FRIDAY, MARCH 6.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3319, 6 March 1868, Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 6.

We trust every one in Auckland entitled to the elective franchise will register his claim to vote, and get his name placed upou the electoral roll. Unless the form of application be sent to the Officer before the expiration of the present month, there will not be another opportunity of registering until next year. When the Northern Association was in existence the registration of votes -was attended to. There -was then a powerful and perfect political organisation, whose influence extended to Great Britain, and made itself felt in the Imperial Cabinet ; but that organisation was destroyed through the apathy of some, and the conceit of a few forward individuals, who proved themselves to be as deficient in political knowledge as they were incapable of devising anything to replace the Association which they had been mainly instrumental in destroying. Since then, the work of registration has been neglected. The matter has been left to the people themselves, and the conse-

guence is that the electoral roll is not what ft ought to be. There are cogent reasons why the people of Auckland should register every vote they can at thisrevisionof the electoral lists. No one can be ignorant of the gravity of the political situation in New Zealand. The colony is passing through a financial crisis, unexampled for its severity and duration. That crisis has been brought about, in no small degree, by the political action of our legislative bodies, and by the system, or systems, of government under which we live. The truth of this is admitted on all hands ; and politicians are preparing for the coming Parliamentary tournament, in which the champions of the rival systems of Centralism and SuperintendentaUsm shall enter the lists against each other. Now, the inhabitants of Auckland are deeply interested in these questions. Perhaps at no former time had Auckland more reason than it has now to watch every political indication ; and certainly at no former period has she been so dependent for her prosperity upon the result of the next Parliamentary campaign. Auckland has literally a> living interest in the struggle ; therefore, the inhabitants of this province, almost to a man, ought to be in a position to record their votes in the event of a general election following an adverse division in the General Assembly, which we by no means think improbable. It is almost certain, should Mr. Fox enter the House of Bepresentatives, and take the lead of the Opposition, that he would be able to carry an adverse vote against the Ministry on any well-chosen question; — as for instance on native affairs ; and there are several other points on which the present Government are weak and extremely open to attack. We apprehend that one object of the Financial Reform League ought to be to disseminate information, with the view of forming an intelligent public opinion, to take advantage of any political event such as that alluded to. Perhaps the Leaguers have not considered this point. They may not deem it necessary, or even proper, to throw too much light upon the acts of our public men, seeing that accurate knowledge would go far towards shaking public confidence in several of our representatives. We thiuk, however, that the interests of the community require this much at least from the leaders of any Apolitical organisation who unfurl the banner of Reform. If, therefore, our suggestion be acted on, and the Auckland Financial Reform League disseminates "useful information for " the people," with the view of improving the representation of the Auckland constituencies amongst other things, they would be going a long way* towards effecting financial reform. The want of anything like statesmanship amongst our members must be generally acknowledged; and if, by any

efforts of the League, this drag upon the political influence of the provinoe should be removed, the public would have a right to be grateful to that body?- It is tame this would raise the issue of—" men, not measures {' instead of the old-fashioned apology for respectable mediocrity — "measures, not men:" but in point of fact this is the right issue to raise, seeing that men initiate measures, and that it entirely depends upon the capaoity and attention to business of the representatives whether the measures are good or bad. "Men, not measures," as a hustings cry, signifies that the people require capacity, integrity, and public spirit in their representatives; the cry of "measures, not men," signifies mainly the opposite. In the one case, the people would be well served ; in the other, the Government of the day would make sure of their following. At this juncture Auckland cannot afford to be indifferently represented in the General Assembly ; and although there may be no immediate prospect of a general election, as we have said, it is not at all unlikely that the Government will be defeated in the coming session, constituted as parties now are in the House, in which case the Ministry would be justified in appealing to the country. Were this to happen, there in a strong chance that the elections would be taken after the new electoral rolls take effect, seeing that by doing so the Ministry would have a decided advantage, owing to the fresh elements since the last general election, and which have been nursed into political strength by Mr. Stafford's administration. But, should the Financial Eeform League, when it manages to get a committee, neglect this plain duly, as we conceive it to be, the people of Auckland we trust will be true to themselves. Let them Eegister, we say. Secure the right to vote ; and when the time comes, exercise that right as conscience dictates. There are great issues at stake in this colony, and although many may be slow to recognise it, a revolution is in progress. The old party questions which engaged public attention are not to be compared with those which must be brought before the Legislature. Superintendentalism is done. It has broken down, and its warmest friends are ready to acknowledge defeat. But they still cling to the provincial system; — or rather, to the principles of Provincialism. Then, on the other hand, there are many who voted with the Government last session, who in their hearts dislike the centralising policy of Ministers, but who compounded with their principles by making a choice of evils? They could not follow Messrs. Macandrew, Williamson, and Vogel ; but were a recognised leader to appear in the House, pledged to the principles of Provincialism, who accepts the political situation as he finds it, and is prepared with a policy which would transform the Provincial into a Federal party, the defection of a number of these gentlemen from the ministerial ranks would be certain. And this, as it appears to us, will be the great contest of the coming session. On the one hand, the Federal party, led by Mr. Fox ; on the other, the Centralising party, led by Mr. Stafford, and supported by the Centralists and hangers-on who vote with every Govern ment. Then again, the financial affairs of the colony will come up for discussion and adjustment. If the Federal party succeed, the General Government would be reduced to a mere staff of secretaries or ministers and clerks ; but whether the Civil List would be reduced, and departmental expenditure curtailed, is another matter. In like manner, it would be a question whether the steam subsidies would be abolished if the Federal party triumphed ; but certainly the people would expect it at their hands. Of course, the Government would be in a position to bid for popular support by large concessions to the popular will ; and by introducing an amended tariff, and recognising to the fullest the principles of free trade and direct taxation as the basis of the fiscal system of the colony, they would go far towards carrying the popular vote. But it is quite clear to our mind that in no case would either party be justified in effecting a complete revolution in the affairs of the country without first submitting the questions at issue to the respective constituencies of New Zealand. In view of these contingencies, we again say to the inhabitants of Auckland — Register.

We learn, by the arrival of the s.s. 'Tauranga/ that the recent decision in the Supreme Court has not created the least excitement or unpleasantness amongst the diggers at the Thames. The whole affair of jumping at Hunt's claim has been greatly exaggerated, and we regret that we have been supplied with a report from a correspondent which did not stick closely by the facts. The only cases of jumping which occurred were those by Mr. 0. F. Mitchell and Mr. Walter Williamson ; and yesterday they withdrew their applications to be put in possession of the disputed ground, seeing that there was no "Warden's Court to try the question of right, and that they declined to prosecute their claim in the District Court at Auckland ; and it is therefore to be regretted that the authorities should have made such a bother. If the rigour of the law had not been threatened, .there might not have been any necessity for putting the law in force; and the swearing in of special constables to keep the peace where no riot is threatened, would appear to be a proceeding of at least doubtful wisdom. We may add, that the miners are all engaged on the various claims at steady work, and pay not the least attention to the strong measurei threatened— which strong measures would not have been needed in any case if the Government had not bungled in so glaring a manner. It is right to state, that at the time Taipari the chief was said to have jumped a claim, he was engaged with a few gentlemen setting apart an acre of land for the site of an Episcopal church, which he kindly granted for that purpose.

By the schooner c June,' Captain Moller, we have received copiei of the STawranjra Record of Saturday* last, extracts of which will be found in these columns. The Provincial Council met yesterday afternoon. Several messages were received from the Superintendent. The City Board Act Amendment Bill was considered in committee, reported with an amendment, and the third reading fixed for next sittingday. The Hospital Endowment Empowering BiS, 1868, was read a third time and passed ; also the Auckland and Drury Railway Bill, 1868. A motion was adopted recommending the Superintendent to set apart land in Symonds-rtreet as a public reserve for the purpose of a Presbyterian burialground. The Salt Water Bath Company Lease Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. Wynn intimated that it was the intention of the Government to prorogue the Council this day (Friday) by proclamation. The Executive Committee for the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh are particularly requested to meet this afternoon, at half-past two o'clock, at the City Board offices.

The i.i. <Tauranga arrived laib night from the Thames. She brought up a pared of 600 ox, 4620z, of which were the product of 2261b. weight of atone from the Manukau claim, adjoining Mulligan's and Williamson'* claims on the Moanataiari and W aiotahi creeks. The stone -wae crashed at the Kuranuf Company's machine, under the personal superintendence of Mr. Bleszsrd, The fortunate owner of this claim is Mr. John Cook, of Onehunga, and party of three men. Our Opotiki correspondent has supplied us with an interesting deioription of the march and attack by the forces under Major St. John on the rebel encampment near Rakuraku old pa, on the 10th February, but which we are reluctantly obliged to exclude to afford space for other and later intelligence. Our correspondent apologises for the delay which has occurred in famishing the report in the following words :— " I should hare forwarded thia communication by the < Whitby, 1 which left yesterday morning, but soldiering has been so severe here lately that both night and day we have been on duty. When not required to go out with an expedition, we are required for pickets. It is now a fort night since we bare undressed when turning in, and we have all to stand under arms from 3 o'clock until daylight.— February 25: About 70 Arawas have armed overland from the neighbourhood of Maketu: more are expected. The 'Start* also arrived this morning from Wellington, having the Defence Minister on board. Something decisive in contemplation." Several hours' Interesting sport was furnished at the Auckland Salt-water Baths yesterday, by the . swimming, and diving matches, which cam* off acoording to announcement There were ten events, and a large number of competitors. Nearly 200 spectators were present. Elsewhere we give the result of the matches. • We publish elsewhere, for the information of the mining community at the Thames goldfield, and the benefit of oar readers who may have speculated in mining shares, a copy of, the goldfield regulations, framed by the committee of twelve appointed at the recent public meeting. It is intended that fourteen days^ grace shall be allowed before the regulations are declared applicable to the Thames goldfields; and suggestions or proposed amendments to any of the clauses whioh may be deemed unworkable, or too stringent and arbitrary, will be gladly received by Mr. Mackay, 8.M., or any of the committee at fehortland Town, in order that the necessary alteration! may be made. His Worship sat in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, and disposed of a number of civil cases. At the Police Court yesterday, Edward Me Alliston was biought up on a charge of embezzlement, but, as the prosecutor was unable to attend, a remand was granted until Saturday. A public meeting will be held this evening, at half-past seven o'clock, at the Mechanics' Institute, for the purpose of appointing office-bearers for the Financial Reform League. The Superintendents of Sunday-schools in the city and suburbs are convened to attend a meeting this evening, at eight o'clock, at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, for the purpose of making arrangements for taking part in the demonstration on the reception of the Duke of Edinburgh. The officers of friendly societies and publio bodies in Auckland are solicited to meet the Reception Committee at Messrs. Nathan's store, fehortlandstreet, at four o'olock this afternoon, for the purpose of arranging for taking part in the public reception of his Excellency the Governor. In oonsequence of two attempts having been made to burn down the Wangamd Chronicle office, the agents of the company in which the building is insured have "given notice to the owners, Messrs. Taylor and Watt, that the policy will not be renewed whilst the present tenants occupy the building. We believe the lease has' several yean yet to mn, and no law, that w« are aware of, can compel a tenant under such circumstances to vacate. When one company declines to insure no other in likely to take the risk, and the matter becomes rather a serious one to the owners of that and the adjacent premises. We are told that Mr. B. N. Firth, the compositor who on the evening of the 30th ultimo providentially discovered the attempt to burn down the Chronicle office, has received notice of his dismissal. In so far as Mr. Firth is concerned^ then, the discovery vw not a providential but an unfortunate one. Wei should certainly consider the man who (although accidentally) made the discovery, and wm thereby tha means of preventing a fearful conflagration and loss of property, was rather entitled to xeward than punishment. We are told that Mr. Firth is a firstclass workman, and as it appears that the evidenoe which he gave at the inquest on .--the attempted incendiarism is the real cause of his dismissal, we trust he will not be long out of employment.— • Wanganui Times, The term of service of the Native Contingent now stationed at Waingoogora expires on the 29th February. When the force is withdrawn there need not be the slightest apprehension of any disturbance on the part of the Ngatiruanui, who are now quite satisfied that discretion on their part is the better ' part of valour. Yesterday Mr. E. T. Woon con* eluded tha leasing of a block of land near Manawapu, between Tangahoe and Ingnbapo owners, and two gentlemen recently arrived from Viotoria, for a term of ten years at a paying rental. The settlement of the country between this and New Plymouth ~ is gradually but surely progressing, and that is the •afest and surest guarantee of peace and harmony between the two races. — Ibid. The Native Land Court was to oommenoe its sittings at Otaki on February 26. On Tuesday the Judges and Assessors arrived, and the following gentlemen were in Otaki — His Honor the Superintendent, the Hon. Mr. Richmond, Walter Buller, Esq., and our kind friend Mr. T. C. Williams, who will, no doubt, scrape together matter enough for another pamphlet, illustrative of the gross violations of the Trevty of Waitangi. We trust the present sitting of the Caurfc will set the Manuwatu question at rest at once and for ever. By all means let the . non-sellers have whatever portion of the land they can establish a claim to, and let the remainder be thrown open for settlement. No doubt all parties concerned will be glad to see an amicable settlement of the entire question. — Ibid. Out of nearly sixty new esses brought before the Court now closed at Whanganui, only one could be entertained so as to pus through. The remainder were held over in consequence of the difficulties which the Native Lands Act of last session, and red-tapism, threw in the way of the Court. The natives concerned can't understand it, and have written to Mr. Richmond to say that they will prefer no more claims. They are anxious to lease or sell such portion of their land as they cannot otherwise turn to profitable account. Mr. E. T. Woon, Native Land Agent, has negotiated the sale of 500 acres adjoining the Parakino Block to Mr. John Morgan. Much more land would be in the market were it not for the difficulty of passing it through the Native Lands Court.— lbid. The following are extracts from the speech made by Me Moorhouse, Superintendent of Canterbury, on opening the session of the Provincial Council :— " In introducing the business of the session I would suggest that what revenue we can oommand must be expended upon absolute necessaries. Our principal care should be to invest money in reproductive undertakings. Estimates will lie laid before you disclosing proposals for very considerable reduction in every department of the provincial service. Public opinion has been agitated by discussions on the adaptability of the existing provincial Constitution to the present advanced state of the colony, and it is generally supposed that the central Legislature will,' during the next session, earnestly debate this subject. Ihe ablest public men in the oolony are much < divided in opinion— one party favouring theabolitton of the provinces ; another loudly advooatipg their continuance with increased legislative powers. A third class desires to retain them under conditions, which, while divesting them of nearly all their present legislative functions, would still leave them absolute legislative and administrative powers in the Crown Lands and Public Works departments. The Ceuncil has no power to make any alteration im the Constitution. But as representing reliably the public ' opinion of the province, it may express to Parliament its feelings in regard to any proposal, effecting alterations or reforms. I may at once express my entire I approval of the relinquishment of most ef our powers of legislation. Although at law we may not enact any change of oar constitutional powers, still it ig competent for your majority to decline legislation on any save a given class of subjects, and so voluntarily impose limits on your action, to die great saving of time and money. I propose to send down for your consideration a memorandum describing certain alternative schemes of reform. I incline to a prevalent idea that great waste of time and power is involved in the present scheme of responsible government. It appears to me that the responsibility of the Superintendent is of a very mythical order— except that he is responsible at law upon breaches of certain statutes. In fact, under the existing order of things, the Superintendent has « merely nominal political re-

■ponnbilHj. Ikm of opinion that the original Constitution never intended the addition of responsible government* in its present shape, to the then cumbrous machinery of provincial government, and reoent enactments by the General Assembly of very cogent and fitting statutory restraints upon Superintendents rendsr the continuance of responsible Ministers in the provinces altogether unnecessary. In view of the depressed state of the finanoes of the provinoa, I prtpose that immigration should for the present oeaae." The Spectator sums up this advice to ignorant investors who want absolute security : "Buy no share in an unlimited company, even if the dividend it 100 per osnt. Touch no railway seourity whatever, unless guaranteed by a State. Invest in no business company which you do not understand. Never look at a Turkish, Egyptian, or Spanish American seourity, unless you personally know the country. Invest for the time in oontols, rentes* colonial bonds, gas shares, or the bonds of long-lived European Governments. To whioh may be added, if he is willing to accept moderate risks, that repudiation by any Government whatever not Oriental or Spanish in origin is improbable, total insolvency exceedingly unlikely, and ultimate total loss next to impossible. Even the Greek bondholders are better off than the shareholders in Overend, Guroey, and Company; the shareholders in the London, Chathan, and Dover, or the debenture* holders in half a doaen English railways." . The attention of the public is [requested to the important sale to-morrow by Mr. Alfred Buokland, at the Haymarket, at 12 o'olock, of superior draught nones, wagons, drays, express shaft and leading, harness, Jfcov, oompriung Mr. S. H. Smith's Onehunga teams.— Ann., - . . .;