The Press. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1867.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1543, 17 October 1867, Page 2

The Press. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1867.

The advocates of provincial institutions are accustomed to speak of them as being designed to act as a check on the General Government, and to deprecate their abolition on the ground that they are exceedingly serviceable for that purpose. Now in the first place, those who use this phrase appear to assume that nothing but provincial institutions, as at present existing, save the provinces from the most oppressive form of centralism ; that if they ceased to exist the whole of our local affairs would be thrown into the hands of the General Government, and would be administered by officers acting under orders direct from Wellington and needing at every step to refer for instructions to head-quarters. It is remarkable, by the way, that any one so alive to the evils of such a system in the case of Canterbury governed from Wellington should have been blind to them in the analogous case of Westland governed from Christchurch. But the assumption ia purely gratuitous. Local government is not a peculiarity of New Zealand, dependent entirely on the political system established by the Constitution Act. It is the habit of Englishmen in every quarter of the globe. Englishmen with their love of managing their own business and looking after the expenditure of their own money, and with their "naturaraptitude for public affairs and inclination to take part in them, have never been able to endure a highly centralised form of government. In Great Britain itself, which from the smallness of its area and the facility of communication between every part of the country and the metropolis might be governed from one central point more easily than almost any country in the world, the management of all local affairs, whether of the parish or the county, is, and always has been, placed in the hands of the local authorities. So too in all the British colonies. Take the Australian colonies for instance. New South Wales and Victoria are not divided into provinces; each haa but one Legislature and one Central Government ; yet there is no unnecessary centralism in their mode of managing public. affairs. By means of municipalities, shire councils, and the like, the people get a satisfactory control over the expenditure for local purposes, independently of the Government at Sydney or Melbourne. So it is in the other colonies; and so it will always be in New'~Zealand. Provincial institutions are only the peculiar [form in which the principle oi local self-government, characteristic of every English community, has been carried out in New Zealand to suit the exceptional circumstances under which the colony was founded. As those circumstances gradually disappear, so it must be expected that the institutions framed to suit them, and therefore unsuitable to a different state of things, will require very considerable modifications. But by whatever system of government they are replaced, we may be quite certain of this, that it will be one under which the people retain the fullest control oyer their local affairs. The fear of being, crushed under the uncontrolled authority of the Central Government is the merest of bugbears. "We should like to hear some explanation of the supposed " check " exercised by the Provincial Governments and Councils over the General Governments and Assembly, showing in what manner and to what extent it operates, with, if possible, a specific instance or two in which it has been exerted. The whole thing seems to us a piece of; 1 vague declamation. We can understand how the Legislative Council is a check upon the House of Tiepresenta- .. ,tiyes, for itjias to concur in passing,

and can, if it thinks proper, reject, the measures passed by the Loner House. In that case the check—and the word is appropriate, for it is but a check —is perfectly intelligible. But we do not understand how an inferior body can exercise any control over a superior. And in point of fait the case is otherwise. Provincial Councils have not, either in theory or practice, any power whatever over the Assembly. There is nothing whatever to prevent the Assembly, if it should think it necessary for the welfare of the colony at large, from passing a measure affecting the interests of one of the provinces—such as the Timaru j Bill or the Westland Bill—in the teeth of the most strenuous resistance from the Provincial Council; nor would the Council, the Act once passed, have any appeal, or any resource but submission. It may be said that though the Provincial Councils cannot exercise any direct control over the action of the Assembly, yet that in any matter relating to a province a unanimous vote from the Council of that province would have great influence. That no doubt is true; but only because such a vote would be taken as an expression of public opinion. If it could be shown to the satisfaction of the House that the balance of public opinion in the province lay the other way, the vote of the Council would be disregarded. Numerously signed petitions, or resolutions passed at public meetings, would have just as much weight with the Assembly, and have just as much effect in guiding or checking the course of its legislation. Of course to say that provincial institions protect the provinces from the interference of the General Government in matters of local concern, is to repeat the groundless assumption we have already noticed, that if they were done away with, no other equally efficacious form of local government could or would be adopted in their place. The truth is that the General and Provincial Governments, as originally constituted, had each its own sphere of action, and were not intended to be checks on each other at all, except so far as the higher power has naturally the right of overruling the lower. One might as well say that Eesident Magistrates' Courts were established as a check upon the Supreme Court. The business of the General Legislature and Government was to regulate the affairs of the colony as a whole • that of the Provincial Legislatures and Governments to regulate those of each individual province. A very ample jurisdiction was conferred upon the latter, because in the early days of the colony, when the half-dozen settlements were so remote and disconnected from each other that they might almost be considered six separate colonies, it was absolutely necessary that each province should have the fullest possible independent power of administrating its own affairs. It was obvious from the first that the time must come when that hexarchy would be brought to an end by the amalgamation of the provinces, and the question the colony has now to determine is, whether that time is not at hand. It is idle to keep up an elaborate machinery when the reasons for which it was constructed exist no longer. What the provinces require is to have ; the means of local self-gov-ernment provided at as little expense as is consistent with complete efficiency. Provincial institutions supply that want (not so well as they formerly did, for in towns they are superseded by municipal corporations, and the remote country districts they somehow fail to reach,) but the machinery is too large for the work it has-to do. The provinces are put to heavy expense to pay salaries and maintain " departments," while all that is really wanted might be accomplished just as well by a much simpler and less expensive organization. That is the point the people have to look to. Their object is to have provincial affairs—that is, public works and the various kinds of municipal business — managed effectively, economically, and on such a system as will leave the entire control in their own hands. If they think that object satisfactorily achieved under the present system —with its civil list, its host of officials, its Government buildings, and all the other State paraphernalia —well and good ■ it is a question of expense, and as they have to pay they have a right to whatever they please for their money. But ii tney wish io save .heir pockets, they can do so by making up their minds to exchange the provincial system for a system of county, hundred, and town local government. And that we believe to be every day becoming more and more the opinion of the people themselves. Nobthebn Agricultural and Pastobal Association.—The time for making entries for the meeting of this association has been extended until Wednesday the 23rd instant. Tbamwat to the Maxvsbn Hills.—A meeting of those interested in this proposed undertaking was to have been held yesterday afternoon, at two o'clock, at .the'offices of Messrs. Wilson, and Alport, but as only one or two persons were present at the appointed hour the meeting lapsed.

Quoit Club.—The admirers of this game have started a club, the meetings of which are to be held in the grounds adjoining Coker's hotel. The ground has been put into something like order, although much more is necessary before it can be considered to be in anything like good condition. A meeting of all interested will be held on Saturday evening at the hotel. New Map.—Messrs. Cooke and Co. have several copies of a most complete map of the world which has been recently issued by a firm in Germany. Tnis map is specially re markable from the fact that it delineates with the greatest accuracy the various routes pursued by the different lines of mail steamers, and the almost innumerable currents that constitute the circulation, as. it. were, of., the oc- an. The mileage of the chief routes is also marked, ..and many valuable particulars are given which are not usually to be found on a map of the whole universe. A copy oT this map would be a great acquisition in many, of our public institutions. The Fire Alaem.—The old Council bell has now been placed in position under the erection made for the gong. The appearance of the structure has certainly not been improved by the alteration, as a more unsightly object could scarcely be imagined. The City Council have however determined to make the best of a bad job ; the piles are to be enclosed and painted, and at the top of the structure a flagstaff, surmounted by a gilded ball, is to be erected. The appearance, even with these additions, will be anything but picturesque, but the erection may be made very useful. The height of the flagstaff will be so great that a ball suspended at the top of it might be lowered by the man who will ring the hours, and so give the persons beyond the reach of the sound of the bell the correct time at least once a day. Albion Cbicket Club. —This club have decided that it is desirable that another Albion Club consisting of juveniles should be formed, and in order to carry out the idea it is pro posed that certain members of the club, old cricketers, should coach the youngsters. A portion of Latiiner-square is to be prepared expressly for practice by the youngsters, who will bo admitted members on the pay- , ment of a very small fee. At the practice on Tuesday evening there wero upwards of thirty members present, and it has been determined for the future, as the attendance is likely to be so large, that a second wicket shall be i pitched. The team to play against the U.C.C.C. has been decided on, and will practice on the Bquaro every evening until the match has been played. Madras Stsbet Bridge.—The accident which occurred on this bridge on Saturday last has necessitated a larger amount of repairs than was at first anticipated. On surveying the bridge it has been found that nearly the whole of the cross bearers are in a more or less unsound condition, and that their removal is necessary. The City Surveyor has, we understand, ordered that a longitudinal bearer should be placed in a line with the bridge, so as to equalise the strain. This bridge was erected by the Government some years ago, and certainly reflects no credit upon the architect. The line of the bridge does not run with that of the street, and the width, twelve feet, is too narrow to allow of vehicles passing. Perhaps the cheaper way would be to pull down the bridge and build another, as whatever repairs are now made can only be of a temporary character. Australian Journal. —We have received the latest number of this journal. This periodical, which is published by a firm in Melbourne, appears to be but little known in this province. It contains several very creditable illustrations and a large amount of readable matter, comprising several interesting tales and miscellaneous literature. A novel plan haa been adopted for increasing the circulation of this journal, for it is announced that every subscriber is to be entitled to a share in the distribution of four sewing machines, which will be drawn for in the manner of the most approved Art Unions. Each copy will bear a distinctive number, by which the purchaser of a weekly issue will become entitled to one chance, or the purchaser of a monthly part four chances in the lottery. The drawing on behalf of subscribers at a distance will be conducted under the superintendence of a committee. Mining.—The " Grey River Argus " says : —The abandoned workings on the North Beach are once more beginning to meet with some consideration from miners on the coast. It is folly to imagine that these beach leads have been worked out. In the excitement of the first rush, when the gold was obtained almost for the lifting, the ground was not worked ; it was subjected to a hasty and careless process of what we may style " surfacing," and there can be no doubt that a very large quantity of the gold which was then within reach of the miner was carelessly thrown away. We have long been of opinion that these workings would yet prove of considerable value, and our belief haß been confirmed by a fact which came under our own observation. O'Brien and party took up a claim on one of these old leads, aud bad sunk a paddock about eight feet, when attracted by the news from another lead on the beach they abandoned the claim, proceeded to the lagoon lead north of the flagstaff, took up a claim, bottomed it, and found it was a " duffer." They at once went back to the old claim which they had abandoned, commenced work again, sunk one foot deeper, and the result of their labour there is that on Saturday last they washed up ninety ounces of amalgum for a fortnight's work for four men. This is a fact worth the consideration of miners who are willing to set in for a long spell of work, for the ground has been proclaimed abandoned, and the claims can therefore be taken up.on the extended scale. An Improved Gold Washing Machine. —A West Coast paper thus describes a new gold-washing machine combining tlie principles of the quicksilver cradle and the Burdau crusher and amalgamator—"The machine is exceedingly simple, and after a little practice may be worked by the veriest tyro in mining, as it is merely a cradle with a cast-iron trough in the bottom of it, at that j end immediately under the hopper. At each end of the trough, and let into the sides of the cradle, are case-iron sockets of a size to fit an iron bail that moves to and fro in the trough with the motion of the cradle, and performs a two-fold operation, viz., amalgamating the gold with the quicksilver contained in the trough, and at the same time pulverizing any small pieces of cement that may. fall through the hopper. Prepared copper plates line the bottom of the cradle to cati.-h the finer particles of gold that may escape the trough. But the chief peculiarity of the machine is that when in position for work its mouth is elevated instead of depressed, or in other words it has a backward " pitch," and so the , water and tailings are forced up-hill in a slow zig-zag motion that brings the latter in contact with every part of the copper plate, which thus is enabled to seize and retain the minutest specks of gold that pass over its surface. It may be perhaps inferred that the cradle would be liable to " choke," but we can assure our mining readers that we have seen it •working heavy black sand, and that it, clears itself freely. Mr Dooly a.ld his right to the invention to Messrs Proctor and Prosser of this town, who have made the usual application for a patent, which we have every reason to believe will be granted them." Cbicket.—A. meeting of the committee of the U.C.C.C. was held ye.teisday. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary reported that the ground had been thoroughly rolled in accordance with a resolution of the committee, and also that the boundries of the new ground had been marked out, and that the club might take immediate steps for fencing in and forming the ground at the corner of the park. A letter waa read from the Secretary of the Albion Club challenging the U.C.C.C. to play a match on the 24th instant. After some dis* cussion it was agreed that the challenge should be accepted for Friday, the 25th, if that day would suit the opposite side, and that the match should be continued on the Saturday afternoon. A letter was read from L. (J. Williams, Egg., asking whether arrangements could be made for the U.C.C.C. to . send a

team up to the Rakaia to meet an eleven of the Ashburton Club. It was thought that Thursday, the 31st instant, and Friday, November 1, would be the most convenient days for tho match, and the Secretary was directed to reply accordinsjlv. A challenge was received from the Hokitika Cricket Club to play a match on their ground, and promising to play the return game in Ch "**" church, but the committee considered that;iie expenses of the iournev would bo so heavy as to render it'impossible to go over the™ this season Permission was granted to ttie pupils of the High School to use a portion ot the ground on contributing a small sum towards the expense of repairing and keeping it in order. It was agreed that a portion of the cround should be set apart for tlie members of the Albion Club if they were willing to p*y a fair proportion of tho current expenses. The Secretary was authorized to employ a boy to assist in cleaning i>p the orass. Several accounts were passed and ordered to be paid, and after electing several new members tho committee adjourned. Another meeting will be held shortly for the purpose of making arrangements for fencing in the new ground and deciding whether it is desirable to form it at once. Otago Volunteers. —The return match, says the " Daily Times," of the 9th instant, between the No. 1 Company City Guards and the Artillery, took place yesterday morning at the Kaikorai butts. The weather proved favourable for good shooting, and there is a great improvement in the scoring as compared with that of the former match, the conditions, (fee, beiiur the same, viz., ten men a side; ranges, 200, 500, and 600 yards ; five shots at each ; hy the position throughout and Wimbledon targets. The Guards won the former match, with 25 points to spare : this time the Artillerymen were tbe winners, with a majority of 40 points. The scoring was very close at the two first ranges. At the 200 yards range the Artille-v headed their opponents by 9 points ; at 500 yards the Riflemen gained 4 points, reducing the balance against them to 5 ; but at 600 yards they fell off, allowing the Artillery to gain 35 points in the range. The three' highest individual scores in the match were made on the side of the Artillery —Captain M'Farland, 46 ; Gunner G. K. Turton, 41 ; and Gunner Hislop, 40. The following are the scores .- — Abtillbry. go -i go ._* Names. o . o i o § -5 <"£ *£ ®£ _H_ Captain McFarland ... 14 17 15 46 Sergeant S.Muir ... 14 6 9 29 Corporal Ogilvie ... 15 12 10 37 Gunner Turton ... 15 15 11 41 Gunner Hislop ... 13 13 14 40 Gunner Smith ... 13 13 8 34 Gunner Hannah ... 14 9 9 32 Gunner Hardy ... 12 13 7 32 Gunner Cato ... 14 4 12 30 Gunner Pell ... 11 ) 8 8 27 Average, 34.8. No. 1 City Guards. Ensign Wales ...(11 8 2 (21 Sergeant Douglas ... 14 14 5 33 Corporal Tressider ... 13 13 8 34 Private Wilson ... 14 13 10 37 Corporal Speight ... 12 13 6 31 Private Sheppard ... 14 12 8 34 Private M'Gregor ... 12 12 5 29 Private Wedderspoon ... 14 5 8 27 Private Creagh ... 10 9 8 27 Private Stalker ... 12 12 8 32 Average, 30.8 Murder of Missionaries at Fiji.—The following letter gives the melancholy intelligence of the murder of one of the Wesleyan Missionaries, together with Beven native teachers, by the savages at Fiji. The lette ) which is dated August 18, was addressed to a gentleman residing in Adelaide, but having an establishment not far from the scene of the outrage : —" Dear Sir, —You know the Rev. Mr Baker very well. You will be very sorry to hear that he was killed just a few miles above this place on the 21st July, with Beven of his assistant native teachers. He intended, as you had also intended, to cross the mountains above us, but had only got one town from the "Lota," or Christian people. He went into the town, and asked the chief to be good enough to show him the road to the next place on the proposed way, and if he would become a Christian. The heathen's reply was, 'The road is all right but for the Lotu (or Christianity); but there is the axe and the salt for the first Christian that comes here.' It appears from the sole survivor's account that Mr Baker and his Christian teachers, on the Saturday night or the Sunday morning, started for the next town, two cbiefa accompanying thenv one heading the party, and the other following in-the rear behind the last teacher, all walking Fijian fashion, in single file. When they had just got outside the town the chief that was behind Mr Baker's men struck at the last man. This last man was carrying Mr Baker's box of clothing, and owing to this fact, as it will appear in the sequel, this one man's life was saved. On the tailing chief striking this man, the box partook of the blow, causing a great noise, which made Mr Baker turn round to see what was the matter, when the leading chief, who was in front of Mr Baker, struck him with an axe, and nearly severed his head from his body. The two chiefs then gave a loud scream, so loud that the people in the town rushed out, and killed the remainder of the party, except the teacher who was first struck. This -man rushed into the bußh before his assailant could strike another blow. He saw from his hiding-place in the bush the whole of the massacre, and expected every moment to share their fate, which he would have done if he had been discovered. After they killed them all they dragged the bodieß into the town, and piled them np one on another, placing the Rev. Mr Baker's body on the top of the pile, while they made the ovens hot in which to roast them. You ! knew Mr Baker, and some of the native teachers —one of them accompanied you to Bau. Thakombau, the King of Fiji, is enraged at this frightful massacre, and has determined to proceed up there in a month. He' declares he will bring them all down, to Bau, and that they and their children shall be slaves for ever, aud "that the tribe shall be called for the future the " Murderers' Tribe." Mr Thurston, the acting consul, at once waited on the Thakombau, to know what Tie intended to do. He has promised, as soon as he can muster his men—which will be in two months, as it is now the season for planting yams—that he will proceed into the interior with hia army from four different points, and surround the j whole of the cannibal districts and bring! all he can get alive to Bau; that those who had a hand in the murder he will hang ; the rest '■ shall be slaves for life. He does not want the whites to take any part in the fight, but said that as he was very poor he hoped the settlers would supply him with ammunition, _cc, &c. We attended a meeting of the settlers at Viti, and subscribed for your interests. There were about thirty white settlers present, who all did what they could in money and munitions 150 dollars, ~solbs. gunpowder, lOOlbs. lead for bullets. _tc. .... I wisli you were down again. lam sure jou would go heart and soul into the war ; for the sooner it is over the better, as we can get no Fijian labour to work our cotton plantations until it is terminated. The Iron Districts op -STey* Zeaxand.— A movement has commenced in the " black country," says the *• Examiner" of July 20, for promoting emigration to Taranaki, in New Zealand. After years spent in experiments, a process has been discovered by which the Taranaki iron-sand, that lies in unlimited quantities on the sea shore, may be turned to profitable use. The New Zealand Iron and Steel Company are preparing to erect smelting works, and the emigration of iron workers to Taranaki will establish an iron trade in all its ramifications. An association. has been formed at Birmingham, called the Taranaki New Zealand Special Settlement Association, to effect for its members cheap and comfortable, passages, and the formation of gpeoial settlements. Taranaki Haa already been

called " the garden " of New Zealand, now she bids fair to becomo a largo producer of a met-il that has proved England's chief source of wealth. At a meeting held at Wolverhampton, Mr Barnes, of Birmingham, presiding, a specimen of bar iron manufactured from tho sand excited great interest, aud the toilers of the " black country" seem bent upon pushing nutters through to a successful issue.