The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2040, 18 November 1869, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1869.

We purposely abstained from publishing the resolution of the Provisional Committee for the promotion of the construction of the Port Chalmers Kailway, lest any obstruction should be thrown in the way of an ultimate arrangement with the Government. Our contemporary, the Daily Times, Ims not acted on the same principle, but has not only thought fit prematurely to give publicity to it, but to publish an article in defence of the action of the Executive. Whoever is the writer of it wo do not know. It is one of the privileges of the press, that writers should shield themselves behind the editorial segis. However convenient this may be for those who pen such extraordinary essays as that of this

morning, it is not very pleasant for an editor to find himself responsible for them to the public if he is so situated as not to be able to reject them. The whole scope and tenor of the article in the Daily Times this morning favors the hypothesis that such is the position of affairs in the present instance. It is not a fair and candid exposition of the true state of the case, but an attempt to prove that the failure of the negotiations of the Provisional Committee to come to terms with the Government, if failure there is, has resulted from the grasping spirit of the promoters of the scheme. It certainly looks, to say the least of it, a« if it had been suggested by some one intimately acquainted with everything that has passed at Executive meetings, and with every petty means of throwing cold water upon the undertaking. The strictures of the Daily Times this morning are not justified by the resolution passed at the meeting of the Provisional Committee, and the selection of conditions, as the text on which to found the article, is too one-sided for us unconditionally to approve or condemn the Government until the whole matter is before ns. It looks very much as if it came hot from a Ministry conscious they had to justify themselves in the eyes of the public, and determined to have the first word. This might be excused were there not mixed up with the flimsy condemnations of the Provisional Committee a covert insinuation that they have no confidence whatever in the success of an undertaking they have taken such pains and trouble to promote. What can be more preposterous than the requirement that “ the promoters should be personally “ responsible, jointly and severally, for “ the performance of the contract be- “ tween the Government and the Com- “ pany.” This, too, is coupled with the proposition that all responsibility is to be taken out of their hands by the works being done under the supervision of a consulting engineer appointed by the Government, How is it likely that a number of gentlemen, whose chief aim is the construction of a work of the highest interest to the Province, and who cannot reap more than a very limited benefit from the undertaking, will place themselves in the very position that the Government itself ought to occupy of guaranteeing the carrying out the work! The proposition is altogether inconsistent with the constitution of a limited liability company. All that the Government had a right to insist upon should have been that the work should be commenced and finished within a specified time under certain penalties, in accordance with the usual mode of contracts for works. It is not for us to name what penalties should have been insisted on. They might be forfeiture of interest, or, in case of gross delay and mismanagement, the transfer of the works to the Government itself as the guarantor. The Government appear to have been bent upon driving a hard bargain—so hard that it wears the semblance of their having thrown obstructions in the way. They have treated the Provisional Committee as if they were a number of speculators bent upon getting as much out of the public purse as possible, instead of greeting them as gentlemen at much personal inconvenience and risk of obloquy, stepping forward to do what the Provincial Government ought to do, but is powerless to perform. If the Government had to protect the public interests, they had an equal right to consider what terms would be equitable and just to the expected shareholders, who are equally entitled to consideration, In fact, where such difficulties have to be overcome as have been thrown in the way of the prosecution of public works in Otago, every security ought to be offered to those who come forward to promote them. No one can object to arrangements being made to induce the work being properly done. The interest of the Province and the shareholders in this are identical. But when those are made nothing more is needed. Then we are told very coolly, “ The Government did “ not intimate their intention to adhere “ to the clauses they proposed to insert “ on the deed of covenant submitted :l for their approval," and therefore the Provisional Committee need not be angry with the treatment they have received. This reveals the truth as to the manner in which the Committee have been met. Formed to co-operate with the Government, they have been treated as if they were mere adventurers, When they pointed out that to insure the public coming forward as subscribers ample seemity should be offered, and in the uncertain political relations of the Province to the Colony collateral security with the jetty dues should be given, instead of cheerful acquiescence they are met with technical objections. We regret to see a journal occupying the position of the Daily Times adopting so jubilant a tone over the assumed failure of the scheme. There must be something behind it, or such clodocratio diplomacy could not meet approval.

The Fike Arts.— We have had the pleasure of looking over a series of tinted lithographs of Australasian scenery, after drawings and paintings by Mons. Guerard, one of the most celebrated artists of Australia. They were published by Messrs Hamel and Ferguson, of Melbourne, and are very fine specimens of the perfection at which art has arrived in Victoria. Those who know Mons. Von Guerard’s paintings, are well aware of the daguerrotyoe fidelity with wh oh ho depicts the minutest phases in a landscape, and these .are reproduced in the engravings. The scenes are some of the most striking in Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, vnd wo may particularly mention Mount Kosciusko, Alonnt Kccles, and the Fern tree gully near Dandenong. Ihe work is published at a low price, and will form a very elegant ornament to a drawingroom table. Mr Hamel has also a number of spirited cbromo-lithograph illustrations of Australian life, which would form acceptable contributions to friends at homo. Wc b'-lieve be will leave for the North in a few days. Princess Theatre. —We were glad to see an improvement in the condition of the house last evening. Though not crowded, it bore a cosy and comfortable appearance. This, after “the beggarly account of empty boxes ” so long presented, is absolutely refreshing. It is, wo hope, an earnest of the revival of public taste for this most legitimate form of amusement. The Princess’s is in every way deserving of support. Conducted with great spirit, and apparently at considerable cost; comprising, as it does, a thoroughly efficient staff of artists, and providing a full and diversified programme, the management has every right to murmur at the want of appreciation evinc-d by the public. That the Theatre has not received due support, is, it must be admitted, in no way attributable to the short-coinings or defects in the conduct of the management. The pieces presented are vared enough to please the most fastidious lovers of change, and embrace the widest possible range in dramatic literature—from our best English classics to the most roaring farce. The artists, too, sustain their parts with no mediocre ability; indeed we believe this house may fairly challenge any colonial company for uniqueness and general efficiency. For a long time the management has earnestly endeavored to provide wholesome public amusements, under, it must be said, great discouragements and disappointments, and it has required some philosophy and fortitude to withstand the manifest indifference of the public. We sinc- rely trust, however, that his efforts, hitherto so long unappreciated, are about to bo liberally rewarded. The piece presented last evening was “The Cornish Wreckers ; or, a Dream at Ses,” by Mr J. B. Buckstone, and it isufficient to say that the parts were admirably sustained throughout. It was received in a most gratifying manner by the audience. The entertainment concud'd with the farce of “To Oblige Benson.” The same pieces will he repeated this evening. Entertainment.—The closing entertainment in connection with the Lunatic Asylum was given last evening by the “colored opera troupe,” who during the season have held periodical concerts at the institution. That given last evening was, in some respects, their best effort. The singing was on the whole excellent, and the instrumental selections were capitally rendered. The troupe appears to have had some additions lately, and they last night showed themselves to be valuable ones. The entertainment opened with an overture in which Ethiopian airs were I introduced with concertina and flute solos, which was well played by some dozen instrumentalists. A number of ballads and choruses were given afterwards, those best rendered being “Happy are wc,” "Wc meet again,” “ Weeping sad and lonely,” and “Oh gently breathe. ” The latter was the gem of the concert. The choruses to all the songs were well sung, and the symphonies played with precision and effect. In the second part of the programme there was a comic scene, but the dialogue was too weak to enable the performers to carry it through successfully. There was a large number of visitors, and the patients present numbered 70. These entertainments have now been given at intervals for the last five years; and it must be a source of gratificatiou to Mr Hume and those who carried them out that, they have been so enjoyable to the patients, (t was stated last evening that efforts are being made to establish a library for the use of patients. Perhaps this mention of the fact will induce seme who have spare volumes on their book shelves to assist the undertaking. We have no doubt that contributions will be thankfully received by the superintendent of the institution.

Acclimatisation. Tlio weekly meeting of the Council of this Society was held this afternoon in the lower room of the Athenaeum. There were present Messrs W. D. Wurison (in the chair). A. Garrick, J. J. Thompson, and E. M'G-lashan, The manager reported that according to instruc • tions he had visited Boat Harbour, Brighton, for the purpose of ascertaining its adaptability for a branch fish-breeding pond. Ho found that the stream running into Boat Harbour was small, possessing deep pools, good shelter, and abundance of food. The construction of ponds would be attended with great expense, and also be a matter of great difficulty, as the stream is subject to very heavy floods. He also visited Tayler’s Creek which is a very small stream, and at the time ho saw it was not sufficient to supply a pond. He was, however, informed by Mr Taylor that there was then less water in it than he had ever known before. The young trout at the Society’s ponds were doing well, but there was a greater number of deformed ones than last year. There ■were about llfty deformed fish. Amongst the correspondence read was a letter from Mr Butts, hon. secretary of the Southland Society, who, writing under date the 11th inst., stated that the Society had received a report from their curator to the effect that 300 of the young trout had died. This mortality arose from their being removed from here when too young. The large fish were all right, but the small ones -those with the largest umbilical bag—were all dead. It was thought that a good many were killed through the fish having been coveycd in a railway carriage from the Bluff, without their being slung with iudiarubber slings. The Mayor of Queenstown telegraphed to the Society that the Corporation was not in a position to join with the Society in the expense of sending another lot of trout to LakoWakat'p. It was agreed to turn 75 young trout in the upper part of the Water of Leith, a like number at Boat Harbo. ; 100 at Palmerston, and 75 at Cailiu’s River. It was resolved to ofter a reward for the destruction of kingfishers,

Inter provincial Cricket Match. —We understand that a telegram has been received by the Secretary of the D.0.C., to the effect that the Canterbury team will leave Christchurch en the 30th inst. The match is to be played on the 3rd and 4th prox.

The Nelson Railway. —lt was recently announced that for the present the negotiations, with regard to the construction of the Nelson and Cobden Railway had been broken off. Since then the General Government has taken an interest in the matter, and has addressed the following letter to the Superintendent of Nelson Sir, —The Government have observed with regret a statement in the Nelson newspapers to the effect, that the negotiations for the constructor! of the Nelson and West Coast Railway, authorised by the Provincial Council of Nelson, to be entered upon in England, have not been successful. It has occurred to the Colonial Government that the Commissioners who are about to be sent to England on behalf of the Colony, may be in a position to assist in promoting your railway. Recognising, as the Colonial Government do, its importance, both from a Provincial and also a Colonial point of view, the Government have great pleasure in offering to instruct the Commissioners, should yon desire it, to ascertain whether anything could be done in the matter. Should difficulties exist at present, it is probable that the Commissioners may be able to come to some arrangement by which, with the approval and aid of the General Assembly, such difficulties may be overcome. I have, &0., W. Gisborne. Perhaps the Commissioners might be induced to do as much for Otago.

Hokitika. An application was made on the 6th inst. for a lease of ground containing a quartz reef, situated about 13 miles up the Taipo, and altogether about 35 mile* from Hokitika. The application was made by Mr Joseph Blake, mining surveyor, and Mr VV. Roberts, who have had men prospecting in the locality for some time past. Gold is plainly discernible in the stone. The West Coast Timet is informed by Mr Blake that a well-defined quartz spur, two feet thick, and another nine inches thick, both gold bearing, are near the reef, and also a largo reef from twenty to thirty twenty to thirty feet wide, are close to the above, but as yet no gold has been discovered in the latter. Westland has again been unlucky. The latest piece of misfortune is that the amount of the late County Treasurer’s embezzlements is, by the failure of the European Insurance Company, for ever lost to the County. Reeks in Nelson. —Latest accounts from the recently discovered reefs at Wangapeka are most favorable. From the following, which we extract from a Nelson contemporary of November 6, it would appear that .■mother valuab c reef has been discovered ; The discovery of the rich gold-bearing reef at Wangapeka has brought to our knowledge a reef, probably quite as rich, which has been worked for tome time in Bedstead Gully, only five miles f om Collingwood. When his Honor the Superintendent was at Collingu ood last week, he met with some men who, associated under the name of the Perseverance Gold Mining Company, and who possessed a lease of a few acres of ground under the Goldfields regulations, have been employed for some time breaking up quartz with Jsledgo hammers, and washing out the gold. These men, hearing of the intention to form a company in Nelson to work the reef at Wangapeka, thought it would be to their advantage to bring under the notice of the public the claim they were working, and at the Superintendent’s suggestion they sent by the following steamer, which arrived from Collingwood on Thursday morning, specimens of the quartz, bed rock, and a .species of conglomerate, all rich in gold, which they took out of their claim the previous day. Some of the stone has the appearance of being very rich, and it is certain that if it has paid when worked in the manner des; cribed, it would prove exceedingly remunerative if skilled labor and capital were brought to bear upon it. Sale ok Auriferous Land. The Hyde correspondent of the Waikouaili Herald gives the following account of the discovery of an advertisement in an obscure and scarcely known journal:—“ Quite a furore was created here lately when somebody said the township of Hyde was advertised for sale. The papers, Dunedin, Waikouaiti, and Naseby, were searched in vain, no such advertisement appeared. When, lo ! a literary individual triumphantly produced that abortion called the Advertisement Sheet— and there, safe enough, it was stated in large letters “ that all unsold land in the townships of Hyde and Hamiltons would be put up and sold by public auction on the 24th instant, by Mr Barrow (the surveyor).” Now, I would ask in the name of common-sense why such advertisements as this are confined to a paper (if paper it can be called) which not one man in every hundred in the Province reads or even secs ? Why, I would also ask, is this sale to be conducted by the surveyor when there are gentlemen at Naseby paying a heavy tax to the Government as auctioneers ? And, lastly, why is this so called township of Hyde now offered for sale ? It is well known hero that this laud marked as a township is auriferous. There are three applications for leases for mining purposes situated in the heart of the township —■ one of which has already been granted by the Governor, and I have no reason to doubt that the other two are by this time granted also. The Hit or Miss Co. have obtained a grant for a water-race which runs directly through the town nearly the whole length, Should this land be sold, these men would l>e compelled to pay such heavy compensation that they would never attempt to bring the water in. A great portion of the township is now taken up by the miners as residence areas, and fenced and cultivated at considerable expense, and to think that the Government should attempt to sell this land (the future diggings of Hyde) is simply the most monstrous piece of injustice ever attempeed to he perpetrated on any community. It might have been sold, and the inhabitants here none the wiser, were it not for the enlightened individual who weekly takes in (gratis) that mischievous abortion y’olept the Adverti'ement Sheet. A petition was numerously signed on Saturday last and forwarded by to-day’smailto the Superintendent praying that this township may be withdrawn from sale. I have no doubt that his Honor wdl never attempt to allow such a monstrous piece of iniquity to bo perpetrated on the inhabitants of Hyde, as the sale of this township would be. 1 understand also that Mr Warden Robinson has written to the Superintendent asking or recommending a re-survey. Should the Government persist in treating the mining

communities in this fashion, they will some day raise such a din about their ears that will not be easily silenced. The Otago Volunteer "Parade ordered for this evening is, we notice, postponed till Monday next, the 22nd inst. We have been requested to call attention to the announcement which appears in another column, that tenders for the Caledonian Society's printing must be sent in by 4 o’clock to-morrow.