THE Otago Daily Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1875.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4025, 12 January 1875, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1875.

The eager curiosity of the British public about the mysterious has been occasionally regaled by-the publication in books, pamphlets, periodicals, and newspapers of what purported to be revelations of the secret workings of various machinery set in motion to, affect public interests. The modus' operand! of the French and English justice departments has been disclosed ,by ex-detec-tives, whose stories were probably not the less piquantly dressed because they were little likely to be contradicted; the mysteries of the Courts of London and Paris., have been related in copious detail; while everybody fancies he knows by this time all about journals and journalists.-. But the sensation-monger of the future will have a treat not one whit less agreeable when he comes to read "The Mysteries o;f the Native Department of New Zealand,'' which' some ex-natives officer of literary gifts may be expected to#rite fpr the enlightenment of his fellow- : countrymen aridthe benefit of his own pocket. "We do not propose to forestall such a work by the premature publication oi intrigues of the department, but to comment upon the system of "advances" adopted by it in, its land purchasing;; operations, wjbich system is both discreditable to' the Colony, and not unlikely to lead to mischief. At the present moment it may be said that the whole efforts of the Native Department are directed to the acquisition of land. The danger of war has passed away. Occasionally, it is true, the quid nuncs get alarmed. Eewi has looked sulky. Manuhiri has expressed the opinion that the Pakehas ought to be driven

into the I sea; or Tawhiao has issued a proclamation, of-which neither Maoris norEuropeanscan understand themeaning; but, despite these unpleasant symptbms no hostile movementis made, and it maySsafely be averred that none will he. Hence the Native Department is free to give its -whole. strength to land buying; and, since it has plenty of borrowed money at its command, the work goes on merrily enough. Sir Donald M'Lean publicly stated at Napier that between six" and seven million acres of native land had recently been acquired, while large blocks are now under negotiation.-This shows a considerable amount of successful work, and the work is much harder than appears on the surface. The Natives, generally speaking, are extremely loth to part with their land, especially in large areas ; and it is only by dint of continued and long importunity on the part of the Government agents that they are induced to sell. This badgering is often carried to an aggravating extent. The solicitations of a smart life insurance agent are a joke compared with it. Sometimes, of course, the proceedings are unobjectionable enough, and difficulties are overcome by tact ; patience is always required. Frequently—and here we come to the point of our remarks— the practice of making " advances" in the shape of goods is resorted to for the purpose of facilitating the purchase. We believe, in fact, that in rare instances alone are purchases effected without " advances" having been made. A negotiation is often begun in this way. The Maoris in a kainga get hard up, usually because they are too lazy to work, whereupon a Land Purchase Commissioner, or some other Native official, appears on the scene, and the distress is relieved by the distribution of orders upon neighbouring storekeepers for food and clothing. They are fairies' gifts. They are not earned, and the recipients are sure to have to repay them at some time in an unpleasant fashion. It is understood that the goods are to be paid for when the Natives get in more prosperous circumstances; but somehow or another these circumstances never arrive. On the contrary, fresh "advances" are needed periodically, until at length the Natives are hopelessly in debt to the Government. Meanwhile the Commissioner seizes the opportunity, now and again, to have a talk about " the land," and, when all things are ripe, the Government puts the screw on, and the Natives see some coveted block drift out of their possession. The extent to which the Government are prepared to go is shown by the case of the block under treaty at the Thames, upon which no less a sum than .£26,000 is said, on good authority, to have been advanced, without (as usual) any definite understanding about the boundaries of the block from the proceeds of which the money is to be repaid—the result being a disagreement between the Government and the Natives as to whether Ohinemuri is to be included within the limits or not. So far as the Natives are concerned, there could be nothing more unfair than this system of advances. It is, in many cases, to describe the process in plain English, tricking them out of their land. Not in all; because where the transfer of a block has been definitely agreed upon, the amount of purchase-money settled, and all the claimants concurrent, an advance in money or goods beforehand would be a legitimate proceeding enough, although its expediency, on other grounds, might be questioned. Very rarely, however, has the transaction reached such a stage -when the advances begin. Their prime object is to facilitate the purchase by gradually inveigling the Natives into such a position that they cannot escape selling, and a feeling of having been overreached is left on the minds of the Natives, particularly the small holders, which is not calculated to increase their respect for the Government, or their desire to obey its mandates. As a minor point, the system also swells the undue patronage exercised by the Native De r partment. A storekeeper -who does not , worship Sir Donald MLean can hardly ;expect to get many orders for goods; :on the other hand, these orders furnish I a useful means of rewarding the zeal of a humble adherent. That, however, is a small matter. The real objection to the "advances" is that they, are part and parcel of a system by which land |ia acquired from the Natives in an indirect manner, instead of by the frank dealing required by the dignity of Government and common honesty. The legislation of the past few years has placed Native:,land in such a position, that the owner, although nominally free to sell to anybody he pleases, finds himself so embarrassed at every step by the interference of Government officials—required by Act—that practically he has no choice, and must sell to the Government, whose Land Purchase Commissioners, with their subordinates, are ever on his trail, and if, in an unguarded moment, he accepts an " advance" to relieve his necessities, his land is gone from him for ever.

By an advertisement in another column, it will be seen that the handsome presentation to the Rev. Father, Coleman. is to take place at St. Joseph's Church this evening at 7~ 6'clock. There will no doubt be a numerous congregation to welcome the rev. gentleman, and congratulate him on his safe return from Europe

j The civil case Malaghan v. Wenkteim, which was to have been tried yesterday before a common jury, has been further post-; poned. An application was made yesterday to have the case tried by a special jury, and it now stands adjourned to Thursday next. The other cases,in.the.list set down for trial before special juries'will be' commenced this morning at 10 o'clock.

■ ; A short but very stormy sitting of the Waste Lands Board was held yesterday, a special meeting having been called to consider an application on behalf of Mr James Logan, that the Board should give a decision on that gentleman's application for the purchase of certain lands in the Waikoikoi Hundred. The land in the Waikoikoi Hundred was withdrawn from sale at £1 per acre—according to a memo, written by the Superintendent—on the 15th December last, and decided to be sold by public auction under the 85th section .of-the Waste Lands Act. Some of the land was so sold a few days ago, but it appears that on the 7th of January last, Mr James Logan, the local runholder, applied to purchase about 6133 acres of land in the Hundred at the usual price of £1 per acre. At the meeting of the Board yesterday, Mr D. Reid denounced this application as an underhand attempt to steal a march on the public, and moved a resolution, which was

agreed to, declining to entertain Mr Logan's application, inasmuch as, when the latter was lodged, the land in question was not open for application. Mr Connell (of the firm of Messrs Connell and Moodie), who appeared for Mr Logan, seemed very much incensed at the action of the Board, 'who "ruled that he had no locus standi, and would not hear his arguments in support pfjbe applica. tion. An altercation took place, which was certainly not very edifying ; and the Board might have preserved its own dignisy much better by peremptorily terminating the pro-* ceedings immediately after passing the resolution referred to above. A full-report' of the meeting will be found in another column. The meeting of the Education: Board, which was to.have taken place yesterday, was adjourned till to-day at n00n.,.,, ; .,,-_..,.,,. An ordinary sitting in;: bankruptcy was held yesterday morning by His Honour Mr Justice Chapman. John Farquharson, Wil T liam Bachop, D. M'Leod, and Thomas Nicholson were adjudged bankrupts, and first meetings of their creditors fixed for Tuesday, the 19th insfc. Thomas Law's application for a final order of discharge was adjourned until the 18fch inst. I OurTokomairirocorrespondenttelegraphed as follows :—" At a meeting of residents for the election of a Committee for the Gram-; mar School for the ensuing year ; the fol - lowing were elected:—Messrs. A. Jones, It. Cuming, R. Murray, J. Ferguson, R. Clark, D. Marshall, and J. Inglis. A special meeting of the Board of Heath took place yesterday in the Superintendent's office. The following resolution was carried :—" That the whole of the passengers; of the Margaret Galbraith be landed on Quarantine Island, their bedding and cloth- \ ing to be washed and thoroughly fumigated,' thereafter to be admitted to pratique. The vessel also to be thoroughly fumigated before being relieved." i The Caledonian Sports held on Saturday! at the Northern' Recreation Ground in aid ] of the Benevolent Institution were very successful, about 3000 persons being present. Prizes to the extent of £60 were given. The snm of £82 only was taken at the gates, many parties refusing to contribute anything towards defraying the expenses. The settling will take place at Wain's Hotel tonight. Though many prophesied that the Turkish Baths would only be well patronised during the excitement of the first few days after being formally opened, they are increasing in popularity. Two cases of considerable relief from rheumatic fever and lumbago, through the instrumentality of the Turkish Baths here, have come under our notice. Some general repairs are being effected to the exterior ornamental work of St. Paul's Church by Mr Gore, the contractor. The Rev. C. J. Martin (Church of England), who was officiating for some time in Torquay, Northern Tasmania, arrived here recently. He has been appointed by Bishop Nevill to the cure of Gaversham, where he will immediately commence his ministerial career in this Province. The adjourned case of Aris v. Roberts, in which £25 was claimed for value of calls due to the Energetic Qaartz-Mining Company, was heard before Mr Mansford, at the* Port Chalmers Resident Magistrate's Court, and the hearing concluded, His Worship reserving judgment. There was a cross-action to recover £25, being money paid on account, and £4 13s 4d, amount of wages due. Judgment was also reserved in this case until Wednesday.

Messrs Thomson and Burnett anticipate having the spire of the First Church completed shortly, provided they are favoured iby fine weather. It is about three years ' since the turret was blown down, and the upper portion of the steeple has now been removed for nearly nine months. I Three drunkards were disposed of at the Port Chalmers Police-court yesterday, two of them, James Crawford and Charles Ellis, being fined 10s, with the alternative of 24 hours' imprisonment; whilst James Thomas was dismissed with a nominal fine of Is and costs. A meeting of the cricket team selected to represent Otago in the match with Canterbury on the 27th and 28th insts. was held in the Pavilion yesterday, when Mr J. C. Fulton was unanimously elected interim captain. The team have decided not to elect their captain finally until they are on their way to Christchurch.

The lamentable fate of the ship Cospatrick has invested the recollection of her with a melancholy interest that is heightened here ■by the fact of the ship having made one of the very fine fleet of vessels that rode at the .Port in the year 1873. The Port folks retain a vivid remembrance of the fine old frigate-built comely ship; for she was built in India, and of teak, a most inflammable wood, which no doubt accounts for the rapidity of her destruction by fire. W e have received a well-executed picture of the ill-starred vessel from Mr De Maus, photographer, of Port Chalmers, she being included amongst the many marine views and objects in his study.

Thestrictures we passed in yesterday's issue upqntheapathyoftheauthoritiesinthematter of a special train to convey the San Francisco mail to Dnnedin excited much comment in certain quarters, and we have been given to understand that it was less through the indifference of the railway management than through the ambiguity of the messages forwarded from the Port announcing the approach of the steamer that a special train was not run. At the same time we hear that the Post Office authorities are not free from blame, seeing that hitherto they have thrown upon the railway management;all., responsibility attached to the conveyance of mails from the Port to Dunedin. This is not as it should be. There ought to be' hearty cooperation between the two departments with a fair division of attendant expenses.

; The Mornington Total Abstinence Society and Band of Hope held a social gathering in the district last evening, at which there was a, numerous attendance, the juveniles especially mustering in strong force. A pleasant repast of light refreshments having been done full justice to, Dr Roseby took the chair, and made a terse and interesting address in the cause of temperance. Several songs, musical instrumental selections, and readings were rendered in good style, and Mr J. W. Jago gave an extempore oration on the social evil of drunkenness, treating the subject in a very effective manner ; and gave a historical account of the temperance : reform, showthe success which had been achieved through its advocates. An amusing farce concluded the entertainment.

;The meeting of Sunday school children of the Episcopalian Church at Port Chalmers on Sunday afternoon last was invested with more than ordinary interest. It was the last attendance of Miss Quinlan, a lady who during her residence at the Port, in the capacity of matron to the Grammar School, has unflaggingly attended as teacher at the Sabbath School. It is pleasing to know that her services were appreciated, and as much and a great deal more to the same effect was spoken by the Rev. Mr Leeson, when, on behalf of the girl 3of the school, he presented Miss Quinlan with an exceedingly handsome church service in two volumes, with case complete. The gift was made as a' testimonial of esteem, and was accompanied with many good wishes for Miss Qninlan's happiness and success in life, the lady being

about to leave the district. After the presentation, the annual prize distribution to the children took place. The prizes consisted of suitable books, handsomely bound, and were distributed by the Rev. Mr Leeson. An exceedingly effective address was delivered to the .children by MrAJlan, one of the teachers^ '">'! 'X'• x: ; 5> ="

We received telegraphic last night of a sad accident Jthat happened at Akaroa on Saturday, s The yacht Ripple was capsized by a squall; aiid her owner (Mr Sale) and Mr C. A. Nalder," solicitor; were drowned. The Ripple was a yacht of five tons, and was built at Dunedin by Mr Green. was entered for a race at the •Lyttelton Regatta on New Year's "Day by eF PWW**. Messrs J.. Harris, Fraser, Johnstone; arid XJibbs, of Dunedin, and won the eyenfcL, *She was afterwards purchased by Mr Sale.

A meeting of gentlemen favourable to the formation of an athletic club was held at the Criterion Hotel last evening • Mr Fred. J. Muir in the chair. 'A great number of names were taken down of gentlemen whom it was thought would become members of the club, and it was resolved that circulars be sent to them asking them to join. The meeting" was of a preliminary nature. The proceedings were adjourned to Wain's Hotel at 8 o'clock en Friday evening, when there will be a general meeting. It is expected that the club will be very successful, and that it will begin with 100 members.

..,:4^f? cident happened on the Green Island side of Look Out Point, about a quarter-past 6 yesterday evening. A man named William Smiley, a German, whose name is said to be Henry Hankey, and a Dutchman, whose name we could not ascertain—three settlers on the deferred payments block on Macnab's run, Waikaka—were returning home in an express owned by one of them. They turned their trap off the main road down a short cut from Look Out Point to the Volunteer Hotel. The express had no brake, going down the hill there was no control over the vehicle, and finally the horse took fright and bolted. The three men were thrown out and were carried into the Volunteer Hotel, where they were kindly attended to. What became of the horse and express we have not learned; they bolted past the Volunteer Hotel in the direction of Green Island. Some travellers promptly, brought news of the accident to the Police Station, Caversham, and Constable Rooney forthwith took an express and had the inj red men at the Dunedin Hospital about eight o'clock. Hankey had a fracture of the right leg, Smiley is a good deal cut about the head and hurt about the body, but is no way seriously injured, and the Dutchman was severely shaken, but not seriously injured. The Dutchman up to the time of being brought to the Hospital was quite insensible, but there is no fear of this being caused by concussion of the brain, as might be thought were not this stated.

The man Page, who lately cut bis throat, is in such a state that he cannot be brought before a Magistrate for a month. As soon as he is sufficiently well, he will be proceeded with on a charge of attempting to commit suicide.

The old wood and corrugated iron shed that so long did duty for railway purposes, where it stood opposite the Refreshment Rooms, Port Chalmers, has been re-erected on a site of the reclaimed ground by the New Pier, where it will be put to shipping purposes by the Albion Shipping Company. The removal and re-erection of the shed was undertaken by the Provincial Government, and completed yesterday, and the building has, we presume, been let to the above Company. It occupies a very good central position—only, if the overhanging hill at the back of it should happen to make a landslip —not by any means an improbable contingency—the question of the possibility of reerecting the shed again would be for ever set at rest. It would be a clean-"wipe out," and no mistake.

Last evening the statutory annual meeting of citizens interested in the election of the Dunedin School Committee took place at the Athenaeum, and was fairly attended. Mr C. H. Street presided. The resolution for the adoption of the committee's report and balance-sheet was moved by the Key. Dr. Stuart and carried. Various interesting questions were discussed, but the proceedings partook largely of a disorderly character. Mr J. G. S. Grant and others caused much merriment. The following gentlemen constitute the newly-elected committee : 'Messrs G. Bell, E. B. CargiU, H. S. Pish, jun., J. L. Gillies, A. R. Livingston, Robin] R. Stout, A. C. Strode, and Wright. A hearty vote of thanks was passed by acclamation to the chairman (who is about to visit Europe) for his services in connection with the School Committee. A report appears elsewhere.

Another instance of omission to obtain a clearance for sheep imported to this Province has come under our notice.. The sheep in question was a pet animal belonging to a family which migrated from Auckland to this land of the South by the steamer Wellington. Regarding the sheep as one of the household appendages, the head of the family, in this case a woman, took it on board at the last moment with the other members in her charge, and in due course found herself face to face with the inflexible Sheep and Cattle Inspector at Port Chalmers. V What, no clearance from the port of shipment, maam !" said he. "But, sir," plaintively pleaded the lady, "the creature is a pet." "Very sorry," rejoined he, "but the sheep cannot be landed under these circumstances." And the sheep accordingly remains on board the Wellington ; and if its owners are bent on retaining possession of it the animal will have to be sent back to the Manukau to be inspected and cleared, and i then duly certificated to be forwarded here j again. " What a coil" about a sbeep, our readers will perhaps observe; bnt we assure them not greater than is necessary to preserveOtago's flocks and herds from contagion.

Mr Robert Howlison is the contractor for the first portion let of the museum. The contract is to be finished in the course of three or four months, and it is to be completed during the summer, in order that the museum authorities may have the use of part of the premises as soon as possible. Captain Hutton has now a large amount of specimens lying in cases for want of room and when he has the use of the portion now contracted for of the new premises, he will be able to unpack and prepare his exhibits for the museum. Tenders are intended to be called for another portion of the work in the course of a few weeks. No demonstration on the occasion of laying the foundation atone has yet been agreed npon. but it has been suggested that there should be one

The Dunstan Times states that Professor Ulrich, of the Victoria School of Mines, arrived in Clyde on Monday evening last. On the following day, accompanied by Mr Warden Simpson and Mr B* Poole, he visited the Conroyo Gully Quartz Beef, and several other places of geological interest in the Alexandra district. The Professor, while uot holding out great hopes of quartz reefs being discovered so far down the range as he' had an opportunity of inspecting, said th&t the Conroys reef was a true lode, and expressed his surprise that, with so favourable a prospect, nothing further than a mere scratching on the surface had been done to determine its. richness or otherwise. We understand that Mr Ulrich, on his return, will devote a few days to the district.

Practice wDI be resumed this evening by the Dunedin Choral Society at the University HalL The subject to be taken in hand is Wallace's'opera, "Marilana."