West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1860.

West Coast Times, Issue 287, 24 August 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1860.

Osr, great drawback to the practical advantages that might otherwise be derivable from the establishment of the system of responsible government in the Colonies, is the want nf a settled and sustained policy, especially on financial matters.

It is impossible to regret the defeat of the Stafford Ministry, because the proposed confiscation of the provincial revenues for the defrayment of charges caused by the war, would cither have i left the provinces without any fluids •: for the prosecution of public Works, or j else have impc sed 'on Ik bin the necessity of a largely increased local taxation. Mi' Joliie, the late Colonial Treasurer, in concluding his financial statement, made use of these very remarkable words. He said, " The time appears to have gone by, wheu the provinces can expect to receive from the colonial revenues the same rate of Contribution as heretofore* In the altered circumstances of the country, consequent upon the immense efforts it has mads during the last three years for suppress siug native rebellion, it is> I believe, no longer possible for this of any other Government to continue the eld arrangement for subsidising the providers with three-eighths of the Customs. Sudden or extreme financial alteratidns, like • auy other, must, I admit, be avoided* \ and timely notice given df sucli as may be expedient or 'unavoidable ', but I would submit that events have for some time past given some notice in the matter, and that however much it may be regretted, the colony cannot longer be , expected to mafcte contributions in aid of provincial institutions on the scale it has hitherto, been accustomed to do. New Zealand, I foresee, will require a larger and larger proportion of its own resources for its own absolute wants ; and, although I do not deny that the arrangement by which the Customs department collects revenue both for the General and the Provincial Governments, is one that has its recommendations in point of convenience and economy* t would strongly recommend the provinces henceforth td rely more upon themselves and their own local revenues., and less upon the fluctuating and precarious surplus which it may be in the power of the General GoVern« ment still -to contmti&"

The whole implication of this argument is, to our mind, unintelligible. What is the substantive distinction between the General and the Provincial Revenues? The provinces are taxed heavily ; but for what purpose are they taxed if the fruits of their taxation are to be applied to uses altogether alien to their own interests f By .all means let the policy Mr Joliie rec'oimnends be carried oVib. Let lab provinces be to a much larger extent than they have hitherto been, self-dependent/ But to be self-dependent they must be allowed to enjoy their own resources for their own service. To ask tliem to send all tl:eir money &#ay to Wellington for General Government uses, and then to be self dependent, is rather foreign to our notions of decency or justice. What are tli-: General Government uses, which press so lieflviiy on tho Treasury as to demand this surrender of two-thirds of the share of their own revenues hitherto allotted to the provinces ? For all the ordinary services of government ; for the maintenance of the institutions of justice, cf police, and of general ad ministration ; and even for the repres- ; sion of rebellion in the North Island, the five-eighths of the provincial reve- 1 nues, which the Colonial Executive have | retained, have thus far proved sufficient. But new expenses ensuing out of the new Native policy have now to be met. A part of the grand system of pacification was the establishment of military settlements. In other particulars it was no le&s costly. A method of dealing with the Maori question lias been devised, which involves a large additional present expenditure, to say nothing of past liabilities on account of the war, which remain to be wiped off. It is more as a matter of chivalry than of justice, that the middle island provinces have consented so long to bear the burden of an expenditure for ob jeets utterly alien to their own interests ; and nothing could be more inopportune than the proposal to reduce them to the necessity of increased local taxation, at a time when they need in a more emphatic sense than they have ever done, hitherto, the whole of their resources for the prosecution of their peaceful and industrial interests. What is the grand necessity of Canterbury — and especially of the Westland portion of it — at this moment? A liberal expenditure upon great public works. We are on the eve of a career of development which will, we are persuaded, eclipse all the fame of the past. Never were the prospects of the goldfields so encouraging, and never was there so sure a guarantee not only of their permanence but of their rapid extension. The increasing quan» tities of gold that are being monthly shipprd, are certain to bring an early and large influx of population to our shores, who will augment the gold yield, of the district, and at the same time increase its Customs returns—its

own proper revenue. But another result of this augmented population will be the necessity imposed upon Us of a large and additional outlay on public works ; and as all these Works are pro^ vinoial, paid for out ttte surplus left alter the General Government has swallowed up all that it wants,,thq prospects of the. place would Hrtve Heen po6f indeed if the Sclieine of the late Ministry had been ratified, viz., to take away from us seven half-crowns instead of five out of every pound our industry and commerce contribute to the Exchequer. This misfortune has luckily becu temporarily escaped ; but the danger of injustice will be always impending, so long as the provincial^share Of the Custonis revenue is not permanently settled by i£\Vi As We stated at the outset the constant and capricious fluctuations of policy in the colonies detract greatly from the advantages conferred on them by responsible government. At home no radical change in the fiscal system of the country could be suddenly effected, or would indeed be attempted, if it were" i practicable, by any Statesman of repu- [ tation. In $e\V Ecalaud We have every [ year a new financial policy; and on what | basis, we ask, can the Provincial Governments form their plans of action, so* long as the whole of their calculations are liable to be upset at any moment by the announcement of a new Budgot so strangely revolutionary and subversive in its character, as that announced by Mr Jollie t

It is time indeed that the Provinces should be more self-reliant, but in a sense very different from the one meant by the Ex-Treasurer.

The General Government " Oaiet'te^ of the i-stll in£ti, Contains a return of the quantity and value of gold exported from New Zealand during- tlie qddrtei' ended the 3#th June, 18G6.

From this document it appears that Dunedin exported, within the limits of the time covered by the return, a, -grand total of 45,06.8025., of tlie Value of L)L74,40f); whilst the exports from the West Coast, for the same period, of gold the produce of the Goldfields of Cantprbury, amounted to 103,8830z5., of the value of L 402,856 — exclusive of 30,1300z5., of the value of Ll 16,754 cleared from Grey mouth, the produce of the province of Kelson-. The port of Hokitika alone exported for the quarter, nearly the double the q^uauliky shipped from the province of Otago, tlie c"o"itiparative figures being Hokitika. 83,4000z., Dunedin, 45,00807,,

Vhat a contrast is presented in the appearance of Upper Gibson's Quay ,now, ami its condition twelve months ago, \\h"eji gangs of men were liard vfo work clearing the ground 6n wAich now stand commodious and tastefully erected dwelling I.1 '. Then tlia tvayelloi*was compelled to walk circumspectly through the tangled mass of siipplojncks and brush' wood encumbering his path, which lay through a morass, full of roots and timber in all stogies of decay. At that Ume the future of Westland was somewhat doubtful, and, excepting a few of the far-seeing ones, with a large amqunt of faith to support their opinion 1 , very lew believed tlw,t tnii country would ever become sufficiently important to demand the construction of such works as have since been undertaken and successfully carried through A track to Ivanieri was, however, admitted dn all sides to bo in^sp^iVsloU, 'and strong hopes word entertained that the Government would incur the expense necessary to connect that important district with Hokitika by a commodious highway, which would supersede the costly and dangerous water passage* f"i" the ' transportation of goods and passengers. The GoVL^nnrc^t, however, declined to act in the matter, and it was left for private enterprise to at last supply tlm long-existing requirement by the construction of a tramway. Some three months ago, the Kanieri and Hokitika 'Tramway Company was formed, with a nominal capital of L 4000, the estimated cost of the line being LSQOO. The work was duly commenced under Government sanction, and has since been so vigorously pushed forward that one mile is already completed, and another cleared and the sleepers ou the grouud. This brings it to within one mile of the Kanieri township, as the whole length of the line is a little within three miles, and it is expected that in three months it will be completed and ready for traffic. The completed mile of way extends from Fitzherbert street upwards, and is much used by the residents of Gibson's Quay, both as a footpath and a means of conveyance, and the company already derive a considerable income from this source, having made arrangements to convey timber cut at tho saw mills into town, at so much per week. Goods for (he Kanieri are alao transported to the Big Boach, where they are shipped in boats, and the passage of one dangerous rapid thus avoided. The Government has retained the power of fixing a scale of charges hereafter to be adopted by the company, aud we believe one has been drawn out which scarcely meets the views of the latter, who has signified as much to the authorities at Christchurch, and is now" anxiously waiting for the reply. We trust it will be satisfactory, as this most beneficial work will then be prosecuted witli fresh vigor and finished by the anticipated time. As before stated, LIOOO is the nominal capital of tho company, of which LIOOO has been paid up iv shares, and tho greatest part of it expended. The first milo of way cost L 90 0; the second is estimated at L6OO ; but the third will be more expensive, as several bridges must be built, and parts of the lino will entail heavy cutting. At each end a terminus will be erected at an estimated cost of L4OO. We trust that the enterprise of the company will be well rewarded, and nothing doubt it, believing that the Hokitika and Kauieri tramway will prove a very payable speculation indeed. One considerable source of revenue will be derived from ballasting ships, which can be done at JJs per tou, and. a handsome profit secured, • • ,

SiiiL'o tliu fatal omimmuu o» Monday LstJ which resulted In the death of I'utrickFoley.the Ijoilch has been closely watched by the police, ill tile event Of tho lidity Being 'wist llshorei ydsterdily, (jonstable Perry was despatched to the Tercmakau on the above duty, and on his arriving there was informed tYiat on thS evening of tile 22nd, the body oi: a man was discovered in tlie lagoon, above the township. It was removed to the Sydney Hotel, where the constable inspected and searched it, ttnd found in the tronser's pocket three registrations of water races, healing the name ttf itofoei't Clark, who, we believe) was known as a Gi'eenstdne Ci'eck mirier, and it is therefore supposed he .was drowned in- that stream') find iiis body swept down to tho Lagoon. An iil<luest will be held upon it to-day. Constable Perry closely examined the beach, but saw nothing of Foley's body.

The fortnightly escort from Ross arrived in town last evening, having in charge about 2500 ounces of gold.

Miss Julia Matliews \i Announced to appear to-ilight in two characters— that of Mrs $wdftdo?on, dn the coine'ty of "Evei*ybody's Friend," and that of kndMid'A; in tlie mutesque oil the same name.

Tlie Memorial Committee are to meet tins svftevnoon, at fouv o'clock, at the Commismissioner's office. We trust there wiljl be a full attendance, and that something decisive will be de done. The hour of foul' has been fixed to meet the convenien(se Of members who vesitte at a distance, aWi vriYdcaii scarcely well get into town after darfc\

Another seizure of gold was made yesterday by the Customa' detective, from tho person of James Roxborough, a passenger for Dunedin by the lierd ASllle-y-. The amount Was UiJii'rig, consisting 6f tliree felnaii nuggets, valued at L 4. It was', of c6uraej confiscated. This should act hb a warning to parties leaving tlie coast, who may have in their possession a few fancy nuggets or specimens', not to neglect payiii'g duty on tlie parcel] lie" wever small it mtvy lie, as tiie Customs authorities are determined to rigorously enforce the law against smuggling.

A Kauieri correspondent writeß under date the Said, instant:—" . Tlie news from this loca 1 lity, daily and wceklyj gels Smaller by degt'ees and beautifully less, mining operations remaining very quiet, owing, in a great measure, to that inherent maludy pertaining to the mining community of hoisting swags, blankets, billies, and all tho accompanying arrangements of a ilit, and> in nine cases out of tenj not knowing whltller tliey are bound, and whether they will aooii see the color or a penny weight. lii fact, Business o$ All description fa s'6 Uni'vcl'Saliy dull or quiet, that several of our enterprising merchants have dctermiued to offer a handsome prize for .tile best Essay tyi tue^ameri', divided inU Llil'eß jkrts, viz.j l^ast, \ . resoiit, and Future. It is confidently expected that the Government intend, at their own expense, printing the prisse one, with a view of encouraging oljher provinces and the rising Wesllandoinaus iii particular; I shall cindfearoitf tb get you a proof copy as soon as issued. The Church of England Building Fund Committee held tlieir concert in aid of the- same,— cm -Monctajr-ercinng-lttsfci — CL'o judge from the attendance, t should deem

it a success. The amateurs of evel-y class

turned out well, hud t must not forget to mention among theni, tho Christy Minstrels, who, as soon as tliey heard of the .performance, deserted tlieir camp, and came down in force, vMeli added much to the harmony of the evening. By the way, there is a good chance for the Ilokitika speculators, tho engine and plant of the United Stoam P»'ahiag& Oompuny i$ for sale j, but as .yet, the dote of sale' is not definitely u'eVennined, and will only be u&certaiued by the advertisement. Tho district remains remarkably quiet, and for the

population, is very different from most new

rushes ou diggings by the absence of crime in its usual phases. I suppose that before we can get up wW is termed a decent police sheet, we must either get a little more civilised, or depraved, if you like the term better, nnd the importation of a few learned limbs of the law, to set the the good folk quarrelling among themselves } fin- being scarce of tho article up here, We cannot aifbrd the time to Visit youi? gi'and city, t hbpo In my next to be able to give .you some intelligable or reliable information of the prospecting party up the HoMtfta rivet, aS fut as a glimpse of the encampment, by means of a fine sunshiny day. I should judge them to he about from eleven to thirteen mile 3 up, on the right hand side."

The "Lyttelton Times" says:— "A few Tasmanian magpies have been lately received by the Society : their arrival would have been most opportune, as being in time for the approaching breeding season, had they not unfortunately turned out nearly all male birdsj which, as being the most valuahle in point of glibness of tongue, would no doubt be gladly exchanged by those possessing hen birds. An additional kangaroo lias also been presented to the Society, as a suitable mate for the two already in their possession."