Dunedin, Saturday, May 1,18.52,

Otago Witness, Issue 50, 1 May 1852, Page 2

Dunedin, Saturday, May 1, 18.52,

they were subscribed — a happy expedient of Sir George Grey's for manufacturing a low-priced land settlement out of the proceeds of a neighbouring highpriced one.

With regard to the recommendation in the first resolution, that a voluntary assessment be assented to on the part of the townspeople for the purpose of making footpaths for their comfort during the ensuing winter. The facts stated by Dr. Purdie, referring to the late proceedings of the Auckland Corporation on this subject — " that they rejected a proposition to tax themselves for such a purpose, alleging that they were already fully taxed, and with proper management, sufficient funds existed to meet necessary government expenses, as also to make public improvements, but that the whole was absorbed in an expensive system of government ; and while such a misappropriation existed, they could not think of assessing themselves." The inference drawn from these proceedings was not strictly analogous : the same thing occurred at Wellington with regard to the Street Ordinance ; but in these coses the assessment was not voluntary, but compulsory upon all. We think the sentiments should have been strongly expressed as a preamble ! to the resolution, though we are con- i vinced that it would be absurd to wade through the mud until an improvement took place in the system of government. That part of the second resolution relating to the sum voted by the Legislative Council nine months ago for the erection of a bridge in the centre of the town, is an instance of the lamentable effects of being legislated for by parties at a distance, and who have no interest in what they are legislating about. What do they care whether a J.P.s dray, or a J.P. himself, topple over the present ricketty bridge. Had such a nuisance existed in the town of Wellington, they would have seen that the sum voted was immediately applied. Mark also the cautious wording of the grants : the £'225, 1.55. is to be applied to that purpose when such a bum is available in the Sub-Treasury here. That such a sum will ever be available while Sir George Grey has the making of appointments ' ad libitum,' and the spending the revenue in every direction but the right one, is very improbable. We had just congratulated ourselves on being freed from the burden of a Judge's salary, when lo ! a second Crown Commissioner and a perambulating Surveyor are sent to eat up the savings, or to disburse the balance at their discretion, if there should be any. '1 he expenditure of the £60 for the bridge over the Water of Leith has been shamefully mismanaged, and calls loudly for some local Board to have the direction of such affairs. But we trust the Committee appointed will look well into these matters, in which they may depend upon the full support of the public.

The large and respectable meeting in | the School-room on Monday last, for the purpose of taking into consideration the state of the Roads and Footpaths in and about the Town of Dunedin, was very satisfactory, as proving the unanimity which prevails in the settlement on any subject affecting the public good ; and the deliberate and business-like manner in which the various resolutions were discussed and passed, show a people able and fit to be entrusted with the i management of their local affairs, from i which they have hitherto been so unjustly debarred. It is to be regretted, however", that j more time had not been permitted be- j tween the requisition and the meeting j for the purpose of more maturely considering the resolutions. How Sir George Grey will laugh in his own sleeve if he should grant the prayer of the 4th resolution, "That the surplus revenue be placed in the hands of a Board to be elected by the settlers !" &c. Where, we would ask, is this surplus ? We may be a dull dog, but for the life of us we cannot perceive the faintest trace of " surplus" in the revenue and expenditure for the quarter published in our last week's paper. The expenditure for the quarter is £941 12s. 4d., whilst the revenue for the same period, after deducting £211 os. 10d., one-fourth of which belongs to (he New Zealand Company, the remainder to our several Trust Funds, and the sum of £400, which represents surplus revenue accruing in happier times, there remains but £007 10s. 2d. as the actual receipts to meet an expenditure of £941 1 2s. 4d. And let us bear in mind that if we have an increase from Customs next quarter, which is doubtful, the payment of a Government Surveyor and what assistance he may require in surveying south of our block, is not doubtful. The only way by which we can hope to have surplus revenue is by sticking to the main point of oar resolutions passed in 3rd December 1850, viz., that our contribution to the Civil List be fixed, and no further appointments made without our consent; we should then have something to look forward to, were it only 'in the assurance that as our revenue increased there would not, as hitherto, be an increase of useless offices ; and as it appears, by the payment of the sum of £31, 14s. sd. for the extinguishment of native titles, that our revenue is being applied to the purchase of land to the southward, there is no knowing to what extent the expenditure may increase; indeed we have great doubts whether our funds for Religious Education use, .and other trusts,, will not be diveited to other purposes than those for which