The Press MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1867.

Press, Volume XII, Issue 1576, 25 November 1867, Page 2

The Press MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1867.

When once we have definitely agreed upon the principle of a common revenue for the whole colony, the problem of reconstruction becomes immensely simplified. The provincial system must then perforce be abandoned, for the obvious cause —a cause which is at work already —that the provinces would no longer have the means* of maintaining it. In the Middle Island, indeed, if the people were willing to tax themselves for the purpose, it might be maintained for some time longer, by supplementing the land fund with revenue raised by internal direct taxation; but the country is already too heavily taxed for colonial purposes to render this plau feasible. In those provinces which have no land fund, that is. over almost the whole of the North Island, the stoppage of the sums hitherto paid over to the Provincial Governments out of the colonial revenue would be the signal for its immediate dissolution. The question then arises, what form of government should be substituted. Now we shall be in a much better position to determine that point if we take as large a view of it as possible ; looking, not only to our own particular province, but to the general state of the whole colony. Provincialism is, or is fast becoming, obsolete, and the wisest course is to drop it altogether. If we think only of retaining all we can of the provincial system, if we turn our attention solely to patching up its defects in the hope of carrying on a few years longer, we shall simply have our labour for out' pains. The course of events will flow on in its natural channel, leaving us aground high and dry—a set of political Eip Van Winkles, waking up some morning to find all things changed and ourselves a generation or so behind the age. But if, discarding all thought of the provinces, we look upon tbe country as an entirety, and try to ascertain what is really required, the matter becomes a very simple one: Supposing the provincial machinery abolished, it is no very difficult task to supply something much better suited to the present circumstances of the country in its room. A system of local self government, inexpensive yet thoroughly effective—that is the present need ; a system which, leaving to the Central Gr .vernment the entire management pi" all public affairs in any way affecting the interest of the general community, confides the direction or administration of all local affairs to local authorities. For our own parts, we cannot conceive 'where we should turn for a model of such a system rather than to the mother country, where the people are deeply imbued with tbe spirit of local self-gov-ernment, and where the theory of it has been reduced to a practical form elaborated by the experience of ages. We revert therefore to the English model, and wish to see the county, parish and borough organisation introduced into New Zealand ; the landfund of every district being made the absolute property of the District Board, so as to secure it from being at any time swept up in the net of the Colonial Treasurer for the general uses of the colony. The Lyttelton Times the other day seemed to derive [ much comfort from the size we pro- | posed for the counties. Now we need hardly say that we have no desire to see them turned into provinces under a new name. Our counties should be nothing in the world but counties. If we proposed to have them of an extraordinary area as compared with the English counties, that was only because we thought such a division would best suit the public convenience, and with a full expectation that they would be subdivided..as the country became more closely settled. If the public would prefer to have them smaller, by all means let them be so. It has been suggested to us that the counties should be conterminous with the present electorial districts, so that each might have its member in the House of -Representatives, and there is a good

deal to be said for that arrangement—

the fact that the provincialhts spy out some advantage in the larger at a being an argun.ent iv its favour. But after all the size of the counties is not a very important point. It is one which itivolves no principle, and will have to be settled pretty much according to the convenience of the people themselves. The really important point is that, whatever changes are carried out, none of the distinctive features of provincialism shall remain behind, nor any of those sectional influences which have been so disastrously felt in the General Assembly. To accomplish that, it is necessary that the provinces should he completely broken vp —or " extinguished," if the term is thought more appropriate. And as the decisive step towards their extinction, we advocate such a rearrangement of the financial system of New Zealand as shall give the entire colony but one revenue and one Treasury. Murder at Taranaki. —A man named Roby has been m irdered at M inutuhi, Taranaki, by fnia, a Maori, who was afterwards given up to jistice by the Natives. Financial Rkfokm Association.—A meeting of the committee of this association, appointed at the late public meeting in the Town Hall, will be held this afternoon at four o'clock. Telegraphic —The line between Christ church and Lyttelton has sustained consider able damage in consequence of the weeterlv gale which was blowing yesterday without intermission. One of the posts near the top of the hill has been broken off short, and the wire is lying on the ground in many places Communication is of course stopped.

FIRK IN Lyttki.TON —A house belonging to a boatman of the name of O'Neill caught fire early on S iturdiy morning The flames had gained a complete ascendency before assistance could be procured, and in spite ol all that could be done the building w»s totally destroyed. The origin of the fire is unknown. G-azkttk.—A " General Government Ga zefte," of the 2lst instant, notifies the appointment of Vlr II J. Perham as deputy-judge of the District Court of VVanganui; and directs that all returns which by law are to be made to the Accountant in Bankruptcy under tho new Act are to be addressed to Mr George Brodie, of Otago. A list of persons entitled to Crown grants is published. The Volunteers of the North.— A meeting of Volunteer officers and delegates from the different corps in the Northern district is to take place at Woodend to-day. The business will be a discussion on the capitation grant and its disallowance, and making, arrangements for a Volunteer encampment about the new year, subject to the approval of Colonel Reader. As some effort appears to he necessary to keep together the members of the Volunteer corps, it is to be hoped there will be a good attendance. Acclimatization. — A second brood of young pheasants has been hatched in the Acclimatization Gardens, and appear quire at home in the neat little coops that have been provided for their reception. The Curator has, after many trials, hit upon a class of coops which he considers the best adapted for this • limate and for the rearing of young birds. A continual raid has been kept up against the cats which occasioned so many losses last season, and they have been all exterminated in the immediate vicinity of the gardens; but as an' additional precaution against these enemies a large enclosure has been netted in, where the young birds may range in security with their foster-mothers till fit for turning out. Child Drowned.—On Saturday afternoon a little boy named John Leitham was drowned in the Avon, near Dr. Foster's late residence, on tho Fendalltown road. The little fellow was seen by its mother playing on the bank ol the river, but on turning her back for a minute no trace of him could be found. Information was at once sent to the police, and the river dragged for the body during the afternoon, and again yesterday, but as yet it has not been found. The child's hat and a stick with which it was playing when last seen have been found on the bank of the river, which is deep and very much overgrown with cres9 about the spot where the child must have fallen in. The search for the body will be continued to-day.

The English Mails —The " Wellington Independent " of Saturday last, says :— *■ Much to the astonishment of everybody the Mataura made her appearance in the roadstead about five o'clock yesterday morning, and was followed three hours afterwards by the Taranaki with the Suez mail. We believe this is the first occasion since the establishment of the Panama service that the two mails have arrived at Wellington on the same day. The rapid passage made by the Matiura is exceedingly gratifying, as it shows that the voyage can be made wi hin the contract time ; and no doubt as soon as the coaling arrangements which are necessary to put a line of ocean steamers in thorough working order are completed, we shall find the Panama steamers as punctual to time as the P. and O. Company's have been lately.

The Duke of Edinburgh. A public meeting was held at Hokitika on Wednesday last to consider what steps should he taken to induce the Duke of Edinburgh to visit Hokitika. The chair was taken by the Mayor, who thought that immediate action should be t»k«-n to effect the object in view. After considerable discussion the following resolution «acarried : —"That a committee be appointed to take the necessary steps to convey to his Koyal Highness through the proper authorities a respectful request to honour Wesland with a visit during his sojourn in New Zealand, and to make the necessary preparations for his Royal Uighness's suitable reception in the event of a favourable reply being received; such committee to consist of Messrs. Bright, Brown, Button, Boyle, Cassius, Kcclesfield, Fowler, Harvey. Higgin, Klein, Mcc, Al'Beth, O'Leary, Paterson, Proeaer, Rees, Shaw, South, Tait, with power to add to their number."

Theateb Royal.— If the attendance at the theatre on Saturday evening was not so numerous as could be wished it was at all events select. No objectionable characters could be found in the stalls or pit, and the manager having determined for tlie future to exclude them from the house, will no doubt in time have the satisfaction of seeing many present who at one time used to form the audience in the dress-circle. The piece played was '* Deborah " another name for " Leah," in which Miss Cleveland was so successful about three years ago. Miss Bowring took the part of Deborah, a truly melancholy one, and played it with great feeling. We must say, however, that we admire her acting more in comedy than in such characters as Deborah; not that anything was wanting, but that it seems more natural to her to take the former than the latter parts. The Rudolf of Mr Steele was well conceived ; it is one that does not contain much out oi which to make acting. The other parts were fairly sustained, although 6ome of the performers were sadly deficient in their parts, an objection which will however no doubt be remedied this evening, when the piece will be repeated. A very amusing farce, the " Swiss Swains," concluded the bill. We have omitted to mention that Miss Bowring and Mr Steele received a call at the fall of the curtain. Iscbkdiabis-I. — There can now be but little doubt that the fires which have lately occurred in Christcborch have been the work

of an incendiary. Early on Saturday morning an attempt was mile to bunt the house lately erected by Mr George Gould, at th vjunct!o:i of the Town Belt and Springiield rout As was the case at St.. Luke** schoolroom and at the C»lleg"the fire, was discovered on the roof immediately above one of the gutters, an f, as in the cms.-of tlie firmer, the re n litis ol the combustible m itter thrown upon the building have been discovered. It appears that one ol Mr Gould's servants was alarmed by the crackling of burning wood immediately a'>ove her bedroom, and at once informed her master, who, without losing time in giving an alarm, cot upon the roof and was enabled to pat out the fire, which providentially had not had tune to get a thorough hold. The portion of the roof burned is about a yard square, and had the flames once broken through nothing could have saved the building. Mr Gould has offered a reward of £250 for the conviction oi j tue oti'ender. j

Kaiapoi Muntcipai, Council.—A public meeting of the ratepayers and of the members of this Council took place at the Kaikainui concert-room on Friday evening 1 ist. J C. Porter, Esq., in the chair. The Chairman having explained the object of the meeting, Mr A. A. Dobbs and Mr M. Hall, two of the retiring members of the Council, briefly expressed their opinions with reference to various public matters, and were well received, being repeatedly cheered. Mr Henwood was unable to attend. Mr Ellis also made a few observations on the course he had taken when a member of the Council, after which the nomination of persons as candidates for election on Wednesday was proceeded whh Mc sis Dobbs, Hall, and Newnhatn wer.> pro posed as candidates for election. .Messrs Oram, Middlefon, Huddle, Bell, Feldwick, an i J. Matthews were proposed, b it declined tinhonour of that poMtion. Mr Birch moved — ••That a vote of thanks be parsed to the retiring me-i.bers" [Cheers.] On looking -ound they could not but notice the improvement which had been made in the town during the past two years. He liked to see money well spent, but was not in favour of a cheese-paring sort of economy. The question of the present clerk's salary was referred to in connection with the reduction made in the wages paid to the labourers employed by the Council. The meeting, which was largely attended, was throughout quite orderly, and terminated at half-past nine p.m.

Valrdictory Address to the Govkrnor. — V public meeting was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, at Wellington, on Monday last, which was called for the twofold object of adopting a valedictory add/ess to his ExCcllem y the Governor and appointing a Reception Committee to make preparations for the visit of his Royal Highness Prince Alfred. Although the night was yery stormy, and consequently rendered the attendance of many persons absolutely impracticable, yet about 300 persons assembled in the hall. Dr. Featherston, who occupied the chair, opened the proceedings with a very eloquent speech, in the course of which he traced the career of Sir George Grey as the Governor of New Zealand, Western Australia and the Cape of Good Hope, und concluded by animadverting on the treatment to which his Excellency had lately been subjected to by the Home Government. The following address was adopted by the meeting, and will be presented on some convenient occasion : — "To his Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Governor and Commander-in-chief of the Colony of New Zealand. May it please your Excellency,—The inhabitants of the Province of Wellington, in public meeting assembled, desire to address your Excellency on your departure from New Zealand, after having twice administered the government of the colony during very critical periods of its history. Unexpectedly called from the government of South Australia in 1845 to assume that of New Zealand,at a period whenwarthreatened seriously to endanger the stability of some of the settlements, you were able on your return to England in 1853 to leave the colony in a state of great prosperity and peace. Again, unexpectedly called from the government of the Cape of Good Hope in 1861 to reassume that of New Zealand at a time when insurrection had once morely widely spread amongst the native population, compelling the settlers of whole districts to abandon their homes and cultivations, you are about to return to England'after a period of quietude which we earnestly trust may, by a wise administration of the government of the colony in the future, eventuate in peace being established on a permanent basis. It is a matter of deep regret to us that while on your first return home you not only carried with you the good opinion of the colonists, but had received especial marks of Her Majesty's approval, you have now incurred what we leel sure is but her Majesty's temporary dis pleasure—through your advocacy of certain great constitutional principles, evoked by the correspondence between your Excellency and the Imperial Government, and which apply not only to this but to all other dependencies of the British Empire. We believe that whatever position your Excellency may be called upon to fill, the great constitutional principles enunciated by your Excellency will find in you an earnest and able advocate. The interest which you have always evinced in the prosperity of this province and its institutions I renders it doubly gratifying to be able to avail ourselves of the opportunity of wishing your Excellency a prosperous voyage, praying that happiness may attend you in whatever path Providence shall see fit to direct your future." A committee, consisting of a number of town and country residents, was then appointed to make arrangements for the suitable reception of his .Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

Mexico.—The following items are from the " Panama Star and Herald," of the 2-lth of October:—" A proclamation has been issued by President Juarez ordering the election of Deputies to Congress and for President of the -upreme Court on the 21st instant. The Congress is to meet on the 20th of November, the opposition to Juarez continues, and there appears to be little chance of his being re-elected to the Presidency of the Republic. He states that he is in favour of so amending the Mexican Constitution as to make it like that of the United States ; that he i* in favour of allowing the clergy to vote, and to be voted for; of h .ving two Houses of Congress, and of making the Cabinet Ministers report to the Executive, as is done in the United States—General O'Horan died very bravely. He protested against his sentence as unjust, and denied that he was a traitor Jo his country. His last words, with his face to the soldiers firing at him, were 'Viva Mexico !"—Santa Anna's trial is now daily expected to take place. His counsel will be the same gentlemen who defended Maximilian. The general impression is that he will not be executed, bat that his estates will be confiscated. — General Marquez is reported to bo at the head of some Indians in Yucatan thirsting for revenge.—General Escobedo now denies that he ever said anything insulting about Americans, and declares that the « name of American will always be dear to him.'—Colonel Lopez, the betrayeT of Maximilian, has made an unsuccessful attempt to vindicate himself.— The remains of Maximilian have not yet been surrendered by Juarez to the Austrian Admiral, but it is thought they shortly will be—A letter of Maximilian, written two days before his death, is published, in which he arranges for his burial by the side of Carlota, and says that the widow of Miramon must go j to Europe, and live with his mother. I

The Pbesebvatiox of Food.—-The preservation of meat by freezing, and other processes, ia engaging increased attention in Victoria, where lately the boiling down of sheep has become an active industry. Referring to a project of Mr Mort, of Sydney, the " Argus " says :— V When Mr Mort has completed his arrangements we shall be able to send our surplus thousands of fat sheep to the poor people of England at a cost only a trifle above the ordinary rate per ton for freight, and in the most acceptable shape besides. This freezing process, proved and brought to perfection here, will soon create a revolution m the provision trade of the world. Ships will be specially fitted up for it, with double-cased iron tanks in their lower holds ;

and when so fitted up it will bo only needful ] to fill these tanks with ment, tit ter. crean, | fruit, or tiny other perishable articles we may ,' have at. the time to s;>u\\ freeze I hem by I setting an easily m ma_e.l apparvUn to w>r* j on.leek,an 1 by after>v.ir Is" working this I" >r a few j hours o-e is;. >tlll : V keeut'vil lh afr >Z «:| sa'- | until they rea h Holland. Then, on the return i voyage, in tlie same tanks can b • brought to j us'the eggs of ral non and other lish, trees, j plants or seeds, silkwor ns' or in fact | almost anything of the kind it may he desi- I rable to "introduce And our mercantile readers will see that this must cause a vast increase in lhe oeeiui carrying trade, jyheu we tell them that we should send away from Melbourne nlone, within the. next fe-v months. nearly t'.'.-'e millions of fat sheep, wcgiing at. the leas; dO,OOO tons."

The Galatea.. —The "South Australian' Advertiser" thus describes the vessel in which the Duke of Edinburgh is making his present trip to the Austrah m colonies -"'lf the Strang"!- is at all of a nautical tendency, the n minor of her boats will be a notieeib!<'etiture. There is a b-Tth occupied by the Prometheus, a steamer tender, lifted with twin screws, for communication with the shore. Towing boats or carriage of guns or stores come alike to her, and in either ease she does tier work well. Tho best bower anchor, a delicate piece of Tubal Cain handiwork, weighs 76c wt 2qr 13ibs. On the main-deck the armament is thirteen guns on either side, or twenty-six in all. There are four 7m. bore muzzle loaders, weighing six tons and a-half each, beautiful pieces with carriuge gear, Lreechiii- and tackling in such order as would do credit to any facto-y. Then there aro four (ii pounder*, shunt muzzleloaders, and eighteen lOin.-g <ns, each rwewt., and two I_-pounder Armstrong breech-loaders for boating purposes, and one lield-piece of similar character and calibre. In the arm-racks aro 172 linfield rifles, 52 Colt's revolvers, and 172 cutlasses; so that his Royal Highness is not ill prepared for war. although on a mission of peace. Abaft the after hatchway the state cabins are objects of special interest, with their walnut Venetians, mahogany styles, gilt mouluin«s, and upholstery. Deeper still to the 'tween decks, where the tars iind quarters before the officers' cabin?, the latter occupy the {{renter portion of the space *»b'i ft the engines, which is sunk right down in the vessel's skin. They are Peon's trunk engines, the cylinder of the lessor being 36iu., anil the t;reuter 89£ in. in diameter. Three feet eight inches is the stroke of the piston ; and while the engines nominally aro 800 horse power, they can work up to 3400 horses, consequently it is not astonishing that she speeds away at the rate of thirteen knots per horn in favourable weather. She is furnished with Griffiths's patent feathering ssrew, which enables the pitch to be altered from twentyfive to twenty nine, besides affording means of lifting it, when under sail. Tho total weight of the machinery is 575 tons Tliero are 2756 tubus in the six boilers, which are supplied with fuel from bunkers capable of carrying 600 tons. The report of the voyage from tinGape contains no very interesting feature, beyond its accomplishment in twenty-three days. The first part was marked by westerly weather until reaching a position olf the Island of St. Paul, where a cyclone was ex perienced. No inconvenience was felt from the storm, and the vessel careered on her way until within three days' sail of our port, when the baffling winds induced the engines to be set at work, ar.d the conclusion of the passage was made under steam. It is pleasing to notice that, although more than 500 poople are on board, only one caso of serio'is disease occurred during the voyage from the Cape—that of a seaman who died from fever.