Correspondence.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 127, 22 October 1868, Page 3

Correspondence.

CLOSING THE ACCOUNTS. TO THE EDITOB OF THE * NELSON EXAMINEB. 1 Sill— ln the concluding sentence of my last letter, I stated my intention of making some further remarks on the two last resolutions of the " Country party," previous to considering tho alternative for settling affairs between tho colony and tho provinces, which I have-not yet discussed. Tho management of police, gaols, harbours, and lunatio asylums, for which the Country party propose that tho General Government shall find funds, must obviously rest with those responsible to Parliament, both for the amounts sought to bo expended in each case, and for the proper outlay of tho moneys voted. Tho Bums required under these various heads would form so largo a part of tho cost of governing the country— and tho tendency in local bodies to aim at raising the departments entrusted them to a high state of efficiency irrespective of cost, being certain, •whon only indirectly interested in securing tbe performance of public services at tho lowest rate — ifc would bo imperative on the Colonial Executive to take possession of all, and sco tho details carried out by its own salaried ollloors. Contemplate all theso important eorviccs iv the hands of the Central Executive, aud then let the Country party, with its allies of ardont Provincialists, tell us what tho Provincial Governments, or even County Boards or Corporation?, would havo to govern, or how long provincial instiutions could bo maintained. Eoads under the caro | of Local Boards in tho country, with streets and lighting under municipalities, or Boards of Works, in towns, would form tho la?t meagro relics of "local self-government," and centralization be complete. This roault is perhaps as far from what is desired by tho Country party, as it would ho from the advantago of tho colony, and yet it is difficult to understand any member of the Assembly failing to sco that all powor must rest with those who hold the purse. Instead of tho quiet, useful force, to which wo havo been accustomed, to kcop order in our streets, and prepared in emergencies to act in repressing more serious disturbances, police under tho control of tho General Government would rapidly degenerate into a mere gendarmerie, doing all tho discreditable work that an unscrupulous executive not infrequently desires : anxious to stand well with their superiors to secure promotion, they would seek rather tomnkecasca by watching crime to its completion than repressing it in tho first si ago, thus realizing that worst feature of continental polico in boing a detective instead of a preventivo forcv. Safely arbitrary to tho inhabitants of the pltico where they might bo stationed, because so long as they avoided any distinct breach of regulations they would bo sure no redress could bo obtained for tho intolerable gratings of officious middling, ono can scarcely imagino a greater curse to a country than constabulary thus withdrawn from tho influence of local authority. Tho system established in tho large towns of England works in a satisfactory manner, and, if any change is to bo made, it is t'hero we should seek for a safe, because long-tried, precedent. Tho management is entirely vested iv tho Town Council of each borough, tho cost being defrayed by rates locally levied, with tho exception of one-fourth contributed by tho Treasury to thoso places willing to keep up their forco to a given strength, and in an efficient state, payment being mado on tho certificate of tho Government Inspector, that tho requisite conditions ' havo been fulfilled. Tho acceptance of tho grunt is optional, and no inspection or other interference is permitted when it is refused. Every policeman is thus dependent entirely on locally elected councillors, and can only riso when ho Ims acquired a character for judgment and forbearance, as well as strict performance of duty. Tho pressure of rates causes tho force to bo kept as low in numbers as is consistent with tho safety ol'tlio inhabitants. The coat and caro of gaols are localized in England iv the same way, and with tho same salutary effect ; convicted felons alone being at tho charge of tho consolidated fund. As to thoso and pauper lunatics, probably largo central establishments might be found to furnish more effectual and cheaper methods of treatment than when scattered in many small places of ronlineinent. Tho question is open to debate, aud tho cost would not differ so greatly in either caso us to render economy any reply to proved ofllcucy.

The most important surrender of local powers proposed both by Mr. Hall and the Country party, U in the Harbour department, and I do not think any other portion of the respective schemes is so likely to bo permanently injurious to tho commercial prosperity of the colony. All the great, mercantile harbours of the United Kingdom are in the hands either of Town Councils, or Boards of Trustees, or Commissioners locally elected, and a short reference to a few will suffice to prove the important duties undertaken, the skill displayed in designing improvements, and the success with which they have been carried out. The enterprise of the Liverpool Corporation has constructed clocks embracing an area of many hundred acres besides extensive river works. The dangerous rivalry of Birkeuhcad was converted into au amicable alliance by tho purchase of that great estate and docks. After an expenditure of many millions the most complete dock accommodation in the world has been obtained, and trade of corresponding magnitude finds ample scope for its operations. The Clyde, within tho memory of persons yet living, afforded only five feet of water to Glasgow, and no vessel could ascend it so far, if larger than thirty or forty tons burthen. The river works carried out by the commercial capital of Scotland have so far changed this state of things, that now vessels exceeding 1,000 tons are not unfrcquenlly seen discharging and loading there. Tho wise policy of the citizens of Bristol induced thorn to take on themselves a portion of the charges levied on ships and imported goods, at the time they purchased tho docks, and their reward has been an enormous increase of trade. The Tyno has, by similar means, been so greatly improved that it has now at tho entrance a depth at low water spring tides equal to what it formerly had at high. These aro but a few instances among tho many that might bo adduced to show the advantage of leaving harbours to tho caro of local bodies. Ido not believe that any one of these great ports would havo been in a better stato now than it was fifty years ago, had British harbours been transferred to Government care, as it is proposed to do with those of New Zealand. They havo all been mado what they are by tho local knowledgo and enterprise of thoso directly interested in them, as will be done with our harbours when population and commerce increase, so as to make the necessity apparent. The improvements have been effected by money borrowed on local security, chiefly on dock and harbour dues, and though tho sums raised by Parliamentary authority have in tho aggregate far exceeded the debt, colonial and provincial, of New Zealand, in no one case has a Parliamentary guarantee been given or sought, though tho purposes had more nearly a national character than those for which provincial debts wero incurred and guaranteed with us. The cost of all theso services, if taken over by the General Government would form an addition to the colonial expenditure considerably exceeding tho present surplus payable to provinces, after the interest and einicitig funds are provided for, so that tho Country party's demand of a capitation grant in addition, could not bo complied with unless extra taxes wero laid on. In the present condition of the colony no statesman would be so regardless of public opinion as to propose such a course. The last resolution, " That the revenues of the colony bo reduced to bucli an amount as will cover only the above charges, in addition to the present colonial charges," is idle in the extreme, it being clear that tho former resolution would create a deficiency. Tho effect of theso resolutions may be shortly summed up. Firstly, the proposition for an annual payment from their land fund by the provinces overborrowed to those under-borrowed, io equalize the pressure of taxation arising from making provincial debts a colonial charge, is sound in principle, but 1 the security for this payment being continued until the debts are liquidated, is not sufficient. Secondly, tlws drief sevvicea proposed to bo provided for out of colonial taxation, are better in local hands and supported by funds locally raised. Thirdly, there would not be any funds available for a capitation grant, still less for reduction of taxation ; and in all likelihood new taxes would be required. I am therefore forced to the conclusion that these propositions for " Closing the Accounts" could not be adopted with any reasonable hope of satisfying the people at large, or doing permanent justice to tho provinces whose debts are below the colonial average. Many words are not required about Mr. Fox's proposal to give the provinces thirty shillings per head on their population, and out of this deduct the interest and sinking fund of their debts. The objections nt once apparent are, that an increase of taxation would bo requisite; that Southland would still present n deficiency of £12,760 per annum on debt account without any provision for its payment ; and that the wants of the provinces for police and gaols aro not fairly measured by their population : so that a grant exceeding the requirements of some provinces would be short for others, the character of whose population is essentially different, tho range being from Auckland, with an outlay for these services of 2s. lOd. per head, to Wesiland with 20s. Tho reasons against the capitation grant of the Government, apply with greater force to that of Mr. Fox, because the injustice is increased in the ratio of I tho extra amount, and continual wrangliug would arise as to tho apportionment after every census. Mr. Fox said, " this is not so completo a severance of partnership as some members might desire," and unless complete and final, there seems no good reason for disturbing the present arrangement. The scheme has been rejected by tho House, and is not likely to be reproduced, so that it is not requisite to encroach any further on your space by any detailed analysis. In nnothor letter I propose to examine tho resolution of Messrs. Curtis and Stevens. I am, &c, October 20. Joseph Shephahd.

NotabcjE Scores at Cricket. — Tho London correspondent of the Melbourne ylrgus, writing on the Hth of August, says: — "Things sporting have had a quiet time of it of late ; in fact, it lias been too hot to do anything but fish, and there has been no water to fish in, all the rivers being dried up. I could even have crossed the noble Severn the other d.iy, as it winds round old Shrewsbury, without the water being to my knees, and there are many other streams much worse than that. Taking it itllogothcr, I think cricket has flourished best, high scores prevailing, us they always do when the ground is hard. The best mutch has been during tho great Canterbury week, when in the South v. Players, the latter scored -113 in ono innings. But there- is a j ridiculous as well as a sublime side to cricket, and this happened in a match of Arbroath ». Aberdeen, ] when tho former side bcorcd two runs. I really think I could undertake to play the Arbroath eleven all by myself — its bat, field, longstop, umpire, and scorer— without any help." Productive Enterprise in Gipps Land.—" We aro glad to notice," writes tho Gipps Land Times, " (hut the farmers of Gipps Lund aro not likely to limit their occupation simply to the cultivation of wheat, oats and barley, with tho usual green crops, but that other industries are being gradually introduced, with a view to test the capabilities of the soil aud cliiuato of the district. The success which attended Mr. Barton's trial of hop cultivation has induced several others to commence planting. Mr. Barton will have this season seven acres of bearing j hops near the lakes ; imd in tho neighbourhood of Glonmaggio, Messrs. Ferguson and Co. havo 1,500 plants permanently planted, and have also '1,000 sets ready for permanent planting next year. In the same neighbourhood, Messrs. Gibson and Knox have 4,000 sets in readiness for pluutiug next ycur ; and Mr. Salmon has also -1,000 sets ready to be transplanted, so that in a few years wo may expect tho liop cultivation to assume considerable dimensions in Gipps Land. Tobacco has also occupied somo attention ; about thirty acres of the leaf are this year under cultivation by about ten or fifteen farmers in the neighbourhood of Glenmaggie, and about fifteen acres have been sown upon the Top | Plains, near Bushy Pavk. Wo lcavn that those ', farmers who devoted their attention last season to the cultivation of tobacco realized from tho crop from £00 to £75 per aero, after deducting carriage, commission, and every other item except the actual expense of cultivation, previous to its being disposed of in Molbourno."