The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1868.

Timaru Herald, Volume IX, Issue 339, 26 August 1868, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1868.

We have a right to complain of the strategy displayed by Mr For and the Opposition, the object of which is to defeat all measures for extending local ?overnment without seeming to do so. n the recent debate on Mr Fox's resolation the cloven foot would creep out, and it was clearly indicated that, the chief desire .of the Opposition was, if possible, to restore the provinces to their former position of six independent " colonies." Indeed, the Superintendent of Otago ignored the existence of Hawkes Bay, Maryborough, and 1 Southland, and said "There are six " colonies m New Zealand, and will be " for many a day." Instead of extendirig local government, the Opposition 1 wish to curtail it, and take from certain localities the rights and privileges they at present enjoy. And yet m the face of this declaration of policy we find that Southland gave two votes to the Opposition, virtually expressing a desire to be swallowed up by Otago. One of these votes, however, was scarcely given. on the merits of the policy of the Government, for Mr Dillon Bellisatpre-, sent a notorious self-seeking politician. Whether Southland will- resent such action op the part of a majority of her representatives remains to be seen. It is to meet such cases as the one we have pointed out that the Government are urged, to appeal to the country on the question of local government, for they would, wo believe, secure an overwhelming majority. Such districts as Wanganui would be certain to support the Government, and we very much doubt whether Taranaki would not give another member, and Canterbury two other members m favour of local government. The question is, without the least exaggeration, one of life and death for the Timaru district. We have a Provincial Government which is ruled and controlled entirely by the exceedingly unjust preponderance of representation given to the north, and we hare m the Provincial Council a majority embittered agninst the southland disposed m every way to oppose all votes for the district. In addition' to this,' we are separated from the seat of government by more than a 1 hundred miles, with a large extent of unsettled country intervening, and our communications to the Government are as little heeded as though we formed no part of the province. Miles of our roads are not so much as formed; our riven are unbridged; we have not a single public work, and scarcely a public building m the district; and yet we forward tf magnificent, income to the - Provincial Government — and for what ? To be governed ? Certainly not, for the Provincial Government know as little of the district as they do of Otago, and their only governance consists m taking as much from the district without returning anything to it as they possibly can. The present Government and their Superintendent are no better m this respect than their predecessors, and were helped into office by the southern members only, to turn round and totally ignore its claims. Whether the Assembly passes a general county scheme or not this session, the case of Timaru must be brought before its attention. At present the district is m an exceptional position. It has a special and distinct organization, ' ana all that we ask is that that organization shall be perfected by placing. th,e district m the enjoyment of, all its revenues, instead of the insignificant' portion at. present secured to it. We cannot serve two masters, and the sooner an end is put to the anomaly the .better for the district and the colony. Whatever is 'done for Westland this session must also be done for Timaru, for the two districts were specially, legislated for last session, and no complication of legislation can arise bj 'improving' the measures. Indeed, it would' simplify present complications, for it is clear that the same measure of justice must be meted out to Timaru as to Westlahd. Moreover, Timaru has a still further claim to the attention of the Assembly. It contains a larger population, has a larger area of cultivated lands than any other outlying district, and has a greater claim to selfgovernment than any other district m the colony on account of its inconvenient distance from the seat of Provincial Government, and the gross injustice it has so long suffered. : ' ; AH these things . are well known to our members, and we hope they will m no way shrink from fighting the battle : of the district, or be deterred by the sneers and jibes of those who talk about the "interest of the whole colony;?' for the welfare of the colony could m no possible way be more' promoted than by granting to Jocal .bodies the power and means of opening the. country for settlement. In an Assembly containing so large a number 6i members who are receiving salaries' from the 1 provinces, what can' we expect but opposition on purely selfish grounds^' ana What canwe expect from the press of the capital towns with few exceptions hut; vigorous opposition on the same, account ? But is that any reason why we should lay down our claim, and cease our activity to beat* down" thY bppbsifldn? "The* real fight is between nve' or six towns and the country at large. Mr Hall pointed' this face out in' the following words : — " I say to this House, and W " the country that it isnreally a struggle ;" between outlying districts— between "parties who clainvforthemselVes the " same; measure .of .local self-govern- " ment that is now possessed by provincial centres— and those who wish '' to retain the whole power ■ m those " centres." 1 If we cannot obtain justice, m- one way, we nia i y m another; Rather than witness the whole, i of ] our revenue swallowed tip iby the Provincial Govevnrhflirt,- we would prefer -to see the General Government take the whole of the land^funt}, andj.&stribute half of it to the Ro/»d Boards, carrying out large puWffirkj of * national obafaotn

with the balance. If we fail m every | other way to wrest our land fund {tova the hands of the Provincial Government we may petition the Assembly to make the land fund of Canterbury — or of the Timaru district— colonial revenue. We are confident, however, without resorting to " revolutionary " tactics, that the General Assembly will listen ■attentively to our prayer, and if the case » put before it with care and judgment, the solicitations of the people will be granted. The complaint of injustice is unanswerable, and we may ask the Assembly where we are too look for justice it not to it ? Entertainment. — Owing to the inclemency of the weather yesterday evening, the magic lantern entertainment, that was to hare taken place at the Mechanics' Institute, was postponed. - _ , . ' The Weather.— Tho last day or two the weather seems to have gono back again into mid winter, it has been so intensely cold. On Monday night and yesterday a good deal of mow fell, more than lias been seen m Timaru for many years, . . Total Abstikkncb Sooiet7.— The usual fortnightly meeting of tfiis society was held at the Mechanics' Institute, on Saturday night last. Mr .Orermyer took the chair. Several temperance addresses, and songs were delivered to » very crowded audience ; after which a good many "persons signed the pledge. Mr N. Fisher was elected secretary m the place of Mr Gardner who resigned. Mr Yardley was chosen president, and Mr F. Foater, vice-president. Bible SocißTY.r-Tbe first instalment of Bibles from the branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society, established m Chriatchurch, has been forwarded to Mr Hutton, for the purpose of forming a branch m Timaru. The books are well got up and well bound. The Bibles range m price from \a 4d to 30s. The Testaments are from 2d each. " Maori Pbistino Phess. — A correspondent af the Southern Qroi3 says : — " The Baubaus of the upper Thames ore expecting a printingpress that they say belongs to them, and is now m Mr C. O. Da vis's hands. . They intend to use it to publish all the King's laws, and their karakia. Mat Manufactory. — We learn that a mat manufactory has been established at Tokomairiro, by Mr Jamea Forsyth, who is also engaged m flax-dressing. The Defenck Office. — A motion for the abolition of the Defence Office has been carried, Mr Stafford stating that it was intended to dispense with the Defence Minister at as early a date as circumstances would permit. ...... Educational.— A public meeting is called for Saturday next, at the Waihi Crossing Hotel, to take steps to have that part of the Gcraldine district declared an educational district. Wild Cattlb. — A mob of wild cattle consisting of about 150 head, some of whioh have been running on their present ground for eleven years, and which havo defied nil efforts to remove thorn from it, are likely to be got m by Messrs G. Hydp, Manning, and others, who have been for the last month endeavouring to get them out of their ground on the face of Monnt N imrod. The place is almost inaccessible, 'and at present only about seven head have been detached from the mob, and brought m The old bulls havo all been shot, but the cattle, are so exceedingly wild that they can only be expelled from thoir beat when driven almost to death, And thoroughly wearied out. For about a month this system has been pursued, and once or twice they have been driven on to fresh country, but have soon made their way back again to their own ground m spite of every precaution. Tb^e cattle have increased from a few which originally got away from the stations of Messrs Thomson, Studholme, and others. The Auckland Goldzibld3.— A Correspondent m writing to an Auckland contemporary says with respect to Hunt's claim : — " In the face of the celebrated rock over which the Kuranui creek fell, where gold was first disco veredT a drive has been' 'made through the body of the quartz -which varies m width from three to five feet. Another drive to the left of the watercourse* develops a ferruginous quartz of such an auriferous character that myself and other gentlemen who know what the Columbia, Victoria, and Poverty reefs of Viotoria are, said that they cannot compare with it. Of the quarts from this leader several sacks of specimens have been selected. One of the sacks was opened m our presence, and a piece weighing about 301bs,,wag broken showing gold thickly studded throughout, portions of it exhibiting gold m flakes, andl do not hesitate to report that" this specimen contained 100 ounces of gold. A remark made by an old Victorian, who was present, was that, after this, if there was no faith enter-^ tamed by certain persons m the Thames, ithey • were infidels, are about two 'hundred tons of quartz' lying m different heaps on the ground, which the proprietors are confident will yield forty ounces to the ton, and, considering ' that the average yield of the stone hitherto crushed has been fifty 'ounces, the estimate is under the mark. The picked parcel is estimated to yield 3,(/00oz. to the ton. ' On this claim employment is given to thirty-five hands, and when it is considered that an, ex tensive plant of machinery has been manufactured and erected by local industry, the benefit afforded to working 'men will be understood. Before leaving the ground, we' were told that, although a notice is posted up intimating to the public that they are not to advance beyond a certain point indicated, the shareholders would always feel a pleasure m shewing visitors over the ground." HowElictidns abb Managed m Otago.. —A Dunedin paper, the Evening Mail, gives the following particulars of the scandalous pressure brought to bear by the "Provincial Government of Otago on the' recent election' at Waikouaiitt, when' a " county " candidate [was returned, m spiteof all opposition by the .Government, and the " sweet promise* "made ■on its' behalfc 1 The papei 1 "from which., we draw our information states : — " We have just ! learned, that the Deputy Superintendent, and :a city merchant and memberof theProvincial Council, m the company,, of a certain well knownindividual whose influence m Waikouaiti used ta'idign supreme, but has now dwindled to much smaller dimensions, Tinted the towash^, dumg^vtlie lat« pf-B. member of the Assembly; and used, their utmost influence J\to secure vote*', for Mr Gordon, the Msilccessful candidate.' Our informantfltatei, thai his <Honor.inadi' promises of ev^rvtiiingj the district required, is the Spe o£ badges, 3e»ch r road, Ac., pro-

i Emioration to New Caledonia.— Th« Dunulin Mail reports:-" We understand that several gentlemen, long connected with this Province, are about to take flight to and try their fortune m New Caledonia, attracted thither by the favorable account* at that country, recently received from another gen* tleman, an old settler m Otago, but who has bean for some time past a resident m New Caledonia. Of the gentlemen alluded to, one is a well known farmer at the Clntha, formerly a draper m this city ; two are sons of farmers also weirknown m the Clutha district; and a fourth the son of Sin early Dunedin merchant. We wish them " God speed," and an ample realisation of their best hopes and ex* j pectationa." Arrival o» Bishop Harper.— On Thursday last a special thanksgiving service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Lyttelton, to offer thanks for the safe return of the Bishop of Christchurch to New Zealand, | who came out by the last Panama mails At the conclusion of the service, Dr. Donald, as senior churchwarden, read a congratulatory address, which was suitably replied to by his Lordship. The Bishop arrived m Chriatchurch at 2 o'clock the same afternoon. The reception committee had arranged a programme for giving a proper reception to his Lordship, on .his arrival, but all the outdoor portion of it was set aside by the heavy rain which fell dnring the afternoon. Stewart's Islanr— The Southland News of the . 15th give* the following account of gold digging at .Stewart* Island : — " Two or three parties have been recently prospecting near Smokey Cave, Stewart's Island, and hare obtained very encouraging results. One great drawback they have to contend with is the difficulty they have m obtaining provisions, or moving from place to place, -od account of the close underwood and broken nature of the ground. . A party of seven was lately lost m the bush for several days, and narrowly escaped starvation. The miners are very sanguine of ultimate success, as much as twenty ounces having been ob tamed by three men for a few weeks work. They express the hope that Government will do for them what has been done for the miners of Orepuki and Longwood, viz., cause tracks to be cut through the bush, so as to enable prospecting to be carried on with less hardship and risk than at present"