The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1869.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 438, 9 October 1869, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1869.

It baa become the fashion, iv speaking of Provincial affairs, to say that we JJJIWfc ".LIVE WITHIN OUB MEA.NS." The -jihrase, 1 we believe, originated with hia Ifoaor the Superintendent, and it has been frequently repeated by the same authority in official utterances— so frequeutly, indeed, as almost to lead the public to believe that everything else must be sacrificed to this one idea of " living within our means." It is, no £oubfc,. a most desirable thing, publicly and privately, to keep expenditure within revenue, and, if possible, to have a balance on the credit side of the ledger. But even this excellent principle may be pushed a great deal, too far— may be insisted on with such pertinacity as to stifle all prudent enterprise and repress that spirit of progress which it is necessary to foster in a new country. It is not our intention to examine his Honor's speech at any length. on the present occasion, but simply to point out its more salient features. think it likely that most people 'will regret to find that his Honor still insists so strongly on the necessity for immigration, on the necessity, that, is, . of. spending a considerable aiittTbf money in bringing immigrants to the province. ~We all want to see the population increased, but we believe a majority of the public will say that, iv the present circumstances of the colony, it would be an exceedingly foolish, step if we were to spend much money in paying the passages of immigrauts. ..We should simply be bringing out men who would take the earliest opportunity of leaving the' pro* „ vince~ for one or other of the goldfieldaZV - • . Sis Honor proposes to allocate £15,000 to the Northern Bailway, in addition to the £30,000, already set Aside; to give £16,000 for the extea-

nion of th.£» .Souther^;. Railway, and 65000 for theT construction^ a tramway to the Lees ton Vdiafcricfc. It is iecidedJy cheering to find that his honor's Government entertains any idea oa the subject of commencing public works; Whether the scheme indicated by the Superintendent will be accepted by the Council ia another question altogether. It is possible — we are merely offering a conjecture — thtb member may be inclined to ask whether it would not be wiser to concentrate our efforts and resources on one work. The Leeston tramway proposal commends itself on several substantial grounds, and the Council will probably have little hesitation in agreeing to it. We have not been able to examine the estimates so closely as is necessary, and it is therefore with some diffidence that we express a doubt as to their correctness. We mdy be wrong, but we believe it will be found that the Government have failed to comprehend, or to express, the true fiuancial position of the province. They deserve every credit, howerer, for bringing down the estimates so soon.