THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1886, 22 August 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1874.

While congratulating the Premier on the signal triumph his Government has achieved over the representatives and upholders of Provincial institutions in the House last evening, we, in common with the majority of the people in the Colony, are anxiously awaiting a reply to the question— what next? The principle is affirmed that it is undesirable to further continue the Provincial system as an element in the Government of the country, for although the resolutions which have just been accepted by the House of Representatives, after one of the most important debates which has yet taken place in Parliament, have reference nominally to the Northern Island only, there is no doubt the time will soon arrive when the Provincial Governments of this Island must be finally disposed of. Nothing short of a total abolition, or such a complete modification as will be tantamount to it, of the mode of Government which reociTo j. .am-h n.n - unconditional .condemnation from leading men of all parties during the recent debate, will now satisfy the country. If the Premier had any misgivings when he brought forward the resolutions as to the measure of support he would receive, he can have none now, seeing that he has obtained the largest majority yet given a Government, in the Parliament of New Zealand, upon a disputed Constitutional question. But, although the announcement of Mr Yogel that he meant to try conclusions with Provincialism and ita chiefs, whose arrogant assumption and overbearing insolence during the debate on the Forests Bill had precipitated the course ihe Government has taken, created widespread astonishment at what seemed his temerity, the Premier had well calculated the chances of success, and once again he has shown that of all others he best understands the political situation. As a proof of this we find him telling his opponents at the commencement of the debate that it was not due to the action of the supporters of the Government, but to the moderation of the Gitvernment itself, that instead of bringing down resolutions to test the feeling of the House on the subject, he was now asking for leave. to introduce a Bill to abolish Provincialism in the Northern Island. He further remarked in effect that there was a desire among a considerable number, if not the majority of those who would support the| resolutions, that the principle contained in them should be carried into effect during the present year. This is the courss the majority of colonists now eagerly hope the Premier will adopt, not only as regards the Northern Island, but the country at large. There is nothing like "striking the iron while h is hot" if an event either in public or private life is to be successfully consummated. The Premier is now aware, without any doubt, he has a majority he can rely upon to carry whatever measure he may bring forward for dealing with the Middle Island a3 he has done with the Northern Provinces, and if he be really sincere in his intention to remove the greatest impediment to the welfare of the Colony, he has now the opportunity. When the abolitionresolutions came before the House, Mr "Yogel made certain proraises to quiet the fears of the Middle Island representatives, but there was nothing in these promises that would render his immediate interference with the present Provincial system in this Island, anything approaching to a breach of faith towards those members who might be induced to vote for the resolutions because they did not effect their own constituents. Mr Yogel said the Government was ready to give the Middle Island any security it required that the land revenue of the Middle Island should be solely appropriated to the Middle Island, and that of the various Provinces to those Provinces. He also most emphatically denied that the resolutions meant' the ultimate taking over of the Middle Island Land Fund, and he suggested that it was possible the new form of Government he intended to inaugerate in the North Island might be so successful that the people of "the Middle Island Provinces might be induced to inquire whether their syßtem of Government might not be very

much improved. The people of the Middle Island are already convinced the present plan of Government can be immeasurably improved, and, in fact, that any alteration must be an improvement for the better. But, if Mr Yogel does not wish to do violence to the important opinion the rich and powerful Provinces of Otago and Canterbury hold of themselves, and if he should in his wisdom and foresight decide to leave them alone, at present, he need not have any such scruples with respect to the remaining Provinces of this Islatid. He could effect a change in the condition of those Provinces that would at the same time be highly beneficial to the inhabitants and creditable to his administration. If, for instance, the Premier were to effect an amalgamation between the three Provinces of Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland, or such portion of the latter as is so situated geographically that it could be economically governed, he might raise up another Province which would have all the elements of prosperity within its boundaries, and which, under good Government, would eventually become rich and powerful as Otago or Canterbury. A glance at the map of the Middle Island will show that if Provincial divisions are to be maintained, the area occupied by the three Provinces mentioned should be politically united, for their geographical positions and physical conformations are such, that the cost of governingthemcould be reduced to a minimum, even under a Provincial form of Government. There can now be no such objection made to a unification of these Provinces as that made by the rulers of Nelson when it was proposed to annex "Westland to that Province. Nelson objected to have anything to do with Westland, because of the indebtedness of the latter, and, in fact, because of her insolvency. Poverty, like death, is a great leveller of distinctions, and Nelson, notwithstanding all the arrogance of the purse-proud jpanwvus who gloried lang-syne in her freedom from debt, has discovered that adversity begets an acquaintance with strange bed- fellows. Nelson has since had to crave, cap in hand, for the wherewithal to keep her from political death, and had to suffer the humiliation of being refused. Westland has not done anything more ignominious, therefore the two are on an equal footing. Marlborough is not likely to raise any insurmountable objection to the union, which, with the practically inexhaustable resources of the new combination, with its thousand miles of seaboard, would be certain to be a fortunate one.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before W. H. JKevell, Esq., R.M., A. Constantine was charged with leaving a vehicle as an obstruction in the street, and received a caution Rhody O'Malley was charged by the Town Surveyor with leaving two -logs on Mawhera Quay, and was fined 5s and costs. On the civil side of the Court, Peter Cameron sued William Newton for L 5 6s 6d, but was nonsuited with costs. The annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Greymouth Building Society was held last night at Waters's Union Hotel. Mr Harry Kenrick occupied the chair. The principal business was the consideration and adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, by which it was shown that the Society is in a fair way of i 'rogressing. \ dividend of 9 per cent per annum was declared, and the balance of the profits was carried to tbo Qa«i»utoo Tuna. Tko o«t going directors, Messrs Kenrick, Holmes, and Nancarrow were unanimously re-elected, and a cordial vote of thanks was recorded in the minutes for the interes 4 ; and energy disployed by the directors genera'ly. Messrs Rowley and Warner were elected auditors, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The Orwell Creek Gold-mining Company is fast assuming the shape of a full-fledged co-operative association. The work at the leasehold is progressing satisfactorily, and the pumping machinery will shortly be in position. We publish elsewhere a copy of the application to register the company under the Mining Companies Act, 1872, with the particulars required by the Act. The company consists of 3000 shares at Ll each, of which number 2055 are subscribed for. Mr Percy Wakefield, of Ahaura, is the legal manager. The general favor in which ! the company is held among practical men- will be seen from the fact that not only business men in all the Grey Valley towns, as well as at Reefton and Greymouth, are shareholders, but miners froni all the mining dis tricts have also subscribed for shares, In reply to an inquiry made to a correspondent at Ahaura, yesterday, we learned, laconically, that " there was nothing fresh except the one in the river," from which we conclude the recent bad weather has also been experienced in the up-country districts, The total expenditure and liabilities on the Waimea Water-race are set down by the Minister of Public Works now at L 103.000. This is more than double the first estimate, which was set down at L 47.463 19s lOd to complete the work, including lands, &c. The proprietors of " Melbourne Punch " are threatened with an action' for libel by Messrs Crisp and Lewis, acting on behalf of the Rev. J. C. Symons, arising out of two articles which appeared in that publication on the 16th and 23rd July, in connection with the Customs affair of the Messrs Callaghari, and with that of Mr Rowe and Miss Eddy. The Good Templars have "struck a patch" at last, according to the "Dunstan Times," which announces in its issue of August 7fch that on the previous Tuesday a Good Templar Lodge was opened at Crorawell, and among the officers installed the name of Brother E. A. Drury is given as being invested on the occasion with all the dignity of W.F.S. The "Glasgow Herald" says:— "" We understand that a commission has been sent to this country for a first professor of theology in the University of Otauo, Dunedin. The income is to be LSOO a year, along with a professional residence. This professorship has been offered to the Rev L. D. F. Salmond, Free Church minister, Barry, Forfarshire." Mr Hyman, while giving evidence in the . Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, in the case of Outred v. Hyman, stated that the cost, up to the present time, of recovering the cargn, to those who purchased the Surat, was from L 4500 to LSOOO. He also stated that their loss so far, was between L3OOO and L4OOO. They had paid at the rate of L 6 per day to the sub-marine divers. The relative Parliamentary strength of the Islands is thus given by a contemporary :— Auckland has 16 European members ; Wellington, 9 j Napier, 2j Taranaki, 3 ; making, with three Maori members, a total of 33 for the North Island Nelson has 6 ; Westland, 4 ; Marlborough, 2 j Canterbury, 12 ; and Otago, 20 ; making, with one Maori member, a total of 45 for the Middle Island, in a House of 78. The " Charleston News," of Bth August, after giving the principles Of the Nelson Radical Reform League, states :— " We will

suggest a topic for the League at an early meeting : Seeing the amount of revenue contributed by Wostport, AxldisoD, Charleston, St. Kilda, and Brighton, with intermediate places, is it just that there should be so much delay in constructing the bridge over the Nile ?'" We ("Otago Daily Times") see by our northern files that the Government intend to look iuto the financial condition of the Friendly and Benefit Societies in the Colony, with a view as ascertaining their solvency and the probabilities of their being able to fulfil their obligations to members. The Chief Secretary has called upon the societies for a full statement of their affairs. If this investigation does not accomplish the object, a Royal Commission will be appointed to deal with the matter. The "Otago Guardian" says :— " When it is stated on the best authority that although there is a nominal strength on the Volunteer rolls receiving capitation allowance of 11,000 men, of these there are not 500 men who could go through their manual and firing exercise coriectly, it is time the force was dismissed. The money and time wasted 'in the Volunteer service' could be much better employed. If, however, we are to fool away the public money in military display, let us at least have something for the outlay." It is pleasing to notice that New Zealand is not unrepresented at the sales of thoroughbred horse stock in Melbourne. A fortnight ago at a sale of horses by Messrs M'Cullock, Campbell, and Co., Gladiator, a son of the celebrated French horse Gladiateur, out oi Nuncia, was bought for 500 guineas by Mi Shields, and comes to this Colony. Gladiatoi is described as a very level bloodlike chesnul horse, and remarkably ' cheap at the price paid for him. In an article headed " California as a Social Study," published in the "Alta," the writer, Daniel C. Giltnan, President oJ the University of California, says :^" The most difficult problem California will have tc deal with will be. that of Chinese immigra tion. Its solution will require wisdow, philanthropy, and a very broad view of th< destiny of humanity." Before many yean have passed the problem will be a difficuli one to deal with in these Colonies (says i contemporary). The Christchurch "Press" of last week contains a most important judgment to City Councillors, delivered by his Honor Mr Jus tice Gresson, in the Supreme Court, Christ charch, on the previous day, wherein a cab man appealed against the decision of th Resident Magistrate, Christchurch, in fininj him the sum of 10s, for plying his cab fc hire within the City, not being duly licensee for so doing. Thfi conviction was quashei on the ground that the bye-law of the Christ church City Council was not legally passed inasmuch as the minutes of the specia meeting called for the purpose of consider ing the bye-law, were not signed by thi Mayor or the Councillor acting as Chair mat at that meeting. The Auckland " Star" puts Mr Yogel oi the same footing as Mr Von der Heyde, an< claims that the Premier is an alien. It say Mr Yogel "was born in Belgium, merel] educated in London, and naturalised in Vie to'ia when editor of the ' Maryborough anc Dunolly Advertiser ' Thei if he is, where was he naturalised ? Cer tainly not in New Zealand. The fact ap pears to be that the honorable gentlemai forgot to put; his letters of naturalisatiou ii the carpet-bag with whkh he came fron Victoria to Otago, and we must bear th consequences." We (" West Coast Times ") learn that i is the intention of the Government to cal for tenders shortly for the erection of a new Post Office here, a step which has been mucl needed for aooie time, as a more dilapidate( building serving as a chief Post Office of i Province than tnat of Hokitika we "fane": could not be found in the Colony. Unde the schedule of works not commenced, bu for which sketches and estimates have beei prepared, the items of Hokitika and Grey mouth Post Offices ana Telegraph Offices arc set down in the Government returns ai L4OOO for the two offices in both places. Po: considerably less than that amount we doub not suitable buildings will be erected in botl towns. We also hear that another contrac in connection ■with the Waimea Water-raci will be opened to public competition withii a few days, and in the course of ten or four teen days the contract for the conveyance o the pipes to the said race will also be befor* the public, the necessary particulars having been forwarded to the Engineer's Depart ment in Wellington. The confusion that prevails at every meet ing of the Westland Waste Lands Board it Hokitika has long b en the dread and horroi of reporters, and as land is more sought after, and the transactions of the Board become more complicated, this is intensified consider ably. Regarding this the " West Coast Times " remarks : — "The singular, and certainly undignified, manner in which the Board sit behind a counter, with a lot oi eager customers in front, might certainly be changed for the better by using either the Magistrate's or the Supreme Court for the purpose. Advocates of various kinds could be better heard by such transition, the Press might be able to give a more connected account of the proceedings, and the business transacted would happily lose the higgledypiggledy characteristics that now pertain to it. A.s to the facilities for reporting, whether designedly or not we cannot say, they are aa abbreviated as possible. A table is placed in a narrow place in the very midst of an excited throng of applicants, agents, or oppositionists, and the scribblers have to do their ' level best ' to write fragmentary sentences, caught at intervals from the magnates, who preside and hold confidential discussions amongst themselves. The business of the Board is likely to increase largely as time rolls on, and these remarks are meant in the most friendly spirit, with a hope that the complaints may be met in the same way." As many people, says the "Register," appear to have only a vague notion of the meaning of "The Land Compact, 1856," which has occupied such a prominent place in the debate on Provincialism, the following explanation may be of service, especially as there does not seem to be in the district a copy of the Journals of the House for the year. On the motion of the then Colonial Treasurer, Mr Sewell, in Committee of Ways and Means, on July 2, ISSG, a series of eighteeen resolutions were passed for permanently adjusting the public burdens of the Colony, including the settlement of the New Zealand Company's debt. Of these most important is resolution 12, which is as follows : — " That this House is of opinion that the admistration of the waste lands of each Province should be transferred to the Provincial Government of such Province, and that the land revenue thereof should be made Provincial revenue, subject to the following charges :— Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, L 66.666 13s 4d each, bearing interest 4 per cent, with a sinking fund of 2 per cent j Auckland, Wellington, and New Plymouth, subject to charges equal to the proportion of the permanent loan borrowed for the purchase of native lands in such Province respectively bearing iuterest at 4 per cent, with sinking fund at 2 per cent, New Plymouth to be allowed L 20.000, and the first outlay free of charge." Resolution No. 15 provides that this arrangement shall come into operation from the Ist July, 1856. It will, of course, be understood that in the above quoted resolution the Provinces of Canterbury and Nelson inolude Westland

and Marlborough respectively, separatiou aot having; been brought about in either case at that date." The attainment of the majority of the hei g to the Riccarcon estate, Mr John Deans, wa_ celebrated on 6th August in a truly charac^ teristic way. This is the first celebration o the kind that has ever taken place in NewZealand (says the "Lyttelton Times ) Messrs William and John Deans were the first settlers oa these plains. They sailed from Scotland in the year 1839, and arrived in Wellington in 1840. Shortly after their arrival, they came down to the Middle Island and settled on the property to which they gave the name of Riccarton, after the parish in which they were born in Scotland. A dinner was given in a large marquee, and there was a large supply of bunting m the district. The Auckland " Hsrald," of Bth August, says :— " An amusing incident was yesterday volunteered as a 'good thing ' to our street paragraphist. The incident occurred in the lobby of a photographing gallery. Several Maoris were feasting their eyes on the wonders of Nature as depicted by Art, when one dusky gentleman was noticed to be particularly excited over a picture of a brother in color, and was observed to be frantically rubbing Ms nose up and down the glass of the frame in which the photos were fixed. It appears that in the picture he had been gazing upon he had discovered the likenessof his long-lost brother, and was exercising his fraternal feeling in the 'nose-rubbing process peculiar to his tribe, by which they make known to their fellow-men their desire for peace on earth and good-will towards all men." Tea a la Russe is becoming quite fashionable in London. For this novelty society is indebted to the Duchess of Edinburgh. It consists in the substitution of slices of lemon for cream, and no tea-tray is now sent into a fashionable drawing-room without a small glass dish containing slices of lemon cut with the rind on. Care must be taken to mix the beverage with a due observance of the northern custom, which is thus described :— The sugar dropped into the cup must be of the smallest size, lest the flavor of the lemon should be destroyed. A slice of lemon is then to be placed on the sugar, and the tea poured in. For Sybarites in high life, always dying for a change, this is no doubt an agreeable one. But there is little prospect of its meeting with general approval in England. Even where resorted to, milk or cream is still served up for those who cannot naturalise their tastes to the order of fashion. Mr Holloway is Ihus spoken of by a Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin ' ' Star" — " It is infra dig. for ' Citizen and Delegate Holloway,' to carry even a carpet-bag. He will stand in a bar and order grog — which he sticks up and the Government has to pay " for— see it poured out and order it to be sent to his room. Bed, board, whiskey, washing, 1 clothing free ; 20s a day from the' Government, 14s a day from the Union to which he balongs (some peoDle affirm he has another 1 20s per day travelling expenses from this latter source), and 25s a week for the main- ' tenance of his family during his absence ' from England. Verily, his lines may be ' considered to have fallen in pleasant places, and considering the money he receives, and 1 that he has no need to spend any of it— nay ' more, he takes care not to spend — his children ■ ought to have a goodly heritage. I suppose 1 he costs our open-handed Government at the 1 rate of LIOOO a year. I consider it the duty 1 of the Press to put such people in their ' proper place, and when I have more leisure I will endeavor to pursue the theme a little ; further."