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Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1491, 20 November 1874, Page 2

Ik this morning's Herald appears an import ant letter from Sir George Grey in reply toohe reply of his Excellency the Governor. It is characteristic of the times to see such diplomatic communications carried on through the public press, not only in th e tacit admission of the sovereignty of public opinion, but the necessities of rapidity in action imposed by the electric telegraph. Sir George has never seen Sir James' despatch, and must needs content himself with the brief synopsis which the lightning gives, and the Government will probably read Sir George's reply in all main particulars in tonight's Wellington Post. Meanwhile the ofßcialdoouments will slowlyproceed between Wellington and Kawau with the crawling pace of steam, and before the various letters reach their several destinations the whole affair will be as flat as a thrice-told tale. The ex-Governor notes categorically the four main points of his Excellency's reply, viz., that the General Assembly has the power to enact its recent resolutions; thatifc will do so; that the Government intends to ask bo further powers from the Imperial Parliament than those already possessed, and that he (the Governor) will not transmit Sir George's petition to the Queen's Government. To the first statement, Sir George gives the flat denial, and backs his assertion with " sound legal advice" that the Assembly has not power to give legal validity to the resolutions. To the second, implied assurance on the part of the Governor that the Assembly will assert the power and carry out the reso*

lutions by enactment, the ex-Governor replies in a lengthened protest against the proceeding as not only unconstitutional and ultra vires, but harsh, unjust and to be resisted. To the third, having reference to the intentions of obtaining increased powers from, the Imperial Parliament, Sir George complains, of di singenuousness on the part of the Governor in waiving the real point at issue, and asserts that what the public and himself desire to know, and should know, is what was the nature of the monao,, attached by the Governor to the " Resolutions" when traps' mitting them to the Secretary of state for the colonies. To the fourth point in his Excellence's letter-, in Which the transmission of the ex-Goverwor s petition is refused, Sir George simply asserts that the declinature is a breach of "the Queen's ins true fctons, and a violation of an Englishman^ ris;hfc of petition. The letter, like the documents preceding it from the same peri, is courteous, temperate^ and mast^rty, but it is the helpless protest xif *he Weak against de-' nant power. We ban hardly think that Sir George Grey expected the Governor to call the Assembly together, or that any thing satisfactory would have resulted, if ho ilad. If Mr Vogel or his colleague!* introduced a measure to hang the (drOfiirnor, the hungry pack of followers irt. the Assembly would say aye. Ami if in committee he proposed a clatis© adding drawing and quartering, they would say aye too. And We can hardly think that bir George expected that the Governor would tell him the contents of his despatch, or telegraph to Westminister, or in any way facilitate his Views in so far as they are antagonistic to tho intentions of his Ministry. Nor can we think that iSir George could have expected that his mere protest would have the smallest influence so far as the Governor and his Ministry are concerned, in stayiug the pi ogress of events. He was warranted, indeed, in expecting that his petition should have been transmuted, and the cavalier conduct of the Government—for it is not the Governor—in refusing is only illustrative of the lengths to which men may be carried by the license of power unrestrained. But the able and valuable papers of Sir George will not be without effect on the minds of the people of New Zealand. His utterances are the utterances of a veteran, who learned go veiling when governing meant workv But i, is nos m the quiet glades of Kawau that Sir George should be in the present position of affairs. Hs place is on the floor of the Assembly ; and, despi c the miserable fright into whi h the prospect of his coming there would throw the wretched hangers-on who see in Vogel's hand the bountiful hand of Providence, we believe that any constituency in this city, and almost any in the province, will be proud to assist in placing him there. That is his place. There his presence, his prestige, his experience, and his ability will toll. But in shooting paper pellets against a citadel in which is enthroned defiant, and almost absolute power, we regret to say and feel that his efforts will bo utterly vain.

A violent assault was committed last evening on Mr Talbot, secretary of the Mechanics' Institute, by a rum an mmcd Lynch, who attacked Mr Tilbot in a most ferocious uiau:io:' Mid ii.fl ..tad severe injuries on his he:id and face. A warrant is issued for the apprehension of Lynch, and the case will probably come before the Police Court in the morning.

To the Editor : Sir, —Listen to the recital of a mean paltry act. A highly respectable young maa has been working for Macguire and McCullum, shipwrights. Mechanics' Bay. It appears that Mr Edinond (the young man in question) not content with occupying his evenings in perfecting himself as a member of the Good Templar Band, must needs aspire to become one of Auckland's crack shots. Yesterday he absented himself from his work to fire at Monnt Eden, and this morning on presenting himself at the yard, got the sack for so doing. Remember the few, very few holidays he baa had, have all been precluded by his requesting his employers to grant them, and his wa?ea for the day have always been stopped. Mr Edmonds is a truly valuable member of the I 0.G.T., so Good Templars to the front.— I remain, &.c, T. B. Hannaford.

The school teachers of Auckland will hold their uaual monthly meeting to-morrow afternoon in Mr Fraser's High School-room, Symonds-street, at two o'clock. A larco attendance of members is requested on this occasion, aa the business will be to arrange for the contemplated annual meeting of the Society, and to consider steps for ensuring the sufficient training of junior teachers.

A Bachelor asks us for information on the following subject : Sir, —Will you be kind enough to inform me if bachelor's who are non-houseldera aro liable to imprisonment for the non-payment of the obnoxious education tax. [In reply, we may say that the Resident has announced from the bench that those who will not pay must go to gaol and take their consciences with them.-Ed. U.S.]

About sixty out of the eighty members of i&fr Cooper's singing class, met for practice last evening in the Wellesley-street rooms, with a full orchestra. Mr Lambert presided at the harmonium, and a gentleman violinist, recently from London, rendered valuable assistance by his masterly performances on that fashionable instrument. The selections for practice were chosen from the oratorio of " Judas Maccabees," and consequently were rather heavy. Madame Moller, Miss Cooper, and Mr Howard were prominent in several airs. The orchestra of instrumentalists seemed to have made great progress, and the mellow tones of Mr Howden's flute was an agreeable acquisition to this department of the class. We noticed a few discords both in the singing and music, which, of course, was to be expected with young beginners. Among the more perfectly rendered of the sacred selections were " Mourn ye afflicted Children," and "Oh, Father whose almighty Power," the latter especially waR effective and pleasing. Mr. Cooper's class will meet regularly on Wednesday evenings, and we would suggest, in accordance with the wishes of a number of ladies, that the class should close at half-past nine, as many of the fair singers have a long walk before them, and which, without a companion, is not agreeable.

Several cricket matches are announced for to-morrow (Saturday). The Parnell and Carlefcon Clubs will play in the Domain, commencing at 2.30. The North Shore and Ponsonby Clubs will play at the North Shore. A match will be played at Ellerslie between selected members of the Auckland Cricket Club. In connection with the attempted suicide by a member of the Armed Constabulary .Force in one of Levin's baths at Wellington, reported by telegraph, we learn from our files by the s.s. Wellington to-day, that in addition to the severe cut above the wrist, the man had, to make his end doubly sure, partaken of chloroform, an empty phial being found in the room. Dr. Harding was sent for, and arrived promptly. He pronounced the case to be serious ; but with care, the man would no doubt survive. He was removed to the Provincial Hospital. ' , The following is the rota of attendance at the Court of Petty Sessions on Tuesday next, the 24th inst. :-r-Messrs. J. Baber, A. Beetham, J. B. Braithwaite, W. T. Buckland, T. Cheeseman, J. M. Dargaville, P. Dignan, J. Dilworth, H. and J. A. Gilfillan, F. N. George, Thomas B. Gillies, G. S. and W. A. Graham, and W. C. Daldy (chairman). Mr P. Doran is again to the front in a good cause. It is intended to give an entertainment in the Panmure Hall on the 25th inst., for the purpose of raising funds to paint the Catholic Church in that village. Mr Doran has arranged the programme with the assistance of his brother amateurs, which is a guarantee of succesg. I

A fall report of the Rifle Association meeting last -right is unavoidably held over till to-morrow. A cricket match on the new grounds in the Domain will be played to-morrow between the West End aud Waverley Clubs when some good cricket for young players may be expected, as the West End Has obtained a good name from, its exploits last season and with the addition of some^ new members will take its place as one of the firsj cl übs in Auckland. The Waverley possesses agoodbtwLrinW. Connell The players *& be selected from the following names West End—Miimford, Gleeson, J- Buttle, (Lluid, Western, T. Mackay, R. Mason, dook, Caldwell, Taylor Cooper, and Clark. Waverley-W. Connell, W °^™™> 5' Gilullan, Leggett, Lawless, G. R^ngs C. pXp T. Iggs, B. Brown, C Laishley, T L White, and E. Morrow. To the Editor of the Evening Star : Sir —Allow me through the medium of your widely circulated paper to bring under the notice <?f the public the following example of gross injustice :-On the Ist September last m y son was employed at the Auckland terminus of the Auckland and Mercer railway for the purpose of being initiated into the duties of the Penrose junction station, t.o which he was duly installed on the /tn September, On Saturday last, the 14th inßt., without any warning, he was summarily dismissed by Mr Smith (acting under directions received from Mr Passmore), though !he had given entire satisfaction to the Manager, for the ostensible reasons that the staif of railway officials was to be reduced, and that the manager of the Auckland station, from whom he had received the appointment, had no right to make such appointment. Whereas it is distinctly stated by the New Zealand Railway's Bye-laws, No 15,— "Any person not duly authorised by the General Manager who shall sell, or offer for sale any free pass, ticket, or portion of a return ticket shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding two pounds." My son received payment for work performed during two months, which was all Mr Passmore considered he was entitled to receive from Government, as he had been placed on the list of officials by Mr Smith. Clearly there remained a balance due for two weeks work, which Mr Passmore advised him to obtain in the following manner : " You can go." said he in my presence, "to the office and get your ivagev, but they will have to come out of Mr Smith's pocket," as though a gentleman would demean himself by accepting from the private purse of an official money for work performed for the Government. I feel aggrieved that my son should have been dismissed in such a manner as would naturally leave an impression on the public |mind, either that he bad mis-con-ducted himself, or had proved incompetent to perform the duties he had undertaken. I wish to state that myself and my son were perfect strangers to Mr Smith up to the time of the appointment, and that my son received uniform courtesy from Mr Smith during the time he was his subordinate. This is a plain statement of facts that cannot be disproved even by the "superintending engineer for constructed railways." I am, etc., J. W. Cosset, Major-General, Royal Engineers. Parnell, Nov. 20, 1874. (From the late hour at which the foregoing lias been received we are obliged to defer any comments on the subject. Ed. E.S.) The members of the Royal Albert Loyal Orange Lodge will|bold their regular monthly meeting ttris evening in the lodge-room, at the Young Men's Christian Association, Wellesley-street, at half-past seven.