Poverty Bay Herald .

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6001, 23 February 1891, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald .

PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1891. A WINDFALL. The war which broke out at Waitara in 1800, and afterwards extended to the Waikato and other parts of this island, is I j said to have cost tho Imperial Government ten millions sterling. The Avar bil 1 of the colony between 1860 and 1870 j probably amounted to an equal sum. Without having been throughly subjugated, the Maori was taught the lesson that it was useless fco contend against the power of the white man. It is now over twenty years since the Native mind became thoroughly impressed with that idea. The struggle for supremacy has long been ended. Whatever may have been tho immediate causes of the wars with the Maoris, everyone must have fully recognised that the ultimate object was the settlement of tho country by Europeans. But after an immense expenditure of treasure and a largo loss of lfie, the barriers to the settlement of Native lands have not been removed. Yet on all sides we hear it asserted that the Maoris are perfectly willing that their lands | should be dealt with. There is still an ! area of ten million acres in their hands, - four millions of which are set down as first-class agricultural and pastoral country. What an immense impetus would be „ given to production if that large area wero [. thrown open to occupation. When tho Government was pressed to embark in an extensive scheme of Native land purchases, the invariable answer was, there - were no funds available for the purpose. When the Atkinson Ministry took office there was a deficiency of about half a b t million to face in the public accounts. ;e Until the finances were restored the Government was not iv a position to enter into undertakings more or less of a speculative nature. n Public finance has now been placed on ' s a sound basis. In the statement issued by &iv Harry Atkinson a few days before the '

opening of lost Session, he showed ther should 'be a surplus of L 450.000 in th Treasury at the end of March next. There is every promise that the revenue will increase in the future The outlook is exceedingly bright for the Colonial Treasurer, With a balance of 1,450,000 in hand, the Government should be in a position to accomplish a great deal in procuring and opening up Native lands for settlement. Bub if a statement made by a correspondent of the Otago Daily Times in relation to the sinking fund be true, the resources of the Government will be largely increased. Shortly before the Atkinson Ministry left oftice, they had in contemplation a scheme for the conversion of loans shortly falling due. But owing to the unsatisfactory state of the money market and the ill favor with which colonial securities were regarded in London consequent upon fresh borrowing proposals of Victoria and South Australia, a wire was sent to the AgentGeneral to defer making arrangements for conversion until a more opportune period. It is understood that tho Ballance Government has countermanded the order, and instructed Sir Billon Bell to j proceed with the work of conversion. The operation ib is said will release half a million of sinking fund, which the Government intend to spend on public works. The Ministerial papers do not deny the statement made by the Wellington correspondent ; in fact, some of them openly support the alleged contemplated act of seizing upon a largo slice of the sinking fund. The proper course would bo to apply the money to the purchase of tho colony's bonds, which use would probably be made of it if tho Atkinson party had remained iv power. But such self-abne-gation is not to be expected of the present Government. The temptation of having an additional half million to spend is too great to be resisted. There is great danger of the money being fritterecVaway in public works that are not really wanted. A few days back, the Minister of Lands hinted that the trust funds iVould be drawn on by way of loans for funds to open up the country, the direct .security being the lands dealt with, and behind which would be the responsibility of the colony. At Hawera, Mr Seddon denied that it was intended to raise loans in the colony, thus disclaiming the statement of his colleague Mr McKenzie. The application of the sinking fund windfall of half a million to the purchase of Native lands would be a most politic and prudent proceeding compared to expending the money on public works. By the former method the money would be returned to the Treasury. | Tho half million if properly managed might be found sufficient for the whole work of colonising Native lands. The jurors at the Supreme Court were summoned to attend at 10 o'clock this morning, but the Court did not sit until after 10.30. Captain Jackson Barry failed to secure an audience sufficiently large on Saturday evening to which to recount his wonderful tales of adventure. Judges Barton and Yon Stunner, of the Native Land Court, arrived in Gisborne yesterday morning by the s.s. Australia. The re-hearing Court opens at Gisborne on March 2nd. This morning His Honor relieved all special jurors summoned on a civil case from attendance until to-morrow morning. It is expected, however, that the criminal business will last into to-morrow. An attempt was marie this morning by several of the crew of the freezing hulk to reach the vessel from the shore, but the sea was so wicked that they dare not venture from behind the shelter of the breakwater. The annual week's training of the 34»st Coast Hussars will commence at Kaiti on Monday next. Those absent will not be entitled to capitation allowance. 'J he corps will be under command of Capt. Colemnn, of the Permanent Staff. We are g\id to learn that Edward Davis, who hid himself in tho bush for several weeks, has taken up Ins jjuui'ters at his brother's residence. He appears to be still in a very nervous stjHc. The 5.3. Tarawera met with an accident to her machinery at Wellington on Saturday. Repairs were effected, and the steamer left again at midnight yesterday. She works Napier to-night, and reaches here to-morrow morning. t-he is advertised to proceed North at 9 a m. A very heavy sea was running in tho bay yesterday and to-day. It. was with the utmost difficulty that the s.s. Australia was tendered yesterday, and it was thought that had the Tarawera been up in time to-day she could not havo been communicated with. The Beas were making a clean sweep of the end of the breakwater this morning. The New Zealand Loan and Meroantil Agency Company have received the follow- e ing London cablegram, dated 20th February 1891 : — Tallow : Market weak. Fine mutton tallow is worth 26s 9d per cwt ; good beef tallow is worth 24s 9d per cwt. Mutton market : Firm. Canterbury mutton is worth 4?d per 1b ; Wellington mutton is wo rth 4^d per lb. Beef market unchanged. An important cablegram regarding the maritime dispute appears elsewhere. It is to the effect that the ]?. and 0. Company, tho greatest shipping concern in the world, has seceded from the federation of owners, and that other secessions are likely to follow. If that; be true, the Unionists yl«.»d v good show of having their claims generally recognised. Owing to the stormy nature of the weather yesterday Mr Geo. Aldridge waa prevented from attending at the Theatre Royal to give the lectures as advertised ; but should the weather prove favorable on Wednesday he intends giving his lecture on " The great chronological prophecy $ or the reign of Christ on earth," to he illustrated by diagram ; and on Friday a lecture illustrated by lantern views. The Rev. J. J. Lewis, President of the Wesley an Conference, was advertised to preach a special sermon this evening on the 11 Jubilee of Methodism." The Tarawera not being in he has not arrived. He will lecture to-morrow evening iv the Te Arai school-room on "Rambles with a Knapsack," l and address a special meeting in Gisborneon j Wednesday. ' Tho cutter Venus reached Gisborao last evening after a daugerous voyage from Napier, which port was lo f t on Wednesday. A series of northerly winds were first met with, but on Saturday night southerly weather came on withgreat violence, wind and sea increasing on Sunday. The maiusail of the Venus was split by a gust yesberday and soon reduced to ribbons. With jib sails only flying the cutter was horded for Gisborne, aiul sea after sea swept her fore and aft. Captain Wiig anxiously hoped to reach here before nightfall, and just succeeded in doing so. He sailed his vessel right into the river and moored at the wharf. Tho s.s. Australia arrived here early yesterday morning after a most tempestuous trip from Auckland, which port was left on Wednesday evening. Tho Australia was only able to work passengers at the various coast ports. She had great diflieu ty in transhipping passengers at Gisborne yesterday, and left at 4 in the afternoon. The Australia was seen beating her way up under Nick's Head at 6.30 pm. by the cutter Venus. She was not signalled at Napier up to a late hour to day. The s.s. South m Cross going North was unable to work the coast, and carried on to Auckland a large number of passengers, including Mrs J. Sunderland and Mr and Mrs Bremner, and also a great quantity of cargo, some of which had been overcarried on tho previous trip. Mr James Atkins reports that at the bridge noar Mr G. L. Sunderlnnd's, Patutahi, on Saturday morning, one of his horses went over the structure into the Btream, nearly dragging two other horses which wore attached to it. The bridge is rather dangerous, the sides being unguarded, and the County Council should take some steps to have the Fides railed off, seeing that; this is the second accident at the place, a horse and buggy going over tho side of the bridge once before. Another dangerous bridge is on the Wainui road, Kaiti, where an unroilcd bridge meets the roadway at an acute angle, making the crossing of tho stream very dangerous, especially in the dark.

The s s. Australia which left here at four yesterday had not reached Napier at four this afternoon, it is probable sho has sought shelter under Portland Island from the heavy southerly weather. The case of John Bryanfc L;uie, charged with arson, will be before tho Supreme Court to morrow, and is likely to last all day Mr Pitfc will sell by auction to-morrow afc U a m., at Mr O'Neil's farm, horses, cattl«, drays, harness, and furniture ; also, section 41 in the Muugipapa block, containing four acres. j The County Council announce that a por fcion of the VVairoa road will be closed to traffic from Tuesday, Match 3, to the following Friday, for repairs lo bridges. The sac ed music-) 1 service to-morrow eveni g should not fail to draw a large attend = nee at the City Rink. All who attended the cantam, "Queen Esther," will bear testimony to tho beauty of the music and the finished manner in vliich it was produced on Friday evening. The entertainment is ono which deserv-es Lo be well patronised, being really high-class, elevating, «nd thoroughly enjoyable The second part will be almost entirely new. Only two of the items given on Friday are to be repeated, the solo "Be thou faithful" and the trio "Ti Pccgo." A very strong desire has been expressed by many to hear them again. The other selections will bo a concert in themselves. A better programme has never been presented to a Gisborne audience. The charge of admission has been reduueed to meet the case of families desiring to attend — back seats 6d, front seats Is, to families 6d after the first two. With such a programme and at such prices the Rink ought to be crowded.