The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1876.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 2416, 3 June 1876, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1876.

Ir will be seen by an announcement which appear 3in another column that it is tho intention of the Provincial Government to alter the boundaries of the existing road districts. Bearing in miud the fact that Provincialism will soon cease to exist, and that these districts will then havo to stand alone and act on their own responsibility, we think tho Government is acting wisely by thus putting its house in order while ifc has the power. The districts aro manifestly too small in area, and are, besides, in many cases cut off from districts to which they ought to he joined, in order to inako -tho local governing body homogeneous by embracing within its limits, as near as may be, populations having ' identity of interests. How often do wo see a main district road cut in two by two districts which ought to be one, and each body unwilling to maintain the extremity of the road on their respective boundary, or the bridge over the river which perhaps divides them. We have examined the map which defines the new boundaries of .tho road districts, and we find that if effect is given to the, proposal, the ,road districts, whilo^ taking iv.the new District- of Moa, will be reduced from twenty-six to ten. Besides enlafging tho areas of the districts and readjusting- boundaries, these new divisions will for the time being constitute convenient wards for returning members to the County Council when it is constituted. ' The Patea Districts are unaltered : it is, we suppose, presumed that they are large enough for tho present. Beginning with the Waitara, we find that the north of Waitara h constituted one district, including' Waitani East, Tikorangi, Urenui, and While Cliffs, i This district is larger than some others, but the population is not considerable. Tho next district, extends from Waitara i to the Bell Block, and includes Wnitara West, Huirangi, a portion of Mataitawa, and a portion of Bell Block District! The „ next- cxtondsi I from the Tarunitnngi line, Bell Block, i to tho Waiwjikaiho, nnd includes a portion of Bell Block, Tarnrntangi, nnd Egmont Districts. The'Moa ta constituted a district so far as tho Mangnnui River on' -ilid ''Mountain Road, and to tho Waiwakaiho on the Junction Road, and. takes in a portion of the, T.arurutangi, Mata[tawa, aucl Bg'monfc 1 Districts 1 .- The Country bei tweon tho Waiwakaiho and the Poutoko is divided into two districts in parallel lines, from the rnnges to the son. The districts of Oakura, Tataraimaka, and Okato are joined in one district. In m^ctog 'epchyto. dedi^ab|e>pnd '$idielri; change in the boundaries of tho Road Districts^ 'ifc is'not to bo supposed thut ! general satisfaction can given,; but, assuming that' tho change \a necessary, wo doubt whether any very material alteration can be made of an improving nature. Of course, tliero maybe some small matters overlooked, but theso can be rectified if pointed out in writing, ns requested by> -the Superintendent. - Iv a'growirfg cbontrV such as this is, a readjusfcrnent- will require fb bo made ojv/jry , low,, years, ,to meet the altered! condition of things consequent ott an

extended occupation of the waste lands by settlors ; but for the present condition of the Piovinco the proposal is a' very fair approximation of a just basis of representation (o the County Council, as it appears to be based on area and population conjointly. But as the Provincial Conucil cannot now sit, and' these alterations cannot be made by the Superintendent on bis own responsibility, the aid of the- Governor in Council will have to be invoiced. In fact, the Governor in Conucil is to all intents and purposes the Provincial Council of each Superintendent of a Province, snob an absurd condition aro wo reduced by the present transition stage of legislative inaction. The Superintendent cannot now make a reservo for any public purpose, unless the Governor in Council recommends him to do so. And as the Governor in Council is not prescient enough to know tho wants of the Province as to its reserves, tho absurd process must be gone through of the Superintendent or* Provincial Secretary asking tho Governor in Council to recommend the Superintendent to make reserves for the purpose signißed. It is true that this strange medley of Government was ended — a Government of a hybrid kind — a monster, in fact, which is neither autocratic, democratic, or even representative.

Tenders for tue Central Prison have been called for, aud as they havo to be seutin before Parliament meets, the doubt that existed as-to the building being commenced at once may now be set at rest. The prison once commenced must be fiuished, and the men here, they must be employed on the harbour works ; for without they are, the Government will not be able to draw the revenue from the land fund to meet a portion of the expenditure on their keep. The very fact of the loug looked for harbour being commenced, will instil confidence iv tho place; aud with the commencement of the work, a bright future may be looked forward to by the inhabitants of this Province.

The Abolition of ProvincesJßill has been acceded to by Her Majesty. The following copy of a despatch arrived by the last mail settles the question, which the country has endorsed in tho recent elections— even opposition candidates admitting the necessity for aboliliou :— " Downing-street, 17th February? 1576. — My Lord,— l have to acknowledge the receipt.of your despatch, No. 7i), of the 25th of October, enclosing a copy of " an Act to Provide for the Abolition of Proyiuces," to which you have assented on her Majesty's behalf. I.concur iv thinking it a wise course to delay the operation of 60 important a measure until the geuerat election has afforded the constituencies au opportunity of expressing their opinion, nnd I trust that if it should be endorsed by thorn it will be found as advantageous in its operation as hns been anticipated. I have now to inform you that her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowauce with respect to this Act. — I havo< Ac, Carnarvon.— Governor the Most Hon. the Marquis of Noruianby, K.C.M.G., &c, &c-

The Running of Trains on a Sunday seems to have stirred the strict Sabbatarians to action, and at a meeting in tho Weslcynn School room on Thursday evening lost, the matter was discussed. We can scarcely say discussed either, for out of the fifty or sixty persons present there was no ono to represent the opposite side of tho questiou, therefore the speakers had it all their own way. If we except the first two speakers, the whole of the speeches were moderate iv tone, and the decision arrived at could scarcely be objected to by any ono if carried out strictly iv the spirit of the resolution. It is true that it would have looked better if tho names of Jgentlemon of a different way of thinking to those who arc taking action io this matter had been added to the Committee, because the public are apt to be suspicious, and scoffers mny be found guilty pf accusing them pt obtaining the names of persons by misrepresentation, and so bring unmerited obloquy on them. There is a largo number of persons iv this place who are neither "disbelievers' 1 nor " infidels," and yet may see no harm in going by the train to Waitara on Sunday ; not. ouly for the'pleasurc of the trip, but that theyi may attend the services held on Sunday after-" noons in the churches there, a benefit which is denied them in town. And others may go for change of scene, without coming under the denomination of travellers." We hear that a number of gcntlemeu have decided on visiting the Waitara by the train to-morrow, so as to show their approval of the course the Government have, taken in putting this Province in the samo position as others by running the train on a Sunday. We arc glad the meeting had the wisdom to avoid the religious element in testing this question. Public opiuion may itself be right or it may be wronjr, but to a large extent'it must be the accepted standard of both right and wrong ou any subject which affectg a community jis n whole. The world is ruled by Authority or by majorities. The Authority rules the majorities or the majorities rule tho Authority. Delicate questions, may occassiouilly arise in which it niay^bo difficult to draw the line, but wo think every one should be atjliberty to tnko, his pleasure iv his own wtiyi po long as he does not seriously jar upon the feelings or comfort of the rest of a com- ] miniity. In this life one portion of the community has to work to enable the other to take its pleasure, nnd thcrefor6 the householders, both at Waitara nud, in town,, when asked, to sign tho plebiscite' papers which we believe! wil! be issued, should only consider the, question—4shall the train rim oh a day when' tho largest numbers of the community al;e in a position to use' it I—br1 — br .shall it' on "that day ceiisctd ''run, so that those who do not care tq use it may not be annoyed by '(he sight of its' Smoke or the noise of its whistle.

v Winter Evening Entertainment. — The second entertainment will be held in the Odd Follows' Hiill on Tuesday next. Special ' Sunday Service.— Another special Sunday , Service will .be held in Mr. Barlow's tent to-morrow evening. Waitara Town' Board Election. — 1W election of members to fill the vacant scats of' those, retiring,' will be held at Waitnra on Monday, next. . , > . ■ -Barlow's- Midday rEuroRMANCE.— We wduld remind parcrits that the midday performanoo at the Circus takes place tills afternoon, wheu t^ye expect the tent will bo crammed as it was last Saturday^ Town- BoA-RD-EiiBOTiON.~-'A^ntcetin^of-ratepayers will be,, held at -the. Institute on Moudayinext at noon, to elect five members for the Town Board. Mr. C'romptou notlDcs iv another coluiuu his iuteutiou to stnud. 'I .-.,.. I : ■ ■ • s

TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS DURING

SICKNESS. The .following letter has been sent to Mr. Hulko by Mr. Gooch, a passenger by tho 1 Huruuui,' whose family, it will be remembered,, was laid up for many weeks by a very severe illness : —

New Plymouth, May 30, 1876.

Sir,— As myself aud family have now recovered from the lons aud severe illness with which it has pleased God to afflict us, we would express our siucerc aud heartfelt gratitude for the kind treatment we have received from the Government and those kind-hearted settlers, Mrs. Crompton, and others who have so generously added to our comforts. The provision made for the health and comfort of immigrants on board ship was nil that any reasonable people could desire ; but I am afraid that many like ourselves suffer through the neglect and partiality of the doctor and the design or ignorance of the issuer of stores, liut since wo left the ship the kindness and consideration we have received will never bo forgotten. The kind treatment we received on board the steamer from Wellington to Taranaki we gratefully acknowledge, but that which we received duriug our three mouths illness' in the Depot has exceeded all our expectations. To the liberality of the Government which has borne all the expenses attending our sickness, my wife's confinement included, the skill and unremitting attention'of Dr. Rawson, nnd the united care and solicitous concern manifested by yourself and Mr. Herbert, the Depot-master, we not only owe our recovory, but our lives through the help of God.

And may Heaven's choicest blessing reward your kind and generous hearts. — I am, &0., ,• Daniel K. Gooch, '' Immigrant ex ' Hurunui.' To W. K. Hulke, Esq., Immigration Officer.