THE Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIX, Issue 4848, 11 March 1873, Page 2

THE Daily Southern Cross.

1 UCKO, NON Dim If 1 li v\o ln^ii t-Nti - i,'ui 'ii 1, \ i \<rt ri-r A llititi/rnil luiiiKiHiiuiii li • <i-\,\ !l)'>i^

TUESDAY, MAllOU 11, Itf'.l

A statement has been published to the effect that, by tho arrangement into winch Mr. "Vogel and Mr. Heynolrls entered while in Sydney, respecting tho construction of an electric cable, n pecuniary liability has been fastened upon the colony. We are, however, in a position to state that tho arrangement referred to, and which \\m been inado with the Governments of New South Wales and Queensland, is explicitly subject to the approval of tho Government and the Parliament of JNow Zealand. If Riieh approval is not given, the matter will be at an end, as far as this colony is concerned, without any liability whatever having been incurred. ~\Vq believe that the details of the arrangonjfent will probably soon bo published.

As we mentioned yesterday, Mr. Vogcl ari'ived early in tlio morning by the ' Hero,' from Sydney ; iind wo learn thnt during tiio ntternoon it was decided that it would not be expodient to make any fresh Ministerial arrangements until after a full meeting of the Cabinet shall have been held in Wellington.

Wi: believo Mr. Vogel ]ina had an interview with his Excellency the Governor, but of what transpired thereat wo arc not informed. Indeed, though it lins been suilicicntly shown that we lavouiyind gne a lair and discriminating support to tlio Government and its policy, Government docs not seem Hullicienlly grateful, at least m the diiecliun of furnishing intelligence of its proceedings, winch in moat cases it would not only be interesting, but very useful, for the public to learn. It tuny bo there is as yefc nothing to learn, but when there is we have oftentimes r.o little dillicuUy in discovering it. As a rule, in colonial polities, there- is more of that open knowledge of Ministerial proceedings than u> to be found in the secret diplomacy of European Cabincls. It is perfectly true that when affairs occur, which w hen published are likely beneficially to afloat a Ministry, these- are promptly given to the world - I etc the recent correspondence between his Excellency the Governor and the ex-Premier, which is eirfainly sufliciently curious, and on a subject in which the colony took a special interest. Not less interested is the- public in tho arrangements likely to bo mado with respect to tho Ministry. Judging from telegrams which were published, and from the correspondence referred to, Mr Fox decided to hold oftico only temporarily, cither until Mr. Vogel'n return, or until Parliament shall meet. It is perhaps loo much to expect that in the course of a day any definite arrangement could bo arrived at ; and possibly, although the unique correspondence and recent telegrams appear to disclose his Excellency's opinions, tho position of nfTairs may bo like that of Canning's knife-grinder who had no story to tell. Ministers cannot all meet m Wellington until after his Excellency's departure, and therefore it may bo deemed advisablo for the present Ministry to meet Parliament. Of this, however, wo know nothing; but it neems to us that, if that course is to be followed, tlio sooner Parliament meets the better, especially as both his Kxcellcncy and tlio new Premier have expressed a desire to that eJTuefc. Parliament cannot well be called together before May, and then only pro\idcd tho buildings at Wellington are either complete, or so near completion as to allow of both Houses meeting with something of comfort. Last year Parliament did not assemble until tho middle of July. Probably this year it may meet five or six weeks earlier. All tlio Ministry will, we suppose, bo together again in tho couiao of little mero than a fortnight from this date, and there would thus bo aflbrded sufliciout time between then and tho end of May for the necessary preparations to meet tho assembled members.

Bi.ovtinu hoi and cold is an accomplishment winch most men aro always ready to censure, and yet among politicians in these days thero nro occasionally to be found men who, while readily alive to tho mistake of others in indulging in such a practice, arc yet prone to follow it thciuselvos. A fuller report of tho Hon. Mr. Stafford's speech 1o his constituents at Timnru, winch has juat been received by a recent mail, displnys tho unhappy propensity even to a more marked degree than whs appurentin thotQlegramswcpubhshed tho morning after its delivery. The speech is a weaker .speech th.m from these telegrams wo oven deemed it to be. M r. Stafford has years ago been charged by his friends, mid somo of hia now most pliant-backed organs, with having no originality, with never devising anything new ; nnd tho force of the accusation is shown now in this speech. iSomo nine or ten years ngo ho told hia quondam constituents of .Nelson that tho country was getting into an evil position ; that tho time would soon arrive when NewZealand could borrow no more monoy. In this speech the samo doleful story is told, although in the samo breath, and nearly a decade after his first prophecy, lie tolls the electors that tho credit of tho colony stands high m London. Ho quoted Cassandra, and comparos himself to her. Tho comparison may be suitable m one roBpect, but that lady was young. There is another distinction. Tho gift of pro phocy Bhe ox tor tod from Apollo was burdened with tho evil condition that she I should not be believed, although her prophecies wcro true. Mr. Stafford's prophetic utterances aro not only not be- | lioved, but they have never beea fulfilled during these nine or ten years", and yet ho goes on prophesying us oracularly an over. The evil ho tells us is coming, but ho taken euro to qualify tho prediction by loosoneaa. as to tune. "lam not prepared," ho nays, " to siy that it will come this year or hokI, because wo have not exhausted our loan, and our credit is high in London. Jhit it will come.'' When? Ho is running round the walls of our Troy, but tho foe is not lobe Been, and he is not nearly so clear ns was she whom ho takes as his prototype " Is it in a year, or two, or three at the most?" aa the comic song says. That would make thirteon yea in, and then, probably,it would be as far oJI as ever. Is this weakness, or aro those doleful l.iinentationa to bo accepted an the visions of a seer "who sees through a glass very dmkly r 1 It would bo bottor for his own ropntation wore lion little moro explicit. Tho public is not disposed to accept Mr. Stafford's stalomcntsjust because he makes them, and experience- has proved that somo better reasons than ho udvanccs aro necessary to secure belief. Ho for-

Rolg an important factor in the future, ami one in the pust, These nro both conj-'M'tcd. The latter h tho progress of Now Zealand (lining the past thirteen yours : while* we have hoon distuvbed by wiivs, and expenditure on wars, of which ho knows I ho origin — a progress made in tho fare of (host; w:\rs ; the other is tliopenoo we have now secured, and tho results which must How liom tho railways nnd pnMio work*, winch arc improving Now Zealand's estate and her people, and which are the products of loans not spent in tho prosecution of illjudged wars. J3ut Mr. Stafford has another lamentation. Aniong his concluding words, after all this evil prophecy, ho tells tho public — with an inconsistency tli.it we marvel ho should imagine people who thin'c can fail to detect ut ti glnnco, — that ho " him every confidence in tho future of tho colon}'." He had previously spoken in plowing terms of tho country, and ho notes with gratification tho " marked prosperity which is so evident as lm\ ing taken place" in the district of'Timaru.nnd indeed throughout tho province generally since he last addressed his constituents two years ago. Tho pro aponly is noticoablo in travelling by coach, lie sees, ho tmyn, "on every side along tho ro.id large tracts ol" hmd brought into cultivation, new hoa>os being erected in all directions, stack* apunging up, employment plontitul, and, indeed, all tho signs of a material pror»p"nly ; a prosperity largely participated on by tho province of Canterbury ai a wholo, and by Otago also," both winch provinces ho declines " wero never in a more healthy condition." And yet, after seeing and [ telling all this, ho takes up his parable and again becomes a prophet of ovil. The real cause of all this genuine or simulated grief, which is so unwarranted by tho facts ho narrates, is to bo found in u fev wordi at the close of hia spoeeh.whoro ho says, "J have every confidence in the iuturoof tho colony!" If so, where ia the cause of his mourning? Hero it ia : " Hut L view with considerable apprehension tho muiiiier iu which a policy, which if rightly administered would secure our prosperity, is now being carried out." It was shown that he, and those he called to his nid, wero not tho pro per administrators, for a month's trial satisfied the House and tho country that ho was not the statesman fitted to perform the great work with success; and it is a great sign of weakness and irresolution, if not decadence, to emit suoh speeches, weak in themselves and bristling with contradictions, which a politician w ith a icpiilation penis that reputation in uttering. Mr. Stafford also Bays, "I am not going to indicate uny special policy for the future." That we " most potently believe ;" for, if he failed to indicato a policy when he took ollico last year, and had tho chance of securing support if his policy merited it, there is little likelihood of his dom^ so now, it he has such a thing as a policy, which wo take leave very gravely to doubt. It is tho ca-,0 of tho Spanish fleet: ho will not exhibit it because it is not there ! Oao other of the many weak parts of the speech is Mr. Stafford's namitivo respecting how ho came into ollice. Ho was asked, ho tells us, to move a resolution condemnatory of the action of the Government ; but he did not like to do so because he knew tho resolutions would bo carried, and he .should bo called upon to take oflicc— " n result which ho did not want to come about for reasons which he had." 1'et there was a careful whipping upandeountmgofheads long before ; and, in tact — it is no use mincing matters -there wore cabals formed months before Parliament met, cabals in which Mr.StafTurd was concerned, aud the object of which was to effect that very purpose, the turning-out of tho FoxVogol Ministry, and the placing Mr. .Stafford in that power, which he now informs an incredulous generation ho did not, like a coy maiden, like to take ! But ho adds, lio was "overborne." *' Whispering I'll ne'or consent, consented !" J5ut it appears ho had " private leasonfl' 1 for not taking what ho so carefully strove to gain. He does not stute these reasons, and it is not for ua to say whether they wero in any way indicated when ho made that astonishing aolling-out speech, regarding which, for "private rensons" we Buppoac, ho was judiciously reticent at Tiinaru. One other poiut in Mr. Stafford's speech calls for special comment in those columns. Some four weeks ago an article appeared in this journal on the subject of an Income and Property Tas-wluch is real ly a lax on incorao, a tax on the assessed means and Hubstanco of tho persons taxed. Mr. Stafford takes upon himself to say that the " sources of tho inspiration of tho Daily SouTrnsnN Ckoss arc intimately connected with tho Governniont." Mr. Stafford haa more than onco mado use of a like expression in tho House. Gontlomen generally accept a gentleman's repudiation of an erroneous assertion. Tho implied sneer is aimed at Mr. Vogol, as well as at tho conduct of thiB journal, although Mr. Vegel ha3 oftoner onco onco slated in tho House, in leply to statements of this kind, that ho does not exercise control over this journal, and that, as occupying the position of a Minister, he has invariably abstained from doing so. And it happens that, on this very question of income tat, tho opinions expressed iu these columns and thoso of Mr. Vogel are, wo believe, not in noeord, and we indicated this at tho timo tho subject was touched upon, and tho nature, bearings, and incidence of the tax wore described. The journal which has to bo inspired by Ministers, and which must have no -opinion of its own, unless it is tho mouthpieco of those Ministers, would, as Mr. Stafford himself should very well know, be a poor exponent ot that public opinion which it ia tho aim of every independent journal to express. Mr. Stafford, instead of addressing his constituents, as most members do, soon after the prorogation of Parliament, w aited </or effect, probably— some four months; and a lew brief specimens of the not very happy result w e have given in this article. If Mr. Stafford desires to regain what ho lus lost it will not bo by speeches such as that with which ho regaled his Tiinaru constituents.

Tho Hon. Mr. Vogol, tlic Colonial Treasurer, has arnved, ;uul, in hpitooftho many Htono'i whLh li.ivo been pi opagatod lately as to tho BUto of his lieaUh, bo is, wo aro glad to obsei ve, in as good condition as ho has horn in for year* past. I'ho atatoinont that ho vi sullciu'n,' from angina ynlorh is quite unfounded ; and ono is almost disposed to f.vnoy tluit political opponents and their ovg.vnq would rathor wish that it had been tiuoth.it his medical advisers had directed bun to abstain from political lifo for a term of a conplo of years, tho statement has bicn m.ido with such persistent repetition. Happily for Mr. Vo^ol that story too is quito inconcct. His Excellency tho Governor is oxpected to eiii'i.u k on bo.ird tho ' Hero' on Tuesday, tho ltHu instant, botweou 3 and 'I o'olwcU p in , and a ceremonial parade of the Vtiluutuois has been called for that day at 2 | o'clock. It ia oxpected that all the country corps and troops of cavalry will be present.

The fol'owinp, sample returns, kindly su|)|ilio,l ni liy Mr. Allom, the Mining Registrar, will givo our readers som-J idea of whit tin' aitionof tho loising system means, iiml lhat this i'iy of locked lauds— once '■> fn'ijuuntly raisot), and even now occasionally ult icd l>y the minors — was in a certain degioc justifitd. The leasing system afforded every facility for the acqunemi-nt of \nv^ sidior.s of uMiimy by spoeul.i'ois ami (•■lion, ami wii t.ikon advantigo of to the fullest extent, tho result being that l> »n.'i lulu mining received a soiions check, -whilst a conespnnding fillip was gncn to mining jubbeiy of all kinds Instead of re^ardin^ the (V'vcli'idiioiit of Hie mines so called as of tho /ir.st linpoituince, tho miners were not slow 111 learning to consider the tnckenes of 'Chaugo as b mj m ir • worthy of study ; and hence, aftur a shot t pmol of moietucious prosperity, quart7inuun<rat thcTh.imi s was dealt a seiioud -almost fatal— stab when tlic legion of mining company hubbies blown u p for tho occasion, bunt ono aftoi tho other, and aent nun into many a family. Then, owing to tho cumbtous character of tho machinery used for renting mines and releasing them from trammels of tho speculative faculty, acres upon acres of aunfeious ground wore for months tied up, and withheld from tho cnterpiiso of tho working man. Tho appointment of a mining inspector struck a blow at the evil, and was a step in tho right dnection, and that ho has not boon idlo is demonstrated by the returns aboro alluded to, ind which for tho year 1872 give the re. entry of 31) leases or applications for leaso, the aggiogato area of the ground so restored to purposes of utility being 3H acres '2 loods] U) pciohcH Tho woik of cleansing tho Augean mining stabto is proceeding at even a greater rato this year, no fewer than 31 leases aud four licensed holdings under tho now Mining Districts Act having been aheady re-entered, their aggrogatc aiea being 380 acios 1 rood 8 perohes. Thus tho avongo area of tho leases and holdings rccovorcd to tho miners this year is 10 acres 3^ roods nearly, and those of last year 8 acres 3 1 roods nearly ; the total re-claimed area of tho ro-entriea of both years being 724 acres 3 roods 3S perches. And tho work of re-entry goes on merrily, so that wo may hopo with sound reason on our sido that by the ond of tho current half-year thero will bi> vory little crouud indeed at tho Thames that ia uot eithor being worked or opon to selection. By the arrival of tho schooner ' Marion Renny,' from Lovnka, last evening, wo have Fiji papers to March 1, extracts from winch will be found in anothor column. Tho adjourned special mooting of tho City Council to consider tho question of ft water supply was held List night at Canada Buildings. After a goneral diacussion of tho question, the meoting was adjournod until Friday next at 2 o'clock, on account of the absence of several Couneilloi s. A proposition from Councillor Isaacs to invito tho attoudanco of tho surveyors who had roportod on tho various schoinos wa3 negitivod on the Chairman's casting voto. Wo understand that Captain Gordon, of tho Otdhtlhil Cavalry Troop of Volunteers, offered to provido a guard of honour from his troop to receive his Excellency the Governor when passing through that district on In* way to tho Waikato, but aa his E*collency will tiavel through Otahuhu at an eaily hour in tho morning ho declined the oiler, being unwilling to put tho men to tho inconvenience of turning out. Mr. Alfred.Anderson, a gentleman who has achieved a veiy high reputation as a pianist both at homo and in Australia, and Miss Cm id tini'inucl, an eminent vocalist, arrived in Auckland by tho 'Horo,' and intend giving a Bonos of concerts at the City I fall. They will opon on Wednesday ni^ht, assisted by local artistes. The fact that Mr. Anderson 1 1 a member of tho lloy.il Academy of Musicians is suflieient to stimp him as an artiste of a very high order, and tin 1 , together With whit wo have ho.aid of his t ilents and thoso of Miss Emanuol, justify the anticipation that the musical portion of the public | will be afforded a treat such a,* they seldom hvvo tbo oppoitmuty of enjoying. " Everyone to his tasto" id a proverb made use of to account for othorwiso unaccountable things. Tho old lady who kibsed her cow ia said to havo ex. cuscd herself on this score, and it would bo difficult to flnd any other explanation of tho extraordinary conduct of a number of loafers, who choose as their favourite lounge tho immediate neighbourhood of the famous, or rather infamous, drain at tho end of the Queon-atroot Wharf. Not only on weekdays, when a few stray job's might be picked up thoro, but even on Sundays, when tho tide is out and the eflluvium at its sti oncost, may they be scon standing or seated talking unconcorne'dly, when tbo passer-by is obliged in self-dofonco to hold finger to nose. Wo can suggest no other solution thai the abQVO. They must hko it, or cUo why do they stop thoro? We havo novel been ablo to recoguiso among them tho facos of any of the authorities who aro responsible for this clangorous nuUanco being left in its present disgraceful atato, but perhaps theso gontlcuian take care to havo their own particular Buiff whea nobody else is about. Mr. Joseph Browne,having been requested by tho committoo appointed to cany out tho avrangfemonta for thofarowcll demonstration to his Excellency the Governor, to organise a musical party for tho peifoimanco of tho National Anthem on tho occasion of his Excellency's departure, invites thoso desirous of joining in the demonstration to communicate with him at once, so that ho may arrange for a preliminary practice. A bazaar in connection with St. Matthow's Church is announcod to be held on tho 12th and 13th instaut, at tho shop lately occupied by Mr. Dyson, at the cornor of Queen- and Wellosloy-streots. In addition to tho attractions usually hold out on such occasions, vooal and instrumental music will bo provided, and thoro will bo a magic-lantom exhibition. Mr.S.Mear, in a, letter to us, says that the report of onr Coromandol correspondent, about a portion of the workings of tho WhaHijapoiia claim having f»llon in, is incoricet. Horo ore Mr. Mear's own words on the subj cc fc .—."The only accident that has happened was on the evening of Saturday, March 1, when a heavy gale visited tlio distnet of Coromandel and blow a treo down, and caused a surfaco slip from tho sido of the hill abovo tho mouth of tho drive, tho troo sliding down tho hill and knocking down ono sot of timbcia in tho mouth of tho drive, and closing up the mouth of tbo low-lovol tunnel with the debris which camo down with it, which I should think would 1 ako a couple of men a wook or two to shift away again." This is tho amount of damage, as stated in Mr. Mear's own words. Yesterday wo receivod from an Eist Tamaki farmer a bottle of wino minufictuiod fiom grapes giown upon his farm; aUo a tin of arrowioot, tho produce of this provmco. The wino is a goou and wholeaoino one, and tho arrowroot is an aiticlu which should command a ready oalo in tho homo market. Woio tho tins in which tho arrowioot powder is enclosed more tastefully dono up, with neatly lithographed labels, &o., thero i3 no doubt but ieady pmohaaoia would bo found amongst oui Bhopkeopu 1. Tho stylo in which such articles arc got up for tho markot oxorta no moan inllueuoo upon thenready salo. The usual fortnightly sitting of tho District Court was hoKl yesterday. In tho c iso of Lundon v. Makoari, which has been before tho Court for some time, his Ilonor dooided that it was not within the jiuisdiction of tho Court. An action brought by Mr. John Copland against Messrs. Fletcher and Uxloy for money advanced on account of tho Auckland Rowing Club in connection with the Intorprovincial Regatta of 167- , waa adjournocl for a month, with a view ot enabling tho partios to settle it out of Com t Tho Court will ait this morning to diaposo of «l"plioationa for the continuation of schedules ot goldminini? companies in. tho hand* of the Oliicial Agent. Mr. J. S. Maofarkno was * passenger fiom Lovuka by the ichooner ' Marion Kenny ' last evening.

A. child numed Seabrooko di«d undor ratlior curious circumstances on the 10th mst. It appoan that until a very short timo l)uforc his death ho was playiupr about as usual. Ho |was takon suddenly ill and died in a few minutes, ill's patents could assign no rr-ison for his fmddrn doath, and called in Dr. Dawson, who mado a post mortem examination yesterday mm ninjf, nnd found that death had lestilfci'd fioin HiifTooation, a vined hy a worm, wluJi had ciawled fiom the child's slonuoh to his windpipe, where it stuck fast A ccrtifleafco as to the cause of death was then given, and the body of tho child will bo intoned without an inquest being held. During tho week ending Saturday, the 1st Febnnry, there weie transmuted through the Biitish Australian Tulogiaph Company's cablo from l'orfc Darwin 120 messages, appoi tioncd amongst the several Australasian colonies, as follows :-Fiom South Australia t, sent to South Australia?; from Victoria 18, sent to Viotona 44; from New South Wales 23, sent to New South Wales 1G; from Queensland 2, sent to Queensland 2 ; from Tasmania 1, sent to Tasmania nil; from New Zealand 1, sent to New Zealand 2 ; being 49 sent from tho colonies named and 71 received by them. During a portion of this time the messages were lntei rupted in consequence of a derangement with a portion of tho overland wire. For tho week ending tho 8th of February 100 messages were transmitted, as follow : — From South Australia 8, sent to South Austnha 7; from Victoria 43, sent to Victoria 34 ; fiom New South "Wales 32, sent to New South Wales 2<i ; from Queensland (>, sent to Queensland 2 ; fiom New Zealand 1, sent to New Zealand 1 ; being 00 .sent from tho colonies and 70 received by them. During tho week ending February 10, 138 messages wore- ti.msnuttcd, as follow: — From South Australia, <i, sent to South Australia, 9 ; for Victoria 1.1, sent to Viotori i 39 ; from NewSouth Wales 32, sent to New South Wales 22 ; from Queensland 2, sent to Queensland 2 ; for Tasmania 1, sent to Tasmania nil ; from New Zealand nil, sont to New Zealand 2; being (H sent from the colonies and 74 received by them. Tu a Pniiiiinnl (tin-tmnnd C'a.'llf, issued yostoday, w.is a proclamation that Tuesday, tho ISth, would be a holiday, in couscquenco of that bring tho day upon which his Excellent y will take his leave of the colony, A second mooting of creditors in the estate of Patrick Gleeaon, bankrupt, was held at tho Supromo Court, when T. Macflfarlano, Esq , was appointed trustee. The Artists' Exhibition continues to dra^ a large number of visitors. The Exhibition will bo open till Saturday next, when it will bo brought to a closo.

The annual licensing moeting of the Justice* of the Peace for tho City and Northern Division of Auckland will be hold at tho Polico Court on the 15th April next. A list of shares iu th<> Prido of Tokatea G.M.Co., forfeited through non-paymeat of thO fifth Call duo on tllO 12th February last, and which are to be sold at auction by Messrs. Samuel Cochrane and Son ou Thui'S* day, the 20th instant, is published in our advertising columns Notice is given that the annual licensing meeting for the Bay of Ialanda district will take place on the 15th proximo. The annual general meeting of the Aocli* matmtion Society will be hold in tho Masoum Buildings, at 2 p.m. ou Wednesday next.