THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1874.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 285, 21 August 1874, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1874.

If one thing were wanting to convince us that the Government's intention is, when strong enough, to abolish the Provinces throughout the Colony, it would be in the remarkable change ,of front manifested by the papers assumed to represent Ministerial opinions. , We notice the 'Guardian,' a paper that has spared no pains to sneer at Provincialism as a whole, suddenly stops, and almost goes the length of saying that to abolish the Southern Provinces is not thought of, nor should it be. This attempt *o calm the rabid Provincial party by assurances of peace when war has been up to now persistently preached for a year would be sufficient, together with the fact that must occur to every reflecting person—viz., that the Northern Provinces, once abolished, will never rest until they have abolished the South—justifies a very strong belief that the intention is to put an end to the astonishing anomaly of some ten petty Governments for a population, in some parts of the world, leys than is to be found in a single town. . < It is difficult to see -why Otago and' Canterbury should, through their old Provincial leaders, oppose a centraliding, system of. Government. As capable of self-maintenance, Otago and Canterbury are not to be mentioned together with any of the .Northern Provinces ; yet they cannot reduce the Northern Provinces to a state of destitution without eventually having to pay a double share of taxation lo meet the.requirements, of the North in the future. In a country such as New Zealand there cannot be, as regards revqn ue, a meum and titvm. The pop u - lation alike are all the taxpayers of the present and the future. Auckland, as a taxpaying Province, cannot bo reduced without increasing, in proportion, the payment to be collected from the South. tfuppo.se, by a system o' borrowing, the Provinces are kept going another five \ear.s, the wincUip

must come, and then Otago and Canterbury must take up and pay for the immense loans to the .North winch would be necessary to keep matters going in their present slip-shod style. • Prosperous Otago, too, thinks it necessary to try to borrow half a million of money—which, fortunately, she cannot do—for the mos»t part to construct falsely called public works-—harbors, coal railways, short branch lines pi' railway, and the like, to benbfit and enrich a few private persons. Day after day we see the back-stairs influence brought to bear in Provincial politics to enrich private .persons at the expense of the public : Gross sales of land negotiated in an underhand manner, with, promises that no one else, under any consideration, shall :be allowed to purchase. Indeed,. the sole aim of Provincial politicians seems to be to get rid of their landed estate, regardless of what, by care and a little forethought, it might be made/to return. With one land law for the Colony, with one responsible Government, and no such things as irresponsible Boards to trifle away through ignorance and an unwitting playing into the hands of schemers who, behind the' shelter of the Irresponsible, effect their purposes ! almost undetected -r- such 5 swindles as the gift of £15,000 the other day for the Manawatu block, or, as in Otago, the. sale to Colonel Kitchener, at Moeraki, not to speak of the Maerewhenua. sale, could not possiblyi be .Successful.' If .abuses; occurred they could be provided against and remedied. Such a centralisation of Government we have always maintained must be. beneficial to'the Goldfields. tinder the present system the Goldfields are nefariously taxed to provide' funds for the continuance of Provincialism;—Nd wonder the Colonial Government is impatient of the 'Cries which: 6ccasionally.;reach : it'to; reduce Goldfields taxation, when not a fraction of it ever escapes the,rapacity of the Provinces. / '1 he Provinces spend the, revenue '|collected, and' excuse themselves for its ; - excess,over what;is fair on the ground that they cannot ref ,mit what is imposed-for their benefit by the Colonial Parliament. If, what Goldfields revenue is collected were .going into the Colonial chest, ; into the same offices as had to,pay for Gold-, fields expenditure, and it was seen,, as it would be, that the revenue was over four times the necessary departmental 'expenditure, the impecuniosity p.f the' Provinces would not long be,a'sußi- ! cient reason why the Goldfields'bur- 1 dens should not be'lightened. - ! •' «:■■■; We do not demur for a moment to the idea of a total abolition: of-the Pra- ; vinces—we complain that;it'is;not,as yet proposed. It would be much abetter, if the question is sentto the icon-; stituencies,; to .Jet it be Provincialism as a whole versus Centralism.: i It 'is meant. It, too, is best, and .cannot by; any means ;be longydelayed. . There would be,no difficulty, ah'a'/comprehensive scheme of consolidation; "in providing fair protection fair the beirter managed or.richer, Provinces. . Otago and' Canterbury would still send their full quota of members to-Wellington, and they would be quite able'to pro- 1 tect the real interests bf-'tne Provinces. Provincialism has served its purposed It is now too cumbrous, too costly, and too barren of results to justify its continuance a year longer than is absolutely necessary, ■''•'■ '•• - '■' ■ .L■■/>'' •v.

The Goldfields could hardly expect to get off" with only a single case being raised as to the validity of water rights licensed for mining purposes. Eobls are sure to rush in where lawyers fear fco ijread; Messrs. Bprton.and M'Master have broken the ice. The Goldfields are straightway annihilated—"been tolerated, my dear fellah, too long. They (the miners) must be taughtj their real position in the country, as being exceedingly useful at shearing time to help dip sheep, but at other times a nuisance—Shy a positive' nuisance!"' ~-.;:.'•": :-::-l w ,'■"•.:< f _:,,,'■■.

'Bros; have -now taken up the game, and have commenced litigation at Tinkers against Joseph Read and party. We do not know that ; we can at present throw more light on the real question in dispute than we did in our series of; articles in January, February, and March last, the deductions < in' which; : have never been contradicted. In the Tinkers case,. however, -there is this difference, that the freehold was obtained since the establishment of Tinkers as a Goldfield, and consequently was so obtained with its defects. The other strong point exists, as in the Maerewhenuaicase, that objections were not; t,aken byrthe ' freeholder,. in, ; tbe \ one case, and the leaseholder—as we presume he then was only—in the other, to the construction of: the expensive races and other works in connection with the-mines.- This is whatthe: lawyers call, we believe, the law of waver. The miners ought by this time to,; see the'necessity -of'union, and the'wisdom of keeping up the existing Mining Associations.; We observe a telegram in a Dunedin paper that the Mining Association is to be asked to defend the Tinkers case. Well and good. Vve think the Association should do what can be done in the matter ; but law, to deftnd t.'rown blunders, is foolish and costs money. Now, we understand as a fact that only one subscription has been sent to the Central Office for the Maerewhenua Defence—that coming from Tokoinairiro. * It is itrue some lists are being held back, "but what amount they represent wo cannot say. If the Central Association is to be of real use when difficulties occur the full particulars should be at once sent to the Executive, and not telegraphed vaguely about the country. It is too bad to take initiatory stops leading to

expense, and afterwards to throw, the responsibility on to the Executive to carry out projects set on foot without caution.

•M-damk Goddard is playing at,Bathurst. She proceeds thence to , Dunediri, rvia | Melbourne." ■.-■'.>. i- .» ». : : •-, A iecturt! will be'given by Mr. B. Gordon, at the' Catholic "the benefit of the. school, on Saturday evening., ... The Dramatic Club give the first of a series' of performances on the 24th inst. A capital programme is offered. It is notified at the Nnseby office that no

The Dramatic Club give the first of a series' of performances on the 24th inst. A capital programme is offered. It is notified at the Nnseby office that no mails will be dispatched this'month via San Francisco: * The Suez mail closes at Naseby on Friday the 28th, at 1.30 p.m. On dit that an action for false imprisonment, damages laid at £SOO, "is to be the result of the : sceneiri the Kcsideht Magistrate's Court, reported in another column, •. We' give the rumor for what it is worth.

A man, named William Arthur Haselup, was, we hear, taken into custpdyjStvWaipori, charged with obtaining money St. Bathans, and Blackstone Hill on various pretences.

"Negotiations ' have been commenced in 1 reference to the reciprocity treaty between the' United States and Canada, and it is antidU; pated that the treaty will*>beirevised\.atS an early) date. ' •■-'■': ' vJ •■> \\\ fi '.. , *,|Pabliament has been .prprogued.\ % The Royal speech statedi'that • foreign) "relations continue friendly. Her Majesty's Government'would employ all its influence to maintain treaty obligations,, and promote thepcohsolidation of peace. ''.'■■•' ■■., |j> C (~; , ; \\\ The P. and O. boats commence to go through the Suez Canal on the 20th August.' Formalities having been completed, the steamer leaves Southampton in September,, calling at Alexandria. ;

The Committee of the Mount Ida, District Hospital beg to acknowledge, with thanks, a donation of valuable books from Messrs. Rolland; also from E. A. Chapman, Esq., copies of tho 'Australasian ' for about five years.

Those who have dogs in Naseby they care about better watch them closely. .On Thursday, two dogs, well known and valued by their owners, who they had not.left any.distance during the day, were poisoned by some heartless wretch.

The Premier announced that probably/'.the Polynesian Island Trade Bill 1 would *'n6t' ! be J proceeded further with this session. In any case they could not proceed with it while the abolition debate was pending, and the result which was so uncertain, and probably not at. ■allj .., i -., ~.':■ •:> O . < v \ .. ( '' Dtteing a discussion in-the House-'of s ComMr. G-ladstone and Mr. Disraeli both 'said that although tranquility prevailed in Europe, influences exist indicatory of great troubles sooner or later, in which Spanish affairs would play a prominent part. Mr. Bourke, Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, in, reply to a question from an hon. member said ho power contemplated'armed;\interven-' / - tion as regarded Spain. England* would-ais-coura'ge any such proposition. j T'Mb Redwood has sent a couple of his mares to try conclusions with the Austr4lian\lhorses ■of the day. The 'Argus,' of,the s.th inst., has the' following mention of the.'foreigner3_:4-f, " Two New Zealand racehorses; intended l to try conclusions with Australian racers on Vic-.' torian and New South Wales turf, have arrived'. Their names are Lurline and Papapa, * and tliey are owned by. Mr. Eedwood. • Good care has been taken of them on the passage across, and they appear to be in fine order."

The tha\v, which set in early in,the week, has Brought a very ple'a3ant\charige:j l -;\ Mining claims are all busy, .and Vor¥ -'is proceeding on the head ; race. V"The• gardens are being put in order^' and* ploughs 'are observable down the flat turning up the ground in with all this pleasant picture we cannot'conceal from ourselves the fact that there has been no rain or snow yet fallen to promise anything more than a few weeks' supply for the claims.

The English Government seems to incline towards IVji. Late telegrams state that/in the House of Commons Mr. M'Arthur moved a resolution approving the Government decision to annex Fiji, -which, was-discussed.\ Sir O. W. Dilke moved an ■ i urging 1 caution, but both were rejected. .Mr; Gladstone spoke strongly relieving the Government from entire responsibility. Mr. Lather, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, declared that the session must be unconditional, and domestic •■slavery,woiild hot be tolerated. 'd \'<iv| VvV'O ■ Speaking- on the general .question, of TiraiT-' ways in connection with ; >©tagp \ tne,;-'|Pre-mier said the great work the* Government had in view -was to carry : forward great trunk main lines from Auckland'to "Wellington, whether by East or-WesfCoast, and' connect Nelson with .the, West Coast,', and' Marlborough with North; Canterbury;' jThese must be first carried put, and the branch lines to Tokomairirb ' and 'Duhstan might then be ■ dealt with. The -branch s'lines should.jbe: a charge upon the land. furld£ they. so,tmuoh\ enhanced the value of land interested. Already £206,400 had been voted for railways Jin Otago out of a total sum of £557,000 authorised:—The;Biil was.read a- second:time.~T Tiphon.Mr. Mantell- has given' notice of ;his intention to *moyev i the*itfolfpwing,inew, clause in the Burial^G'TOund'Clbsmgitiill when it comes on for discussion in fche Assembly . " be lawful for ajiy>pe.rs,6n\byjwill or deed duly executed to direct that his or her body shall .after; death he* >! ofby burning the same Washes, instead ; o'f' Burial in the earth; and it shall'}be ( la,wful for the executor or executors of such\person to carry into effect such direction : -provided that such burning shall' \be'-;cpn*du'pted in'. ;a.~.manner s wbicb shall hot' create" ahy'public or' private nuisance." '-,).-. '-, .., ..\',.,, - f\ Is .the E. M. Court yesterday '-afternoon, a man of,the name; of William-,Arthur", -Hase-" lupiwasi brought up charged'witha, false'l pretence in obtaining money .from. Jphn\ Cogan, of Naseby, oh, the, pleaj of a ' drafting,, about to be placed to his credit in the Bank of New Zealand, Naseby./ 1 The, tj.shew/ that he had given a cheque to John ■Cogan <m ..the Bank, of New- Zealandi.. .The .accountant gave evidence that the accused had ho account with ,thiß bank. The man was discharged, the Magistrate paying (there, was Wo evidence on which a jury would couvict." note of the evidence is crowded out of this issue but.will appear in'our next. / , ,;,.Thb undermentioned appeals against the assessments for the were heard yesterday before ..the-/Resident Magistrate, at the Court House; Naseby Ward: John Farmer, assessed fAO, reduced to £22 ; Goo. Colletfc, assessed reduced to £9O ; Edmund Horswell, assessed y reduced to £124. West Wardj ; E. T. George, Town Clerk's Office, assessed £IQ, reduced to £9 ; E.T. George, hotelf&c.,'assessed'£l4oj re-, duced to £i24•; V. J. Greer, brewery, assessed £65, confirn-jed.: ' South Ward : David Stewart, assessed, £SB, reduced to £40?; W. T. Kirby, assessod'£26, confirmed; Masonic Hall Company,/ assessed £IOO, reduced to £SO. .' A iiEMBP.R in/ Wellington telegraphs to the ' Star ' on Slohday as follows :—" I cannot, understand IM turncoats of the ' Guardian.' It is said here ihjat the Superintendent ha 3 the' art the directors, and it is re ported instructions have been given' to Mr.

|Pyke to write down the Ministry. It must be fa genial occupation to one who, like him, asppires to office. The shareholders here are iu'dignant at the imbecility and weakness of the directors. The Ministerial phalanx is becoming stronger." The ' Guardian ' of Tuesday indignantly denies anything of the sort. We wonder who the member is: can it be stan ? ;

We publish, as of interest, the proceeds of 13.190z. of gold forwarded to the Royal Mint at Melbourne, by the Provincial Government •of Otago, for mintage, on account of Mr. C. Dyke, Sowburn:—

Amount received as per Mint note" ".,":"""'".; ... £53 & 0 Less charges— Duty .. ... 1 8 0■" Freight % 0. 3 -1 Insurance'. _ 0 3-4 Shipping 0 2 4' I , " 1 16'- 9 . Balance remitted.. ... £sl 9 3 Showing a nett result of £3 17s. 744..per ounce. During the»hearing of the appeals against the Municipal assessments on. Thursday last, Mr. E. T?" George L stafe'd it cost him' 4s.'a week to find the Councillors in firing. That would tie Bs. for each sitting. Now, without any wish to impute to; Mr.,-Ei T.,George-a .desire to throw cold air on : the, Council or. itsproceedings/we must place ,on record the fact that, to our knowledge, ribt enougfr fire to warm a mouse, let alone a Councillor, ever desecrates the office stove on the coldest winter night, for such 'an unholy' purpose' as warming a Municipal Councillor. .No.doubt firing is very dear—so dear,.indeed,.that we may -well sigh for cheapcpiJs—but'' Bsi for a couple of hours' imaginary Heat ih ; a 1 stove is rather too much. ■'"'■'■'-• y > in z~:;:ii •;:-;'';';'

, r The ' Guardian;' referring to our notice of 'the late' death l from< drowning, at the Hamilton crossing of the Taieri, writes :—The. notorious, 3 Upper Taieri ford, ■■ between Naseby and Hamilton, appears to have been the scene of another fatal accident. Our readers'may. remember that the bridging of this river at f the ; place indicated has been repeatedly, rbrought under, the notice of the Government,' but up * r to the present time pothing whatever has TBeen done to lessen the - Government really be : unable to overtake ; a.-work of this kind, surely something might oe clone to lessen the chances of accidents. A very considerable amount of traffic passes Sto ar>d frp at ; this spot, .and, with, a bottom subject to all the changes of a river carrying down a heavy body of sluicing debris, the crossing cannot be depended,upon,, even under; the /most favorable circumstances. A . wire rope extended; from bank to bank would be'of very'great assistance. It would enable the'luckless traveller, to. feel his way cautiously, and,|if he lost his footing, would give him some chance of holding on until he could manage to regain it. A simple, contrivance of this kind would have been of saving brie life Rafter-an-' other which has been sacrificed at this very spot, without the slightest effort having been made by the authorities to, prevent theirs recurrence.