The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4198, 27 January 1871, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUCEO, NON UHO. If I have been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacon^from the spark I bore.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1871.

We do not doubt that the eau^p of iho unempl >yed will benefit from the inter view held yesterday with his Honor the Superintendent; and in the remarks addressed to their deputation on that occasion they will find a fair representation of the views entertained by the public regarding organisation of the wurkine-men. We feel confident there is no desire- on the part of tiny to rehtnct their uniting together for the legitimate atn< Itorution of their condition in every reapict. J3ufc any ai tempts to attain their objects by compulsion will be simply futile. They can neither fix the rate of wages, nor yet the hours of labour. And the natural liw of demand and supply will assert itt-elf iv defiance of any artificial barriers that may be set up. Every one that lias the ordinary feelings of humanity must vegivt to see the 1 ibomvr toiling through such unreasonable hours as leave little or no time for relaxation and improvement; but any attempt to prohibit a man desirous of giving a Hreuter portion of his tune than usual to )(fi]QU.c m or&ev to aVtriin so^fe r>\y^fcV necessity or even ambition would be swnply a tyranny that cannot be expected to awaken sympathy. Kvery one of generous feelings — and the public in the aggregate has generous feeling? must sympathise with the desire of the working man to secure a legitimate requital for his services ; but the disastrous consequences that have so often flowed from organisations to coerce a rate of wages from employers .which circumstances will not warrant hare instilled a spirit of | caution regarding combinations that seem to have that object in view. At the present moment the result of such a combination among the coalminers at the Bay of Islands is of this character. Their action liaa stopped the mines, which, is identical with stopping the batteries at the Thames, and throwing thousands out of employment. The miners have had a temporary triumph, but the misery that will arise from it must excite alarm and indignation agai st them ; and, acting under evil counsel, they will themselves suffer. From the interview of yesterday, the worldng- men will also learn the value of being guided by men who will win confidence m the bona- fide of the movement; while the temperate language of Mr. Russell, and the reception which it obtained, should not be lost on the future progress of the movement. After what was elicited by the cross-exami-nation in the oiuco of the Provincial ! Oofernmenb, it wY)\\>e &&ev> •w\vp 6\sc?fc&\^ ' was thrown on the organisation, and it is to be hoped that those who are really feeling the general pressure of the times will bear up manfully, in hope of a speedy change in affairs for the better. It may not be a legitimate ground of consolation to know that we are not alone in the endurance of thiß depression -, but perhaps it may lessen impatience to learn how very general this depression is at the present moment. We are in the habit of perhaps too much attributing our troubles to special local causes— as mißgovernment, want of enterprise, and so forth ; but the cry of the unemployed in San Francisco, in Sydney, and elsewhere, is quite as earnest aa it has yet been w ith us. In California they complain with the greatest bitterness of " the " tightness of the money market, the " want of enterprise in mercantile trans- ! " actions, and the temporary derangement i " which for a time pervades tlio coramerj " ciai world." In Sydney the new forfci- ! i ncatkm works have ju3t relieved the distress that was existing among the unemployed; and even yet complaints loud and bitter are made because, from the remuneration given, many are unable to earn a sufficient subsistence for their wives arid children. TimeB of such depression come periodically ; and though it is the duty of the Oxovernm nt to interpose for the relief of actual distress, it is not warranted in so inter, fering with the current rate of wages as to disturb the ordinary business transactions, which are being carried on in the face of the difficulties arising from existing depression, and the disturbance or discontinuance of which would only make distress more widely spread. These considerations should be kept in view by the unemployed, and should remove any feelings of dissatisfaction at the small remuneration which alone is offered on the works at present kept in motion for the relief of distress. The Government is but tke trustee for the public, and is bound to see that a legitimate return is obtained for the expenditure of the taxpayers' money. And, most of all, is it bound to see that that money is not expended in a manner to inflict actual injury on the taxpayers by disturbing the existing relations between employers and employed. This may be forgotten under the pressure of straitened circumstances, and especially when men are excited by unwise harangues. But we are confident that the so-called working men will on reflection feel that those entrusted with the administration of the revenue owe a duty to the tax-paying public as well as to the unemployed — to the claims of mere justice as well as the calls of humanity. For those really in distress there is at (he present moment either gratuitous aid, o* <s/HplAs»ui<iHi dfc 4 Mlti sufficient at least to afford a temporary support. And notwithstanding all that has been said to the contrary, we have confidence in believing the unemployed have reason to anticipate that but a very brief period must elapse till there will be sufficiently remuubrativ© employment I for til. The large sums allocated to I the Highway Boards will now soon be released from the Treasury, and must necessitate a demand for a considerable amount of labour all over the province. I he Kaipara railway works will, we havi no doubt, be commenced as rapidly as the preliminaries can be completed and the tenders accepted. And these work* fairly under way, we do not hesitate to assert our belief that, ere the deanh of employment is again felt in tne province, Hie Wailtato' railway, the very first on the list of works to be per. formed from the million loau qua ran teed by the English Government, will present a most extensive field o; employment ; and in' opening up oue of the finwt districts of $ew Zealmd. will

afford to the hardworking and industrious the prospect of settlement, cprapetence^ and happy homes, that should nerre thetn in the day of trial. Nothing in £he world is pained by idly grumbling, or.by fitting down and brooding moodily over trouble. Ifc ia the part of true colonists and trtte men to spiritedly make the best of the means to hand for tiding over present d'tlicultiea ; and if it is determined that Bciet}£ss must be won, suooeHS will be won ; aurt iG wiil be a^ t?«e liappjer yet to Joolt back on a past oF trial, and compare it -nith the happiness -which will have been the rosulb of keeping good heart, and a resolute determination, to succeed.

The amended Education Bill submitted on Wednesday evening to the Provincial Council may be regarded as virtually a new measure. For though the greater number of the clauses are identical in spirit and letter with those of the bill recently withdrawn, those of most importance, and containing what might be eaJJecJ th» kernel, are wholly different. One of the minor alterations is in the conaiitution of the Board of Education, which it; is proposed should contain eleven instead of seven members ; <".lie additional four being elected by the Provincia 1 Council, giving that body the appointment of six instead of two members, as proposed in the original bill. One alteration of sterling value is proposed. That is a modification of the assistance to be given to schools ; it being provided that the Board mny make grants of two-thirds of the cost in building school-houses, in addition to the power of malting advances on loan, the only method of assistance towards building purposes originally proposed This provision is contingent on the property being vested in the .Board of Education ; and, in ensuriug proper control of the system, it supplies the cardinal defect of the measure which has been withdrawn. But a striking want is apparent in the absence of any clause for confining the system to secular instruction. As the change in the prince ptas oh ibb ?>ii>sisiL>Tfe Ss fct> ViivpwV&vA., •& is probable that at this late period of the session honourable members will be re- \ luctant to enter on so important and ! •engthened a discussion, or, in default of this, to confuse the education of the province by hasty legislation — a disinclination which may possibly be increased by the expressed intention of the General Government to introduce a measure in the next session of Parliament for the general education of the colony.

We have pleasure in cordially congratulating the Provincial Council on their action with reference to the Permissive principle in the Licensing Bill last night. We have strongly urged that, if recommitted for any purpose, advantage should be taken for removing a flaw that marred and might have ruined the measure. And in annulling the application of the Permissive principle as t.o wholesale licenses, honourable members have removed an inconsistency and injustice, ensured the ultimate allowance of the bill by his Excellency, and produced a measure to which they and their children may yet look back with pride. If honourable gentlemen had done nothing besides during the session now closing, they have, in this Licensing Act of 1871, done that which, deserves the thanks of the country.

A. Iswcga aoaauTxii q{ business -wag iransactecl yesterday in the Provincial Council. The a ppropriafcion Bill wad read a third time and passed. A. committee was appointed to consider the best way to lay out the Albert Barracks Reserve. The Highways Bill was was passed through all its stages : Mr. Sheehan announced that the opinion of counsel was that two clauses of the bill were ultra vires, aud suggested that it should be given up and the old bill retained. That course, however, was not adopted. The Licensing Bill was also passed; but on the motion of Mr. May, in committee, the clause applyiug the Permissive principle to wholesale licenses was struck out. The Harbour Buard Bill was passed through committee. From the expeditious manner in which the business was gone ihrough yesterday, it is evident that the Government and other members are anxious to prorogue this week. Accordiug to our Alexandra correspondent the settlersin tbatdistricthavehelda meeting and decided to memorialise the Government to establish an aakatii, and authorise the shooting ot any native trespassing within it. Our correspondent adds a postscript to his letter, informing U8 that a native had just come in with the intelligence that the natives intended to try Todds murderers, and to hans* them should they be convicted ; and that they had invited Mr. Searancke to attend the trial. Our correspondent thinks this news too good to be true, and we agree with him. Great activity is being shown in election matters on the Waikato frontier, despite rud« war's alarms. Mr. H. Kirkwood and Captain McPherson are addressing the electors at the different settlements, and there is every prospect of a spirited contest. We are authorised to contradict the statement made at the late meetings held under the auspices of the Working Men's Protection Society, to the effect that the Relieving Officer would only grant relief to those who were teetotallers. The Relieving Officer informs us that he has only one teetotaller on his lis r , and he adds that if all were teetotallers the duties of his office would soon cease. At the Native Lands Ooinfc yesterday the inquiry into the Aroha cases was continued, and the examination of Maori witnesses again occupied the whole of the day. The Court will resume this morning at the usual hour. In correction of our Russell correspondent's repoitof the strike of coal miners at the Kawakawa mines, we have been requested to state that no misunderstanding took place between the manager and the new arrivals, but that the return passage of the men was paid by those on strike. A sitting in bankruptcy was held yesterday before the Registrar, \rhen several bankrupts received their discharges, and certificates were given of complete execution of certain deeds. A meeting of the City Board of Commissioners will be held to-day, at 11 o'clock, to consider the advisability of offering a reward for discovery of the origin of the fire in the kerosme store, Mechanics' Bay. At the Theatre Royal last evening, the drama of " Alice Grey" was again produced, after which the Lancashire Bellringers gave their excellent entertainment. There was a very poor attendance. — I o-uight, the comedy of •• All that Glitters is not Gold" will be produced, and the Lancashire Bellringera will give another entertainment. William Slater was yesterday arrested on a warrant charging him with having violently a>saulted John Leckie, by catching him by the throat and otherwise maltreating him. Later in the day, he was liberated on bail — himself in £50 and two sureties in £25 each —-to appear on the 31s instant. The young man John Clune, on remand, charged with a robbery, will be again brought before the Police. Court this morning- , % A call of threepence per scrip ha«r been' made in the Berkeley Castle Goldminin.--Company, and a call of one shilling in the lied Queen. Donald Sutherland, hush contractor, Kawau, has filed a declaration, of j n .,

.. When his Honor's Message No. 31, upon th 6 Public Worka aud Immigratjjph Act, cornea tdube.qonsi4&ed in cppmitteo iv the Provincial Council, Mj*. Oreightoais'to movo the follptfiag mc^jbrfj--' VThat this Council is'furfch'er l o£ppjm#o •pat,' with a view to the pacification, and setyliinent of , the interior of [ the province, it is desirable that, as sdon as practicable, a survey should be made, under the Public Works and Immgration Act, 1870, of a railway line starting from Tararu, on the Thames goldfteld, thence by Puriri, VtimenmrXf X?tfou., t£a?». V£*% "V&Kskj ■«&& Thames to Cambridge, on. the Upper Waikato. The Council^, suggests that, no time should be lost in. obtaining the consent of the natives, and securing, by concession or purchase, the land "required for the construction of the line, stations, &c. " The annual meeting of St. Matthew's Church is convened for this evening at 8 o'clock. A meeting of the shareholders in the Shotover Goldmining Company is announced to be held at noon to-day in the office of Messrs. Jackson and .Russell. A meeting of the shareholders of the Sona of Freedom OJ aim is announced to be held on Saturday next in the office of tke Company. At the Police Court yesterday, Messrs. H. M. Jervis and Graham were the presiding Justices. The list included three cases of d'unkenness; breaches of the Vagrant, Municipal Police, and Destitute Acts ; and two charges of forging and uttering, in each of which convicbions were secured. The original Whau Minstrels announce tbatjtbey will give an entertainment at the Lunatic Asylum on the evening of Wednesday, the Ist of February, the proceeds to be given in aid of the patients. "W o have received the following from " Inquirer" :•— i'-Sir,!— Can it be true that, in the granting of the ,site of the old Artillery ' Barracks in Symonds-street for a Grammar- | school reserve, it is intended to do away with the present short cut down to the Domain and Parnell for those living in the higher portion of Symonds-street? If this is contemplated it will prove terribly inconvenient : and the ground should not be enclosed until some other convenient approach is made in its stead." ( A correspondent living in the vicinity of ; St. Sepulchres Church complains bitterly , of having his rest disturbed by a dog that keeps up an incessant howliug the livelong night, aud thinks that the unconscionable individual owning the wretched animal might have a little regaid for those of his neighbours troubled with sleeplessness these hot nights. The p. s. Royal Alfred will cruise about the harbour during the Regatta on Monday next— first trip at ten o'clock, calling at the wharf each hour. Fares Is. Three men on Sunday utilised the fountain at the corner of Stuart-. and Grenville-streets, Ballarat, in a novel manner. Fortified with a square bottle of old torn (says the Courier), they mixed their grog with water in the ladle, and enjoyed drinks all round before they retired. This occurred about 1 o'clock, and just when people were leaving church. A survivor of Leichhardt'a party is supposed to be living amongst the blacka westward of Cooper's Creek. He is described as being bent double, with a beard that reaches to the ground when in a sitting posture. The glass manufactory in Melbourne is eminently successful, and the articles turned out are coming into general use. The sand from which the glass is made is obtained from the beach between Sandridge and St. Kilda. The manufacturers of Berlin who have given employment to German workmen expelled from Paris are said to be extremely well satisfied with the result. \ great number of handsome and useful objects, known as articles de Paris, can be already produced in Bariiu, quite as elagant. as those of the French capital, and considerably cheaper. We believe the French will one day discover that they made a grand blunder in driving beyond their frontiers an industrious population who have so largely contributed to the prosperity of France. One of the French prisoners in Berlin, who is now earning some money by making shoes, is a very good-natured fellow, who, like Mark Tapley, seems determined to make 'the most of the situation. When taunted by a Prussian with being a captive, and asked what had become of French boasting now, he undauntedly replied, " French boasting, indeed ! We said we should be in Berlin in three weeks, and here roe are. "