PER ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRESS TELEGRAPH AGENCY.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1829, 12 November 1874, Page 2

PER ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRESS TELEGRAPH AGENCY.

Auckland, This day. The Superintendent's contemplated trip to England, accompanied by the Provincial .' Secretary, is condemned by thei Cross and Herald.

The steamer Golden Crown, sold to a Sydney Company, returned after leaving the Bay of Islands for Sydney, a leak having been discovered at the stern post making three inches of water hourly. It is understood that a condition in the purchase required delivery of the steamSl* in Sydney by the 20th. • '*••? Mr. Helloway. the agricultural, delegate, has received positive orders from the General Government to proceed to England immediately by the Halcione. Kemslcy, charged with arson in. Wake-field-street, was again brought up. The case_ will last two days ; the evidence will be similar to that given at the inquest. Sharemarket.—Buyers : City of London 23s 6d ; sellers of Cures, 9s 9d.

Christchubch, This Day. CAVTERBUJRY CUP. 250 soys. added to a sweepstakes of 15 soys. Two milcs-and-a-half. Weight for age. , • v ..,.> Mr. O'Brien's Tambourini . 1 Mr. Nosworthy's Traitor . 2 Mr. Delamain's Templetpn . 3 Somnambula and Toi also ran. Wainui was scratched. The race was not a fast one, and not exciting, excepting towards the finish, wh?n there was ft fine set-to between Tambourini and Traitor, the former winning by half a length. -* CHBISTCHTTKCH MAIDEN PLATE. ■ - Exile. . '"T ." 7~~T~ Ada, colt . . . . 2 Ngaro . . . . . .. 3 ■-••■' It was a certainty for Ngaro; but, when nearing the distance post, he ran off the course and afterwards threw his jockpyi LOTTEKT PLATE. Yatterina .... . .1 Waverly .... 2 Belle 3 Three others ran. f-mile. Time, 1 mm, 20 sees.

Habier, "Wednesday. The dinner to Sir Donald McLean at the Criterion Hotel yesterday evening was a great success. The Superintendent and eighty influential settlers and tpwn residents were present, jfe. S. Rhodes, M.P .0.. presided. The Governor's health was drunk, and Sir Donald McLean took an opportunity of expressing his regrettft his Excellency's approaching departure, and bore his testimony to the zeal and ability .with which Sir James Pergusspn had discharged his important duties. ! In returning thanks for his health, Sir Donald McLeau said, in allusion to the Chairman's mention of the honor conferred upon him by Her Majesty, that he was most proud of it, and all the more as it had been given without any solicitation on his part or recommendation from the colony, and as it happened while he was one of the representatives of the province. He then spoke of the public works, and of the necessity for a colonising policy at the time when tho party with which he was connected took office, and dwelt on the importance of opening up the country by roads and railways. Of the former there were now open and in progress over 1,700 miles. Of railways there were 103 miles open, and altogether, trunk and branch lines, would be over 1,000 miles. He instanced the remunerative qualities of the Australian railways, which were constructed at an expense far above what ours cost, and stated that the traffic returns of the New Zealand railways were already above their working expenses, and gave ample hopes for the future. He mentioned the initiation of railways in Canterbury by Mr. Moorhouse, and gave examples to show that the further lines penetrated into a country the better they would pay. In reference to the telegraph, he said that one of the causes of his visit to & astralia was to give effect to the resul of the Colonial Conference, and to connect New Zealand by submarine cable with the rest of the world. Goldmining interests were then alluded to, which Sir Donald said the Ministry had not neglected, considering as . they did, the importance, of a population which had exported £29,000,000 worth of gold. With reference to immigration, he said that what with the immigrants landed and those now on the seas, it was not too much to say that before the end of the year there would be 50,000 immigrants in New Zealand under the Emmigration Act. On the subject of the abolition of provinces, he declared himself a firm supporter of the project, and gave extracts from despatches from Earl Gtfey and Sir J. Pakington, which proved that home statesmen, upon the formation of the Provincial Councils, looked upon them as doomed to merge into municipal institutions. He stated that the country districts had been much neglected, and sketched out what were the broad principles of the Government, in view of the proposed change, namely, that local receipts should, as far a3 possible, bo devoted to local purposes, that road boards or shire councils or whatever name might be given to them should have the control of local expenditure. In fact, when the provinces were abolished, no one would miss them. He then referred as an ex-

ample to the part played by the Provincial Council of Wellington towards Hawke's Bay before the separation, stating that the Hawko's Bay portion of the province hud contributed some £75,000 to the provincial revenue, while nothing more than an insignificant sum had been spent within it. Hawke's Bay still remained charged with the interest for a portion qf'the Wellington debt. Another feature connected with the Public Works Act was the acquisition of a landed estate for the Nor them Island, for which £700,000 had been authorised. He could inform his hearers tbat already, what with negociations completed and in progress, over 7,000,000 of acres were being obtained, and he reminded them that under the old land purchase system 6,500,000 acres had become colonial property. Passing to finance, he said that much misapprehension existed, the real facts being that proviously to 1869 the colonial and provincial debt was over £7,000,000, and that at the end of September last the total indebtedness was £12,403,546. In addition to this he stated that there was authorised, but not ytt raised, a sum of £5,750,800, and in hand at that date a balance of £286,168. So that although the total indebtedness would come to £18,170,346, thero wqre yet £6,036,968 unraised and -unexpended. When the whole was raised the total annual charge would be £921,447. The future of the colony was such as not to allow of any fear on account of this debt. In regard to the native question, Sir Donald said he did not believe in continuing in warfare with a fine chivalrous race whenever proper means of conciliation were available. He believed more in educating than in fighting. Of course he had, in his position, suffered some obloquy on account of his views and policy, but he could afford to ignore all that, when his conscience • satisfied him that he. was following £he more humane and proper course, lie quoted .different returns of past native expenditure, showing how it had ranged as high as £60,000 a year, and told his audience that at present native schools absorbed 'a third of the native expenditure. He recognised the services performed by friendly chiefs and tribes and their assistance, and made some grapeful allusions to the officers connected with his department. He then brought in the social Acts introduced since 1869, — such as the Land Transfer Act, the Annuities and Insurance Act, and the Public Trust Act, and resumed his seat amidst lon% and continued applause. Mr Ormond, in addressing the assembly, explained at length his reasons for voting for the abolition of the provinces. He said he had always been in favour of it. His reasons in 1861 were the same as now. Under the provincial system there was a clashing in native affairs, and injury to the colony from different land laws. Education was neglected, and gaols, hospitals, and asylums. They had now adopted a borrowing policy. Provincial members were apt to log-roll for the benefit of provinces against the interests of the colony. The provinces, except .Otago, Canterbury, and Hawke's Bay, were supported by the General Government. It was necessary to do justice to outstanding districts. In reference to himself he said he had done his best for the province, but he never placed its interests over those of the colony. He had made great public sacrifices for the province, and relinuqished his position as Minister for Public, Works to get Hawke's Bay out of the.difficulties. After an able speech he sat down amid loud cheers.