THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2588, 24 April 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M Resurrexi. TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 1877.

We have seen a picture called "Waiting for the verdict," in which anxiety is depicted on the faces of the waiters, who are not, however, in swallow tails. The New Zealand Herald has saved its readers anxiety as. to what the verdict of Europe will be regarding the Turko-Russian war by announcing it before it is given. That verdict is,tbatliussia, underthe old pretext of protection, will make an unjustifiable aggression, and that sympathy will be with Turkey throughout the contest. We have our doubts on this subject. It seemed at the begiuning of the rumors of wars that the Government of England were inclined to throw in their lot with Turkey, and assist, or, at any rate, allow the brutes to continue tbeir old course of murder and rapine. Public opinion in England seems to have been too strong even for a Government possessing such a strong majority as the Liberal-Conservative Government at present does, and yet we read in our calograms of to-day that England has no intention of interfering, though, it reserves to itself rights, &c, which need not reservation.

Auckxand—particularly City West—is now in the thick of an election campaign for the seat vacated by Mr B. Tonks, exMayor of the City. Mr Robert Graham and Dr Wallis are the opposing candidates, and both publish addresses in the Auckland papers. The former disavows any attempt to resuscitate provincial institutions "on their . former basis," Which may be taken as a sure indication that the party of which Mr Graham was a prominent member regard this as a forlorn hope. Mr Graham bases his claim to election on very good grounds. He comes forward at the request of a number of:■" electors and citizens" (the requisition we have not seen published), and on the grounds that he has been for thirty-five years a resident of Auckland, during twelve years of which time Jh& was, a member of the Generakfitssembly. These are very fair grounds on which to found a claim for electionj and those who know anything of Mr Eobert Graham would be inclined to aver that he starts with a great advantage over his opponent. Another article of Mr Graham's political creed should recommend his candidature. He announces his intention- to strive to the utmost of his power to make the colonial land revenue available for colonial pur-

poses, aud avows that he not only Toted against the arrangement of 1856 (we presume what is known as the compact of 1856 is referred to) but-petitioned the Home Government to disallow the arrangement. In this direction Mr Graham will have the sympathies of many who are not in a position to give him votes. He also advocates reserves for the Natives and individualising of Native titles, in order to promote settlement. One law for the Native and European, with the Queen's writ running through the length and breadth of the laud. Tins has been hitherto an Utopian dream, but it may be brought about when Southern interests become more identified with Northern, and when the policy of conciliation has been discarded for a firmer one of compulsion, hinted at by the candidate. Mr Robert Graham further indicates a desire to see the usefulness of Soad Boards extended; an united colony with one purse and one land fund, or the alternative of insular separation ; the disposal of our railways to public companies, in order to reduce present liabilities and taxation and provide for future works; and, finally, Mr Graham promises to do all in his power to get the Auckland members to work together. In the latter clauses Mr Graham will find a hard task if elected.. He will not get a majority to agree to the disposal of pur railways, which is not advisable, and he wiil not succeed in securing unity of'action amongst the Auckland members unless he is prepared to sacrifice some of the most important points in his profession of political faith. Turning to Dr James Wailis's address, we find it vague in the extreme, except in the outset, where he says: " I profess to follow Sir George Grey, and to be a .Reformer and an Economist." He certainly promises support to "the resolutions proposed by Sir George Grey last session," which we assume to mean the Separation resolutions. . He sees no chance of the land fund being made colonial property, and bints at financial separation, leading to insular separation. He opposes the sale of the railways, advocates extension of the franchise, and winds up with a pledge that his voice and vote " shall be given on behalf of Freedom, Education, Economy, and Progress, and against Centralization, Extravagance and Demoralization, which have so deeply marked political life in the colonies." Between the two candidates we should imagine the electors of City West will have little difficulty in making their choice. In Mr Robert Graham they have an old colonist who has filled the highest office in the now defunct province, and who has been a member of the Legislature for a number of years. Although a staunch supporter of Sir George Grey's, Mr Graham now sees the folly of endeavoring to reinstate the Provinces, but is determined to do his utmost to make the best of the bargain for the North Island, by adopting a creed which in many respects bits the happy medium between ultra-Provin-cialism and Centralism. Dr Wallis seems to think that he has a tower of strength in his profession of adherence to Sir George Grey. His address is something like his speech at the Theatre Royal on the occasion of the public reception to the Auckland members: it is vague and egotistical. He did not object to doing honor to Sir George Grey, but he would have snubbed the very men who had been Sir George's most faithful adherents. Now he professes himself an adherent of Sir George Grey in one respect, but he is dumb as to his feelings and sympathies regarding the other members; while in point of fact, if elected on his published address, he would be more unfettered than was the member he now aspires to succeed. We have some electors of City West on the Thames, and if the contest should lie between Mr Robert Graham I and the Rev. Dr James Wallis, we hope the electors will make an effort to be present on polling day and give their votes in favor of the former. Mr Graham has enunciated sentiments in his address which the more advanced Centralists have been advocating for years, and it would be a pity to see such a candidate rejected in favor of a political parson, whose career as a politician has been such, especially in connection with the Counties Act, as to stamp him as pinchbeck instead of the genuine article.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court today there was a clean sheet for the inspection of the li.M. in attendance. This afternoon at the shore end of Curtis' wharf Mr Craig disposed of 200 bags of Tamaki potatoes, for the fair price of £4 per ton. To judge from the sample shown at the place of sale the potatoes were of a good quality. A committee of the Thames Harbour Board, appointed to collect information as to the amount of revenue likely to accrue to the Board, and the various sources thereof, held a meeting today. As replies have not been received to all their communications they were unable to complete their business, and there was nothing of special importance to the public transacted at the meeting The Assessment Court for the Thames County was resumed by Captain Fraser at S. George's schoolroom this day at half-past twelve o'clock. The business left unfinished at the rising of the Court last night was to fix the assessment of the saw mills in. the County and dispose of a : ppint raised, that portions of the bush, being Native lands, were_notliable to be rated. This point was not urged, to-day, and the assessments were fixed as follows :—Shortland Saw Mill Co/s -property, £700; Tairua Saw Mill, bush, &c, £700,; Waikawau Mill, £250. - The Court then adjourned. We notice that Mr James Craig will hold a sale at the Shortland Hotel tomorrow, commencing at 11 o'clock. We are sorry to learn that ill-health compels Mr John Butt to relinquish a business which he has managed, with the exception of a few months, ever since the Thames

was opened. The Shortland Hotel and Butt's Corner barry with them the oldest associations of European settlement in this district, and-John Butt was a pioneer in every respect, enterprising and. energetic in promoting progress. The Shortland Hotel has been sold, and the furni.ture will be submitted to the hammer to-morrow, the late proprietor retiring into private life. We have no doubt there will be a large attendance and a spirited competition for the several lots submitted. We learn from Ohinemuri that the negotiations of Mr E. W. Puckey and the County Councillors have been successful so far, that the Ohinemuri natives have consented to raise the blockade of the river. The booms have been removed, and the work of demolition of the pah is to follow. The Aroha natives are still obdurate, but it is thought that they will soon «hake hands and be friends with their late opponents. They are beginning to experience the hardships of a blockade, being short of biscuit and clothing; and tobacco, and it is said that a person taking up a stock of necessaries in the provision and clothing, line could now do a profitable trade, as they have plenty of money in notes, gold, and cheques with good names attached. ' .We learn that in spite of the opposition offered by the obstructive natives the work of forming the road undertaken by the County Council has been completed between Puriri and Hikutaia and Hikutaia and Komata, with the exception of some forty chains of swamp, which will require to be i ascined, and which it is intended to let by tender. In this direction the County Council have i achieved a great work. While affecting to conciliate the natives who are objectors, and demur to their prejudices, the men have been kept steadily at work, and it is not probable that any great difficulty will be experienced in overcoming the scruples of those who were perhaps quite in earnest in their opposition to the work. There is in Auckland at the present time a gentleman—Willliam Eice, E.G. Adm.—whose object is to collect subscriptions for completing the building of the Cathedral Church of Queenstown, Cove of Cork. The reverend gentleman has travelled through the Australian colonies on the same errand, at the command of his superior, Dr McCarthy, Bishop of Cloyne, and he appeals to his "fellow countrymen and the faithful " in New Zealand to aid in the good work. We have no doubt that many prosperous colonists will take a pleasure in contributing towards the work. During the trial of a murder case at Hokitika, his Honor the Chief Justice had occasion to ask where a certain publichouse was situated. The witness hesitated, and at last • said, " Next door but one to the Terminus Hotel." " Not next door ?" remarked his Honor, "for that is my experience of Hokitika." His Honor (says the West Coast Times) is by no means the first visitor to Hokitika who has been struck with amazement at the number and close contiguity of our drinking saloons. A Christchttkch telegram to the Auckland Star on Saturday says:—At the Court to-day the case of Eobinson v. Eedwood was called. Mr Garrick for the Hon. W. Eobinson, staled that the malicious character of the injury received by his client had been withdrawn. He would therefore ask the permission of the Bench to withdraw the information. The Bench consenting, the minor charge of committing a breach of the peace was then heard; the constable said ho saw Eedwood strike Eobinson with a stick. The latter gentleman fell to the ground. Witness asked Eedwood what it all meant, and he replied Eobinson had used a very offensive expression to him, and he immediately went for him. Fined twenty shillings. An amusing affair took place in a beerhouse at Bedford, near Leigh, on Sunday evening, a man named Josh Hindley, fireman at a colliery, having deliberately made a present of his wife to one of his companions. Hindley, it appears, is a young man of about twerity-two, his wife, a prepossessing-looking woman, who works hajd as a weaver at a mill, being about nineteen, and there is a child a year old, issue of marriage. The wife is spoken of by the neighbours as a wellconducted person, but the husband has frequently been heard to express regret at being married, and in the Millstone beerhouse, on the night stated, he offered to make a present of her. to a single young fellow named Peter Hayes, a moulder. A long preliminary discussion as to the terms of. transfer ensued, both men, it.said by those who were present, being sober. At length the arrangements were completed, which were that Hayes should have the wife, together with the household furniture in Thomas-street, besides two guns, the pigeons-cots and pigeons, and a sum of ss. At closing time Hindley took Hayes to his wife at home, duly introduced him to her as her new husband, and immediately left the place, were Hayes remained for the night. When Hindley handed over his wife to Hayes he signed a paper confirming the presentation of his wife to a friend. Mrs. Hindley readily consented to the transfer..

(from oub own cob respondent.)