The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1866.
Second only in importance to that of the Premier at Nelson was the extra-Parlia-mentary utterance of the Hon. Jakes Patjbrson at the hustings at Dunedin lately. The only question which appears to need unravelling is, as to whether Mr Paterson spoke as a member of the Government, or merely as one of the members for Dunedin City. There are those who hold opposite views on this point, but for ourselves we are inclined to lean to the supposition that the speech alluded to came from his lips as a member of the Government. And really it is difficult to believe aught else of a man coming from the North bursting with State secrets, State plans, and State information. Wittingly or unwittingly, as the case might be, some little bit of the intelligence which the Colony most anxiously waits to hear, was almost certain to crop out ; and it is in this light that we regard the scheme for the annexation of the smaller Provinces to the larger, and for the granting of greatly increased powers to such reconstructed Provinces. There cannot be a doubt that the project has been talked over in Wellington, and Mr Paterson's allusion to it was simply a feeler thrown out for the purpose of obtaining an expression of public opinion thereupon. We are the more confirmed in this view of the case from the fact that this reconstruction policy is supported by Mr Stafford's organ, the " Nelson Colonist." Let us examine the proposal for a little. Mr Paterson suggests a reduction in the number of Provinces, to effect which he would reunite Southland with Otago, and Marlborough with Nelson, leaving three large Provinces for the Middle Island. In the North Island he would annex Taranaki to Wellington, and give a slice of Auckland territory to Hawke's Bay, thus making thiee Provinces for that Island also. Leaving this alone for a moment, let us enquire the nature of the increased powers to Provinces. Strangely enough, however, Mr Paterson is silent on this point — the very point which will determine the fate of the scheme. We are as yet left in the dark, and to surmise what we may. He says they (the Provinces) " could be governed at less expense, and be entrusted with far greater powers, inasmuch as men who could take a larger grasp and have greater influence would be glad to take part in managing them to the satisfaction of the whole Colony." Perhaps so, but would the newly-annexed territories fare better than before ? Are they again to be at the mercy of those from whom, on account of the injustice suffered by them, they had formerly thought it most desirable to secede ? Verily, unless such territories be guaranteed an equitable proportion of their revenues, it would be better far that they hear no more of the men of " larger grasp" who are to govern to the " satisfaction of the whole Colony" — and even that their present costly and cumbrous machinery be kept up. In the latter case, they have their revenues expended within their respective districts, although at a ruinous cost, and a certain amount of good is done ; in the other, they would simply subside into neglected or overridden districts, such as our own and many others we might mention, whose case has long been matter of notoriety. No, if such a scheme be carried (always supposing that the provincial system
cannot for some time yet be totally uprooted), we see little in itself to which we can take serious exception ; but there must be a distinct proviso that the outlying districts, before assenting to it, must have some tangible security that their revenues, or at all events a fair and equitable portion of them, will be secured to them. Otherwise the position in which they will be placed will be tenfold worse than ever it was before, for it seems a strange fatuity in the governing powers of Provinces that they cannot be made to understand that there may be other places on which it is as desirable and incumbent on them to expend the public monies than on the capital towns. We sincerely trust that the representatives of the outlying districts will not be easily hoodwinked into acquiescence with a scheme which, without the guarantee we desiderate, would simply and inevitably work disaster. Let the guarantee be obtained as a sine qua non for compliance with increased power, in what shape soever that may be proposed v or thought necessary. The increased powers, for aught we yet know, may refer to borrowing powers, and on what security more likely than newly acquired territory is it probable that the first loan would be asked or obtained ? Mr Patekson's scheme, however, may be shown to more advantage in other respects. He would reduce the number of Provinces, increasing their size, and conducing to a large saving of present expenditure. This latter he concedes. He would give three Provinces, in place of five as at present, to the Middle Island. Thus, in his estimation, three Provinces must be better than five. May we not, on the same principle, contend that one is better than three ? We really imagine that in propounding this scheme the Government have let in the thin end of the wedge. If the reduction to three effect a great saving, a reduction to one is calculated to do much more ; and it is now almost universally believed, out of the capitals of course, that the time is at hand when the Middle Island may, with advantage to every district, be converted into one large Province. For what occasion can there be for even three Provinces, if local boards be established throughout the country, and the administration of their revenues confided to them ? Any one may calculate the immense saving which would naturally result. We quite coincide with the views held by a writer in the "Nelson Examiner," when he says that " if the principle be a sound one, and we are far from being sure that it is not, why should it not be expanded iu its action, and, like a straight line produced, maintain its properties, ad infinitum ?" For the present, we will conclude with the following extract from the same source : — " The fact is, that whilst the principle of centralization, combined with justice to all parts of the Colony, is denounced, the same principle, with glaring injustice to all outlying districts, is upheld in the Provinces. And in the cry for local self-government, as a protection against a powerful General Government, we generally recognize a desire to concentrate a centre at the expense of the rest of the Province. The system is one which the inhabitants of the large towns are all ready to apply to themselves, but generally unwilling to extend to others ; and until these ' centres' have learnt that outlying districts were not intended to be disposed of wholesale in order to enrich the provincial metropolis, or until their power of doing this is taken from them, such will continue to be the case. But, when this happy climax has been attained, and every district can obtain justice, and a full share of the revenue to which it is entitled, Provincial Councils and Governments will be condemned as useless and expensive toys, which may be done away with without remorse."
Mr Ferens, in the "Wesleyan Church on Sunday evening next, will continue his discourse " on the final scene of the Gentile Dispensation." Those gentlemen who some time since kindly undertook to raise a Testimonial Fund out of respect to the memory of the late Dr "Williams, are requested to meet to-morrow, at 3 o'clock, p.m., at Messrs Shrimski and Moss. We helieve the object of the meeting ia to arrange for the disposal af tho sum so collected. The Committee of the Oamaru district Acclimatisation Society are requested to meet at the Secretary's office, Messrs Cargill and Co.'s, on Thursday next, the 12th instant, at three p m. As the business is important, a full meeting is requested. The Mechanics' Institute Committee Meeting has been postponed, till to morrow (Friday), at the usual ihour. jrWe are at last informed that the long-talked of formation of Severn-street is about to be proceeded with, and that tenders will be called for on an early day. We sincerely trust the news is true, for we are certain that the inhabitants of Oamaru are becoming so accustomed to hope deferred respecting this desirable work, that a very little additional delay will force them to the conclusion that it will never bo executed at all. "We trust the Executive will endeavor to retrieve their fallen reputation by prompt attention to a work for which sums have been over and over again voted, and whichin itself is really one of the greatest moment to the town and district. The Eev Charles Connor, we understand, is to deliver the next lecture in connection with our Mechanics' Institute. Tho subject is not yet announced. The usual monthly meeting of the Oamaru Land and Building Investment Society was held on Tuesday evening, in the usual place. A sale of cash took place at eight o'clock, when several shares were disposed of, but there was an evident disinclination to buy, leading one to infer that money ia not at present in much request in Oamaru. A Meeting of the District School Committee took place on Saturday afternoon last, in the premises of Messrs. Traill, Roxby and Co., Tyne-street. There were present : — Messrs. Ashcroft ( in the chair), Gilchrist, Bee, and the Secretary, Mr Thompson. The minutes of previous meeting having been read and confirmed, a conversation took place on the subject of funds, which were stated to be in a not very flourishing condition, owing to the promissory notes for voluntary contributions coming in, as yet, very tardily. The resignation of the present female teacher (Mrs Scott) being accepted, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Bee, seconded by Mr Gilchrist, that the Secretary should advertise for a. successor in the " Oamaru Times" and the Dunedin "Daily Times," — applications to bo received up to the 14th day of April. Tt was also resolved that Mr Paradise be requested to conduct the school, in the interim, without assistance. The Gladstone correspondent of the " Rockhampton Bulletin," reported to that journal in the latter end of February, that the A. S. N. Company's s.s. Saxonia had passed a large American vessel, in a complete mass of flames, eighteen miles south-east of Lady Elliot's Island. There was no appearance of the crew.
• Easter Monday waa one of the quietest holidays we have seen for some time in Oamaru. Scarcely any one was stirring throughout the entire day, till the evening, when a large number of the inhabitants availed themselves of the "Wesleyan Church Soiree for the spending a few pleasant hours. As*will be observed from a report of the proceeding! elsewhere, this annual gathering proved a great success. A Female Teacher is wanted for the District School here. The salary will be at the rate of one hundred pounds per annum. She must be competent to teach sewing and the usual branches of a sound English education, and applications with testimonials are requested to be lodged with the Secretary, Mr R. Thompson, on or before the 14th current. /We had the pleasure of witnessing a spectacle in the Northern Hotel Assembly-room on Tuesday afternoon such as ia seldom to te seen, even in larger and olderestablished towns than Oamaru. About one hundred and twenty boys and girls were assembled there, under the auspices of the managers of the "Wesleyan Church, for the purpose of enjoying a feast of tea, cake, and fruit, as an appropriate wind-up to the soiree proceedings which took place on the previous evening. Mr and Mrs Baker deserve great credit for the kindly manner in which they accommodated the" juvenile party, and for the handsome way in which the profusion of viands was displayed on the tables. Several of the ladies who had superintended at the soiree tables were likewise in attendance, and lent their valuable assistance. The youngsters being all comfortably seated, at a given d signal they rose " en masse," and joined in singing a hymn before commencing their repast. This they appeared to enjoy very heartily ; and shortly afterwards suitable addresses were delivered to them by Messrs Grenfell, Ferens, and Mackay. Votes of thanks were tendered to Mr and Mrs Baker for their kindness, as also to Mr Ferens and their other Wesleyan friends, who were greeted with three-times-three from over a hundred little throats. The fete was one of the pleasantest and most harmoniously conducted at which we ever remembed to have been resent. The New Zealand "twelfth of August"— the 1st of April — caused not a few of our lovers of the gun to be up and doing their best at duck-shooting, by or long before daybreak on Monday morning. Up to this time the reports which have reached our ears are all in favor of the ducks. "Various reasons are assigned for their alleged scarcity, but the one which obtains most credence is that they— especially the Paradise ducks— are further inland at this time than maybe reached by a few hours' journey. "We have been told that a party, hearing that some sport was to be had at the mouth of the "Waitaki Riyer, betook themselves thither in the latter end of last week, before the prescribed shooting season commenced, for the purpose of indulging in a "battue." The same success attended their efforts, however, which those who went out afterwards on a like errand met with. The day was unfavorable, and only one or two ducks were sighted, but none fell to the sportsmen's pieces. Some unfortunate birds of a different species met the fate intended for their rarer brethren ; but, not content with this system of venting their spleen, the disappointed fellows pounced upon a few bottles which were discovered empty at an early period of the day in the bottom of their vehicles, and " went in" for shooting at objects which were more considerate than the ducks. Good easy shots being obtained, we are informed that the whole were demolished very effectually, and to the entire satisfaction of the party, after which they betook themselves homewards to Oamaru with all speed— less jubilant, we dare say, than when they set out on their unprofitable journey. Some surprise was manifested at the return, on Monday evening, of a party of three with sundry brace of ducks, when it was well known that other sportsmen, equally skilled, had been uuable to bag any. These foitunate fellows of course rather prided them- y selves on the success of their shooting excursion, and set it down entirely to their superior capabilities as mnrksmen. On a little enquiry being made into the matter, it has been found, however, that the ducks had not fallen to their guns, but that, determined not to return empty-handed, they had invested a considerable amount of pocket money in the purchase of some. This has some how or other got wind, else we would not be so cruel as be the first to publish it ; but there is an end to their boastin? ! Mr Carruth, of this place, has left for inspection at our office a potatoe of rare growth and size. It weighs upwards of three pounds, and appears to bo composed of over two dozen small potatoes attached to a large one in the centre. The curious in such matters will repay themselves by an inspection. The Dunedin Regatta came off in the Harbour there with great " eclat." Mr Mansford's Water Lily was first, and Mr Garvin's Champion second, in the Amateur's Pair-oared Race. In the Yacht Race, the first (L30) and second (L10) prizes were won by Mr Jackson's Four Brothers and Mr Street's Oygnet. The four-oared race for ships' gigs was won by Mr Ritchie's Anna Maria, L10 ; second, Mr Simpson's Canary, L3. Amateur's Four-oared Race was won by Colleen Bawn, L10 ; second, Glance, L3. Waterman's Pair-oared Race — first, Mr Harland's Game Cock, 7 ; second, Mr Mackley's Jeannie M'Lean, L3. Sailing Boat Race, open to all- first, Mr Robertson's Gauntlet, L25 ; second, Capt. M'Kinnon's Champion, L10. Waterman's Four-oared Race— first, W. Low's Flying Buck ; second, Mr Turnbull's Shillelagh. Sculler's Race — won by Star of Dunedin ; second, Southern Cross. The election of a member for the Taieri District in the Provincial Council has resulted in favor of Mr "Vogel. The polling was as follows : — For Mr Vogel — East Taieri, [32 : West Taieri, 26 ; North Taieri, 12 ; Otokia, 12 ; total, 82. For Mr Burns— East Taieri, 36 ; West Taieri, 2; North Taieri, 12; Otokia, 6; total, 56. Majority for Mr Vogel, 26. The " New York Times" states that a second part of Captain Hall's report on his search for fuller information about Sir John Franklin's Arctic expedition has been received. The wrecked ships of Franklin appear to have been visited, the remains of a, large number of their crews seen, frozen and mutilated, and the valuables left in the ships appropriated by the Esquimaux. They encourage Captain Hall to believe that some of the men may still be living. Tho " Salt Lake Telegraph," of the 11th November, has the following : — " At Dry Gulch, four miles from Helena, Montana, Mr Brown, a German or Norwegian, has discovered a gold deposit, which, in richness and extent, has perhaps no parallel in the history of gold mining. The ledge has been traced fully 75 feet. We give the following description of the ' Post :' — ' Gold, in almost solid masses, glittered before his bewildered vision. For two weeks longer, unknown to others, he tunnelled into the golden wall. Secreted about him he had accumulated several gunny sacks, literally filled with the precious metal- When longer secresy became impossible, from the very extent of his unexpected wealth, Mr Brown proceeded to record and secure his property, when the public were informed of the great discovery. It is said that he now keeps a strong guard night and day over his seemingly incomputable wealth, while he himself, unassisted, delves into the golden wall around him, and continues multiplying his sacks of precious ore. One person, who was admitted into Brown's drift, states that it presented a scene of wealth more akin toa picture of imagination than actuality. Gold ! gold ! gold ! met the view on every side — above, below, and all around — and reflected back its rich hues in the glare of the candle, as if this subterranean vault had been hewn out of a solid ledge of the yellow metal. This gold is found in a well-defined ledge, fully 50 feet in width. The gold vein is three feet wide— three-fourths of the entire substance therein being pure gold ; the remainder mainly bismuth.' "
The Waikouaiti Annual Race Meeting took place on Thursday last. Mr Beal's Butterfly won the Maiden Plate, and the Farmers' Purse. Bob Apples took the Town Plate, beating School Boy by three lengths. Four horsei started for this event. The Hurdle Race was won by Moorhouse. A Maori Hack Race wound up the sports. Messrs J. S. Webb and R. Mitchell are canvassing as candidates for the representation of Waikouaiti iu the Provincial Council. Mr M'Leod C. Orbell has alio been asked to stand*. The natives of Wanganui, according to the Wellington correspondent of the "Press," have started a curious story as to the doings of his Excellency during his trip to the north. "He was accompanied, as I mentioned before, by Te Ua, the High Priest of Hau-hauism, and, as the Wanganui Maoris have the story (which they say they have received overland), this Te Ua has, during the voyage of the Eclipse, attained a complete ascendancy over his Excellency, by means of mesmeric influence, and has, by this means, converted him to the Pai Marire faith. But more ; they gravely assert that a flagstaff has been erected on the sunny slopes of Kawau, an ensign emblematic of this terrible superstition hoisted, and that there the high priest and prophet of the new faith may be seen> in company with his distinguished convert, dancing round the foot of the staff, clad in the prescribed habiliments, and performing all the strange rites and ceremonies required from the initiated." Waikouaiti contemporary reports the first Show of the Waikouaiti and Shag Valley Pastoral and Agricultural Association, which took place on Wednesday, the 28th ult. It appears to have been a very successful affair, especially in sheep. Messrs F. D. Rich and Williams won nearly every prize for Merino sheep ; and Messrs J. P. Hepburn, F. Jones, and J Henderson were the most successful in " Leicesters." The Wellington races came off on March 22 and 23. We have only space to note the winners of the various events. First day— Jockey Club Plate, L50, Mr O. Fawn's Heather Bell; Hutt Park Stakes, L25, Mr J. Walker's Nounnahal; Ladies' Purse, Mr J. Walker's Policy ; Licensed Victualler's Purse, L20, Mr Mussen's Rob Roy. Second day — Hurdle Race, L25, Mr J. Day's Pncha ; Silver Cup, L25, Mr Walker'i Policy ; Handicap Stakes, L25, this was the best race of the meeting, and was won by Mr Harrison's Warrengate ; a Hack Sweepstakes and Consolation Stakes terminated the sport. has been received in Nelson* that the men engaged in boring for petroleum in Taranaki have succeeded in finding oil, a sample of which in its crude state has been forwarded to Mr. Powell of Nelson. The spot from which it was obtained is the Sugar Loaves, Taranaki, where, it is said, the large amount of 5000 gallons is being obtained daily. The owners of the well are three laboring men, and they have already refused the offer of £10,000 for their property made by the agent of a Melbourne firm. Last week's "Provincial Government Gazette" contains the Bye-Laws of the Corporation of the City of Dunedin, and also the proclamation of the Township of Queenstown into a municipality. We ("New Zcr.land Herald,") are requested by the captain of the Annie Laurie to deny the correctness of assertion made in the ' Cioss' of yesterday, that he had stated that the pi ice of flour in Valparaiso was L30 per ton. L12 per ton was the highest price at the date of the Annie Laurie's departure. We may also, on our own authority, deny the statement made by the same journal, that the Admiral Pareja had committed suicide. His death was a natural one. It is curious that the account of his suicide should have been taken from a pnper of the 2nd December, published prior to the actual date of his death.
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Bibliographic details
North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 111, 5 April 1866, Page 2
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3,794The Oamaru Times, AND WAITAKI REPORTER. THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1866. North Otago Times, Volume VI, Issue 111, 5 April 1866, Page 2
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