Talk of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 312, 13 April 1878, Page 13

Talk of the Week.

The rapid rise in the value of property in Wellington has been frequently commented on of late, and it certainly seems that no reasonable amount of land being thrown into the market tends at all to lower the price. £4OOO was refused the other day for a quarter of an acre of land on the Terrace. Country land also seems to be proportionately in as much demand as city and suburban lots, and the fact may be taken as an undoubted testimony to the growing prosperity of the colony.

In matters political there has not been much doing during the past week, and during the remainder of the recess there will probably be a lull. The Premier is still in the North, and will probably not return to the seat of Government until after the proposed meeting with the Maori King on the 30th. Pew, if any, believe that this meeting will have any practical effect ; but it will make a fitting conclusion to the political stumping tour which Sir George Grey has been making throughout tke colony, during which he has undoubtedly been well received.

The Pishing Company recently started here has not proved so successful as some of its promoters anticipated. It seems to be generally thought that if such a scheme were started on a large scale and with adequate capital it would prove a success. The cutter Margaret Scollay, which was fitted out for deep-sea fishing, has been sold at auction. Considering the great abundance of fish in these waters, and the demand there is for this wholesome article of food, which is more scarce and dear here than it certainly ought to be, a deep-sea fishing company with plenty of capital and well managed, could hardly fail to prove a lucrative speculation.

It has been suggested to us, and the idea seems a good one, that in view of the many accidents which have taken place on the wharf or in its vicinity, a water police should be established, whose duty it should be especially to watch the wharf and its approaches, in order to render assistance in the event of casualties occurring. A couple of watchmen or two constables would probably be quite a sufficient force for the purpese, and they might be the means of preventing many serious occurrences, and even the loss of life in not a few instances. Prom time to time we have heard lately of persona having fallen

from the wharf or breastwork and been drowned, whose lives might have been saved perhaps had there been a look-out kept. If we remember rightly, there is a water police force at Auckland and Dunedin ; but at Wellington, the capital of the colony, there is no such provision. It has also been pointed out that if a line of posts and chains were put up along the breastwork fronting Custom House-quay, it might be the means of preventing people travelling along that thoroughfare at night from missing their way and falling into the water, a result which there is too much reason to fear has occurred in more than one instance lately.

Cooper and Bailey’s circus and menagerie arrived here from Christchurch on Thursday, and the performance commenced yesterday. This show is one of the “ biggest things ” of the kind extant, and is certainly the largest and most attractive that has visited here, llie great feature, the magnet which attracts its large audiences, is the splendid exhibition of wild beasts. Many residents in the colony, and especially the rising generation, have had no opportunity of seeing such grand specimens of the animal kingdom, and it is no wonder that the entertainment has been crowded nightly wherever it has been exhibited.

The verdict returned by the jury at the coroner’s inquest on Tuesday touching the death of Mr. J. Stephenson, late mate of the Hawea, was, as might have been anticipated, that the deceased was accidentally killed. It had, however, been very generally expected by the public Eiat the verdict would have been accompanied by a rider to the effect that it would be desirable to have a duly qualified surgeon resident at the Hospital. We have deferred making any remarks on this case until the inquest was over, but now that the inquiry has concluded, it may be well to point out that the public have looked forward to the result of this case with considerable interest. It has been proved that the unfortunate man when brought to the Hospital was in a state of insensibility, and that the officer in charge at the Hospital did not deem it necessary to send for Dr. Johnston or Dr. Bradford, the recognised Hospital doctors, or to any other medical man, as Dr. Diver had attended to the patient before sending him to the Hospital, and as the latter appeared in a dying state. The probabilities are that no medical aid would have been of any avail whatever. At the same time, it appears to us that it would have been more satisfactory if the man had been carefully examined by a qualified medical man after his admission to the Hospital, and that bleeding or such other remedy as might have suggested itself to the practitioner had been tried. Cases which at first sight appeared almost hopeless have been successfully treated in hospitals before to-day. In the present instance, as we have said, there is every reason to believe that the patient was too seriously injured for medical skill to have been of any use ; but he ought not to have been allowed to lie for hours in the Hospital unvisited by a doctor, and we certainly are somewhat surprised that the jury returned a verdict unaccompanied by a rider to this effect. In saying this we have no desire to throw unnecessary blame on Mr. Monteith, who has had many years’ experience, and bears the character of being kind and attentive to the Hospital patients ; but in this instance he seems to have taken it too much for granted that the patient must die, and therefore that it was useless to do anything more than was done: in which opinion, although probably the correct one, he ought to have been strengthened by the advice of Di\ Johnston, Dr. Bradford, or other qualified practitioner.

The Estimates passed last session provided for an increase of salary to several officers in the Survey Department, but nine months of the financial year have elapsed, and those entitled by the vote of Parliament have not yet received the additional pay. In several departments of the State there may be too many officers for the work to be performed, but this does not apply to the survey branch of the public service. The duties of the officers of that department have been particularly heavy of late, and considering the class of work, it was generally felt that the officials were underpaid. It is highly necessary that the various offices under the control of the Surveyor-General should be occupied by capable men, and this cannot be secured without giving adequate remuneration. New Zealand in former days was afflicted with a class of surveyors who were not even acquainted with the rudiments of the profession. Major Palmer, in his report, dwelt strongly upon the mischevious bungling which had taken place in the early surveys of the colony. However, during the last dozen years or so matters improved immensely. In this province, for instance, Mr. Jackson in a comparatively short space of time succeeded in placing the surveys on such an accurate basis as to call forth the warm commendations of such an eminent authority as Major Palmer. The Survey Department has certainly been an improving branch of the public service ; chaos has given place to order, and this has been secured by the employment of men who thoroughly understood their work. As we have said before, to secure good professional talent liberal salaries must be paid. The work in the Survey Department cannot be entrusted to mere novices or persons with limited attainments. Absolute accuracy may be unattainable, but error should be reduced to a minimum. It is a matter of surprise that there have not been more lawsuits in this colony through the faulty surveys ; but this may be accounted for by the comparatively low value of land, and the fact that a considerable margin

was left for error, whereby the actual area was larger than that represented in the Crown grants. . But this rule-of-thumb work has nowadays given place to a high degree of scientific accuracy, and the surveys made lately in New Zealand will contrast favorably with those of any other country. The services of the efficient men who wrought this desirable change were last session recognised by Parliament voting an increase to their salaries in many instances ; but although the money has been voted, the Ministry have failed to carry out the recommendations of Parliament. The Department is under the control of the Minister of Lands, and we may presume that Mr. Macandrew is the person who is actually responsible for withholding from the officers of the Survey Department that to which they are justly entitled to. No doubt considerable discretion should be allowed Ministers in the expenditure of the public funds, but few will go so far as to admit that the Government ■would be justified in ignoring the deliberate vote of Parliament in regard to the salaries to be paid to public servants. A vote of this nature stands upon a diffei’ent footing to other votes. When Parliament passes an item for works in a particular locality it is generally understood that the expenditure will be contingent upon the state of the finances. If the Government refuse to spend the money, outside pressure may be brought to bear. The Press, public meetings, and the influence of the representatives of the district are brought to bear upon the Ministry; but as for the members of the Civil Service they are debarred from publicly exposing any wrong which may be done to them. We feel sure that in voting the increase to the salaries of officers in the Survey Department not a single member of the House for a moment imagined : that the payment would be left to the discretion of the Government. We trust that it may turn out that the Ministry are only dilatory in the mattei’, and that there is no fixed resolve to deny the officials the increase which Pai’liament thought fit to make in their salaries. #3 ——

The business of fire and marine insurance throughout the colony has been uniformly profitable. Auckland has the New Zealand Company, which has accumulated, out of less than £IO,OOO originally invested, its present funds of £300,000, without taking into account its steady dividends upon the gradually increasing amount. The South British Company is also lnghly successful, a lai’ge portion of its capital having been accumulated out of profits; the dividends upon the same are at the rate of 15 per cent. Dunedin has two companies, both successful, viz., the Standard and the National; the latter has netted about £IOO,OOO profits during the last four years; it divides 20 per cent. Finally, Christchurch has the Union Company, and so well is its success understood, that its shares command a value of about double the amount paid up thereon. Why has Wellington hitherto remained without any interest in this valuable business ? There is no question of there being room for such an institution ; it is only necessary to note the rapid growth, both of the insureable property and of the produce of the colony, to see that the field is open. When the South British Company was formed it was at first somewhat languidly taken up; but in that case, as in those of the succeeding local institutions, experience has proved that the wonderful growth of the colony and the natural preference of colonists for local institutions have ensured success. We repeat, why has not Wellington, the capital of the colony, and its natural geographical centre, become the head-quarters of one of these institutions ? At present large sums are annually sent hence which might be retained amongst us, and it is with some considerable satisfaction that we are at last able to state that the matter has been taken in hand by some of our most prominent and wealthy citizens. Wellington is to be the head-quarters of “ The Colonial Insurance Company of New Zealand,” capital two millions sterling, in 200,000 shares of £lO each, upon which ten shillings per share is to be paid-up, forming an aggregate cash capital of £IOO,OOO. The board of directors compilses some of the most wealthy, experienced, and enterprising men amongst us. We understand that the chairman is the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn ; the vice-chairman, the Hon. Randall Johnson ; and the remaining directors comprise Jacob Joseph, Esq., E. W. Mills, Esq., Jhe Hon. M. S. Grace, A. de B. Brandon, Esq., M.H.TI., and Walter J. Nathan, Esq. It is scarcely necessary to state that this board secures enormous wealth and influence, but it . is further backed by practically the whole of the commercial men of the province and other persons of influence who had not previously formed engagements. This company will be formed in a somewhat different manner to its predecessors. The directors have taken the matter boldly in hand, have put down a considerable suxn in cash capital, and have invited the co-operation of influential persons and firms, asking them to join and throw in their influence with the association, which is practically a mutual one, in the interests of the insured. In this view the directors have already concluded negotiations with a lai’ge number of influential persons, and have secured important business to the association. The directors are negotiating in a similar manner throughout the colony, and will continue this process until they have placed, to the mxxtual advantage of all concei’ned, one-half of the total capital of the association. Having thus secured a lax'ge amount of support, and being able to offer to the public the guarantee of a cash capital of £50,000, which is to be vex-y shortly paid up, together with the further assurance of a strong, wealthy, and influential proprietary, business will be commenced, the whole of the remaining capital being reserved for allotment in successive issues to actual insurers with the company in proportion to the insurance premiums paid by them. This secures the following advantages : The company offers undoubted security. Next a large amount of hearty support is considered absolutely certain, and finally the in-

terests and sympathies of the insured will be attached by their beiog enabled to participate in the undertaking, and consequently in its profits, in proportion to the business which it is in their power to offer. The association will do business at the current rates of the day ; but, as the fullest participation will be offered to actual insurers, the whole question will be placed in a different light, and the pi’omotei’s consider there can be no doubt that when the full capital of the association has been l’eached it will comprehend a powerful association of insurers, whose interests will have been attached to the company. The dii’ectors, we heai', have assurances of support from all parts of the colony, and its principles and the auspices under which the association has been founded will, it is anticipated, secure its successful progress. Bearing in mind the rapidity with which the population and property of the colony increase, and, in fact, how soon they double, there can be little question about the success of the institution referred to, and it is a matter of congratulation to the inhabitants of this province that this new institution has been inaugurated with evei-y prospect of success.

According to the telegrams received from Europe yesterday the state of affairs is not so alarming as we were led to expect from the news previously received. Russia is doubtless appalled by the military pi'eparations which have been undertaken in Gx - eat Britain, and hence the mildness of Prince Gortchakoff’s reply to England. The haughty tone which formerly characterised the despatches of the Russian statesmen greatly irritated the people, and to this more than any othei’ cause may be attributed the rapid growth of the war party in England. A few months ago the friends of peace were pi’edominant, but when Kars and Plevna had fallen, and the Russians were at the gates of Constantinople, a change came over the feelings of the English people. This change was not altogether caused by the great success of the Russian arms. To those acquainted with the relative strength of the two belligerents it was from the first clear that the the Mussulman would have to give way before the Muscovite. It . was only a question of time ; victory was certain to rest with the largest battalions, especially when the more numerous body had the advantage of discipline and prestige. The wars of the last five genei’ations have incontestably proved that Turkey would be overmatched in a struggle with Russia. Therefore from the outset Russian success was regarded as so certain that there was really little room for surprise at the collapse of the Turkish arms. What most offended the English Government and. people was the attempt by Russia to treat the Eastern Question as one which rested solely between Russia and Turkey, and consequently dealing with it without regard to the feelings and interests of other European nations. The secret treaty entered into between Russia and Turkey was particularly offensive to England, and we observe that Germany, Italy, and France were also offended at the underhand proceedings of Russia. Prince Gortchakoff must ere this have regretted his bold step of ignoring the feelings of Europe in the settlement of the Eastern Question. Russian machinations have again, as in 1854, been frustrated, not by artifice or intrigue, but by a show of strength by England which has wonderfully impressed the Government of the Czar. The secret treaty, to use a common phrase, is not worth the paper it is written on. Everyone must regard the late news as highly satisfactory. The war feeling had reached to a pitch in England that it only required a slight act on the part of Russia to precipitate matters. The real danger to peace lay in the strong anti-Russian feelings of Lord Beaconsfield. It is now well known that after the surrender of Osman Pasha at Plevna, the Prime Minister ardently desired that England should actively interfere on behalf of the Turks. It was the influence of the peace party in the Cabinet which prevented the mother country from waging a war in which she would not then have had a single ally, and would possibly have provoked other nations to side with Russia. Earl Beaconsfield believed that the integrity of Turkey was essential to the balance of power in Eux-ope. That feeling was not shared in by the statesmen on the Continent. It was felt that the “ sick man” woxxld have to be killed outright some time, and the sooner the deed was done the better. It was only when Russia indicated that she required concessions to be made which would place the control of South-Eastern E .rope in the hands of the Czar that the Great Powers felt deeply interested in the outcome of the wax’. As long as the Czar stood by his promise not to seek any fresh accessions of terxltory in Europe, there was no fear of the Great Povvei's interfering ; but when the terms of peace were such as to make the Black Sea a Russian lake, Austria and Germany felt that their interests were imperilled. However, it must be said that all along Austila had misgivings as to the philanthropic intentions of Russia, but with proverbial hesitation refused to act until England took the initiative. It is somewhat strange to read telegrams to the effect that Austria, a nation with a million of . an army, would be guided by the action of England, for Austi'o-Hungary has infinitively more to fear from the encroachments of Russia than Great Britain. But notwithstanding this, if England had drawn the sword some months ago on behalf of Turkey, it is the general impression that she would have been left to fight it out alone. Germany has a stake in the free navigation of the Danube and the Black Sea, and it would have satisfied our Teutonic brethren if English blood and treasure had secured it for them. Had a war resulted between England and Russia, Germany would have professed to look on with a cynical indifference, whilst perhaps expressing a slight sympathy for the great Northern Power. Nothing has been more remarkable during the complications arising out of the Eastern Question than the attitude taken up by the German Press,

The newspapers literally teemed with taunts ; it was daily pointed out that England was in a state of decay, and the proud position she occupied during the first quarter of the present century, when single-handed for years she waged war with Napoleon the Great, was contrasted with the ignoble front she presents to-day. The nation which crushed the greatest conqueror of modern times was now afraid to encounter a bankrupt nation with an army that had enough, work t> do in beating the despised Turks. , All this and more was strongly dwelt upon by oiga:)3 of public opinion in Germany. The articles were copied into the war journals in England. Of course, the intention obviously was to goad the people into favoring what is termed the vigorous policy of the Premier. But Carnarvon, Derby, and Salisbury acted as a drag upon the warlike intentions of Earl Beaconsfield, and judging by the latest telegrams thei-e is a good prospect of war being averted. The Government policy, we notice, has been endoi-sed by a large majoi-ity in Parliament. Although not sympathising with the bellicose language indulged iu by Lord Beaconsfield, we are of opinion, that it was wise and judicious to take all necessai-y precautions for emergencies. In the discussion on the vote of six millions, Mr. Bright, asked whether it was necessary that England should go with shotted cannon and revolvers to the consideration of the Eastern question. The large majoi-ity that voted with the Government showed pretty plainly that in the opinion of the majority of Englishmen it would .be highly necessary to have something behind, to back up the demands of the British representatives at the Conference.