Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, APRTL 18, 1872.

Tuapeka Times, Volume IV, Issue 220, 18 April 1872, Page 4

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, APRTL 18, 1872.

"MEASURES, NOT MEN."

In the goldfields legislation of past sessions of the General Assembly there is an omission which requires rectifying, viz., of provision' for compelling the due fulfilment of the conditions under which gold mining leases are granted. Until lately the absence of .this provision did not cause serious inconvenience, as the areas taken up under lease were few in number, and consisted chiefly of grour.d scarcely jrulable for the operations of the ordinary miner. Now, however, as extensive discoveries of quartz lodes have been, and are being made, and th-it branch of mining is receiving universal attention, the leasing question assumes great importance, as on the lines of quartz reefs leases will be largely taken up. Many are of opinion that, in the present stage of quartz mining, the granting of leases over extensive areas of land on lodes acts as a check on their development. Apart altogether from this question, however, it is universally agreed that, if leases are granted, the performance of the conditions should be insisted upon and enfoi*ced by the authorities. Otherwise the whole line of a reef is liable to be monopolised by half a dozen men, to the detriment of the mining community and the public generally. On the Gabriel's reef can be witnessed the pernicious effect of the absence of machinery to enforce thefulfilment of the conditions under which leases are granted. On that reef there are about a dozen areas, of 16 1 acres each, held under lease. On none of these are efforts to find the reef being made, simply because the shareholders are not compelled to work their ground. Were the conditions of lease enforced, a very different state of things would prevail. Fifty or sixty men would be actively at work along the line of reef instead of 4or 5, .as at present. The leaseholders have no excuse for not working their ground. Reasonable time has been allowed them to make their arrangements, and the prospectors have demonstrated the existence of a well-defined reef and also its course. The country cannot afford to have its reefs lying unproductive to suit the convenience of a few men. Leaseholders should be compelled either to work their ground or to abandon it, and give others, who will work it, a chance. Wje trust that, during the naxt session of the General Assembly, this ' matter will receive' attfCnliori 1 / and that provision'will be made to

effectually prevent auriferousground from being monopolised by speculators, to the exclusion of bona fide miners.

In its dealings with its servants it would not be unreasonable to expect that the Provincial Government would display common honesty.' Such, however, appears not to be the case. In fact, the Provincial Government of Otago considers itself superior to all moral or legal obligations,and on the slightest pretext does not scruple to set these obligations at naught. An instance on point has been brought under our notice. When the services of district surveyors, as salaried officers, were dispensed with, those who chose to take it in lieu of compensation, were given the right of doing all the Government work in the districts they were stationed in. Mr Adams was one of those who accepted the Government proposal. The district allotted to him embraces an area of 1300 square miles, and included the 50,000 acre block sold to Clarke. Mr Adams naturally thought, that as the land was in his district, he would ha/c the work of surveying it; and when the sale was announced wrote a letter to the Waste Land Board, intimating his readiness to do so at once. His letter was, however, treated with contemptuous indifference, his just claims ignored, and the work given to Mr Connell, the surveyor of another district. Now, giving this work to Mr Connell, is equivalent to robbing Mr Adams of a, portion, and in this case, of a very conyiderablc portion of his income. His district, as we said before, comprises an area of 1300 square mil as. Or that area only 800 are likely to be ever surveyed. The area of land sold to Mr Clarke is about 80 square miles ; consequentl} 7 MiAdams has been deprived of the survey fees from one-tenth of his district, or one-tenth of his legitimate revenue. The amount Mr Connell receives for surveying Mr Clarke's block is, at 6d per acre, £1250 ; deducting expenses, which will amount toabout £250, a net profit of £1000 — a very handsome sum of money. How the Provincial Government can reconcile its conduct, in allowing Mr Connell to execute the survey of the land in question, with honestly fulfilling its agreement with Mr Adams we cannotcomprehend. Such conduct on the part of a private individual would lead to his being looked upon by his fellow men as a swindler — and justly too. Much more reprehensible is it on the part of the Government of the province. It is calculated to utterly destroy whatever faith is left in its integrity, and render men chary and cautious in dealing with it. Mr Adams has a claim for compensation, the justice of which cannot fail to commend itself to every honest man. He intends, we believe, to petition the Provincial Council, at its ensuing session, on the matter. We hope the Council will see justice done to him ; and b\ T doing so show that engagements, to the due performance of which the honour of the province is pledged, are not to be violated to suit the whim or convenience of members of the Executive.

Again the Moa Flat job forces itself upon public attention. We hoped when the Waste Land Board yielded to the wishes of Mr Clarke, fn the matter of the 1.900 acres of agricultural land, that the last had been heard of the transaction. But the sacrifice was not then complete. Ten thousand acres more of Otago's fair land must be given to the Australian land-shark before his unholy lust for the heritage of the people was gratified. And the Waste Land Board — the guardian of the public interests — was only too willing. So the sacrifice was made. Provincial necessities will, we suppose, be pleaded for this last as well as the previous sale. We fail, however, to see how the province has or will in any way benefit by them. The proceeds, of course, replenish the provincial chest for a time ; but when they are expended, which will be a very short period, in what better position will the province ? What do the Executive intend to do when funds run short again, as is sure to be the case ? The province is acting just like a man recklessly spending his capital to provide for present wants. The fate of a man pursuing such a course is familiar to the experience of our readers. -The fate of a province acting in a similar manner must of necessity be the same — hopeless and irretrievable ruin. We have no patience to pursue this nauseating subject further. Every step in the transaction shows on the part of the Government of the province of Otago an! unparalleled disregard of public interests, and a reckless sacrifice; o£ principle to'efcpediefcey. '

Port Chalmers Railway Jetty. — Messrs M'Leod, the contractors f<<r the Port Chalmers Railway Jetty, drove their first pile yesterday. The work will, we understand, be now vigorous'y proceeded with.

The Southern Trunk Railway. — fey the Warwick, just arrived, the Government has received about 180 tons of rails, lasteniugs, and plate-layer's tools for the Clutha Railway, and also about 500 tons of iron girders for the Waitaki Bridge.

The Clutha Line.— The Kaikorai contract of the Southern Trunk Railway was declared finished on the 10th. The final certificate has been to-day granted to the contractor, Mr A. J. Smyth, and the works taken off his hands.

Mb Clarke's Purchase. — We learn that Mr Larnach has this afternoon given a cheque for L 34.905 12s 6d, the balance of the purchase-money for the Mjoa Flat sale. Thi3 iaclndes the value of about 9,000 acres which Mr Clarke's agent has agreed to take in lieu of money payment for compensation and survey.— Star, April 10th.

Fire. — This afternoon, shortly after three o'clock, a fire broke out in the hayloft of Mr ChapHa-'ti stables ia .Mai Hand Street. There were two horses on the premises, a chesnut and a gray, and Messrs Kendall and Grant, neighbors, rushed in before the fire had spread and rescued them, as well as a buggy and some harness. The building, however, was entirely destroyed, and ou the arrival of the Brigade further danger was prevented by the large f-upply of water which they poured upon the burning premises. — Star, April 9.

Spurious Gold. — The Southland Times reports that on Wednesday Kee Chang was brought up before Mr H. M'Culloch, R.M., and formally charged with selling fcpuriouß gold. The accused did not, we understand, deny having sold the cakes of amalgam, but alleged that its spurious character was wholly the result of accident ; the baser portion of the metal having got infused into the cakes during the process of amalgamation. The prisoner wa fully committed to take his trial on each of the pre ferred charges.

Gaol. — At the Police Court Lawrance, on the Ist April inst , Charles M'Ewen was sentenced by Mr Vincent Pyke, K.M., to two months hard labor on a charge of assaulting and- resisting Sergeant James Deane, while iv the execution of his duty at Lawrence, on the 31st of March ult. ; and on the 6th April, Alexandria M'Kwen alias "Ferrier," was sentenced by Mr Horace Bastings, J.P., to fourteen days hard labour for beiug drunk and disorderly at Lawrence on the previous day. Both the prisoners have been frequently before the Dunedin Magistrates and renewed their acquaintance witu the interior of the gaol on the lQth inst

Curious if True. — A Chatham Island correspondent writes to a contemporary : It may interest the curious to know that our extensive lagoon is margined on one side with smooth, hard crystallin - limestone rocks, all of which are as copiously inscribed ftithe wall's of Sennacherib's palace. The characters are of the rudest description, in basso relievo, not unlike the carvings on old runic monuments, and some are as sharply cnt as if done but yesterday. The aboriginal natives are utterly ignoraut of these characters, or for what purpose, or by whom they were thus graven on the rocks, no traditions relative thereto having been handed down. l

One of the Pioneers. — A notable old Australian, Captain Wm. Hovell, who performed, in company with Mr Hamilton Hume, the first overland journey from New South Wales to Victoria, arrived in Melbourne by the overland mail last week. CapWin Hovell landed in New South Wales in 1813, and his trip across the continent wa<i made in 1824. He is now in his 86th year, but is hale and hearty, as may be imagined by his sustaining the great fatigues of the coach journey from Sydney. Some years ago Mr Summers executed a bust of Captain Hovell, which is now in the Melbourne Public Library. The captain has of late years travelled a good deal, and is in better health than Mr riume, ihough the latter is bi» junior by 15 years.

Possibly True. — An adventurous night is thus related by a Gipps Land paper : — A boy named Cor, a few nights since, who was staying at his father's camp near Trarajong, where he was engaged fencing, left the camp to hunt opposums. After securing several, he returned to the camp, but hearing soon after his dog uttering cries of distress, went to see what was the matter and discovered four native dogs attacking the tame quadruped. Upon the boy's appearance, the dogs made a rush at him, and chased him up to the camp — one of them being io determined that it followed the lad up to the camp fire, when it was knocked down with a firebrand by one of the men who was there at the time. The rest of the dogs were scared off. This did not end the boy's adventures, for on awakening in the tent next morning, he found that a snake had quietly coiled itself in three folds around one of his legs. By his father's directions the boy kept quiet, and shaking his leg gently the reptile gradually uncoiled itself, and was rendered incapable of farther vagaries.

The Escaped Convict. — lsaa Robinson has again managed to effect hi c escape from Mount Eden Gaol, Auckland $ will be Mmemtered that on a previous occasion he also managed to get out of prison ; and,- after his escape, he went to a settler's hopge, brutally assaulted, and then robbed Afterbeing at large ashflrt timp, he was recaptured and sent back to prison. Stood his trial for the escape, and was sentenced to an extra term of penal servitude. He was originally convicted of a highway robbery with violence, and was undergoing a term of sixteen years' penal servitude. His latest escape was effected in a very ingenious manner. By some means or other, not very clearly explained, he managed to get poseseion of a warder's suit of clothes ; and, dressed in these, he passed unchallenged beyond the precincts of the gaol, It was not long before he was missed ; the police authorities were communicated with, and men sent in pursuit in all directions ; but he has not yet been recaptured.

Agricultural Statistics. — Certain typographical errors having occurred in the publication of the Superintendent Collector's return of the Agricultural statistics of the Province, a revised copy has been issued, of which the totals are as follow: — The number of holdings is 3,663 ; the acres broken up but not under crop, 34,366 ; acres Bown for grain only 33 660; ; ths gross produce, 884,225 bushels. Sown in oats for greenfood or hay, 9.369J acres ; for grain, 71,3394 ; estimated yield of grain, 2,197,929 bushels : Sown with barley for grain only, 3,323 acres ; estimated yield, 89,103 bushels : Sown in grasses, 6,369$ acres ; produce in tons 6,922; permanent artificial grass, 146,629f acrts. Planted with potatoes, 3,630f ; estimated gross produce, 13,497$ tons ; other props, 6,565^ acres. Total number of acres Wider crop, 274,51 7|: The quantity of last year's crop remaining when the form was filled up, is estimated as follows : — Wheat, 32,160 bushels; oats, 213,975 bushels; bwley, 12,485,

Carrick Range Water Supply. — At a meeting of the shareholders in the company, held iv the Town ri all, Cromwell, the follow ng resolution was passed .•--•'That in consideration of the projectors resigning all claim to the fifty paid-up shares each (he etof ore agreed to be given to them by the company), the company will reimburse to the projectors the actual amount expended by them (the projectors) for the benefit of the company, to tue extent of L 4 11s 6d to each projector ; and the directors are hereby authorised to pay to each projector the sum of L 4 113 6d upon his relinquishing in writing all right to the said shares. " Mr Li. A. A. Sherrin offered to construct LIOOO worth of the race for half payment in cash, and half in paid-up shares.

Police for Hongkong.— Mr Gray, the superintendent of the Hongkong Police, j who came to Edinburgh a week or two ago for the purpose of engaging men of our police f jrce to join the constabulary at Hongknog. has, we understand,, now secured the number wanted- On the call for volunteers being made to the city force, 50 men presented themselves, of whom 18 were chosen. From the Leith Force 12 men were selected, and from the county ten men, making fi total of 40. The men, who are all young and unmarried, have entered into an engagement to serve for five years, at an annual salary of LIOB. At the expiration of their engagement they will have the option of engaging for another term of five years, and all those who complete ten years' st-rvice will be granted a pension. Twelve of the men leave Edinburgh for their destination on the 2nd of next month, a number on the 20th, and the remainder a week or two after. — Scotsman.

A Prison Governor on Australian Meat.— Mr D. Mynard, Governor of Montgomery County Prison, thus writes to a contemporary :—": — " Having a desire to test the Australian preserved meat for the purpose of experiment in order to ascertain its suitability for consumption in this prison, and by the permission of the Visiting Justice, I procured some from the c Victoria Meat Preserving Company, 24, Lawrence Pountney lane, London, JK.C.,' and thoroughly tested the same in a variety of ways of dressing, and it proved highly satisfactory. I only wish every poor family had such wholesale and nutritious meat. I willingly bear testimony as to its goodness, and by its general use in institutions, prisons, and households, a matet ial saving in the annual expenditure would be realised. It may be observed that it is not requisite when a tin of meat is opened that its contents should be used at once. 1 have had a Gib. tin opened and kept for eleven days in the i irder, and it was then perfectly good. 1 strongly recommend it to the public, especially the benevolent who distribute soup and meat to the poor during the wiuter season. It wonld be an excellent opportunity for them to try the value of it,"

West Coast Travelling. — The Hokitika Evening Star relates that the fourhorse coach of Air Kea left the South Sp.t yesterday afternoon, March 29, for Ross. On arriving at the Totara, which wa3 closed up at the time, the coach was crossing over the sind which separated the lagoon from the surf, when the looseness of the sand caused a temporary delay. During the stoppage, a sudden fresh came down the river, and at the same time the surf broke over the bank. At last a heavy roller carried the coach, together with some of the passengers, into the lagoon. There was, as we are informed, no person at the punt ; but the pas sengers who managed to reach the land with some difficulty launched a boat which was in the lagoon, and, having rescued the passengers who were in the coach, cut some of the horses adrift. This was, luckily, done without any loss of time. The next" minute the river had made a clean breach through the bank, and the coach and one horse was in a moment carried through the newlyformed chennel into the susf. We regret to say that, in addition to the heavy loss sustained by Mr Rea, the mail wai lost, and also all the luggage belonging to the passengers. It is a most strange thing that no person belonging to the punt should have been within hailing distance at the time j and we should not be surprised to hear that the proprietor of the coa* h had entered aa action against the holders of the punt for damages.

Political. — The' Kaitangata correspondent for the Bruce Herald writes :— Mr. W. A. Murray addressed a meeting of his constituents and others here Friday night in Mr Smith's workshop. Unfortunately the night was so extremely wet, that only a few gathered — stiiL or member was determined to give them the advantage ot his experience of what passod in last session of Assembly about the Education Bill, Waste Land Act, construction of railways, &c. ; also his own endeavors to pass an Act to boiTOw money for the improvement of land, similar to the Land Drainage Act at home. He showed how the Government occupied nearly all the attention of last sesion in useless Bills they had no intention to pass ; and how they had to force and rush the most important measures, without time or consideration, at the close. He likewise exposed, by several instances, the lavish expenditure of public money, and the corruption of the present Government. After some questions had been asked and answered, — partly in earaest and partly jocular — a vote of thanks was given Mr Murray for his interesting remarks, and_ also to Mr Petrie, for dischargiisg the duties of the chair. — There has been no petition round here yet by the Education League. With a fair acquaintance with the di-trict, 1 believe the majority are for secular gducatiqn.

Inch Olutha. — A correspondent of the Bract Heruld states that:— "This ha^ been a season of unprecedented dronght, and in some of the districts throughout the colony mnst have been severely felt, pasture and water being both very scant. To a certain extent it has rather been advantageous to Inch Clutha. I believe a very large amount of drainage has been executed during the summer, which mnst greatly enhance the value of property and become remunerative for grazing purposes, and which could not have been accomplished in a moist season. There is also an extensive trade in timber from this district in the shape of railway sleepers, whicu the contractor (Mr Pollock) is driving t« the grouud with all speed and energy, a good many thousands teem already laid down. Harvest eperations are about completed, the plough being busy at work again. The quantity and quality of the crops appear to give general satisfaction. Wheat that was in bloom during the severe gale of the 23rd December, has suffered considerably. The crops have been secured in capital condition, the weather being all that could be desired. The green crops do not promise to be quite so prolific this year, still there will be very favorable returns. Thrashing will very shortly be commenced, then the farmer's cry will be a high and ready market, which it is to be hoped they will realise. — Our little village is extending its proportions very slowly, few additional houses having been erected during the year ; still, the future of this little town is predicted. When the railway operations are consummated, it may give a fresh impetus to location in the district and be a stimulus to farmers to carry on agriculture on a more extensive and improved scale than they have hitherto done,"

Provincial Council. —The Cromwell Argus, in view of the meeting of the of the Provincial Council, says : — Our Provincial e!e toral boundaries, if we must have a Provincial Council, should be modified : we are keeping and paying too many hired servants. It is absurd for forty men to assemble in Dunedin for three monehs at the public expense, and find when assembled, that they have nothing to do, and no trusts to exercise. Having come under the "Encumbered Estates Act," we must ad-jpt ourselves to circumstances, and weed out the useless jetainers we have too long kept in our household. The same number of representatives that we send to the Assembly should suffice for all matters pertaining to Provincial Government. There app ars to us no reason why the same electoral districts should not suffice for both classes of represen tatives. Of course, there will be the u->ual small talk and discussion. The Moa Flat question will be a theme of invective f r some ; others will find active scope in the "landphobia" for which the t'ouncil is so celebrated ; a few who misplaca their h's, and are guileless of Lindley Murray, will favor us with their opinions on matters pertaining to education ; while from those who are perpetually insolvent we may learn some- wholesome advice adapted to <ur impecunious condition. Whether, with the Permissive Bill in the distance, a new Licensing Ordinance may be looke i for, we know not ; and feel equally uncertain whether the political character of our Waste Land Board will be done away with or not. The latter, we fear, is too valuable a weapon of warfare and means of reward to be lightly parted with. The honorarium question will doubtless be duly debated. The manner in which it came before the public last session makes it too dirty a thing for Tiß to parley about. If our members must have money for their services, we trust they will remember we are not Egyptians, and make their spoliation as light as possible.

Slave Trade in the New Hebrides. — We have received, by favor of the Rev. D. M. Stuart, a copy of a pamphlet published in Edinburgh, containing papers read at the annual meeting of the New Hebrides Mission, held at Aniwa, July, 1871. It is to be regretted that the Colonies are so apathetic in a matter that so nearly affects every one of them. If anyone doubted that a slave trade had sprung up in the Pacific, the evidence presented in this compilation is sufficient to bring conviction. There are some men in official positions whose ju gment is so perverted that, in order to defend that which is indefensible, they, without hesitation, malign that which is benevolent and good. Thus Mr Robert Gray, immigration agent, Brisbane (Queensland), in a Government despatch, under date February 21, 1371, says— "The Government should hesitate before giving credence to any of the statements in Mr Paton's letter, more especially as it is currently reported that many of the missionaries on these islands are in terested in the retention of the islanders, more from motives of personal gain than anything else." We scarcely recoil. ct reading a piece of cooler effrontery than this. A man, the servaut of a people who for their special gain take a cargo of human brings at less prices per head than they would pay for horses, and compel them to work in a climate that they themselves do not care to lift a spade in, has the hardihood to condemn selfishness in those who, setting a truer value on human life and human liberty, hold their lives cheap, forsake the comforts and associations of civilised society, if they can but raise untutored savages from the degradation of ignorance ! The pamphlet contains ample proof that the so-called labor contracts are a sham ; that the natives are deceived, kidnapped, or bought of their chiefs, and taken away either under false pretences or against their wills ; that if any women are taken, it is commonly for degrading purposes ; and that the few natives who have found their way back to their homes have returned uncivilised, unwean<-d "from their heathen and superstitious beliefs aud practices," but that there is added to them •'the vices of the low and degraded white men among whom they have lived." Our Home telegrams tell us nothing of the Act passed by the Imperial Parliament on this subject. It is to be feared it will be a mere tampering with the matter. We should therefore recommend a careful perusal of the work, so that if needs be every right-minded man and woman may be prepared to join in an indignant protest to the Imperial Government against a traffic discreditable to civilisation and Christianity. — Star*

Fijian Difficulties. — The Government of Fiji seem to have more trouble with civilised visitors than with their uncivilised subjects. The Fiji Times relates an instance of an attempt to evade harbor clues as follows : — "A great amount of interest was excited on the beach last Saturday afternoon, a little before one o'clock, when it became known that the Government cutter Vivid, and another one, chartaied, borrowed, or something of the sort, for the purpose, were cudeavoring to intercept the schooner Loetitia, bound for Auckland. The schooner had not 'paid harbor dues required by the F.jian Government, and had weighed and was proceeding out with a rather light easterly (or thereabouts) wind, when the two cutters tried to stop her. The Vivid, a smart little cutter (and which will be remembered by our Sydney readers as having disappeared from their port rather unexpectedly kept well to windward of the schooner, while the other cutter stood across her bows, right in the narrow passage. When the Lcetitia first made for the passage the Vivid fired two guns, as a signal for her to lie to. Tais the Lsetitia refused to do and kept on, but owing to the wind had to made another tack. The guns brought out the G vernment barge filled with men, and after a short chase they boarded the schooner, which then returned to her .moorings. Captain Davis has since paid the amount (which he says was not demanded of him untii they stopped him on his passage), and on Monday morning last took his departure for New Zealand. On February 15th a public meeting was held at Levuka, the object being the overthrow of 'the present Ministry. Messrs Burt and Woods are the unpopular men, and it is thought that the whole revenue of the country will be absorbed in salatics to useless officials. Captain N. S. Uedstrom has been appointed harbor master and pilot at Levuka, vice Captain Frost. A Mr J. Love was found in his room by his native servaut shot through the heart. After hearing evidence, a coroner's jury returned a ver diet that deceased had shot himself whilst in a fit of temporary insanity.

Iron Sand. — A "Wellington contemporary says : — The Taranaki papers contain the announcement of the return of Mr (Jhilman from England and with it the statement that he has sold all the interest of the Pioneer Steel Company to Messis H. J. Walduck and Company, extensive metal brokers of Manchester. About a mouth before Mr Cliilman left London a meeting was held with the object of foiming a company to work the Tarauaki steel sand, but the general opinion was that one or two hunared tons of the sand should be sent to England to be smelted there, so that people could judge of the results, great doubt being entertained of any reports from the Colony. The Taranaki people, however, Btand in the way of such a proposal, and iiardly, we

think, consult their own interests by refu3. ing to permit any export of the sand. During the present wool season the captain of one of the wool ships trading to Wellington made an offer to take home 500 tons of the sand, but the Provincial Government refused to allow any of it to leave the Province. This seems to have been a golden opportunity lost. Such a shipment would have given a supply sufficient for diseribution amongst the most experienced ironmasters. The result of such a trial would have done more to set at rest the practical value of the sand than all the efforts conducted within the Colony with limited appliances arid experience.

The Cargill Monument. — This afternoon the drinking fountains at the Cargill Monument were formally opened by his Worship the Mayor The weather interfered much with the attpndauce, but wet as it was, about five hundred persons were present. A short platform had been laid for the convenience of the speakers, and at three o'clock his Worship came forward, and in a short speech gave an account of the r moval to, and re-erection of the monument on, its present site. He made a. few remarks illustrative of the character of the late Captain Cargill, to whose memory the monument is erected, explained the reasons why it was thought desirable to remove it, and stated that he considered it now in the best position in which it could be placed. It had been removed at a cost of about L4OO. Mr Gore, the contractor, then handed his Worship a silver cup, and the tap having been turned, it was filled with water from the. fountain. Mr Reynolds and Mr Bathgate followed with short speeches, and the proceedings were brought to a close by cheers for the Water Company, who supply the water gratis, his Worship the Mayor, and Her Majesty. Mr. J. G. S. Granb then said something, but the weather was tno wet to induce roany to listen to his spoutin«. — Star, April 13.

A Timely Warning. — The Tuapelea Times gives the following opinion on the present phase of the education question :— Despite the widespread feeling against them, there is every probability that the Aided Schools Clauses in the General Government Education Bill will pass during the next session. The supporters of these clauses, to their credit be it sail, are effectively but quietly working to secuie their passage through the Legislature, while their opponents are wasting their time and energies in useless denunciations of the— to them— obnoxious clauses. Besides, the secular o> National party is split up into nuinesous factions, all actiug inebpendently for each other, and all of which lose sight of their common aim in quirrelling over petty differences of opinion amongst themselves. The Denominational party is guilty of no such weakness, but has arta/ed its forces in a solid, compact mass, the component parts of which are determined to secure victory for their side. The attempts made to form national education associations, and ths endeavours to get up petitions against the Clauses in question are so ridiculous, that were not the subject of such serious import, they would be worthy only of being laugled at. Witness the Clutha petition farce and the Cargill association burlesque. The sapient originators of these movements are still possessed of that spirit which procured the early residents of i itago the so riquet of cockn ys. The existence of such places as Auck land, Wellington, Christchurch, and other cities and towns of the Colony, is utterly ignored. They Beem to imagine that the Clutha and Dunedin constitute New Zealand, and that whatever the residents of those places desire will be immediately grauted by the Colonial Legislature. Probably great astonishment will be expressed by the parties alluded to when they fiud their labors appraised at their true value.