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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 409, 6 September 1866, Page 3

Postal Service. —ln the House of Eepresentatives on Friday last, the report of the Committee on the Postal Service was brought up. It called attention to the cost of the existing services as being out of proportion to the revenue, but stated that the Committee had not been successful in seeing any way to reduce the expenses. There were at present subsidies to the Panama and Suez lines, and two Inter-colonial services and one Provincial The revenue might, however, be increased by perhaps £14,000, by altering the postage on letters and newspapers. There is too great reason to fear that, for the sake of the above problematical increase in the postal revenue, the Government will be tempted to inflict incalculable damage on the community. The Submarine Cable. —-We take the. following from the Wellington Independent, of the 28th August, the sentiments of which we cordially endorse : “ The submarine cable is laid. The two islands of New Zealand are now no longer divi ded. The narrow strip of ocean water which rolls between them, and which has not inaptly been described as nature’s highway, has been at length spanned. Man’s perseverance and skill has thrown a slight but all-powerful cord across that restless road, and has shown us that difficulties in the path of nations and men worthy the name of such, are but incentives to great exertions and nigh aims. The electric cable across Cook Straits is a fact—one which for New Zealand is as great and honorable as will be that of the Atlantic cable for our fatherland, when that work which is now progressing may be completed. It is a fact, the record of which will mark an era in the history of our country. It ia a fact which speaks volumes for the energy and perseverance of settlers m a land which, scarcely more than a score of years ago, was untrod by the hardy pioneer of civilisation. It is a fact which calls loudly on us to throw away petty jealousies; to recognise the bond of common kindred which unites us; to strive to make more certain that glorious future open to New Zealand; and to make ourselves more worthy of being participators in that future. Let us hope that each flash of the subtle current from shore to sbore will mark the downfall of a prejudice, and that as we are brought closer in communion with each other, we may learn to appreciate more highly each other’s virtues—may learn to look quietly on, and deal tenderly with, infirmities as with a brother’s, and, forgetting what has passed, look forward to the future—emulating each other in friendly, kindly, salutary rivalry. Wo shall then learn to have one aim, one desire, even as we have one language and one ancestry. The Cook Straits cable is a fact. Early on Saturday morning, while yet darkness hung over the city, the Government steamer St. Eiida, fitted up with the machinery till lately on board the Weymouth, steamed away from the wharf to Lyall’s Bay, where the broken piece of the cable i _ having picked up that proceeded to White s Bay. The work of splicing was successfully accomplished, the remaining three miles of cable laid, and on Sunday evening messages were received in Wellington that the work was finished.” Volunteers Exempt prom Serving on Juries. On Thursday, 30th August, a resolution was passed ia the House of Eepresentalivea to the volunteers, holding a certificate of efficiency, should be exempted from serving on juries. A Mistake.— The Panama Star and Herald says: “On Saturday night, 14th July, some rockets having been let off ia this city, the commander of the United States steamer Mohonga mistook them for the signal that there was an outbreak on shore, and sent three armed boats immediately to lie off the city and await the orders of the Consul. Whilst the lieutenant in charge of the expedition landed to see the Consul, the ensign in charge of the boat from the Farallones landed his crew, six in number, and marched them up town, where he and they are reported to have got drunk and didn’t ‘go home till morning-”’ The Next Premier. —ln the House of Esprosentatives, on the 23th ult., MrJas. Macandrew, representing the district of Glutha, in the Province of Otago, made a bid for the office of Premier, by declaring that he could reduce the estimates by £300,000, but the House did not feel inclined to seize she tempting bait. The House and the country have too recently been taken in by a similar assertion, and will, we trust, in future, beware of rash promises. New Zealand Wool. —Messrs. Southey and Son, in their wool circular of the 23rd June, report; —“The wool from New Zealand exhibited a marked contrast with much of the Australian—being veiy healthy and well grown—a circum-: stance which operated much in its favor.” Direct Taxation.—An Example worth imitating. —We are glad to perceive that a proposition is now b?fore tho Tasmanian Parliament to abolish customs duties open the ports of the colony, and raise the whole of the required revenue fy means of direct taxation.