SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

■ PORT OF LYTTELTON. ARRIVED. March 24, ship Trevelyan, 1042, Edwards, from Newcastle. barque Ocean Gem, 324, Rousseau, from Newcastle. steamer 'l'aiaroa, 228, Kennedy, from Northern Ports. March 25, steamer Southern Cross, from Napier. Sailed. March 23, FI..M.S. Wolverine, 17 guns, Commodore Hoskins, for Auckland. March 24, New Zealand Government steamer Sella, 156, Yl'Kersie, for Manukau. schooner Pee, 3L Shepherd, for Amuri Bluff.

POST OFFICE NOTICES.

Mails at the Ashburton Post Office close as follows : For Christchurch and North at 10.20 a.m., 4 p.m., and 7.30 p.m., daily. For Cherlscy at 10.20 a.m. daily. For Rakaia at 10.20.a.m., and 4 p.m. daily.

For Ashburton South, Winslow, Hinds, Coldstream, Rangitata, Orari, Winchester, and Geraldine at 10.30 a.m. daily. For Ashton, Waterlon, and Longbeach at 2.45 p.m. daily. For Greenstreef, Ashburton Forks, Mount Somers, and Ashburton Gorge on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10,30 a.m. For Temuka, Timaru and South at 10.30 n.m, and 3 p.m. daily.

The next outward San Francisco mail will close at Christchurch on Friday, the 29th.

To Correspondents. —“ S. B. N.” will np pear to-morrow.

The Evening Echo. MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1878.

Many, perhaps most, of the news papers in New Zealand that may be considered friendly to Mr. Stafford, havely lately devoted an article to a review of his public career, and the de cidedly unlriendly ones are now taking up the same subject. It is quite a mis fortune to any public man that an occasion should arrise to write his his tory during his life, when party spirit misleads alike his friends and his op ponents, causing the former to be entirely unreliable and unbeliever), the latter to be unmollified by the universal desire to say nothing but good of the dead. Most of the articles, too, are written by those who have no very in timate knowledge of Mr. Stafford’s public work or personal character, and thus his friends, whilst they challenge suspicion by groundless laudation, have omitted most of the actions for which Mr. Stafford is entitled to a favourable mention in the history of New Zealand. His path has not been a shining light shining more and more unto the per fect day, but a most promising dawn and a brilliant meridian have been followed by a decidedly cloudy decline. Hence, Mr. Stafford’s friends should not have omitted as they have done all details of Mr. Stafford’s early career, which though commenced in the now despised province of Nelson have had an effect upon every other province and upon the whole colony, which none of his biographers seem to know or are ready to admit.

The most' ill-informed writers and speakers in this province are fond of feeding their own vanity and that of their readers and hearers bv attributing the difference in the present position of the' two provinces to our superior sagacity instead of to the difference between the physical features of the surrounding country, One of Mr. Stafford's biographers is so supremely ignorant both of the geography and history of New Zealand as to assert that Nelson, “owing to the first reckless disposal of her public lands, has been for a quarter of a century the barren fig tree in the colonial orchard.” It may be worth while to inform such a writer and those who believe in him that every acre of agricultural land which nature has connected with the Port of Nelson was sold on precisely the same terms as the same quantity was sold in Can terbury, not by the Nelson settlers but by the New Zealand Company; and that if Nelson had the Canterbury Plains in connection with its harbour, it would at the present moment have been a greater province than Canter bury.

Barren of land, she always was ; hut a province that supplied the first' two

Speakers for the House of Representa tives, the first Premier that held that office long enough to have any impor tant effect on the legislation of the Colony, and longer than any other has done; a Province that has supplied three Premiers to the Colony; that appointed the first Education Commis sion ; that passed an Education and a Road Board Bill that have both been more or less copied by every other province with great advantage, and proudly called their own ; that con structed the first railway ; the first City water supply ; and with very small means kept out of debt till forced into it by the Colonial partnership—can hardly be entitled to be called the “ reckless ” province or the “ barren fig tree in the colonial orchard.”

All the writers make Mr. Stafford begin his public life in 1854, whereas his public life really began more than ten years before that. Mr. Stafford first impressed the Nelson settlers with his power as a public speaker and his knowledgeofconstitutional history when, immediately after the Wairau massacre, he stood forward to dispute Major Richmond’s right to send Mr. White over from Wellington to fill all the offices that had been filled by Mr. Thompson, some of which were higher than those held by Major Richmond himself. “ If,” said he, “ Major Rich mond can do this, why, then, the police man can appoint the magistrate, the magistrate can appoint the Premier, and the Premier can appoint the King.” But he owed his first popularity in Nelson less to his ability than to his disagreement with the resident original land purchasers who had formed them selves into a society to protect them selves ngiinst the New Zealand Com pany, whose principal agent was Mr. Stafford’s father-in-law, Colonel Wake field. Like all such societies, as soon as they felt their power, they left their defensive position and assumed the offensive, and did far more injustice to their fellow-settlers than the New Zea land Company had ever attempted to do to them.

They advised the land laws, and ap propriated the runs amongst themselves and their friends—they practically ap pointed every public officer, and, what vyas felt most oppressive and dangerous, 'the special jury list was solely com posed of themselves and their minions. They were popularly called the “ forty thieves,” afterwards altered to the “ Nelson supper party.” The election of a Superintendent came too suddenly on them, before they had time to dis cover a good popular cry, or to redeem their character in the eyes of their less powerful neighbours, and as that elec tion admitied no plurality of votes to property, it was always abhorred by them. Their candidate, Mr. Francis Jollie, was easily beaten, though they very cleverly managed to divide their opponents’ votes almost equally between Mr. Stafford and Mr. J. W. Saxton. All this is necessary to give the key to Mr. Stafford’s future public life, and to show how the force of circumstances placed him on the popular side, to which he did not naturally belong, and gave the appearance of a certain kind of inconsistency to all his future career. Had he come into office as a Conser vative he would have been consistent enough, as all his instincts led him in that direction, but he had no qualities that fitted him either for a radical or a demagogue. He had none of the large hearted benevolence of a Sturgc, none of the lofty vanity of the first William Pitt, none of the fervour, none of the wit. and very little of the plausibility of O’Connel. He was never a great favorite with ladies or children.

What popularity he ever possessed amongst the people was after, or at, his first election in Nelson, owing to his disagreement with his own class and his own natural allies, towards whom he was haughty, capricious, cold, unsocial, and parsimonious. But with all his personal faults and deficiencies, he was a good public ser vant, and has left his mark on the best legislation in this Colony. He was deeply read in constitutional law, and his powerful memory gave him the advantage of learning an immense deal of what had been done in other coun tries, what had failed and what had succeeded —a knowledge that saved him from making crude experiments at

the expense of the Colony, and enabled him to throw some experimental light on every question that came before the House.

One of his first acts after being elected Superintendent of Nelson was to appoint a commission to consider the important question of education, and few commissions have ever been more wisely chosen.

Doctors Monro and Greenwood re presented the Episcopalians, Mr. Weld the Catholics, and Messrs. Nicholson and Dolamore the Dissenters. Their very liberal recommendations were made still more liberal by the Provincial Go vernment and Council, and the result was an Act which stood the test of twenty years’ experience, and has sup plied all that is good in the numerous Education Acts of the Colony.

The Road Board Bill which he sent to the Nelson Provincial Council pro posed to exclude all buildings from being rated, and, on the motion of Mr. Saunders, the non-taxation of improve ments was carried still further, and fences, drains, and all artificial and industrial improvements were also ex cluded on the second reading of the Bill; but this aroused the whole strength of the land dealers, and, mustering every vote, they re-committed the Bill, and provided that every improvement should he taxed—a policy that has been too faithfully copied by the land ring of every other province. The feeble show of opposition, amounting, indeed, to actual assistance, which Mr. Stafford gave to this reversal of his avowed policy, lost him the confidence of his supporters, and soon gained him the support and approval of the party who would rather have had Mr. Jollie. In 1556 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives for the city, at that time the town, of Nelson, and soon showed such capacity for de bate and legislation that he was chosen Premier of the Colony—a position that lie retained for five years and then lost, not from any fault of his own, but in consequence of feeling bound to iden tify himself with a war policy which he never approved of. but which had been blundered into by his more warm-hearted and less cool-headed colleagues during his absence in England. The legislation he accomplished in that five years was enormous in quantity, and, though not perfect in quality, will compare very favorably with any New Zealand legis lation either before or after it. With this five years’ office ended the most brilliant and the most useful period of Mr. Stafford’s public career, and he never again held office with colleagues who so well supplied his own deficien cies as did William Richmond and Mr. Weld. What Mr. Stafford could do himself was done well, and he could and would do a great deal of it, but he had not the more valuable power of getting other able men to work for him, and with him, and as a Minister of War he never succeeded.

When he resigned office in IS6I, he was dreadfully worn, and could hardly have continued the strain much longer without the rest that then came to him.

His conduct in opposition was never brilliant, though frequently useful. He otten reduced wild propositions to rea sonable bounds, and pompously offered his patronage to other persons’ mea sures on conditions that were generally advantageous to the country. With Mr. Vogel and his colleagues in the conch. Mr. Stafford’s natural place was at the break, and we think he worked it wisely upon the whole. As to prompting the feeble men whom Mr. Vogel left to work out his ideas, we do not see how Mr. Stafford could well help that, any more than a clever able woman can help leading some feeble simpleton that she has promised to honour and obey.

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The tenders for the new Templar Flail were opened on Saturday, when that of Mr. T. Williams, .South Ashburton, was accepted. The building will stait at once.

Erratum. —In Mr Saunders’ letter, pub lished in our issue of the 22d inst., by a mis print we make him give a “ total of 90,000 on the electoral rolls.” It should have been 60,000.

Another body has been found in the Avon at Christchurch—that of a man about 35 years age, sft IQ i n - in height, stoutish build, brown hair and beard, and dressed as a laborer. No signs of violence were visible on the body, which was found near the Cashel Street bridge, in four feet of water. In a pocket book found in the coatj was the name “James Bell Wal lace, Kaituna, April 2, 1877.” The Paris Charivari has a large sketch of the British lion “preparing to shew his teeth.” The noble beast is sitting up like a poodle, and displays a pair of utterly toothless jaws, into which an adroit dentist is in the act of intro ducing a most formidable set of false teeth.

Great excitement prevails among the native population of Alexandria. Hundreds of men are taken forcibly as soldiers for the expedition for the suppression of slavery on the Nile. A gentleman lately from Upper Egypt counted twenty-three boats between Asiout and Cairo laden with slaves. The men were tied together on the deck, and the women and girls in the cabins.

Old Calfbound, who lives in the interior of Canterbury, where he muses over his “ lowing herds,” recently enjoyed the proud satisfaction of seeing his son “ called to the bar.” Calf bound, the elder, had indomitable confidence in the abilities of his son, and was certain that he would soon show his quality, an.d that to the best advantage. After a short experience: of Calfbound the younger at the bar, Calfbound the elder, as a retired barrister ancl a magis trate, thought he might take the liberty of asking the local R-M. how his son was getting on. i o this the Magistrate conscientiously hut warily replied, “Oh, he does admirably in undefended cases. ” — Dunedin Herald. The Murderer Winiata.—Tile Auek land Herald says that a European who lately saw Winiata in the King country had some conversation wfth the people among whom he is residing, lie pointed out that Wimata’s, crime was very different from that of every other Native, and asked them why they should protect him. They quite acknowledved that Winiata had committed a murder, fps which, there was. no palliation or excuse in their minds, but they said that,, notwithstanding,, they would rather die than give him up.

Pretty Dear (Mother).— .Nice . Little- Girl—Oh, do let me see you, Drink ) Captain Grogson—Why my dear ? Nice Little Girl— Because M,a says. you. drink like-a fish.

CORRESPONDENCE.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the: opinions expressed by our correspondents..

THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

To the- Editor-of the ■ Evening: Echo..

Sir, —As probably the publicity cTtthe exist ing state of affairs will draw forth in reply from, some clearer brain than mine a pian. or theory to turn to. use, profit, on eajjoyment the Sunday afternoon, you will, I lrape, be good enough to. find in. your paper space for this letter.

At present the majority of young- men in this, township after a Sunday (i.e., a too heartv)) dinner, seek refuge from the listless, dreary, dreamy monotony and ennui in, tobacco, or in, an unhealthy sleep, the great aim being to “ get it over,” and no sound throughout their existence is so welcome as the tea-bell, teßing that the tedious ‘■‘•day of vest” is. chawing- to a" close. People may term this a day of rest or rot as they please,, but l defy my waders to. come to a conclusion that a day, a portion of which is so spent, can be- a day of rest in any sense of the word. It is. neither rest to the body nor solace to the mind.

Now, one week’s sojourn, in Ashburton, teaches an ordinary observer that there is little; to interest the pedestrian, and- as. one cannot for a lifetime find recreation or amusement ii> the everlasting ortliodox parade on the bridge, how is he to spend his Sunday afternoon, so as to make-it (what was. in the beginning-intended)) portion of the day of rest. Some say—Why don’t you teach in the Sunday school? And I reply (apart from any ideas I may have as to the benefit to. myself and others by so dpisg), is teaching- rest to those who earn, them dftity bread by mental labor, exercise and use of brain? Are all natures calculated to teach? Have all young men sufficient knowledge of Scripture to teach it, and can, all who. get over this wearisome portion of the Sabbath turn teachers at a minute’s notice ?

I wish with all friends and acquaintances that some one will aid us in turning this misspent portion of our time to profitable account. Could not a young mien’s class be formed? Would the opening of the Library do some thing to remedy the evil ? Can you, Sir, throw a plank to the drowning men ?—I am, &c..

One of the Many.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[By Submarine Cable.]

LATEST FROM EUROPE.

[Per Press Agency.] London, March 21. Official despatches published respecting the constitutional conflict in Victoria, show that the Governor’s action throughout was sup ported by the Colonial office. The Times: says it is clear that Earl Carnarvon’s Septem ber telegram, advising Sir G. Bowen to follow the advice of his Ministry, was dictated by ignorance of material facts. This telegram shaped the whole of the Governor’s subsequent conduct. Sir Michael Hicks-Bfcach continues: the policy of his predecessor.-; The, Times de clares that- the'questio'n'raised in Victoria must be decided by the Imperial Parliament for the relief of other Colonial Governors,

THE EVENING ECHO, MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1878,