MR. MOORHOUSE.

West Coast Times, Issue 671, 18 November 1867, Page 2

MR. MOORHOUSE.

His Honor the Superintendent has delivered another speech, at a public meeting at Christchurch. The meeting was convened for the purpose of hearing the City Members deliver themselves upon several important public questions, of which the chief were the abrogation of provincial institutions, and the adoption of a more economical sj'stem of finance. Resolutions were passed in favor of an immediate session of the Provincial Council, and of the formation of a Financial Reform League. Mr Hawkes, Mr Wynn Williams, and Mr William Wilson were the three .city representatives present; the fourth, MrGarricle, being absent from the province. Mr Williams made what is described in the papers to have been " the speech, of the evening ;" and he took occasion to make severe personal reflections upon Mr Moorhouse* The latter gentleman thought it consistent with his position as the Superintendent of the Province to be present at this political gathering ; and being recognised ou the platform, was called on to make a speech by an Assembly whose appetite for " sensation" had been duly whetted by preceding speakers. Tlie "Lyttelton Times " (Xov. 14) says^— "Mr Moorhouse was loudly called for, and was welcomed with great applause, notwithstanding that his name had been once or twice previously received somewhat unfavorably. His address indi-

cated far more manliness than tact, and he threw away a good opportunity of setting himself right with a large portion of his audience. But no man can be suspected in such unusual circumstances as those in which, he was placed, to do all that might have been done. 1 ' I Some of the passages in bis Honor's speech are of interest, and we subjoin them. The portions omitted have no reference to matters on which the people of Westland would feel any concern. MB SIOOUnOTJSE ON HIS SEAT IN THE ASSEMBLY. He wished to state that he had left the General Assembly, had vacated his seat for Westland, and would on the first opportunity stand for election in Eastland. MB MOOBHOT7SE ON THE PEOVES'OIAIi COUNCIL. In his present position as Superintendent of the province ho had but little power ; ho could make no laws ; in fact he had no power whatever, as tho people who had chosen to elect him had chosen a Provincial Council with views entirely opposite to" his, and consequently any motion that ho might choose to make through bis Executive was negatived, or met with but very little support. me arooEHotrsE ok tub pbess and his EEIATIONS WITH IT. It had been statod that evening by a gentleman that he had something to do with tho "Lyttelton Times," and some concern was given Mm by hearing his name so frequently associated with that paper. Ho would, however, assure them that ho had no paper in his interest. About newspapers he could tell a story or two, Tho " Evening Mail" had some time sinco been kept afloat by him, although the leading articles were anything but complimentary to him. He had applicacations from the paper week by week, stating that the paper could not bo brought out unless ho would render some assistance. The editor at the time was not the one who had now the conduct of the paper, ho believed. He had frequently given cheques for L3O or L-10 to keep it afloat, although at the timo it was writing strongly against him. Ho had never asked any editor oven to color his articles in his favor. He saw several persons connected with the papers on the platform, and he challenged them to refute his statements. Another newspaper, now defunct, had been brought out week by week by means of his money, and at the samo timo blackguarded him. He could assure them that he was utterly independent of every paper in the province. . . . He could assure them that he did not care a farthing for what the papei-3 might think or say ; he had his mind made up and what he should do. ... There was no obstacle to calling tho Council together, but there was a great obstacle to humbug, and ho for one would not bo swayed about by any popular excitement, nor would ho take tho advice of any newspaper editor. MB MOOBHOUSE ON rOPULABITY. He had beon their servant for many year3j and if at all times bo had not spokeu his mind it was for the reason that ho did not wish at all times to babble out affairs for every fool's benefit. Did they want something said to please them, or did they wish really to hear what was bis opinion. Ho would assure them that so long as he was their Superintendent ho would be moro solicitous to do his duty than to please any section of the community. He would prefer to act on bis own educated conception as to what was their duo. Tho proof of the pudding was in the eatiug. [A Voico — " They had waited long for the pudding.] He would defy any one to state that any promise of his failed through any fault that could bo laid to him. . .' . . Ho would not call the Provmcial Council together an hour sooner than he thought necessary. Ho would not obey tho popular will — unless he found that it was tho real aud deliberate wish of the people. He would not call tho Council together until ho was sure that it was to the interest of the province so to do. There were many reasons why the Council should not be called together for the present. With regard to what Mr Wynn Williams had stated, that the Council could be called in a week, he was of a different opinion, although he would go as far as the favourite of the evening had gone and call them together if he thought the interests of the province required it.

a Wo understand that Mr Keogh has been removed from the Wardenship of the Waimea, and that Mr Price is to be stationed in that district as Mr Keogh'3 successor. It will be seen from an extract wo print clsowhere from Mr Moorhouse's last speech at Christchurch, that his Honor has resigned his scat for Westland in the General Assembly, aud that ho proposes to avail himself of ,tho first opportunity of getting returned for an Eastland constituency. Tho proceedings of tho Town Council on Friday and Saturday evenings were of more than usual interest, and wo are obliged to hold over much matter of interest to make room for the report. Cob'o's coach arrived from Christchurch on Saturday afternoon, with tho following passengers : — Messrs. Grigs*, Dixon (3), Council ; and one wayside passenger. The complimentary benefit to Mrs E. H. Cox by a party of gentlemen amateurs, assisted by professionals, takes place this evening at tho Prince of Wales Opera House, under the patronage of tho Mayor and Town' Council, the members of the legal profession, and a large number of influential citizens. The first piece in the programme is " On his Last Legs," a very rich and racy comedy, which ha 3 established a firm hold on tho stage. The part of O'Callaghan is one with which many actors of the highest reputation have identified their fame, amongst whom wo may mention as the foremost our lato and lamented friend Gustavus V. Brooke. This part ou the present occasion will bo sustained by a gentleman amateur who makes his first appearance on the stage, but who, we have no doubt, will prove himself fully equal to the requirements of tho character. This picco will bo sustained almost entirely by amateurs, Mrs Cox, tho leneficiare, appealing as Julia. Tho "jealousy sceno" from tho tliird act of Othello, some tableaux, and a miscellaneous interlude will follow, and tho performances will conclude with the laughablo furco of " Moro Bluuders than One," in which Mr and Mrs Cox, Miss Buckingham, and Mr Towers will appear. Wo have no doubt that, should tho weather continuo favorable, thoro will be a full house on tho occasion. The programme ia an excellent one, and tho object for which iho performance is given one that should commend itself to general nppi-oval. Mrs Cox is a lady who has long held a high position on the colonial stage. A meeting of tho Committee of the Dobson Memorial Fund was held, on Saturday afternoon, at the office of tho Secretary for the Goldfield, convened by circular, addressed to all tho members of tho Committee, of whom wore present, Mr South (in tho chair), Sale (Treasurer), Winter, Browning, and Cooper. It was resolved that tho action of the Treasurer in ordering the stono obelisk from Sydney be approved of, and that he be thanked for his services in so doing. The accounts were presented to the meeting, including an

estimate of the cos'c of erecting the monu* ment, from which it appears that LSO more will be required to be collected to complete the undertaking, to assist in raising which it is proposed to hold a concert on an early day. In the Eesidenfc Magistrate's Court, on Saturday, John Mullane, charged with stealing beef of the value of 16s, the property of Thomas Harris, was brought up on remand. Throe witnesses wero called a3 to character, Messrs Walker, M'Q-overn, and Nelson. Each of them had known prisoner for some considerable time as an industrious and honest man. The prisoner was remanded for sentence till Monday morning. In the case of Slater v. Solomon His Worship gave judgment for Lls and costs. It is, wo believe, a somewhat unusual circumstance, on the occasion of a theatre being engaged for a complimentary benefit, for another part of the house to be let on the same evening for a separate entertainment. To-night, however, the Dresi Circle Saloou of the Prince of Wales Opera House will be thrown open for a " Rehearsal Exhibition " of Mr Wilson's new Drawingroom Panorama, consisting of scenic illustrations of the voyage from England to India, which comprise highly finished viows of the Isle of Wight, Madeira, St.Holena, Cape of Good Hope, Bombay, the j memorable cities of Cawnpore and Delhi, and numerous othera. A lecture, illustrative of the several views in the panorama, is to be j delivered by Mr J. Q-. Joyce. The exhibition will, no doubt, be an agreeable one, but we hope it will not interfere with the success of the performances in the theatre proper. Tho usual quietness of Stafford Town was broken on Friday last on news of a rascally assault having been committed ou Mrs Wicks, the wife of a respectable resident close to Stafford Town, near to the short track to Quinn's Terraco. Business having called Mr Wicks to Hokitika on Thursday, his wifo was left unprotected that night. At about midnight a man, named William Douglas, employed splitting wood at Piper's Flat, knocked at the door of the house, demanding something to drink. At first no answer was rotumed, but on the knocking being continued ho was told by Mrs Wicks that she did not keep grog, and that he had better go away. Ho then requested that some matches should bo given him to light him along the track. To get rid of the man, Mrs Wicks put some matches through the slabs forming a windowframe, although the night was moonlight. He then went away. At about four o'clock in the morning, however, ho returned and knocked loudly at the back door, threatening to break it open if some whisky were not given to him. Fearing he would execute Ids threat, Mrs Wicks opened the front door and then the back one, in order that she might run out if the .man became troublesome. She opened the doors to satisfy him that there was no liquor in the place. "Upon admittance being obtained he helped himself to some ginger wine, thinking it was brandy, and then said ho was cold and must lie down. To this Mra Wicks abjected. Douglas hereupon, seizing her by the dress, endeavored to commit an assault, but was foiled, Mrs Wicks contriving to slip away, and at onco aroused Mr Carew, the cordial manufacturer, who gave information to the police, who succeeded, with the assistance of Mr Griffiths, of Stafford Town, in arresting the man between Piper's Flat and Stafford Town. On Friday Douglas was brought before Mr Keogh, the Eesident Magistrate, on a charge of assault with intent to commit a rape, and fully committed to take trial at the next criminal sessions at Hokitika. Mr Haughton has written to the Dunedin " Evening Star" denying the existence of any grounds for the statement which appeared in the " Lyttelton Times" that he is likely to be appointed General Government Agent at Westland. He states that it is not likely that any change will be made, nor the present staff disturbed, except in the way of reduction.