The Otago Daily Times.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4537, 1 September 1876, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1670.

We cannot wonder at the evident disgust with which the Premier's retirement is received by friend and foe alike, although we should have imagined that either one side or the other would have been pleased. On the whole, we think that the Opposition have the best right to be content, because the disappearance of their ringleader will have a great effect in weakening the band of sworn associates, and the schemes on which they have thriven so long will now almost certainly have to be abandoned, or at least considerably modified. While we cannot sympathise with those who say that the present was a most unfortunate time for the Premier to have announced his resignation, and that he ought to have seen the session through ere leaving the fight, we do yet think that his own allies have a right to growl at the plight in which they are left. We regard it as a straightforward course to have pursued, this resigning in the middle of the session. Had Sir Julius waited until the end j had he allowed Parliament to be dissolved, and then had he left us, we should have been justly indignant at the trick played, and noted the violation of the true principles of Parliamentary Government involved in denying the right to the Assembly of choosing its own Executive for twelve months. We are certainly not inclined to murmur because the Premier has done the very thing than we should have been the very first to blame him for not doing. We think that he has also shown very good taste and judgment in not appointing himself to the post of Agent-General. To have done so would have been indecent, but, as we all know, the indecency haa been perpetrated. It may not be more than a mere nominal difference, but it is an ill thing to create a doubtful precedent, we never know for what nefarious ends it may come to be quoted. Further, we are all inclined to admit that the post of Agent-Gene-ral is just the one, almost the only one, to which the appointment of a political personage is proper. While we regard the wrong done to the non-political servants of the Crown by the appointment over their heads of a political notability as very great, it would be mere hypercriticism to apply the same rule to the post of Agent-General. We sincerely hope that in the quiet retirement of London business life, and among the sequestered alleys of Capel Court, and the Stock Exchange, Sir Julius will find his health restored, which has been so disastrously affected by the hurly burly of political life in bustling New Zealand. His cronies here will niss him, because they have learned to depend on him. Nothing was more remarkable than the fact that his colleagues only mended their pens until Sir Julius came in. They are, in fact, suffering the pains and penalties that the proverb tells us are always incurred by those who put all their eggs into one basket. We are now warned from Wellington that whatever Ministry comes in, a vote of want of confidence will be immediately proposed. We shall not attempt to prophesy the result, but it is quite certain that a great deal of time will be occupied, and time that, as things Btand now, can ill be spared, in the re-discussion of the political situation. The retirement of the Premier, whether it breaks up the Ministry or not, will render it a simple impossibility to carry all the measures that are essential to Abolition during the session. We shall regard the whole question as being hung up for one more year. However satisfactory this may be to ourselves, we cannot but drop a tear over their sorrows who have seen their desires almost accomplished, and who have now to begin again and roll the stone up the hill. We can forgive them if they deal a little hardly with Sir Julius Voqel in their anger, and are inclined to speak of him in terms which he hardly deserves as a faithful, though sick, civil servant. When all is said and done, it is impossible to blame Sir Julius for his change of purpose in life. His family is growing up, and while the uncertain fields of political life may be all very well for a young man, they are too uncertain altogether for one who has responsibilities of a family, and so forth. Sir Julius Vogel was never the man to cultivate literature or politics on a little oatmeal. He likes to be comfortable, and as he told his dear Pollen the other day he does not when on the service of the State even pretend to live economically— only reasonably indeed, which is a very different thing. The truth is, the political world is in a state of hopeless demoralisation owing to the millions we have spent. The whole political world has changed its tone and tune. We shall not for years, if ever again, find public administrators of that austere and frugal caste that suits our means and our abilities. Luxuries of every kind have become a necessity of the position. The Premier who succeeds Sir Julius will have a difficult task before him, and must expect every obstacle to be placed in his way. It has been truly said, that the wholesale demoralisation of the public service almost, if not entirely, outweighs the material gains produced by the borrowed millions. We are not inclined to blame Sir Julius for this-— the whole House must bear some of the blame. At the same time, a certain reformation and change will be rendered all the easier by his retirement. He has dealt, after all, with the House and the country in a plain and honest fashion now, and we have no idea that any real advantage will be taken of his conduct, or anything like strong opposition be Bhown to his appointment as Agent-General. If we must speak frankly, we think that, in the present condition of our affairs, we shall be doing an economical thing for the country to let our late Premier leave, and only pay him the salary of an AgentGeneral. His schemes cost the country more than that every year by a great many thousands. , i

We published on Wednesday a short letter drawing the attention of the public

to the unprotected state of the town of Dunedin in the case of war between the mother country and any naval power. There can be no doubt that the subject is one of very great importance, but we deBpair of interesting the general public in it during a period of profound peace. We have all got so well used to wars and rumours of wars now, and we think so little about them until they really come to pass, that the smallest matter of local interest seems always to have a prior claim to a matter of future though overpowering concern like the defence of the Port. We think that we are right in saying that our own city stands in an almost exceptional position in the Australian Colonies in having an Ocean Beach so near'to us. In the case of the other ports of this Colony, the enemy's cruisers would have to approach by the means of the most tortuous channels, thereby affording every opportunity for defence. In <iur own case this is not so, and the Ocean Beach affords an opportunity of shelling Dunedin without really risking anything at all. Melbourne has, as we all know, taken the precaution of getting an ironclad over in her defence, and its presence ia a continual source of fun to newspaper-writers on the other side. ft is probable that in the event of a declaration of war being some morning telegraphed to us, the laugh would be on the other side. Our defence amounts to absolutely nothing at all We are at the mercy of any one single vessel of war. Any privateer sheltering itself under the fUg of Russia—and there are certain to be such after the example of the American war—would be too much for us, simply because we have no machinery for i getting at her, let the willing valour of our Volunteers be never so great. We should remember that after the havoc done by the Alabama, there is no probability that the fleet of England would ever again be so successful as during the Crimean war in shutting up the fleet of Russia in her own ports. The position of things is changed, and now in the event of a war between England and I Russia, it is assuming that the enemy r/ould be quite bereft of intelligence if •we assumed that we would be left alone. " What a city this would be to sack !" in BiiUCHER's memorable words.

In treating of the effects of the proposed impending Constitutional changes in these columns, we have hitherto confined ourselves, in the main, to an endeavour to point out and exhibit the effects which will inevitably follow, in so far as this Province, at least, is concerned, in the shape of a diminished revenue, an empty exchequer, a cumbrous and expensive machinery for the conduct and supervision of local works, and the intolerable annoyance and delay which must be incidental to the reference of general public business to the central authority at Wellington. These evils lie, as it were, upon the surfac,e, but it is only when we begin to examine minutely and critically the measures which the Ministry have introduced, in order to provide a substitute for the machinery destroyed by the Abolition Act, that the full measure of our humiliation dawns upon us. If there is one subject more than another in which the people of this Province take an active and intelligent interest, that subject is • the land question. We have not yet, at all events, arrived at the condition of a neighbouring Province in which a few sheep farmers are powerful enough apparently to control and direct, as they please, the laws affect ing the disposal and occupation of the public estate. We have hitherto lived under a land law in which, whatever its defects, large powers were granted to the Provincial Council aud Superintendent, who were directly responsible to the electors of the Province for the manner, in which they exercised these powers. Amongst other powers vested in, and functions to- be discharged by, the Superintendent and Provincial Council, we may enumerate as most important—

1/That no land, whether open for sale for more than seven years, or pastoral land of high altitude, could bet sold at 10s per acre without the consent of the Superintendent and Council.

2. That the price of Crovm lands could not be raised, excepting upon the recommendation of both.

3. Recommendation of both required for new Hundreds.

4. Recommendation of Council required for setting aside land on deferred payments by Superintendent. 5. Recommendation of Council required for setting aside land as public reserves by Superintendent.

The consent of Superintendent was required inter alia to sale of all forest land, to bring land into special value class, to withdraw any land from sale, or to put up lapsed or forfeited pastoral leases for sale by auction. These were very large powers, and as we have already aaid, for their proper and faithful exercise the Superintendent and Council were directly responsible to the electors. With the exception of the first, the three chief dealings in the public lands, viz., opening of new hundreds for saie, opening of land for license under the deferred payment system, and the constitution of public reserves, were not only initiated but completed by the Council and Superintendent alone. And in the matter of new Hundreds, the Colonial Government were 4evcr yet bold enough to refuse their proclamation when the Council and 'Superintendent intimated the necessity for- action. Under the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872, the people of Otago had a real and an effective voice in the disposition of the Waste Lands. The Ministry have, however, introduced into the Bouse of Representatives a measure called "The Waste Lands Administration Act, 187/6," by which each and all of these powers are taken away from the representatives of the people, and pretty equally divided between the Waste Lands Board (consisting of a few gentlemen nominees of the Central Government at Wellington), and the Governor, that is the Colonial Ministry. It would pass the limits of space at our disposal in this issue, to notice all or even a few of the most obnoxkms provisions of the Waste Lands Administration Act, we will content ourselves with instancing one, reserving a fuller notice for a future occasion. As we have already stated, proclamations of new Hundreds had to be made under the present law by the Governor, on the recommendation of the Superintendent and Provincial Council, by the new law they are to be made by the Governor on the recommendation of the Board. Of the Board, as at present constituted, we have some little experience, and we would ask how, and by what machinery, is that Board to ascertain when and where a new Hundred is required ? Whence are they to derive their knowledge of the wants of settlement ? Again ; wo know very well that the proclamation of a new Hundred is very much against the interests of the paßtoral lessee. Are the runs of the pastoral lessees, who are the intimate friends of the members of the Board, and who may bring influence to bear, to be dealt with, or likely to be dealt with, as the interests of public settlement may require, or are they to be exempt from the dreaded confiscation ? • We have tha very highest opinion of the integrity and personal probity of the present members of the Board, but they are human, and, in such a matter, would be subject, even unconsciously, to bias in deciding questions in which personal friends were interested. And even were it otherwise, we are not disposed to permit the transference of such a power from the representatives of the people to an irresponsible nominee Board, however immaculate, without a powerful protest, and an endeavour to open the eyes of the people to the character of the change. ~.,.,.,.

The case of Rudd v. (Mdwell, argued in Banco yesterday, will no doubt prove a very interesting one if it ever comes to a trial before a. jury. It is an action brought by

plaintiff, who was sentenced to one month's imprisonment in Dunedin Gaol about the commencement of the present year for misdemeanour, and subsequently to additional periods for breach of the prison regulations. His list of grievances for which -he claims compensation is a very long one, and comprises being compelled to commingle and associate with male felons, having been handcuffed to other prisoners, and the detention by the defendant of a letter addressed to him. The amount of compensation claimed is £200. The declaration was demurred to on several grounds, and His Honour intimated that he would give judgment in the case this morning.

A general notice issued by the Telegraph Department states that mails for Rangoon will close at Penang at 7 this evening.

The vital statistics of Dunedin, for the month ending August 31st, 1876, show : — Births, 158; marriages, 39 ; deaths, 47.

His Honour the Deputy-Superintendent has appointed Mr Henry de Lautour, of Oamaru, and Mr Arthur Hay Maude, of the same town, to be Trustees of the Oamaru Racecourse in place of Mr E. R. Julius and the Hon. John M'Lean. He has also appointed Mr S. E. Shrimski to be a member of the Oamaru Harbour Board, in the place of the Hon. John M'Lean resigned.

The prevention of the practice of express and other vehicle drivers, in persisting to cross at railway crossings whilst a train is approaching, ia a matter which has been taken up by the Police. An offender was summoned to the Police Court yesterday and fined 40s and costs. This was the first prosecution of the kind, and the Bench intimated that in all future cases the full penalty of £5 would be inflicted.

A well-attended public meeting was held at Caveraham last night, for the purpose of considering the political questions now before Parliament. The meeting was unanimous for preserving the rights and privileges of Otago. A report of the meeting, containing the resolutions carried, will be found in another column.

An inquest was held at the Gaol yesterday afternoon by Dr Hooken, Coroner, on tne body of the prisoner Elias Masuriere. After hearing the evidence of Mr Caldwell, Governor of the Gaol, Doctor Hulme, Sergeant Duncan, and Warder Bateman, the Jury returned a verdict—" Died from an epileptic fit ;" and added a rider that every care and attention had been taken by the Gaol autho ritifts. The prisoner Peter Bonnell, who was ap prehended at the Buff on board the steamer Ar»wata, charged with forgery at Masterton, near Wellington, wss lodged in gaol yesterday. He will be forwarded this day, per steamer Taranaki, to Wellington.

M'Laren, the great unwashed, evidently either is about to seek legal redress for some of the not very flattering comments of which he has been made the subject of late, or he iatends to act on the lv quoque principle and libel his assailant in return, and therefore wishes to ascertain how far he may safely go in this direction. He yesterday made application to the Librarian of the Supreme Court Law Library for the lean of " Starkie on Slander," a well-known authority on the law of libel. His request was not complied with, so there is nothing left for him under the circumstances but to cash up the inevitable 6s Bd—if he can raise that amount.

Inspector Nimon has relinquished the duties of office. Unable to bear the contumely to which he felt himself subjected, he intimated to the Justices presiding at the Police Court yesterday that that was his last appearance in Court, henceforth he would have no connection with it whatever. Mr Birch remarked that so long as he had known Mr Nimon, he had always found him an excellent and efficient officer, and was sure the City would lose an able servant, and one who, at all times, had discharged his duties impartially. Mr Black fully endorsed these observations.

Messrs Watson Bros, have just pat up in their comfortable reading room a very handsome "Shipping Board" the work of'Mr Ltives), and on which will be daily posted the arrivals and departures of coastal steamers and mail boats.

Action has been taken in a quiet way in the Fort Chalmers and Blueskin districts to relieve the immediate necessities of the unfortunate Dow family, who, it will be re. membered, were burnt out of house and home some weeks since. They lost everything, and their property unfortunately being uninsured, a few of the earnestly charitable determined to appeal to the publio for assistance. The appeal was not disregarded, over £60 having been subscribed and presented to the sufferers.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, His Worship non-suited the plaintiff in the case of Peter Murray v. James M'Ken»ie, in which the claim was for £100, money alleged to have been lent to the defendant, whose plea was that it had been given to him on condition that he built and resided in a house near the plaintiff's.

The success which has attended the skating rink started in the Octagon Drill Shed by Mr Hamilton, has Induced the proprietor to open another rink in the North Dunedin Drill Shed. The pleasure experienced by a run on the rollers is evidenced by the large number (of which the fair sex forms a majority) who indulge in the pastime.

There will be a Bitting of the Supreme Court at Lawrence on Tuesday, 19th instant, for the despatch of criminal and civil business.

Messrs S. G. Smith and Co., of the City Company Butchery, will have the first lambs of the season on view thia evening. They were bred by Mr It. Law, of East Taierij and are, we are informed, very fine, considering the time of the season.

The annual meeting of the District Grand Lodge of Obago and Southland, E.C., was held in the Masonic Hall last evening. Brother H. S. Fish, Deputy District Grand Master, in the absence of the District Grand Master, was in the chair. The following brethren were appointed to fill the various offices for the present year. Senior Warden, Bro. A. H. Burton j Junior Warden, Bro. W. Asher; Chaplain, Bro. T. Fordyce; Registrar, Bro. H. Eidridge; Treasurer, Bro. E. Nathan; Secretary, Bro. Sydney James; Senior Deacon, Bro. J. T. Peake ; Junior Deacon, Bro. R. Williams ; Superintendent of Works, Bro. D. Ross ; Director of Ceremonies, Bro. D. K. Rhodes ; Sword Bearer, Bro. T. Brown ; Organist, Bro. G. H. Marsden ; Pursuivant, Bro. G. Jacobs; Tyler, Bro. G. Smith; Stewards, Bros. C. C. Kettle, G. T. George, R. Greenfield, G. Hudson, W. H. Quick. The following brethren were appointed mem* bers of the Board of General PurposesBros. J. H. Harris, H. S. Fish, A. H. Burton, W. Asher, S. James, ex officio, and the following elected members, Bros. Joyce, Eidridge, Fordyce, Nathan, Tiken, Marsden, and Ross. The Worshipful Deputy District Grand Master appointed Bro. Joyce as President of the Board for the current year. The following brethren were elected members of the Board of Benevolence: — Bros. Eidridge, Asher, Ross, and Fordyce; Bro. Nathan Treasurer, and Bro. James Secretary, to be ex ojjkio members. The District Grand Lodge having learned with regret that Bro. Hyman, who has been a member of the Lodge since its commencement, and who has filled the highest offices in it, was about to leave the Colony, evinced the esteem in which he was held by them, and

their appreciation of his services in behalf of the Lodge, by presenting him with a Masonic address, with jewel. This concluded the business of the evening.

The Christchurch Press says :—"lt is estimated that the hatching boxeß at the ponds contain nearly 25,000 ova. The hatching out is progressing very satisfactorily, and this promises to be one of the most successful seasons the Society has had for some years."

There was a good attendance at the Princess Theatre last evening, when "Our Boys" and " The Magic Lyre" again formed the programme. Miss Colville took part in the performance, which was very successful. The last appearance of Mr and Mrs Lingard is announced for to-night, when the latter will take a complimentary benefit. "A Life's Dream" will be presented.

Mrs Geoige Darrell took a complimentary farewell benefit last evening at the Queen's Theatre. The house waß well filled. Ths perfoimanoo opened with "Masks and Faces." Mr Darrell gave an able impersonation of James Triplet, the poet, painter, aud dramatic author, and was frequently applauded. The part of the actress, Peg Woffington, was admirably portrayed by Mrs Darrell, and Mrs Walter Hill was very successful as the faithful, loving wife, Mrs Vane. The other characters were well' represented. During an interval, Mrs Dan ell was presented with a diamond locket, and Mr Darrell with an address, under the auspices of a committee of the citizens. The farce of "Who Killed Cock Robin?' with Mr and Mrs Darrell and Mr Howe in th* several characters, evoked roars of laughter. " Transported for Life" will form tonight's programme. The Otago Witness of this week contains the first part of Mr Gillies's paper on Evolution, read before the Otago Institute ; the Rev. Dr Copland's Pilgrimage ; a full report of the Public Meeting at the Drill Shed; the Otago Time Tables for September; the con- j elusion of "From Maud's Point of View;" a new story, "Queen Log;" " Prince Charlie and his Wanderings;" Parliamentary and Legal Proceedings ; News from Home ; Correspondence ; Mining and Sporting news; Farmers' andGaideners' work for the Season, &c. It is announced that valuable book prizes will be given to mathematical students and solvers of charades, <fee.

Entries for the fourth annual Show of the Dunedin Poultry Association will be received at the Secretary's office, this evening and tomorrow.

The steamer Balclutha, it is announced, will run regularly between Dunedin, Portobello, Scarborough, and Port Chalmers. On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, Bhe will ply between Dunedin, Portobello, and Scarborough, while to-morrow she will leave Dunedin for Fort at the close of the Theatres.