THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2160, 6 December 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1875.

In our issue ofSaturday.it may be re

membered that we pointed out that how-

ever much a man might be desirous of abolition as calculated to render, an effectual .and lasting good to the Colony, yet it by no means followed as a matter of course that he was bound to yield a slavish adherence to the Government, simply because his views and theirs were at one on this matter. So neither can we, though differing directly from him on the great,political question of the day, withdraw from Sir George Grey our tribute of praise for his very able and, in some respects, very telling speech of Saturday night last., • And in the first place it was at least very satisfactory to see that Sir George did not dilate much., on the "pros" and, "cons" of Provincialism. So little did he say, infact, , that there would be room but for scant comment were it not that it was hardly of a piece with the words of Sir George speaking at Auckland upon this very thing. Here at the Thames he tells us that as soon as the people are satisfied he is satisfied, and will do^ his best to render the proposed experiment a success. There, at Auckland, speaking to Provincialists, he said " that j if a few determined men stand with me it.l < Abolition) shall not take place." There seems to be a contradiction, at least in terms, which is hard to be explained, and & vpould perhaps have been better had Sir George devoted a few^ words to render these apparent incongruities more intelligible, it is true that at Auckland he added the words ," until the people of Npw Zealand hare been- heard, .and Bare

had an opportunity of expressing their opinions upon the great changes they might propose to introduce," but surely that time has already come: surely Sir George cannot expect that the vcxgopuli can be heard more plainly than it will be' heard in the decisions they will come to upon the ensuing elections, and we should hare liked much to have .Sir George Grey affirm at Auckland to Pro-1 vincialists what he has said here so well pleasiag to Abolitionists, that if the country now d eeide in favor of Abolition he will do his best to support it; and further, to hare added the words that if Abolition were onceeffectedandtheGovernmentsubsequently overthrown hewouldnotattempt to restore the fallen down image of Provincialism unless it was as apparent to unbiased minds, as it appears to be to his own that the country could not do without it, and that the people wished for it. .Putting aside, however, the matters concerning Abolition, there was nothing in Sir George's speech which we would not gladly see advocated in the House; not one single sentiment but what we would wish ourmembers, whoever they may be, to endorse; and much that' we ourselves have already written of in terms of approval. And first among these points we notice the gold.tax, the repeal of which we have consistently advocated in opposition to the more selfish views of our morning contemporary. That tax we objected to for the simple reason that we hold that all taxes on the direct labour of the country are bad, and that a tax on gold, being a tax on labour, must be bad also.. Eor this reason we have also opposed the tax ©n what are called miners' rights, which simply means that a man is compelled to pay for the right to work for himself and family before he is permitted, to do so. This last is ,the beginning; of sqrrow which increases yet more when the legislature steps in and says you shall not only pay for the right to work, but if successful in that work you shall pay a further sum also, simply because you are successful.; It is urged that this tax is productive, and so no doubt in some measure it is. But does that do away with the injustice of it, or are the unjust means justified because the end is desirable? Certainly not. Why, on the same principle as which the goldtax is defended it might be argued that any one Section of the community, butchers, grocers, &c, should be made to pay a tax of ten shillings in the pound simply because, there was a great need for money, and these sums often shillings would each produce sums of a gound from the general revenue to be expended on the good of the district. Another point which Sir George Grey enlarged bn.is one which we think no one will be foolhardy enough to controvert, and that is, the great advisability there is of doing'away with the e«<««ay--wMclLatißnds_j3mny_GQyejrnmeai transactions, and the voting away of money in lump sums which may; or may not be accounted for. In dealing with, money entrusted to them,, the legislature are dealing with money not their own but public money of which for the time being they are the trustees,^nd of the expenditure of that money the public have a right to demand the fullest and most specific" account down to such items as would be required to satisfy a trustee in bankruptcy, and nothing less;ought to satisfy them. Such an account they ought to demand, and not rest until they obtain}'and then, we think, would follow another point which Sir George Grey in this part of his speech treated on,'viz., 'the augmentation ot" salaries and bonuses to individuals given and bestowed at the caprice of the. Assembly. Did they but know, that every single sum thus given would have to be accounted for and discussed, and that any attempt made for party purposes to fritter away the public revenue on individuals would be fully known throughout the length and breadth of the colony, the Government would be doubly careful of adding to the estimates any item of as doubtful a character as, according to Sir George Grey, seem to be some of those lately added. Thus, from the abolition of that secrecy which seems to hang over some of the doings of the Assembly, and which most certainly ought to be dispersed, would follow the saving of expenditure in wasteful matters,

and consequent gain of the colony. In speaking of opening up tke country, Sir George did but elaborate a plan he had spoken of to a deputation on Friday, and proposed to form a railway from here to the Waikato by inducing Government to bring in a' Bill guaranteeing six per cent, to any company, who would undertake the formation of the line, whether British or Colonial, subject to certain conditions!" Of the desirability of the line being made to us of this district, andwe think to .the whole North Island, opinions will not vary; the plan seems feasible, and it remains to hope and see whether Sir George will have sufficient weight with the House of Assembly to get lit accomplished. Taking Sir George's I speech therefore as a whole, he had little ! to: tell'us which he had not said before, little too which we had not already read of as coming from him. The points o? local interest on which he touched were well known, and the views he, supported in regard to these were in every respect favorable to the views of the majority of the people—nay more, they were .known to be'favorable to the audience he addressed. Looking at it as a whole we can only say that it left us in exactly the same position, and with precisely the the same views as before it was delivered, and these views were that apart from his Provincialistic views Sir George Grey is ttie most desirable man to represent the Thames community. Unfortunately, however, unless Sir George will change altogether, not "modify," these views

before the election, they are of such a character as to our minds makes it most uudesirable<.that he should be returned as our representative, unless the district wishes to stultify all former action in the ; matter. . ■__.

, Thbeb steamers left Shortland Wharf within an Lour of each other this morning for Puriri and Ohinemuri. They did not appear to bo overburdened with passengers.

The usual sitting of the District Court which should take place td-morrow will be adjourned. The business which was to have been transacted was not of great importance.

The quarterly meeting of the Licensing Court for Districts of Thames and Hauraki will take place in the Shortland Court House at noon to-morrow.

The address of Mr S. Stephenson, a candidate for election to the Assembly, together withan advertisement convening a meeting of his supporters, appears in our advertising columns to-day. Mr Stephenson is spoken of as the, democratic candidate, and the meeting of his supporters, to take place this evening at the Marine Hotel, 7 o'clock, is to discuss the probabilities of his ultimate success.

We learn that Mr W. J. Speight went to Auckland with Sir George Grey on Saturday night. Mr Speight is spoken of as likely to be brought out to run with Sir George if the latter should accept the requisition presented to him on Saturday night.

A meeting of the friends and supporters of Mr C. F. Mitchell will be htld at the American Theatre this evening at half past seven o'clock to take measures for securing his return to the Assembly. Mr Mitchell '■'. has consented to accept the position of a candidate should there be a sufficiently influential request preferred.

The requisition to Dr Kilgour, asking him to become a candidate for one of the seats at the disposal of the Thames electors, has received, we are informed, about three hundred signatures, and the doctor has signified his willingness to accede to the request preferred.

We learn that Sir George Grey has authorised the payment to the Mechanics' Institute of the sum of £50, voted'during the last session of the Provincial Council, but which, at the time it was voted, there was but little prospect of being'able to meet. The vote will come at a very opportune time.

We have heard it stated that the Eev. James .Hill, who is at present in the South attending the session of the General Assembly of his church, will probably receive and accept a call from one of the Dunedin city congregations of the Free Church of Otago.

The members of the Thames Choral Society will x perform in the Good Templars* Hall, Jiolleston street, to-night, selections from , the Oratorio " Judas Maccaboßus." There will also be a second part consisting of secular music. The charge for admission is only one shilling, and doubtless many w % ill avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded of hearing choice compositions.

We heard it stated on Saturday night thai the. requisition -to ...Sir George Grey, containing, it was alleged, 750 signatures, was offered for sale on Saturday for a five-pound note.

There appears to be some doubt as to who proposed that the Mayor should take the chair at the meeting on Saturday night. Our reporter has given Mr Gibbons the credit, while we heard it stated that Mr Gudgeon was the first to propose Mr Davies for chairman. With every wish to do justice and give, due prominence to all who took part, we must be excused if we have not put each in his proper place in the order of proceedings.