ST. BATHANS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 44, 14 September 1870, Page 6

ST. BATHANS.

(From oar own Corresjxmdant.) TOM’S DREAM. It was on a Saturday night that Tom returned to the hut, by the aid of a Ballarat lantern and two strong legs, from a miserable tramp to the township, which he had made in the vain hope of getting the mail. Wet from the snow, disappointed, and worn out with a hard day’s work (cutting up a tail-race), poor old Toiii stuck a pipe in his mouth, and stretching himself out in his bunk, without a word to me, dozed off into Morpheus’ arms in about three minutes. In about an hour’s time, when I had just succeeded in boiling the billy, and had taken the remains of a Mevigissy pie out of the camp-oven to tempt my mate to eat, Tom jumped up with a start, covered with perspiration, and sang out: “ Hoiloa, Jack, are you there '! I have had such «a extraordinary dream ! ” I could only answer : “ Have you, old boy ?—then peg into some pi« ; there is nothing visionary about that.” But my indifference so nettled Tom, that he declined to have any supper until [ had expressed a wish to hear a full account of his adventures in imagination. A hasty supper and filled pipes ensued, and squatted on two cases, as close to the fire as we could get, for it was a bitter night, 1 sat listening while Tom, in sober earnestness, disclosed to me his dream. “ The first circumstance I recollect,” says Tom, “ was that I was standing on a platform at tho end of a large room, which was full of people. By my side there sat a gentleman in gay attire, who was occasionally addressed as 1 His Worship ;’ but I seemed to be the object of attraction, for all eyes appeared concentrated on ms, and concluding I was expected to address the assembly, 1 commenced. ‘ Gentlemen, you are aware that this meeting has been convened for the purpose of debating on the gigantic scheme of borrowing and spending four millions sterling, lately proposed in, and at present undergoing the consideration of, tho Colonial Parliament. In dealing with the subject to-night, 1 desire, imprimis, to create in your minds an interest that will cause you individually to think for yourselves, and not to permit (as you usually do) others to think for you. I have not come hers to parade my eloquence, or take up your time with a long speech (the beginning of which would be forgotten ere I concluded), but I desire to be practical and to the point. To gain your sympathy with the subject, I must persuade myself into the belief that I am addressing an audience who have established' themselves as adopted sons of the soil, and who are determined (their lives being spared them) to settle down in New Zealand, to devote their time, labour, and capital to improving their circumstances, and, if successful, to induce their relations in Great Britain (if they have any) to emigrate to a spot where there will be more room and better prospects for future generations, than there will be in overcrowded Britain. Now, if you will only take this view of the case, you will plainly see (though I must confess it is a selfish view) how large an interest you have in tho subject which is now being discussed in the Assembly, and which has partly aroute I your sleepy hea Is out of the apathy you have hitherto indulged in. ( V voice, Hear, ■hear.”) The tremendous scheme of the Treasurer, like one of Emma Bradilou’s novels, has created a most decided sensation ; for at a time when stagnation in trade, restless moving of population, New Zealand's loss of character as a fair land for emigrants, the tide flowing towards America like a huge wave, and men's hearts are failing them in this colony in consequence—all these evils owing to many different and almost trifling circumstances : I say, at such a time as this, the Treasurer's dose of painkiller is hailed with delight as an immense and speedy relief. Tho cure becomes instantaneous, and the unemployed and unsettled are already pacified and contented, in joyful anticipation of the dividing of the cake. Now, gentlemen, so thoroughly have you and thousands of others arrived at the conclusion of the soundness of the scheme, and the universal benefit that will accrue if it is carried into effect, that it would be useless to attempt to dissuade you from your opinions. You will therefore be relieved when I tell you that I give my vote for borrowing the money ; but tho second consideration is the graver one. The painkiller may stop the pain, but some of its ingredients may destroy the whole system afterwards : the novel may charm the reader, hut give such a thirst for excitement that the mind may become corrupted, i, and reaction drive it into hypochondraical jtieFour millions may produce a soaAe of excitement most charming to the spoculaWf and HSAgambler, to the innocent and sanguine, in .fm, that 1880 may change into one too sad to (ffjffyny : in the mildest form, a country groanilhjpnndor the burden of taxes, and its Governcrouching unler the lash of the monev lender. So much for the picture in its dark, shade. Can wo not yet prevent mischief, or at any rate make some effort to relieve ourselves of the responsibility that we shall incur by indifference ?’ ‘‘A voice; ‘lf you agree to the borrowing, Mr Tom, what fault have you- to find with the proposed expenditure ? 'Sense me for interrupting you. ’ “lam coming to that point,’ I replied. 1 Between 1832 and 1855 in Great Britain and Ireland, the aggregated amount of dividends, calculated annually, could not have exceeded 1.( to 2 per cent, on the capital expended, and railway shares, which were so eagerly' sought for during the first few years, became a drug in the market. Railways could not be done awaly with, but companies became bankrupt; and it was only such a wealthy nation as Britain, with her commerce extending all over the world, that dragged the railway scheme through. Take the evidence of George Hudson, tho king of railway schemes : a clear-headed, practical man, but sanguine and visionary in some respects ; backed up by wealthy capitalists ; petted by the Governments ; with an influence self-created, and as specdilv gained as that of a certain statesman in New Zealand. Everyone believed in him.' But his time parsed away' ; and, swept down by the tide, the great railway king and speculator found himself in France, an almost destitute "man.’ “ A voice : ‘ Rut the land proprietors in England charged such enormous prices for their land.’ ” I replied, ‘ Certainly they did, until an Act

w»s passed enforcing sale by arbitration. But remember that England enjoyed the advantages of a cheaper labour market. Navvies Bwarmed to the railway works. Moreover, Britain is comparatively a very level country. Bho had not to import her iron, and all the material inquired for railway purposes, such as wood and coal, was immediately at hand. (A voice : " Will not lignite get up steam ?'') Let me remind you, gentlemen, that these four millions are not going to be borrowed without interest and without security. The security, or mortgage, will of itsolf shut out from you many advantages : a lieu upon the Crown Lands will debar you from getting them as small freeholds. They will in a certain measure be tied up. Open, free selection is a far greater inducement to immigration—which is the grand secret and anbstantial groundwork of prosperity—than a fill Treasury chest of borrowed money. Cask can be carried to all parts of the world, away from New Zealand ; but land, my boys, must stop where it is, and its possessor stop with it, and cultivate it. Then, again, there is the interest, say at 6 per cent. You cannot expect, however reproductive the railways may prove, that the reproduction will commence until the works are finished ; and allowing four years for their accomplishment, what interest must they pay to recover the loss of the accumulated interest at 6 per cent, on the money borrowed ? At the least, they should pay 12 per cent. You perhaps forget that the borrowed money as a burden becomes doubled in weight in 20 years at 5 per cent. (A voice : " And what would you have us do, Mister ?") Secure the co-opera-tion, by telegraph, of all the Municipalities and County Councils in New Zealand, making Christchurch the head centre. Then let there be, as one voice from all quarters through Christchurch, a concentrated appeal telegraphed to VV ellingtou to this effect :—That whereas the people of New Zealand are unanimous in their opinion that so important a question, concerning their interests, and those of future generations, is one that should not be hurriedly decided upon, and whereas a general election is close at hand, they most strongly advise and exhort the General Assembly to dissolve, that the constituencies may well discuss the matter, and send up new members, voting them into Parliament principally on the question of expenditure of the said four millions. By this means, tho country at large will be admitted into the debate, and a very serious responsibility will be relieved from the shoulders of those members who were returned at a time when such a gigantic scheme was never anticipated.'—At this moment," said Tom, " just as I was going to ask them for their suffrages in tho event of the appeal succeeding, you awoke me by banging down the lid of the camp-oven in its place ; and the smell of the Mevigissy pie, combined with the noise, destroyed all my hopes of becoming a member, even in a dream."