Provincialism in Auckland.

Bruce Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 701, 18 May 1875, Page 5

Provincialism in Auckland.

(From the 'Guardian' correspondent.) Auckland, May 15. Mr Reader Wood made his financial statement last night. The estimated income and expenditure for the hall-year for only six months' appropriation, "which is to be asked for, are set down as follows : — llevemie, £25,800 ; expenditure, £34,295 ; estimated deficit, £5495. Deducting a sum already paid, and which appears in the estimates of expenditure, this deficit is reduced to the apparent amount of about £4500. Mr Wood says that in the proposed expenditure absolutely nothing is included except what is necessary to maintain the Government of the province in common decency and order. There is not one single vote for additional public works. There is power to overdraw to the tune of £15,000, and that power must no doubt be exercised. With a frankness which is commendable, Mr Wood thus closed his financial statement : — " Now, sir, I have not attempted to gloss over the present position of the province. I have thought it best to state it to you in a few simple figures. You see that on almost every .single item there is a defieienc}', and you will also see that there is not a single item of expenditure put down that by any possible means can be avoided, unless we are to allow the social affairs in this province to get into absolute confusion. From what source any other receipts may come I do not know, but as 1 told you that on the Ist of July we shall probably have a clean sheet, and as we have a power of overdraft to the extent of £15,000, we shall be able, somehow or other, I suppose, to rub alcyig for the next six month*. But I think that, from the figures I have laid before you, and from the statement I have made, the condition of affairs will render it absolutely necessary for the General Assembly, whether we wish it or not, in some way or other — in what way I do not know, because I have no means of knowing — but the necessity of the case will compel them to take some provision or other for the decent government of the province of Auckland, or the whole thing will come simply to a financial standstill." There is general lamentation in. Egypt ; and, to the one prevailing query, " "Where is Sir George Grey ?" echo answers, "Where ?" The ' Herald ' thinks that it is fortunate the next session is at hand, when the question of " What are we to do ?" will be settled, and adds — " While the Xortli Island provinces cannot be allowed to languish through a false step of finance, neither can Otago and Canterbury be permitted to run riot without bounds upon the strength of their ability to dispose of their land in wholesale blocks, merely with the object of exhibiting a prosperity which has already begun to show itself as fictitious and ephemeral."