THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 5th JUNE, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1582, 5 June 1874, Page 242

THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, sth JUNE, 1874.

Although the address delivered by his Honor the Superintendent on the occasion of the opening of the present session of the Provincial Council extends to an unusual length, there does not appear to be much in it requiring comment on the part of the journalist; such points however as claim our attention we proceed to note. As might be expected the most striking topic is the present prosperity of the province, as exhibited in the large returns of revenue for the past year. The progress made by any community in this direction sheds a kind of halo around the head of those who happen to hold the position of executive officer, when perhaps but little or none of the credit for such advance may be due to them, but may be entirely dependent on causes beyond their control. We think however that another deduction may be drawn from the premises, which is the excessive taxation levied upon the community, and that while the progress of Hawke's Bay is chiefly dependent on the high rates obtained in the home market for the staple product of the province, and consequently • benefitting particular classes, the incidence of taxation is universal, and felt most especially by those furthest removed from them. The large revenue thus indicates the burden laid upon the community in general as muclr as the benefit felt by those who profit from the favorable state of the traffic in wool. The above consideration will likewise go far to account for what appears to strike his Honor as remarkable, that is the disinclination of the public as a rule to impose additional taxation upon themselves even where it would tend to their own benefit, and, as in the case of Road Boards, be supplemented by a grant of public money. The general body of the people can but feel that taxation already reaches its limit of endurance, and evils are in consequence submitted to, which under a lessened strain of taxation, would be voluntarily removed. This appears to us to be especially the case in the town of Napier. The benefits of the extended trade shown by ha statistics of the past year are enoyed primarily by those through whose hands such trade passes, thus by a coiiir paratively few merchants and others directly concerned, and only in a very secondary and limited degree by the general public. The latter, however, feel most heavily the incidence of the heavy duties payable on all that they purchase and consume. It is consequently no wonder that they rather

dread the additional burdens that would be imposed on them by Municipal Government, the results of which appear to be most unsatirfnctorily in the various towns in which it has been r adopted. The proposal of his Honor to so far amend the land regulations as-to fix the minimum price of the public estate at 10s instead of 5s per acre is at least one step in the right direction, although it is somewhat late in the day for such a reform. It is in fact another instance of locking the stable door after the horse is stolen. It is not however the mere ra ; sing the price of comparatively valueless land from 5s to 10s that will remedy the abuses of the lands department. What is required is the due exercise of the power of reserving really valuable portions of the public estate from sale at mere nominal prices ; and this exercise will be quite as much required under a 10s as under ass rate, even as there will bejquite as much room for the abuses which have existed under the present system.. With regard to the delay that has taken place in the railway works, we are still undei the impression that a share of the blame must rest with his Honor himself, whose place it has been to insist on the due fulfilment of the several contracts. It is so far satisfactory to find that he deprecates the delay as mtioii a» the public, can do, and that he has at length taken measures to hasten the work.

Public opinion appears to have prevailed in the matter of the education rate, in so far that his Honor will recommend the non-enforcement of the Act of last session, and provision being made for the educational necessities of the coming year out of the surplus revenue.

We join with his Honor in his expressions of regvet for the apathy of the province in political matters generally, and especially in relation to the election of the chief officer of the province by the constituencies. We have always regarded the privilege of the election of Superintendent as one of the greatest conferred by the Constitution of the Colony upon the people, and the disability placed upon the electorate of the new Provinces as a gross injustice. Due credit must be given to Mr Ormond for his action in removing this anomalous state of affairs and placing Hawke's Bay upon the same footing as the original provinces if only the electors express their desire to that effect. It will he to the lasting disgrace of the province if the opportunity of securing their undoubted right be allowed to pass without fulfilling the requirement of the Act—especially as the subject has been so prominently brought before the notice of the electors.

Mails close for Castle Point, Wellington, Southern Provinces, and Australian Celonies, this day at 9 a.m., per s.s. Hangatira.

Mails for America and Europe, per City of Adelaide, close this day at noon. Registered letters, money orders, and newspapers, at 10 a.m.

Mails close for Wellington, Southern Provinces, and Australian Colonies this day at 3 p.m., per s.s. Murray. Mails close for Castle Point, Wellington, Southern Ports, and Australian Colonies, on Friday sth inst,. at 9 a.m. per s.s. Rangatira.

Mr Nancarrow, inspector of steamers, was a passenger to Napier by the s.s. Kangatira on Tuesday last. He proceeded to Poverty Bay next day, and will return this morning. The Eev. J. S. Smalley, Wesleyan minister, will (D.V.) hold services in the Odd Fellows' Hall, on Sunday at 11 a.m., and 7 p.m.

The election of a member for the district of Mohaka, in the place of P. Dolbel, Esq.,' ook place on Saturday. Mr W. W. Carlile, being the only candidate, was declared duly elected, In the Provincial Council yesterday Mr Sutton gave notice that he would move that the sum of £l5O be placed on the estimates as a gratuity to the widow of the late Mr Michael Noland, who met with his death while engaged in his duty as a servant of the Provincial Government.

His Honor the Superintendent, in deference to public opinion, has introduced into the Council a measure altering the minimum price of land from 5s to 10s per acre. It is worthy of note that his Honor is one of those gentlemen who have availed themselves of what will probably be the last opportunity of purchasing land at the old rate.

We call the attention of those interested in natural science to the advertisement by Mr Colcnso in another column, notifying that a meeting will shortly beheld to consider the propriety of establishing a philosophical institute for this Province, We hope that Mr Colenso will receive pprdial and substantial support in this endeavor. There are no studies so fascinating in themselves as those connected with the natural science; and, considered from a purely practical point of view, they will amply repay attention. We have been shown by Mr Carnell some beautiful views of tho town of Napier, taken from a paddock near the Bishop's residence, showing all the business portion of the town, with the handsome buildings recently erected. Mr Carnell recently imported an expensive Dalfmeyer "wide-angle" landscape lens, of the most approved form, and it is with this beautiful instrument, which is as near perfection as the advanced optical art and science of the present day has produced, that these views are taken. The views take in a field so extensive as to be almost panoramic, and from the most distant objects to the blades of grass in the immediate foreground, there is no sign of distortion. These pictures are fine specimens of the photographic art, assisted by the best appliances,