IMPORTANT FROM HOKITIKA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 564, 30 March 1868, Page 3

IMPORTANT FROM HOKITIKA.

1,000 SPECIAL CONSTABLES SWORN IN. ARREST OP PATHEE LARKIN. THE DUKE OP EDINBURGHLOYAL DEMONSTRATION AT HOKITIKA. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] (rttOM CORRESPONDENT OF EVENING POST.) Hokitika, March 24, 3.36 p.m. . There was immense excitement last night on receipt of the telegram announcing the Prince’s safety. An impromptu demonstration was got up. There was a huge bonfire in the Municipal Reserve, and the whole town turned out —the firemen in uniform.

The Philharmonic Society assembled at the fire, and sang “ God save the Queen,” with a verse added for the occasion. The enthusiasm was and is unbounded.

The Town Council have met, and have proclaimed to-morrow a general holiday for rejoicings at the Prince’s escape. Every loyal person is to wear a blue ribbon at the request of a large number of leading citizens. A monster meeting is to be held at the Prince of Wales theatre to-morrow morning to frame a congratulatory address to the Duke, 5 p.m. No show of Fenianisih. The bonfire last night was attended by over 2000 persons. The people * n g i n ging the National Anthem, which was also sung at the theatres. There will be a great meeting and procession to-morrow. The town will be dressed up. People are preparing red, white, and blue cockades. The enthusiasm is at fever point. Nelson, March 27, 2.12 p.m. The question of removing the Celtic Cross from the Cemetery was brought before the City Council at Hokitika, when, by the casting vote of the Mayor, its removal was ordered. A meeting was held at the Munster Hotel, when it was resolved to ask Mr Bonar, Chairman of the County Council, to interfere. That gentleman declined having anything to do with the matter.

The Celt is most indignant and threatening. The hotel-kepeers who kept their houses open on the day of the procession are not to be indicted, the Government having so ordered. Their licenses, however, will not be renewed.

(FROM ■WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT “EXTRA.”) Independent Office, March 27, 8.30 p.m. We have been favored with the following intelligence by the Hon. Mr. Richardson :

Telegrams from Hokitika were received last night by the General Government.

Everything was quiet, but the people were in a state of excitement. The Celtic Cross had been removed from the cemetery some days. Father Larkin had applied to the authorities to be allowed to erect it again. This request was refused.

Six hundred special constables had been sworn in during the day, which were increased to one thousand last night.

Father Larkin had been arrested without exciting any disturbance. The Attorney-General has given an opinion that some of the articles in the I notwoHwia«< ... i 1 —— me saimuus, and cal♦a avaUa a . . w a wcttiiu vi me peace. The Colonial Government steamer St. Kilda had been despatched this morning to Fatea, for the purpose of conveying a detachment of Armed Constabulary stationed there to Hokitika, to the number of sixty-five, in aid of the local force should such be necessary, though such necessit" i= not probable. J

Bishop Viard, of Wellington, and his priests at Hokitika, Fathers M‘Taggett and McDonough, have shown the greatest interest in aiding in the preservation of peace and order, and are entitled to the thanks of the community.

ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE PROVINCIAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

The following Memorandum, on certain changes in the method of administering the government of the province, and proposed modifications of the whole Provincial system of New Zealand, was laid before the Canterbury Provincial Council on the 28th ult., by his Honor W. S. Moorhouse, Superintendent of that province:— According to an intimation contained in the opening address, the Superintendent transmits to the Council a memorandum on the subject of certain changes in the administration of the Provincial Government under the present Constitution, and also upon the subject of changes in the Constitution of the colony, calculated to limit the functions of the General Assembly and Provincial Councils. It appears to the Superintendent, upon a close consideration of the present circumstances of this and other provinces of the colony, that material changes are not only imminent but required. These changes are of two kinds :—First, those internal forms which may, within the limit of existing powers, be effected by the Provincial Legislatures. Secondly, those alterations of the Constitution which can only be made by the Governor and General Assembly. With regard to internal reforms, they may be comprehensively dealt with under two heads, viz., retrenchment and administration.

As to retrenchment, the Superintendent has caused estimates of expenditure to be prepared which recommend great reductions iu nearly every department, and he is ready to receive suggestions respecting further reductions which the Council may agree upon as being practicable and consistent with the good of the province.

It would be well for the Council to consider the present scheme of Executive Government, and determine whether any alteration shall bo now made. It appears to the Superintendent that his present position is practically divested of what is commonly understood to bo political responsibility—that is, to the people through the Provincial Council. He cannot act in any material particular except under the advice of a legally-appointed Executive, having the confidence of a majority of the Provincial Council.

If the measures of his Government are rejected, he does not retire with his advisers, from office, but he acts as a matter of course upon the advice of succeeding politicians holding opinions opposite to those held by his late Cabinet, A clear apprehension of the incidents of his position would prevent a Superintendent from identifying himself personally with the policy of advisers hero to-day and gone tomorrow. He must be no party politician in a provincial sense; but, under the existing order of things, is clearly bound to abstain from any indication of individual feeling or opinion, because it is impossible to say what may be the variety of counsels he may bo called upon to accept and act on during even one year of office. If ho advocated particular policies in his Cabinet, there would be no guarantee that always during his ordinary term of office.ho would not be in a minority of the Executive, of which he was nominally the head.

The administration of New Zealand is carried on by a responsible Government under an imperial Governor who, earing bis guardianship of imperial interests, is not (under the present advanced condition of the Constitution) personally responsible for the conduct of the administration. He holds a position relative to New Zealand (save in so far as he is responsible for obedience to imperial directions) almost analgous to that held bj the Crown in relation to the Empire. In fact the doctrine that “ the King can do no wrong” applies (so far as the New Zealand public are concerned) to the Governor as notv advised by a responsible ministry.

As has been remarked by leading political writers, responsible Government in the case both of the colony and the provinces, has been an entirely spontaneous growth out the will of the public ; not deriving its origin by any imperial statutory prescription.

Probably political philosophers will not succeed in evolving a system in its broad features better adapted to a free constitution, so far as the Government of the colony is concerned. The same may be said of Provincial Governments; if it be found expedient to continue the provincial systems in their present shape and power and importance.

Assuming that the pi evinces (or at any rate this one and some others) continue to hold similar powers to those exercised at present, it would appear to be necessary to protect the public in the enjoyment of its freedom by imposing the same restraint upon tae supreme governing power m the provinces as_ is brought to bear upon the Governor of the colony.

But should a change of constitution of the provinces take place, reducing their legislative powers, confining them to the management of the material estate of the the country (i.e, } the waste lands and public works), than it would at once appear to be consistent with economy to adopt a much more direct, simple, and inexpensive form of administration.

It is even now very plausibly objected to the prevailing system of responsible government in the provinces, that whatever safety may attend their working is more than counterbalanced by expenses and delays, and that the security of public liberty does not demand the same degree of restrain upon the action of an elected Superintendent as would be necessary in

an imperially nominated Governor of a colony, or in the case of a Superintendent nominated by the head of a colonial political party or faction. That the Superintendent nominated, but is,himself the elected ouicer of the people. Further, that if responsible executives wer§ done awav with, the electors would be more solicitous than at present to secure the services of a man eminently capable o&stersonally directing all the departments dHug Government, and that the direct aniHujßiatant pressure of responsibility might _JB enforced by the voting of supplies for fl6lr sri; months at a time, so necessitating meetings of the Council, and consequent statements of accounts, &c. That .Up responsibility of the Superintendent beipg sole would operate directly, and would bear more onerously upon the administration of affairs than in its now decided pressure. That the administration would bo more nervously prompt. That its policy would disclose a greater uniformity of design and relationship in all its parts. That its expenses, without all impairing its efficiency, might be made much lower than those of the existing form of administration. That the Council might anticipate the chances of executive blunders in most cases by making verv full disclosures of its wishes. With regard to the means of communication between the Superintendent and Council, that this might well be effected by messages and addresses, and in case of difficulties arising out of misconceptions, these might bo very easily cleared away by conferences moved by either the Superintendent or Council.

Another system of responsibility more nearly allied to tho existing one, has been a good deal discussed, by which the superintendent would hare no responsibility whatever except under tho Constitution Act, tho Provincial Audit Act, and the Limitation of Patronage Ordinance. That ho should receive a mere nominal salary, and that his only care should be to ascertain that he did not suffer himself 10 intro* duce or concur in legislation or adrainis* trution that was either beyond his powers or in breach of law. That he should leave the policy of the province to be settled, and the administration to be conducted, by a responsible Ministry supported by a majority of the Council. That in effect he should solely act as guardian against any possible deviations from legal limits, himself being closely hemmed in by statutory restrictions and penalties. If the Council determine to continue the system of responsible government,; and if the General Government continue the provinces in their present form, the Superintendent would strongly recommend the Council to seriously consider tho value of the last mentioned plan. It is in the highest degree interesting to the public to know the exact spot wherein political responsibility resides. Responsibility, by the foregoing plan, would rest unmistakably on the Superintendent’s Ministers; and the Superintendent’s care would be to protect bimsrff and the coun* Gy by restraining breaches of the Constitutional Law.

The Superintendent conceives that a simple vote of s small honorarium to the Superintendent, and a resolution that he is not responsible except as above-mentioned, would be all the action required to be taken by the Council as regards the office and functions ot the Superintendent. But as regards the responsible Executive, they should be paid in proportion to the labor and responsibility cast upon them. One great advantageof this arrangement would bo, that political, misunderstandings between the Superintendent and the Provincial Council, and party leanings by the Superintendent, would bo almost unknown.

The above remarks are addressed to the Council as bearing upon the present constitution of the provinces, and as treating of changes within their power. But there are external powers capable of dealing with the provinces to an almost unlimited extent; and it is the great hope of many very earnest, able, and conscientious politicians to completely extinguish Provincial Governments by legislative action in the General Assembly. The Superintendent would hero state to the council that his judgement will not permit of his being a party to the abolition of the provinces, neither is he inordinately anxious to make any great organic change; but he believes that the present extraordinary alteration in the internal condition of the colony in many of its provinces will, during the next session of the General As>sembly, forcibly lead to a determination to attempt a very sweeping, and at the same time uniform modification of the provincial system involving material red actions of provincial powers.

On the other hand a strong party will make an equally determined stand in favor of curtailing and expressly limiting the action of the General Government, and exvciiuiuK two puncio u* hut) pruTluuea in a corresponding degree. ‘Political leaders have gone to the extent of declaring that the legislation of the Assembly should be limited expressly to those subjects, which, by the 19th clause of the Constitution, are excepted from provincial legislation, leaving the province absolute in all other matters, the acceptance of such a theory would necessitate an amount of retrogressive action not only very difficult of accomplishment, but also irrational and unprofitable.

It has always appeared to the Superintendent that the provinces should only attempt legislation in those few cases where it is obviously apparent that exceptional legislation is required to suit exceptional conditions. Writing with considerable knowledge of the colony the Superinten-j dent believes that, save in the matter or

the Waste Lands of the Crown and Public Works, it is not necessary that the provinces should have any material legislative powers, nor that it is necessary that pro vincial institutions should retain their present form. At the game time the Superintendent has no material objection to urge against either the retention of the present Superintendents and Councils, with greatly reduced legislative no were. or to the present —-u -i r 7t uivuu ui ciecuuxi, nowever, anticipating the above-mentioned curtailment of provincial functions in one direction, and their material extension in another— i.e., in the matter of land and works—it lias occurred to the Superintendent that a different mode of electing Superintendents and Councils might be adopted wipi a great advantage and fitness. Before proceeding to an explanation of that different mode of election, it would be well to state a great patent principle that may well govern the distribution of Colonial and Provincial Government labors. One first great principle, viz.:—

That the General Government shall govern and protect all the people of the colony, and that the Provincial Governments shall care for and colonise all the lands. The observance of this rule would make the General Assembly the sole legislators on all subjects excepting the sale, letting, and disposal of the waste lands of the Crown, the ordering and execution of public works, the raising of rates and local taxes in aid of local administration, and public works and immigration, the division of road boards and districts, and some minor cognate matters.

The General Government taking upon itself all the consolidated debts of'the colony, and without making any provincial apportionment of liability in respect of any part of that debt, defraying both interest and principal out of the consolidated revenues of the colony, thus in effect making the debts of the entire colony a charge not upon the territory but upon the people, and so initiating a system that would in its operations disclose the most extensive guarantee possible against undue increase of public indebtedness in favor of any quarter of tho colony whatever. Under such a plan no further debt could be sanctioned except upon proof of a great public policy in its favor, as every elector throughout the colony would bo interested directly in reducing, or at any rate limiting the general public burthen. Concurrently with a distinct division of labours, there would also naturally occur a distinct division of revenues.

The General Government would be compelled to confine its fiscal exactions to the supply of its own bare necessities, i.e., to the payment of the civil stall, the general legislative expenses, the maintenance of customs, postal, police, judicial, telegraph, and other of its departments. The provinces, relieved entirely from the responsibility of debt, would have to maintain by their own system of finance all their own proper expenses; and the provincial establishments, being compelled to go directly to the people for the needful means to carry on their operations, would have every proposal for the oxpunditre of money canvassed by a deeply interested body of critics, and so would follow a much more exact economy than would be likely to arise out of any except very similar causes.

The result of the operation of this system would be that in each succeeding year, unless the increase of population were stayed, the Customs and other taxes would admit of gradual reduction, the labouring power of this country would be thereby relieved, the necessaries of life cheapened, and then would be commenced a steady progression towards the great commercial desideratum virtually free seaports.

This is not the proper opportunity for discussing all the arguments that will bo urged for and against the change that must come over the government of the colony. It may be noticed, however, that one line of argument is to be expected from the representations of certain provinces in the General Assembly, in opposition to any proposal to substitute a general colonial instead of a particular provincial liability, for those parts of the consolidated debt which were inenrred by particular provinces.

In addition to the great weight of policy in favour of making the consolidated debt a final charge upon the consolidated revenues, reasons of justice may be urged (entirely unanswerable) why each of the several provinces may have exclusive property in its waste lands without being held responsible for the specific amount of debt it was permitted by the General Government to contract.

Having glanced at the probable direction of expected changes in the Constitution, the Superintendent submits to the Council the expediency of their now considering what plan, having regard to the imperative wants of other parts of the colony, would i be most suitable to this province, and at the same time bo reasonably adapted to the circumstances of the others. With a view to the greatest possible reduction in all the expenses of the colony, it would appear wise on the part of the Legislature to make (if possible) tbe services of the Superintendents available in the provincial administration of the department of tbe General Government. Such administration [should be assumed ex officio , not by appointment of the Prime Minister. But, under such conditions, it would be necessary to take tbe utmost security 6or his fitness in point of capacity, as well as of respectability and popularity. The question then arises, how these desiderata can be arrived at without an abandonment of the elective principle in the appointment of Superintendents.

Among others, the following might beconsidered an acceptable expedient: Let the General Assembly, upon the suggestion of the existing Provincial Councils, divide the several provinces into road distric ta ; a ratepayers’ roll for each having been prepared, let the ratepayers first elect their Road Board; secondly, the Board its chairman; and thirdly, let a Council, composed of Road Board chairmen, mayors Oa boroughs, nlioj pm an rtf ties, elect the Superintendent of the province. By such a plan the Superintendent would not only be an elected, but a thriceolected officer ; and, as a matter of course, would be most gladly accepted by any Government as ex ojfiaio administrator of General Government departments in the province. By administration iu this latter sense is meant administration under instruction derived, not from a Minister, but from the law.

The Superintendent has already adverted to the expediency of establishing complete independence of the General and Provincial Legislatures by maintaining the broadest possible line of distinction between the subjects upon which they may respectively operate. It has been suggested that the simplest division may b& effected by leaving the territory within tho respective provinces to be solely disposed of and improved by the Provinsial Governments as their principal employment, with power to levy taxes and rates on private estates. All groat public works, excepting military defences, might be mado by the Provincial Governments, and the Road Boards should care for the minor works.

The Superintendent elected as last described would be ex officio Chairman of the Council, and the business of the Council being of an entirely material character, might be disposed of in a manner similar to the practice of legislative meetings of pnblic companies, the Chairman conducting the business of the session himself. The present Audit and Treasury systems would be perfectly applicable. An alternative course might be to leave the Constitution as it now stands. The Superintendent believes this to be impossible. Changes must occur in some of the provinces, and it is hardly probable (notwithstanding all the charm that is said to lie in variety) that any statesman would be contented to make a patchwork constitution—although within constitutional limits every prorince ought to be utterly free to ordain such rules as are its own ■ free choice; still, uniformity in the constitution of the provinces, if they are to exist at all, is a matter of great economical importance. The ordaining of a uniform system for the provinces all over those islands would involve material surrenders of some minor privileges, would call for a complete suppression of some much cherished prejudices, and would operate as a very severe test of patriotism. The Superintendent has endeavoured to make his memorandum brief and suggestive, his principal desire being to provoke debates in the Council, for the instruction of its Government. W. S. Mooehouse. Superintendent of Canterbury.

De. Hocrstettee Wosk. —From tho Birmingham Chamber of Commerce we hare received information that her Majesty the Queen has graciously accepted the dedication of the valuable woA on New Zealand by the above gentleman. We hare also received a copy of the letter convoying the above information to the Chamber, from Colonel Sir T. M. Biddulph, Keeper of the Queen’s Privy Purse, which we shall have much pleasure in placing before our readers in our next.

Rain.—Tho Province has been visited by some very welcome falls of rain during the past few days.

Aeeitai,.— His Honor Mr C. D. R, Ward was a passenger from Wellington by tho Lord Ashley yesterday.

Public Woeks. —Tenders are invited for the following worts in tho Meanee district :—lst, for metalling about 20 chains of tho North road, between tho race-course and the Meanee Bridge; and 2nd, for metalling about 45 chains of the North rood, between Messrs Peacock’s and the bridge over tho Salt-water Creek. Tenders are also invited for making 80 chains of the upper beach road between Napier aud Tareha’s Bridge.

We take the following from Morgan’s Trade Circular: —The territory recently purchased by the United States from Rus-

sia. seems already to hsT£ attracted 5 characteristic share of speculative activity, such as to justify the prognostications of Mr Seward. Enterprises of every description, it is said, are springing up, which promise to develope a vast Pacific trade. “ Building lots hare advanced several hundred dollars in price at New Archangel and Sitka, in anticipation of a large flow of -migration thither,” and numerous parties are organising in California to proceed to the territory “to reap the wealth afforded by her gold, copper, and coal mines, her trade and fisheries.” The ship-builders on Puget Sound are looking for extensive orders in connection with the traffic to bo opened up, aud a United States navy yard 'is to be established on Cambridge Island.