The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-18 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE EVENING PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—We are much of the same mind as the Examiner
—both as to Whig passive obedience, and ex-Radical active
adulation .to the'llinister of the income-tax. It really seems
to us that to vote (as Mr. Curteis complained, rather patheti-
cally, Lord John Rumen did) in the Ministerial majority
against Mr. Buller's amendment, almost amounted to throw-
ing down his brief as leader in the cause' of Opposition, •
on trial before the great national inquest. Lord „ohs
Russell, as every one knows, has a way of his own ; and none
more respect aod admire than we do his personal indepen-
dence at critical epochs. The spirit that prompted the " Let-
ter to the Electors of Stroud" often may dainage a party, but
always stamps individual character and courage; and these
after all are the qualities men look up to with permanent
confidence, whatever be the temporary fate of parties.
But it is one thing to declare an unpopular conviction,
just when State-craft would suppress it—and quite another
thing' to sacrifice partisanship at:the expense of sacrificing
conviction too. Lord John Russell's principhs of financial
policy have been embodied in public measures. With those
measures the contents of the present budget are inconsistent.
If the selection fur reduction of duties of the great objects
of popular consumption was right, the present selection is
wrong, and the difference draws after it an income-tax.
Now we can readily understand how Lord John Rus-
sell, or any man of candid mind, may view with
a sort of qualified approval the serpentine advance of
this Ministry. Such opponents may admit that from Minis-
ters so brought in less might have been expected. They
may admit that, from Ministers. so supported, more could
not well be expected. This makes it their duty, doubtless,
to join those supporters on all occasions on which Ministers
are likely to be whipped out of Court for their virtues.
But bow can it be the duty of the Opposition to sink
their own views, not to preserve Ministers from any danger
incurred by liberality—not, indeed to preserve them from any
danger at all—but simply for the satisfaction of adding their
votes to a majority, overwhelming by reason of the very dif-
ference of Ministerial measures from those they
would have proposed ? Surely it cannot be denied
that this is the case of the income-tax majority.
" The country " (as country gentlemen call it) support
it for the sake of the retained protection which renders it ne-
cessary. Sir Robert Peel denies any other necessity for it
than that resulting from his policy. fie does not deny that re-
duction of the great articicsof consumption would give larger
immediate relief. It cannot be denied they would give
larger revenue. Now, those who think colonial and
home objects, of stel more importance, involved in their
retention may disregard these considerations. But Op-
position, who believe nothing of the kind—why should they
give sanction—or semi-sanction—in their speeches, or in
their votes ? We cannot help thinking there is some mis-
take as to the function of honest Opposition. That func-
tion, in our view, is, on all occasions, to put forth the right
principles of measures. They cannot expect, and need
not desire, to supersede those of the parties officially re-
.sponsible, or even to alter them much in detail. 'They
may fairly acknowledge whatever they think good, or
less bad than expected, in those measures. But they should
sacrifice no jot of their principles, by supporting po-
licy founded on other principles. They should miss no
opportunity of presenting them in contrast, wherever
they are contrasted. Only in this way can the public
ever he taught preference for those which are really
preferable. The function of Opposition is neither paltry
nibbling, nor factious obstruction. But it is steady declara-
tion of general views, on every subject involving them. Nue
merical strength, or immediate prospects, should have no in
fluence on this mode of action. While a minority they have
simply to consult their convictions what course of policy
is the best practicable. If they think Sir Robert's such, let
them speak and vote for it (but if they think so, they for-
swear their own past)—
And white along the stream of time his name
Expanded flies, and gathers all its fame,
Say, shall our little bark attendant sail,
Pursue the triumph and partake the gale?
STANDARD.—We cannot help entertaining a hope, how-
ever improbable such a result may appear, that much national
advantage may accrue from the discussions, although painful
for the time, which are taking place between the New Zea-
land Company and the Government. The usual faults
have probably been committed on both sides, and by
bringing those faults prominently forward, a better
system with regard to colonisation generally may at last
be matured. When we speak of probable faults on 'both sides,
we have no, particular view to this or that individual, either
in the Government or in the Company. The quarrel,
though it now includes Lord Stanley and Isis Under-Se-
cretaries, would equally have existed had the Administra-
tion remained in office under whom it originally began.
The ground of the dispute consists in that entirely op-
posite course of action which has always been taken
by trading companies on the one
_less d, and" by Govern-
ments on the other. SpeculefAkill ever be found
to move too fast, and all uosernments up to the
present time, have, we think, moved too slowly. The New
Zealand Company has had the argument, up to this time,
very much to itself. Many of the-newspapers, and nearly all
the pamphleteers. have sided- with the Company against the
Government. One pamphlet, however, has recently
been sent to us, entitled, " The New Zealand
Company ; its Claims to Compensation considered,"
which exhibits some pat t of the case on the other side; and
shows, that if.-the Company might justly complain of the
dilatoriness of the COlonial-office, the latter had
some cause to find fault with the eagerness of the Company.
Let'any one conceive a plan, by which the duty of colonisa-
tion should be adequately undertaken by a 4overnment ;
and the first points he would be sure to set down would
be, that a good sight
_for a colony should be leisurely
selected ; the land properly and justly gained by pur-
chase ; the intended colony properly laid out by sur-
veyors; and then bargains made at home with
settlers, who could safely purchase, and be at once conveyed
to the land which they had se made their own. Such,
hOwever, is not the mode in which trading companies carry
on their work. They could not afford to wait the course of
years which would thus be required. Thus it appears, that
immediately after its• formation, the New Zealand Com-
pany sent out an agent to purchase land ; that then,
without waiting for a report from him, which could
hardly have reached England in less than a year,
the Company began to sell land; and had dispatched from
England nine ships full of settlers before it had received
from its agent any report as to his purchases. The agent,
toe, knowing that ships would speedily follow him with
settlers, felt himself compelled forthwith to effect some pur-
chases; and it is from the misunderstandings with the natives,
touching these first hasty bargains, that all the subsequent
mishaps have arisen. The New Zealand Company contains
on its direction some of the best names that the City of
London can show. But we fancy that the tone of some of
its advocates in the House of Commons is, of itself,
sufficient to prove that some degree of eagerness and
vehemence must have marked its proceedings from the
very outset. We have expressed a hope that good
might, after all, result from these discussions. We cannot,
indeed, 'be sanguine that any great and lasting plan
will be struck oet at a heat. But surely it will be impossible
to observe these proceedings without being struck with the
desirableness of a greater amount of action, of control, of
enterprise, and of outlay, on the part of the nation, act-
ing by its Government, than has ever . yet been be-
stowed. Surely it is lamentable to hear of fifty-three ships,
containing eight or nine thousand settlers, sent to a shore
where 'the possessions justly and lawfully, of every acre
of land, is disputed by the natives; and where the Governor,
when called upon to interfere, feels compelled to declare t hnt
there have Iren faults on both sides 2 Meanwhile we trust,
that, without widening the breach by personal attacks on
this or that official authority, the New Zealand Company
will be_ ableao submit to Parliament some tangible question,
some really remedial measure; and we have little fear that
much a proposition, if it be a possible thing, will be gladly
embraced, both by the House of Commons and the Go-
vernment.

THE LATE BOILER EXPLOSION
AT BLACKWALL.
ADJOURNED INQUEST UPON THE BODIES
OF' RICHARD GRIMES, G. CH APMA M., T.
WRIGHT, AND M. SMITH.
(Continued Eom our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)
Mr. ,Lowee-By the presumed usual strength of the two
fires, kite= to a presure of 100 lbs. would be generated upon
every iquare inch.
Mr. Lowe—The fires were nearly out, and if the last
witness is called in he will prove it.
Mr. Barnes—Oh, then, in that case the `steam would be
less in the same proportion.
Mr. Lowe—Considering-the state of the fires at the time,
what size of hole' would be required to blow off the whole
steam generated?
Mr. Prat-nee—lt is impossible _to give any answer to the
question.
Mr. Lowe—What is the usual testing power above what
the boiler is made for? -
Mr.. Barnes—l am not aware that in this country there is a
precise- usage, but in France it is three times as much for
every boiler approved by law.
The CORONER said it was an important matter that the
boiler should be proved without endangering the lives of
human beings, and he thought that as they tested guns at
Woolwich without danger, some mode of doing 'the same
might be adopted with regard to steam-boilers.
Mr. Barnes—According to the weight stated to me, the
weight unbalanced by any counterpoise would be 50 lbs. on
the square inch--if it were balanced it would be diminished pro
tanto.
William Heath—l live in Bermondsey, and am a labourer.
I was working at the boiler in Mr. Samuda's yard, before
the explosion took place, when it was fitted up. It was then
open. Mr. Lowe was present and could see into it. He
superintended the work generally, and it was well riveted,
and the work done complete. The man hole was not riveted.
The CORONER—Do you mean to say that the man hole is
not riveted.
Mr. Lowe—lt is fastened outside with a bar.
A juror—That part was quite perfect after the explosion.
Witness—l did not see the boiler tested before it was fixed
to the engine. I put part of the pipes up and saw it fixed
on Wednesday morning. Nothing struck me as peculiar at
the time of fixing it. I saw the boiler about an hour before
the explosion, and I did net see the piece of wood
then. I saw just before the explosion Mr. Lowe go and
pull the. lever down and let the steam escape. I looked
'round two minutes afterwards and heard the explosion
I was hi the new buildings near. I did not see the wood there.
It might have been there, but T did not see it. I cannot tell
what caused the explosion. When I was in the new ware-
house I could see the handle of the lever. • I saw the man
Grimes on the top of the boiler, putting sacks over the steam
pipes for the purpose of warming them. He was killed by
the accident.
The jury, who had been allowed a quarter of an hour,
having returned, -
Joseph Chettle—l am an engineer. I have been with Mr.
Satnuda for about eight years, and have been at Blackwell
from about a week after Christmas. I saw the fires lighted
in the boiler on the morning of the accident. Ido not know
where it was purcha.sed. I had seen it tested on the Mon
day. While I was present I cannot say what pressure was
on the boiler, bet the gunge glass was broken, and then the
steam was blown off. I did not go on Tuesday ; but on
Wednesday I went again and the steam was got up, a new
glass haying been put up in the meantime. I saw the weights
attached to the lever, but I do not know to what extent.
On the!, n:orning I saw the steam getting up, and Mr. Lowe
was walking to and fro from the boiler to the engine-toom,
in fact doing nothing else than attending to it. I saw the
steam blowing off strongly about nine o'clock, and before the
explosion it blew off very strongly. I saw Mr. Lowe once, or
twice put his hand on to the lever to bear it down, and so
caused the stea:n to blow off
By a juror—The steam blew off when he put his hand to
the lever, but not so strongly.
By the CORONER—I left about three minutes before the ex-
plosion,. and) saw no piece of wood then. ,
Br a juror-I cannot tell what pressure was on the boiler,.
but I heard the steam blow off strongly. I could judge so from
the noise it made.
By the CORONER—I did not see the fires, or at what
strength they were kept.
‘...pziluror..e- The man on the top of the boiler Seemed to be
iptg Samething' line sacking round the stean' -box, to
4,asite Int* t--. I do not know the weights attached to the
.. 114*-1-:e. , gild 410 t throw any of the sacks upon the
'/Aveightli; , - -,t,o4kd to the lever.
thaii
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