THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3298, 17 July 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1879.

To-dayl we publish a telegram from our Wellington correspondent to.] the effect jl^at Sir William Fox, leader of the Opposition, intends bringing a want of confidence motion against the Government, yhis move on the part of the Opposition is not altogether unexpected, as since the assembly of the members at Wellington the' Opposition, on counting noses, hare asserted openly, and without contradiction^ that they possess a majority in'the Lower House. The,action of the Governtnent in failing to nominate a candidate for the office of Chairman of Committees in the usual manner seems a tacit admission that the Ministry are not over confident as to the stability of their position ;• so they suffe* an Opposition member to obtain the office' rather than risk a division on such a small question. The division last night on the small matter of the direct mail service is another example of the strength of the Opposition. The telegram slates that the no-confidence motion is to be on the administration of , the Government, leaving the policy promulgated in the Governor's speech alone ; in other words it is in the men themselves the Opposition have no confidence not their measures. Having determined to brinjg on this matter, it is to be surmised that Sir W. Fox is prepared to form a Ministry in case of his defeating ' the Government, and if he could assure the, Governor that he could command a sufficient majority with which to carry on the business of the country, even if-Sir George Grey .desired au appeal to the country, he could not obtain it until his opponents found they could not carry on the business. On the other hand, if Sir George Grey's Ministry were defeated on, say ' the question of manhood suffrage, or any other important measure of their policy, they could appeal to the people. We think) however, as the attack on the Government has been brought in the form of a direct want of confidence motion, an appeal to the country will not be necea-

aary. Of Sir William Fox's capability to form a ministry we will not speak, but it would seem that the Opposition, though unanimous in desiring to upset the Government, would not be unanimous in supporting a Ministry formed by Sir W. Fox. Indeed, to. uue a homely expression, he appears to hare already "put his foot in it" by objecting to the suspension of Standing Orders to enable instructions relating to the loan going Home by next mail, which will have the effect of postponing the loan,| and perhaps add to the present commercial depression. In pressing the inotioia he has made a mistake, which may! con. siderably detract from his influence, and play into the hands of the Government.

At a meeting of the Local Board of Health, to consider the report of the Medical Officer re the cases of scarlet fever in Mr Maxwell's family, it transpired that Dr Bowbottom had reported the case a fortnight ago, and the officer of the Board, instructed by the Mayor, took what steps he considered necessary to prevent a spread of the disease. When Dr Payne reported the case he.pf course was not aware that,it hod already been reported, and to obviate the reoccurence of such ...a ciroumstance we should recommend to the Board of Health that so goon as a case of contagious disease is reported Mr Mason should b« required to at oncie inform the Medical Officer of the fact. Cases are on record i where contagious diseases have been kept I secret, the consequence beincj wide-f pread ! infection, and it is well that it should be i known that under the Public Health Act)a householder through neglecting to report a case of disease in his house renders himself liable to a heavy fine. \ - : We are informed. that the cutting in the Fiako hill where the railway contractors are employed getting stuff is itfaiyery. dangerous state and that unless some preventive measures are taken a serious, if not fatal accident may take place. jThe authorities should see to it that the lives and limbs of the workmen are i not endangered. .','"'.<';■■■/..■■• „..;■- „,,...,-. •|- ---.The. Bay. of PJ(epty tl Times sayjs:-— "There is some talkbf ultimately, running a line from Hamilton to the fiotprua Lakes. If this were carried out, it would inflict an irreparable injury on Tauranga, as its direct effect would be to draw away the Lake traffic, which should naturally flow through this town; into another channel.' 1 This is what they also thought about the Thames-TaXiranga line. The good people of Tauranga are so much bound up in themselves that they seem to think that all the neighboring towns are jealous because they are on one of the high roads to the Hot Lakes, and every proposition to carry on public works within a radius of 100 miles of Botorna is looked on with distrust and suspicion.' They should learn to take more liberal views of things. ;

Ngahabb and 15 other Maoris arrested at Opunake for ploughing settlers' land, not previously brought up, will appear before the B.M. to-morrow. There j are 89 in prison, and in a few days there will be 107.' All; necessary precautions j are takenr to prevent' ejscajj>& . They iriU be brought down to-inorFow' in a four, horse i coriveyancei escbrted by aii armed guard of Constabulary like the others! The . whole fifteen, will be committed. . j "',, % -rMBBXiNQr of the, Harbor Board was to have been held , last evening, i but lapsed for want of a quorum. j

The papers issued on the emigration to ■New Zealand' show that Mr G. M. Eeed'f appointment as Emigration Officer! for the North Island ia for two years definite, with, air. months' notice after .that.. The salary is £600, with travelling expenses, £250 being allowed for passage 'Home, and. the same; amount: for a return 'passage..::V:\^; T ,' T; ,; : r\' X" ■'"" \ < Hewebe Tomoana, half-brother of; the late Caraitana, M.H.8., has been elected for the East' Coast district,' and Isaiah Taihui for the southern Maori district.

The Chronicle says '.[Mr- Stout will return to political life in eighteen months.

The Tauranga people are talking pf indulging in the luxury of a Borough with a real live Mayor and Town Clerk. If : they carry out their intention, in the words of the sailors in " H.M.S. Pinafore" they're sure some day to rue it. |

Accobding to a Southern exchange Professor Baldwin has been, giving I the Wellington reporters a private manifestation of his skill. Some test questions were given, and one of the representatives of the press obtained a direct message on the present political crisis, bearing tidings of grave importance. The spiritual correspondent was, when in the flesh, a member of the House of Representatives, and, after expressing a wish that he could' be present in the flesh at the coming session, he asserted that there will be great political, changes, and that "one of the present Cabinet will die during the yea*!" This is not very pleasant information for the members of the Ministry. i ! ' The Chronicle reports that if the, Ministry is ejected Mr Brycse<',W.iii! take office under Sir William Fox., A ! l I A witness being asked Whether the prisoner at the bar Was his wife, replied, " Well, she ain't exactly my wife." " What do you mean P" asked the Magistrate. "WelJ, she is and she ain't," answered the witness. " WeVe been a-co-operating together for some time."