THE PANAMA CONTRACT—THE STAMP DUTY.

Evening Post, Issue 17, 27 February 1865, Page 3

THE PANAMA CONTRACT— THE STAMP DUTY.

At a public meeting held at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin, on Thursday last, of electors and others interested in the action of the General Government, Major Richardson was, alter the delivery of an eloquent address on I the political position and prospects of the colony, submitted to a categorical examination Ji» thus reported in the Daily Times :— " Mr. A. Cairns said that Major Richardson had promised that there should be economical finance in the future. How was it that in the face of such a promUe the Ministry had confirmed the Panama Contract, considering the present deranged position of the finances of the colony ? •' Major Richardion : I made no promis

of economical finance. I simply said that that was a direction in which I shall like to see the colony going. But I will answer thj question. The Panama Contract was confirmed simply for this reason, that it was an almost universal impression of (he members of the House of Representatives, Hnl I think of the members of the Upper House, too, that if any modifications of the contract could be agreed to, we were in honor bound to take it up. I had very considerable pleasure in finding that the modifications of the contract suggested had been of such a character as I think in a great measure to save our honor in the question. " Mr. A. Cairns : What amount will be charged to this province under the contract ? " Major Richardaon : Ah I you must excuse me there. I should be happy to give you the information if I fairly could, but I appeal to the audience whethur, when there are negotiations pending, I shou'd be asked in any way to disclose those negotiations ?—? — f cries of 'No.') " A Speaker in the gall ry : Were you not a Separationist lately, Major ? " Major Richardson : Lately ? I have never been a Separationist. There are a good number of Scotchmen here, and perhaps I am a bit of one myself, so allow me to answer your question by asking you another. What makes you believe that I was a Separationist ? " The Speaker : I had an impression that you were so three years ago. " Major Richardson: Will you givemes^me evidence on which you believe such a thintj f " The speaker : lam simply asking a question. If you don't like to answer I am content. " M^jor Richardsnn : [ was not. " The Speaker : Will you tell me now what the salary of the Postmaster-General is ? (Loud lauahter.) " Major Richardson : I believe it is £1000 a year. " The Speaker : And a very nice thing it is— isn't it ? (Laughter.) 11 Major Richardson :It is a very nice thing. (Loud laughter.) " Another Speaker : How long shall we be liable for the war in the North ? " Major Richardson : I am afraid that that requirrs a prophetical vision which I have not. I don't see how I can possibly tell you. I am very careful about making statements ( which I cannot rely upon, and I believe that no mortal man could answer your question. It depends very much indeed upon the Imperial Government, and the senst of right and generosity on the part of the British people, which I believe at last will be found to be in the right quarter. " Speaker : Is it true that stamps are to be taken off newspapers ? •• Major Richardson ; It it rathpr unfortunate that the most unpleasant question of all should be left to the last. 'Laughter.) The postage stamp upon newspapers wa* put on because the expenditure of the establishment was quite out of proportion to the revenu •. The operation of the order has been suspended for the present, because there are some doubts whether it can be done by the Execu- i tive or should be done by Act of the Assem. ' bly. I believe this question will he brought forward next session, but I have not the slightest hesitation in telling you as your reresentative, that when the postal revenue of the colony is only £40,000 a year, and the { expenditure, including subsidies, is £132,000 a year, there is a nece<sit> for getting all the money that it is possible to get." Vigorous Prosecution. — We have already protested, says the London Times of the 16th Decmber, against any re opening of the past | that shall moot the question whether we ought to be at war or who caused the war. There are those who will naturally take the native side, and others who as naturally, and with quite as much to say for themselves, will take the side of the settlers. What we have now to deal with is war, which on the side of the natives is a war to abolish the British sovereignty, and drive the British out of the island. That is enough for us. Such a state of things must be met by the strong arm. It is the question, " who is the stronger ?" That must be met by arms, and. as in all wars, the more vigorously, unflinchingly, and unhesitatingly this is fought the better for all parties. With reference to the projected revival of politicial agitation in Ireland, the following appears in some of the papers, addressed to Mr. Peter Paul M'Swiney, Lord Mayor of "Dublin :—" We, the undersigned, request your lordship to convene an aggregate meeting in the city of Dublin, for the purpose of forming an association for the following objects :— l, A reform of the law of landlord and tenant, securing to the tenant full compensation for "Valuable improvements ; 2, The abolition of the Irish Church Establishment ; 3, Perfect freedom of education in all its branches." To this requisition is appendel a long list of names, beginning with those of 19 of the Roman Catholic bishops. This leaves above a dozen of the Irish Roman Catholic bishops to he accounted for including Dr. M'Hale, the celebrated Archbishop of Tuam. The Lord Mayor has called the meeting for De ember 29. It appears that Dr. M'Hale has refused to have anything to do with the new agita'ion. The zeal to found an association at this crisis, he says, reminds him of the great association I founded in 1851, and from its fate he infers what will be the result of the projected association. In one of his eccentric moods, according to the Union, M, Alexandra Dumas has recently been regaling the inhabitants of Nismes with his reading and his cookery. He read to the Cercle dv Commerce several scenes of his unpublished drama " Romeo and Juliet," founded on Shakespeare. He also served up to a few friends a new dish of rabbit ooked . by himself. I