The Press. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1867.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1501, 31 August 1867, Page 2

The Press. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1867.

It must be remembered that under the financial arrangements proposed by the Colonial Treasurer, Auckland not only is relieved from payment of the £187,000 charged on it by the Loan Allocation Act, but receives the whole of the Native land confiscated in Waikato and on the East Coast, without, so far as we Can see, any hint at repayment of the £100,000 advanced last year to enable the province to enter into occupation of the land. Even this does not complete the list of advantages which fall to the lot of that favoured province. In that arrangement, not very clearly explained, by which the provinces that have been overpaid on account of surplus revenue are to be put on an equal footing, Auckland appears on the credit side of the account and pockets some £25,000. J In fact, if the whole scheme had been framed by an Auckland Treasurer the interests of that particular province could not have been more carefully consulted. Wherever money has to be paid, Auckland is excused; but wherever anything has to be received Auckland invariably gets at least its full share. Now we do not wish to put any undue pres°ure on the Northern provinces, but considering how readily the Middle Island came to their assistance at a time of difficulty, not only without any prospect of benefit to itself but to itß very serious detriment, we certainly think they should show a less marked desire to throw as much of the burden as possible on its shoulders. It is not fair that Auckland should refuse its share of the expenditure incurred in carrying out that chef iVceuvre of an Auckland Ministry, the policy of ISG3, while retaining the exclusive enjoyment of every advantage that cau be derived from it. As to the proposed surrender of the whole of the confiscated lands to the respective provinces we think on the whole it is the wisest course that could bo adopted, simply because, as under the present system, Uv -- "ource of constant expense they are a * similar proposal, so to the colony. sx. : •, Auckland, far as regards the lands )u -,+-. was made by Mr. Weld's the difference being in the conditions on which they were to be transferred.

Their plan was that Auckland should 1 take the land subject to all liabilitu-s. I and pay besides at the rate of 2s. 6<l. for every acre sold. They left offic-e ' before any arrangement was concluded, and from their successors : Auckland managed to obtain mud. more favourable terms; the land which bad recently been confiscated at Opotiki being included in the bargain (the cost of the Opotiki-expedition, which should have been a first charge on the lands being, as usual, thrown on the colony), together with an advance from the Colonial Treasury of £100,000, to enable the Auckland Government to commence operations. This £100,000 was to be repaid out of an intended loan of £250,000, but the loan has not been raised, and consequently the £100,000 has not been refunded. This transfer, however, did not last long, for about six months afterwards Mr. Wliitaker, then Super intendent of Auckland, threw up the wholeaffair, chiefly for financial reasons, and the lands passed back again into the possession of the General Government, in whose hands they have since remained. But it is evident that the management of the General Government is not likely to produce satisfactory results. It is certain to be very expensive and by no means certain to be beneficial. The land has to be colonised, and that can best be done by the provincial authorities, who are on the spot, who possess the necessary machinery, and have practical experience in the special work required. It is an admitted rule that colonisation is the peculiar function of the pro vinces. We think therefore the Government have acted for the best in handing over these lands to the provinces, both because they will thereby save the colony a considerable expenditure, and also because the settlement of the country will be carried on more quickly, more efficiently, and at a much less expense. Of course this disposition of the confiscated lands is an acknowledgment that the scheme of 1863 has utterly broken down, and looking back to the magnificent promises of its advocates, their confident assurances that the proceeds would more than recoup the whole £3,000,000, the colony may feel a natural disinclination to admit that expectations so highly raided have come to such a miserably abortive end. Unfortunately the fact is undeniable, and it only remains for us to accommodate ourselves as best we may to a state of things that, it is beyond our power to remedy. There is no use, as the proverb pays, in crying over spilt milk. At the same time we altogether dispute the justice of relieving the North from all charges arising out of these transactions, and increasing the liability of the Middle Island, "which has no beneficial interest of any sort in the matter. It is manifestly unfair that the North should enjoy all the benefits of the policy of 1863, and refuse to undertake even that portion of the cost which, it had formally promised to bear. "We see no force whatever in Mr. Fitzherbert's reference to the fact that the territorial revenue of the Middle Island during the last ten years has exceeded that of the North Island by £3,000,000, and' his suggestive query whether the loan of 1863 was not rendered necessary by the policy of 1856. We entirely repudiate any such conclusion. Leaving out of the question the injustice of spending the territorial revenue of the South on Native wars in the North, and the fact "hat the immunity of its land fund from expenditure on Native affairs was purchased by the South for a valuable consideration, the argument is transparently fallacious. It assumes that the three million loan was a necessity, arid was raised for purelj colonial purposes ; whereas the case is directly the reverse.. The policy of 1563 had two objects, the acquisition of Native Land, and the formation of settlements in the North; and the co-operation of the South was secured on a clear understanding, first, that the loan would be repaid by the sale of the confiscated lands; and secondly, that at least one-half of it would be charged on the provinces of the North. It was a scheme for increasing the population and resources of the North Island to a pitch which would place it as much beyond fear of any Native outbreak as is the Middle Island. The only interest the Soutn had in* the matter was that the success of the scheme would relievo its revenue from further charges for the suppression of Native disturbances. For the amount specifically appropriated " fyr the suppression of rebellion," namely £1,000,000, the South was jointly liable with the North ; but the whole remainder of the loan, with the exception of the sum expended on the telegraph, was raised solely for Northern purposes and was therefore with perfect justice charged upon the North alone. The com- * between the Islands as to the pace - - *"h e loan charges was as allocation ot v..

binding as the compact of 1556. A bargain's a bargain, all the world over." , Mr Fitzherbert must not be surprised if when the Middle Island finds him so ready to break the one it places but slender confidence in his professions of respect for the other. Blue Book—We have received a copy ol the Blue Book rontainititf the records ot the ;,r,.ceedin a * of the Provincial Council during the Sea-ion XXVI., and sever*! valuable report, laid on the table during the samr "' Footbai.l,— The match hetween the Tolu- - teen* asamst the members of the Lhristchiirch Football Club mid the College Bo>» will take place this afternoon ra Latimersquare, at half-past two o'clock. A wellcontested game is expected, aa the Volunteers will probably muster in great force. The Enginekks.—The usual parade of thin company took place last evening in the drill shed. After the parade the company adjourned to the orderly-room, when the fourth of Lieutenant Dobson's lectures on fortification was delivered by that gentleman. Afttr the lecture h vote of thanks was passed to Lieutenant Dohson Albion Ckickkt Club—We hear that the provisional committee appointed at the late mePting of the members of this club to canvas* for subscriptions have met with great success. At the meeting to be held in a fewdays the names of upwards of forty members will be brought forward for election. The subscription list also shows well. Grass seed for the ground has been promised, and no doubt the club will be able to boa.«t of a ground of its own before the termination of the ensuing season. Gazkttes —We have received "Gazette's," issued by the Provincial Government on the 28th and 29th instant. The former notifies the appointment of Augustus Blakieton Under-Secretary for this province, and ot Joseph Beswick, Esq., as Commissioner to revise the Ratepayers' Rolls for the variou-* road districts; several notices under the Debtors and Creditors Act are inserted; Drs. Tumbull and Deamer have dissolved partnership; licensing meetings of Justices of the Peace will be held on Tuesday next, at Ohri-tchurch, Lyttelton, Timaru, Kaiapoi, and Akaroa. The regulations for the Provincial Government offic rs are published in the •' Gazette " of the 29th instant.. Wesleyan Cbapkl —Last evening the Key J. Heid gave the third of his series of lectures on the Millennium, in the Wesley an Chapel, Durham street. The chapel was not so well filled as on previous occasions. The lecturer stated at the conclusion of the lecture that he had by no means exhausted his subject, but had merely given what he considered to be confirmati ns of the revelation aiready supposed, to have been fulfilled. He was prepared if his audience were willing, to continue his lectures on two more evenings, so as to bring down the time to the present .late. On Friday evening next the Rev. C Fraser will deliver a lecture on " Coleridge. the Philosopher and the Divine," and on the succeeding evenings Mr Reid will give his concluding lectures on the Millennium. GOVEKNMENT OFFICIALS—A fresh Set of regulations for the Provincial Government officers has been issued, and will come into force on the expiration of the current month Hitherto some difficulty has been felt in determining to whom communications on certain subjects should be addressed, but now there are three responsible officers, and the matters to be dealt with by each of the department* of Provincial Secretary, the Secretary for Public Works, and the Secretary for the Goldfields, are clearly defined. All questions to be brought under the consideration of the Government relating to the offices of the Provincial Treasurer or Provincial Solicitor, or coming under the heads of Police, Gaols, Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums, Sheep Inspection, Weights ■ and Measures, and Education are to be sent to the Provincial Secretary. Letters on matters relating to lands, surveys, geological, meteorological, engineers, telegraph, parks and domains, acclimatization, harbours, public buildings, ferries and bridges, wharves and jetties, municipalities and road boards, railways, harbour works, and miscellaneous public works are to be addressed fci" the Secretary for Public Works. All affairs connected with the Goldfields will, of course, have to be brought under the notice of the Goldfields Secretary. All Government offices are to be open, until further nocice, from ten a.m to fivep m., except on Saturdays, and then from ten a.m. to one p.m. ; and no Government officer other than the head of the office is to absent himself during those hours unless upon leave granted to him by the proper officer. An appearance sheei is to be kept in every office, in which the names of all persons employed therein, together with the hour at which they enter the office and the hour at which tliej leave the same, are to be returned by such officer as the the head of the office shall appoint. The appearance sheets of the previous week are to be left at the Provincial Secretary's office riot later than half-past ten every Monday morning. This regulation is not to be understood to apply strictly to heads of offices. 'J he Provincial Treasury will be open for payments on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from ten a.m. to three p.m., and on Saturday from ten a.m. to twelve. The Provincial Auditor is empowered to call for all books, papers, and vouchers relating to any account forwarded to him, and to examine witnesses, if necessary, touching the same. Persons failing to attend his sum-mons-are liable to a penalty not exceeding £100. He has authority to examine the accounts of all persons entrusted with the collection, receipt, and issue of public mone) hnd stores of the Provincial Government.