THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2084, 8 September 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1875.

The admirers and readers of such specimens of American literature a3 those afforded ia the writings of Artemus Ward, Bret Harte, and the Biglow Papers may call to mind the lay of the pious (?) editor who, careless alike of truth and honesty, chalked out for himself and paper one course which he imagined would pay best in the long run, and to this course stuck through thick and thin as long as he thought it would "pay," regardless alike of absurdities and inconsistencies. Or, as his biographer makes him express himself— It ft'int by principuls, nor men, ■ ■ My prudunt course is steadied ; I scents which way pays best, and then Goes into it bald-headed. k It perhaps is needless to remark here Ithatth© term " bald-headed" is simply

an Americau synonym for " recklessly," and not altogether an inappropriate one either, for he who will persist in doing that which he^has once fixed his mind on, in spite of advice and warning, must expect the consequences to fall on his own pate, without any covering at all to lessen the evil of his reckless conduct. But, however that may be, the Auckland Star seems, in the depths of its Editorial wisdom, to have scented the idea that to back Sir George Grey is the undoubted road to popularity, emolument, or whatever aim it has in view, and, whether he be right or whether he be wrong, goes for him so to speak baldheaded. Nay, so devoted is it in its almost fulsome adulation of the ex-Gover-nor, that it even goes beyond him in its utterances, and after the manner of reflected nothings, makes the shadow greater than the substance. If Sir George Grey using a metaphor—common enough one would have supposed to have placed it beyond the reach of misconstruction for we give Sir George credit for merely using it as a figure of speech—speaks of " resisting to the death " the measure of Abolition, the Star, like Bombastcs, draws a picture of a band of devoted men circling the Custom House of Auckland prepared to die in defence of those liberties j which men corrupt, and with many other disagreeable adjectives tacked to their names, are determined to destroy, and | does its best to work up the "men of Auckland" to acts of sedition and bloodshed by its violent and seditious language. If Sir George or one of his adherents endeavours to delay the progress of the Abolition Bill by speaking against time, the Star straightway makes a calculation how the Bill may be postponed till " Doomsday," by every word being made the.subject of a wrangle and dispute. And when Sir George Grey declares himself " ready to assist the people in such a course as that taken in the United States," the Starconsistent enough in this principle of backing up Sir George "bald-headed," though inconsistent in other points—declares in the face of such a speech that there does not exist a more loyal subject than Sir George Grey, and endeavours by a vain attempt at splitting straws in the matter of the exact words made use of by the Southern Cross, to save its leader from the censure which every rightthinking man will be disposed to pass on his intemperate and ill-advised words* The Star cannot help seeing that advocating such a proceeding as an armed rebellion against the mother country cannot, for the present at least, be entertained, and so in the hope of drawing attention from the silly utterances of Sir George Grey, attacks the Southern Cross, .and charges that paper with deliberate and wilful falsehood because it gives the substance of the telegram sent to it in different words than those used by, the Herald and Star! And then after heaping up abuse —in which it is no mean a< 3ept—on the Cross, the " banded ruffians in Wellington and their hired tools " who purpose to " compass the destruction" of its hero, indulges in a panegyric of that same hero and his plans which are "admitted (so says the Star) by great thinkers to be the most feasible and effective ever propounded." Now the whole matter is this-—Sir George Grey in the course of a speech re Abolition said, according to the Herald whom the Star declares -to be right—" that he for one would assist the people in such a course as that taken in the United States." The Cross in its version of the matter gives the same in substance, only in different words, and instead of the phrase " in the United States'' substitutes "against the Mother Country by. the American Colonies." Now whether the Herald or Cross be right matters not, as there is not in reality the slightest difference between the reports, except as we have said in words, and the only real excuse —in the face of such a rash and ill-timed utterance as this —for the Star's attempt to make out Sir George a devoted adherent of Her Majesty is to suppose either, that he did not mean what he said—which is probable

—or, that the time of the Star is so taken up in cultivating the art of invective, that it does not know what the course "taken in the United States" was— which is possible. On no other grounds can we account for their leaderj garnished as usual with wholesale abuse, except that they did not know that the course taken, by the 13 American Colonies against the mother country, and the course taken in the United States alluded to by Sir George Grey, were one and the same. For call them by what name you. will, no one can excuse Sir George from hinting at a course of action, and offering himself as a willing accessory; to it, which if adopted could not* but end in the ruin of the Colony.

Theee is sure to be one-—there may be three—fresh members ot the Borough' Council elected to-morrow to exercise for the space of three years joint control with those already in office over the affairs of the Borough. If o objection to any of the six candidates who offer themselves for election can be taken on any reasonable ground, and on the eve of an election we have the satisfactory feeling of believing that whoever may be elected, the interests of the Borough will not knowingly be allowed to Buffer at his hands. In fact were any three of the candidates placed hors de combat, we should be well content to see the other three walk over the course unopposed. To-morrow evening and the Mayor will show who are the successful ones, and as far as we are aware' at present no thoroughly reliable information has been received as to who are likely to be returned. Of course the usual amount of talk is made "in confidence" as to

who, is certain to be elected, and equally of course will some of the certainties supposed to exist turn out to h& but the coinage of the bruins of those who wish to be thought omniscient in matters of this kind. The proceedings hitherto have been of a vory quiet, Bot to say dull kind, and we hope to-morrow will causesome little excitement to relieve the monotony of events. For ourselves all we hope is that future events will justify the votes which place in office to-morrow's Councillors, and heartily wish " Waes Hael" to the best men.

There was no business before the Resident Magistrate's Court this morn* ing. Warden Fjraseb left for Obinemuri by the Pearl this morning. We are informed that several members of the Thames Stock and Share Association purpose following the example of Mr John Frater by resigning, in order to mark their disapproval of the conduct of one of their number who appeared as plaintiff in a recent case heard in the llesident Magistrate's Court. The sudden virtuous fit of this person does not appear to be appreciated. The Thames Engineer Cadets made use of the Volunteer Hall last night in which to hold a ball accompanied by substantial refreshment in the way of supper. The cadets mustered in full force with Captain Bargrbve at their head. Major Cooper and Sergeant Major Grant also were present. ' Some 70 couples joined in the dance, which was much enjoyed and kept up with spirit until the small hours of the morning. There was a large number of passengers for Ohinemuri this morning by the Pearl, which was crowded with Europeans and Maories, and a considerable quantity of baggage, so that there was scarcely standing room on deck.

At Litchfield's corner, Shor(land, there is a wooden bridge over the gutter which requires immediate attention at the hands of the Borough Council. If not§repajr6cl very soon there will be a broken leg for some one, and an action for damages against Councillors sticking out.

A meetikg of the Licensed Victuallers Association was held last night at the Pacific Hotel, when rules were adopted, and the following officers appointed: —President, Mr J, Butt; Vice-president, Mr Curtis; Treasurer, Mr Burton; Committee—Messrs Stephensoti, Pea,rce, Quint, Percy, and Cootes. Mr T. B. Wilson was elected Secretary. The National Bank was appointed bankers to the Association. A vote of tbaiiks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.

We hear that the " spelling Bees " which seem so popular in America have found their way to the Thames —that is, if the report be true that the Good Templars essayed one in their lodge last night. If these Bees are entered into in a friendly spirit, and carried on in a lively manner, we can well understand that they will prove sources of amusement as well as usefulness; they most, however, be gone into con amore, and the challenges to spell words kept up in quick succession, otherwise they will flag and become wearying. Considering how jtnany mistakes are made daily in words of most common occurrence, and how many people presumed to be as it is termed " well educated" are deficient in this respect, no one need be afraid to enter into the lists on the ground of ignorance of orthography.

Mb James Cbaig sold by auction at the Exchange to-day 2189 Coliban shares, forfeited for non-payment of calls. The price realised was from 7d to 9d per scrip.

The Thames Cricketers Amateur Dramatic Club have definitely settled on Wednesday next as the day on which they will play for the Ladies Benevolent Society fund. We are glad that the benefit which we trust will accrue to the funds of that society has not fallen through, but that in spite .of tho difficulties . attending the representation of the pieces selected, ..owing to the unfortunate absence of one of the principal performers, the performance will be proceeded with. The pieces selected are "Caste," one of the best comedies of the late T. W. Robertson, Esq., the well known and popular writer of " Society," " Ours," "M.P.," and other plays which found so much favor in England, and a farce by John Maddison son Morton entitled " John Dobbs." The comedy is too well known to require description, suffice it to say that it is one of the best, if not the best, production of one of the best among modem play writers. The farce is about as good as farces generally are—the name of the writer is well known as a supplier of that description of stage dialogue to which me term " screaming " is "usually applied. This farce, however, has the "unusual merit of having nothing objectionable in it, and will we hope form a fitting conclude to the entertainment. We learn that demands for tickets are already being made on Mr 3 Honiss, the hon. sec. of the Ladies Society, and we shall expect to see a well filled house.

The monument to Mr St. John Branigan, late Commissioner of the Armed Constabulary, now being erected in the Southern Cemetery, promises to be a beautiful work of art. The stylo is Gothic. The foundation consists of six feet of concrete, and when completed the monument will be twenty-four feet high. The basement is of the best Port Chalmers stone, and the following inscription in old English will be engraven on a marble panel:—" In memory of St. John Branigan, who departed this life, 10th September, 1873, aged 49." The other portions will be composed of Kakanui freestone, handsomely ornamented. Besides scrolls mentioning the status of the deceased and the subscribers, there is an elegant cgaj-of-arms displaying large cap, sword and scabbard, folded banner, torn banner, four spears, belt and pouch, and spurs. The prgbable cost will be rather over £200.—Otago TimGSi.

Call no man happy till he dies. It was a pity that Sir George Grey left his hermitage, to mix in the turmoil of politics, for which he is evidently unfitted. He made an exhibition of himseif on iVid.ay• Mr Ormond, he s aid, had spcken of Auckland as " rotten.". We do not think Mr Ormond did so, but that is no matter. Sydney Smith used to say that corporations had neither bodies to be kicked nar feelings to be outraged, but because Mr Ormond very truly described the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Auckland as making fools of themselves (these were rot the, words but the true meaning of the words employed), the former talks a lot of the most grandi-

loquent rubbish about the Government robbing the people ot their liberties, and of Mr Ormond's duty to apologise to eighty thousand people, who are called upon to rise in" rebellion. The worthy people of Auckland were never once alluded to. This is very ludicrous, if it were not so distressing, in the ense <of one for whom the public are anxious to: show all due respect.—Tribune. .

The following is the concluding portion of an Article in the Auckland Evening Star, to which reference is made elsewhere :— " There is not a more loyal man beneath the Crown of England than is Sir George Grey. His statesmanlike mind has conceived a plan for the blending together of the interests of the Empire, and for the binding the colonies and the mother country in unity, interest, and in harmonious action in a manner admitted by great thinkers to be the most feasible practical and effective ever propounded. This is known to have been his hobby for years, and now these miserable creatures of a corrupt system, whose highest conceptions and aspirations relate only to the best way of robbing the natives and plundering the people, would hold him forth as a rebel against the Crown before a people who, despite it all, reverence and love his name. Sir George Grey is a rebel against Dr Pollen and Sir Julius Vogel and the corrupt administration which has robbed our people and brought this fine country to the verge of ruin; and if necsssary to resist further encroachments on the liberties and constitutional rights of the people has declared his intention t© " fight them to the death." But in such a course he will be defending the constitution received from the hand, of our beloved Queen, and upholding her Crown and dignity, and in such" 1* course, despite the efforts of traitors and hirelings, he will have with him the hearts and the hands of the thousands of the people of Auckland. We desire to utter a word of warning, and we solemnly assert that if this course of wilful and malignant misrepresentation is continued, a stop will be promptly put to it, and perhaps with more suddenness and vio'en'ce than some people expect.' .«, :