The Evening Star : WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 27, 1881.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3354, 27 April 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star : WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, The Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY. APRIL 27, 1881.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

For cool presumption commend us to a proposal made by a Mr. J. L. McKerras before the Chamber of Commerce, Dunediu. Wc wcreprofoundly unconscious of the existence of this gentleman before, but it requires no further introduction to assure us that he is a genius of the first water. IMr McKerras is an Otago man, ana Otago is the hub of New Zealand, if not |of the universe. S > simple a faith is full of blessedness to its possessor. It fills him with a divine confidence in his own destiny and the final supremacy of himself and his suuoundiugs. They become like the Children of Israel a peculiar people, for the accomplishment of whose special and predestinated happiness the sun shines, and Fiovidence conceives and directs mysterious dispensations. But Mr McKerras has conceived that Providence has not been toeing tho mark lately. Thero are some things that do not minister unto the greatness of Mr McKerras aud Otago so completely as that gentleman would wish, and ho has, therefore, made it his special mission to put things right. He has discovered that | Dunedin wants a direct lino of steamers to | London, and that the colouy should pay for it j he has been struck with admiration of Dunedin enterprise in establishing tho j Union Company, and considers that the colony should subsidise it; and by a happy disposition of things, these two facts might, he thinks, bo made to work together for tho good of Otago and its people. Now, Mr McKcrras's brilliant idea is this : That the. Chamber of Commerce shall deputatioHiso the Union Company to lay on a live of steamers for London direct for a subsidy of £20,000 a year, which tho colony shall save by discontinuing the San Francisco mail service. Or as an alternative proposal—for Mr McKerras is as lull ot expedients a9 a bantam cock is full of selfconfidence—that the colony shall guaranteo three per cent, on the extra capital required by the Company to provido steamers for the new service. The simplicity of the device is perfectly charming, l>ut MrMcKerras's crass ignorance of tho subject he is talking about is, we do not hesitate to say, iv no degree behind his faith in destiny. Sitting at the feet of the oracle, in all humility, to receive instruction, let us ponder ovor the woudrous device which a committee representing the mercantile genius of the Southern metropolis has already been appointed to carry out. It may, perhaps, be retorted that our view of the matter is a little jaundiced, owing to the complete unconsciousness of the existence of such a place as Auckland iv Mr McKerras's miud, which has led him ito make it a sine quit non that Dunedin shall be the beginning, end and middle ot his service. Well, " open confession is good for the soul," and we freely admit th ,t a touch ot,

bitterness mingles with our pity, but we shall endeavour tho more to deal with facts, not with opinions, Tho first "fact," then, on whicli Mr McKcrrus builds is an assumed possible saving of £20,000 off the San Francisco mail service. Well, with all due respect to Mr McKcrras's knowledge of the matchless perfections of Otago, in the matter of mail services, wo prefer tho authority of the head of the Postal Department of the colony j now what says he about it. In tho last report laid before patliaineut Mr Gray, Secretary of Post-oiliccs, states that tho nett cost of the San Francisco service to New Zealand last year was ouly £7,227, and he believes that, as till the postages by tills route—which is the very shortest that cuu be secured for the colony — go to reduce the deficit, tho increase in the use of the route will makeit wholly self-sup-porting, He goes on, furthermore, to point out that the colony had to pny £7,391 for the small benefits it, enjoyed from the Suez service, and that the letter charge made by Victoria to reimburse its £80,000 subsidy to tho P. and O. Company is so extravagant that for the colouy to adopt that route exclusively would he much moro costly. Tlio Hon. John Hall subsequently stated tho same thing iv the House of Representatives when postal matters were under consideration, nud if Mr McKorras adds tlie multiplication table to his othor accomplishments, ho may, by estimating the cost of tlio mail uiattor carried vill Sau Francisco, at tho Victorian rate ot charge, easily satisfy himself that the postal authorities are right. Of course, the reply will he that thoße direct steamers would carry the bulk of the mails, and so mako up the proposed £20,000, but such a supposition is simply an absurdity, considering our experience with the San Francisco service. People will uso the Suez route even now, although paying twopence oxira postago and the Sau I'litncisco delivery is ten days Bhottor than under Mr McKtrnts's proposed line.

So much for the imaginary saving of £20,000 off tlie Sau Fiaucisco service. Let us now look at tlio other purl of tlio proposal. Assuming that the £20,000 could lie saved and the Government were willing lo givo it for a direct lino, what tort of ii service doos Mr MeKerras suppose he would get for it ? Well, Mr Macandrew when iv office, tried it, and could not got auy company to touch it under £120,000, mid that only experimentally. Tho Victorian Uovernmcnt pay £80,000 a year subsidy t > the P. and O. Company for a forked BOrvicc fortnightly, via Gallo. A direct lino would havo cost considerably moro. Tho bait of £2,000 is so ridiculous that wo aro curious to know how tho manager of tlio Union Conipauy will keep his countenance when receiving tlie worthy gentlemen who arc to lay tho proposition before him.

We do not say that, if the Now S.iuth Wales Governmcut wore to buck out of the Sau Francisco service wlieu tho present contract is up aud tlitow tho onus ot finding tho £40,000 which that colony pays on to Now Zealand, I. it might uot be worth whilo to consider iho wisdom of ol taring a substantial subsidy for a good direct lino lo England, calliug at all the colonial ports except Dunedin, which is unsafe for large steamers as ' the caso of tiio St.ul Haarlem, and others too numerous to mention, have abundantly proved); but while New South Wales is willing to help us with a service by the routo which, geographically, is, and must continue to be, the very beet for New Zealand, we should be perfectly insane to abandon it.

Sir George Grey will arrivo trom the Kuwait thi-j afternoon, at half-past four o'clock. No programme of addresses has yet been drawn up, but it is understood that bo will address the Thames electors ou Saturday evening next.

Tho Industrial Exhibition in Albert Hall was largely attended lust ovening, and iv additioti to the numerous curiosities and models, a series of dissolving views were given by Mr Gillies, illustrative of Egypt and the Nile. Among the visitors was hia Worship tho Mayor,

In our list of justices of tho peace in attendance at the .Justices annual meeting, the name of Mr F, G, Clayton, was niliiitenti uiiilly omitted,

A private letter received in town states that H.M. Wolverene will not come to Auckland, nor will the dctatched squardron which iB oxpected to visit Australia. Both (jo to Wellington. We wouder whether the treatment of tlie Commodore when last hero hits anything to do with this ; at any rate it will be a.source of .rout disappointment to many in the city as well as a pecuniary loss to our tradesrucu.

Mr Abraham Board mau is announced to deliver a lecture on Friday ovening iv .. 11 Saints' school-room upon " Old Kliglaud ami New Zealand." The gentleman has quite recently returned from a visit to tho old country, so that his lecture ought to be instructive, while bo possesses the happy knack also of making a discourse entertaining.

Tho following tenders wero accepted by the Wnitemata County Council to-day :— Works in Waitakerei South—No. 1, contract, R. Hill, £56;— No. 2, contract, K. I.ovett, £1 15s per chain.—Henderson's Road.—R. Hill at schedule pi ices. — Portage Road.—J. Fulton, £o'J l'Js.

Mr K. Mahoney, architect has received the following tenders for the construction of Messrs llcllaby's slaughterhouse, Richmond.—James Graham, £719 ; Tho . Colebrook. £<!50 ; Jno. Hill, £547 ; Wm. Gill, £520; Jno Cornwall, £487 ; Jno. W. Jones, £477; Thos. Constable, £47G.

An inquest was held to-day, by Dr. Gohlsbro', at the Auxiliary Lunatic Asylum on the body of Mary Barton, an inmate. The evidence showed that death had resulted from diarrcohea. A verdict in accordance therewith was returned.

Tho members of the A Battery, Now Zealand Regiment of Artillery, are notified that the inspection will be held to-mor-row (Thursday) evening. Every member is requested to attend.

Thero is great discontent about the rc-nuinbering of business promises by the City Council, many business men considering that to change the number they have advertised will be a serious loss.

During the passage of the A,S.S. Co.'s Southern Cross to Fiji last trip very inclement weather was experienced, which resulted in the death of a hundred sheep consigned to Mr Page, and a valuable cow which was being imported by Mr John Colo, who was a passenger by the steamer.

The now Sunday-school banner of the Baptist Church, Wellesloy-street was placed at the back of the speakers last evening, and attracted gratiffying notice from tlie ppectators. The banner was , designed and painted by Mr Charles Bloomfield, the artist, and wns a striking evidenco of the painter'a good taste. Tlie following is the discription of this chaste piece of artistic handiwork. The ground is scarlet silk, and the inscription " Auckland Raptist Sunday School " is done in curved lines, in groen, black, and gold. The initials " A " and " D " wore elaborately wrought out and represented bannerettes. In the coutre is the picture of an open Bible, and underneatli the words in in a scroll " Buy the Truth and Sell it not." Around tho base of tho banner Is a heavy crimson fringe, and tho banner poles arc surmounted by gilded spear heads. We may add that the whole of the cost was met by private contributions.

Owen Duffy and Frederick Barahohlt, charged with a broach of tho Shipping and Seaman's Act in having travelled from Sydney to Anckland by the s.s. City of Now York, wore remanded until Saturday, as one of the Justices, Mr T. Mflcffaplanc, could not be present, thus giving the prisoners a few days' grace in order to raise if possible the £10. Mr Prime was the other Justice who heard tho caso.

Mr Nathan, who committed suicide at Timaru by taking chloroform, left the following extraordinary letter:—" One person alone knows the reason of my voluntary death. I wish for what is impossible, yet without this impossibility I cannot be happy, therefore I die. So, ye wise men, bring in your verdict of insanity. I can't feel hurt at it. My pulse is at 75 ;I am quite cool, ond feel in a hurry to get off. I am, as regards religious belief, a believer neither in a pergonal Deity nor a future tato of existence."

Had a thunderbolt fallen in the midst of our mining community, says the "Thames Star," it would not have occasioned more surprise than did the announcement of the reduction of the miners' wages on Saturday. Tho men are very sore about it, and we consider tho actiou of the directors of the Moauataiari and Kuranui Hill mines illadvised. In tho Moanataiari the reduction will effect a saving of £500 per annum, or about 9d per share. Now if tlie hands in the mine determined to give tho shareholders work commensurate with the wages they are receiving, wc feci sure that £500 per annum would be n mere bagatelle to tho loss they would sustaiu. Statistics show that the average life of a miner is teu years shorter than the generality of occupations. We have uo doubt that other mines will follow the example of the Moanataiari and Kuranui Hill, and can fot'sec that the result will be the miners banding themselves together on the trade uniou principle.

Tho Rangitikci "Advocate" (of which Sir W. Fox is reputed to be a contributor) saya :—" With a view to silencing the slanders of their political opponents when the session comes on, the Government a short time since sent a thoroughly competent officer to examiue the Patetere block aud prepare a full report as to its value. This gentleman's report is now ready, and the production at the proper time will rather startle the Knight of Kawau and his followers. AYe cannot now givo details, but suffice it to say that the report in question convincingly proves that in .selling the Patetere block at the price obtained, the Government made one of the very best bargains over secured in New Zealand." The " Advocate " wilfully conceals the real issue in this Patetere business. If the Govcrnmeut could prove all tho "Advocate" claims, it would not mitigate one iota the stigma that attaches to thoir Conduct in negotiating with poisons who had wilfully violated the law on terms securing to tlieni the profits of their misdeeds, to tlie exclusion ot tho rest of tlio colonists.

Madame Lotti Wilmot, at home for constitution ovory afternoon and ovening. Mesmerism and Suiritualistio investigation. - Wharf Hotel, Queen-street.—(advt).

A social gathering and musical entertainment will bo hold to-morrow evening by membors of the I'rido of Manukau and others lodges of tlio Now Zealand Ordor of Good Templars in tho Masonlo Hall, Onehunga. A good programme Iniß been arranged, und a pleasant evening is anticipated. 'Husos will leavo Mr Urowlher'B Btttbk'B, Wollosloy-street Eaat at a quarter to Be yon o'clock for tho convenience of Auckland friends.

A musical and literary entertainment will bo givon to-morrow (Thursday) evening in tlio Uorosford-Btrout, publio school, Itor whloli a vory attractive progmuiuio has buou issued.

An evouing entertainment and concert will bo hold to-morrow Thursday evening In tho Mount Albert Publio Hall, hi wliioti lady and goutlomeu iiinatuu s will take a prominent part.

A lecture is announced in aid of the funds of All faint's Church by A. Hoardman, H.tsq., on "Old England, and Now Zealand." Tho lecture will bo given on KrlJay evening in the district school-room.