The Evening Herald.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2694, 1 February 1876, Page 2

The Evening Herald.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY I, 187 G.

TifE Consfil.ulional battle in Victoria has begun in earnest. The Opjjositionhave commenced the " Stonewall " tactics in resisting all attempts to obtain supplies until there is an appeal to the country. The people outside Parliament are combining, and tho struggle is likely to be long and fierce, unless the difficulty be settled by an appeal to the country. The Leader of the loth ult. says :— " The programme of a new political association called the National Ileform League of Victoria has been issued ; and it may confidently be said that there is not a single principle therein laid down that cannot be subscribed to by those who have the welfare of the colony at heart. Starting with the fundamental axiom that " representation should go with taxation," and then showing that as things now arc in this colony the reverse is the case, the promoters of tho association set forth the means by which they jxropose to bring about the much neoded and much desired reformation — first, by a reform of the constitution ; secondly, by electoral reform on the basis of population ; thirdly, by a graduated tax on the natural value of all first-class land of over 640 acres in extent ; and fourthly, by the maintenance of a fiscal policy that has made Victoria what it now is in sjute of all that has been clone by the propertied classes to put a drag upon its progress." The contest between the parties is likely to end in favor of the Opposition. It is the old question of the land which underlies the tumult. Popular rights, or what appear to be rights, are arrayed against wealth and monopoly. Free trade or protection is not involved, for both parties are protectionist to the core in their actions, whatever they may be in their sympathies. But the great issue as to whether representative institutions are equal to the utmost strain, seems to await a settlement. For ourselves, we have no fear of the result. The greatest violence ever done to representative government was in Sir William Stawell's refusal to grant a dissolution when the voice of the country demanded it. In employing the forms of Parliament to force tho Crown to recognise the popular demand, we see nothing unconstitutional, while the solution of the whole difficulty appears to rest iv an appeal to the constituencies.

The immigration authorities at Wellington appear in no way inclined to do justice to Wanganui. The ship Shakes" pearo which lately arrived from Haniburg brought about 370 immigrants, amongst them being a considerable number of single men and women. But in place of sending us a fair proportion of them, to say nothing of making an allowance for former neglect, we find that the arrivals per Manawatu to-day (Tuesday), consist of 62 souls, tho whole lot being made up of 10 families. There is not among them even a single young man or girl, and they appear to be forwarded here sin?ply because they do not know what to do with them in Wellington. Ifc speaks well for the district that it has been able to absorb all tho former I lots, but at the same time we cannot help i noticing that there exists among the public a feeling of indignation at having thrown on its hands another large number of families, while house accommodation has in no way increased in proportion to the pojjulation. If the immigrants remain in barracks for a considerable time it will not be because the district' is incapable of absorbing more immigrants, but because they are of a class that is not required except for ike purposes of special settlement.

We have before us the shipping returns for tho years 1874 and 75, and nothing could spealc more for the increasing importance of our port. Tho number of vessels entered inwards during the ' former year was 392, of a tonnage ot 27,484. The number of vessels that left during the same period was 393, of a tonnage of 27,678. During the least year 525 ves&els entered, their tonnage being 35,636, and 529, with a tonnage of 35,727, left. This gives an increase for the year of 133 vessels, and of 8,152 tons. The increase in departures is but little different, the excess in numbers being 1"32 over last year, while the tonnage had increased by 8,049. . Probably not another port in the Colony can show more prosperity in this respect, and this, too, under a system of neglect that is certainly not surpassed iv any province, •

Tlie following gcntlcnim have been steeled to represent Wiingimni in to-morrow's match with Palea:— Messrs. Fitzliorbert (Captain), P. IM. Belts, J. Anderson, W. Anderson, Kilgouv, C Hanson, A. Hanson, l<\ Jones, W. Miirsuall.G. Anson and ttroughlon: Messrs Oaracm and bowler accompany tho loam as Umpire and Scorer. Tlie players all left this afternoon. From the statements of liabilities and assets of the six banks trading in New Zealand wo lake the following :—