The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3932, 5 August 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1881.

The introduction of the Gold Duty Abolition Bill by Mr Seddon has given members an opportunity to express their views upon goldfields matters. Mr Seddon is member for a goldfields constituency, and holds strong views upon the question. During last session he attempted to move in the direction he is now doing, but was unable to proceed, yet he attempts it again. The dis» cussion cannot fail doing good, for it will attract attention to the subject. We quite agree with Mr Beeves that sufficient attention is not given to goldfields affairs by the House, and the industry instead of being fostered is retarded by neglect. More encouragement to prospecting, more money for goldfields roads and tracks, and the Government would soon find increased activity, not only on this goldfield, but throughout the Colony. The remark of Mr Rolleston that after the session he hoped the charge of the Mines Department would be given to some Minister with time to attend to its duties, may mean the long-desired appointment of a Minister of Mines with sole control of . mining concerns. The expression also from Mr Rolleston, who has had some experience in such matters, that the mining interest deserved more attention than had been give it in the past, may also be taken as encouraging for the future. Mr Sheehan no doubt feelinglthat the total abolition would not be carried, or even the reduction of one shilling as asked for by Mr Seddon, suggested that the question of the abolition of the duty be left optional with the local bodies. If such were to be determined, there is little doubt but pressure would be brought to bear upon local authorities to remit the duty. Then, however, would arise the question, if the revenue from the gold duty at present paid local bodies is taken from them, what are they to get in lieu thereof?— Permission to rate mining property ;'and here we arrive at the secret of the opposition to the repeal of the duty. To protect mining property from taxation many men in the House will use their exertions to keep the gold duty as at present, and only by persistent and combined action will the goldfields members succeed in passing the present Bill. We hope to hear a favorable report upon the Bill by the Goldfields' Committee.

Otjb big brother honors us in this morning's issue vrith several references to paragraphs in our last. Well, we are grateful, and our correspondent in Wellington Bhould feel doubly so. One paragraph in the Advertiser says the Mayor of Wellington is a Presbyterian, he may be bo in name, but from personal know, iedge, we know Mr Hutchineon holds c rtain advanced views, so that matters of church Government have very little concern for himMr Speight is a church man, yes, that is cor rect, "and nn Orangeman of four months Btanding, and probably like all neophytes, he is a red hot one, especially with an election in the near future. This running with the hare and hunting with the hounds policy, has often been tried by professional politicians, but usually with the one result, lobs of respect on both sides. He is an Orangeman in heart, and by the rules of his Order, yet he ' sympathises deeply with the objects of the Land League," and so would like the Catholics on the one band to believe him one of them jn action, and with his Ora ge friends quite the contrary. It is very lik < following the advice said to be given by Loyola, and now thought to be the policy of the Jesuits. We don't say that such is the case, but it looks very like it. We admire the sentiment expressed in the following words: —"If there iaanything to be deprecated in the colony it is such insidious attempts to create strife between different sections of a community striving to live amicably togelher "—and we congratulate our contemporary upon allowing such to appear in his columns, especially when we remember that in the past the Advertiser has done more to stir up party strife and religious animosities in this community than any journal we have met with professing liberality, and not known as a party organ. If our correspondent sends us opinions held in Wellington, we cannot blame our correspondent, nor find fault with the people in the Empire City for holding such opinions. We don't approve of them ourselres, and in late issues we have written at length on the Land League and its object. Mr Speight is placed in a very false position by our contemporary, and will find it difficult to undo the injudicious advocacy of bis actions and his views. Except it is with the desire to find fault, we cannot sea why our contemporary referred to us at all; for in the first paragraph of our lasfcisßue, we were most explicit in stating our opinions.

At the Presbyterian Cliui'di on Sunday evening, the Rev. S. J. Neill will deliver a lecture on "Theßevision of the New Testament." From the interest that is at present being taken in this subject in all parts of the world, and the well known ability of the lecturer, we shall expect to see a very large congregation assembled in the Presbyterian Church on this occasion.

The Public Works Statement will be presented by Mr Hall next week.

We would call the attention of heads of families to the advertisement of Messrs of R. Walker and Co., appearing in another column. Although a firm of somewhat new standing, they appear to have made good progress, and are, apparently, receiving that measure of success to which liberal advertisers are entitled. The speciality is email profits, but only for cash; the low prices charged by them will not stand booking.

Fbom our F'ji corre?pundent we have received a copy of a pamphlet entitled "South Sea Massacres " written by the " Vagabond " Mr Thomas dedicates the book in the following language :~" To the memories of the murdered white men—(.he victims of the policy and iaaetion of the High Comuiisj'iouer of the

Pacific, Sir Arthur Gordon, and the Chief Justice of Fiji, John Gorrie." We will probably give extracts from the pamphlet in future ißaues.

Mb Bbight, the well-known nurseryman of Parawai, has removed to a more central position in Pollen street, where he will continue* to attend to his customers' requirements as heretofore. Mr Bright's stock of fruit trees is large and well grown, and people intending doing a little planting, should not delay as the season is getting well advanced.

The redoubtable bnight of the hammer, Mr Leydon, will sell a large assortment of goods at his Brown street auction mart tomorrow, amongst them being a splendid new pianoforte—one well worth the a ten ion of any person desirous of becoming tlio possessor of a really superior instrument.

An advice received at Wellington saya that the Eev. Father Larkin has been committed for trial for manslaughter at Honolulu. He had a school erected, which fell in the course of construction, killing a Kanaka boy.

In referring to an item that appeared in our last issue about Mr t»heehan, the Advertiser says " that the Auckland iteits appearing in our columns are far from true," and insinuates that such items never reich us by wire, but are manufactured for a purpose. Well, well, the old saying is exemplified again, " A man measures other peoples corn by his own bushel." The writer in the Advertiser, so accustomed to manufacturing telegrams and letters from Wellington himself, must needs think we do the same. His latters are made up of extracts takei from contemporaries, rewritten in some instances or a little altered, and bo made to do service as sp cial letters. But why remind readers of h s little peculiariiies. We have before now bowled him out iv one of his leading articles, which turned out. to be an extract from a Home pap.r, yet; was given as an original contribution. We are sorry to find some of ibe lU Adam in the editor yet; we have of late been complimenting him upon his good behaviour, and upon an expression of noble sentiments we even offer congratulations to him in the preeent issue, and now we are rudely shocked again with hia falling awiy from his high estate.

The following appeared in the Otago Daily Times, and forms the text for the Tablet to go for Mr Sheehan :—" On one point alone did Mr Sheehan give a distinct and unqualified utterance, and that was as to his determination to stand by t c Education Act. Those who know his social surroundings, the obloquy and persecution which he has incurred for his staunch support of the secular system of education, even to bein^ denounced from the altar in his own hearing, can appreciate the sacrifice he has made, and the courage the effort has involved. To the fulminations of the ' fire eating' Croke, and the more gentle exhortations of the patriarchal Steins on his head, he has turned a deaf ear. In the eyes of a large section of the Thames electors such conduct like charity, covers a multitude of political shortcomings on the part of their representative." Mr Sheehan should fell proud of the congratulations poured out upon him by the pen that ridicules the bishops of the church to which he still professes to belong. Me intime, we j.ain a new view of heroism : it consists, we learn, in a man's meeting with indifference the denunciations from an altar the teaching from which h<sbeen notably despised by him, in his takiDg the side against a minority from adopting whose cause he could gain only the praise due to one who should run the risk of sacrificing himself in support of the piineiples in which he had been educated, and which he still professed to hold, and by a defence of that section of the community with which he was most intimately connected from unjust exactions and tyrannous treatment. It consists, again, in a man's being steadfast in the public support of a m aßure, whose support insures to him immunity from any blame that might otherwise fall upon him, and continues to him the allegiance of the majority necessary to uphold and promote his welfare so far as temporal matters are CDncerned." We can only say that such constituents are eminently wo thy of their representative, Mr Sheehan, and that he is worthy of them. May they thrive as hey deserve under their mutual and edifying relationship.

A pbecedent for the Governor. —The proclamation by which the King of Denmark has dissolved his House of Commons appears to be a remarkable document. His Majesty regrets to find that the members have been wasting their time, and are either unable or unwilling to carry useful measures. In six months they have neither passed a useful bill nor voted any supplies; the King, therefore, thinks they may as well go about their business.—And so say all of us.

We were pleased to find the Scottish Band Concert so well patronised last night. It must be encouraging to the Band, who at considerable trouble and expense prepare their programmes The pieces given last night were much appreciated, and many complimentary remarks were marie upon the proficiency and ability displayed by the Band. The fallowing was the programme : —Quick March —" True for Ever," R. Smith 5 grand fantasia —" ETonoria," R. Smith; valse — " True Love," H. Bound j glee—" Life's a Bumper," Wainwright; schottische — " .Nelly,'' E. Newton ; overture—" Knight Templar," H. Round ; mazurka — " Rose Queen," R, Smith ; galop—" Electric Post," Ji. Smith.