THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, MONDAY, OCTOBER 2.

Otago Daily Times, 2 October 1865, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, MONDAY, OCTOBER 2.

Saw Z_ajv.asd is just tow .ufibring from an inconvenience which has heen experienced more or less often by every political State. The colony aiaads in need of money. It requires large accommodation, to be raised in the shape of loan.. But that is a special necessity which may he met by the sdoption of special measures. Beyond this it requires tbe establishment of a permanent system of domestic finance to provide for the ordinary exigencies of government. At present, the revenue of the colony is insafncient to meet the necessities of the executive, whilst the system ot taxation enforced is felt to be oppressive and burdensome. It may be affirmed v, ith tolerable safety th.t no revenue based upon a system of Customs duties, can be collected witb perfect fairness and equity. It is an unavoidable incident of this principle of taxation that it shall operate unequally. If the duii-.s are made to fall on what are called tbe necesiarks of life, it ia manifest tbat a heavier proportionate burden rests upen the poor man than on fhe rich. The expenditure of all classes upon commen articles cf consumption represents something like the same sum. The millionaire eats little more bread and drinks little more tea or coffee, tban the artizan who toils for his daily wage; so tbat under tbis principle, the latter is according to his means a far larger contributor to the revenue of tbe State than the former. If in tead of relying upon tbe necesariea we attempt to tax the - luxuries of life, we are met at the outset by the difficulty of deciding what are luxuries. Tbat is a ; question depending purely upon personal and da?s tastes. To one m_u musical instruments are a luxury, to another books, to another articles of verla. Tbe ad valorem system is possibly the fairest adjustment of \ import duties, but practically the principle ! bas, on tbe -whole, not been found to operate well for revenue purposes, whilst it has invariably proved rexatious to the mercantile community. It U not sufficient to recommend a system of tixatioa that it •ball be theoretically sound. Tbe practical statesman bas a very natural and very proper regard for tbe facilities it offers for the collection of the duties levied under it. Were it not for this consideration, tbe whole system of indirect taxation, by means of Customs duties and otherwise, would have been long ago abandoned. It has many disadvantages in addition to its inevitable inequality of pressure, not tbe least of wbich are the f_cilitie3 it affords for fraud, and the cumbrous and complicated machinery requisite for its enforcement A direct percentage up.n a man's income and his realised property, exacts from everyone a contribution vo the expenses of tbe State, proportionate to hia means. Bnt under the operation of such a law tbs "impatience of taxation," naturally so obnoxious lo finance ministers, is snre to develop itselT. Whatever arguments, therefore, may be urged in favor of direct taxation as a philosophical system, we may be sure tbat it w'll never find favor witb those wbo are engaged in tbe practical work of extracting as mucb money aa possible from the pockets of the people without allowing them to feel the process- If every man were to be asked to make his contribution to the revenue in the .bape of a payment of money, yearly or quarterly, to the tax collector, instead of paying some infinitesimal and nnthought of stun on every cup of tea be drank and every pipe of tobacco be smoked, Chancellors of the Exchequer would find tbemaelve. in constant difficulty. Tbey would be the most unpopular of men, and be continually assailed by a clamor of opposition.

Mr Gladstone, who has succeeded in realising for England tbe largest revenue she has ever had at her disposal, baa fully rat stored the philosophy of what may be called unconscious tribute. With the most subtle ingenuity be has spread a thin film of taxation over aa enormous ~«». t'^Jlbtlaag' J**** fi b**n ; fiU*.. -scape Mm. No member c{ th. com** ..JO-*?'. ~!-!*; i*

| mtmity j» nruUxed. 2fo operation of co mxaeree is __l__r.ed. Money is taxed, proi petty is taxed; and ail the operations by j which money is realised and property created, are taxed. Nay, taxation levies ita toll upon every transaction by which money and property pass from hand to hand. Bj- these infinitesimal but incessant exacticns, the national treasury is kept full to ; repletion; the more solid and appreciable taxes arc bang constantly reduced; and the nation is at once proud of its resources aud unconscious of the demands continuously made upon its pocket.

In America, under thelatest fiscal system established, more things are taxed than in England. The enormous expenditure occasioned by the war, has rendered it necessary to provide for the interest upon and the gradual extinction of a great National debt, in addition to tbe payment of tbe ordinary charges of government. The following is an abstract of the leading features of Americ.n finance:—The sources of revenue are duties on spirituous and fermented liquors; fees for business licences; specific and ad valorem duties on manufactures, articles, and products; auction duty; brokerage duty; duties on carriages, yacht*?, musical instruments, gold and silver plate, and other luxuries; duties en animals slaughtered for fuod ; duties on railroads, steamboats, ferry boats, and bridges; a duty of 3 per cent, on the gross receipts of express companies and 1£ per cent, on the receipts of insurance companies; passport fees; 2 per cent, on the receipts of theatres, operas, circuses, and museums; 1 per cent, on the average deposits in backs; 5 per cent..on' tbe receipts of lotteries; 3 per cent, on advertisements ; an income tax of 5 per cent.on all incomes above Ll2O and not exceeding LIOOO, 7£ per cent, on incomes above LIOOO and not exceeding L2OOO, and 10 per cent.on all above L2O0O; tbe first Ll2O of every income to be free of taxation; legacy and succession duties; stamp duties on agreements, cheques, bills of exchange, bills of lading, certificates of stock, charter partie?, conveyances, insurances, writs, &c.; medicines; perfumery ; photograph % cards, and matches. Such is the wide area over wbicb the taxation of the United States spreads. It is distinguished by several features new to our own financial systems.

Every country, ia a condition of ordinary prosperity, ought to te able]Jto yield a revenue to the Government sufficient not only to maintain the executive machinery, and provide for the efficient administration of justice, but to carry out all useful schemes of public policy. It cannot be doubted that New Zealand is in a position to do this. Nor c.n it be questioned )tbat tbe. financial system of tbe Colony ought, at the earliest possible moment, to be settled on a fixed and permanent basis. Shall our main dependance continue to be placed on a .ystem of Customs duties ? Are Stamp duties to be accepted cs one source of public income ? Shall ythe system of "Licenses" to carry on particular trades, be extended beyond its present limits, as we have seen is tbe case in America ? It would be a very desirable thing to see the Colony committed to a policy : provided tbat tbe policy were inspired by a sound intelligence.

Tbis is a subject on whicb commercial men are most competent to speak with authority. Seeing the considerable extent to which Customs duties are likely to be depended upon under any system tbat may be adopled, the mercantile community is, above all others, interested in the financial question. The action taken by tbe Chamber of Commerce, on Thursday, might have been carried further than it went without any impropriety. By the resolutions passed, it committed itself to certain principles, the soundness of whicb is not to be disputed. These were, tbat the required amount of revenue should be raised on as few articles as possible, without the rate on any item being so high as to induce parties to attempt to defraud tbe revenue by smuggling; that all articles of luxury s'aould be included in tbe Tariff, whilst anything used in the development of the various branches of local industry sbould be excluded; tbat the imports liable for duty sbould consist of goods on wbich the revenue could be easily and securely levied; and that no discretion should be left to the Government officials in declaring gooda to be free or dutiable.

Sometbingbeyoud these resolutions migbt have been affirmed on such an occasion But it is to be hoped tbat the Chamber will bear in mind the duty it has now Voluntarily taken upon itself to consider and discuss tbe new Tariff whenever tbe Government are graciously pleased to make its provisions known. Public opinion will folly endorse the resolution passed by tbe Chamber, that any proposal to alter the Tariff sbould be laid before the country sufficiently long to enable those interested La the alterations to express an opinion thereon. But in passing it the Chamber has committed itself to a grave responsibility. It now stands publicly pledged to the coantry to take the fiscal question fairly in hand, and grapple with it at the earliest mnment the pressure of Parliament upon the Ministry elicits from, them a public announcement of the provisions ofthe Tariff. Tbe benefit will be twofold. The'principles of financial science will be ventilated, and the Chamber will exercise another function of active life I

A sitting of the Supreme Court, under tbe Insolvency Jurisdiction, is to be commenced I to-day. The following are tbe cases as set [down, for hearing:—Third Hearings; 'fiW.Bfi j Waters, W;H. Harrfaon, Angus M'Rae, and | William Anderson, *U *4)oanKd from »4tU ix^&i.-*.. ,i,!.D.!;fui ,-ii.r;-! J" !,:_';.„'■ I

August; 'Jsxnes IK___t_ Chailes Calder, Alfred A]sto_V *Fmrick Smith, .John P. Armstrong, F. D. Ha_"mltob, Catherine Poasonby, George Gar side, Samuel Woolley, Josef*. Wm. Kohinson.-Arx'hibald Thomson Campbell, Alfred Goodwin, -John Mason, William Bendall, Benju. H__._-.-y. Sydney T. Bull, Walter Simpson, John Matthews, ls.se Harris.—Second Hearings- Thomas Alcock, Thomas Kerr, Henry Hooper, Charles A. Boss, David Solomon, William Clark, George Adams, William Good, Dugald Blue, John Jjlannigan, John Dixon, William Putts, John Campbell, James Lowe, Andrew Chapman, Abraham Moses, Thomas Wallis, James Johnson.—First Hearings: Horace and Edgar Bastings, Thomas Reynolds, jun., William Treadgold Kirby, Thomas Learmont, John Angus, R'chard William Sheppard, Alfred John Talbot, Kobert Scott and Samuel Mortimer, Robert Steele, Jabez Job Ham, Theodore Rosenberg, Richard U. rL-ary, Hyam Hart, Frederick John Wilson, John M'Clean, Robert Smith, Septimus de Leon, Walter : Henry Bennett, Thomas Francis Boskruge, Hector Baxter, Thomas Sfcanbrook, William Key and He_ry Berwick, Edward Jacob Jones and-Solomon Jacobs, Edward Jacob Jones, Cunningham Gregg Boyd, Charles Nyulasy, Walter George Geddes, Timo.hy Burke (Invercargill), Henry Spears, Reuten Harris.

. Tbe " "West Coast Times" of the 26ih inst, says :—" A rather strange termination to the Lady of the "Lake dispute has occurred, if we are rightly informed. As our readers rnsy be aware, a dispute between the captain and agents recently occurred, the result of Wliich —whether rightly or wroDgly—was the committal of the litter for trial. Since then this craft has been oßered for sale, but up to the preEeat time without success; and we now hear that the authorities have stepped in and interposed a Lar to her going to eea again 'unless some great alterations are made in her, as she is alleged to be unseaworthy."

We take the following trait of Chinese character from the " Bendigo Advertiser" : — "A Chinese storekeeper and opium seller, named A Eat, residing in the lionbark encampment, lately fell into commercial difficulties, but instead of filing his schedule, as m.ny of the barbarians would have done, tie called on all bis creditcrs, both Chinese and Englisb, to take out summonses against him for tlie same day;.and he gave his reason for doing co. Ec __d, he said, a house and stock worth at least LIOO, and when verdicts would be given against him the proceeds of the sale could be equally divided. A Kit is the same Chinese gentleman who a short time ago purchased a wife from the Chinese interpreter, who had brought over tbe young lady as a companion to his own wife, whom he had s'.nt for to the Flowery Land We did not hear whether or _ot the fair Chinese, who, it seems, A Kit paid Ll2O for, was included in the assets he submitted to his creditors."

We learn that additional precautions against accidents by fire have lately been taken at the Princess Theatre. The lessee of the Theatre, several weeks ago, very generously gave to tlie Volunteer Fire Brigade the privilege of sending two cf its members to the Theatre every evening. A regular system has now been organised in the Brigade, whereby two of its members are fold ofl for duty at the Theatre every evening, in working uniform ; and the hand-pump, full of water and ready for service, is nightly taken to the Theatre, and placed on the stage at one of the wings.

The following is an illustration of the amenities in T* '-tment as practised in Queensland. It is from the " Daily Guardian":

—" Mr Walsh said that he had to some extent the countenance of the Government in bringing forward hia motion (increasing certain salaries). But he had been termed ineligible for the task. Why was he ineligible ? Was he a runaway from his country ?—had he been obliged to flee from hia creditors ?— was he a swindler ?—had he gone to the Government beseeching a sitnati n, and been told he could not receive one because he had been notoriously dishonest ? Had that ma-Je him ineligible ? Had be been complained ot on the racecourse as a defaulter—as a swindler ? Mr Gore Jonep, who, during the hon member's remarks had been continually crying 'Hear, hear,' at this point ro&e,_nd put it to tbejion member,.as a gentleman, if he was referring to him ? Mr Walsh continued : Had he been branded as a libertine, as a roue, as an immoral character ? Was there anything of that sort to make him ineligible ? Mr Jones : I ask the hon member again if he alludes to me ? The Speaker - I do not think the hon member has any right to put that qnestion. Ur Jones : He maj protect himself under your gown, as he bas done before."

Messrs James Macassey, aad D'A-rcy Haggitt, haTe passed the examination for barristers of the Supreme Court cf _"Tew Zealand.

" A special i_he_rs_l will tutse place by the Pbiharmotik! Society this evening, at r o'cloek, at St. George . Hall, in preparation for the Concert inte»ded shortly to be given. We learn that an orchestra has been erected, and other arrangements made for that event. Those members who wiE take part in the performance are expected to attend.

The Hokitika papers are already beginning to complain of a stampede from tbat town and its neighborhood under the inducement ofiered by reported rich discoveries to the South. The same paper states :—u One of those moral epidemics -with whicb our miners are periodically afflicted is now raging fiercely amongst ns, and the ravages it Is making are becoming so serious, as to demand, on our part, a few words* of advice and warning. Boring the past fortnight reports of heavy finds far south have been in circulation, and the fees of two ctaitcrE having been laid on for some -—known locality that way, still further induced men to, believe that something bad really been. struck -worth looking after.. Unfortunately these beats have beea unable to cross the bar until last Saturday, -when one of them saikd, and ia now doubtless some distance on her road -, had they only got away when first ready the matter vouii have been for a time forgotten until really reliable accounts had reached ns from then oe. As it is, what are tho result* r a town -filled "•with" aa ■est _it^'"ardw^"''whoio*' thoughts and ; face* axe totrned iii one,direction, and wbo a-re w»dj to start OAtbw wild

and spend their last Amhfigififi~fififififi~fi~' Miners, we are afraid, wiil __F_r leara by £ perience, therefore we consider it -!_», revert io the disastrous resets thai^T*. _? lowed headstrong and i_3i*a__i__t» ra&T but wiU content ourselves by *_.__.-. t t simple questkns, can __ 7 c _ e i_f-,n_ r s * „,.* reason there is for tbe present p-^s .TT whether one reliable accc-nt ___, the'JS has reached them ? Tot onr own pirt we J* trutbfuliy assert that we think __,/"* much ofthe matter as onr neigLboan, we moEt e_jp__tic__y _e_y tbere is' _» slightest cause for the present H__*p»i» SEI pr=-phesj that results the most di__trr__ », likely to follow it."

«• The Colleen Ba„ _« rei _-te_ st tfe Princess Theatre on Sat=r_iy eTt_hg. A change in the cast was nee__tate.*V tie sudden in __ position of ___* B„iy Gre_ who was to hare appeared _ B Ann __,_.' That part was taken by Miss- J_*i_ Mathew,* *bosep*aee, as Eily O'&a-or, was filled J Miss Marian Dunn. The c___g_ Ba ? tofce regretted from its cause ; b_*. __:_ par's were Terr nicely played. Mr J. _, H_l makes a most vivacious Myles __ Co - -._.. £ » His mirth is of ihe right sort ; ___ 4s thfifi. ing cf " limerick Races" wns so rtrr, -bit the enthusiastic encore from the pi:''w_._ most natural thing. The basin,:., thn.cgfc. oat the cave scene was -ire'i. itsn:.gid. !_., Dolly Green's absence necessitated _ citaze of both the announced farces. '■ The Lc_j a LoTer," anl '• A Regular Fix," bei.g ra _. stituted for "Mr and Mrs Whit?'' _>$ " Slasher and Crasher." Ia « The Loan tf s Lover," Miss Mathews as Gertrude, __3 M,Hall as Peter Spyke, kept Tbe aadienK ia a very merry r_or>d ; but Peter wc_U ie mere truthfully represented thin be was _, Saturday, if he was made a much, more stolid personag?. Byron's b?w b-riesqae, "I_ 3ann_mbi__," is to bs proiacel tids evening, with Mi.-s M. Bonn as E'vino, Mr John Dunn as Anii__, Miss J_!ia Mathews _■ Alessio, and Mr Hill as G-_nt Rorolpho. The burlesque is to be prit-e 1: i by C. Selhj'i one-act dram;:, ': Tbe Torxa? Mother,'' anl the farce " Whitebait at Green-n-icb."

A strange case of the saiien cissppearance of a gentlems- named Ciar'e? Joln-\ hai

been reported to t're _lel.7_r_e detc-cSive police, who hare far some time been mating __ ___._.s respecting the ma:;;- -without ar-riri.-.g at any i_fon__'.ica. Mr Jihns armed ia this colony from Ke-sinrtorrr, near Adelaide?, by ihe steamtr Scuta At_:r_ti__, en the 25th of April last. He brought with . Lira a draft for L 340. ca the X_:io__! B»ck, Meibo_rn_ Ti is drift he cashed, and then left for Ballarat, and went from thence to Ararat. From this place he wrote _ letter dated May 7lh, in which he mec-^oned his intention of

going to Adelaide by the _I_rr_r, a.d lit expectation of re_el:i-g borne en the 2-dJi May. Sines this, he has not been heard of, end all ense_vDars to tra.? him have been ■unavailing. En is described _s seed sixty years, sfr 10l_ in Lerght, of stout build. He is a ___re cf Fr_kfori-ixi-th-:-.*_i_e, atrd speaks srith a slight foreign accent. He hid a gold watch _n_ c__i_ in his posiession, ani wore a gold ring with initials "C. L. J." oa

a shield

A frier, ely march, be-wsst *_o. 2 (Scottish) a.d User*- D_re£i_ C. trpai.'es of Rifles, reBulticg frrm s c___£__^ ty ths latter, v&g decided on San_*_ty ___r_.x_i, at the Government BaEgft. K-tka-'i Valley, when the Scot'isli Company wn_ "ry tixtr-_ine point". The terms were :—7__ men o_ e_ch side; long En_el_ rifles ; r_.gcs—tv.. four, me and six hundred y_r_? ; fve shots at each rarge, Wimbled -ta _ireL-ts and scorirg. The weather was rSne. b_; the wi_d very unfavourable far gcod shooting, as will be seen fr._n the anrexc- scr-res. bbwi=g keenly from, the right fr._t. a_d very encertain, one moment from thit direction, and ths next strong across frr-m the __kt. and very cold-

So, 2 (Scirtsa) C.^r-i-AST. I iOJ 400 500 6C. Totat \ -E-sipa Jasteos " 12 8 5 ?A Rib-rrrts-rm ... 1* 7 14 5 *•* jr Sergtra-tB-rFS 8 11 5 4 jH Corporal Moore W U ll 8 * ' fe. Corpnrsl He derson ... 9 1* 11 * ft Corporal T_jlcr 9 1* « « (^ °riv_te F. J-'Liren ..I*3 9 • * ** 1 - Pri«t-J.Br«l P i*e -. 10 <3 9 5 »J Priv.te J. Y. *-_>;•._ .. 6 lo 5 - f PiiTite A. Johnstua ... 9 13 6 11 ' Jp | fi Total 3»j 200 4CO 500 600 Total | _".__ HHTOway „. ... 12 IS 7 4 'M Kriti-n M'Kerlar 9 8 8 0 -*{ jierpeaat Ycong .... 10 9 8 o "-, Privsts Wilson -_ ... 10 15 10 5 -» Private Daa-hty ...... 7. 14 6 7 «*- P-sTiti _>«_____. .. 10* 7 2 4 '-^ jpr'.Tit. "__*_ie .... 7 2 X 3 -*t itrtsss: W. _o_3»y _ 13 10 3 9 -9| __cm_. Ha-_**t_*3_ _. »- 10 0 5 51, Private__-_«.. — -- S 6 5 0 _^.. Tstal ._ 233£'The "Argus" states an intersiting i*"-j, stance of the s_cce___l application of "*>;*' principle of eo-operatiye enterprise :—" f^d-. United Fi»herme_'s Associat_aa of Queen*jj; difl, held their first, anniversary, en the X*.'", instant. Their little schooner* the Uni-fc^' whicb takes their fish to Melbcarne, wss ij--coraied with a profusion of Sags, and otin^*, flags with appropriate mottoe*were displa-FwS from the houses of the men. Tbe firing ■|t * ; cannon at proper intervals from e*r>T r00r86% I. ing till evening added to the ,crxc:*rer_eat- Tim t fine hraci_g atmosphere enabled the °^^ to devote, a large portion of . the day Jyfi out-door- amusements, whicb they »h.wa-^j||j er joyed, It was gratifying to isee the JfTEa so wgll dressed, thoroughly ftoher,aad eDl<^R ing themselves to tbeir hearts'- content. *vfe sixotlock, upwards of sixty members and»i<*||| invited guests sat down to dis ncr _t the HoteL After dinner, Mr Newman,thes^^ elation _ agent in *Melbo_rne» was caha' W the chair. Bxaxtg made a number of j^g prop riate remarks, ho called on Mr **/ffl the secretary, for a statement of the worvsH| oftho-lflsociafaon. l"rora it we Itflrn *jß| the Association was org-nisid twelve °°!^HI ago, in the iace o£ many and discouragements. There ."^g^JH about ninety mcmb_rs, and tech \ftflH ground extend, fiom Port Artogta!lJffl , King's Island. "It wm twnmensed any CRgital tot that ot *«■& ** h|

•willing hearts..- fi They had built their schooner -Union ata cost of L 250 j purchased and paid for 700 baskets, which cost L30O; and bad paid LSSO for the carriage oi fish to Ballarat. Tbey had'in all sold about LSOOO worth of fish. The men get tho full advantage of open markets in Melbourne and rßallarat, and each .receives the full benefit of his own efforts. They are paid at least twenty-fire per cent, more for their fish than-under the old system; •the middle men are put aside, and the fishermen and the public are the gainers. Tbe boats, nets, kc, belonging to the men are so improved as.to .be now worth at least L3OOO. Baring those legitimate stimulants, the men are industrious and united, and dcteimined to accomplish more than they have yefc done. After the report bad been read, several appropriate senliments were proposed and responded to. The members then adjourned to the ball room, to join their families and friends."

The " West Coast Time?," of the 28th ult., all-ding to the rush to the South, says*— "There was a considerable exodus to the south yesterday, per the steamers William Miskin and Aired? le, both of which were advertised to call at Bruce Bay, en route for their respective destinations. The Bruce Ka3 announced also to leave for the same ■place, but subsequently arranged to place her psisehgera on board the Airedale. She was crowded by miners ahd others bent on trying their luck further south; and on passing the Miskin—which was lying, similarly crowded, next tha coal-hulk Ruby — her passengers commenced to "joe" and yell most vociferously, which they continued, with an occasional variation to cheering, till they got into the surf, when a dose or two of salt water induced tbem to alter tha tune a little. The Miskin subsequently started on ber voyage, but kept too far to the south side, of the channel, and grounded there. An effort was made to shift her, and she moved slightly, hut again stuck fast, and there is now every probability of her remaining there till this afternoon's tide, when she will no' doubt get fafely off.' r

By the Alhambra, we have West Coast papers to tho 28lh September. At that date, no English news by the mail which was telegrapbc 1 nshavirig arrived at Adelaide when the Hero was leaving Port Philip Heads on the 16th, had reached Hokitika from Melbourne. The July mails may be expected by the Albion.

It will be seen by our shipping report that two melancholy and fatal accidents occurred on board tho Alhambra, during her passago from this port to Hokitika. In a violent gale whicli overtook the vessel, the second mate was washed overboard, and a passenger thrown down the foro hatch and killed.

We clip the following from the "West Coast Time?," ofthe 28th ult.:—"We understand that Mr Keogh, the Postmaster, has felt it bis duty to lay an information against tbe captain of the Alhambra, for needless detention of her Majesty's mails on board that vessel after her arrival at the anchorage. The case, wo are informed, will be heard at the Resident Magistrate _ Court on Monday next, though to us it seems improbable that the captain will put in an appearance. In making known to our readers the above, we consider it our duty to give the other side of the question, more especially as this is a matter that is of the utmost importance to us as a commercial community, the detention of mails under any circumstances being most liable to occasion us heavy losses, and to many that "hopo deferred," wliich is still harder to bear. Captain Malcolm, of the Bruce, made tbe following statement to us : —He said that the Post Oflice authorities here, unlike those in other places, refused to pay the steam boats anything at all for the conveyance of mails from tbe large boats. The consequence was that the* captains of the email ones were determined to sign no receipt on delivery of mails into their charge. They say, and we think justly, that great responsibility and much trouble is incurred by them, and tliat the* ought to receive some adequate remuneration. In tbe caso of the Rangitoto, which brought mails from Dunedin, Lyttelton, and Nelson, for this port, the captain refused to deliver them to Captain Malcolm without a. receipt, although they were alongside (ho Bruce in a small boat ready for delivery ; Captain Malcolm as obstinately refused to sign for them, and the result was that they returned from whence they came, and for all we know may be now in the* Nelson Post Office waiting for re-delivery,"

The Masonic Lodge of instruction (E.C), will meet this evening, at the Oriental Hotel, at 8 o'clock.

The "Southland News" has the following :-" We bave received from His Honor the Deputy Superintendent, with a request "for its publication, a copy of a letter received by His Honor the Superintendent of Southland from the Colonial Secretary, relative to the intentions of the , General Government with respect to this province. The document being an important one, we are glad of the opportunity of giving it publicity. The tonecf the communication, as will be ceen, is somewhat unofficial, and in this respect evinces ■more earnestness and point than is usually, to be found in state documents. We subjoin the letter, on which we will make a few comments :—«Colonial Secretary's office, Wellington, Sept. 14, 18G5. Sir—ln reply to your letter of this date, I have the honor to state that it is the earnest desire of the Colonial Government to forward measures for relieving the Province of Southland from its embarrassments. They will actively assist in obtaining the alteration in the Land Law of the Province necessary for re-opening land sales. But relief from this source must necessarily be delayed by reference of the Act to the Imperiul Government. They believe, however, that should the Provincial Loans Kcgulationand Consolidation Bill be acccepted by the Legislature, which tbey are sanguine that it will be, there will be no difficulty whatever in dealing at once with the subject, and meeting the present liabilities of the Province. Tbey will do their best to expedite the consideration of the Bill, and trust that within a few weeks it will become law.—l have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, J. C. "Richmond. His Honor the Superintendent of Southland.' -We have reason to be satisfied with the disposition ot the Go.

neral Government to help ns, as shown fn the abovelletterr r which iemores all. fear of effectual opposition to the. passing of the land Begulations recommended by,-onr Provincial Council. The Bill referred- to as "The Provincial I/cans Regulations and Consolidation Bill," is one which provides for the raising' of money by the provinces oa specific securities, either of blocks of land specially allocated for the purpose, or-of public works, such blocks or public wotlcs being mortgaged to tbe General 'Government, who In its turn guarantees tbe loan. Tlie Bill provides for tbe appropiiationof the revenues arising from the securities for the payments of interest, and the formation of a sinking fund, and stipulates generally, the conditions on which loans can be raised by the Provinces. Aa, however.it will, in all probability, be considerably modified before receiving the assent of the Legislature, this reference to the nature of the Bill will be sufficient for the present purpose. With the security which Southland has to offer under the provisions ot the Bill, she will at least stand as good a chance in the money market as any of her neighbours."

Some hours before sunrise on Saturday morning, after the moon bad set, a very beautiful and uncommon appearance in the. sky was observed by a person walking in the North-East Valley. In tbe zenith the stars shone brightly, but dark thin clouds skirted the horizon on every side. Gradually a thin clear line of light extended itself from the clouds about the mountains on the westward, until it formed a perfect arch, which terminated in tho dusky vapours hanging about the hill-tops to the eastward. Its elevation was about twenty degrees, and it seemed to tho observer to bo nearly over the Exhibition Building, spanning tho valley and the bay. It continued to retain its form some minutc'3, and then gradually faded and disappeared.

Tho " West Coast Times" of the 28th ult. contains a strongly written " Separation" .article. It makes a series of charges against the Canterbury Government. We extract a few passages:—" How has the large revciiue collected since the commencement of the rush been expended? Have the streets of the town been made? Has there been ample police protection? Has there been a large number of Wardens in tho pay of tho Government? Have expensive surveys been undertaken, which may hereafter return a hundred fold tbeir cost? Has a respectable public hospital been built? Have the the. Government endowed churches? Have they founded schools, or assisted those who were willing to found them? Have they equipped prospecting parties? We are compelled to answer all these questions in the negative. And yet there has been an enormous revenue, and the balancesheet lately published in the "Gazette" shows that of West Coast puhlic money theie is very little remaining on hand. Beyond making a portion of Gibson's Quay, and erecting, a few buildings which could not possibly be dispensed with, the revenue remaining after the payment .of.-officials—a very small item, "comparatively speaking, we may remark in passing—has vanished without doing the West Coast community the remotest particle of good J Where it has gone to caa easily be shown, an*, where it I*3 likely to go for ths future, unless dcciled action is taken to put a stop to ono of the most, nefarious jobs it has ever been our lot as journalists to have to chronicle. It has been spent in an insane endeavor to force the trade oi the West Cor. •.

into an unnatural channel. It bas been spin* in «i vain effort to replenish tho poorly-lined pockets of Christchurch tsbopkeepers. We were wrong in saying that the Government had neglected- their duty as road-makera. They have spent all they could lay their hands on in road making, and have it in contemplation to spend very many thousands more in the same way. Nay, they already talk of a railroad as nojfc too expensive an undertaking where the interests of the West Coast are concerned, Unfortunately, what tbey cali the'interests of the West Coast, we call the interests, or supposed interests, of Christchurch. Both road and railroad are to join Hokitika to the capital of Canterbury, and so long as that is effected, tho real interests of the West Coast are ns small dust in tho balance. The road is already proved to be a failure, in spite of all the.efforts of the Christchurch press to write it up.''-