OUR HOME LETTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 93, 23 April 1891, Page 5

OUR HOME LETTER.

Auckland, April 23.

The past few weeks have been weeks of unusual festivity in Auckland, consequent upon the presence here of the Australian Squadron, with Admiral Lord Charles Scott, while His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Onslow were also enjoying their summer visit in " the sunny north." The distinguished visitors were entertained at a most successful ball given by the citizens of Auckland on His Excellency's return from his visit to the Urewera country. A second ball in their honour was given by the Northern Club, and the round of festivities was brought to a fitting conclusion by a ball at Government House, at which over 500 guests were present. The vessels of the squadron have since left for other ports of the Australasian station, H.M.s. Orlando going to Sydney via Norfolk Island to take on from the island Bishop Selwyn, who is reported to be dangerously ill from malarial sciatica.

' On Monday evening last His Excellency the Governor started on a trip through the Northern part of this province, accompanied by the Countess of Onslow and Mr Guthrie, A.D.C. Lord Onslow expects to be absent about eight days v and on the completion of this journey he will have made himself acquainted with the whole of this portion of this colony. He has now secured photographic views of the Northern Wonderland and bush, that wiil no doubt be highly prized and of great value for future reference.

, Parliament is expected to meet for the despatch of business in the second week of June, and in the meantime the Ballance Ministry are effecting radical changes in the administration of several departments under their control. They have been urged upon a retrenchment crusade to some extent to meet charges for special services, and an anticipated deficit in land revenue, amounting altogether to about Amongst the larger items of new expenditure is the sum of New Zealand's contribution towards the cost of the Australasian squadron, and to recoup this outlay the Governmentpropose to make very considerable reductions in other items of defence expenditure. The deficit from land sales is expected to be about less than the sum received from that source last year, the census which is now being taken will cost about ;£ 15,000, and there will be an additional charge of f in connection with property assessment. To meet these extraordinary charges, and in pursuance of a well-defined policy of retrenchment in public expenditure, the Government have materially reduced the cost of maintenance in the Land and Survey Departments, the Native Land Department, the Stock Department and Defence. Further retrenchment is contemplated in the Justice Department, and the Government will be able to meet Parliament with a very much reduced pay sheet. ,£6,500 per annum is to be saved by amalgamation of the Land aud Survey Departments, and reductions in the Stock Department will save another The number of judges in the Native Lands Court has been reduced from thirteen to eight.

Extensive reform is contemplated in the Native Land Laws administration. It is proposed tc strip the Native Land Court of some of the superfluous paraphernalia associated with it hitherto. The character of the reforms will depend to a great extent upon the report of the Native Land Laws Commission, which is still taking the evidence of natives and others with a view to the amendment of existing legislation. At present, the cost of putting native lands through the Court frequently swallows up the whole value of the land to the native owners, and the Native Minister is determined to effect a very considerable change in this respect.

. The Government, acting upon a suggestion from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, have dratteda bill for amendment of the Joint Stock Companies Act, giving joint stock companies power of so altering their articles of association as to enable them to extend their field of operations. They have also determined to go on with the Civil Service Classification Bill, under which all promotion will be by merit. An Electoral Bill, which the Government have in contemplation, will, amongst other reforms, include an extension of the one-man-one-vote principle, introduced by Sir George Grey.

The Government have declined to Recognise in an official capacity Judge Edwards, who was appointed a sixth judge of the Supreme Court, before the apDointment had been authorised or the salary fixed by Parliament, and some awkward complications are likely to ensue, as Judge Edwards has been in active work for about twelve months. Ministers weire asked by Judge Edwards to allow themselves to be represented by counsel in opposition to a motion for writ of quo warranto, but declined to take any part in the Court proceedings on the ground that they do not recognise Edwards as a judge. Judge Edwards is, -consequently, placed in a very unenviable position, andtfie final rs# w do.uW-

The only other matter of general political interest is the disqualification: of Mr W. S. Allen, who was elected to the Te Aroha parliamentary seat' during his absence in England. A petition was lodged against Mr Allen's return on the ground that persons employed by him in pursuance of his candidature had been guilty of corrupt practices, and after a trial extending over several days, Mr Allen was disqualified for twelve months for illegal practice by an official in his employ. The vacant seat is likely to be keenly contested. The census was taken throughout New Zealand on the sth inst., but the returns are not in, and it is impossible to ascertain the results. The previous census was taken in ISS6. During the past six years there has been a consider: able exodus of population to Australia, caused by the stoppage of public works, but this exodus has now ceased, and there is a very general impression that the tide of prosperity is once more on the flood. The natural increase of population caused by births will probably counterbalance any loss sustained by an excess of departures ovav arrivals, and the census will probably show a slight increase of population over the ISS6 figures.

There has been a steady trade, and the revenue returns for the year ended 31st'March last showed an actual surplus of about ;£ioo,ooo in excess of the Treasurer's estimate. During the past month business has not been more than ordinary, but there is generally a much healthier tone in every direction. Locally there has been a falling off in the gum industry, but this is no doubt attributable to the accumulation of heavy consignments a , : London and New York, and the demand may be expected to increase to its former proportions in due course. The frozen meat industry continues to develop, and the im-i proved facilities given for the shipment of frozen meat from this port has given a much needed encouragement to farmers in thispartof the colony. The season for both wool and frozen meat is expected to be a good one. Last year the export of frozen meat from New Zealand reached the enormous sum of ;£i,087,577, being an increase of the exports: of the previous year, and from present indications the returns for the current, twelve months will be even greater.

The mining industry has not received much impetus during the?past month, but there are now very promising signs of a revival. The Kuaotunu battery has started crushing, and several of the mines on the field have been giving very excellent returns, so that this goldfield has been attracting a great deal of attention. Within the next few weeks the Puhipuhi battery will start work, and further developments may be expected to follow speedily. A large number of mines have been opened up, and the prospects of the field are considered to be good. In Prospectors No. i, where the first find was made, the work done has given very encouraging results, and there are buyers of shares at 6s 6d. Experts speak well of the district, and once the battery is in full swing it is expected the yield of silver will be large.

The Taranaki Jubilee festivities were brought to a close on April 4th, and we heartily congratulate our neighbours on the success which has'crowned their efforts to observe the commemoration in a manner worthy of their beautiful and important provincial district. Some natural disappointment was felt that His Excellency the Governor was unable to be present at the opening ceremonies, but with this exception, the arrangements were admirably carried out, and everything has gone as merrily as a marriage bell. The people have given themselves up to a week of rejoicing, as a fitting close to the chequered and eventful history of their province during the last fifty years. Nearly forty years ago Lord Salisbury (then Lord Robert Cecil) paid Taranaki a visit, and spent several days in visiting the settlers and in making himself acquainted with the district. The present Prime. Minister of England had at that time a full share of the contempt felt by so many gilded youth for the colonies and everything connected with them. He is said to have expressed himself very cynically as to colonial prospects, and to have predicted anything but a bright future for Australasia generally. It would be interesting to dwell upon the revolution in his lordship's mind as expressed by his frequent utterances on colonial matters during the last few years. Fortunately, Lord Salisbury's early opinions were not shared by trie sturdy Taranaki settlers. And now, at last, they have their reward. The last fifteen years have been marked by a constantly growing prosperity. The opening up of the country by railway, which now connects New Plymouth with Wellington, the construction of the breakwater, and the throwing open for settlement large blocks of land, including the Waimate Plains, have given new life to the district. Taking the period from 1874 to 1890, we find the population increased during that time from 5,465 to 19,757, the land under cultivation from 50,071 acres to 301,078 acres, and the live stock of every description from 75,282 to 436,190. One of the most interesting features of the Jubilee celebration was the procession of a number of ancient veterans who represented the survivors of the original batch of emigrants. Looking over the long vista of fifty years, what a series of strange events must have passed before their minds ! Into the future we cannot penetrate: but one thing we may predict with certainty, that in a few years at most Auckland and New Plymouth will be directly; connected fay railway. The contemplated accorai»odatipnehp«Bc,' i wbjichi- t wsrQsbe

built half-way up Mount Egmont, will be a favourite summer resort for our tourists, and the opening up of the intermediate country, so disastrously delayed, will mean, not only an extension of our trade, but the commencement to the Taranaki district of a new era of progress and prosperity.

Since the departure of the last English mail ttfere has arisen an unfortunate dispute in the boot trade, arising out of a difference of opinion on the subject of a colonial wage statement. The Auckland Manufacturers' Association having declined to adopt a statement accepted by the Southern Association, involving a considerable increase on the rates of wages paid here, fully three hundred Unionist bootmakers are at present on strike for an equality of pay to that given to the Southern operatives. Several attempts have been made to bring about a compromise, but so far without success, and the matter is likely to be fought out to the bitter end. Some few manufacturers are paying Union rates, but the majority of the manufacturers, as represented by the liootmanufacturers , Association are inviting free labour, while their former employees are receiving full strike pay out of an accumulated fund.

The recent inquiry into charges of alleged neglect made against Dr. Collins, Medical Superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, has had the effect of inducing the Hospital Board to return to the system formerly in vogue of management by a skilled medical man, a junior assistant, and an honorary medical staff. The Government are also expected to take some action upon the report furnished by the Hospital Commissioners with a view to having the management of the whole of the hospitals of the colony placed on a sounder footing than they are at present.

It was extremely difficult to awaken any active public interest in the proceedings of the Federation Convention which has been sitting in Sydney, and yet, apart from the political questions at issue, the commercial interests at stake in the settlement of this colony's relations to the new Dominion are enormous. No more important subject has ever been brought before the colonists of Australasia. Moreover, it is one that demands a deliberate decision. We cannot afford to maintain an attitude of indifference —to let matters drift. We must, after due deliberation, determine whether xc shall unite with the other colonies, and become for all the purposes of trade one country, or shall attempt to play " a lone hand " in the Pacific; and upon that decision the measure of our prosperity, as well as the development of our political organisation, will inevitably turn. The chances at present therefore are altogether favourable to the establishment of " the Commonwealth of Australia " —the title which has been adopted—within two years. In determining the functions of the government which it is proposad to set up several important constitutional questions arose. The manner of appointing the Governor-General and State Governors gave rise to considerable discussion. Sir GeorgeGreycontendedfortheir lelection. He urged that a good influence would result from the throwing open of these offices freely to native talent, and that, so far from the election of Governors tending to weaken existing ties with the Home Country, it would remove one cause of bickering and misunderstanding, and so strengthen the union. In reply, the supporters of the nominated Governor contended that the election of the Governor-General would necessarily weaken the tie with the Home Government ; that it would also interfere with the working of Constitutional Government, because a Governor elected on a popular vote would inevitably become the representative of a party faction, and he would never consent to fill the restricted functions assigned to him under the English system of Ministerial Responsibility. Upon being put to the vote, only two members, Messrs Cockburn and Kingston, of South Australia, supported Sir George Grey's proposal for an elective Governor, in a division upon which thirty-eight members of the Convention were represented.

Sir George Grey drew attention to an important matter in connection with the islands of the Pacific. He pointed out that the races inhabiting those islands are rapidly diminishing, and that the process was hastened by the removal of so many of the men to work upon plantations. He said that it would devolve upon the Federal Government to determine what race should hereafter inhabit those fertile islands — whether they should be peopled by Chinese,- by coolies, or negroes. The Constitutional Committee were fully impressed with these views, and have provided for them in the Federal Constitution. There were champions in the Convention both of the Swiss and American forms of Cabinet, but the adoption of responsible government upon the English model carried a large majority of the votes of the Constitutional Committee. The right of the Senate to amend money Bills has been the most hotly contested point in the Convention, and at one time threatened a complete rupture. A compromise has been arrived at which virtually leaves the entire power over money Bills in the hands of the representative Chamber, although the Senate may reject any entire measure, or may make suggestions, in details to the Lower House. One of the chief reasons why the smaller colonies have stood out so stoutly for a strong Senate is the overwhelming power of the two large colonies in the House of; Represent*-, lives, their joint represent&tioo amount-; ing.t^con»derabJjE*«»oresth»a'one*au

the entire House. Now, although in many matters the smaller States may come in as adjustors of the rivalries of the two great colonies—as, for example, in the location of the Federal capital—there are measures upon which Victoria and New South Wales might unite to the disadvantage of the smaller colonies. Their limited coastline will impose a smaller burden upon the Federal funds for defence than colonies like New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, and if the policy of the representative Chamber were dominated by a provincial spirit instead of a broad nationalism, the interests of the smaller colonies might suffer. Reliance is placed upon a strong Senate, with an equal number of representatives from each colony, to act as the bulwark of State rights. The powers actually delegated to the Federal Parliament will be extensive. They will make the union between the several States real, welding them together into a compact nationality, with one Government controlling all their relationships with each other and with the outer world ; and such a Government, if established, will unquestionably command an amount of respectful attention abroad which no single colony could hope to obtain,