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New Zealand Mail, Issue 106, 15 February 1873, Page 11

It has been announced in our columns that the contract for the construction of the Upper Hutt railway would probably be given to Messrs Proudfoot and Co., of Dunedin, who were the lowest tenderers. In consequence, however, of the detailed tender of Messrs Proudfoot having been found to be altogether informal, the Government have accepted the tender of Mr M'Kirdy, of Wellington, which was the next lowest. The price is £19,970.

It is the turn of the Australasian colonies to rejoice that public opinion at home is showing a growing jealousy at the proportion of English labor and capital constantly going to build up the greatness and prosperity of the United States. If this idea be worked up properly, it would facilitate the labors of our immigration agents in a marked degree. It is generally admitted by those who bestow a thought at all on the question of immigration that the dreary distance and tedious voyage between England and the Antipodes are the chief causes why thotrsands of the best bone and sinew of the parent country bend their faces towards America instead of to the more salubrious and inviting lands in these seas. Attention having become fixed to the point, it was at once seen that it would be hopeless to expect to divert any very great portion of the stream of creative wealth continually flowing into the United States and Canada, unless time and distance were annihilated and cheap passages secured. An attempt has been made in this direction, and as far as appearances go it is likely to be successful. Capital, influence, and science seem to be combined amongst the gentlemen who are named as the promoters of the company. From the report of a preliminary meeting held in London for supplying what is now felt to be a natural requirement—more rapid steam communication between England and the Australasian possessions —. we notice that there were present at the meeting the chairman, deputy chairman, five of the directors, and secretary of the Great Western Company; the chairman and two of the directors of the National Provident Society. A deputation from Pembrokeshire, consisting of Lord Kensington, Mr Meyrick, M.P., Mr William Owen, Admiral Lord Stokes, Mr William Davies, Captain Jackson, and Mr Clarke. The promoters of the scheme who were present were, Tyndall Bright, Esq., Gibbs, Bright and Co., Liverpool and London, Captain George Macdonald, of London, William Pearce, Esq., Messrs John Elder and Co., Glasgow, and a large number of other capitalists, amongst whom were some gentlemen from Melbourne, and numbering altogether 29. The prospectus of a new ship company states that a fleet of six vessels of 5,000 tons register, each to cost £170,000, is intended to run between Birkenhead and Melbourne. Milford Haven is to be the port of call for mails, passengers, and

specie. A vessel is to leave each port each month, and the voyage is to bo performed in forty days, the ordinary period now being ninety days for sailing vessels. The meeting pledged itself to give all the support in its power towards the formation of the company. A further meeting, however, was to be called to receive the report and views of the directors ; but it is satisfactory to find that previous statements regarding the chances of success before such a company have been tested and found to be borne out'by facts.

The political crisis in Franco still continues. Thiers refuses to accept the proposal of the Committee of Thirty—the whole tenor of which was to reduce the President from the position of a ruler to that of a mere clerk of the Assembly, and to place all substantial power in the hands of a Ministry, and not even giving the President the right of veto. Thiers is willing to agree to some of the recommendations of the committee, hut insists upon being allowed full liberty of speech in the Chamber, and the right of vetoing measures. We should not be surprised to hear of his resignation shortly. We are told that two Bonapartist factions exist, but why " two" it is difficult to tell, unless it be that the original party has divided upon some points of action. Altogether political affairs do not look well in France.

Talking about coal, the Government expect to receive the tender of Messrs Brogden in a day or two for the railway from Greymouth to the Brunner mine. Should it be satisfactory, the work will be pushed on at once—if not of course it will be submitted to public competition. We believe also that the Government have under consideration a proposal to offer a bonus for the first screw collier put into the coal trade with Greymouth. We have another coal item —ln consequence of the extraordinary reticence of Mr Curtis with regard to the disposal of the Brunner mine, an offer has been made to the County Council of Westland for a lease of 5000 acres of coal field on the south side of the Grey River, opposite to and part of the same seam as the Brunner mine. The only difference is that whereas the Brunner mine is worked on a level and drains itself the other mine would have to be worked by shafts. The chances are, however, that the coal on the south side being deeper wdll be better and more compact.

A telegram was received from the Hon Mr "Vogeiby Government on Wednesday, announcing that he had received intimation that in all probability Mr Webb would receive a subsidy of £IOO,OOO a year for ten years. The question had come before the Senate, and it was confidently anticipated that the discussion would result favorably. It would have been much more satisfactory if we had been told that the subsidy had been granted, for the course of American politics can never be depended upon with any degree of certainty. We had the same story a year ago, but somehow the subsidy never came off. Under the circumstances it is wiser to withhold our congratulations until the subsidy has really been granted. Still the news from America with regard to the mail service is much more cheering than that from. Australia. The Intercolonial Conference does not appear to regard the service with favor, and it appears to be doubtful if Mr "Vogel will be able to conclude any satisfactory arrangements with the Australian Governments.

" The Newcastle strike continues," says our Sydney telegrams, which being interpreted means that we shall all very soon be without an ounce of coal, unless it should happen to occur to some one that we have any quantity of the article in our own country, and that we might as well use it by way of a change. O for a good old irresponsible tyrant for a few months, who would kick into the outer darkness he so well deserves to be in, the Superintendent of Nelson !

Nelson is nothing if not pettifogging. Ithas pettifogged its goldfields, and its coal fields, and now it wants to be allowed to pettifog its railways. Everyone has heard of the Nelson and Foxhill Railway —which is one of those lines that would not have been contemplated but for the pernicious logrolling which accompanied the passing of the schedule to the Railways Act, and is aline which the "Nelson Examiner" denounced at that time in no measured terms as a useless expenditure of public money. The Government having decided to make it, have thought it desirable to do so in the most economical manner, and as only some fourteen miles of it are to be commenced at once, the work is to be contracted for in a lump, as being more likely to secure advantageous tenders. But the Nelson people cry out that it should be let in small sections, and have brought all the pressure they could upon the Government to induce a compliance with their-wishes, and because the Minister of Public Works knows something about h business arid has refused

the application, there is great wrath in consequence. It finds vent in a most extraordinary article in the " Nelson Examiner," from which there is only this inference to be drawn —that the railway has been from the first regarded simply as the means of finding employment for the population through which it passes. No doubt this i s the true complexion of this line, and the indignation of the Nelson folks is easily to be understood. The ' 'Examiner" sav3 : —"The tenders are to be for the whole present work in one block, so that in all likelihood our local men will be excluded for want of plant and funds, and contractors like Messrs Brogden, Holmes, and others will come in with their trained hands and their special commissariat and trading arrangements to carry off the profits to happier lands ! Half the estimated £BO,OOO which the line is to cost ■will necessarily go to buy rails, rollingstock, &c., in Europe, and no trace of that amount will adhere to the colonial money bags. Of the other half, about £20,000 perhaps is to be laid out in the present contract, but sinless there is knowledge, enterprise,' and cash found at hand, to compete successfully for the work in the lump, Nelson purses will he almost equally free from its contact." This is rather an extraordinary admission of the inability of Nelson contractors to find either plant or funds, and unintentionally justifies the course the Minister of Public. Works has taken. Our contemporary upon this preaches a sermon of a column long to Mr Richardson. It has *' no reason to disparage him," but proceeds to attempt to make its' readers believe that neither he nor any of the Public Works staff know anything of their business, and that the only competent authority is the editor of the "Examiner." And he, amongst other things, goes so far as to recommend day labor —otherwise known as the " Government stroke" —as a good and economical system of railway construction.

Coming events cast their shadows a very long way before in Auckland. Not long ago the telegraph communicated to the rest of the colony that there were alreadysome five or six candidates for the Auckland Superintendence leading one to suppose that the election of this officer was close at hand. Indeed the prorogation speech of Mr Gillies contained a passage referring to his intention to carry out the wish of the Council for an early dissolution. It turns out, however, that the Council cannot b<s dissolved before some time in October next, unless Mr Gillies resigns before that date, in which case there would be two Superintendental elections close together. It appears that the Council during its last session passed an ordinance readjusting the representation in the Council and repealing a former Act relating to representation and election. But this new Ace provides that the elections under it should not take place until after the new electoral roll for 1872-3 comes into force—that is to say not until October next. If Mr Gillies should ask for an earlier dissolution, no elections could possibly take place until the time just mentioned. What may not happen before that time, to disturb all the calculations of the present aspirants for the Superintendency? Eight or nine months, with a session of the General Assembly in the meantime, may very much change the position of both provincial and general political parties. Besides it is too early now to attempt to get up any excitement on the subject unless the election was shortly to come off, and if any enthusiasm is excited now it will die out altogether before the day of election arrives. Mr Williamson and the others whose names have been mentioned have commenced stumping too soon.

The Auckland newspapers and the Auckland people have latterly manifested great interest on the subject of immigration, and complained in strong terms of the smallness of supply of fresh population furnished to their province. Not long ago a public meeting was held, and a deputation appointed to wait upon the Superintendent requesting him to urge the Government to greater activity in this matter. Mr Gillies, who had been blamed for not having pressed this subject more prominently upon the notice of the General Government, gave the deputation to understand that the fault of the short supply of immigrants was due to the General Government only, and that he was as desirous as they were to see an extensive immigration to the province. It is a pity that the deputation was not in a position to ask Mr Gillies what opinion he had expressed when the Government first acquainted him with their instructions to the Agent-General as to the supply and distribution of emigrants. We think that 800 was the number originally put down for Auckland, which, although small as compared with the numbers to be sent to other provinces, was regarded as sufficient for its present requirements. Mr Gillies, we are informed, told the Minister for Lands and Immigration that 800 was far too many, and appeared to think generally that immigration was not much needed in Auckland. Since then, owing to the pressure of

public opinion, which was in an exactly opposite direction, Mr Gillies has shifted his ground, and is anxious for a large immigration to the province. But he should not have thrown the blame of the small immigration so far upon the Government.

We learn from the Marlborough papers that the official inquiry into certain allegations preferred against W. H. Eyes, Esq, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Sheriff of Marlborough, concluded without all the witnesses on behalf of Mr Eyes being called upon to give evidence.' It appears that already forty-two persons had given evidence for the defence, and it was agreed, by consent of both sides, that eighteen other witnesses should be considered as having given evidence of the same nature as that given by Mr Hodson, J. P. Mr Eyes was asked by the Commissioners if he wished to be examined as a witness in the case, but he replied that he did not consider it necessary, as he thought his case was complete without it, but that if the Commissioners desired it he was willing to submit himself to an examination under bath. This did not appear to be necessary, and the inquiry closed." The Commissioners arrived here on Saturday by the Wellington, and their report and the evidence taken will no doubt be at once taken into consideration by the Government. From what we can learn it would appear probable that some of the accusations brought against Mr Eyes have not been established, that others have much exaggerated facts, and that the petition which led to the investigation owed its origin a good deal to old political feuds and social differences, which, in such a Little Pedlington as Blenheim appear to be the chief amusement of the population.