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Evening Star, Volume III, Issue 819, 20 December 1865, Page 2

Amtdst all the wild eccentricities which liave marked many a previous Ministerial crisis, there have been none more childish than those that were manifested in the resignation of the Ministry on Monday night. There was no great principle*lnvolved—the Council did not propose the abolishment of any time-honored system, but simply desired to endorse a Report of a Select Committee, appointed by the House to suggest reforms in a system which even the Government acknowledged was defective. The clause in the Report upon which the Ministry took their stand and toppled over is simply a suggestion, though an important one. It reads thus—- '* While upon this subject, your Committee *' would observe that their attention has '• been forcibly directed to the advisability fi of the High School being constituted '* into a corporate body, so as to impart to " the institution a permanence and stabiei lity which it cannot possess so long as '* its existence depends on annual appro- *' priation, which must be subject to the

" political accident of the moment." The desirability of making the High School an institution which could not be shaken or disorganized by every sessional shuffle of the Ministerial cards, we think very few will be disposed to question. The details of the conditions of incorporation might be a subject in which difference of opinion might be strongly marked, but the initiative process -was not open to any grave objection, certainly not such an objection as would justify the resignation of the Ministry. The Government have, by the course they have adopted, put the last touch to the picture of weakness they have too often presented—a season of " straining at gnats and swallowing camels," until they had become so expert in the performance that nothing seemed too large for their swallow ; they have allowed themselves to be destroyed by a gnat. If the Report had recommended that the Council should at once endow the High School, and then have nothing more to do with it, a question of great moment would have been involved; but this was not asked nor desired, but it was suggested that the Government should, during the recess, give their consideration to the suggestion, and be prepared with a plan for incorporation, or be able to show the Council some reasons, logical and sound, "why they could not proceed in the matter. Up to the present time no reasons have been advanced, and the sum and substance of the Treasurer's speeches the night before last was, " We won't listen to your request to consider the matter." This was a mistake, and is much to be regretted. A change of Ministry at the present time waa not called for; the House had given no signs of desiring it, and the people had remained silent ; and it does appear absurd that the public business should be brought to a stand upon such undefined objections as those put forth by the Government. We are not censuring the Ministry for not adopting the suggestion of the Select Committee, but we do censure them for doggedly refusing to consider the almost unanimous request of the Council to enquire into the constitution of the High School, and consider the advisability of placing it in a permanent and secure position. We do not think any change which would render that institution entirely independent of the Council would be wise or was ever contemplated. The Council have ever taken a large interest in its establishment and progress, and have shown a liberal-mindedness in now offering to give up their power over it in order to secure its stability. The question is important. No changing and ever-varying Government can, with success and safety take the undivided charge of all Educational institutions, still it is questionable how far they should give up eontrol of such a one as the High School. We should regret to see it entirely handed over to those termed the " learned," it is the public alone which can in this country ; improve their institutions. To borrow a sentence from a celebrated reviewer, " be- " sides, learned men in practical matters "are often a 'feeble folk,' and are some- " times no more able to improve their own " learned institutions than they are to " mend their own shoes." Still we should for many reasons desire to see the Ota.go High Schooi placed in as stable a position as that of the University of Melbourne.

It remains to be seen whether the Government which has been formed to-day will obtain the confidence of the Council. The rude and ungentlemanly attack made upon its leader this morning does not of course represent the feeling of the whole Council. The late Ministry was ejected from office by an uumistakeable vote of want of confidence, and whilst reasonable doubts must exist as to the advantages likely to be gained by the change effected, it savours strongly of an insane obstructiveness for a member who voted against the late Government in both divisions, which virtually ousted them, to disregard all the ixsual forms upon the advent of a new Ministry, and grossly insult the chief of the body he has indirectly helped to lift to its present position. Seldom has a Government had the first moments of its existence so boisteiously disturbed, and for the credit of the Province it is to be hoped that more decorum will characterize the adjourned sitting of the Council this evening. Even the member for Dunedin, whose custom it is " to run a muck " at everything and everybody, has seldom exceeded the blustering conduct which the honorable member for Oamaru (country) exhibited this morning.

In tlie new Ministry formed to-day Mr. John Cargill will be leader, and Mr. Brodie will undertake the combined offices of Provincial Secretary and Secretary for Public "Works.

The Provincial Government offices will be closed on Tuesday at noon for the remainder of tlie day. The business of tlie Supreme Court has been occupied the whole of the day by the trial of the case of Coote v. Turnbull. When our reporter left. Mr Smith (fnv the was addressing

the Jury. Should this case be finished to-night the case of Sholl v. Hutchison will be taken to-morrow.

We believe that the Banks, at the request of a deputation from the various Volunteer Corps, intend to close on Boxing Day. This will enable a great many to take a lengthened holiday from mid-day on Saturday until Wedensday morning.

Jttdgin& by otir advertising columns, there will be no lack of good cheer in Dunedin at Christmas time. Mr C. C. Armstrong has hit upon the adoption of an Art Union for the distribution of a large quantity of fat geese, ducks, &c, and we expect that the bulk of his subscribers will hope to be the winner of the first prize, comprising no less than ' ' 2 fat geesej 2 fat diicks, 20 lbs new potatoes, and 2 pecks of green peas." The fortunate ticket-holder will have no excuse for not inviting all his poor relations, if he has any, to assist in relieving hi 3 table of the luxuries it will groan under. Yesterday, at 4.25 p.m., our agent at the Bluff presented a telegram for transmission to us to the effect that the '' Albion had sailed for Melbourne." We received it at 11.10 this morning, with an intimation that an interruption on the line last evening was the cause of the delay. We understand that ten members of the Artillery have been challenged by a like number of the Naval Brigade to a friendly rifle contest, to take place at Port Chalmers on the 30th inst. at ranges of 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards—five shots at each—and that the latter have accepted.

The following is the prize list as distributed on Friday last at the Middle District School :

Poetry and Prose Reading. 1. Peter Hercus 2. Louisa Welsh Dictation. 1. Andrew Thompson 2. George Bennett Narrative Lesson read aloud reproduced. 1. James Findlayson 2. Ellen Godso History. 1. Peter Hercus 2. Jane Stewart Geography. 1. Pobert Wallace 2. William Muirhead Original Essay. 1. Peter Hercus 2. George Bennett Grammar. 1. George Bennett 2. Janies Findlayson

A riihmetic. 1. Janies Findlayson 2. Edward Macliskey Writing. 1. George Bennett 2. Jane Hastie Mapping. 1. Peter Hercus 2. John Wilson Singing from Notes. 1. Emma Waterhouse, 2. Elizabeth Macliskey Drawing. 1. James Muirhead 2. James Murray Geometry. William Mac Fee Phonographic Writing. 1. William Morrison 2. Peter Hercus General Progress and Good Conduct. William Scoular

This evening Mr. R. Barlow will take a farewell benefit at the Circus, and the programme, which appears elsewhere, is one ■which should, commend a good atidience. Mr. Barlow's " Chinese song" is said to be alone worth the charge for admission. The largest bullock, it is said, ever seen in New Zealand was sold this day by Messrs Driver, Maclean & Co., at their yards, High Street, for the sum of £69 10s. He is estimated to weigh about 20001bs, and when killed will be seen in the City Company's shop, High Street, on Saturday next.

It is announced in another column that the installation of officers for the Lodge St. Andrew for the ensuing year will take place on Friday evening next. The Tua2>eka Recorder reports a severe accident which happened on last Friday week to a man named Hichards, while working at one of the claims on the Blue Spur. Hichards, it appears, had only that morning been employed by Messrs Morrison & Co., and was engaged at the time the accident took place, breaking up the stuff thrown from the heap of debris produced by the late blast, when a heavy boulder suddenly became detached, and rolled down in the direction of where he was working. Those that saw the accident first, called out to him, but unfortunately in attempting to get out of the way, he fell, and the boulder passed over his right foot, crushing it severely. He was immediately removed to the Tuapeka Hospital, where he was attended by Dr. Halley, but so severely had the limb been shattered, that amputation was found necessary. The 023eration was 'successfully performed the same evening by Dr. Halley, and the patient is now doing as well as can be expected. Immediately on the sad affair becoming known, a subscription list was opened for the relief of the sufferer, and within a short time a sum of £GO was collected. Hichards claims kindred to the Masonic craft, and it is intended to have his claims upon their benevolence brought before the lodge summoned for this evening. The Dun-stan Times makes its appearancs in an enlarged and greatly improved form this week, and induces the belief that the prosperity of our mining districts is i-eviving. The leader says:—"We beg further to say that Ave have made this effort to place in the hands of oar reader the present improved edition of our newspaper, because we fully believe that the best days of the Otago Goldfields are yet to come—the real and substantial wealth of the Province being only on the eve of development."