The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 1865. MONTHLY SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS. POLITICAL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 178, 11 January 1865, Page 2

The Lake Wakatip Mail. Queenstown, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 1865. MONTHLY SUMMARY OF CURRENT EVENTS. POLITICAL.

In political matters during the month some important changes have taken place. The apathy that previously pervaded the metropolitan constituencies, at the date of our last, has yielded to an exciting electioneering contest. This contest has leavened the whole lump, and nearly all the constituencies throughout the Province have awakened, as if from a dream, to the fact that they have been slumbering and neglecting their duties. This has led, of course, to a discussion of principles, and the consequences of recent political actions of the General Government, of our Superintendent, and of the Provincial Government. This district, as our many summaries testify, has always been active and alive to all subjects affecting the Province as a whole. The days of apathy and neglect of political privileges may be safely said to have suddenly passed away. The untenanted stage is now crowded with actors, and the curtain rises to disclose a motley throng whose first rehearsals are much at variance and confused. By and by the weak points of the drama and its contradictory points will be lopped off, and we shall soon be witnessing the efforts of two or three independent set of actors, each with his own programme. It is agreeable to write of this change, as it implies health to the Province and amelioration of the false unjust system under which it has been governed. A system so radically bad, so thoroughly selfish on the part of those who had the governing power in their hand, that the population was being driven away from one of the richest gems—though small—of the British Crown, and Otago fast sinking into the slough of despond. We may safely say the turning point has, to a certain extent, been reached, and shall now proceed to briefly notice in detail several matters coming under the head of our Summary. Among other matters that have turned up again is the land question. It has been a constantly recurring source of contention. At first the price of lands was fixed at 1 Os per acre, and some large blocks were taken up at this rate; besides, a very large amount of what are known as " suburban" sections and town allotments, at an advance upon these prices. Soon after the goldfields, by an act of the Provincial Council —all the members being more or less largely interested in land holdings—the price of rural lands was increased to £1 per acre; thus doubling by mere legislation the value of the freeholds possessed by the members themselves and their friends. This scheme was so successful that another attempt was made to again add value to these holdings. A measure passed the Provincial Council sanctioning the increase of the price of land to £2 per acre. I he General Government refused to allow this direct attempt of quadrupling the value of the lands for the sake of those who passed such meaI sures in a Legislature that did not represent

public opinion. The result was that more enlightened feelings, through a new election and force of public opinion, eventually prevailed. A land measure of a satisfactory and cheering nature was passed. It was hailed with a sigh of relief and warm rejoicings by all sections of the community, except by the narrow-minded and ancient land monopolists of the Province, and also by a majority, though not by all, of the squatters. Among other things, it was provided, so*as to prevent the lands of the Province being turned into mere dreary sheep-walks, and as a means to secure the actual settlement of population upon the soil and its cultivation—that a tax of 2s pet acre -should be imposed upon uncultivated land. The object was simply to prevent persons buying up the land, and, beyond the payment of £1 per acre, rendering it valueless to the State for the future. The principle that guided the Council in passing this bill was evidently one whereby the lands of the Province might be made productive when they passed into private hands, to encourage the settlement and development of the colony, and to nip the pernicious effects of land speculation and monopoly in the bud. The Queen, as the trustee of the lands of the colonies on behalf of the people, sanctioned this liberal land, measure after it had received the approval of the General Government'. The moment this was known a deputation of. those who were interested in raising the price of land to £2 per acre waited upon the Superintendent—who owns one twentieth part of I>unedin and is also a large landholder—not to put the act in force. His Honor declined to override or attempt to put aside the voices of the people, as signified by the passing Of the measure—to pass over so lightly the ratification of the General Government, or so heedlessly to disallow the authority of thePCrown.

The Superintendent, however, declared himself as one with them m their views, but stated he must give* the measure a trial; i The trial was given, and we have now to chronicle one of the most deliberate attempts to override the liberties: of the people, and the decisions of the higher authorities. The Land Bill was proclaimed; the people at once rushed eagerly for farms but none were to be obtained. The reply was that the Land Board was so much behind hand rthsft it could not overtake the work of survey, and thereby be able to proclaim the lands open, but would shortly do so. At the end of three years people looked-to obtaining land in localities they desired to settle in, and though many left the Province with the wealth they had acquired from gold mining, many still remained waiting patiently. They have waited in vain, for during the past month a proclamation, issued by John Hyde Harris the Superintendent, was published in the * Gazette,' carrying out his own views and those of the deputation, pledging the credit of the Province to the withdrawal of the land tax. Singularly enough, though the people could obtain no right previously to acquire land, yet at the time this very extraordinary announcement was made public, a notice appeared declaring certain lands, within a triangulated or trigonometrical survey, open for selection; the boundaries to be eventually fixed. This is essentially free selection before survey, but the question has arisen why could not the same plan have been adopted before so many persons were driven from the Province with ample funds in their possession ? And further, why could not these favored areas have been a little more extended to the Goldfields ?

The feeling is prevalent that a great job is on the tapis, that some extensive blocks of splendid agricultural land are to be transferred quietly into the maws of the monopolists and squatters, for the ostensible purpose of redeeming the Otago debentures lodged. with the Bank of New Zealand. * The most depressing feeling abroad is, that the true colonisation of Otago" upon the foundation of population and cultivation, is as far off as ever, and that the permanent ' prosperity, and progress of the Province is again retarded. We leave the land question in, an evidently unsatisfactory position this month, as the settlement of the people upon the soil is the basis upon which all colonisation and development should depend, and we have sketched thus far one phase of our political position in reference thereto.

Separation of the Middle from the North Island, was declared by its former pseudochampion, at the last meeting of the Council, to be farther off than ever. Of course, this prognostication of an hon. member, who is put down by Major Richardson in the Council as one of the destructive, rather than one of the constructive, elements of it, has not been borne out. Our wise lawgiver has failed lately in all his efforts. The moment after he had uttered these assertions he night well wish to recall them. In consequence of a high tariff and the difficulties thrown in the way of industrial pursuits by a system that withholds the lands from all classes but those we have previously named it becomes oppressive without advancing internal and colonial industries. Its operation, although hardly bearable, was borne for a moment. At first not a groan was heard. The Press, of course, as usual, protested. The cause of this increased tariff was the Maori war, or rather, its mismanagement. Relief from these difficulties is sought in the question of the separation of the South Island from the Northern one. The almost unanimity of feeling that prevails on

this subject may be traced to the way the war has been and the South plundered. Its history of mismanagement and losses to the colonists would fill $ volume. The Separation Question may then'be Said to spring up anew from a tariff or war view of the question. The movement will effect much good; it will do more, than anything else to end the question one way or another upon some definite plan—peace or the extinction of false notions on the part of the natives. Whether this cry of separation is warranted or not is a question easily answered; but the policy of dividing a colony into two divisions is open to grave considerations. • The cry is justifiable in consequence of the deliberate robbery by the North Island —or rather, we should say Auckland, for its own selfish purposes and aggrandisement —of the Southern Island. The north is the monkey pulling chestnuts out of the fire by the aid of pussy's paw. Our treasures are expended in the north; our revenue and our credit is imperilled to aid the north. So far the cry is justifiable. The policy of separation—when federation in America is being fought for, in Canada being carried out, in India inculcated and in Australia sought for—can hardly stand examination, apart from colonial mal-administration. Everyone knows that is heavy enough, and the movement is likely to procure some amelioration in this direction, and with this hope we leave thevsubject. The agitation, it may -be remarked is opportune, as His Excellency is on ,a visit to the south, and to Otago amongst other places. The General Parliament sessions at Auckland has produced a change in the administration of affairs with the natives'. " The late Ministry with the Governor upon mere red-tapeism and frittered the time away at the rate of £IOOO per diem, in questions of dignity and routine. The present Ministry are acting differently. As the natives have not chosen to accept the terms of the proclamation of the Governor giving them every hope and advantage, war will be pursued vigorously, and the colony recognises through the policy of the new ministry, that it must fight to a great extent its own battles. The mode or means of doing so is not yet however clearly defined.

The proposed visit Jof his Excellency Sir George "Grey to open the Dunedin Exhibition is . exciting ... attention, ~ and there can be no doubt that our previous remarks regarding the Governor will be thoroughly borne out. We predicted for Sir George Grey an enthusiastic reception, when other sections of the press were aeqrytng his efforts. He has shown himself an abler man than his most ardent supporters ever expected. He will, if possible, visit the goldfields, and it is to be hoped the representations that may be made to him will not be without effect in relieving them from the depressing effects produced by a system of irresponsible government, as displayed in the persons of the Superintendent, and Mr Vincent Pyke, heads of the goldfields department. This is a subject we have so frequently dwelt upon that we need not retread the ground. The promises made by John Cargill, Esq., Acting Provincial Secretary, and Henry Clapcbtij'Esq., Provincial Treasurer, reported in our last Summary, have been carried out, and tenders are called for the construction of the road from the Kawarau to the Arrow Junction and Frankton. This is.very acceptable to the people here, and will be in the end of immense value. - The finances of the colony -are in a deplorable state, and a considerable reduction has been made in the strength of several of the departments, especially in the police. Under the present straitened means of the Province there is yet further room for reduction, and really every penny is required to be spent upon roads, and in settling the people on the lands. The reduction .has this time been wisely not in salaries, but in numbers. The only means,to make the finances buoyant is by liberal measures; and the promotion of permanent settlement. The goldfields have proved an uncertain aid to the Province in consequence of an illiberal policy. The wealth extracted from them has been forced from the Province to enrich other lands. The results derived from them, immense as they are, have only been momentary through the narrow views of those who have governed the people. A crop of goldfields officers have been showered upon them instead of roads and farms. The revenue derived has been frittered away, partly in this way and partly in beautifying Dunedin. The salaries paid to the civil service exceeded the revenues of the Province, and we are now paying for our folly. No wonder then the finances are in a deplorable state.

SOCIAL—GENERAL. The social condition of the people on the goldfields is not a happy one. They are so oppressed and borne down by the weight of official mismanagement, that a deadening influence pervades all circles. A limited franchise, a reckless government policy, and locally, the action of tha myrmidons of the Government in the shape of goldfields' officials, added to the heavy and special system of taxation, fees, &c., rampant have tended to make up a picture we have no heart to present. The people are fleeing away by hundreds, and all our social efforts are at least stationary, and in many instances, retrogressive. The line of demarcation between the people and the Government and their satellites is widenir g. The same feeling

pervades the goldfields. In this town clique* ism ;6f the Bpiost obnoxious kind has been introduced*. The bonds of social union are jarred, and we have, so far as Queenstown is concerned under such circumstances, retrograded during the month rather than advanced! V|[he effects are so depressing upon the people a|4arge, that we are compelled to notice them. More than one clergyman possessing an intimate acquaintance with the people, and who toe recently travelled, the whole of the Province and the goldfields speak despondingly of the deadly influences produced by misgovernment upon a selfish basis. We trust ministers of the Gospel and others of influence will now lend their support and help to retrieve the social condition of the masses, whether in towns or on the goldfields. .r/J • i'vV

The holidays 5 have been the chief feature of the month under this head. They have been numerous, comprising Caledonian sports, a regatta, a race medtiitg, and other amusements such as balls, &c. These have taken place in several portions of the district simultaneously. At the Head of the Lake, Twelve - Mile, Arrow, and Queenstown, the sports took place on Boxing and following days. A ball k at Richmond's. Hotel, Arrow, proved a local success; and the Arthur's Point Race Ball, held at Ford, and Davidson's Criterion Hotel, was well attended. The Arthur's Point Race Committee held their second annual meet extending to four days. The races were,, with one exception,-confined to horses owned in the district, of which Harkaway, belonging to a "well-known sporting gentleman in this district, proved the best horse, he was defeated by Post Boy for the principal prize, A as r it) was alleged through crossing and fouling by his owner. Mr Bracken's success with his Tiorse was acknowledged oh the course with hearty cheers. Mr Scole's ; Scrubber, an Arrow horse, , from whom much was expected as an old favorite, disappointed most persons and eventually only won a Hurry Scurry and a Booth Holders' Purse; the latter through Harkaway's jockey scaling light. Races also took place at Cromwell, which were. highly successful, and at which large prizes were given. The Cromwell people did not seek to m&ke their races exclusive, and consequently had good sport and good attendance, whereas the Arthur's. Point races were restricted and badly managed. Messrs Robertson and Co., the owners of the saw-mill at-the Head of the have applied to the Government for a site of land on the banks of the Kawarau, upon which to erect a flour-mill, and : these gentlemen have already ordered the necessary machinery. The extent of soil for growing wheat in this district is very large, and the climate could not be more suitable for this cereal, the people are willing to cultivate but the government are frustrative. It is, however, thought that the present system of occupying Crown Lands without title will be maintained until the lands are widely thrown open under the triangulated system of survey adopted in other portions of the Province. The desire is to make the district self-producing, so far as regards cereals and animal food, and climate, soil, and capital are ready, but Government has said for more than two years " No." The crops that are being grown are upon farms held, in many cases, under no legal title, and in no instance under the form of freeholds. .;: ; n

The public meetings have been very few and are destitute of interest beyond the district. ■ The most important has been a Hospital Committee one. The other meetings have been the Volunteer-Fire Brigade, the W akatip Jockey Club (who postponed their races to March), the School Committee, &c. The question of the high price of meat has resulted favorably for consumers. The ports have been opened, inspectors appointed, and the annual report of Mr Logie, chief inspector of sheep, states that the Province,; without trenching upon the breeding, ewes, possesses an ample stock for the next eighteen months, and it also reports in glowing terms the increase that has rewarded the breeders of sheep. The pleuro-pneumonia excitement has died away, ahd prices have fallen to 6d and 8d per pound, in Dunedin, but they rqmain at Is per pound here—a price attributed to the operations of dealers, who are making large fortunes, and hold a monopoly by a system of combination. The Shotover Gorge proepecting Committee have let another tender for prospecting the Gorge leading to Arthur's Point, and it is expected that the present, efforts'will lead to favorable results. The work is being very ably carried on.

The district has made a sad mess of its exhibits to the Otago Exhtbition. Most of the committee happen to be (government officials. Mr Vincent Pyke is the jiead of the Goldfields Department. This gentleman, who, to some extent, isr an able man,'is desirous of exhibiting a collection of his own. The consequence is, that a large portion of the Wakatip, of it very varied Mature, go into another department, and after all the liberality and exertions of local public geperosity the Wakatip district will appear as a house divided against itself. Here, to a slight extent, is another illustration of the influence and effects of a miserable system of an autocratic Government. The collection from the Wakatip, if not so distributed, would have proved to have been the most valuable from any of the goldfields, and of such varied interest as to open all people's eyes as to the extent of resources that only require good government to developer It has never

suited the books of Mr Vincent Pyketo do us justice, and now, after all our exertions, we shall cut but a poor figure, though inherently prodigiously rich. . Mr. Bradshaw, the actire local- secretary, happened to be at the time away when this scheme was carried out. Considerable reductions have been made in the loc&l police department; whether they are too extensive or not remains to be seen, but they follow upon the state of the finances of the Province, and similar reductions are taking place elsewhere. The numerous gardens are very productive this year and vegetables abundant. The • Lake View Gardens, owned by Messrs M'Cono- * chie and Co., (who also offer the advantage of a shower bath) arq much visited as a place of resort. They are luxuriant both in flowers, strawberries and vegetables, and afford a pleasant promenade. Mr Hobson's garden, though a small one, is also Visited frequently, and his warren of rabbits attract attention. Prices are high still. Green peas sell at 6d per quart; and new potatoes at 6d per lb; strawberries 7s 6d quart; gooseberries 2s per quart; but these prices cannot last long. The farm crops are most luxuriant, the season having been a favorable one, and very warm with Jirequent showers. The hospital reserve is also luxuriant, and the patients rejoice in a diet that eighteen months ago would have saved many lives, much suffering and many thousands of pounds. The question of the way in which petitions r .are afloat in the district has .lately been a subject of much discussion. .Mr Justice [Richmond from the bench lately refused to recognise two of them in consequence of the manner they were signed, and the way they were got up. His Honor commented very severely upon the modus operandi adopted. A short time ago it was circulated about the Arrow that the Government intended to remove Mr Broad, the Warden, from that place. What further passed is not known. The public were soon afterwards electrified by a petition lying in the various public houses on .. Tin-ring Day, highly laudatory of Mr Broad, and requesting that he might not be removed. The petition gave a " bill of health/' besides being highly eulogistic, and was numerously signed. During our perambulations around Queenstown we heard some curious remarks regarding the manner this memorial had been signed, and we made the following cursory remarks regarding the same

, A petition is in . course of signature at the Arrow, and has been numerously signed in the various hotels, praying that the removal of Mr Warden Broad from the Arrow may not take place. It is currently and openly stated that one party put down no less than six names in six different handwritings to this memorial, in a public bar.. The removal is on the whole uppopular on the Arrow, but is the result of a strict enquiry at the hands of the Government. The truth of these statements is borne out by a letter published elsewhere. The statement seems to have fitted several cap cfe pie, as, though no names were mentioned, we received some indignant denials, and we believe a few of the active promoters of the petition held an indignation meeting. Several ministers of the Gospel have, during the month, visited the district, including the Rev. Mr Connor, Presbyterian minister; the Rev. Mr Grainger, Church of England; and the Rev. Messrs Martin and Duhig, of the Roman Catholic Church. The ministrations have been well attended, and the various religious edifices crowded. Efforts are now being made by the several denominations to obtain more frequent visits, and in 6omc cases, the permanent residence of their respective pastors, r A cricket match, played between the Arrow and Queenstown, resulted in the victory of the former by a majority of 47. The usual festivities were entered into. The return match has not yet been played, neither have we heard anything more of the other pro"posed matches. The question of making the Lake and its sea-rivers, a salmon and other fishregion has been mooted, and the field open is so .extensive and favorable, that we expect soon to see acclimatisers trying their efforts to make so vast an inland sea and its numerous tributaries fruitful with life. Mining affairs progress satisfactorily, and the Arrow has lately gone a-head, especially at the Twelve-mile and Bracken's Gully. Skipper's Gully, at the head of the Shotover is, perhaps, the next most prosperous scene of operations. /: The district is generally healthy and progressive.; The days of excitement regarding rich finds are gone. They no longer attract notice, and all the miners ask for is fair play, a remission of taxation, and homesteads. The latter is not to be obtained, and as &. consequence, as the treasures are gained the miners go away. The Nokomai goldfield is progressing and looks permanent. At the Head of the Lake, accounts of a fresh gold bearing gully are current. The latter gully is named Marshall's and is twenty-five miles up Rees' River. The Queenstown School broke up for the Christmas holidays on the 23rd inst., when prizes were distributed, and the children duly regaled afterwards, at the expense of the committee, with a pleasant little entertainment, after which young and old amused themselves on the green to their heart's content.

The district has besn almost free from crime, with the exception of a brutal assault with the knife, by a sailor named Thomas M'Vefi upon another sailor named Francis Linnel, who was working the Pearl yacht during tt sailing match round one of the

islands on the Lake. The man has been committed for trial. An inquest was held on Christmas Day on the body of John Jeffries or Jefferson. The deceased died in a fit produced bv excessive drinking. He fell with his face upon the ground and was suffocated. He had been married in Liverpool, but was cohabiting with a woman here. We are glad to be able to state that the holidays passed off without adding to the usual list of cases on the police-sheet.