The Evening Star. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2885, 18 May 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, MAY 18, 1872.

Mu Kkiu has this year hail a pleasant task in making his financial statement; he lias been able to point to evidence of the advancing prosperity of the Province. In the main his statement must be considered satisfactory, although on one point, examined by a stranger, it looks better than it really is. The revenue derived from land, as shown in the balance sheet, is £95,927, against £33,431 last year, _ From this must de deducted the special sale to Mr Clarke, which was appropriated to reducing the Bank over draft. This deducted, the increase of settlement is represented by an additional £IO,OOO. We should have been glad to have seen this sum largely increased : and that it might have been, none can doubt, had there not been a persistent determination not to bring land into the market. The necessity for this lias, however, become so apparent, that the very sensible plan has been determined upon of throwing open for sale land unsold in Hundreds, at ten shillings an acre, under the provisions of the Waste Lauds Act, 1860, This is a righteous retribution upon those members of the Provincial Council who, for their own selfish purposes, have been thwarting all efforts to settle the country. They have praised up that Act, and proclaimed their willingness to abide by its provisions. They therefore should be the last men in the world to open their mouths in condemnation of the proposal. The chief difficulty of Provincial Governments now is uncertainty. Mr Reid is quite correct in pointing out that until it is known what steps the General Assembly will adopt, it is impossible to regulate Provincial expenditure. One by one the functions originally remitted to the Provinces are assumed by the General Govern meat. To a great extent the Pro vinces have themselves to blame for it. There has been a want of breadth in their views, an indifference to many of the objects that should have been made of first importance, that rendered the stepping in of the Central power necessary. The fear in such cases is, that the remedy may prove as bad as the disease ; and, to prevent this, the manner in which the General Government exerts those functions will require to be carefully watched. In view of possible constitutional changes, a tone of uncertainty pervades the whole of the speech of the Provincial Treasurer and his financial arrangements. On these grounds we think it a wise step to endpw the municipalities, on condition of their taking the management of the main roads through them into their own hands ; and while the power remains with the Provincial Govorn-

meat, theiv chief care, next to the maintenance of roads and development of internal means of communication, should be to provide for the permanent income of institutions hitherto dependent upon annual votes, with such safeguards as to insure an efficient distribution of the funds. One feature in the statement is particularly noteworthy; the Provincial income now available is about £300,000. foi superintending the distribution of this small amount, the sum of about £O,OOO is set down as the expenses of the Executive departments —that is, about £1 in £33 of the amount. This, however, does not include many other expenses of supervision not enumerated.

As it is very evident that the revenue under the control of the Provincial Government is not likely to be niaterially increased in view of the paring here and there by the central power, Mr Tolmie’s motion will deserve the serious consideration of the Council. We do not advocate cutting down salaries. Our Superintendent is poorly paid for devoting his whole time and attention to the affairs of the Province, and none of the officers in the departments have salaries which remunerate them for given up those chances of making fortunes which are open to men in business. But we believe that by judicious arrangement the whole work could be done with fewer employes. Our advice would be, employ the best men that can be obtained, and pay them well. The saving then would be in concentration of work, avoidance of useless routine, and consequently having no more hands employed than are necessary for thorough efficiency.

To Correspondents.— “ Spry’s ” letter will appear on Monday. Princess Theatre. Pogue ” will be repeated to-night, for the last time. Sharp Practice.—An amusing case of this kind occurred lately at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, at Wellington, A man named Campbell, well known in who has purchased some book debts, was suing a debtor under them. He had been previously sued himself, and judgment obtained, but when asked to pay he said, “ Oh ! yes, some lime.” When the case, in which he was plaintiff, was completed, he asked if he might leave his books in Court for a short time and permission being given he did so. His creditor immediately applied for and obtained a distress warrant on his property and seized the books, without which Campbell could not gather in his debts, and then kept them till the amount of his claim was paid. Criminal. —This afternoon a goodly number of citizens assembled at Rattray street jetty, to witness the landing from the Raugatiraof the convicts from the North, consigned to the Dunedin Gaol for safe keeping. Every precaution was taken to prevent attempt at escape. They were escorted by three of the mounted constabulary, and at Port Chalmers three of the Provincial police were placed on board of the vessel, while six, under the direction of Sergeant Mallard, were waiting at the jetty to receive them. The names of the prisoners, and the crimes of which they are convicted, are as follow ;—Murder : Johnston, Muirheacl, and Hone Te Hira, Arson : Cyrus Haley and Elcock. Garrotting : Goldsmith and Bryant. Burglary ; Plummer. There was nothing remarkable in the appearance of the men, most of whom were under the average height. The necessity for sending them to Dunedin is a strong argument in favor of a Colonial gaol, where a proper classification of convicts can be effected.

LiTJEKARr. The name of Mark Twain as the author of a work incites the desire to read it. There is a vein of humor, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes quiet, sometimes broad, that invariably provokes mirth. But Mark Twain is not a mere humorist, he is a moral teacher, and shews up many weaknesses of good people so pointedly as should lead to their correction. Mr Wise has sent for our (review, “Screamers,” one of Mark Twain’s best. It contains clever burlesque critiques, and some quiet stories intended to shew up the false theories enunciated by a certain class of Sunday school literature. We commend, especially to Sunday school teachers, the story of the “ Good Little Boy who did not prosper,” .and “The Bad Little Boy” who made his way in the world. Carefully read they will tend to correct popular superstitions and give them some clue to the use of right means to right ends : at any rate it will lead them to avoid teaching doctrines as true, which every day’s experience contradicts. Mark Twain is no respecter of persons, Tho Press especially comes in for some hard knocks. His style'differs somewhat from our British matttr-of-fact manner, and there is some truth in the observations that his most successful flights of humor “have been descriptions of the persons who did not appreciate his humor at all,” but properly understod his works abound with amusement and instruction. We commend the “Screamers” to public notice.

The Members of Ko. 1 Company City Guards, will muster for Captain’s parade and adjourned meeting, on Monday evening at 7 30, in front of the University. An emergency meeting of the Otago Kilwinning Lodge, No. 417 S.C., will be held in the Masonic Hall, on Monday evening. at 7.30. At St Paul’s Church to-morrow there will be early communion at 8 a.m., the usual morning and evening services, and a special service for children at 3 p.m. The offertories will be devoted to the Sunday school.

The Otago Sable Orphans make theii appearance at the Masonic Hall this evenim'.' The proceeds of the entertainment are to be supplied towards defraying the expenses incurred by the Half-Holiday Association. As the programme, which appears in another column, is a good one, we have little doubt that the “ Orphans” will attract a crowded house.