OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8963, 30 January 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR LETTER HOME.

Is our last summary issue we recorded the doings of Parliament, which had at till close on Christmas Day. This time we have but little to notice in the ■way of political news. At the Christmas time most of the Ministers took a brief holiday at their homes, and reassembled at Wellington after the New Year. They have been closely engaged day after day in completing the scheme of retrenchment inaugurated during last session, and which Ministers are pledged to carry out. The Civil Service is to be cut down to the smallest requirements, and salaries are to be reduced in every Department. The education system is to be lopped of every adjunct which can be spared, although efforts will be made to keep the system as useful as it has hitherto been in overtaking the wants of country districts, and in giving a plain and useful training, such as can be expected of a system which is maintained entirely out of the taxation of the country, and is in no way aided by fees levied on the pupils. On the whole, i Ministers have been thoroughly supported in carrying out the policy of retrenchment, as the people see that the J colony must no longer depend upon J borrowing, and must make income and Expenditure balance. The only place which shows signs of recalcitrancy is Wellington, where the Civil Service muster strongly, and influence public opinion. The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson, Minister of Public Works and Oi. Native Affairs, remained in Auckland till January 10, several days before be left being occupied in conferring with deputations who waited upon hiin in regard to matters of local importance. The public works in progress now are small compared to what they have been, so that the managing department can be greatly reduced. The natives give but little trouble, and tho business of the department is chiefly confined to facilitating the individualisation of titles by the natives. The Hon. Sir P. Whitaker, Attorney-Gen-eral, remains in Auckland, he having taken office -with the understanding that he should bo allowed to reside here when Parliament was not sitting. A rather awkward blunder has just been discovered in the Loan Act passed last session. By that Act it was intended to authorise the raising of the North Island Trunk Loan of a million, and also of another million. A clause was inserted prohibiting any further borrowing for three years, and in the Lurry with which many of the measures of last session were drafted, this proviso was so worded as to prevent the raising in London of any loan except the North Island Trunk Loan. If necessary, however, funds can be obtained temporarily in the colony, and next session the clause can be altered. Perhaps the most gratifying item of news we have to record is that the harvest which is now being gathered is a very splendid one. Lately the attention of landowners and land occupiers has been less than formerly directed to making profit from increase of land value by influx of capital and population, and the consequence has been that they have given more attention to agricultural operations. The climate and soil have responded, as they always will do, to the additional hi our. Last year 253,025 acres were laid down in wheat, producing 0,297,636 bushels. This year a large, area in addition has been laid down, and it is estimated that the production will amount to about 8,000,000 bushels. The season has been exceedingly fine, and it is thought that the average produce per acre will also be largely increased. Last year the average production for the colony was 24-85 bushels to the acre, but in all probability it will amount this time to 26 bushels. Last year the average for the province of Auckland was 26w j ■.his time we hope for 28 at least. The large harvest will undoubtedly be of great assistance in re-establishing the colony, and setting it again upon the road of advancement. In regard to mining, we have not much to say. A considerable area of auriferous land at "Waihi, on the Upper Thames, has been taken up on the London market, and it is hoped that active operations under the new management will be commenced in April next. At Uoromardel, an English company is also about to commence operations. These works will be of great benefit, a3 encouraging colonial capital to invest, prospecting the ground, and obtaining the kind of machinery best adapted to producing the gold from the ore. The timber industry has greatly improved within the last few months. The dividend declared by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company from the results of their last year's trading, and the position of the New Zealand Insurance Company, the South British Insurance Company, and other colonial institutions, has tended to create confidence. When the last Summary was issued, a portion of the Australasian squadron was in Auckland harbour, while Admiral Fairfax, with his family, occupied Government House. The squadron considered of the Nelson (flagship), the Calliope, the Rapid, and the Diamond. During the stay of the vessels, the officers participated in various entertainments, as also did the men. On January 5, the squadron left the harbour for Wellington, where the Admiral had consultations with his Excellency the Governor and Ministers on the subject of harbour defences. The fleet left Wellington so as to-be in Sydney for the centennial celebrations now going on, taking the Governor with them. The Raven left Auckland harbour on January 4, for a cruise about the New Hebrides group. The Opal is now in the harbour", having returned from an island cruise. The other vessels are expected back here &2ain about the middle of February, "hen either the Nelson or the Calliope will be put in our new dock. Mrs. Fairfax and family remain at Government House.

Bishop Cowie, who has held the position of Anglican Bishop here for 'lie last seventeen years, Laving been a Ppointed successor to Bishop Selwyn, l fe ft Auckland on January 10, for England, in order to attend the sittings of the Lambeth Conference. Bishop Cowie received before he left the uiost cordial proofs of the esteem in -which he is held by the clergy and members °£ the Anglican Church and by the general community. During the last month an experimen has been made in electric "Siting. Mr. J. C. Firth has just greeted a large flour mill close to the arbour, aud has at his command a

strong force of steam-power. His two sons (Mr. W. T. Firth and Mr. S. B. Firth) arc competent electricians, and are possessed of good machines. An offer has been made by them to light up the central parts of the city by electricity. They offered to light up Queen-street as a trial, and the experiment was highly successful. The City Council have now the matter under consideration.

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir G. S. Whitmore has resigned his appointment as chief of the Volunteer Force, and Colonel Boddam has also resigned his office. General Schaw, an Imperial Engineer ollicer of recognised ability, has made a report on the whole subject of defences, but the Government have as yet taken no action. None of the Ministers were able to attend the celebrations now in progress in. Sydney, on the completion of a century of the colony's existence. The urgent work now to be done in the colony prevented any of the Ministers from leaving. However, Sir William Fitzherbert, Speaker of the Legislative Council, at the request of Ministers agreed to represent the Government, and to act for New Zealand at the Postal Conference at Sydney. This Conference has before it the whole subject of mail and cable routes.