West Coast Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 319, 1 October 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1866.

We have late Nelson and Christchurch papers. From the former it will be seen that the death-warrants for the execmtion of Kelly, Euro-ess, and Levy, jiave been signed by the Governor. This i's an instance of -unusual promptitude in such matters; and contrasts strangely with the delay in the celebrated case of Jarvey, at Dunedin, who was allowed to lie for weeks in the gaol after conviction, and feed on- the hope of a respite or commutation of his sentence. It is not reported that the death- warrants have been-received at Nelson. By the provisions of the Execution of Criminals Act, the sheriff is required to carry out the i sentence on — if we' remember rightly — the third day after it has been delivered to him. ' We learn nothing from our files as to tl.e bill introduced by Mr Moorliouse for the enlargement of the representation of the West Coast, although the Wellington correspondents of the Christchurch newspapers profess to describe thewhole proceedings of the General Assembly. The financial measures of the government, and the consideration of affairs connected with the North Island seem to engross the attention of the House bf Representatives. The motion for the imposition of stamp duties having been affirmed, Mr Crosbie Ward proposed a resolution to confine their to the North- Island, and, on this bi?L:g defeated by a very large ntttj'ority, Mr Yogel tabled another resolution declaring the right of tho Provinces to the three-eighths proportion of these duties, as in the' case of the Customs revenues. It was .anticipated that this resolution would receive the suppc rt of a large number of members who voted with ministers, in favo* of the stamp duties. But the general impression is, that— with what- j ever varying majorities — Mr Stafford's government can cany anything that they chose to" make a cabinet question. Their nearest approach to a > defeat was on the measure to increase the postage rates 'on letters and newspapers, on which they had a majority ,of one vote only. Several members, known to be opposed to the scheme, were absent from the House when the division was taken — Mr" ..Fitzgerald being one of them. But for this untoward circumstance, this most obnoxious and ill-ad-vised measure would have been rejected. It is said, however, to be the pdicy of the Stafford Ministry to watch their 'opportunity, and, like good tacticians, seize the occasion to press through their measures, when the enemy's forces happen to b£ in least strength in the House. The new postal rates had not passed at the date of our last advices, and it was expected that they would meet Avith renewed opposition. But if Mr Staffoid N insist, they will doubtless be carried. No party, sufficiently strong to ' command a majority, wants a change of Ministry at this monient. It is even suggested that, if the Government choose, they can obtain the consent of the Housi to a vole for two years' supplies, which would for that period " relieve " Parliament' from troubtijUg itself with the affairs of State, and leave Mr Stafford and his colleagues to pursue their mission iv peace, and go on their way rejoicing.

It is certain that the North Island and Cook's Straits provinces give to the present Government a steady and reliable mnJQi'ityon all questions of urgency. The little province of Southland joins them. It is indispensable to it just now to stand in good favor with t)ie Wellington authorities ; its heavy indebtedness destroys its independence. The two great trading provinces that have to make common cause against a powerful and united enemy, are Canterbury and Otago. Each of these, by its vast development' of auriferous wealth, has largely contributed to the financial resources*of the colony, and helped to sustain its credit abroad. What would ]£ the position of the North Island itc this moment but it'or the copious streams of wealth that have flowed into the colonial coffers from the goldfields ? We have seen how these two provinces head the list of contributors to the Customs Revenues, and these returns are the guage of the commerce they carry on. It is this commerce that the new stamp dxities will tax. And it is clera* that they will constitute, therefore, an impost pressing specially upon the Southern provinces, to be expended in the furtherance of Northern interests. We have repeatedly said that we consider stamp duties, properly adjusted, to be a perfectly legitimate - source of revenue, aud an approximation, to a sounder fiscal system ihan prevails in most of the colonies. But they must necessarily operate unequally in a colony, one half of which is purely commercial iv its interests, and the other half divided between war and commerce, with the former preponderating. It may be accepted as a certainty that tlie present course of legislation will tend rapidly to promote that partition of the colony, upon the expediency of which public opinion in the Middle Island kas hitherto been greatly divided. This new attempt to tax the South for the puiposes of the North will have the effect of drawing many recruits to the ranks of^the Separationists, who have hitherto held afoofV Thus far'the unity of the colony has been mainly upheld on grounds of sentiment and chivalry. But a romantic feeling of this kind always fares ill when assailed by rough practical considerations, such as those which hold ascendancy in this material age. The Stafford Ministry have succeeded in arraying, for the first time, the North and the South in distinct- and clearly-defined opposite, ranks. And it cannot be for long that the two great gold-producing provinces will continue to consent to' be drained as they aro/now,. of the greater part of the revenues that are legitimately their own, td" serve interests that are none of theirs. For the present, however, the situation will probably remain unchanged. It is not a fault of the political life of the* colonies that constitutional changes are made without full deliberatien. Tn every instance where, separation has- been procured, it has resulted from sustained discussion and effort. Butassuredly no session of the Assembly, since New Zealand has been a colony, has so materially^ contributed as the present, to force the Middle Island provinces into an earnest struggle for such a political re-adjustment, as shaU'enable it to employ its own revenues for the uses of its own Government and the furtherance of its own interests.

Few of the candidates for" municipal honors have paid the electors the compliment of making auy 'explanation of tlieir views on the future management of the town affairs, whilst several have not even intimated whether or not they accept their nomination in a spirit of seriousness, and really desire to be supported at the poll. Various rumors are afloat as to the indisposition of several gentlemen whose, names were submitted at the public meeting on Tuesday,, to fill the -office for which they were ■ nominated. Mr Shaw has plainly announced that he is a candidate. Mr Lynch has done the same. Mr C. I. iitzsiinons has intimated that he retires from the contest, owiug to the claims upon his time of private business. Why do not the other supposed candidates speak out; that the electors may know definitely between whom their choice lies ? The position of Municipal Councillor is one of public honor, and the, public are surely entitled to be treated with, more respect than is beiug shown them.