The Press. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1867.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1550, 25 October 1867, Page 2

The Press. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1867.

A statement was made the other day by a correspondent of the Lyttelton Times which is calculated to excite the utmost anxiety in the mmd of every one interested in the province. It was asserted that the overdraft from the Bank of New Zealand, now exceeds £130,000, and that it will in all probability exceed £160,000 before the first of January. Is that' true ? It has not been contradicted j and has since been repeated in substance, no doubt on unimpeachable —authority, by the Lyttelton Times itself. Let us ask, the, public to realise to themselves for a moment what this fact really means. It means that the ordinary expenses of the Government are being defrayed out of the loan—that the province is borrowing money only to pay it away in salaries, and the like. JJfow what would be thought of a man who managed his affairs after that fashion in private life ? What would be said in the Bankruptcy Court of a man who had lived in grand style, maintaining a large establishment on a magnificent scale of expenditure, and was found out when his accounts were examined to have lost the greater part of his income and to have been living chiefly on the discpunt of bills ? Every one can see how reckless, how insane, how profligate such conduct is in the case of an .individual in the management of his private affairs; can they not perceive that it is even more reckless, more insane, and more profligate in the case of a Government entrusted with the aflairs of the public. Yet that is what the province is doing now. We are discounting the loan little by little, adding every day to the burden imposed upon the public; and that, not for any reproductive purpose, not even for any great work, which, though unremunerative now, might bring in its returns hereafter, but for the common everyday expenditure which

ought to be met out of the ordinary income. Against so ruinous a proceeding the people if they have any sense will lift up their voices with one accord. It is not merely a question of unthrifty or unprofitable expenditure ; every pound that is being muddled away represents so much additional taxation. The people will have to put their hands into their pockets year after year to pay interest on the money which is being expended to no better use' than on offices, and departments, and all the surroundings that are thought necessary to keep up the dignity of the Provincial Government. That, it seems, is what we have come to; and if that is not enough to convince the public that it is high time the elaborate and costly machinery by which provincial affairs are managed were replaced by something simpler and less costly, we can conceive nothing short of utter bankruptcy which will be of any avail. We want to know what the Executive are about all the while. How is it that when the province is in critical circumstances, and men are anxiously enquiring what can be done to avert disaster, the Government should be the very last to arouse themselves to the emergency. Are they asleep on their posts ? or is the continence of official designs too sacred a principle to be violated by allowing the public one glimpse behind the scenes ? or are they bewildered by the difficulties around them, and have no counsels to offer and no plans to propose ? "Whatever may be the reason, a mysterious and gloomy silence has settled heavily down on Government Buildings. Not a word of information is vouchsafed on the subjects that most strongly engage the attention and excite the apprehension of the public. In what condition, for instance, are the provincial revenues ? Is it actually the case that the current expenditure is being met by advances from the New Zealand Bank on account of the unrealized debentures ? We are now three weeks beyond the end of the September quarter, yet no quarterly statement of receipts and expenditure has yet been J published, so that the public might see for themselves how matters stand. Surely the Treasurer has had time enough to make up his accounts. Then as to the debentures. It is reported that the Superintendent has arranged with the Bank for the purchase of the remainder of the loan, and all sorts of rumours are afloat as to the terms and extent of the negotiation. Why should not the public be made acquainted with, the facts of the case ? if a good bargain has been made, it may tend to restore confidence; if no such transaction has taken place, an announcement to that effect would at least serve to put a stop to discouraging reports. Then again as to the railway. Do let us have the real truth about that—what has been done and what remains to do, and when the tunnel will be open for traffic. Surely the Govern - ment and contractors must know ; and why, if all is fair and aboveboard, should they wish to keep the public in the dark? The Engineer's monthly reports have been discontinued, and since communication was opened through the hill on the Queen's birthday, with the exception of a short non-official letter from Messrs Holmes and Co., the public have not had a syllable of information on the subject. Government must be aware what dismal rumours got abroad some weeks ago, when the date officially announced for the opening of the tunnel passed by without the smallest sign of the work being nearly at an end; and how the uneasy feeling that -had arisen was quieted for the time by an explanation from, the contractors that the delay had been caused by an unusually hard layer of stone; and that the work would . be accomplished early in next month.... Of course they must know also that report is busy as ever again, and of the strange tales in circulation of the real motive for the delay, and the. manner in which it is proposed, to work the line after the tunnel is opened. Why cannot the Government let the public have a straightforward account of the whole business from first to last? Their obstinate silence only engenders all manner of suspicion and smacks of all kinds of jobbery. Why,people not unnaturally ask,refuse information, unless there is something which it will not do to have known? Why keep everything so carefully concealed if there is nothing that fears the light ? Another thing that we want to know is yy ben the Provincial Council is to be summoned. At the end of last session members were informed that his Honour intended to call them together again immediately after the session of the General Assembly. Understandings of that kind are, we know, of more than the proverbial fragility, but on this occasion the province must insist on its being carried into effect. The state of affairs has so altered since the Council broke up, and the Government are by common consent so unfit to grapple with the difficulties of their position, as to make it a matter of

absolute necessity that the representatives of the people should be taken iuto consultation, that the very fullest informatiou should belaid before them, that they should hear what the G-ov-ernment have to suggest, and assist them in adopting the stringent measures which alone can, not only rescue the province from embarrassment, but even keep it in existence. It may not be —we do not suppose it is—an agreeable prospect to the Provincial Secretary, and his colleague ta be brought face to face witbrthe Council. Remembering the experiences of last session we can well believe that they will seek to defer undergoing so painful an ordeal till the latest possible moment. But the convenience of the Government cannot be weighed'against the safety of the province. If they can see their way to making the requisite reforms, the sooner they set about their task the better. If, as we suspect, they are hopelessly at. a loss, all the more reason that they should yield up the management, of affairs into more competent hands. But whether they are to stay or to go, the province is undeniably in so critical a state that some steps must be taken at once, and in either case it is equally necessary that the Council should meet without delay.

The Lyttelton Times, at the close of one of yesterday's articles, recommended a study of Mr. Godley's remarks upon political self-dependence as applying exactly to the case in point, that is, to the maintenance of provincial institutions. The remarks are admirable no doubt, and might have been studied with particular advantage during the recent discussion on the Timaru and Gladstone Bill. But to suppose that they refer solely to provincial institutions is to suppose what is contradicted by the speaker himself.- In his lecture on the New Zealand Constitution Act, Mr. Godley represents himaelf as looking anxiously forward to; the time when by the aid of those powerful political amalgamators* steam and electricity, the different provinces would be brought into such close connection as to admit of being completely amalgamated under a eingle Government. Provincial institutions were therefore in , his opinion ... merely the form in which the principle of local self-government could be embodied so as to be most applicable to the circumstances of the colony and the provinces at that period; but he regarded them as in their nature temporary, and attended with special disadvantages, and looked forward; as to a desirable consummation, to the time when they could be exchanged for a system under which the same principle would be maintained just as effectually without those disadvantages. The Lyttelton Times and its correspondents, on the contrary, invariably start by assuming that provincial institutions and local self-government are but different names for the same thing, and so quietly arrive at the "conclusion that you cannot abolish the one without abolishing the other* Apply a common process in Euclid to that and see how it comes out. If to abolish provincial institutions is necessarily to abolish local government, it follows that local government cannot exist apart from provincial institutions. Therefore, where there are no provincial institutions there is no local government. Therefore, local government never has existed, nor can now exist, in England or in any English community whatever, except New Zealand : which is absurd.

Acclimatization Society. — The usual monthly meeting of the council of this association will take place this afternoon at two o'clock, at the Mechanics' Institute. High School Lectuee3.-—Dr. Haast will deliver,, the fourth of his series of lectures on geology to the pupils of the High School in the Town Hall, this evening, at half-past seven p.m. Acknowledgment.—We have been requested to state that the lady who lately volunteered to collect donations for the widow of the late Mr Jackson has paid into the hands of Mr G. Gould the sum of £90 li. 6d. Publicans' Licenses.—Wβ beg to remind all intending applicants for > publio-house licenses that the next quarterly meeting of justices will be held on the first Tuesday in December. The latest day for sending in applications will be Saturday, November 2, as they must ha lodged at the nearest Resident Magistrate's Court thirty clear days before the day of hearing. Yolttktbbe Band.—The band of the Lyttelton Volunteer Artillery will play this evening at the junction of Canterbury and Winchester streets, and will perform a good selection of music, under the leadership of Mr Horgefield. We believe it is the intention of the Hand to turn out once every week to enliven the town. Too much praise cannot be given to the members of 'this band, who have rendered themselves efficient under very adverse circumstances. *" Ohphan Asyltth.—The new school-room lately built at the Orphan Asylum will be opened to-day, and the occasion will, in the evening, be taken advantage of to give an entertainment gratis to the public. The entertainment will consist of dissolving views, illustrated by vocal and instrumental music. The {programme of the views to be exhibited is a very long and varied one, and judging from the subjects, will be highly amusing and instructive. A collection will be made towards defraying the expenses of the building. To the Chabitablb. —It will be remembered that a young man named Foster was accidentally killed whilst proceeding to Governor bay. We bear that he has left a widow aad several young children totally unprovided for. On Sunday last the Bey. E. Lingard announced the fact from his pulpit, at the church at Governor bay, and a collection was made after the service for the widow and children Mr Lingard will be happy to receive any donations which may be forwarded to him.

Tub Late Frau— The churchwardens of St. Luke's have offered a reward of £10 for such information .is will lead to tho conviction of the person who set fire to the schoolroom on Wednesday night. A clo-x-r inspection of that portion of the roof whiuh was on fire proves that a tussock of lighted grass had been thrown upon it. Lyttklton Boating Club.—The members of this club gave their second dramatic entertainment on Wednesday evening last. The pieces presented were "Still Waters Run Deep" and "Boots at the Swan." The first piece requires no comment, having been performed on a previous occasion ; but we cannot omit to notice the excellent acting of Mr Qwatkin as Frank Mild way. The " Boots at the Swan" was capitally'personated by Mr -Hen, though it was perhaps rather overdone The other characters in this piece were well sustained. The whole of the audience expressed their entire appreciation of the performance. Gazette.—A "Provincial Government Gazette" was issued yesterday. It notifies that the Revising Commissioner under the Roads Ordinance Amendment Ordinance will hold courts for revising the rolls of the following districts as under: —Ashburton, at Turton'e accommodation-house on October 30; Geraldine, at the Arowhenua hotel on November 1 ; Levels, Mount Cook, at the Court-house, Timaru, on November 2 ; Waimate, at Clark's hotel, Waimate, on November 4 The remainder of the " Gazette "is made up with the usual advertisements under the Debtors and Creditors Act. Railway Rowing Club.—A meeting of the committee of this club was held last evening at Ruddenklau's City hotel. All the members were present. The rules of the club were considered seriatim, and some of them were altered to suit the present circumstances of the club. It was decided that a new pairoar boat should be at once ordered from Fuller.- of Melbourne, so that she might reach Christchurch in time for the next Heathcote Regatta. It was also decided that tenders should be at once advertised for the erection of a new boat-shed on the banks of the Avon, near the shed belonging to the Christchurch Rowing Club. Depasturing Licenses. — The following return of lands held in the various provinces of the colony under depasturing licensee or leases, and of the rentals payable for the year ending December 31, 186R, was presented to both Houses of the Assembly by command of his Excellency the Governor. The amounts marked a refer to timber licenses, wh'le those marked b and a refer respectively to licensee • mder the Southland Waste Lands Act, 1865, and the Otago Land Regulations, 1856 :—Auckland, 95.060 acres, £67 16s 7d ; Wellington, 148 755 acres, £590 6s Id; Hawke's Bay, 297 787 acres. £735 6s 4d ; Nelson, 528 385 acres, £1053 Is 8d ; Marlhorough, l,140,«00 acres, £1713 7s 9d j Canterbury, 5 779 918 acres, £34,637 Os 8d ; Otago, 6,125,4*6 acres, £6339 12g 6d ; Southland, b 1 089,285 acres, £10,597 035 d j c 145,500 acres, -£844 11s 9d. Total, 15.353 836 acres, £56,578 3s 9d. The acreage and rents or assessment under licence for mineral or other purposes, except tor goldmining, were—in Auckland, a 4' 0 acres, £15 ; in Nelson, 223 acres, £150 8s 10d; total, 2688 acres, £165 15s. Oamabu.—From the " Oamaru. Times, of Tuesday last, we learn that the jetty is now completed. That paper thus describes the erection-—" It appears to be well-constructed, and will wo hope be ultimately of great service to the port. It is, however, at present very much like a saddle without a horse, inasmuch as until we have a breakwater there will be no certainty of its being put to practical use, as it will be only during exceptionally fine weather that vessels can be moored alongside/ We understand that some hitch has occurred between the Provincial Government and the contractor, the former refusing to take delivery oj the work until a certain quantity of rock is removed from the boat-harbour, unless at a reduction from the sum to- be paid to the con .• tractor, which Mr Calder thinks too great. The approach to the jetty was, in consequence, stopped by the contractor yesterday. - We trust that there will be no delay in arranging the matter, and in putting down safe and permanent moorings, so that the wool sent down to this port during the approaching season may be shipped with expedition and safety from the jetty head." Magisterial.— At the Resident Magistrate's Court, at Christohurch, yesterday, before A. Back and R. j. S. Harman, Esqs., J.P.s, Rosanna Hill, an old offender, wub charged with having been drunk and die orderly in Oxford terrace the previous evening. Constable Jeffries stated that, he found the prisoner in Oxford terrace ; she was very drunk; and disorderly. Eight previous con victions were recorded against the prisoner. A. fine of 20s was inflicted.—Geo. Macaulay was charged with throwing stones at two dwelling-houses in Madras street the pre« vious evening. Constable Eares stated that he was on duty at quarter-pasfc eleven p.m.; the previous evening in Mitdras street, when he noticed the defendant coming from the direction of Cathedral-square. When prisoner got opposite a house in Madras street, occupied by a Mrs Mitchell, he stopped, picked up two stones, and deliberately threw them at the house. The prisoner was sober at the time. A fine ,of 10s wae inflicted—Elias Juckman was charged with having violently assaulted and beaten Thomas Sangster, at StAlbans, on the 18th instant. Plaintiff stated that lie was living with the defendant as servant. Defendant had told him to go away, and he left. He went back again to the house on the Friday following, when the alleged assault took place. Defendant was fined 10s.

Otsteb Cttlturb.—Our contemporary, the " Mtirlborough Press," very sensibly suggests "that in the present dearth of employment for capital and labour, oyster fanning might be tried as a means for making money. Unlike other industries, it requires but little cap'tal to commence an oyster farm, and the profits are.in an inverse ratio to the amonnt expended." "Australia," it remarks, "has taken the lead in this new mode of supplying a market that is scarcely ever overstocked, Otago is agitating the question, and operations have already been commenced to supply that part of New Zealand with a sufficiency of the universally esteemed bivalve, and it remains for Maryborough to follow in the same (rack to ensure employment and a certainty of good profits to whoever may engage in the same speculation. If the oyster were not a natural production here.'and the Society wished to find a suitable spot for the'fostering of oyster spar, or seed, they would find no better place tlmn the beaches in. Queen. Charlotte and. Pelorus Sounds. If any should be induced to begin oyster cultivation, now is the beet time, as by the Oyster. Fisheries Act, 1866, the months of November, December, January, February, and March are proclaimed the close season, being the time the oysters are sick or casting spat. If the work is begun at once, within a month or two theincrease will begin ; ani as numerous small oysters are sure to be laid down with the stock for the bed* next year a return may be received acd every year for some time the profits will increase. No fears need be entertained that the market will be overstocked, for at present not euough oysters are sent into the market to supply the demand; and in course of time when they b-come plentiful and increase, say at the rate 40 per cent, if they are sr»ld at a decrease of 10 per cent, the profit will be larger than at J present. Last year, in Sydney, there were ; sold oysters to the value of £30,000 ; of this £16,500 is spent in the colony, and oysters to the value of £13,500 are exported to Victoria. The fisheries give direct employment to upwards of 250 persons, and seven smull vessels, besides steamboats. The estimated annual supply j s 109,200 bushels, which supply could be ddubfed if required." Geaut Export.—A publto meeting was held at the Assembly-rooms at Oumuru, on Saturday last, for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a grain export and kiln-drying company for the Oamaru district. There was a numerous attendance of merchants and agriculturists. Mr; the chair, and having briefly explained the

objects of the meeting, called upon Mr Maude, who had boen the prime mover in the present proii'et. Mr Maude, ii tho course of his rennirk*, 9>iid thut he proposed the formation of a company with a capital of £10,000, in 1000 elmri»B of £L 0 e:»ch. Som- , gontloinen had smkl that £5000 would bo sufficient e.ipitii l to bej»in with, but that was n mutter which tho met-tiii" would consider. If the capital of the company were £1.0,000 it would bo necessary to call up the whole amount of the shares at onctv The operations of the company would be widely beneficial —to tho farmer, by procuring a better prico for his grain; and the farmer would then reap some profit, instead of sustaining absolute loss by hi.enterprise; and to the labourer, by creating a greater demand for labour. He thought that by exporting wh j at to England they might , expect to realise 7c" 6d a bushel for their wheat, which, after deducting 2s 6d a bushel for expenses, would leave a net 5* for the farmer, ami would be a vast improvement upon present prices. Some said that exporting was not the business of the farmer—that was a matter of opinion. A farmer was ac much a man of business as anybody else, and he thought it was not only hie business to try to raise the best quality and largest quantity of grain possible, but also to send it to the beet market. Those who did not export their wheat through the company could, if they preferred it, still sell their wheat in this market; but they even would derive benefit from the existence of tho company, whose presence in the market would tend to raise the price of grain he thought as much as Is per bushel. He thought that the company would be tbe means of obtaining for the farmer a price for his wheat which wou'd remunerate him, if not so well as ho deserved, still much better than he had been remunerated lately. He thought that tho company might depend upon realizing a net 4s to 5s a hushel. Taking the lower sum, the farmer might live and save money. Twice ploughing his land the first season would cost per acre £2 ; seed, 10s ; harrowing, 10s ; and harvesting and bringing to market, say £3 ; that would amount in all to £6 per acre. Now, taking the average yield at forty bushels to the acre, which bethought a low estimate, the proceeds of an acre of wheat at 4s per bushel would be £8, leaving a profit of £2 to the farmer. This would be in the first season. In succeeding seasons one ploughing would suffice, and the farmer would clear £3 per nore. He would now move—"That a Grain Export and (if desirable) Kiln-drying Company be formed for the Oamaru district." Mr Hassell seconded the motion, to which Mr-GHbba moved ac an amendment—"That an Agricultural Eiport Company be formed for the district of Oamaru" The amendment having been seconded, was put and carried Mr Ashcroft proposed—" That a committee consisting of the following gentlemen, with power to add to their number, be instructed to make enquiries as to the principal points in dispute respecting kiln-drying, prices in England, &c, and to prepare a prospectus, and report at a meeting to be held on this day fortnight, viz., Messrs Maude, M'Master, Haesell, M. R.: Miller, MAuley, Black, Aitchison, Margrave, Gibbs, Bee, Simms, Harper, Captain Godfrey, and the mover; Mr Maude to be convener." Mr Maude seconded tbe motion. After some further discussion the resolution was put and carried The customary vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings*.

c Portable: Steam Canoe.— A portable j eteam canoe, to hold ono person, has been p completed by Mr James Parker, of Lilford - road, Camberwell, a description of which ma} , a interest New Zealand readers. The boat is 0 made of iron, the dimensions being 13 feet g long 13 inches deep and 2 feet 3 inches r wide; It is readily carried from place to place c along the road by the aid of a pair of light j wheels. The propeller is a jet of water one c inch in area, forced by the direct action y of steam without any engine. The boat s being so short and deep in the water is not a adapted for speed, nevertheless three miles an hour was obtained on the trial., on the Surrey canal against a stiff breeze, with only j a little common firewood for fuel. With a J good fire the speed is expected to come to , between four and five miles an hour through j still water, as the speed is in proportion to the j. eteam pressure. This little boat is capable of r a trip of 100 milfe with one sack of coke, but [ a larger boat would travel quicker, and carry fuel for a much longer voyage. Utilizing Subpltjs Stock. — "It is encouraging," says the Melbourne " Argus," " to flnd a practical turn given to the present a agitation in favour of uniting with the boiling-; . down of the surplus etock now fast accumu-: lating throughout the country spine process of 3 utilizing the lean of the sheep, either by j simple preservation or extracting the essence . of meat in accordance with' Liebig's system. A meeting of those concerned was recently r held at Scott's hotel, when it was resolved that; , a limited liaoility company bo formed.for the 1 purpose of boiling down and otherwise I utilizing the surplus stock iu.tae counfty. The chairmin said that calculations had been' placed , in his hand showing that a sheep of from 4811) j to 601b could be made to fetch 7s 6d, but more , than one gentleman present doubted if there . was any use in taking so high a figure. Mr G- [ S. Lang said he had understood that estimates t w"ouid be laid before the meeting showing how 5 far Mr P. Hayes's establishment at Footseray j could be turned to account in this enterprise, , Mr Josephs then exhibited some plans of his ; patent, by which process he said an apparatus I costing £-iOOO would produce in taUow, extract , of meat, &c, from 7000 sheep, of 401bs each, ( to be consumed per day, it clear profit of , £166 12s 2d, or about 6s per head, the . expenses only amounting to £35 7e lOd. Were tlie extract abandoned, double the number of sheep could be treated by the same process ; and if £1000 were added to the coat of the I plant, 3000 sheep could bo passed through the boilers every twenty-four hours."