The Press. TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1865. THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 794, 16 May 1865, Page 2

The Press. TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1865. THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

We publish to-day some papers which show how Tast is the change which has come over the spirit of the General Government in the hands of a man like Mr. Weld. The first is a memorandum by the Prime Minister which is of the highest importance. It appears that General Cameron has attributed to the present ministers " a culpable disregard to the lives of British officers and men." The reply is brief in language and dignified in tone, and we venture to say will be responded to with a thrill of accord from end to end of the colony. The memorandum does not argue, or wrangle, or complain. It repudiates the accusation in very simple words: but it does more. Ministers ** believe that having regardtothe character

of the colony, which it is their duty to uphold, and to their own, which as public men, is the property of the colony, it is impossible longer to accept assistance so unwillingly rendered. $br indeed can it be hoped that the zeal and energy, which alone can secure success, or lead to any useful result in operations in. the field, will be displayed by any officer, however distinguished, in support of a cause which is branded by him with such severe reprobation." This brings that matter to issue which for years we have been laboring to impress on the colony. An army whose officers are at liberty to criticise the . policy of the Government instead of obeying

its orders, is a curse instead of a blessing to any country. We thank General Cameron for the happy intemperance of language which will result in conferring on the Government of this colony the greatest boon which could be accorded to it, that of dispensing with the services of men who constitute an imperium in imperio in the colony.

The second paper to "which we allude shows another resolution in the General Government. It is actually—however incredible the fact may appear —the quarter's account of the General Government for the quarter ending on the 31st March last ! not only the accounts of the current revenue but also the war expenditure under the Loan Appropriation Act! We may observe that we do not remember to have seen any account of the expenditure under the Loan Act up to December 1864. The account before us is merely the quarter's current account, and we find that during the quarter ending March 31 last, that war expenditure was at the rate of 600,000 a year ; a sum sufficiently alarming. We hear also on good authority that the Government intends in the coming Session to pass a Bill by which this regular publication of accounts shall be compulsory. If Mr. Weld's Government were to leave office to-morrow they would have left their mark on the country as no Government has left it for many years —at least for good. The dismissal of the troops, the establishment of the Panama Rout e > and the publicity of the public accounts, are three measures which may well stamp any Government which has been in office only eight months.

Accident in the Tustssl. —About noon yesterday the news arrived in town of a severe accident which had taken place in the Tunnel. It appears that not far from the first shaft there is a small wooden workshop erected, in which it is the business of one man to prepare the cartridges used in blasting the rock. It is provided with a close lantern, to avoid danger; but yesterday, the candle requiring snuffing, he imprudently opened the glass, and having snuffed the wick threw the lighted piece on to the floor. The spark ignited some loose gunpowder, which again set firo to some of the cartridges, and in a few seconds the whole supply exploded, destroying the workshop, and carrying away the timber roof which is carried along the top of the Tunnel to provide a channel for conveying the foul air from the workings to the shaft. Unfortunately, just at the same moment a small truck was coming up the Tunnel containing a small keg of gunpowder and some fuse. The men at the head of the drive having heard the noise, and seeing the smoke of the first explosion rolling up the line, ran down and arrived at the place just as the keg of gunpowder on the truck exploded also. Five or six men were a good deal burnt and bruised, though we are glad to hear none dangerously so. The telegraph was immediately set to work, and Dr. Bouse, from Lyttelton, was over the hill and on the spot in considerably less than an how j at the same time a man, and horse was despatched to the Heathcote "Wharf Station where, fortunately, the engine was j waiting with steam up. It . was immediately despatched to Christchorch, and returned with Mr. Bichardson and Dr. Leach, the first medical man who could be found; so that the sufferers were placed under medical care with i very little delay. "We hear they are all going on well. "We have particularly described the mode in which this accident occurred, showing that it arose from a J most unfortunate piece of carelessness. No public I work of the same magnitude, involving the expenditure of so much gunpowder, has ever been accom- j plished with fewer casualties than this tunnel, showing that all proper precautions are taken to insure j safety. But no rules can provide against the in-! difference and recklessness which is displayed by some men when in tho constant presence of danger, to which they become at last perfectly callous.

St. Michael's Insti-td-te.—Tlie St. Michael's Institute held a most successful meeting yesterday evening in the Town Hall, which was crowded to excess with the members of the Institute and the general public, to listen to the addresses delivered by the Bishops of Melanesia and Waiapu. Bishop Patteson, in a long but most interesting speech, gave a history of the Melanesian Mission fromits commencement, and described the many difficulties that have had to be encountered in prosecuting the work among the island tribes of the Pacific The Bishop of Waiapu gave a history of the New Zealand mission, and of the first introduction of Christianity into these islands. The Bishop of New Zealand also addressed the meeting on the subject of missions, which he appealed to his audience to their utmost to support. In the course of his address he described a visit he had paid to the Middle Island before the foundation of either Canterbury or, Otago. The choir sang some hymns, and prayer having been offered up by the President, the meeting broke up. "We reserve a full report of the speeches till to-morrow.

LxTTEiTOJT EiEcnos - . —Yesterday was the day appointed for the nomination of candidates for the seat in the Provincial Council, vacated by the resignation of W. Bowler, Esq. Mr. Fairhurst proposed Mr. E. A. Hargreaves as a .fit and proper person to represent the town of "Lyttelton in the Provincial Council. Mr. Rayner seconded the nomination. No other candidate being proposed the Beturning Officer declared Mr. Hargreaves duly elected.

Pbtkcess" *Chbatbb.—" Joan of Arc" was produced last night at the theatre to but an indifferent house. The'play, although not very startling in incidents, contains sufficient fully to keep up the attention in the piece. The principal interest ia of course centred in tbe heroine, and Miss *Bo3a Cooper's rendering of the part was well conceived and capitally carried out. Mr. 3. L. Hall, as Talianto; and Mr. Harding, as Charles, both sustained the characters well; in fact the same may - bo said of all. The piece is to 08 repeated, tcwoight, and no doubt the few little hitches that occurred last night will be avoided* The burlesque of H Trbvatore was also played for the first time last night. It is one of the most amusing travesties that has been produced here, and abounds in any quantify of the usual puns

and ditties. The burlesque is well placed upon the stage, the dresses good, and the scenery—particularly the fairy scene—very effective. We refrain from further notice of it until we have seen it repeated, when, no doubt, all will be perfect in their parts, which was hardly tlie case last night. Tonight both pieces will be repeated, when we hope to see a much better house.

Rifle Match.—The return match between seven members of Nos. 1 and 2 Companies was fired off on Saturday, at the Hillsborough butts. The ranges were the same as at the previous match, viz., five rounds each at 200, 300 and 400 yards. The day was all that could be wished for the sport, and but little wind blowing. It will be remembered that in the previous match No. 2 Comp any were victorious by 13 points, No. 1 Company, however, yesterday recovered their laurels, beating their opponents by 13 points. The firing in the match was the best that has been made in any this season, No. 1 averaging slightly over 33 points, and No. 2 making 31. The return match will probably be fired in a fortnight. The following is the score ;—

Kaiapoi Voiitnteees. —Tho match between the Single and Married Men of this Company came off on Saturday last, at tho Range on the Beach road* The day was all that could be wished for, with the exception of a slight N.E. breeze, which blew right across the range. The match ended in the defeat of the married men. The ranges were 200, 300, and 400 yards; five shots each. The following are the

0. lOMPANT. Names. Yards.' Yards. 400 Yards. si "3 "o I ! ____ . : ! I : I 10 15 5 9 11 14 11 10 1.3 17 7 11 S 3 I I Lieut. Cook 13 Serg-eaut Johnston' 15 Corporal Allison..! 9 „ Seymour i 12 Private Barnes ..; 13 „ Gibbs ..I 13 „ Whale .J 10 38 29 34 30 43 31 U I j 232 NO. 2 COMPANY. Karnes. :oo Yards. 300 Yards. ,400 Yards. "3 o Sergeant Wallis .. Serjeant Woolfe.. Corporal l'npprill Private Niemann „ Hobson ... „ Free „ Youngliusband 13 14 15 12 10 13 11 10 7 9 8 10 15 10 9 9 5 7 39 34 31 30 23 30 16 10 6 32 219

■esul Single Mfn. 200 Yards. 300 Yards.' 400 Yards. "3 Names. iergeant Revell .. „ Hebden .. Jorporal Dudley., 'rivate Coup „ Beswick.. „ Hassal ... „ Wood .. „ W. Hassal 3 3 3 0 2 3 3 2 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 2 3 3 4 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 3 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 2 2 3 2 3 3 0 2 2 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 3 2 4 3R3 2 0 O203B 00400 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 4 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 2 3 3 2 0 2 0 0 2 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 36 32 8 40 26 27 2 14 I 185 Maekxe: Men. 2sames. 200 Yards. 300 Yards. 400 Yards. no •a "8 EH I I I Captain Fuller .. Lieut. Beswick Sergeant "Wright...! „ Powell ... Private Weston .. „ Burnip ... „ Wright ... „ Ellen ...| 2 0 0 0 0 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 4 2 3 0 0B.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 2 2 2 4 3 4 3 0 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 3 0 2 2 2 0 2 2 OR 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 3 2 0 2 2 2 0 0 11 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 It 2 3 3 0 3 4 3 0 2 2 0 2 4 0 0 2 4 0 4 2 0 2 2 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 42 4 34 32 16 6 29 27 16 I 164