The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1877.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4723, 7 April 1877, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1877.

Without laying down or attempting to lay down for the Waste Lands Board any general principles concerning the disposition of the runs of Otago as they fall in one by one, we think that we may all agree on the one general -inclusion, that every acre of land should be, as far as is possible, devoted to those purposes for which it is best adapted by nature. As every case comes up for judgment, we should like to see the Board giving their whole attention to this one question, and to a very great degree ignoring all other collateral questions that may arise. This does not indeed seem so natural, and so like a common sense proposal, that at first sight it partakes more of the character of a truism than an original discovery. Those only who have examined the question ah origine will understand how very often this attitude of mind has been disturbed, and always disturbed to the injury of the Province, by a multitude of subsidiary points, of more or' less magnitude in themselves, but of infinitely less consequence than the one great principle that we have named, viz., devoting the land to the pnrpose for which nature has fitted it. To run counter to the decrees of nature is inevitably to [injure the welfare of the people, although it may seem to those who have altogether given themselves up to their one hobby, that no injury can accrue to the community through the riding their precious hobby-horse to death. This general conclusion cuts both ways of course, as regards the two sections into which it is the Colonial fashion to divide the world. There are instances in which a firm adherence to the one principle will seem to those who regard the growth of wool as the one only thing for which Otago is well fitted, as a monstrous and ruinous policy. On the other hand, there will be cases in which a reverence for this one principle will seem to those who hold [ that the industrious settler has the first claim on our consideration, nothing less than a nefarious and wicked attempt to defraud him of his just rights. Nevertheless, and over the whole area of the country which will now in so short a time be falling into the hands of the representatives of the country, we hold that the one consideration we have named will, if it be' religiously adhered to, produce the most satisfactory results. We have spoken of the two classes into which it is the Colonial custom to divide the part of the population that lives on the soil. Need we say that the division of interest is an imaginary one, without any real existence in fact, and that it is equally the true interest of the sheep owner and the oat grower to see the soil devoted only to those purposes for which it is best fitted by nature. Of course we all know very well indeed that this common interest is frequently ignored on both sides, that the advocate of the poor man sees no community of interest on the part of his clients with the capitalist and his tail. On the other hand, the allies of the capitalist are equally apt to ignore the community of interest between them and the freeholders. Collateral circumstances, purely temporary., questions, the matters of the hour, are allowed frequency to blind the eyes of either side to the fact that their interests are permanently, and in the truest sense, th<ji same, and that whatever may seem'to be the interest of one, as apart: from the other, is only a seeming,< and is a mere mirage to deceive the superficial enquirer! The first question which, in all cases the Waste Lands Board has to determine is—what is the character of the soil, the climate, and the surroundings of the territory with which they are called on to deal. To ascertain this they must have recourse to the best advice. _ We are not aware that there are any circumstances connected with the officers of the Crown here which would lead us to distrust their judgment. On the contrary, we hold that they are for the most part such men as ought to command our confidence. We regard all attempts to insinuate against them wrong motives, or corrupt motrres, or any other motives than sound ones, as analogous to the most unfair play of which savage nations are ever guilty in warfare — analogous, that is, to poisoning the wells. We have no sympathy whatever with the attempt already made, and which will doubtless bo made again and again during the next few years, to insinuate that this officer or that officer is biassed in his judgment, or unfair in his opinion, or untrustworthy in his reports. These arc excellent reasons for getting rid of

a man, if it can be proved against him that he has been plainly corrupt ; but we hold that such insinuations are like curses—sure to roost at last in close company with their parent. We say that the reports of officers of the Crown ought to be accepted and acted on without hesitation, or else the officers ought to be at once got rid of. In finding out the character of the country they have to deal with, the Board will do well to look to the report first and foremost of their officers.

A continued and serious falling off in our local Customs revenue is not an agreeable circumstance or a healthy sign. The decline for the December quarter amounted to £6,954, and for the March quarter to £15,218, or a total falling off in the six months of £22,172, or very nearly 12 per cent. A s two-thirds of this decline is on the ad valo?xm duties—viz , £14,535 in all—the idea is suggested that possibly there are causes at work other than an actual decline in trade to account for this. It is a peculiarity of ad valorem duties that. they are not usually progressive, their incidence is so aj>parent that various devices, short of actual and palpable fraud, are resorted to in order to reduce the invoice valuations to the lowest possible point. But, apart from this, there has been a considerable decline of late in the cost of many goods at Home that come under the ad valorem schedule, so that a decline in value does not necessarily indicate a decline in qjantities. There is yet another cause of a favourable rather than an unfavourable character, and that is the increase in our manufactures, especially of boots and shoes, woollens and clothing. Still we fear, after making every allowance for these incidents of commercial progress, we are not keeping the position we so long held of supremacy over the rest of the Colony in point of relative trade. If the returns of imports and exports which we published a short time back are a safe index, Canterbury and Wellington are progressing at our expense—that is to say, they are doing trade that we once used to do. Until the revenue returns for the whole Colony for the quarter are published, we can, however, only guess at our relative position. If the returns for the Colony are as bad, in a revenue point of view, as those of Dunedin, the Treasurer will have to face a very serious deficiency upon his rather sanguine Estimates, as there is nothing to indicate any probability of recovery during the next six months.

The question of how best to deal with that troublesome little stream the Water of Leith, so as to confine it within due bounds during flood times, is one that has long excited much interest amongst the holders of property in its immediate vicinity, and is one that claims serious attention on the part of the Corporation. To shelve or regard it with indifference upon any pretence whatever would be inexcusable. There is the stream meandering through block after block of Corporation property, and useful in its way too, as the many city drains which empty into it testify to. But heavy rain converts it into a destructive torrent, and that some plan has not yet been devised to protect its banks from the action of storm water is, we think, scarcely creditable to Dunedin engineering skill. It is true that the Corporation has from time to time constructed protective works, of, however, only temporary character, for they have proved powerless to withstand exceptionally heavy floods. And yet the stream is no larger than what is termed a brook in England, and a burnie in Scotland. Perhaps the system of half measures that has hitherto characterised whatever has been undertaken in connection with attempting to govern the course of the Leith, may have been induced by the absence of that interest that is only attached to ownership. In other words, the Corporation is not the proprietor of the Water of Leith. It is not city property, but like all other streams of the Colony belongs to the Government, and is in the hands of the Waste Lands Board of Otago. Although it may not be city property, it is undoubtedly a city nuisance under certain circumstances, and as the city, then, is the sufferer, we certainlythinkthateveryreasonablemeans of redress should be placed within its reach.^ Now, if the stream is outside of city jurisdiction, excepting on sufferance, no surprise can be expressed at hesitancy on the part of the city to plunge into heavy expenditure, from which only returns of secondary character can be expected. The Corporation, in fact, is dealing with another person's property, and hence does nothing more than absolute necessity dictates. We think that the time has arrived for a radical amendment of this condition of affairs. Either the Government should endow the Corporation if it can be termed an endowment—with the bed of the Water of Leith, and so 'relieve itself of responsibility ; or else if it retains the proprietorship, and of neces sity the responsibility also, it must be prepared to discharge the duties of the situation. The channel of the Water of Leith constitutes valuable property, for it canbe largely applied to the purposes of drainage ; or if reclaimed and subdivided into allotments, a handsome sum of money—nearly sufficient to cover the expense of conveying the stream in another and less dangerous direction to the sea—could be netted upon the sale. But if the question is stated fairly and plainly to the Government, we do not think it will hesitate in its decision. The stream running through the city affects only city interests, and into the care of the Corporation it should be committed unreservedly.

The Taranftki left Lyttelton for Port Chalmers at noon yesterday, and the San Francisco mails should be delivered early today.

The total amount of land revenue for the Provincial district of Otago for the month ending March 31st is £18,620 3s 6<3.

The Bombay to Aden cable is now, we learn from the Telegraph Department, successfully duplicated. This gives duplicate cable communication between India and England. The Penang-Rangoon cable is expeetel to be ready for traffic to-day. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were continued yesterday, and when the Court rose at 6 o'clock all the cases were not disposed of. Letitia Reid, who was committed for burglary on Thursday, was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment; and Bernard Gray, found guilty of stealing valuable receipts, was sentenced to five years' penal servitude. John Ferguson and James Williams were then indicted for robbery with violence on the person of William Patrick Thornton, landlord of the Royal George Hotel, Dunedin. The Jury brought in a verdict against both prisoners of " Unlawfully wounding." They will be sentenced this morning when the Court resumes at 10 o'clock. The case of Edmund Wild, charged with larceny at Clyde, is the only one now remaining to be tried.

The quarterly meeting of the Caledonian Band was held in the Douglas Hotel last evening, Mr Stratton in the chair. The balance-sheet showed most satisfactory results. The receipts of the band from various sources being £149 8s 6d, the expenditure £73 8s 6d, showing a credit balance of £76. Ameetingof the Port Chalmers Fire Brigade was held at the Town Hall on Thursday evening; Captain Dale in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been disposed of, votes of thankH were passed to Mr \V. Elder, resident agent of the New Zealand Insurance Company, to Mr Mearep,

manager of the Victoria Insurance Company, and to Mr John Dale, of the Port, foi- their respective donations of £20, £10, and £5 5s to the Brigade's funds. A hearty vote of thaDks was passed to the Dunedin Fire Brigade for its prompt response to the call for help during the late fire at the Port. The question of procuring a fire-bell and a, suitable uniform for the Brigade was next raised, and it was unanimously decided to procure a bell and uniform. Captain Dale, Lieut. Flynn, and Secretary Norris were appointed a Clothing Committee. A man named Milligan had his foot rather badly hurt while working on the railway works at Blueakin oa Thursday. His injuries were attended to by Dr Blair. The efforts of Mr Bright's Lecture Committee to secure the Queen's Theatre for Sunday evenings have, with the determination of the Young Men's Christian Association to continue in occupation, resulted in bringing in additional grist to the Friendly Societies' Hall Co.'s mill. The Young Men's Christian Association have conducted religious services in the building for the past two years. In view of the offer of a higher rental made by Mr Bright's Committee, the Theatre proprietors have given Ihe Young Men's Association the option of continued occupancy at the increased rent offered by the new applicants. The Christian Associ. ation have decided that, instead of playing tb.e role of martyrs and vacating, they will pay the increase demanded, and retain the use of the Theatre.

We understand that a numerous committee of ladies is working hard in arranging a series of entertainments, the object of which is to supplement the funds that have been collected in aid of the family of Mr Pope. It has been decided to have a promenade concert, a, conversazione (at which numerous and valuable works of art loaned for exhibition will be shown), a juvenile dance party (to be held in the afternoon), and a ball to take place in the evening. The programme above indicated is to extend over three days. We understand that the matter ha", been enthusiastically taken up, and that the ladies, assisted by many of Mr Pope's former pupils, are doing their best to make the affair a success.

The first matcli of the season will be played by the Union Football Club on the North Recreation Ground this afternoon, sides to be picked at 2.30 p.m. by the Cap tain and Deputy-Captain.

We are glad to learn that Mr Grant's son, who was sc seriously injured by being gored by a bullock on Thursday, showed bigas of improvement yesterday, and that'there is a prospect of his recovery. In our issue of yesterday it was stated that the bullock which did the injury belonged to Mr Mackley of Port Chalmers. Mr Mackley has called on us and stated that the mob of cattle consisted of animals belonging to four different owners, and that the particular bullock which gored the boy, or to which owner it belonged, was not known. While stating this, we have to say our information is that the bullock was Mr Mackley's property. Messrs A. and T. Burt are occupied at their factory in Cumberland street in fulfilling several large orders for the North. Some patent hydrants are being made for Nelson, and they have a very large order for high pressure elbow cocks, for the service pipes of the Auckland Water Works. The manufacture of sitates for Auckland, Wellington, the West Coast, and Christchurch is proceeding on a very extensive scale, but the firm can hardly keep pace with the orders for them. Four different sorts are turned out, and the demand for Messrs Burt's manufacture is increasing outside of Otago. Messrs Burt have lately made some brass rowlocks of the pattern patented by Captain Thomson of the Bluff.

The Sheridan Dramatic Club held |fcheir first meeting of the new season last evening, in the Lunatic Asylum Hall. Officers were installed, new members elected, and, after a pleasant discussion, the business concluded very satisfactorily. The Clu'j purpose to open with the comedy of "The Practical Man," and the burlesque of " Lord Lovel." At the Princess Theatre last evening a complimentary benefit was tendered by the lessee to Miss Marion Willis, but the attendance was anything but satisfactory. " Hazard " formed the first part of the programme, the beneficiaire sustaining the role of Eva Dyceton. A musical melange having been given, the entertainment closed with "Paddy Miles's Boy." To-night is announced as the last night of the season, when "The Trump Card" and "GuyMannering" will be presented.

The Otago Witness of this week contains, in addition to the usual variety of news, correspondence, reports, &c, a Summary for Europe, the first of a series of " Chats with the Farmers," Professor Blackie upon Scottish Song, Government Notices, Stories, Passing Notes, Flotsam and Jetsam, Odds and Ends, Bound the Sanctums, Notes and Queries, Fireside Amusements, &c. Mr Charles Bright's second lecture — Bishop Nevill's "Unknown God"—will be delivered in the Princess Theatre to-morrow evening.

The Bishop of Dunedin will open the new Episcopal Church, Green Island, to-morrow. Choral services will be held at 11 a.m. arid 3 p.m. The offertory will be in aid of the building fund.

Mr Haley will hold Divine service to-mor-row in| tha Christian Chapel, Great King street.

The FieldjClub meet at the old place at 2.15 this afternoon, for an excursion up the Leith Valley, weather permitting. Elsewhere we publish the programme of the Balelutha Jockey Club races, to be run on the 19th and 20th instant. Nominations for the handicaps close on the 9th instant. Anniversary services will be conducted in the Hanover street Church to-morrow. Professor Salmond will preach, in the morning.