THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1875.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4203, 4 May 1875, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1875.

Two Provincial Councils aro now in session and our own will bo in another week added to the number. Tho Superintendents of "Wellington and of Otago have stated their views and so far as the tolegrams enable us to judge they aro likely to be also the views of their respective Councils. Ono member has given notice of a motion in tho Wellington Council, to endorse tho resolutions of the Assembly last session but his motion does not appear to havo elicited any warm response. Each province has its distinctive character, its own particular hopes and interests, and theso cannot fail to colour its proceedings.

'Wellington lias prospered more, probably, than any other provinco by the loan expenditure. The Customs revenuo is pretty well lost to it, as to others, but there ia a tolerable land revenue at its disposal. It has also the seat of Government and the heavy expenditure attending public buildings. The Colonial Museum and a number of similar institutions aro supplied practically for its use from these loans, wliilo the Beat of Government has beeiipernianently secured bynieansof the erection of costly buildings in the manner best suited—aa Mr. "Vogcl said at the Choral Hall—to settle this much-vexed question. Otago seems less satisfied. Iler revenne is great from lands and from the rent of runs. Her industries are prospering, but the needs of her population and the needs for her public works are also large. Miles of road are opened, but they require revenue to keep them in repair. Immigrants are poured in, but they bring now charges and new responsibilities with them. Wool continues high, but the country is pretty well locked up against settlement by the laws which give security to the runholders engaged in its production. The revenue for the year was £'444,7GG, yet they had been obliged to borrow £12,000 from tho loans of the Colonial Government to erect cottages for immigrants on tho condition that it should be repaid in four years. There had been 12,311 immigrants introduced during the year, and the traffic on the railways had produced £57,000 as compared with £U5,000 last year. They had spent £'21,000 on school buildings—being about tho total amount expended in this 1 province with a not much smaller number of children, for all purposes of education during the same period. A school of mines is to be established, the Clutha railway is to bo opened in July, and tho construction of branch railways begun by companies is mentioned with satisfaction. Wo must await details to know what the railways are from which so good a return has been obtained, and to see how much that return is in oxcess of working expenses. It will bo impossible also, until then, to judgo from what sources tho revenue lias been derived. It was formerly the custom in Otago to carry to revenue, the full amount of capitation from tho General Government ami to place onthoexpenditiircsidethcamouiit of interest on proviiici.il loans and of General Government charges. The Otago debt is about n million and a-half, and if this practice is still adopted, as we believe, it makes the figures somewhat delusive for comparison with other provinces in which the nett sum received is carried to account. The mere rents from runs and from school and other endowments must however give to Otago not loss than £70,000 to £75,000 a-year, while her direct land sales are considerable. With

all this great prosperity, two causes of apprehension are mentioned by Sir. Mac- | andrew in his speech. One is tha enormous drain on their resources by tho expenditure of the General Government. The other the danger of their finding themselves deprived of their land revenue by its being appropriated to colonial uses. Sir Francis Bell —an Otago member—told liia constituents only a week or twe ago that he would pledge his word the land revenue would be sacred in any changes tho present Ministry might institute. Considering that the 3linistry comprises two Canterbury and one Otago member, and that the solemn word of the Government is pledged to this policy, Sir Dillon Bell may claim just ground for his belief. Mr. Mucandrew entertains a different opinion. He holds that partial abolition is impossible, and that the provinces must stand or fall together, or, which he would prefer, amalgamate where their interests are identical and government from a common centre is practicable. Otago might in this way unite, he thinks, withCanteibury, but they must at all events enter into a firm alliance to rutain their respective land revenues. There can benodoubtthat j they will do so, and that the Assembly will be for many years disorganised and inellicient for sound work, if questions of this magnitude are to be the playthings of Government and left unsettled, to be used as passing exigencies may prompt. j On finance, Mr. Macandrew is emphatic. Half of the colony was supported by tho revenue taken from Canterbury and Otago—although he can not pretend that they are in any way exceptionally or more heavily taxed than other people. Nor should Mr. Macandrew forget how powerful a voice these two great provinces have exercised in controlling and directing the policy of the colony, in thegoodorevilell'ects of which others share equally with themselves. "Will thepenpleof Otagoagree to be swept into the Maelstrom of colonial finance ?" This is how Mr. Macandrew puts the question telling them at the same time that the "colony had abstracted already two millions of Provincial revenue not one farthing «f which was expended in the province." But Mr. Macandrew must, however, remember that if this be true of Otago it is infinitely more trueof Auckland, which long boro theintinitelygreater share of thepublic burdens, without any counterbalancing gift of tho public lands, the sale of which lias repaid their sacrifices to Canterbury and to Otago a hundredfold.

With theso vital questions agitating great provinces, what prospect can thero be of any other subject receiving fair attion in the Assembly till they are settled ? Parties will turn upon them and Ministers will be supported or opposed with reference to them alone. The fight will be neither fair nor open, because each member mistrusts or places a different interpretation on the plainest and most solemn language of the highest functionaries. Intrigue will increase and lobbying prosper if these hidden springs are to continue in action.

" A radical change in the political framework of the colony is necessary," says Mr. Macandrew, and the opinion will be cordially responded to from this province. Xnr is the programme sketched out by him uninviting. "Ho was persuaded that if they went back to tho Constitution Act and all tho respective provinces relied on themselves with a Central Government for purely federal purposes, the provinces having full disposal of their revenues, contributing to tho proper maintenance of a ' federal' Government at Wellington, and to payment of tho colonial debt, it would bo better and more to a reduction of the cost of administration and to greater elliciency." Many will agree with Mr. Macandrew in this view as embodying a policy consistent with energy, intelligence, and economy in administration, and with tho unity of the colony. In allocating to each province its liability for tho colonial debt, account must necessarily be taken of its lauded resources as well :is Customs revenue. So only will it be possible to enter on the new race of progress with a spirit of friendly emulation rather than the rancorous jealousy that unjust administration of tho colonial land threatens to produce. But how is this extremely desirable end to be attained? Certainly not by legislation in tho Assembly as at present constituted, and wo havo grave doubts whether a general election would return members moro free from party obligations and moro fit to deal with Constitutional questions than the present. For our own part wo have suggested the election of a special body of delegates to deal with this question alone in the first instance, and we seo in Mr. Macandrew's statement of "the conflicting elements of which tho Parliament of New Zealand is composed" no hope of success by any other course.

Sin Geokge Aknky, late Chief Justico of New Zealand, will leave the colony by the next San Fraucisco mail steamer, en route fur England. The members of the Northern Club have announced their intention of giving a dinner in honor of their president, at which no doubt Sir George will speak the last words of farewell to his more immediate friends. Sir George Arney has also been president of the Auckland Institute. Lately he has not taken any active part ill political life, but he was a few years ago a member of the Legislative Council. He had, during his tenure of office, taken an active interest in professional education of every kind. His personal character was so unobtrusive, his great mental powers so little displayed, his demeanour so affable and gentle, that he made but little impression upon those outsido the sphere of his personal or judicial influence. On the judicial bench he upheld the dignity of his ollice without any assumption of self-importaiico : he knew how to bend when the occasion required, to encourage the youthful members of the legal profession or others who were brought into contact with him during the public sessions of the Supreme Court. Sir George Arney's personal qualities greatly endeared him to private friends and neighbours. He sympathised actively with every kind of local progress. It is as the head of the legal profession in New Zealand that he was best known and will be longest remembered. In the early days the etiquette of the most arduous, the most honorable, and most learned of the liberal professions was little known, because there were as yet few to observe it. 15ut the members of the bar have rapidly increased. We have now members of the Bar in New Zealand who, for powers of application, for ingenuity and sound erudition, need notgivo place to barristers of the same standing in England. Their names will suggest themselves to the people of every province of New Zealand. To Sir George Arney perhaps the greatest amount of honor ia chie for this result. The force of example is recognised when descending from the head through the grades of professimi.il life. His name will not be forgotten when th>: honer and learning of the Isar shall }>,: undur any necessity of vindicating tb<m'=elves. Theie are other hinga taught in ih_- cultivation ..f any ait or s.-iinee than tUe hubtlety or dexterity of technical skill and prautier. ■ lie right use is as important as the pw3.j:.si»ii of them. There is a ifti-an beyond which cleverness cannot b.- urg.-d without injury to the lights of snitors. Sir Arn-.v tanjjht the liar during its novitiate the uueiWity of a patient aa well us an rxliaustivo investigation of truth, and la doiny so was ever uareful to include in the enquiry those k-as ostensible, but on this account im-i.-liitl motives which govern +1. - - . .uduet of litigants. lie v/niiM not :::■■..■ :.•••• r;uth merely l.T.t the wii.Jc '.mil: .:■:■ ■-.- •-.r L n:ni-

tcra contested, and no incidental consideration was deemed trivial which wonld shed the faintest light upon tho issiio. These habits of mind elevated the Chief Justice to the position of a teache;\ and he brought to his high office all the personal qualities which" are best calculated to establish principle ard regulate practice. It is for the value of his example, for the impressive and durable memory of his dignified and patient temper in all matters under investigation, for his sympathy ■with every form of excellence, for his indefatigable industry, for his homely manner and unfailing affability that he will be remembered. Sir George Arney takes with him the sincere good wishes of all who ever knew him.

There is a vacancy in the City Council, caused by the resignation of Mr. Henry Isaacs, who at one time was Mayor of ths Municipal Corporation, previously and subsequently to which he sat at the Board table as Councillor. In both capacities Mr. Isaacs gave very much of his valuable timu to civic affairs. In all respects he was a useful and most valuable member in the best interests of the city. But as much as in anything else Mr. Isaacs, ably supported by other Councillors, was eminently successful iu conducting the business of the Corporation iu a way which gave it the high standing and character it now possesses, and we trust will never lose. The citizens of this city are perhaps not aware—for they have not an opportunity of reading—that among the numerous Municipal Corporations which exist throughout the provinces of the colony, scarcely half a dozen are conducted with that decorum and propriety which is so essential to maintaining the respect and good opinion of the burgusses. The scenes which are witnessed in some of these corporations, the expletives which are uttered, the personalities bandied, are only too frequently of a character calculated to bring sueh institutions into contempt. We are thankful in knowing that for a long time past the proceedings in our civio Council Chamber have been most orderly ; and strong as opposing opinions occasionally run, it is seldom if ever that an expression is used which can give offence or produce an uiicotirtcous retort. It is really desirable that nothing should be allowed to occur which is likely to cause a break in the orderly and well-conducted proceedings of tho City Council. The election of any one likely to act as a disturbing element should be carefully avoided. Irregularities of procedure, recriminations, inuendos, and offensive expressions, the imputing of motives, and the like be'-et disorder and interrupt the business of public bodies to an extent only those concerned can properly gauge. We nincerely hope, in the interests of the ratepayers, that ivhen the next civio elections take place the burgesses will bear iu miud to return a candidate who is likely to give his best services in assisting, instead of obstructing the business of the City Council.

The Thames Adrertiner reports, on the authority of Mr. John Davies, who has just returned from Te Kuiti, thi-t " there were ■JCM) persons present at the meeting, mainly \\*<<ikatos and Xgatiuiauiapotos, ami that thero were points put to the meeting, and unanimously agreed to, viz. :—l. The reformation of all acts issued by Tawhiao. 2. That the system of accepting Government rations should be put a stop to. 3. That they should keep the country now possessed by them, and preserve themselves as a separate people." The natives are daily becoming more difficult to treat with iu manner as heretofore, hut the resolutions just quoted evince an astuteness upon the part of our " dusky brethren" the Native Department will scarcely have given them credit for, and which they will find some dilliculty in meeting if strictly adhered to. No longer will they have it said that they arc under a compliment to the Government for flour and sugar ; they have resolved " that the system of accepting Government rations should be put a stop to : "; and no longer do they intend to sacrifice their heritage; they are determined that "they shall keep the country now possessed by them, and preserve themselves as a separate people." Putting the matter in a true light, and with the use of American phraseology, they have determined to become "white men" in everything but colour. Our East Coast correspondent recently pointed out the fact that the Kast Coast natives wore becoming so civilized in the matter of land dealing that they declined to sell their property any longer iu a promiscuous manner. They are obtaiaing the aid of surveyors to block off their possessions into sections ; and thu probabilities are that the next move will be to call in an auctioneer and advertise their sales after the most approved method of the " white man." We desire the civilization of the native, above all things ; but either he is too apt at learning, or the European has been too slow in taking advantage of his ignorance—at least, in the matter of the purchase of a landed estate from the Xorth Island. The A drertixer thus reads the resolutions above referred to : —"These include a good deal, if narrowly looked at. 'Die first amounts to a re-assertion of their position, that they have not and will not move from the demands made during and after the war, and that they will continue to ask for the restoration of the Waikato, and to adhere to their King as a sign of self-government and of independence of the European. In respect of the second, it appears that some of the Government officers in Waikato have been furnishing supplies to certain of the Kingites ; in fact, pressing all kiuds of things on them; giving not merely to men who have done nothing worse than fight openly against us, but to the men who have committed the worst murders. Of course the Government caiuiot, in res2>ect to these rahiana, get a quid pro quo as at Ohiiiemuri, but the Kingites are afraid lest they should thereby attain any influence amongst them. The third point is a renewed declaration of independence and of hostility to all roads and surveys."

The Rev. C. M. Nelson, in the course of his sermon at !it. Paul's Church on Sunday eveniug, animadverted in very strong terms upon the small contributions which are made by the members of congregations at the religious services they attended. In illustrating his case, the rev. gentleman stated that the offerings on the Sunday evening at the Choral Hall when Mr. Clark preached amounted to just one-third of that paid on the following evening for admission to a lecture and imisic.il entertainment under the auspices of the same popular preacher. This, [ we have no doubt, is quito true. But then the Kev. Mr. Nelson must bear in mind that, on the Sunday evening on which the Rev. Mr. Clark delivered a sermon, there were perhaps thirty other preachers at the several places of public worship in the city, and that perhaps, with one or two exceptions only, the plates for collections were sent round at all these places. Had there been thirty lectures accompanied by music of a very high order on the night Mr. Clark delivered his sermon, the amount received would not have been anything like so large as it was. It was scarcely to be expected that the Sunday Choral Hall collection referred to would bo very great. Worshippers who desert their own churches, and by so doing pay but a miserable compliment to their own ministers, are not those from whom very liberal contributions are likely to be received. People, as a rule, only attend places of amusement who can afford to pay tho admission money, but a large proportion of those, who .seek spiritual comfort cannot •ontributc in pro portion 'as the more wealthy can towards their amusements. Generally, public cnturtaiu.'iiuuts are only exceptionally indulged in, but there are many hundreds of persons who neMrjn omit to attend morning and evening services twice in each Sunday of every Sunday throughout the year ; and to contribute largely is what very many indeed cannot afford. We doubt whether the regular attendant-at public worship do not, in in the aggregate, give much more to their Church than they disburse in public entertainments. Where hundreds have been spent upon the erection of. our theatre and musichalls in Auckland, thousands of pounds have been voluntarily contributed for the building of cburuln-i and chapels, and for the main-

tenanco of the ministers who preach in them. TVe do not think the complaint of the Rev. Mr. Nelson ia rery well grounded. Will he take a glance at our numerous excellent charities, supported almost [entirely by voluntary contributions ?

An application was made yesterday to the City Council for permission to fire blank cartridges from gnns in the old barracks, on moonlight nights. It will be a satisfaction to most of the citizens to learn that the application has not been acceded to. Gun practice such as is pursued by the members of the Xaval Brigade, may be a source of amusement to those engaged in it, but it cannot possibly subserve any practioal purpose. It may awaken children from asleep, and cause irritation among people unaccustomed to such sounds, but that such practice can serve any useful end, no *iie can for a moment tolerate such a supposition. To discharge blank cartridge from half-a-dozen guns of small calibre, and of the most ancient construction, is siniply so much waste of gunpowder. For purposes of defence they are useless, and for defence are never likely to be required, while for simple 'amusement anything less noisy aud expensive would answer the land marines quite as well.

That Vulcan Lane would be tiore useful for traffic were it widened no one will dispute. It is for this reason that the citizens may regret some action was not taken by the city authorities, before tlie foundations had been put in for a new pile of buildings, to attain so desirable an object. Mr. Somervell, the owner of the ground, has declined to state what compensation he would accept to allow the street to be widened. The application was made too late. Between Shortlandstreet and Victoria-street tho only opening for traffic on the eastern side of Queen-street is the narrow thoroughfare known as Vulcan Line, which leads to High-street, in itself already too narrow to allow of the free tratlic demanded by the number of merchants and storekee2>crs carrying on business in aud in tho vicinity of this part of the city. However, the City Council, although it may •not possess the power to widen the street against the consent of a property owner, has power to appeal to a higher authority ; and we doubt not that when it is shewn that a large business centro is greatly inconvenienced the necessary authority, due compensation being given, will be forthcoming to effect an improvement which is so very greatly needed.