The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2677, 15 September 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1871.

Contrary to our expectation, Air Macandbew moved his (Separation resolutions last evening, and in doing so made a very effective speech. There can be no doubt whatever that Provincial Governments have outlived their usefulness. W hen first in stituted they were a necessity arising out of colonisation from a variety of centres. No one could see in 1852 that m nine-

teen years such progress would have been made in settlement as to so nearly unite the Provinces of each island in common interests. The small beginnings of Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago gave no promise of such rapid development of internal communication as to justify the idea that similarity in legislation and local taxes would so soon be desirable. Each original Provincial Council presided over an area equal to some of the small German kingdoms, and each population seemed separated from the other by a wide belt of wilderness. The inter-provincial traffic did not justify the expence of frequent steam communication, and therefore it was necessary to have powers of self-government, or there would have been no government at all.

But times have changed. Although the settlement of the Colony has not proceeded rapidly—not nearly so rapidly as might have been the case under wiser administration than has marked our doings until the last two sessions of Parliament —the populations of the Provinces are large enough to vender the removal of the imaginary barriers advisable. It is not only that Provincial Councils are burdensome in their expences as legislative assemblies, but their legislation becomes oppressive under certain circumstances. Each province has its own taxation \ and has power to levy certain fees for permission to do certain acts. Take as an instance a dog tax. In Victoria or New South Wales such a tax entitles a person to range with his dog over the whole

Colony. A. wood cutter s license bus the same effect: so has a gold miner s. Thus in case of removal from one part of the Colony to another, a dog owner or a woodman, an auctioneer or a miner, incurs no additional expense of taxation. But in New Zealand, a man passing from Otago into Canterbury, or Nelson, and staying there for a short

time and following certain occupations, has to pay the provincial license fees, although he has once already paid for permission to follow his calling. The inconvenience of this multiplication of taxation was not felt when there was no temptation to move from one part of the Colony to another. The first settlers had nothing to exchange. They were busy making homes for themselves, and being of a domestic turn, scarcely moved from their farms—

certainly in very few instances beyond the Province. These local burdens were therefore scarcely felt. But the matter is daily becoming of more importance, and there cannot be a question that it would have been a vast improvement on our present system, if we could have had one Government for the Middle Island. That ultimately there ought to be but one legislature for the Colony, is the conviction of the soundest politicians, and were it certain that the Maori question would not again crop up to the waste of Middle Island revenue, few would be found to object to Provincialism being altogether abolished. Practically, the Provinces have never been true to themselves.

Even the injustice of sustaining North Island settlers in dangerous localities by Middle Island revenues has been acquiesced in by the Middle Island representatives ; so that the only constitutional barrier against IN orth Island encroachment has proved ineffectual. We have no doubt that had the Superintendent’s proposition been carried, a Middle Island Parliament would have been able to take such a stand as would have secured the localisation of police expenditure. Put it is impossible not to feel convinced that when the consolidation of loans took place, the doom of Provincialism was pronounced. No government will provide funds for any purpose whatever, and part with all control over the means .of repayment, excepting in case of war. What we insist upon is that the term “ war ” shall not be misapplied. The Avar which a country as a Avhole ought to pay for is one against a foreign power. But the Maori insurrection Avas not & jyar of this sort. It placed none of the Colony in danger excepting those avKo voluntarily put themselves in the way of it. It is clearly a question of police, and, as a police question it ought to be treated: and, just as each Province luis to pay the cost of its oavu police force, should the dangerous Provinces

pay for necessary iutenial defence. The Treasurer's speech lays down as a fixed rule tliat Provinces shall be charged with the cost of whiles and immigration '• why not of internal dcfence? Security for this ought to be insisted on, and then one serious objection to piling the Colony under one Government w.cdd be done away. From the proposals mad- hy tlie Treasurer, there is evidently to be & .gradual assumption by the General Government of functions hitherto left to Provincial Governments. A few_ yens ago this would have raided a feeling of indignation ; and that, instead of this, men look upon the change with Satisfaction, is a proof that the members of provincial Councils, by their factiousness and folly, have brought themselves into deserved contempt.

Supposed Lost in the Snow. — From Hyde there comes a report that two men, new arrivals in the country, who went to a rush at the head of the Sowburn creek a fortnight ago, have not been since heard of. As a heavy snow occurred shortly afterwards, it is feared they have perished. Sporting.—The metropolitan race meeting at Christchurch is fixed for the 7th November and the two following days. The stewar is have issued an attractive programme, which consist of fifteen events, and stakes are offered of the value of L3IH). Interesting.—Tho breach of promise case from Bendigo Gully, which we mentioned a few days weeks ago, is in the lawyer’s hands, and will be heard of in one of the Courts before long. The plaintiff is of the barmaid persuasion, and the defendant a well-known and lucky quartz reefer.

A Libel Case. —According to the Tuapeka Times, the first use to which the Teviot Esculapius, who recently came into the possession of an immeuse fortune and a Marquisate, intends to devote his newly acquired wealth is to institute an action for libel against the proprietors of the Dunstan Times. The alleged libellous matter is contained in a paragraph remarking on the doctor’s mode of life previous to his lucky windfall. The Havelock Outrage. The particulars of this disgusting affair are given by the Tuapeka Times, which says that a quiet and inoffensive miner named Purdie, a resident of Havelock, was, on Thursday last tbe victim of a brutal outrage, perpetrated by a man named Kitcbingman. It appears a dispute arose between them about money owed by the latter to Purdie, when,

without giving the least warning of his intentions, Kitcbingman closed with Purdie and actually bit" his left eyebrow clean out, leaving a gaping wound over au inch long, and penetrating nearly to the bone. The sufferer is under the care of Dr Johnstone, and is getting Vm as well as can be expected; but he will be frightfully disfigured for life.

Football. —The match between the University and High school teams, which was commenced last Saturday, will be continued to morrow. Additional interest will be lent to the match, because Professor Sale (an old Rugby player) for the University, and Mr Hawthorne for the High school will take part in the game. The players will be;—University—Begg, F., Begg, W., Brown, J., Brown, R., Davidson, Denniston, Duncan, H., Duncan G., Fulton, Fraser, Grant, Hay, Hales, Henderson, Logan, Mollison, Morrison, Park, Steven, Smith, 11, Smith, C.. White, Welding. High school—Barber, Black, Cairns, A. E., Finch, Gibb, Gillon, Grant, Henderson, Hunter. Howell, Kerr, Kettle, Lambert, Langwill, Mills, Montgomery, Muir, Norman, Reid, Smith, Scoular, Taine, A., T’aine J., Thomson, Wilmott. Oddfellows ii i r. — We notice from a late (Oddfellows’ Magazine that there died re-

cently near Newton-Ic-Wdlows, John Abbot, a member of the Triumphant Lodge, of the Ashton-in-Makcrlicld district. His case, as will be seen from the following, is one which should make every working man become a member of a friendly society and of these none stand on a firmer footing than the Independent Order of Oddfellows. —Deceased, who was by trade a joiner, was in his 72ml year, and was initiated a member of the Lodge on the 7th April, 1822, being the 14th member admitted. He was confined to his bed for the last 21 years, during 10 of which he was blind, caused by rheumatic fever. Eor the last 44 years he has been a constant recipient of the sick fund of the lodge to the amount of L 532 18s, and his friends received at his death LlO ; total, Lo-fi 18s. These particulars will not be read by the order without a deep feeling for the sufferer, whilst at the same time they will afford ; thoughts of pride as well as of thankfulness that they were bound together by the bonds of Oddfellowship.

A Grand Yocal and Instrumental Concert in conuectien with the Total Abstainer’s Society will be given in the Congregational Hall to-morrow (Saturday) evening, at S o’clock. A notice appears in our advertising columns announcing that the attendance of the common jurors summoned for the 4tli hist., will not lie required until Tuesday the PJtn hist., at 10 a.in. W,e notice by advertisement that for the accommodation of passengers living north of the Uehjgoih going to Tokomairiro, Molyneux, and Lawrence, Cobb and Co.’s Coach will call at the White Horse Hotel, corner of George-street and Frederick streets every Monday at a quarter past seven.