THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3308, 29 July 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1879.

In these days, of political uncertainty, it is exceedingly dangerous to prophesy. However, it is exceedingly probable that before our readers see ; another copy, of the Star, Fox and Go. will be smiling complacently from the Treasury Benches, as according to the latest news, the division was to take place this afternoon or tonight. It seemsto be a foregone conclusion that the Ministry is doomed, and if so, the sooner it is all over the better. Great uncertainty appears to reign regarding thepersonel of the new Ministry, even who will assume the Premiership being a matter of doubt, Hon. Jobs Httll, a worthy member of the Legislative Council, and the leader of the Opposition being both named. We are inclined to think that the mantle will fall on Mr Hall, as Sir William Fox, though potent as leader of the Opposition, would have a weak following as Premier. He will probably accept a lower seat in the Cabinet. Major Atkinson is spoken of as likely also to have a place, and it is rumored that the coming Native Minister is Mr Bolleston., The namesof the Hon. Sir J. Richardson, Mr Waterhouse, Mr Whitaker, Mr . Hobbs, and Mr J. SMacfarlane have also been mentioned. With the exception, perhaps, of the two last mentioned all are veteran politicians, and the majority have held portfolios in previous Governments.

As will be seen by reference to our telegraphic columns the English mail has arrived, the Zealandia being a day in advance of her contract time. In the summary of news perhaps the most important item is that referring to the debate in the English Parliament concerning the causes of the present great distress that prevails in England, especially amongst the agricultural classes and artizans. For some years past the advancing competition of America and other countries has told terribly on the British agriculturalist, and mechanic, and things have got so bad in; many districts that trade is at a standstill, and people are dying of starvation. Matters had certainly arrived at a stage requiring Parliamentary enquiry. In speaking on the matter in the Commons, Mr John Bright hit the right nail on the head when he hinted that the whole question of the accumulation of the vast estates of the Aristocracy would have to be gone into. Affairs in, the Mother Country have certainly come to a very bad state, and dark hints are 'thrown out by the Eadical papers that the adoption of strong measures by the people is the only cure for the existing state of things.

Pebsons having articles to send in the last consignment of exhibits for the Sydney Exhibition should send them in to the secretary before Thursday next. Says, a Press. Agency telegram of yesterday's date :-—Mr Wm. Kowe, who, it was thought, would rote for the Government, in consequence of the Thames and Waikato railway, is going to vote with the Opposition. The following is given as the true position ofApolitical parties :—Two,members are absent, Mr' Henry Driver and Mr Horace Bastings; two will not- vote, Mr McMinn and Mr J. C. Brown (the latter left for Ghristchurch on Saturday without pairing). The most Government can count on is 36, while the Opposition muster 48. It is understood if the Government is defeated, that Sir George Grey will press hard, for a dissolution. The Post reports that the leaders of the Ministerial party have been heard to threaten that they will use to the utmost in their power in moving further amendments to the Address in Keply if that of Sir William Fox's is carried, and that they will thus protract the struggle until a complete deadlock is caused, and so force his Excellency to grant a dissolution. Sir George Grey evidently has determined to die hard. The Herald's special telegraphs :— Canterbury members . assure me that Auckland interests will be scrupulously attended to by the new Government, but how, they do not specify. They see, however, that if they do not conciliate Auckland, they leave an immense source of power to Sir George Grey. One of Mr Hobbs' constituents telegraphed to him re the position he would take sup in the coming crisis, and the following reply was received —-" I record my vote against the Government, as a protest against the scandalous administration of native affairs. Peel convinced that if you were on the spot and knew all : you would approve of my action. I have perfectly assured myself that Auckland interests will be well looked after. I think you might trust me." From another source we learn that Hobbs denies in toto the rumor that he aspires to the native portfolio in the new administration. It had not even been offered to him." Alas, poor Hobbs. When the member for Eden attacked Sir P. D. Bell it was said he Tole'd the Bell. This alone was an unpardonable atrocity, but an Opposition member

thirsting for revenge remarked that when the " lord " replied to the aforemention attack he Bellted the Tole. Shocking ! ' It is needless to inform our readers that we don't father either of those. We would remind our readers of the Service.of Sacred Soag at tho Theatre Itoyal this evening. It is stated that a le^al firm iv Dunedin has received instructions to stop the performance of " iLM.S. Pinafore " in New Zoaland. This will probably " put the set" on Biccardi's Opera Company. There is no surer indication of the badness of the times on the Thames: at present than the number of our citizens that are leaving our shores— many of whom we can ill afford to lose. Iv the latter class is Mr S. Young, who, we regret to hear, intends quitting the Thames in a day or two. Mr Young arrived here about eleven years ago, bringing money and energy with him, and seeing a good opening, started a line of coaches from the infant township of Shortland to the then terra incognita known as Tookey's Flat, Where Graharastown now stands. He also embarked in mining ventares,, and was generally very successful. He entered with great spirit into all schemes for the advancement of the place, being one of the conveners of a meeting called to consider the question of raising-funds to bridge that dangerous torrent the Karaka Creek. He;was one of,the fathers of Masonry on the Thames, being one of those who instituted the Lodge of Light in 1870, and has continued a respected member of the lodge up to the present, filling all the offices. Mr Young was a true sportsman and was also considered an indispensable adjunct of a successful race meeting while he was looked up to as an almost infallible judge in cases of racing disputes, and never were his decisions called in question. Mr Young was always willing to lend his services for dramatic performances, being one of the i amateur performers in the first amateur dramatic entertainment given on the Thames. In leaving the district with which he has been so long identified, Mr Young will take away with him the best wishes of his large circle of friends. For ourselves we have to acknowledge our gratitude to Mr Young for many little contributions to our journal, and wish him every success wherever Providence may cast his future lot. One inebriate was punished in the usual manner at the E.M. Court to-day. We have been much amused at reading the editorial criticisms of Fox's speech and Grey's reply thereto. Newspapers in districts that support the great proconsul laud his reply as an oratorical effort worthy of a Demosthenes* while Opposition journals, with their mouths watering for favours to come, (in the form of." fat ads.") when Sir Reynard assumes the helm, call the Premier's speech clap trap and bunkum. It is only fair to add that the Ministerial journals apply similar epithets in speaking of the speech of the hon. the Leader of the Opposition. The Free * Press says Dr Kilgour is to be called to the Upper House. Says Crowquill in the Free Press :— " Some people are trying to stick up a man of straw for the fun they may experience in knocking him down. They do it this way : If Sir W. Fox should be chosen Premier, there will be an end of Auckland; the whole place willhave to be pitched into the middle of Cook's Straits, to enable the new Premier to have a highway to drive his carriage over from Wanganui to Canterbury! I advise to remove the Free Press South." Mb W. Eowe, M.H.8., says the !N\£. Free Press, is uneasy because Sir W. Foxrhas: been appointed leader of the Opposition. This is strange, if we consider that Sir William was nominated by gentlemen who are considered as belonging to Mr Eowe's party ! But if we remember the very high compliments paid to William's moral character by these ; gentlemen, wonder must cease that Mr Kowe should be surprised; That there should be any point in the character of -Sir William Fox that Mr Bowe could appreciate it is hard to conceive, and the antagonism of such hon. members as Mr Bowe will not disconcert a leader like Sir William Fox. It is reported (says the Star), principally on the authority of an Opposition member whose imagination is likely to be excited by vague fears of Sir George Grey's fertility of resource, that Ministers are straining every nerve between this and Tuesday to convert doubtful votes to their side. Sir Georgo Grey's reticence and the mysterious hints of bis nearest confidants heighten this vague fear. It would be a sad blow to Opposition hopes generally, and especially to 17 eager expectants, if the cup should, after all, be dashed from their lips. - -- .;,, ..