THE Otago Daily Times "Invaniam viam aut faciam"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 311, 18 December 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times "Invaniam viam aut faciam"

DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18.

In the Provincial Council yesterday, The Provincial Secretary laid on the table thf report of the Select Committee on the Land Proposals, and moved that it he considered in Committee on. the Unimproved Land Bill. , It was arranged that the report should be considered on Friday. In reply to Mr Walker, the Provincial Skcrkt aby said that he could not say whether the Govern inent would this session take steps to provide a supply of watsr for Dunedin without first coiisultiug his colleagues. Mr Walker gave notice to ask the question o.» Friday. : The Provincial Secretary saiJ that he could now. state, that t!ie Government were intending 'to place a sum of Ll5O on the Supplementary J3stiinate.<lor the purpose of assisting the proposed water com j>any. in. the prel'miiiary surv- y. Mr Walker deemed the suoject so important that lie should adhere to his notice, and contingent upon the answer of the Government should move a series <jf resolutions in favor of the object, and for the introduction of a bill to provide a Government guarantee of 5 per cent to any company, anl to give power to levy rates. ' "' ■ ■ I■■ The Provincial Solicitor moved the second I reading.of the Ota^o Pieprefceuialio.i Bill. He explained that the object of the JJili was to make a redistribution of the couutry iiit<> electoral districts. In consequence of the fluctuations of the inuring population it had been thought advisable that th Svhole of the gold" fields' of the Province should be constituted one electoral district. The Bill hr-ving been read, the House went iato Committee, when a few alterations were made, and the third reading; was fixed for Friday. The Provincial. Solicitor, in moving the second reading of the Miners' Representation Bili, explained that it was intended to give effect, to the provisions of an Act of the last session of the General Assembly. The second realing was agree! to, and the third reading iixed for Friday: The House then went into Committee of Supply. On \ the item, Main Branch Heads, L25,750, a lively debate ensued, several of the appropriations being opposed. t. Mr Cakgill regretted that he was not present when the consideration of the road appropriations was first commenced, as he feared there had been a departure fVom^the established pHmeiple of working; on a vvelfclefined system"witn roads. He was not going to oppose any particular road. - The Provincial Secretary was glad the question had been raised. The Government jdesired to fix on i ths best possible lines for central interior tiunkroaus. I There were lines down for two or three such breads, i all leading towards the Glutuaand Lake Wakatip [ country, It was a question yet to be decided whether the*iiavi.£jation of the Clutha"coald-be;ppened up, so as to afford a river communication with the" Duustan, but turther inquiry would be made. . , Mr Caugill expressed himself satisfied with the explanation,'as showing that attention had* been paid to the matter by the Grovernment, * but he thought that the Government sesined hardly to have a proper conception of its magnitude; It Tvas-tiesirabJe that- there should be one - good - road made into the inteiior to be kept open all the winter, andthatwasasmuch as could be done. The third road proposed would not cost less than a quarter of a million. He held that something more was required than scrambling examination by young assiftants. Tiie Provincial Secretary denied that the road works were not in practical hands. The best talrmt available was employed. But the Government did not contemplate metalling the interior roa ris m tue present fauniiuer.~ Ji'ven the principal central road of the Province was not yet metalled; metalling was very expensive, and necessarily alao a work of tune. He wan assured by the head of the department that the fdadlna'Waikouaiti would be made so as to be used during the winter. ' Mr Cuttex said the general impression out of doors was that the Government employed a set of discharged cooks or others with just as much knowledge of road a After further remarks from M«ssrs Gillies, Toon a. Waxkeb,

Mr Gotten said that he only spoke of the idea out of doors.: " •" s ■ ■ .= ■ \

... Some further;, ensued, and after Mr CUTTisNhM^ovedatid withdrawn a resolution to the effect that an engineer should be obtained from England, a large number of items were passed. Mr Cajrgili, then moved a resolution to the effect that with the view of entering uponi extensive works oa an effective and Ibonomical system, the Government be empowered to secure the best engineering talent within their reach, and to increase such expensesas they may deem expedient. Several other items were then disposed of. I Theremairiderof the Estimates were agreed to. A vte of L19,60312s 3d tor unauthorised expenditure during the past half-year was agned to, and the Council soon afterwards adjourned till Friday.

Without wronging the Provincial Council by supposing it to be endowed with any exalted ability, it might at least be thought that its proceedings would not be allowed to transgress the ordinary dictates of common sense. But it appears to be its endeavour, as its last days are waning to their close, to show its independence by proclaiming its indifference to every consideration that guides other legislative bodies. Its latest exploit is the making itself the subject of a stultification so complete that, did we not know to the contrary, might lead us to suppose thatjthe "bull"----perpetrating-nationality formed a large portion of its constitution. The report purporting to emanate from the committee appointed to inquire into the subject of Immigration, but which was not even read by half of the committee, naturally enough did not please the Council. But instead of rejecting it all, or so much of it as was riot approved of, the House took the extraordinary course of substituting a paragraph, making it appear as if it came from the Committee although its authorship belonged to the Council. °Ihus the amendment begins:—"The first point " taken up by the Committee was the ncces- " sity that exists to ' establish an Agency 'in London similar to that in Scotland. Your " Committee are of opinion, &c, &c." All as if emanating from the Committee. Could any one conceive a greater outrage on common sense, than that the House should put words into the mouth of the Committee, and make it appear by vote that the latter was the author? Why wer not the report referred back to the Committee as asked by Mr Hardy ? Or if an amendment were proposed, why could it not be|stated that so much of the report the Council disapproved of, and desired to substitute in its stead such and such a recommendation ? The ansyyer is not very plain. It appeared to be the .wish of some of the members that the report, instead of being a plain busi-ness-like statement, should embody a mass of. I extraneous matter. Mr Walker, one of the | committee, but who had not seen the precious 1 production before it was presented to the House, characterised parts of it as •' lulsome," I uid desired that it should be referred Lack. But ao, this course was denied, and the report was i pressed through, and as it was termed, confirmed —manufactured would have been the best word.

As it is left to stand it may prove a very Jangerous docament. It is so vaguely expressed that under its authority the-Govern-ment may take action far exceeding anything jontemplated by the House. Instead of opening up the whole question of the Home Agency, it barks it. The Government did not venture to move specific resolutions founded upon it, which might have definitely tested the feelings of the Council. The whole proceeding reveals a deliberate attempt to smother the inquiry into the subject, which the House very naturally desired to make. The House has been regularly hoaxed, and the Deus ex machina, Mr Reynolds—the gentleman who, having, when he was in England earnestly recommended Messrs Patrick Henderson and Co. to the consideration of the agents, feels himself bound to act as their advocate in the Province, is left to triumph at the neat manner in which he has managed to put off an investigation of which, for some reason or other, he disapproves. When Mr Walker moved for a committee to take into consideration the working of the Home agency, Mr Reynold's persuaded him to join the Immigration Committee, and couple the two inquiries into one. In a moment of. foolish weakness Mr Walker consented, and the result has been to gain his tacit consent to that which he neither saw nor approved. The whole of the report is a sham. The extravagant terms in which the agents are spoken of are as Mr Walker justly said — fulsome. The recommendation concerning the English agency is opposed to the evidence which the report pretended to rely on, and the explanation concerning the transaction with Messrs Patrick Henderson and Co., is a reproach to any one pretending to commercial knowledge. By a side-wind, the House has been trepanned into giving authority to the Government, that may be used very much to the injury of the Province. The interests of the Province are handed over to the Scotcli agents, who, however well meaning (and this, we believe, they thoroughly are,) are no more capable of watching over Otago's interests in London than Mr Reynolds is of making a report which should fully express the objects and meaning of the writer. Why, we again ask,' was the inquiry smothered?—why was it not referred back to the Committee, and a sham replaced by a, reality? We cannot enter into motives, but this we say ; had the report been referred back, —had further evidence being called, —a somewhat different production would have been the result. Why was not the evidence of commercial men called to express an opinion as to the mode in which a London Agency would best work ?

Although a great deal is said about immigration, the principal present purpose for which a London Agency is required, is to watch over the financial interests of the Province. Otago mil now be a large borrower; and it must liare done with the vagaries that chopped its debentures up and down ten per cent. It must endeavour to see its loans placed on the London market, to [ai least as much advantage as those of colonies possessing less resources. But this can never be done with a London Agency supervised by two Scotch writers to the Signet, four hundred miles distant. The question of the Agency is intimately connected with that of tlie Loan, and it would have been only wise to have deferred the decision on the one until the consideration ot the other. The proposal concerning the loan has not been brought forward, and yet the House has been induced to give the Government the power to/authorise the Home Agents to engage with, a .London, Arm, and to supervise its proceedings. , It proper steps were .takensome world-renowned house : such as Baring Brothers or Rothschild's would be secured. But aa it ie wemay

expect to see seme third rate house with an Edinburgh connection receive the preference. There is much beneath the surface in tbis subject about which we cannot; write. Any one who has watched the action taken by Mr Reynolds in this matter will see in him more the partizan than the inquirer. His colleagues and himself may feel- themselves justified, on the authority of the confirmed or manufactured report, in ■ authorising the Scotch agents to engage with a London firm, but of this we are assured, that as soon, as the new Council is elected the powerof supervision will be withdrawn, and the whole matter of which the garbled report treats be thoroughly sifted.

By an error in " making up" yesterday's paper, the first and second columns on the sixth page, being part of the Provincial Council, were transposed.

Last night Dr Hocken delivered a lecture to the Young Men's Christian Association and their friends, in Knox's Church. E. H. Street, Esq. presided over an audience which, we regret to say was more select than numerous, but this may have been owing to the very unpropitious state of the weather, which almost effectually placed a veto on any one venturing out of doors unless for very urgent reasons. Dr Hocken commenced his lecture by an excellent description of the Fungi or lowest examples of vegetable life. From these he passed to the life of the higher plants, and their influence on the health of man, referring more particularly to those of native growth a! occasion gavo an opportunity. The valuo of vegetable productions, and where they were injurious, was particularly dwelt upon. Special reference was made to the Tutu plant, which is nearly the only poisonous vegetables the country. Where it had been partaken of by man Dr Hocken recommended the following treatment, till at least medical aid should be procured : First, an emetic, to be followed by a breakfast cup of strong coffee, mixed with a tea spoonful of hartshorn, and a table spoonful of charcoal, Dr Hocken concluded an able lecture by a special description of the Flora of New Zealand. A number of specimens were produced and exhibited, but more would have been collected had the weather been more favourable to the procuring of fresh specimens. The lecturer promised a better description when he ■was more acquainted with the natural vegetable productions of the country. The whole.lecture was profusely illustrated by large coloured drawings, and natural specimens. At the close, a hearty vote of thanks was awarded to Dr Hocken, the proposer taking the opportunity of referring to a decided want in such lectures, viz, the absence of a large frame or anything on which to exhibit diagrams, maps, or other drawings. As he Hairl, there is surely a sufficient amount of skill and labour among the members of the society to suppiy this before long.. Dr Hocken acknowledged the compliment and the Rev Mr Stuart having pronounced the benediction, the meeting dispersed.

A special meeting of the Education Board was held on Monday, his Honor the Superintendent in the chair. A deputation from the Oiversham School Committee, succeeded ,in inducing the Board to withdraw their plans and specifications of a school-house at that place ; on the ground that the one recommended by the Committee was cheaper and would give more accommodation. An application from 20 heads of families for the ■establishment of a school at Tuapeka was remitted to the Commissioner there. A request from the East Taieri School Committee to appoint a second teacher at a salary of LIOO per annum, the Board to supply LSO, was acceded to. Certain furnishings for the Oamaru school were ordered to be supplied. In accordance with a request from the Dunedin District Committee, it was desired that his Honor the Superintendent reserve from sale sections 30 B and 30 C, Block I, and sections 21, 22, and from 33 to 38 inclusive, Bloc!-: XIIL, for the site of a middle district school to be selected from these sections. An application from the Wakari district for additional accommodation, it was deemed inexpedient to deal with at present. A list of school-books and stationery which the secretary had prepared was ordered to 1)3 forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent, with a request that he would authorise the same to be procured from Britain. The meeting then adjourned.

The Town Board will sit again on Friday to hear appeals against the assessment. A list of the appeals to he heard will be found advertised in our present issue.

By an official notice which appears elsewhere, it will be seen that, on and after the 22nd iust. mails will ha conveyed to aud from the Dunstan three times a week.

A proposal is on foot for constructing a planked, pathway,-five feet in width, from Princes-street, across the head of ths Bay to the VauxhallGardens. It is estimated to cost a little over L2,000, and a toll of fid per passenger will, it is supposed, yield a profitable remuneration. An application is to be nuule, we are told, to the Government for the lease of the land.

Ag an instructive fact for the Committee on the Land Regulations, now sitting, we may mention that the Governor of Queensland lately stated, in reply to a deputation, that the Land Revenue of* the Colony was almost at an end, owing to the abuses of the Free Grants of Land to Immigrants system. On landing the immigrants dispose of their warrants for the merest trifle, and the land passes to speculators for far under its right value. At the Princess Theatre last night the new play of " Rigoletto, or, the Fool's Revenge," was pro. I need to a crowded house. Here, as recently at the Theatre Royal, it was well put on the stage, and passed oiF most successfully, the prin. «ipal characters being honored by a call before the curtain afc its conclusion. " The Bonny Fishwife" was to have closed the programme, but Mr Holt intimated that, owing to the continued illness of Miss Emma Neville, it could not be performe 1, and asked the audience to accept of" The Moustache Movement " instead. Permission, of course, was granted, and in such circumstances it is needless to state that the piece went off agree • ably.

There was a thin house at the- Theatre Royal last night, notwithstanding a very good, programme, very well gone through. The state of the weather during the day, we would fain hope, was the chief, if not the only cause, but really this state of matters is occurring so frequently that one is inclined to consider there must be another cause as yet undivulged. The programme was the same as on the previous evening, and, notwithstanding the necessarily disheartening effect of a meagre attendance, the performers did their best in every piece.

The South Australian Advcrtiser of November 27, in an article on '• The Ocean Postal Service" says :—:' The proposal of the Peninsular and Oriental Company to commence a fortnightly mail service, to which we have referred will not affect us much. The advantage it would offer us, except at a cost greater than we should be disposed to pay, would be very trifling. We should not go to the expense of sending a fortnightly steamer to King George's Sound ; nor do we think our Govei-nrnent would feel inclined to have a vessel always waiting in Melbourne to bring, on our letters. A fortnightly mail, therefore, would

only occasionally be of use to us ; as, for example, wKea.it arrived in Melbourne just about the time when a steamer, was"sailing \for Adelaide.. ..This colony, therefore,.would riot be disposed to add to the amount of subsidy already paid to the Peninsular and Oriental Company ; and even snpposing that company were to% commence a! fortnightly service without subsidy, we do ,'not see that it would be of much use to us." '•* •

To-day being the Fast Day of the Presbyterian Church, will be observed as a holiday at the Banks. ~ ■' . ■ ;. *'

Yesterday the Resident.. ; Magistrate re-com-menced to hold his daily sittings in. the Court House, which has now been vacated by Judge Gresson. Litigants or others who are apt to come within the lash of the law, would do. well to note the change, as for some time after His Worship occupied the Odd Fellows' Hall, complaints were almost daily heard, that people did not know where the Resident Magistrate's Court was held.

We take the following from the Argus of 10th December :—" Mr Levi stated last, night to the Legislative Assembly, on the vote for « unforseen expenses,' that coal .from Cape Paterson was now under trial in the locomotive 'department, and if it was approved, tenders for the supply of the Government lines would be sent in by the Victoria Coal Company, and a saving of some thousands of pounds would accrue to the Government. Some 1,500 or 1,600 tons of coal had already been raised from those mines."

We learn from the .Argus that a letter, dated Cape Town, November 9, Iwas received in Melbourne by the Alhambra, from one of the " Christy Minstrels," stating that these celebrated vocalists, after a highly successful campaign at the Cape, were to sail in a few days for Melbourne. There can be little doubt that the success that awaits them here will not be eclipsed Jby the warm reception they have had at the Cape. The papers, also received by the-Alhambra, confirm the statement as to the entire success of the minstrels at Cape Town.

The Provincial Government is inviting tenders for the construction of a bridge across the Island Stream, Otopopo, and for the erection of a temporary Lunatic Asylum.

The Argus says, " By the Alhambra have arrived in excellent order a most valuable consignment of birds and bees for the Acclimatisation Society, consisting of five swans, a large number of grouse, four hives' of Ligurian bees, some Egyptian geese, and pigeons. They arc in excellent health, and prove that Captain Godfrey has paid considerable attention to .them.during the passage." ' The Cumberland disease would appear to b e making. frightful ravages in Queensland. Tiio North Australian of 25 th November says :—" Tiie enemy so wisely feared by Mr Herbert, and scouted by the Opposition, has made its appearance, certainly not in the shape of pleuro-pneu-monia, but a disease equally as direful in its ravages. The so-called Cumberland disease has, within the last few weeks, to my knowledge , carried off hundreds of horned stock, hundreds of sheep, and a great number of horses likewise. Many dogs, both native and domesticated,'have died in consequence of eating the diseased flesh. Mr Gregory, the commissioner, and his subordinates, have been fully occupied this last three weeks in visiting ; the diseased stations. The stations infected are— Whaland Messrs Doyle; Kenopio, Messrs Whiteman • Baronga, M'Donald ; Boga Billa, Mr Brown. Mr Brown has lost 600 or 700 sheep out of a flock less than 2,000. I believe they are still

dying. The Commissioner has inspected all tlie stations, and I believe has placed them, or some ot them, in quarantine. Messrs Myles and Watts

have both made some pout mortem examinations and report both spleen and lungs to be infected. Mr:. Watts'brought some disease! lung for the Commissioners to examine. I do not know his opinion as to whether- he considers the disease contagious or not. The general opiuion is that it

is so."