THE COLONIST.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 427, 26 November 1861, Page 2

THE COLONIST.

NELSON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1861

The other day we gave Dr, Monro's apology to some of the electors of Picton for having violated his pledge by accepting the .office of Speaker to the House of Representatives after having gratuitously asserted that the office would not suit him. However lenient those electors who were present may have been to the culprit, the people—not swayed by personal feeling or interested motives— demand a higher scale of morality in their public men than will suit the small but lax constituency of Picton.

Mr. Eyes, another member of the House of Representatives for Marlborough, has met his constituents at Blenheim, and his explanation appears to have been quite satisfactory. As Mr. Eyes was introduced in bold relief throughout Dr. Monro's .Bicton speech, we have in the Blenheim explanation the quid pro quo, and we think the Doctor has a Roland for his Oliver.

Mr. Eyes said that when he was elected he had given two pledges—to serve them to the best of his ability, and not to accept any office of emolument under the government. He believed that he bad violated neither pledge, although it had been rumored that he had asked for the Commissionership of Crown Lands as a reward for his support of the Fox ministry. Now there was not the slightest truth in the rumor, which had entirely originated in the fertile brain of the late Superintendent, who, thinking to justify >himself for abandoning the province at so critical a juncture, raised the report. : ~ •

It had pleased Dr. Monro, said Mr. Eyes, to hold him up to aidicuie for the part-he had taken in the matter of direct steam communication; but Dr. Monro had not told them the ivhole truth; he had not told' them of the condition which was attached to the resolution, namely," that 'steamers were to call, * wind and weather permitting'! —ra reservation which would . have. any meaning the captain might think proper -\o\ attach to it. Those who have lived atNew: Plymouth'will, quite agree with Mr. Eyes in this matter-. The insinuation, said Mr. Eyes, that his opposition was founded, on the circumstance that the steamer would call at Picton and not at Blenheim, wastoo contemptible to-be noticed. The fact was that the honorable member had a disaffected constituency to conciliate, yet he thought the attempt to damage him in the eyes of the Picton people puerile in the extreme. 'Concerning Dr. Monro's" blowing about the j,wonderful exertions he had made in recommending the sitting of a Supreme Court in Maryborough, Mr. Eyes said that he had consulted Judge Johnston and the late Attorney-General on the subject, who both agreed that there was no necessity for incurring the expense of £500 per annum, besides another £500 for the interest and current expenses of a new gaol; for since it had been a province only one committal had taken place, which would not cost the province more than £30 or £40. What will the dialectic Doctor say novv: to children dressing themselves in their grandfathers' clothes ? "■'-• ]

With respect to the Railway Act, upon which, it will be remembered, Dr. Monro was so elegantly facetious, Mr. Eyes said that the honorable gentlemen had given him credit for being instrumental in passing by his blind and bigoted hostility to it, which was certainly an admission that the bill did not pass on its own merits. As to the charge

of indelicacy brought against him (Mr. Eyes) he should recriminate that charge upon the Doctor^ who, whilst professing to sit in committee upon the bill as judge, had used all the personal influence he could out of doors to get the measure carried; and he (could not conceive how any man possessing common honesty could consent to sit in judgment upon and advocate a measure which was to benefit himself at the expense of the public. How slight a knowledge does Mr. Eyes seem to have of his antagonist! Mr. Eyes said that Dr. Monro's conduct, as chairman of the select committee, was such as to induce the member for Waimea, in his usual bold and honest manner, to declare before the house that for the future he could place no reliance upon the reports of select committees. Mr. Eyes denied that the bill was carried through the house in the manner mentioned by Dr. Monro; nor had any advocacy of Mr. Andrew Richmond's, who had hardly said a dozen words on the subject, influenced a single member either one way or the other. It was got by what Mr. Saunders called Government-house influence. He had himself heard one honorable member, who was opposed to the bill, soundly rated by the wife of another honorable member, for not having consulted the ladies on the question. We believe that a great deal of the mischief attendant on the latter part of, Governor Browne's inglorious career arose mainly from the same source. We rejoice to think that under Sir George Grey there will be less of this brain-softening influence. After some further explanatory remarks by Mr. Eyes, a resolution expressive of cordial approbation of his conduct was unanimously passed.

Some heavy coarse gold, garnished with some tempting-looking nuggets, one weighing only a few dwts. under two ounces, the other about 1 oz. 12 dwts., arrived by the Gipsy from the West Coast last week; altogether 222 ozs. 17 dwts. reached town by that vessel. From what we learn from one who has been six months at the Buller and adjacent places, we have no cause to alter the opinion we have so often expressed of the value of the district as a gold*field after the first difficulties have been mastered, but unless those who proceed there are fully prepared to spend at least six weeks at the outset in necessary preparations, choice of locality, building a canoe (one of these to each party is an indispensable requisite), and other, matters, there is a greater probability of disappointment being the predominant feeling than anything else. The passage up the Buller: river is no child's play : a short time since two men, well known in Nelson, were tracking a canoe up the river, when, upon approaching the falls, the nose of the boat, probably by the strain of the tow rope, dipped under the water, the man who was in her had to swim for his life, and the whole of their provisions, tent, tools, &c, to the amount of £30, were lost. This will serve to prove that much patience, time, and some expense will occur probably before the ground can be even tried. Another difficulty is said to be the want of w^ter; that is, creeks suitable for working at, leading into the main stream. This objection may be obviated when appliances suitable to the character of the ground are brought to bear upon it; but at present these places are said to be few and far between, and the obstacles therefore proportionately serious. Unbiassed by the statements of the unsuccessful, or the high coloring of the over sanguine, it is but fair speculation to believe that this district is well worthy the research of the hardy digger, and that ere long a development inferior to none of the known diggings in New Zealand will be attained.