Evening Post. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1876.

Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1876, Page 2

Evening Post. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1876.

Never before in the political history of New Zealand has the Press of the Colony — Ministerial and Opposition journals alike— been so united in opinion on any question as they are at present with reference to the shameful pusillanimous and treacherous conduct of Sir Julius Vogel. Except in Wellington — where two hired organs fulfill their contract by feebly striving to defend their patron, and in Duoedin, where the influence of Mr. Macandrew caused the Guardian to utter a few half-hearted words in his favor — the Press of New Zealand has utterly aud absolutely condemned the action of the ex-Premier. From every part of the Colony there is an outcry of indignation «nd disgust which, did Sir J ulius Vogel possess a particle of independence or self-respect, would make him, for very shame's sake, decline to take an office which the people of this Colony declare he should not get. We have not the space to reproduce those opinions in extenso, but we will endeavor to indicate their general tenor. In Auckland, even the Southern Cross, Sir Julius Vogel's own paper, turns upon its patron. This is what it says about him :—: — " Considering the extreme jeopardy in which the crowning work of the policy of Abolition is now placed by disintegration of parties, and the divisions which must arise, it seems to us extremely unwise, not to say reckless, at such a moment, for the pilot who was looked to to weather the storm, to abandon the helm." The Evening Star scarifies Sir Juiius Vogel for his conduct, and the New Zealand Herald thus takes up the parable against him : — " As to the plea about the sacrifice of the interests of himself and hw family, it is really splendid iv its audacity. Sir Julius Vogel has had a higher salary than any Premier of New Zealand before ; he has had three trips to Englaud with unlimited means at his command ; he has just returned from an eighteen months' trip, during which he has had full salary and munificent allowances even for the time he spent at the German baths, and, indeed he drew what he liked without leave. And yet now he says he cannot afford to sacrifice himself for us any longer ! The truth is, that we were getting tired of the style in which Sir Julius Vogel sacrificed himself for us, and a good many were thinking that the sacrifice was on the other side. The American patriot who was ready to sacrifice the last drop of blood of his wife's relations is nothing to our late Premier, who clearly saw that the time of extravagant expenditure was gone; that times of difficulty and pinching were at hand, and that the could not expect to carry on as he had been doing. And this is the moment when Sir J. Vogel tells us that he cannot afford to make sacrifices for us any longer. This is rather tall talk for a man who has been raised entirely by New Zealand." The unkindest cut of ell is, however, administered by the Nelson Colonist, which, up to a few days ago, was the most enthusiastic

Vogel worshipper in the Colony. In a very ably written article our contemporary declares " that the manner and the time in which Sir Julius Vogel has passed sentence of death on his political reputation are not merely a surprise, but an outrage upon decency." After alluding to the base conduct of Sir Julius Vogel in trying while in London to sting, by a series of studied insults, the late Dr. Featherston into throwing up the Agent-Generalship, so that he (Vogel) might obtain the office himself, it next shows how, foreseeing the approaching collapse of the Public Works policy, he most unwillingly resumed the Premiership on his return to the Colony. The general aspect of the question is then dealt with in the following outspoken manner : — *' The people, who for an unexampled length of time maintained the Vogel Ministry, have a right in return to have sacrifices made in what they suppose to be their interests. The future of tho Colony having been unreservedly trusted to Sir Julius, he is bound in honor to continue his service. * * * So long as prosperity lasted and millions could be obtained for asking, his course was full of pleasure ; as soon as danger appears, this fair weather friend flies away, a little for the sake of his health, a great deal for that of his purse. What have the people a right to say .' Lavish expenditure on public works entrusted to an incompetent head ; vast sums parted with to purchase support, that is, continuance in office, which if retained, as honesty demanded, would have tided us over all difficulties ; credit fallen ; doubt as to being able to go on another year prevailing ; and the designer, the conductor, rushes off to England, because he is not very well, and sees a chance of filling his pocket ! It has often been said that no one would beat Vogel but Vogel, and he has proved the saying true. "* * * The House which so long, with good-natured amusement, endured his assumption of superiority, and pulled him through many a trouble, is outraged by having a new Premier nominated by a deserter, as though he were a Sultan of right, as well as iv pride and extravagance. The people, whose generosity would not listen to a word except in his praise, may hiive crushing taxation to 'endure, may have their hopes of public works falsified, may see settlement arrested and the price of labor fall to starvation point. Can it be that Parliament will suffer snch high-handed wrong ? There is a growing belief that for some time New Zealand does not need, ciunot afford to pay, and would really be much better without, an AgentGeneral. Will the uncalled for inroad on our falling revenue be sanctioned to gratify one who regard* only himself? If it should be, the country will ring with denunciations of the shameful waste for which no reason can exist, except possibly the desire at any cost to ensure the departure, and for ever, of the man whom the people delighted to honor, and who has repaid them by shameless and cynical ingratitude." We have no space for further extracts on the present occasion, save oue from the Canterbury Press. That journal, in an elaborate and able article, shows how Sir Julius Vogel has contrived by adroit manoeuvring and bringing forward specious schemes, to obtain a reputation in England, which he does not deserve, as " the colonial statesman par excellence," and that he has been playing his cards all along with the idea of ultimately trying to attain a high position at home, to which the Agent-Generalship will be a stepping-stone. In alluding to the proposed appointment, our contemporary says :—: — "We have preferred to leave untouched, though we must allude to it here, that part winch deals with Sir Julius Vogel's change of position as affecting his character as an honorable English statesman. We shall leave our readers to form their own conclusion as to this when we shall have endeavored to point out the effect of the change upon the colony gonerally and upon its Legislature. We said just now that it would be an injury and a disgrace to New Zealand ; aud we do not hesitate to decliire that, unless the Assembly firmly and distinctly refuses to ratify the arrangement proposed by the late Premier, it will have lowered itself to the level of the most corrupt vestry that ever perpetrated a job." We wish we could place before our readers the opinions expressed by the Lyttelton Times, the Taranaki Herald, the Napier Telegraph, the Wanganui Chronicle, and many other journals, but must defer doing so till another occasion. Suffice it to say that they are all in the same tone and strain as those already quoted, and that the heart-felt and indignant words in which the Evening Post recently denounced the selfishness, treachery, and cowardice of Sir Julius Vogel's conduct, have been echoed from one end of the Colony to the i other.

The Wairarapa settlers recently entertained Mr. C. R. Carter at a public dinner, in recognition of his past services to the district, and of the esteem in which they held him. Mr. Carter is an old settler, possessed of much practical experience, and is also intimately acquainted with the political affairs of the Colony, having formerly represented the Wairarapa district in the Assembly for many years. For these reasons his opinions on public affairs are entitled to some weight, and we, therefore, quote some remarks made by him when responding to the toast of his health. After alluding to the gratifying progress made of late years in the Wairarapa, Mr. Carter continued :— "They were on the eve of great political changes, and he would like to meet the Carterton settlers face to face to discuss questions which on the present social occasion it would be wrong to introduce. He might, however, say a few words about the county system, which was about to come into operation. He trusted that they would work it as economically aud efficiently as they had worked their road boards. If they- did so all would go well, but if they allowed money to be squandered over a host of officials, the county system would prove a failure. He did not think that any one should be paid on the county board, excepting the chairman, and that his salary should not exceed one hundred guineas. Without men, who had some experience and some leisure, were willing to g^ve their services as they had been wont to do in the road boards, free institutions could not be successfully worked. They must also guard against allowing any Government agent to spend their money for them. He condemned the present high rates paid to members of the Assembly, and asserted that it had been pro red that the more money paid to legislators the more the character of the legislative body as a whole deteriorated." Mr. Carter in these words tersely indicates what it is which may make the county system a failure. It is simply the creation and growth of officialism and Government agents. Unless the people resolve to make a staud against this, and work out the new institutions in their own way, a system of government far more costly than Provincialism itself will be sure to come into existence.

It is now distinctly understood that Sir Julius Vogel will take the Agent-Generalship and go home at once. He is already packing up with a view to a speedy departure. His resignation of his seat for Wanganui will probably be placed in the hands of the Speaker in a few days, and a fresh writ for a new election will be issued soon afterwards. Dr. Buller will put up for the seat, and probably also Mr. W. H. Watt, of Wanganui. Mr. Fox would probably be inclined to do so, but he will not arrive in time for the election. Mr. Hutcliison would be inclined to try the Wanganui constituency afresh, but he has no show. Mr. Gisborne is talked of, but his chance would be very dubious.

Mr. Murray yesterday gave notice of the following motion :—": — " That, except in the case of a change of Government, it is not desirable that any member of this House should become a member of the Executive Council till after he has sought and obtained re-election. That the Government should take immediate steps to give effect to the above resolution." A select committee is wanted by Mr. Rees to inquire whether the Disqualification Act has been infringed. In his motion for the same he affirms that allegations have been made, and returns and papers have been laid before the House, showing apparently that members of the Legislature, during the term of the present Parliament, have been or are interested in agreements or transactions with the Executive Government. He therefore wants inquiry into the circumstances under which the same nave been entered into. Signs of the close of the session are visible. In reply to a question by one of the members yesterday, Major Atkinson said the Government would probably ask the House for the rest of the session to sit on Mondays, and it was afterwards arranged that Monday next should be devoted to the several Harbor Bills which have been introduced. In the Legislative Council, on Tuesday, it was agreed to appoint a select committee to consider the question of the legal constitution of the present Ministry, and, pending their report, the Hon. John Hall did not yesterday take his place in the Council, the Hon. Dr Pollen explaining the cause.

In the course of the discussion on Mr. Wason's Canterbury Pastoral Leasing Bill last-1 evening, Mr. Stafford took occasion to allude * to a reference which had been previously made by Sir George Gr<jy as to him (Mr. Stafford) having entered into a compact with the Government — a compact -which extended its influence to the subject under discussion. It was altogether an unworthy accusation, and attributable to the fertile imagination of thehon. member for the Thames. Sir George Grey interposed that he had been informed of the circumstance by the member for Timaru himself. Mr. Stafford altogether denied it. Sir George Grey repeated it, relied on his memory, and related circumstances which he contended confirmed his belief that a compact had been entered into, by which Mr. Stafford was bound to support the Government on all points affecting its existence. Mr. Staftord admitted that he had informed Sir George of his interview with Dr. Pollen, and had only said, what he said on the first day of last session, that, in consideration of the Government having extended abolition to the South Island, he should on all questions affecting the continuance of the Government give them loyal support. A member of the Government had at that time said they heard the statement for the first time. That was true ; and that was the compact. The subject of interview between Dr. Pollen and himself was known only to himself, Dr. Pollen, and his colleagues, and to no others, up to the present time. The committee whom Sir George Grey has nominated to inquire into the costof Sir Julius Vogel's missions to England consists of himself, Messrs. Rees, Rolleston, Stevens, Lusk, Andrew, and the Premier. The constitution of the committee is likely to lead to some discussion. The new Fell engine recently imported for use on the heavy inclines on the Rimutaka was tried yesterday for the first time, with entire success. It may be remembered that the makers were so much impressed with the complications of their engine, and the impracticability of putting it together in the colony, that they sent out a man specially from Home, who will arrive in a few days. Meanwhile, however, Mr. Allison D. Smith thought he and his men were quite competent to do the work themselves, and took it in hand accordingly. The result lias proved that Mr. Smith did not overrate either his own powers or those of his engine-fitters. Steam was got up yesterday, and in the afternoon all the engineers in Wellington, inclnding the "Chief," Mr. Carruthers, were present at the trial of the locomotive on the rails. It was driven to Kaiwarra and back, workingexcellently. Tliis is a decided triumph for Mr. Smith, for the engine is about as elaborate and complicated a piece of machinery as it is possible to imagine. In reality it is two engines in one, not, however, placed lengthways, like the Fairlie engines, but " mixed up" together, one pair of cylinders outside driving the ordinary wheels, and another pail 1 inside driving the horizontal wheels which grip the central extra rail provided on the severe inclines, and which are furnished with screw brakes of enormous power. The locomotive is fitted with a perfect multitude of novol appliances to facilitate labor and increase etticiency. Its total weight is 32 tons, and it will draw a heavy train up an incline of 1 in 15. Another of these engines is about to be put together by Mr. Smith and his assistants. The officials on the Wellington and Masterton Railway are about to be clothed in new uniforms ot appropriate and tasteful designs, after the English style. The stationmasters' distinguishing- marks will be a dark blue frockcoat, and a gold band round his cap. The guards will wear a dark blue uniform, with red cap and cuffs. The porters will wear suitable badges. These uniforms will give the railway staff a greatly improved appearance. Hitherto there has been an absence of that neatness which is so noticeable on the English lines. A meeting of ratepayers is called for to-mor-row night, to be held at the Princess Hotel, Thorndon, to consider and protest against the rates levied on private streets on which no public money is expended. One of those composite carriages on the Hutt Railway which contain in one a brake-van, luggage-van, and a smoking compartment, needing repairing, has been fitted up iv a greatly improved style, under the direction oi" Mr. Allison Smith, the traffic manager. The seats in the smoking compartment have been lowered and cushioned, the guard's compartment furnished with a lavatory, and several improvements made in the luggage-van, while the ends of the carriage are painted light scarlet, with yellow ribs, so as to show well as a danger signal to any train which might be following too closely. It will be seen that no stone is being left unturned by C. E. Haughton to get set at liberty again. His legal advisers are endeavoring" to get the criminal information against him set aside on technical grounds. It seems to us that the accused ought immediately to be forwarded to Wellington, when the case could be gone into, and an apportunity would then be afforded of raising any plea that might be thought possible for the defence. The new police station at the Lower Hutt is now completed. It is a very creditable building and contains comfortable accommodation for Constable Stewart and his family, as well as 1 three cells for the compulsory temporary habi- | tations of delinquents. The station was opened to-day and Constable Stewart is ready to receive visitors, whom he will provide with a night's lodging without making any charge for the accommodation. We have no doubt he will have plenty of guests. We have been requested to suggest to the management of the Theatre Royal that in view of the anticipated crush at the De Murska concert to-night, the pit and stall doors should be opened half-an-hour earlier than usual. The s.s. Moa made two trips to H.M.S. Nymph to-day. A large number of people availed themselves of the opportunity thus offered of visiting the latter-named vessel. At Mr. Francis Sidey's weekly produce sale yesterday, 200 sacks of first quality oats sold at 2s 6d per bushel, the balance of Canterbury potatoes sold at £4 per ton, prime bacon sold at B£d and 9d per pound, hams and cheese withdrawn, 12 kegs second quality butter brought from 8d to lOd per pound; some groceries fetched low prices. The sale was pretty well attended, but competition was slack, most of the dealers being apparently well stocked. At a Licensing Court, held at the Hutt yesterday, there were two applications for the transfer of licenses, which "were unopposed, and granted. The Taitai Hotel was transferred to Mr. Worth, and the Mungaroa Hotel to Mr. Wagg. The first meeting of the newly elected Wellington Highway Board was hold at the office, Lower Hutt, yesterday. Present : Messrs. Bayliss, Dick, Mason, Smith, Speedy, and Taylor. Various accounts were ordered to be paid. The rates received during the past month were stated to have been £10 2s 6d, and a further sum of £11 4s was received from Mr. Sinclair towards the construction of a road in No. 4 Ward. The new Karori-Makara Board applied for particulars relative to certain sums in hand, which belonged to the new Board, and requested that existing contracts in the new district might be transferred to the new Board. The Board declined to grant this latter request, as the contractors objected to be under the control of the new Board, and in reference to the other request informed the new Board that their clerk could have access to the books at all reasonable hours. A rate of Id in the £ was struck. It was proposed that the offices of clerk, overseer, and treasurer should be amalgamated, as the expenses now had increased to nearly 20 per cent, of the reveuue. The question ultimately was postponed. Mr. H. Ashton resigned the collectorship, but retained the appointment of clerk to the Board. It was resolved to invite tenders for the collection of rates. It was decided that no travelling expenses be allowed members attending meetings; but that the allowance of 10s a day be continued, and that wardens residing at a distance of over fifteen miles be allowed los a day. Some other routine business was transacted, and the Board then adjourned. The new Karori-Makara Board held its first meeting at the former place on Saturday, when Mr. C. C. Graham was appointed chairman, Mr. Bowler treasurer, Mr. Prenderville clerk, and Mr. Robinson collector. The Board authorised the impounding ot cattle trespas- j sing on highways. ! At the Theatre Royal last night the Bates- ! Howard dramatic company performed " Don Caesar de Bazan" to a very fair house. Mr. Bates in the title role, and Mrs. Bates as Maritana, acted -with their usual power. A song from Miss Morgan and a farce by the company concluded the entertainment. Mr. J. H. Wallace invites the ratepayers of Lambton Ward to meet him at his sale-room to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. - . (

An exceptional musical and dramatic treat ! will be afforded at thp Theatre Royal this ' :': ' evening by the appearance of Madame lima ' De Murska in opera, with the appropriate dresses and scenery. The scenes selected for this evening are two of the gifted artiste's happiest efforts— the mad scenes from Meyerber's "Dinorah" and Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor." The former is the celebrated " Shadow Dance," in which Dinorah converses and dances with her shadow cast by the moonlight, and on the moon disappearing behind a cloud, utters sorrowful reproaches to her imaginary playmate for its desertion. The latter scene is too well known to need description. Both the above were recognised all over Europe, not only as Madame De Murska's finest illustration, but also as the most marvellous representation of these great parts ever witnessed. A crowded house may be expected. We understand that Corrado still is making favorable progress, and that little doubt now is entertained of his ultimate recovery. By the Albion, from Sydney, has arrived Mosley's " Mirror of England," a panorama of the river Thames from its source to its estuary, which will be exhibited in a few days. The American and Australian press describe this entertainment in terms of high praise. The Sydney Morning Herald says : — " This is unquestionably one of the finest, if not the finest, exhibition of that class that has been produced in the colonies. The views (ovar 100 in number) were executed by Messrs. Phillips and Telbin, of London, Royal Academicians, who took no less than three years in their completion. They are really beautiful ; and considered as works of art, can hardly be surpassed. The course of the ancient river is traced from its source at the Cotswold Hills to the Pool of London , and each picture is quite a study in itself. To Australians who have never seen the mother country, the panorama must be both amusing and instructive ; whilst those who hail from old England can hardly fail to be impressed with the excellent style in which both the rural scenery and the city itself are pourtrayed." We have no doubt it will prove highly attractive in Wellington. The panorama is 3,000 feet long and 14 feet in height. Mr. Thomas Kennedy, formerly connected with the Kennedy family, is the business agent. Mr. George Thomas resumed his clearing sale of the bankrupt stock of M. L Marks, draper, on the premises next the Odd Fellows' Hall, this forenoon to a fair attendance, and towards the afternoon the place was completely crowded, and a large lot of goods disposed of, evidently to the satisfaction of those preseut. The auctioneer mentioned that finding it impossible to get through the various lots, he had decided to continue the sale on Friday and Saturdiiy afternoons, commencing each day at 2 o'clock, on which occasions large quantities of clothing, dress materials, blankets, and flannels, would be submitted, everything being sold without reserve. The hotels of Turakina are a disgrace to civilisation. Recently, while a funeral was taking place in the township, a lot of rowdies, issuing from a hotel, shocked and disgusted the mourners by their filthy and blasphemous language. The Wanganui Chronicle, on this subject, remarks: — "The scenes enacted in Turakina on that Sunday, of which many residents of Wauganui were the ashamed and sorrowful witnesses, were a disgrace to any community calling themselves civilised. Even by the sad surroundings of the funeral, the ribald crowd were not abashed, and as the tears of the mourners fell fast around the open grave, and while the minister was repeating the solemn prayers upwards for the occasion, borne on the breeze came the sounds of revelry, as the debauch was proceeded with, the usual orgies and dissipation forming the accompaniments. Will the Licensing Bench take cognizance of such aggravated irregularities? The local guardian of the public peace — W here Wcis he 1" We think Inspector Atchison might look into this matter. In the good old days of New Zealand (says a contemporary) when the runs in the Amuri district were first taken up, parties used to be formed to cross the mountain range towards Nelson for mutual protection in the event of a snowstorm. Upon one of these expeditions was Mr. George Guppyreturningfromhisrun, which was unfortuuately afflcted with scab. Now Mr. Guppy was very neat in his costume, justly vain ot his appearance, and wasparticu- . larly pleased wheu jokingly addressed as Lord George. On this journey, one night, after Mr. G. and his Maori servant had retired to their tent by the camp fire, was overheard this colloquy : — Mr. G. — " What do they call Mr. Robinson?" Tangi.— " They call him Ready-money Robinson." And, after some further preliminaries — G. — " And what do they call me?" Tangi (chuckled audibly), but didn't reply. G. (insinuatingly) — " Come, come, what do they call me? Speak my good fellow. Don't they call me Lord George;" Tangi — " Lord George be shot ; they call you Scabby Guppy !" Aud that night the child of the forest exchanged his master's tent for the wide canopy of heaven. A London contemporary says : — Anecdotes concerning the Prince's Indian tour continue to crop up at the clubs. Here is one, which proves that his Royal Highness can detect a " cad," and knows how to reprove him when detected. It will be recollected that tho Heir Apparent distributed medallions pretty freely as keepsakes to the notabilities he met on his trip. Those medallions were made of silver. One was given to Colonel X., a well-known cavalry officer. Next day he appeared with his medallion dangling from his watch-guard, but the medallion was silvergilt. The Prince was quick to observe it, and approaching the colonel, said to him, in a tone of' playful irony, loud enough to be heard by all present, " Ah, X., so you have corrected my oversight. You knew you deserved a golden memento ; but t'wouldn't run to it, old man. Still, it is hardly delicate of you to remind me of my poverty." X. blushed ; and he blushes still when a discussion on pinchbeck, aluminium, and kindred imitations is innocently got up at mess.