NEWS OF THE MONTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 78, 27 March 1886, Page 4

NEWS OF THE MONTH.

SUMMARY FOR HOME READERS,

AUCKLAND. N.Z.. March 27th, 1886. Politics continue to be the leading theme throughont the colony, and in view of the early approach of the Parliamentary ses' sion, things are hardening down sensibly It is now pretty well determined that Ministers have abandoned the idea of asking for a dissolution, but will call Parliament together in May, and immediately ask the House to authorise a small loan, simply to provide for the continuance of the public works expenditure, as already authorised The Cabinet will then bring down its full policy with regard to future borrowing, and if beaten, will appeal to the country. This course will obviate any sudden cessation of work, and commends itself to every impartial mind. At the samo time, it is felt that Ministers maintain an undue reticence with regard to their intentions. During the paat fortnight, all the members of the Cabinet have been ot the seat of Government, and numerous Cabinet meetings have takon place ; but the only tangible

result arrived at, so far as is known, is that

Parliament will be called together for the do9patch of business in the second week of May, .Even that seems moro a matter of inference than of positive knowledge Aa straws indicating which way the wind blows, it may, however, bo stated that the Minister of Mines is preparing a codifying bill embracing all tho statutes relating to miners and mining, and the Dofonce Minister has in hand an amending and codifying bill relating to the Armed Constabulary Force. Thia looks as if Ministers at any rate expoct to most Parliament in the ordinary course.

The event of the month has been tht* inauguration of a vigorous political campaign by Hir George liroy, in tho prospect of there being an early appeal to the constituencies. Commencing wilh an address delivered to a crowded audience ii_ the Theatre Royal, Auckland, at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, Sit Goorgo has sot out to • isit ali the centres of population in the colony. At Invercargill and Dunedin ha has spoken to large and enthusiastic audiences ; at the latter place indeed, despite an at.emp. nta<l--< by

f< section of the Liberal party ... injure hia meeting, he whs so popular that he dolivered a secoud address in response to a general invitation to do co. He

has not yet spoken at Christohurch. which ia the great stronghold of the Government, but it is not forgotten that Sir George Grey has boen a greater popular idol with tho people of Christohurch than even Sir Julius Vogel is, and there can be no doubt of his success in impressing hia views upon the electors thore. Tho chiof topic dwelt upon by the veteran statesman

in thia campaign ia that of tho Stato reaum

ing possoasion of largo tracts of lands hold by speculators ; and tho salient features of hia achemo will bo found embodied in a report of his Auckland address given in another column. A bill to give effect to these viows was introduced last session by Sir George Grey, and it is not improbable, in view of the popular feeling on the subject, that the present Government will adopt the ideas therein expressed and proceed to put into practice what cannot fail to be an interesting experiment in land nationaliaation. It goea without saying that there are dangers and difficulties inherent in any such schomo; but it ia felt that, if conacientioualy done, the resumption of State ownership of these lands would prove on inestimable boon, because of the facilities it would give for settlement and cultivation. The agricultural depression is at tho presont time keener tho n the industrial, although vere little is heard about it; and in these circumstances the country may not hesitate to apply a remedy hitherto untried, and the results of which are extremely problematical.

Coincident with Sir George Grey's reentry, with renewed powers, into the political arena, there has arisen a spontaneous movement among the citizena of Auckland to present the ex-Governor and ox-Promior with aome mark of their appreciation of tho valuable servicea rendered by him to the colony in various capacities. This takes the form of a congratulatory address on the occasion of his attaining his seventyfourth year, which takes place on the 14th of April next. Already many thousands have signed the address, and it is worthy of remark that colonists of thirty and forty years' standing are most eager to render their tribute of regard to the qualities of the man whom thoy knew in the early and troublous times aa the autocratic Governor of a Crown Colony, and commander of the military forces; but who has since then takon the lead in every progreaaive step, aa he took the initiative in securing Responsible Government for the colony, under a Constitution perhaps the most liberal of any State on earth. This act of homage towards our greatest colonial statesman has doubtless been to some extent stimulated by the warm eulogy passed on Sir Genrge Grey by Mr Fronde in " Oceana," while it has probably also some connection with the approaching completion of the new Public Library buildings, and tho pending removal of Sir George's rare and valuable collection of books from his island home of Kawau to the city. The movement haa been carefully divested of all political signification,so that it may be a truly national tribute to the statesmanship, unselfishness, and patriotism of the worthy knight. Among tho Government policy measures foreshadowed by Ministers in " their addressee, that of " protection for colonial industries " has been adhered to with unanimity. Sir Julius Vogel in particular made a strong point of that plank in hie platform, and apparently the subject is not to be lost sight of. During Sir Julius Vogel'B recent visit to Auckland he was waited on by a deputation from the Trade and Labour Congress, consisting of Mr J. Grant (President) and Mr Famall (Secretary), regarding the appointment of a Royal Commission on Local Industries. Sir Julius, after listening to the arguments of the deputation, promised to consult his colleagues and reply in writing. This he has done promptly, as on March 15 Mr Grant received the I following letter:—"The Treasury, Wellington. March 11th, 1886. J. Grant, Esq., Auckland. Dear Sir, —I have brought before my colleagues the representations mado by you and Mr Farnall on behalf of the Labour Congress in favour of appoint

ing a Royal Commission to examine into questions relating to local induatriea. They have reaolved, instead, to ask Parliament to appoint a select committee of both Houses to inquire into tho conditions of local industries which, within a reasonable timo, promise to be self-supporting.—l am, faithfully yours, Julius Vogel." This ia in some quarters looked upon as an abandon ment of the proposed " protective tariffa ;" but wiser people, who know that Select Committees can prove one side of a question as readily as another, accept it as an indication that the Government are meaning to carry out thoir declared intention. The Government have resolved upon a special mission to Fiji, and Mr F. J. Moss, M.H.R., and Mr Seed, Secretary of H.M. Customs, aro appointed delegates. They leave, wo believe, in tho course of a week or so. The mission is said to be " confidential," but we presume it can only relate to two objects—the promotion of annexation or theestablishmentof a reciprocity arrangement between the two colonies. The Hon. Dr. Macgregor, Colonial Secretary of Fiji, recently passed through New Zealand on his way home from the Federal Council, and last year the Hon. John Ball, M.L.C., while on a visit to Now Zealand, urged the subject of reciprocity upon tbo New Zealand Government. The petition of tho settlers of Fiji in favour of annexation is also an evidence of the desire of the people to enter into closer relations with this colony. The selection of Mr Mosa aa one of the Commissioners resta, no doubt, on his former residence in Fiji, and hia intimato acquaintance with its capabilities and public men. Mr Seed will, of course, go as the official and technical representative to deal with Customs questions. We do not know that any exception can be made to the mission or the Commissionera, but we doubt whether it will achieve any practical result, Its fruits, at all events, will not go beyond the establishment of some reciprocity agreement, which may, how ever, form the basis of the ultimate federation of the' two colonies.

The newa that Mr Bryce, late Native Minister, had beon successful in his libol action against. Mr Kusden, the would-be historian of New Zealand, ha? been the Hubjeot of hearty congratulation throughout the colony, aliko in the press, tho exchange, the atreet, and the workshop. The exemplary damages of £5,000 are taken as proving that Mr Bryce completely succeeded in exonerating himself from tho serious charges made againat him in Mr Busden's book, and this fact is also gratifying, as it removes from the character of colonists in general a moat undeserved reproach with regard to their treatment of the native race.

The Customs roturns for February show the amounts collected ot the principal porta to be as followa :- Auckland, £26,825 7s 7d; Wellington, £24,405 17a 9d ; Lyttelton and Chriotehurch, £18,704 8s; Dunedin, £25,657; 5s Id ; total for the colony, £117,039 2s Id, and for 11 months to £301,(595 6s lOd, a deficit on estimate of £8,990 Is 4d, which will probably be made up this month. The beer duty is as fol-

lows :—Auckland, £1,045 2s 6d ; Wellington, £4407s 5d : Christchurch, £937 4s 5d ; Dunedin, £1,016 3a lid: total for the

colony, £4,754 18s sd. For eleven months, £59,059 11a: deficit on estimate, £357 2s lid.

The Government of this colony have advised tho Victorian Government that they Cannot send a representative to the proposed Conference on Admiral Tryon's proposals for a Bchome of colonial defence, as insufficient timo ia allcwod for the consideration of the achemo. They propose tho postponement of the Conference, but the likelihood is that it will go on, like the Federal Council, without our co-operation. In dofonce, as in other qiiestions,New Zealand's interests aro not identical with thoso of tho Australian colonies, and it ia only by maintaining an attitude of dissent that thia fact can bo impressed on the Imperial authorities, and their policy shaped so as to be consonant with tho aspirations and necessities of this colony. Tho gold prospectors havo nearly all returned from the King country, and givedoleful accounts Thereareuo indicationsofgold in the Tuhua country, which is reported all pumico. Some of the men have gone to Rangitoto, but they aro not at allsanguino. So far no gold has been found by tho prospectors. They have searched tho country pretty well, but could find nothing more than specks. In contradistinction to these disappointing reports, discoveries of gold have been mode in the Waikato country, as well as at other places where its existence ivas unsuspected. Despite pa*t blunders, of which thistles, jptirrowa, and rabbits are constant reminders, New Zcalanders seem never to tiro of acclimatisation experiment*. The Government aro now thinking of introducing the chemois to tho colony. It would find in the Southern Alpa a habitat quite congonial and suited in every way to its tnstoa und hahita. Dr. Yon Haast will make inquiries when at Homo aa to tho cost and feasibility, and the neighbouring colonies havo been communicated with and taiso no objection. Thoir conseut was necessary, aa chamois aro liable to cattle diaoaae. The German squadron, under Admiral Knorr, which lately arrived at Sydney from Zanzibar, is now tit route for Auckland, having loft Sydney on Tuesday last. The squadron consists of tho frigate Bismarck, flying tho Admiral's flag, and carrying 420 otlicors and men ; tho frigate Goeiaomau, with 405 otlicors and men; and the corvotto Olga, with a complement of 200. Though tho commercial depression is passing away, the labour market continues overstocked, and thoro are a considerable numbor of men out of work. Ia Auckland district there ia no particular pressure of diatreso, but in Otago and Canterbury there ore hundreds of unemployed workmen clamouring for Government or Corporation relief works. At Dunedin, the men wore given work by the City Council at 4a por day; but thoy "struck" for another sixpence, and got it too! That for ordinary pick and shovel work may seem good remuneration ; but all things aro comparative, and men who havo boon accustomed to 7s or 8s for a short day's work are apt to view 4s as a paltry pittance. It is hoped that a resumption of public works will restore a bettor condition of thingß by creating a demand for labour. There i 8 no amelioration to bo looked for by emigrating elaewhere j for in South Auatralia and New South Wales things aro reported to be worse that hero; in Victoria, affairs are certainly no better ; while there ore many men coming to Australasia at prosent as a happy release from the depression prevailing in South Africa. Labour being redundant at harvest

time in tho South Island, there muet be moro widespread distress shortly, unless things change for the better

Afoeling of uneasiness has been produced, not only in this colony, but throughout Australia, by the publication!^ the French proposals to annex tho New Hebrides Islands. When there is coupled with the declared wishes of France the further news that it is in contemplation, to send a thousand recidivistes to the Isle of Pines, near New Caledonia, it gives ground for apprehension on the part of Australian colonists,

New Zealand, in this matter, is quito at ono with the Australian coloniea, though we have not the same interest in tho New Hebrides as in Samoa, Cork Islands, and others. It ia not, we think, necessary or deairable to set up a " Munroe doctrine " in the South Pacific on behalf of federated Australia, From legitimate colonising or trading enterprises, carried on under a foreign flag, we anticipate no evil consequences ; but the French aro not a colonising race, and there is very much cause to fear that the Now Hebrides, like New Gale donia, would be used as a place of deportation for French criminals, who would turn these lovely island? into nurseries of a mongrel race, to become in after-time a acourge to the peaceful, law abiding communitieaof the South. On these grounds, Australia and New Zealand are more than justified in raising their voices in a united and determined protest against any concessson to French claims for supremacy over the New Hebrides.

Native affairs are quiescent and favourable. There have been reports of trifling obstruction offered by the Maoris to road and roil way construction ; but these, when examined, proved to be of no significance. The natives in the very centre of the King Countiy are rapidly getting the titles of their lands individualiced, which is tho first stepto selling or leasing them to Europeans. Okakukura, a block of eighty thousand acres to the south of J alee Taupo, passed the Native Land Court the other day, and the Government, it ia said, are negotiating for the purchase of a portion adapted for settlement. Te Heu Heu and hia brother chiefs have agreed, in accordance with a desire expreeeed by the hon. the Native Minister, to make the mountains of Ruapehu, Nearuhoe, and Tongariro— which ore partly in this block inalienable reserves, which are intended as public recreation grounds, and orders of Court have been made accordingly. A large reservation at Tokanu, including its numerous hot springs, is also being arranged for the purpose of a township and agricultural settlement, much of the land in that

neighbourhood being well suited for the latter purpose. The Court is at present adjudicating upon the claim of Te Heu Heu and Heteri Te Paerata to the lands on the western side of Lake Taupo, a large block of about four hundred thousand acres extending from the Waikato River, near Whakamaru, to Hurakia and Tuhua. Thia covers a large portion of the country about which rumours of gold and other minerals have been rife for years past, and which will now soon be thoroughly tested. Hon. Mr Ballance intends next session to introduce a bill appropriating 2,000 acres, in various parts of the North Island, for landless Maoris. He is at tho present time conferring with a large Maori gathering_ at Aramoho, near Wanganui, and adjusting several questions in dispute.