THE ABOLITION OF PROVINCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4219, 28 September 1874, Page 3

THE ABOLITION OF PROVINCES.

TO Tira EDITOR. S IK) Will you please find space in your columns for a few remarks on the abolition of the Provinces of the North Island. I think that after more than twenty years of maladministration of the public affairs by Provincial Governments as evidenced by their wasting our estate and a reckless squandering of money, there will be but few persons found who will regret that their days are numbered, and that Provincial institutions will soon be a thing of tho past. Settlers in tho country districts of the Irovince of Wellington will not bo likely to clothe thomselves in sackcloth on account of nor mourn her decease. I believe that if ever the wheels of time moved slowly, they will appear to do so during tho year which must elapse be-

fore Parliament can meet to bury this mass of political corruption out of our sight. There is, however, one subject which appears to demand our most serious attention — i.e., our land revenue. If districts are to have a largo portion of the monoy raised from sales of land in the different settlements expended on roads or other public works, how is this' fund to be guarded until it passes into other hands. Has the General Government placed any restriction on the sale of land in this Province, so as to prevent it being sold at any price to create a revenue to be expended by, men who are not too particular as to justice in these matters ? Settlers in the country districts would like to know what His Honor the Superintendent meant, when he said in the General Assembly, "that the Hon. Julius Vogel was master of millions, and himself only Superintendent of the poor Province of Wellington ; but he would beat him yet." Did His Honor wish the public to believe that he would, during the present year, be careful to deal out to country districts, that portion of the Provincial revenue which they are entitled to, by helping to develop their resources, and make farm settlements attractive in such a degree as would make them forget the miserable past, and hope for better things in the future, and so move the sympathies of the people as to cause them to petition the Assembly to allow the Provinces to remain as they are, and thereby make his calling as Superintendent sure ?

We should like to think this was His Honor's intention; but, a retrospect of the past forces us to the opposite conclusion, and causes a feeling of alarm to spring up in our minds, and a need of watchfulness on the part of every man in the Province. I would say to all my fellow-settlers, and especially to working-men and those of limited means who hope to be owners of a few acres of land, and who wish to leave their children better off than they are themselves, look well after the Provincial Government of Wellington this year, ' and if we see any attempt at intrigue or unfair dealing with our laud revenue, let us be swift to make it known, and get up a monster memorial to His Excellency the Governor and his advisers, praying that they may be restrained until the next Bession of Parliament. —I am, &c, A Sufferer. September 23.