THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1874.
A fundamental alteration in the political constitution of the North Island of this Colony having been decided on by the Legislature, it behoves the inhabitants, one and all, to seriously consider the situation, as there is unquestionably much danger of a worse form of government being substituted for that which it has been resolved shall cease. So far as the Province of Hawke's Bay is concerned, it is possible that the change to be effected will be more nominal than real. For years past the Government has been conducted by a Superintendent, who, though elected by the Council, has yet beeu a nominee of the Colonial Ministry; whose proceedings, though endorsed by an obedient Council, have not in any. material sense been influenced by that body; and the main difference between the new and the old regime will be the cessation of the appearance of control exercised by that body over the affairs of the Province. In the other Provinces such has not been the case. There at least the chief of the Government, however autocratic, has been the chosen of the people, and responsible to them. The Councils, too, have exerted a legitimate influence over the policy of their executive officer, and whatever the results of the provincial system have been, when duly carried into operation, it has at the least been of a more local and popular character, than any centralized system can be. In fact, the faults found with Provincialism lie in the opposite direction. It is not that that system has been too local in its character, but too central. Complaints arc made by outlying districts of injustice done them in that a duo proportion of expenditure of public monies has not been made for their benefit. It is constantly affirmed often indeed unjustly—that outlying districts are impoverished for the benefit of the capital of the Province. In fact it is now the case that the population of outlying parts is just that portion of the people who are rejoicing over the proximate fall of the provincial system, supposing that they will receive better treatment from the hands of the Central Government than they have ever received from that of the Province. Here then we are brought face to face with the question that concerns the whole of the Island—that is, the danger that exists of Provincialism being supplanted by a system of Government which, instead of correcting its evils, shall but intensify them—a system of Government by the mere nominees of the Ministry of the day, which shall take from the people even the semblance of local control, and give them a despotism altogether foreign to the traditions and instincts of the British people. This is the danger that looms in the immediate future. It is what centralism has been leading on to, and gradually approaching, from the day it gave Provincialism Us first deadly wound in the passing of the New Provinces Act. It is also the very characteristic feature of this kind of government to appropriate to itself all power and devclope into full-blown despotism. It remains then for the people of this ■lsland to take vigorous action during the few months that must elapse before the resolutions of Mr Vogel can be given effect to. No indication of what it is proposed to offer in substitution for Provincial Governments has yet been given, if we except a somewhat indefinite reference to the " absurd county system;" but doubtless more than one scheme will be proposed for the consideration of the public. Let all such be well discussed, so that when the question shall next be brought before the Assembly the popular will may be clearly defined and intelligently brought to bear on that body; otherwise, the people will altogether fail in what they evidently want, which is a system of government more local, and more under the control of the governed bodies, than Provincialism has been. Not a system that will confer more power and patronage on the Ministry of the day, and that shall merely place under its control a multiplicity of place and offices with which to reward obsequious parasites, or purchase the forbearance of troublesome and obnoxious foes—a system that will only intensify the worst evils, and multiply the expense of that which it is to supersede, instead of remedying its defects. What we need is cheap and good local government, in contradistinction to a costly mid corrupt system of increased centralism. Thf English news per Tararua contains several items of interest—the resignation of Governor Fergusson and the appointment of the Marquis of Normanby as his successor; the recognition of the Spanish Government by England ; and the escape of Marshal Bazaine. The news per Tartar from America is also interesting. Storms, floods, and fire are reported. Another fierce conflagration has swept for nine hours over Chicago, destroying some of its finest buildings, and causing loss to the amount of three million dollars. A scandalous charge has been made against the Eev. H. W.. Beecber, which will probably turn out to be a fabrication,
The disputed election of Mr Von der Heyde for Waitemate has a wider significance than is at first apparent. It interests, or should interest, every member of the community, especially resident in districts like our own, where foreign immigrants are being located en bloc, and special settlements formed by families speaking another language, and having different customs from ourselves. There are three Acts in force bearing on this subject which require consolidation. The Constitution, Naturalization, and Aliens. None of them are sufficiently distinct or definite on this point, or comprehensive in their scope.; Mr Von der Heyde was naturalized as a British subject in Australia, years since, but failing to be re-naturalized here, has labored under the disadvantage of requiring to be again made a British subject in this Colony by special proclamation. Now, had this gentleman been naturalized in Great Britain, he would have been "a British subject wherever he wandered. Legislation is manifestly wanted to cure these and other discrepancies. An alien can hold property in the Colonies, by Crown Grant even, but if he disposes of it to a purchaser, the title will bo found to have a flaw. It is within the memory of men now living that special legislation in the British Parliament had to be made to enable a Jew to hold, undisputably, land in Great Britain. It is absolutely necessary that the Germanic people we are introducing into this Colony should have not only an easy mode of obtaining rights of citizenship, but that they should be made acquainted with the disabilities under which they labor. Our readers will remember that last year about fifty of the Norsewood settlers applied to be registered as electors, and but for the vigilance of the late Eegistration Officer, would have had their names illegally placed on the Rolls of the Province. Many of those resident in the different special settlements lately founded in various parts of this Island have already acquired property, registered themselves as electors, and will doubtless, at the next election of Parliament, exercise the right of the franchise without taking the trouble to become members of our dominion. There is reason to believe that many of Mr Von der Hey tie's supporters could be placed under this category. In mining districts, where miners vote on their Miner's Rights, no questions arc asked, the man records his vote, and exercises an influence ho has no right to possess. The law requires both to be consolidated and amended, and we trust the ensuing session of Parliament will place the aliens now settling among us in a definite position, and enable them to enjoy the privileges of British subjects. ~ —— "Possession is nine points." Therefore there is nothing like possession. So thinks the Lyttelton Times. Therein it shows a feeling that is common enough. Perhaps if it were rarer and more commendable, our contemporary might not be so largely endowed with it. It must be confessed that in the very hour when the North Island provinces were being tried for their life, it was a little hard to hear a southern juryman, as the Times is, accuse them of having " milked" the sister provinces of the South, forgetting that had there been no selfishness on the one side there would have been no "milking" on the other—that had there been that unity and patriotism which should have existed in the two Islands, albeit separated by a strip of salt water, the fortune of war and the inevitable cost of colonizing the country ■would have been shared uncomplainingly. If there is one cause more than another that ought to.make the North Island embrace abolition, it is the chronic whine in the South that they are being despoiled by the North. By the compact of 1856 they received an endowment of Colonial estate that no impartial mind could say they were entitled to, and they have ever since shown a feverish dread that they might lose a portion of it—first in clamoring for separation ; and when that failed, in melting it away in enormous sales and huge endowments. It is pretty evident that the South, being in the position of the elder brother under the law of primogeniture, cares little what becomes of the younger so long as he does not quarter upon him ; like the young porker for which there is no maternal teat—he may die of inanition, or go " anywhere, anywhere out of the world." We are informed that Mr Thomas Ritson, a driver in the employ of Messrs Hart and MeKinloy, died about daylight on Saturday morning, at Mr Villers' hotel, Petane. He was suffering from a severe cold, and on arriving at the hotel on Friday afternoon was so unwell that Dr Gibbes was sent for ; though no one suspected the serious nature of his complaint. Dr Gibbes responded promptly to the message, and was in attendance on Ititson at the time, of his death. This being the case, no inquest will be held. The funeral takes place to-day, On Friday evening last a well-attended public meeting of the Hawke's Bay Permanent Building and Investment Society was held in the Council Chamber, Mr A. R. W. Lascelles, solicitor, in the chair. The objects of the meeting, as stated in advertisement by'which it was convened, were three-fold—to revise the proposed rules, to enrol applicants for shares, and to constitute the society. The proposed rules, which were very numerous, were then read—a part of the business which occupied a considerable time—and approved by the meeting. A large number of applicants for shares were then enrolled; after which it was decided, on the motion of Mr W. Smith, to hold a meeting next Tuesday evening (to-night) to elect officers, adopt rules, &c. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and the hou, secretary (Mr Fielder),
The Rev. J. S. Smalley, Wesleyan minister, ;vill conduct a religious service in Danish, at the Oddfellows' Hall, next Sunday; at 3 p.m. The Sacrament of the Lord s Day will be administered at the close of the service. Norwegians, Danes, and Swedes are affectionately invited. Napier is proverbially a music-loving' community, and during the coming week its inhabitants will have such an opportunity as has never occurred here before of gratifying their favorite taste. The English Opera Company, the performances of which have been reviewed in the highest terms by the Australian and New Zealand press, are now on their way from Auckland, and will open on Thursday with Balfe's "Rose of Castile." Particulars may be gathered from advertisement. .
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Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1605, 25 August 1874, Page 334
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1,948THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1874. Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1605, 25 August 1874, Page 334
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