The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1867. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S FAREWELL ADDRESS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 26, 31 January 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1867. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S FAREWELL ADDRESS.

Last evening, his Honor the Superintendent invited the electors to meet him in the Provincial Hall, to hear an address from him previous to his departure from the colony. The Hall was tolerably well filled. On the motion of Mr. Symonds, Dr. Irvine was called to the chair. The Chairman, read the advertisement calling the meeting together, and said the occasion was au important one. The duties of the Superintendent were about to cease. He had held office durino- an important period in the history of the province. The gold-fields on the West Coast had been developed, and it was desirable to hear from the Superintendent an account of the manner in which he had conducted public affairs ; and ho doubted not his statements would be listened to with interest, respect, and attention. (Cheers.) His Honor said, after the remarks of the chairman, he would not trouble the meeting with an apology for appearing before them. It had been customary with him, when a member of the House Cf Representatives, to meet his-constilKcnts and give them ail the information in his power. He was not now going to give an account of his stewardship, having done that fully in his address to the Provincial Council. His object was to give a parting address to his constituents, to show them by what motives he had been actuated in his general policy, and suggest to them how they should protect their interests in regard to public -iffiiirs. He bad been invited to a public dinner, but not being fond of such displays, he adopted the present mode of addressing the electoral body, thinking it of great importance such opportunities should be embraced by both electors and representatives of discussing political questions of interest to tho community. In England, there was less necessity for such addresses from the representatives of tlie people, from the completeness of the information yiven by the English press. Here the same advantages were not enjoyed, from the dependent position of a great part of the press of the colony. There were few papers that were not liable to be influenced by the Government expenditure, or be made subservient to cliques and parties, and were consequently not so reliable as the press of England. Hence the importance of the practice of discussing at public meetings questions of political interest, and which was rendered still more necessary by the reluctance shown by many to leave their business and give attention to tliese matters. Many evils had resulted to the colony from the supiueness of the many and the activity of the interested few, and it was' important that the whole body of the people should take a greater * interest than they did at present in public affairs. If the people had been inattentive to public matters, certain classes of men bad act_d otherwise. When they had an object to gain, such as tlie attainment of office for themselves cr friends, they lent themselves to anything that was required of them, and consented to taxation ; and the people did not arouse themselves till the mischief was done. The borrowing system was the favorite one resorted to ; it was most ruinous to the colony, ami it was that of which the people had now special reason to complain. He was glad to ssc that the Nelson Examiner had come out on two recent occasions, in good style, against the enormous taxation that was sought to be imposed upon the people. It would have been better to have done this 10 years ago, before the taxation was imposed, nnd it now shirked the main question as to the cause of the evil. We are told of the rapid increase of the number of officers and the amount of salaries paid by the General Government, an increase from £30,000 to £200,000, but they forget to say that all the salaries paid by the Provincial and General Governments of New Zealand, do not amount to the money we have to pay for the interest on the loans which the Examiner and its party advocated, and supported the Government in carrying into operation (cheers). He had noticed in the speeches of several of our members of the House of Representatives, that they had dwelt on the necessity of doing away with provincial governments, forgetting in their eager desire for economy, that in so acting, they were doing away with the only part of the Constitution Act that really worked as it was designed to work, and under which people were really represented. It was strange to see how these persons had become enamored of a Municipal Bill, a portion of which he would read tb . them, and which would give them a good idea what kind of bill these economical members had fallen in love with, and induced them to be unanimous in their desire' to abolish provincial institutions. Mr. Oliver had expressed his desire to see these institutions done away with, on the ground of their rendering an increase of taxation necessary ; and Mr. Wells had followed in language of a similar character. It ought to be known, however, that the provinces cannot borrow money, as has been- alleged, without the permission of the General Assembly, and it is not' fair to make tliem exclusively responsible for

— i«»»»riiili«iiMi.— —^»im»» m jnfl vi BTT__— — — ■» what they are to blame only in part. Mr. Curtis also said the -question- of provincial institutions had cropped up in the course of the debate upon the Nelson Waste Lands Bill, and will crop up again and again. The strongest provincial feeliug is constantly exhibited in the Assembly, especially by a portion of the members for Otago. Tliese gentlemen seemed, to think that their sole duty in the House was to promote what they considered to be the interests of their own province, and appeared to consider every question entirely from that point of view, and wholly without regard to the interests of the rest of the colony. For instance, when this section of the Otago members found that their -province was in debt to the General. Government to the amount of £61,000, while the sums owing by other provinces were comparatively trifling, they did not even attempt to show that they did not owe the money, but seemed to think it an infamous shame that they should ever be called upon to pay it. The speaker commented on the strangeness of the arguments used to justify the abolition of provincial institutions, and read copious extracts from the speeches of Messrs. Curtis, Oliver, and Wells, and commented on what he considered the weak points in their statements. It was remarkable how unanimous they appeared in their opposition to these institutions, attributing to them the present embarrassment, of the country, when they alone kept power in the hands of the people and gave them a cheque over the public expenditure. The speaker com batted the arguments of Mr. Curtis, in reference to the expense of conducting provincial Governments. It had been stated that the General Government paid in salaries £193,000, and the Provincial Governments £127,000, and it was assumed that the latter sum is an additional expense which the country ought to get rid of. It was not stated how the sums of the Provincial Governments are appropriated, which was a disingenious mode of stating tlie question and calculated to mislead the public. It was not fair to convey the impression that the amount now spent by the provinces could be saved, if there were a central Government, and it would be difficult for Mr. Curtis to point out in what way any saving could be effected on the work now done by the Provincial Governments. He did not see what could be saved unless it was the cost of the Provincial Council, and this was a trifling affair. The two sessions of the Council this year had cost less than £700. This involved the exercising a supervision over and the voting away of £92,792 4s. 6d., and a part of this was due to the Waste Lands Board, as the Speaker received his salary partly from this and partly from the Council. Now £700 was not a large sum to pay for the supervision and control of so large a sum as £93,000. The sum was a paltry one, and was well paid for the check it gave the people over the expenditure of their money by their representatives. It was not easy to see what cheek could be furnished so efficient as that which now existed, whether the Superintendent was elected or nominated. While the system remained as it was the people controlled the Superintendent through their representatives, and saw the expenditure administered under their own eye. It was a farce to talk of improving on this state of things by the party who proposed an increase in the number of provincial councils and an addition to that of the Legislative Council. There was no economy in saving this half per cent, as advocated by the party who promoted the war, sanctioned the three million and all tlie otlier loans, and who now wanted to do away with provincial councils and superintendents elected by the people. Under no system of superintendence could a more efficient check be kept on the provincial expenditure than that which now existed, and which was proposed to be abolished to make room for untried institutions of which nothing was known. He was prepared to say, from his own experience, that now the Superintendent possessed too great powers, which required all the watching the people could give to prevent the money from being spent iv a reckless manner, and the Superintendent from making nn improper use of his power. To leave a Superintendent without a sufficient check would be to add greatly to the evils of the present system. It was remarkable that the same gentlemen who now wished to substitute municipal for provincial institutions twenty-three years ago, in the old Court House, Nelson, showed that they were not so fond of them then. They had a Governor's nominee in the Resident Magistrate find a general factotum, and what was the use of municipal institutions. But they saw things in a new light now, since they had heard of the Municipal Bill of which Mr. Parker had told him something. There was one clause in this bill which showed why this party were so enamored of the institutions which were once despised and considered valueless. There were 316 clauses in this bill, and one of them was in great favor with this party who had on several former occasions showed their love of a plurality of votes, It gives the ratepayers the power to levy a r*te on all rateable property according to the following scales : — lf less than £50, one vote; if £50 and less than £100, two votes; if £100 and less than £200, three votes; if more than £200, four votes. No doubt such a clause would give great satisfaction to those who now decry provincial institutions (cheers). Mr. Wells says the bill was brought in for the purpose of lightening taxation, but it gave the power of fixing a rate of 2s. in the pound on the net annual value, and not .less than 6d. in the pound. This was the way in which it lightened taxation. This was the measure that was to be a substitute for provincial institutions which had done the peoples work in a steady and economical manner, whose expenses had increased slowly, whilst those of the General Government had increased in an unprecedent way and the efficiency of .which was as inferior to the provincial system as daylight was to darkness. The speaker then proceeded to remark on the speeches of the members of the Assembly, saying he would attach most importance to that of Mr. Curtis, because it was the most able. Mr. Oliver's speech reminded him of the eccentric person who found himself in a church, and interrupted the minister by saying, " that's Tillotson," "that's Jeremy Taylor," "that's Matthew Henry." The parson got enraged and ordered him, to be turned out, when he replied, "that's his own" (great laughter). Now as long as Mr. Oliver • confined himself to quotations from Mill, Glad-

mini iialjpl-iMiiUM. nil i_ I mil I in I Biiniim 1 1 nn —*-■-_■-■»— i— ■ stone, and the Times, there was reason in his statement, hut the moment he gave " his own," it was arrant nonsense, (laughter). The speaker read an extract from Mr. Oliver's address, in which he said the stamp tax was caused by the reckless expenditure of provincial institutions, and said it was a gros3 absurdity. Mr. Oliver ignored the ' war expenditure, as the cause of taxation, and the fact that the House of Representatives was continually adding to the debt, by borrowing at the rate of a quarter of a million to half a million a-year, and said nothing could be more preposterous than the unanimous agreement of Messrs. Curtis. Oliver, and Wells, that provincial institutions instead of the stupid Maori Avar were the caase of the colonial embarrassment and debt. He had no desire to introduce the question of tho Superintendent at that meeting, but having been informed he was suspected of wishing to damage Mr. Curtis's election, he would not conceal his opinion that he should regard the election of that gentleman as a great calamity (cheers and hisses). This was not his object and if he thought Mr. Curtis was really a candidate he would say what he could in his favor. He could not refrain from adverting to the course Mr. Curtis and party had invariably pursued to take power out of the hands of the people. Mr, Saunders then commented at length on the speech of Mr. Curtis. In reference to .the vote of £ 1 500 to secure a fair report of the debates and their circulation over the country he would have voted for £15,000 to have secured the circulation of faithful reports, and twice that^amount if it would have made the people rsad them and watch over the conduct of their representatives ; but he would not vote for 15 pence for reports supplied by the Government, paid for by the House, and subsidised by the Government. It was to be lamented that the time of the House was frittered away en one or two party questions when a few great orations were delivered to the neglect of the business of the country. Then the House was crowded with lords and ladies, and each member must have something to say in the debate. No wonder the press would not publish the whole of such debates, and he was not surprised that people would not read them. The speaker alluded to a remark of Mr. Curtis's, that he had not read the Gold-field's Act, although it was an Act which affected provincial interests more than any other Act, and regulated the revenue and appointment of officers. It alsb provided what provincial councils had long contended for, the sale of land by deferred payments. Having observed tlie intelligent interest Mr. Curtis had always taken in the business of the Provincial Council, he was surprised he had not carried the same attention to duty in the General Assembl}*-, in reference to this important Act (cheers). Mr. Oliver tells us that the House costs £200 a day, thus a sitting of four days would equal the whole cost of the Provincial Council. Was it economy to send our local measures to this House and lose the power to watcli over them, and was it for this that local institutions were to be set aside. Beferring to Mr. Wells's speech at Wakapuaka, the speaker said he heard it with pleasure. It was full of statistical information, and gave a good insight into the proceedings of the House. He regretted.it was not more fully reported. He was not surprised it was not reported in the Examiner, as it contained an exposure and condemnation of all extravagant railway schemes ; but he was surprised it was not more fully reported in the Colonist. It was a speech abounding in good sound sense. The straightforward conduct of the speaker disqualified him for the part he took in colonial politics : he was fir too honorable a politician for the company lie kept. (Cheers and laughter.) As an instance of this, he attributed the change of Ministry to one cause, whereas Mr. Curtis ascribed it to another. As Superintendent, he had an opportunity of judging of the manner in which business was attended to, and had known letters involving important questions remain unanswered for two months by this Ministry, which was a galaxy of all the talents. It would have been better'had Mr. Stafford chosen his men than have those forced upon him who will work in opposition to him or mislead him. The speaker commented on that part of Mr. Curtis's speech, in which he referred to the bills brought in by Sir David Munro. and censured the latter for the part he took. In reference to the cost of provincial institutions he challenged Mr. Curtis to prove that any of the departments could be dispensed with, except the Provincial Council. The police was paid by the province, and that could not be done away with, the General Government would be more lavish. The expense of the Harbor, Gaol, and Lunatic Asylum could not be diminished. It was possible to render the latter more efficient by establishing it on a central scale. There was nothing to prevent this being done without interfering with provincial institutions. Let the people, therefore, ■ reflect before they consented to the abolition of that which had worked so well, and was entirely under their control. There Avas a difficulty in finding persons to go to the House of Representatives, Avhich was not the case in reference to provincial councils. To the latter they could send Avhom they Avould, and control their conduct ; to the former Avent Avho liked, did what they chose, and the people never knew Avhat they did. His Honor, in conclusion, said he had no private interest in addressing the electors on that occasion. As he Avas leaving the province in wttch he had spent the best part of his life, and Avhose interests Avould ever be dear to him, he thought it his duty to advise the electors not to part with the poAvers given them by the Constitution Act. He urged them never to give up the rights they possessed as an electoral body, or part Avith ihe important privilege of voting, which was the most valuable that could belong to freerborn men. If they ceased to claim and insist on these rights and privileges, or allowed them to be taken from them by any such means as he had referred to and censured, they would become slaves and "unworthy the freedom of which they had allowed themselves to be despoiled. (Applause.) The above is only a condensed report of 'his Honor's address, our space not permitting a fuller report. Mr. Curtis replied at considerable length. His speech we reluctantly defer till our next publication.

| We do but express the general feeling ib hoping that the skies will be propitious to to-morroAv's festival. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the province is au event of no ordinary interest, /and it is much to be desired that no unloIward circumstances will arise to mar the * anticipated' enjoyment. At ten o'clock |in the morning the procession will be ! formed at the Government Buildings. The preliminary expedition men and early settlers will march first, and will be followed by the various public bodies of j' the town, and the children from the public \ schools. Mr. J. Graham will conduct the ] procession. On arriving at the Botanical 1 Gardens, the Cadet corps aud school chilr dren will be provided with refreshment, \ and a cold collation gratuitously provided, I aud presided over by Mr. Robert Burn, ; will be ready for the public. Amusements of various kinds are supposed ■; to occupy the pleasure loving lieges i during the afternoon. Tea in the ; evening will not be forgotten, for those • who prefer the un inebriating beverage. i A pyrotechnic display and a fire-balloon !' are expected to excite the admiration of fy those fond of such brilliant sights. The I great eveut of the day will be a public I dinner at the Oddfellows' Hall, and pre- | sided over by the Speaker of the Provin- \ cial Council. A public ball will wind up 1 the gay proceedings, • .hich will be long I remembered by those who participate in \jhem. As the holiday is of such a general kind, and printers think themselves entitled to snatch a little transitory enjoyment, the Nelson Evening Mail will not be published to-*-morrow, it being fair to assume that the whole staff will be absorbed in some of the- numerous vortices of pleasure, which the' ingenuity of committees and sub-committees has devised for the interesting occasion."* In the Resident- .^Magistrate's Court, to-day, Henry Oswald was informed against by Mr. Cottier, of the London Tavern, for stealing money from his till. Evidence was taken by tire -Magistrate in proof of the charge ; but he did not consider it sufficiently conclusive toy convict the prisoner, who was consequently discharged. We understand that the Wellington cricketers have accepted the challenge sent them by the Nelson men, and that " the match may be expected to come off about the 15th February. The intelligence received from Hokitika, yesterday, that Wilson had been acquitted of the murder of Mr. Dobson, caused a considerable sensation. It was also stated that Mr. Fox has laid an information against Sullivan, for the murder of Mr. Dobson. The feeling against Sullivan, on the West Coast is stronger than it is here, and we are not surprised that a jury has refused to convict on his evidence. A great many people hope that Sullivan Avill be hanged after all. We don't see how he can be proceeded against, as, if we mistake not, the murder of Mr. DobsoD, was included in the pardon. The Wellington Province will soon be able to show as many game birds as that of Auckland. It appears that pheasants, &c., liberated on the West Coast are increasing in numbers and doing well. The Westport Times, of the 16th ult., contains an advertisement addressed to Captain Frederick SAvindley, late of the 12th Lancers, urging him to return at once to Christchurch, where the adjutancy of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry is waiting his acceptance. The Home News says that the Otago and Southland Investment Company have announced au interim dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum. The Canterbury Press suggests that as a thousand guinea race fails to attract to this colony horses from Australia and New South Wales, the amount should be doubled or trebled even, as it is all important that New Zealand horses should compete with the best in the Southern sphereAn accident occurred recently (says the Grey River Argus) which' it is to be hoped will operate as a warning against equestrians making use of the tramway, instead of following the proper horse track. A horseman was galloping along the line when the horse got oue of its hoofs jammed between the rail and one of the sleepers, which resulted in the horse's hoof beiDg completely torn off. The horse had to be shot to put it out of its misery. We may also state that the line is so much damaged by horsemen and drivers of drays that the Company have resolved for the future to prosecute any person ' guilty of trespass on the line. r

The Wairarapa Races will come off on the 13th and J 4th of March, and the Wellington Races ou the 26th and 27th of the same month. """--> A very extraordinary machine — an American invention, as usual hv economic \ matters — has been shoAvn to us Argus, by j Messrs. Long aud Co., of Bourke-street | east. It is a knitting machine, driven by j the hand, which for usefulness may cer- I tainly take its place beeide the seAving [ machine in the family circle. It knits a '. pair of stockings complete in half an hour, doing all the difficult work — such as . throAving the heel and narrowing the toes j — as cleverly as if the knitter was an I Arcadian spinster. It turns out a yard of i plain knitted work in ten minutes ; pro- | duces knitted gloves, leggings, shawls, \ jackets, wrappers, sleeves, caps, scarfs, ' slippers, and other similar articles. It promises to be an invaluable assistant in family circles, and to the poorer classes, who look to their knitting needles for support, or for assistance in making the income of the week meet the expenditure. With a slight adjustment of the machinery which costs in its entirety £10, the yarn may be spun from the rough wool. The , machine and apparatus are open for the inspection of the curious. The Victorian Aboriginal Cricketers-' are about to visit Sydney in order to meet the New South Wales Club, and the Melbourne Leader says that great preparations are being made for their reception.