The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Issue 176, 17 September 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1879.

The wisdom of-the General Government in appealing to the country is (now admitted by .every lover of justice. The disgraceful attacks made upon it by a bitter and disappointed few, and the labyrinth of lies so.ingeniously and maliciously concocted by a designing clique, "have been so skillfully laid b&reby the Premier in his perfect proof of their utter want of foundation, and his dignified repudiation that the decimjnation of such uufmmded statements has in most cases caused the promulgators of such untenable falsehoods to crawl out of eight to hide their heads for very shame. That a portion of the press in South Canterbury can keep up this sort'of thing surprises no | one. Misrepresentation and exaggeration has for long been its stock in trade. It is its meat and its drink, so to speak. But that a journal holding the respectable position in journalism which the Christchurch ' Press' luts;hitheato done—to lend itself to the support', of such a system—does surprise us;, It is to be regretted that party feeling has carried it so far beyond the bounds of discretion. The Government has come out of the late conflict victoriously, as all -but the party referred to ifeelieved ifc would do. Conservatism has lost much, and Liberalism has gained much. A number of the leading men in the Opposition camp have been slain —a Curtn.s,.'; a' Murray-Ay nsley, a Eichardson, a Wlii taker, and last, but net least, a venerable Fox—have had to give way before the irresistable wa\o of Liberalism. The Government went to the count 17 after finding itself in a minority of fourteen,-, and it returns to the duties of office "with a majority of declared Liberals of more than an equal number. Previous to the dissolution Sir George Grey was held up to-execration by a class who do not desire the progress of the colony, whose sole object 13 to keep back settlement. Much as Sir George I Grey has suffered at the hands of his I enemies, he has now. the satisfaction, I which every good man enjoys, that of finding that his fellow-colonists can estimate the great suppprt his experu n learning, and 'ability can give to the Liberal cause. v No eiection that has yet taken place in this colony has clone so much to open the eyes of the elector-s to the necessity of great vigilence in looking after their owrt interest, and in checking t' e monopolising policy of a wealthy landowning class o F settlers, whose sola aim has been, and ever will be, to prevent the land of this colony from falling info the hands of the pcop'e. Liberalism hss gained much in the late election, b it it will be the. duty of all Liberals to unite more and more with iho view of seci sing

tli-ir rights. Much wauhfuincss will be needed in order to iind out how far the promises made by many of the so-called liberal Opposition will be ai-tecl upon. For our own part wo do not expect the least respect pud to them. Immediately on the assembling of the new Parliament the same struggle for power will begin again. .Sir George Grey, we repeat, will se-'k to hold olli'-o no longer than the measures are passed which ho has bo carefully framed to protect the Libor.il cause. To prevent 'these measures from becoming law, a great effort will be made by the Conservatives. They will do all they can to upset the Government, but the way Sir George has cleared his character from ajl the calumnies made ugainst him has gained him many friends throughout the colony. So much is ibis the case that it jvvill be found' that if the Government Bhoufld have to resign, the Opposition, even with the Hon John Hall at its head, wculdlnot bo able, to hold its own for a we«?k. unless it adopts the very measures which Sii George has framed. This they will not do, as they know full well that their reign of Toryism would, as a consequence, speedily como to an end. Triennial Parliaments, a redistribution of seats, an extensions of the franchise, with a residential a more literal land law, and New Zfaland is free from any risk of repeat iwsf the history of downtrodden irelaiidjpand Scotland. The distressed state or t!*& agricultural interest in Great Britain at the present moment ihrough having to pay extravagant rents is a good warning to this colony. If New Zealand were to be portioned out into large estates* which is the policy of the Conservatives, a rule more tyrannical, moso degrading, and in the end more ruinoiiß would prevail. Already we have proof of this <by land owners inserting into their tenants' leases clauses destructive of til liberty. The evil would bo also aggravated by. the fact that many of the present large Hand owners .being most illiterate, are quite unacquainted with the finer feebngs which birth and education bestow upon the landed proprietary in Great Britain. ■ Many wealthy owners of land in krge blocks in the eolouy know and care more about sheep than they do about men. Their coarse-grained manners and unsympathising procedure towards men who, althugh less fortunate in accumulating wealth, are far their superiors ill culture and refinement, will speedily make the yoke so irksome as to compel the hearer to shake it off in the most •un scrupulous maimer. For thi3 reason, if for none else, is it desirable that Liberal measures should be passed by the coming Parliament, that by so doing the evil of anarchy Qyinsubordination may never.be known in our adopted country. It io for this reason no doubt 1 our far-seeing Premier, who loves his country so battles'so manfully and so disinterestedly' against those who care for none of these, things. There is a tendency on the part of small farmers to find fault with Sir .George Grey's measures, and to parley with the enemies of progress. Being in comparatively comfortable circumstances themselves, they do not care to trouble themselves about the future, and if, as in the rase or the Land Tax, . there is a chance of their having to pay a few .kick against the Government and Liberal ineasttres, thus strengthening the hands of the monopolists. ' To such short-sighted mort.ils let us put a question or two. What do you mean-to do with the large fam'Hea you' are bringing up 1 Do yon mean to keep them all on the farm you now possess, or do you intend to drive them into the towns to fall victims to temptation, and become nuisances to society? # Do you not rather wish to see them living upon their own freeholds. Every true parent must wish his children well. Indf-ed, we- never yet Crime across one so would like to see his children as much steeped in crime as himself. If, then, Vnall freehold farmers wish their families well they must snpport for opening up their country and"f or providing a homestead for them, where they also may ev'oy the same independence as themselves. This can only be done by Libera] land laws. The lato'election should teach every farmer anrl every working-man a wholesome lesson. If they do not learn it now, they will have to learn it in another school soon. Let them look at the hordes of large landowners who have had themselves wheeled about the country. Do you think this is wiVhout a purpose. Does it not show that they are determined to oppose any measures that would compel them to pay their fa ; r share of taxation. Do you small farmers and others not see that in this ,an attempt is made to per-, petnate the jiniquitous tenure of land leasing, whic|i has so ruinously in this province in particular. The'only prevention iijs organisation by forming Liberal Associations. ; >

The ' Lyti:elton Times' has been taking the '• Press *f over the coals for misstate merits regarding the way the Maoris voted in the elections. The 'Press,' like tne ' Timaru Hjsrald,' had distinctly stated that the natives voted by instructions from the Native Minister. The natives of Kaiapox Jtave a flat denial to this statement, and-The' 'Press' r.polop-'sos, though rather tardily. The 'Herald,' on the oiher hand, backs up the wrong uttered by the ' ftress' by stating that nine Maaris voted at the Geraldine election, and by the instructions of the Native Minister. We are in a position to state that only four Maoris voted at the Geraldine election, and although some of those who voted wqve ignorant of the forms and reouired assistance, we state as a fact that can be proved that the natives, nearly a week before, had made up their minds to voce in support of Sir George Grey's Government, and this without any correspondence wilh the Native Minister or anyone direc'ed-by him. John Kaku,_a most intelligent native, and one who guides the actions of the other natives to a very great extent, distinctly stated to us days before the election that they believed in Sir G. Greys Government, and that they would vote for thd candidate that was on his stile. The wjay the Opposition have tried to blacken ;tho character of the Grey Government by tissues of_ falsehoods deserves the u'most reprobation. Fortunately, these lying wonders work their own cure. The Premier is so far ahead of his detractors in ability and skill as a poliician that he is moro than'a match for the whole lot, and therefore ho can well afford to laugh at their weak fabrications. They are but the dying groans of a vanquished band of class legislators, who feel .their power passiug from them, and tire thoieiorc puUiug forth all their

strength as a last effort to thwart the present Government in their attempt to pas« Liberal measures. P, matters not whether it be true or false if it only gains their object, that is, to place the Government in a minority. The Maoris are as much entitled to vote—and much more so— than the hord of weal'by landowners and others who have been floating about from polling place to polling place for the last three weeks. This system of voting and intimidation has given the Conservatives several members that they would not have had. Monty power has been in fuii swing in the South Canterbury elections. At Temuka and at Waimate in particular wealth saved the candidates from a humiliating disgrace. cargagMiyj&ya»s**qgg«?ggggggg

The Troubadours. This well-known company played in the Volunteer Hall last evening to a very good house. A very good programme was gone through, and thoroughly appreciated by the audience. The performers are all very young, ranging from 12 to 15 years, and Bhow talent very sellom seen in juveuiles of their age. They again perform in the Volunteer Hall tonight. "Wherever they have' been they have been well and deservedly patronised. Some of the youths display a great amount of skill in performing their various parts, their juvenPe voices alone only preventing them from carrying out the role of advanced actors. The young ladies give promise that at no distant date they will become stars in their profession. In manner and gesture they are almost perfect. •*■

Temuka Races. —These races come off on Friday next on the old racecourse within the bounds of the Arowhenua township. As the block of land is fast being taken up for building purposes, Temuka will soon be without a racecourse. The low-lying ground has often been pointed out &3 a most excelleat situation for a course. With a little filling up of the holes it could be made a most suilabl • piece of ground for the purpose,_ while the high terrace all around the north side, shaded by the young trees, would make a n-.agnifieent grand stand. We feel sure the Park Commissioners would willingly consent to its being used for that pu/pose. Sale of Bankrupt Stock.—-Mr Gray, by order of the trustees in Mr Rutland's bankrupt estate, sold yesterday, on the ground, the dwelling-house, with half-an-acre of land, well stocked with all kinds of fruit trees, to Mr Wibiam Johnston, solicitor, for L 250. Mr S. Gentleman bought a quarter-acre freehold, and Mr Eadford a quarter-acre freehold, eacli for Lsl. These prices show in a most umnistakeable way the great depreciation in the value of property in this township. Doubtless this ia brought about in a gjeat measure through the scarcity of money. A sho'-t time ago these sections would have brought at least a third more money. _ The coming report on Milford Harbor is anxiously waited for in the hope that it will make a change for the better j truly there is g»eat need.

DiunfATio Enteetainment. —We would ch-aw the attention of our readers to an advertisement in another column notifying that the Temuka Volunteer Dramatic Club t\ ill give a performance on the race night (Fiulay evening next), m the Volunteer Hall, in aid of the Band Fund. As the performc"3 are all first-class amateurs, and the object being a good one,. we expect a bumper bouse. Theatkical News.—The Loftus Company, at the Theatre Boval, Wellington, played lately a piece called "On the Sly," of which all the papers write in condemnation as being indecent. The ' Posh' has refused to insert any more of the Company's advertisements. ITeaktlessness. —The remains of Mr and Mrs KobeH Wilson, their four children, and the four persons unclaimed by relations or "r fends, who perished in the late fire, were iiiteri-cd in the cemetery on Saturday The procession was one of the largest ever seen in Dunedin. and the crowd in the cemetery was immense! Archdeacon Edwards and the Rev. Dr Roseby officiated at the graves. The Wilsons have a brother, a draper, in Wellington, who has never communicated with anyone in Dunedin with reference to the fate of h''s relatives. Such' callousness is severely commented on.

A Fhightfuli Accident. Carlos, an Italian gymnast, well-known from his feats with a chavged wooden cannon, was lifting it from its stand, during a recent exhibition in Servia, when it fell, mouth downwards. The gymnast with the rapiclitv of lightning endeavored to break the shock so as to prevent the weapon's exploding, but he was unsuccessful ; the concussion fired the piece, and as the charge could not, the cannon hurst. Carlos died almost immediately. The consterration and horror among the spectators at this frightful scene were intense ; only one of them was wounded, however, although the splinters of the cannon were driven abont in every direction. "Temtjka School Committee. —Tlje usual monthly meeting of the above committee was held last night, Present—Messrs Wjlson (chairman), Russell, Brown, and Storey. Letters were read from the Education Board stating that the sum of £ll had been voted as a refund for school apparatus. A report from the headmaster was read and approved. It was resolved to give the children a halfholiday on Friday. The chairman and Mr Storey were appointed visitors for the month. A vot:- of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

Auction Sale. —Mr W. "Williamson, instructed by Mr Geo. Bolton, lion, see., will sell the booths and rights of sports of the Temuka racecourse at the Crown Hotel today. Football. —" Lotfnger'' writes in the ' Herald':— " I want to belong to a football club. I long to be kicked in the abdomen, punched in the chest, butted in the ribs, jmnrM upon, torn about, knocked down|i -get concussion of the brain, have a shbulddr joint put out, a leg snapped, and be broken about generally. This desire came upon me last Saturday as I watched the festive sport on the East Melbourne ground. Eut I want some other fellows to join—men to whom I owe money—who have reviled me and beaten me in the race of life. I want us all to be brothers in the hunt for leather, and before the spring I shall be free, ha ! ha ! or go to anaftpnored grave in small parcels to suit cftsloaiers. That's what's the matter withfme. > Tre Late Fatal Fibe in Dxtnedin.— The inqxxest on the fire has been-ad-journed until to-day.—W. Waters, proprietor of the Cafe Chantant, -where the fire is supposed to have originated, has been arrested on a charge of arson. The last news from the Cape states that Sir Garnet Wolseley is hopeful of ultimately forcing Cetewayo to consent to an unconditional sf'rreifder. The troops are in excellent hea|th 4 . | The country for 100 miles beyond Cflundi is completely iu the hands of the British. The Zulus have ceased to show in large numbers, and offe.i no resistance.

Mr Gladstone visits Italy for his health's sake.