The Evening Herald. MONDAY,, NOV. 8, 1875.

Wanganui Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2624, 8 November 1875, Page 2

The Evening Herald. MONDAY,, NOV. 8, 1875.

In another column we republish Mr Fitzherbert's speech at the Dunedin banquet, and if the Guardian has given a fair report, the speaker appears to have been rather out of form. The speech is unworthy of him, and would indicate that Mr Fitzherbert'must'have' been in company not altogether congenial He . carefully guards against oxpressing sympathy with the federation - separation movement of Sir Geore Grey and Mr Macandrew. Mr Fitzherbert would return to the original position, and in so expressing his opinions, discountenances the new Constitution which Sir George has sketched out for the Colony. "They had had experience of how these institutions worked (he said) and there were many men among them who had worked hard and long in developing them—men who had strug 7 gled by speech and act in the Asssmbly to protect them—like so many videttes they had stood their ground as manfully as soldiers ou duty, and' re-

fused to surrender,- and now brought back the constitution into the Lands ot the people." This is very weak. j"Q Abolition Bill is on the Statute Book, to come into operation at the end of next session, unless repealed m the meantime. That the measure is nioi-o than the affirmation of a mere anstmct principle is evident from the •act that certain acts of a practical nature have taken place. Provincial Councils are debarred from, meeting fig'fin. Superintendents can only carry out their functions from the present time with the special consent of the Governor in Council. In point of fact Abolition is already a hard practical reality. Then there are the endowments which are coming to the local bodies out of consolidated revenue. Of course, it is constitutionally open to_ the Assembly to go back to the original position, or to pass a federation scheme, next session. It would have been equally competent for it to have done so if the Abolition Act had come into operation on the day it had received the Governor's assent. What has been done can be undone, for Parliament is competent to re-enact what it has repealed. How then is the Constitution brought into the hands of the people ? The Opposition have always assumed that Provincialism was an integral part of the Constitution, like the State Governments of America. When we s?o back to the history of the Constitution Act, we find that Provincialism was intended by the British Parliament as a form of Municipalism, to be subject to modification, and even to repeal, at the will of the supreme legislature of the Colony. The ultimate reform has taken place in the extinction of the system,so that it may bo replaced by a 'form ol Municipalism more adapted to the genius of the British race, and more applicable to the political and social condition of the Colony. Mr Fitzherbert, in his appeal to ?< experience," has taken the common ground on which the battle has been fought. But the divergence between the chief of this Opposition and two other chiefs of equal standinom his party,cannot be overlooked. Sir George Grey and Mr Macandrew do not wish to return to the status quo. They are perfectly well aware that many Provinces could not return for want of the sinews of war: 80 far their position is sound. The new departure, untried and undefined, gives them the advantage of advancing political views which cannot be answered by an appeal to experience. This may be very well in the excitement of a general election, but theoretical and elaborate plans are always treated with a certain amount of suspicion in a deliberative assembly. Mr Pitzherbert does not believe in the constitutional proposals of his coadjutors, but if he did, he is too_ acute not to see that it would be easier;to restore Provincialism than to introduce an entirely new Constitution. The line of action adopted by the Superintendents of Auckland and Otaso destroys even the faint hope of a revival of Provincialism. They will come down next session-with the federal ion proposals, and if they fail to carry them, the game is up, The relations of parties to each other.will be reversed 1 at the beginning of the session! on the question of Constitutional j change. The Government will stand on the defensive, and resist all attempts of the Opposition to reverse what has been done, This is very much easier than to initiate and carry a scheme. It is, we might say, infinitely less difficult to defend an existing law than to repeal it. But when the Opposition are divided amongstthemselves as to the mode of attack," it bodes ill for their success even if they should manage, to scrape together .a bare majority at the elections. Mr Fitzherbert's speech reads like a wail, one who had gone down in,the .fulness of time, and seems to confirm the impression, that the moment the Upper House threw out the Wellington Beekimed Land Bill, by which the Province would have received £80,000, he was not ill-pleased that the responsibility of Wellington finance should be removed from his shoulders.

The candidature of Sir Julius Vo^el we trust will not be misapprehended by any; of the electors. It does not mean that other candidates are precluded from coming forward/or that the usual opposition of parties and principles should be suppressed. It is quite open to any opposition to bring forward their candidates, and when they, are in the field the electors will then be able to judge of questions of personnel and political creed. We wish, however, to point out clearly that this is a question closely affecting the future welfare of Wanganui. The present Ministry are engaged in a struggle to preserve the unity of the Colony, to remove finally the incubus of Provincialism, and to substitute a system of real local Self-Government. We believe they are very friendly disposed' towards Wanganui, and if there was anything like unity amongst the representatives, would willingly provide for Harbour Improvements On a scale commensurate with their practicability. Now, on the other hand, what have we found 1 When the question of a second member for Wanganui was being discussed, Mr Fitzherbert, though

the Superintendent of the Province, actually opposed it, said it W as nufmv, and' tried to get the member taken away. (He was not i,. the House w hon the motion for tho second member was earned). The Government, though bound to resist additions to the Bill, after the Committee had once decided io give WanRanui the second member, prevented the clause from being recommitted,- and thus destroyed the chance of the member beW struck out. So far the question of party" Sn-Julius Yoo- c i and Mr Bryce woukl certainly cooperate hi all matters relating to the welfare of the place, and this is more than could be said if Wanganui were so foolish as to disfranchise itself by repeating the Provincial Council blunder For years Wanganui . has played into the hands of the Wellington Provincial party m the way it relumed its representatives In discussing the bearings of the question, personalities should be avoided, particularly as the matter is of more importance than any which has come before the electors since the foundation of the settlement. We may here state fully our views 011 this point. Harbour improvements are essential to Wanganui as a commercial centre, especially since eveiy little port 011 the Coast is already in competition with Wanganui for the coasting trade. We need not inform ourjreaders that the Harbour in embryo at New Plymouth has been endowed by 110 less than a quarter of a million acres of land, and is about being constructed. Manawatu will soon enter into rivalry for the trade of Raiigitikei, as the railway to Palmerston is fast approaching completion. Now, unless something be done here during the next five years, what will become of • his place 1 The district then remaining as a feeder will be very limited, and as the value of property depends largely 011 commercial activity and prosperity, it would be affected in an equal ratio. The representation of the place is closely related to all these considerations. Harbour improvements, direct immigration, and publicity to the District and its resources are, among many other things dependent upon the zeal, combination' and influence of the representatives' Those who are led away by mere vulgar abuse, are not likely to weigh calmly The merits of these and other considerations, but the great majority must be well aware of the truth of the position as we have stated it.

The Directors of the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company have been enabled to present a very satisfactory statement of affairs for the half-year ending Sept. 30th, at the meeting held m Dunedin to-day. The company has been in existence for two years, and during that period has extended its business to all parts of the colony, and opened four branches in Australia. The total receipts for the half year amount to £42,738 9s Sd, and the expenditure to £23,576, 10s 7d, leaving the handsome balance of £19,161 19s Id. This will be disposed of as follows :— Added to the reserve fund, £5,000, thus raising it to £35,000 ; payment of a dividend of fifteen per cent on the paid up capital £3,750. This leaves a sum to be carried forward to the next half yearly balance of £10,411, 19s Id. The profit and loss account shows that the losses by fire and otherwise have been £13,129, 2s 4d, while amounts, paid on commission and other charges are £10,447, 8s 3d. On the credit side the total is made up of the following items : —Balance brought down £207.3 14s 2d; Fire and Marine premiums, clear of re-insurances, £36,856 3s 6d ; Interest, £257114s 4d ; Rents, £209 4s£d ; Transfer fees, £27 13s Od ; sale of property in Dunedin, £1,000. Total, £42,738 9s Bd. In the-ensuing half year a heavy item crops up in the loss of the Strathinore,: which was insured for £4,800.

Coucrete kerbs to to the footpaths are being used at Kaiapoi. The following letter regarding the Lake relief fund appears in the Nelson ' Daily Times :—Sir,—ln answer to your correspon dent "Justice," I beg to state a complete: list of subscribers to the above fund is hanging up in the City Council Chambers and can be inspected b y " Justice" or any one else wishing to see it. The reason the lists have not been published is, that behicr so voluminous the expense woal.l entail a serious encroachment on the amount subscribed. With respect to the balance-sheet, we do not see the necessity for publishing a statement until the fund& are finally appropriated, which in all probability will be in a few days. Yours &c, Joseph Garrard. A difference which threateued to break up the Club arose not long ago amoug the Patea cricketers, and for some time there appeared no chance of settling the matter in an amicable manner. The presence of Mr Fitzhorbert, of Wanganui, whose experience as a cricketer is by no means limited, was taken advantage of, and the dispute was referred to him. ■ By latest accounts we learn that this arrangement has worked satisfactorily.

Eels appear to be plentiful this season, and we have heard of several good hauls that have been made. Some days ago a resident close to town caught twenty-five with a pitchfork in a shallow creek. The smallest of them weighed SAlbs.

The Prince of Wales' Birthday is promising to afford some amusement to-morrow (Tuesday), if only the weather isfiuc. iXumbers will doubtless go to the Wairoa Haces, while others, who prefer rifle shooting, and are qualified to compete, have an opportunity of: fcakiug part in several contests that arc not without considerable attraction. To assist in amusing the spectators the services oE the Band have been [engaged, and we have no doubt but everything will pass oft very successful. Trinity Weslcyan Church is at present undergoing such alterations as will add considerably to the sitting room. The schoolroom at the bacK-will be added to the body of the Church, thus affording additional space for sixty adults. A large new schoolroom is being- built at the iear, in which there will also be more room than in the old one. The vestry, which was situated immediately behind the school, has been moved back, and will occupy a similar position to the former j one. The contract is in the hands of Mr McFarlaue, who appears to be making considerable progress with the work. The frame and rafteis are already up, and give an idea of the appearance the building will have when completed. A copy of the requisition asking the Hoh. Sir Julius Voirel to stand for this district at the ensuing general election is now tying for signature at the shop of Mr A. D. Willis, Victoria Avenue.

A fine niob of cattle, consisting of 113 head, passed through town to-day. They are intended for Mr Gear, of Wellington, and were purchased between Wanganui and aud Hawera. A better looking lot has probably never left tb.e district. A young girl, who came ont by the Woodlark, aud who has been in Wanganui for some time, was this (Monday) morning found in one of the Maori tents on the foreshore in a semi-drunken state. How she came there is not known, and she would not have been discovered had it not been for the open boast that she was in their hands, made by some of the Maoris, from whose talk on the subject it was also inferred that tli ey intended to take her up the river. A resident who heard of this disgraceful state of things at once ascertained the facts of the case, and communicated with Sergt. lleid, at whose directions she was at once taken from the tent, and informed that if found there again she would be taken up as a vagrant. She was sober enough to understand the warning, and it is to be hoped she will not fill the measure of her depravity by returning to the objectionable quarters. The late fresh has caused even more damage to the Eiver Bank than was anticipated. Several fresh places have given way, the willows having been carried some yards into the stream, where only the tops of them are now visible. If they would only take firm root there they would improve matters. The rate at which progress is behi£ made with the two branches of the water-works leaves no room for complaint. The mains in Victoria Avenue [have reached lugestre Street, while the branch service in Bell Street is down as far as Church Place. In a few days we shall probably see this part of tlie work completed.

It is announced that Mr Robert Pharazyn is to become a candidate for Wauganui at the next election. It is always gratifying to welcome members of the Provincial Executive into the political arena, especially when it will give this distinguished pensioner on Wellington bounty au opportunity of resigning his sinecure and £100 a year on the ground of patriotism. We understand that owing to to-morrow-(Tuesday) being the Prince of Wales Birthday, the ordinary meeting cf the Borough Council -which should take place that even ing will not he held till Wednesday, at the usual hour. All cases sot down for hearing in the E.M. .Colire-are adjourned till .Friday. A correspondent informs us that the practice of " dipping," which, was prevalent some . two or three years ago, was indulged in near Putiki on Sunday. The result was that the patient was nearly drowned. Members of the Band are specially requested to attend the practice to-night, as it is desirable to be well up in the tunes to be played on the Waugauui Course to-morrow ' on the occasion of the Volunteer contests. At the sitting of the District Court in Patea the Crown Prosecutor, Mr Standish ; complimented the district on the absence of crime, there being only two cases for hearing: He trusted there would be no more to deal with on future occasions when h (; would visit them in his official capacity. The cases disposed of were, John Shaw larceoy,senteneed to four-months', and William Jones, stealing from a dwelling, eighteen months' imprisonment. A little boy at Auckland recently fell into au open tank and was drowned. According to the Budget the pay of navvies in Taranaki has been reduced from S to 7s per day. There was a little fuss made over it, but most of them returned to work. Getting married ought not to cost much now-a-days in New Zealand. The General Assembly recently reduced the Registrar's fee from £3 to £1, and now a motion hasbeen carried by the Auckland Diocesan Synod fixing the clergyman's charge at five shillings. A child, three years of age, son of: Mr Ardern, of Rolleston-street, Thames, died on Eriday last of sunstroke.

The Bay of Plenty Times states that fruit tress in that district are suffering more or less from a species of blight which is making its appearance on the young branches, and eating into the heart of the wood. The ■blight, so far as we understand, is of a different nature to that hitherto met with. Mr Anthony Trollopc, in semling home a series ol: letters, in one of which lio'desci-ibcs Western Australia, after showing its disadvantages, says :—" I do not know that | any colony offers better terms to a working Englishman with a family than does Western Australia, or that there is any land in which such a man can expect to do better provided that he will work hard, that he is sober, and that he can place himself in the colony.'1 A supplement to the N Tew Zealand Gazette of the 28ch October, contains proclamations, making by-laws, rules, and regulations to be observed by persons employed in the workshops of the railways under the control of the General Government of New Zealand ; making am \ confirming same for Canterbury railways, and rules for regulating the use of Canterbury railways ; and making and confirming rules on the line of railway in New Zealand from Waitara to Wanganui. It also contains amended banking returns. The average amount of liabilities and assets of the Union Bank of Australasia within the Colony during the quarter ended 30th June, 1575, wore .-—Liabilities, £1,109,583 Ss9d; assets, £1,014,019 13s 3d. The average liabilities of the National Bank of New Zealand durino- the same quarter were .-—Liabilities, £843,455 os 6d ; assets, £1,538,075 4s 6d. The entire horse Electric, the famous Victorian hurdle racer, has been purchased by Mr Caulton, of Hawke's Bay. At Taranaki recently, a dray, which was crossing the railway line near the beach, was run into. The horse was knocked down and the cart damaged.