MR. FITZHERBERT ON THE LAND FUNDS.

Press, Volume X, Issue 1188, 28 August 1866, Page 2

MR. FITZHERBERT ON THE LAND FUNDS.

The following sentence occurs in the Lyttelton Times of yesterday:— Mr. Fitzherbert's tendencies are all in the same direction. While holding a portfolio in what was then believed to be a strong and lasting Ministry, he allowed the same cloven foot to peep out in one of his financial statements. It is idle to deny it now. He said that the land funds of the South ought to be part of the common revenue of the colony. In justice to Mr. Fitzherbert we feel bound to contradict the above statement. Mr. Fitzherbert, in his brilliant speech on Separation this session, alluded to this charge, and gave it the most distinct contradiction. The words which he used which gave rise to the report occurred in a speech last session on Separation. He warned the Southern members that the financial arrangements of the colony had been based on the assumption of a maintenance of its unity, but that if the South separated—"Don't expect that you will be allowed to take your land fund with you." In his speech the other night he explained and enlarged on this view, illustrating it by comparing the islands to two partners in a firm, and saying that if a dissolution of partnership were contemplated, one partner would not be allowed to lay hands on the securities; there must be a fair adjustment of the capital of the firm. It is hardly fair to impute to a public man views which he denies that he ever held. At all events, when such charges are made, the words on which they are founded should be quoted.

Sebiot/s Accident heab Kaiapoi.—On Monday morning last a young Maori lad, about sixteen, named Reihana Paora Tau, the only surviving son of the late Maori chief of Kiiapoi, while making a second attempt to mount a young colt, the property of Mr T. H. Harrison, on the sandhills near the Maori pa, sustained a severe fracture of his leg by the animal rearing and falling on him. Dr Humpage .was speedily in attendance, and the lad was carried to an adjoining house, from whence it is intended to remove him to the Christchurch hospital. Readings.—The Rev. Mr Hoare, according to a previous announcement, gave his readings of Tennyson at the Mechanics' Institute last evening. The attendance was very large. Mr Abraham Sheath was in the chair, and briefly introduced Mr Hoare The rev. gentleman prefaced his readings by a short introduction, in which he gave bis definitions of poetry. He contended that the purest poetry was to be found in tbe Bible, not only in the generally acknowledged poetical portions, but even in the historical parts; the parables, also, he considered a perfect type of poetry, conveying

as they did the soundest truths in a most elegant garb. He also very successfully combated the objections which were usually raised against poetry. He afterwards commenced by reading two of Tennyson's smaller poems, and said that though the author was not free from faults, still, in his opinion, he was a true poet. He concluded by reading Enock Arden. A unanimous vote of thanks was given to Mr Hoare, to which he briefly responded, and the audience dispersed. No. 6 Volttnteebs. —The above company paraded in the drill-shed last evening in their new uniform, which looked very gay, but we could not admire the " fit." It may have been that the gentlemen of the company had, in many cases, exchanged their " unmentionables " as well as their " bibs." We should like to ask why there is no uniformity in the uniform of our volunteer companies ? We refer, of course, to the rifle companies. The Artillery and Engineers may choose their own patterns, subject to the approval of the ' officer commanding the district. After dismissing, the company met for the purpose of electing a representative in the General Committee. In room of Captain Steward, Ensign Wolfe was elected. Kaiapoi Bab. —The Iris, wrecked at this place, has been washed by the tides on to tbe sandy beach, and is fast filling up with sand. The remainder of the cargo of timber is being lightered to Kaiapoi by a small ketch. The Maid of the Mill crossed the bar on Sunday, followed by the Emu. The captain of the Maid of the Mill reports very favorably of the bar, but like other masters of crafts trading to Kaiapoi, complains bitterly of the neglect of the powers that be, in not providing proper beacons at the bar, and omitting to renew the stakes which are all But gone, and which were intended to denote the direction of the deep channel up the river. Saltwateb Cbeek and Kaiapoi Steam Navigation Company.—A meeting, called to wind up the affairs of this company, was held yesterdny at the office of Mr Graham ; Mr C. A. Dampier in the chair. An account current showing the financial position of the company was produoed by Mr J. E. Graham. It was set forth that the sum of £5862 had been collected, including the amount received from the different insurance companies, after the loss of the company's steamer Waipara. Per contra, the following payments had been made—Cost of steamer and insurance, £4500 ; loss on working account, £560; incidental expenses, £708, leaving a balance to the credit of the company of about £94. There were still some outstanding accounts remaining to be paid. The accounts of the agent of the boat had been found in a very satisfactory condition. A sum of £275 was due on unpaid calls. ' The. minutes of the meeting authorising the directors to send the boat for trading purposes, were called for by Mr Turner, who expressed some dissatisfaction at the course which had been pursued. After the minutes hsd been tead, the inspector (Mr Graham) was directed to pay all outstanding debts against the company, and to liquidate them as far as the funds in hand would admit, and to wind up the company. The meeting then separated. Volunteer Congest*. — The first of a series of " people's concerts," the proceeds of which are to be devoted to clearing off the expenses incurred at the last encampment at Hillsborough, will be held this evening in the Town Hall. The whole of the performers are volunteers, and as the price of admission has been fixed on a very low scale, no doubt the concerts will prove highly successful. The Tbleobaph to Wellington. — A telegram was sent to Wellington to-day from Christchurch, and an answer was received ia about an hour. AOBICTTLTUBAL AND PaSTOBAL ASSOCIATION. —A meeting of the committee of this society was held yesterday afternoon in the rooms of Mr Wilson, High street. Present — Messrs Wilkin (chairman), Higgins, Stace,, Templer, G. Gould, C. Prince, Washboume, Graham, Norman, W. Wilson, Thomson, Grigg, J. Page, D. Lewis, and the secretary, Mr E. B r Bishop. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Newman was appointed collector to the association vice Mr Hair, who was not able to give the requisite time to the duties ef the office. It was decided that the names of all subscribers who had paid their subscriptions should be published. A long discuasion then ensued relative to the programme of the forthcoming Bhow on the 9th November (the Prince of Wales's birthday), and the catalogue of the last year was adopted, after several new prizes had been added. The meeting then adjourned. Land Sales.—The following is the return of waste lands disposed of yesterday at the Land Office : — Ellesmere, 115 acres; Lincoln, 22 acres ; Mandeville, 26 acres ; Oxford, 143 acres ; Timaru, 806 acres ; and Waipara, 60 acres ; total, 672 acres, yielding £1344. Compensation to the amount of 100 acres was also granted. Theatbe Royal.—Miss Eloise Juno, an actress who has achieved no small share of success in our neighboring provinces, inaugurated last evening an engagement for a limited number of performances. The piece selected was certainly not one on the performance of which we would wish to form an opinion of the merits of a debutante. Camilla is a dramatised vereion of a French novel, which on the stage is presented to more glaring disadvantage than m its original form. With the admirers of Verdi, "La Traviata" has brought about a compromise tbrough the aid of music—but presented in an English translation, the French tale becomes Bimply hideous and revolting. Miss Juno undoubtedly possesses talent that we would willingly see devoted to the rendering of works worthy of her study and tbe applause of an audience, and our remarks must be understood to express our disappointment at the medium chosen for her introduction to our stage, without any want of appreciation on our part of her capabilities for success in placing again before us such pieces as in earlier and more prosperous days at once not only raised our little theatre into _ legitimate and enjoyable place of amusement, but made it at the same time a commercial success. Mr Jones is always an acquisition, and taking a double part signally distinguished his usefulness in the company.