The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3367, 1 May 1868, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUOEO, NON ÜBO. tf I hart bten •xtlnfuiihad, yet th«r« rlii A thoa»»nd b«»oona from tb«J«puk I boit .

FRIDAY, MAT 1.

The Governors' Salary Bill, which has met with the disapproval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, passed through both .Hoiues of the Legislature at their last sitting with more than ordinary unanimity, and with more than the usual despatch. The question of

reduction was brought under the notice 'of the House of E epresentatives on the 29fch August by Mr. Cracroft Wilson, C.8., who proposed that the salary should be lowered from £4,500 to £2,500 j and, after some discussion, the opinion of the majority was in favour of fixing the salary at £3,500 — the amount at which it had stood in 1862, prior to the arrival of Governor Grey. On the 18th September, a bill was introduced, and read a first time ; on the 19th it was read a second time ; on the following day it was committed, and passed without amendment. On the 24th September the bill was laid before the Legislative Council by a member of the Government — not as a Government measure, but as a proposition having the sanction of Ministers — and was as summarily dealt with as it Had been in the Lower House. The bill was then left, with the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, for the expression of her Majesty's pleasure thereon. We may readily suppose that when Ministers sent home the Governors' Salary Bill for the signification of her Majesty's pleasure, they fully expected that it would meet with the disapproval of the Home Government : still they would hardly anticipate the rebuke they have receired' from his Grace the Duke of Buckingham. It is somewhat of a novelty for a young and struggling colony to be thus checked in an attempt at economising. Ministers, as in duty bound, will receive the lessons conveyed in the despatch with all humility,and no doubt will abundantly profit thereby. They are reminded that the " great point at which to aim" in fixing the salary of a Governor is that it should be " such " an amount as to secure the services of com- " petent men, and enable them to fulfil pro- " perly the social as well as other duties of " the station." This is very good, and will apply to the salary of every official in the colony, but it is a matter that had by no means been overlooked when the question was under the consideration of the Legislature. His Grace is right in estimating the importance of the colony as being greater than it was five year* ago, and also in considering that the duties of a Governor are quite as onerous, but he is sadly mistaken in supposing that the circumstances of the colony are not " altered" sufficiently to render it necessary to modify its expenditure in every possible way. We unhesitatingly say that the Home Government has every reason to suppose to the contrary. There is one point, respecting which the Colonial Secretary has some show of complaint against the Legislature in passing this measure, and that is, " that this subject, if " it was to be mooted at all, should have " been moved in a previous session, in " anticipation of the then approaching com- " pletion of the Governor's term of service, " instead of being raised after his successor " had been selected and had accepted the " appointed." The force of this was however clearly understood by the Legislature, as the member for the Bay of Islands, who voted against the motion, on the ground that it was not a proper time to make such a change on the eve of the arrival of a new Governor, stated that if the measure had been introduced at the previous session he should probably have voted for it, as being a sufficient salary under the present circumstances of the colony ; and also pointed out the fact that the promotion of Governors at home " was very much regulated by the " amount of the salary to be paid." There is considerable weight in all this ; but on the other hand it is reasonable to suppose that the Home Government, before dismissing the late Governor so curtly — a procedure that savours more of pique and annoyance than of consideration for the welfare of the colonists — would have consulted with the colonial authorities as to the propriety of making so important a change at the present crisis of affairs. It is only fair to the Executive and Legislative bodies of the colony that the settlers should clearly understand that, if the salary of the Governor of New Zealand is higher than meets their approbation, they have to thank the Home O overntnent,who, by the way, although theywillnotallowthe colonyto reduce its expenditure by £1,000, will be relieved from the annual payment of £1,500 granted as a supplementary payment to the late Governor. The manner in which the Home Government has seen fit to treat the colony with respect to the Governorship is by no means calculated to increase that good and kindly feeling that ought to subsist. Although the colonists generally will disapprove of any arbitrary and capricious interference on the part of the Imperial authorities, we are sure that those individuals who have been placed in communication with Sir G. F. Bowen will deeply regret that this matter was not disposed of before his arrival. His Excellency will, however, at once perceive that it is a subject which has no reference to himself personally. The warm and hearty reception he has received will serve to convince him that the colonists, although they have expressed a desire to reduce their expenditure in this way, are still loyal to the Crown and the mother country. His Excellency must have perceived during his short residence in New Zealand the difficulties into which the colonists have been brought through circumstances over which they have had no control, and will no doubt appreciate the efforts that hav6 been made in the way of retrenchment and economy. As the Home Government has given so decided an opinion on the subject, and as the present Governor was i brought hither on the understanding that he should receive the same salary as his predecessor, it would be as ungenerous as it would be unfair for the Legislature again to interfere during his tenure of office. From what we have seen of Sir George F. Bowen, we are led to believe that the services of a gentleman who is in every way qualified to uphold the Imperial interests, and to fulfil the social duties of his station, as well as those which devolve upon him as the representative of royalty, have been secured ; and this being the case, the small difference which has arisen with the Home authorities will be readily lost sight of. To the people of Auckland the arrival of the present Governor has been peculiarly gratifying. The good wishes he has expressed, and the kind feeling he has manifested towards them have been very cheering under the depressing circumstances in which the province has been placed. The desire shown by his Excellency and Lady Bowen during their residence in Auckland to further' ever y good and charitable work, and to promote the public interests, will have created an impression that, as a question of social economy, the present salary is by no means excessive.

The 'Enterprise, 1 which arrived IMb evening from the Thames, brought up about l,OOOoz.^of gold on 'account of the bank*. '

•Three large canoes arrived from the Firth of the Thames yesterday morning, having boon kept back on the preceding day by the itormy weather, That, $ if the regatta had been more favoured by weather, we should have had a splendid race of war canoe*. The Ngatipaoa have challenged the Ngatiwhatua to run the • Toke-a-Tapiri' against their canoei, and we hope that Paul and his people, afte*; their easy victory on Wednesday, may agree to run again, to save themselves from being crowed over bj Ngatipaoa. The canoes now in Mechanics' Bayare'Ngapuhoro,' •Te Tuatara,' and €Te Kairanga.' A fine day might be selected, and his Excellency the Governor invited to wituess the contest, which would be a spirited one, as the two tribes have not a very friendly feeling to each other. A match for £25 a-side has been arranged to take place to-day, at twelve o'clock, between the cutters ' Betsy ' and ' A larm,' which were pitted againit one another on Wednesday, when the • Alarm ' got the best of it. A match is also to come off to-day between the four-oared gig* ' New Chum ' and ' Old Chum.' The cases disposed of at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesteiday were of little importance. A meeting of the Regatta Committee was held last 6 veiling at the btar Hotel, Albert-street, for the purpose of settling the accounts, 4c., and to decide about the matches which were left uncontented on Wednesday last. It was agreed that the Champion Scullers' Match and Pair-oared Race should take place to-morrow, commencing at half-past 2 o'clock, if the competitors put in an appearanc*, and if not the entrance ftes will be forfeited. A report of the proceedings appears in another oolumo. The firing for the colonial prizes was to take place at Wellington on the 27th ultimo. At the conclusion of the business at the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, three persons- named Uavrkes, proprietor of Tattersall's Hotel, Coomkes, proprietor of Empire Hotel, and Bratby, servant at Coach and Horses Hotel— applied to the Bench for permission to have music and dancing at their respective houses on. special occasions, according to the 29th section of the Licensing Act. The written application was handed to the Resident Magistrate by Dr. Home, J.P. His Worship said no reason had been given why sush petmisnion should ' be granted. There was no "special occaiion" men* tioned, and he would not grant such applications without first , consulting the Commissioner <of Police. The parties applying for the permit said the "special occasion" would occur every night, in order to enable them to make a livelihood, His Worship said it was contrary to the Act to grant such permission, and the application must be refused. Every, magistrate who signed a permit in the way indicated committed a breach of the law. It only showed the caution that required to be exercised when the proprietors of' the hotels set their servants to make 'the application!. 'To comply wi^h the request would virtually be to grant permission to persons to get drank in those houses, in which, for what the Bench knew to the contrary, persons of ill-fame might be nightly congregated. The application must be refused. There was a orowded house at the Brunswick Hall last evening, when Mr. H. S. Earl, M.A., preached on "The Supreme Object of Life." -The discourse was listened to attentively throughout. A man named Joseph Smith, whose sentence of imprisonment for robbing a till at Newton had just expired, was apprehended yesterday at the Stockade on a charge of stealing a gold watch some time ago;, the property of Mr. Young, formerly Collector of Customs. , The prisoner will be brought before the Resident Magistrate to-day. The only business at the Police Court .yesterday was the punishment of four persons for drunkennesSi The members of the Auckland' Volunteer Corps who are selected to fire in the match with the Dunedin Scottish Company will assemble at the butts, Point Chevallier, this morning at ten o'clock, to contest the match.. Conveyances will leave the Naval Hotel at nine o'clock for the butts. An accident fortunately not of a very serious character occurred yesterday in Upper Symondsstreet. It appear* that Mr. Thomas Woods and two other men belonging to the s.s. ' Phsebe,' now lying in the Manukau, were driving into town about four o'clock last evening, in a hired trap belonging to Mr. Codlin, of the Royal Exchange Hotel, Onehunga. They were driving at raher a smart pace do urn the cemetery road at thejtime when Mr. H. Maiden was driving his express in an opposite direction. The vehicles came into collision and upset, the riders being thrown out with considerable violence on to the street, b'ortunately they were not severely hurt, but escaped with a few cuts and bruises. The vehicles were considerably damaged, the shafts of ttia trap and one of the wheols of the express being completely destroyed. A man named William Rice was apprehended early this morning by Deteotive Murphy, for using obscene language in Elliott-street. The Royal Menagerie was favoured with good attendances yesterday, both in the afternoon and evening. The attractions held out by such an entertainment as this one could not be otherwise than acceptable to the public of Auckland, who have had no opportunity of witnessing anything of the kind for a long time. The members of the Auckland Club met at the Club-room, Shortland-street, yesterday. Mr. James Williamson was elected president, and Mr. C. J, Taylor vice-president. Messrs. S. Jackson, T. Russell, and J. T. Mackelvie were elected trustees, and Messrs. Murdoch, Owen, Harrison, Wood, Gillies, Farmer, Crawford, J. S, Maofarlane, and Dr. Pollen were eleoted to form the committee of the Club. Tha rules, as prepared by sub-committee, were adopted. Seven n^w members were ballotted for and admitted. The Club is expected to be opened in about a week. The name of Major Tighe was inadvertently omitted from the list of persons present at the sub* scription ball given on regatta night to his Excellenoy the Governor and Lady Bowen. The statement is so far correct that H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh declined to iuterfere in the oase of the assassin O'Farrell, that he considered he bad no power of interfering with the courae of the Jaw more than any other man who might have been shot, although, if he was fired at as a member of the Royal Family, he thought that it might be ai vrell if the case of the prisoner was referred to the Queen. We learn from a private source that letters have been received from New Zealand to the effect that, as a large number of Fenian sympathisers are known to exist in the Southern Island, there was no knowing what effect might have been produced if the Prince had gone there. The principal reasons given for his Royal Highness foregoing his contemplated visit to New Zealand were that the frequent journeys inland would necessitate a constant exposure to the atmosphere, which he could not stand in his present state of health, and from his anxiety to allay the fears of her Majesty for his safety. — Melbourne Herald. At a public meeting held at Whanganui on Than* day last, the following resolutions were passed :— " That, considering the backward Itate of the survey between Whanganui and Whangaehu rivers, and the continued neglect being most unjust to the owners of land purchased from Government, that this meeting respectfully request the Provincial Counoil to take steps to have the grievance complained of remedied." ' ' That the Government be requested to complete the present tine of road between Whanganui and Patea with the utmost despatch,* in order to open proper intercourse with the interior of the conquered territory." "That this meeting desire* to cull tho attention of the Provincial Coaooil to the necessity of immediate steps being taken to ronist the* encroachment of the Whanganui river on its banks 2 At the u pper part of the town. " < " That the present aystem of examin ng plans of native, lands in the Wellington burvey office is most detrimental to the efficient working of the Native L^nds Aot in this district* and that our members 1 be requested to bring the snbjeot • before the Proiintiftl Council." f «H»t our

members b© requested to urge on the Provincial Government the advisability of extending the telegraph wires toWhanganui," " That a vote of thanks be passed to the members of the Provincial Council for attending the meeting to learn the opintans of their constituents on provincial business." — Evening Pat, April 22, We are now in a portion to lay that the • Prospecter,' with 32Q ton* of flour on board, arrived in Danedin on Saturday, April 18* The prioe of the flour will not be fixed till further advices are received from Melbourne. The consignee of the 'Prospector' reports that at tie time the vessel left Valparaiso {here irks 'no ship laid on for the Australasian oqlfl'ai&' "/Tonnage was ia demand for the transport of flour to Europe. The early crop was coming in, and prices were ruling high. — Lyttelton Time*, Before his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh left Sydney for 1 England he distributed among his immediate friends and 'attendants a number of valuable mementoes of hit visit to the colony. Among those thus especially honoured were the Commodore of the Squadron, and Mrs. Lambe t. To the former he, presented a very handtome gold ring, set with diamond* and rabies ; and to the letter he gave a vert handsome illuminated box. To Mrs. Toulmin, for her child, to whom his Royal Highness was sponsor, hs presented a handsome looket, mounted tvith emajalds and diamond* and set with penis and oorat J Captain Beresford wai presented with a handsoma Scarf ring, set with pearls and emeralds. To Mr. Buchan Thomson his Roy-1 Highness presented a massive , gold ring. We have already noticed the. present of his Royal Highness of a sold watch to Mr. Vial, and his present of a gold watch elibhf to the twonuises who waited upon him during his illness. To senior constable Dalton, the corpoial of the mounted escort told off for coustan t attendance upon his Roysl 'Highness, be presented *■ handsome gold ohain. His Royal Highness also presented a handsome gold signet ring to the butler at Government House, and another to the hall porter, Joseph Badger ty. To the housekeeper he presented » massive gol i brooob, and in addition left £50 for distribution among the servants of Government House. The Sydney Mail says:— "The terms of agreement, w^th reference to the Panama service have just been published as a Parliamentary paper. From these it appears that the agreement is binding until the Ist of July, 1871, unless previously cancelie t by mutual consent. The Government of this colony could, however, release itself at once and without notice in case the Government of New Zealand failed in any part of its obligations. Bat in the absence of any such default, our Government is bound to the contract till its term expires, and that is thiee years more next July." His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh having expressed to the Colonial Secretary a desire to have the, ipstol with which he was shot by the assassin O'F&rrell, »t Clontarf, and that picked up immediately after the arrest of the prisoner, Captain McLerie was requested to prooure both weapons. The pistols having been obtained, a small cedar case was manufactured and fitted up for their reception. On the inside of the cover of the case is a *mali plate bearing the following inscription : — " The pistols marked A and B were exhibits in evidence at the trial of Henry J. O. Farrell, before the Central Criminal Court. Sydney, New South Wales, on the 30th »nd 31st March, 1868, charged with shooting with intent to murder H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, at Clontarf, in that colony, on the 12th Match, 1868. Ais the pistol from which the shots were fired, one taking effect in the body of H.R.H., and the other in the foot of Mr. George Thorne of Sydney. B was found on the prisoner when apprehended by the police. —Office of inspector-General ofJPolice, Sydney, 2nd April, 1868." * The pistols were placed in the casein the same state in which thej were taken from the assasshv four of the ohambers of that marked A brine charged, and the whole of the chambers in that marked B. The bullet extracted from the body of his Royal Highness was also placed in the oase, This missile was considerably indented and flattened at the conical end, showing, beyond all doubt, that it struck • very hard substance in the victim's body. On Monday morning the case was presented by Mr. Parkes to his Royal Highness, who, having thanked him for procuring the pistols, examined tbem with a good deal of interest. The case was then placed on board the ' Galatea ' to be taken home as a memento of the event which has had such an important effect upon tHe proceedings of his Royal Highness. A pubßo meeting was held ia the Town Hall, Lyttelton, ou the 21st ultimo, for the puri ese of discussing the subject of immigration, and the vote recently passed by the Provincial Council for immi--gration , purposes. A resolution was proposed, condemning any farther expenditure of public money .on immigration. To thin an amendment was moved by-Mr. Tisch, to the effect that the sum voted by the Council was not sufficient for introducing a proper supply of good farm labourers. The amendment .was not seconded. Mr. Wakefield then moved the following amendment : — " I hat in th-s opinion of this meeting it is entirely unadvisable that any portion of the public funds should be spent on immigration until such a measure "o»n be justified by the opening out of new fields of industry ; *nd that, with a view to this object, and that of relieving the province from its present depressed state which weighs so heavily on •11 clasces, it Is the bounden duty of the Government earnestly and zealously to encourage and aid allenterprises likely t° prove of a remunerative character, and calculated to develop the mining, manufacturing, and other resources of the province ; by which- means large opportunities of profitable employment may be afforded to both capital stud labour, whether now -lying here unemployed, or to be attracted from without by the increased demand or them." This amendment was carried, with only ne or two dissentient voices. A resolution was hen put and carried, directing that Mr. Wakefie d's mendment be transmitted to bis Honor the Supertendent and the Executive.— Time*.