TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3140, 21 July 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1881.

It is ropeatedly asserted by the friends of centralism that any return to a provincial form of government would be a retrograde step. Used in the sense it is, the expression is intended to convey the idea that, in adopting anything approaching to our old institutions, the colony wou;d be reverting to a crude form of local goveruaient only fitted for young and half-polished communities. The word " retrograde" is not intended to be accepted in iv application to local government as a step back to whence we ctttne, but as a step backwards in the path of progress. Ii is intended to convey the idea that in abolishing the provinces we entered into a higher form of government, and that to go back now would be going from light to darkness. For instance, the Wellington Post says, " we do not for one moment believe that the country desires this, and assuredly it would be a retrograde step of a most disastrous nature." Oar contemporary does not pretend to show in what way it would be disastrous; but having seized hold of the rerra " retrograde," and taking it as meaning to decline from a better to a worse state, jumps to the conclusion that it would prove disastrous. There is, however, another meaning to be attached to that word, and which we think is much more applicable to the question that is now engaging the attention of the country. And we are of opinion that it is this, namely, the turning back from the wrong to the right path. We have travelled for nearly five years on a road that was pointed out as the proper one to take, and we now find that it has ended in a blind alley We must consequently go back from where we started, and in that sense we must take a retrograde step, exactly as we read, " When the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness and doeth that which is lawful," etc. There is to merit in pursuing a wrong course, in spite of the assertion that the country has accepted abolition of provincialism as final. So far from this being the caee, the agitation for a return to that which was so hastily and ill-advisedly abandoned has beeu renewed year after year until, as we see, the question is being fought out once more in the General Assembly. And it must be allowed that no more serious question, or one more worthy to engage the attention of the House, could possibly be brought forward. It is precisely the same subject that has at all times and in all countries occupied the minds of the greatest men,

and nothing can be more puerile and frivolous than the efforts of the friends of a bureaucracy to smother it by the altogether false cry that the country want> no change. What the country dees want is such a form of local government that half the revenue shall not be eaten up in the administration of the other half. We want such a form of government as shall not only be capable ot adapting itself to the various requirements of the several parts of the colony, but that shall secure equal rights and privileges to all classes, so that justice shall not be denied to om man because he has not the money to buy it, and that another man can secure it because he is wealthy. We do not go to the length of Sir George Grey, but we do say this, that what is characterised in his speeches as sentimental trash hap its foundation in truth, and findß an echo in the hearts of all whose rank in society has taught them the bitterness of wantwant of education, want of money, want of power. It is with no object of making all men equal that provincialists condemn the county system, because under provincialism votes were regulated by property in the highway districts as they are now. The highway boards find their functions in the disposal of funds raised by themselves, and the ratepayers naturally have votes proportionately to the extent to which they are interested in the money they contributed. This is not sought, to be altered by provincialists, but what is sought to be obtained is the provincial administration of the affair? of the province without any costly interference on the part of a central body that knows nothing outside the red-tape routine of a department. Who after all keeps alive centralism but the army of civil servants whose occupation would be gone by the establishment of looal self-government.

Tenders are invited for sewerage works, No. 6 contract. This contraot relates to' Tennyson and Carlyle-streets. We are informed that aliens residing in Hawke's Bay, and desiring letters of naturalization, can obtain forms of application from Mr S. Carnell. The water in the Meanee river was very high this afternoon, and it is still rising. At Tarcha's Bridge the water had reached the verandah of the Shamrook Hotel. We are requested by the secretary of the Napier Football Club to state that he has had a telegram to the effect that the ground at Waipawa will be unfit to play upon on Saturday. The matoh will, in consequence, be postponed for a week. A private telegram from Wellington received in town to-day states that the division on Mr Ormond's no-confidence motion will be a very close one. As the telegram came from a thick and thin supporter of the Government, the information indicates the probable defeat of the Ministry. Mr Sainßbury and Mr Galbraith shipped per Penguin'on Monday some gold-pencilled Hamburgh and white game fowls for the Christchurch poultry show, held yesterday and to-day. Unfortunately, owing to rough wflatber, the Penguin is still detained at Wellington, and the birds will of course not be in time for the show. Dr. Caro is the public vaccinator for the district, and is in attendance at his residence every Friday at eleven o'clock. Those who get vaccination performed by their usual medical attendant should be careful in delivering the certificate of vaccination to the Register of Births at the Chief Post Office, Napier. Attention to this will prevent any inconvenience. The Maori Committee Empowering Bill, which Mr Tomoana introduces has for its object the giving of natives powers of jurisdiction, to a limited ext6nt, in certain proclaimed native districts, in criminal and civil capes involving questions of damage or dispute. Committees are sought to be appointed under the provisions of the Bill, with power to elect a chairman for the purpose of determining matters in dispute between the natives only, and assessing damages or fines. In reference to a marriage notice that appeared in our yesterday's issue, Mr F. S. Cassin writes to say that after enquiry he finds that no person of his name has been married as notified, and that, as he believes the announcement to have been a practical joke at his expense, he desires us to contradict it. We have to express our regret that the announcement was published ; we received it in good faith, but we have sincp found out that we were made the vehicle for a senseless joke. The person sending the notice to us is willing to give up his name to Mr Cassin, and to make an ample apology. The following additional subscriptions towards the " St. John's alterations fund " are acknowledged with thanks :—J. M. Batham (2nd sub.), £1 1; J. H. Vautier (2nd sub.), £1 Is; Mrs Hutchinson, £1; N. Williams, £1 Is; Mrs J. Rochfort, £1; a friend, £1 ;C. and 8., 6s; H. S. Tiffen (through Miss M. Tiffen), £5 ; Mrs Ho veil (2nd sub.), £1 10s ;E. Patten, £1 Is; Mrs Patten, 2s 6d; Miss Morrison, 2s 6d; H. King, £1 Is ; Dr. Spencer,£lo 10s. Through Mrs H. Ellison :—E. Banner, ss; E. Liddle, 5s ; Mrs Kettle, 2s 6d; Mrs Yon Temsky, 2h 6d ; a friend, 10s ;R. Hansard, £1; Mrs Sidey, 5s ; a friend, 10s; a friend, 10s 6d ; Mrs Dunoan, 15s; H. R. Holder, £2; R. France, 2s; Mrs Williams, 5s ; A. R. P., 2s 6d ; H. Ellison, £1 Is ; C. Weber, ss. We notice in the letter of the Road Overseer to the Municipal Engineer that one of the reasons he gives for the dismissal of the Corporation laborers, Ready and Spencer, is that the men gave " erroneous information as to the depth of the silt in the sewer," which, finding its way into print, was calculated to prejudicially affect the amount of the tenders for cleaning the silt traps and drain. This is a very lame excuse. In the first place the men did not give erroneous information; secondly, the truth of what they did state could have been verified by anyone looking down the silt trap, which was open at the time, and therefore anything tbey said could not have prejudiced the price of the work to be tendered for; thirdly, as none _ but a lunatic would have tendered for a job he knew nothing about, tenderers would have ascertained for themselves the quantity of silt to be removed, so that what found, its way into print could not have affected the amount of the tenders. According to announcement the discourse given by Mr A. B. Thompson, head master of the Napier District School, at the Working Men's Slub, was on the Sun. The very unfavorable state of the weather was adverse to a large attendance, but the subject was listened to with marked attention, and was very ebly treated. Mr Thompson briefly but lucidly referred to the various phenomena incidental to his subject. He also explained the means whereby the sun's distance was ascertained ; the centrefugal and centrepetal forces, which kept the earth in its orbit; the sun's composition, intense heat, &c. He described the light of the sun as white, which travelled it the enormous rate of 186,000 miles per second. Mr Thompson concluded by observing that the sun, like the planets Of his system, was revolving round some other infinitely distant centre at about 600,000 miles a day. Mr Thompson was much applauded in the course of his discourse, and the President expressed a hope that on a future occasion Mr Thompson would again contribute his services for the instruction and entertainment of the club members. On Wednesday, August 3rd, the Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu will give a discourse on Mahometanism.

Messrs Kennedy and Gillman will sell to-morrow Scotch tweeds, hose, <fee, at noon. Mr T. A. Hayes, Hastings, has mangold wurtzel for sale. A special general meeting of the Napier Foothall Club will be held at the Criterion Hotel on Monday evening next. '

Shareholders of the New Zealand Insurance Company can obtain dividend warrants on application to Messrs Brooking and Dobson. Tenders, the time for which closes on Monday, August Ist, are invited for No. 6 contract of the Borough sewerage works.