AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 978, 27 August 1870, Page 7

AUCKLAND.

(PEOM. OWB. QVITX CORRESPONDENT.) August Ist.

Still the same quiet in the political world ; no public sign of either approval or disapproval of the great issues raised by the Government, although they are talked of everywhere. Be the cause of this what it may, there could be no greater mistake than to suppose that a deep interest is not felt, which will find its manifestation in the new elections. The Herald came out very strongly at first in favour of the Government proposals, but has lately sobered down considerably. It is now against promiscuous railways or forced immigration, and in its course has rep resented fairly enough the changes of opinion in banking and commercial circles. To a corn duty it has never wavered in expressing the strongest objection. The Cross has been comparatively reticent, but not more so than its well- understood position could account for and •excuse. To the general measures of the Government it could not be expected to do otherwise than give a full support, while on the corn duty it haa gone as far in the face of public opinion as it glared. The evening papers I referred to in my last, and need only say that the News maintains a tone of the londest opposition.

Turning- from the recognised organs of opinion, let me attempt, as briefly as possible, to give you the result of my own observations. Among the supporters of a large expenditure, the active class, who do not, in the present depression, see their way clearly, are as enthusiastic as ever. To them it can do no harm' but may bring good ; and I am sorry to Bay that this class is not only numerous, but is composed largely of clever and educated people in the province. Bankers and business men equally prized the prospect of very fleshy pickings, while owners of property hoped for a return of the high and fictitious prices lately ruling. These sections cooled down considerably. Some fear a seriouß depreciation in the value of outstanding debentures, while others believe that the relief to each province from an expenditure so widely scattered would be comparatively small and temporary. All dread an excitement which will reproduce the excessive competition of bankruptcies from which we are now emerging. Among the great impulsive mass outside of these classes, opinion on the general measure is less pronounced, but beth corn tax and large immigration schemes will meet with determined opposition. There is, however, no answering for the course they may take .during the elections when dazzled by the dancing of apocryphal millions before them. To the agricultural classes I cannot refer, as there are no country newspapers or means short of personal intercourse of getting at their views, On the goldfielda, the whole soheme

— excepting that of water supply — meetl with general disapproval, and the cornduty will receive the strongest opposition.

Among politicians proper, there is no great diversity of opinion. The provincialiats here are not strong at bottom, and would not mind seeing a common purse for the colony ; while centralists naturally back up, in the abstract, proposals which play their game so thoroughly. Of course, among this class on© hears comparatively little of the merits of railways, and few would take the trouble to discuss the purely conjectural figures on which they are based. They regard the whole scheme as a clever political dodge, and believe the Government will feel seriously aggrieved if not sent to the country as the friends of progress — the true " Codlins" in opposition to the "Shorts" of the period. They have no faith in Fox's earnestness in "re- lighting the sacred fires of colonisation," or that the Treasurer could expect readily to raise millions in the home market for schemes so vague, that no one can estimate their real cost or end. In this connection — as our Yankee friends say — reference has been made to an extraordinary letter from the Wellington correspondent of the London Times, which appears in that paper of the 16th May. The writer (evidently in a position to know the secret intentions of Government on the 13th March last) makes assertions which are, to say the least, exceedingly bold, He tells the British public that "the anti-roadmaking policy of the old King party has been entirely reversed," and that "in every direction roads are being opened up to the interior, rendering large blocks of land available for settlement." The Northern Island settlers "thus find themselves with vast tracts of the most magnificent agricultural land almost pressed upon their acceptance by the N atives, who are eager to let or sell." After this very truthful preamble, our well informed correspondent continues : "it is apparent, from the tone of the people and press, that a pressure will be brought to bear upon the Government, if they do not originate the proposal themselves, to introduce English capital for the execution of road works and f r the formation of cheap lines of railway through some of the agricultural di-mc s of both Islands ; and simultaneously to organize a scheme of immigration, in order to provide labourers for the ex^ution of these works, until draughted oil' to other and permanent industrial ocou i> itions."

So much for the prescience with which some correspondents are gifted, but to which in my own humble efforts to let you know the state of public opinion here I cannot aspire. Without presuming to prophesy, I may, however, foretell a very keen and decided opposition to many parts of the Government programme, and that if the Auckland members are at all united on their return to the province, that opposition will show a large majority with them. The feeling against corn duties, and anything like forced immigration, ia deep and strong, while faith in the brilliant results of " relighting the sacred fires of colonisation " ia just the reverse. This quotation reminds me of some pleasant gossip here in connection with Fox's elaborate rebuke to Cracroft WiLson for his irreverent comparison of the new schemes with the old South Sea bubble. Mr Fox appears to have explained how John Law's scheme must have been entirely successful but for the arbitrary interference of the French Government, which there was, of course, no room to apprehend in New Zealand ! The sublime audacity of thia ia much admired, especially as neither John Law nor the French Government had anything to do wi h the South Sea bubble, which was got up in London by Sir John Blount, and of which the secretary, one Mr Knight, did make the hurried elopement to which Mr Wilson jocularly referred. A full account of tha two contemporaneous schemes, Blount'a " South Sea," and Law's " Mississippi," is given in Barnum's " Humbugs of the World " — a beok which Mr Fox's friends say that Mr Wilson wil) have to study pretty closely if he wishes to enter into successful encounter with the honourable the Premier.

Mr Creighton's Land Resolutions are much talked of, and the subject is likely to be prominent in the next elections. There does not seem to be a clear idea of their meaning, and many hold that their object would have been better gained by the transfer of control involved in the Government scheme. The opinion, however, has gained a strong hold of people here, that the land fund of the South is not fairly expended in developing the country, and in thereby adding to the resources and lowering the taxation of both Islands. It is asserted that Education, Corporations, Bye-K'oads, and other purposes for which people iax themselves in the North Island, are not proper objects on which to expend land revenue in the ttouth. I do not think there is the

least idea in any quarter o£ merging the land in the Consolidated Revenue ; but people have not forgotten the misuse ot statistics during the separation movement in the South. In Auckland there is no dread of separation and never haa been, provided there be a fair division ot tne Qolonial assets in the process.

X ugust btn. The distressing accident tc 1 the , Ta "S ftnga has created great excitt^ent, ana every effort is being made by subscriptionu bscription and otherwise to alleviate as far aa P?* B^ ble the sufferings of those left un* w ™£™ for by the catastrophe. Great indi^ is expressed against the people com ie ? ™ » with the schooner for not having: li^ **™ » bui there are hundreds of vessels . n . ow coasting equally culpable, although 1 ° * tuaate so far in escaping the restu which their carelessness or avarice invite ' Of the details connected with the accident you will be already in possession. The ship's dog, which swam from Sail Rock eight days after the loss of theTauranga, and was picked up by the Kenilworth on : her way to the Islands, had made direct for the vessel, and swam over two miles to meet her. It ia the only living thing ■so far which has escaped, and there is too much reason to fear that the whole of the passengers and crew went down with the steamer. As, however, her decks were loaded with timber and empty gum cases, there are some who have a faint hope that there may be survivors, and that we shall hear of them from the coast ; but it is a forlorn hope in which few are able to join. Among the passengers was Mr Hector, a surveyor, who was much respected. The captain was also a great favourite, and well known in the province.