The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1865.

North Otago Times, Volume IV, Issue 77, 10 August 1865, Page 2

The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1865.

The present session of the General Assembly bids fair to be a most important one for the Colony. We publish in another column the opening acldi esses of His Excellency the Governor to the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives, which may safely be accepted as a pretty accurate programme of the business to be undertaken by Ministers. Space, however, will not permit at present our entering at length on all the subjects therein referred to. The scheme for the self-government and Parliamentary representation of the Native race, and the promotion of their union with the European, is proverbially a pet one — the weakness, as it were — of the Governor ; but it does not immediately or diiectly coucern the Middle Island in any great or important degree. The question of the conduct of the Maori war, and the measures to be taken for the establishment of Her Majesty's supremacy in ail disaffected districts, where, till this precedes it, a real and lasting peace cannot be hoped for, we will at'present likewise waive in favor of other matters suggested by the address, and brought prominently before the eyes of Ministers. Unquestionably, the most important is the financial position of the Colony. Though, through the recent disposal of Colonial Securities to a large amount, New Zealand has been in a great measm'e relieved from financial embarrassment, it is admitted that the credit of the Colony has been and is still injuriously affected by the extent and manner in which Provincial Loans have been contracted and placed for negociation in the London market ; and Ministers are requested to take into consideration how best these evils may be remedied, and the conditions under which Provincial Loans may in future be regulated, and their payment guaranteed out of the general revenue, with safety to the Colony and increase! security to the public creditor. The proposal here hinted at for the consolidation of Provincial Loans, has long been a mooted question, and we trust will now. be dealt with as its importance demands. There can be no rloubt of the desirability — nay, the imperative necessity — of improved legislation in this direction. We elsewhere refer to " the new Provinces ActLimitation Act, 1865," introduced into the present session of the Assembly, as intimately affecting Provincial Governments, but it appears that the present exigent circumstances of the General Government require additional provision to meet the necessary expenditure ; and the imposition of Stamp Duties is suggested, in conjunction with increased economy in connection with the suppression of the Maori rebellion, and curtailment of the general expenses of Government. This, it is thought, will provide for the maintenance of the credit of the Colony and its financial exigencies, without materially encroaching on the provisions heretofore made out of the General Ordinary Revenue for the services of the Provinces. There is also the ominous hint that> the Provinces will be required to devote more of their ordinary revenue than at present for General Government purposes. This, combined with the proposed -new Provinces Limitation Act, will

be a sad pill to swallow for such Provinces as our own. It is a matter open to question, however, how far the General Government can legitimately prefer such a demand. That expenditui'e is yearly assuming larger and larger dimensions, and we consider it only just and right that the Provinces should be allowed more voice in the matter than they presently command. We believe it was at first limited to £50,000 per annum ; now it is reckoned by hundreds of thousands of pounds sterling yearly. Such a drain on the resources of the Colony is, and cannot fail to be, widely and severely felt, opeiating as it does disastrously for the welfare of the State generally. In our next issue, we will recur to the subject of finance, but more particularly with reference to the proposed Stamp Duties.

An important Bill has been introduced by the Government in the General Assembly, under the title of " The new Provinces Act Limitation Act, 1865." It provides that the Governor shall not establish any new Province within the Colony under the provisions of "The new Provinces Act, 1858," until after the expiration of six* calendar months from the passing of this Act ; and Clause III. states that: — If the Superintendent and Provincial Council of any Province shall by Act or Ordinance duly made in that behalf make or shall have made provision to the satisfaction of the Governor in Council fo» the construction repairs maintenance and management of roads bridges ferries streets draini and other public works within such Province or the settled portions thereof and for constituting convenient dj&tricts for such purposes and shall by such Act or Ordinance or by any other Act or Ordinance to be made in that behaif make provision to the satisfaction of the Governor in Council for the permanent appropriation year by yoar of <it l< ast one-foiu th part of the net terntoii.il revenue accruing to such Province within the limits of each district after payment of all charges for the time being pa3'.ible by law towards the consti notion repaiis maintenance and management of roads bridges ferries and other public woiks within such dist) ict then und as soon thereafter as conveniently cm be the Governor m.iy and he is hereby required by Proclamation in manner hereafter mentioned to declare that such provision has been made to his satisfaction and he may and is hereby requii ed to publish such Proclamation in the Government " Gazette" of the Colony and also of the Province to which the same shall relate. This being complied with, the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Provinces are empowered to make and pass Acts for the appropriation of such territorial revenue in the manner above-mentioned ; all such Acts or Ordinances, however, being as usual suhject to the assent of His Excellency the Governor. After a proclamation to this effect, no part of any Province to which it can relate shall be constituted a new Province under the provisions of " the new Provinces Act, 1858." Next to the amalgamation or consolidation of the Provincial Government system, we think that scarcely anything could be devised more calculated to meet the wants and requirements of the Colony than such a scheme for the more equitable distribution of its territorial revenue. To a district like our own, which is acknowledged alike by friend and foe to have heen miserably neglected by the Provincial Government, the prospect of a new order of things, as here sketched out, will be hailed with general satisfaction and delight. It will bring about to a certainty an entire re-organization of the public expenditure, and doubtless be the means of at once compelling the lopping off of not an inconsiderable portion of the present profuse departmental outlay. Dunedin will pei force exist more on its own inherent merits than heretofore, aud the life-blood which it has so long drawn from the other districts of the Province will then refuse to flow at its bidding. It is not unlikely that this new Act will meet with a strong opposition, but we should hope that such petitions as the one sent from this place will go far to strengthen the hands of the Government, and that the Bill will pass without any material amendment. It is, as it weie, an anticipation by the General Government for the redress of the crying grievances which have so long been complained of in vain. It is an admitted fact that the present system of Provincial Governments is exceedingly defective, and requires a thorough remodeling. In our opinion, this new Act, combined with the formation of Municipal districts, as proposed, throughout the Province, for the promotion of selfgovernment and local improvements, will in a great measure obviate all the evils now deplored ; and we cherish a strong hope that matters, from their present tendency, may ere long be placed on a much more satisfactory footing. Provincial Governments, as at present constituted, certainly require supplementiy assistance of the nature we mention ; for, as we have repeatedly shewn, and almost ad nauseam, they are necessarily compelled to administer to the wants of various and widely-separated districts, whose interests frequently cannot fail to be conflicting in the highest degree. Situated at a gi-eat distance from those places, likewise, the executive and administrative powers of Provinces are often but imperfectly acquainted with their local requirements. The confessions of Mr Dick, at a recent meeting, will be fresh in the recollection of our readers. We regard it, moreover, as wrong in principle for Provincial Governments to have full control over the collection and disbursement of the territorial revenue, of which they are the trustees and administrators. In Great Britain, the principal duties of the Government are protective and restrictive ; and for the advancement and permanent prosperity of the Colony, it is imperatively necessary that each district should be entitled to and receive its fair proportion of the provincial revenue, which, under the present regime can never be looked for. These are principles, we predict, which, if the people of New Zealand will accept and adhere to, may well be expected to work wonders for their adopted country in after years. Let the present rotten system of profuse hole-and-corner expenditure receive its quietus, as all bad things ought to, and we will hold forth the bright and cheering hope of a reign of things gratifying alike to the people, beneficial to the welfare and prosperity of the commonwealth, and consonant to British ideas of equity and good government all over the world.

At the Eesident Magistrate's Court here, on Friday last, Mr Thomas Ferens was fined in the penalty of L100, for being owner of 4C00 sheep on his run infected with scab. Mr Gardiner, Marewhenua, was at same time bound over to clean 4000 sheep within four months, under a penalty of L100.

It will be observed from the Post Office notice that the mail for Great Britain, &c, will close here on Wednesday next at 8 p.m. For the convenience of parties desirous of sending copies of our next week's issue, containing a summary of the month's news, to home country friends, we beg to intimate that on the addresses being left at our office up to the night of publication, copies of the paper will be forwarded by the coach on the Thursday morning in time for the closing of the mail in Dunedin. We beg to remind the public generally that tlie next Reading in connection with the Oamaru Mechauics' Institute will be delivered to-morrow (Friday) evening, by Mr W. Black, in the Rooms of the Institution, in place of, as formerly, at the Court House. Iho subject chosen is a very popular one, being — Extracts from the "Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit." We trust to see a large attendance on this occassion. The Quarterly Licensing meeting of Justices for the Licensing district of Oamaru will be held in the Court House here on the second Tuesday of September next. All applications for publican's licenses, or for the transfer, renewal, or removal thereof, must be prepared in proper form and lodged with the Resident Magistrate, (T. W. Parker, Esq.,) fourteen clear days before the date above mentioned. We direct attention to the advertisement respecting the Ploughing match, to be held on the 18th inst., in connection with the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Associatton. It was notified by the Rev Mr Connor on Sabbath last that the next Saci ament, in connection with the Presbyteiian Church, will be dispensed on Sabbath the 10th of September next. The Thursday proceeding will be observed as the usual Sacramental Fast Day. Mr Balfour, the Marine Engineer, paid Oamaru a flying visit last week on his return from the & orth to Dunedin. While here he expressed the lively interest he took in the improvement of our harbor accommodation, and believed that the Jetty, as proposed by him, could be constructed for the sum estimated, viz., L7000. It was his intention, when he got to Dunedin, to overhaul the plans carefully and fully to enter into the question of expense. We shall be glad to lay before our readers the conclusions he arrives at, and trust that action will at once be taken in the matter, as the season when increased facilities for the shipment of the produce of the distiict are greatly requiied is fast approaching. If in no other way, we also hope that the Debentures, which the Government are understood to be willing to hand over, will be taken up in the district. We are sure that the united action of the settlers in the Oamaru district, and the people of Oarnaiu themselves, would speedily result in setting the affair on a satisfactoiy basis. If there be yet any vitality in our Town Board, we recommend to their notice a nuisance at the corner of Itchen and Tees-sti eets, in the shape of an open ditch extending right across the former thoroughfare. This has been caused by the refuse water from the steam stone-cutting machine used in the erection of the English Chuich, and we think it would be very desirable if another channel could be found for it. It is unpleasant in a dark night for unwaiy pedestrians to be getting in over the boot-tops in the middle of a street, and we consider that a little attention bestowed on this matter would not be lost in the eyes of the citizens. A man named D. Borrio will be brought before the Resident Magistrate at Hampden to-day (Thursdiy), for bringing two bullocks across the boundary line of the infected district, on the southern side of the Horse Range, into the clean district, to the north of that Range. It has been proposed to form an Agricultural and Pastoral Association for Sh.ig Valley and Waikouaiti districts. The Ploughing Match at Palmerston is to take place on the 18th inst. We understand that Mr Bruce, the contractor for the English Church (St. Luke's), expects to complete the election of that place of worship in about a month from this date. We take the following from the " Daily Times " of the 7th inst: — " Mr William Mills, who has for many years filled an important position in the Custom House of Dunedin, and who has been suddenly promoted to the office of Acting Collector at Auckland, leaves this day by the Wellington, and was last evening entertained at dinner by a number of friends at the Shamrock Hotel. Mr Mills was an officer of the Lodge of OUgo,|and would, in the course of a few weeks, have been called to the chair of the Lodge. The friends whose guest he was, were mostly of the Masonic body, and included Mr Harris, Mr Vincent Pyke, Mr R. H. Forman, Mr W. H. Mansford, &c. Mr Pyke was in the chair, and the toast of the evening was proposed by Mr Harris. Mr Mills was appointed second officer of Customs here in the year 1849, at which time Mr Macarthy was sub-collector, so that he is the oldest officer in with the service in Otago. It will be remembered that a petition from the Provincial Council of Auckland was forwarded in January last to tier Majesty's Ministry through Sir George Grey, praying for the separation of Auckland fiom the other portions of the colony. The Governor strongly supported the scheme, concluding by saying that, unless the arrangement prayed for was granted, it would be impossible for the difficulties prevailing in New Zealand being brought to a satisfactory termination. Mr Cardwell, however, in the face of the memorandum forwarded by His Excellency's Ministry iu December last, has decidedly vetoed the carrying out of this pretty little scheme, and replies that " Her Majesty's Government see no reason, as at present advised, for giving any encouragement to any such proposal." The memorandum referred to, it may be recollected by some of our readers, expressed the belief of His Excellency's advisers that such a measure would probably meet the determined opposition of every other part of the Colony ; that it would take away the security for the future of the Maori race, which depended on the influence of persons (in the Southern Provinces) removed from local passions and interests ; and that it would destroy hopes of the futuie prosperity of New Zealand, as a united Colony, which weie not unworthy of consideration on the part of the mother country. The latest intelligence from the West Coast reports that the new site for a Township on the Grev is being rapidly covered with buildings. Timber and iron in great request, not 100 feet of sawn timber to be obtained for any money ; the last sales effected of timber at hand was L2 10s. per hundred feet, but were a cargo to come iu, L3 may be obtained at once. Candles were selling at Is. each, so bcarce are they. The whole of the river frontages are taken up — some 4000 feet ; of this the Maoris have sold 1500 feefc, at LI per foot, on a lease for throe years. No business licenses are required for parties settling on this land. The local paper states, that " a jumping case is reported as having taken place at the Grey, at which a general fight ensued, and two men were shot dead in the scuffle." Four Australian magpies and two "laughing jackasses" have been set at liberty in the Taieri district, under the auspices of the Otago Acclimatisation Society. It is to be hoped that the public will take every care not to shoot or molest these birds, as they will prove themselves valuable friends to the crops by their destruction of the grubs and insects which infest the fielda of the farmer. From the 1st October, 1864, to 3Cth June, 1865, the yield of gold in the Province of Canterbury has amounted to 65,716 ozs. 3 dwt., representing a total official value of L254,6jO1s. 7-id., whereof L220,869 19s. 3d. is the value of^gold exported dui ing the quarter ended 30th June last. Captain Close, of the 43rd Light Infanti-y, was recently shot by a party of ambushed natives, at Warea, inTaranaki.

The Hampden Ploughing Match came off as announced, on the 4th insfc. The weather win most auspicious, and a fair number of spectators were on the ground to witness the proceedings. Fourteen ploughs set to work, only one of them being drawn by bullocks. The Judges awarded the prizes as follows :— 1st, Alex. Gilchrist, ploughman to Mr W. Craig ; 2nd, Duncan Campbell ; 3rd, Andrew M'Farlane ; 4th, James Campbell ; 5th, Andrew Davidson ; 6th, George Caldwell. Junior List— 1st, Neil Campbell ; 2nd, R. Douglas. Dinner was afte>-wards served in the Hampden Hotel, on which occasion about 40 gentlemen sat down. M. S. Gleeson, Esq. presided, and everything passed off satisfactorily. A more detailed report of the above will appear in our next. We understand that the Oamaru Petition will be presented in the Legislative Council at Wellington by the Hon. A. C. Strode, and in the House of Representatives by F. Wayne, Esq. Owners of sections should not, we think, require to be so frequently reminded of the desirability of surrounding their grounds with belts of gum or other useful trees. There is a great want of such in and around Oamaru, and over and above enhancing the beauty of the scenery, tho outlay of a small sum of money now would very rapidly return ample interest in the increased value of their properties. It is an old and a true saying that trees grow while men ai e sleeping, We observe that the Nurserymen are piepared to execute oideis for the supply of all kinds of trees and shrubs, and we should especially dilect attention to a fine lot of " Blue Gums " now on sale by Mr Haiti}' of this place. The official declaration of the poll for the election of Superintendent, will be made by the Principal Returning Officer, at the Court-house, Dunedin, to-morrow (Friday), the 11 th instant, at noon. We are not aware what action, if any, has been taken with the view of having Oamaru proclaimed a Corporation under the provisions of the " Otago Municipal Corporations Act, 18G5," but hope the citizens will be sufficiently alive to their interests to see that as little delay as possible takes place in the matter. We have imich pleasure in announcing another handsome contribution from the Waitaki District in aid of the City of Dunedm Wieck Relief Fund. Mr W. H. Jackson, of Hakateremea, has forwarded to the Oamaru Committee the sum of L14— making a total of upwards of L70 subscribed in the Waitaki District alone. The Acting-Superintendent has appointed Sergeant Robert Bullen, of Oamaru, to be an Inspector of Weights and Measures, under the " Bread Ordinance, 1863." Important (!) public works are still being carried on, despite the alleged want of funds at the disposal of the Government. Tenders are called for the construction of a road through Rocky Cliff, near Nevis Junction, on the road ', Kawaiau to Wakatipu." The first meeting of the Dunedin City Council took place on Saturday last. A report fiom the late Commissioners was received and read, and several committees appointed to make tho necessary arrangements to have the work of the Council put into proper shape. The s.s. Albion puts us in possession of later intercolonial intelligence. The political crisis in Victoiia had reached its climax. The Upper House had refused, by a majority of twenty votes to five, to pass the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, until the " tacked" Tariff Bill was> dissevei ed from it. This was met by a resolution of the Assembly pledging itself not to proceed with any further appropriation until the Council had acknowledged the sole light of the Lower House to deal with taxation. The following day a supplement to the "Gazette" was published, announcing that the supplies were stopped, public works suspended, and the civil servants unpayable. The situation is certainly a very grave one, and will in all probability lead to some important changes in the constitutional relations to each other of the two Houses of Legislature in Victoria. From a report of the proceedings in the House of Representatives, we observe that the Attorney-Geneial, on the part of the Government, states that it is not intended to introduce any measui e for the amendment of the at present much descried " Debtor's and Ci editor's Act." He thought it inexpedient to do so at present, in the face of an Act to be brought forward in the Imperial Parliament, which would probably be based on different principles from which most of the insolvent laws spring ; and also that, from the replies he had received to the communications sent by him to various parts of the Colony, he gathered that the working of the present Act, which was so much objected to, could be easily altered by the machinery in existence. It is notified that Crown Grants are now ready for issue to the following persons :— C. L. C. and F. and W. Fen wick, section 16, block VII., Otepopo ; A. Gerrard, halves of river sections 21, 22, 23, and 24, West Taieri ; Holmes and Gleeson, sections 34, 35, 36, and 37, block IX., Otepopo ; R. Hunter, sections 49 and 52, block VII., Moeraki ; D. McLean, H. Campbell, and W. A. Tolmie, section 2 of 6, block IV., Oamaru ; James Stanhouse and J. Cochrane, section 67, block V., Moeraki ; John Thomson, halves of sections 30 and 31, irregular block, West Taieri ; John Thomson, section 11, block III, and 5 and half of 6, block IV, West Taieri Disti ice. American news to 20th May, by way of Tahiti and Sydney, are to hand. They are xuiimportant. Here is a " sweet thing" in telegraphic intelligence, as extracted from the ' ' Ly ttelton Times" of the 1st inst. : — " Dunedin, 31st July. The election of tho Melbourne City Councillors takes place to-moirow, August lst.'> We hope the good folks of. Christchurch were much edified ! A new rush is reported at the head of Lake Wanaka, but nothing reliable has yet come to hand. Mr Leith, of Leithfield, Canterbury, attempted suicide on the morning of the 4th instant, by shooting himself with a pistol. Hopes of recovery are entertained. We learn, by recent intelligence from Melbourne, that the Leichardt Expedition started early in July last, and is expected to be out two years. Sentence of death was passed on David Young, alias Tatham, for the Daylesford murder. There is no hope of a reprieve. The Adams' Bay Settlement, on the West Coast of Australia, is being deserted. The New South Wales Parliament has been prorogued till the 5th of September. It is reported that arrangements are in progress between the Southland Governments and Messrs Douglas, Alderson and Co., for* the construction by the latter of many miles of wooden tramway from Invercargill along the Dunedin road. The cost is estimated at L1000 per mile. The emu belonging to the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, it appears, cannot be kept within the limits of the gardens, and by its aggressive nature is becoming rather dangerous to both pedestrians and persons* on horseback. With an easy stride it runs alongside and keeps pecking away at the eyes of the horsei, which, should the latter be at all of a fiery disposition, might soon lead to some serious accident. We should recommend the deserving Society to look more closely after the doings of their " elephant." The time-honored pastime of football is just now in much vogue in Canterbury. The Clubs of Lyttelton and Christchurch met the other day in Heathcote Valley, when their favorite game was entered into ftith great zest. Only one game was played, and that was declared a drawn one. Special trains were run during the day for the accommodation of the public. Mr Charles Smale, an old settler in Tomahawk Valley, Anderson's Bay, expired suddenly on Wednesday last while attending an election meeting which was being held there. Serous apoplexy is said to have been the cause of death.