Untitled

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3909, 27 April 1877, Page 2

AUCKLAND, April 26. The licensed victuallers Trill support Mr R. Graham's candidature for Auckland City West. Walker, trance medium, from Sydney, gave a private seance to the members of the Press last night • the subject was, "What is truth?" The medium professed to be under the control of the spiritof the Rev. Dr. Stewart, who died in 1805. The subject was discursive, pantheistic, speculative, and utterly deficient in anything tangible. The medium submitted to questions, which were principally directed to the elucidation of some practical test. His answers were general and evasive. The Press hints that the whole affair is a humbug. At a meeting of the Auckland branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society, it was stated that the total issues during the year was 2748, showing an increase of 250 over last year. The collections amounted to £176 19s, leaving a balance in hand of £2 os. CHRISTCHURCH, April 2G. The magisterial work at Christchurch lias become^ so heavy that Mr Whiteford, 11. M. at Kaiapoi, has been appointed assistant Resident Magistrate. At a meeting of shareholders of the Permanent Investment Association, it transpired that the defalcations of Herdson, late chief clerk, amounted to nearly £0000, instead of £600 as previously stated. The defalcations extended over a period of live years, during part of which the Association held a guarantee policy for £1000 in the Australian Alliance Company, but as the claim under it had not been made as required within throe months of the expiration of the policy, the Company's refusal to pay this was unfavorably commented on at the meeting. The question of sending a detective to arrest Herdson, who is living noav Sun Francisco, was loft to the decision of the directors. It is reported that during his recent visit to Akaroa the Hon. Mr M'Lean said ho saw no difficulty in bringing the railway to Akaroa, and also that Commodore Hoskins thought such a magnificent harbor should be turned to account. The Christchurch Acclimatisation Society have imported 100 pairs more of magpies from Australia and 200 brace of Californian quail from Nelson. Peter Kerr, one of the earliest settlers here, was thrown from his horse and killed. DUNEDIN, April 20. At 7 a.m. Milton was all astir to meet His Excellency the Governor at the station, lie having intimated to the Mayor his intention of stopping fifteen minutes to receive an address. The station was gaily decorated with Wags and evergreens. The officers of the Bruce rifles were present in uniform, and about 150 ladies and gentlemen were on the platform. The Mayor and Councillors, with the Town Clerk, were also present with an address. Great excitement prevailed as the train approached, when, to the mortification of those present, the special darted by at the rate of thirty miles an hour. Balclutha also feels slighted at the Governor not making ;•„ moment's stay KEW PLYMOUTH, April 2(5. Judge Richmond, in jmssing sentence on Moliatt, said : "If your offence were to be punished in proportion to the danger which it occasioned to the public, you ought to receive a heavy sentence. You are to be looked upon by all welljudging persons as an enemy to both races in this island ; on the one hand

you have been strengthening against your fellow-countrymen the well-known means of massacre, sparing neither age nor sex ; on the other hand you have been encouraging the disaffected in vain resistance to the advance of civilisation. You have been planning disaster for Europeans; but for the natives your have been preparing utter destruction. The evidence gives but a glimpse of your proceedings ; enough, however, has been adduced to disclose their dangerous and treasonable character. It is well for you that there is now profound peace, or you could expect, as you -would deserve, nothing but the halter. lam going to pass Upon you a most inadequate sentence, but it is the heaviest which is allowed by the extreme leniency of law on this subject." Sentenced to two years' imprisonment, with hard labor. BANQUET TO THE PREMIER. The banquet to the Premier, given in the Oddfellows' Hall to-night, was largely attended. Many of the principal citizens and settlers were present, the Mayor occupying the chair. In rising to respond to the toast of his health, the Premier was received with enthusiastic applause. He said that it was at all times a source, not only of pleasure, but of real strength to a public man to be assured of the confidence and sympathy of his fellowcitizens ; for few public men could do useful work in a new country without the hearty support of the people. He therefore deeply felt the sympathy and confidence expressed that night in the presence of so many of the old settlers who had known him for 20 years as a public man, a settler and a neighbor. Mr Standish had said that the pleasure was enhanced in entertaining him (the Premier) by the knowledge that he was one of themselves, and he confessed that if there was one thing he was proud of, it was that of being a Taranaki settler ; and the pain of being turned out of office when that time came, as no doubt it would, would be lessened by the thought that he would once more return amongst them. It would not, perhaps, be out of place to take that opportunity of stating shortly what is the policy and intentions of the Government. He would, however, content himself by indicating the broad lines upon which they proposed to travel. The policy of the Government would be first to complete the establishment of local self-government throughout the colony ; to complete the establishment of a system of primary education ; to promote the settlement of our waste lands by a yeoman population, and cultivate and maintain a good understanding with the native race ; to reduce considerably the annual expenditure on public works and continue the construction of main lines of railway throughout the colony until completed ; to reduce ordinary expenditure to within the narrowest limit consistent with efficiency ; to simplify our finances and place them on a sound basis for the future. That policy had been carefully pursued during the last year, and what they would submit next session would have for its object its further promotion. With regard to local government, the Municipal Corporation Act was likely to be a considerable success, as it had given satisfaction throughout the country. The amalgamation of the coiinty system had proved, on the whole, very satisfactory. With the experience gained, and with the advice of County Councils, he had nc doubt that by next session they would be rendered much more efficient and useful. They had been blamed for obtaining the assistance of Superintendents and oi Provincial Executives in introducing the system, but who were better calculated tc lend assistance 2 and it was the duty of the Government in initiating a new system to do so with as little friction as j>ossible. He would take that opportunity of thanking those gentlemen for the assistance they so }:>atriotically rendered in establishing a new order of things. Though the provinces were nominally abolished on the Ist November, they really were not abolished until the following January, and, considering the constitutional changes effected, it was only reasonable some months should elapse before the change was completed ; but the further delegation of powers regarding the provinces would be no longer necessary. Regarding education, they looked upon it as their first duty to see it properly provided for throughout the colony, but it must be secular, and administered by local committees. The settlement of the waste lands was of vital importance. The colony could not advance without occupation and cultivation |of fresh lands, and they would provide facilities for farmers, small capitalists, and persons desirous of taking land on deferred payment. They had also under consideration the necessity of providing some means of opening the new bush country. Intimately connected with this was their relation with the natives. He was happy to say that the good understanding gradually growing for years was still improving, and would no doubt lead to the complete reconciliation between the two races ; but they must be content to tarry a little in oi'der to make an end the sooner. Looking at the past legislation on the question, and the general circumstances of the colony, they came to the conclusion that greater facilities should be afforded for the acquisition of native lands by private individuals. (Applause.) The subject was surrounded by difficulties, and would require careful handling, but they were of opinion that an Act could be drawn which would protect the interests of the native and European community. They would submit such a measure for consideration next Assembly. They had also under consideration laws relating to representation, the registration of electors, scab, fencing, and the civil service, but how far they would be able to deal with them next session he was unable to say at present. The question of finance was intimately connected with every one of these subjects. Those interested in finance would find in the financial statement of last year a short and clear statement of what was then their financial position. There was nothing to add to that statement, except that the Customs revenue would not probably come up to Ids estimate by a little more than his estimated surplus. Those who read the statement would see that the position was one of considerable difficult}-. They had grappled with it, and he was sanguine enough to think that they would deal with it so as to satisfy Parliament and the country. They had reduced the expenditure, and had obtained at their own doors the necessary funds for the continuance of their works. From the Bank of New South Wales they had obtained half a million for two years at 5 per cent. , and from the Bank of New Zealand five hundred thousand for two j-ears at 5 per cent. Both were negotiated under the authority of the Loan Act of List session. These arrangements placed them in a good position by enabling them to abstain from going upon the London market for it at least 12 months — an advantage which resulted in the advanced value of their bonds at home. They also arranged with tlfj Bank of New South Wales to extend the Bank agreement, by which another half million would be placed at the disposal of the Government if Parliament should approve, and still longer keep them from placing the loan in England. No doubt a good deal of thrift and prudence would bo necessary in managing their finances, but that time would be necessary in order to give time for railways already constructed to get into thorough working order, and also that large sums, now amounting to between three and four millions, which is lying unproductive in the railwa} r s under course of construction, shall give some return. The interest upon the money amounts Lo something like £180,000, but he was satisfied that with ordinary cave and prudence in the management of the finance, by the end of the time mentioned affairs would be in a thoroughly satisfactory financial position, and they would have no reason to regret they dared undertake the Public Works

Immigration scheme. Hehadnotreferredto local matters in this short address, be, cause he desired to keep them distinct from what lie said of a general nature. He had been complimented by the chairman with regard to the harbor question, but he looked upon Mr Comngton as the man who pushed the harbor question in season and out of season. "J?, I */" 1 Swat satisfaction to him to think that he might yet live to see the harbor completed. He had no doubt the harbor would go steadily on if they managed it with prudence, and so he believed the Harbor Board would manage j it. In a small place they were apt to think that, if a work did not go on instantly, it was not likely to be accomplished at all, but the thing was now really started. They had also reason to be pleased at the way their railways were going on, as they were there, although there was a feeling that they ought to be pushed on with greater speed, bui that was impossible to be done without largely increased taxation. IJiey must be content to assist the Government m carrying on the work at a moderate rate, and as a prudent man would manage his own estate. The remainder of the hon. gentleman's remarks were of a purely local character, and he concluded amidst loud applause. He spoke for only 25 minutes.