The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1941, 24 March 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1875.

Sib Geobge Gbey's " addresses" to the electors in his character of a candidate for the Superintendency.are as unlike the usual thing as can well be conceived. At Grahamstown he certainly touched upon a few topics which are likely to come within the scope of Superintendental administration, but he did rot confine himself to those points. Ay the Choral llall .on. Monday night he treated his hearers to an. admirable discourse on constitutional law and usages. He enlightened them regarding the intricacies of statecraft, and said a great deal that was new to. most people as to the way in which Colonial affairs are'managed at home. On reading Sir George Grey's latest address— an extremely lengthy one, occupying eight columns of the Auckland morning papers —we cannot lyut feel. regret that the speaker has so long refrained from taking an active part in the politics of the. .country. Intimately acquainted as Sir George is with the Constitution of New Zealand, in Parliament he would have been a valuable acquisition. Probably, his experiences, given with that earnestness and fluency peculiar to him, would have availed to save the Colony from some of tbe blunders®of legislation and administration which have been perpetrated during the last few years. Sir George Grey's candidature at the first reused a feeling ©f opposition. His opinions to which expression had been given on the subject of Provincialism before the sad event occurred which caused the vacancy in the Superintendent al office, were of such a character that many persons who saw in the proposed abolition of Provincial Governments a way of tioape from the worst species of

centralism and the possibility of a more acceptable form of local self-government, were in arms at onco. It must be remembered that a large proportion of the population of the Colony at the present time are comparative newchnms. They $0 not know anything of v*^it which was accomplished by Provincial Governments in the werk of colonization when the means of communication was limited, and settlement was centred round Pro-"" vincial^Capitals. It cannot be expected, therefore, that they should.share in, or even understand Sir George Grey's enthusiasm on the subject of Provincialism, They only know the system as they" find it: a plurality of governments, with an army of officials and expensive departments, not only not working in harmony with, but frequently in antagonism to the Central Government. They see Provincial Govern-, naents in one part of the colony with large landed estates, and a revenue at their disposal nearly equal to that of the Central Government; while in another portion of the Colony they witness similar instituV tions kept alive by subsidies from the general revenue, and moribund so far their own resources go; prolonging exist ence by favors received at the bands of Ministers for the time being. It is no wonder, then, that the abolition proposals were received with favor," as offering a wa^ of escape ironi this condition of dependance,. or that the candidature of any man coming forward toperpetuate Provincialism should have been received with disfavor. -And, however much we can appreciate the lofty aims of Sir George Grey, we cannot see that he has in his address shown one single argument which would reconcile us to any proposals calculated^to prolong the existence of Provincialism. Sir George Grey-has addressed himself more to questions of colonial policy rather than to Provincial administration. He has shown what a knowledge he possesses of constitutional usage and practice ; what; should have been done and what might, have been avoided by the Parlimentof the | country ; but in so far as indicating any \ practicable scheme for renewing the old I vitality of Provincialism and making the system what it was when jN"ew Zealand was in its, infancy as a Colony, or in sketching any plan or systemto supersede it, we fail to see that he has said anything explicit enough to convert the advocates of centralism to his own views. In Sir George's address there is much matter of interest, and his large experience and' knowledge will undoubtedly carry weight j in the Assembly. His utterances are certain to command respect there, as they have during his candidature for the Superintendency of this Province.

Sic Geobge Gbey has been elected Superintendent of the Province without opposition^anU the Province may be congratulated on the result. Whatever events may transpire during the term of office of Sir,Georgef.he has already given sufficient evidence of his earnestness and zeal in the cause which he has espoused^ He has displayed so much disinterested patribtism in the course which he has pursued that no suspicion of self-seeking can possibly attach to him. We Lave every hope: that his administration will be characterised by brighter days, fqr_the Province pf Auckland. Sir George announced his^ election to His Worship the Mayor this afternoon in the following telegram :—

" I beg to announce to you my election as Superintendent of the Province, and while doing so may I request you to thank my Friends at the Thames for the kind reception given to me and for their support, which I shall always gratefully remember.—Geokge Gbey."

We learn that the Queen of Beauty shareholders, at a meeting htld yesterday, with commerjcUble liberality rofed a sum of £60 to the widow of the late Robert Fox, who died in Hospital from injuries received in their mine. The cum is being supplemented by private subscriptions, and a (substantial amount will probably be raised.

We understand that Messrs W. Souterand Co. have assumed the management of Messrs Holmes Brothers' business at the Thames, in connection with the steamers Hauraki, Manaia, Enterprise, and Lai la Rookh.

We are rVquested to oA\ attention to the fact that the regular monthly meeting of the Boyal Orange Lri*e, No. 12, will be held to morrow evening the 25th inst., in the Odd Fellows' Hall, Eicrimond street.

DuEnra the last vint of the lato Superin* tendent he promised the Thames Mechanics' Institute tbe= turn of £80 towards the pur chuee of the freehold on which the Institute stands, anavgements having been entered into with Mr Robert Graham for acquiring the same. Although Mr Williamson was too unfrell to attei d to business hfier his return to town, the promise to the Mechanics' Institute has not been overlooked. A cheque baß been received for the amount, owing to the kind offices of Mr J. Sheehan, Piovincial Secretary.

The dog kennels at the Grahams*own Police Station were full to-day of dogs of all kinds nearly. There were no less than three gcodlooking, liver-colored retrievtrs and one black fellow of the same breed, besides ot^er dogs of a cut something above the yelping street cur of the vagrant type, having no home nor owner. All these animals will have to die the death unless released in the usual manner.

A COBRSFOUbext writing from Ohinemuti yesterday says:—"One of the storekeepers was so overjoyed at hearing that, gold hid beon struck that he put a barrel of beer outsido hie place and knocked in the head. The Maoriea paid particular attention to the beer; some of them were quite overcome with their frequent, applications to the liquor, and hud to reiire to the fern to recovor. The white uieu did not do 'much in assisting. There was not much Itft in the evening, but what there was left was turned into tho street."

The Parawai company of Volunteers met; for drill this morning in tho American Theatre, Shcr.land. The attendance was full, md Sergeant Major Grant put tho men through company movements. It appears that these Maoriesprefer receiving, the words of command in English, and 1* they Certainly manage very well to understand what is said to i hem.

Ma R. B. Lusk, Seceiver of the Education [Kate, has given notice that he intends laying information at the Police Court, iAucklandi against all perrons liable who;do not pay their rates for 1874-75, before tho 29fcH, or who; have not been exempted from such paymehfcr No further notice will be given. At a surn-^ id on s to Auckland entails'considerable expense, persons in arrears should do one of Uwo thiv>ga imraediately^Tpay tbeic rates or ; Obtain the necessary certificate of exemptiOHi.

We are requested to draw attention to the sale by auction to-mrrrow of Blr ShappereV stock in-trade and fittings, by Mr Edwin Binney. The stock has been removed to Mr Binney'a auction mart for convenience of •ale ; the fittings will be sold on the premise*, next Mennie andJDey's. ;. -•-.-.,-.

A correspondent wants to know whether anything: has been done, towards raising a fund toaesist Bobert Windaor, the man who ivas injiired by the fall 6^ tha Bright Smite tramway, and suggests that the Bright Smile people or the contractor might head alist.; We consider the suggestion a very humane one. Windsor's skill as a mechanic will not avail him any more as a means of obtaining a livelihood, the accident having deprived him of one arm. In these times oi' subscriptions we hope Windsor's case will sob be over* looked. The accident from which he is suffering occurred through no fault of his.