THE The New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1874.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3994, 31 August 1874, Page 2

THE The New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1874.

We commend to the attentive perusal of our readers a calm and dispassionatelywritten communication wliicli appears elsewhere in our columns under the signature of " Anti-Provincialist." We do to because we are not altogether certain that those of the Auckland members who voted for Mr. Vcgel's " Resolutions" have had quite fair play, or that their motives have been rightly interpreted. Speaking of these resolutions, the writer says, "undoubtedly as they stand they v.i'! never do, nevertheless it does seem to that the Auckland members who supported them ha\ e shown more foresight t lian they have credit for." The main object, the writer thinks, which should be kept in view is the recovery of the Southern land fund to the colony, and this ;ill-essential desideratum " AntiProvincialist" considers can only bu accomplished by some change, the lirst great change paving the way to a second, which must result ill abolishing the South Island provinces and consolidating all tho provinces under one Central Government, it is, wo think, generally admitted that, had Mr. included ill-3 South Yslanii in his '"es'.ilr-.ioiis, he woi 'tl have fail; i-.i carrying tber.i. All promises to t\.i: contrary, T'-.lr. Yogul has it evidently i?i lu-i mind to bring about sucn a fiscal kvu illtioii. t'.mt til>": land fr.-id of the proj vinces «•...!! in. duo becom* t!w> revenue of the colony ; and to Ihij end he has been compelled to finesse, which j it must; be admitted he has done with i considerable tact and abiiity. He has I said to himself, I will abolish the North Island provinces by the aid of the ! representatives of the South, and this ell'ected. I will propose tho Fame change ill the South by the aid of the North Island members. Mr. Yogel is by far too astute a statesman to suppose it will ever be tolerated that one part of Now Zealand is to have permanently a form of government which shall not pertain to the other. It will be most unlikely that the assent of the Imperial Government could be obtained for such unequal and inequitable legislation. Therefore it may be, and we do not think it at all unlikely, that the North Island members who voted for the resolutions did so under a full impression of what it would lead up to, —namely, the consolidation of all the provinces of both Islands. It will not be taking too lenient a view, if we permit ourselves to presume that this might have been the motive which actuated our members. Knowing our Premier in the past, wo quite agree with "Anti-Provincialist" when he says, "Never mind Yogel's assurance—he wants the money, and he will throw over Otago as he has thrown over Auckland. Remember this, that although he hr.J power to put his resolutions in a lump (take all or none), he cannot put his bills in a lump. A majority of the House can take what clauses they please, and reject what they dislike." Just so. And when the bill conies before the House in the next session, and is moved into committee, there will be found an amendment proposed sometliing to tliis effect: —" That this clause shall embody tho abolishment of the provinces of the South Island contemporaneously with those of the North." If this amendment be not carried, then do wo feel certain that the bill v,jll be thrown out. The cry of the Northern members, and not a few of the Southern representatives will either be for one Government, whole and homogeneous, or "as we are." It is to be borne in mind that we shall be legislating during an expiring Parliament, and that the representatives who look for re-election will have to face their constituents, which they will scarcely care to do, should the y be so daring as to legislate upon sue! large organic changes 'which they muat f.-.-el the electorates will •prefer to decide upon for themselves. When Mr. Vogel brought forward his resolutions to be iiubniitted in glolo, he doubtless felt that what would pass in its then present shape would be altered when the bill came before the next session. Th.e Premier averred, with every appearance of sincerity, that the " Compact of 1850" should be maintained intact. But we feel well assurred that no one will be

so well pleased as Mr. Vogel himself 1 when a majority in the Assembly insist ' that the land revenue shall be colonial and not local. Mr. Vogel will urge that he promised the South should hold its lands, but that the votes of the majority have overruled -what was his serious intention to carry out. The promises made to the South Island will not be br»ken by the Premier and his Ministers, because there will coma upon them no such necessity; but we have very little doubt but that covert aid will be given by Mr. Vogel and his party to bring it about. There is a feeling among the people of the North Island that what we here refer to will come to pass, but the feeling is an uneasy one in this respect. It is urged that while these proposed great changes are in abeyance, Canterbury and Otago, fearing for and anticipating the worst, will be alienating large areas of their best lands. It is too late now to avert this evil, but there is this much consolation in store, that land, unlike merchandise. is immovable. Otago or Christeh.;r?h may convert a million of their best acres into ready cash, but they still remain without change of latitude or longitude. If the land has been recklessly alienated that those who have an equitably right to r» share of the proceeds are deprived of it, it can still be made \ io tiro.luce a revenue, because ■*>. j land ii!T. is not a thing altogether : i unknown to the colonies. Retribution j i alvav-: follow" ' .pon the commissi"o of ;i j

great wong, ,\v.v. should the Southern province ,:erp(?ti ;ite such a gross injustice as parting with their large areas that they ma-' monopolise to themselves the moneys derived from them, it is certain it will in"' bo done with lasting impunity. We hope thur those members who vot.ul for a measure which at present to a veiy large section of the community of the province of Auckland appears to have been a great v/rong, -will be able to shew that it was not as Mr. Vogel's followers they endorsed the resolutions, but from a fall conviction that the abolition of one Island virtually meant, and will mean, the abolition of both. If this be what they really contemplated, then will their political sins rest lighter upon them than they were at first weighted with. If the utterances of Sir James Fergusson, at the banquet given to him on Friday evening were sincere, and His Excellency's well-known love of truth and high sense of honor leave us no reason for doubt, we can but congratulate ourselves upon the favourable condition the colony is placed in, both present and prospective. The speech, it must be confessed, is rose-tinted throughout. There is a. alight deprecatory reference to the bad system of conducting our gaols and lunatic asylums, and allusion is made to the necessity of improving our educational establishments as "the only true panacea against class jealousy ■" but these small pieces of mild censure can only be looked upon as a set-off to the many social and political blessings which His Excellency says surround us on all sides. Sir James sets out by stating it was with considerable misgivings he resigned tho dignity and ease of the Governor of the colony: but having once felt the attractions of a Parliamentary career, he longed to again return to it; still, if he thought any interest of the colony would suffer from his retirement, 110 personal consideration would induce him to leave. As Colonial Governors of the present era seldom, if ever, take any active part in tho affairs of State, but stand between the Colonial Office in Downing-street and Ministers in authority for the time being, having beside a power of veto rarely however exercised, it is really not of the first importance whether a Governor be a Sir George Bowen, a Sir James Fergusson, or an Marquis of Normanby—all admirable men for the due fulfilment of tho duties demanded of them. Sir James considered that the necessity for inter-communica-tion between the various portions of the two Islands justified abnost any expenditure; and he saw a great future from the uniform and comprehensive plan with which railways were being constructed. lie considered the ; "'and in the colony, taking relative ' productiveness into n-ccouni, was modi ! iiheajw in tho .LctfraHian colonies. In this expressed opinion His Excellency •vi!; hardly receive tho s:[t>j>ort. of those why have made ihtmse'ves iiuixnato with the I?.Tid of New South W T a)es Vu'tom. Tim Govunor expressed his belief the prospect--- uf the North bland at. aw remote vould bt J brighter thai: thoKc of the iVUddle Island, In answer tv tl-.i-J we can but say '.ve would fain 1102=0 • Ho > but this ecrtainly is not likely to com. to pass under the policy proposed by the Premier in his " resolutions," unless something very mucl: more than appears on the face of them is intended. There will be some misgivings in the minds of those who pondei over tlio words used by Sir James, and who will feel inclined to ask whether hi would have given expression to the same opinion had the banquet been held in Dunedin instead of Wellington. His Excellency looks upon our indebtedness as a mere bagatelle. He said sums which seemed alarming to a new community were small when the community doubled in population. So fai true ; still truer, however, when a community quadrupled itself ; but in a neu colony a population cannot be doubled unless at a large cost to the country ; and increased cost means larger borrowing powers or increased taxation. Sir James Fergusson dilated upon the dignity and independence of the men of tho colony, due to high wages and short hours, and he was certain they would build up a nation of a character higher and more sensible of their responsibilities because not crushed down by poverty. He thought on the whole that the colony | had no reason to be dissatisfied. These and similar stacemunts by Sir James contain very much that will be generally acknowledged to be quite true. A few platitudes run through the speech, and in one or two matters His Excellency will not find a general echo to his averment 3. However, when a Governor or a Minister or any other high public functionary is entertained to a great public banquet, it is no more than we may look for if tha reply to the toast of the evening is just a little highly-coloured.

The landslip in Mechanics' Bay, if the question arising out of it should go to litigation, will decide some curious points affecting the inter-relations of concurrent local authority. The facts will probably not admit of much difference of statement. A judicious view of them may lead to a settlement of the - responsibility in this case, without incurring the risk of an adverse decision before a jury. The Harbour Board excavations took a slice oil the face of St. Barnabas Point. Continued wet weather . has caused not only the adjacent land, but part of the adjacent public road to fall in. The roads are undoubtedly the property of the local Highway Board, as trustees for the public. They are bound to conserve the public interest. Here a singular question is suggested. The chairman of the local Board is, ex officio, member of the Harbour Board. What is the effect of this double capacity upon the legal aspect of a claim arising out of facta such a3 we have referred to ? Does

the <**irman of the local Board, as member I of the Harbour Board, commit his constituents to acquiescence in the which the mischief proceeds ? Does his consent to them, as representing the Highway Board, bar the right of the Board to recover in an action of damages. But there may be others who will put in claims, namely, the owners of property, either for damage to buildings, right of way, or other interest. What will their position be as between the local Boara on the one hand and the cause of the alleged injnry on the other ? We can see a very great deal of useless litigation will arise, unless the two Boards will, in a spirit of . fairness to the public, resolve to repair the wrong. In a matter like this the highest public spirit is to admit the mischief done and the cause of it, and then that both should set themselves to the remedy. Neither the Harbour Board nor the Parnell Board, nor the public will ever be one shilling benefited by litigation. The sole object should be to remedy what has fallen ainiss, and that all parties interested should help to that end.

Thk estimates for General" Government ?■ services to the 30th of June shew a general Ll increase in public expenditure. Under the r ' heading "Permanent Charges," being pay- ~ ments of interest and sinking fund on loans, Y the liability is £828,443, as compared with " £002.940 for 1574. At the same time it 1 shor.M be noted that under the heading D '• Customs" (duties, rents, seizures, bonded ° store?, fees from Marine, Arms, and other Acts) i? set down £1,1G6,900, as against .*J9Ii„SCQ for last year. The receipts from <■ stamp duties are set down at £100,000; ■* pnstaS, i74,C00; telegraphic, £55,000; ju- * difi.il less and imes, ,C 25,000 ; land rostra- • t,on, £12,000? deeds, £15,000; births, < deaths, and marriages, £4000; issue of ' Crown grants, £5500; miscellaneous, £1200; 1 incidental receipts, £35,000; making the toral consolidated fund £1,4%,G00, as com- ' jiaied with £I, ISO, 500 for last year. Tlietotal ' expenditure for the year, from June, 1574, to J June, lS7s,isestimated at £1,562,063, ascom- J pared with £1,392,475 for last year. The civil 1 list is this year £29,750, as compared with ] £27,5C3 for last year. Legislative is £03,042, as compared with ±'59,514 for last year. ' The Executive is £16,815, as compared with £16,122 for last year. Printing costs this year £9670, as compared with £9010 last i year. The electoral department (returning < officers, &c.,) costs this year £3470, as com- i pared with £2470 for last year. Law and i justice cost £61,814, as compared with £59,228 for last year. " Legislative" is set down at £23,840, as compared with £23,003 for Li"t year. It is to be observed < that the expenses of members for both Houses of the Legislature are set down at £11,500, which is the same sum as voted for this purpose last year. The geological and meteorological department is £3216, as compared with £2,900 for last year. Secretary for Crown lands £1914, as compr. ul with £1549 for the year ending 30th Juno, 1574. A correspondent, under the si;jn-iture of " Fido," censures ua for extracting from the columns of the Oiatjo Dn Jt, Timet: an article which makes light of sone oi Mr. ExPremier Fox's amendments during the discussion in the Assembly upon the Licensing Bill. The writer thinks that giving publicity in our columns to anything which appears in another journal is tantamount to lending our sanction to the opinion it expresses. Undoubtedly this is the case in many instances. Certainly not in all. "We sre quite sure that the evils resulting from ir. temperance cannot well bo exaggerated. We can but hope for the time to come when such a heavy curse upon communities will abate. This time will arise, and wo sincerely believe, at no distant period, but assuredly not by any such means as open public-house windows or barmaids over thirty years of age, together with other like weak and ineffective suggestions. If i.vjii of good social standing, large ability, capable of expressing moderate views, could be induced to come forward and give their countenance to furthering the cause of temperance, we are quite sure that very much goo:', might be done ; but these unfortunately arc just the men who hold back, because such extreme views, expressed in such extreme language, are indulged in by so many advocates of permissive and total abstinence principles. Our columns will bear testimony to our desire to promote the cause, although we may not have approved of many of the modes tried to remedy the evil, which certainly is not one that can be stamped out by any violent measure likely to receive the sanction of Parliament.

Under certain well-understood, regulations a number of immigrants have from time to time arrived in the colony, having been shipped out upon condition of giving promissory notes for their passage money. These promissory notes were given in due course, out very few of them have been retired, either in whole or in part. These immi- : rrauts now desire to be relieved from their j liabilities, and have uetitioned the Govern- » ir.i:nt '.<> cancel their u'ttes, upon what legitii nwfb prouno* it -ffcal-l b=: hard to say. The j v.'wimtteo nppoiwfieil to euqaire into the lUi'iter have very properly, we think, de- ! euled not to recommend the Government to remit the claims they have upon immigrants, unless in cases of sickness or other causes of a very exceptional character.