THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, MAY 24.

It would serve no purpose to take notices of or refute the false statements which ar« limning the round of ueveral new»pnpm in ofclicr Provinces. In most cases our contemporaries are deceived by mendacious correspondents. The Lytldton Time*, for instance, had a long letter from a correspondent in Dunedin as full of falsehoods as it well could ho. For intanco, ho represented that the Provincial Council had authorised a loan of a million-to pay off a debt of about £70,000 for Harbor improvements, and for repayment of the 1850 Loan—whereas he must, of course, have been aware that the Imn was principally for public works and for immigration. Again, he stated that Mr Fox, in his now celebrated letter, knew nothing of thoßaynor charge against Mr. Macandrew ; whereas, the letter was in reply to one in which Major Ricliardson stated tliat, having laid the particulars of tltat case before the General Government, the Provincial Government had done its duty, The correspondent cannot protend that lie merely made a mistake, for he himself gives the respective dates. The Itayner case, he says, was disposed of by vote in the Provincial Council in 1801, and Mr. Fox's letter was written in June, 1802. Knowing these dates, he must have, at least, surmised that Mr. Fox's letter referred to the Raynor case ; and the knowledge to which he pretends of Major Richardson's letter would have told him such was the fact. Yet he says, " this letter was in June, 1802, and of "course referred to the two first cases, a Raynot's not having come before them "at the tiruo." Seeing that a few lines previously he admits tho Rayner amount " has been wiped oil* the books by a vote " of tho Provincial Council in 18*51," it is difficult to believe tliat the misstatement was not deliberate. But yet these and other similar statements form the basis of long diatribes in the Lyltdtou Times and other papers.

A groat many of these matter little ; but there is ones of consequence, for it is made the foundation of nil the complaints which the uxost virulent opposers of the Province are raising against it As far as wo can ascertain, there are no persona, excepting those immediately interested, who justify the conduct of the General Government, nor do any of the papers pretend to do so, In the ranks of tho»e who do not approve 01 the conduct of the Province, there are none who thoroughly approve of that of the General Government. Amongst the Provincial opponents are to be found many who contend that the course pursued by the General Government should have been confined to disallowing tho election. The rest are unanimous in disapproving the manner in which the General Government has played with tho delegation. They blame in unmeasured terras such an appointment as Mr. Bradshaw's. They contend that whilst withholding tho delegation from Mr. Macandrew, tho convenience and interest of the Provinces should have been to the utmost consulted, In fact, they allow that there is no adequate provision, for any government than that by the Province j and that, theroforo, whilst withholding the delegation, the General Government should not have attempted to obtain an irregular foothold in the Province by bribing officials and seizing revenue ; but should have laid the matter up until the Assembly met, and proper provision one way or the other was made, and in the meanwhile should have allowed, without the delegation, the Government to be administered I with the assistance, concurrence, and aid !of the Provincial Government. " But the | calumniators of the Province, whilst .admitting that the General Government ! wore to blame, shower on the Province j their chief wrath because they pretend that the Government have used the 1 quarrel lor the purpose of manufacturing I political and personal capital. The Province, they maintain, did not care for the constitutional or legal question, nor for the interests of tho Provincial creditors, nor for the welfare of thoresidents on the Goldfields, nor of those who have, in.common with the Province, many Provincial interests. They maintain, in fact, that the dispute has been used as a means of fostering political agitation, thai; the Pro? Tincial Government instekd of desiring a settlement or temporary adjustment^ we eager to keep tih* quaxrel up, and magnify it. Such is the substance of the attacks upon, the Province and the Provincial Government r^^-Ji^y^feI''--^ assertion of their falseness; and the proof is simple, ft exist* ia iniiing^ and

throws the whole weight of the charges back upon those in whose interests the false statementsore made. The fact is that the Provincial Government, despite the affront to the Province contained in Mr, Bradshaw's .appointment, in the powers given to him, and in the insulting disregard of anything like Provincial concurrence or aid evinced by Mr Stafford, were anxious for a compromise, and attempted to bring about one. The Superintendent telegraphed to. the Governor, and distinctly offered the fairest and easiest compromise—one in fact that I tnet exactly all that the complainers have'! since asked for. Ho said;— Let there be ! no delegation until the Assembly meets. There are no practical di/Hculties in the way of continuing as we have continued since my election. Tho Goldfields can be administered as usual j only, instead of giving into the hands of a number of unfitted persons irresponsible power, let the Provincial Government 'continue, as it has since Mr Dick's retirement, to overlook and supervise. Let, in short, the ]>ower remain in tho Governor in Council, but the administration of the Goldfields continue as at present until the Assembly meets, Such was tho substance of the Superintendent's recommendation to the Governor, and undeniably it contained a proposal much more safe, and in | every way more in accordance with | public welfare, than the entrusting to Mr. Bradshaw or Mr. Pyke the slightest thing in tho shape of personal power. Yet the fate of the telegram was simple. It drove His Excellency to Auckland, after he had first informed the Superintendent that lie had submitted it to his responsible advisers. It is not difficult to surmise tliat the proposal met His Excellency's personal approval, and tliat it was necessary ho should go away if the Government were to continue upon the course in which they had embarked. The responsible advisers have not returned an answer to the Telegram. In abstaining from doing so, and from acceding to ita recommendation, they have shown that i they themselves wore guided by personal I considerations, or by an anti-provincial policy, and not by a wish to meet the circumstances of the case.

To-day being the anniversary of the birthday of Her Most Gracious Majesty, the Volunteers are to assemble at the Custom Ilouftc, for a/eu dr. jok, early during the forenoon. Directly afterwanls, members of tho No. 2 (.Scottish) Company will proceed to tho Kaikorai ranges, to compete for a cup given by Capt. Tolmie, and for other prizes. In the afternoon, there will be other matches, open to all Volunteers, the principal prize being a handsome Bible, preaoutcd bj' Mr William Hay, bookseller, Princes ntreet. In the evuoing, the amateur concert in aid of tho Organ and Choir Fund of All Saints' Church will take place at St. George's Hall, the concert having been postponed on account of the inclemency of the weather on Wednesday evening. The performances at the Princess Theatre—"The Wife," and "Little Don Giovanni"—will be under the patronage of Mr Speaker, and the Members of the Provincial Council.-—There are three balls announced for tins evening:—-One of the L-iyal Dunedin .Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.P. at the Oddfellows' Hall; a second of the Naval Brigade, at the Anderson's Bay Hotel; and the third, in the vestibule of the Princess Theatre, after the cloae of the theatrical performances.

The Report of tho Select Committee on the Harbor Department, as brought up in the Provincial Council, on Wednesday evening, 1»y Mr Thomson, was .ts follows :—"Your Committee have examined several witnesses, and have had before them a largo amount of documentary evidence. They would now give, very shortly, the result of their investigations. It is the opinion of your Committee that the Harbor Department could easily be made self-supporting. It appears that Capt. Thomson, tlio Harbor Master, brought this matter before the Government in a communication dated 29th January last, and hv has entered more fully into tlio subject in a Report addressed to tho Chairman of this Committee. Both these documents the Committee recommend to the careful consideration of the Government. Your Committee are of opinion that although certain Bye-laws and Regulations..were issued by the Superintendent for the guidance of tho Pilot Board, yet that the powers of the Board were not clearly defined. One position taken by the Board was tlwt they had power to appoint or dismiss subordinate officers of tho Pilot Staff. In the opinion of your Committee the Harbor Master should bo responsible to the Board for the efficiency of tho service. If interfered with in this particular, all responsibility must rest with the Board. Tlio exercise of this power by the Board has also tho effect of weakening the authority of the Harbor Master, and thus has a tendency to lessen the efficiency of tho service. There is only one instance that has come under the observation of" the Committee in which the Board has used this power. It was resolved to reduce the staff of Pilots from six to five. The emesfcian of the officer who should retire was brought before the Board, Three of the members took the view that tho Junior -Hied; should retire, aad- two that the least: efficient officer should leave the service. The Harbor Master was one of the minority. In his Report to the Government, dated Ist i May, 1867, he refers to the decision of the i majority, arid the principle: onwhich it was founded ; hut your Coxamitteo were very much eurprisod, oa examiumg the document, to find the passage relating to the decision of the Board\Btrack out, and on comparing it with the printed Report laid on the Table of the House, thaHbe passage had been omitted. As the passage in question, is highly important, and as reports when printedishoold be prmied in foil, your Cora-:Jßcuili^-i-lwW-..findUnM:v*fcui*;--iO»e>'-4aDi*wr» pau»Kraph m C^pt^ I^coiisoa'* Report, relating

to the Kbfc Service, should be: printed^ It; i« the opinion of your Committee, thai the Government should, thissession,introduce a Bill into the Council with the view of making this department gelf-VuppoHing, m& at the ' Barae time promote its efficieaeyV The Committee we sorry that the Government did j toot adopt a similar recommendation by aj Select Committee tiiat sat on the Harbor Department last Session. All the evidence that haH been led by yoar Committee thi» Swmon, goea to show the absolute necessity of immediate action on the part of the Government. In the event of the Government introducing a Bill, the Committee would recommend that the duties of any Marine Board that may be formed should l>c clearly defined, thai; the appointment and dismissal of officers should rest entirely with the Harbor Master, and tliat all corrc3j>on<lence j between the Government and officers should come through Harbor Master orMarineßoard. Your Committee recommend the following Resolutions for adoption by the House, viz.: —1. That the Government bo requested to introduce a Bill this mmwn, i« terms of the Final Report of Select Committee of Provincial Council, session 22, with the view of promoting the efficiency of the Harbor i Department, and m/iking tha department I self-supporting. 2. That.all correspondence between the Government and officers in the Harbor Department should, be conducted through the Harbor Master and Marine j Board, when formed. 3. That all Iteports j laid on the table should bo submitted with- i out mutilation. 4. That the Government | ahould recogni/se the recommendation of the Harbor Master in the appointment or dig-1 missal of his subordinate officers." "The Provoked Husband" was again played at the Princess Theatre last evening. The state of the streets had no doubt some influence in causing the attendance to be somewhat scant, or it is inconceivable that a piece of such sterling merit as "The Provoked Husband " should not have attracted a larger numl>er. The piece waa put upon the stage with every attention to circumstance ; and apart from the plot, it ia instructive as a historical reminiscence | of the manners and customs of the period. The language and dialogue have been carefully weeded of that license winch, though considered innocent enough one hundred and fifty years ago, would not be tolerated now, while the wit and incidents of the plot are retained. The " Provoked Husband" was a ' favorite when it first appeared, and is equally deserving of favor in its modern adaptation, We understand it ia not to be repeated, which, if true, will Ijo regretted by many who, through being unaware of its excellence as a drama, have not seen it. This evening, Sheridan Knowles's beautiful play of "The Wife" will be produced, under the patronage of the Speaker and Members of the Provincial Council. The part of Mariana will bo represented by Miss Bo wring. The burlesque of Don Giovanni will follow. There can Ihj little doubt that the house will be full. , An inquest was held, last week, at Wellington, as to the death of an infant son of Mr C. D, Barraud, of Lambton Quay, who i had been placed in the charge of Mva Milne, of Nairoe street;, to nurse. On Monday j "night Mrs Milne took the child1 to bed with her about ten o'clock, and gave it a bottle containing food to suck. The child fell asleep with the mouth-piece of the bottle in ] its mouth. On waking the next morning Mrs Milne found the child lying on its face quite dead. Dr Kilgour gave it as his opinion that the actual cause of death was suffocation, from the child having J fallen on ita face and being jtuable to rouse | itself. ■ * i In the Report on the Harbor Department, which is published in another column, there is a recommendation of the Select Committee, " that all reports laid on the table should bo submitted without mutilation.". We presume that this his reference to a clause*whioh was struck out of the report of the Harbor Master, for the year ending 31st March, ISG7, as sent in by Capt. Thomson; and which has now been printed by order of the Select Committee on the Department. It is as follows : —" The Pilot Service : The Pilot Staff is to b<* reduced from six to five Pilots, Mr Pilot Bain, according to a decision of the Pilot Board, having to retire on the lGth June next. Against this decision and the principle upon which it was founded, I recorded my disapproval. The majority of the members held that in case of a reduction of the staff the pilot last entering the service should ?>e the first to retire, while in my opinion the least efficient pilot should have been selected for being discharged, and had this view besn adopted, Mr Bain's services would certainly have been retained. The reduced staff is quite adequate to the efficient performance of the duties, and since the pilotage has again been made compulsory, the revenue derivable from pilotage dues will meet the whole expenditure of the establishment, and tints relievo the Government from the expense (L 630 per annum) of the maintenance of a boat's crew at the Heads. I also anticipate that a reduction in the rate* of pilotage does can also shortly be made and still leave the service remunerative. "■■■• Mr Donald Reid, ac chairman of the Select Committee on the Taieri District Petition, laid on the table of the Council last evening the following report:—"3? our Committee having carefully enquired into the subject remitted to them for consideration, and taken evidence therein, have the honor to ropoti—lat. That ttie vote of last session for the erectionof abridge at "Taeiri Junction" has been expended in the erection of a bridge which will not be available to the public, nor the settlers generally, without an additional outlay, variously estimated afc from three hundred to several thousands of pounds, to form the lino of road on which, the bridge has been erected and the road when formed will bo liable to inundations. 2nd. That the present wad along | the banks of the Taieri Rivor (upon which, it was intended that the Bridge should be placed) is a passable road at all seasons, and is now open for traffic; no compensation claims are made, and the only obstacle to the use of this rood is the want of a Bridge across the SHventtiream at its * junction with the Taieri River. 3rd* That the interests, o 1

$Ie peMtaqners and of the public requires that a Bridge should b© erected at the Taieri Junction, as originally intended, in order to secure an immediately available roadway, in accordance with a vote of the Council at its last session. The attention of your Committee baa, by the evidence given, been forcibly directed to the necessity that exists for a more careful supervision of the expenditure of moneys voted by the Council It appears that in the case now under consideration, the vote has been ex2>emled in an irregular manner, inasmuch as tenders for the work were not publicly invited, nor does it appear io have been carried out under any officer of the Government, or under any other responsible individual. It further appears that the vote has not been expended for the purpose for which it was appropriated. Your Committee recommend that a auilicient sum be placed on the Supplementary Estimates, for the purpose of erecting a bridge across the Silver Stream at the junction with the Taieri River, as originally proposed." In the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, John Smith, for drunkenness, was fined 10s ; and Henry Anderson, for drunken and disorderly conduct, was fined 30s. Alexander Moore was charged with having assaulted his wife, and was ordered to find sureties to keep the peace for three months. A number of persons were charged with having unregistered dogs in their poasossion ; but the law having been complied with, no penalties were inflicted. In one case, that against Mary Ann Hall, the defendant denied that aha' owned the dog; and an adjournment was made to enable the police to make inquiries. William Clements, for lighting a fire in the open air without having first obtained the permission of the Corporation, was fined 5s and costs.; and a similar penalty was inflicted on Mary Aim Sutton, for neglecting to keep clean premises. Charges of neglect against A. Xawson and E, Machin were adjourned until Saturday next, when, if the nnisanccs complained of are abated, no penalties will be inflicted. "Instructions to Provincial Government Agents on the Goldiields," a« given by Ilia Honor, the Superintendent, have been "published for general information." They are as follow:—" It shall be the duty of tho Provincial Government Agents on the Gold* fields—lst. To take charge of all Provincial Government property on the Goldfields in their respective districts.—2nd. To report to me upon the proceedings and conduct of all persons who assume to act under the authority of tho General Government within their respective districts.—3rd. To receive complaints from the residents within their respective districts as to any denial of justice, or difficulty in obtaining official attention to their wants. Toexamine into these complaints and report to mo ujhhi them.—4th. To allow to any person claiming t<> be an Officer of the General Government the use of such Provincial property as may seem to the Agent desirable for the benefit of the residents on tho Goldfields, on giving a receipt for tho same, and to allow the use of such property only on tho distinct understanding that such Officer will hold it at the disposal of the. Provincial Government, and will give up posseaion to such agent on demand.—sth. To report to me upon the condition of "his ! district; also from time to time to report upon any complaints as to past mai-adminis-tration." Mr A. W. Smith, tho Revising Ofticer, held a Court yesterday, in the Provincial Government Buildings, for the revision of the electoral rolls for the districts of Duncdin, Caversham, and Roslyn. Mr John Gillies, registration officer, was, of course, present ; and so were one or two gentlemen who recently interested themselves in giving assistance to make claims to bo put \ij>on the roll. The proceedings, in themselves, were utterly uninteresting; and no statement of results can l>e procured for some days. Tho lists named were not got through yesterday ; and tho Court was adjourned until ten o'clock on Saturday next. The town of Alexandra lias been declared & Municipality, under tho provisions of the Otago Municipal Corporations Ordinance. The area of tlic Municipality is 848 acres, at the junction of the Clutha and Mamiherikia Rivera, by which it is bounded on two sides, [t is divided into two wards, Manuherikia tVard and Clutha Ward, the former comprisng that portion of the Municipality north:ast from the centre of Crookliavc-n and LWbct streets, and the latter the portion to ;he couth-west of that line. The Superintendent has appointed Mr •Jeorge Duncan, M.P.C., and Mr A. Molliicn, M.P.0., Commissioners of the Waste Land Board. In noticing tho stock-trade between Tasnania aud New Zealand, tho Ttobart Town Mercury says :—" The demand for horses for STew Zealand continues, particularly at Lyt;eiton, Dunedin and Hokifcika; and in reerenc© to the lists of shipments of this lescription of stock, we find that since the joraraencement of February, there have boon shipped to those ports alone 223 horses, rained' at L 5000; and the Bella Vista, mrque, sails for Holdtika to-morrow, with a urther supply." ' , An accident happened to Mr T. 0. Ick on today last which mighty have ended more lisastrousiy. It, seems, from the report of he WaHouaiii Jferald, that Mr Ick was out hooting in the neighborhood, and in drawng the gun after him through ato fence, vith the muzzle pointing towards him, the rigger of the. gun caught against the wire, tna the gun went off, discharging its consents near tho elbow. The services of Br [)mry were called into requisition; &o yound was dressed, and we ueßeve Mr Ick s now piogreeaing favorably.