BAY OF ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3696, 15 September 1873, Page 3

BAY OF ISLANDS.

I All pleased to Cud that my suggestion of lust week, relative to tbe appointment of wator-polico for this port during the whaling season, bus not proved fruillcss, and that u memorial from ibi3 pi -ice is now in course of preparation, praying the Government to favorably consider the matter. The importance of the whaling trade to this port nu'd the province is not to be ignored ; but were any additional argument requisite, I need not go farther back than the late smuggling case, which is said to havo occurrod here, to shew the necessity for some protection of the kind. In this connection I may observe parenthetically that we havo very serious doubts here whether the smuggling over took place at all. Buaring in mind tho facts that, notwithstanding tho most careful search of all the suspected premises by the Collector of Customs and tho police, 110 traco whatever of tho tobacco could bo found, I think it is nt least within the limits of probability that the sailors who preferred the* charge against Captain Morris might have been instigated to do so from motives of revenge for tbe punishment of their shipmate, who received a sentence of three months' imprisonment for insubordination. This is at any rate the general impreasioq here, ami I think it is pretty well understood that amongst the class from which sailors are usually derived, the highest integrity or due appreciation of tho sacred character of nn oath are not always things to bo relied upon. I am afraid I'Was rather prematuro last week in expressing satisfaction at the speedy extension of the telegraph line to this place. The reply of Mr. Vogel to Mr. Williams was, I think, shuffling uiid evasive, and when a gentleman of Mr. Togel's well-known tact and ability | replies to a demand in that manner, he may j reasonably be suspected of trying how not to do it. We cannot forget how, on three occaI fiiona, tenders have been called for the erection

of a Government wharf at Russell, and the most precise surveys and elaborate plans have been made, although no tender hag ever yet been accepted. The reason given by Mr. Vogel for the delay in the construction of the telegraph northwards, o*ing to the greater requirements of other parts of the colony where they had the telegraph already, was singularly illogical and peculiar; and it is not surprising that he should have felt itnecessary to apologise for such a reply and admit it to be unsatisfactory. It was eminently bo. We await with impatience to hear mora of this matter, and as the result is, so will be the reputation of oar newly-elected I representative.

Tho Good Templars have been amongst us, but I fear they have not found us as sympathising or responsive as might have been desired, and their efforts remind me of the seed which was sown upon the rock. Wo are quite too sober a community to require any interference of this sort, and for my own part, although I take my malt with freedom, I trust I may never require the restraining voice of a Good Templar to Bay, " Hold 1 enough."— [Correspondent.]