THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MAY 30.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 764, 30 May 1864, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. " Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, MONDAY, MAY 30.

Mr Reynolds ha 9 resumed his periodical Select Committees on the subject of Government printing. He has been in the habit, session after session, of moving in the matter and of bringing up reports, the substance of which were either to withdraw Government advertisements from the. newspapers or to reduce them. Last session however, he happened to be a newspaper proprietor, enjoying the advantage, such as it was, of Government subsidies. Motives of delicacy no doubt restrained him on that occasion, and accordingly we find the session was allowed to pass without the usual protest against Government advertising. Such motives have now become unnecessary since Mr Reynolds has sold the goodwill of his business, and accordingly he returns to the charge with full vigor—his objections to Government advertising were only suspended, not eradicated. Chairmen of Committees as a rule carry it all their own way, especially when the subject is not a popular one—at any rate, they have the option of calling what evidence they like. It happened in this case that the Committee was fortunate in having a skilful chairman evidently well posted on the subject, and prepared with the conclusions which he desired to arrive at. To confirm these, it was only thought necessary to call one witness in regard to

the printing portion at fcha i»<juiiy, aud by an odd coincidence which, to ilUnatured minds would suggest that he had already discussed the subject with the Chairman, his evidence took a very peculiar shape. When lie was asked to suggest a course by which advertising in the public newspapers might be avoided, he said it was not necessary to enter into suggestions for he was at once willing to make an offer. This he proceeded to do. His proposal was that he should be guaranteed a monopoly of Government advertisements and notices for seven years, in return for which he would print a newspaper and publish it at threepence per copy. No further skilled evidence was taken, but the Committee recommended a modification of the witness's proposal, to the effect that the Government should issue a weekly newspaper and circulate it either gratuitously or at a nominal cost. No evidence was taken as to thepossibility of getting a circulation for this newspaper, or as to its general efficiency as a substitute for ordinary advertisements—the latter were recommended to be absolutely discontinued. Neither was any evidence taken as to the existing system of Government printing as compared with that formerly adopted. Had it suited the Committee to obtain such evidence, the witness before it, already referred to, could have given some very instructive particulars, which would have shed some light on the plan it is now proposed to adopt. Some months ago the Government entered into a contract with the firm of Messrs Shaw and Harnett, of which the witness is a member. The plan adopted was quite a novel one, it was based on the honest principle, that private people are obliged to put certain notices in the Gazette, and that the Government in consideration of allowing them to be fleeced by exhorbitant charges, should, in return, getitspart of the Gazette printed at rather under the usual cost. Messrs Shaw and Harnett in short receive all the money for private advertisements, also for the sale of copies beyond the specified number —four hundred— supplied to the Government for its own requirements. The public have to pay six shillings and sixpence per inch per insertion, for every inch or fraction of an inch of the advertisements that the law compels them to insert in the Gazette, and the Government get a reduction upon the cost of their advertisements. Private individuals make great complaints of the charges to which they are subjected ; "but what is to be done ?—they are plainly victims to the flagrant dishonesty of the Government which sold the right to fleece them for advertisements they were obliged to put in, in consideration of receiving a discount off itfbwn ordinary advertisements. It is rather a good joke to find that, whilst selling the power to fleece the public, the Government is itself the loser. The number of private advertisements leads us to suppose that if the Government, as formerly, received payment, for them at a fair scale price, it would have gained over the present system. In the Gazette of May 4th, the private advertisements amounted to .£2O os. 6d. Besides which the Government had to pay something over five pounds as its share of the cost. The contractors thus received for the Gazette £25, irrespective of the copies they sold. Under the old system the Government would have paid nine pounds for printing the Gazette and for six hundred copies, receiving at the same time payments for private advertisements. Supposing the same charge had been made, the old system would have given the Government for a payment of nine pounds, twenty pounds for private advertisements, and the proceeds of' six hundred copies. Under the present system, the Government paid five pounds and received only four hundred copies; the private payments fell to the contractors. It is quite probable that this is an extreme case, but it illustrates well the exceptional —and to those who use the Gazette — grossly unfair system of contracting the Government has adopted.

Messrs Shaw and Harnett are not to blame. It is true they have exhibited a considerable amount of astuteness, but of course when they took the Gazette on such terms it was an implied understanding that they should make what money they could out of it. The particulars of the Gazette contract throw an instructive light, upon the new proposal. It is not very clear what shape the proposed Government newspaper is meant to assume. Mr Reynolds who, in the debate on the subject, evidently represented Messrs Shaw and Harnett, was not explicit in his proposals, indeed he was rather contradictory. At one time he recommended that the Government sheet should be exclusively confined to advertisements, and that no Government advertisements should be inserted in newspapers, and then he intimated that he was prepared to guarantee the publication of a paper which would insert the advertisements gratuitously, and that he would undertake to procure for them a circulation equal to any in New Zealand. Between the two it is difficult to distinguish. First, the Government is not to advertise in papers, and then Mr Reynolds undertakes to supply it with a paper in which to advertise. The only solution of the mystery is that Mr Reynolds evidently conceives that the Government which will have the execution of the vote of the Council will be one of which he is a member; and that in anticipation of obtaining a seat iv an Executive he has pressed through resolutions which he can mould to his own purpose. It is perhaps not out of place to remark on the thoroughly humiliating position the Government was placed in, in accepting resolutions interfering so closely with the duties of the' Executive. Discretionary power was even refused it. It was ordered—this is the only term to use—to adopt the system whether it answered or not. It is not to be denied that if the re-

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auctions! v>'c-,tQ msaut to apply to the- laty Government there niighfc have been some foundation fqr them, Mr. Dick employed the money placed at his command for ad-

vertising with a most shameless disregard for the public service. Whilst land was being sacrificed owing to its l^ng inadequately advertised, Mr. Dick was advertising in two little papers published by his brother, (in one of which indeed he was supposed to be more directly interested) without reference to the results obtained.

The two papers in question may be considered two editions of one journal. Indeed, lately, a uniformity of type has been adopted in them, so that the Government advertisements did not even require to be twice set up. All that was necessary was to put a different heading to the papers in which they appeared. The two papers together probably have not a circulation equal to a third of that of this journal, so that if we had been paid at the same rate we might have charged six times for the advertisements, for which Mr. Dick's brother charged twice. Here is a case of using the Government advertising as a means of subsidising favored journals, and the Council might justly be asked to veto it. In doing so, the obvious course would have been to stipulate that advertisements should be given where a fair circulation could be secured. Evidence on this subject might have been called if it had suited Mr. Keynold's purpose; but no—it did not. What he wanted was to start a new journal by the aid of a Government subsidy, and he was willing to see a much larger price paid than the Daily Times has been in receipt of during the last year, •, since the abstract-of-advertisements system has been adopted. In regard to circulation, Mr Reynolds' assertion was worth as much as those he makes generally are, and no one better thanhimself wag in a position to know the absolute impossibility of procuring for his new journal anything like the circulation of the Daily Times. He has had the best of all proofs —practical and costly experience—to convince him that all the influence he can exercise does not enable him to force for a newspaper a circulation at all approaching to that of this journal. It is possible his experience may enable him to avoid a future loss. A contract, such as that which he seems to have in view for whoever starts the paper, the publication of which he was prepared to guarantee, may no doubt be made a payable one. Its purport seems to be a monopoly of Government advertisements at a low price in return for the power to fleece the public for private advertisements, the insertion of which is forced upon them. Indeed, his resolutions contemplate a special Ordinance the object of which was not very clearly stated, but which we presume is to give a more substantial guarantee to the new paper he undertakes shall be published.

It is well people should understand that the resolutions, the debate on which occupied nearly the whole of Friday, have no public object, but on the contrary a private purpose. The new mean 3of advertising must cost more than the one already in existence. It matters not whether the Government subsidise a paper itself, or a fly-sheet tacked on to it, in one way or another, the cost, we may be certain, will be heavier, whilst in regard to efficiency it will be iraposible for a very long time to procure a circulation equal to even a third of that of the The Daily Times. In addition to which the right to fleece the public for official advertisements, will be handed over on the same conditions as are adopted with the Gazette. This is what

the public get, —as far as ourselves are eoucerned, the matter is of little consequence.' Provincial Government advertisements have for a long while been so sparingly supplied to the

Daily Times as to make them quite an inconsiderable item of revenue. Certainly'" the Government will suffer more by not being permitted the use of our columns than we shall. Already, for want of advertising, an enormous loss has been incurred in the sales of land, and in other matters. The Council injures the Province by refusing the Government permission to seek the only means of publicity open to it. For Mr Reynolds—if his object was merely to do the Daily Times an injury, his victory is quite barren —we can afford_to laugh at it. If his purpose more directly applied to promoting the commercial prosperity of new speculation, in which he may or may not be concerned, of course we cannot b expected to express an opinion of the result. In either case Mr Reynolds has acted

as might have been anticipated of hiaa

Itis essentially his creed that political power should be used for the attainment of private ends—it was only a few weeks ago he showed he could not comprehend a member hesitating to sit on a Committee in which his personal interest was concerned. Mr Reynolds has exhausted any feeling of surprise his vagaries are calculated to arouse,- he has long passed the stage at which one can even feel angry with him. Systematic misconduct excites only contempt.

The Arrow School Committee held their sixth meeting on the 18th iustant, when the following resolution? with regard to the management of the school were adopted. 1. That the school fees shall be Is a week for each child attending the school, and that the money shall be paid weekly. 2. That the hours of attendance at school shall be from 10 to 12 a.m., and from 2 to 4 p.m., and that Saturdays shall be holidays. 3. That two members of committee visit the school once a week, with a view to ascertain the manner in which it is conducted, and that a public examination of the children, take place every six months. The school was opened on the 19th instant, and is held in full work with an average attendance of 16 children. The Warden, who is on the committee, and takes an iuterest in the matter, has offered several prizes, to be adjudged at the first public examination.

Vvs isi'titus t: «c the T« ran aid Ivpoyincihi C-uauii jiavg ptioSiM & iuoiUiu for doubling t!:e .1. v ihig charges at the port of sJew Plymouth, on all goods upon which duty has been paid in other parts of the colony. We presume this step has been adopted either to the payment of Customs' duties at New Plymouth or by the extra landing charge to compensate for the loss of Customs revenue.

The " Taranaki News" of the 19th says : —We have heard it hinted that a proposition has been/orwarded to head-quarters from this place, initiated by a Melbourne officer, to form a corps of Forest Rangers, well armed with weapons for fighting at close quarters, whose business would be to take the bush for a week or so at a time and operate in the rear of the enemy's position and otherwise to disturb him by cutting him off from his supplies, and interrupting his communication. Also, suggesting that an increased pay should be substituted for the promise of land, as being what the description of men required for the service would consider more desirable."

"The Egyptian" "was announced for repetition at the Princess's Theatre on Saturday evening. We understand that the attendance •was better than could have been expected, considering the inclemency of the weather. "Lady Audley's Secret," having been " altered and revised by the author," is to be re-produced this evening, with entirely new scenery.and properties.

Great inconvenience was again experienced on Saturday evening, through the failure of the supply of gas. For three or four hours, there was either none obtainable, or only so little as to be practically useless ; but about half-past eleven o'clock, there was something like a moderate pressure. We have not heard the cause of the failure.

The weather during Saturday morning and afternoon was pleasantly fine ; but about sunset there was a rapid change, and most drenching rain continued to fall until a late hour. In the neighborhood of the town snow fell instead of rain ; and yesterday the hills to the south-west were thickly covered. Yesterday was again delightfully fine.

The Supreme Court sits at ten o'clock this forenoon. The causes first in order are, Harding v. Crowhurst and Crowhurst v. Harding. It is quite possible that one or two pases may be thrown over to the next sitting, as the Criminal Session commences on Wed nesday. One of the judges (most probably Mr Justice Chapman) will hold a sitting in Invercargill early in July.

This evening the Rev. Eichard Connebee delivers the sixth of the course of lectures in connection with the Dunedin Young Hens' Christian Association in the rooms of the Association, Stuart street. The subject of lecture selected is " Personal Recollections of Great Preachers, including Robert Hall, William Jay, and Dr. Leifchild." The hour of meeting is eight o'clock.

Our correspondent at the Lake District reports that the weather has set in thoroughly ■wintry, hard frosts, but little or no snow or rain. The mining news from this district is satisfactory.

We understand that on Saturday last about half-past two p.m. a very large portion of the Bell Hill was dislodged by the application of the,galvanic battery. We may state that the two holes containing the charges were of the depth of 45 and 42 feet respectively, and that the quantity of powder used ■was no less than 4301b5. The instant the galvanic circuit was completed, both charges exploded simultaneously, thereby effecting the main object for which the battery was used. We are pleased to be able to state that the arrangements which resulted so satisfactorily were entirely under the charge of the officers of H. M. Gaol, who, since the works at Bell Hill were transferred to the charge of the Governor of that department, have had the entire carrying out of all operations in connection therewith. We hear that the two prisoners who, a short time since met •with an accident at the Hill have quite recovered, and are again at work.

A special meeting of the Queenstown Improvement Committee, was held on the 19 th inst. Correspondence was read by the Harbormaster on the subject of replacing the buoy on the reef at the entrance of the Bay, and ■with regard to lights for the guidance of boats entering at night. The following resolutions were adopted: — 1. "That the hon. -secretary be requested to ask the Government immediately to fix the buoy on the reef, and also enclose a copy of the correspondence received from Sergeant Bryant."—Carried. 2. " That this committee having taken into their serious consideration the way the main road from Dunedin to Queenstown should come, are fully impressed that the road should never have been attempted to be made via Arthur's Point; and this committee highly approve of the action taken by the road engineer and the Government in suspending the works between' the Arrow and Arthur's Point, and bringing the road through Frankton, which this committee considero the most desirable, especially as it saves the country several thousands of pounds."' —Carried. 3. " That the hon. sec. •write to their Honors Mr Justice Richmond anl Mr Justice Chapman with respect to the establishment of an Assize Court in this vast and important district, and respectfully requests them to inform the Improvement Committee when they anticipate visiting this Township."—Carried. 4. " That this Improvement Committee request the co-operation of the inhabitants of Southland, in the establishment at this place of an Assize Court, and urgently request them to take prompt and speedy action in the matter."—Carried.

A most successful and agreeable entertainment took place at the Court-house, Queenstown, on the 24th inst., in celebration of her Majesty's Birthday. Mr Beetham, the officer of the Camp, received the Government officials and leading inhabitants of the township at dinner. Upwards of thirty sat down, "including the Wardens of the Shotover and Arrow Districts, the agents of the Banks, Messrs Reuben Harris, Campbell, Shepherd, &c. The usual loyal toasts were responded to, and for the " Gold Fields' Officers" no less than eight gentlemen felt it necessary to acknowledgß the heartiness of the compliment. After " Auld Lang Syne" had been properly performed in the good old style, the whole party adjourned to the Fire Brigade Ball at Bracken's, where the mirth and fun was kept up until milk time in the morning.

Childhood. The shouts of playful childhood are elcqutnt of the heart's sweet music. There are sounds that gush forth so full of the active springing, overleaping joy that knows no boundary; and the associations with their gleeful melody are those of the purest pleasure.