The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3856, 26 November 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1883.

The centralising system of government under Avhich the colony is now suffering is rapidly preparing the public mind to look forward to any change, no matter AA'hat, as one that Avould effect an improvement. It is impossible to suppose that tho country -will eontimio to regard Avith complacency a system that yearly increases in cost Avhilo it as certainly decreases in the public, convenience it affords. As with individuals, so with an aggregation of constituencies, there is a limit to patience, as well as to credulity. A continuance of belief in Ministerial promises of reform is impossible in the face of a procrastination that refuses to undertake the difficulty of placing administration on a sound basis. In nothing has the colony gained by Abolition ; in nothing, either in immigration or public Avorks, has the colony gained by the expenditure of successive loans from a common centre. This is to say, with tho same amount of money that lias been .spent since Abolition, the provincial governments could have done more and shown better Avork than a central government has boon able to do. If avo are not greatly mistaken flic cry at tho next general elections AA'ill be ono for deecntrafisafion. The key note lias boon already sounded, and it is "Separation." On the heads of those AA'ho trampled local government under foot bo the blame. AYe aro not at all sure that Separation -will not be hailed Avith pleasure by the very men who formerly regarded as a disaster ci-cn the thought of such a change. An article in the Otago Daily Times demanding Separation as a measure of relief and justice does not raise any hostile feelin'"- towards such a movement as it onco would have clone. AYe can even belicA-c that Separation is a lesser evil than Centralism, and this revulsion of feeling has boon brought about by tbe dire mischief that has been Avrought by the latter. Let the outlying districts that so largely assisted in the demolition of the old Constitution say now Avhat they have gained by Abolition ? Has Wairoa gained anything ; has Poverty Bay derived any advantage V They had tho right under provincialism to tax themselves and spend the money so raised in any ivay they pleased. Thoy did not havo to do then Avhat thov aro compelled to do hoav, ivhilo they Avero at least saved the burthen of direct and indirect taxation to coa'ci- expenditure in more favored districts. AYe vent are to say that there is no part of New Zealand that bus "-ained tbe slightest advantage from Centralism. The Otago Daily Times has an article upon a return ordered, but not presented last session, showing tho loss sustained on account of the railways during flic financial year ending March 31, 1883. Tho article concludes: —"Takingtho main line, hoAvever, from AVaikari, in North Canterbury, to Clinton, in Southern Otago, the net gain for the year is £30,000. The others and northern railways shoiv a net loss of moro than £100,000 for the year. Auckland is moro than £30,000 (o tho bad, and AVellington, the most favored of provincial districts, slioavs a loss of £50,000 New Plymouth coming in witli a modest dciic.it of £10,000, which is a very fair attempt on the part of tho impecunious portion of the colony. Now from all this it becomes apparent that here, again, in the most vital and necessary dcA'clopmcnt. of our resources, Otago and Canterbury aro heavily handicapped as against the rest of the colony. It is quite clear that if these two provinces or provincial districts were left, unhampered and to their own resources the traffic tables might bo yet further reduced with advantage, but so long as everything is controlled from AVellington so long

will the earnings of the South go to supplement the deficiencies of the North, It is quite time somo action were taken tf> prevent a continuance of the system by which the funds of Otago and Canterbury are frittered aAvay elsewhere. AVo have noAV suffered foom this unpardonable sin of Centralism for tho traditional seven years, and the day lias come for change— as change there must be if tho South is to hold its own in the future." So far as its figures are concerned the Otago Times has, apparently, misread the return Avhich furnished the text for the article. Wo have quoted the article to show tho intensity of the feeling against Centralism. The losses on the railways extended over all the lines in the colony, and ivere distributed as follows:— Loss of Auckland ~ .. ~ .. £31,336 Napier 6,411 AVellington 53,916 Now Plymouth 10,659 Nelson and AVest Coast .. .. 11,-159 Marlborough 5,299 Otago 50,301 £172,414 Thero was a gain of £9000 on tho Canterbury lines. Tho Rev. D. Sidoy acknoAvledges the following amounts iv aid of the Shirrilf fund:—ll. AVilliams, £3 3s; a friend, 10s. The Manawatu Times understands that Sir AVilliam Fox contemplates a visit to England about March or April, proAddcd his duties as AVest Coast Commissioner are completed by that time. His Honor the Chief Justice, Sir James Prendergast, arriA'cd by tho steamer To Anau yesterday afternoon, and opened tho criminal sittings of the Supreme Court at 10.30 o'clock this morning. According to the Taranaki Herald, over 10,000 acres of bush land has been cleared at tho back of the AA r ainiatc Plains during tho past season. The soil takes the grass well, and it is reckoned that it Avill take a bullock to the aero. Tho Supremo Court Avill sit in its civil jurisdiction to-morroAV at 10 a.m. A sitting in Chambers Avas to have been held this afternoon at the conclusion of tho criminal business, at Avhich tho order if civil business -will be decided on. In the R.M. Court this morning, before Capt. Procco, James Currau, on remand for drunkenness, pleaded guilty, and AA'as lined 5s and costs. Edwin Potter, who avus brought up on a similar charge, also pleaded guilty, and Avas dismissed with a caution. There was no other business. In consequence of the inclemency of tho weather the examination of the sheep, on which have been tried tho several dip mixtures under the auspices of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society, has been postponed till further notice. Tho examination was intended to be made to-morroAV. Messrs Luke Sons and AVilliams, of . tljic Te Aro Foundry, AA r ellingtou, have in course of construction a multitubular boiler for Messrs Nelson Brothers and AVilliams' moat preserving works at Tomoana. The boiler, which is rapidly approaching completion, is 1 lft in length and sft in diameter, aud is being built of tho very best materials. Many of our readers -will regret to hear of the serious illness of Father Forest, Avho now lies iv a critical state at St. Mary's Presbytery. The rev. gentleman is ono of the oldest Catholic missionaries in tho colony, and has labored in our midst for the last twenty-five years. Father Forest is now iv his eightieth year, and avo hope soon to bo able to chronicle his recovery. The following return shows the amount of charitable aid distributed in each provincial district during tho financial year ended 31st March, 1883:—Auckland, £6,593 12slld; Taranaki,£79B 15s2d; Wellington, £3,198 Is Id; ILnvkc's Bay, £970 Is 9d; Marlborough, £9-1 12s 9d ; Nelson, £3,274 3s Id; AVestland, £982 3s 3d; Canterbury, £13,-109 7s; Otago, £5,039 19s -id; total, £3-1,300 19s -Id. A. Captain Braund, of Auckland, is now on a visit to this town. Ho has brought Avith him tho Crown grants of some sections in Napier, the ownership of Avhich has long been thought to A'ost in residents aud occupiers. If, as in all probability will prove to bo the case, Captain Braund's claims aro beyond dispute, they Avill servo to slioat how loosely lands avci-o bought and sold when tho real owners avci-o unknown. Tho Aveather was so extraordinarily unpropitious on Saturday that the uttendaneo at the flower slioav Avas very small, and, as a consequence, the sale of cut flo Avers and vegetables did not nearly realise tho returns anticipated. Tho Horticultural Society has beon very unlucky this season ; but, as its misfortunes Avere solely owing to causes over which it could have no control, it is to bo hoped that tho energy displayed by the secretary and committee Avill meet Avith a better reward next year. It is difficult to think of, or to Avritc on, any other subject but that of the weather. It absorbs every attention, Avliile the continued rain saturates tho soil. Dismal news conies from the country; hay, cut three avcclcs ago, lies on the ground; grain crops havo run to straw ; potatoes are rotting in the field ; and hundreds of men aro spending time in enforced idleness. Instead of tho busy click of tho shears being heard in every Avoolshed, there is a dismal silence, and avool that should be noiv on its Avay to England is still on the sheep's backs. On the names of the Grand Jury beingcalled this morning, Mr Taylor AVhite, of Glengarry, failed to answer his name. Constable 'Villers stated that the summons had been left at Mr Taylor's residence on Friday last, but he AA'as out on his station, and would probably not receive it in time to attend. His Honor said he Avould not in*flict any fine in this case. Joseph Gifforii claimed.exemption from tho common jury in consequence of being a member of tho Napier Firo Brigade. His Honor admitted the claim, and excused his attendance. Richard Hollis, of Taradale, also failed to ansAver his name as a common juror, but tho Registrar having- informed His Honor that Mr Hollis Avas under contract to take a number of sheep to Auckland no fine Avas imposed.

The stories about Sarah Bernhardt aro mostly calumnies. Those aa-lio know her are high in their laudation of hor character, just as those, Avho aro familiar Avith the virtues of AVolee's Schnapps.—[Advt.]