WANGANUI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 118, 19 July 1873, Page 3

WANGANUI.

(from our own correspondent.)

The Presbytery of Wellington held a meeting here on Thursday last. I have not heard what business was before the rev. court. The Rev Mr Paterson, who pays Wanganui periodical visits on this and other business, and who in his public appearances is deservedly a great favorite, delivered a lecture here on Friday evening to a large audience. The subject, “Is man responsible for his belief?’ is one too large, and involves too many subtle points to be treated exhaustively in a paper of an hour’s length, and the vigorous logic necessary for its proper discussion takes it out of the category of what is known as popular lectures (which are too often a rechauffe of commonplaces), but Mr Paterson so contrived to touch upon the salient points of the question, and so to combine argument and appeal as both to greatly interest and instruct his hearers.

A paragraph in the 44 Wanganui Chronicle” states that the beef sent from this place by the Halcione and Malay, to England, has turned out a failure, in so far as returns are concerned. American beef, although in no respect better than that of this colony, appears to be prepared with more care, in so far as cutting into manageable squares and external appearance go, and these things have their effect in the market. The Americans have had long experience of how to manage the business, and we shall have to learn from failure as they no doubt did before us. The consignees in the meantime find it difficult to quit the article at any price ; what has been sold has only brought about 2d per lb, and when freight, commission, and other incidental expenses are deducted, the return is very discouraging indeed.

Our Resident Magistrate, Dr Buller, has resigned his office, and will not return to the colony for some time. Having entered himsalf at the Inner Temple, he consider* it is better to stay on during the term necessary to prepare him for a barrister than to return as R.M. of Wanganui. I daresay he is right. Mr Buller has hitherte been a successful man, and a good deal of abuse has been levelled at him for the patronage bestowed by Government upon him. There was no doubt something in it, but Mr Buller owes most to his own ability and industry—his determination to get on, and to make the most and the best of the opportunities afforded him. We must never forget that neither Government nor other patrons can do very much to help a man unless he is also willing to help himself. Mr Buller made an excellent Resident Magistrate here, and it is to be hoped that due care will be taken to appoint a proper person to supply his place, for which applications no doubt will be numerous enough. Some people have need to be saved from themselves as well as from their friends, and even Governments would not be the worse at odd times of a 4 4 saving clause” m tlieir favor. The Provincial Government of Wellington must feel something of the kind in connection with their colleague at Wanganui. Mr W. H. Watt, a member °f the Government, refused to pay his road rate, and was sued by the Wanganui and Waitotara Board for payment. So tar, matters are clear enough ; what is not clear—at least, what is' not in keeping with the fitness of things—is the defence which Mr Watt set up. He first charged the Board with rating him “ by fraud” With 1000 acres of land he did pot possess, totally ignoring the fact that the ratebook was made up by a Government Valuer, over whom the Board had no con-

trol whatever. Mr Watt subsequently admitted that the acreage was correct, and the charge of fraud consequently fell to the ground; but he proceeded to say that he defended the case on public grounds, to show that the Act was one of spoliation—every way bad—and that it ought to be swept off the statute hook at once. Such language would have been sufficiently strong coming from an avowed opponent of the Act, but coming from a member of a Government who is continually pointing to this piece of legislation as a proof of the ability of its framers—as the very embodiment of wisdom—and every part of which is so good and so important. that the Provincial Secretary regards. those opposed to it as his mortal enemies—coming, as I have said, from such a quarter, the defence is at once fearful and wonderful. Of course, M!r Watt had.no simple plea in arrest of judgment, which was pronounced against him.