in the MotuekaValley'three monthsafter this occurred. \ . j( John JbVazer sworn : Sold two cows to the plaintiff; was paid for them in the manner stated by the plaintiff.! Delivered (them to the; plaintiff in Motaeka Valley. Shortly after this plaiqtiff and myself left Mr. Stafford's employ. After thei plaintiff took charge'of the cattle defendant, was to have nothing to do with them. Never undertook to deliver the cattle to Mr. Belt: Never got anything for taking charge of the cattle; Do riot know what became of the cattle. Took some of my ownicattle^away from Motueka Valley, but, not all of them.' Took my bvvn to the Wairiau; 4 Could not, have.taken away the, cattle in question without being aware of it." One of the cowswas a red and white one, and the other was a strawberry, there was a brand on, J in a circle. Cross-examined by .plaintiff: Received nothing for taking ,care of the,,cattle.,. Dp ; not recollect seeing you at aay accommodation; house (Godfrey's) after the sale of the cattle. Mr. Stafford owed you. more money than, the money agreed to be paid for the cattle, Received that money; do riot recollect how long defendent held that iriortey".; Do not know whether I had your money for two years; did not tell you the cost of the keep of the cattle had consumed all the mpney I held of yours, excepting 10s. : i By the Court: Held tha plaintiff's motley afterwards, but: to the best of my recollection that sum exceeded £2. : , j ~. r .. .. ;...;., ,-. ■ ,■? ;.• -;-■. ..•• By the plaintiff: To the best" of niy recollection I paid'you the money previous to thte, issuing of the first summon^ .■'■■,'■'■,:■]" • '"■':] V, fl'Vv ■:' ■; By the Court: Cannot recollect the amount re-i 'ceivedonthe plaintiff's account oyer,and'above ,the,order'fbr^l6i; ; ... v ~,„..,.., ■t£-..^ii i c;\-s* ;'■ Caaeiadjourned by consent: of. both parties until Friday, the. 20th mat. ;^-.-.-. [:■■: ; s , ; ~. f

,■ ! >~.;>;■ ■. ■': .:. FiIiDAY, JULY 20. .'Oi' v f^; , John Warriner, a middle aged mail) was charged with uttering - threatening language towards Mr. A.: Greenfield, chief cferk-in"the> Provincial Secre-, tary's jDepartmeiit.; Warrjlner,4t 'appears, wished to go to (ji'e hospitarasag; in-door patient, *nd as pauper; but finding he had the means to pay for himself, was refused admittance as such. The ungrateful fellow thttT put himvelf in a boxing at*

titude, and regularly baled MivGr. up in a corner of the room. A constable wasiimmediately sent f for, who took him into custody.- Mr. G. not wish-* -ing to press the charge, the magistrate dismissed him with a caution, the prisoner promising not to be naughty no more. :■

Monday, July 23. (Before J. Poynter, Esq., R. M;, and R. K. New- , ► , come, E,sq.)» . ..-. -. ■. ■• Emma Moore, an interesting ..looking, voting person, was summoned by herfemployer, J. B. Wemyss, Esqv, for i>2o, for passage money paid by him for defendant on her arrival in the Constantine. ■'•••••• -• ; ■-, ■-. -';v ■-■ ■ ■•-.- -■ •• •■■ "'; James Balfour Wemyss sworn, said: He sent to England for defendent, to serve him for two; yoars as housemaid, at the rate of £25 per annum, to corrimencefrom the time the vessel sailed from London; defendant entered upon her duties on the 3rd July instant; paid' £30 for her passage, plaintiff producing receipts fo*-the payment; paid defendant since she had been in his service, the sum of £3, and Mrs. Shepherd, in England, paid £110s., making £410s. in the whole; defendant was.cautionedby Mrs. Wemyss noifc to leave, if she did she (defendant) must take the consequences; defendant made no complaints in particular to witness, except that she was discontented; heard she had taken her passage for the Wairan, and itnineditttely took the present proceedings. • • Thomas : Askew sworn: Know the defendant; she went to witness's residence took her pas-, sage, in the Mary, to sail;;an, Tuesday evening for Beaverton, but did.not pay any money. ; • The magistrate asked defendant what she.had to say for herself. She said that the place, was not comiaeabie; food was not whotesomeVjtoo many cats and dogs tx> feed, and too many mistresses over her. - -r -.■: . ■ .:.., . ■ ; - . * To'forfeit all wagesduring the passage, and W pay the £20^ which defendant agreed tothj.-