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Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 249, 16 September 1865, Page 2

Under the present position of the New Provinces Act, Wanganui (Wellington), Hokitika (Canterbury), and Wakatipu (Otago), besides other places can erect themselves into separate Provinces. Wanganui resolves herself at once into a new Province, and the Wellington people express great sorrow. Timafu is the next on the list, and we should not be surprised to see the West Coast following these examples. In fact the recent debates, and the intensely selfish opinions elicited during the debate on the New Provinces Act, make a resort to this course a necessary one in self protection. It was plainly seen that the object of Mr Macandrew's Bill was to conserve all the rights vested in the Provinces now in existence, and that though these had sneered at the efforts of outlying branches to obtain advantages, yet such cities as Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin were keenly alive to the injury that would accrue to them from such a separation. Our neighbors are better situated than ourselves—they cau start clear without being burdened with a heavy debt. Any portion of Otago erecting itself into a separate Province, would be burdened with a certain share of the existing enormous debt of that Province which has been mainly incurred by a reckless and lavish expenditure on reclamation schemes, harbor improvements, loans to Town Boards, the Blueskin and Taieri roads, and the Exhibition building, &c., ad nauseam. This is the serious point for consideration. It is, as a general rule, impossible for new Colonies or districts to start without a debt of some kind or another, but to take a share of a

debt recklessly contracted, while at the same time the up-country districts were so terribly looted as to injure their prospects and progress for years to come, is a most serious matter. Looking at past Provincial policy, and the sentiments anent this question recently expressed in the General Assembly by various Provincial members, naturally a feelin°- of alarm is created. The Wakatip has never sought separation or any other protection than that the General Government would step in and prevent the carrying out of a policy as unsound as it has proved ruinous to the'best interests of the Province. We hope his Honor the Superintendent will be able to offer some re-assuring statements on this head. We are well aware Mr Dick's visit is to obtain information, but this matter is one of great importance to the district with Martin's Bay and the West Coast goldfields in view.

The trustees of the Queenstown Cemetery have held a meeting aud communicated with the Government, with the view of obtaining assistance to fence in the burial ground, and to constitute a properly organised Board. Mr Worth has undertaken the task of applying to the Government, and it is the intention of the Board at once to fence and plant it if they obtain funds. The School Committee have determined to try the effects of a voluntary appeal, in preference to incurring an additional expense by assessing and levying a rate for the support of the Queenstown School. The consequence will be that the willing horses on the spot will have again to bear the burden.

The very heavy floods on Wednesday and Thursday rendered the Shotover impassable at Foster's Ferry, consequently all communication had to take place via Dohey and Bond's Bridge. The cause of this rise in the river was the heavy rain which continued all Tuesday night. The night was also warm and close, which aided considerably in melting the snow. We are glad to observe that farming operations are being busily conducted throughout the district, and that a large quantity of new ground is being taken up. The prospect of the Dunedin Main T-unk Koad being opened, our excellent climate, and a confidence in the resources of the district, are the recognised causes of this action, though the past season, from the non-sale of produce, has been ruinous to farmers. We cannot too strongly draw the attention of miners and others to an advertisement which appears in another column, in which the Provincial Government offer very liberal terms to those who may desire to send for their friends or relations. The late hour we received this advertisement prevents us dwelling upon several very desirable features connected with the subject. We regret to state that after the third time of letting the tenders, the works on the Kawarau road remain uncommenced. The reason assigned is that the tenders were accepted at too low a rate. Messrs Howden and Barr of the Survey department are indefatigably employed in surveys of this and other portions of the Lake district. These will be of immense value hereafter. We are indebted to Mr Haughton, M.G.A., for a copy of the new Mining Act, and also for other parliamentary papers. We have been misinformed regarding the amount paid by coach for Mr Pyke's traps from Dunedin to the Dunstan. We are indebted to Mr DeVeaux, of Cobb's Office, Dunstan, for setting us right. The amount paid was " not much more than half £40."

The first day's trial of Capt. Jarvey for poisoning, took place on Monday. The witnesses examined were :—Mr Isaacs, who supplied the strychnine; Mr C. V. Robinson, part owner of the Titania; Mr J. W. Henton, clerk to Youngman and Co.; Mr Curran, second steward of the Titania; Mr R. Liddle, engineer ; Mr A. King, chief steward ; and Mr Coyle, civil engineer. The evi-dence-in-chief of Miss Jarvey was completed. Her cross-examination will probably occupy a great portion of Tuesday morning. Andrew and England Jarvey, the witnesses who were present at the death of Mrs Jarvey, and the medical men who were called in, will be examined on Tuesday. The prisoner, who appeared unwell, watched the case narrowly, and was continually engaged in taking notes of the evidence. The Court was crowded all day, and Mr Smith appeared for the prisoner. The 'Sydney Morning Herald,' of the 15th inst, commences an article on "Immigration" with the following remarks:—" Stop immigration and we shall all prosper—such was the cry. Is it so ? The account of the condition of persons employed in gold digging in some parts of this country, given by ' a wandering reporter,' shows that besides the anxiety, imperfect shelter, and moral deterioration connected with a desultory occupation, there is much actual poverty and distress. Still we have suspended immigration except under very peculiar forms, and the Land Act has thrown open a vast extent of country for the occupation, lawful or unlawful, of any who may choose to settle upon it. Every year's experience shows how mistaken they were who attempted to arrest the influx of people under the idea that they increased thereby their own certainty of employment, or that land for choosing would attract the population of England."