The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset" TOKOMAIRIRO, DECEMBER 22, 1876.

Bruce Herald, Volume IX, Issue 865, 22 December 1876, Page 4

The Bruce Herald. " Nemo me impune lacesset" TOKOMAIRIRO, DECEMBER 22, 1876.

[The gentlemen who made and carried out the arrangements for the formal opening of the Matau Bridge deserve to be congratulated upon the success with which their efforts were crowned. As several of the speakers at the banquet observed, the connection of Inch Ciutba

j^-"the garden of Otago ' ,L — with the main land was the most important event in the ... history of the island ; and the settlers deserve -predit for the pains they took to have the occasion: properly celebrated. Eegarded as a meeting of settlers assembled for the > purpose of con-gratttlating-one another upon the completion of an important work that should hjaip, to greatly increase the material prosperity of the district, the gathering at Stirling on , the 14th instant was a

.great. success: but, regarded as a public demonstration in favor of the retention of the 5 Provincial form of government (which some of its promoters intended it to be), the meeting was an utter failure. It waß pleasant to stand upon the new bridge and to think that the spanning of the Matau branch of the Molyneux would be the means of opening up thousand of acres of the richest land in New Zealand, while the sturdy settlers around were giving vent to their sanguine anticipations of the prosperous days in store for Inch Clutha. The banquet was also one that anybody might have been glad to attend, for seated at the tables were a number of those men whoße names will ever be associated with the earliest days of the settlement of this part of New Zealand. But, after all, the affair was not what it was expected to be, for beyond a few touching allusions to the beauties of the dead and gone system of government, political subjects were avoided even by the *' great guns " of the Provincial party. Mr James Macandrew, who might have talked high treason by the hour and then have been applauded to the echo, had the good sense and discretion to make one or two very mild speeches, putting in a little seasoning in the shape of Provincial spice now and then, just because he saw he was not coming up to the expectation of his hearers. Mr Stout and the other distinguished visitors were just as careful as the late Superintendent, and none of their remarks could be construed into having the slightest political significance. Under the circumstances, we sincerely sympathise with some of the promoters of the gathering in their disappointment, but we hope that they will take the lesson to heart and profit by it. The opening of the Matau bridge waß an occasion upon which the leading members of the almost defunct Provincial party could have aired their peculiar notions with reference to the proper method of governing the Colony without the slightest fear of interruption. The guests had been carefully selected, and had Mr Macandrew, in his mania for isolation, suggested that Inch Clutha should be proclaimed a separate colony, and that " the bonnie blue flag," he is so fond of talking about, should be at once hoisted on the southern abutment of the new bridge, he would have found any number of supporters. Mr Macandrew and bis supporters were, however, wise enough to say very little, and we hope that those who invited them will have the good sense to follow the excellent example g«st by the men they have so long been in the habit of regarding as their leaders.

The report of the Balclutha Presbytery we are compelled to hold over until our next issue. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a number <£ parliamentary papers from the Government Prister, Ik the « New Zealand Gazette' of the 14th inst. their appears a proclamation altering the boundaries of the Mount Stuart and Balmoral Road Districts. Mb Gilbert will conduct service at the Gorge School on Sunday evening nest, at half-past .eleven o'clock. The Norwich Union and Victorian Insurance Companies have settled the claims made by Messrs R, E. Jones, Bringezu, and Nicholas, in connection with the late fire. His Hojnoe Jto&e Waed has appointed Mr George Capstick, of Milton, a certificated accountant in bankruptcy under "The Debtors and Creditors Act, 1876." Ma James Smith, of Greenfield, was returned without opposition os the representative of Balmoral Eiding, in the Bruce County Council. Mr _A.daai Landells was returned without opposition as the representative of Crichton Riding. .Mb. J. P, MiirEAND yesterday granted a tempom7 license to Archibald Paterson for a booth at the \7aihola regatta on Boxing Day. An application xJPr a temporary license by Charles Hilgendorf w^9 Tefused. The Waihola Regatta, to take place on Boxing Day, promises " fco be one of the most successful thafc has ever been held- The programme is a good one, the entries will be numerous, and we may fairly hope that the weather - will be fine. THE Bruce County elections will take place today. There will be contests in only three Ridings —Kaitangata, "Waihola, and Matau. The candidates for the representation of the Kaitangata Biding- are Messrs C. E. Chapman &sd Reginald Macdonafci ; Matau Eiding, Messrs Geo. Inglis and James J?ejtrie ; Waihola Riding, Messrs J. C. Bannatjne, f, gjlghan, A. Robertson, Craigie, ahd-S'Nicol. Tub following is the scale jyip.OJn which electors 'far&e'diifferai Counties are entitled fe> vote at the present dectiojw, Via :— lf the property Js yaluexl' under f £50, ' ay» vote;' £50 and under &SlfflXtvr° l Votes j £100 a«4 ynder £150, three ■Tbte_^'£lsoahd under £350, four ,v.otes ; £350 five* votes. Holders pf rain**?' sighJtß^re.otf^.eiit^ledtopneTOte*

The Balclutha Amateur Dramatic Club are I going to give a performance on Tuesday evenfag. Boxing Night, in aid of the funds of the Club. The pieces selected are "The Harvest Storm," and "Found in a Four-wheeler." The Stage Manager has also determined to give another entertainment on New Year's evening in aid of the Athenaum funds, aud should sufficient inducement offer the Club will appear on the evening of the 27th inst.

Thb contract for the erection of the new church at Kaitangata has been let to Mr R. Macdonald. We understand the coutracfc price is £1060, aud the building is to be completed before the end of March. The contractor has already made a start, and the \f ork is to be pushed on rapidly. The people of Kaitangata are to be congratulated on the prospect of soon having a church more in harmony with the progress of the district than the primitive-looking building at present used by them.

On Saturday last an inquest was held at Catlins River on the body of John Sullivan, who was drowned in the Owake River on the 23rd of June last. Dr J. S. Smith, the Coroner, presided. The investigation elicited no clue as to how or by what means Sullivan was drowned. For two days after tho man was first missing search was kept up, but nothing was seen of him until the 14th inst., when the body was discovered floating down the river. An open verdict was returned.

A. cobhtcspondent whom the ' New- Zealand Herald ' pronounced thoroughly competent to judge of such matters, sends some account of the new Maori faith, which, it seems, has extended to Taupo. "It is," he says, " a service of traditional lore, chanted aud interlaid with English phrases Maorified." As in the Hauhau superstition, Tawhiao is the centre of the system, aud we are told that he is regarded by some as being infallible. Probably a division will arise on tins point, and some Maori Dollinger will question it as a tenet of the Church.

A charge of robbery from tlie person preferred by James Thomas Wilson against Charles Hilgendorf, John Hollebon, and John Macdonald was heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Miitou, yesterday. The information waß dismissed, as there was no evidence of any felonious iutentention. A full report of the case appears elsewhere. Macdonald did not appear, and the police stated that he had left for Melbourne. Last night's ' Star ' says — " John Macdonald was arrested at the Bluff, on board the Arawata, by Constable Meredith, this morning, charged with stealing £17 17s 6dfrom the person of John T. Wilson, at Waihola, on the 14th inst."

Me J. M. Watson, the contractor for the construction of the new bridge over the Waikouaiti River, commenced work nearly a fortnight ago. The contract amounts to £4000, and the bridge will be of wood with stone piers and abutments. The stone to be used is of splendid quality, and it can be obtained in any quantity close to the place where the work is being carried on. A sample was lately presented to Professor Black for analysis, and hia report was to the effect that it was a pure white sandstone, and that air and water could not have any bad effect upon it. He described it as a very valuable stone for building purposes.

The following are the candidates for the representation of the several Ridings iv the County of Clutha: — Richardson Riding — Messrs Peter Ayson, jun., John M'Neil, W. A. Mosley, and John SomerviUe. Pomahaka Riding — Messrs W. Dallas, John Gibson, and James "Wilsou. Waipahi Riding — Captain Mackenzie and Mr James Taylor. Clinton Riding — Messrs John Watt, James Scott, James Garden, and Robert Scobie. South Molyneux — Messrs D. Henderson, J. H. Jenkinson, A. N. Jowitt, and James Paterson. Brugh Riding — Mr P. Roberts was the only candidate nominated. The polling iv all the Ridings will take place to-day. A correspondent writes — " For Brugh Riding, Mr Fitzclarence Roberts vras nominated, but it is exceedingly doubtful if he is eligible, or even if personally eligible has not been informally nominated. It is said that there is only one elector in this Riding, and he is at present in Victoria."

This is what the ' Nelson Colonist ' says about the " patriots " : — " Sir George Grey i 9 too wealthy fco accept pay from opponents he detests like personal enen.ies, and he is too obstinate to give a practical denial to his assertions that the Abolition Act is unlawful, by doing work legalised by it. He, therefore, withdraws from the field and leaves his subordinate, Mr Header Wood, who was never troubled by delicate scruples when a salary was to be had, to fill the office in all save name and authority. Ctago furnishes the other instance of variation, though there far different have been the ways both of Ministers and Superintendent. With a stretch of courtesy, Mr Macandrew would at one time have been selected to wind up, only he overrated his own consequence, and fancied he could take whenever he pleased as a right, what would have been granted as an undeserved favor. He posed himself to submit gracefully to the tender violence of his Convention, and when he felt constrained to take the alms of the tyrant, the cold shoulder was turned and no one appeared to ask if he had a pocket. Day after day he takes his seat in the halls of his departed greatness and is good humoredly tolerated, as an innocent trespasser, who still lays claim to forfeited possessions. When, however, he laid hands on on letters addressed to tho Superintendent, which he had ceased to be, the exigencies of public business required that little eccentricity toi be stopped, and now he wails, to the Governor because the law is enforced.'^

" Snyjdjeb," in the ' Coromandel Mail,' sums up Sir George Grey in a very few words. " Sir George Grey has retired for the present to his island home at the Kawau. It would have been better for his health, for his happiness, for his pocket, and for almost everything that is his that he had never left his beautiful retreat. We give Sir George ,Grey jthe fullest credit for his sincerity, and we are indebted to him for his endeavors — fruitless as they hare been-^fco free the eonatij from its many corruptions. Bnt Sir George Grey is not, and never was, the man to effect any good in this direction. There is too much the look of claptrap in his speeches— too much of the ' inalienable rights of ftp people,' when no one ha- ever disputed their rights. . JS. {!s?s.<* not know that Sir George Grey was earnest, that he couid $ap be bought for any bribe that could be offered ; if we ( jjid not know that' he had sacrificed time, money,

and health when he might have been living in elegant retirement; if we did not know these things as we do know them we should take Sir George to be a political Jeremy Diddler. That is how le would be gauged at a distance by those who, not knowing the man, have only been able to judge by his Parliamentary speeches. We, who know Sir George Grey, can only value him for what he has attempted to accomplish. He is, doubtless, as honest aB ever was Washington, but the American statesmen could direct, command, persuade, and control, and none of these moving powers does Sir George Grey possess in the most remote degree inside the arena of politics. And old colonists will never forget that when Sir George Grey was in power he was difficult to approach. His will was law as far as he dared to carry it. He did not allow himself to be mtde amenable to anything or anyone. When Governor of the Colony he was as much disliked by the people, as he now— deprived of his power— is beloved by them. We hope Sir George Grey will study his own happiness and remain calm and undisturbed in bis retirement."

Me W. F. Dowjnes has been nominated by the Lawrence Cricket Club to play against AllEngland. He is practising daily with the local team, and is in good form.

Me Roiljestojk, at the banquet given at the opening of the new railway station at Christchurch, remarked that iv 1875 the passengers carried on the Canterbury railways numbered half a million ; in 187b' they reached 700,000, and at the rate of progress they were making it might be expected that in 1877 the passengers on the Canterbury railways might reach a million.

A Wellington telegram states that Mr J. Dundas Crawford, attache to the British Legation at China, and a son of the Wellington Resident Magistrate, has been appointed by the Colonial Office to obtain full information respecting Chinese immigration to Australia and to report thereon to the Imperial Government, &c. He has been accredited to Lord Normanby and to the several Australian Governors, who are requested to render him every assistance iv the prosecution of this work. Mr Crawford has arrived at Wellington, and will lose no time in obtaining, by personal investigation in New Zealand and Australia, the material necessary for the required report. He speaks Chinese fluently.

Ceetainlx (says the Christchurch 'Press,') there never were hotter-headed politicians than the gentlemen who used to assure the House of Representatives that, if the Abolition policy were insisted on, the whole population of Otago would forthwith break out in revolution. No doubt, in the excitement of the moment, they believed all they said. But never did men more utterly deceive themselves. The result shows how little they really understood the popular sentiment. The ludicrous failure of their Convention exposed unmistakably the depth of thei? error, and must have convinced even themselves that their heated declamations found no response from the great body of the public. The prevailirg disposition is to accept things as they arc. Unwelcome as we dare say the change is to many, it is evident that there is no inclination anywhere to continue the contest agains; a policy which is acknowledged to be inevitable.

A notice with reference to the use of the telegraph by Government Officers appears in the ' Gazette.' The notice states :— " It is considered ueeesuary to call attention to the inexpediency of the practice which has grown up of making too free a use of the telegraph for ordinary official correspondence, which could be as well conducted by the post; a practice which, while it adds very unnecessarily to the labors of the Telegraph Department, is, as compared with transmission by post, extremely costly." Officers are enjoined to be brief, and to confine telegrams to matters which do not admit of delay. It is further enjoyed that the use of the Telegraph on Sundays may be avoided as far as possible , " in order that the officers of the Telegraph Department may not be deprived of the privileges of the day more than can be helped. The notice concludes as follows : — " Any infringement of these directions will be followed by the officer in fault being charged with the expense of the unnecessary work thus occasioned."

Dubing the last trip of the Albion from New Zealand to Hobart Town (writes a Tasmauian in the ' Launceston Examiner ') a very melancholy incident occurred. One of the steerage passengers named M'Lean had been drinking heavily before embarking, and as a result was attacked with delirium tremens before the vessel had got many miles from the Bluff. Though carefully watched he escaped attention for a few moments, and when last Been he was observed to spring suddenly on to the bulwaiks, and thence over into the sea. Night was just closing in, and a high wind and a tremendous sea rendered the work of lowering the boat difficult and dangerous, but a crew went out in search of M'Lean. Nothing was seen of him, however. Deceased was a nephew of Captain M'Lean, of the Ringarooma, and had started with very good prospects in life. As one time he was second officer of the Caorong, and was in fair way of promotion, but giving way to drink he lQ3t his position, and gradually sank lower and lower till he has thus put an end to his existence. A wife and three children, we understand, are left, of course unprovided for.

It is well sometimes to see ourselves as others see us. Thi9 is what an English newspaper, the

• Yorkshire Gazette,' says about New Zealand :— " Even at this date so little is known about New Zealand, that fen persons liave any idea of the natural resources of that favored group of islands. Of the future of such a country it requires no prophet or sage to speak with confidence, and it is with all the more anxiety that we regard her present position. There probably never was a period when her balance of prospersty was so evenly poised. That she must suffer for the past indiscretions of her rulers there can be no question. She is apparently iust entering upon a time of severe financial trial, and, unless some extraordinary discoverj of gold should again give things " a $Uip, "V¥o shah soon hear of very hard times at the antipodes. New Zealand now needs a skilful pilot, aud under such direction there need be no anxiety as to her eventual future. Geographically and physically there is still no reason why ehe Bhould not occupy the position amongst nations, foretold for her by one of her earliest settlers— the Britain of the South."

It is amusing to notice (says the ' Wellington Argus ') how completely the Convention seems to have disappeared from the political stage in Otago. Of the Council of that body we hear nothing, and we may be quite sure that the subscriptions for sending the delegates Home do not come in very fast, or the fact would certainly be trumpeted forth by the local organ of the party. Sir George Grey, it seems, is trying to revive the interest in the matter by announcing his readiness to go Home ; but although Sir George is in a position to do this at his own expense, if he likes, Mr Macandrew is not, and if the public will not subscribe, he cannot go. We fancy Mr Macandrew will be very little obliged to Sir George Grey for reviving the subject now. It would have been better to have let it drop gently. This was evidently Mr De Lautour's opinion, for when addressing his constituents the other night he omitted all reference to' the great Convention, of which three weeks before he was a shining light, ha ving moved a vote of censure on the Governor and the adoption o t a petition for his recall. Mr De Lautour, however, does not seem to have even urged his own constituents to sign the petition. Probably he is rather ashamed of what he said and did in that matter. We hope ho is, because he ought to be so, and if he is there may be hope of amendment. The Convention will be a sore subject with a good many would-be politicians for many years to come.