AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1148, 29 November 1873, Page 4

AUCKLAND.

[from oub own correspondent.]

We have had a busy and exciting week, ending in the election of Mr Williamson — Old John, as he is somewhat affectionately called — as the Superintendent of the Province. The polling has been everywhere conducted with an order highly creditable to the people, and proving incontestably the superiority of the ballot. The last election was remarkable for its rdwdiness, and for the brutal violence displayed by some of the electors. Even thenMr Williamson waspersonally acquitted of blame, but held responsible for the conduct of those with whom he had suffered himself to be connected. On the present occasion the feeling on behalf of all three candidates was intense among their supporters, and the vigour of their Commit- 1 tees not to be surpassed. The greatest excitemeut prevailed throughout the day in all the centres of population. The police were strengthened by a powerful detachment of the Armed Constabulary from the Waikato, but happily their services were not required, and it was unnecessary even that they should appear on the scene. In Auckland a great crowd assembled to catch the returns as they came by telegraph and by the carrier pigeons, which were largely employed on this occasion from the office of the Evening Star. The poll for Auckland and suburbs showed an unexpected majority for Dargaville over both Williamson and Lusk, the figures being 961, 930, and 494 respectively. Then came the Onehunga returns, giving Williamson a majority of one, which the majorities at the Thames and Coromandel r st>eedily swelled to 329. As the telegraph sent in its rapid reports, and the figures from the isolated northern districts more slowly arrived, the figures continually varied, but at present they show — for Williamson, 2761 ; Dargaville, 2216 ; and Lusk, 1512. There are still a few jto come in, but not enough to affect theresuit. Among the curiosities of the election are the polling at such places as Helensville, which gave Williamson 40, Dargaville 10, and Lusk only 3 ; and Aratapu, which gave Williamson only 5, Dargaville 61, and Lusk none at all — and thereby hangs a tale. These are purely Maori localities, and the agents employed outbid each other for the votes of these intelligent electors. Dargaville's man "shouted" at Helensville to the extent of three shillings per head, and it is shrewdly suspected left them at liberty to take it in drink or cash, as they preferred. Williamson's man, not to be outdone in sympathising with the hunger and thirst of these poor electors, backed up his libations with sacks of flour and bags of sugar, from which they were allowed to help themselves as they liked. The report, I should add, states that these latber were the gift of a Maori Chief, who declared that his friend Williamson, being & poor man and unable to make large presents, should not suffer on that score, and voluntarily came to the rescue. Such a mark of savage attachment is highly complimentary to the incoming Superintendent, but the prospect of any increase to the roll of Maori electors is not to be regarded without concern so long as their votes are obtained on this basis. There are already over 500 on the rolls, and the numoer increases with every block put under Crown grant, and its titles individualised. Lusk was unknown among the Maoris, and taKing no pains to reach their hearts and intelligence in this approved fashion, obtained none of their votes. Dargaville's numbers occasion general surprise, and his opponents attribute much of the success to his free expenditure of money in treating on his canvassing tours, making himself generally agreeable, and freely employing canvassers everywhere. He certainly fought with unflagging energy, and has no reason to be dissatisfied, as a new and unknown man, with his position at the poll. Lusk had all the dead weight of the education tax to carry, but may justly pride himself on having secured a large support with very little expenditure, employing hardly any canvassers, and having the confidence of a great proportion of the most respectable electors. Now that the struggle is over, the general hope is that Mr Williamson will keep free of the connections that embroiled him in his last tenure of office. Everyone likes aud believes in him, with this exception. His kindliness and unselfishness, his ability and his zeal, are admitted by all, while his long political services give him a claim over any other man who could have been opposed to him. His policy is to "work in" with the General Government. Nothing shows in a stronger light the needs of the Province and the power of the Ministry as dispensers of the loans than this open avowaL Thoughtful men may also see in it a dangerous and growing source of political corruption in the Assembly, but thoughtful men are rather at a discount just now, and likely to be so till the loans are exhausted.

The elections for the Provincial Council are now on, and that body will probably meet on December. The real issue will then be tried, and most likely fight out on the Education Act. Unless the people of the Province are ready to be directly taxed for this purpose alone to the extent of £18,000 to £20,000, the present system must break down. There being about 1 10 schools open under the Act, the issue is not light, and no one at present can form an idea of the possible result. To understand the position of the Province, you must remember that it contributes next to yourselves in swelling the revenue of the General Government. Something like a quarter of a ' million is thus taken yearly from the Province, and of this large sum hardly anything is available for provincial purposes. Of course, Otago

is in the same position so far, but there is your land revenue to fall back upon — left the more free, too, by having your public works carried or. by loans instead of being a burden upon the land. The point where the pinch is most complained of is, however, in the lavish expenditure of the General Government, in voting which Southern members are guided more by the plethora of their own Provincial chests than the poverty of others, While Ministers' salaries are being increased, and economy a thing unmentioned and unknown in the Assembly, the people here demur naturally to directly taxing themselves practically to make tip the deficiency. Exchange positions — imagirie yourselves thus drained, and forced to resort to direct taxation for every local improvement — while Auckland was , revelling in abundant land revenues, and you would probably take the same view which people do here. I mention this in order that you may the better understand what is said and written in Auckland, and not attribute it to the jealousy or envy which I observe is sometimes put down as instigating the complaints. It is simply this, the Auckland people are in a position when the most rigid economy should be practised, in the expenditure of their indirect revenue* in order that something may be returned to them for the sup port of local institutions. You, on the other hand, do not feel the pressure, and are disposed to be — well, generous is perhaps the kindliest phrase to use. But you are generous at the cost of Auckland as well as yourselves, and the cry is naturally against special taxation to make up the deficiency. The partnership in the Assembly is thus unequal, and broadly resolves itself in the minds of most men into the feeling evinced during this election, that the only remedy is to be found either in Separation or in the abolition of the Provinces, and the whole responsibility being thrown on the Assembly. Meanwhile neither course is practicable, but we cannot and dare not stand still. So we must either tax ourselves or work in with the General Government. The latter is the course likely to find most general favour.