Evening Post. FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1876.

Evening Post, Volume XIII, Issue 147, 23 June 1876, Page 2

Evening Post. FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1876.

The papers relativerto the mission of Sir Julius Vogel to England deserve some further consideration than we were able to i devote to them yesterday. During last [ session, before the return of Sir Julius ! Vogel to the Colony, some very severe \ strictures were passed upon his conduct | in leaving for England without announcing I his intention to the House ; in employing Mr. Russell, and in drawing large sums in advance for pay and travelling allowances. His colleagues made so weak a defence on his behalf, that it practically was no defence at all. The storm of indignation raged furiously, and Ministers were obliged to bow to it. The utmost that could be said on behalf of the absent Minister was that if he had drawn a large sum of public money in advance, it was unfair to con- ! demn him until he had an opportunity afforded him of making an explanation, when doubtless he would fully account for every penny he had received. The exI planation is now forthcoming, and it simply I amounts to an admission that he has been grossly extravagant, that he has spent much more public money in travelling and personal expenses than he ought to have done, and that he wishe3 the Ministry and the House to make matters all right, and cover what he has already overdrawn, by placing on the estimates a further sum of £2750 for his behot.f. In effect he says : — "I have already drawn the money and spent it, so you must make it right. You cannot in fact do anything else." It is as well to show how much money Sir Julius Vogel actually received from this debt-burdened Colony during his pleasant sojourn in England and the Continent. The following figures will probably be about the mark. From the time of his departure, about October, 1874, until his return in February, 1876, a period of about sixteen months elapsed. The terms on which he went home were that he was to receive his official salary of £1750 per annum, travelling allowances of £4 4s per day from his departure to his return, and a special allowance of £1500 besides. The figures would thus be — £ s. d. Official salary (16 months) ... 2333 6 8 Travelling allowance, £4 4s per day, do do 2044 0 0 Special allowance 1500 0 0 £5877 6 8 Now this, by most people, would be thought a very liberal allowance, for a period of sixteen months, to a gentleman who, as he himself states, " considers that he had lived in a reasonable manner." It does not seem, however, to have been anything like enough for Sir Julius. Not only does he state that his expenses absorbed salary, 'travelling allowance, special allowance — in fact the whole £5877 6s. 8d. — and some £500 of his private means besides, but he declares that he had to disburse to the extent of £2750 more, making a gross total outlay of -J3327 6s Sd. In spending the above sum Sir Julius Vogel has exceeded the exceptionably liberal allowance made to him by a sum of £2750. During the latter part of the existence of the last Parliament, members had become so accustomed to acts of jobbery and extravagance, that their perpetration often took place unheeded. Even there, however, as we have already shown, the action of

Sir Julius Vogel in drawing large sums i n advance was severely commented upon. We have strong hopes that the present Parliament will deal sharply with Sir Julius Vogel in this matterbypositivelyrefusingto sanction the appropriation of a single shilling of the £2750 asked. And if by drawing an advance of £4000 in June, 1875, he has already in fact received the £2750 referred to, lie should be compelled to return every shilling of it. If Parliament does its duty, it will not sanction any expenditure whatever by Sir Julius Vogel beyond the amount determined upon by the Cabinet in September, 1874. Surely there is sufficient spirit and independence amongst members of the Assembly to ensure that a successfnl stand should be made against legalising such shameful extravagance as this affair discloses.

The explanation given by Sir Julius Voge with respect to his departure for England, without having informed the House of his intention, is both lame and unsatisfactory. It is as follows: — " It was urged that the House should have been informed, during the session of 1874, that I was going to England. But, in fact, it was not then decided that I should go. Undoubtedly, during the session, the Government came to the conclusion that it would be necessary a member should go to England to set right the affairs of the home agency. A suggestion had been made that I should go, but it was in no way decided. To have announced the possibility or probability to the House, would have led to an inexpedient discussion concerning the conduct of the home agent. The necessity for a Minister dealing with the loan negotiation was not at that time discussed, excepting that it was thought it would be necessary for me to proceed to Sydney to arrange about the Treasury Bills and other matters I believe that that conclusion was recognised by Ministers, as also that it pointed to the contingency of my proceeding on to England; and hence the reference in the letter "to Mr. Russell to the possibility of my so doing; but there was nothing like a decision on the subject come to." This subject was so thoroughly discussed at the time that the above explanation serves no good purposes. Sir Julius Vogel, it is perfectly well known, always has done exactly as he pleases, without caring much what his colleagues might either think or say. The plain facts of the present case are that before the session closed Sir Julius had made up his mind to go on a misssion to Sydney, and thence to England, so directly Parliament was prorogued, he carried his intention into effect. In this matter the Premier, in 1874, was more than disengenuous — he purposely 1 deceived the House, To say now " that an announcement to the House of the possibility, or probability of his going to England, would have led to an inexpedient discussion concerning the Home Agent, " is a mere subterfuge. Sir Julius Vogel knew perfectly well that if he had expressed such an intention to the House in 1874, his project would have been received with disapprobation, so in his autocratic fashion, he never consulted the House at all, merely telling members that with respect to the negotiation about the San Francisco service, "Mr. Thomas Russell had been asked to act for the Government." We think that Sir Julius Vogel, in these matters, "should have let sleeping dogs lie." By all this elaborate explaining and excusing he has given the independent members of the House an excellent opportunity of bringing his past actions under review, which will doubtless be made use of. Taking the facts of the case as they stand, we venture to think that Sir Julius Vogel would fare badly during any such discussion.

The next statement of the wharf accounts is being looked forward to with considerable interest by the ratepayers, who are naturally anxious to see whether the annual profit of £10,000, anticipated by the Corporation, is at all likely to be realised. It was all very well to publish glowing statements of the enormous wharf returns at the busiest season of the year, and to frame brilliant estimates of incoming revenue based upon those statements, but the real test is the winter season, which probably will reduce the monthly returns very considerably below the average of the previous quarter, if, indeed, any profit at all remains over and above the current expenses. However, whether favorable ov the reverse, the ratepayers have a right to be informed as early as possible how matters stand.

The amalgamation between the N.Z.S.S. Company and the Union S.S. Company is at length practically an accomplished fact, the preliminary arrangements having- been concluded between the directors of the former company and Mr. M'Lean (representing the latter) late last evening. The transaction is rather an "absorption" than an "amalgamation," the Union Company, in point of fact, absorbing the main coastal trade of the N.Z.S S. Company, by taking over their four largest boats, the Phoebe, Wellington, Taranaki, and Ladybird, which generally have been employed hitherto in the coastal trade between Dunedin and the Manukau, on terms which have not yet been definitely settled, and which, therefore, have not been made public. The head office of the Union Company will continue to be at Dunedin, Messrs. Levin & Co. retaining the Wellington agency. We understand that it is the intention of the company notwithstanding the practical monopoly they now possess, to deal liberally with the public in the matter of fares and freights, and to spare no effort to make their line a popular one. The N.Z.S.S. Company will continue for the present to run the Rangatira and Manawatu, the former to Napier, and the latter to Wangauui, but the future permanent arrangements are quite unsettled as yet. A rumor was current in twn to-day that the Dunedin directors of , the Union Company had declined to ratify "the agreement entered into last night by* Mr. M'Lean on their behalf, but we have authority for stating that this report is wholly without foundation. Wellington thus ceases for the present to be the head-quarters of a colonial steam shipping company.

In the House of Representatives this afternoon Mr. Stevens asked the Postmaster-Gene-ral what loss has been entailed on the colony by the breaking down of the Forbes-Hall mail contract; and what sum, if any, has been recovered from the sureties for that contract? The Premier said the loss had been £18,675, and nothing had been recovered from the sureties. He hoped before the session was over to be able to give the hon. member fuller.particulars. In the Legislative Council yesterday, in the course of the debate on the Address in Reply, the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, in a lengthy speech, dissented altogether from several of the statements made in His Excellency's speech. He would not admit that the colony was in a prosperous state — in tact he expressed the opinion, that if it appeared to be so it was only because of the large sums of borrowed money which were being expended. He said he was Confident that as soon as the borrowed money was all spent there would be a collapse, and that an income tax wouldhave to be imposed. He showed that the indebtedness of the colony had increased with the population, but this increase was largely out of proportion. He further proved by figures, that while the indebtedness of the colony had increased so much, the exports had practically remained stationary. Several other hon. gentlemen having expressed their opinion on the Governor's speech, the Address in Reply was agreed to. The Borough Council of Wanganui have decided not to take the manufacture of gas in hand, and have therefore passed a resolution sanctioning the establishment of a private Gas Company. The prospectus of the company has been published, and the undertaking is likely to be a success. Mr. Williams will to-night ask the Native Minister if he will inform the House what steps have been taken by the Government during the recess towards putting in decent order the graves of officers and men who fell during the war with the natives ? The galleries of the House of Representatives were all crowded last night, and we presume in anticipation of thp division on the Premier's motion re the Piako Swamp sale taking place, hardly a single individual left the Chamber till the House rose at twenty minutes to one o'clock this morning. Sir Julius Vogel last night informed the House of Representatives that the Government had, late on the previous evening, received a telegram from the New South Wales Government asking whether New Zealand would be prepared to pay her share of running a steamer twice a month between Australia and Jaya with telegrams, until the cable between those

Places has been repaired. The expense would be about £2000 a month, and each colony would have to contribute its share of this amount in proportion to its population. The effect ot this, the Premier explained, would be that news could be received from Europe every twelve days. He stated that, if Parliament had not been sitting, the Government would probably have taken the responsibility of co-operating with the other colonies in respect to the subject ; but, under the circumstances, they considered it their duty to refer the matter to the House, in order that those who thought fit to object might do so. Several members, including Mr. Reader Wood, expressed the opinion that it would be desirable to enter into the arrangement, and the Premier read a telegram which the Government intended sending in reply. This was to the effect that the colony would contribute its share of the expense if Victoria did the same. Mr. Manders will on Tuesday night ask the Minister for Justice if the Government are prepared this session to introduce a bill giving to the District Courts Act an extended jurisdiction, so as to include sentences being inflicted for a period equal to ten years' penal servitude for criminals ; and power to try all cases civilly up to the amount of £500, such cases being those that the courts now deal with up to the extent of £200, and adding thereto couses for libel, slander, breach of promise of marriage, and seduction, but not including cases of law titles, treason, &c, as set forth in existing Act. If not, if they will leave the matter so that it may be considered next session of this parliament ? Telegraphic communication between this place and Nelson has become interrupted during the day, evidently by the severe storm raging, thus no cable messages have been received this afternoon. By advertisement in our columns, Mr. Brandon announces that valuable land (about 2500 acres) in the Manawatu-Rangitikei district will shortly be offered to the public for purchase on a system of deferred payments. As frequent applications havo been m?de to the Provincial Government to set aside more land for sale on deterred payments, we have no doubt the blo2k offered by Mr. Brandon will very soon pass into the hands of desirable settlers. Mr. Hardy Johnston requests us to correct one or two errors in the report of his remarks at the meeting yesterday with reference to Mr. Dyer's new breakwater. What he said was, " that in his opinion a breakwater of this description could be erected for one-third less than th^cost of a stone or concrete construction, and in one-tenth of the time." At the Opera last night "La Fille de Madame Angot" was given for the fourth time. It is to be repeated to-night, and again to-morow, positively for the last time. On Monday, Verdi's famous opera " II Trovatore " will be produced. Madame Simonsen's Leonora and Signor Morley's Manrico, are reported to be amongst their finest parts, and Signor Morley. who has won such deserved popularity here, will take his benefit on Tuesday next, when " Norma" will be given by request. The official inquiry re the wreck of the barque Heversham was held this afternoon by Mr. Crawford, R.M., and Captain Johnson, Nautical Assessor. The principal evidence was that of Captain Croll, whose account was substantially the same as that already published in our columns. The enquiry was proceeding when we went to press. The followubg is the official earthquake return for the colony for the month of March, 1186 : — Earthquakes reported by observers at Taranaki on 27th at 10.10 p.m., smart ; at Nelson, on 26th, at 4.20 am. From Telegraph Department — rthocks reported at Wanganui on 7th, at 1.20 a.m., sharp and abrupt; at Oamaru, on 9th, at 10 40 p.m., sharp, direction east and west ; and on 10th, at 5.25 a.m., also sharp, and east and west. The official meteorological report for March, 1876, is just published. The general remarks are as follows : — Weather rather squally and unpleasant during this month ;" total rain about the average, but very showery, with thunder and hail in the South ; temperature for time of year high throughout. To-day 26 Masons arrived by the Taupofrom the Southj 20 more by the Manawatu from Wanganui, while 10 more are on their way from Napier in the Ladybird. We understand that the tenders for the Mikonui Water Race have all been declined by the Government as too high. Mr. Charles Brown, the new landlord of the Post Office Hotel, entertained about forty of his friends at an inaugural dinner given in honor of his entering into possession of that establishment. The dinner was served in really splendid style^ indeed nothing better of the kind has yet been seen in Wellington. The usual loyal, patriotic and appropriate toasts were duly proposed and honoured, the toast of the evening being " Health and success to the host, Mr. Brown," which was received with enthusiasm, and suitably acknowledged. The whole affair was a remarkable success in every respect. A football match will be played to-morrow afternoon between fifteen of the best players and twenty-five others. Several of the Nelson and Wellington College boys who played last Tuesday are going to join in the game, so that a strong muster may be expected. If the players will only turn up it will prove a very amusing game. We have been requested to draw attention to Mr. J. H. Wallace's sale to-morrow of the household furniture and effects of Mr. Samuel Prosser, of the Crown and Anchor Hotel. The advertisement will be found on the fourth page of our present issue. We understaud that Young, one of Smat's victims, has been appointed gatekeeper at Petoni, and that his salary will be 365. per week, with a house free. We are very glaa to hear that this provision has been made for one of these unfortunate men. Freemasons are coming into Wellington daily from all parts of New Zealand in order to be present at the installation of Brother Sir Donald M'Lean as R.W.D.G.M. for the North Island, which will take place at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. There will be .a final musical rehearsal in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott-street, this evening at half-past 7, when Master Masons are invited to attend. Constable Connor telegraphs to Inspector Atcheson that at one o'clock this morning the house and store of Mr. James Peters, at Carterton, were totally destroyed by fire. Nothing whatever was saved. The buildings were insured for £700, which, however, does not cover the loss. There is likely to be a very large attendance at Mr. Foster's pianoforte recital, at Mr. Hunter's rooms, to-morrow afternoon. Invitations have been sent to his Excellency the Governor and Lady Norjnanby, Sir Julius and Lady Yog-el, and many other persons of note, and the majority of those invited have signified their intention to be present. From the high reputation earned by Mr. Foster in Melbourne, we believe a very great musical treat is in store for those who will have the privilepre of listening to him to-morrow. He will play Beethoven's celebrated Sonata in C sharp minor, op. 27 (better known as the "Moonlight Sonata"), never before given here in public, Gottschalk's "Dying Poet," Thalberg/s fantasia on "Les Huguenots," and several other pieces. Mr. Richardson will sing, and Messrs. Thompson, sen. and jun., will join Mr. Foster in a grand instrumental trio. Admission will be entirely free, and by invitation only. The recital will begin at half-past two precisely. In the Wanganui Chronicle, of the 22nd instant, the following impudent robbery is reported : — Last evening a man, who on the previous night had received charitable assistance from Mr. George Bell, baker and confectioner, of Victoria Avenue, again presented himself, and having made sundry small purchases of biscuits, left the premises. Mrs. Bell, hearing an unusual noise in the shop, came back, and found the fellow at the till. Immediately on her asking him what business he had there, he produced a knife and threatened her that if she called for assistance, he would use that weapon against her. After he had left the shop, assistance was summoned, and Constable Brennan was quickly on his trail. The fences had been jumped, and refuge had been sought in the Church of England ground. That locality was thoroughly searched, but no traces were discovered beyond the finding of a pair of trousers. Shortly afterwards a man resembling the individual wanted was seen on the opposite footpath, who was quickly arrested and identified as the actual culprit. After a slightresistance he was handcuffed and safely lodged in gaol, from whence he will be brought up to-day, so that the case may be fully investigated. 'The Herald of the same evening adds that the man . whose name was Johnson Snow, was brought before the Resident Magistrate that morning, convicted and sentenced to six months' imprisonment.