Hawke's Bay Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY. THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1867. NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 500, 15 August 1867, Page 2

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

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1867. NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT.

“ Nullins addict us jurare in verba magistri.”

LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. On the 30th July, the Local Government Bill was brought in by message from his Excellency ; and, on being read a first time, Mr Stafford rose to propose the second reading. He said the Bill had been expected with considerable interest, because the Government had promised such a measure, and the country had evinced a desire for it. It was prepared in consequence of the altered position of the country since the time of the passing of the Constitution Act. When the bulk ol the population was grouped around sea port towns, there was no reason for such a measure, nor for the discontent which now existed—a discontent loudly expressed throughout the Colo’ uy, (north, south, and central), —not only against Provincial Governments, but equally so against the General Government, which was sufficient reason for the Government endeavoring to provide the means for giving the residents of country districts the management of their own local affairsThe above considerations had induced the Government to examine what other and older colonies had done in the matter, and they had found a remarkable concurrence in the action taken—all tending to the localisation of administrative powers. It had been stated that the proposed measure was an attack on Provincial Governments ; but, so far from being so, it would relieve those Governments of serious embarrasments. It would shut ow that unseemly struggle for the division of Provincial revenues which had the effect of lowering the tone of Provincial legislation. There had been no recognised principle by which the revenues were distributed to the country districts. The Bill in question proposed that existing road boards should by a simple process be brought under its provisions. If it was asked why such a measure should uot be left to the action of Provincial Councils, whicli ’ had already established road boards, ' he replied that it was necessary that ■ the powers of such boards should be derived from the General legislature. ; The Bill was simply a permissive one. , The Government said to the country, s —■“ H you like this bill, come in and ’ work under it.” The General Go- ■> vernment alone had the power to ap- , propriate the revenues to the several 1 districts of the country by a permanent measure. The Bill did not give additional powers to the General Government. It did not propose to interfere with public works and their ■ execution, but where possible bad left these to the districts themselves; and

where extra powers were needed had bestowed it upon Provincial Councils and Superintendents. Such powers consisted in subdividing districts that may be deemed too extensive, and the fair distribution of revenues between districts—as where one district is snut out from connection with a port by broken country in another district lying between it, and the nort.

the Superintendent may employ the revenues of the latter in opening up the road. Another such power is the determination of the erection and maintenance of bridges, ferries, &c., between districts where neither might be willing to undertake the work. Again, a river might give indications of overflowing in one district, whereby injury might be done only in another ; and the Provincial Governments bad the power of interposing and allocating the expense between them. The constitution of certain districts (counties) is placed in the hands of the Governor ; and whereas road boards could not anticipate their revenues, these counties, having a large area and population, can borrow, if they consent to levy special rates to go entirely to the repayment of the loan. The resources of the proposed districts will consist of—(1) voluntary dona ions by persons who wish certain works to be done, by wdiich their own property is improved : (2) a power of rating up to one shilling in the pound on tin annual value of the property. The rates raised in that way the Government propose to double by a contribution from the consolidated revenue up to the said sum of one shilling in the pound. (3) A power to borrow in the case of a large district, when a special levy is made for paying off the loan (4) An endowment from the territorial revenue of the district itself, in proportion to the area ol unsold land in it. (I’astoral rents not to be included, but land sales only.) When three-fourths of tinland remains unsold, the proportion ul such endowment to be 20 per cent. ; half, 25 per cent. ; and less than half, 30 per cent. The whole of the large remainder of territorial revenue to go to Provincial Governments for public works, immigration, education.

&c., Ac., unembarrassed by tmgrumblings of districts that believe they are unfairly treated. (5) Fines and Penalties imposed under bye-laws, for police offences; these fines, &c., to go entirely to the local funds. Amongst the powers to be enjoyed by these Boards are some of a very important character. (1) The power to take land for roads or public works. (2) To establish and assisi markets and charitable institutions. (3) Their higher officers, being ex officio J.P.’s, to administer the law. Bye-laws, if objectionable, may be disallowed by the Superintendent, a further proof that the powers of Provincial Governments arc not curtailed.

The Government did notcousider the bill as perfect, but it would be glad to be assisted in committee by such suggestions as the House might be able to give. Too much has been said hitherto about Governments aud too little of the public. Here the public was recognised as the power ; if they liked the bill, it was theirs ; if not they had ouly to say, “ we will have nothing to do with it.” The Government did not wish to assume to be a I better judge of the people’s interests 'than were the people themselves.

Mr Campbell asked when the second reading was proposed to be—he would like time for the bill to be cir culated. Mr Stafford said it had already been done. Every newspaper. Mechanics’ Institute, reading room,

corporation, and towa board would receive a copy by next mail. Mr Vogel denied that the bill did not take from the powers of Provincial Governments. Ail ms cnisi powers were given to the Governor, and only a few unimportant ones to Superintend dents. The power of the Governor to proclaim counties w r as a clear infringement of the rights of Provincial

Governments, and an addition to the powers of the General Government. He wondered at the hou. gentleman’s boldness in railing at the press and the people because they had not come out as champions of the General Government, The powers given to Superintendents in the case of the river overflowing or the removal of road obstructions in adjoining districts amounted to nothing. There was also a marked difference between a bill the hon. gentleman had mentioned, which was to enable provinces to adopt municipal districts if they desired it, and tins, which was to enable the General Government to introduce them over the country. The provincial revenues, too, would be materially interfered with, or where else was the endowment of 2s. for Is. from the consolidated revenue to come from—there would be just so much less for provincial uses, and probably none left for ths provinces wherewith to curry out their purposes. He did not regard the struggles in Provincial Councils for the apportionment of the revenues as unseemly, but natural, as showing a desire to deal fairly and best divide the revenues between different districts. He was sorry for the non. gentleman, who had completely tailed to show any' reason for the bill, ind bad had to dive into the Waimakiriri river for an illustration of the

powers it gave to Superintendents. The operation of the bill would be to supersede Provincial Governments at 30011 as it had a large operation, and the object of the Government seemed to be to hasten that period. The poorer provinces and the poorer dis tricts would be the lirst to adopt tinprovisions of the bill, and the consoli-! dated revenue was to be used to assis' I them. The revenues of one province were to be impounded for the assistance of another, and yet it was said there would be no infringement oi provincial rights. The power given to the Governor to proclaim counties was an attempt similar to that in the case of the Otago Goldfields—to do away with provincial control, and render the colony dependent on the General Government for everything—to create bodies not only independent but antagonistic to them. The Bib clause obliged the Superintendent or Road Board, on the formation of a district, to hand over to it all provincial property held in trust for that district. Another—and one of the largest powers of the bill was given to the Governor—that of annexing to a district any outlying area. It was folly to talk of testing the opinions of the country by a permissive bill. The way to do this was to dissolve Parliament and test it by an election. It would be an easy matter to get the names of ten persons to a petition, and, one district being formed,

others must be, in self-defence. The whole object of the bill was to cut away the powers of usefulness possessed by the Provincial Governments. His object in opposing it now was to prevent its being telegraphed over the country that a bill had been introduced which would give, as was said, extra powers to the provinces, and not affect their revenues, and that such a statement had been allowed to pass unchallenged. The statements made by* the hen. gentleman regarding the bill had signally failed to be borne out by the facts afterwards declared. (To he continued in onr next issue.)

A Gteave Mistake. — The Southern Argus (an Australian paper), vouches for the truth of the following:—“A road superintendent, who inspects the working of our main southern roads, received a telegram a few days ago, aind the stationmaster, whoso duty it was to forward birr-. the message, addressed the telegram to Mr , which hurt the dignity of the worthy ofllcal to such an extent that ho used nearly three sheets of paper in a letter to the station-master, telling him that his proper address and title was JSsquirt, and not Mr.! ”

CinG-EEs.—A life’s residence in London has given us u somewhat extensive acquaintance with tile cadging fraternity—the faces of many of them being vividly impressed upon our mind’s eye. Onegentleman especially, who used to adopt the “ keeind Christian friend” role, and spoil our Sunday morning’s meal by pouring his anathemas through the verandah unless his quasi outpourings of repentance were rewarded with a dole, we accidentally encountered smoking his cigar, and attired in morning gown, morocco slippers, and fez, on the steps of an anything but humble mansion, in one 0 f the second-rate streets of Pimlico. Yerily, dignity and impudence were never more conjointly personified ! On the 18th instant a great sensation was created in the neighbourhood of the Westminster Bridge Eoad by the appearance of a sailor, who might hare been wounded in the wars, had we not happily been at peace for many years prior to his advent. Dressed in the most faultless fancy ball costume as a British tar, supported on crutches, and flanked on on© side by two highly interesting children, and on the other by a scarcely less interesting female carrying a baby and specimens of crochet work, the son of Neptun© slowly plodded through the mud, and in little less than five minutes received more than eighteen donations.—Parochial Critic.

The Postal Conference. —The Argus says ; —Our Sydney telegram mentions that the Legislative Assembly of that colony was last night engaged in discussing the agreement entered into by the late Postal Conference, that great satisfaction was manifested at the prospect of Sydney becoming the terminus of the three routes, and that Mr Verdon objected to the correspondence between him and Mr Parkes being read. We are in a position to state the facts with regard to this matter. It will be remembered that when the question was under discussion in out* Legislature, Mr Verdon declined to read certain correspondence received from Ml* Parkes. This course, it appears, was forced upon him by the correspondence being marked private, and Mr Parkes, in reply to a request preferred by Mr Verdon, having expressly objected to its being made public. Yesterday, however, Mr Parkes telegraphed to Mr Verdon stating that m the debate which was to come on that night, reference would in all probability be made to those letters, and asking if any objection existed to their being published. Mr Verdon replied that as Mr Parkes had prevented their being presented to our Legislature, that body would in all probability deem it a slight were he now to sanction the publication of the correspondence in Sydney at the request of Mr Parkes. We are further informed that Mr Parkes, in his letter to Mr Verdon, admits that that gentleman, at the Conference, moved the amendments as stated by him to the Legislative Assembly, but he remarks that he (Mr Parkes) did not attach that importance to tiie circumstance since attributed to it by Mr Verdon. Claim: of Mb Hargraves. —ln the Legislative Assembly of Victoria, lately, the claim of Mr Hargraves for the balance of the money duo to him on a former vote of Pa; Lament was brought before the House by Mr Frazer. On the motion for going into committee on the following day to request His Excellency to place the necessary amount on a supplementary estimate, Mr MVulloch moved the adjournment of the debate. This was negatived and then Messrs. M'Culloch, Higinbotham, and some others left the chamber. Mr Cope, amidst hisses and cries of “ shame ’* called attention to the state of the House and there being no quorum the House adjourned.—Argus. Fire in Melbourne.— A Melbourne telegram of July 11 says:—“There was a large tiro in Flinders-street last night; White’s Oriental Rice Mills were destroyed and £3ooo worth of rice was destroyed • it is iuliy insured. The P. and O. Company’s others were also on fire, and much damage has been doin', though the building was of bluestoae and considered fireproof ; it is also insured.” Another telegram, dated July 15, says : —“The fire at the Oriental Rice Mills was caused by spontaneous combustion of damp bags.” The late Robbery at the Union Bane, Greymoutu —Charles L, Gundry, who gave the information about the robbery, has been arrested on a warrant procured fay mo Manager.(Mr Hairolu) : and on July 17th was brought before the Resident Magistrate at C reymouth, charged with participation in the robbery of £it>3 15s 6d, from the bank premises* The prisoner was (after a hearing which lasted 9 hours) fully committed for trial at the next District Court at Hokitika, on the 20th August. Hail was accepted to the amount of £2OO, and two sureties of £ltO each.

A Joint Affidavit. —In Connecticut a justice was called to the gaol to liberate a worthless debtor by receiving his oath that he was not worth twenty dollars. “ Well, Johnny,” said the justice on entering, “ can you swear that you are not worth twenty dollars, and never will be ?” “Why” answered the other, “ I can swear that I am not worth the amount at present.” “ Well, well,” returned the justice. “ 1 can swear the rest; to go along, Johnny,”

Thk Dhomana Accxt-bst. —A telegram from Melbourne, dated 11th July, says:— “ The Dromana accident ie the subject of comment, and the conduct of Capt. Uockett, of the dophia steamer, is severely criticised. Tt is known that five were drowned, namely, Cheshire, Bramstou, "Wollicctt, Newman, and Jones but others are missing. An inquest was held, and a verdict returned of ‘accidentally drowned.’”