TOPICS OF TALK.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 319, 10 April 1875, Page 3

TOPICS OF TALK.

It has been on our conscience for a

time to devote an article or paragraph to Sir George Grey, now Superintendent of Auckland. Every paper has done so. in fact, failing other events of a more startling nature, the advent of Sir George Grey into the political world has been a great boon to the Press. Taking all that we see written, •we cannot see anything upon which to expatiate, unless it be Sir George's amazing condescension in stooping so much below him, and that more legitimate Belf-sacrifice shown in the sacri-

fice of his pension. Sir George Grey could hardly think it was stooping very low to enter the ranks of the workers instead of reclining among what he himself considers the political drones. What aro of interest to our readers are., the views the member for Auckland City East holds on the question •of Goldfields taxation. "He had", he said, "a very strong feeling on this subject, and objected very much indeed to a considerable portion of the taxation which they were subjected to. It could not perhaps be immediately done away with, but advances might obe made in that direction. He asked why was the mining population taxed to a greater extent than another. There could be no doubt that a mining population was very orderly, and the

constant aud familiar intercourse betwean the minors, induced a mildness of demeanor and propriety in the population which would hardly be found in any other population in the world j therefore he contended that a mining population was no greater source of anxiety to the Government than any •other. He asked them why should they bo specially taxed, and made to pay a duty upon their gold, while a man with 50,000 acres did not pay a penny on his wool ? And why put a license on every place that is put up when sheepsheds might cover the country without paying anything nt all ? The only means by which they would gain a system of more equitable taxation was by being properly represented. He" would do his utmost to bring this about." Although we remember that this was uttered at an election time, and that the locality chosen for the utterance was the mining centre of Auckland, there can be no doubt that Sir George Grey will support—if not initiate any movement for the abolition of special taxation. A a Auckland is the chief of those impecunious Provinces that are said to be almost wholly dependent for income upon the Goldfields revenue, and as Sir George Grey ns Superintendent will perpetuate the Provincial system if possible, his decided opinion so freely expressed is fwell worth remembering. *

The Dunedin School Committee would net be drawn out about rating. Yery wisely, and, we think, quite truly, they—or the majority held that, as an administrative body, they had no business making any recommendation of the sort. The proceedings were of interest, as drawing a statement that a Eating Ordinance win be introduced into the Council during the ensuing session. Whether this is to be a private Ordinance or a Government one dooa not appear. As Mr. Stout is reported to have said that 4 ' the matter did not originate with the •Government—he could not see that it was a political question," it may be intended to introduce the Ordinance as a private measure, and give it all the weight of the Government during its passage through the Council. Our Tenders may not readily see the distinction—but it exists, and is found useful if by accident an unpopular bill comes to grief.

" "With regard to the value of the lands of the two islands— you are aware that the most of our good agricultural land in Otago and Canterbury has been alienated. A good authority informs me that the acreage to sell in Otago does not amount to 500,000 acres; no doubt we have pastoral lands yielding a good revenue, and •which should not be alienated at present but remain as a stand-by for the future, the money value of which, if sold judiciously, would still be large." We take the above na our text, it being a casual sentence let drop with entirely a different object to what we have in dread, and couple vith it another statement made with authority, that Provincial revenue 1874-s,has ex-

ceeded that of the proceeding year by no less a sum than £IOO,OOO. As an indication of what we may expect, this statement and inference set out by Mr. M'Glashan may be considered prophetic. The immense increase in the revenue is mainly attributable to the sales of land which took place in the south of Otago when the lands in the district of Southland were once more opened to all applicants under classification. These sales have bo reduced the available agricultural land of Otago as to give colour and some degree of truth to Mr. M'Glashan's remark. If the estimate be a true one, the Provincial land fund will be exhausted inone or two years receipts of land revenue ; or probably,' as the applications will increase in a somewhat inverse proportion to the rate of decrease, in one year's receipts. Happily it' is hot strictly true. The unfortunate fact remains that it is officially true. Officialdom knows no facts outside its own creation. Unhappily officialdom decreed some years ago that Otago contained so many acres of agricultural land, and so many of pastoral land. Under this infallible degree there can be hardly a doubt but that immense tracts of land called pastoral will be put into the market to pay for railways and other public works of a costly nature. If the principle of selling these large areas is again sanctioned by the Provincial Council, as it was some five years ago, "the stand-by for the future " will become the resource of the actual present. At the present time we have in our office applications by men of capital on behalf of themselves and families—one for acres, another for 400 acres, and others for 200 acre sections applications which are guaranteed to be abided by if the land the applicants require, in the vicinity of their own homes, is opened to them. These applications are all for land which officialdom would ridicule as being in the remotest sense agricultural land. The only waste land beyond the pale of classification is land which, under no possible circumstances, could ,be made to give more profitable returns if improved. Any sacrifice of Provincial estate on a large scale at a minimum price will be a disastrous blow to the future of Otago.,

The district may be fairly congratulated upon the successful result of the tenders for the Hamilton bridge. Messrs. Farquhar and M'lvoi have obtained the contract for £3487155. The work, it will be seen by the price, is one of considerable magnitude. l The expenditure will, however, be well repaid in its beneficial results. It is not-' able as the first public work undertaken out of Provincial revenue in the district, other than the small annual appropriations for unmade roads and subsidies to local institutions. • As the road from Hyde to Hamilton is now commenced, and will no doubt be completed, traffic from Strathtaieri will begin to naturally go through Hamilton, and a considerable amount of set-, tlement will follow the road as opportunities occur. .•..■„■:>-:,',

Eetuening to the subject of local rating for education purposes, the system has been in force in Auckland for some time. The permissive principle introduced by the General Government ia not extended to local Committees, as is spoken of in the future Otago system, but the whole white population of Auckland is rated' alike. The rate has not been very happily collected, and this year amounted only to £12,000, while payment due for salaries alone amounted to £17,000. The educational endowments are not apparently very valuable, and are reported as not yielding more than £4000.' The Auckland Education Board, finding themselves in a difficulty, have waited, upon the Superintendent to represent their destitute state: "His Honor said he considered the question of education of paramount importance in the Colony. It should be dealt with by the General Government. He was convinced that if the present Colonial revenues were administered with proper economy, the savings alone would be sufficient to educate the whole Colony."