THE Thames Advertiser. THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, 1874

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1848, 3 September 1874, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. THURSDAY, SEPT. 3, 1874

It must be owned that the proposal made by Mr. Vogcl that the provincial form of government in the North Island should be abolished, did not come in a manner calculated to gain the support and confidence of those who have not been in the habit of following Mr. Vogel slavishly in whatever direction he chooses to lead. Mr. Yogel attained office and power as a champion of the provinces against a party supposed to be anxious to destroy them. At the opening of the late session, not a word was said as to the important resolutions subsequently passed, and the important step of proposing these resolutions was only takeu when Mr. Fitzherbert, the Superintendent of Wellington, gave umbrage because of the manner in which he dealt with the State Forests Bill. Mr. Yogel then came out with figures to show how Wellington, had plundered the colony, and aflected to be quite surprised at what lie had found. He was like the zealous Christian who kuocked down a Jew in the street, having only heard ot the crucifixion the night before. The relations between the different provinces and the General Government have been often before the House, and the somewhat peculiar position of the Province of Wellington has been constant matter of comment, in and out of Parliament, and yet the Premier and Colonial Treasurer just made the discovery after Mr. Fitzherbert had spoiled the chances of his pet State Forests Bill. And the surprising thing was, that Mr. Yogel carried the House with him. This shows how complete and powerful is his grip on the House of Representatives, But another aspect of the matter

is, thafc Mr. Vogel saw that the precise hour had come. Fur years the Province of Auckland has beeu dead as an administrative and executive existence, and has been quite incapable of discharging the functions that a governing body should discharge. From year to year it has been dependent upon charity votes from the General Government, which could only be obtained by the Superintendent and those associated with him converting themselves into faithful and obedient servants of the Ministry of the day. So long as all the Superintendents kept to the role of mere beggars and dependents, all went smoothly enough, but when Mr. Fitzherbert began to play the part of " sturdy beggar," and ask for money with a cudgel in his hand,—insisted upon getting the mouey he asked for, while at the same time he refused to vote as he was told—then Mr. Vogel revolted. The General Government has now entirely absorbed the functions of the provinces—immigration, public works, purchase and settlement of native lands —almost everything in fact which a Government should do, is done by the Geueral and not by the Provincial Government. In Auckland the General Government have control even of the police, and although the Provincial authorities have several times attempted to get the control again into their own hands,' public opinion has been so forcibly expressed to the effect that they are incapable of managing a few policemen, that they have never succeeded in regaining what deservedly passed from their hands a few years ago. The Provincial system is in fact dead, and that being so, why, in the name of all that is wholesome, should it not be buried 1

We are not going to attempt to support our argument by complaint of monstrous wrongs done to us by any Provincial Government. In fact, Provincial Executives have not had very much in their power. What we say is, that the time has come for a better form of local government. We need not be afraid that the General Government will be more powerful than it is now, when the provinces are abolished. The General Government could not possibly be more powerful than it is at present. The Provincial Governments are no check upon its power and extravagance, while they themselves prevent the formation of such local organisations as would be a restraint upon the General Government, being to a great extent independent of it.

It is likely that from Auckland will come the strongest opposition to the abolition of Provincialism. The Superintendent, the members of the Provincial Executive, and Provincial officers who may not feel very sure of their offices, will form a nucleus for agitation, and they will lead a number of unthinking people, who will think that when the Provincial Government has been taken from Auckland, the sceptre has finally departed from that city. Then in Auckland, above all other cities in New Zealand, there is a strong muster of the " dangerous," or at least disorderly class, who follow the lead of such men as George Staines, and delight in the burning of effigies, and such other scenes, and they can easily be got to howl to any extent. But the noise they make will come to very little, and we venture to say that throughout the province generally, and even in the city of Auckland, the sentiment will be that the time has come when the provincial form of government should be abolished, and all sensible men will be prepared to give calm and even favourable consideration to any proposed system of local government which may be proposed as a substitute.

The Warden's Court was formally adjourned yesterday until Tuesday next, when the drainage cases will come on for hearing.

We notice that trees are being planted in Queen-street between Albert and Cochrane Streets. Some time ago Mr R. Graham made an offer to the Borough Council to supply trees to be planted along the streets, provided the Council planted and protected them, The Council declined to undortake the work, and Mr Graham then obtained permission to plant some as specimens at his own coit, and fence them round for protection. This is now being done, and we have no doubt when the trees take root and grow, they will greatly- improve the appearance ef the streets in which they are being planted.

The funeral of the late James McCafferty took place yesterday, and, for a private funeral, was one of the largest we have seen at the Thames. The members of tlia Armed Constabulary Force, including Inspector Bullen and the members of the Hibernian Society (who did not appear in regalia) attended, and, in addition, a very large number of citizens testified their respect to deceased by following his remains to the cemelery.

A Baptist soiree was held in the church, Willoughby-street, last evening, which was well attended. The Rev. J, Davis presided. The object of the soiree was to discuss among the members of the church the best method of providing a sinking fund for the extinction of the debt on their minister's residenco. After discussion it was announced that a sufficiency of weekly subscriptions had been promised to extinguish the debt in a very short time. The Chairman delivered a very interesting and instructive elementary lecture on geology, which was much appreciated by the audience, Addresses were also delivered by Messrs Kenshaw, Mason, and Grigg, interspersed with music and singing by the choir, conducted by Mr Grigg. A vote of thanks to the Kev. MiDavis for his lecture terminated the proceedings

A young lady's suggestion comes to us under the signature of "Polly," as follows:—"To the Editor: Dear Mr Editor,—Seeing in your paper of the 2nd a paragraph stating that the new rifle range at Parawai would be open in about a week, I would suggest, iu order to get up an interesting match on that day, that the unmarried ladies subscribe amongst themselves and purchase a ring which would be fired for by the bachelors, the conditions to be as follows:—The winner of the ring to have possession of the same for six months; if, at the end of that time he should not have made himself a respectable member of the community by taking to himself a wife, he is to return the ring for competition again, Aud i think that points should be allowed to inferior shots, because if there were uot my brother Bob, who is in the Thames Scottish, and is a good_ shot, would beat my ' cousin' Saui, who is in the Navals, and it wouldn't be fair at all, for between you and I, Mr Editor, I'd much prefer Sain to win. 'l'he boys, poor fellows, are all so ' regular down in the mouth' on aciount of the dull limes, that I think wo [girls ought really to try ami do something to cheer them up, and cause perhaps a little fun on the opening dayof the new range, 1 ' .

I A correspondent, signing himself "Look Ahead," writes:—"To the Editor: Sir, — May I as!; is it the iutention of the candidates for scats in the Council to explain their views to the ratepayers before the day of election, or must we be as on the last occasion, driven to the necessity of voting for men without our having any idea as to what their future course of conduct will be? I would beg to suggest that the three retiring members call us together, and shov us the necessity that there existed for voting away, in salaries and other" wise, the large amount of money that has been voted. To the.new candidates I would say, show us how you propose to pay the liabilities already undertaken, and yet at the same time avoid the striking of such a high rate as at tho present tiuie, through the lavish behaviour of our wiseacres, we are threatened with. 1 '

From Melbourne we learn that a Miss Turner has just been elected to the pastorate of a Unitarian Church there. We undsrstand that Mrs M. A. Colclough has been invited to go to Melbourne, where she is promised au engagement suited to her scholarly attainments,

The Otago Dvly Times, referring to tho meeting at the Thames re the abolition of the provinces and the resolution passed that a readjustment of the .representation should precede it, says:— *' At Urahamstown, the meeting not only expressed approval of the action takea by the Government, but also, in a second resolution, drew attention to an important point, which deserves consideration. The Thames people have hit a very decided blot, Mr Fitzherbert has given notice of a resolution to the effect that prior to any organic changes being made in the Constitution there should be an appeal to the country. This proposition is based upon the assumption that the House as now constituted does not fairly represent the country. Perhaps not. That may be so, or otherwise. But, however that may be, it is quite certain that, as thing are at present, the electors do not fairly represent the people, A very large number of our most intelligent citizens are excluded from voting by the existing defective suffrage, and if there is to be an appeal to the people in this matter, we trust that the Electoral Qualification Act will first be so amended as to enable the people to vote."

The Wellington correspondent of the N. Z, Herald forwards a telegram which confirms the substance ot the Post's report of Mt Vogel's interview with Mr Stafford, given elsewhere, and adds:—"Mr Vogel says his health requires change of air, and if he cannot go home he will probably follow Russell to Sydney. He is much disappointed at Stafford's refusal and attitude."

The Wellington Tribune says"The Mayor of Milton carries on rather a miscellaneous retail trade. He has not been made a J.P., and Mr Macandrew wished to know the reason why. By one member of Parliament he is described as a baker, by another as a grocer, snd by a third as a publican,—which latter business his friends vehemently disclaim, (why 1 or wherefore does not appear). There surely can be no difficulty in finding out whether the Mayor keeps a public-house or not, so that his J.P.-ship for 12 months may be settled at once."

The announcement that yesterday Mr James Milner would offer for sale by public auction, at the Provincial Council Hall, a number of sections adjoining the training wall, Dunedin, drew together about 60 persons All the land, except sections 7 and 18, block 47, is unreclaimed, and the total sum realised by the Provincial Government was £16,600. The terms were, 25 per cent, cash, and 25 per cent, at 6,12, and 24 months, bearing interest at 6 per cent, per annum. The total area sold was 4f acres; the average per acre realised, £3,500; estimated cost of reclamation, to be borne by the purchaser, £2,000 per acre, making the price obtained equal to £5,500 per acre of reclaimed land, and being £1,200 in advance of the price obtained at the last sale,— Dunedin Guardian,

Two actions for libel have been instituted against the Melbourne Pencil by the Kev. M. Symons, a Wesleyan, in consequence ot two satires on Callaghan and Co.'s boot seizures, and the seduction of a girl at Castlemaine by a member of the Wesleyan Church there.

We are assured by an American paper that in the United States a case of cremation has actually.occurred. The 1 crematse' wa3 (Jeorge Opdyke, son of Dr. Francis Opdyke, a native of Heidelberg. The body, which produced 'a quart of whitish grey ashes,' was burnt in a chimney of ' peculiar construction,' which had been constructed in pere Opdyke'a house, and the ashes, placed in an urn, now ornament his study mautlepi'.ce. There is one other little fact, however: the experiment cost £2,000.

In the Bolton Chronicle (England), of the 2nd May, 1874, is the following, under the head of telegrams, page 5" A woman struck blind.—An awful affair is reported from London, A woman who had been taken before the Magistrate on a charge of drunkenness and discharged, was in a public-house in Wellsstreet, Whitechapel, with some companions, when she said, 'I was locked up for being drunk last night, but God strike me stone blind if I was drunkl' Immediately she had uttered these words, it was found that her dreadful appeal had been realised, for she had become totally blind."

This is how one of the Hawke's -Bay newspapers reviles the Press Telegraph Agency:— " We are quite sure our readers, nay, the whole colony, will rejoice to hear that the Alexandra natives are all busy 'planting' oats. Such, however, is the gratifying news forwarded us from Alexandra, and telegraphed throughout New Zealand, by the enterprising manager of the Press Telegraph Agency. To-morrow we cau promise our readers the price of butter and carrots in Canterbury and Wellington. On Fridays we always do receive that important information. When the Alexandra agent has no news, he telegraphs that such is the case, and it is satisfactory to have our minds relieved on the subject. This sort.of thing costs money; but the manager of the agency has, of course, immense discrimination, and, unfortunately, the power also to flash along the wires the veriest rubbish that only an idiot would think of colonial importance worthy of publication."

Ships appear to be very great curiosities at Napier. This is the high-falutin' style in which the Telegraph announces the arrival of the 'Winchester'at that port:—" At an early hour on Sunday morning, a white speck on the clear but far-distant hoizoa was seen, which betokened to authorities on nautical matters the approach of a large vessel. As the day wore on, any doubts that might have existed.on the subject were soon dispelled, and crowds of people assembled on the beach and on the hills overlooking the bay, to witness that noble sight —a ship in full sail."

A Wellington contemporary has the following:—"Just before the departure of the ' Phcebe' from Picton on her last trip, an individual of pugilistic inclinations was served with a summons for assault; lie, however, treated the matter quite as. a joke, laughing at the confiding simplicity of the police in imagining that he was going to take any notice of an ordinary summons, and took his departure by the steamer, Service of the summoua was served in Picton, a warrant issued, and the police in Wellington telegraphed to about the intended visitor, who, on his arrival, was welcomed some new acquaintance, who kindly insisted on n finding him accommodation for the night, and yesterday morning introduced him at the Police Court, where au order was made to provide him ■ with a return passage to Picton. He will, • doubtless, there learn the object of a summons, and the consequence of neglecting it."

' Out of the 2,7000zs of Northern Territory gold refined at tho Victorian Mint, nearly a tenth turns out to be silver, \

The South Australian Government have received a telegram from Mr Little,' Superintendent of Telegraphs, Port Darwin, speaking highly of the prospects of the territory. Seven steam engines are going night and. day. order is prevailing on the diggiugs. The alluvial diggers are doing well, and hm worn: for the next two years, , The Minister ot Justice expressed his opinion tint a favour- ! able turn has occurred iu the history ot tns [teriUoiy.