INDEPENDENCE OF THE PROVINCE, AND ABOLITION OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4169, 29 June 1875, Page 3

INDEPENDENCE OF THE PROVINCE, AND ABOLITION OF THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

TO THK KDITOU. Slit—During the recent debate in the House of Commons, on Scotch Banking, it was said by one of the members, that the surest way to create Home rule in Scotland, was to interfere with Scotch Bank notes, or Presbyterianism. The present attack on Provincialism is merely a covert attack on the land fund of the Province, to be absorbed by the bankrupt North, in the same manner as our Customs revenue is now. Scotchmen must indeed have changed their nature in coming here, if they quietly submit to any such process, which will engulph the Province in irretrievable ruin, with the other Provinces. Our simple duty is to prove true to ourselves and our posterity, and not be led away " by desire to become a nation, or empire," but to have the Province proclaimed ian independent Colony, to conserve our lands, and to abolish the Custom House from our midst, thus cheapening nearly all articles of import by about 25 per cent., making Dnnedin

the entrepot for New Zealand, aud one of the greatest commercial and manufacturing cities in the Southern Hemisphere. If the people of the Province were alive to their owii interest*, and were fully aware."f the hopeless condition of the North Island, and the other Provinces, excepting Canterbury, they would insist on this being done at once. The Native nice, and Native hui<l» ever keep the North Island in a statt^of helplessness, and but for Imperial aid, iiud Southern money, the end would have come there long ago. The only remedy for the present state of things, as far an We are concerned, istost'trt free And nutratninellcd 011 our own career; to cast uj> accounts, and dissolve the partnership—which can only lead us into ruin, if continued any longer. Judging from its j present trade returns, the Province would even ' now form one of the most important of British Colonies—certainly twice as important as Tasmania, aud neftriy equal to South Australia, or Queensland, and in n-revy few years its- trade and population would be vastly increased, by the natural operation of the laws of ix>litical economy.—lam, &c, EcoxoJfWT. Dunedin, 20th June, 1875.

illt KEKNE'S CASE.

to the EDFroii. Sin—From the tenor of Mr J, P, Armstrong's letter in yoiu- yexteiday'.s issuey one would be led to suppose that Mr Armstrong was speaking authoritatively when he says that "he cannot coincide with Mr Keene that evidence in his own ca.se will not be published." I only wish, Mr Editor, that such were the case. I n,ni, however, the- move confident that I am correct, from-having received back certain documentary evidence which I left with the Committee. Now it is quite possible that the evidence given against me- nay be- piinted, and that given by myself kept back r :i.s it would ouly be carrying the former process % little1 farther. This, however, would suit me just as well as printing the whole. My only wish is tcv have hi black anil white the charges preferred against me. When I applied to the Provincial Council for justice, I was quite unaware that I was thrusting myself upon a sort of private inquisition. Would the public, for instance, believe that the gentlemen sitting on my case, ami when that case had closed as far as I was concerned, had sent written questions to a gentleman lying ill in bed with the gout, and that gentlemen -replied to these leading questions, and that I myself (the plaintiff) have never seen either questions or replies. Would the public believe this? lam afraid not. Yet it is a plain statement of the truth. I have refrained from saying anything relative to my case, as 1 have every intention of bringing it before a higher Court; but what I complain of is, that the Government take evidence against me, actually take the bread out of my mouth, by preventing me from practising my profession, aud refuse to furnish me with evidence which can convict my slanderers. _ I am simply demanding fair pl.iy. My case i-s an unprecedented one, and on that account requires a little attention. lam perfectly willing aud anxious to put my character to the test before the bar of "public opinion ; but how can I do so when the charges mads against me cannot bear the light. There are written charges made against me before the Private Petitions Committee of tlw Provincial Council quite sufficient to consign any man to oblivion, if not worse. If one-twentieth of these charges can be substantiated, no jury would give me a verdict. I, therefore, simply :isk for tltose charges which are signed by the people making them, and I am satisfied. Is this_ much to ask, Mr Editor '. The Private Petitions Committee have certainly left the public to consider that I am unfit to survey lands in Otago, but from what cause they do not say ; and, as their tribunal cannot well be called, " one of justice," under the circumstances, I hope and trust that Mr Armstrong's words may come true. This ca.se may possibly 1«3 of interest to the public servants generally, ;ls they are all, more or less, at the mercy of the tribunal to which I, in my innocence, applied for justice.—l am, &c, Ai.i-itKi) H. Kkkxk, Mining Engineer.

Stranukrs paying a .isit u> uir.iecun are often at a loss to know which is the best establishment to \isit for the purchase of drapery and clothing. Herbert, Haynes, and Co. offer special advantages to the public that can be met with nowhere else in the city. They keep at all times the largest and best assorted stock of every class of goods, imported direct from the leading manufacturers and warehousemen at home, which, being bought entirely upon cash terms, they are enabled to offer goods of such sterling value as cannot be equalled by any other house in the trade. Every article in stock is marked at a fixed piioe for reidy money, frcm which no abatement is ever made, §o that the most inexperienced buy their goods at the same price as the best judges. Their terms are—net cash, without discount or reduction of any kind. A fuller description o their stock will be found in an advertisement in the first paire of this naoer.—FAdvt. Hollow-ay's Oixtmkxt and Pills.—Counsel for the Delicate.- Those to whom seasons < f clinnu'eable temperature are protracted periods of trial, should seek the earliest opportunity of removing all obstacles to good health. This cx>ling Ointment, perseveringly rubbed un#n the skii<, is the most reliable remedy for overcoming all diseases of the throat and chest. DiphUicrin, relaxed tonsils, sore throat, swollen glands, ordinary catarrh, and bronchitis, usually pre vailing at thn season, may he arrested as soon as discovered, and every syin.tom banished, by Hollow-ay's simple and effective treatment. This Ointment and Pills are highly commended for the facility with which they successfully conquer iiilinenzi.: they allay, in an iucreditalily short time, tt c distressing fever and teasing cough.