Evening Post, MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1876.

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 7, 10 January 1876, Page 2

Evening Post, MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1876.

The result of the Southland elections is in itself a formidable blow to the Ministry, and a most significant indication of the popular f eeling in that important district of Otago, Four ultra-provincialists have been returned, the old members, all of . whom were staunch Ministerialists, being rejected by considerable majorities. If - we consider both the personnel of the old and new representatives and the past history of Southland, this response on the part of that district to the appeals niade at the present general election is very remarkable. From the first point of view it is indisputable that the new members can bear no comparison with their predecessors. Mr. Cuthbert3on, the member" for Invercargill, made one of the best speeches during the abolition debate of last session, and was looked upon as a rising man on the Ministerial side. His successor hitherto has been known only as an obstructive local nonentity, yet the fact of his being an Opposition caudidate sufficed to secure his victory over an able opponent who had done good service to the constituency and enjoyed much personal popularity. Similarly in the Mataura district, Sir Francis Dillon Bell, who, as Speaker of the House, an ex-Premier, and a Knight, at any rate is a man of some mark, however useless as a member, is Replaced by Mr. William Wood, who once before was in the House, being returned for Invercargill by a majority of one over Mr. Heale, owing to the accident of that gentleman being unable to be present at the election. Mr. Wood will be remembered as possessing a full sonorous voice and nought beside — vox et prefer ea nihil in its fullest.sense. Yet, standing as an extreme Provincialist, he has superseded Sir F. D.'Bell, and beaten Mr! Cuthbertson (who contested that seat on being defeated at Invercargill), by nearly two to one. Again, Wallace has cast out Mr. Baastian, whom it had elected by a large majority only a few months before, who is an old resident, and very popular in the district, long and favorably known in local politics, having been Beveral times returned to the Provincial Council, and has chosen Mr. Joyce,, a complete outsider, not even a resident in the district, and an entirely new man, only known as editor of an Oppo- ,. sition journal, the Southland News. Lastly, Mr. M'Gillivray, who has represented Riverton for many years either in the General Assembly or Provincial Council, has been rejected in favour of Dr. Hodgkinson, who, perhaps, is the most extreme provincialist in New Zealand, going even beyond Sir George Grey in his intense admiration for the provincial system which he openly lauds as the most perfect form of Government ever yet invented. So much for the personnel of the members past and present. The argument from the history of Southland is even more crushing to the Government and their great measure which aptly might have been referred to by Warren in his his masterly satire "Ten thousand a year," as the -'• Bill for Giving Everybody Everything," instead of the one he parodied under that title. Southland, from its first settlement up to the present day — 20 years — has suffered constantly from the admitted evils of provincialism, while the brighter side of that system never has been turned to "the unhappy district. Originally a part of Otago, it was oppressed and plundered by the parent province until in desperation it sought and obtained separation. It then had "a gazette of its own," but the incompetence, blundering, and extravagance of the Southland Provincial Government speedily resulted

in public bankruptcy, the bailiffs being actually in possession of the Government offices and railway plant. Reduced to the lowest depth of depression and stagnation, reunion with Otago was caught at as a dernier reasort, and the subsequent experience of Southland has been that the "hist state " of that re-united district is '-'worse than the first." Yet, with apparently every inducement — both as regards the candidates themselves and the political circumstances of the case— to elect Ministerialists, the four Southland districts have returned ultra-provincialists. Ministers have asked more than once in taunting accents ; — where was the public j response to the appeal that was made at i the ballot box? We should imagine they have their answer now.

The* management —or as some people will persist in terming Mr. Passmore's administration — the wretched mismanagement of the railway here, calls loudly for immediate reform. As in Auckland, so it is in Wellington, the prevailing official idea appears to be. the ignoring of the public convenience, and an utter disregard with respect to the accomodation of the passenger or goods traffic. Some few Governmeifii officials reside at the Hutt, and, therefore, the public presume that the half -past 11 o'clock train is stopped, and another runs at two instead on Saturdays. This is productive of great public inconvenience to a large number of persons, but it is a convenience for the favoured official few. Again, the goods train for the Silver Stream is very inconvenient for passengers availing themselves of it, as it is also for -the carriage of goods now that the waggons are loading there, the old cart road being entirely destroyed by the floods. It is said that the Provincial Government have no funds to repair the roadsj and the General Government instead of trying to assist the public in this difficult position of affairs, really appear to do all they can to make matters worse. Neither of our members of Parliament, nor the Chamber of Commerce, appear to care a straw about the matter. While on this important subject we wish to ask if anyone, official or non-official, can inform the public when the line to the Upper Hutt is really to be opened. ' As far back as 24th May last — over seven months ago — a train ran as far as the railway bridge, and it is now a month since one train a day was allowed to go as far as the Silver Stream. There appears to be a screw loose somewhere in connection with our local railways. At a time when New Zealand is spending so much money on the construction of railways, it is of importance to learn what have been the results, in a pecuniary sense," of a similar expenditure in other and older colonies. A recent Melbourne Argus gives some valuable information on the subject, taken from the Reports on Victorian Railways for the year ending 30th June, 1875. It appears "that up to the 30fch June last, the capital account amounted to £13,527,156, of which £12,107,000 bears interest, and £1,420,156 carries none. At the same date there was an unexpended balance of £820,664 7s 3d. The amount of interest payable annually is £676,350, being an average rate of 5.586 per cent, on the money borrowed. The income for last year, after deducting working expenses, was £428,290, or 3.62 per cent, on the debenture capital, leaving a sum of £238,000 to be paid out of the consolidated revenue. It must be remembered, however, that a portion of the money raised for construction purposes remains unexpended, and consequently unproductive. The interest on the productive portion of the capital is £616,776, or £78,480 in excess of the net revenue earned, and this latter sum represents the working cost to the consolidated revenue of the Victorian railways for the past year." The traffic returns appear to be tolerably satisfactory. On all the old lines, with the exception of the North-Eastern, the receipts show a decrease, but this has taken place principally in connexion v with the goods traffic, and. may be accounted for by the geiieral depression which has existed in trading operations for several months past. • The increase in. the revenue, as compared with that of the previous year,^amounted to £68,965 16a 7d, but this amount was owing to the fact that during the period alluded to, 101 additional miles of line were opened for business. Taken altogether, these results may be regarded as tolerably satisfactory, when, as the Argus states, it is 'born in mind that the people of Victoria long ago abandoned the policy of restricting the benefits of railway communication to those districts which could hold out a certainty of an immediately profitable return. They determined to open up the country irrespective of such considerations, trusting to the consequent increase in the general prosperity to recoup the state for any temporary advances which it might be called on to make. If the adoption of this policy had been accompanied by a scheme for the introduction of population, it could not possibly have been objected to.

In the Ofcago Daily Times of last Thursday, there is a rather curious article speculating as to the probable course of action which will be adopted by Sir Julius Vogel onjiis return to the Colony. It is stated, though we are not aware with what degree* of authority, that Sir Julius Vogel has for some time past been corresponding with Mr. Macandrew, and this has given birth to the idea that he is not unlikely to desert his colleagues and join the Separation or Provincial party. The article in the Times is evidently written with the object of inculcating.this idea into the public mind. It | asserts that Ministers evidently dread ! Sir Julius Vogel's return to the Colony, while onthe-other hand, some of his former political opponents will welcome his reappearance as an" accession to their side. I In support of this view a speech is quoted, deliveredbySir Julius Vogel, seven yearsago in the Assembly, against the Local Seifj Government Bill, at that time before the House, in which he strongly condemned the attempt of the Central party to assail provincial institutions. The Times argues that .at bottom, Sir Julius Vogel has always held these views, and that as hia colleagues treated him badly in their action last session, he is now absolutely free to join any side. Without entering upon the question as to whether Sir Julius Vogel ns unfettered or otherwise, we are of opinion -that he would not have the slightest hesitation in changing his political creed and abandoning his colleagues, if it suited his interests to do so. He has always been I utterly unscrupulous in this respect. The i ardent Provincialist of 1869, became the destroyer of the provinces in 1874 ; and it is quite possible that in 1876 he may pre- | sent himself as the champion of the Separationists. We do not believe Sir Julius Vogel has any definite political convictions, but that his golden rule is simply to adopt such views as will at the particular time prove favorable to bis interests, and secure him place, power, and the emoluments I attached thereto.

! It is officially notified that Monday, 24th ! January, has been appointed for Frederick i Kennedy Williams, a bankrupt, to pass his ; final examination, and to apply for his discharge. • We direct the attention of the authorities to the fact that there is no rope to the fire bell in Sydney-street. An aLtrm could not be given "Without a rope, so that the sooner one is provided the better. The Roman Catholic Bazaar was brought to a conclusion on Saturday night. We regret that the undertaking was by no means so successful m the previous efforts

of the kind, the net proceeds of the five days' sale being under £300. This falling off is attributable partly to the miserable weather which prevailed during the whole time, and partly to the injudici6us time of year selected for the bazaar 1 , which alone must have prevented its proving a great success. The anniversary of the Wesleyan Sunday School, in the Adelaide Road, was celebrated yesterday by special services in the afternoon and evening, the Eev. G. H. Dewsbury preaching at the former and the Rev. W. Morley^at the latter service. At the Theatre Royal on Saturday night, the Christmas Pantomine was performed for the last time to a very good house: It went off exceedingly well. This evening Mr. George Darrell's sensational historical play, "The Struggle for Freedom," will be produced for the first time in this city. It is stated to be a very stirring and effective piece, abounding in grand scenes and startling situations. Mrs. Darrell, always a deservedly popular actress, will re-appear on the occasion, taking the principal feminine part. We have received the New Zealand Bradshaw for the present month. Unless the other time-tables be more accurate than that of the Wellington and Materton line, the book is worse than useless. The old time-table of six month's back, which has been altered several times since, still is given as the correct one; the third uptrain from the Hutt is given as leaving at 12.30 p.m. instead of 1.35 p.m., and no mention is made of the traf ns to and from the Silver Stream, although these alterations were made so long ago as the 14th ult. We regret these continued blemishes in this publication. The next session of the Wesleyan Conference will begin on Thursday, the 13th instant, when the office bearers will be elected for the ensuing year. The members of the Conference will arrive during the week. The interruption of the road traffic between the Wairarapa and Wellington is, according to the Standard, Tiecoming very serious. Carriers are losing money ¦ and customers by their inability to deliver goods entrusted to their care. A general opinion appears to prevail that sufficient exertions have not been used by the Government to repair the damages caused by the late floods, and that a saving' of a few hundred pounds to the Government is being effected at a cost of as many thousands to the general public. It is satisfactory te find a man who can speak positively about Sir Julius Vogel and his movements, concerning which we have long been in a conditisn of the greatest anxiety and uncertainty. Mr. Duthie, ironmonger, of Wang&nui, is that man.. When returning thanks on behalf of Sir Julius Vogel the other day at Wanganui, he informed hia audience "that he was in a position to state that, according to the latest sources of information, Sir Julius would be in -'Wanganui within a month, and would then speak for himself." This is very gratifying, but -even so positive an assurance hardly satisfies us. We have been so often cruelly disappointed, that nothing but the appearance of Sir Julius in the flesh will satisfy us that he really has come back again. JSoine time ago a man named Kirby was - cliarged at Auckland with indecent assault, but the Magistrate dismissed the case, much to the astonishment of most people. The Government, however, directed a fresh prosecution, and we now learn that Kirby has been convicted and sentenced to 9 months' imprisonment. We regret to learn that Mr. William Allen, a very old Wellington colonist, died yesterday at Nelson. Mr. Allen has been in. failing health for many months past, and about four months ago removed to Nelson, where he remained until his death. He was one of the originators, and for many years manager of the Wellington Mutual Investment Society, which afterwards became and is now known as the Wellington Trust and Loan Society. was also a director of the N.Z.S.S. Company, until a -short time before his death. The Avalanche was to have been put on the Patent Slip to-morrow, but in consequence of the strong breeze blowing this afternoon, the Tui was unable to tow her round, and she will have to await a calmer day. The quarterly meeting of the Wellingt ton Cordwainers' Society will be held aMr. Fraser's, Manners-street, at 7.30 this evening. A full attendance is requested. A meeting of the Education Board will be held on Thursday, the 13th instant, at 11 o'clock. . The coming regatta bids fair to be the best of Its. kind yet seen in Wellington. A telegram has been received to-day by the Committee to the effect that Otago will send two crews to compete. The following Managing Committee has been appointed : Messrs. Firmin, Logan, Sno^v, Buchanan, and Stewart, Captains Hewitt, R. N., Halliday, Mundle, and Hill. Captain Halliday will be starter, and Mr. T. Buchanan, judge. Mr. Robert Pharazyn does not stick at a trifle when asserting his own merits. He told a meeting at Wairoa the other day that he had stood god-father to Mr. Weld's self-reliant policy, and that he declined a seat in the Stafford Government, which ousted Weld. Now it so happens that when Mr. Pharazyn was in the Assembly, the assertion that he had been offered a seat in the Stafford Ministry was "very emphatically denied by Mr. Stafford himself. The statement about his having stood god-father to Mr. Weld's policy, is untrue. He was certainly in favor of the self-reliant policy, but, there were many other men, both inside and outside of the Assembly, who did far more in its support than Mr. Pharazyn. A boy named Hector Scrimshaw was drowned while bathing in the Hutt river yesterday. The body has not yet been found, but a search is being made. Deceased was the son of George Scrimshaw. Nothing further has been heard of the man Michael Christian, whose mysterious disappearance from the schooner Elizabeth Curie we reported a few days ago. He has probably been drowned. ilwill be remembered that in November last, ' a man named Hugh Hannah was found dead at Lake Ohau, Otago, under circumstanoes that led to the belief thai.he had been murdered. An individual known as Martin Cunningham was the last person seen in his company, and on the day of the supposed murder, this man disappeared mysteriously. A reward of £100 was offered for information that would, lead to the apprehension of Cunningham, and this reward seems to be claimed, by Mr. Thos. Bould, of Pahautanui. It appears that a man who was known as Wm. Phillips has been for some days past knocking about Mr. Bould's Hotel, and that while there he conducted himself' in a most improper manner. At last he made use of certain threats towards- Mr. Bouldwhich induced that gentleman to come to town for the purpose of laying an information against him. When Mr. Bould arrived in town he read the description of the supposed Otago murderer, and found that it tallied nearly with that of the man Phillips. He thereupon obtained the services of the district constable, who arrested Phillips. The prisoner was taken before the Resident Magistrate this morning, and remanded for a week. A report of the proceedings in court appears ekewhere. * An extensive sale of Crown Lands in the Rangitikei-Manawatu block is advertised for 15th February. We shall notice this in detail in a future issue.

The only one of the Star Boating Club's crews yet decided on for the coming regatta is that of the champion four oar outrigger, which will be as follows : — Lennox (stroke), Walden, P. Webb, and Joseph Ames (bow). The others will be chosen in a day or two. ¦ The election for Manawatu has been very keenly contested to-day. The result will not be known until after "we go to- press, but when the returns are received they will be posted outside the office. A considerable number of Wellington people went up this morning to vote at the election, free passages being provided by both candidates. There has been much even betting on the event, the chances of both candidates being considered about equal. The wreckTof the brigantine Kate Moynahan was sold by public anction to-day by Mr. G. H. Vennell, the price being £54 and the purchaser Mr. H. Woods. A woman named Clarke, who has for some time pass been an inmate of the Lunatic Asylum, made her escape from that institution at noon yesterday* She is 24 years of age, a native of Ireland, and waiks with a limp. The police are on the track, so it is probable she will be in the Asylum again before many hours have elapsed. Very little change has taken place in the condition of the men who were wounded by Smat. Reidal is evidently sinking, rapidly. • •A man named Michael Doyle was admitted to the hospital yesterday* He was chopping woodon the same day, when the axe slipped, and the great toe was nearly severed from the foot