Wellington independent. THURSDAY, 16th OCTOBER.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3928, 16 October 1873, Page 2

Wellington independent. THURSDAY, 16th OCTOBER.

The Government may fairly be congratukted tipon-ihe~rncreased- vigor and activity that bave been infused into the; administration of Immigration since the Premier himself has taken charge of the department. Mr Yogel is not in the habit of doing things by halves, and since his assumption of the post of Minister for Immigration a few days ago, he has prepared a scheme, which has been further elaborated in Cabinet, and which, we think, cannot but have the effect of giving a great impetus to emigration to this Colony from the United Kingdom. Mi. Yogel made a statement in the House recently that the Government w*KS of opinion that, in the face of the Active competition now going on for population between tho various British Colonies and the United States of America, it was desirable that, should it be found necessary, absolutely free passages to nominated emigrants should be granted, and that a similar liberality should be extended to others of a suitable character. He allowed it to be assumed that the first and chief thing was to increase the population of the Colony, and that the question of the cost of introducing it was secondary in importance. We quite agree in this opinion, and we thoroughly approve of the system of granting free passages generally to suitable immigrants whether they be nominated or not. Yesterday a meeting of the Executive Council was heid, at which the whole question of Immigration was carefully discussed, and the result was a decision authorising free passages to such nominated and ordinary immigrants as can fulfil the conditions which the Agent-General under the instructions of the Government is bound to see observed. To all really suitable persons — that is to say, those who are healthy and vigorous, who have some defined occupation, who are of respectable character, and are generally likely to be useful colonists, the AgentGreneral is to have authority to grant to them free passages, and not only that, but in special cases he may defray the cost of their transit from their homes to the port of erabarcation. The granting of free passages is not entirely new ; in fact it has been more or less in effect for some months, but it has not until now received the formal authority of the Government. Under the instructions now given to the Agent-General, that officer ought now to be able to compete very favorably against any country which is seeking to attract to itself the spare population of the United Kingdom ; and that the Government expect him to be able to do so is proved by the fact that they have intimated to Dr Featherston that it would be satisfactory if he could send out 20,000 people before the next harvest time, To assist him in giving effect to this wish, the Agent-General is authorised to charter steamers for the conveyance of emigrants to Canterbury and Otago — the Provinces which most require large additions to their population. It is most likely that this idea of steam transit may be fathered upon Mr Macandrew, who, it will be remembered, almost succeeded some months ago in establishing a direct line of emigrant steamers-bo-tween Glasgow and Port Chalmers. We are afraid, however, that in this respect, the game will not be worth 'the candle, nor can we recognise the necessity of hurry. At most, a steamer could not save more than a month in the trip, and we are not aware that the condition of the labor market is likely to be so serious as to make the difference of twenty or thirty days important to the Colony. However, this is a matter which the Government have no doubt carefully considered, and it may be assumed that they have good grounds for the action they have taken. .

A change of aome considerable importance, but of no special political significance, has been proposed, and as far as the Ministry is concerned, has been agreed to, with respect to the management of immigration within the Colony. At the present time the General Government is charged with the whole responsibility of dealing with the immigrants after they' have arrived, altheugh the Provincial authorities have always been previously consulted as to the number of immigrants to be supplied. Whilst the opinion has been enforced that the Colonial, Government should assume the primary charge, and to thelargerextent the responsibility of immigration, there is no reason why the Provincial Governments, which have been continually clamoring for something to do, should not 'take, under certain conditions, the charge' of the immigrants when they arrive ; and it will not occasion any surprise that the General Government have invited the Provincial authorities to share their responsibility We presume that what the Government intend is this : — to make such arrangements with the respective ProviHcial Governments as will relieve the General Government of the purely local management of immigration, without at the same time destroying the primary responsibility. It may be supposed that should the Superintendents accept the invitation made to them they will be expected to recognise the superior authority of the General Government, and will act in conformity with the instructions which may be given by the Minister for Immigration, — otherwise the responsibility of the General Government would cease. The local immigration officor will probably be placed under the direction of the Provincial authorities, although this officer should still be, strictly speaking, amenable to direct instructions from the Minister for Immigration. The General Government will no doubt also propose that the charge of the various Immigration Barracks and Quarantine Buildings should be handed over to the Provincial authorities, and that the local Governments should assist the General Go.

vernment generally in establishing Depots for ; immigrants in the country districts ; Labor Exchanges ; and in such like matters as muy from time to time appear to be desirable, with, the view of furthering ■ the introduction and employment of the large "additional Jiqpularion it is proposed to introduce, tt would be unfair to suppose that the Government intend that all the work proposed to be handed over to the Provincial authorities should be done at their owncost. We imagine that the Government will still sustain the burden of the expenditure properly chargeable to the Colony — that is to say, the passage of emigrants, their landing charges, and their maintenance for ihe regulation period in barracks, the cost of Quarantine detention and so on, but nothing beyond these. It is a proper responsibility that after ' the Colony has brought out immigrants the Provincial Governments should treat them exactly as they would deal with the previously resident population. There should be little or no hesitation on the part of the Provincial Governments with regard to the offer which is to be made to them. It involves onerous duties no doubt, but still only such duties as should be accepted as a proper portion of the responsibility of government. We should think that there will be scarcely any serious objection to the proposal, except, perhaps, from Auckland, the Superintendent of which has urgently applied for immigrants, whilst at the same time he well knew that there was scarcely any real demand for them in his Province. However, whether the experiment now entered upon be successful or not, it will be recognised as an attempt, in perfect good faith, to invite the aid of the Provincial Governments in the furtherance of, perhaps, the must important portion of the policy of the Colony.

We learn by private telegram that the tender went ofl" to the Claude Hamilton at Hokitika, but was unable to return in consequence of the heavy sea on the bar. The tender will probably enter the river on this morning's tide. H.M.S. Clio will take her departure to-day for England, Trhen Commodore Goodenough will hoist his pennant and assume the command of the fleet in the Australian waters. The Pearl will leave to-morrow for the Fijis. The Basilisk will remain here for a few weeks.

We have been furnished by Mr George Hunter with the following list of the losses sustained by the various Insurance Companies by the fire in Auckland : — New Zealand Company, £16,500 ; South British, £6790 ; Victoria, £6000 ; Northern, £3000; Pacific, £2000; Norwich, £1000 ; Imperial, £700.

The discontent created by thef various proposals in regard to the appointment of representatives on behalf of Wellington at the Victorian Rifle Association meeting, will probably be allayed by the -willingness cf Messrs M'Credie and Halse to take their chance in a series of competitive tests, which will be commenced on Saturday at the Polhill Gully range. Very naturally several members of the town companies, who considered their performances equal in merit to those of Messrs M'Credie and Halse, felt indignant at the proposal that those two gentlemen should be chosen without any test. We are not cognisant of the opinions of Mr M'Credie upon the matter, but we understand that Mr Halse declined from the first to accept the position of representative unless some competitive %ent were made. However, there need be no further discussion upon that point, as we believe both gentlemen are willing to place themselves upon an equal footing with their brothers in arms by entering into the competition for representatives which will be commenced on Saturday. Notwithstanding all that has been said upon the subject, we believe the subscribers to the fund will be much better satisfied with this arrangement, which will put an end to all bickering, or should do so. A thorough test of the qualifications of those who compete will be made. The men chosen will not be thoae who may happen to make the highest score at two or three ranges. They will be tested in every possible way in a competition which will extend over two or three days, and the men who come out best at the end of that trial ought surely to be considered the best shots. No one would grudge them their honors then, and if the committee will only carry out this idea, which Aye are aware has not been finally decided upon, those who complain would do so from the sheer desire to cavil. It cannot be denied that Mr M'Credie and Mr Halse have shown a very proper spirit in consenting to enter into the competition, and both the public and the subscribers, there can be little doubt, will be better satisfied with that arrangement than with any other that could be made. If the feelings of the people of the Wairarapa can be judged by the utterances of the " Standard," there is great excitement and expectation in that part of the country about the approaching celebration of the opening of the Huanaahunga Bridge. The " Standard" recommends the roasting of a bullock whole, and also a number of fat wethers, on the occasion, together with the institution of several minor diversions.

Captain Flinn was entertained at dinner at Osgood's Hotel last evening by a number of gentlemen, including the captains of some of the English ships in port, but as the dinner was not intended to partake of the nature of a public demonstration we simply mention the fact. A rifle match between eight, men of the Veteran Corps and eight men of the Highland Corps will be fired to-day at the range in Polhill's Gully. The distances to be fired are 400, 500, and 600 yards. The yacht built to the order of his Excellency the Governor, which was expected to arrive about the end of September, and is consequently about a fortnight overdue, may be expected to put in an appearance daily. The vessel, which was built at the Isle of Wight, is from 80 to 100 tons, and is named the Blanche, after the man-of-war of that name.

Workmen were engaged yesterday putting down the fire-plugs in the pipe track along Willis street. The plugs are set into a square block oE cement, which will prevent fracture by presenting a level surface to the traffic for some distance round the ironwork. The next proceeding, which we presume the City Surveyor has not overlooked, will be to put up tickets on the walls of houses adjacent to the plugs to indicate their position. The progress made' latierly has been moat satisfactory, and the waterworks will soon be what many peopl© have doubted they ever would be — an actual reality.

Mr Masters, of the Wairarapa,; one ; of the oldest settlers in New Zealand, proceeds to England on a .visit in about a month, and it is probable that the Government will avail themselves' of his services while at home as an agent for? the promotion of emigration from the old country to this colony. "Although nothing has as yet been finajly ddcided in the matter, we should think Mr Masters would make an exceptionally good representative of the colony, seeing ■ that he ■ possesses an intimate knowledge of the class of immigrants which it would be most desirable to introduce Mr Masters himself camo out to this colony without any other recommendations than his own industry and . perseverance, by which means alone he has managed to acquire a considerable competency, the whole of these results being due to the fact that in a colony like New Zealand any man who honestly applies himself to industx-ial pursuits must succeed ,as Mr Masters has done. As the Government very properly regard the immigration question as one of very great importance, it might be advisable t that they should avail themselves of such" opportunities to advance the scheme as are presented by the visits of old . colonists to the home country.

No business, civil or criminal, was transacted at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, Wednesday being the usual Hutt court day.

If the progress of the City of Wellington were to be measured by the number of buildings being erected in all parts of the town, it would certainly rank as one of the most prosperous centres of population in the colony. To give a detailed list of the improvements which are daily being effected in the appearance of the outskirts of the city by the erection of numberless cottages for the accommodation of our increasing population would take up too much space, but it is worthy of note that the appearance of the principal thoroughfare of the city has been very much improved during the past few months by the additions to our street architecture. The erection of new premises for B. Smith and Co. and Mr B. Levy, next to the Odd Fellows' Hall, completed a line of buildings on that side of Lamb ton Quay which was always remarkable for its want of order and regularity, but the most notable addition to the buildings in this locality is the stylish and substantial shop and store put up for Mr Moss, clothier, under the direction of MrTringham. Opposite the Empire Hotel Messrs Samuels and Ladd are erecting an extensive mercantile establishment, which is even put into the shade by the new store being built a little further up Willis street for Mr E. Anderson. Amongst the buildings which pretend to architectural merit is the new shop for Mr Berger, next to Kirkcaldie and Stains' premises, on Lambton Quay, which, when complete, will certainly outvie many of tho latest additions, though it will scarcely eclipse its neighbor. These improvements have driven some of the older tradespeople, who would have moved along in their humble quarters for a number of years without any desire for change, to join in tho march of trade, and as a consequence many places of business are undergoing considerable alteration. As may bo imagined, artizans of nearly 'all descriptions arc in great demand, the additions to tho number of carpenters which have takep. place since the commencement of the year failing to satisfy the demand.

A great portion of the wharf is at prestrewn with' railway material of all descriptions, landed from the ship Douglas. Amongst the plaiit are j>ortions of locomotives for tho Wellington and Masterton line, which are not likely to be required for actual use' for two or three years, judging by the pace at which Messrs Brogden's small portion of the line is being constructed. There are also carnage frames for the Paid Paki line, and other materials for the Waitara and New Plymouth line.

The Waxworks exhibition was very fairly patronised yesterday, notwithstanding the unfavorable weather. The Poverty Bay group, which occupies one side of the hall, attracted most attention, this being the chief feature in the entertainment. The moving figures excited a great amount of curiosity amongst the juvenile portion of the spectators, who are enabled to visit the exhibition on account of the exceedingly moderate fee charged for admission.

The " Taranaki Herald" of the Btli inst informs us that a site has been fixed upon for the works of the New Zealand Titanic Steel and Iron Company. It is some five acres of land situated near the Heßui beach, a.nd may easily be connected with the bush country by a tramway along the Colonial Hospital road. That no time might be lost, two men were engaged yesterday in making a track, and to-day survey lines ■will be taken. The site will be handed over at once to Mr Beaton, who will commence building the furnace forthwith, as it is the great aim of all concerned to push on the works with all possible speed. Mr E. M. Smith could not have chosen a better, spot for the operations ; as it is sufficiently near the town, and yet close to where rich deposits of the iron sand are to be found. The company intend shortly to call for tenders for charcoal, limestone, &o, in large quantities, so as to be ready with fuel when the works are complete.

The question of elevating the Town Board of Picton into a Corporation, -with a mayor at its head, has been under discussion of late among the inhabitants. The next question will be to decide the amount of salary to be paid to the mayor. No wonder the settlers complain of the cost of government in New Zealand.

The Oagli Opera Troupe arc at present in Sydney. On the 24th ultimo, " L'Ebreo" was produced; when Signor Zononi met with a very flattering recepfion, evidently intended as a recognition of the interesting event which took place the previous day, when tha Signora was married, at St Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, Balmain, to Signor Gamboa.