THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS.

Colonist, Volume XX, Issue 2356, 2 March 1878, Page 2

THE COLONIST. PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS.

NELSON, SATURDAY, MABCH 2, 1878.

PUBLIC WOItKS. "■':■>■-.' />tu* i One of the best founded charges #;br6ugjbt against Provincial Councils was,'tbait i 6 was their custom to assent to large sums being placed on the Supplementary Estimates, .with the full consciousness that <the aole object was. to enable members to stand well with their constituents. If it happened to suit'the views of the Executive toTspetidany part of' the money, then and then only it was done. . If not, each member^contented himself with abusing those m office praising himself, well knowing thaty'however he might dupe his, audience,.';h'ifei colleagues were quite aware his, weii-acted indignation had no meaning., : Log-.roHingJia no doubt disreputable, but this-practice was distinguished by a special meanness. There was no combination to obtain money, nothing more than a vote was asked for, and it he artful member.chuckled over; successfully cheating those who entrusted.thejr.inte^esta to his care,..; Among..its, v . countless, and aB yet unrealised advantages, it was predicted .that Abolition would put an end to thrift despicablo firamii, M«H \m hop«f«l pv««

dieted that nothing save the scene of operations and the persons would be changed, and that the extinction of the abuse in each province would be followed by its concentration in the House of .Representatives.-' This has been amply verified. After Abolition, demands came from every part of the country for works beyond the means of the County Councils, and the Ministry entered heartily into the game of deceit. Votes were agreed to with all the formalities, a few unsophisticated members fancying they Tvere real. Last session, Mr Sheehau was •equal to the occasion. On behalf of his •colleagues, he distinctly disavowed any obligation to carry out the works, claiming, with what in common men would be called cool impudence, that a " generous spirit" bad been exhibited in suffering the resolutions to be carried, and that no complaint should be made, "if it were left to-the Government to regulate the expenditure." This was going a step beyond what any Provincial Executive had ever dared to avow, and it set up the practice of punishing or rewarding districts according to the action of their representatives. The House may be divided into three classes. The safe supporters of the Government; their unflinching opponents; and those calling themselves independent, or open to reason, or in •other words, on a rail. All who are included ; among jjfe *wo first classes may abandon .hope. WWirst do not require to be bought, i;he second cannot, and thus all the good '.things are reserved for the third. There :are men in the present Ministry, of whom iMr Macandrew ia the chief, who are well .skilled in the arts of gratifying doubtful members. A vote may be wanted, say on i;he extension of the franchise, but till a jroad or tridge is granted, the mind of the .member cannot grapple with the larger (question. He is accordingly convinced at the public expense. If the whips on either aide know he is too honest to be doubtful, ibis constituents may crawl through mud or ford a dangerous river for all time. Just now, .Nelson is punished because it 3has no one base enough to sell himself for am advantage, and bold enough to threaten the Government with secession if it is not granted. The Port Extension, for example, ihaß been promised by successive Governments, till the people despair of ever seeing a rail laid. ■ Ministers on each side have ;given tho most solemn assurances, but when ■the time comes, an eugineer is sent over who •discovers some improvement requiring a fresh survey. The financial year always ■ends and the vote lapses before tenders can lie called for, and so the merry round is renewed. The Wairoa Bridge has long been «o shaky, that no competent engineer would have erected that for the railway without the worn out structure being renewed, op the new bridge beinff made suitable for cart traffic, as in Rome other parts of the Colony. The excuse has been that the Provincial Government would not come to terms as to the increased cost, it the latter course were adopted. So far the Government engineers have a reasonably good plea, as arrangements might have beea made, and the ratepayers of the diatrict permanently relieved from a heavy responsibility. However, they had no right to proceed while there was so great a danger without insisting on proper steps being taken. As usual, common sense did not guide them, and every fresh in the river caused a panic. A vote was obtained for a new bridge, and now the old one is being ■destroyed, while the only notice taken of the Eoad Board's very proper remonstrance is, that consideration will be given if the loan is raised. Not even a promise—only consideration ; and for at least one winter this able Government, burning to serve the people, leaveß the settlers to ford a river, often dangerous, and at times impassable. A similar course is taken as to the Buller. Money was freely voted for completing the road through to Westport and Greymouth ao that a coach could run, much to the comfort of all living along its route. Indeed, tenders ware asked for the conveyance of mails in a vehicle that could also accommodate eight passengers, the department know-. ing well that part of the road is not fit for wheel traffic. This pretty little trick had a certain success, bo far at any rate as to obtain temporary applause for the Government. Now the secret is out, they are not in BuebjMd repute. The Waimea County Oouncj^Hve been striving to secure the prompt^ecution of the necessary work, as we lea>L'from correspondence kindly placed in our hands by their Honorary Clerk, Mr , Oliver. The Inangahua and Buller Councils have been communicated with, the former offering a warm support, but again the Minister coolly says the loan must be waited for, that is, another winter must pass and the vote come beforo the House again, and then perhaps something may be done. All these things serve to prove the necessity of votes being made compulsory on the Government when the House has agreed. Kumor has it • that Mr Macandrew is shortly to be Minister for Public Works, and whoever knows him must be aware he can never see any merit in a work outside Otago. Even now the loan is not waited for there, contracts are let as freely as if the millions were in hand. Jbtesolute, hay harsh dealing will be necessary in dealing with him, or Nelson may say farewell to any chance of outlay forrpublic works. ....... J~ Fibe.—As Constable Bradcock was passing Patterion's (tore shortly after two o'clock this morning, he •aw'flumes proceeding from a building near the Postboy Hotel, whereupon be called "fire," blew his whistle, and at once made for the spot. He then found that Mr R. Grant's stable was on fire; the owner was quiokly aroused, and in a very short time he had a small hose to work, and one or two volunteers were as soon on the scene, who set to work in aiding to extinguish the fire by passing lbuoketß of water to the constable, who had ascended the loft. In a very short time the fire was put out,, and fortunately but little damage done, but this was chiefly owing to the fact that the wind had lulled for a few minutes, Nblscw Institute.—The annual meeting of the members of this Institute was held on Thursday night, ■When after the adoption of the report and balancesheet, Mr H. Adams was re-elected President, Mr Pollock vice-President, Mr 0, Curtis Treasurer, and . |IrJ. Percy Secretary, The only alteration in the Committee was that Mr J, R, DodiQU win ele^d ia |taitfMf &£<«»< '

Fibe AT Stoke. —A very serious fire ooourred it Stjoke last night, by which Mr A. Allporfc is a rer~ considerable loser. We gather that Mr Moutroj who was driving in from Richmond about six o'cloct seeing signs of fire, galloped off the road, and foum Mr Allport's stacks to be in a blaze. A number o willing hands were soon on the spot, and did all i their power to save, property, but on account of th scarcity of water their efforts were without mud avail, and when our informant left, in addition t< tho destruction iif the whole of this year's harvest there appeared little hope of saving the barn an< outhouses, the strong soutb-west wind raging greatl; accelerating the danger. About 800 bushels o wheat and 200 bushejs of barley were already dcs troyed, representing a monetary loss of about £300 and from what transpired it U feared that no por tion wan oovered by insurance. Accidental Collingwood.—By the Lady Barklj news comes from Collin'gwood of another'mining accident in that locality. It appears that.whilst Mi EL Schafer was working in his claim, a large bouldei (ell from the face of the hill, striking him on the head and cutting him very seriously. Fortunately a medical man was in the diatrtot at the time, /and bho sufferer received prompt attention.. Auction Salk at Uppkb Mouteee. —Attention is dra^rn to an advertisement in another oolumn ol !,he extensive sale of groceries, draperies, live stock, fee, by Mr J. S. Edelsten on Wednesday next, on he premises of Mr. J. A. Bensemann, Upper Moutere. ''.''''. Al^ Saints'lnstitute.—The works of art, curiwities, &c, exhibited on Tuesday night, and ' which ittracted so much attention, were again on view on Chursday, and in the evening some capitt 1 readings ivere given, there being also music and singing. A Mr .M'Liyee, of the Thames, has gone to Engand, intending to assert his claim as heir of the late [jord Clyde. It is said that bis cause is a very good >ne. . Mr Geobgk. Fishrs, a member of the Wellington 3ity Council, was fined 103 and costs at the Jtt.M. 3ourb in that city a day or two ago, for having ihallenged Mr Perrier, editor of the Evening Argus, ofighr. ...... The Maori is rapidly becoming civilised. A chief iam.ed Maika Pekoka, of the Native Reserve, Wai' ;ouaiti, Otago, has filed his schedule, and a meeting if his creditors is to be held on March 4. _ ; The Christchurch Pms stutes :~On a public road; hrough the centre of North Canterbury, the thistles; ire so strong that horses refuse to face them. Tub Post lays that Mr Wm, Conyers 1 salary as: Commissioner of Railways for the. Middle Island will; )e £1200 per annum. # '. We are glad to observe that Mr Simons, station-! naster, formerly of Richmond, has been transferred • rom the Stirling to the Balclutha station. From thearge experience he has had, his attention to business; ,nd his courteous demeanor towards all and sundry,) lis appointment at this important Rtation has the? horough approval of the publio, and indeed is re-; arded as complimentary to Balclutha. w | Pi/AYING at Ghost.—The Melbourne Leader] ayß : _The adventures of Mr Samuel I'ickwiok in a| idy's bedroom! which in the dark he had mistaken! or his own, had something like a praotical repetitionj , short time since at Toorsk. A large party ofbothj exes had assembled to celebrate the Christmas fes-i ivitiea. One young lady who possessed a keen relish! 3r practical jokes determined.quietly on enacting the; iart of the ghost. Seeing an opportunity when good; lights were being exchanged, my fair friend slipped; way to her own room, aud after disrobing herself,' nd assuming the robe de nuit betook herself to a': eighboring room, in which she anticipated another; iir damsel would be located. Pending the antici-j iated arrival, concealment was sought beneath ;the; cd. Judge of the damsel's horror when, after somei uarter of an hour's waiting, a creature in whiskers ppeared with his bed candle, evidently intent on. assing the night in the chamber. The horrors; ndured by the damsel under the bed may be under-: tood. After four hours confinement she managed, 3 creep out and regain her own room, trembling; for 3ar the creature should awake. This is no romance,nd the lesson has had, we're glad to say rather &\ uieting effect; Suiting ths Deed to thk Woed.—A very musing circumstance occurred in the Court-house n Monday, in the case of Kum Pow against James im. The chinaman aocused Sim of assaulting him, nd in describing the manner in which he was treated, c gave a practical illustration by falling on his baok a the floor of the Court-houßO, kicking his heels in le air, and rolling round. He then got up and ointed to his clothes to indicate that they had all een wet in the creek. As may be guessed, these ntics convulsed the Court.— Tuapbka Times,

Stbahng a Will—A young man nam9d James Augustus Hall has beon arrested on warrant at Williamsfcown, Victoria, charged with stealing his father's will. The prisoner with other mourners attended the funeral of the late James Hall, who was interred in the Williamatown Cemetery, and afterwards returned home to Cecil street, where' the deceased's will was read by Dr Finn. ' Seeing that all bis father's property, was lefc to his stepmother and n young sister, Hall snatched the document from the doctor's hand and rushed out of the house. About nine o'clock the same evening the will was found by the police on the premises torn to pieces. Chemical Industries in Tabanaki.—We are glad to hear that Mr. Grayling is making very; satisfaotory progress with his chemical operations atOmata. In addition to the resinous extraots of our /native trees, which we have already mentioned, he has produced a valuable alkaloid possessing all the qualities of quinine from the bark of the pukatea (Atherotperma). It is in tho form of a resinous extract, and from personal experience wfl are able to say that a small quantity taken up by the point of a penknife has the effect of a strong tonic on the stomach. This valuable drug would bo in a more sightly form if it were crystallised, but the high duty on alcohol which is necessary in order to produce crystallisation prohibittt the idea of that process being carried out economically. We are glad to bear that by the last mail Mr. Grayling has reoeived an order from a Bermondsey tanner in a large way of business for five tons of his estraot of fern for tanning purposes. — Taranabi Neios.