The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. "THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1879.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3230, 18 September 1879, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. " THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1879.

The elections are ;iow concluded, and the country has responded to tho appeal made to it by Sir G. Grey. That ho has strengthened his position by goiug to tho country is apparent, but to what extent can only be accurately known when tho House has assembled, and the somewhat incongruous units of which it is oomposed aro separated, on tho basis of identity of i&teresl, into

two or nioro political parties. Tho very essence of government by party consists in a majority of the members of the House supporting tho Government on all questions that threaten their existence as a Ministry. That majority may consist of members who aro ardent believers or modorato believers, aud some who have very little faith indeed, but who join the party because they have still loss faith in tho Opposition. Tho Opposition, on tho other hand, consist of all shades of opinion. They may not bo bound by any very strong tie except that of ousting the Government, believing that any change that may follow cannot possibly be so bad as tho Government they hurl from their place of power. Such being the case, it is evident that trials of strength must necessarily take place when the leader considers that opinion is ripe for a change, or will become ripe by a little judicious political heat. When the House meets, a trial of strength is one of the natural results of tho appoal to tho country. Under the circumstances, tho sooner that trial takes i)laco the bettor for tho Colony. The constant harass to which* the country has been subjected for tho past twelve months must he done away with, and a season of political rost secured,' if such is possible. Evon in this age " of political progress," " of active national life," "and equal political rights," people have to earn their daily bread as of old, when such phrases were not invented. But the capacity to earn such daily sustenance is seriously interfered with by this feverish political activity with which we have lately been stimulated. As in the religious world so in the political there are occasional awakenings, when fervid humanitorians have their spirit-stirring revivals, and rouse the masses to demand newly-discovered rights never before valued, but now as seen through the rose-tinted glasses, seemingly glorious gifts from heaven, calculated to mitigate our human sufferings, and make life, so hard to endure, easy and happy. Of course the sad reality soon comes — the rose-tinted vision fades away like the glories of the setting sun, and the normal cold grey lifo returns as it was in the dull past. Having quaffed deoply of the spirit-stirring draught, let us now fjober down to the ordinary business of life. Lot our representatives decide the issues by marshalling their respective forces, and try their fate by the division list, and, when that is done, whether Grey remains victor, or whether the Opposition loader deposes the Government, let tho pressing business of the country go on with as little delay as possible, and froo from factious opposition for opposition sake.

The s.s, Taiaroa arrived early this morning from the Manukau, and loft at 1) a.m. for Southern ports.

The p.s. Cooincrang arrived m the Waitara last evening, from Wellington,

Tho New Zealand Agricultural Company's first land sole at Gore (Otago), was an immense success. The average £30 and £50 per section; agricultural land, £15 15s.

The schooner Ocean Bird, from(ircymoulh, with coals for Messrs. Shuttle-worth Brothers, is anchored outside the Waitara, and will probably come into the river with the next tide.

A rather amusing incident happened in the Court on Tuesday. The defendant in a case appeared in Court with an infant in her arms, aud the Inspector, in opening the case, alluded to the defendant as being an unmarried woman. This evidently hurt the feelings of the defendant, and her counsel informed the Court that his client was a married woman. Tho Inspector thereupon stated that the defendant had informed the police that she was not married, and the supposed husband also disclaimed being married. Counsel appeared rather perplexed, but eventually offered the following explanation to the Court : — The defendant's husband was desirous of joining the A.C. Force, but could not do so, being a married man. The wife and husband accordingly disavowed their marriage in order to get the husband admitted into the force.

Amongst tho number of those persons who havo filed their schedule lately in New Plymouth few havo alleged tho cause of their default in the same fashion as Mr. John Freer, of Newcastle, New South Wales. Jle gives the following reason why he was forced to become insolvent : — " I am aud havo become insolvent owing to tradespeople giving mo too much credit, whereby I have contracted more than I can now pay." During the last session an honorable member took the House into his confidence, and said, " When I entered this 'ouse it wns under a strong stimulant." Tho hearty "Hoar, hoar " that arose from nil parts of " the 'ouse " showed that his fellow-legislators considered it very likely. Tho establishment o£ the General Govern* incut from the Ist of July, 1878 to the 80th of June, 187 D, cost £«.),032 12s. lOd. This includes the salaries of Ministers, £1,2.">0 each per annum (except tho Premier, whose salary is £1,750,) aud the salary of the Maori member of the Executive Council, the Hon. Jloaui Kane, *HOO pur annum.

SALE OF FITZHOY WEST.

Mr. Couktnist held a sale of Fitzroy West pn the ground yesterday, and succeeded in disposing of more than half the sections he offered at very satisfactory prices. The land, which Mr. Courtney has had surveyed into sections varying in size from one-fifth of an aore to six acres, is known as Barriball's farm at Te llcnui, and adjoins the Township of Kilzroy, which is now largely built on. Vehicles, provided by the auctioneer, conveyed a large number of persons to the spot yesterday afternoon, and ou reaching Fitzroy they drove all round the township, so as to give the speculators some idea of its size. Previous to commencing the sale, Mr. Courtney said ho had telegraphed to several places in the Colony, asking the price of land two miles from the chief towns, and had received the following replies : — Oamaru, £200 per acre ; Wellington, from £200 to £800 ; Timaru, from £100 to £280 ; Christchurcli, £300 to £400 ; Wanganui, £200 ; Invercargill, £80 to £200 ; Nelson, £50 to £250 ; Dunedin, £700 to £1000. Mr. Courtney sold about S£ acres, the purchase money amounting to £82!)j being a trine under £100 an acre. The following is a list of the sections sold, the names of the purchasers, and the amounts given :—: — Fronting Devon Road— Sections (£-acre) 1, Hoskin, £30 ; 2 and 8, W. C. Clarke £50 ; 4 and 5, Chew Chong, £14 ; (5, Gnlghor, £27 ; 7 aud 8, Clyde, £52 ; J), It. Smith, £27 ; 10, J. Kenny, £33 ; 11 (corner of Devon-road and .Sackville-strcet), E. Bullot, £44 ; 12 aud 13 (opposite corner), J. Uncles, £02 ; 11 aud 15, Ibbotsoti, £01 ; 10 and 17, K. Richardson, £34 ; 18, G. Woodhouse, £10' ; 1!) and 20, M. Power, £30; 21, 25, 20, and 27, G. Colson, £72 ; 28 and 2!), Douglass, £31.

FRONTING SACKVIIiTjH STItHRT— Sections (£-acrc) 31), Winy, £18 ; 13 (corner), Kirkby, £1(5 ; 44 and 45, A. Standish, £38 ; 40 and 47, G. D. Ilamerton, £30 ; 48 (corner), Quigley, £17 ; 70 (corner), Kirkby, £17. Fronting* Bauuiball Stubist— Sections 31 (i-acre), Powell, £22 ; 49 (2r. (5p.), J. Kenny, £3(i ; o0 (2r. 9p.), R. Cock, jun., £30.