The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3354, 16 April 1868, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUOEO, NON TJKO. If I h»T« bera axilngoithid, yet then rli* A. tboniand beaoona from thajipuk I boxt .

THURSDAY, APRIL 16.

"We referred od Tuesday last to certain resolutions which had been recently passed by the Canterbury Provincial Council : among these, the following is the most important : — " That in the opinion of " this Council the question of Provincialism " and Centralism would be satisfactorily " settled by the establishment of a separate " Legislature and G-overnment for the " Middle Island." In another column we publish an article from the Otago Daily Tmies in which the resolution of the Canterbury Council is taken as a text for a Separation sermon. The Canterbury Times, writing on the same subject, Bays : — " The eighth " resolution is a very distinct and bold " throwing down of the gauntlet in favour of " insular separation. It declares that, if " such a Provincial Council as is proposed " is not to be allowed full control over cer- " tain local departments, but is to be exposed "to the danger of having its provincial " revenues absorbed in paying the debts, " fighting the battles, or maintaining the- " local establishments of other provinces, " then Canterbury accepts the alternative of "Separation and the establishment of a " Middle Island Government. "With a wise " and necessary reticence, no opinion is ex- " pressed as to the form or extent of the " connection which may remain between the " islands. But no fear upon this head is or " need be entertained. All present liabilities " can be maintained and respected, and all " great schemes, such as the Panama mail " service, be upheld. Only the wasteful ex- " travagance of the North will, perforce, be " checked, and the South will not be dragged " into bankruptcy or repudiation along with " it." Wehavenotlately seen any very distinct avowal of opinion on the subject of Separation in the Nelson papers, but we believe that the feeling in that province is, 1 that if any adjustment of the provincial debts can be arrived at by the Assembly, so as to give Nelson the benefit of the economy which has been observed in that province, it will be advisable as far as possible to cement the unity of the colony and to cheapen the form of government. But if on the other hand it is proposed that all the provincial debts should be thrown into one, and thus be made an equal charge upon the whole colony, then Nelson will ally herself with any party which may be opposed to this scheme of equalisation ; and if no other means of smothering it than Separation should be found, then Separation will be advocated by the Nelson members. But when we consider that Wellington too has a less than average debt, and that any scheme which spread the provincial liabilities evenly over the whole colony would give the people of that province a larger share of indebtedness than has actually been incurred, it becomes clear that such a scheme will be opposed in that quarter. Under these circumstances it seems improbable that Nelson will be driven to the extreme step of advocating Separation in order to avoid being subjected to the debts of the Northern Island, especially as it will be foreseen that as soon as Canterbury and Otago have exhausted their land fund they too will almost certainly go in for an equalisation .of debt scheme, and thus that Separation would be merely a temporary remedy at the best.

This being the position of things, it seems rather unlikely that the unscrupulous inhabitants of the Northern Island^ for whose benefit such a goodly portion- of the Southern revenue has been spent, and for whom the long-suffering and meekminded South has constantly poured forth its wisdom in neatly-phrased homilies on extravagance, and the theory of native management, will be allowed an opportunity of committing that last and worst of crimes — placing the burden of their debts upon Southern shoulders. ¥c do not wish" at present to discuss the degree of wickedness attached to the project on which Southerners inform us that Auckland is intent, except so far as it relates to the Separation question; and if it is admitted that a certain portion of the Middle Island has an interest in forwarding the equalisation of debts proposal, while a portion of the Northern Island has an. interest in opposing it, it becomes clear enough that the scheme has no direct bearing upon the present Separation revival, inasmuch as the same localities are not interested in giving effect to both projects. Least of all could this heinous proposition make Canterbury desire to divorce herself from our company, seeing that from this same scheme that high-minded province would herself reap no small advantage. "What benefit then has Canterbury to expect from Separation ? Seeking an explanation in the resolution of the Council, we find that Insular Separation is sought in order that the question of Provincialism and Centralism may be disposed of. To some people the use of these terms may possibly convey a distinct meaning still, but for ourselves we candidly confess that they have nowadays no meaning at all. The worst form of Centralism which New Zealand has seenhas been in provincial administration, and nowhere has this been more apparent than in Canterbury. Possibly the Council used the term " Centralism" as synonymous with another cant word of the same order but rather more recent date, " colonialism," the meaning of which is very nearly as vague as that of the other two. The Canterbury Council appear to us to have been fossil - digging, of late : the specimens from the " -ism " age which are the result of their labours are curious enough, but possess little interest except for natural philosophers, and even to them it must appear a monstrous anachronism to classify these curiosities of a recent period with a fossil from the Palaeozoic age of Separation. Supposing, however, that the philosophy of the thing were all right, we do not see what would be gained by Separation : to us it appears that there would be then far more danger of an injurious centralism than there is now. The real fact of the case seems to be that the Canterbury Council saw there was something wrong, and did not exactly know what it was : they wished to follow their Superintendent's lead and become great reformers, but their ideas of reform were so large that they could not perceive evils which lay close under their eyes, or discern that simplification of government and its attendant diminution of expense were the things which the country really required.

We understand that his Honor the Superintendent and his Honor Judge Moore will leave Auckland in the 'Enterprise' early on Saturday morning, on a visit to the Thames, where his Honor the Superintendent will remain a few days, if the contractors have completed the erection of the Resident Magistrate's Court, his Honor will take advantage of Judge Moore's presence, and publicly open that building. We direct the attention of our readers to the interesting letter, published elsewhere, from our Thames correspondent, relative to the successful development of the goldfields. The Royal Reception Executive Committee held a meeting yesterday afternoon for the purpose of receiving the official intimation of the abandonment o' the projected visit of H.E.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. Mr Thomas Macffarlane, M.H.R., presided as chairman of ths committee. It was stated by his Honor the Superintendent that his Excellency the Governor purposed visiting all the places set down in the programme as proposed to be visited by the Duke of Edinburgh. His Excellency had also expressed his willingness to become patron of the annual regatta. His Honor suggested that a public holiday should be held on Wednesday, the 29th of April, and that the regatta should take place on that day. He intimated that the £150 promised by the Hon. Mr. Stafford would be paid if the Maori canoe race took place. A resolution was adopted expressing regret at the unavoidable circumstances which had led to the abandonment of the arrangements contemplated for giving expression to the feelings of the people towards the Crown and Prince, and suggesting that his Honor the Superintendent should set apart Wednesday, 29th April, as a day of public rejoicing for the recovery of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh from the effects of the attack made upon him. It was also resolved that the secretary should be instructed to collect all claims against the committee, for the purpose of being submitted to the Executive Committee, and with the view to the costs and liabilities incurred being liquidated. We understand his Honor the Superintendent will officially announce that the 29th of this month will be set apart as a public holiday, and that the Regatta Committee will hold the annual regatta on that day. We learn that the report which reached us last week, and which was mentioned in our issue of Monday last, to the effect that Sir George Bowen had forwarded despatches to King Tawhiao, is incorrect, and that no such despatches have been sent. We much regret that the mistake should have occurred. A meeting of the Naval Volunteers and Naval Artillery Volunteers was held at Messrs. Combes and Daldy's store last evening. There was a large attendance of the members of the corps. Captain Guilding suggested that the Naval Volunteers should take part in the man-of-war boat race at the forthcoming regatta. It was agreed, however, to let the settlement of the question < stand over until it was ascertained how many of the members of the corps would be willing to assist. It was decided that 6s. per annum of the capitation allowance of each member should be set aside to defray the expenses connected with the band. The Naval Volunteers then proceeded to the nomination of a sub-lieutenant, in room of Mr. Sarchard, whose resignation was read to the meeting. Messrs. J. Cooke and Gr. Campbell were proposed and seconded. Candidates for the post may be nominated by letter to the secretary up to Thursday next, and the election will take place the following day. At a meeting of the shareholders .of the Karaka Gold-mining Company, held yesterday, at the office of Mr. J. T. Garlick, Queen-street, the rules prepared by the original shareholders were adopted and confirmed. The directors appointed to carry on the business of the company are — Messrs. B. Johnson, A. Boardman, W. Gregory, H. McNanghton, and J. M. Lennox. His Honor Mr. Justice Moore sat in chambers yesterday, and disposed of several important applications. An application was made for the discharge of two debtors from prison .on the ground that the detuning creditor? had failed to pay the maintenance money. His Honor refused to grant the application, as the fourteen days' notice requisite to be given in terms of the Act had not been given to the creditors. At the meeting of the Maketu Highway Trustees held on the 11th instant, at the Church of St. Peter in the Forest, Mr. William Kerr, of Springfield, was elected chairman of the beard ; Mr. K. Worthington, secretary and collector ; Mr. R. Proude, treasurer. The chairman was authorised to expend the sum of five guineas in procuring a correct map of the diitrict.

• te * nforme< * that we were in error instating in Monday's paper that deipatches had been forwarded from his Excellency the Governor to King Tawhiao, no communication having been lent. The fancy bazaar in aid of the funds for the support of the Refuge for the Degtitute and Lying-in Hospital was open again yesterday for public patronage at the Volunteer drill building, Princes-street, and attracted a good many visitors, notwithstanding that the day was very unfavourable.^' 'On the Opening duy the receipts, including the nominal charges for admission., amounted to £70 15s. His Excellency the Governor, ontbe first day, gave a liberal donation, and also a sum of money to be expended on account of Lady Bowen, who has been unable to attend the bazaar through indisposition. Last evening Mr. Waddell exhibited a series of wellexecuted dissolving views, and the Volunteer band performed a selection of music. The bazaar will be continued to-day. At the Police Court yesterday, Henry Goldsmith James Bathurst, James Crane, and John 'Brown were brought up -charged with breaking into the house of Robert H. Stevenson, Arch Hill, Great North Road, on Wednesday, the Bth instant. After hearing the evidence, his Worship committed each prisoner to take his trial at the next criminal sitting of the Supreme Court* for housebreaking. John Morgan was charged with stealing from a dwellinghouse' in Vincent-street one large looking-glass, value £1, the property of W. Buchanan, and was ordered to be imprisoned for four months, Thomas ' Brown pleaded guilty to stealing a ham, value 155., from the shop of J. C. Morrin, Queen-street, apd was sentenced to four months' imprisonment withhai d labour. Hugh McVay was obarged by his wife", Hannah McVay, with a breach of the Destitute Persons Relief Ordinance, by deserting her. The prosecutrix did not appear, and the defendant was dismissed after receiving a severe reprimand from the Bench. A shareholder ia the Sunnyside Claim, Karaka Creek, brought to our office last evening a number of specimeng of very rich gold-bearing quartz. 2cwt. of specimens are already prepared for crushing, and 30 tons quartz are also ready to be put through the machine. ' The Wellington-street Literary Association will . ■ hold an adjourned debate this evening, at half-past seven o'clock. John Chine, a young lad, was apprehended yesterday at Onehunga, by constable Lloyd, for stealing a quantity of clothing, boots, &c, from the sohooner 'Albatross,' now lying in the harbour, the property of Captain Braund. Mr. Hepworth Diron has followed up his " NewAmerica" by a book called "Spiritual Wires," in which he traces and describes with great gusto all those curious sects and abodes of love in which the banns of matrimony are thought to be rather a bore than otherwise. Seriously speaking, although the work has a good deal of interest about it, it is scarcely fit for general reading, and, considering that the author has written about the Holy Land, I should say that his morals are decidedly retrograding, It is not that there is anything improper in actual wording, but the descriptions and inferences are of that clever style that they are more likely to do harm than if very objectionable to Lord Campbells Act. Mr, Dixon talks as if the Americans generally were all hastening to free themselves from the marriage tie, and that it is not impossible that we in this country shall eventually become one great agapemone — perhaps with Dixon as our priest. — 'London correspondent of Australasian. The London correspondent of the Australasian writes: — "The Welsh ironworks and the Swindon dep6t of the Great Western Railway have been new sources of fear as Fenian rendezvous/ but the prompt treatment at Merthyr has not only put a stop to it there, but called forth a large number of anti-Fenian sentiments from the Irish population in the district. What I regard as of more serious import is the course of action taken by the Roman Catholic Dean of Limerick respecting the repeal of' the Union. Craokbrained nationalists will never be wanting to raise this cry as long as Ireland is Ireland, but that men so high in position should take this opportunity- of stirring up discontent* is equivalent to identifying themselves with rebels and traitors. ' Independent', Ireland' was the subject of a capital article in the Saturday, and, if English interests could only be temporarily removed for a short space, it would be 1 an amusing experiment to try. Mr. Digby Seymour deserves well of his country for putting forth such a manifesto of loyalty, and I should not wonder if the document were extensively signed, and proved an admirable wet blanket to the * patriotic section.' " Some time ago we reported the discovery of diamonds at the Cape of Good Hope, or rather, in the Orange Territory, and now we learn, from the papers to hand by the ' Chanticleer,' that the discovery of a vast African goldSeld has been reported. The discoverers are described as being very reticent, for various reasons, some of which appear to be of a ■omewhat personal character. Enough is known, however, to show that the new field is one to which there is not likely to be any rush of the indiscriminate character of Australian rushes. The goldfield covers a very large extent of country, through the centre of which passes the twentieth degree of south latitude. The place is extremely difficult of access, and lies a long way from the seashore. It is ruled over by a powerful native ruler, who is not likely to permit white visitors in any numbers to interfere with him.