The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-29 00:00:00

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Choosing tie CapAal of New Zealand.

The Commission for selecting the site of a new
capital for the colony, in accordance with the reso•
lutions carried in the General Assembly, is now an
accomplished fact. The Commission have come
menced their inquiries, and we must accept the
proposed removal of the capital as an event toler•
ably certain to occur. The selection being confined
to "some place in Cook's Straits," the Commission
have to choose between the three ports already
established—Wellington, Picton, and Nelson, or to
select a site for an entirely new city. The latter
alternative is an exceedingly improbaLle one,
and could only be resorted to in case each
of the three places mentioned should pr _lvo utterly
unsuitable. Therefore, it may be regarded as cer-
tain, that either Nelson, Picton, or Wellington
will be fixed upon. We think it well to notice here
a parngraph in the Sydney Morning Herald,
journal which has always given much attention to
the affairs of New Zealand, and shown an intimate
knowledge of its affairs. Tieat journal says—" In
New Zeeland the volcanic action still continues, and
the earthquake has often warned the people that
there are portions of the country where a city of
great dimensions and erected with durable mate-
rial would be liable to some great cateetraphe and
sudden ruin. It is not because no such violent
shock has been perceived in the first stages of
colonisation that the apprehension can be discussed.
History does not give any record of the dangerous
nation of Vesuvius until it surprised the Plioys by
its sudden outburst, and continued its violence
until it covered Herculaneum and Pompeii with
lava and ashes." We will now briefly inquire how
far the respective places between which the Corn.
missioners will have to choose fulfil the conditions
of a suitable site. Wellington cannot for a moment
be compared for salubrity to either of its competi-
tors, Its harbour is tolerably safe
,and capacious,
but the approach to it is none of the safest. A gcol
deal of joking has been indulged in at the :expense
of Wellington, on account of its earthquakes, but
it must be seen that a locality liable to such con-
vulsions is not at all desirable as the seat of the ca-
pital of a large and important colony. No one could
guarantee the safety of the public buildings or re-
cords in a city which may at some time share the
fate of Lisbon. Also, it is impossible to feel sure
that the present is the last Maori war, and the ob-
jections to a capital in the vicinity of a numerous
native population will be at once apparent. With
regard to Nelson and Picton, their qualifications are
pretty evenly balanced. Nelson may be said to
carry the palm in regard to convenience and gene-
ral adoptability. Nelson is a second Naples in
point of climate, but its harbour is neither suffi

ciently capacious for any extensive commerce, nor
is the city easily defensible. Picton is nearly
equal in point of climate to Nelson, while in other
conditions it is superior. Situated at the head of

a deep arm of the sea, accessible to shipping of the
largest tonnage, and entirely protected from storms,
its position as a port leaves little to be desired. The
site is sufficiently extensive for a large city, while
being as yet cnly partially occupied it could be laid

out as became the capital of a flourishing colony
But the greatest advantage in favour of Picton is

the readiness with w hick it could be connected by
railway and telegraph with the rest of the Middle
Island. Telegraphic communication throughout
the length of the Middle island is on the point of
fulfilment, and railway communication would un..

doubtcdly ref idly follow the erection of Picton into
the seat of Government. As between Nelson,

Wellington, and Piston, the interests of the Middle
Island will certainly be best served by the election

of the last, while those of the North Island would
be quite as well suited as if Wellington were chosen.
We suppose it will be part of the duty of the Com-
missioners to receive evidence on the subject of their
inquiries.— Otago Times.

FRIGHTFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.— On Monday,
about 36 men went down the Eppieton Jane Pitt,
at Hetton-le Hole, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, for the pur•
pose of going to work. That porticn of the work to which
they were proceeding is at a distance of three miles from
the shaft. They are usually conveyed to work by a train of
empty waggons which runs down an incline to the "lace."
On this occasion the men got into the waggons which were
then set in motion, and had prccecdod same little distance
when, owing to the two guides of the brake having sustained
an injury, the waggons ran amain. The men were of course
exceedingly alarmed at the occurrence, some of them leaped
out and were seriously irjured, as were others who were
pitched out by the waggons jumping off the ways, and a
man, named Thomas Lcwings, was so seriously injured that
he died shortly after being brought to bank. Thirteen men
wero also seriously injured, some having had their legs
broken, others their collar bones fractured, while the re•
mainder were more or less severely bruised and wounded.
—Newcastle Chronicle.
THE NEW GERMAN PLAY OF The Robbers.—This
barbarous play, which surpasses Tltus Adronicus
in incidental horrors, has recently been brought out at the ,
National Theatre, Denmark, by Messrs. Fatherland and
Fudge, in open violation of their licence. It is not our pre-
sent intention to scrutinise the performance, which was
simply execrable. Let it suffice that it received what it
merited, an indignant storm of hisses from an audience
embracing the most distinguished, and we may add without
flattery, the coolest critics in Europe. The policy of Father-
land and Fudge, in offering this insult to public feeling, is
quite indefensible. Speaking not too figuratively, these nn-

principled speculators have drawn a check to servo pressing
exigencies, and which may eventually result in a run upon
the banks of the Rhine. When this catastrophe does
occur, Fatherland will find himself obliged to shut up, and
be glad once more to draw small beer at the sign of the
Spread Eagle. If evidence were required to prove the
demoralising influence of the Continental drama, the
German play of " The Robbers" might be called into
court, and a conviction obtained without further
trouble. The London apprentice, we are often solemnly
assured, has been tempted to try his hand at petty larceny
from studiously surveying some stage eulprit's success in
that peculiar branch of economy. Sanguine youths, emu-
lating their pattern hero in a fringed cocked-hat and jack-
boots, have, we leant, broken open their master's safe,
eloped with his daughter, plundered the King's mail. and
evaporating from limbo, to which they have been transiently
consigned, have reduced demented turnkeys to despair and
want. If this be so, are not beads notoriously weak about
their crowns being turned the wrong way by such a triumph
as that of which Fatherland and Fudge so insolently boast?
Some time ago Fatherland got up a heavy burlesque upon
John Bull's celebrated "Constitution," which during its
short run certainly provoked considerable laughter. Here
Fatherland might have paused in serene contemplation of
his green bays ; but no! he panted for a tremendous " hit"
upon a deeper stage, and with additional properties. In
partnership with Fudge (an Austrian Dragoon, and one
whose anteceeents will not bear investigation), the German
play of "The Robbers" has accordingly been produced on
an extensive scale, and supported by a company who despise
Hamlet's well known injunction, and perpetrate every possi-
ble outrage upon humanity. One word as to these wretched
strollers. When inspired by Bacchus, they may be hoard
shouting in praise of that old rheumatic creature their
Father, and shedding tears of filial devotion over thcr sauer•
kraut. It is with actors of this stamp that Fatherland
and Fudge have produced a sanguinary sort of Coburg
drama, which is justly pronounced a disgrace to the Euro •
pean stage, which aspiring to rank with that fo: which these
men are such sensitive sticklers—the Legitimate Drama. It
is consolatory to reflect that no applause has greeted " The
Robbers" but that which professional claqueurs have been
regularly paid for. Conscious of their high calling, their
minions have from the gallery lavished their cheers with
impartial fidelity on both their patrons; for it has been
found, and is worthy of note, that the impassioned advo-
cates of Fatherland are invariably the ardent admirers of
Fudge.-1-11neh.

ACCIDENT TO CANON STOWELL—We regret to
say that an accident, fortunately not of a serious character,
happened to the Rev. Canon Stowell, at Matlock, on Thurs
dad night. The rev. gentleman has been staying at Walker's
Hotel, and had slept in a be]room on the ground floor. On
Thursday it was arranged that he should have a bedroom
on the first floor. Forgetful of the fact that the room was
app

,roacbcd by three stairs, the rev. canon, in leaving the
room in the evening, foil down the steps and displaced the
cap of his right knee, and it is feared has broken one of the
tendons. It is not long since he sustained an injury some-
what similar to his left leg. We are glad to be enabled to
announce that the rev. canon is doing well, and that the
most serious result of the injury will be a temporary lame-
ness which may possibly for a time incapa3itate him from
active duty.—Manche der Courier.
A FORMIDABLE RIVAL FOR THE DAVENPORT
BROTHERS.—The Calcutta superintendent of the
Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, writ-
ing under dare September 22, says :—" One of the greatest
curiosities of the day—a somnambulist steward—goes home
in the Mooltan. No matter how securely he may be bound
with cords, he undoes everything and walks about while fast
asleep. Last night ae fastened him to the ship's butcher,
but be unloosened himself without awakening the man, got
on deck, and was very neatly overboard. The man is a
constant source of anxiety to all on board the Mooltan, snd
if be reaches England should be exhibited. Some Barnum
would make a fortune of him,"