The Evening Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 1874

Evening Star, Issue 3581, 14 August 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 1874

The announcement that Mr Vogel intended to propose the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island took the Colony by surprise. At first sight it seemed as if he had been goaded to propose so bold a step by the obstinacy and personal animosity of the Superintendents of Auckland and Wellington. There can be no doubt that their bitterness and grasping have hastened the measure ; but the telegraphic summary of Mr Vogel’s speech on moving the resolution shows that he has much mote cogent reasons for arriving at the conclusion he has come to, than merely to checkmate political opponents. For our own part we have frequently pointed to the necessity for measures for localising Northern expenditure. We have endeavored to explain that the South Island is paying annually for Northern improvements ; and although the Consolidation of Loans Bill rendered political separation between the two islands impracticable, we have ever deprecated a system that has placed Southern revenues at the command of Northern greed. Our conclusions were arrived at from very imperfect data, and were therefore liable to be doubted. The few figures supplied by telegraph set all doubt at rest. Provincialism in the North Island has been a tax upon the Colony : it has led to plotting and scheming, which it would not be uncharitable to term political corruption ; it has led to combinations that have tended to place Ministries under cliques, and to compel them to grant favors to Provinces as a condition of any Government whatever being permitted to conduct Colonial affairs; and it has spent so much on the machinery of Provincial Governments, that the functions undertaken by the Provinces have been imperfectly carried out. How is it possible that such a state of things could be allowed to continue, as spending more in one year than the whole territorial revenue amounted to in four 1 Yet such is evidently the state of affairs. During the three years ending June 30, 1874, there was spent in this island, out of Colonial funds, £2,387,000, while the whole Provincial revenue, including the land fund, was only £448,000. J

That is to say, the annual expenditure averages £59G,750, while the annual revenue has been .£112,000. Simply put, the case stands thus : the North Island Provincial Governments have been supplied with money by the General Government, which they have been spending without any check. Nor can the system be defended on the score of economy of management The distribution and supervision of these funds cost annually Lsß,ooo—that is, more than half the yearly revenue, so that very little remains for laying out upon public works and education. The natural effect of such a system is summed up in a few words by Mr Vogel ;

He admitted more suitable men could not be got to carry out the affairs of the Provinces of the North Island, but they were obliged to confess that their efforts were fettered by the respective jealousies of each other ; but it was the financial relations of these Provinces which were the real ground of complaint. Year after year they had to come doivn with devices for enabling them to earry out their functions constantly, to make their roads, and bear other charges out of the consolidated revenue. TFas there ever to be an end to this I

The men that ha?e been required for North Island representation have, through the necessities of the Provinces, been mainly political schemers bound up in narrow interests and determined to carry them through, irrespective ofjustice to other parts of the Colony. To this has been owing the perpetual grasping of Wellington; to this has been owing the continual longing of the people of Auckland for a share of the land revenue of Otago, There isanotion that will be industriously propagated by opponents of the present Ministry, that the design of Mr Vogel is to obtain the control of the land fund of the country. We believe nothing can be more unfounded, so far as this Province and Canterbury are concerned, and no other Provinces have land! So far from this being the case we look upon it as tending to secure it to ourselves, with liberty to make the best possible use of it. For years past there has been a morbid desire to get rid of the land on any terms, lest the rest of the Colony should wrest it from our grasp. This was one ground of the appropriations made two or three years ago on such a wholesale scale, that the General Government refused to ratify them. This has been partly the ground on which large sales have ■been made to capitalists.. The idea has been to secure to the Province all the advantages that could be obtaind, and to leave as little as possible to be dealt with by North Island greed. Relieved of their schemes, and, to some extent at least, of the cost of improving their estates, the land left to us can be used to more advantage ; and we who have been toiling, laboring, and gaining, while they have been profiting at our expense, may stand a chance of being allowed to spend a larger proportion of our revenues. The Ministerial statement shows incontestably that Mr Vogel speaks truly when he says the General Government has had to finance for the North Island Provinces,; and he claims no more than is justified by common sense and practice, when he asks that the Government that provides the funds shall have the control

of them. We have often pointed out that the Northern lands had been sold to the proprietors for the merest trifle, and that they would not put their hands in their pockets to improve their own estates ,* but looked to an increase of their value through expenditure of money filched from the South Island. And we have always urged this as sufficient reason for localising expenditure. The proposal of the Government is really to this end. The Northern Provincial plans have notoriously foiled : they have not attracted population ; they have not materially increased production j they have not educated the people j they have been a source of danger to the peace of the Colony; they have been unfair and expensive to the rest of the Colony ; they have hampered beneficial legislation and tended to corrupt political combinations. It is time a better system was adopted—a worse can scarcely be imagined. What the result of the plan will be, must depend much upon the Southern stand in the matter, if we mean to retain Provincialism in the South, we must support the proposition. If we are divided in opinion, it seems more than probable the whole system will fall; and as its success has only been partial, while its failure has been wide spread, it is very probable that the election that must precede the change will pronounce its doom.

The * Clutha Leider ’ reports that the recovering party of the wreck of the Surat hive abandoned her, they considering that further efforts are useless as she is fast breaking up, A horse race is to take place to-morrow week at the Clutha. according to the local paper, between Mr Wm. pollock’s bay mare, I atch, and Mr James Reid’s b.g. Gamester, for LSO a-side. Weather permitting, the return match between the Dunedin Football Club and the Union Club will be played on the Caledonian Ground to-morrow afternoon. The ball will be kicked off punctually at 2.30. The sides will be the same as in the previous match. One of the Hawke’s Bay journa’s mentions as a gratifying fact in connection with the immigration to that Province, that amongst tbe unmigrants who arrived a few days ago by the ship Winchester, there were several who were possessed of sums of money ranging from L4OO to L 1,200. There was another change of programme by the Californian Minstrels at the Queen’s Theatre last evening. The negro eccentricities by Messrs Sutton and Kelly, and the farces, in which tbe members of the troupe took park, seemed to cause infinite amusement, Messrs button and Kelly take a joint benefit this evening. The Wanganui * Herald ’ says furze is beginning to be a great nuisance, not only near he town, but throughout the Wanganui and Kangitikei districts. When these hedges are trimmed at regular intervals there is no danger of its spreading, and it is only in those places where this is neglected that it becomes such a nuisance. Some of the roads near Wanganui ate made quite impassable for vehicles, and it is only just possible for pedestrians to pick their way through.” The only mention by the Australian daily {apers of Mr Redwood’s horses is the following in the ‘Argus’ of the sth inst“Two New Zealand racehorses, intended to try conclusions with Australian racers on \ ictorian and New South Wales turf, arrived yesterday in the s.s. Otago. Their names are LurJme and Papapa, and they are owned by Mr Redwood. Good care has been taken of them on the passage across, and they appear to be in fine order.” i - •

Mr Max Gall, the chemist, on Saturday showed us ( ‘ Cromwell Argus ’) the result of an experiment he had made on a quantity of Cromwell wat r. Four weeks ago he took some water from the tap opposite Mr Goodger s hotel, boiled it, and filtered it according to k the [directions Dr Coughtrey gave ; then filled a common wine bottle, and let it stand until Saturday last. During the last eight days, he noticed a substance forming or growing in the water, and this substance is the “ result ” we speak of. It is of a jelly-like nature, in form and size to be compared to an oyster, and is parti colored. The smell emitted when Mr Gall opened the bottle, he describes as “ enough to knock him down, and though much of its noisomeness is now gone, still the substance gives forth q, highly unpleasant odour. Mr Gall intends to forward the substance to Professor Black, and what ha has to say about it will no doubt be an eye-opener. In the meantime although what may be the composition of this “ result” is a matter of ignorance* those who have seen it will studiously avoid having anything to do with race-wati r. Unpleasant thoughts are apt to arise about what might grow in the human stomach as well as in a pint bottle. The second entertainment in connection with the 14 All faints’ ” Young Men’s Association was given last evening in .he Schoolroom. There was a crowded house, and the programme, which comprised vocal and instrumental music, readings, and two dramatic scenes, was given in a manner which appeared to give great satisfaction to the audience. Amongst the musical items the duet from “Trovatore,” the two Christy’s “ Silver moonlight winds are blowing,” and “Willie’s ©n the dark blue sea,” and the comic song, “The Bobby,” deserve special mention. The glee, “ All among the barley,” was given with great spirit. We were glad to notice a valuable addition to the ranks of the vocal performers iu the person of Mr Morrish, the new organist, who also assisted Mr Richardson at the piano. The scene from “ Cataline” and that from the comedy of “The Heir-at-Law” were capitally acted, Mr Barr making an excellent Doctor Pangloss. The readings were well chosen and well delivered, especially “The Wreck of the Hesperus/’ the selection from “Sam Slick,” and “Misadventures at Margate.” Mr Ilodgkina filled the chair, and announced at the conclusion that the third entertainment would be given a month hence. The National Anthem concluded the proceedings.

o i^ 6 , k, a . ve received the last number of the (Australian Sketcher,’ which has, as usual, some excellent illustrations. We would remind our readers that the new temperance Hail will be opened this evening by a grand demonstration. A special steamer has been laid on to convey to town the Port Chalmers residents. . -^J 1 auction sale of oleographs and engravings is advertised to be held to-morrow, at the South Australian Hall, Princes street. Many of these pictures are elegantly framed, and comprise a, variety of well-known subjects, selected from the best masters. We notice that the Mall has been thrown open to the public, and inspection is invited (previous to the time of sale. It will he seen by advertisement that the new ± ourth school, in Albanystreet, will be opened on Monday next. We understand that the •lasses that have been carried on under Mr

Montgomery and Miss Johnston, in the Odd* fellows’ Hall, will be removed to the Albany street school, and that some of the classes from the Middle District School will be removed to the Oddfellows’ Hall.

The township of Ravensbourne, we observe is to be offered for sale by auction, by Messrs Driver, Stewart, and Co., at their rooms, Custom House Square, tomaorrow, at 2 o’clock Competition will doubtless be brisk, as the township is most favorably situated. For fuller particulars we refer our readers to the advertisement in another column*