THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1611, 15 September 1874, Page 358

THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1874.

A time-honored custom, so general in its observance between representatives and their constituencies as to be almost a matter of course, has, so far as the Province of Hawke's Bay is concerned, been allowed to become nearly obsolete. We allude to the periodical, at the least occasional, meetings where members of a legislature call those who have reposed confidence in them together to render an account of their stewardship, and receive from them either approval of the course pursued and further assurances of confidence, or, on the other hand, condemnation for the betrayal of the trust reposed in them. Since the close of the late session of the General Assembly, such meetings have been almost universal throughout the Colony, and, certain it is, that never were they more necessary than at the close of a session in which an unexpected and radical change in the Constitution has been initiated. We observe that in nearly every case those representatives who have adopted the laudable course referred to have been rewarded by the approval of their constituents, and it may be assumed that in the few cases where it has not been adopted, members are at least in doubt whether such approval would not be withheld. On a matter of so great importance as that of the abolition of the Provincial system in a portion of the Colony a matter on which those most interested had not been consulted, nor had had any opportunity of expressing any opinion—members may be well excused if tht-.y felt in some degree of doubt as to how they should record their votes, and having decided so far (as they were bound to do one way or the other), might still be supposed to be uncertain whether they had truly represented the views of their constituencies. Where a moderate degree of confidence was felt that such was the case, naturally no time would be lost in meeting the constituency, and just in proportion to the doubt on such point, would be the hesitancy in calling such a meeting. Where a member felt certain of censure on account of his vote, it may be concluded that he would, if possible, decline altogether so unpleasant an event. So far, however, as Hawke's Pay is concerned, this reasoning does not altogether hold good. It may, or it may not be, that in voting for blotting out Hawke's Bay as a province, our members have betrayed the trust reposed in them ; because other reasons may be assumed for not meeting with the electors to discuss this and other matters of importance. In the case of one of the members, it may be stated that no opportunity has as yet occurred for such meeting, and it may be too much to assume that the opportunity .will not be embraced when it does occur. In the other case, though opportunity has not been wanting, it may be safely assumed that the opinion of the electors on the matter is regarded as but of small importance. The electors, however, we believe, think otherwise. Dignity, an estimable quality in itself, and particularly in the chief of a community, may lead its possessor to too much ignore the views and feelings of the vulgar herd, and they may resent it accordingly. The people cannot do otherwise than feel that they have the right to be consulted in a matter that concerns them so nearly. They are threatened with the deprival of their present voice, feeble as it is, in the management of their local affairs; they are not informed what it is proposed to give them in its stead, and their representatives in the legislature whose voices contributed to this result refuse or neglect to meet them and give such account of the matter as may tend to afford confidence and satisfaction.

In a recent article we drew attention to the Government printing office, which, we showed, if properly conducted, would effect a large saving of colonial revenue, but the advantages of which were at present to a great extent neutralized by official mismanagement and waste. The Report on the Printing Department by the Auditor-General, which came to hand in a batch of Parliamentary papers, bears out our statements in a remarkable degree. Before proceeding to the examination of the report, we are glad to note that there appears to be no truth in the rumor, which gained considerable currency, that the plant was about to be sold to the New Zealand Times Company. It would seem to have originated through Mr M'Kenzie, the manager of the Company, having been engaged in making a valuation of the plant on behalf of the Government. The report sets forth in the first place, that the appliances and state of the office are good, it is well conducted, and the work produced is excellent. The auditor, however, is struck with the fact, to which we have already alluded, that " work is executed in the Government printing office, when only one or two copies are required, which could be more cheaply done by a copying clerk; " and he makes an important suggestion—" That the Government Printer should so far assert himself in these matters as to point out to the Government the occasions when orders could be more cheaply done in manuscript than in printing." The most glaring instance of this kind will not have been forgotten by our readers—the "Handbook of New Zealand" having been entirely set up and corrected and only twelve copies worked. Nor will the public have forgotten the cx-

planation of this wanton waste of some hundreds' of pounds of public money—that some of those to whom the work of compiling the Handbook was entrusted had sent in such disgracefullywritten manuscript that the English printers could have made nothing'of it. Complaints are made that the building is exceeding small, and affords very poor accommodation. Over-crowding and an unwholesome atmosphere are among the results.' "Every foot of space, outside and inside, seems to be occupied—the whole block of buildings, Public Works, Government Store, and Printing Office, being crowded together; the engine-room and furnances being dangerously situated in the centre'of the block, with the additional grave objection of being entirely covered in by one of the composing-rooms, which has been built above it, the occupants of which must be seriously inconvenienced by the heat from the furnace, and in a very awkward position in the eventof an explosion." Owing to this crowding, and other causes, there is said to be great danger of fire, and the premises are very imperfectly insured. In the event of fire, the whole of the private establishments in Wellington would be unable to execute the Government work, and the Government Printer is desirous of having a small stock of type and machinery in reserve for such a contingency. The following paragraph from' the Auditor's report gives a .striking instance of that mismanagement in matters of deta 1 which appears to be found in every branch of our Colonial Government: —" Since Mr McKenzie's letter of the 18th June was received, alterations have been made in the buildings, that render it almost impossible for the printers of stamps to perform their work satisfactorily from the want of sufficient light. It is scarcely possible to express in too strong terms one's condemnation of the defective arrangements for this important branch of the printing establishment. The loss of time, the annoyance to the workmen, and the impossibility of doing the work creditably, are really deplorable, and, I must add, quite discreditable to any establishment, however mean. Indeed, throughout the printing offices, I noticed a most extraordinary want of attention to secure a good diffused light by whitewashing the ceilings of the rooms." It is satisfactory to note that the work of the department is cheaply executed—the rate being at least 25 per cent, below what would be charged by the Wellington offices, and much less than the scale of charges in neighboring Colonies.. We also observe that Wellington charges, as set forth in the report, are hi ;her than the rates charged in this Province. The profit to the Colony of the printing establishment for eighteen months is estimated at £5,267 16s Bd. «> The English Opera Company, on Friday, repeated Flotow's beautiful opera of " Martha." As before, it was successfully performed. Miss May, though suffering from a cold, well sustained her part. " The Last Rose of Summer" was given with great taste and sweetness, and was encored. The lively scenes at the fair were very amusingly and successfully asked. On Saturday night the extravaganza of "Genevieve de Brabant" was given, The acting and singing of the principal members of the company are sufficient to adorn almost any piece they might choose ; but they appear to far greater advantage in such pieces as " Martha," "Maritana," or "The Lily of Killar ney." Miss May's singing as the page " Drogan," elicited rounds of applause; and her duett with " Genevieve *' (Miss Lambert) was a gem, and fully appreciated. The comic portions of the piece were also very successful. Notwithstanding the exceedingly inclement weather, Miss May's benefit drew a full house last night. The piece represented was Donizetti's comic opera, ~" The Daughter of the Regiment." The fine choruses with which this operaabounds were given with brilliant effect, and Miss May as Marie was superb. In the " lesson scene" her song "She wore a wreath of roses " was rapturously encored, and a profusion of bouquets were thrown to the fair prima donna. In response to the encore, she substituted " Within a mile o' Edinburgh town," which she gave with great archness and vivacity. Her solo in the last scene, " When by hard fate from my friends I was parted," was sung with the utmost expression and sweetness. Mr Rain ford was admirable as Sergeant Sulpice, and all the other parts were well sustained. The afterpiece, " Cox and Box,'' was acted with great spirit by the three gentlemen who- took the characters. To-night Gounod's magnificent opera of " Faust" will bo performed, with a strong cast, and the season closes tomorrow evening with a grand sacred festival. Particulars may be gathered from advertisement in another column. In the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, two ordinary debt cases were disposed of. M'lntyro v. Hunt— Claim of £l4, value of a horse sold by defendant as keeper of the Waitangi pound. Plaintiffs horse having been lost, under circumstances which appeared to indicate that some person had borrowed it without permission, he took means to find it, but without success. He studied the pound notices, but found no animal there described corresponding with the missing beast. He afterwards found that it had been sold by the defendant at .the Waitangi pound. Upon reference to the advertisement under which the horse was sold, he found it was described as 13 hands high, and "no brand visible." This horse was 14| hands high, and was branded H A U on the near shouldeer; the H indistinct, and the A U clearly visible. Defendant maintained and called evidence to show that owing to the state of the horse's coat the brand could not bo seen ; and in cross-exami-nation plaintiff admitted that the adveri tiscment had been shown to him by

more than one person who thought the description applied to the missing horse. The Court considered the description insufficient, and liable to mislead. — Judgment for plaintiff for £l2 and £4 4s costs. Wooster v. Gaskin Claim of £lO, value of a horse sold and delivered. The defendant disputed the sale and delivery, and consequently the liability. The-evidence was.conflicting,. and some very nice points coming up, judgment was reserved till Saturday, when his Worship decided that a sale had been effected,, and gave judgment for the amount claimed, with costs ,£2 10s. Manoy v. Lydon—Claim of £lO. This was a judgment summons, judgment having been given on 14th April last, and the claim still remain ing unsatisfied. The Magistrate said that under the circumstances the Act gave him no alternative, and committed the defendant for fourteen days. i A meeting was held in the Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, with a view of establishing a philosophical Institute in this Province. The weather was exceedingly unfavorable; but about twenty gentlemen attended, and gave in their names as members. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair. W. Colenso, Esq., was appointed Secretary pro tern, with instructions to prepare and have printed a circular stating the objects of the association, and inviting persons interested to join. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Christopher Hegh, a Norwegian, was charged yesterday in the Resident Magistrate's Court with drunkenness and violently assaulting the police. It appeared that there was another charge against him, he having forcibly entered the abode of Mrs Smidt, a Swede, whose husband was absent in the country, at 1 a.m. on Sunday. When the police arrived she was standing out-of-doors in her night-dress. She was stated to be in a delicate state' of health, and to have received such a fright that she was still confined to her bed. The police were desirous that the cases should be beard together, and he was accordingly remanded till to-morrow morning, at which time it was expected Mrs Smidt would be able to attend. It was stated that the prisoner, when drunk, is exceedingly violent, and a terror to his family and neighbors.— This was the only case.