OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8955, 12 August 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR LETTER HOME.

Parliament has been sitting continuously during the past month, but there is very little to be recorded in the way of work done. The discussion on the Financial Statement commenced on July 15, and was kept up till August 5, when the Premier replied, and the motion to go into Committee of Supply was carried without a division. The debate ranged over the whole policy of the Government, but dealt chiefly with the taxation proposals. The measures to carry into effect the financial proposals of the Government are not yet before the House. Now that the financial debate is disposed of, the Ministerial Land Bill will occupy the principal place for a time. Several modications of the present law are proposed. , Land .may be purchased for cash, but in that case the purchaser must occupy for seven years, and must make certain improvements before he gets his Crown grant. Land may also be taken up by occupation with a right of purchase, which may be exercised at any time between twelve and twenty years. There is also a tenure of perpetual lease without any right to purchase the freehold, on payment of a rent to the State, calculated at 4 petcent. on the value of the land at the time it is taken up. In regard to this Land Bill, various amendments will be moved by the Opposition, chiefly in the direction of securing to those who take up land greater facility to obtain the right of freehold. The second reading of the Land Bill was proposed on Tuesday night by the Hon. J. Mclvenzie, Minister of Lands. After some discussion Mr. Bruce, the newly-elected member for Kangitikei, proposed as an amendment: —"That while in the opinion of this House, the Land Bill contains some useful amendments in the existing law, and should at an early date be read a second time, this House considers the extent to which the Bill restricts freehold tenure unsatisfactory and calculated to be injurious to the best interests of settlement." The Premier asked the leader of the Opposition, the Hon Mr. Rolleston, whether this amendment had his sanction, and the reply was, that he concurred in it. The Premier then stated that the amendment would be accepted as a motion of want of confidence. A division took place 011 Wednesday night, when the amendment was defeated by 39 to 21. It is said that the Government intend in committee to propose certain amendments in order to please those of their supporters who do not hold with them in the direction of restricting the right to obtain the freehold of the land. Such amendments would also recommend the Bill to the Legislative Council. It is believed that in its present shape the Bill would not be passed by the Council. Ministers say that they will not submit to any modification of the Bill in the Council. They will rather withdraw it, and endeavour to get an appeal to the country. Ministers, indeed, are anxious to force on a general election. Very many of their supporters are averse to a dissolution, but Ministers believe that it would be to their advantage. They have a large majority in the present House, and they think that if they were to go to the country at the present time, a Parliament still more favourable to them would be returned. The Parliament of New Zealand is triennial, and in the course of events a general election would take place in about eighteen months. Ministers know that in eighteen months they would not get a House so favourable to them as the, present, whereas if an election were to take place now they would have a good majority during the three years which would constitute the life of the Parliament.

In former summaries we have referred to the complications which have arisen respecting the calling of new members to the Upper House. Lord Onslow ofiered to make nine nominations on the advice of Ministers. They declined this offer, and it is said insisted on having twelve. When Lord Glasgow came, two additional vacancies had been created in the Council, and he offered to nominate eleven men. This has also been declined by Ministers, and so the matter stands. Attempts have been made in the House to obtain the correspondence on the subject, the communications that have passed between His Excellency the Governor and the Secretary of State and between His Excellency and Ministers. As respects the former, His Excellency has stated that they are in the nature of confidential letters. As respects the latter, which Parliament really has a right to see, Ministers decline to advise His Excellency to lay them before the House.

As far as present appearances go women may soon possess in New Zealand the right to the electoral franchise. The Government are favourable to the change. Last session a Bill for the purpose passed the House of .Representatives, but was tin own out in the Legislative Council by a majority of two, these two, moreover, being Maoris. But it is thought that this time a favourable verdict may be secured in the Council. The measure is supported by advanced Democrats on theoretical principles, while a large party of the Conservatives are in favour of it under the idea that by giving the suffrage to women a conservative element of great value would be introduced into the constituencies.

"We have still to note steady progress all over the colony. Settlement is rapidly progressing, especially in the North Island. Land is being taken up and brought into cultivation in the provinces of Wellington, Taranaki, and Auckland. At present the operations are mainly preliminary, consisting of bush-felling, fencing, and putting m grass, but in a year or two the result will be manifested in increased production, and in augmentation of population.

The Midland Railway Company, as "has been already stated, has made proposals to the Government for a modification of the contract which they have sntered into with the colony, to construct certain railway lines on the West Coast of the South Island, and to connect the east and west coasts of that Island. The Government have declined to entertain these proposals, and now it seems likely that the whole subject will be discussed by the House. The company have presented a petition setting forth certain grounds on which they claim they have been wrongfully dealt with by the Government—such as the proclamation reserving mining lands, the new taxation, etc. The Act under which the North Island Main Trunk Railway is being constructed lays down the route through the centre of the North Island. The Auckland members have been endeavouring to have a committee appointed to go into the whole subject. Since the construction of the line, the country has been more carefully examined, and there is no doubt that it has been shown that the route at first agreed upon is unsuitable in several respects. The engineering difficulties are much greater than it was thought would be met with, while the country is not of a nature to carry a . large population, In these circum-

stances the Auckland members hav e endeavoured to obtain the appointment of a committee to review the entire plan so as to see whether it would not be better for the colony to construct a line to join with the railway system at Taranaki. This would open up good country, which might all be speedily occupied by a population which would make the railway pay. It. is doubtful, however, whether anything will bo done this session. The Otago members are promoting a movement with the view of bringing pressure on the Government to hasten the construction of the Otago Central line. They have a plan by which part of the rentals of the Crown lands of Otago should be devoted to this line. The Government, however, are not likely to agree to any scheme by which the revenue will be diminished, nor, at the present time, to any proposals for further borrowing. When the elections in the United Kingdom were concluded, and when it was seen that the Liberals had obtained a j majority, the Premier of New Zealand, .Mr. Ballance, sent the following cable | message to Mr. Gladstone :— " The | Ministry of New Zealand send con- ! gratulations." The Government have i been sharply reproved in the House for having sent this message, and there is a strong feeling throughout the country on the subject. It is felt that the i Government of New Zealand have 110 right to identify themselves with any English political party. Moreover, Ministers are placed in their position with a view to their action in New Zealand politics, and are in no way authorised to interfere in English politics as representing the people of this colony. This feeling was given voice to by the National Association, who at once, upon the action of the Ministry becoming known, telegraphed to the Premier as follows • —"The Council of the National Association protest against the action of the Ministry in cabling officially its congratulations to Mr. Gladstone on the result of the English elections, on the ground that such congratulations convey the impression that they reflect the public opinion of the colony, while such public opinion has never been expressed or solicited. The Council further deprecate the interference by the Ministry or Parliament of New Zealand in the party politics of the United Kingdom.—Jxo. Hastie, secretary."

Sir George Grey was not able to attend in Parliament during the early part of the session but he has now recovered strength, and is in Wellington. He will oppose the Land Bill of the Government.

A proposal has been made to hold an Exhibition in Auckland in the season 1895-96. A meeting was held a few days ago. at. which a committee was appointed to consider the whole subject, At a late meeting of the Harbour Board, intimation was received that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had approved of the proposed exchange of land at Devon port. Auckland is to be the principal naval station in the colony, and a considerable amount of accommodation will be required, as it is intended, we believe, to erect workshops and stores. The Admiralty have at present a piece of land at Devonport, but the position is not quite convenient, It is proposed to exchange this for four acres close to the Calliope Dock, where there will be abundant room to erect all the buildings required. The statistics of exports and imports have now been compiled up to the end of June, and they show that the Customs revenue for the year has made a steady advance on previous years. Excluding the primage duty, which was levied in the first two years, the following are the iiirures for four years past : 1888-89. £1,409,490 ; 1839-00, £1,475,241 : 1890-9 ii £1,504,814 ; 1891-92, £1,648,767. The figures for Auckland are : 1888 89, £312,877 ; 1889 90, £326,592; 1890-91, £337,161 ; 1891-92, £361,612. These figures include the primage duty for the first two years, so that it will be seen tnat the Customs revenue at Auckland has increased in a very marked degree. The figures referring to exports, however, show some variation. From Auckland thev were, as follows :—IBBB-89, £1,076.864 ; 1889-90, £ 1,104,034 ; 1890-91, £1.305J 89 ; 1891-92, £1,190,908. The difference between 1890-91 and 1891-92 may however, be accounted for almost entirely by the difference in the export of coin, of which there was sent from Auckland in 1890-91, £104,360, whereas, during the year just past, the coin sent away from the whole colony lias only amounted to £5900. In imports, the following are the figures for the years ending June into Auckland : -1888-89, £1,383,385 ; 188990, £1,369,958 ; 1890-91, £1,444,052 ; 1891-92, £1,652,857. The only port having higher figures than Auckland is Dunedin, which returns £1,673,026. Wellington yields £1,535,713. It is estimated that the total for the quarter, when the returns are completed, will be over £1,400,000, as against £f, 144,27) for the corresponding period of 1891.. This will bring the total for the year ending with the 30th June to about £6,970,000, or nearly £800,000 above the preceding twelve months, ending with the same period.

A return has just been laid on the table of the House of Representatives showing the value of the principal articles of export of New Zealand products for the last twenty years. There are some curious features. Of course, the first in importance and in steady growth is wool. In 1872, we exported wool to the value of £2,537,919, and in 1801, the export was worth £4,129,680. The export fell back considerably in 1881, when the quantity sent away did not amount in value to £3,000,000. The total export of wool from 1872 to 1801, inclusive, was £65,397,580. But we suppose it will surprise most people to learn that one of the steadiest of our colonial exports has been kauri gum. In 1872 we sent away kauri gum to the value of £154,167. In 1873 and 1874, everything in the colony was booming, and there was a decrease in the export of kauri gum, but for the last ten years the amount sent away every year has been very equal, and gradually rising, till it has reached the amount in 1891 of £437,056. _ The export for the twenty years is £4,848,296. All of the gum has been obtained in the province of Auckland, and most of it in the country to the north of Auckland. It is a remarkable yield, considering that more than twenty years ago it was thought that the gum deposits had been almost worked out. But if the characteristic of the gum export is- its steadiness, the characteristic of the flax export is its unsteadiness. In 1872, we sent away flax to the value of £99,405 ; in 1873, it had leaped to £143,799 ; while in 1879, it was only £7874. It then continued low for a series of years. In 1888, it was £75,269, while in 1889, it had jumped to £301,182. In 1890, it was £381,789, the highest figure it has reached. Last year there was again a decline to £281,514. The frozen meat export commenced in 1882 with a modest beginning of £19,339, while in 1891 it amounted to £1,194,724, perhaps the most astonishing result of a new trade which any country has to show. As to butter and cheese, we have for a good many years had an export of these articles. la 1882, our export trade

amounted to £8841, while in 1891 it was £236,933, and promising a steady progress. Major Calhoun has lately paid a visit to New Zealand from the United States. He comes accredited by the United States Government to inquire into our systems of land tenure, the working of the railways by the State, labour questions, etc. The information he obtains will be made available for the great fair to be held at Chicago next year. H.M.s. Orlando, the flagship of the Australasian squadron, arrived here from Wellington on July 29, with His Excellency Admiral Lord Charles Scott on board. During the stay of the Admiral here he inspected the naval depot at the North Shore, and held a satisfactory interview with the Harbour Board officials regarding the Calliope Dock and the proposed naval workshops there. He expressed himself as well satisfied at the arrangements and conveniences at the dock. He had an interview with the chairman and secretary of the Harbour Board, and promised every assistance in the matter of forwarding the interests of the port regarding the visits of the warships, etc. The Orlando left for Fiji on the 3rd insfc., and visits the various islands in the South Pacific in which the Admiral has authority. The Orlando is timed to arrive at Sydney in September, when he will hand over his ! office to his successor, Sir N. Bowden Smith. H.M.s. Bingarooma, Captain Bourke, accompanied the Orlando from Wellington, and remains here for some time, as she is to be overhauled in the Calliope Dock. The gunboat Goldfinch is still in port, ana is to stay here for some time. H.M.s. Curacoa was at Suva on July 28, and H.M.s. Royalist was expected to arrive there daily from a cruise amongst the islands. H.M.s. Katoomba was at Sydney on July 30, having just been overhauled in the Cockatoo Dock. The German warships Sperber and Bussard were at Apia (Samoa) on July 20. The flagship of the French fleet in the South Pacific, the Dubourdieu, was at Tahiti at last advices, and the war cruiser Champlain left Townsville (Queensland) for France 011 July 29. The Chilian warship and a .Russian warship were expected daily at Tahiti on July 22. The Melanesian Mission yacht Southern Cross, Captain James tfongard, sailed on August 8 for Norfolk Island and the various islands in which the work of the Mission is carried on, taking His Lordship the Bishop of Tasmania and the Rev. C. W. Browning as passengers. His Lordship the Bishop will hold confirmations and ordain several native ministers during his visit to the islands. Whilst here the Bishop preached at several of the churches, besides delivering lectures at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association and other places. The Mission vessel is expected to return here about the middle of November next. The Rev. C. W. Browning is the latest addition to the Mission staff, he having reached the colony by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's steamer Doric from London.

In Masonic matters the month has had many features of unusual interest. Brother Malcolm Niccol, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the New Zealand Constitution of Freemasonry, has visited the greater number of the lodges holding under the New Zealand Constitution in the provinces of Taranaki and Wellington, and on the 30th ult. he presided at the quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge held at Wellington, at which 200 Masons, representing ill I parts of New Zealand, were present. The treasurer's report, also those of the Board of Benevolence and the Board of General Purposes, were submitted andshowed that marked progress had been made in all matters pertaining to the craft. The lodges under the Constitution were vigorous and prosperous, and the announcement of the intention to start a widows and orphans fund met with universal approval. In responding to the toast of his health at the banquet which followed the meeting, Brother Niccol spoke in the most satisfactory terms of the constitution, and said he was confident that in the course of ten years brethren would be in a position to talk of their funds in thousands instead of

hundreds. On the 3rd inst. Brother W. McCullough was duly installed Provincial Grand Master of the Scottish constitution of Freemasonry, as successor to the late Brother Sir F. Whitaker, to whom he acted as Depute Master during the life time of the late P.G.M. The installation took place in Lodge Ponsonby S.C. in the presence of a large gathering of Freemasons of the English, Irish, and Scotch constitutions, the Grand Lodges of each constitution being well represented. Brother W. J. llees, P.G.M. of the Irish constitution officiated as the investing officer, and Brother McCullough was warmly congratulated on his installation to the high office for which he had been nominated by the Grand Lodge of Scotland.