The Hawke's Bay Times, PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY. MONDAY, 8th OCTOBER, 1866.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 427, 8 October 1866, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times, PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY.

MONDAY, Bth OCTOBER, 1866.

"KfIAAUS ADDICTUS JVB.ViII! IS VE3.EA MACJSTHI."

In our last issue wo were ul-Io to give tho most important item of news brought the previous evening from the Seat of Government ; but a pressure oa our space prevented our giving a more detailed account of what bad transpired there since our previous advices. We now, therefore, resume Ilia subject, in order to bring up arrears. Advantage seems to have been taken by the Government of the anxiety manifested by members to return to their homes, after au unusually protracted and fatiguing session, to push forward and carry through their measures, which they have been able to do, without that attention and discussion which they deserved. As an instance, we may refer to the Bill for altering the existing

rates of postage on letters ami newspapers, winch has been passed with all its objectionable features, and will be brought into effect on the Ist January next. The Tariff, too, has passed the ordeal of committee in a shape vastly different from that which it might have borne had it been discussed at an earlier period. It seems, indeed, to bays been revised sniffy with the intention of increasing the Customs Revenue, instead of

moderating or equalising its pressure upon the public, We cali attention to lire tabulated g/atement of unties, which we give in another place, and believe that most people will agree with us in affirming that the alterations made are generally of a character to press more, instead of less, heavily on the population. We look in vain for the pro' raised redactions on such articles as tea and sugar, while candles, par excellence the light of the poor man, have to bear an increased pate of duty.

Then there is the heavy and most objectionable burthen of Stamp Duties (which, by the way, some of our contemporaries persist in supposing to he a direct tax); which is a charge on trade and commerce, and though by far preferable to duties on the necessaries of life, is hardly to be borne in addition to the already fearfully heavy Customs duties. Jt seems, moreover, to have been imposed tinder the implied promise of a reduction of these—a promise, which we have seen, Mi-

mstera have signally failed to carry out. Well, it seems that our legislators are tardy in -acquiring wisdom, and we shall stiil have to wait awhile for a more rational system of political economy,— believing, meanwhile, that the doom of Customs and Tariffs is sealed already, and that the dawn of a more enlightened age is at hand. The proposal for the annexation of the Poverty Bay to this province was permitted to lapse, owing principally, as it would seem, to the advanced period of the session, and also, we presume, to the determined opposition it would meet with from the Auckland party. We have now arrived at the point to which we took up the thread of events in cur last issue, the triumph of the Separation party on the night of Monday last—a triumph gained to it by Ibe votes of the Hawke’s Bay members, for it is plain that iiad they not “ thrown themselves into the arms cf the Auckland clique,” but voted against, instead of for, Mr Whitaker’s motion for the transference of the nest sitting of tbo Assembly to Canterbury, such motion would have been lost by a greater majority than that by which it was carried. We are sorry to see that our local contemporary has allowed the dust to obscure his perception as he has dene; and would ask, are the people of Canterbury more virtuous, or those ol Wellington more vicious than any other men ? Are the nine men off Yv tiling!on able to roll a heavier log, or to roll it to more purpose than the iifiten of Canterbury ? Or are the latter less likely to take advantage of their power than the former? We pause for a reply, and are confident that our previous information was correct, and that the motion was a scheme concocted by the ultra-separatiouists ia furtherance of their' designs and are on’v sorry that our representatives should !.;<v a ffikn into the snare. More especially was this the cuss in view of the needless expenditure of so large a sum—estimated at dMO.OCO — at a lime w.‘u;-;i it has been deemed advisable, owing to the already exhausting embarrassments cf the Colony, to cripnia trade and commerce by Stamp Duties, which afier all are only calculated to produce some £ 10,000 more than the cost of this foolish whim of the Separation party, aided, i. b:ed, by a number of members whose self-esteem h u been wounded by the curtailment cf their speeches on the part of Wellington re;- -rfers, for really this seems to have been the true ground of several votes. We take it that this resolution cf the House is itself as protlv a specimen of the objectionable practice of log-rolling as could be desired.

It was supposed that this day (Sth Octo her) would probably be theJast of the session