AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 537, 26 December 1867, Page 1

AUCKLAND.

[raOM OCB OWN CQEBESPOSDEHT.J 17 th December, 1867. The event of the month has been the visit of the Governor, and the presentation of addresses to him. On bis visit seven months ago the two leading jourHals fK" "ff'Prriftf; fA reception a friendly one, and would not allow a line in opposition to appear in print; there was consequently an apparent, though forced, unanimity. On this occasion, the Southern Cross suggested, iu a friendly way, that to secure consent of all parties, the Governor’s friends should “ draw it mild ”; this advice was, however, unacceptable, and an address was brought before a public meeting which practically endorsed all Governor Grey’s deeds. The meeting, however, was not quite so tame as anticipated, and an amendment was carried, and a new address prepared, which was much milder in tone, and was carried with but little opposition. In the Provincial Council likewise, like conduct led to like results, and to a debate in which things were brought to memory that many old colonists had almost forgotten. An address was ultimately carried, the opposition choosing absence rather than a division. The financial prospects of the Province are even darker than I anticipated. With all our expensive Government establishments, accounts are in such a muddle that even the officials do not appear to have known how the accounts between the Colonial and the Provincial Governments stood ; “ the public” might well be ignorant of the state of affairs. Old accounts have been raked up, and Auckland brought in debtor on them, although supposed to have been settled long ago. Notice to quit at tbe end of the year has been

given to all employees of the Provincial Government. It will need all the wisdom of our Superintendent and his advisers to find means to maintain the skeleton of a Government. Our Provincial Council passed resolutions, unanimously, in favour of an amnesty to all political offenders. Afterwards the question came up in a somewhat irregular manner, and a debate ensued, in which Mr Carleton suggested “wary walking,” but he was a day behind the fair, the resolutions having gone to the Premier. __ The Public Debts Bill of last session has been the subject of many articles and letters in the Piers. In my opinion Mr Carleton’s explanation is the best. He could not vote for the first Bill lest injustice should be done to the lender; nor for the second, lest the borrower should suffer. Both positions I believe are true. Ha did not vote at all on the second. Could not a clause of a few lines have been added to meet the justice of the case ? Suppose it had provided that the Government should be compelled to give a price not lower than the rate at which the various Provincial debentures had been issued. Such a plan would have been more fair to the Colony, and not unjust to the lender. The Bill as passed is decidedly unfair to the Colony. but while the Bank of New Zealand is the target at which the chief attack is made, in reality that institution held but a small proportion of the Provincial debentures, and that portion had been taken up at par, and consequently to have compelled it to sell at a heavy discount would have been *• discreditable ” to the Colony—yet it would appear that such was the wish of Dr. Featherston, who is, or was. connected with a rival bank . But it is to be regretted that the amendments introduced by the “ Lords ” were afterwards erased at the bidding (or threats) of Grand Vizier Stafford. Some holders of Provincial paper will make a splendid profit out of the Bill. The Auckland members appear not to have had their eyes open when the Public Revenues Bill was passed, as under it the General Government have

the power to shut up this Province at any time by seizing the cash. Charges wnicu, wnen Auckland yielded the largest revenue, were general, are now made local, when Auckland has comparatively no local revenue, and but a small general ditto. The Hauraki gold mines are now sending something to market, and it is to be hoped they will tend to restore

orosnsritv to the Province. Hitherto { it is probable less than twenty claims I have really paid for the labour expeu-1 ded on them. It is not what is known as “ a poor man’s field,” but the opposite. Machinery, labour, and skill -—and consequently capital—are absolute requisites. There is every reason to expect tllut the whole district (barring burial places and cultivations) will be open to prospectors shortly. Shortland (appropriate name) has been mainly raised on credit. The crushing machines already set up are not a quarter sufficient, and the rates they charge are prohibitory to all but “rich stone.” Fancy paying JEI2 per ton for crushing—that being the price asked by one proprietor at first. In Victoria they will crush for £1 per ton, or even less. The expected visit of the Duka of Edinburgh has put people here on the qui vive, and a large committee has been appointed to make the necessary preparations for his reception. A blunder was made at the outset, the industrial element not being represented on it, nor even the benefit societies, composed as they are so largely of the most provident of tbe working classes This omission has been resented by the chief men of the Foresters, Odd Fellows, and Rechabites. Representatives of two constituencies have met their constituents, and been criticised fairly. Others will probably follow. The system is a good one—common elsewhere, but new here. Heavy cause list at the Supreme Court (civil.) Lawyers busy, and their bills long and heavy.

Commercial matters dull. Distrust prevalent. Fat cattle aud sheep are advancing.