The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1875.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1663, 17 June 1875, Page 2

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

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 1875.

For the c»use that lacks assistance, i or the wrong that needs resistasca, ««r the fmtnre In the, distance. Art thj g«od that we c*a *c.

The Audit Commissioners are coming somewhat into prominence, since they have consented to be made buffers to prevent rude political collisions. They were recently put forward between the Government and this province on several occasions, when the Government desired to depart from engagements entered into with the Provincial Government ; and the breach of understanding respecting the Pumping Association^ charge of interest on cost of partialJy constructed railways, and the allocation of pro" ceeds of sales of confiscated lands, was in each case conveniently laid on the shoulders of the Audit Commissioners. Whether these wo genblemen have suddenly become conscious of the vile uses to which their dignified office is being applied, or the hand at the puppet wires begins to shrink from the consequences, a change has apparently taken place, and as will be .seen by telegram, in the case of one breach of agreement, "some difficulty in the audit office" .is being removed." As somewhat naively put by the telegrapher, " the statement ascribed to Dr. Pollen that the £728 14s Od would nob be paid into the Provincial Treasury has arisen from a misapprehension.'' Poor injured innocence ! The statement ascribed to this gentleman was one sent in a telegram by himself to the Superintendent, and bearing his name. The misapprehension in question was a misapprehension on the part of the Colonial Secretary himself, as to his powers to offer an insult and do a wrong, which all his previous conduct proclaims he would gladly have done to his own province and to Sir George Grey. When we say that these payments of a share of the funds arising from sales of the confiscated lands of the province, were being paid to the province in accordance with formal agreements entered into between the two Governments, and that in the ease of the quarterly payment in question of £728 143. Od., its

being due, and notification of its being; immediately payable, had been intimated by both Dr. Pollen and Mr Bowen, the sudden rupture of the arrangements and refusal o! payment, under shelter of the Audit Commissioners, are circumstances that cannot and we believe will not, be condoned by •< regretful admission s of "misapprehension.1 The repudiation of the claim was not a whil worse than the conduct of the Government in relation to the Pumping Association, auf the sudden withdrawal of the capitatioi allowance. And not one of them woulc have been attempted, unless prompted b\ that overweening self-conceit and arbitrary insolence which comes of a man being pitchforked into an irresponsible position of power. The telegram which tells us of this change is evidently inspired, and the maudlin expression of ministerial sympathy convey co in the words, "It is also understood the Cjovernment are anxious to assist Auckland by every means in their power," is simpb a gratuitous impertinence. Assist Auckland indeed from moneys plundered fron, Auckland ! "With the capitation allowance now absorbed, the General Govern ment has taken away every thing or which it can lay its hand ; and for somt three hundred thousand a year exacted fror* the province in revenue, not a farthing b given back to sustain our local interests. I' is a good thing nothing more can be taken, but it is going too far in the circumstances to talk of the General Government's anxiety " to assist Auckland by every means in their power." It is probably good for the peace of the colony thai the present regime is ndt likely to continue. For beyond a question, it would lead to free ports in our province, and the abolition of the Custom House, even though it be by fire and blood.