NEW ZEALAND NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7342, 5 December 1884, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH

NOVEMBER-DEOEMBER.

{For iranaminMon by P.M.B. Co.’a tteuiner City of Sydnsy, from\Awkland, via San Francisco,J

The second session of the Parliament of 1884 was brought to a termination on Monday, November 10, by a commission composed of Sir W. Fiizhorbert (Speaker of the Legislative Council), the Hon. P. A. Buckley, and the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, members of the Legislative Council. The session will be a remarkable one in the annals of New Zealand’s history for many reasons, the most remarkable of which is the attainment of power again by Sir Julius Vogel, whose public works policy of 1870 brought the colony with a bound to the front rank of England’s dependencies, and as a consequence burdened it with an incubus of debt. From the period mentioned succeeding Administrations have been compelled from force of circumstances to follow, with more or less regularity, the linos laid down by the Fox-Vogel Ministry, with the result that, at the present time, the colony is indebted to English creditors, for public loans exclusively, to the extent of some thirty millions sterling. The depression in the colony, consequent on n partial cessation of borrowing and a falling off in values of the staple articles of export led a large number of the unthinking portion of the community to attribute its misfortunes to the late Government, whose sole object—-as has been conclusively shown—was to so adjust taxation as to meet the pressing exigencies of the time, and to bring the expenditure of public moneys on necessary works within safe limits. The process, however, was too slow to suit the tastes of a community which had tasted the fruits of what has been euphoniously termed a spirited policy, and when Sir Julius Vogel reappeared on the scene a section of the people at once hailed him ns a deliverer, whose second advent to power would lead to another era of general prosperity. Sir Julius saw his opportunity, and lost no time in improving it. He had not come out to tho colony with an intention of remaining, ho adroitly said, but he was convinced that ho could bo of some service to tho country were he given tho opportunity, for ho saw that the colonists wore suffering from a want of confidence in themselves not justified by the position of the colony, and that there were several reforms to bo effected by which the civil expenditure could bo largely curtailed, not the least of which was tho education vote which could be reduced by about onehalf. His professions of solicitude for the colony’s welfare and avowed desire and ability to improve tho existing state of affairs were received with especial delight by a section of the Canterbury Pressand public, whosehostility to the Atkinson Government had been greatly intensified by a necessary reimposition of grain rates on the local lines of railway which had been temporarily reduced. Sir Julius was in clue course returned for Christchurch North in tho now Parliament, and found himself at the head of a small party in the House composed mainly of Canterbury members. Happily for tho country, however, there were representatives iu Parliament who, though desiring a change in the personnel of the Ministry, were not prepared to follow blindly a gentleman whoso acknowledged talent for daring schemes might be employed in evolving large financial projects, the carrying out of which would plunge .the colony into difficulties from which no amount of future finessing could honorably extricate it, and after much deliberation the opponents of the Atkinson Government agreed to assign the task of forming a Ministry to Mr Eobert Stout, whose ultimate success has been duly chronicled. Whatever airy schemes Sir Julius may have fashioned in bis inner consciousness it is impossible to say, but it is certain that, if any were proposed in Cabinet, they were not endorsed by his colleagues; for, beyond the South Sea Island Bill —which was simply scouted by the House—and the proposal to abolish the sinking fund, nothing original or startling was brought before an expectant country. The glib promises to give a better system of education than tho colony possessed for onehalf the cost, to considerably contract departmental expenses, to provide for local government, and to create aland tax in lieu of tho property tax, were as nearly redeemed at tho close of the session as when Sir Julius gave utterance to them. In fact, the policy of the new Ministry was as nearly as possible a continuance of that of the old, the most notable point of difference being the reduction of the property tax by one-half, the wisdom of which proceeding in tho present financial condition of tho colony was doubted even by the admirers of the Government. The close of the session found the Ministry with a slightly increased majority, which can be accounted for by the fact that there is a generally expressed desire that a fair trial should bo given those in power to effect that change for the colony’s welfare which Sir Julius Las vauntihgly proclaimed his ability to produce. The Ministry may fairly fee said to be on its trial, and its stability will depend on fho fulfilment of promises and the developments of the recess. It is exceedingly gratifying to know that the fertility and natural resources of New Zealand are such as to permit of, a large amount of experimental government. \Vero it otherwise the future of tho colony might be jeopardisod. The question of Australasian federation, which has not been regarded here with so much importance as in tho sister colonies, came up for consideration on the last two days of the session. The House ultimately resolved that further negotiations should take place between the Australian colonies, and that farther consideration be postponed until next session. Assent was given to a proposal by the Government that the colony should pay its one-sixth share of tho £15,000 required by the Imperial Government for the administration of the affairs of New Guinea.' Some little stir has been created amongst our manufacturers during the mouth in connection with the Colonial Exhibitions proposed to be held at intervals in the chief centres of the colony. The Colonial Treasurer gave birth to tho idea iu his Financial Statement, and £IOOO was voted by the House as a grant in aid of the project. This sum has been regarded as so ridiculously small for the purpose that fear was at one time ex pressed that nothing could be douo in the matter. But our local manufacturers have held several meetings to discuss the feasibility of the scheme, with the result that such a feeling of co-operation has been engendered as

to warrant tho belief tbat the first of the exhibitions will bo hold in Wellington during tho early part of next year. On the 18th ultimo a paragraph appeared in this journal recording the discovery in Mount Cook Barracks of several ammunition cases branded with the name of the vessel Osprey, and also bearing tho dates 1844, 1840, 1854, and 1856. It was further proved on closer examination that this particular Osprey had been a regular trader between Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart, and New Zealand, and the idea was at once conceived that the discovery would prove an important missing Jink in the chain of evidence given in connection with the famous Tichboruo trial. The publication of our paragraph brought out quite a large number of correspondents who bad remembered seeing tho Osprey—indeed, a number of Ospreys of all rigs and sizes in theseseas. One writer, signing himself “W. K. 1.,” stated that he knew a Mr Edward Anchor, late of Wanganui, but now of Sydney, who had professed himself to have boon sailmaker of the Osprey at the time of the alleged rescue of the Bella’s boat with the claimant on board. If this statement should turn out to bo correct, Mr Anchor’s evidence may be of groat importance, but if otherwise, it matters little whether fifty Ospreys could be traced to these seas, for everything depends on the date of arrival of the particular Osprey at Hobsous Bay, which the claimant alleged occurred on July 24, 1854. Not the least remarkable feature of the present excitement about the Osprey is the fact that the discoveries above narrated have taken place almost simultaneously with the release of the claimant.

Wellington has been treated liberally with amusements during the past month. In addition to purely local exhibitions of talent, Chiarini's Eoyal Italian Circus and Menagerie has just concluded a highly successful season here, and the stage of the Theatre Eoyal is at present occupied by a capable company under the direction of Mrs G. B. W. Lewis,an actress of considerable talent. Last week the local racing clubs held their spring meetings, which passed off very successfully. Indeed, the meeting under the auspices of the Wellington Jockey Club, which took place at tho new racecourse at Island Bay, was the most successful ever held in this pro - vince, no less than 6000 people being present. A company has been formed to construct a tramway system to the pretty seaside retreat of Island Bay, which is situate within about four miles of the city, and promises to be a very popular resort for public gatherings, as well as a pleasant place of residence for business men engaged in the city. '