The Evening Post. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1874.

Evening Post, Volume X, Issue 190, 29 September 1874, Page 2

The Evening Post. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1874.

kt/movan the question of the power of the Beneral Assembly to repeal, so far as one half the Colony is concerned, that portion oi the Constitution Act which establishes the Provincial form of Government, was not raised daring the debate on Mr Vogel's resolutions, it has been raised since. Mr T, B, Gillies, who as a professional man occupies a leading position, raised it when adllcressigg his constituents ia Auckland, and tie poitftr since has" been a~good deal discussed. Without pretending to any special legal* knowledge, we entertain a prtftty 'strong^cdnviction'tbat the > Assembly possesses.fall power to deal with this question J irit' wisb*to do so j but it is more than 'likely that aty Act making radical constitutional changes, 'opposed to the will; of a large proportion of thepeople most affected, wduld bVreserved by the Governor for her i Majesty's assent and it would be at least .doubtful whether^tb'at assent would be tgive^'w&en'itf became Known tbat^the measure had ! been passed by a moribund Par- • Jiament and'in defiance of 1 a strong desire that the .question at issue ahould be submitted'to tbe^SdnsfeituencteS at a general etectiinf " Mr Vdgel i& no doubt aware of ail tHisfand -it' is currently reported 1 in J Atfe&la'H(l thkt dve 1 of the object* of, bia nYisaidtt^is to make provision for. the avoidance of such a contingency. Armed with thfe resolution already passed by the House dt '.Representative^ lie Will,' it is* said, endeavor to induce the Horne 4 Government to 'aB& i! Parliament to 'passjr'a' short' Biir-.ex-"bti ' the- Netr Zealand Ligiilatttref the -power to f makd any change* i&'tn'ay 'deent_prdper* in 'the directionihdicatedU -Ttie ftffuetfce of Sir, James tfergus%n is afsb- relied ' on ; to back up 'this 1 request;' Of course the passim? of such an Imperial statute would obviate the necessity for the Governor withholding thtt-New; Zealand Bill, if passed, for the - Queen's ; assent,' There is a strong probabilityHhat^lr' Vogel has some such intention." -;An Act of the nature indicated would "materially strengthen his hands in the Assembly, and the; suggestion made by the -Auckland Star 'that' representations should at .once be made to the Home 'Government regarding the true factii of the 'case, the eirottinataftceS Under which Mr ' Vdgel's • resolution ' '-was ' introduced and passed' in one branch of our Legislature, 'and urging 'that' no action be taken, at hdme until 'tb^qae^tion: has in tfitf Colony be"en referred to the 'people by' mean's 1 '6i ia general election 1 , is by fld means 'a .bad one. 'M.it Vogel will' reach firiglarid'jast'abotrtjtbe time tha't'tßS Imperial parliament meets, ifrid ft'ik^tiifo^ssibre that he/migniTget Such atiiAcfe W)ie wante ; jjas96d WithoQt the -Colony 'being' aware of"the !i facfc ' If.no .formal i^erndfisfrance can be made until; be "takes gome step-in the matter, arrangements sliouia^feW be malSe^fe m'c'tly ' 'wa'tdh 'his proceedings,, and by means of the tele;gr^ii3ft $&* iAtdth '.theVpplpny', if ,he 'ttSkes'anjr movement' 'in '.tne' direction alWded 14 to.' ' Tmt, 'we" nojje f will be donf '< Afr"' Tbgel ' 'a^p^afrf ' father to ' dre^d .; an -tdf' -W^/^&m" ißw'r'aaesand, vffil l 's^are no' , effor^; r to ; snatch a measure from the exislinjy(|Parliaitbent. If that body had any resp'ecfr'for 'itself it would undoubtedly refuse to finally decide fldch'an important matter on the eve of a general election, '.but the present House is flo" thoroughly "demoralised, so entirely ; subservient f 't6 % Mr Vogel,^ that*nq,*such action can possibly be, expected *,it.'' "'The Legiafative ;dounci('we trust will be more careful of Ihe rights of the, people in this matter, .but if it fails us tr& hWve dnly to look to the Home Government to prevent a revolutionary constitutional change being effected without the issue ; Being referred, to the electorates. Itisthere'ioth important Wpreverifc any forestalling at Jhe foot of the throne. _^The propetLConstitutidnal manner of effecting constitutional changes ba» recently been well exemplified in Western Australia. There the Govetn"ment, durid<| the-latrf se|afon; proposed im* 'portaut' alferationa in tEe "form of Government, but instead of forcing those changes through, the Legislature after affirming the .principle, was dissolved in order that the opinion of the country might be taken as to the desirability of the proposed alterations, V Sic, James Fergusson might take -a leWonr'from Mr Weld in this matter. The present system of regulating the {weights and measures used in the commerce of this City greatly needs reform. As now conducted the inspection is simply a farce. To call on the .owners of , weights and jneafofe* to. |ena. tWen4 to fttiet Inspector lor test (and certificate is merely inviting, them to forward anything they choose, as a matter of . form, to call their scales or' me'asu/eW,' i btii / ddeß not in any way secure the use of such tested scales and measures, -nor does it afford anjrtecurity that, if they do condescend to use the articles they have provided for, f inspection^ v they/, will not tamper with them after receiving theb jback\,.fOf ; , course the (honest tradesman will not, but it fs one oi our objections to the present system that it gives a .manifest SftVantage 1 to iJ the disboneat 'storeteeper. This was .shown lately in Christchurcb, when, on a sudden and unexpected visit of inspection being paid, a two- ounce weight in one caae was found attached to the bottom of the scales, and an ounce weight in another. Even.) if the Inspeector were specially sent for, there would be no seenf rity« .that the scales or measures he ex* amiiied shoutd be those actually used. We happen to know that lately he has been surged td inspect certain weighing machines "which were distrusted, but hitherto has .notfitaken the trouble to attend. iThesei particular machines referred to are used to jWeigh some hundreds of, tons weekly, and should it 'be discovered on testing that they are inaccurate, and have been so all the 'tinTe, much inconvenience and even serious litigation may result. The only proper '. coarse, the only coarse indeed which would impart the slightest value or use to the office of the Inspector, is » system of frequent bnt> wholly junexpepted and unannounced visits 1 of inspection af irregular and seemingly capricious intervals. In that case the honest tradesman only would be found using his ordinary weights and measures, but the dishonest tradesman would run a very great risk of being caught fldgrdrite Selicftf. ' r Thns both tne upright shopkeeper and the confiding customer alike would be protected. In Victoria, the importance of this matter is appreciated .more fully— indeed, an amusing affair which occurred lately showed that the Victorian Inspector of Weights and Measures takes "a~very high view of his duties and prerogative, not being at all inclined to except the 'Government itself from the scope of his supervision. Becently, this officer made a sudden descent on the weighing-machines .•at iibe ) Government railway! station, "/Be ' found one minus'the prescribed certificate of correctness, and forthwith seized and removed it to safe custody, next proceeding prosecute tha'station-master for being in possession' of illegal weights and measures.

The charge was dismissed with costs, on the ground that the property vested in the Commissioner of Railways The Government then had this very energetic officer arrested and tried for removing the property, but the charge fell to the ground, the Court deciding that he was perfectly right in the course he adopted, the Government being no more privileged than private individuals to use uncertified weights or measures.

"Like master like man," says the old proverb, and since Mr Vogel gave the cue for abusing the provincial authorities of Wellington there have been plenty of hangerson in the Government service to take up the parable. One of thege is Major Edwards, theK.M. of Wangantti. This worthy is reported to have spoken as follows, from the Bench, in a recent caße :—": — " The K,M. said the General Government had passed, a bill nuking the selling of liquor to the natives illegal, in the face of which the wretched Provincial Government had passed a bill by which licenses could be granted to natives, and then the unfortunate merchant who supplies the native hotel-keeper loses his money. * * * He Would not take it on himself td decide between the two Governments." As a matter of fact, the assertions here made are false, and Major should have known this if he did not. The Provincial Government (meaning, we presume, Council) never passed any sach bill. It would have been ultra vires to have done so. Such an act would not have been assented to by the Governor, ;and'even; if> it had been would Have" been 'vdidVas Being oVer-ridden by the act of the Colonial Legislature. Major Edwards can scarcely have been ignorant that he could not be called on to decide between the two .Governments in any case of the kind j but even if he were, he must altogether have forgotten his position when, he presumed to speak of rind < of those ' Governments as a t.'i. wretched" ons. The Minister of Jnatice, if there is one, should impress on Major Edwards' not very expansive , mind a little more reverence and respect for the govern- , ing institutions of the country. It is Certainly contrary to his duty as a magistrate, and a grave violation of propriety, for him to use from the Bench any such language as that attributed to him. His duty is to administer the law as he finds it, not to seek to bring into contempt the power which he may chose to suspect made that law,. , , . , /

; The s.B. Albion, with the Suez mails on board, is expected to arrive from the South on Thursday. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, John Gooder was brought up on suspicion of being a dangerous lunatic; however, as two medical gentlemen said he wasn't, he was released front durance vile. There were nd"criminaf cases, 'and all the civil cases were settled out of Court, with, the exception of Jenkins v. N.Z S.S. Co, a claim for £50, in which Mr Allan appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Moorhonse for the* defendants raiaed a technical objection to the sumffla&a as giving iasufficient notice, and an adjemrtffflent to Thursday- accordingly took place, „ We .notice, with" much pleasure an'anL kou'hedment 'in our Bunedin. telegram that , Captain Alexander Kennedy, who was. ' aacir'a universal favorite while successively ;maßtdr; maBtdr of the steamers Airedale, Welling-- I tou, f and Paterson, .has been appointed to command' of the fine newsfceamahip Easby, recently purchased for the Dunedin coal addpaaaenger trade. The Easby is a steamer of 969 register, and consequently the largest 4 xidw trading to this colony. The Kechabite Soiree in the Odd Fellows' Hall took place last night. -Owing to the inclemency of the weather, the attendance was not so good as no doubt it would have been hatf the weafcbertbaenl finer. A large number, however, attended, and paaaed a very pleasant evening. The entertainment, consisting of chorus, songs, &c, was well rendered* several of the songs being so well sung as to receive encores. The dancing .commenced afc, 10 p m/y^and was- kept up till early morning. The music was provided by the Kechabite Band, under the leadership of Mr Barber, who also conducted during the entertainment. Owing to. a (large number of tickets nob having beenjUsed, the soiree will be repeated next Monday, when tickets not used. last night will be available, * - Writing of Mr Vogel's goinghome to negotiate the four million loan, the Guardian says :— " We ,know t to our cost how heavy -Was the loss incurred by the last sale of our debentures ai> reduced* prices— a portion - nominally at 98, but practically at BOa less, •inasmuch as tha sales: were effected in May, and the interest accrued as from January^~ and the balance at rates still less advantageous to the colony; and we know also that these losses are due to the inertness of the Crown Agents, te whom the sale was entrusted. With £4,000,000 more to be raised, a difference Of front 1 to 2 per cent in. the, price would be a serious matter, and it is well; therefore, that the head of the Government has taken upon himself the .very onerous task of personally superintending the necessary financial operations." The Guardian in this does injustice to the Crown Agents, who have served this colony well. That it was not Owing to any ineri;ness on ; their part that the major portion of the late loan was sacrificed is abundantly proved by the. information which we published the other day to the effect that the syndicate which took up that portion have unsuccessfully endeavored to resell at even a greater sacrifice. ' A detachment of the Armed Constabulary, 22 in number, left by the Phcebe this afternoon for Taranaki, • The prisoner Isaac Leonard, who is under remand from Hokitika on a charge of forgery, was forwarded to Napier to-day by the Kangatira, in the care of Sergeant I'ricei We have been requested to call attention ¦ to the large and important sale to be held !by Mr. George , Thomas during the next $ three days, at the premises next to Messrs jLyon and .Blair's, Lambton Quay. The sale being advertised as without reserve, < and the goods .being a portion of the estate l 6t Mr Fisher, late a Kelson merchant, we have no doubt but the attendance will be large. , ' . ._, ' The. Dunedin Star tells the following story*, apropos of Sir Donald M 'Lean's knighthood :—": — " A carious circumstance occurred shortly after telegraphic information reached the colony of the hon. gentleman's elevation, In the House of Representatives and out of it he was at once styled Sir Donald ; but .the Speaker (acting, it is said, guilder instructions from Government Houae^declined to recognise him as such, contending that official cognisance of the title, could not be taken until the patent was received in the colony, or official notification, made of ithe fact. Accordingly Sir Francis gave instructions that in Hansard and other Parliamentary papers the name of the Defence Minister should continue to appear "Mr M'Lean," to which Mr Vogel objected, and as often as the Speaker struck out references to the hon. gentleman's^ title, reinstated them. The Premier ultimately carried his.poiat,"

The Wellington Co-operative Ba.ung Society have made extensive additions to their plant and apparatus, by v,bich their facilities for producing the stiff of life are greatly enhancer! Thus the conveners will obtain their bread, &c, of improved quality and therefore proportionately cheaper, while the reduced cost of production necessarily mu^t greatly bsnetit the shareholders. Their new ovens have been excellently constructed by Mr G. E. Kusaell. Mr Mosley'a Wellington Monthly Price Current thi3 month well retains its character, and i 3 as carefully and efficiently compiled as usual. The following extract will be read with interest :—'• The Customs returns for the part of the present mouth that has elapsed show a large increase upon the business of last month, and also upon that of the corresponding months of previous years. Turning back to former issues we find that the amounts collected were :~September, IST2, £5,721 lGs 91; September, 1873, £8,193 14s lOd ; September, 1874, up to 23rd, £14,92G 12s. This shows a most satisfactory graddal increase. On Comparing the various items in this month's return with that for last month, we find that while the collections on spirits have decreased, on tobacco they have nearly doubled ; and on ale, goods by weight and goods by measurement, they have nearly trebled." Aa Auckland paper states that Mr J. C. Richmond wa3 a candidate for the appointment of Secretary to the Agent-Geceral, which Dr Featheraton has conferred upon Mr Cashel Hoey, and Mr Vogel has given to Mr Kennaway. Mr Eichraond is in England, and it would have been a good , thing for this colony had his services been . secured in the Agent-General's office. He J is an excellent departmental officer, ibtir lately acquainted with every portion of k the colony, and his claims were ceretinly superior those of Me Cashel Hoey, while '. there 'is little doubt that he would have j proved a more- efficient Secretary than Mr Kennaway. We regret that if Mr Eichmond applied for the office his application should. have been unsuccessful. » The wonderful curative properties of ' the Hot Springs at Waiwera, sayß the J Southern Crotts, have for a long time past » been well known, but if an additional proof r is wanting one is supplied by the case of t Mr P. Sweeney, a gentleman well known in Auckland, who had been suffering for some months past from a paralytic stroke by a -which his right side was so much affected El as torender the arm and leg comparatively useless. By the advice of certain friends Mr Sweeney was induced to try a course of 3 bathing at the Hot Springs, which he coma # menced on the Gth inst, and on the ISfch ' he was completely cured. The course c adopted was a bath of about 20 minutes' '" duration twice every day, after each* of ? which he would remain for from one to two hours covered with blankets, im order to f cause perspiration. For the first three days f no perceptible amendment in hid condition '' was noticeable, but afterwards lie improved j rapidly, and at the end of twelve days! he . ,was altogether convalescent*" »| i >f i ' '*" ', It is stated by 1 a local paper that in • : < Auckland' ripe lemons' are droppieg from l " the trees in Mason -Brothers' nursery, • Parnett, so abundant is the crop. It will 18 - Soon be fotmd an Unprofitable business to 6 import this fruit* Messrs Mason's vinery 7" is in a splendidly forward condition, and ;o ' before many- wfeeks ripe grapes will be P obtainable from the nursery. There is also n good promise of a prolific strawberry a season. is The Torres Straits mail steamer Jeddafa caught fire (says a contemporary) on hoi , trip from Sydney to Melbourne, and subse8 quently caught cold water from stem tc le stern' through having been too carefully 16 provided with water-tight compartments. re Whether such compartments, should evei > c get " tight" is not , now the question,,; the a fact remains that by them a very ilarge !j» quantity of tea was either wholly oi Jj partially destroyed. The fire didn r t do 11 much harm, but the water did. At first 'S sight this is sad, but if there is not a silver P lining to every cloud there is a ; golden one 9 " in the present instance. Caring many ld . previous weeks the owners of the tea, who a " live in Melbourne, looked forward with '£ anything but pleasurable feelings to its safe • arrival. They had bought it, or fehipped it, VJ when the price wad high, and wave after " wave was, carrying' it to a market where its value nad- fallen 20 per cent. As usual in 3 . such cases the tea had been insured for a in profit of 10 per cent, so that the owners y gained exactly 30 per cent by " the dis» Ir astrons occurrence;*' ' So elated were they in by their fortunate escape from a heavy s pecuniary loss that some' made the chainj, pagne fly like*ginger beer at an anniversary _1 meeting, whilst others we're either so gratea . ful or so profane as to venture upon a Tea j 0 Deum. 'f ' The two Fijian newspapers view the pro's posed annexation bo Great Britain very )e differently, The Fiji Times says :— V Not- * withstanding the temporary suspension of d Great Britain's final decision upon this, to ie us, vital point, we have no fear whatever 10 as to the ultimate result. The fact of so ** high and experienced a functionary as Sir, Hercules Robinson having been directed to le visit the kingdom, with a view to 'explain' y matters to the King and chiefs, is, in itself, '" sufficiently indicative that the Home Gon yernment do not by any means abandon the 7 idea ; bnt that a modification of terms only '" is looked for. Annexation is but a question c of time, and of a short time only ; and we c shall soon see Britain's glorious flag waving n o'er a country which may be yet destined to become one of the brightest jewels in her :- diadem." The Fiji Argus thus raves :—: — is "Do oar readers know what thiß means ? Do they understand the mild supervision to [g which they are to be subjected ? Are they c aware . of what is in store for them if a y military autocrat, with absolute powers of I despotism, takes up his residence in Government House, Levttka, to rule them • Boverely ?' Have they ever heard of freedom , destroyed, lands < confiscated, ruin consum* . mated by tyrants to suit a whim or con* serve a caprice ? Let them be up and doing, or assuredly they will regret the annexation , cry when it is too late." •t c The facility with which disagreeable mac trimonial bonds may be got rid of in America c maybe judged from the following cases reported in a single ißsue of a San Frang Cisco paper nnder the heading of "The s Divorce Market " :— Yesterday in the Fife teenth District Court, Judge Dwinelle pre- • siding, Mary Gr»ntley was granted a • divorce from Fiederick Grantley, on the i- ground of willful desertion j and Eliza 0. c Uhl from Frank X. Uhl, on the • ground of willful desertion and habitual • intemperance. In ¦ the latter caße the a care of the minor children was awarded b to the plaintiff, who is to assume her b maiden name. Minnie F. Brannan was I granted a divorce from Patrick F. Brannan 7 by the Nineteenth District Court on the - ground of desertion j Gertrude Grojte from* 9 Frederick Grqte ; Evelyn Walker from - Truman J. Walker, on" the ground of i cruelty, the mother to have charge of the 3 child ; and Fanny F. Hunter from John . H. Hunter, on the ground of failure to 3 provide ; custody of the children awarded to the plaintiff, ~