The Evening Post. THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1875.

Evening Post, Volume XI, Issue 39, 15 April 1875, Page 2

The Evening Post. THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1875.

Th» Auckland City West election has terminated in the election of Mr. Patrick Dignan, by a decisive majority, over his opponent, Mr.' Dargavflle. This election k highly significant, as a sign of popular feeling in the Northern capital, Mr, Dignan is not at all- » brilliant man. In social position and education he is inferior to his opponent. He is, we believe, a military pensioner, and when in the last Parliament he represented the same constituency he Aid not do anything: to distinguish himself. Be has for a long time been an unobtrusive member of the Auckland Provincial Council and Executive, and he came forward on the present occasion as an avowed upholder of Provincial Institutions, and an opponent of Mr. Vogel's abolition policy. This was the point on which the election was fought, Mr. Dargaville came forword as a supporter of Mr. Vogel's policy, and an anti-provincialist. He has contested various elections, from the Superintendency downwards, on a similar platform. The electors of Auckland City TVest have by a large majority pronounced against the abolition of Provincial Institutions, as proposed by Mr, Vogel, and supported by Mr, Dargaville. We are justified in taking this election as a deliberate expression of public opinion on this point, for there was no false issue raised. The question put to the electors was a plain and intelligible one. There wa3 jiofc even the question of supporting or opjpdsing: Sir George Grey, for Mr. Dargaville, like Mr. Dignan expressed himself a 'Supporter 'of that gentleman on general .grounds, although differing from him on 'this one" political point. It is true that Mr# Dignan is a Roman Catholic, and Mrl tDargaville an Orangeman, but this can scarcely have had much influence on the election, and- if it told sany way, it was vprobably in- Mr. , Dargaville's favor. If there is.a Province in. the Colony where it might be ; supposed that Provincialism would be unpopular it is in impecunious Auckland, virtually, bankrupt, without means to fulfil its legitimate functions, struggling with, direst poverty, and with. f olden promises, ,of \ riches, and plenty efore- it if . only ; it- - will abandon its present form of Government. The result of the Auckland City West" election is an astonishing proof that, malgre Sir Francis Dillon BelT s dictum to the contrary, there ,s&H is in the hearts of a large proportion 'eff the people of New Zealand "a sentiment in favor of Provincialism." This sentiment will probably be found sufficiently strong to guard Provincial institutions from wanton destruction and to preserve them until at least some better form of local self-government is proposed. We are far {torn believing them to be perfection, nor do we think that the Provincial system even approaches it, but we should be very sorry mdeed to see the colony handed over to the uncontrolled administration of the General Government, Our feeling on the subject is that expressed by Lord Lytton in the "Parisians," " If a man come 3 and proposes to cut off my head, I am afc least justified in asking what he is going to give me in its stead." Probably that is the " sentiment" which actuated the Auckland City Wesfc electors yesterday, as we believe it does a very large proportion of the inhabitants of the Colony.

We cannot congratulate Mr. Pearce on his defence of the Government at the Chamber of Commerce meeting yesterday, and we regret that he should have attempted to noisier Up a bad cause by statements which will not bear examination, Mr, Pearce, of course, erred simply through ignorance, butngnorance onr the part of a gentleman in his position is barely excusable when in support of /a cause he makes assertions ; inconsistent ' with ' the facts which he so easily might have ascertained. 'Mr. Pearce 1 spoke Of Oilago' tteing'iri a siniilar position to Wellington in respect of its railways," 'sml^ saitl ' that the two pro'Vinees' had' each only about the same exterffc'of ffinS "open — the Port Chalmers line in Otago and the Hutt line herev Mr. Pearce 'isi ! but not be, ignorant that the line from" Dttaedin to Green Island, a section*' of about 7 miles of the great Southern Railway, has been open for many months, and that a large proportion d£ the coat supply of Dtuiedin i#' Conveyed front the Green Island pits over this line* He is also, it would seem, unaware that the line from the foot of Saddle Hill to Otakia, a further section of between 7 and 9 miles, is completed, and, again, that the section from Waihola to Batclutha, »' length of about 28 miles, is ready for opening. In fact, if it were not for the Saddle Hill tunnel and the two bridges over the Taieri River, through railway communication between Dtmedin and Balcluthay a distance of hi mites, would now- be e&tablishedj and that will, it is expected, be open in August, the Minister of Public Works being now in Ofcago with the view of effecting this object. It may also- be information for Mr, Pearce to know that ; » large bonus has been offered for the : early completion of the; Chain (or Saddle) Hills tunnel. Again as to the northern line, that from Oamaru to Waitaki is in a forward stale,- the* trial' trs has' already been? made over the Awamoka branch line, the? "line from Oamarn southwards to Moeraki is well advanced, and we believe We are correct in stating that a handsome 'bonus has' also bees offered to the contractors for the Deborah Bay tunnel,, to induce them to -'press- on -tneir work. Again, in- Southland, • the line from Inverdargill tothe'Mataura is finished. In fact, ? with; the single break of between Balclntha .and Matattra>! the railway line through the Province of Otago, from the Bluff to the Waitaki is rapidly being constructed, and every possibtemeans used to hurry on the work. . We -take 'it that Mr. Duncan's object yesterday iin. mooting the matter was* to have similar means adopted here as in Otago, for expediting matters. We have long advocated, this course, and are glad to see the Chamber of Commerce now following suit, Mr. Pearce's defence of the action of the Government in its neglect of Wellington interests in the matter of raitway construction, was a singularly unhappy one; rJ* A' little kriowledgd a dangerous thing/

The eccentric movements of the mail steamer Tararua as reported by the Ship* ping Telegraph Board, to which we called attention yesterday, have become still more amazing to-day. We -learn now /that this Unhappy boat must have performed an* other miraculously rapid retrograde move* meat, ; She reached Oamaru at 9.5 yes,terday morning, - but -,„. now we see that ahe arrived at Lyttelton, ISO miles distant, 40/ minutes- previously, thus she ninst have rushed back to Oamaru at the rate of 200 knots per hour I r This ia very quick steaming, especially with a head .windf-; bat »it shows what the Melbourne boats can do,when put oa their mettle. We

presume the Tararua went first to Lyttel- ¦ ton by mistake, and having to return to Oamaru, put on extra steam to make up for lost time. Still, 200 knots an hour is excellent work, and we wish we had such i fast boats on the San Francisco line. We have heard a suggestion that the agents have made mistakes in telegraphing on both days, bnt we refuse to believe they would be guilty of such gross carelessness or stupidity. If it be so, there ought to be some means of inflicting an exemplary penalty. We understand that Mr. A. Kerr, manager of the local branch of the National Bank of New Zealand, has been appointed manager of the Nelson branch, and will leave for that place shortly. This announcement will be received with very great regret by the customers of the bank, with whom Mr. Kerr is deservedly popular from his invariable courtesy and consideration, although he always has strictly guarded the interests of the bank. Few manager's, indeed, have been more generally or better liked, and the success of the bank in this city has been greatly owing to Mr. Kerr's ability antt popularity. We believe the local inspector, Mr. Buchanan, in future will combine with his other duties those of Wellington manager. The new screw for the b.s, Phoebe, recently cast in Diinedin,- was opened out today, and proves a splendid casting. The Phoebe will be clocked at Port Chalmers next trip to receive the new propeller, and will undergo her customary quarterly overhaul at the same time. The Ladybird will take the Phrebe's place for the following trip. A Well attended riieeting ifras held last evening at the Pier f Hotel with the object of establishing a new football club. It was I resolved unanimously to form such a club, to be called the Star Football Club. Mr. Pearoe Will be asked to be president. The club will meet for practice for the first time on Satnrday week. At the Masterton Police Court this morning John Hall, a commission agent of that town, was arrested by Constable M'Kenzie, charged with stealing a cheque, value £11, front the person of John Trayner. We regret to learn that Mr. Neil Pearce, a son of Mr. E. Pearce, has sustained an accident in some athletic sports at the Canterbury Gollege, breaking his arm in a fall.. We hear he is going on favorably. Among the passengers of the s.s. Wellington, from the North to-day, are two prisoners under remand from Auckland to Christchurch, one named Charles James, is charged with larceny as a bailee ; the otner, James Robinson, is charged with a breach of the Destitute Persons Relief Ordinance. The prisoners are in charge of one of the Armed Constabulary. We learn by advices from Melbourne that the insurance on his life for £1000, which the lafe lamented Captain Pearce, of the s.s. Gothenburg, contemplated, was not completed, as for some reason or other the office declined to accept the risk. He was, therefore, quite uninsured, and his family is in great need of assistance. Several of his friends in Melbourne and Adelaide are interesting themselves by rawing subscriptions for the widow and children, and we trust that his numerous friends in New Zealand will not be deterred from assisting in such a good cause, now that they know that the necessity was nofc alleviated by the provision which he tried to make, but Which we regret to learn he failed to secure. Mr. Bishop, the agent of the steamers, and Mr. Peter Laing, will g T adly receive subscriptions. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning Messrs. J. Moore and J. H. Wallace presided in the absence of Mr. J. C, Crawford, R.M., who is indisposed. The, only charge on .the criminal sheet was one- of assault made By John Kane against Margaret Kane, which lapsed in the absence of both parties. The only civil case heard was an action for £3 10s lid, in which H. F. Logan was plaintiff, and J. G. M'lntosh defendant, and in which judgment was given for the amount claimed with costs. Fourteen other civil cases were adjourned. At the Hutt Police Court yesterday no business either criminal or civil was set down for hearing, and the Court accordingly adjourned to next Sitting day, Wednesday week. We learn with much pleasure that Mr. C. C. Graham, M.P.C., Secretary to the Education Board, who has been confined to his room for several days by a painful and troublesome illness, is much better, and hopes to be able to resume his duties in a day or two. There was a fair house at the Theatre last night, when "East Lynne" was played in an excellent manner, Mrs. Bates giving a very powerful representation of Lady .Isabel and Madame Vine. To-night the "Poor Strollers," one of the prettiest plays on the stage, will he produced, and should attract a good house. The Rev. C. dark and Miss Christian last night had another large house, and as Usual succeeded in charming their hearers. Mr. Clark recited "Dr. Marigold's Prescription," one of Diekens's characteristic and delightful Christmas stories ; the celebrated " Death of Little Nell, from " The Old Curiosity Shop -," and " The Staring Waiter/ from " David Copperfield." Miss Christian sang Land's new song " When nfght is darkest" expressly for and given to her in MS. by the author), Vivien's "Mountebank," and Crouch's world-renowned ballad "Kathleen Mavourneen," It is needless to add that the lady and gentleman both were applauded to the echo. , To-night no entertainment will be given, but to-morrow evening they appear positively for the last tune, and Mr. Clark will deliver his masterpiece, the lecture on the "Tower of London f Mis* Christian singing her masterpiece, " Auld Robin Gray." We anticipate a crowded house. We have received from Messrs. Langbridge, and Edgecombe, the publishers, a copy of "The Hand-book to the Bay of Plenty, and Guide to the Hot Lakes and Boiling Springs, the healing baths, the Geysers, the intermiting fountains, &c, in the Rotomahana and Tanpo districts, Province of Auckland, New Zealand." The publication is not a large one, but there is .a good deal of reading in it, being printed in a rather small type. It is dedicated by permission to the Hon. Sir Donald McLean, and is prefaced by a map of the Bay of Plenty district. Mr. Henry Stilling, has been appointed assessor for the Wellington Highway District. At the Auckland Theatre Mr. and Mrs. Darrell have very successfully re-produced Howe's drama " Jane Shore;" ¦ The amount of land disposed of at the Wellington Land Office during the month of March was 14,246 acres, for which £13,901 was received in cash, and £30 in scrip. <• In the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, the case M'Kenzie v. Hall and another was concluded, and the jury re

tunicl a verdict substantially in ta\'>r cf the plaintiff. The jury then complained of the extremely inadequate remunn-atioii — 10s each — allowed for three day' attendance. His Honor regretted that the L>w would not allow him to award any moie. Mr. Travers undertok tlie responsibility of paying the jury a double fee. The Choral Society will resume practice at Mr. Hunter's rooms this evening, when it is particularly requested that all members will attend punctually. An excellent selection of choruses and glees has been prepared by the conductor, Mr. Mowbray, for rehearsal. The next concert is to be given in a month. Mr. J. Gllligan's filly Princess Mary was shipped in the s.s. Wellington to-day for Canterbury, where she is entered for several events in the Great Autumn Meeting. To a limited extent (says the Standard) hops are grown successfully in the Wairarapa district, though not in sufficient (Quantity to Supply our local brewery. We daw yesterday at the Wairarapa Brewery seven cwt. grown and dried by Mr. Warner, of Hunuiorangi, which were as good as could be desired. We believe the price paid for them by Mr. Fuller was Is 8d per pound. At this rate, the production of them must pay the grower. The Southern Cros3 writing of Fiji says : —"The sugar trade of the colony is rasidly5 idly being developed, and there is no oubt that this, the newest of British colonies will, in a few years, supply a very large quantity of sugar. Auckland being the nearest port of any importance, it is the duty of our merchants and business men to support the present efforts to develop the sugar trade of those islands, knowing that when the trade has expanded considerably Auckland will receive the greatest benefit from that trade ; but neglect it now, and it is probable the island trade would gradually find its way to Sydney and Melbourne though more distant than New Zealand. The sugars are of excellent qualities, and should command good prices, seeing there is likely to be a short supply from the Mauritius. "