THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 10th JULY, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1592, 10 July 1874, Page 282

THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 10th JULY, 1874.

Mohaka sustained a loss in the resignation of its late representative. Mr Dolbel was not one of the most prominent members of Council, nor was he a fluent speaker; but he made the welfare of his district his object, and advocated its claims with a quiet persistency which was not without its effect. The Waitaha bridge-—the work which he so long advocated, was ultimately ordered and brought out, and we doubt not, If Mr Dolbel had still been in his old place, would now have been in course of erection.

Compared with his predecessor, the present representative of Mohaka does not appear to much advantage, and he would find it difficult to point to a single public act of his which would benefit the district which returned him.

The great question of the session, so far as the northern districts were concerned, was the proposed inland route. No regular communication by sea can ever be established with Mohaka or Wairoa, and the present " road," absurdly laid out to follow an old Maori track, is of so hopeless a character that any money devoted to it is simply thrown away. The settlers obtained professional advice, and found that the country inland was of such 'a character as to permit of the formation of a good dray-road, which would have opened up for settlement an extensive district, On the subject being mooted in Council, the Superintendent strongly opposed the scheme, and the member for Mohaka —of course—followed suit. The opportunity was lost, and may never recur. Quite recently a gentleman narrowly escaped drowning at the dangerous crossing of the Waitaha creek. The iron bridge for that stream, obtained by the strenuous exertions of Mr Dolbel, has been brought out, and only requires putting up. What steps has the new member taken to promote this necessary work? •

A new Representation Act was introduced, principally, it was said be icause the electors in the Mohaka djp %ict were so few that they were; Mo longer entitled to, separate representation; It was shown that their, interests were identical with those*?:of and that between the two there was none of that jealousy which sometimes characterizes neighboring townships. By combining ; the "two "dis-,. tricts, therefore, Mohaka settlers would have had two votes instead of one, in the future Council an arrangement, we doubt not,' fatal to Mr Carl He's chance of re-election. But he opposed the union, and by means of an. arrangement very openly carried out, managed to upset it after it was passed by the Council, leaving Mohaka with one vote instead of t\jO.\

Throughout the session the new member has merely proved himself a faithful, though injudicious supporter of Mr Ormond, whose interests he would have generally better served by giving a silent vote. • . . .. ..

The Herald must have great faith in. human credulity when it gives the following as a genuine letter from " A Mohaka Settler:"—" There is not, from all that wein Mohaka can learn,; a more independent member in the Council than our member; he backs his own opinion against Ormond or anyone else; : ' The northern settlers generally find no fault with him, but congratulate themselves on having secured his services." '■.'; If this really came from that' district, there is a very sarcastic individual somewhere in Mohaka—the irony is simply perfect; We have little doubt that if Mr Dolbel returns to the Province, his old constituents will place him once more in his old seat. They would certainly profit by the change.

ExtrrmisS meet. Under the most liberal institutions may grow up the grossest forms of despotism. Under representative Government may arise a practically unchecked autocracy. Such is the present state of affairs in this Province, as was exemplified during the debate on the Representation Bill on Saturday .night. A more glaring interference with the functions of. a Legislative body we never remember to have met; yet a majority of the Provincial Council were found to treat the matter with indifference. These were the facts—a representation bill is hurried at night through committee, in face of the protest by those who oppose it, that there are serious blunders in the boundaries. The Chairman of Committees, in accordance witli the usual practice in this Province, takes his own •minutes of the proceedings, and attests them with his signature. The bill is passed through committee, reported as amended to the Council, ordered to be read a third time, and from the Chairman's minutes the amended bill is drawn up and sent to the printer. The proof is read next day, by the Speaker and Chairman of Committees, and sent to the printer, with instructions to return a revise. This revise is not received The bill is printed, and is about to be laid before members, when it is discovered that it does not accord with the bill as passed through committee. The discrepancies are not literal or typographical errors, but positive changes in boundary. The bill is sent back to the printer by the Speaker, to be printed correctly, and the Council adjourns to wait for it. Further examination shows that the Chairman's minutes—the sole record of the proceedings in committee —have been altered in pencil so as to correspond with the altered Act! When the Council resumes and the printed bill is once more laid before members, it-is again found to be incorrect. More than this, the Superintendent lays a map on the table, which he says embodies the amendments passed in committee, and which bears upon its face a certificate from the Provincial Surveyor to that effect; but this map, on being examined, is found to correspond, not with the bill, as passed by the Committee, but with the unauthorized document already printed ! Then the Superintendeut'announces that it will be necessary to re-commit the bill; there are still certain errors in boundaries which require amendment; the map shows the alterations lequired, and ho will now lay before members a bill which he has had printed, showingthe required amendments, which will make everything right 1 This bill, -be it noted, is the same which was originally printed for the third reading. It appears that but for the vigilance of the Speaker, the Council would actually have read a third time and passed a bill which had been privately amended after passing through Committee. Such a breach of constitutional usage is almost too extreme for credence; yet it actually occurred. The few members who exposed it were denounced as obstructive; the Council obediently re-committed the bill and made the amendments precisely as laid before them ! One more instance may bo quoted. The recommendation of a select committee regarding the printing tenders was adopted by a majority of the Council, and became a distinct order to the Executive. His Honor fought it to a .division, and was defeated ; after which he quietly ignored the whole matter, acting as though no such resolution had boon passed. It has been suggested that the Council is a very unnecessary expense to the Province as governed at presentthat his Honor could manage as well, if not better without it. By no means. It is true that it has lost its influence in the Government of the Province; but it is convenient to his Honor, as once every year it passes an Appropriation Act authorizing the expenditure for the coming year, and a Credit Act indemnifying him for the illegal expenditure of the year that has gone. As for the oratory of the members—their recommendations and resolutions—they servo to amuse them, and pass the time, and do not affect the actions of the Superintendent.

The evidence relatiug to the system in Provincial tendering, as taken before ytlie' Committee of the Council was'of seF'clear a nature that hupublish- ■ fi)g it,in our columns, see did jibi think 'a v.'ord of comment necessary.,; \\The however, has devoted jiearly ..four columns to the task ti£ explaining away; the three columnsof- testimony, and in so doing has given forth some very starting hypotheses, which, omitting verbiage, we shall give as nearly as possible in our contemporary's own words :

lv 'ihatthe inquiry was grossly unfair ; wa.s, little better than a farce and a scandal•;- and was a contrivance to blacken, the character of an .antagonist, 2. That it was conducted throughout by Messrs Sutton -and- Buchanan; the :other members of the Committee —Col. Lambert, Capt, Russell, and Mr A'Deanc—boiag no better, than-lay figures. ,-•,•;< . 3. That the evidence was wilfully distorted by these gentlemen : i fair play was not allowed the witnesses on one side, and things were made pleasant forthose on the other side.., ' ~ • 4.- That the. reason Mr Buchanan was instructed to draw the report was, that the committee could not trust Mr Sutton to do so, though they had appointed him Chairman ; and that had opportunity been afforded the " lay figures," they would have retracted their recommendations. ,

5. That proper inquiry would have disclosed a surreptitious arrangement between the Times • and Daily Telegraph ; but no inquiry was made under this liead. The above is a fair resume of the Herald's allegations. Some of them are of a very serious kind, and at the risk of wearying the public with a subject of which they have already heard so much, we will see how far these charges will bear examination. ■ The triple-pointed charge under the first head concerns the private character, as men of honor, of five gentlemen in the Provincial Council. They are all well known to the people of the Province, and need no championship on our part. The second allegation is not complimentary to three of the gentlemen constituting, the committee. It is however, a mere matter of opinion, and so far as we can judge is not borne out by facts.

The charges under the third head again reflect seriously upon the rectitude of the committee ; and the Herald has entirely failed to support them with facts.

The next idea is bold and original. The " lay' figures" show signs oflife. Having appointed Mr Sutton Chairman, these gentlemen lose faith in him ; and act so far upon their own judgment as to depart from the usual course, and ask another gentleman to draw their report. Whom, then, do they ask ? Mr Buchanan ! Readers of the Herald must have discovered that if Mr Sutton is comparatively unjust and untrustworthy, Mr Buchanan is the very embodiment of these qualities in their superlative degree. Objecting to Mr Sutton then, the committee appoint a gentleman who is more objectionable. Is this consistent ? Then again, these three gentlemen " would, had the opportunity been afforded to them, have remedied the injustice which they perpetrated, no doubt unwittingly." Against this assertion, we place the fact that twice when the subject was debated in the Council, all the gentlemen composing the committee defended their report. We come'now to the " surreptitious arrangement " between its two contemporaries, which the Herald has asserted with such extraordinary persistency, and which, on no better authority than the Herald, Mr Ormond took upon himself to assert in Council. Having once given the story a plain denial in our columns, we have no occasion to do so again. But, contrary to the Herald's statement, careful inquiry was made by the committee on this very point, and the answer is recorded in the evidence.

We will now refer to the " surreptitious arrangement" which did come to light. It was between Mr Grigg and his late partners—the Herald proprietors— "leaving the Times out." The Herald proprietors do not appear to have had any scruple in the matter —they only seem to have stipulated for the consent of the Telegraph proprietors, which was refused. A dispute arose, and Mr Grigg threatened to "join with Harding, and make it hot tor the Herald." Here, it seems, is the sole foundation for the " arrangement" which the Herald has trotted out every time it referred to the subject. We would be sorry to vouch for the details above given—but they are in evidence, and have a certain air of probability. Into the quarrel between the Herald and Mr Grigg we do not wish to enter, nor the private matters of the late firm, which have with such questionable taste been given to the public. But the Herald's present unmeasured abuse of one of its late proprietors, who "largely contrihuted " to its " comparative success," is wofully at variance with testimonials given by them publicly and privately on his leaving the firm. Some of the Herald's arguments are only fit to provoke a smile—for instance, that Mr Dinwiddio, being a plain business man, would not use the Latin phrase " bondjides" ! If so inclined, Ave could point out serious discrepancies in evidence given by the. Herald witnesses. But the subject is unpleasant and we refrain. One word in conclusion. We have never asserted or hinted that the mistake regarding, the tenders was intentional. But the fact that the Government, on the injustice being clearly shown, have neglected to remedy it, even when distinctly ordered by the Council, goes far to suggest the idea that such was really the case.

The Rev, J. S. Smalloy will (D.V.) .conduct religious services in the Oddfellows' HaJJj on Sunday next, at 11 a.ra, and 7 p.m.

Mails for Wellington and Southern Ports, per §.s. Storm Bird, close this day at 9 a.m. ~.-...

W.§ note in yesterday's Herald, a poem published as " original," and "by a spinster," which has. been travelling from one, newspaper to' another for years past, and is, we believe", the work of an American, poet.'; | The New Zealand Times of the lstjinst. has a long and flippant article on the. subject of " cremation." It contains'a single argument against the practice--that in cases of suspected poisoning the means of proof would.be obliterated.

Our evening contemporary on Tuesday published the following telegram from a correspondent" at .Waipuknrau: —Mr Bailey, father-in-law to J. A'Deane, Esq., had a narrow escape from drowning in the Gorge this morning. He had sunk twice when he was fortunately rescued by; Mr Pilcher. . By the telegrams from, the seat of Government it will appear that the soundness of the present apparent prosperity is questioned by some of our leading politicians, and that the Hon. Mr Waterhou'se, in his place in the Legislative Council, tin view of the rapidly-accumulating liabilities of the Colony, predicted a speedy "crash." .

The late fire at Mr Peters' stables was the- subject of an inquest at the Clarendon Hotel on Tuesday. Br. Hitchings, coroner, conducted the inquiry, and Mr H. Campbell was appointed foreman of the jury. No newlight was thrown on the subject; and an open verdict was returned, with a rider.to the effect that inquiries into the origin of fires should take place as soon after the event as possible. .

A religious service was conducted at the Immigration Barracks on Monday evening, by the Rev. "J. S. Smalley. A very large proportion of the immigrants responded to the invitation previously given, and heartily joined in the service of praise; after which an address was delivered by Mr Smaliey, and containing words of greeting and Christian counsel. The meeting was also addressed by Messrs Laws and Lowne.

The General Government, for statistical purposes, desire a return for the last five years from all friendly societies, showing the number of new members entered each year, and the number who have retired, stating whether such retirment be occasioned by withdrawal, expulsion, or death ; transfer from one lodge to another to be exclude 1. The information should be forwarded by the Secretaries of the various lodges to the local registrar, Mr J. N. Wilson. John M'Glashan, brewer, of Farndon, was charged on Wednesday, at the Resident Magistrate's Court, with selling alcoholic liquors without a licence. He was defended by Mr Lee. The evidence showed that M'Glashan had, on the Ist inst., supplied two men, one of whom was a disguised police-con-stable, first of all with a liquor which he called " spruce beer,' which was said to be non-alcoholic, and secondly with ordinary beer of a new brew, which was undoubtedly intoxicating, and a sample of which was produced in Court. Defendant told the men it was not safe to sell them the liquor, as he had no right to do it. His place was full of people, and he was going in and out with beer. Fined £25, and £2 2s costs.

Pititi, a native, was charged in the Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, with having stolen a hay mare, saddle, and bridle, valued at £lO, the property of Mr G. H. Swan. The evidence showed that the prisoner, who was drunk at the time of the offence, had deliberately unfastened the mare from a post to which she was hooked, opposite to Mr Pratt's chemist's shop, and rode her away. The owner of the horse, hearing of the offence, followed the prisoner, overtook him at the Swan Brewery, which the horse seemed disinclined to pass, and gave him in charge. Prisoner, in defence, said he was drunk, and had no recollection of the affair. If he had been- sober, nothing of the kind would have happened. He was committed for trial at the next criminal sittings of the .Supreme Court, which will be held in December next.

A death by drowning, under very painful circumstances, occurred in the Tutaekuri river on the 2nd instant. The victim was a shepherd named Hoppert, living on Mr Seale's station. An inquest on the body was held by Dr. Hitchings, coroner, at Peddie's hotel, Taradale, on Monday, before a jury, of which Mr iS'eagle was foreman. The unfortunate deceased has left a wife and child, and Mrs Hoppert was the principal witness at the inquest. From her evidence it appears that on the Thursday previous her husband started on horseback to go out on the run, and she accompanied him as far as the river, which was flooded from recent rains. She saw him attempt to cross the river, but he returned, finding the current strong and the water too deep. He tried another spot, and had got a good way across, when both horse and rider suddenly disappeared from view—it is supposed in a quicksand. After a short space, the horse came to the surface, and as it was swept down the stream, Mrs Hoppert saw her husband's foot still in the stirrup. She was of course powerless to render assistance, and the nearest place where help could be obtained was the station, sixmiles distant. In that direction she started, and half-way there met Mr Seale and two shepherds. They at once rode to the spot where the accident had occurred. Following down the stream some distance, they came upon the horse—rhis saddle under his belly, and his bridle entangled in a fence. Pursuing the search still further, they came upon the body of Mr Hoppert in a shallow. Two hours had elapsed since the accident, and life was extinct. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidentally drowned."

$w Zealand jjarliamtitf. f«V [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] « HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES". : TUESDAY, 7th J (JLY. .**«* -.. ; LANDirURCHASE. / $| .Mr T. B. Gillies moved for at persons employed during" the financial year in land-purchase: operations in the; j North Island ; the quantity}position,*price ! . of land purchased by each person &c. Mr Vogel said the Government >had no,. objection to afford every ihformation,excepting that which might be likely to prejudice such very delicate operations as land transactions sometimes were. He did not deem it desirable that the House should ask the Government for more informaliou in these matters then they felt it was expedient to give. Mr Gillies objected to that view. He asked only for returns regarding completed transactions, consequently it could not be detrimental to the public service. It was agreed that the returns be prepared. ; .; . \ .;.,,,. NEW MEMBER. Mr Wales, of Otago, took the oaths and took his seat. ..... CHARGES AGAINST JUDGE.CHAPMAN. , Mr J. L. Gillies gave notice to ask the Government whether they took any steps to investigate the charges mado against Judge Chapman, contained in telegramspublished in the Otago Daily Times, purporting to be copies of telegrams sent by Judge Ward to the Premier, and whether they would object to laying the telegrams and correspoudence'relatihgtothe subject on the table. , ''•'."" ' SUNDAY WORK;-- ■ h (i ■ In reply to Mr T. ; E. ' Shepherd; the Premier intimated that it would be inadvisable for any Postmaster,. to have power to compel the attendance of subordinates to deliver mails on Sundays, and, generally, it was not desirable to make any change in the present arrangement regarding Sundays. .GOLDFIELDS LEGISLATION. ■:- In reply to Mr O'Neill, the Premier said the Government did not intend introducing a Bill during the present session. He thought goldfields legislation was more properly the function of the If the lion, member chose to take charge of such a Bill, he hoped the session would be long enough to give him an opportunity to have the subject ventilated. INTERCOLONIAL RECIPROCITY. . Mr Reynolds, in reply to Mr O'Neill, regarding the reduction of the duty on Australian wines, said that this colony had only received one definite reply from Tasmania to a circular regarding reciprocity, which had been sent to all the Australian Colonies. In the meantime, it was impossible to take any action uutill the question ofreciprocity had been settled. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT. The Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill was read a second time, the - Government intimating that sufficient.lime would be given for members to consider its provisions before the third reading. . SESSIONAL COMMITTEES. The usual sessional committees were appoiuted. ADDRESS IN REPLY. The address in reply to the Governors speech was moved by Uapt. Wales, and seconded by Mr Gibbs, both being well received. WEDNESDAY, Bth JULY. - NELSON LOAN. Mr Oswald Curtis gave notice of bis intention to bring in a Bill' to borrow £250,000 to be charged against the revenue of the Province of Nelson. He moved that to-morrow the House resolve itself into Committee to consider the question of giving leave to introduce the Nelson Loan Bill, and said the security was four hundred thousand acres of land. Mr Vogel asked the House not to allow the second reading of any Bill of that character until after the Financial Statement was brought down, which would be in not more tnan ten days. Motion agreed to. LAND AND PROPERTY TAX. Mr Vogel, in answering a question put by Mr Wakefield, regarding the reduction of customs duties and equalizing revenue by taxing land and property, said if the Government had such an intention, he would refrain from making known the fact earlier than was necessary, so as to avoid the dangerous and injurious amount of speculation which would naturally follow. CENSUS OF THE NATIVE POPULATION. 11l reply to a second question the Premier said an approximate census of the whole native population was then in the hands of the printer. GOVERNMENT BILLS. The following Bills were read a first time:—Regulation of Mines Bill, Municipal Reserves Bill, Electric Telegraph Act Amendment Bill, Post-office Savings Bank Act Amendment Bill, Wellington Hospital Reserves Bill. The Premier explained that the Electric Telegraph Amendment Bill dealt chiefly with the production of telegrams in Courts of justice, and offences against the Telegraph Act, ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN. Mr Vogel moved an address to her Majesty, offering congratulations on the auspicious occasion of the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh, as a matter of special interest to the people of New Zealand, his Royal Highness having twice visited the country; and expressing an earnest prayer for the welfare of the Royal pair, and giving assurance of devoted affection and loyalty to her Majesty's throne and person. PURCHASE AND SALE OF LAND. MrT. B. Gillies moved for a return in detail of expenditure out of sums devoted to the purchase of land. Mr Richardson said the returns were in course of preparation. It was agreed on a'motion that re turns be prepared of land sold during the last twelve months in various provinces, specifying number of new settlers, and quantity of land. IMPREST SUPPLY. Mr Vogel said he hoped no needless opposition would be raised against an Imprest Supply Hill, to be brought down tomorrow, as it was desirable to pass it this week. The House then adjourne*d. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, Bth JULY. FIRST READINGS. A Bill relating to real estate 'was read a first time. A Bill to amend the marriage law was also read a first time. Mr Waterliouse took occasion to comment on the absurdity of the law of New Zealand being different from that of the other colonies in respect of marriage with a deceased wife s sister. ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN. An address of congratulation on the marriage of H.R.H. the. Duke of Edinburgh . was agreed to.

ADDRESS IN REPLY. Mr Campbell, in moving the address in reply to the Governor's speech, said it was (le-iffi|le for the Governor to visit every ■poliilfh of the colony, which was not like 'Australia, which had one great centre of population. He thought that the public works; scheme had been very well carried out during the past year. All available labor should be applied to effect the completion :]of the works already far advanced. Immigration should be increased rather than decreased ; 15,000 were brought out ifrom July, 1873, to the end of March, 1874, at a total cost of £lO per head. The return from them paid 30 to 40 per cent, on the cost. Ho -thought that .in two or : three years the population would be a million, and estimated the Customs revenue at £300,000. over that estimated. He thought the Life Assurance bouus scheme was premature. -.The, accounts should be sent to a first-class actuary in England to ascertain, the real position. New Zealand would seem to be agreat manufacturing country, and the Polynesian trade should be directed here, as it would supply ahurii.dant raw material. He did hot anticipate any very serious difference between the two Houses. The Council's services were not sufficiently known; they had saved •the country £11,000,000 last session. They had followed the example of the Australian colonies too much. The Government of New Zealand could teach theiri better than be taught, , ,;;..■ Mr Miller seconded the motion. ■>.».■ :,■ -

Mr Waterliouse made a very alarming speech on the prospects of the country, and said his Excellency's speech contained nothing. During the recess, Ministers had been feted; the Premierbanquetted; and. important negotiations carried. on with'. heads of Provinces resulting in large sums of money being promised to several Provinces. .There would be a great fight this session, on a subject of which no mention had been made in the speech, viz., Provincial borrowingj Regarding immigration, he considered the present policy of the Government as dangerous' in the extreme ; they had broken through constitutional limits. Last year, £25,000 was" voted; for the introduction of. 12,500 immi?, grants up to the end of 1874. As soon as Mr Vogel took over the immigration, 35,000 immigrants were ordered at a cost of over £700,000. Besides, the introduction of immigrants did not lower the price of labor. Every immigrant required to be housed, and, for the first twelve mouths, demanded labor instead of supplying it. In a short time the crash must come, and he believed it very close at hand. The present prosperity was not owing solely to public works, but to these causes : Ist—Rise in value of natural. products. 2ud—The confidence established thereby. 3rd—The public works policy had an appearance of prosperity, however deceptive. Bank returns showed that we were owing £lO per head, and tightness was already observable in the money market. There would be no fall in the revenue, but a great stoppage of . private enterprise of every kind. He. thought the Polynesian scheme problematical.

Dr Pollen said the stream of immigration could not be kept up enough. If the Government had not sent for a larger number than was authorized, they would have incurred censure

Colom-l Brett praised the Native Minister, hilt condemned the volunteer force as inefficient and useless.

Captain Fraser urged the importance of a trade with Polynesia. air Campbell, in reply, combated Mr Waterhouse's remarks, and upheld the Government in its conduct of immigi'ation.

A Press Association telegram of yesterday's date states that Mr M'Kirdy's tender for the Paid Paid contract has been accepted, but that the particulars of the contract have not yet been made known.