The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1658, 11 June 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News.

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 1875.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs rcaist*a"o Par the f«ture in the distance -ni tho s»od that we czu in.

It is bad enough for the General Government to suddenly put the screw down, and. breaking through all agreements and understandings, deprive the" province of expected funds, but it i 3 worse to add insult to injury and to make mock of the province. It has been telegraphed from Wellington for circulation here that " the General Government yesterday paid a sum of money into . provincial account to meet emergencies,'' and Mr. Wood's action- in the matter is commended by our contemporary the Cross as praiseworthy, and the result of his communication is stated to be satisfactory, &c> and the general impression conveyed is that either Dr. Pollen and the Commissioners o^ Audit have relented and the impounded capitation allowance has been granted, or some new act of beneficence has been performed to poor " bankrupt Auckland." The simple f.act is none of these things has occurred, and this " Oh be joyful" is only over the £6,000 due to the province in March last, over the date of paymsnt of which there has been so much keen disputing between Sir George Grey and Dr. Pollen, and which the Government refused, and firmly kept to the refusal, to recognise as due before the month of June. This sum, which, was set down accordingly i n Mr Wood's estimates as receivable on the Ist of June, and was appropriated in the late session of Council, has just been paid months after it was due, and it is over this that we are called to rejoice. After the perfidy and breach of promise which have characterised some of the recent dealings of the General Government in relation to the Provincial Government, this payment, some three months after due date, may he a subject for congratulation. For it would have been quite in keeping had a telegram arrived stating that the " Commissioners of Audit" had refused to let it passThis is what has occured in relation to moneys due, as the province's share of the ' proceeds of sale of confiscated lands. By arrangement definitely made some eighteen months ago between the two Governments, a certain proportion of this item of land revenue was fixed as to be paid to the province. It has been paid hitherto accordingly. On the 9th of April a telegram was received from Dr Pollen by the Provincial Government stating that £728 145., the share of the province in such sales up to the 31st March was then payable and would be paid to Provincial account. On the 25 th of the following month, in reply to enquiries as to the delay in payment, a telegram was received from Mr. -Bowen, Minister of the Crown,

stating that the £728 14s JK»U I b paid to the Provincial Treasu y '(■■ forthwith." Within the past week; another telegram has been received by the Provincial Government from Dr Pollen, stating that the £728 14s would not be paid nor would any more money be given to the .province from the sale of confiscated lands, the " Commissioners of Audit " objecting to suoh payments. A. word of comment on such Unprincipled and scoundrelly conduct is wholly thrown away. . However, let these proceedings go on, but let us be no more insulted by false information deliberately sent up from Wellington for publication, with the object of shewing the tender mercies of the plunderers of the province.