The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3222, 13 November 1867, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUOEO, NON UKO. If I h»T» b«en •xtlngniihid, y«t thtr* til* A thotuand beaconi from tha ipwrk I bor*

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13.

The members for the Northern Division, Mr. James O'Neill and Mr. Thomas Macffarlane, met their constituents yesterday at the North Shore. It is true the meeting was not large ; but that was not the fault of the hon. gentlemen. The season, and the favourable weather, no doubt prevented many of the rural electors attending, as they would be more profitably occupied on their farms ; and the goldfields, and attention to private business, doubtless accounted for the absence of many residents in the city who have votes for the Northern Division. However, the example set is a good one ; and we hope it will be generally followed. The practice of our members hitherto has been to ignore the electors, except on the hustings ; but henceforth Auckland representatives will regard the opinions and wishes of their constituents, on other occasions, as worth something. The result of yesterday's meeting proves this, that if the hon. members for the Northern Division erred, they did so mainly because they went down to Wellington without first, on a public occasion, taking counsel with their constituents. They went down |-without any definite policy, depending upon the chapter of accidents for moulding the proposals of the Government and the other sections of the House, to suit what they conceived to be the views of the people of Auckland. And this remark equally applies to other members, as well as to Messrs. J. O'Neill and Macffarlane. The consequence of this neglect of public discussion was soonA apparent. Our Auckland representatives fell "* ian easy prey 'to the leaders of the Otago party. These gentlemen had their own special interests to promote. They came up to the Assembly with a perfect understanding, and with a cut-and-dried policy ; and taking advantage of the chronic discontent of Auckland, they dexterously used the Auckland vote to take the Otago chestnuts ! out of the fire. Auckland was opposed to centralisation at Cook's Straits, and demanded an efficient and directly acting Government. Otago professed to want the same thing ;—; — therefore Auckland voted, with two exceptions, in favour of delegating the Governor's powers on the goldfields to the Superintendent of Otago, without stipulating that the Otago members should vote for some equivalent to Auckland. The Auckland members were satisfied with vague promises.; the Otago members, on the contrary, polled the Auckland votes in favour of their special interests. In like manner, on Mr. Vogel's financial resolution, the Auckland vote was given for the specific benefit of Otago and the Middle Island, and to the manifest injury of Auckland ; but no doubt there was an understanding between the Superintendents of the two provinces, although Mr. Macandrew took care to have the interests of his province made the subject of a substantive resolution, whereas Mr. Williamson depended entirely upon his friend's honour for backing the demands of Auckland. Now, we say, that if the Auckland members had consulted their constituents before leaving for the South, they would not have made that mistake. The question of delegation was before the public ; so also was the question of provincialism against centralism. There was no mystery about the matter. The colony understood these questions in their leDgth and breadth ; and if our representatives had taken the trouble to confer with their constituents before going to the Assembly, they would not have fallen into the snare which the astute Superintendent of Otago spread for them. The views of the people of Auckland would have been known; and the members would have had a political chart to steer by, just as in 1865, the Separation agitation gave them a basis for concerted action. We need not go further into this question. We have said enough to show how necessary it is for the representatives of the people to exchange ideas with their constituents before going to the Assembly. The members for the Northern Division have recognised another principle, namely, the necessity for representatives meeting their constituents, and giving an explanation of their votes at

the close of each session. This gives an opportunity of reviewing what has been done, and of indicating what the future policy ought to be, because the proceedings of one session materially inflaenoe the succeeding one. For this reason, we think Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Macffarlane deserve the thanks of their constituents and the public. They did not shirk the ordeal of a public examination ; and although their explanation will by no means satisfy the constituency on every point, ire do say that they did not in the least attempt to evade any question. The weak point in Mr. Macffarkne's speech was that in reference to the steam postal subs'dy. Of that vote we have previously spoken, and we do not intend in this place to make any comments upon it. Mr. MacfFarlane's explanation is before the public, and it will speak for itself. Mr. O'Neill, on the other hand, had little to explain away. The mistake of the session, in which he participated, was the unfortunate alliance with Otago, on the terms already alluded to, and it is to Mr. O'Neill's credit that he was the first Auckland member who pointed out the one-sided I compact with the sister province on Mr. Vogel's finanoe resolutions. His action on that occasion, and subsequently when he waited on the Government with Mr. Carleton, entitle him to the thanks of his constituents and the province. Mr. Macffarlane followed in the same line of policy almost invariably after the first breach with Otago j and with the exception of his vote on the steam subsidy question, there is little to complain of, if we except his silence in regard to Separation. On that question there can be no doubt that the majority of the Auckland representatives displayed culpable apathy. Mr. Carleton and Mr. O'Neill brought the question forward; and we regret they did not press it to a vote. If they had done so, no doubt we should have known who have been sincere on that question, and who simply set their sails to the popular gale, for the purpose of maintaining their own position. There are other public questions to which we might allude, but we do not deem it necessary in this place. Several matters, more or less relative to the proceedings of the last session were mooted at the meeting; but as the more important will come on for consideration at no very remote period, we need [not discuss them here. "We cannot, however; avoid expressing our regret at an attempt to turn the motion to appropriate the £25,000 from Otago to railway purposes into a personal attack on the Superintendent, and provincial institutions. The facts do not warrant this construction, however much it may suit those who live by provincial institutions to twist them in that direction. The electors of the Northern Division, however, read the newspapers, and have had an opportunity of forming their own opinion on the point, and we believe their judgment will he against Mr. Wynns argument. In conclusion, we would again thank Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Macffarlane for setting an example to the other members, which we trust they will severally follow ; and if they all manage to get through the proceedings as successfully as these gentlemen, they will have reason to be thankful.

The annual cattle sbow of the New Zealand -Agricultural Society -will be held to-day, at the Remuera •aleyards, when prizes will be given for the best animals of the following breeds :— Horses : Class 1— thoroughbred; class 2— heavy draught; cl«ss 3— roadsters. Cattle: Clais I— short-horns 5 class 2— Heiefords ; class 3—best of any breed. Sheep : CUes I— Leicesteis ; class 2— Cotswold ; class 3— Lincolns ; class i— longwools of any breed ; class 5 — Sonthdowns ; class 6— merinoes. Pigs : Class 1 — large breed ; class 2— small breed. Extra stock: Beit team of draught horse, the property of one person. Working bullocks : Best team of four in yoka. A sheep-shearing match will also be held for the following prizes :— lst class, men : Ist prize, £2 25.; second prize, £1 It.; third prize, 10s. 6d. Second clat-s, boys : Ist prize, £1 Is*) second prize, 10s. 6d. Tickets for admission for the stock will be given to exhibitors on their payment of the entrance fee to the secretary, and no stock will be admitted without such ticket. Stock will be admitted on the ground tbis morning until 9.30 a.m., after whi«h no stock will be admitted. All horse stock must be led. No stock to be removed from the shovr-yards before 4 p.m. Stewards to cause any sheep to be shorn at the request of the judges. The sheep-shearing will commence at half-past two o'clock ; time allowed, 40 minutes. It is with much regret we have to chronicle the removal by death of another old and muchesteemed settler, in the person of Captain Williarj Pulbam, who expired on Monday night last, at his residence, Chapel-street, at the advanced age of 80 years. The deceased entered the Hon. East India Company's service when a youth of the a*e of 16 year*, and continued so employed until 1832, when the Company's charter ceased, and the subject of our remarks retired with the rank of commander, after thirty-five years' service. He thtn sailed his own vessels in the Mediterranean trade, until the year 1840, when he set sail for Launceston, disposed of his vessel, and settled on a farm near that town. In the year 1848, he came to Auckland, with % portion of his family, to join the other members who had already arrived in this province, and has continued to reside here until his death, when he was surrounded by his family to the fourth generation. The deceased was well versed in various sciences, and to him we have been indebted, for some considerable tJme past, fer the compilation of the Meteorological Table inserted weekly in this journal. A meeting of the electots of the Northern Division, convened by Messrs. O'Neill and Macffarlane, was held at the North Shore yesterday afternoon. Those gentlemen addressed their constituents at length in explanation of their votes during last session. A full report will be found in another column. Our Wade 'correspondent writes :—" A German gentleman passed through this district on Friday, and bad with him several specimens of quartz ■bowing every indication of gold. This was chipped off the rocks in the mountain range between the Heads and the Waiwera and Mahurangi rivers. I hope to have farther news of it in my next week's letter." r The schooner 'Zephyr,' which sailed for the Bay of Islands last evening, took 30 tons of tramway rails for the Kawakawa colliery, which formed park of the contractors' plant used in the construction of the unfinished Auckland and Drury Railway. A meeting of the council of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society is advertised to be held tomorrow afternoon, at 2 o'clock, at the Society s rooms, Canada Buildings. A fatal accident occurred yesterday afternoon in Freeman's Bay, to a child aged three years, named Mary Matilda Braund, the daughter of Captain Braund, of the schooner 'Albatross.' From the particulars we have been able to gather of the sad occurrence, we are enabled to state that the deceased was playing with her brother, aged about four years, on the cliff, near Brickfield Bay, and whilst endeavouring to pass down the steps missed her footing, and fell into the water. The little boy at oace ran home to acquaint his parents with the accident, but before assistance could be rendered the child was drowned. The assistance of Dr. Hooper was obtained as quickly as possible after the recovery of the body, but life was found te be extinct. An inquest is fixed to be held to-day, at two o'olook, at the Red Lion Hotel. There will be a half-holiday observed to-day at the Banks and Provincial Government offices, on account oftheNeff Zealand Agricultural Society's annual cattle show to be held at the Remuera saleyards. We are also glad to observe that several of the leading merchants of Auckland have signified their intention ' of closing their places of business at $w*lv» o'clock. . , ' '

A public tea meeting will be held on Friday ©yen. ing next, at the Wesley an School-room, Highstreet, at half-part six o'clock, after which the ministers attending the district meeting, and clergymen of other denomination*, will addras the meeting. A cricket match will be played to-day, on che Albert Barrack greeD, between the Blackstone Cricket Clnband Auckland CrioketClub; wiokets to be pitched at half-put twelve o'clock. The annual soir6e and public meeting in connection with the Princes-street Congregational Church, Onehunga, will be held this eTeniog. Tea will be plaoed on the table at six o'clock, and the public meeting will commence at seven o'olock. A man named Michael Ryan was apprehended by warrant last night, under the Destitute Persons Belief Ordinance. Let us try to catch a glimpse of the New Zealand farmer, and we how it is that be makes his way to success. In Taranaki it is observable that there are no potatoes to be bought for money, nobody has been sharp enough to lay up a stock ; further South the colonists are importing wheat, having just before been compelled to sell their own at a loss. A large proportion of the farmers come iuto town about twice a week, gossip away two-thirds of the day, and grumble the remainder. They profess to atick to the English system of farming as the best in the world, although they well know that the want of labour quite prevents that system being carried into any effect, and that no landlord in England would suffer them to ruin his land by the disgraceful carelessness with which they here treat their own. There is a tradition amongst them that grain once paid in Taranaki, and this is sufficient reason to justify them in growing it over and over again on the same ground, without any manure, just scratching the surface and putting in the seed, and then expecting a heavy crop. Few people expect miracles now-a-days, and yet we have no hesitation in saying that it would be 1 a stupendous miracle if farming did pay — at all erents in Taranaki. Devoted adherents of an impossible system, our settlers cannot learn that to assist nature is the one object and hope of agriculture ; that if they are unable to carry out that part of the English method which does this, by thoroughly working and manuring the land, they are only throwing away their money in vain ; if they have not the means "to carry out this plan, they must find some plan which is better adapted to their means. We do not at all wish to say that there not exceptions to the general stolidity, as it is well known that there are several energetic farmers amongst us who take some trouble to subsoil, to grow a routine set of crops ; and others — as w« think wiser still — who have put their land down in grass, and devoted themselves to dairy forming. To dairy farming we fully believe that the province will sooner or later have to come, for the simple reason that nobody ia his senses will go on paying five and six shillings per diem for labour when the return he gets is only aboub four ; the upward price of labour must be limited by its reproductiveness. "But," says the labourer, "the downward price mtut be limited by the possibility of livirjg, and it is impossible to keep a famify alive on less than I am now receiving." This is the dilemma on which we are now placed, and our farmers, being the abject slaves of custom, can see no way out of it. — Taranaki Herald. 11 One who served in the Naval Brigade up the Waikato River " writes to the United Service Gazette; " Allow me to make one or two brief remarks upon a letter which appeared in your issue of the 27th, relative to the tardiness of the Government in acknowledging the services of its army and Davy whilst serving abroad. Your correspondent, who has evidently served in the late Japanese war, whilst feeling the slight which is cast upon him and his brethren in arms in New Zealand, very clearly points out a way by which the difficulty might be got over, and the thing set at rest, without cost the country a penny (if economy is, as it appears to be, the only barrier). He says, " Why not melt down one of the guns that were taken from the Japanese and make the medals out of that, and sell two or three others to defray the expense ?'— and then he thinks there would be sufficient metal left to make a few to give to those who have served in New Zealand. Now, sir, I think the idea is a very good one, and ought to be eucour»ged and supported ; and although we, who have served hard and fared bard in New Zealand, cannot boast of having taken any brass or metal guns, yet 1 think we might contribute our mite towards it. There are two old 12-pounder howitzers which were taken from the natives at the famous Maori stronghold, Meremere, up the Waikato river. They are now lying on Garden Island, in Sydney harbour, N.S.W. Why not bring them home, sir, in some homeward-bound Government vessel, and so save eipense, and cast them in with the Japanese gun, and so make a sort of Prince's mixture of it ? That, 1 think, sir, would answer every purpose, aud would be received as gratefully as though they were made of a more costly and precious metal." i The Australian Clmrchman says :— " The account publi«h*d in our last number of the re-opening of Faraley Church, which had been clotel for the erection of a memorial to the late Rev. Samuel Marsden, must have interested in a special manner such of our readers as kuew that brave old clergyman, who, more than half a century ago, when the fint missionaries sent by the Church Missionary Society to convert the New Zralanders fled to Sydney in dismay at the sight of the cannibal orgies of that fierce people, left hia quiet parsonage at Parramatta, encountered all the perils and discomforts of a sea voyage in a small vessel, and ventured without a white companion to pass a night amongst a thousand tattooed warriors dressed in their picturesque war mats, in order to conciliate their confidence, and ensure a friendly reception for the missionaries, whom he had encouraged to return. In the words of Cowper — He toothed with gifts, and greeted with a tmil* Th« simple native of a new-found isle. The rough training of his boyhood in Yorkshire had prepared him for a task from which most men reared in modern refinement would have shrunk with disgust. Religious zeal alone, powerful motive though j it be, would scarcely have induced a colonial chaplain at the age of fifty to leave the safety and comparative Juxury of his home to risk his life amongst cannibals so fierce as the New Zealanders were reputed to be. But they were a very brave people. There lay the attraction. Samuel Marsden was a thoroughly feaTleas man, and to tame and acquire the confidence of those intrepid savages had for him something akin to that excitement which leads brave spirits amongst our English gentry to hunt wild beasts and explore untrodden wilds in the interior of Africa. Well do we remember hearing him preach at a later period in old Sfc. Pbilip'B Church the day before his departure for New Zealand. How the aged eye kindled, and the voice rose loud and clear as he exclaimed, ' Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword ? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerers through Him that loved us !"> Mr. George Sibbin will offer for sale, by public auction, to-day, at 11 o'clock, at Mr. Giblett's store, Parnell, the remainder of his grocery stock, fixtures, furniture, &c.