New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1873.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 119, 26 July 1873, Page 10

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1873.

A day or two ago we mentioned that it had come to our knowledge that a most improper overture had been made by a person who had been employed by the Government in the sale of the confiscated lands on the West Coast to an officer of the Government, seeking b' B co-operation in a proposal which,characterised by its proper term, was a conspiracy against the Government. Although we were fully aware of the particulars of this transaction at the time, we refrained from mentioning names or describing the facts. ? ut now that the whole particulars have become public property, we have n° hesitation in exposing, in the most public manner, this disgraceful affair. The facts to be gleaned from th® correspondence relating to the subjec which was read,to the House yesterday are these :—A-Mr Finnimore,who uni te * in himself the capacities of a M&jo r °* Militia and Auctioneer, was employ 0 ® |by the Government in the jeceht

of confiscated lands in the Patea district. The sale he conducted was a very profitable one to the Government, and the very considerable commission which the auctioneer received was, commercially speaking, well earned. And one would have thought that the salesman would have been contented with his legitimate remuneration, for it was probable that future sales would also be placed in his hands. But no : he conceived a grand plan which, under the guise of relieving the Government of trouble and responsibility without any sacrifice of the interests of the State, really meant that he should derive a probably large although speculative advantage. But how was he to accomplish this end? Of himself he could do nothing. He could only go into the market on the same terms as other competitors. If he bought land, he would have to pay for it at its extreme value. But a happy thought struck him. “ If,” said he mentally, “I can obtain a certain amount of influence with the Government so as to secure a pre-emptive right of purchase of those lands, it will be worth my while to pay for it”—and accordingly he writes, under the seal of confidence to the Under Secretary for Lands, a letter conveying a proposal, the receipt of which at once made it impossible that the recipient could treatitas confidential. The proposal made to Mr Haughton differed only in degree from an offer that might be made by a professional housebreaker to some confidential servant asking him to point out the easiest access to the plate-chest, and offering to share the plunder with him. Mr Finnimore deliberately and in business terms tampered with a highl} 7 responsible officer of the Government — an officer be it remembered who has a considerable amount of control with regard to the confiscated lands, and who might possibly have been able to influence the Government in the matter. Mr Finnimore of course was well aware of this, and accordingly he addressed himself to the officer who was most likely to be able to assist him in what we have no hesitation in saying was a proposal for swindling the Government. Horace Walpole said that “ every man had his price,” and no doubt Mr Finnimore, Major of Militia, and Auctioneer leader of the Wanganui Separation Movement, and ex-can-didate for the Superintendency of Wellington, thoroughly believed in this theory. He has made a mistake. Under the mantle of a private communication, he made a proposal which any honorable man must have at once repudiated ; it was a direct insult to the officer to whom it was addressed, and Mr Haughton was thoroughly justified in communicating it to his superiors. We need say no more: the correspondence speaks for itself, and we may well leave Mr Finnimore to the sympathy of his co-agitators in Wanganui.

It was stated by the Postmaster-General on Tuesday that the provisional arrangements made by the Government for the conveyance of the Suez mail, announced by the newspapers some time ago, had been repudiated by McMeckan, Blackwood and Co, but that the terms of another arrangement were in the possession of the Government, and would be submitted to the consideration of Parliament. The papers relating to the conveyance of the mails between here and Melbourne were laid upon the table on Wednesday. They are rather voluminous, and not well arranged, but a short perusal of them enables us to gather this—that the proposal which we expect is the one referred to by the Postmaster-General. It is to the following effect:—That Messrs McMeckan, Blackwood and Co. will establish a service to and from Melbourne and Wellington, landing and receiving mails at the Blnff, Port Chalmers, and Lyttelton, up and down for three years, for £SOOO per annum. The down mails are to be delivered at the Bluff harbor in seven days, at Port Chalmers in eight days, at Lyttelton in nine and a half days, and at Wellington in ten and a half days, from the arrival of the P. and O. boat at Hobson’s Bay ; but should the mail steamer arrive more than two days before its due date, an equivalent in time is to be added to the time table named : for example, if the mail boat arrives at Melbourne three days before the due date, one day is to be added to the times above named for the delivery of the mail at the respective ports. The steamer is to remain in Melbourne two days beyond the due date of the mail, but no longer, and the mail will be sent on by the next available steamer. The steamer with the up mails (that is the

mails from New Zealand to Melbourne) will be despatched from Wellington eleven days before the time of the departure of the P. and O. boat from Hobson’s Bay, to call at Lyttelton, Port Chalmers, and the Bluff, not less than six and a half clear days being given from the latter port to tranship the mails at Melbourne. The steamer carrying the English mails to be free of pilotage, and of harbor and light dues at whatever ports the mails are landed. A supplementary offer is made to convey the mails to and from Nelson, Greymouth, and Hokitika, landing and receiving at the two latter ports, weather permitting, free of extra charge. This was contained in a letter dated Melbourne, 24th June. The papers also contain telegrams from Mr Maeandrew, Superintendent of Otago, dated 22nd July, conveying an offer from Dalgety and Co., the agents of the firm in Dunedin, dated 22nd July, to the following effect : —To deliver the Suez mails inward at the Bluff', Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, and Hokitika, and receive the outward mails from these ports, beginning at Hokitika and ending at the Bluff', for three years, at £SOO per month, within nine and a-half days from Melbourne to Wellington, computed from the expiry of twenty-four hours given the steamer to prepare after the arrival of the Suez steamer, and within eleven days from Wellington to Melbourne. Further communications are to the effect that the last-named services would be performed at the price of £SOOO per annum ; but it requires the sanction of Messrs M ‘Meckan, Blackwood and Co in Melbourne.

In the year 1870 Parliament appropriated a sum of £300,000 for aiding and constructing works for the supply of water to the Goldfields, and yesterday the extent to which this vote had been used was shown by a return laid upon the table of the House of Representatives. From it we learn that until 30th June last the Government have determined on the construction of works estimated to cost £182,021, and have agreed to subsidise works to the amount of £7479, out of applications received to the extent of £21,463. Of the works undertaken by the Government, we find Auckland has £48,180 for the Thames ; Nelson, £30,466 ; Westland, £61,236 ; and Otago (Mount Ida), £42,139. For subsidies, the following applications have been received and not granted for various reasons, mostly arising from non-compliance with the regulations : Westland Totara Creek, £3485 ; Caledonian, £ISOO ; Otago —Golden Point, £IOOO ; Beaumont and Tuapeka, £2OOO ; Carrick, £SOOO ; Mount Pisgah, £IOOO. The subsidies granted are, to Westland as under: —Hohonu, £1533 ; Hibernian, £2OOO ; New River, £3333 ; and to Otago—the Arrow, £613. Of these subsidies, £5308 have been paid on the certificates of the engineer that work to double the value had been performed, and the companies borrowing are paying interest regularly on their advances at the rate of 7 per cent, on which account £72 has already been paid. The matter may be summed up that the Government have disbursed £10,191 and undertaken a further liability of £179,319, leaving still an available balance of £110,500 out of the original vote, £300,000.

In the Legislative Council on Friday last, Mr Waterhouse, in relation to his remarks upon the civil service, made a special reference to Dr Pollen, which he intimated was not likely to be very acceptable to that gentleman. Mr Waterhouse prefaced his remarks by admitting the great administrative ability of the Colonial Secretary, who was one of those men whom the colony so much needed, but he would have felt much more gratified if Dr Pollen had come into the Council entirely unconnected with the Civil Service. He referred to the case of Mr Gisborne, and hoped that with regard to Dr Pollen a similar jtrocess was likely to occur—that is to say, that should the Government be defeated, he was to go back to his former office. The reply of the Colonial Secretary was explicit. He stated that the whole subject of the Civil Service would come before the Council in due time, when honorable members would have full opportunity of expressing their opinions. As for himself, he assured the Council that the fault Mr Waterhouse found with his appointment (that of Government Agent at Auckland, we presume,) would soon be cured by effluxion of time.

Mr Hart, in moving the Address in Reply in the Legislative Council, led his hearers to understand that his remarks upon the procedure and practice of the Native Lands Court reflected to some extent upon the Judges of that Court. Dr Pollen took exception to the sweeping strictures of the honorable member, and reminded the Council that, considering the many millions of acres of land that the Court had passed through almost without any question or difficulty arising, it was a wonder that so little ground of complaint had been found against it. He admitted that there had been imperfect tions, but bore testimony to the constant

care and ability with which the Judges of the Court had administered the law, and stated that many useful reforms in the Native Lands law had been pressed upon the attention of the Legislature at the instigation of the Chief Judge, but had not received the notice they were entitled to. Mr Hart subsequently added his testimony to the great amount of work done by the Native Lands Court, and to the very essential service it had rendered to the colony. When private negotiations with natives became authorised, the Lands Court became necessary, but he was still of opinion that it would be better to revert to the old system, and stop private land purchases from natives.

The Agent-General is evidently waking up. The telegram read by the Premier to the House on Friday, conveyed information that must have been very satisfactory to the House. It is evident that the urgent and explicit instructions of the' Government to the Agent-General, conveyed in various memoranda upon the subject of immigration, have had a good effect.

It will be a consolation to hon. members who are not yet painfully aware of the fact, that the old-new Insolvency Bill (four years of age, we think), contains only two hundred clauses ; and it is equally satisfactory that the new Mining Bill has not more than 217. For its opportunity of genial relaxation the Gold-fields-Committee is to be envied.

The Civil Service Act Amendment Bill just introduced by the Government contains only six clauses. The preamble sets forth that it is desirable that all persons to whom the provisions in various Civil Service Acts relative to superannuation or retiring allowances apply should contribute to the public revenue for the purpose of lightening the charge entailed by the payment of such allowances; and that with regard to other officers in the public service who have entered since 1871, an annual deduction should be made from their salaries, to be returned with accumulated interest on their resignation or death. The amount of deduction is to be four per cent annually, to be made monthly, and paid into the Trust Fund and invested. Any officer entitled to an annual retiring allowance may elect to take his allowance or to have repaid to him a sum equal to the moneys deducted from his salary, together with interest. If he take his annual allowance, his previous deductions and interest thereon will be paid into the Consolidated Fund. In any case, whether an officer retires or is dismissed, previous deductions from liis salary will be paid with interest to himself or his representative. The interest fixed by the bill is four and three-quarters per cent —the same rate as that allowed by the Post Office Savings Bank. The officers who are excepted from the operations of the Act are : —Responsible Ministers ; Judges of the Supreme Court; the Attorney-General ; the AuditorGeneral ; the Comptroller of the Public Accounts ; officers not appointed by the Governor; officers appointed by the Governor to whom officer’s salary is not appropriated by the General Assembly ; members of the colonial military or volunteer force ; officers paid by commission or fees ; and persons holding office or employed temporarily.

We were glad to hear the Hon the Native Minister, in speaking to a motion by Mr Murray, state that the Government fully recognised the importance of checking the purchase of land from natives by Europeans, and intended to bring down measures for dealing with this and other questions relating to native lands. He expressed the opinion a day or two ago that it was daily becoming more and more necessary that something should be done to stop the wholesome alienation of native lands in large blocks to private individuals, which has, particularly of late, gone on and is still going on; and it would be well if the Government would adopt the suggestion offered by the Hon Mr Fitzherbert —introduce a temporary measure disqualifying further purchase of land from the natives by Europeans until a satisfactory permanent act could be passed. As was remarked by Mr Fitzherbert, there was a danger that pending the passing of any bill restricting individual land purchases from natives, large quantities of land would be 44 rushed” by capitalists, and he mentioned an instance which had just come within his knowledge—the purchase of 50,000 acres of native land to a private purchaser at 4d per acre. Well might Mr Fitzherbert ask if the colony is to go on borrowing money for making roads and bridges for the benefit of private estates. Land selling is just now a mania with the natives, and it is desirable that this disposition should be utilised for the benefit of the State and not of land sharks and speculators. Major Atkinson also drew the attention of the Government to the fact that large blocks of the confiscated lands were passing into the hands of speculators to the damage of real settlement and occupation. It is to be hoped that the Government will propose some satisfactory solution of what must be deemed to be of paramount im-

portance, alike affecting the progress of settlement and the peace of the colony. Mr Murray deserved the thanks given to him by Mr Fitzherbert for having brought the subject before the House.

The honorable member for the Dunstan 14 put his foot in it” on Friday. Speaking to the question of the necessity of checking the sale of land by natives to individual Europeans, and referring to the remarks made upon this subject by the Hon Mr Fitzherbert, he went out of his way to express a regret that the hon member for the Hutt had, during the many years he had been in the House, previously made no attempt to give effect to his opinions. Mr Fitzherbert administered a well deserved rebuke to Mr Shepherd, pointing out to him that whatever length of time he might have been in the colony he had evidently failed to make himself acquainted with those facts which even a young legislator ought to know. He reminded Mr Shepherd that he (Mr Fitzherbert) had for mpny years been amongst the foremost of those who had opposed the existing native land system, and had predicted years ago the very evils which had now become manifest. The reproof was thoroughly justified, and should have called forth an apology, but it did not do so. There is no accounting for taste.

When Mr Vogel gave notice the other day of his intention to ask leave to bring in a bill to define the powers of Provincial Councils, a not unnatural impression was createdi. n the minds of simple members that some measure was proposed that would really define the powers of Provincial Councils and possibly deal with the whole question of settling the questions regarding which the Provincial Councils and the General Assembly should respectively deal with. But we find that the bill is simply the same measure that was introduced in the Legislative Council last year, and was defeated on the second reading on an amendment by Mr Waterhouse. The bill belies its pretentious title ; it simply empowers Provincial Councils to pass laws relating to 44 the prevention or cure of scab ; regulating the sale of spirituous or fermented liquors, and the application and the granting licenses for such sale ; cattle trespass and impounding cattle for trespass on lands ; branding cattle ; preventing the spread or growth of noxious thistles ; the making and repairing of highways ; the valuation and assessing of properties for the levying and recovery of rates, and appeals against such assessments, valuations, or rates ; the construction, maintenance, and repair of boundary fences. ” It consists only of seven clauses, and as it certainly does not involve any constitutional question, will probably not need much exertion to ensure its passage.

It will be remembered that about six weeks ago the Postmaster-General of New South Wales, the Hon Saul Samuel, visited Wellington for the purpose of obtaining the co-operation of the New Zealand Government in a postal service to California, a ‘contract for which his Government had entered into with Mr H. H. Hall. Mr Vogel declined to unite with New South Wales in this contract for reasons which have already been made public. Mr Samuel left Wellington on the day that the final decision of the Cabinet was conveyed to him, and on the same day an official statement of the negotiations was communicated by the Government to all the principal papers in the Colony. When Mr Samuel arrived at Hokitika he saw this account in the local journals and appears to have been much offended thereat, for on his arrival in Melbourne he wrote to the Hon Mr Vogel, complaining 44 of the extraordinary course pursued in permitting the publication of this correspondence, accompanied as it is by statements and comments which are likely to mislead. It would, I conceive, have been better and more regular had you waited until I was in receipt of your letter, when the complete correspondence would have been in the possession of our respective Governments before publication in the newspapers. As your reply cannot reach me in time to enable me to answer it before my departure by the June steamer for England, I deem it necessary at once to correet the statements referred to, supposing them to have been authorised by you.” In his reply to Mr Samuel, Mr Vogel, respecting the publication complained of by that gentleman, says : when off Hokitika on yonr way to Australia you were astonished to find from West Coast newspapers, that correspondence between us in Wellington relative to a mail service via San Francisco had been published before it was in 4 possession of our respective Governments,’ and you say that you deemed it necessary 4 at once to correct the statements contained in a telegraphic summary of that correspondence,’ assuming that they have

been authorised 4 by me.’” . . . Mr Vogel goes on to say that in publishing the correspondence he was only following the course pursued by the Government of New South Wales in Sydney. Mr Parkes having replied on the 25th February last to a. letter signed by Mr Vogel and Ms

Reynolds, the whole of the correspondence was published in the “ Sydney Morning Herald” of the 27th, before a further reply from the New Zealand representatives, dated the 26th, had probably been received by Mr Parkes. Mr Samuel had clearly, therefore, no reason to complain.

In order that there should be as full an attendance of members as possible when the consideration of the Legislative Council Temporary Appointment Bill should come on, the Council agreed on Friday upon the motion of Mr Waterhouse that there should be a “call of the Council” for next Thursday fortnight, the 7th August. A “ call of the Council 5 involves the compulsory attendance of every member except in cases where special permission of the Council is given. As may be imagined, there is a good deal of flutter amongst the honorable gentlemen at the prospect of their having to hold a sort of inquest on themselves by anticipation. The preamble of the Ministerial bill contains a rather grim joke. It tells the Council that in the course of five years their number is likely to be considerably reduced by resignations and “other causes” —rather a mild way of intimating that a good proportion of the members have only five years to live.

Whether it .is by selection or by selfelection that Mr Gillies has become the leader of the small remnant which calls itself the Opposition, we may equally congratulate his followers, the House, and the Government. Considering the various, elements of which the “ other side” are composed,—the difficulties of restraining the youthful ardour of such members as Messrs Murray, Mervyn, and Thomson; the more stubborn impetuosity of a Reid; and the feminine curiosity of a Collins, it is a source of great satisfaction that a leader has been found who possesses in so large a degree the union of all those qualities which are necessary to the successful management of a political party. A temper of the most genial and gushing kind united to a will which although strong can yet unbend ; a most accurate knowledge of facts and figures; a profound financier ; a smart and cheerful debater; and a leader whom we should imagine his party would not hesitate to follow into ‘ ‘ Tli 1 imminent and deadly breach.” The House will have the advantage of its debates being largely freed from that acrimony which has formerly distinguished them. Personalities will be discouraged, and no more shall we hear anything of “the miserable wretches” sort. There will be an interchange of courtesies between the two sides, and the Opposition under its new leadership will give the Government every possible assistance in carrying its measures, and never dream of turning it out. Of course there must be a little polite grumbling occasionally, and for form’s sake a division or two, but apparently the House is quite a happy family. Keep Mr Gillies as leader of the Opposition, and it will continue so f or —“ ever so long you know.”

A general summary of import, export, and shipping returns for the colony for the year 1872 has been presented to Parliament by command of his Excellency. Although the information has been previously published in the quarterly returns in the Gazette their present form affords one a better idea of the state of our foreign trade. In 1872 the imports of the colony amounted in value to £5,142,951, and the exports to £5,190,665, showing an excess of exports over imports of £47,714. The largest items of our imports were (in round figures) :—Apparel and slops, £150,000 ; boots and shoes, £195,000 ; coals, £162,549 ; drapery, £691,000 ; hardware and ironmongery, £150,400 ; iron, £159,000 ; railway materials, £118,300 ; gold specie, £232,000 ; spirits, £155,200 ; sugar, £381,270 ; tea, £177,200; wine, £79,700; woollens, £98,706 ; tobacco, £60,000; stationery, £57,000 ; oilman’s stores, £95,800. Our chief exports were : —Wool, £2,537,919 ; gold, £1,730,992 ; preserved meats, £161,890 ; phormium fibre, £99,405 ; hides, £31,763 ; leather, £18,224 ; sheepskins, £18,245. During the year 1872 there entered inwards at the various ports of th© colony 775 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 300,302t0?i5. There cleared out during the same period 743 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 284,366 tons. Of the total number of ships employed 147 were foreign, the remainder being British.

The savage tomahawkists of the Press have missed an excellent opportunity of following a chaste example in the shape of kindly wishes. Sometime in 1835, the following choice sentiment appeared in the “ Globe,” and ran the round of a large section of the British Press “ Sir Robert Peel will not last long. We shall soon be rid of him. Death will do the business. The fatigues of the session are evidently killing him.” Recalling the joyous terms in which, with considerable iteration, Mr Vogel’s “friends” flew the absurd canard that the doctors had advised him t© withdraw altogether from public life for a couple of years, and the

anticipations of “ dissolution” of some kind which sundry saddened Oppositionists seemed to cherish as a promise of better days for them ; —it is remarkable that some such “happy thought” did not find its way into the gentle mind of those gentle creatures. However, there is yet time. Let the “ nagging”-for - nothing process be carried on with vigour by an un —or shall we say a dis —organized Opposition, and thus, through work and worry, with small efforts of angry disappointment, let them stay the business of the session, and then, perhaps—as with Sir Robert Peel —death will be disposed to wait, at least, until the great work of the colony is accomplished. From that great statesman the “ grim king” kept off his finger till Peel had reformed the fiscal policy of England and destroyed the corn laws. Still the Opposition leaders and leader-writers may try their voices and their hands, and following such an example as that offered by the “Globe,” in an angry tune they may evoke for themselves from a discriminating public the application of Thackeray’s Christmas wish, “Be peace on earth (or elsewhere) to gentle men.”

Amongst the papers laid upon the table of the House on Tuesday was the copy of a telegram from the Colonial Secretary of Queensland relative to the telegraphic communication proposed in the provisional arrangement agreed to between the colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, and New Zealand. The telegram is to the effect that the New Zealand Government should fix the landing place of the cable here ; that, as the Queensland superintendent of telegrams had reported unfavorably of Captain Audley Coote’s proposal as to the cable connecting with Singapore, it is recommended that the south end of the island of Celebes near Mackassar is a more suitable place for landing the cable, and as a repeating station ; and that it would be better to avoid any possible junction with the Java line.

Following the example of the Legislature of Victoria, the Government have brought down a bill in the Legislative Council “to make provision for bank holidays, and respecting obligations to make payments and do other acts on such bank holidays.” It is provided that New Year’s Day, Easter Monday, the 24th of May (if a week day), and the 26th of December (if a week day) shall be close holidays at the banks, and that all bills or promissory notes due on any of such days shall be payable on the day next following a bank holiday. We are under the impression that in England bills, &c., due on a statutory holiday, are deemed to be due the day “before” and not on the day “ after.”

The “Telegraph Cables Subsidy Ratification Bill,” introduced by message in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, is to authorise the Governor to agree with the Governments of New South Wales and Queensland for jointly subsidising lines of telegraph between New Zealand and New South Wales, and between Queensland and Singapore. The bill gives legal effect to the articles of agreement entered into between the colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand on the 14th of February last. The conditions were published some three months ago, but we may briefly recapitulate them. The three colonies agree to enter into an arrangement for the construction of an electric cable, to be laid between some point in New Zealand and some point in New South Wales, and also a cable to be laid from Normantown, in Queensland, to Singapore : the latter to be a through cable, touching only at such points as may be agreed on, and to be entirely distinct the whole distance from the line between Port Darwin and Singapore. A guarantee of five per cent, is to be given for a term not exceeding thirtyfive years upon a sum not exceeding £1,000,000 for the cost of the two lines. The sum of £12,000 per annum is to be allowed to cover in full all expenses. All receipts above £12,000 are to pass in reduction of the guarantee. The contractors are to retain receipts in excess of the guarantee ; but if the profits are more than ten per cent, the Governments may require that the rate shall be lowered to amounts calculated to reduce the profits to ten per cent. The guarantee is to be paid only whilst the lines are in working order : provided that four weeks in each year will be allowed for repairs. If the New Zealand line only be in order, onethird of the guarantee to be paid ; if the Singapore line only be in order, twothirds of the guarantee to be paid. If the lines are not kept in order with due diligence, or if communication should permanently fail, the guarantee to cease. The two lines to be commenced and constructed simultaneously. The cost per message of twenty words, from New Zealand to New South Wales, is not to exceed fifteen shillings, the charge for each word above twenty being ninepence ; and the cost per twenty words from Normantown to Singapore is not to exceed forty shillings for the first two years, and thirty-five shillings afterwards, the charge for each word above twenty being two

shillings. Queensland undertakes to keep the land line to Normantown open for the use of the other contributing colonies, at rates not to exceed at any time seven shillings for twenty words. The details of the arrangement are to be decided in London by representatives of the respective Governments. It is made a condition that proper provision must be made by the contractor for the use of a through line of communication between Singapore and London. The bill now before Parliament stipulates that the liability of this colony under the guarantee shall not exceed £17,000 in any one year, nor shall the contract extend beyond thirty-five years.

Two Ministerial bills came to grief on Tuc s lay, one —the Interest Bill—in th© Legislative Council, and the other—the Animals Importation Bill—in the House of Representatives, both measures being ordered to be read on that day six months. The Interest Bill is a measure introduced last session in the House of Representatives by Mr Bathgate, the object of which is to fix the rate of interest to be recovered in any suit at six per cent, unless in cases for the loan of money where some other higher rate shall have been contracted for. The bill has evidently been framed for the advantage of the poorer classes, but the Lords took exception to it, and the motion for reading it that day six months was carried on the voices. The “ Animals Importation Prohibition Bill” was explained by the Hon the Premier as a measure based upon similar legislation which had taken place in Australia, and he supported the necessity for it by copious reference to the papers relating to cattle and sheep diseases laid before the Intercolonial Conference in Sydney, and to the desirability of some unanimous action on the part of the various colonies of Australia. He pointed out that in New South Wales it had been considered better to stop the importation of all foreign stock than, even under strict quarantine regulations, to run the risk of importing such diseases as the rinderpest and the foot and mouth disease. He, however, left the bill in the hands of the House, and as there seemed to be a balance of opinion on the part of those who may be supposed to have some special knowledge on the subject, that the total prohibition for ©ven two years was likely to be of serious consequence in preventing the importation of stud stock, and that strict inspection and quarantine before landing would meet the necessities of the case, the bill was, on the motion of Sir Cracroft Wilson, thrown out by 28 to 25. Some remarks fell from Mr Rolleston which lead us to expect that an amendment of the existing Acts relating to cattle disease will be proposed that will provide for all due precautions for the prevention of the landing of diseased cattle or sheep.

Some time ago, when the wise men of Wanganui started the agitation for the separation of their district from the province of Wellington and its formation into a county, we pointed out the case of the County of Westland, which, after a short existence of five years, not only found itself in great financial straits, but discovered that its exceptional form of government was not conducive to its welfare and progress. The General Government have had to step in to assist the County, and now we understand that, with the unanimous approval of the representatives of Westland, a bill is to be brought in for the purpose of placing Westland on a similar footing as that of other divisions of the colony by creating it a province, with a Superintendent to be elected by the people, who shall have a seat in the Council. Practically, this change will not necessitate any increase in the machinery of government, but it will give the power, now withheld, to the Council to legislate on domestic and local matters. Hitherto Westland has had to come to the Assembly for any legislation it has required, and members have always been impatient at being asked to deal with local questions which they know nothing about, and which could be better disposed of by the local body. We believe the change will be heartily welcomed by the people of Westland.

A return was laid upon the table of the House of Representatives on Tuesday showing the total expenditure incurred in the special settlements at Palmerston ; Opaki; and the Seventy-Mile Bush, and giving other particulars relating thereto. From this return we learn that the settlement at Palmerston consists of 102 Scandinavians, the total cost of locating whom was £920, of which £670 was chargeable to and recoverable from the settlers. A considerable proportion of this last-men-tioned sum has been already recovered—£4o2. The present cost to the Government of this settlement is £SOB, and its ultimate cost £250. With respect to this settlement the remark is made : “Twenty-four families have settled on their land, for which they are paying with great regularity by instalments, besides paying off their debts to the Government for cost of location.” The settlements at Mauriceville and Ekata-

huara consist of 106 persons—Scandinavians ; the total cost of locating whom was £l9B, of which £l3B has been recovered from the immigrants, and the whole will ultimately be so. The note respecting these settlements states that ‘ ‘ all the married men are settled on their locations, and are rapidly paying off their debts to Government, and all but four of the single men have also settled.” The The Norsewood and Dannevirk settlements, in the Seventy-Mile Bush, Hawke’s Bay, consist of 240 Scandinavians, the cost of locating whom was £793. This amount includes the sum of £251 for two schoolhouses, the attendance at which is fifty children at Norsewood and twenty-five at Dannevirk. It was intended that each statute adult should contribute £l, but the contributions have exceeded that amount. The settlers have already paid £322 to the Government, and the cost to the Government now of these settlements is £471. It is remarked that all but six of the original arrivals have settled on their land, who have taken employment in the town of Napier. The return shows that so far the results of the special settlements are eminently satisfactory.

The Treasurer of Victoria commences his new financial year with a balance of £234,132 to his credit, the ways and means of the year just expired having amounted to £3,745,646, and the expenditure to £3,511,334. The estimated income for the year 1873-4 is £4,205,878, and the estimated expenditure £4,171,688, leaving an apparent balance to the credit of 1874-5 of £34,100. Commenting upon the financial statement, the “Argus” says that “by an analysis of the increase in the Customs revenue the Treasurer showed how utterly the policy of Mr Berry had failed in the introduction of the heavy ad valorem duties, for which he is primarily responsible. These duties have—fortunately for the present Treasurer—brought in a large accession of revenue to the national chest, but they have not stopped importations, and therefore cannot have encouraged colonial manufactures.” A prominent feature in the Treasurer’s estimate was the large amount which during the current year it is proposed to spend upon public works. Irrespective of railway construction and other enterprises which will be carried out under the various loans to the extent of nearly one million and a-half, it is contemplated to expend out of the ordinary revenue, upon various works throughout the colony, no less a sum than £713,000. “ Surely,” says the “Argus,” with such a large national expenditure, there Bhould be no repining in our streets ; and when it is remembered that during the next five or six years something over three millions sterling will be spent in extending our railway system, it must be evident that the great want of the colony will be neither work to do nor money to pay for it, but men able and willing to do the work.”

On a division of 55 to 15 the Victorian Assembly has decided that for the future the colony shall be divided into ninety electoral districts, each returning one member. The existing number is seventyeight, and Parliament expires with the present session.

We notice by a statement in the “ Argus” of the 11th inst. that the Government of Victoria propose to expend during the year 1873-4 £914,310, upon railways in various places, ©f which £171,000 is to be applied to the construction of the line from Ballarat to Ararat; £159,000 to the construction of the line from Castlemaine to Maryborough and Dunolly ; £170,000 for a line from Ballarat to Maryborough, via Creswick. £386,000 is to be expended under the Loan Act of 1868 ; and £28,310 on contingencies. The Legislative Assembly was to go into committee upon these estimates on Tuesday last. The Treasurer anticipates a revenue from the railways this year of £765,000.

Advices from Fiji, to the 18th June, are to the effect that the affairs of the Government are becoming more complicated than ever. The Ministry have been defeated daily in- Parliament, and their motion to prevent one of the members of the Legislature, Mr Ireland, to take his seat, on account of his implication in the recent disturbances at Ba, was negatived. The Attorney-General refused to resign at the request of the Opposition, and the Government then threatened to use the native power against the whites. Ultimately the Ministry tendered their resignations, which were not accepted, and the Parliament was dissolved. The new Parliament is expected to be antagonistic to Mr Woods, who hints at his intention to leave Fiji shortly.

For the information of hon members who do not remember the full meaning of a “call of the Council,” we may briefly epitomise the standing orders relating thereto. When the day for which the Council has been “ called,” the names of all members who do not attend are taken down by the Clerk, and are subsequently called over a second time. Any member

not attending in compliance with, an order for .a call of the Council, without reasonable excuse, u shall be held guilty of contempt,” and may be censured by the Speaker ; ‘ ‘ and such censure shall be entered in the Journals of the Council,” or he may be fined £SO, and in default of immediate payment “ be committed by the warrant of the Speaker to the custody” of such persons as the Speaker may appoint, for fourteen days. From an abstract of the duties and revenue collected by the Customs department during the year 1872, we find that the total amount was £892,784. The principal sources of revenue were : Spirits, £278,532; goods by measurement, £130,813; goods by weight, £48,224; wine‘ £33,000; tea, £52,907; tobacco, £91,000; sugar, £89,251; gold duty, £53,656.