WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1874

Evening Post, Volume X, Issue 197, 7 October 1874, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1874

Oi»B reason why the news of Sir James Fergu«son's resignation of ths Governorships of this Colony has been received with such perfecfc*eqaanimity and with so few ex* pressions of regret on the part of those he has governed, is", ttfldoabtedly,the conviction that so far from being a check on Mr Vogel he has completely succumbed to the strange influence, almost resembling fascination, whiHrHhe Premier so successfully exercises over moat of those with whom he is brought 'in Contact, • Mr. WaterhdUse was a good deal chaffed &ad laughed at when he resigned the Premiership, feeling that separation afforded the only means of escape from the influence of his too strong-minded colleague,' . . So at one period the stories about the* fascinating powers of snakes wdre regardedPdoubtfally, Mr Vogel's inflaenceis one hard to shake off anAalmosfc ißpOßaible for any one in close contact with him. to resist^ Numerous instances of it might be Woted,*but perhaps none more telliogfthafi'the case of bis Excellency the Governor. Sir tfameit Fergusson is not by any '[ means a weak minded man, yet it B3i become perfectly evident phat Mr Vogel has established a complete *aicefldancy over him, A Governor nnder Che control of a Premier ia not a desirable condition of affairs, and, as we have said, the news that the Governor had resigned 'did not, therefore, create the feeling which it might otherwise have done. Even Mr , Vggers best friends admit the desirability of^rssghting him as heavily as possible, of , putting tin as strong sjjpafes and checks as can be brriaghf to bear on him. There is a possibility that, the Marquis of Normanby .may prove insensible to Mr Vogel's .magnetism, arid if he do his ' accession to office will .inspire greater confidence in the ' aftministratiOitof affairs than conld possibly sl gxi*t in the*,- public" 'tnind while Sir James ' J'ergiaason retained the reins of office. We wi?n, however, 'that Sir James Fergasaon WefC id remain in tbe Colony a little longer s than he isjikely to do. If, as is anderstoou will pfobabTy be the case, he proceed honW by the December mail, be will meet Mr Vogel in London, Sach a conjunction WouMi' we fear,- proVe dangerons to the '{fatefe4fff of the Colony, If we are to believe the" Government drgaris, Ind the probabiliM6S hi, the case are, strongly confirmatory %£ theif' 'staietflent^, ' one of the objects l ot Mr ; :V6gel'B mission is" to endeavour to 'fldafriiis South Sea scheme. Of this projecf Sir James Fergussqn is known to be a watnl supporter.'- It ia on record that he |reffom wended jt 'to the favorable considers- ' tion of the Imperial Government. He will probably; add the weight of his personal influence to Mr Vogel's efforts to floafrit ia Lbndpn/, Sir James Fergnsson .will certainly occupy a position or Very consider- ~ able ioflbence with" the Conservative Ad- . ministration now ia office ab home, and that inff (fence, directed by the influence of Mr Vogel, will no doubfe enable the latter .gentleman to. accomplish many things which; Otherwise would not be within the compass* of his attainment. It is^piite possible, nay we fear it is even probable, that 'tbur backed up Mr Vogel, may in connection with this South Sea scheme com' mit tlferCofbfly to engagements (as he did with Messrs Bfogden) from which it caS only escape either with the loss of credit ' t ilid hdnar, or by l a heavy peennirfry^feacriffceT'li'is all very well tdSsay^-Wiat Mr Vogel .has no power to -^Ofa^ib the Colonjr.To any thing. Technically/he has no^ tittfr practically, if we setid onr. Premier abroad on a roving 1 commission, or rather allow him to send himself, we must accept what he does. He had no power to enter into the celebrated -Brogden contracts 1, and 2^, and they ( reqaired the ratification of iPdrliament .before they were binding, but he so managed the negotiation as to involve thtj good faith of the Colony, which Parliament had. to redeem at a heavy cost. He is by no means unlikely to do the same in respect to the Polynesian Company and gather schemes equally wild. If he* dpesy Parliament, will have to accept the consequences of his action. It cannot re-» pudiate what .he may please tb do. Mr Vogel has a perfect mania for contract making^ The Crown Solicitor in London, Mr Maefereft, will have no sinecure while MF Vogel is within reach of him. Contract on contract will probably have to be drawn, and Mr Vogel will come back with his ; despatch; box as full of patent schemes?** Antolycus' pack was of sometfing for everybody. . Mr Vogel Ist loose in London in the character of Premier of New Zealand j would be sufficiently dangerous to ¦ make thoughtful men fea^the result to the - Colony, bufr Mr Vogel, backed ,«tp by Sir JanfefrFergusson, will be an infinitely more "dangerous man. than Mr.Vogel solus. We should feel decidedly more comfortable ft we knew that his Excellency were going to remain here until the news of Mr Vogel'a departure from England is telegraphed, ¦'.•<¦ -1-1:" fVi 1 11 1 'f *—

; , , The Dunedin Guardian is a usually Well informed paper on political subjects, but it exhibits, either*woefnl ignorance or else a '• most -reckfesi. disregard of truth in reference to the circffiistances undef which the ad-called compact , o£ 1858, meaning the land revenue resolutions of that session were passed. In its issue of the 30th ulfc, ' „t he iollo wing paragraph cccnrsj — "Talk as any one may, the fact remains that 18 years, ago, v i^hen Otago and Canterbury were* J wfeak ; and comparatively poor, the purse-proud North imposed on these young settlements^ conditions,? which, were then regarded' by their people' a* oppressive. Jf the sheer force of numbers the orth did this, Auckland leading id the van, and Wellington bringing np ' the rear, , The, bargain , made in 1856 was _ none, of onr, geeklng. It was forced upon us; and the avowed object of its supwas 'to prevent any aid being . extended . to, the struggling settlements of the South out of the then flourishing revenues of (the. North,, Flushed with, the ;' insolence of triumph, older provinces,' ; ao to speak, Jbhirust their younger sisters over the threshold of the Colonial Treasury, and tbe latter snbmitted in patience to the sen' tence imposed upon them." The North . did not force these resolutions on the Soutfi by force of numbers. They were carried by 19 to 10, no fewer than 9 of the 19 being Southern members, while in the minority t .there were only three -Southern represents' [ ftives— Captain Cargill, Mr John Cargill, rand Mr Macandrew—wbile five Wellington ; members voted against the resolutions and only orie' for them. The Canterbury members voted Northern in a block, Theresff'4 lotions #ef6 v #rawn"up by two Middle ! Island mempersVMr-Sewelf, then Colonial 1 Treasttrer-and member, for Christchurch, and Mr 3Js|vers> one of the members for Nelson, $£&* contemporary ia, therefore, * BingalarJg|B&fortunate in the statements we have qadtejEß , , >», .

At tbe Police Court this morning, two drunksrds&were dealt with in the usual manner, as also were two seamen belonging the one to the ship Euterpe {and the other k

to tlie barque Ashburton, who, for refusing duty, were seat to gaol for short terms. Captain Holland the Hon C. J. Eharnzyn were the presiding magistrates, was no tfaafness, either civil or criminal, set down for bearing at the Hntt Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, ' and the Court accordingly was adjourned to the next sitting day. The appearance of the weather again is very threatening, in fact there is a, perj petttal alternation of threat and fulfilment, which is distressing to a degree. Last' night, it blew a heavy gale from the S. W. on the west coasts, and this morning the barometer is very low at all the Middle Island stations ; rain ia^ falling generally, but the wind at presents moderate. A meeting of the Sanitary Committee of the City Council was held yesterday afternoon to consider the question of a sewage depot. Offers were received of sites from Mr George Hunter (who was willing to receive any quantify of the soil on his farm, near Island Bay) and Mr Alexander Sutherland. It was decided to recommend that the latter site, an angular section forming part of the Town Belt, rented by him, should be used for the present, until a road could be made to Mr Hunter's farm. It was further resolved to recommend that such a road should be constructed with all possible despatch, as Mr Hunter's farm was considered an especially eligible site for the manure depot, in consequence of its slope and drainage towards the sea, and away from the city. As an instance of the increasing value of land in this city, we may mention that an acre near Archdeacon Stock's residence was sold this week by Mr R. J. Duncan for £800. It was purchased a few months ago for £600. Three acres in Majoribanksstreet were also sold by Mr Duncan for £1050, which not long ago were only valued at £500. Mr Duncan holds a large sale of valuable properties on Friday. In the Waterloo Lodge, S.C, last night the R W.M., Brother George, on behalf of the member* of the Lodge, presented a. very handsome Fast* master's jewel and Fastmaster's apron to P. M. Brother Powles-, in acknowledgment: of his eminent service's to .the Lodge and Craft, and of bhe esteem* of his brethren. The presentation . was- suit- • ably acknowledged. The Church of^England Diocesan Synoa ' has concluded its sitting, after passing a resolution which appears to involve a radical change' in the established practice r/ith regard to admission into Holy Orders. The resolution was to the effect that the Synod concurred with the view expressed by the Bishop that it is expedient to increase the staff of clergy in this diocese, more particularly in the outlying districts, by admitting, to, deacons* oVders persons, of suitable character and attainments who may, be willing to devote some portions of their' time to the work of the ministry, without requiring them to give up thesecular Ojgeu&< pations by which, they gain their livelihood? The annual inspection of all licensee hackney carriages, . expresses, and caf ts used within this city took place last Monday, when the Inspector, Mr Pilmef, passed all the candidates, and the licenses are now in course of preparation witff all possible speed. * The respective numbers of the vehicles licensed are ad follows :—26 hackney carriages, able to accommefofsffi&ftn. aggtggafce of. over 200 passengers j 28 expresses, 71 carts. * We have been, requested to crII attention to the great clearing sale of drapery, clothing, shop fixtures, Sec, to be held by. Mr George Thomas on the premises next to Messrs Lyon and Blair's, Lambton Quay, on Thursday and Friday. The fact ofiihe sale being without" Reserve "being a portion, ofe the .estate ,of Mr 1. R. Fisher, late a Nelsoli merchant, 1 wilt no * doubt attract a large number of bay£r%. We understand that the premises have been taken by a new drapery firm about to commence business in this city, and that extensive alterations and enlargements will' be commenced there on the Monday following 1 so as to. make the plade suitable for the Jlraperyxrade j an addition io the street Architecture of the city will follow as 3 matter of course. So many stately places ' of business arising out of fcftoae "great sacrifices " lead"% the inference that great sacrifices, do not always mean large losses. It was Mr Yogel himself, the Napier Telegraph, who said that it was impossible to create a colonial ppjdcy under provincial institutions ; and this' discovery be made when, in the furtherance a pet scheme, he was thwarted by the provinces it? his attempt to convert their w.aste lands' into a colonial estate. But, nevertheless, in tb&only colonial polflfy that New' Zealand has ever had, Mr V"ogel hm repeated occa* sion to acknowledge the assistance from the provinces. Hb is not too much #0 say that if the provinces had not done all in their power to further the success of the public works policy, it would have been *jabandoned almost as soon as it was commenced. The Ballarat Courier reports that a very barefaced piece pf swindling was perpe^ trated on Thursday at the Wincfermere ¦ ploughing matehT A respectably dressed individual made^his way into the publican's {refreshment bar and, taking his stand Be* hind the counter, served all- and sundry with drinks for two'Sr three -houra^ 'during, the whole of which time he passed muster for a waiter ; DUt suspicions being at last, aroused by someone who observed that he.' did not put all the money in^fche till, the 1 police were* sent for. Before a constable arrived, however, the new barman had disappeared and made good his escape off the ground. The publican, who was rery , busy at the time did not notice the man as a strange* is unable to guess how* much the fellow may have pocketed for his pains. Tho following paiagrapb, relating to a young gentleman well-known here, appears in the Dunedin Star ; — Mr F. J. Bunny, who for the last five years has been coni nected with the telegraph department here, being about to proceed to Sfc Bathans^e where he takes charge af the newly-erected station, was last evening entertained at snpper at Haydon's Star and Garter Hotel, Albany-street, by his*felloW* officers and. personal friends. About twenty-five per-^ sodrsat down to an excellent spread, provided by Host Haydon, the chair being occupied by Mr T. Muir, and the vice-ohair by Mr J, Allen. In proposing the health of the guest, the chairman remarked that Mr Bunny, during hi* connection with the Dunedin office, had endeared himself to hiaj co-workers by his conaideratenesfl and gentlemanly conduct, and on leaving carried with him their bikt wishes for his future welfare and advancement, Mr Bunny made' a suitable repff. The evening was pleasantly spent, other toasts" being interspersed with songs. Dr J. Home sends the Southern Cross the following method of utilising the common dock : — "Treat the young stalks precisely as rhubarb, add a little tartfiric acid ; and when cooked, either in ..the form of a tart or a pudding, if served up with sugar or cream; the most fastidious epicure cannot distinguish the one from the other." r In Fort Chalmers recently, a man tiiiiuned.

exemption from service- on a Coroner's jury, on the ground that he was a member of another jury, which safe in 1563, and which had never been legally discharged. He contended that he was still serving on it, and could not serve on two juries at once. The Coroner admitted the plea, and said he would direct the attention of the Government to the non-discharge of the jury of 1863. Some remarks have been made to the effect that the Marquis of Normanby's salary would be less here than that he is receiving in Queensland. A contemporary has investigated the matter, with the following result :— The direct salary given to Queensland Governors ia now somewhat in excess of that provided in New Zealand, but the difference is not very great, and is more than balanced by the difference in other allowances. The respective amounts are— for Queensland £5,000, and for New Zealand>£4,4B7, a broken aum which appeara to require explanation. The extra allowances are~always difficult to arrive at for some occult reason, but Queensland would appear to provide about £2,000 for staff salaries, travelling expenses, &c, and New Zealand about £2,800 ; so that the advantage would seem to lie with New Zealand, and that the Marquis of Normaoby will have the relief of a change of scene out suffering any peenniary abatements. Shortly stated, the position appears to be, in the familiar words of " Jeames," " less wagis , and more*perkiaitß. " The following items of naval intelligence are from the Sydney Morning Herald, of 18th September: — "H.M. troopship Adventure, Captain D'Arcy, may be expected in Sydney from England in October, with seamen to fill vacancies in the squadron, and also % number of boys. From hence she will proceed to Japan, and take on board a battalion of -Royal Marines who have been withdrawn by tbe Imperial Government, and then return home. H. M. S. Blanche is to arrive in Sydney from Wellington on,lsfch October. H.M.S. Barracoota, relieving 3hip to the Basilisk, will be at Freemantle absnt the end of October, and will come on to this port, via Adelaide. The Basilisk left Singapore for England early, ,ia, July. H.M. schooner Alacrity, hencd* for Havannah Harbour, arrived at the latter place dn the 18th August, 15 Says: but!.' H.M:S. Sandfly and American schooner Hally Jackson were in port. H.MJ schooner SaiAfiy, from this port, ar* rived at Norfolk Island on the 11th July.. She had dreadful weather on the passage, and was hove- to for fopr days. ¦ She lost her dingy and stera davits. She then proceeded to Anieteum, where Bhe arrived 19th July. ' News has been rbceived of several murders having- 1 been committed at the Northern Islands, supposed on account of returned unpaid labour from Fiji." _„ Isoris not a bank-note money 1 was the .question Upon- which^the legal guilt or innocence of a man hinged in the Magistrate's _,Court at Dunedin recently. The accused, say's the Guardian, had obtained two notes and 20s in silver from Mr Jacobs, by nkarisfof ft' cheque which was dishonored. Mr Turton appeared for the defence, and contended that bank-notes were not money but valuable securities, "anoVas the accused was charged withahaving* obtained money, he held that theimbrmatio^would have to .be dismissed. Hia Worship held jfbe objection to be fatal, 'f«nd 'discharged the accused* Wit witiboij^ prejudice^tpis3Fesh information being laid againsfl-hnri; , * . .The Argus says*S-In Friday's journals the Eastern and Australian Mail Steam Company (Limited) advertise (by its agents) the* sailing of the Jeddah, from the Sandridge Railway Pier, for Saturday, 12th September. But the ship didu't come to /the pier, and she slipped off in the most 'tinceretnonious way, without waiting for mails, goods, or passengers. And whs? She baid beam on fire, and in order ttf extragaish the tire' She was -scuttled in Twofold* Bay; and stink. After being patched a little, she, Was raised, and came to Melbourne to earn her freight. The cargo #as tea, and- valueless* TI& owners of cargo, acting on a well-known " principle of marine insurance, considered that the ship was liable to* contribute Jio a general average ; the cargo having been desfSbyed in order to save the hull. But the company (by its agents) avoided anjr&ireofi assent or refusal. And whilßb the owners itf cargo* were getting into motion <7he lumbering machinery oi law, the astute company _ (by its' agents) coaTed the sbip in^the graving dock, got steam up, cleared*her- at the (Mstoma a day earlier than exnegted, and sent her to sea in the night. '^0 the company (by its agents) has accomplished the briliiant feat of payiflff tbe claimants with the fore' topaaiL 1 . The appreciation of the cleverness ef this steamsnip company (by its agents) is most pro.ncuaced in commejfiidl circles — the pronunciation occasionally rather harshly accented.