The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1892.

Thames Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 7084, 16 January 1892, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1892.

The Wellington election, which took place yesterday, has resulted in a victory for the Government candidate by a majority of 152 votes. This is a matter for congratulation,' as the contest has been carried out to such a successful issue in the face of the bitter opposition of the three Wellington daily newspapers, the Weekly Herald being the only journal that had a good word to say for the Government nominee. The real issue in the struggle was the question of confienced or no-confidence in the policy of the Ballance Government.

This was frankly admitted by the Wellington Post—one of Mr Bell's staunchest organs—in an article on the 11th inst., when it remarked :—" The respective individual merits of Mr Bell and Mr McLean are now scarcely at all in issue. All local aud personal considerations are sunk in the great question of confidence or no confidence in the policy of the Ballance Ministry. This is the great issue which the Government has, by means which are far from commendable, decided to submit to the electors of the largest and most important constituency in New Zealand. The foundation of all colonial policy is finance, and it is especially on the financial policy of the present Ministry that a verdict has to be passed." It will thus be seen that the issue was made clear and distinct. It was a " question of confidence or no confidence," and notwithstanding that wealth and influence were combined on the one hand against the masses on the other, a substantial majority of the electors of Wellington have returned the verdict that the Government possess their confidence—that the policy propounded by the present Ministry is one best calculated to advance the prosperity of the colony, and that " especially on the financial policy of the (government" the people are thoroughly in accord with the Ministry, being convinced that it is imperatively necessary such a policy should be pursued if the country is to progress. In concluding the article the Post adds: " The principal issue is whether the people of this colony approve or disapprove of a financial policy which will drive foreign capital away and injure the public credit, which will hamper industry, cripple enterprise, stop settlement, bring ruin and shame on the hoads of thousands of industrious settlers tp whom the withdrawal of capital will be fatal, swell the ranks of the unemployed, embarrass trade, reduce the employment of labor in every grade, and increase the taxation on all who remain in New Zealand,"

The result is that a majority of the people for whose interests the Post protesses itself so exceedingly solicitous, have declared that thoy do not believe such aa injury is being dono to the colony, that they respectfully decline to be led astray by ajjeh wretched claptrap, thafc the numerous evilo depicted as arising from the Goveramant's policy are purely moonshine, that indisputable results have shown that under the Ballance regim& the exodus has ceased, employment is more easily obtainable, £a»d settlement is proceeds ing at an almost unurecedented rate, and that taxation is D.eing reduced iuetead of increased <J on th.Qse who remaiij on Nev/ Z*cils.Vidf aad increased

by $0 per cent, on sibJß^nteep.,

The Wellington papers have been very emphatic about the real issue of the election. We hope they are now satisfied. And if they are sincere in their professions regarding the wellbeing of the people, they will now frankly admit the error of their, ways, and accord their support to a Government in whom the people havedeclared that they have unbounded confidence.

The prospecin^ of our b»ck country is a I matter deserving of greater attention than it receives, though there are many in the community—conspicuous amongst whom is our contributor " Old Gass"—who realise its importance and are consistent in their adyocacy of it. It will interest those favorable to the development of oar hack country to learn that at the recent half-yearly meeting of the Coromandel Miners' Union a communication was received from the Mines Department giving particulars of the conditions on which assistance will be given to prospectors. These are ac follows:—One party of two or three men in each Biding of any C >unty will be subsidised at the rate of 15* per week per man for pro*ppcHr?g new nad unprotected country three miles from any main road or known workings; also one party of two or three men will be subsidised while prospecting partially worked ground at rates ranging from la to 3s per foot for sinkiDg in dry ground and double rule for wet ground re«r quiring slabbing; and from 13 6d to 4s 6d, according to distance, for tunnelling ; driving through hard country requiring blasting, 5s per foot. AH tunnels are to be at least sft by 3ft. Subsidy will only be paid through a Miners' Association, County Couocil, or Road Board. The purchase of boring appliances will also be subsidised on the £ for £ principle. After considerable discussion, tbe members of the Coromandel Union decided to hold a special meeting this evening to go fully into the question of Government-aided prospecting. We would suggest that some steps should also be taken m tbe same direction at tbe Thames.