Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY). TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1880. EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURE

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 3804, 27 July 1880, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY). TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1880. EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURE

It was said of a statement made by Mr Ballance in reply to Major Atkinson's charges against the Grey Government, that it turned upon technical questions of book-keeping which the general public could not understand. But it does not require much knowledge of book-keeping to enable anyone r to understand the difference between the expenditure over which the Government of the day has control and that over which it has no control ; in other words, between money paid under the Appropriation Act for the year, and money paid under permanent acts which the Government of the day must carry out, having no choice in the

matter. And there is no technical difficulty, we presume, to prevent the most obtuse from understanding that, in making a charge of extravagant expenditure against any Government, it is not fair to take into account the sums paid by them in the latter way, that is under permanent acts — sums which are wholly independent of the estimates for the year. Yet this is what Major Atkinson has done. In order to make out a case against the late Government, during the recent no-confidence debate, he came forward with a cooked statement, in which moneys paid for provincial liabilities, for subsidies to the local bodies, for interest on loans, «fee., are confounded with the estimates for the year. Now, the Hon Major is fond of epigrammatic statements — he has the art of dressing up ad captandum arguments in shis way, and in the present instance we shall follow his example by leaving the above fact — plainly pointed out in Mr Ballance's speech which we published yesterday — to be read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested by those whom it may concern. By means of this financial legerdemain it is made to appear that the Grey Ministry indulged in an extravagant expenditure on public works, the facts being that their expenditure under this head, during their two years of office, amounted to .£2,072,039 against ,£4,464,321 expended by the Atkinson Government in the same department during the two preceeding years ; and that the average expenditure of the Grey Government was £1,770,300, against £1, 940,000, the proposed expenditure for the present year. Then again the Colony was frightened almost out of its wits last session by Major Atkinson's announcement that his predecessor had involved it in liabilities of upwards of two millions sterling for land purchases, and that terrible conse~ (juences were sure to follow unless he (Major Atkinson) could contrive by hook or by crook, to get out of these engagements. The facts were (as he well knew) that the engagements in question were of a piece with the Patetere block transaction ; that is to say, the lands in question had been brought under proclamation and advances made on them to keep them out of the hands of speculators, but, as in that case so in the others, nothing was easier than to lot the lands go to the monopolists on condition of their repaying the advances made upon them, should it be found that the money to complete the purchases was not procurable by Government. And as the engagements were by no means pressing, there was plenty of time to consider this matter. Under ordinary circumstances we should call such devices as these by a very ugly name, but in speaking of an " honest " (par excellence) Government, — a coalition of all the integrities, we must consider these things examples of the merit that " blushes unseen."

The Hawera and Normanby Star of July 21 says : — "A gentleman who arrived from Patea yesterday informs us that a telegram was read out in the Native" Land Court, from Major Kemp, advising his tribe not to sell any more land to the Government. Keepa appears determined to have his revenge. We believe a good many of his . people are now regular attendants at the Parihaka meetings. Among the other items of information contained in the Report of the West Coast Commission, it is stated that the cost of the affair was £1472. We (Feilding Guardian) learn that a properly-equipped prospecting party, organized in Feilding, is now at work somewhere near the Ranges. The party is composed of experienced diggers, and we sincerely trust will meet with success in their search after likely-looking country, auriferous deposits, or gold-bearing quartz. The Marton School Committee are trying to impose, or induce the parents to pay, a fee of 5s per quarter towards firewood, lighting, and clearing, as well as towards the extinction of a debt incurred for these requisites by a former committee. The mail steamer Bowen left Sin- | gapore on June 5, bound to Hongkong, wtih 315 passengers, and a large quantity of gold from Queensland. Forty-two passengers were shipped at Singapore, and on June 8, the Chinese interpreter informed the Captain that the Singapore passengers were pirates intending to seize and burn the vessel, having appointed a rendesvouz with several piratical junks near Hongkong, whose appearance would be the signal for the attack. The captain immediately mustered the Singapore passengers, examined their luggage, and found boxes of burglar's tools, choppers, knives, 11 loaded revolvers, and plenty of spare ammunition. There was also concealed in a locker 25 parkages of powder, with fuses attached. Seventeen of the Singapore passengers gave a satisfactory account of themselves, and the balance were handcuffed and guarded till arrival at Hongkong, when the police recognised them as old pirates, several of whom were wanted for a recent attempt to seize the steamer Kwangtong. — Exchange. Telegraphists and printers have much to answer for. A press telegram from this town recently announced that "a large stable and 6 horses have been burnt at Moore and Curries, Kai Iwi." And then followed the news that "Borough Council (Wanganui understood) invite tenders for the new loan of £10,000, etc." In the N. Z. Herald the latter telegram reads thus — " The Kai Iwi Borough Council invite tenders for the new loan of £10,000, etc," The "borough "of Kai Iwi has but one of the three essentials of a colonial township, viz., a public house ; it want the church and the lock-up. France intends to outdo all other nations in canal enterprise. M. Duebre, Vice-Pres« ident of the Senate, proposes the construction of a navigable canal between Bordeaux and Narbonne, the effect of which would be to shorten the voyage from England to Italy by one half. The Garonne would have to be rendered navigable throughout the greater part of its course, if this scheme were carried out. In our journeyings, (says the Waikato Times), we have to record the various traits of man, be he European or Maori— all have to be faithfully noticed by our pen. Whether his characteristics are of the animal or intellectual kind, whether his sympathies are with the refined or debased. In this instance, it is our great pleasure to have to record one of the most Christian and GoodSamaritanlike acts that we remember to have read or published. A few nights ago — a bitter cold night it was — Amopui, a native, was returning to Cambridge, and when some distancejfrom the township saw the prostrate form of a man — a European — on the road. It appears that the poor fellow, with pne leg only, had travelled overland all the way from Napier, had crossed creeks, surmounted hills, and threaded his way through the bush. But nature gave way at last, and he fell when Amopui found him, utterly worn out, helpless and exhausted. But for this timely assistance, Charles Parmetera (for this was^the European's name) would in all probability never seen the light of another day. The Maori lifted him up, and carrying him bodily carried him into Cambridge, and those who know the heavy, sandy road on the other side of the bridge can judge what the labour must have been. Amopui took him to his tent, and attended to him the night through ; but the noble fellow's good deeds did not end here. In the morning he got a wbspription list and by dint of perseverance collected nearly £9, which he handed over to the police authorities to be expended in sending the poor crip, pte pn to

Auckland. Amopui is well-known in Cambridge as being a straightforward and honest native, aud will now more than ever be universally respected. If there be no other recognition in this sphere of this good action, the story should find a corner in every paper and magazine in the world. The horse "Patriarch" has arrived in Wanganui and is located at Smiley's stables. He will be shewn at the sale-yards tomorrow. In point of appearance and pedigree Patriarch fs irreproachable, and he will fitly occupy the place vacated by the early death of the painter. Mr E. J. King notifies that persons wishing to join a dancing class are requested to attend at the Academy of Music this evening at 8 o'clock. A meeting of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association will be held on Wednesday morning at Mr Crawford's office. An intending passenger to New Zealand was recently informed by a shipping clerk in London, of whom he was making enquiries, that there was no vessel going just then, but there was one on the berth for Australia, which would do as well, as ferry-boats run across every 3 hours.— Exchange. The annual meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club will bo held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday next at the Pier Hotel. The balance sheet will be presented, and the programme for the Spring and Autumn meetings arranged. A special Argus telegram dated the 16th states that the attendance at the Rifle Association meeting at Wimbledon, now going on, is very large, and the shooting the best yet recorded. The new list of teachers with the recent promotions was gazetted on Friday last. We notice that Mr M. Fearnley, M.A., Head Master of the Wanganui High school for Boys, has been promoted from A3 to A 2, the reason for promotion being " Inspector's marks. " Mr Fearnley is the only teacher in New Zealand ranking in A class. Mr A. W. Williamson, 8.A., teacher at Turakina, is advanced to 81, the promotion being based on " Inspector's marks, and length of service." Mr Alex. Mair, teacher at Hawera, rises to Cl by "length of service." In another issue we propose giving the classifications of the whole of the Teachers under the Wanganui Board.