THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 3rd JULY, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1590, 3 July 1874, Page 274

THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 3rd JULY, 1874.

The proposed breakwater for Port Ahuriri, if not " the great work of the age," as described by Mr Rhodes, is certainly an undertaking of such importance as to demand very careful consideration and attention. The Council yesterday declined to hastily adopt the report of the Select Committee, appointed to consider the question, and on the motion of Mr Johnston, adjourned the debate till to d.tv.

The report of the Committee, which was laid before the Council yesterday, is «• document showing signs of careful consideration on the part of those by whom it. was framed, but it does not thence follow that its teconimendatious should be accepted unquestioned. The report opens with tlie memorial which the committee, as instructed by the Council, have prepared for presentation to the General Assembly. In this memorial are set forth, in forcible terms, the insufficient harbor accommodation, the large and increasing trade of ilie

Port, and the advanlage to the Colony generally of a safe port on this part of the Bast Coast These premises will be readily admitted by all acquainted with the subject.

The Committee then go on to state that on behalf of the Province they are willing to impose a rate upon land to provide for the necessary annual interest and sinking fund on the amount tequired for the work \ and in addition have set aside valuable blocks of land as security for the repayment of princi pal. After setting .forth various professional reports as to the practicability of the work, and statistics as to the trade of.the Port, the rating scheme is more fully developed towards the close of the document. The total cost, of the work is estimated at £250,000, interest on which sum, at 5 per cent, per annum, amounts to £12,500. To meet this, the Committee recommend the division of the Province into four districts, known respectively as the Town of Napier, Ahuriri Plains; Intermediate District, and Out District. It is proposed to make the first two liable for a yearly maximum of £2,230 each, and the two latter for £4,000 each. While the work is still progressing, only a portion of this "amount will be required, gradually increasing as the undertaking advances. Xhe Committee, however, were sanguine that the public would never be called upon for any considerable sum in the way of rates—that long before the completion of the work, the dues would provide, without taxation, for both interest and sinking fund.

We think it is quite open to doubt whether any such extensive returns as anticipated will be realized from the work before its completion, and we cannot but look with concern upon a proposal to add so materially to our liabilities. The Committee recommend to the Assembly the consideration of the fact that the work, being one of colonial importance, might be justly assisted by the Government of the Colony. At the same time, it is within the bounds of possibility that the Assembly refuse to recognize any such claim, and that the whole burden may fall on the inhabitants of the Province.

It is not as though the proposed rate were the only one to be levied in the immediate future. As pointed out b\ Mr Colenso yesterday, we shall soon have provincial and municipal rates-for a variety of purposes, as well as our full share of taxation on account of the public debt of the Colony. At present, Avhile trade is increasing and money seeking investment, the proposed addition to present liabilities may not appear very serious; but in the event of a not, impossible reaction, the weight of taxation would make itself keenly felt. We hope that this portion of the proposition will meet with careful attention, and that the Council will bear in mind, in fixing the proposed rates, that the Province as a whole will benefit to quite as large an extent by the proposed woik as the town of Napier. Proposals like these serve to show the ser'ous mistake roado by the Government in years past in not setting aside larger reserves of land for extensive public works. Blocks of land which have passed into private hands at nominal rates, might, if reserved from sale and properly administered, have prevented the necessity of special taxation ior works ot this description.

The perfection of inconsistency is exemplified in the actions of our Provincial Council. The glorious uncertainty of the law is surpassed by the far more glorious unccitainty of the deci ions of the representatives of this Province. We have already pointed out one or two instances this session; but the crowning performance was accomplished last night, in committee on the Representation Act. The little pocket borough of Mohaka has all along been indicated as the most prominent instance illustrative of the fact that our present electoral divisions required modification. No more ridiculous exhibition Ihtn the last election for that district, has been known in this Province for years past—even the Superintendent, in his place in Council, characteiized it as an M expensive farce,'' which he " should be sorry to have seen repeated," Wisely, therefore, the Council in Committee, adopted the recommendation to combine this district with that of Mohaka, giving the enlarged district two menibeis, Col. Lambert certainly thought Mobaka, small as it was, imperfectly represented, for on that question he made this striking speech :—"I should support a proposition to take one member from the town, and dd it to Mohaka— poor Mohaka. J pity Mohaka—from my heat 11 do!" But the appeal was "unavailing. Last night, however, rather late, altera vigorous debate, two town members left the chamber. Immediatelyan.unusual stir was noticeable. The'membev for Mohaka, after holding consultation with his Honor and other members, suddenly moved the recommittal of the vV'airoa district, for the purpose of giviiig Mohaka distinct representation. The member for Wairoa stated that ho gave the motion a somewhat reluctant support. The proposition was strongly opposed by Messrs Sut ton and Buchanan, but these two gentlemen stood alone on a division, and the motion was carried ! An extra member was allotted to Te Aute last. night, raising, the total to twenty. This was supported by a gentleman who. had expressed h msolf in favor of reduction of the number of members rather: than increase, as he considered the latter an unmitigated evil ! But this gentleman's words are of'tV'ii wiser than his- votes. When a Council, as ours has done this session, re commits and alters a Bill which ha» been read a third time and passed, minor inconsistencies like these need not surprise us.

We would direct the attention of the members of the Provincial Council to the fact 'that their order respecting the provincial printing, has not been complied with. The new contracts -cameinto operation on the Ist instant.

Information regarding the intended action of the new Government at home in connexion with the drink traffic, and which has been awaited with-consider-able interest, has come to hand by the late mail. First we have the Budget speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Francis Northcote, which was, on the whole, of a most satisfactory character to the friends of temperance. No concession was indicated either to the.brewing or malting interest (which were in a position of antagonism, each requiring a concession at the expense of the other.) One most important statement was made in the course of the speech, to the effect that no decrease of revenue need be feared though that derived from the consumption of spirits were to fail from improvement in the temperance habits of the people. Such improvement would be accompanied by 60 great an increase, of material wealth and general prosperity, and the increased consumption of all other dutiable articles, as would more than make up for any deficiency from such a cause-—thus affording a complete answer to the oft-repeated objection urged against the temperance movement, " What would become of the revenue in the case of its success ?"

The new Licensing Bill, however brought up by Mr Cross, the Home Secretary, is a source of disappointment to a large section of the community, is that it proposes to rescind almost all the beneficial provisions of the Act of last session. The Bill itself was not published at the latest dates to hand, but a summary of its provisions was given to the House by Mr Cross on the occasion of its first reading. It proposes to extend the hours of sale in the metropolis to 12.30 at night, and in other places to 11 and 11.30, according to population. It proposes also to abolish the minimum fine for misdemeanor on the part of licensed drink-sellers ; to make the endorsement of conviction on a licence only m cases where such endorsement be specially ordered by the convicting magistrate; to abolish the provisions respecting police inspection; and also the clauses relating to adulteration. It is, in fact, just such a Bill as the drinksellers have expressed a wish to have passed, and perhaps we may add such as they felt they had some sort of right to expect as an equivalent for the aid rendered to the party in power throughout the late electrons. It has however created great excitement amongst the friends of order and progress throughout the kingdom, and certain of the organs of the press declare that its oharactsr is such, that it is neither expected nor intended to pass in anything like its present shape. The indefatigable champion of the Permissive Bill, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, has not been idle. At the very commencement .of the session he brought forward his usual measure, which was read then a first time, and its second reading appointed for an early date. The women's movement appears to have extended to Scotland, though not in the precise form developed in the United States. Large and most enthusiastic meetings of females have been held in various places. In Dundee in particular, energetic steps have been taken in various places to check the spread of intemperance. An inflential deputation of ladies waited upon the Bailies of that city, "as wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters," to protest against the granting of any new licence, the transfer of any licence, and to urge that every dealer who had rendered himself liable to forfeiture during the past year should be deprived of his license. The deputation was received by the Bailies, and listened to with much attention, several of the ladies making most effective addresses on the subject of this memorial; and they received a promise that thenappeal should be duly taken into consideration.

The first railway excursion in Hawke's Bay took place on Tuesday afternoon last. The local agents of Messrs Brogden and Sons had invited the members of the Provincial Council and their friends to a trip to Waitangi; and the day being fine, there was a good muster at the railway station. Upwards of a hundred were present, about two-thirds of the number being ladies. Passenger trains, as yet, have no existence here, but in their absence the trucks had been fitted with neatly covered seats, forming comfortable open carriages. The long line of trucks started about half-past 1 p.m., and in about a quarter of an hour reached the place of destination, on the Napier side«of the Waitangi bridge, five miles from town. Here a plentiful repast was laid out on a tiuck, which, covered with a

snowy table-cloth, formed a first-class table. After the good things provided had been duly attended to, a number of toasts.were given and speeches made. The Provincial Councillors, Mr Dunbar, Mr Weber, and his Honor the Superintendent (who was "conspicuous by his absence"), and Mrs Ormond were severally proposed; " the ladies," for whom Mr Goudy responded, not being forgotten. This closed the proceedings on the ground, and the party resumed their seats in the train. Just before the start was made, Te Hapuku, the oldest chief in the district, drove up, ; and stopped to watch the proceedings. He was invited to take a seat; but declined, preferring to look on. As the train started, the old man loudly cheered, and looked with amazement at the novel spectacle. A quarter of an hour's travelling brought the party back to the station, and a very pleasant trip was thus concluded. This, to many of the young folks of Napier, was the first experience of an excursion by rail.

Mails close for the Thames and Auckland, per Southern Cross, this day, at 5 p.m. Our English commercial (telegrams report wool as still firm, and wheat drooping. Some heavy, failures are recorded.

The Rev. J. 8. Smalley will (D.V.) conduct religious services in the Odd Fellows' Hall, on Sunday next, at •11 a.m. and 7 p.m. " ~: . y Great complaints are being made by some of the Patangata settlers of the ravages committed among their sheep by native dogs. .

The business of the session is last drawing to a close. The Council met at 11 a.m. yesterday, and meet at the" same hour to-day. The most important subject this morning is the discission of the breakwater question. Some arrears of committee work have to be gone through, and some bills, including the .Representation Act, are to be read a third time and passed. Ths Council will probably be prorogued this evening. In to-day's issue will be found details of the terrible floods caused by the bursting of a reservoir in the Massachusetts Valley. The magnitude of this catastrophe, which takes a leading place among the disasters of modern times, has been but faintly.indicated by the telegraphic accounts. The loss of life is estimated at 145; the destruction of property is incalculable, and one of the fairest and most productive districts in the States has been transformed in a brief hour or two to a barren and stony desert.

A warm discussion took place in the Council on Tuesday, relating to the subject of certain newspaper articles. The Speaker drew the attention of the Council to the fact that two articles had appeared in the Herald, relating to the action of select committees appointed by the Council, and broaJly accusing the gentlemen composing those committees, of having been actuated by private motives. He further expressed his intention of o'rdering the evidence taken before those committees to be printed, as the best refutation of tli°se charges. In the discussion which followed, all the old ground relative to the printing contract was once more gone over. Mr Oarlile declared himself responsible for the articles in question, and undertook to defend them. Mi Ormond administered a sharp rebuke to the member for Mohaka, stating that, it was utterly contrary to order for a member to come forward in his place in his capacity of editor, and defend his writings in a public journal. He was surprised at such conduct, which was altogether unprecedented. After some rather unprofitable discussion, the orders of the day were proceeded, with. Jn the Provincial Council yesterday, Mr Sutton moved—" That this Council is of opinionjthat licences to be issued under the ' Wholesale Dealers in Spirituous Liquor Act, 1871/ and ' Amendment Act, 1872,' should be issued in accordance with the form of licence prescribed therein." He pointed out that the local and general Acts were in conflict; wholesale licences under the local Act terminating in December, and those under the general Act, in June. Not only this, but the form of licence under the general Act did not convey the same privilege as that for which £lO was charged by the Province, inasmuch as the two gallons allowed to be sold must be all one kind of liquor, the local Act making no such restriction. Mr Lee, who seconded the motion pro forma, would support a refund of the half-year's licence fee, under the Provincial Act, for which the holder of the licence derived no benefit.. His Honor said the Acts were clearly in conflict, and as regarded the form of licence, it was clear that an Act of the Council could not override an Act of the Assembly. He thought it just that the half-year's licence fee should be returned by the Province, and did not anticipate any difficulty in this matter. The motion was negatived. ; lii the Provincial Council, in committee on the Sheep Act last evening, considerable discussion took place on the suggestion that the Chief Inspector's office should be at Waipawa. The majority of members who spoke on the subject expressed themselves in favor of his office being in Napier. The question was decided on a division; Messrs Buchanan, Tanner, Lambert, and A'Deane, being the only members who voted in favor of Waipawa. The Council was in favor of an ample salary being granted to the Inspector, so that his whole time should be given to his work. It was objected that, though receiving a high salary, the present officer acted as broker and valuer of station property, for which work his official experience gave him unusual facilities. Col. Lambert proposed the embodiment of a clause prohibiting the Inspector from undertaking private work. His Honor said that to make such a provision would be practically to give the present officer notice, of dis-r missal, and he possessed rare qualifications for his office. His Honor,. at great length, extolled the Inspector in the highest terms.—Col. Lambert remarked that Government officers here seemed' above their position. They must be treated with the utmost delicacy, or all kinds of consequences would ensue. They must scarcely be spoken of, and as for censure—that was not to bethought of. The proposed provision: was reasonable, and ought to be inserted. The Inspector had a good salary, and should be content with it. If he was not, and resigned—why, there were as good fish in the sea as had ever been caught. Col. Lambert's proposition was negatived. Our Inspector of Sheep is certainly a favoredjjmortal. An office which is all but a sinecure; a salary increased to £4OO per annum; and a Council with so profound a respect for his feelings that they'will not prohibit him from turning his publiclyacquired knowledge to private account, if so disposed!