AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1613, 22 September 1874, Page 367

AUCKLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) 11th September. An attempt has lately been made/to arouse the Aucklanders from their proverbial apathy on public questions. A meeting was held in the Choral Hall (the largest public Hall in the Province), on the same evening that MrVogel's abolition resolutions were carried in the Assembly. Some strong language was used, but the telegram of the result of the division being communicated to one of the first speakers rather damped the tone of the meeting. What had been done needed not discussing. The Provincialists made; no show. After that Messrs R. Wood and Gillies severally met their constituents the former obtained a vote of confidence after some opposition ; the latter had, for once, no opposition shown him, and had a unanimous vote of confidence, without even one hostile question. Not but many of the electors who attended his meeting will probably at the next election, as at the last, vote against him ; but for the present their opposition is neutralized. After theso meetings another was called in the Choral Hall to establish a Reform League. Nothing like striking the iron while it is hot. But this meeting proved a tame affair. The Provincialists did not show themselves, and consequently there was no fight. Two resolutions were put and carried,unopposed ; the first asserted that Provincial Institutions should be abolished. But it does not follow that the people are so nearly unanimous in opinion as might be inferred from the absence of declared opposition. Whether the Reform League will gather sufficient vitality to keep itself gaining is at least a doubtful question. A little open opposition would be of great service to it. Some time ago your columns contained a charge against somebody of altering a Bill after passing through committee. Our authorities can beat that. A Bill was introduced, printed, circulated throughout the Province, discussed, committed, amended, reported, recommitted, reamended, passed, printed, assented to by the Governor, and circulated ; a blunder was then found, and the Bill is said to have been altered and amended again by somebody, words inserted in it which were not in either the original draft Bill, nor in the Bill as it left committee, nor in the printed copy as passed and signed. It is rather a peculiar case, and may prove a lucky job for some of the lawyers. The question has already cropped up in the Resident Magistrate's Court at the Thames, and a decision was given on it. See the Advertiser of the sth instant. You will learn by telegram that the Waitemata election has resulted in the return of Mr Von der Heyde, whose former election was declared void by the House, on the ground of a defect in his naturalization. It is not likely that his late opponent will make another attempt to unseat him, although it is a doubtful point whether the disqualification does not still exist. You will have noticed the claim made by Mr Casey, owner of the small steamer Lady Bo wen, for services rendered to the ship Miltiades; and the award of the large sum of £1,600! That award astonished the public. On what grounds, or on what evidence it was based, many people were curious to learn, but public curiosity has not yet been gratified. One-twentieth part of the sura awarded would have been ample, aye, more than ample, compensation for all the services rendered, and it is not generally understood that the Lady Bowen ran any risk, or incurred any damage, other than a few hours loss of time. Nor is it believed that the Miltiades was really in any danger, the water being smooth, the wind blowing off the land, and only a moderate breeze. Our Legislators have during the last session eclipsed all former practice in the art of spending money generously. It is understood that considerable additions have been made to the cost of Government generally, besides several special additions which some people will consider unnecessary and indefensible. The proposal to pension off our Chief Justice, and so provide a billet for somebody else, is one of the things which plain and simple folk can't comprehend. The ability, in-' tegrity, independency, and courtesy of Sir George Arney are admitted on all hands ; in fact the latter quality is almost carried to a fault. No New Zealand practitioner would or could ensure such general confidence as he enjoys. He is not an old man, and in all probability would be fully equal to the duties of the office for ten or a dozen years to come, if spared so long. The only ground on which he is supposed to wish to retire is understood to be some unpleasantness which has occurred between him and some other persone in authority; and for this the colony is to be saddled with the expense of a substitute for him, and that under circumstances which make it at least doubtful whether the successor will be nearly as fitting for the office. But extravagance is and has become a mania with our rulers. What with pensions, and ministers travelling abroad at enormous cost, the cost of governing the few people in New Zealand is altogether startling to those few who really try to understand it. The colonists of New Zealand well deserve the character of patience under burdens such as they are allowing themselves to be loaded with. If the press of the colony was not so much interested in the continuance of such a state of affairs, it would not .be long ere a change would be demanded by public opinion, in a voice that would take no denial But so long as the proprietors of the public newspapers are ( as so large a portion of them are, interested in the public expenditure, so long will,the press be lukewarm in its opposition to extravagance ; and when to the interest of proprietors is added the fact, that writers for the press are often also recipients of public money, sharers in the spoil, the position of the governing fraternity is indeed strong. To advocate economy with any hope of success, while borrowed millions are being

lavished, would require great talent, great labor, and great perseverance, backed by money; for without the latter, the papf r tfiiit dared to attack vested interests would run great risk, of being starved out. When the cycle of events brings again a time of depression and dulness, then a cry will be raised, a v s on many previous occasions, fo economy and retrenchment; but vested interests will befoimd strongly entrenched, with possession, which is truly nine-tenths of the law in this as in many other matters. A proposal has been made to pension our Superintendent for life ; but some people suspect that this proposal is intended for the benefit of other parties than the one nominally interested.