Evening Post. TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1876.

Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 9, 11 July 1876, Page 2

Evening Post. TUESDAY, JULY 11, 1876.

Although we have had occasion t 0 differ from some of Sir George Grey's views, yet we cannot but proteat against the malevolence and persistency with which he has been attacked by the ministerial press. Such persistency need create little surprise. In the House he has to submit to gross personal abuse from the Government or some of their followers whenever he speaks ; and outside the process of vilifying is not restrained by the Standing Orders of a House of Parliament. Indeed, old colonists can only look with regret on the proceedings of the House of Representatives since Sir Julius Vogel became Premier. Compared with that fine, gentlemanly tone that pervaded it before his accession to power, it shows but poorly. Nor are the Government clacgueurs content with vilifying Sir George for his conduct since he forsook his well-earned retirement and entered on a political campaign for the good of the Colony. The Government do not like Sir George. He is outspoken, and he alone almost has ventured to attack those powerful "rings," the members of which have virtually ruled the Colony. To fight for truth, honor, and justice, he must perforce be content to undergo abuse and misrepresentation. We must say, therefore, that it was with no surprise we read the article in yesterday's New Zealand Times. The resolution on which it based its article has had to do duty on many occasions. It was last session hawked about the lobbies of the House by a then and now Government supporter. That Government supporter had to visit Otago, and there was a strange coincidence. About the time of his visit an article appeared in the Otago Guardian of the 6th September, setting fourth the same resolution, and in introducing it to the notice of its readers the Guardian — then a Ministerial organ) and under different management to what it is now — said : — " Does he forget— has he forgotten how for many years he kept a free constitution, granted by the Imperial Government to the people of this Colony, in his pocket, refusing to bring it into operation until compelled to do so by the action of the colonists. Has he also forgotten that he endeavored to institute nominee coun-

cils for the free representative Legislatures guaranteed by that constitution; how with general contempt his proposals were spurned by the men of that day, who refused to become his nominees, and demanded the rights and privileges so withheld by him. If it be that his own memory is thus oblivious, he may be assured that not yet is the rememberance of these tilings effaced from the minds of the older colonists." The language is not identical with that in the Times, but it sounds strangely like it. And there is another curious coincidence. Prior to the appearance of this article, two gentlemen who have been for a long period foes suddenly become reconciled. Mr. Vincent Pyke and Mr. Perrier embraced each other. Nay, the latter even saw literary ability in the novels of the former, a thing that his vision was never able to discover till last week. It is a peculiar coincidence. But the same resolution also did duty in the House. The Southern Cross was charged with garbling telegrams in order to vilify Sir George Grey, and poor Mr. Luckie had to get up in the House and explain the conduct of the newspaper, and how did he do that? Again, this old resolution — for on the 17th September Mr. Luckie quoted it from the Guardian. We do not think Sir George Grey need be ashamed of his career. No colonist has had a more glorious one. He has gone through danger, and suffered noordinary privations to found a colonial empire. When he reduced the expenditure of the South Australian Government from £100,000 to £40,000, he there also had to put up with abuse, but those who then abused him had to admit that his self-sacrifice, his boldness, and his economy and care saved that Colony. So in New Zealand often had his motives been misconstrued and called in question, and yet his friends and foes joined in an address to him in 1867, passed by both Houses unanimously, such as any Governor might be proud to receive, and if our readers wish to peruse a sketch of the gallant and noble career of Sir George Grey, we refer them to the speech of Major Sir John Richardson in moving the address in the Legislative Council. One word more. We trust that the petty impotent personal spite that dictates the attacks in the Times, and has dictated so many more, will be valued as it should be. We have no fear of its deterring Sir George Grey from giving his advice and his help to the Colony, and demanding purity and economy in our Government administration.

From one end of the Colony to the other— from the North Cape even unto the Bluff— a cry of indignation has been raised at the reckless extravagance of the personal expenditure of Sir Julius Vogel during his mission to England. We have already quoted the opinions expressed by Middle Island journals, and now we find the Auckland Herald remarking as follows on the published correspondence between Sir Julius and " Dear Pollen" • " The moderation of the Premier, who 'is only anxious to cover the expenses of a reasonable manner of living, the ready consent of his colleagues, the tone adopted, and the consciousness that all must have felt of the extreme absurdity of the whole position, are unprecedented in Blue-book history. However, the money has to be found, and the colony will pay, for these sixteen months' arduous services, the small sum of £8688, which the passage-money will bring up to £9000. Of tliis sum, the much-abused people of this province will have the pleasure of contributing, through the Customs revenue, at least £2000. And yet they taunt us with dependence on the charity and good-feeling of "the colony," and tell us over and over again that all we have is due only to the gracious forbearance and kindly feeling of the ' r dear Pollens" and "my dear Vogejs" who figure in the costly farce before uss^. We are by no means so sure as the Herald that the Colony will sanction the payment 0f this money. < A monstrous job like this might have passed Unquestioned by. the last Parliament, which, for corruption and demoralisation, had no parallel in New Zealand, but the present House is composed of men of very different stamp. Already, a spirit of manly independence, and a determination to check jobbery and extravagance, have been displayed on more than one occasion, so that there is reason to believe that when the vote for Sir Julius Vogel's expenses comes up for discussion, it will be sharply criticised and strongly opposed. Every independent and honest member in the House should protest against so scandalous a waste of public money as is involved in this transaction. Year by year, the tendency on the part of Ministers going on missions, to exceed their allowances, has been increasing. This latest proceeding of Sir Julius Vogel goes so far beyond anything previously attempted, that the time has now come to make a decided stand against the system. We say plainly that this demand by Sir Julius Vogel, for a sum of £2750 in excess of the liberal allowance made to him, is a piece of unbounded impudence and matchless audacity, which should meet with the severest condemnation and rebuke at the hands of Parliament. Sir Julius Vogel should be compelled to refund every shilling of public money which he has improperly received in excess «f his salary and allowances.

The leading journals in the Middle Island condemn the Financial Statement as being deceptive and illusory. The Otago Daily Times points out that the counties will find that the duties properly imposed on them will take all their moneys, and will leave them far less than they expected to undertake material works. It then continues: "It is in this way that we shall all feel the difference of having our Land Fund token away, for it is difficult to construe the whole Financial Statement into anything short of this dreaded consummation. We must not omit one important privilege that will be conferred on all counties— a privilege dear to every Briton —namely, that of taxing themselves. The main object of the whole Statement is, if possible, to confuse the country and the House as to the future burdens that it will have to bear. To throw on other shoulders than the Premier's the onerous and unpopular task of imposing increased taxation. We believe that the clear heads of the Opposition are quite able to undertake the duty of unravelling the mystery in which it has been the Premier's delight to attempt to wrap the finance of New Zealand. The whole process is so like the method of Sir Julius Vogel that we could affirm it to be his, even if it did not come direct from him. Out of the mist and darkness in which his Statement has placed affairs, it will be his delight to come as a very deus ex mackina and enlighten the world as time goes on as to what each provision means, and how it will work. Then it will be found that those who support him will get all the halfpence, and his opponents all the kicks. Then each petitioner will have to approach the throne with the words of Oriental supplication, ' May I speak and live V and then Sir Julius Vogel will be happy."

There was no business of interest transacted in the House up to the time of our going to press. A gentleman in Wellington has learned from a reliable and most respectable correspondent in Waikato, that now the House having by its resolution assured the valuable Piako-Wai-kato estate to the so-called Swamp Company, such company has paid off all its servants' numbering seventy persons. "This," the correspondent remarks, " is significant." We learn by a private telegram from Hokitika that the " rush" which recently set in to t some newly discovered gold deposits on the south side of the Teremakau has proved successful, payable gold having already been obtained in upwards of forty claims. The discovery is, indeed, described as one of the most promising that have been made inWestland for several years past, and it has occurred opportunely when a number of men who had been employed on public works were in search of new fields of labor. The scene of the rush is i nmediately contiguous to the ferry on the main road between Greymouth and Hokitika, oq the south side of the river, and on the landward side of the road. During the first of the " rush" gold was got on the surface, but it has since been traced from the bank of the river info the terrace adjoining, and is expected to prove a lead of considerable length. Though accessible from both the ports of the province, it is nearer to Hokitika by a few miles, and from that place supplies are likely to be drawn. Several of the storekeepers in the ancient mining centres of Stafford and Goldsborough have betaken themselves to the locality.

It was recently stated that. Miss Florence Colville had beexTcomplaining publicly of certain criticisms of the Press at Dunedin with reference to her acting. Apparently the following remarks by the|Otago Guardian are those at which the lady took umbrage. The Guardian says : — " We have nothing very special to say concerning the ladies, with the exception of a few words of surprise that Miss Colville should have thought proper to keep the stage waiting no less than twice during the performance. This, considering that she was playing with amateurs, was an oversight of a very serious nature, and Miss Colville might have displayed a little better taste than to have allowed it to occur." The Chamber of Commerce Committee met yesterday afternoon, to consider the new Government bill relating to bonded stores. It was considered, however, that the bill would not affect Wellington, as the system now sought to be legalised had obtained here for some time past. The insertion in the bill of a clausemaking compulsory the indorsement and registration of bonded certificate transfers — was recommended hy the committee. The funeral of the late Mr. Daniel Keefe, the crier and usher of the Supreme Court, will take place on Thursday afternoon, starting from his late residence in Hill-street at 3 o'clock. In recognition of his past services in the field, the iuneral of the deceased will be one accompanied by the usual military honors. It is understood that the Armed Constabulary, the Wellington Artillery Company, and the City Rifles will take part in the ceremony. We recently noticed the fact that Mr. Blackstone had brought to this office a specimen of basaltic rock. He has since obtained a cartload oi the material, which is deposited on the Reclaimed Land, near the Odd Fellows' Hall. It is very suitable for laying down at street crossings. It was obtained from a locality situated between the Hutt Road and the Tiuakori Road. i. ¥?'*. X7 . r , win > who is a °°ut to erect a large hotel beside the Theatre Royal, has received a letter frqm Messrs. Barton & Fitzherbert, the solicitors representing Mr. Coker, of the Occidental Hotel, and other hotel keepers in the neighborhood, giving him notice that the panting of a license for the proposed new house will bo opposed at the next licensing meeting, and stating that if he goes on building now. he has had fair warning. Evidently " a .Battle ot the Bungs" is impending. The Hon. Mr. Robinson and Mr. MurrayAynsley were passengers by the steamer Taranaki, which arrived from Southern ports today r A Maori woman named Ema Maata Pekama, who had been ailing for a day or two, died r 2m- er ,^ den] y yesterday. She was the wife of Tiaki Te Wera, late corporal in the Wellington police force. Mr. Joseph lorns, so long and favorably known to the Wairarapa people, has disposed ot his extensive business at Masterton to Mr. Casselberg, who will take possession in about a month. The Hibernicon Company performed before a large audience last evening, and should do so to a larger one to-night, since the occasion is the benefit of Mr. Charles Wallace. The success of the company, and the pleasure which the public have derived from the entertaintainment, are greatly owing to the presence ol Mr. Wallace. By his natural cleverness, his sense of the grotesque, his industry, and his attention to the minutiae of * stage *?u? v . 99 o iness ' he has made the parts which he minis the leading parts in the company's periormance, and well deserves some marked recognition, both from the Hibernicon and irom the public. At the Theatre Royal last night, the BatesHoward Company repeated the "Angel oi Midnight " with the same success as before, This evening « Frou-frou " will be produced, and the title role being one of Mrs. Bates' best characters, the performance should be very attractive. The next inward English mail, via San Francisco, will be due at Auckland on Sunday, The s.s. City of New York will bring it down from Kandavu, transhipping it there from the s.s. «ity of Sydney, which conveys it from ban Francisco to Sydney. The Wellington Artillery Volunteer Corps wril parade at the drill-shed this evening at 7 o clock, and after parade the annual general meeting of the corps will be held at the Postoffice Hotel. The Penny Readings held in connection with the St. John's Lodge of Good Templars last mght, in the Congregational Church, Courtenay Place, was very successful, there being a large attendance. Mr. J. C. Andrews presided, and delivered an introductory address, in the course of which he used very strong arguments in tavor of Good Templary. Songs, readings recitations, and diologues constituted the programme, and everything passed off in a manner which reflected credit upon the society and on those who contributed to the evening's entertainment. The singing of the National Anthem wound up the proceedings. I have reason to believe (writes a Wellington correspondent of the Canterbury Press) that the Government contemplate co-ning down with a proposal to have a political Attorney-General. The necessity for such an officer is felt on all sides. There are so many legal practitioners in the House, who treat us with such diverse opinions on all matters that come up, that it is impossible for lay members to tell which is correct, and notwithstanding their great readiness to volunteer their advice, these learned members never neglect an oppotunity of informing the House that they would have more confidence if there was in the House a law officer of the Crown who was prepared to argue out the legal points raised in the course' of many debates. I have the very best authority for saying that during the recess the Minister of Justice, while in Auckland, was in communication with Judge Fenton, with a view to that gentleman accepting the position, which after some consideration, he declined. Those who reckon themselves pretty well versed in these matters say it is not unlikely that Mr Button, the member for Hokitika, will be Attorney-General, if the House consents to that oflice being again made a political one. The Otago Licensed Victuallers Gazette contains four leading articles denouncing "The Local Option Licensing Bill." As there is no prospect of the measure being passed, it is not worth while to make any further row about it. Whales are again frequenting our coasts On the last northward trip of the s.s. Hawea two were seen in Tory Channel and three on the north side of Cape Egmont. The Taranaki News of Saturday says-— Several workmen arrived from Wellington per s.s. Hawea on Wednesday, in order to take part in the smelting operations of the Titanic Iron and Steel Compeny. According to the Nelson Times of the 10th instant, a strange fish was caught off the Commercial Wharf there. In shape it resembled a schnapper, was the color of a moki, but closely resembled a dolphin about the head It was purchased by Mr. Levy, and forwarded to the Wellington Museum. Diamonds are supposed to cut diamonds. Here is a case in point. A short time since (says a contemporary) in a country township, the bailiff of the district was met by the local collector of educational rate, mounted, booted and spurred. The educationalist served the official representative of the majesty of the law with a notice to pay his rate. The bailiff blandly accepted the notice, waited till he saw the collector dismount from his steed, and then, producing a warrant from his pocket, seized the horse, saddle, and gear. Then that collector had to finish his circuit on foot, and delivered himself, I believe, of some silent solemn solid Saxon sentences. "Mr. J. B. Bradshaw," says a Dunedin correspondent, " has been bringing the subject of the employment of medical practitioners as coroners before the Minister of Justice. Mr. Bradshaw's opinion is that no coroner should sit as judge on practitioners who are his rivals, or who should have the power of determining whether or not an inquest should be held upon the body of a patient who has been attended by himself. It is generally understood that owing to the circumstances under which a death took place in Mr. Bradshaw's family, Mr. Bradshaw is doing all he can to have the present system abolished. The present system is nothing more nor less than a disgrace to a very important branch of the administration of justice, and undoubtedly the sooner it is changed, and doctors are called as experts only, the better. Under the system which now obtains, occasions arise when the public cannot have confidence in a coroner. It is satisfactory to know that ' the Government is taking steps to have the desired alteration made." The Dunedin correspondent of the Brace Herald writes : — Tne only case of interest at this session of the Supreme Court was one of forgery, committed with most unusual surroundings, against a clerk of the name of

Moiile. Moule and two other persons in Victoria, wished to make perfect their title to some land, and to do so they had to get the signature of some persons of "the name of Kellett. One, John Kellet, apparently under the false pretence that he was the sole owner of the land, had sold it, whereas two other Kellets had also an interest in it. The land eventually came into possession of Moule and two other persons, who wished to make good their title. To do so they had to get the signatures of the two other Kelletts. Moule came to this colony, advertised for the Kelletts, got a signature to "the deed from a boy of that name ten years old, and who was not the Kellett who should have signed it, nor his heir at law. The mother of tue boy got frightened, went to a lawyer, had an information laid, and the result has been Mode's conviction. The Court, notwithstanding a recommendation of mercy from the jury, felt bound to take into consideration that the offence was committed by a person of education and intelligence, and, under the circumstances, to inflict an exemplary punishment. Moule has received two years' hard labor. We are requested to remind the brethren of the Loyal Orange Lodge that the emergency meeting and banquet will take place to-morrow evening, when a full attendance of members and visiting brethren is invited. The Wellington Amateur Cliristys gave an entertainment at the Mount View Lunatic Asylum last evening. We understand that it was given entirely lor the amusement of the patients, who seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves.