THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri TUESDAY, 28th JULY, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1597, 28 July 1874, Page 302

THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri TUESDAY, 28th JULY, 1874.

Not the least interesting part of our Wellington correspondent's letter is that referring to Mr Vogel's State Forests Bill. Information may thence be gathered as to provisions of that important measure of which no intimation was given in the telegraphic summary of the Premier's speech on the subject. Our correspondent, who takes a decidedly opposition standpoint, clearly and forcibly sets forth the weak and objectionable points in the Bill, the principal object of which,' as our readers are aware, has our entire sympathy. The necessity for some such measure cannot, we think, be denied by, any thoughtful person whose attention has been directed to the subject. "Well-in-formed people did not need Mr Vogel's

statistics to be aware that the destruction of forests led to irregularities of climate, causing seasons alternately of drought and of flood, resulting in denudation of the country by rivers and streams, and the loss of large tracts of valuable agricultural and pastoral land. Nor did it need any extraordinary powers of observation to see that the destructive process. had set in in this country—notably in our own Province —notably also in Canterbury and Marlborough, where the unruly rivers have been sought to be confined within due bounds by Act of Parliament. Great losses have occurred from the causes we have indicated, and vast sums of Government money have been expended to check the evil, but to very little purpose. It was a great idea of Mr Vogel's to grapple with the cause, instead of wasting the capital of the Colony in ineffective struggles with the effects. But like his other schemes, it appears to have been brought forward in a very unpractical form, and has more than one patent defect. In the first place the great staff proposed is far in excess of what would be really required, and would lead to great and glaring abuses of patronage. The expenditure of £IO,OOO per annum for thirty years would be a serious addition to the Colonial expenditure, and, moreover, would be found insufficient to carry out a scheme of the magnitude proposed. What occasion, we ask, would there be for " the foundation of colleges and schools for education in forestry," with a well-paid staff or professors and teachers ? We fear that were such a scheme as this inaugurated, the profits to be " devoted to payment of interest on the money expended in the construction of railways, and the reduction of the public debt of the Colony," would be infinitesimal, if the balance sheet for the twenty years did not even indicate a loss. As our correspondent very justly remarks : " The scope of the Bill is very ambition:-;, and the purposed machinery too elaborate and cumbrous." We doubt if even India, which took the matter up in earnest years ago, has developed a scheme of greater magnitude than that proposed by Mr Vogel, We attach no great weight to the objections that private- enterprise will be checked; or that the Provincial heritage is to have rude hands laid upon it. The weal of the whole Colony is of more importance than the private interests of timber merchants or sawyers ; and as to the second objection, Provincial authorities have never, so far as we have seen, dealt with the lands under their charge, either " too wisely " Or " too well." Wo should be sorry indeed to see Mr Vogel's bill pass in its present shape, and still more sorry to see it utterly rejected. Our hope is that Parliament Avill deal with this grave subject calmly upon its merits, laying aside if possible party feeling and selfish ends. It may be expecting too much of our representatives, but if it is done, we shall see the " State Forests Bill " pass the Assembly in such a shape as will render it a benefit to the Colony for all future time. o Mails for Auckland, per s.s. Pretty Jane, close this day at 2 p.m. Mails for Auckland, Fiji, Sandwich Islands, America, United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe, close per Cy phrenes at 7 p.m. on Thursday next, 30th inst. Money orders and registered letters close at 5 p.m. on the 30th. Two cases came before the Eesident Magistrate on Friday. Mrs Sury v. Milne, an action to recover possession of a tenement in Dickens-street. Plaintiff was landlady of a house rented from Mrs Col. McGregor at 14s per week, of which amount she received one half from the defendant. She had given one week's notice to defendant, who declined to accept it, alleging that by agreement he was entitled to one month's notice. After hearing the evidence, the President Magistrate accepted the defendant's statement as correct, and dismissed the case, Knowles v. Kirton. —Claim of £lO. — Judgment by default for amount claimed and £1 costs. Yesterday, three drunkards came before the Court. One was dismissed, in consideration of the fact that he had been locked up since Saturday night,—one was fined five shillings ; and another, for a second offence, was fined ten shillings. Seventeen candidates were initiated in the Napier Pioneer Lodge, 1.0.G.T., on Friday night, and a large number proposed. This lodge, which has only been opened six months, now numbers one hundred and thirty-seven members. At a meeting of the local committee of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, held on Friday last, it was resolved to apply to the Directors, requesting them to extend the number of shares allotted to this Province, there having been only 6000 allotted, while 8500 have been applied for. The Provinces, with the single exception of Auckland, have taken up the shares with great readiness, but in that Province only a little over seven thousand shares have been applied for. The Napier Harmonic Society has undergone another change. It is in future to be known as the " Napier Musical Society," and new officers have been appointed, the President being his Honor Judge Weston; the Secretary and Treasurer, Mr Guy; and Conductor, Major Withers.