The Taranaki Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12,1876.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2704, 12 February 1876, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1876.

Sir Julius Vogel's speech to the working men of Wellington was eminently sympathetic and statesmanlike. Passing 1 over those personal references ! which were appropriately introduced in reply to the well-expressed and graceful terms used by the deputation, Sir Julius raised himself into the higher regions of politics, and uttered sentiments which we rarely hear from mouths of ordinary professors of state-craft. The policy of Public Works " has carried with it encouragement to active industry, and it has been the means of making- their homes happy and their liv«s contented." This is the highest object of all colonising efforts, and was happily expressed. He then passed on to the enunciation of, a principle which has been too often ignored in the addres&es of political leaders. " The welfare of a young country like this depends not upon the good fortune of a favoured few, but upon the 1 widely distributed prosperity of many." It is more customary to judge 'of revenue returns, and the fluctuations of, prices of the staple articles of export, in the prosperity of the country. Mr Stafford could only conceive of a valuation of the Canterbury runs,and re-leasing them to their original , occupiers. The distribution of wealth as a vital element of national greatness never seemed, to enter his head. Yet in mauy ways Mr Stafford is no ordinary man, and more than all others,is ontitled to the credit of the success which has attended responsible government in ,the Colony. The highest mark of statemanship is in the grasp of some great principle. The reputations of few great men are made by versatility. Is it Gladstone's glory that he • has wrestled with the Pope, interpreted Homeric legends, and defined with endless definition the state of parties in the Church ; or is it not rather to ha found in that financial equity which relieved burdens where they were difficult to bear, which made him at once stand peerless as the greatest master of finance England had produced ? It will not be the conception of the Public ! Works policy by which Sir Julius Yogel can maintain his position among 1 the statesmen of this country. The policy of the distribution of prosperity, to which public works are contributory, is that which will give him,- if he pursue it with his customary energy, and is spared to carry it out, an abiding place in the affections of the people, and lift him far above the common ruck of poli ticians. , He has .the genius and the heart to see and feel wherein the lasting greatness of this' favoured Colony may exist. " The general diffusion ofwealth (he says) is most likely to promote con-

tinuousin thai direction of that abiding settlement which is really the jo-venl object before us," A nil bo woHhier or nobler object can. ohy statesman place before him. It is not by sheep and fern covered hills thai a nation can be made. It is not by squandering the land in blocks of 5,000, 10,000. or 20,000 acre-blocks to Innd sharks, as has boon systematically done by the succopsivrt Provincial Governments of Wellington, thai a general diffusion of wealth can be attained. Sir Julius Vogcl's views are not newly-formed. We saw and have repeatedly pointed out how ho protected the true interests of settlement by providing that 80,000 acres out of 100,000 in the hands ot the Provincial Government should be settled on the system of deferred payments. Think of 80,000 acres saved from the miserable scrambles which periodically take place over the public estate in the Province ! — though we admit that other Provinces are equally culpable. Let the true colonists look to their interests. The time is critical ; the public estate is fast disappearing. The working men have now their chance, as Sir Julius Yogel has pointed out. They may secure for themselves that independence which the possession of land by selfdenial and industry. Sir Julius gave them the best advice when he said: — "We have to hope that those who to-day are the employed will in turn become the employers, and that their ambition might lead, them to settling down in their own cottages on their own land, whether in towns, rur.il or mining districts, as their occupations lead them to prefer." The Government cannot do everything ; the people themselves must exercise those qualities which are necessary to happy homes and contented lives. But the Government can do much, and the speech of Sir Julius Yogel to the working- men of Wellington will inspire faith that the highest interests of colonization will not be lost sight of.

Major Turner, R.M. and Inspector of the A.C., accompanied by an interpreter, has waited upon the Natives who have taken forcible possession of Mr Dickie's land at Wairoa. The Natives, 'of course, knowing with whom and what they had to deal, refused to move, and the representative of the majesty of the law retired. Capt. Blake has promised to see the Natives. Such is the information we have received. The question is one of some difficulty to write upon. If Mr Dickie has even a prima-facie right to the land and is in occupation, we think he can retain possession byiforce, according to law. The settlers fear the case may turn o.it like Mr Riddel's, and they are aware that the fortunate issue of that question was due to very peculiar circumstances which would not be likely to combine in favour of a second claimant. We have no faith in decision of character being exercisedwhich ' would enable the authorities to settle the matter at once, and altogether we have very little confidenceintheNativeDepartment doing anything but temporise. Every dayjthe natives continue to squat on the land of the settler, gives them a stronger claim, and ultimately they may feel themselves strong enough to defy the owner and the Government together. It is lamentable to think that there is so little decision on the part of the authorities. It might be serious if the settlers took the law into their own hands, and this is very likely to happen unless the authorities are able to settle the difficulty. It is absurd to suppose that a lot of the worst savages in the country can assert their claim to settled land-by f orce,in defiance of all law and order in the very heart of a thriving country. We are informed that a party of " mean whites " are urging on the Natives, expecting to gain the fruits of successful violence. The hope is that the Government will act with promptitude and upheld the obvious rights of the settlers.

That we want more wharf accommodation is noticeable day by day. Yesterday the wharves woro all occupied, and one of the steamers had to go beside the Corporation wharf iv order to discharge her cargo. The Stormbird Had to wait till the Falcon had shifted in order to get a bertti. We understand that ere long Bett's wharf will be restored. This, with the additions now being made to the Corporation wharf, should give some relief. The Auckland correspondent of the Poverty Bay Herald says : — The " Shires Bill " now being prepared by the Government is said to be very liberal in its provisions, and is so framed as to give entire control of roads, bridges, &c. , to the local governing bodies. It is stated on good authority that nothing more liberal will be found in the whole of the Australian colonies. This is as it should be, but lam quite convinced that no measure, however good, will be accepted by the Greyites ; office is what they seek, not the welfare of New Zealand. The Auckland Herald says : — A reduction in the price of gas has taken place, at which all gas-consumers will rejoice. The reduction will be in the form of discount, which will now bo allowed at the rate of 3s 9d per 1000 feet, instoad of 2s Gd as heretofore. This concession on the part of the Auckland Cras Company will reduce the net prico of gas to Us 3d per 1000 cubic feet.

The enhanced vnl iifi of property in Wangiinui and the necessity for extending the area of the town, have induced several of the suburban landowners to cut up their properties and dispose of them in town allotments. At the various gales which liaYc taken place of tliis kind o! property the most satisfactory prices have been obtained, showing that the increase of population and prospects o£ continued progress have made their impression ; foi there is no reason (o suppose that fictitious prices have been realised. A few d:\ys ago the sale of a portion of a township laid oft by Mr 11. Churton, was a marked success, and now another sale is advertised of 50 sections on this side of the lliver, belonging to Mr A. Murray, who has named the township Elderslie, after the scene of some of Wallace's exploits. The situation ia in the most risins, part of the suburbs of Waugauui, and must soon become an integral portion of the town. It is in close proximity to where the railway station will be, and directly facing the railway bridge. Mr Jackson is the auctioneer. The Advocate tak'is us to task for stating that the Resident Magistrate of Eangitikei j had not extended jurisdiction. As a matter of fact we said that such an assertion had been made in the R.M. Court here. The case to which we refer clearly sb.o>vs the necessity of either giving Dr Giles the jurisdiction formerly held by Major Edwards, or of- appointing a District Judge. In the same paragraph the Advocate gravely attempts to prove our ignorance of the fact that Sandon I and Carnarvon are not in the Eangitikei Electoral district, but is not candid enough to state that words which might be so construed occur in a correspondent's letter. At tho last sitting of the Supreme Court here, Mr Samuel White, settler, of No. 1 Line, was fined £5 for nou-attendance as a juryman. lie had applied to Major Edwards to have his name taken off the list, as he was over 60, which the Major had promised to have done, but omitted it. The consequence was that the fine was imposed. We called attention to the circumstances at the time, and the matter was brought before the Minister of Justice who remitted the fine. The expenses brought the amount which Mr White had been called upon to pay to £15. The Thames Advertiser, iv speaking of the coming rifle competition, says : — Auckland city is allowed five Government representatives, provided they qualify themselves by making the requisite number of points. This they have failed to do. The Thames Volunteers are only entitled to f our Government j representatives, but eight have qualified 1 themselves. We would therefore suggest that, in order to make up the number for Auckland and the Thames, the four extra Thames men should be recognised as Auckland representatives. By this means both places would have their full complement of representatives, whose passages and expen- ] ses at Wanganui would be paid by the Government. We do not think the representations of the Auckland Volunteers regarding the high minimum for qualification will at this stage have much effect, especially in the face of so many Thames meu haviug made the requisite number of points. We may say that we sincerely sympathise with Lieut. Skinner, who is undoubtedly a firstclass marksman, and whose score in the first competition was so high as to make it a certainty almost that he would stand high in the aggregate, but he has failed to qualify by making the necessary number of points, aud ni list therefore accept the fortune \rhich has fallen unto him. Several parts of the willow embankment below the mouth of the Harrison Street Sewer present a curious sight. During a fresh these patches gave way, and slipped about half a chain away from the bank. Here they appear to be firmly fixed, and even the late fresh failed to move them. Doubtless the water washing against the now unprotected bantc would in time do serious damage, but the willows, where they now are, would form a splendid beginning for a most substantial embankment. An error occurred in the weights for the W.J.C. Handicap. Linster Lass was described as belonging to Mr Jefcott; it should have been Mr C. Laird, and the weight 7st 21bs. The s s Pioneer with a picnic party on board steamed away from Bett's wharf about 11.15 a.m. this (Saturday) morning up to the Railway wharf, where they were landed ; they then proceeded by train about 7 miles up the line, whre they intended to have a picnic. The weather being beautifully fine, and everything being in their favor, we have no doubt they will spend a very enjoyable day. The train will convey the pleas-ure-seekers back to the Railway wharf this evening.where the Pioneer will be waiting to brine: them to town. We publish a telegram filtered through a Wellington Channel, and polished off by the skilful hand of a Native doctor, respecting the forcible occupation of Mr Dickie's land at Wairoa. Major Turner saw the Natives and — mark the remainder — they " have no intention of interfering with any of the settlers, and they are quite quiet, though they persist in asserting a claim to the piece of land in question." "Quite quiet," in taking possessiou of a settler's land ! The morality of such an einauatiou, from whatever source it has come, is simply disgusting. Mr Dickie bought the laud at the last land sale from the Government, and if tho telegram is an expression of tho opinion of the authorities, Mr Dickie has no course left but to drive off the intruders by main force. [Since writing the above we have received another telegram from our own correspondent stating that the natives have left.]

We hare authority to state that the weights published are not the weights sent in to the Secretary by the gentleman who was entrusted with the Handicapping. It is a pity this was done ( as the Stewards wlio represent the Jockey Club might have some difficulty another time in finding a competent person that would hare confidence in them.