THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam" DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6.

Otago Daily Times, 6 March 1865, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam" DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MARCH 6.

The reasonu which Mr Header Wood announces as the cause of his resignation of his seat in the House of Representatives, are most naive and amusing. It wanted but .these to complete characteristically his political life—to put the last seal on a career marked by a luck as extraordinary as the want of ability and honerfiy of which it was the misplaced reward. He resigns his seat because the combination in the Assembly against the Auckland members assures him he can be of no further use, and because it will be highly inconvenient for him to go to Wellington! Thiß from a man whose political principles were so little defined, or whose love of place was so strong, that he found no difficulty in accep'i«ig office in three successive administrations— and who subordinated the interests of the Colony to hia own convenience, by undertaking a mission home in its behalf, which resulted in a disgraceful failure! To apply politically the maxim de morluis nil nisi bonum, would be but to encourage other men to do as Mr. Header Wood has done—to teach them to look apon public life as the main avenue to personal aggrandisement. We have often reprehended the practice of ministers retiring at the commencement of the session, and thus in part escaping the responsibilities attaching to their proceedings. Butj at least whilst they remained members of the house, they were there to-be attacked and to reply. Mr. Reader Wood evaded ministerial responsibility at the commencement of last ssession—he evades personal responsibility for the session which is to come. .

There was no member of the late ministry to whom, its opponents alleged, bo much personal fault was attached. At the root of all the blame which was imputed to the Whitaker ministry, was the fact that it practically evaded the pledges of its policy given on its behalf at home. Mr Wood pledged his colleagues to the acceptance of Mr Cardwell's despatch of April 26th, whilst in effect, though not avowedly, the whole quarrel between Sir George Grey and hia advisers arose out of their opposition, to the powers which he attempted to exercise by virtue of the despatch which Mr Wood accepted for them ' For did Mr Wood confine his misdeeds to the expression of political opinions. His arrangements for the negotiation of the loan can only be characterised by an adjetiive which it would perhaps be unadvisable to me. Suffice it, they resulted in a ruinous loss to the Colony. And even here he did not stop. lie was a party to the passing through the House of Commons a measure which, would have the brand of repudiation. He was willing stamped on the Colony if it had accepted it, that the supreme power of the home par] iameut should be exerted to destroy the pledged security the Assembly had given for one of its loans. He was willing that a fresh loan should take precedence of it. He was willing that' the whole security of Provincial loans should be invalidated, by the lands of the .Provinces being made a prior security for the repayment of a new General Government loatu./ It is true the Asseitnbly refased to listen to the, possibility of accepting such a. proposal,and in preference to it consented to pay a much larger interest on the loan, to make it negotiable without Imperial assistance. But until the Assembly's disavowal, the Colony by implication, was bound by Mr

Wood's actions, atid>fdr*so many months tion attached to it. "! ~-....

Ko one knows better than Mr' Wood :that the past haa yet in some sort tobe accounted for- His own colleague, Mr Fox, somewhat: illogically asserted in Ms letter to bis constituents, that the House having been called together for the purpose of forming a new ministry, It was not advieable during the session to cKscuss the policy of the late Government. But he and every oae know, that it was intended to hand over the discussion as a legacy to the next session. We do not for a moment suppose the intention will be fulfilled. The proceedings of the present Government will afford ample theme for discussion. Jin adjournment over the session of a ministerial debate, is practically tantamount to dropping it. Still it would have beendnly decentof Mr Wood, to remember that ostensibly his conduct was still sub judlce, and that he had no right, unless he was prepared to completely abandon his public reputation, to drop out of the political system. But he tells us he can do no good in the Assembly. : Well, we are not prepared to deny the bare fact -, but the context marks it with something more than its simple meaning. Because he is an Auckland member, and because there is a combination against Auckland, he will have no weight, is we presume, his meaning. Was ever such nonsense written ? Granted, there was a combination. But have there not been many combinations in other Parliamentary bodies, and have they ever withstood the test of time? There could not be a weaker combination than that based on a mere local question like the removal of the seat of government, and no one can expect itto last. But supposing it should continue, arc there no dutffes attaching to minorities ? And who or what is Mr Header Wood that he should deem it beneath him to act with a minority? The Auckland members number sixteen, in a house, composed of little more than fifty; and they are not alone, many other members act with them. Is it to be said a minority of this strength has no functions, Or that it is useless? Mr Reader Wood's political intelligence should at least be sufficient to tell him thia—that the action exerted by minorities, is one of the conditions upon which the integrity of Constitutional Governments depends. It is so absurd, indeed, to suppose he is not aware of it, that it is not uncharitable to suspect bis real meaning to be that he sees no prospect of office by remaining in the Assembly, and that Parliamentary life without office is valueless to him.

Then he tells as of the inconvenience of goins^ to Wellington ! This is an argument no Auckland man should employ v because it is an argument to which Auckland members have refused all credit when used against them. They have maintained, and we agree with them, that if men undertake Icgislatorial duties, they should be willing to render their services wherever the exigencies of the State demand them. If the Auckland members object to going to Wellington, they admit what they hitherto have denied—the reasonableness of the objections made by the Wellington members to going to Auckland. But the case is very much stronger against Mr Reader Wood than against atty ot his brother members.

He was a member of three successive administrations ; and he made a convenience of the Colony by representing it on a trip to England. Surely he has assumed a place in public life more cosmopolitan than that of a mere Auckland member, and surely from him of all others comes with the worst grace the excuse of resigning because of the personal inconvenience to which a trip to Wellington would subject him. It is to be hoped it will be long before New Zealand will rejoice In another public man who deems that he is entitled only to the sweets of political life and to none of its bitters.

Wo understand the , Commissioners have decided to light up the Exhibition in the evenings, and to open it to the public. The gas fittings will be forthwith put in. To offer facilities to those whodesiro to makelhe Exhibition a study, it has been decided to adroit on application being made, tutors with their pupils before the hours of opening to the general public. The district schools are al=o to be allowed to visit the Exhibition. Three days will be fixed for the purpose, and the almisskm to the children will be free.

A meeting of the Otago Local Exhibition Committee is convened for this afternoon.

At the Resident Magistrate's Coart on Saturday morning, Benjamin Harvey, was fined 20s, or 48 hour*' imprisonment, for having been drunk in Maclaggin street on the prcvions evening. This was the only business.

At the public meeting held at Christchurch to consider various matters connected with the West Coast diggings, theProvincialSecretary of Canterbury made a speech, which is thus reported in the Press- r " He said it gave him every satisfaction to be able to speak on tho subject of the gold fields. Tiris meeting load been colled for two objects, be understood, to ascertain what steps had been taken in tho matter, and to obtain information as to what^wag going to be done in the faturc, as well as tor tho purpose of strengthening the bunds of the Government in the coarse they had taken with regard to the gold fields. Mr Wilson hod informed the meeting

of the steps that ' had been taken; and after what had been «aWit ynvs unnecessary for him" to c^^r Into the matter. He would say, however, that it was apwurds of a month since: the Government had written to the General Government recommending the appointment of a resident magistrate. They did that as a. jirelimraairy step; to the proclaiming it a gold field, and the appointment of a Warden. la consequence of the absence of the Governor from Wellington, be presumed, ttieie had been no answer received to the recommendation of the Government; bat now that the Governor bad coma south, he liopcd all delay in the matter would be removed." Four days before the calling of this meeting, immediately after the ! reception of the news upon which tbe Government could rely, they had ■ sent Mr Dobson to explore a new route for the West Coast," as it would be undesirable to decide on any one roatc at yet to the exclusion of others. In the meantime, however, it wonld not have been desirable that matters should bo delayed longer; and on Saturday last a body of policemen started by the present track to the West Coast. (Loud cheers.) The Commissioner bad also instructions to proceed to the West Ccast, and in the meantime there would be ft detachment sent by sea of Government officers, to carry out the instructions of tbe Government. The Port officer had also been eont to mark the harbors and rivers. Mr Iloclrfield who bod been at the Coast for some time, would start at the same to lay out sites for townships. At the same time his Honor the Superintendent had advised a member of the Government to proceed, to the spot in order to be able to give his sanction to any measure requiring it, and thus prevent delay. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) The member of the Government, who, ho might state, was himself (great applause), bad also instructions to confer with the General Government, at Wellington, with regard to haviftg Custom Houses established on the West Const. There were other steps which the Government had taken, which formerly fell within the province of the Secretary for Public Works, i which he himself would explain, viis., with reference to the roads and public worka. It might perhaps be necessary for him to remark that the statements made by Mr Wilson were strictly correct. In conclusion, ho would be very happy to answer any questions put to him, and give every information in his possession ; and he would say that ro exertion would bo wanting on his part to benefit the people and tbe province of Canterbury. (Great cheering, during which Mr Rolleston resumed his seat.)"

The .members of the Committee of tho .Jockey Club are requested to meet at the Provincial Hotel this evening, at 8 o'clock.

The Civil Sitting of the Supremo Court will be commenced to-day, before Mr Jaaiice Richmond. The following is a corrected list of the causes act down for hearing s;— PfAivrirm nnniMna PfcAIWTIFM* DKrr.NDAHTS 1 SWCITOES. SOLICITORS. COUMON JORY. ; ■ ■ j Armaou Hutchison M. V. Uodge Mnegregornnd M'Douncll M'Kenzie' W. W. Wilt. C. unggit • : i • .: «6n Front Reynolds Job. Smith H. Howorth Hngrcgor.'. Soiuncr nnd Plaintiff in Hnzgitt umt Another person Stamper CiUiler Illackvrood lloworth anil It. C. Uiiggitt : • Co Bntsclt M'Kny and. Same Sumo Another Hardy Rosa Same ; M. V. Hodge Jamieaon Johnston Same Same Cunningham, Brace . Ibtggili and Preiidcrgsst anil Others Stamper nnd Co Dipstick Harris'(Su- Howorth mid Sine pctUiten- Co denl) Jluir Stewart and Ward Slain Others Same Bruce and Same Main : ■ . Others Corbet I. U-Lcun Cook liuc^re^orand ' Harvey BPEOrAI. JHKY. WDona'd. EwacU M ccilonald U HbwortU Bmscll, In- . Tcrciirgi<l M'Combo Tcaclimabcr Mocgregor & Smith and • : Hnrtrcy Dempsey Kirby Ifarris 3. H. O'T/OU- I'renJcrgant Khlin Corniali Forman lloworth and Gillies and Co 'FurUm Morgan IPollock nnd Siroe W. W. Wilson I AnqtUcr We h&vt; no news direct from Melbourne later thant the 11th Febrnary, no steamer having arrived since the Albion bringing the December English mail. The interval thus covered without intelligence iron* the neighboring colonies ia almost without precedent By the Prince Alberfc we received, last week, a copy of the "Sydney Morning Herald," of the 14th Febraary. containing brief telegraphic despatches from Melbourne nnd Adelaide of the I3th. The Canterbury papers, ! yesterday to band by the Geelong, acknowledge filesof HobartTownpapera to the 15th ulf.., broujf'it to Lyttelton by the .Catherine. Aa our Canterbury coitomporaries simply acknowledge these without quoting from them, it may be assumed that they possess no inter-colonial' news of any interest.

A meeting of the Council of the Otogo Rifle Association will be held this evening', at M'Cubbin'n Hotell, at half-past eight o'clock.

: Mr West's instrumental band attracted a goodly number of visitors to the Sew Zealand Exhibition on Saturday. The orchestra bod several additional inarrurhentallnta ; and the pieces- announced were performed with very (food effect. One result of thti reduced price is evident ia the much greater namber of family groups observable an victors than previously ; and it is a pleasing feature that the pleasure and profit.to be derived from, an inspection of the varied products of art and industry concentrated in tho Inhibition building, are thus placed within reach of a class an whom the impression is- likely to bo deep and lasting.

The " Lytteltoa Times" of the 2nd inst. comments on the letter to "Dear Alick" from an unsuccessful Okitiki digger, published in our issue of last. It says:—"The letter proves a great deal too much.' It Is by so means necessary for a digger to go to the Okitila by a circuitous and expensive road, to pay for being carried by sea and! to walk P0 miles besides. And as to the ikld itself, whatever anay be the extent of our ignorance, at leant wo know that it has afforded an ex-

cellent protaiso of maintenance for at least 2000 people, "while * ; sho.'. Bc:»orit8 are good enough to invite thither sereral thousands more. This letter to 'Dear Ah'ck* is tho letter of a roan sunk in despondency, by his demonstration. Holding ttiat the exodus of diggers to the Okitiki is not likely to be stopped «iby euchstoneaas these/the Tiroes nevertheless admits that prudent advice ought to be given. Oar contemporary says : ~'f Itiathci, duty of tho PreiHS to administer cautions and warning to those who, may think, only this once more after ail previous disappointments, that the Weal: Coast is a place where all may make fortunes. It does not follow that a gold field which supports 2000 miners will give wages to 10,000. And even if gold is plentiful, the place is not ono where provisions can be quickly and abundantly procured for all comers. We have no doubt that it will bo oar duly presently to record a reaction from the rush which has now set in ; and we only trust that moderation nt tho outset will render the future record not too full of disaster. But that people will go, and that tho country will be tried, and that hard" ships will be endured as well as money made, theie is now not the least doubt. And our chief care for the present ought to bo to help in having tho public operations contingent on a fold field properly set about," . ; Tho two men injured by the boiler explosion on board the steamer William Miskin, when on her return trip from the Molyneux to Dunedin, on Friday last, aro progressing its .'favorably 'as could bo, expected. The greater part of the flesh in the centre of the engineer's left hand Iras ho ranch scalded, that for some time fears were, entertained of contraction, but wo are happy,.,to, my that these aro now in a great measure dispelled. From reference to a report that appears elsewhere, it will be seen that the inquest on the body of the deceased, fireman, was poutponcd to four o'clock this afternoon, the engineer and the other fireman being in such a precarious con-

dition as to render it unadvisable to cxa.cino

either snfferer. It is to bo hoped, however, that a! J apparent danger will bo so far removed as to admit of their evidence being taken at the Hospital to-day.

In the Supreme Court, on Saturday, John Scott, convicted on the previous day of manslaughter- at Waikonairi, wa« sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labor. Thomas Barns was found Guilty of robbery with, violence, at Pig Boot, and vra« sentenced to three years* imprisonment, with hard labor. The only remaining criminal case is that of William A. Jarvey, for murder ; the day at present fixed for the trial being Monday next. The Civil Sitting will be commenced at ten o'clock this forenoon, before Mr Justice Richmond.

The Canterbury "Press" of Friday last, reports a crowded meeting of persons desirous of promoting the development of the West Coast dfggings, and says : —"Members of the Government announced that they had taken steps for appointing a Resident Magistrate, a Warden, and a Mining Surveyor; that a gold escort would start in a fewday#; that Mr Itollcston was about to go himself to super-

intend the starting of the departments of the Government, and to call nt Wellington on his way to arrange witn the General Government for the establishment of a Catttom Ilouao and Postal Service; that a competent engineer was to staifc shortly to get the track cut

through so as to expedite the passage of the gold escort, and that Captain Gibson was to go round to sco what can bo done to render the navigation of the bars as safe as possible."

A 12-pounder Armstrong gun was landed at the Jetty, on Saturday, from a lighter, with portions of the carriage, &c.; and the whole was temporarily placed jn the Jetty Store.. Judging from the number of wheels landed, at least two guna and tumbrilfi have arrived ; and it is understood that they have.been sent from Auckland, for the use of the Artillery Volunteer Corps-

The drama of " The Old House at Home,'' and the burlesque of "The Maid and the Magpie," were played at the Princess Theatre on Saturday evening. The burlesque went off spiritedly, especially considering that it was given for the first time. Mi»a Rosa Cooper, Misa Dolly Green, and Messrs Dunn and Wilraott played moifc humorously. Two or three dances were encored; and the parody of a scene in "Ea Sonnambula," although it was somewhat weak from want of sufficient rehearsal, caused much laughter. The burlesque* ha« been. "Iwaliß id"'pretty freely. Both pieces are to b« repeated this evening1. . -

At a meeting of ratepayer, held in the North-East Harbour District Schoolhouse, on the Ist instant, it waß resolved, by the majority of thoßt! present, that the school should be closed rather than that "the odious and obnoxious Education Tax should bo IcVied again." The resolution was arrived at after a warm debate had taken place between the residents of tlio-upper part of the district and the Broad Bay/residents. .

The Sydneytarnaipondent of the "Southern Cro88" Bays :—■"On Jaiinaiy !2C, the 350,000 people of New South Wales celebrated the founding of the colony, an event that took place sweaty-seren years, since, that is. irom the time that Captain Philips e'Sl-eteda s*tt!ement at Sydney Cove. What change* hare ninca oceiirroJ, and what a contrast the capital must now present to the eycß of onr present governor when compared with its aspect at the tiina Govm-nor Phillips landed- It is but a fe<r days nince that the ' Govemnjent Houso' of Captain Pfcillipswos pulled down ; of pwllinfi it reaai«itt I>at littlo, for at any lima- half a gala might have levelled its vice-regal walls. Hovel as it was, it wa3 not without Interest both innistdrical and architectural view ; ia ths firsb place it was a quaint and somewhat tailiug remia«er of the advancement of the colony. One can't help thinking of thci little dirty ' Tank Stream' that formed the' * ornamental waters' of this early psja.ee of Sj4aey t Cove, then without its wharvea and shipping, and ample atores of, Pitt street, mis eSreet at all,

llaal in tho place of paving. stone m * iron tramways, possibly grass, sand, andean ' at times seaweed. Architecturally, Phfliw bou*e had one feature that most certainly fa» rarity here, tho roof was covered with Big. lish tiles, and 1 hste no doubt all the materials used were bronght from thatcountrr This and two or. three ofits neighbors, equally dilapidated, if not equaTly interesting, are no* being replaced by fine stores; similar impro^ ments are being made doae by.and Kttrtreet will aoon lose all its reminißcences of the esrfw settlers." y

It is not many months ago that tho " Lytfcj. ton Times " prayed that rrovidence might spare the province of Canterbury f rom tJIO crowning misfortune of the discovery of ogold field. Tho misfortune, having unexpectedly come, is accepted with tolerable complacency. " It has come to this at last," says our contemporary, "that Canterbury is charged with the privileges and responsibilities of a g?M field." The Provincial Government is rate<T soundly for having " ignored the gold field for months though tho best advice, which turns ont to be perfectly well founded, was girea them. through our columns." It appears tliat wit}, a large number of miners the favorite route from Lyttelton to tho Okitiki is overland right across the island. " Contrary to expectation, and guided by that instinct which in the pursuit of their object seems superior to all reason, the digging population from boifc North and South insists upon crossing the whole territory of Canterbury from the East to the West Coast, in order to get to the seenoof their operations. Not only from Daneilin but oven from Picton and other Northern, ports,' vessels continually bring to Lytteltont cargoes of passengers who prefor the overland route to tho sea voyage round by Netton. It appesirs that the river entrances are looked upon with considerable dread; and in tho present imperfect state of organization this is not much to bo wondered at."