The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3352, 14 April 1868, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUOKO, NOH ÜBO. If I hm ttatn •xilnpilih»d 1 jr«t thtn thu A thotuumd bMcona from tb<ip*rk I bort.

TUESDAY, APRIL 14.

We published in our yesterday's issue the resolutions which have been passed by the Provincial Council of Canterbury in reply to a long memorandum which had been sent down by the Superintendent of that province. To some of these resolutions the Provincial Council have since given effect by passing a new Executive Council Ordinance. . Of this measure the Gmterlwry Times says :—": — " The " Government have carried a new Executive " Council Ordinance. It may be very briefly " and a}so very truly described as a measure " by means of which the Superintendent of " this province is reduced to the status of a " mere recording machine. Every shred of " power is ruthlessly taken from him and 11 vested in the Executive Council. He can. " no longer dismiss his Executive Council at " pleasure, for these gentlemen now hold " office by the vote of the v Provincial Council. " Of course it is competent for the Super- " intendent to refuse his assent to this bill, " and, for many reasons, it is to be hoped " that he will adopt this course. The bifl is " not only unnecessary, it is absolutely per- " nicious and opposed to the spirit of the " Constitution Act." In another article upon this bill, the Tmet points out that the principle introduced is unprecedented in Parliamentary history, and that the appointment of Executive Councils, and the regulation of their power, are a startling novelty in legislation. As we have no copy of the measure before us, we are unable to give any detailed account of its provisions ; the mam feature of it, however, is described by Mr. W. Williams, who introduced the bill into the Council, as a proposaHhat the Executive should consist of a President and not more than five, nor less than three, members, who should be appointed by the Superintendent, under the seal of the province, and should hold office until a vote of censure or want of confidence was passed by the Provincial Council. We confess that we do not see that this is opposed to the spirit of our own or the British Constitution. - On the contrary, it appears to us that, if a province can be regarded at all as a separate entity having a popular government, this is the right way to ensure adherence to the spirit of popular government. How far an Executive have the confid«nce of the country should be the test of their fitness : it is of comparatively small importance what the Superintendent thinks of them. It is true that in England Ministers nominally hold office during the Sovereign's pleasure, but practically it is during the pleasure of the House of Commons. There, long custom has given sufficient strength to this principle to withstand any rash innovation j but in colonies, where the force of custom is small, there is no other course open but to stereotype principles by direct legislation. If therefore we regard this matter from the point of view which is taken by the JjyUtltm Times, and make the issue one of constitutional principle, it would appear that the Provincial Council have not transgressed the theory of government. But does the comparison between a Provincial Government and the British Constitution hold at all % Or can the Superintendent be looked upon as analogous to a Sovereign ? We do not see how these questions can be answered except in the negative. The fact of the powers of the Provincial Council being limited by the General Assembly, and those of the Superintendent by the Colonial Government, as far as relates to law-making, appears to us conclusive upon this point. The framers of the Constitution Act evidently regarded the colony as one, and not as a federation ; and therefore the Act itself, while it provides the provincial machinery for the purposes of local government, places the supreme control in the hands of the Governor, i.e., the Colonial Ministry ; thereby intimating that the principle of popular government is recognised as one for the whole colony, and that any local interests,whichmay appear tobe in conflict with this unity, must yield thereto. This is the point on which we think that the Canterbury Council have failed to apprehend their true position. They or the Superintendent are responsible, not only to the electors of Canterbury, but, in case the people of that province seek objects opposed to the colonial

interests, to the electors, through their representatives, of the whole colony. - Looking at the matter in this light, the measure certainly appears quite unnecessary, and in no way calculated to simplify the present form of government. It is true that the Act virtually does away with one power in the province, but the result of this will probably be that provincial affairs will be more seriously maladministered than before. There will now be no check upon the rashness of the local government but the Colonial Ministry, and they of course can only interfere on a general question. The provinces are to our mind altogether too small to go in for parliamentary government. They are too easily thrown off their balance ; besides which the system is a more expensive one than necessary. Though the best possible for dealing with matters of wide importance, the parliamentary is unsuitable as a form of local government, because, on account of the formality and grandeur with which it is hedged round by usage, it cannot descend sufficiently to the discussion of details. As well might we apply a steam-engine to a spinning-wheel as bring the complete machinery of parliamentary government into play in the provinces. On this account the step taken by the people of Canterbury would appear to be in the wrong direction : it approximates the present form of Provincial Government to the parliamentary rather than the municipal iype. "We are not in favour of any violent changes in the existing organisations, until we feel confident that something better and more workable is to be had, but we feel sure that, if changes must be made, the difficulties of the country will not be diminished by increasing the importance of Provincial Councils. There is another resolution of the Council amongst those published, in which insular separation is advocated. On this we shall have some remarks to offer in a future issue.

Yesterday, being Easter Monday, was observed as a holiday by the Banks and most of our public offices, and but very little business was transacted in town. The Cremorne Gardens were opened to the public, and were largely patronised by holiday-makers — dancing in the monster pavilion, quoits, swinging, Ac., being the chief amusements provided, and j freely indulged in throughout the day. The Lake and North Shore were also numerously visited, the little steamer 'Enterprise' being well filled at each trip to the Flagstaff from whence a number set out on a visit to the Lake. At 9 o'clock in the morning the steamer ' Gemini ' made a special trip to River, head, on aooount of the Biverhead Races, returning in the evening, and was completely crowded by persons from Auckland who were desirous of participating in the sport at Biverhead, and eDjoying the beautiful scenery of which there is no lack in a trip up the river. The steamer *Midge,'which arrivedfromthe Thames last evening, brought up about 600 ounces of gold on account of the Bank of Australasia. Our Mangapai correspondent writes that the fifth annual soiree in connection with the Presbyterian Church ait that place was held on the 3rd instant-, and passed off very successfully. A noticeable peculiarity in the proceedings at the tea meeting appears to have occasioned considerable amusement, but in such a sparsely-settled district may have been almost rendered necessary, nevertheless. We allude to one of the tea tables having been furnished by the bachelors of the settlement, and the presiding genius is reported to have acquitted himself with consummate skill. ' The Biverhead races took place yesterday, near Deacon's Hotel. They were attended by a considerable number of Maoris and Europeans, and went off successfully. We have seen some very fine specimens out of the Star of the North Claim, that speak well for the proprietors. The gold is seen thickly sprinkled all through the stone, and promises very rich returns. The City Board of Commissioners held their usual fortnightly meeting yesterday afternoon, at the Board-room, Canada Buildings— Mr. George Web■ter in the ohair. The business done was of a routine oharacter. The amount of rates oollected since lasb meeting was stated to be £235 3s. lid., and the sum now deposited at the Bank to the credit of the Board is £338 18s. lOd. Several notices of motion were given for next meeting. At the Police Court yesterday, four persons were punished for drunkennneas. A private of the 18 th Regiment, named James Ryan, was sentenced to fourteen days' hard labour, for stealing a pocketbook, containing some documents, valued at ss. William Bradley, an articled seaman belonging to the ship 'Maori,' was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labour, for wilful disobedience of lawful commands. Walter Green, for smashing four panes of glass in the windows of the New Supreme Court building, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. A meeting of the Begatta Committee was to have been held yesterday afternoon at Mr. Cochranes rooms, but it has been postponed till to-day. The following is the notice of postponement:— "ln consequence of the Chairman being unable to procure the required information from the Government, this day's meeting is adjourned until to-morrow at 3.30 p m." The meeting will be for the consideration of the time for holding the Begatta. The committee are not aware whether the Government will continue the promise of the fund for prizes for the Maori race, which would be the great feature of the aquatic sports. We hope the amount will be available, as, after the preparations made by the natives, and the labour they have gone to, it would be a serious disappointment to them if the committee were obliged to dispense with that part of the programme for want of funds to carry it oat. We again beg to remind our readers that the fancy bazaar in aid of the fuudt of the Destitute and Lying-in Hospital will be held at the Volunteer drill shed to-day, under the distinguished patronage of his Ercelleocy the Governor and Lady Bowen and his Honor the Superintendent. The splendid band of the 18fch Regiment will be in attendance under the direction of Mr. Quinn. The bazaar will open from one o'clock this afternoon until five, and from severn till ten. The anniversary services in connection with the Presbyterian Church at Hamilton took place on Sunday, April 5, when the Bey. J. Macky, of the Tamaki, preached in the morning and afternoon to large eonnegations. The collections made at the close of each service on behalf of the building fund amouted to 4JI ss. 3d. The annual soirge and tea meeting took place on the succeeding Tuesday evening, and drew together a large assemblage of members of the Church and other friends. The Bey. Mr. Taylor occupied the chair, and several interesting addresses were delivered by clergymen and other gentlemen. A choice selection of music was performed by the choir during the evening. An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Karaka Gold Mining Company is to be held tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock, at tbeotncesof Mr. J. T. Garlick. for the purpose of framing rules for the management of the Company, and electing directors. The inquest on the body of John Nolan, who was found in the Wai-whaka-urunga creek on the 11th instant, was held the same day at one o'clock, at the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, before A. Baillie, Esq., acting Icoroner, when the following verdict was returned, " That the deceased, John ftolan was found floating in the Wai-whaka-wrunga creek on the morning of the 11th April, with certain marks indicating a fracture of the base of the skull, but how he came by suoh fracture there is no evidence before the jury to show." A public meeting of the ratepayers of the Wairoa j Highway District is to be held this afternoon, at two o'clock, for, the purpose of taking' into consideration the desirability of levying a rate for educational purpose* under the provisions ef the Education Act, 1868. The anniversary soirSe of the Wellesley-street Baptist Sunday-school will be celebrated this evening, at half-past 6 o'clock, in the school-room, at which hour tea will be placed on the tables. The adjourned meeting of the sons of old colonists for the purpose of deciding upon the presentation of an address to the Duke of Edinburgh will be held this evening at 7 o'clock, at the auction mart of Mean. Si Cochraneand Son,

r The members of No, 6 Company are to assemble this morning, at 11 o'clock, at the butts, for target practice, and for the purpose of contesting the honour of wearing the oross rifles fur the current year. The West Coast Times ot the 7th wyn, "No further disturbance had taken plaoe at Addisons Flat, since the last intelligence from Westport reached us. We learn from the Westport Times of the 6th instant that 350 diggers had arrived on Saturday from the Caledonian Lead, to reinforce the supporters of law and order in that town. The men who had to return to their homes at Addisons have not gone back, fearing injury to property or life. The Times seems to be of opinion that the measures taken by the Commissioner have only ensured a temporary tranquillity, and tbat the Government will be compelled,ere long, to em ploy force in order effectually to crush Fenianism in that looality." The yield of gold during the past month on the West Coast oompares unfavourably with that of February, a deficit of 4,1980z. being apparent. Considering how greatly the miners have been unsettled by the Fenian excitement, it is surprising that the return was so well maintained. The exportation of gold during the month nmounta to 14,1320z. from the Hokitika district only, and, calculating the Grey district at 10,0000z., will give a grand total of 24»1320z. for the county. The Weitporfc Evening Star of Maroh. 17th Bays :— " The sea north of the Buller River, and opposite the township, (has encroached considerably during the past fortnight. Over 60 feet of land or sand bed sold some time ago to speculators in Nelson and elsewhere have disappeared. When the luckless purchasers, therefore, visit Westport for the purpose of building country residences, they will meet with disappointment. " " We learn," says the Wairarapa Mercury, " that Mr. Grove's party are prosecuting their researches for gold between the sources of the Ruamahungaand the Waingawa, where they have found some quartz reefs. Our informant states tbat they are not goldbearing ; but that the party are still sanguine of success, should the weather prove more favourable. Cold weather and rain has greatly impeded their progress." On the departure of the * St. Kilda fromWhanganni with the Armed Constabulary for Hokitika, the Futiki chiefs Hori Grey, Kemp, and Aperiniko, went on board and told Colonel McDonnell that themselves and their men were ready to go with him on service to the West Coast, or any other part of the colony, to avenge any insult or injury offered or done to the Duke of Edinburgh. The Chronicle says : — "The colonial army presented a motley appearance, armed with an agreeable diversity of weapons, and clothed after diverse fashions. But Borne was not built in one day. A bran-new eniugn had been fixed on a pole, and was a conspicuous object in the march. It is to be hoped the Constabulary will have their uniform and equipments before appearing in public again, in case the lawlessness of the Fenian mob will not be awed or impressed by the appearance of the line of battle of our small standing army." On April 5, H.M. s.s. * Falcon' called into this port bound to Hokirika with a strong company of the 18th Eoyal Irish under Captain Dawsbn, which were en route to the West Coast. The Government, however, having received telegrams stating that Larkins and the other leaders of the procession in honour of the Manchester murderers had been committed for trial and that no disturbance had ensued, at once ordered the detachment to be debarked here. Early yesterday morning, the man-of-war moored alongside the Qaeeu's Wharf, and the company, numbering 75 rank and file under Captain Dawson and Lieutenant Bates, were sent on shore. The ' Falcon* then hauled off to coal, and to-day sails for Westport and Hokitika.— Wellington Evening Post, April 7. All hope that the Prince will visit this colony during his present cruise being now at an end, it ha* been determined that the Nelson Annual Races shall take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 28th and 29th inst. — Nelson Evening Mail. The report of Mr. Wrigg, the civil engineer appointed by the Nelson Provincial Government, to examine the proposed line of route for a railway to the West Coast, is now finished, and will doubtless shortly be published.— Colonist, April 3. As yet the Nelson Financial Reform League formed some time since has confined its absolute action to the reading of sundry addresses on the subject of our finance, and matters akin thereto. The first paper was read by Sir David Monro, the second by Dr.? Irvine, the third by his Honor the Superintendent, and the fourth by Mr. D. M. Luckie. — Ibid. Mr. John Manning, the present editor of the New Zealand OMnewspaper, published in Hokitika, is well known in Wangaratta and Tarrawingee. We observe, per telegram in our last issue, that he is up to his " old game" of mischief-making, sympathising with the Manchester murderers, and taking a leading part in a funeral prooession on their behalf. When a reporter on the BaUarat Times, some fifteen years ago, he wrote some inflammatory articles, which, we believe, helped on the BaUarat riots, in December, 1854. He was intimately connected with the principal ringleader, and was tried, with several others, for high treason, but was acquitted. He appears to be one of those men who can only live in the midst of turmoil, and who will embrace any cause for the mere sake of creating confusion. He was, until within eight months ago, a teacher of the Roman Catholic school, Wangar»tta, and on leaving Wangaratta went to Tarrawingee. Here his peculiar genius for raising mischief had not sufficient scone, and we next heat of him as proprietor of the New Zealand Celt. The publicans and storekeepers of Wangaratta and Tarrawingee have good reason to remember his patriotism, which was chiefly confined to leaving considerable ba'ances in their ledgers. — Ovens Advertiser. The Melbourne Herald of March 24th says: — "The notorious Manning was some years ago a reporter on the BaUarat Times, and is believed to have been the writer of an article for which Mr. Seekamp, the proprietor, was sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. When the stockade was erected, Manning took an active part in exciting the miners to resist the authorities, and his abject appeals for mercy, when he was dragged out of his hiding place shortly after the capture of the stockade, will never be forgotten by those who heard them." We (Thames Advertiser) understand it is intended to erect a wharf at the new township of Waiotahi, and the preliminary steps have been taken with this view. The storekeepers and others in the neighbourhood are contributing towards the object, and the steam-boat proprietors have signified their intention of assisting the work. Plans have been prepared by Mr* Mack, and the levels taken, pegs having been driven in at a height of 4 feet 6 inches. It is intended to extend the jetty four hundred and fifty feet, with a width of 15 feet. The piles are to be three feet apart. The centre will be filled in with timber and stone, the latter taken from Mulligan's Claim on the Waiotahi, so that by this means the difficulty of want of solidity which has hitherto presented itself as an obstacle to the erection of a wooden wharf, will be overcome. Two plans are prepared, the one not approved of being for a wharf 300 feet,by 21 feet, with an end T, at a similar estimated cost, but not so convenient. The cost is to be £490, and the place selected provides for vessels arriving alongside at half-tide, the depth of water at high tide being 8 feet 6 inches. The Wellington Independent says:— "lt appears J likely that O'Farrell will be hanged, though no murder was committed ; probably because in New J South Wales ' wounding with intent to kill ' is punishable with death* It is not so by the law of England. Many years ago it was ; but an Act passed by the Imperial Parliament in 1861 gave the Judge a discretionary power to administer any punishment for this crime, from two years' imprisonment up to penal servitude for life. This Act was adopted in New Zealand last session, bub it may not have yet become law in New South Wales, so that the extreme penalty is probably in force there. If this is not the c»se, there may be some special Act in New South Wales making ' wounding with intent to kill' a oapital offence. At all events, ib appears very likely that O'Farrell will be banged. The Prince, it is said, interceded for his life ; but the authorities thought an example necessary, and this wretched creature will in all probability be handed over to the publio executioner." We are pleased to hear that the subscriptions for the survey of tie Wellington and Wairarapa Railway are still flowing in. The HutS and Wainui-o-mata districts have acted in an earnest and spirited manner, by sending over £100 to the fund, which, with the liberal collections already made in Wellington and Wairarapa(only verypartially canvassed), will make up a sum of £350 ; to this has to b» added the equivalent promised by the Government, making in all £700 ; all, therefore, that is wanted to forward speedily the undertaking, is energy on the part of the Sub-Committee, so that the survey may be commenced forthwith. We know that many are willing to subscribe most liberally, if, »s they say, "the work was only begun." The Hon. Mr. Stokes, who where jutt now, was always an ardent and strenuous advooate for railways— we think the committee woula act wisely to request his able co-operation in the matter. — Independent'

The Nelson Colonist says that, in the matter of commercial news, there is literally nothing to report. The stagnant season still continues, and dulness, " lingering," threatens to "chill the trade of May." A. considerable number of bankruptcies are occurring on the West Coast, where over-speculation, overtrading, and over-trustfulness of creditors have done their work pretty well. In Nelson, stocks of all kinds of goods are pretty well supplied, and there is no alteration to note in prices, except in that of flour, which has riten during the month from £22 to £24. We (Nelson Mail) regret to state that intelligence reached town thin morning (31st March) of the death, by his own hand, of a gentleman named Toft, who, with his brother, an officer of the army at present on duty in India, and Mr. Bachelor, of Wakapuaka,have for some time past held the run in Pig Valley, formerly the property of Mr. Marmaduke Sellon. It appears that the deceased gentleman, who was in his 32nd year, and, we believe, unmarried, was in his usual health and spirits on Sunday night. On the following morning he ordered the men living on the station to seme distance from the house, and when they returned they found him quite dead, shot through the head, the act having been evidently committed by his own hand. We have heard no reason assigned for this fearful deed. The Wellington Evening Post says :— " Amongst the most amusing if not interesting items of news brought by the ' Stormbird' from Auckland to-day is that the worthy Chairman of the Wellington Board of Works, Joe Dransfield, Esq., according to the New Zealand Herald's report of the monster meeting held here on the 25th ultimo, is an Irishman. — 'The chair was taken by Mr. Dransfield, as he would be ashamed, as an Irishman, to be absent (loud cheers).' Had the honourable gentleman so delivered himself, we are sure the announcement would have been received with • roars of laughter ' instead of * loud cheere.' " For the information of our Wellington contemporary, we may remark that had he pursued his researches a little further he would have discovered that the Herald committed the strangest of all blunders,— of printing the same speech twice in the report of the meeting, and placing it first to the credit of Mr. Dransßeld, and next to Mr. FitzGerald.