The Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1869.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 398, 23 August 1869, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1869.

♦ : The Press is in a fluster over the probable war expenditure of the EoxYogel Government. And, being in a fluster, it is not astonishing to find that our contemporary is also rather foggy in his ideas. In this morning's ■issue, he states that the colony will find- itself pledged to an expenditure of about £400,000 for war purposes during the next year. In Friday's issue our contemporary had stated the expenditure at. £300,000 for fife years. It may be as well, perhaps, to try whether we can make out the various items. It is worthy of notice, in the first place, that the Press article of this morning bears internal evidence of

having been written at Wellington. The article states that, from a return laid on the table of the House of Representatives, the Government had nearly 2500 men, European and Native, under arms, on the 12fch mat., " only a week ago." As this happens to he the 23rd, " only a week ago " is hardly correct. But if we turn to the Press of Saturday, we find that its last Wellington letter is dated August 19. The expression " only a week ago " would, therefore, be correct on that date, but the writer ought to have made some allowance for the course of post and possible delay in the publication of his article ; or the editor — if there is such a functionary on the staff of pur contemporary — ought to have taken care that he did not allow such tell-tale expressions to be published. We assume, therefore, on grounds that appear to be reasonable, that the Press article was written at Wellington. This assumption leads inevitably to the conclusion that a certain " eminent financier " had something to do with it. Now for the calculations which the article contains. After careful consideration and comparison, we are really at a loss to know when the writer is stating facts and when he is indulging in his own conjectures. He says, for instance, there can be little doubt that the Government estimate of £150,000 will be " largely exceeded." This is a vague expression, which may mean anything or nothing. At best, it is only an assertion of the writer. Then comes the expense of the 18th Eegiment, which is estimated at £50,000 or £60,000." We are not aware whether the Press has been favoured with special information about this item. The public have generally understood that the colony would be asked to pay £40 a man, and no more, for Imperial troops. Thus, 1000 men would cost £40,000. But if the regiment is only 850 strong, as is the case now, we believe, the cost would be £34,000 a-year. The Press says it is no extravagant estimate to suppose that the colony will be called on to pay, next year, £100,000 in excess of the £150,000 asked for by the Government. No evidence is given in support of this assertion, or rather, such evidence as is given appears to be decidedly at variance with facts. The figures given by our contemporary for the force which the Commissioners to England may succeed in getting are purely imaginary, and the same remark might with justice be applied to all the figures quoted. It Beems clear thar, for the current financial year, the colony will only have to pay the cost of the Armed Constabulary actually employed, and the one regiment retained. It is worse than absurd to say that the force which the Commissioners may or may not get in England will have to be provided for during the year. Any schoolboy knows better than that. At least six months must elapse before the force would be ready to start for the colony, and we must allow three months more for the voyage out. It is a pity that the " eminent finaucier" should make such ridiculous statements.