The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, NOVEMBER 17, 1874.

Bruce Herald, Volume VII, Issue 650, 17 November 1874, Page 5

The Bruce Herald. "Nemo me impune lacesset." TOKOMAIRIRO, NOVEMBER 17, 1874.

lx (addressing his constituents at Oamaru the other" day, Mr Steward, made an observation worthy of attention from, those professional politicians of Otagp who do not, as a rule, look beyond their noses. Mr Steward pointed out that, whilst certain amongst them were raising a tremendous cry over the sacrifice of our waste lands, which they allege the abolition of Provincialism would entail, it might be well to notice that, owing to recent pur4bMff, the North Wand titate would, in a

i short time, be quite as valuable as our own and that perhaps the period was not very fa. off when the North Island would have moiv to lose than would the South Island by all} attempt to divert the land fuud from it legitimate purpose — expenditure upon work of permanent utility in the localities in whici it is raised. Mr Steward was not very far fron the truth when he anticipated the approaching increase in the extent and value of the Nortl Island waste lands. Day by day news comes from the North of the acquisition from tht Natives, by the Government, of country whici: anyone acquainted with the localities can tel. is of great value. We see that the 'Otagi Daily Times' discredits the idea of land ii the North Island being of any value, except for grazing purposes; but then the ' Daily Times ' is so notorious for its propagation oi fiction as opposed to fact, in its leading columns, that we may make pretty certain o the truth of what is exactly the reverse of it professed faith. Mr Murray, the member fo, Bruce — and by no means an unreliable man ii. matters of business — has but recently testifie to the future value of land in the Norti Island. Besides giving his opinion on thy subject, he- has, in sporting phraseology backed that opinion by a pretty extensiw purchase. There can be no good attained by blinking the truth, and the truth is that, witi. a very little more experience of Sir Donak M 'Lean's successful treatment of the Natives, aud with the gradual development of hei great resources, the North Island will, in al. probability, become most advantageously situated in regard to her waste lands. In ttu largest Province of that island, too, there art a Superintendent and a Provincial Secretary, whose whole aims are the settlement of peopk on the land. Mr John Williamson, the Superintendent of Auckland, has lost a fortune by his devotion to what he thought was a righteous cause — to a Native Policy such as Mr M'Lean is now carrying out. He has never endeavored to put large quantities, of Gor (1 s earth into the hands of individual capitalists. When the Busby land clainu were made a charge on provincial lands, he withdrew all lands in the Province from sak sooner than see them fall into the hands oi the speculators to whom the Busby claim was mortgaged. It remained for Mr T. B. Gillies to meet those claims by impoverishing tht Province. Mr Sheehan, the Provincial Secretary of the Auckland Province, holds the same faith with regard to the disposal of waste lands as does his chief. That faith it too prevalent in the North Island, and squatters are too powerless there to prevent its being exercised. As we hare said, all things argue a most prosperous condition for the landed estate of the North Island. In considering the abolition question, then, that matter need not be a subject of dread. If tht abolition of Provinces is to take place, wt must take care that the pledge, which we are assured the Ministerial majority has made, shall be strictly kept, and that the revenue from the sale of waste lands shall be used solely for local purposes, and shall not be impounded to pay the general debts of the Colony. We fancy that, in this question, mutual interest will, from the circumstance:we have pointed out, make North and South cordially agree, and that if the people and their representatives be but true to themselves, we need have little fear of spoliation.