The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1762, 26 August 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1874.

Thb rejectionof Mr. Fitzherbert's, motion for a dissolution of Parliament does not furnish matter for surprise. There are some members in the House whose reelection on an appeal to the country is doubtful. Even some of '■ those who voted for the abolition resolutions would vote against a dissolution, because the present -position of the Government offers > guarantee that the Parliament will live its alloted time and dissolve itself by effluxion of time. Mr. Fitzherbertfs motion, however, was productive of sonic •good: it provoked an amendment from Mr. Vogel—which may be accepted es ' » pronouncement of the Government—indicating more clearly than the famous resolution the intentions of the present administration with regard to the North Island. The amendment, carried on tb!e voices","■provides for the- substitution of a simple and inexpensive form of local selfgovernment for the present system of Provincialism; the island is to be divided - into districts and sub-districts—to be , endowed^rith substantial revenues, and enlarged powers of administration. This is just what the country wants. If the principles thus indicated be carried out in detail we are confident that the change will be universally, advantageous—not, only for the country districts but for those places which, at the present time derive a considerable amount of their importance from their position as centres of provincialism. Districts like the Thames will be , benefitted to an extent not yet appreciated —always supposing that the system of local government be modelled on a liberal and " comprehensive scale; othcrwiso it

will be merely a change of patronage from the Provincial to the general Government. The adjustment of theltepresentatioriis ani absolute necessity, however, before any Bill is submitted for the approval of the Parliament. It cannot be expected that, with the presentjeonstitutioniof, the House, a measure will Tbc passed which -will {jive satisfaction to the districts most affected, by the proposed change. In view of the altered circumstances which Miv Vogel's resolutions will necessitate, a redistribution of seat» throughout the colony should be made. The composition* of the House of Eepresentatives contains a large provincial element — Superintendents and their Executives, representing the view» of constituencies whose interests are cisentially provincial; while districts like the Thames are practically disfranchised.If preceded by readjustment of the rapresentation, an appeal to the country would find great favor with those district^ most likely to be benefited by the proi posed constitutional changes ; and if this is not granted the attempt to give practi-j cal effect to the proposals of the Governf ment will probably bo defeated. \