THE The Zeland Herald. SPECTRMUR AGENDO. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1875.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4290, 13 August 1875, Page 2

THE The Zeland Herald. SPECTRMUR AGENDO. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1875.

A cokkesi'ojcdknt to-day draws attention to an aspect of the abolition question which does not appear to have yet received consideration. He points out that on tho day before last alone, there were introduced into tho Assembly nine separate bills, on comparatively small and purely local subjects. He has enumerated these bills, and considers that there will be at least 30 or 40 more before the session ends. If past experience bo a guide, there is certainly every probability that the surmise will prove correct. The bill3 referred to aro Gas Loan Bills, Harbour Works, and similar matters formerly dealt with by tho Provincial Councils, but which the Assembly has gradually taken in hand. Among them, for example, are bills authorising the election, by tho body of ratepayers, of the Mayors of Auckland and Blenheim. Now, tho Mayor of Dunedin lias always been elected in this manner, and is so elected by virtue of a Provincial Ordinance passed ten yeara ago. But tho Assembly subsequently passed their Municipal Corporations Hill, and no Provincial Council can now deal with this question, as tho Constitution provides that the Assembly legislation shall supersede all others. Certainly, when wo consider the long list of Provincial Ordinances which come every year before the nine Councils, it will be plain that tho sessions of the Assembly must bo very materially lengthened when they take them all in hand. Wo have before us tho Otago Ordinances passed in 1875, received by yesterday's mail, and they exhibit a formidable list when regarded from tliis point of view. The Appropriation Act alone covers 29 pages, and deals with no loss a sum than £1,022,150 8s 4d. Many of its items will be dealt with by the Road Boards and Shire Councils, but their work will be of no light nature, especially if the maintenance and construction of tho main reads bo thrown upon them. Under any circumstances, with tho Abolition BUI as it at present stands, there will be great and numerous appropriations for Provincial Districts—the same in fact as arc now mado for provinces. Each district will have its Government Agent and tho necessary stall' to replace the present executive officers of the provinces Under-secretarics will be required iii the richer provinces then, ns now. Police, gaols, and hospitals, "Waste Lands and Survey Departments, railways, Provincial Engineer's Department, educational and goldfields administration, charitable and other grants in aid, probably main roads and bridges, and tho very large number of " miscellaneous " items in the twenty-five pages of this Otago Appropriation Act must be dealt with in detail. Covering a million of money in Otago alone, the various items will bo keenly contested in the Assembly as heretofore in the Councils. Each

member will desire to do the best he can for his own particular district, while the caucuses for "Provincial Districts" will bo as common among those who represent them as they are now for provinces. The Acts absolutely passed by the Otago Council in the session of 1875 numbered twenty-one ; not to speak of those which were brought forward and did not pass. Looking at this formidable folio of Provincial Acts, and adding to it the equally formidable Canterbury list, with those of other provinces, it is clear that very groat additional work will be provided for the Assembly. ' Its sessions must be much longer, and their wholo character be changed by the introduction of so many local subjects. In Victoria tho Parliament sat seven months last year with short recesses intervening. In New Zealand, under the Abolition Bill as it now stands, the work will bo more difficult than in Victoria, for each "Provincial District" will have to be separately provided for, and over each there will bo an inevitable fight.

Little as this difficulty has been thought about, we believe it will prove very serious in practice and will of itself render the bill as at present framed entirely unworkable. Abolish Provincial distinctions of all kinds, have one purse and one administration for the whole colony, recognise no separate or local sections under any name whatever, reform the Assembly so as to fit it to do the new work cut out and to command tho confidence of the people in doing it, —this is a task worthy the highest ambition of the foremost statesmen of tho colony. He who can accomplish this will deserve the gratitude of the whole people, and will save tho colony from much of the confusion and trouble which otherwise it will assuredly have to face. The present bill does not accomplish any of these great ends. It does not even pretend to accomplish them, but if by any means it can be altered in its passage through Parliament so as to accomplish them, we are satisfied that it might be sent to the country with the certainty of securing unanimous support, over a very great portion, if not tho whole, of the colony.

What a number of romances, tragedies, melo-dramas, to say nothing of comedies, farces, and burlesques have been written, the chief or culminating incident of which has been made to turn upon the day and year in which a man was born, more especially if he be the heir to a large landed estate. How many a lawsuit has descended from sire to son for tho same reason. Only those who have read Mrs. Radcliffe and Monk Lewis, Sarah Oldfield and Mackenzie, can tell of the diro events which came to pass iu the era when such things were written. Gho3ts had to be invoked, and all sorts of supernatural processes resorted to in order to obtain the necessary information. Tombstones were Bought out, and the last dying speeches and confessions resorted to for the purpose of obtaining information which would enable Edwin and Angelina to be joined together in the holy bonds of matrimony without the former running the risk of being wedded to a deceased wife's Bister. This and many other difficulties of a like kind are being attempted to be removed by no less a personage than the Hon. Dr. Pollen in the Legislative Council. We have it all in J/aiuard, corrected by the Hon. the Premier's own hand. It appears that when a child is born, it is all the same whether it bo the offspring of poverty or the heir to enormous possessions, the register of its birth ia, placed in an ordinary cupboard or a conjVpon deal box into wliiuli -tho motU St, *Ko mm mnK> gain access, or which fire may destroy. The Hon. the Premier, Dr. Pollen, informs Hon. Legislative Councillors that measures are to be taken to prevent this by means of duplicate copies and iron safes securely fixed into the walls of some building situate in the chief town of each province. The whole of Dr. Pollen's statement appears to us to amount to a confession of neglect. It is that the Government have been very lax indeed in maintaining secure custody of most important public documents, but that better provision will be made for the future, while any serious inconvenience or loss incurred by neglect in the past must just be allowed to take its course.

Tue cost which tho colony is put to for telegrams passing between Ministers at Wellington and their representatives in London, may be judged by a question which was lately put and answered in the Assembly. Mr. G. McLean asked the Government whether, in communicating with Europe by cable, messages were sent in cipher V His reason for putting this, question was, that when lie was in England, some time ago, ho visited tho Agent-General's ofliue, to ask for information on matters in which he was interested ; and he must say that that gentleman shewed him great courtesy in giving the information. During one of his visits a cablegram arrived from New Zealand, and he was asked to wait until it was read. He asked the Agent-General whether, if there was nothing particular in the message, he might be allowed to see it, and that gentleman stated that there was nothing in it which anybody might not see. lie counted the words of the telegram, and, speaking from memory, he might say that the cost of sending it came to £149 some odd shillings. It was signed "Julius Vogel." He then asked whether the Government did not us© a cipher in communicating by telegram, and was answered, "No." Now, merchants and bankers used ciphers in telegraphing home, anil thereby Baved a good deal of money ; aud he did not seo why the Government should bo above the use of a cipher? To this Mr. Reynolds made answer, and said in effect that the Government did use a cipher, but not always, as it was found inconvenient, and might involve the loss of thousands of pounds. Mr. Reynolds did not exf)lain how merchants, bankers, and other argo firms used cipher telegrams without subjecting themselves to the risk of heavy losses, while the Government wa3 liable to sucli pecuniary casualties.

Mr. Von dkr Hkvdk has asked the Minister for Public Works, in his place iu the Assembly, how it is that the province of Wellington is receiving money grants from the General Government for harbour improvements, while Auckland is not receiving anything of the kind. Mr. Richardson gives as the reason that Auckland lias received endowments for harbour works from the General Government, but Wellington had received none. The reply may lead to a misunderstanding, as few hero are aware that what we commonly know as the General Government in these days had nothing whatever to do with our harbour endowments, except tho gift of St. Barnabas* Point. In 1853, just before Sir George Grey left New Zealand, one of his first acts as Governor was to receive a deputation, of which Mr. A. Clarke, tho late Mr. John Williamson, Mr. J. T. Boylan, and other gentlemen whose names we cannot at the moment recall, were members. At their suggestion Sir George at once set aside the present Harbour and City Endowments, and it is to Sir George that tho city owes them and others of which wo are enjoying the benefit. The Assembly had not then met under the new Constitution, and there was no such thing as a General Government in existence. The other property now owned by tho Harbour Board, such as the wharves, &c, were put up by tho Provincial Government, who handed them over free of charge as an endowment to the Board which the Provincial Council had itself created. The works thus handed over cost the province something like £90,000, on which the General Government still stop £5400 from tho capitation rate each year, as interest and sinking fund. How it can be said, therefore, that the General Government have in any way «n-

(lowed the Harbour Board of Auckland we cannot conceive.

We are under the impression that most persons living in corporate towns and municipalities consider that the taxing powers allowed to Mayors and councillors are quite as large "as they should be, and we have no doubt there are those who would not object to these powers even being curtailed. Bnt we notice that Mr. Webb, member for Lyttelton, has been asking the Minister of Justice, on behalf of the Lyttelton Council, for certain alterations and amendments in the Municipal Corporations Act. One of these is that the present system of election of auditore should be set aside, and efficient auditors appointed by the Government. Another demand is that larger rating powers should be given for general purposes, and that a clause introduced in the bill legalising by-laws passed by municipalities. Mr. Bowen iufurmed Mr. Webb that it was the intention of the Government to bring in a bill to amend the present Municipal Corporations Act. If this be so, we think the amended bill should be carefully watched in its progress through the House, before itisallowed to become law. The powers possessed by Corporations, more especially regarding rating clauses, is quite as extended as they should be. At least such, wc are sure, is the opinion of a large proportion of the tax-payers. As regards the power of Councils to increase the number of by-laws already existing, we think no such permission should be given without very full consideration. In Auckland one by-law is 80 piled on another, in such a confused heap, that citizens scarcely know what is or what is not required of them under Bitch a multiplicity of petty local governments.

The constituencies of Auckland may wel feel satisfied at the able manner in which Mr. Reader Wood has endeavoured to render them good services. His speeches, invariably convincing, always clearly, and at times eloquently, expressed, have upon the present occasion been marked by a boldness, energy, decision, and force which has told upon the House, and must have gained for him as much the admiration of Ministers as those comprised in his own party. His simile, in which ho compared the efforts which had been made to redeem the position of this province to that of an honest man struggling with adversity, was a very apt one; it expressed so much that was really true in so few words. But Mr. Wood has proved himself something more than a ready speaker or an orator : he has shewn himself capable of dealing with figures, and unravelling the complicated statements of the Colonial Treasurer. He not only grapples with the subject as a whole, but descends to the minutest details. The returns which our telegrams tell us he has asked for are not for any trivial or idle purpose. Mr. Wood will either confirm the figures of the Hon. Mr. Atkinson, as given in his financial statement, or he will shew where they are wrong and require to be set right before any great measure is founded on them.

We are furnished with returns in the New Zealand Gazette of imports and exports of the colony for the June quarters ending 1874 aud 1575 respectively, by which we rind a considerable decline in both as compared with those for the same period of the year previous. For the quarter ending June, 1874, the total imports were £1,800,701, while for the same term in 1575 they had fallen to £1,738,300, shewing a decrease of £122,395. A still larger decrease is noticeable in the exports. For the 1874 quarter these amounted to £1,515,45G, and for 1575 £1,353,149, shewing a decrease of £132,337. The chief exports from Auckland were— gold, 10,900 ozs. ; kauri gum, 877 tons ; wool, 05,019 lbs. ; timber, 500,OUOft. ; silver, 10,440 ozs.; ilax, 35 tons; oil, sperm and black, 3000 gallons ; cordage, 94 cwt. ; fungus, 191 cwt. ; tallow, 34 cwt.' Ale, Kia#»»it«, huttur. co*l, (lour, wlial&bona* prcserved meats, leather, hides, and miscellaneous are comprised in the list ofour exports.

The electors of Eden last evening agreed to an amendment, proposed by Mr. Staines, to a resolution of Mr. James Wrigluy in favour of the Abolition of Provinces and Local Government Bills. The meeting, in many respects, was more effective than even that at Parncll. The tone of discussion was better sustained, and the opinions of those who formed it were definitely expressed. Mr. Robert Graham occupied the chair. Those who would gather the meaning of those who took a leading part should read the speeches, which are given in a compressed form in another part of this paper. The amendment is to the effect that the country should be appealed to before the bill is passed through tho Assembly.

The impression seems to gain ground that Ministers will not attempt to force their bills beyond the second reading. The result of the Wellington meetings, the one held at Parnell on Wednesday evening, and at Newmarket last night will probably cause Ministers to pause, and consider whether they are not likely to bring about a strong feeling against them by trusting to a majority in the House in preference to taking a verdict from the country, obtained through the general elections, and in a new Parliament.

Mr. G. T. Chapman has issued another very useful work, and one which should meet with a very ready sale. It is called " Chapmau's New Zealand Grape Vine Manual ; or, plain directions for planting and cultivating vineyards aud for making wines," and is edited by Mr. David Mclndoe, headgardener to Thomas Russell, Esq., Glenside and Pah Farm. The first part of the manual treats of the best s3 - stem of preparing the soil, draining, trenching, manuring, and making composts ; planting, pruning, training, aud the general management required during the first five years. The second part gives the result of correspondence and conversations on the subject with nearly all the most intelligent local gardeners and vinegrowers ; and the third part contains extracts from some of the most recent English, French, American, and Australian works. This manual is certainly a most useful, handy little book, containing a great deal of valuable information, and will supply a want very much felt; it contains 111 pages royal Svo., and is very nicely printed.

Our special at Wellington has supplied us with a long report of the Wellington abolition meeting, which is well worth perusal at the present moment, and in view of impending local meetings on the same subject.

The following is the motion of Sir George Grey relative to land purchase agents as given in Hansard. It is somewhat different to the text of ths telegram :—Motion made, and question proposed, " That there be laid' upon the table of the House copies of all correspondence between Colonel McDonnell and the Hon. the Native Minister, or any other officer of the Government, having relation to the employment of Mr. Brissenden as Land Purchase Agent in the north of Auckland, or to the removal of Colonel McDonnell from a similar position in the same part of the colony ; and of all correspondence and papers shewing the nature of the instructions given to Mr. Brissenden, and of his employment, duties, and proceedings thereunder."

There has been a great deal of exaggeration in the report circulated concerning the conduct of a certain constable towards his child, and it would be well for the public to suspend their judgment until the true facts are brought to light. It is hardly right, for the sake of sensationalism purely, to brand a man as a brutal monster, inhuman ruffian, and human fiend, until it is proved that he deserves the title, —more especially when it is known that the case is under investigation.

The usual monthly parade of the Auckland Scottish, Engineer, and Naval Volunteers took place last evening, in the Drillshed. Major Gordon was the inspecting officer. There was a very fair muster of Volunteers, and the evolutions of the men wtre satisfactorily performed.

The Star's special at Wellington supplies the following Parliamentary chat :—Dargaville telegraphs to Luckie—"No chance carrying resolution favourable abolition in Auckland or suburbs, and that they must fall back on out-districts." The Tairua Committee has been engaged all themorning examining Mackay. Evidence is not finished. The debate last evening was verygood. The Opposition speakers were Mont?omery and Gibbs. On Government side, ,uckie and Tribe. Montgomery's speech was wonderfully good. The Government cowed aghast to rind Gibbs opposing the bilL The Wellington people, at a crowded meeting last night, went almost unanimously against the abolition meeting. It had been called by friends of the Government. The news of Parnell meeting coming on, all this has strengthened the Opposition immensely, and the Government party look gloomy and are becoming alarmed. It is generally thought now that the Government must send the bill to the country. Sir G. Grey gave notice to-day of his intention to bring in a bill to prevent the Government completing certain land jobs in the Waikato and other parts of the Province of Auckland. Mr. Sheehan will ask to-morrow when the Government will call for tenders for the Kaipara extension railway, and when the bjll -for facilitating the recovery of rates against land will be brought down. Mr. Swanson will ask when the House will have a Eepresentation Bill placed before it. Mr. Wood moves an important motion to-day asking for returns throwing light on the new financial proposals. Your Council is much excited about Sheehan's bill to make the Mayor elected by ratepayers. They have been telegraphing all round the House, but all but Auckland members are in favour of the bill, and will vote for it. It will certainly be carried. The second anniversary of the Star of Newton Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was celebrated in the Newton Congregational School-room last evening by a tea meeting, which was in every sense of the word a great success, and at which the attendance numbered 400. P.W.C.T. McGregor occupied the chair at the meeting which followed the tea, and made an excellent, common-sense, practical Bpeech. Mr. S. Worms, secretary, read a very favourable report, indicative of the progress of the lodge. There were several speeches, and a number of well-rendered recitations and songs during the evening. Mr. W. Baxter presided at the harmonium, and the Newton Choristers rendered several musical selections in a very pleasing manner. The tea tables were provided by Mr. Brown, and were laid out in a very superior manner. Pressure upon our space necessitates a contraction of the report. With regard to the expenditure under provincial appropriations, it does not appear from the estimates, says the iveio Zealand Time*, what works are to be proceeded with, but no doubt everything will depend upon their urgency and land revenue. The Government has laid down the wholesomedoctrine that the lands of the colony are not to be sacrificed for mere revenue purposes, but should be administered with the view of promoting settlement. From this we infer that those Provincial Councils which magnanimously appropriated their revenue some two or three years in advance need not expect to have this speculative expenditure carried out at present. Necessary works will doubtless be gone on -with, but in such a way as not to interfere with the carrying on of the works already in progress, or in competition with the main trunk lines. In conclusion, we have to congratulate the country upon the concrete shape its public business is taking. The Hibernicon Company was greeted with a crowded house at the City Hall last evening. The occasion was a benefit to the company, at which several professionals and others assisted. The entertainment was thoroughly enjoyed, and was a great success. Mr. Baker's Hibernicon has been one of the best travelling " shows" that has visited New Zwlontl Binon ±Ue. AwflriftaU WaT PailOrama. The pictures are gems of Irish scenery, and the accessory music, dancing, and delineatory speeches have always been excellent of their respective kinds. The company proceed to Sydney, where they deserve to meet with success. Another large house greeted the Fakir of Oolu last evening, notwithstanding the fact that no change in the programme was announced. We would remind those parents desirous of giving their children a " treat" that on Saturday there will be a matinee, commencing punctually at 2.30. The fountain, the entranced lady, the "rheumatic" sailor, and the British lion will afford the little ones rare amusement, and will excite their curiosity to the highest pitch. There was a large take of mullet yesterday. This lish is described as the most palatable of all the produce of New Zealand waters. As a consequence the only fishmonger's shop in town (McLean's, on the wharf) was well stocked with fresh mullet, interspersed with feunell, reminding the passers by of the exhibits of Scotch salmon in the old country during the season. One novelty about the precincts of Parliament is a colossal wooden bust of the Queen, presented, we believe, to the Maoris, which is temporarily shelved in the smoking-room, in too low a position for its size. The likeness of Her Majesty is faithfully matronly. The wood is painted white, with gilt sceptre, crown, and ornaments.

A correspondent attracted to Wellington by the opening of Parliament writes that Wellington is immensely improved in appearance. Buildings are rising in all quarters, and rents ditto : provisions the same, and promising to go even higher. The only cases at the Police Court yesterday were charges of drunkenness. Two persons were punished for first offences, and one for a third offence 'was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment with hard labour. Colonel Nation occupied the Bench. The Princess Hotel, Wellington, is graced with Sir George Grey as a lodger for the session. The Superintendents of Otago and Nelson take up their abode in the same house, and have done so for some sessions. The reply of the Minister of Public Works to the question when the railway from Mercer to Newcastle would be finished, was to the effect that it would be completed in April next. In the House of Representatives, the Treasurer, in reply to Mr. G. McLean, said there was an arrangement as to the price the bank paid for Government drafts in London. The amount of gold exported from New Zealand from April, 1557, to the end of 1574 was 7,599,973 ounces, of the declared value of £29,577,016.

The area and extent of the Tairua licensing district appears in the Sew Zealand Ga zette of August 5.

Ake-ake, a New Zealand »wood, is being used in Sydney for wood-cuts, for which it appears to be admirably adapted.

The fifth lecture of the winter series, delivered before the Young Men's Christian Association, will be given this evening, in the Rooms, Wellesley-street, at 7.30. The lecturer is the Rev. P. H. Cornford, and his subject " Home, Sweet Home." The subject is one of general interest, and, in the hands of the lecturer, will no doubt be dealt with a graphic and instructive manner. Selections of music will be rendered during the evening. The ratepayers of the Ponsonby Highway District will hold a meeting this evening, to empower the Board to contract for lighting the district, and to levy a rate for that purpaw. A meeting of the electors of the Franklin district will be held at the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu, on Monday evening next, to take into consideration the Abolition of Provinces Act. A special meeting of the members of the Loyal Orange Institution will be held in the Young Men's Christain Association Rooms, on the 20th inst. A publi* meeting will be held at Onehnnga on Monday evening next, to qonsider the proposals of the Government for abolishing the provinces.