The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4164, 17 December 1870, Page 2

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUCEO, NON UKO. If IJhave been extinguished, yet there rise A thousand beacons jrom the ip»rk I bore.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17 \ 1870.

There are few objects in nature that do not present a different aspect according as we alter the standpoint of our observation. Provincial institutions are no exception to the rule, and viewed from the cold shades of Opposition they are bleak and dreary things, while from the Treasury benches they appear surrounded with a halo of beauty from the perpetual sunshine, and the golden showers there descending. An old poet tells us that we may change our sky, but the mind is always the same ; but this was a mistake on the part of the old poet, arising from his limited information, and had he been a visitor to the Provincial Council of Auckland, instead of deriving his len. timents from the simple and primitive habits of the Conscript Fathers, he would hare learned that a change of position from the left to the right of the Speaker's chair, though it be but a tew paces, may effect the most radical change im the mind. We have been led into this train of thought by a notice of motion just tabled in the Provincial Council for the abolition of provincial institutions, and the discussion of which has been fixed for Wednesday next. The intended resolution reads as follows:—" That, in the opinion of this " Council, provincial institutions have " not proved a success in this province, " and that the time has, come for their " abolition. That the General Govern- " ment be requested to bring before the " General Assemblymeasures calculated to " bring about the results indicated in the " foregoing resolution, That a respectful " address be presented to his Honor the " Superintendent, requesting him to for- " ward the 1 foregoing resolution to the " Colonial Secretary." The notice of motion bears the name of Mr. Murray, who has kindly consented to father it. It had previously, howerer, been hawked about among the members of Council, by a member of the late Administration, whose withers have b^en sorely wrung, and who, politically speaking, died hard, With the honourable member for the Northern Division we have nothing* to do. To some people small attentions, are very pleasing/ and wepresumte he his felt as much honoured in/ being 1 "i'sked to initiate this great constitutional change as Mr.< Ellis did 4n bdn^lieleqtea" to overthrow thelpresenjbt^x^jiti^e.r, Ifc, was a wise provision ,in\the .eopnomy^of, Nature that ttimj© some men so constituted as to take kiudly to-menial _ofl§ees,; and, to find even congenial occupation, jn sotne of •> the .meanest" .work?; .that^aw**

life. And when nuts are to be pulled out of the burning embers, it is well'that a hand can be found prepared to undergo the fiery ordeal. We hare therefore riot a word to say against Mr. Murray. He, and such as he, are exceedingly useful, to do what no one else would do ; and we hare no doubt that he feels much' pleasure and is abundantly "rewarded in the smiles of his superiors. But leaving to the honourable member for the Northern division the enjoyment of the hononr conferred on him, we come to consider the causes^ that have led to the consideration q|<,j|ucji a resolution. The proposal as we have said originated on the shady side of the House, and Mr. Brookfield is reported to have had charge of it, and tried various other members in vain, before Mr. Murray was so lucky as to be "sent for." The non-success of provincial institutions therefore must be considered primarily in relation to the late Executive, and in this regard unhappily the statement of the resolution is only too true. For some twelve months those gentlemen had been living or the fat of the land. For them there was I corn in Egypt ; their coffers were full ; and £18,000 lay there unused and unrequired, while miners and labourers were crying for bread, and flying: from the country for lack of employment. Salaries were safe, and from surplus revenues a large increase loomed in the distance ; when, without a moment's warning, fate descended in the form of a hostile' amendment, and all the success of provincial institutions was shattered. Who can. wonder that in such circumstances it would appear that, "Provincial I " institutions have not proved a success I" in this province';" and seeing that others sit on Treasury benches and | partake of the corn, and wine, and oil of the land, "that the time has come for " their abolition." It is very sad, and we cannot but sympathise with the change that has come over the spirit of their dreams. Provincial institutions were eminently successful while they afforded comfortable incomes with fat perquisites, or while, in the expressive language of the present henchman of the late Executive, they gave the opportunity of "making out " miners' rights and pocketing the " rhino." But they are a failure now when young and rising rivals occupy the seat of honour, and in cutting dovrn for ever departmental extravagance manfully strive to " stifle the parasite that was " stifling provincialism." But there is another aspect in which the resolution may be viewed ; and in the light of the late disgraceful struggle for place, and the paltry shreds of official pay, there was indeed much to create a disrelish for provincial institutions. And had that attempt succeeded, and had the interests of the province been so wholly and so shamefully subordinated to the greed of office-seekers as bo overthrow the reforming and economising Executive without a trial, then, if not within, at least without the Council Chamber, there might have arisen such a storm of indignation as would make us tremblo for Provincialism. Happily that evil has been averted ; and though, after the fashion of the fox with the grapes, the fruits of Provincialism placed beyond their reach are regarded by the late Executive as sour, we do not think that the Council will stultify itself by proclaiming itself to be so wholly corrupt and worthless as to deserve annihilation. Provincialism may be worn out : or it may be in the prime of life : that is not the question in the proposed resolution. But has the fall of the late Administration so utterly blasted all our hopes that, we should pray the General Government to save us from impending destruction ? Or have the salaries attached to office been so cut down that there is no proper object for ambition, nor anything to make it worth our while to retain provincial institutions ? We should be sorry to prevent the honourable member for the Northern Division from immortalising himself by associating the name of Murray with this great constitutional change; but really he should respect his constituents, who naturally object to seeing their representative assuming the character of a cat's paw.

In the Provincial Council, after some ordinary business, the Council went into Committee of Supply. During the discussion on the Estimates, Mr. Brookfield again exhibited his peculiar affection 1 for the Provincial Secretary, in such i a way that the rest of his fellow- members cried out, "Shame, shame." One member (Mr. Lundon) took occasion to remind him that a short continuance of such conduct would, hare the effect of causing a requisition, signed by every elector in the constituency he represented, to be presented to him, calling upon him to resign the trust placed in his hands. After progress had been made in the Estimates, the Council went into committee on the Licensing Bill, and at a quarter-past eleven o'clock the Council was counted out. The next English mail via Suez is due in Adelaide on Monday next, at Melbourne on the 22nd, and at Sydney on the 25th. The date of departure from Point de Galle was November 20, so that European telegrams to about that date will be flashed all over Australia from Adelaide on Monday. The newspapers and letters by the same mail will be — via Southampton, October 29 ; and via Marseilles, November 4 ; but papers one or two days later still may be expected via Brindisi. The mail will arrive at Hokitika in the ' Rangitoto about the 28th or 29th instant. Mr. Farnall,who is a candidate for election to represent district of Rodney in the General Assembly, has met the electors of Puhoi and Upper Mahurangi. At the Supreme Court yesterday his Honor Bat in bankruptcy. JThe whole of the day waa occupied in hearing an application by Mr. Sheffhan, on behalf of T. M. Machattie, bankrupt, to' expunge from his schedule a debt of John Lamb's. , There will be a sitting in banco this day. The letter of a correspondent, which w e publish in another column, contains a sum" mary of the proceedings of the Hon. MrGisborne, at Taranaki. The matters re* ferred to are all of more or less interest to Auckland readers, and, as the question of Protection v. Free Trade is just now exciting ' much attention, it may be well to peruse the remarks of Mr. Gisborne regarding our breweries. , Ihe cases heard in the Resident Magis* ! trate's Court yesterday were unimportant. The ninth number of Motlej/ is published this week, and will be found to be better than usual. The cartoon is excellently executed, and the subject well chosen; it represents an interview with, a distinguished member of the City Board and the Superintendent in reference to the Queen-street sewer. The scope for wit afforded by the recent transactions at 1 the City Board has Jbeen,well taken advantage of ; and a splendid cut apjpearajn allusion, to a " very affecting" 'speech > delivered, by one of its members during the' week. The. ' 'Tadpole < Papers" are continued, and.ha^e lost none of their piquancy. A " ( sensational novel," entitled " A Remarkably, Strange 'S.toty,^ is, though brief^Jt 'tfeyy humßroud' production^ and we recommend it to ihe perusal' of enthusiastic , iaud \ Protectionists. \ The ** Lounger" appears as 1 ; /versatile and funny [As/ever^, , y Jj;, ,„'• ;..;*',' ( /.Various sports* mNih* held' on ;Box|ng- r \l&$& H»tft4?S», tiki is6 ksCs& B<s

Oar Wflitakere correspondent writes :— • " Our crops are looking tolerably well, and promise a much better return than could possibly have been expected front their appearance a few weeks since. The oats are not quite up to the mark, but the potatoes, pumpkins, &c, are looking very healthy. Five head of cattle, the property of Mr. j Boora, of the Kumeu, have disappeared, and are supposed to have been driven away. We hope tbat, in the case of cattle-lifting again becoming the fashion in this neighbourhood, as it was some two years since, more stringent measures will be taken to ensure the punishment of the offending parties." Referring to the late disgraceful attempt of the Opposition in the Provincial Council to get into office, the Grahamstown Star says :—: — " When the three gentlemen resolved themselves into a most unholy alliance, they fancied that they presented a front perfectly impervious to attack. To the credit of the Council they have been plainly and unmistakably shown their mistake, and they must now understand pretty well that the representatives of the province of Auckland consider that the Executive of Mr. Lusk, Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. Sheehan possesses as much administrative power as that of which Mr. Oreighton> was an ornament, and ha? the additional recommendation which honesty and consistency confer. As for Mr. Ellis, who since his election a year ago has suffered from disappointed ambition, and who has been more than once made a stalking-horse of in consequence, we can afford almost to pass over in silence his conduct in this matter. He possesses ideas concerning his own abilities, which, were they shared in by his fellow men, would place him at the head of all legislation throughout the civilised world. He has had his self-conceit flattered by hopes and promises of place, and he has always been disappointed." The -following appears in the Australasian: " Sir, — In consequence of an exceedingly dry spring, which threatens to spoil our hopes of hay crops in this neighbourhood, some of the settlers think of sowing sorghum, to be cut and cured for winter fodder. There is, however, a general ignorance as to the means to be employed in saving or curing, and a practical hint or two from yourself, or one of your correspondents, would be received with thanks. — Subscriber. Waitangi, N.Z., October 29. — [There is reason for doubting the expediency of the step proposed. Sorghum would require the whole season to ripen, and until it is ripe it has a bitter taste that renders it unpalatable to live stock. It is during the ripening that the saccharine matter is developed We would be inclined to sow a quick-growing variety of maize in preference. That known as the 90-day would be the best, and we would sow it thickly, in order that the stalks may be slight, and thus the more easily cured. Have you no grasses or lucerne from which you could take a late cutting ! — Ed.]" J. O'Neill, Esq., J.P,, was the presiding magistrate at the Police Court yesterday. The business transacted was, however, of no public interest. The following is the rota for bhe ensuin. week :— Monday, H. Gilffllan and T. B Gillies, Esqs. ; Tuesday, T. Henderson and J. H. Home, Esqs. ; Wednesday, H. M. Jervis and S, Kempfchorne, Esqs.; Thursday, T. B. Kenderdine and J. S. Macfarlane, Esqs.; Friday, Thomas Macffarlane and J. May, Eaqa. ; Saturday, Gr. M. Mltford and H. Morrow, Esqs. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Local industry League held yesterday, its objects were succinctly and forcibly enunciated in a series of questions and answers, which we publish in another column. Mr. Murray has given notice of his intention to move on Thursday next :—": — " That a bonus be offered for the establishing of a tobacco factory. That a bonus be offered for the making of sulphuric acid. That an address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolutions to the Colonial Secretary, and also to take steps to give effect to them in a liberal spirit." The {Thames Advertiser expresses a hope that the Opposition, instead of factiously endeavouring to thwart the Government, will allow the business of the Government to go on. We are glad to see that the settlers at Port Albert are taking measures to secure a flour-mill for theiv district, the matter having been brought under the attention of the Port Albert Association. The Grahamstown Star has learned that several cases of low fever have occurred during the last few days. Diseases of this nature are generally prevalent in a swampy district, where drainage is insufficient. Mr. Dyer will move in the Provincial Council on Wednesday, " That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to place upon the additional Estimates the sum of £600 for the purpose of subsidising a steamer to ?u~n between the Waitemata and Mahurangi and such other Northern ports as may be agreed upon by the Government and the contractor." The Rev. J. Berry was yesterday united in marriage to a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Osborne, and the ship ' City of Auckland ' was gaily decorated with flags and bunting in honour of the event. The road-steamer in Dunedin recently drew a wagon filled with men and boys at a speed of seven miles an hour. Ifc also drew seven large trucks, each weighing two tons. Notwithstanding that the trucks were crowded with people, the steamer moved over the natural surface of the ground even more steadily than if no load had been attached. Collections will be made at St. Paul's Church to-morrow in aid of the Sunday School funds. Charles Mathews goes to England by way America, and will probably appear in Auckland. He has been badly received at some places. At Sandhurst he played to thirteen persons. At a soiree held on* the 12th instant at Mahuranoi, Mr. H. W. Pulham said he hoped that this protection scheme of the Government would soon be carried out, and then money would doubtless flow a little more freely into the exchequers of the farmers, and that of the clergy would not be so low as it unhappily was at the present time. The Hon. D. McLean arrived at Wellington on the 9fch from Whanganui. A Reform Association has been formed at Dunedin, but, according to the Independent, it is a hole-and-corner affair, .formed merely for the purpose of seconding the return of Mr. Stafford. Mats, rope, bags, and woolpacks, made from New Zealand flax at the Richmond Flax Company's works, Nelson, have been exhibited in Wellington. We are requested to notice that in our report of Mrs. Shayle George's annual breaking-up ball on Wednesday last, Miss Frances Johnson's name was omitted from the list of those who received examination prizes of the Ist class from Dr. Kidd ; and also that a very beautiful emblematic brooch of colonial gold was presented by the pupils to Mrs. George. The census of Victoria is to be taken on the I 2nd April, i.e., on the same day as the census in Britain. A late paragraph in the Southland Times stated that the census in New Zealand is to be taken in February. A man named Thomas W. Garlick was yesterday taken into custody on a charge of having committed an indecent assault on a little girl named Susan Mary Giiberd, aged twelve years. Messrs. J. Tonson Garliok and Richard Garlick intimate that they are in no way related to the above Thomas W. Garlick: H. I. J % Augusta has been arrested on a charge of vagrancy. . -The meeting of the ]£arangahape Highway Trustee, for the purpose of hearing objections to &© asgiesamenfc hMbceu adjaur.nexi uajal

We have to acknowledge the receipt of a pamphlet entitled, "Fiji in. 1870 ; being the Letters of the Argus Special Correspondent, with a complete Map and Gazetteer of the Fijian Archipelago," by H. Britton. Hugh Ferguson, contractor, Mercury Bay, has filed his schedule^ An old drunken fellow, named Patrick Flynn, living Barrack-street;, had a narrow escape from setting his house on fire on Thursday forenoon, while in a state of intoxi- j cation. Danger was prevented by the atten- , tion of his neighbours. ' Constable Charles C. Naughton brought up from the Thames last night two prisoners named John Pepper and Susan Lowe. A_ correspondent supplies us with the following:—" Sir,— lf the teetotallers of Auckland so earnestly desire, as they would have us believe, to close up the publichouses in Auckland, let them adopt the plan which * was so successfully attempted in Germany, I think, and, in conjunction with the working of the Permissive Bill, they must assuredly succeed. Let them take one alreadyestablished publichouse to begin with, and, in addition to supplying drinks, let the contractor and his assistants have a good commission allowed on all temperance beverages which may be sold, but nothing allowed for intoxicating liquora. He would thus push the sale of harmless beverages, and the public taste would gradually be led to run in this groove. Vested interests in this way would npt be injured ; and when the experiment had gained a firm footing another house could be taken. By the working of the Permissive Bill the number of publichouses would also be greatly reduced, so that ultimately a great success must be achieved. " Stepa are being taken to arrange for a regatta to be held at the Thames during the Christmas holidays, and a considerable sum of money has already been subscribed for this purpose. The Otago Daily Times states that Messrs. E. de Carle and Co. have offered, on behalf of their principals, to construct the Clntiia Railway for a sum not exceeding £400,000— the 'principal to be depoaited with the Government, and the interest, at 8 per cent., to be guaranteed for 15 years. The same paper also learns that they are willing, if the Provincial Government will be responsible for the principal, to let the Governmeni have the money, and make the railway ox their own account. At a recent meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce the folio ;viug resolution was passed :—": — " That Messrs. Banks, luglis, and the Chairman be requested b;y the Chamber to wait on Mr. Vogel with reference to the present unsatisfactory con.dition of the postal arrangements generally by the Suez route. " Some daring thief stole the Bible out oi the witness-box in the Resident Magistrate's Court at Wellington the other day. The Post states that it is said that the officers oi the Court supplied the deficiency for the nonce by a copy of Johnson's dictionary. The programme of the annual races to be held a*; Whangarei is advertised. The racc-i will be under the patronage of his Excellency Sir George F. Bowen. Mr. Cracrof t Wilson recently addressed the electors of Courtenay, Canterbury, During the course of his remarks he said :—": — " I: Australia will take off the duty cm our giain I will ta^e off everything which now exists as taxing Australia, and have free inter change ; but the Northern members would not have it. The Auckland merchants arc great shipowners, and trade raoatly witt Sydney, and it is therefoie to their interesl to get return freights. lam a free-trader ir every sense of the word ; but I say this, that while Australia imposes a duty on our corn, it is our place to retaliate and tax Australian corn cominsf into our ports." The abstract of meteorological observations published in the Neio Zealand Gazette shows that during the month of October last the number of days on which rain fell iv Auckland was 10, against 18 in the corresponding month, of last year. The half-yearly meeting of the Sailor Prince Gold Mining Company will be held on the 4th January, 1871. A call of 3s. per share has been made in the Central Italy Goldmining Company, A meeting of the shareholders of the Star of Fermanagh Goldmining Company, will be held to-morrow in the Post-office, Newmarket. The Moniteur Beige contains the following : "The powder magazine Santo-Spirito, at Venice, containing no less than 300,000 kilos, (fully 300 tons) of gunpowder, was struck by lightning the other day. The electric discharge fortunately fell on the lightning conductor, the platinum point of which was molten and the rod split and twisted, but no other damage was sustained. The quantity of powder present, if exploded, would go far to lay in ruius ten cities of the size of Venice." Burke got almost mad on the French Revolution. A friend offered him and Sheridan seats in his carnage after a debate. During the ride the friend hazarded a mollifying plea for Brissot. " What !" said Burke, " you too an abettor of these ruffians! I'll ride no more with you," and precipitately got out. Sheridan made capital of this. A week afterwards he found himself in a hackney coach, impecunious, and conscious of a heavy fare. He perceived Sir J. Bland Burgess. Pulling the check-string, he offered to take the baronet home. Adroitly leading the conversation to France, he elicited, by his well-simulated fanaticism, a la Burke, a mild remark deprecatory. " What," said Brinsley, <• you too, you one of the abettor* of this vile crew ! I will ride no more with you," and out he jumped, leaving the bewildered baronet to be still more practically mystified by the fare he had to pay when he got home. The Maharajah of Rewah has given £2,000 to the pundits of Benares, who composed a poetical garland of flowers for the Duke of Edinburgh, on his Royal Highness visiting the sacred city. In Austria, in 1867, the average wages of the farm labourer were £5 a year. The Dutch labourer rarely tastes meat, and seldom gets as much as 25 cents a day. The Paris workman never ha 3 grand-children ; yet there is a constant influx of boys from the country willing to exchange slow death in the city for slow life in the fields. In Prussia, the wages of the farm labourer by the year are from £2 to £3, with board. His food consists of peas, porridge, potatoes, sour milk, and vegetables. Meat he gets on holidays, and occasionally of a Sunday. In Saxe-Ooburg, the male day labourer, who lives in the house and is fed, receives from £6 to £8 a year ; a woman farm worker, from £3 to £4. A few have a hut and ground enough to grow potatoes for a pig. In Denmaik the labourer receives from 7s. to 9s. a week, works 13 hours a day, and supports himself. If the employer feeds him the wages may run from Is. Bd. to 4s. a week. In Belgium the day-labourer earns about lOd. a day, and pays a day's work for the weekly rental of his cottage. If fed by the employer, he expects nothing more than sour milk, boiled potatoes, and rye bread. In Portugal a woman works all day for eight cents, a man for 10, living on greens, onions, rice, and chesnuts. In Westphalia wages are high, and living sumptuous. The labourers get meat once a day, two cups of lager-beer, and coffee at breakfast. Besides his £6 a year, the man gets a pair of boots and three shirts. A woman's wages are £4 a year, a pair of shoes, and cloth for three chemises. In other German States the labourer is paid in kind or in money ; that is, he can have £1 or a quarter of an ox ; he „ may take half a lean, i pig in lieu of 123., and choose between Bs., or his herrings, his salt, and his pot-money for a year. In Prussia there are two millions of men who work and live ia this way. la the wholeof Europe thera are 30 or 40 millions in just this condition. 'We are requested to call the attention of the public to the sale of drapwry aud clothing of Messrs. Cosgrave and Co., to be held to-day on their premises, Qaeen-street, when all goods as advertised will bq given at QQ3k jrisq, *-£A»y. ]

In the hearing of an insolvency case at Charleston, Westland, before Judge Ward, the insolvent said he had only filed his schedule when his creditors began to press him. His Honor s*id: "I supposeJJthey wanted their money. It is strange that, with insolvents, a man who is wicked enough to want his money is looked upon as a persecutor. It should be remembered that, when a man comes before the Court and asks that his debts should be wiped oat, ho stands in the position of a culprit, and unless he can show that his insolvency was caused by misfortune he is not entitled to sympathy." We have the following from "Anti-Bun. kum :"— "Sir,— l think Mr. Wrights letter upon * Cholera, and how to meet it,' would* have been better if consigned to the wastepaper basket. The public are quite sensitive enough upon the subject without further alarming them by what ought to be consideredpurely professional questions. Anyone desiring further information could always obtain it from his own medical man. I presume the medical men of Auckland know themselves better than to degrade their profession and insult the public by the publication of letters which, to say the least of it, are indecent, and embracing subjects which I ought to be confined to the sanctuary of the sick chamber. The egotistical vein which pervades the whole of the effusion is not to be misunderstood. It is a pity Mr. Wright is not at present in St. Petersburg, where an epidemic of cholera prevails to an alarming extent (or did so by last advices), and which appears to baffle the skill of the most celebrated physicians of that city, both with regard to cause and effect. The Licentiate of the Medical Board of Toronto (whatever that may mean), in' showing them 'how to meet it, ' would be received with open arms by suffering humanity, and regarded in the light of a second Jenner."