The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3118, 15 July 1867, Page 3

The Daily Southern Cross.

LTTOEO, NON URO. It I h»T« betn MtinpUihed, y«t there tint A tLon*»nd beaconi from tha ipurk I bort.

MONDAY, JULY 15.

The speech with which his Excellency the Governor opened the Assembly cannot be said to be wanting in interest to the colony. It touches on various questions of vast importance to the country; and should Ministers be able to retain their seats, and give effect to their policy as indicated in the speech, the session must necessarily be a long one. Hasty and ill-considered legislation is to be deprecated at all times ; but in the existing circumstances of the colony, anything of the kind would be deeply to be deplored. The representatives of the people, therefore, ought to apply themselves diligently to their public duty, and, at whatever personal sacrifice, attend closely to all measures during the session. By so doing, they will best serve the interests of their constituents, and deserve the

trust reposed in them. Beveiting to the Governor's speech, we may say at the outset, that we have been somewhat surprised at what it did not contain. The first and greatest omission is in reference to taxation. Not a word is let drop which would serve to indicate that the Government was prepared to make such sweeping reductions in the establishments, as would abate the grinding system of taxation, which is slowly but surely prostrating the country. The only reference to finance is in the curt paragraph intimating that the accounts of revenue and expenditure for the past year, and the Estimates for the coining year, would be placed before the House. His Excellency is made to say by his Eesponszble Advisers, " I trust you will be able to recog- " nise in both that careful regard for economy " upon which, at this juncture, the future " prosperity of the colony greatly depends." Now, if the Estimates are framed on the scale of the past year's supply, as exemplified in the accounts of expenditure already published, and commented on in this newspaper, we have no hesitation in saying that the House cannot, if it takes an independent view of the matter, " recognise that careful "regard for economy upon which, at this " juncture, the future prosperity of the colony " greatly depends." However, the Estimates will be before us in due course ; and in the meantime we content ourselves by expressing the hope that the representatives of Auckland will take the precaxition to endeavour to cut down the General Government establishments as much as possible. They ought to bear this fact in mind, that the wasteful extravagance is not caused by maintaining the departmental officers in the province*— the men who do all the work— but is connected with the heads of these departments in Wellington. To succeed in reforming the system, therefore, the axe must be laid to the trunk and not to the branches. So long as representatives content themselves by nibbling at the salaries of officers in their respective provinces, with whose duties members are more or less conversant, the Government will be quite satisfied. Ministers will be in the, best possible temper, and moderate reformers will find themselves loaded with small pliments ; but once let them go to the root of the system, and attempt to thin the

departments—to abolish and consolidate— and the tune will be changed.. Ministers will then stand upon the defensive. A reformer of this stamp will be a man to shun and vituperate; and the paid and hireling members of the House of Representatives will do their utmost to obscure the question, and defeat reform. We trust our representatives will recollect, therefore, that to succeed in curtailing expenditure to any appreciable extent, they must not wait until the items are under consideration,, If the Estimates 1 are framed on last year's model — if they approach even to these in extravagance — the House ought not to go inta committee upon them at all, but send them back again to be re-cast. To succeed in a motion of this kind might lead to a change of Government ; but we are of opinion that as the present Government principally consists of men who accept office for its emoluments, they will take a great many hints before resigning. At all events, if they did, it would ftot be difficult to find successors, There are two points bearing on finance to which allusion is likewise made. The first is in relation to the consolidation of all loans — General and Provincial ; the second is a proposal to extend to goldfields enterprises " the benefits of the colonial credit." As we have not any details of these measures before us, we cannot speak of them except in general terms. It is very much to be regretted that Mr. Stafford should have so studiously departed from the established practice in England of Ministerial statements of policy outside the walls of Parliament, by which means the country is taken into the confidence of the Government, and made participators in any proposed legislation in a double sense ; firstly, by the open disoussion of the principles on which the Government proposed to act, through the press and on the platform ; secondly, by the representatives of the elective bodies in Parliament. By this means the people are enlightened, and legislation is usually strictly in accordance with the interests and wishes of the combined intelligence of all classes in the nation. But in New Zealand we have had a system of secrecy established. It is an anti-British system, and opposed to the spirit and genius of free institutions. The New Zealand Government, of which Mr. Stafford is the head, does not rely upon the intelligent support of the colony for the triumph of its policy ; it relies entirely upon stratagem and surprises. The voice of public opinion does not startle them in their Sleepy Hollow at Port Nick ; and they are free to contrive and scheme during the recess, and bribe and bully in session. So long as Wellington remains the seat of Government, whilst the colony is only partially settled, so long will any unprincipled set of men who manage to get into office be able to carry out a system inimical to the prosperity of the country at large, and favourable only to class interests. But this by the way. The proposal for consolidating the General and Provincial loans is right in principle. Three years ago we suggested, policy, andjquoted from private advices the opinion of the Stock Exchange on New Zealand loans. The credit of the colony, no doubt, has suffered on account of the number and variety of New Zealand loans on the market ; and dealers on the Stock Exchange were unable or unwilling to go into the merits of each particular loan, and satisfy themselves of the security which each provinoe was prepared to offer. Manifestly this was detrimental to the provinces, and to the colony as a whole. The attempt to consolidate the public debt is, however, one which we approve. But we go no further than this general approval just now. The question is far too important to be lightly disposed of. When the details have been before the public then we shall be better able to speak. At this stage, however, we would just throw out the hint that the measure may be so devised as to hinder, and perhaps make impossible, the financial and political separation of the two great natural divisions of the colony; whereas, if the Northern members (and by these we include the representatives of all the provinces in the North Island) act unitedly, and with a single eye to the prosperity of the colony as a whole, and of the North and Middle Islands respectively, the Act of Consolidation may be made ancillary to the Separation policy, and to the political and financial independence of the North. Which is it to be ? We think Ministers, with all their caution, furnish the key to their policy. We take the paragraph in the speech relating to colonial guarantees for goldfield enterprises, as the key to the interpretation of the wtentions of the Government in their proposal to convert provincial loans into colonial stock. These measures we regard as essentially embodying the Ministerial policy ; the contemplated Municipalities Bill being an extension of the principles which we judge to be embodied in the two other political measures under review. Indeed, this view of the case 1 is all the more strengthened when we find that it is in contemplation to increase the goldfields representation. One word with regard to the proposed consolidation of provincial loans and conversion into colonial stock. If the proposal be carried out, and debentures issue, signed by the Minister, for the colony of New Zealand, and secured upon the general and territorial revenue of the colony, an insuperable obstacle will be raised to the financial and political separation of the two islands. The public creditor will have a lien on the colony as at present constituted ; and it may so happen, that hereafter the debentureholders in England will control the political destiny of the colony, even against the opinion of the majority in the Colonial Legislature. There is that rock ahead ; and we warn our provincial i*epresentatives to be on the lookout that they do not assent to a measure which would bind the North helplessly to the chariot wheels of the South. On the other hand, this measure of consolidation might be made the financial basis on which Separation could be amicably arranged, if deemed politic at any future period. And in this way. Let the liabilities of the colony be ascertained and charged upon the general and territorial revenue of the Middle Island : then let the provincial loans be consolidated ; those for the Middle Island provinces being made a charge upon the revenue of that island ; those for the North Island, in like manner, being charged against the general and territorial revenue of that island. This would simplify the accounts of the two islands, and the debentures would issue in due form, only that the security for one moiety of the loan would be different from the security for the other moiety. We dare say the Middle Island members would object to this proposal 5 and Ministers do not contemplate anything of the kind. It is ; clearly with the view of - breaking up the North Island members— dividing them on

the smaller question of advances for local improvements — that the Government have Revised the hill for extending municipal jurisdiction in the provinces, and making advances on account of looal improvements, In like manner, the goldfields population, impatient of Northern connection and anxious for Separation — equally impatient of pastoral domination, and clamorous for a distribution of the gold revenue amongst them — have the bribe held out to them of advances or colonial guarantees of loans to promote mining enterprise, and they are still farther enticed by the prospect of increased political power. By thus throwing bones of contention amongst the various sections of the House, the Government hope to carry their i measure for consolidating the provincial loans, which we take to be the keystone of their political arch. Let us warn the members from this island, and especially from Auckland, not to be induced to discuss secondary questions to the exclusion of those of primary importance. So far as the dis,tri» bution of the public debt is concerned, which we have sketched out, we think we satisfied any impartial person, in our publication of the 3rd instant, that it wottfd be fair and equitable. The Middle Island, up to the close of 1861, was largely indebted to the North Island in the expenditure of general revenue ; and whilst this regular drain upon the North was going on, theMiddlelslandhad the exclusive use of the territorial revenue, for local purposes, although the lauds of that island had been paid for out of the revenue of the North. At the close of 1865, owing to the development of the goldfields, the general revenue of the South rapidly increased, and reckoning from 1853, without calculating interest, the Middle Island had contributed £465,891 more than the North Island. This increase took place chiefly in the three years from 1863 to 1865 inclusive. At the close of 1861 the Nortli Island stood £392,069 in excess of the Middle Island. But then it must be borne in mind that, of the territorial revenue from, 1859 to 1865 inclusive, the Middle Island ' appropriated to its own use no less than ! £2,692,687, wlulstthe North Island had only £451,417. The territorial revenue has gone on increasing in the South, but has ceased altogether in the North ; and now the Middle Island provinces must have collected and expended in local works three millions from the colonial estate. That estate is far from exhausted. Therefore, we say, if the Middle Island be * charged with the threemillion loan, and relieved of all future drafts for native affairs, she will have made * favourable bargain. The North Island would be able to meet its engagements and promote local improvements without a land revenue or assistance or guarantee from the South. The system of accounts would be simplified, and pending Separation the constitution of the Government might be modified by assimilating it to the Canadian Government, which, comprised a double Executive — representing the two provinces, of Lower and "Western Canada. The interests of the French Canadians were not more distinct from those of the more prosperous "Western province than the interests and requirements of the North Island, with its large native population, are diverse from those of the Middle Island, with its pastoral and gold-mining interests. We have dwelt at length on these topics, because we regard them as the most important touched on in the Governor's speech.

It will be seen by the letter of our Russell correspondent, published elsewhere, that the two hapus of the Ngapuhi tribe claiming ownership of the disputed land at Waimate have come into active collision. Seven of the combatants ate known to have been killed and many others wounded, but at the time of our correspondent's letter being despatched from Russell the numbers could not be correctly ascertained. Mr. Williams, the energetic Resident Magistrate of the district, had previously visited the belligerents, and believed he had succeeded in making peace between the opposing parties, but on the succeeding day they met, with the result nboyo stated. We have received later papers from Napier per * Star of the South,' but they contain no news of importance. It will no doubt be interesting to our local volunteer corps to learn that the Cambridge Frontier Rifle Club have determined to challenge teu volunteers of the Auckland corps, to compete in a rifle match with a similar number of men of the club, for £10 or £20 aside, at the ranges 300, 400, and 500, with five shots at each range. The club propose that the match shall be fired by two deputies from each side— each firing on their own ground — and the respectite scores to be telegraphed when the firing is completed. We do not doubt that the challenge will be accepted on the part of our Auckland defenders, and a most interesting match must result. The letter published by ua on Saturday morning from Mr. James Curlett, who has passed several months in captivity amongst the Hauhaus, is instructive as showing that, while the' 3oo military settlers of Taurang* were expecting nightly to be attacked, and calling the Arawas in hot hasle from Tarawera and Matata to help them to defend Te P»p», the people of tbe villages on the ranges were drifting about in small bodies of eight or ten »mong»t the Patatere settlements, with no idea of attacking '[ c Papa, except by twelve unarmed men, operating ala Joshua. About 300 men, however, appear to have been gathered in the interior ready for mischief 1 in any quarter, but their designs seem to have i been put an end to by the King ordering a pea<:e. ! The greater number of these men, apparently ' dispersed about the Upper Thames. From the statement of Mr. Cnrlett it would appear that Kereopa is the foremost man of the more violent party, and it is certain that the influence of a few such men as he is, whose crimes the Ifiw can. not overlook, must be most mischievous. We learn, however, from Waikato, that Kereopa acquiesces in the peace, and says that he will not do anything to break it unless attacked, or an attempt be made to capture him. We had nearly had another fire in Chancery-street yesterday forenoon. It appears that there are some old houses there, the doors, windows, aud partitions of which the neighbours are gradually using up for firewood. Yesterday forenoon, a boy named Thomas Jones was in the house, probably in search of fuel, and, with the love of » " lark" which might be supposed to be natural to anyone bearing the name of Fielding's hero, held a lighted match to the paper which was hanging in shreds from the wall. A. piece of the paper was burned, and the wood slightly charred, but constable Morrison, who fortunately happened to be near, easily extinguished the flame. Tom Jonea, who ia only about six years of age, was taken into custody, but we presume will be set at liberty after making his appearance before his Worship this morning. The rate collector of the City Board on Saturday s,ued Mr. John Copland for rates which had become due in respect of the allotment formerly occupied by the Waitemata Hotel. It appeared that the case arose through some misunderstanding by Mr. Copland as to the obligations of his lease. His Worship said it was no use defending these cases before that Court, as the Act really left the Court nothing to do but to give judgment for the Board, and added tnat he believed that before long there would be such a change in the law as would enable the City Board to enforce their rates without coming to that Court. Judgment was given for the Board against Mr. Copland, but Mr. Wynn stated that it would stand over till some arrangement could be made. A correspondent of the Sydney Empire, ".writing from Liverpool Plains, B»y» :—" A new enterprise has been set on foot here-boiling down Worses for the oil, tbe bones are then cnuhed, and tne macs saved. As hones have been sold in Yaw for 6*. per head, and at Goulburn 2t. 6d., it » very probable this may pay, and ..owe .would turn_to profits account the worthies portion of thu 6to<*. .

It will be remembered that one day last week a nan was brought up at the Polioe Court on a trifling charge of larceny (stealing an old coat from a vessel on which he had been working), but, in consequence of the amount of business, the case was remanded till Saturday. When the case was called on on Saturday, tbe acouted was brought up from the cell in which he had been confined sinoe the beginning of last week, but, as the prosecutor did not appear, the prisoner was discharged. Mr. Wynn, who was present, remarked that the case ihowed the truth of what had been said on a former day as to the .want of facilities for despatching the criminal and civil business of the Court. Dixon, the man oharged, said the accusation had been made because he took out a nummons against the prosecutor for wage*, and asked hta Worship if he could not bring an action for false imprisonment against the prosecutor. Whatever may have been the merits of the case, it is a disgrace to whoever may be to blame, that a man. should be kept for several days in » cell on a petty charge, for which, if guilty, half tbe amouut of imprisonment would have been amply sufficient. We are not deairous of casting blame on the Resident Magistrate, who has undoubtedly had a very great deal of business to dispose of within the last week or two; bat it would be a good thing if Dixon could make the Government pay » .heavy tarn as damages, as they are much me^Njjto blame than the prosecutor. In England, the cases of person!- in custody are disposed of atitftf? earliest possible moment ; and a remand for day* on*a*trifling charge, on the plea that the Court had not time to deal with it, would, we feel satisfied, never be thought of. Indeed, we should think that no conscientious magistrate would be able to sleep soundly while he was keeping men, who might be perfectly innocent, in the police cells, merely because office hours from half-past ten to four were otherwise occupied. Then it must be kept in mind that the hearing of these cases is not owing to the pressure of criminal busineass, but to accommodate suitors in the Resident Magistrate's and District Courts. The profession are, it seems, about to memorialise the Attorney-General on the subject. Further to illustrate the matter, we may state that a man was apprehended on Wednesday last charged with stealing a razor and a pair of scissors. He was brought up on Thursday morning, and at once remanded till Tuesday next, and thus will have been a week in custody without a trial. The following list of property stolen, principally duting the month of June, is published in the Audiland Police Gazette :— "On June 12th, a three-side telescope, with brass cap, the property of Mr. Bright, auctioneer, Queen-street. From a bedroom in Point Russell Hotel, about the 13th June,, a blue enamelled ring, with diamond.croßß, the property of Captain Wilson, Cambridge. From the premises of Duncan McKenzie, Collingwood-street,' on the night of June 19th, two Btriped Crimean ehirts,.i* pair of dark doeskin trousers, and one pair of light, ditto ; identifiable. About November 20th, 1866, an English lever hunting watch, No. 82,459, maker, "A. G. Bartlett, Auckland," the property of one M. Dan be, Wanganui. During the month of June, from the premises of Mrs. Bond, corner of Edward and Abercrombie-streets, a gold brooch, with hair let in, initials on back ; also a locket with the likeness of her late husband, and a petticoat, richly'' worked. Prom the Provincial Hospital, on the night of June 26th, a bite cloth pilot coat, and a serge coat of superior texture. About five weeks ago, from the steamer ' Lord Ashley,' an English silver hunting lever watch, No. 2,874, maker, "Joseph Johnstone, Liverpool," the property of Richard Davy, Pilotstation, Tanranga. From the premises of Mr. David Graham, Remuera, f-ix pairs of white drilled trousers; twelve white waistcoats, plain and striped ; five petticoats, one with insertion and one tucked ; fonr chemises with tri aiming ; one plain ditto ; five nightdresses, some with frills, aud one marked "Mary Graham;" six pairs of ladies' drawers, with trimmiDg, two of whom are supposed to be marked "M» Graham ;'* five white shirts, one or two of whioh are marked with blue thread in tbe corner in the form of a star ; one damask table-cloth and one kitchen tablecloth; « dozen pockethandkerchiefs, some of which are marked J. Kirkwood or M. Graham ; half-a-dozen gentlemen's collars; one lady's plain'linen collar;half-a-do^en towels ; one child's pair of drawers ; two nightshirts, one marked with blue thread : and one bed guilt." A man named James Galbraith was apprehended yesterday, for stealing a coat from William Sadgrove, at Epsom. William Cartwright is in custody for assaulting Jacob Thomas. John McKay, a seaman of the * John Scott,' waa given into oustody yesterday, for disorderly conduct on board that vessel. The annual meeting of the proprietors of the New Zealand Loan afcd Mercantile Agency Company (limited) was held on Saturday, at the New Zealand B*nk premises, Mr. Russell presiding. Tbe proceedings at the 1 meeting will be found elsewhere. At the Onehunga Police Court, on Saturday last, Henry Hudson Field appeared on. a charge of having tittered a cheque on the Bank of New South. Wales for £5, with intent to defraud Mr. Henry P. Stark, aharebroker, of Auckland. Constable Lloyd deposed to the apprehension of the prisoner on the charge of passing a forged cheque, when the prisoner said that he had been told by a man that; some money was to be placed in the bank, and which he (prisoner) must draw out in the name of Johnstone. The ledgerkeeper of the Bank of New South Wales, Mr. William Lynch, gave evidence to the effect that the cheque produced was presented on the 11th instant by Mr. Stark, and he was then informed there was no account in the bank under that name. His Worship remanded the prisoner until Wednesday next. The Oamaru Times says, "The lambing promiseß to be very successful this year in Hiverina. At Thule and Cobrah the increase is likely to be eighty-five per cent, The addition to the number of sheep in Riverina this season is expected to exceed two millions of lambs — last year the inorease was 1,300,000. The number of lambs expected in the Hay districts in estimated to be about 750, 000. ( In seven years hence there would be twenty-five millions of sheep in the salt-bush country— so thai) boiliogdown must become soon a-neoesaity»" We notice, by Tasmanian papers, that "Mr. Ramsbottom has sent do\in to Hobart Town a male trout, whicb, though only two* years old, measured nineteen inches in length, and weighed three and a half pounds. The male trout are in the habit, during the spawning season, of fighting with much ferocity, and from several marks of injuries upon the specimen here spoken of Messrs. Allport and Ramsbottom entertain no doubt that it was in one of these contests that it lost its life. The fish, was found dead in the River Plenty, close to its junction with the Derwent ; and as its size is believed to be unprecedented for its age, it will be preserved in spirits as an objeot of interest to naturalists and pisciculturists." The ship * Midas' has brought to Melbourne, from the Cape of Good Hope, a very interesting shipment, consisting of thirty-six A ngora goats . They are sent by Mr. Charles Barry, and consigned to Messrs Dalgety, Blackwood, and Co. For many years past a great deal of attention has been paid in the Cape colony to the breeding of Angora goats ; and many large shipments have been made from Asia Minor via England to Cape Town. Mr. Barry writes as follows of the prospects of this animal at the Cape : — "They are more profitable than merino sheep ; they yield an equal quantity of wool of a higher market value, and require much less care and attention than sheep. They are not so subject to disease, and inorease at least fifty per cent, faster than sheep." The creditors of John Beaton, brick-maker, are requested to meet this afternoon, at three o'clock, at the Chamber of Commerce, Fort-street, for the con. sideration of important business. We have been requested to direct the attention of our readers to the fact that Messrs. C. Arthur and Son will sell by public auction to-merrow, at 12 o'clock, at the Queen-street store of Mr. M. Somerville, 1,500 bags superior oat', &o. Thomas McGuire and John Doolan were apprehended yesterday, charged with desertion from the 2nd battalion 12th Regiment. A seaman named Peter Vandoorafc was given into custody yesterday by Mr. Nicholson, obief officer of the ship 'John Scott,' charged with riotous conduct on board that vessel. A free pardon was granted by his Excellency the Governor en June 13th, to Simon Peter Burns, convicted, at Auckland, on the 9th September, 1864, of burglary, and sentenced to four years' penal servitude—on the following condition, viz., that he shall, within seven 'days from the date of his discharge, quit the colony of New Zealand, and not return thereto during the reiidue of the term of the sentence unexpired. Description of Burns : — Native of Dub* lin ; age, 38 ; height, 5 feet 7£ inches ; complexion, swarthy; hair, black; eyes, greyj M.B. inside right arm.— Police Gazette. The shareholders of the Deronporfc Assembly Hall will hold a meeting to-day, at the Masonic Hotel, North Shore, for the purpose of determining on a lite for the building, and to appoint directors,

The following letter ajpjara in a late number of the Waka Maori, published at Napier.— "My Friend,— Will you publish this letter with respect to a bird which has nude its appearance atTuranga? We have read the article published bj you some ago upon certain blight-eating birdt, by means of which applet, trees, and other things would be preserved from destruction. .We have obierved of late a strange bird at Tnranga, of small size. It is now about two years since it made its first appearance here. This year it came in great numbers, flying in floolu. It it about the giae of the native horirenre ; iti eyeg are somewhat like shirt-buttons, and its song is loud. We observe that immense numbers of these birds alight upon the apple trees and feed upon the blight. The trees are literally covered with them. Perhaps some person will know this bird and give us some information about it. — From Hapi Kiniha." Mr. Staclcpool R^O'Dell will deliver a leoture this evening, at half past* seven o'clock, at the Newton Hall, on phrenology. Mr. Charles Davis has received instruction! to sell by public auction, to-day, at XI o'clook, at his rooms, the Waitemata flour mill, now in the occupation of Mr. John Lamb. Meisrs. Dunnet and Co. will sell by publio auotion to-day, at 1 o'clock, at the Newmarket saleyards, dairy cows, fat cattle, fat sheep, fat and store pigs. &o> Megsrs. William Hunter and Co. advertiie for sale to-day, at 1 o'clock, at the Newmarket saleyards, fat and store cattle, dairy cows, wethers, fat sheep, fat and store pigs, &o. Messrs. Turrell and Tonks announce that they will sell to-day, by > publio auotion, at 11 o'clock, at their mart, valuable leasehold property in Grey-street.

15 I. Jt. 5 41 r. m, <J 1