THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1875.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 341, 17 September 1875, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1875.

The figures we publish in another column, prepared by Mr. J. 0. Brown, are deserving of much consideration. If G-oldfields are still to be G-oldfields as afc present defined" the miners must be losers by the Colonial Treasurer's good intentions. The tendency indeed seems to be to extend Goldfield districts rather than ta contract those already proclaimed. Mr. Brown does not bring out one fa.it which he might have done : —That for some years past G-oldfields 3*evenue lias been decreasing. "We have no reason to hope that the revenue will show any marked rise under the crushing weight of taxation which ia to be continued. Under the Government proposals, therefore, the funds available for return in roads and works will steadily diminish, while the S-oldlields are extending, and the needs of a more and more scattered population are gradually increasing. It may be said that these figures, and the arguments we base upon them should driye us into Provincialism. This, however, does not follow. Because Provincialism has proved itself able to give Goldfields mora cash for roads and works than Centralism—as interpreted by Major Atkinson—we are not, therefore, bound io stop-our ears and cry " Great is Diana of the Epliesiane." "We cannot be blind to tho evils of Provincialism. Such evils are too patently burnt in to be lightly effaced.

The real ground of complaint thai; for years wo have unceasingly urged on behalf of the gold miners is that they are made to bear alone a (special tax —an equivalent for which is spent for the benefit of others who contribute nothing at all. In six years Mr. Brown shows that £211,857 Las been collected in Otago from the GoMfieicfe, beingGoldfields Eevecuo and Gold Duty. Against this there has been Bpent in roads and works on tho Goldfields, £202,998. The special ocst of tho Goldfisldrj Department for the sis years has only been £4-6,752, against £211,357 raised in rents and taxation. £46,752 should also have been the limit of the revenue raised. It is unjust to tax miners as a class a single shilling more than sufficient to meet the departmental charges they necessitate. The ground they destroy iu all high-lying land that would hardly keep a goat, and the value of all e.Ter destroyed in Otago

would bo found to amount to. very little. The old system has been to tax the miners to find funds to make permanent roads and bridges in pet: districts for the benefit ultimately of the permanent settlers aijd the towns they supply with produce. Mining taxation is kept up to relieve the ultimate ratepayer, and possibly to postpone as long as possibles the initiation of a property tax. The new system proposed is to render permanent the old, with the disadvantage that year by year there will be less money with which to carry ic out. We do not envy Goldfield Members their position when the constituencies really understand the combined treachery and stupidity a majority have been guilty of this session in Wellington.

The sudden turn which the Abolition question' has taken should awaken a little public interest. A fter Major Atkinson's admission "so childlike and bland" that the G-overnment could see no harm in an equalisation of land revenue throughout the Colony, there could be no hope of peace. Otago members, urged by the Otago ' Guardian 5 to be true above all things to the original compact, had to fight or fear the consequences. The Auckland party, led by Sir George Grey and Mr. it. Wood, had equal cause to dread statements which every day have been made to them with some entirely different characteristic uppermost. For instance in the Abolition of Provinces Bill the securing of the Land Eund to the South is a marked feature: The Native Minister accordingly assures the House that the Government do not intend to abandon any clause of the Bill, but to have the whole Bill and nothing but the 'Bill: The Treasurer tells members it is intended to advance £IOO,OOO on Treasury Bills to Auckland and other impecunious Provinces which is to be formally considered a debt incurred by each Provincial District; at the same time they need not be uneasy, as if they cannot pay it will make no difference. Honorable Statesmen must discredit propositions thus put forward with a lie—conceived by hardly credible ignorance or palpable intention—stamped upon their lace. Consolidated revenue is the sole source of supply from which is to proceed the Southern bribes—the half subsidy to Boad Boards and the whole to Municipalities. It is admittedly a matter of opinion whether funds will be sufficient for these subsidies even for one year. Consolidated revenue is certainly to redeem these advance Treasury Bills to the .North. Obviously, if the JSorth gets the money first, the South cannot get it afterwards. The South then will be finally driven upon its own laud fund for what it was entitled to reeeive from the Consolidated [Revenue, but which that revenue will prove unable to pay because of equalising gratuities to the JSTorth. This is what is called by the Colonial Government " Colonial equalisation of land revenue." It is worth while for those who have not time to follow out the arguments for and against immediate Abolition to look a little at the men engaged. Let them take our Otago Members and ask themselves the question—Are brains and honesty with tho Government or the Opposition ? On the Government side are Mr. Eeynolds, Mr. "Wales (who admitted that .it all Provinces had been managed as Otago there would have been no need for a change), Mr. M s Glashan, Mr. Steward, Mr. G-. M'Lean, Messrs. Cuthbertson, Basstian and M'Gillivray from the South, and Messrs. Pyke, Mervyn, and Shepherd from the Goldfields. On the Opposition side there are Sir P. D. Bell, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Beid. Mr. Stout' Mr. Murray, Mr. Thomson, and from the Goldfields two of the ablestmembers, Messrs, Bradshaw and J. O. Brown. Out of the Government Otago supporters no less than seven were iynotaimously rejected by tho constituencies when they attempted to obtain a seat for their own districts in the Provincial Council.

xie - d, and Mr. Stout are influenced by their position. The truth is that public men with brains are of equal value to the country they live in whether one system of government exists or another. No men know better than they do the'value of their brains, and would not easily be affrighted at losing position. In this special ease tho Provincial officers were secure of high financial positions. Mr. Macandrew's statement in this particular is still unrefuted. At the beat this pecuniary cons-deration is a wretched one. Messrs. .Reynolds, Macandrew, and Pteid have given tho best years of their life to the service of the Province, and do one who knows them would believe they would sell its people for a sum of money.

The conclusion we arrive at ig that tho men,in tho .Assembly wo have the most reason to trust for their past ser-. vices, and for their abilities, shrink with horror from the Pollen-Atkinson Abolition tincture. j.fc is not necessary to follow the extreme Pi'oyincialists in all their views, when they raiso tho cry of Provincialism cr Separation. No one who lakes the trouble to follow, the debates, or considers the position taken up by the Otago members, will fail to approve the firm stand taken by the Opposition. The Government had taken up tho position of a scolding gudewife, who, when suddenly bearded by her long-suffering offspring, did not well know what to do, and inevitably had to give in. The Opposition determined to buy for the people, at any cost, tho right to accept or refuse a great Constitutional change. More than onp half of the electorates that

have expressed art opinion have asked to be allowed to exercise this right. In answer to this the Government party respond: "VV e are the people ; appeal outside ourselves is unnecessary ! "For our part we have no faith in the Government party or their tools. The party, by their foolish advice to Ministers, have given a color' to the statement that a majority are intent on self-i epresentation instead of representing their constituencies. A Government has a duty besides keeping up a majority of votes in the House. It has to lead the House, and keep order. "When the House in its last session becomes demoralised through the abdication to a party by Ministers of personal guidance. The Government should either resign or go to the country.

The difficulty between the Government and the Opposition is riot so complex a one as it would appear. Sir George Grey and his party wish the people to bo able to veto the Abolition Bill, through the men they return to the new Parliament, if they wish to do so. The Government are agreeable j but Mr. Stafford says that it would be an insult to the Legislative Council if they are to be overlooked—consequently he wishes the Government to insist that there shall be no veto put upon the Bill unless both Houses next session wish it. This really is making the appeal to the people ridiculous, and of none effect, for the people cannot alter the Legislative Council. It is well known, indeed, that the Legislative Council is determined for immediate abolition at all hazards, whether the people wish it or not. In any case all consideration of the Local Government Bill will probably now be suspended.

Thk English mail via San Francisco, will arrive at the district post offices on Saturday the 18th inst. Tenders for the conveyance of the district mails for the ensuing year are called for by advertisement. The Ark of Safety Lodge, 1.0. G.T., Naseby, have consented to give an entertainment in aid of the District Hospital. Majob Ateinsok announced at. the Government caucus that the new Parliament would be summoned to meet in May, 1876. We have to acknowledge the receipt of 'Hansard' and other Government papers, from the Government Printer. Tuesday, the 21st, i 3 the day fixed for the closing of the share list in the Mount Ida Deep Lead Goldmining Company. Intending applicants must lodge their applications on or before that date. The Amateur Dramatic Club were unfortunate in the weather on the occasion of their benefit in aid of the Hospital list night. Notwithstanding the inclement night, a large number turned out and enjoyed themselves: Members of the Ark of Safety Lodge, 1.0. G.T., are requested to attend the usual meeting on Monday evening next—the business being the election of a representative for the district at the Grand Lodge meeting in Dunedin about Christmas next; and also the election of the "VV. C.T. . A concert in aid of the funds of the District Hospital is announced at Blackstone Hill, on the 21st inst., under the auspices of the Minerva Lodge, 1.0.G.T: Several gentlemen from Naseby have kindly consented to assist. • : At the adjourned quarterly licensing meet* ing held at tha Court House, Naseby, on Tuesday last, the application of Eachel Grace for the transfer of her general and genera night licenses for the Criterion Hotel, Laven street, Naseby, to Thomas Ladd was granted A judicial body of experienced miners have been appointed to test certain gold-min-ing apparatus at Clyde on the 22nd instant. The competition is to be conducted under the conditions imposed by the Government for the bonus offered by tha Provincial Council, Mr. Shannon will represent Naseby. A heavy fall of snow occurred on Tuesday morning, quickly covering the ground to a depth of six or eight inches. There was a break in the weather in the evening, followed by a thaw on "Wednesday. Yesterday, however, the snow again set in very heavily. It is to be feared that the storm will be followed by floods.

A pahewell visit of the St. "Vincent Gein Concert Company is announced for Tuesday and Wednesday, the 21st and 22nd inst-, at the Town Hall, Naseby. Madame St. Yincent is announced to open a temple of magic, supported by Miss Lillie Florence, Mr. P. Verten, and Mr. A. St. Yincent —who is put down in the programme for an entire new budget of comicalities. The programme is a very promising one. Mr. R. T. Wheeler's Australian A.B.C. Guide is the best Colonial traveller's guide wo have yet seen. . The information is well arranged, is not over-burdened with detail, and can be rendered available without the technical training generally necessary in order to utilise works of the sort. The Guide furnishes reliable data as to all lines of railways in the colonies. It also gives particulars as to coaches, steamboats, omnibusses, and cabs that travel with regularity—not forgetting to give a limit, as to the best hotels in every place. The volume ia published as a Companion to the Australian Hand-book. The opening of the railway to Balclutha has placed Invercargill within a day's journey of Dunedin: The middle part of th;e journey between Balclutha and the Mataura is performed" by a six horse coach. For this journey Mr. E. Devine has been taken from the Waikouaiti road. For many years Devine has coache'd the Mount Ida mails to Pigroot. During the whole of the time he has been on the read we are not aware of any serious accident having. occurred. The road ia as dangerous a one as any in the Province, but skill and caution have saved it from the bad name other roads ha ve received. Many .will miss Devine . when next they travel to Dunedin. , He ,has been always obliging and civil, and particularly careful of women and children. At the enquiry regarding the clrcizmstan- : ces attending the alleged drowning of ;Hugh Hepburn in the Taieri river at Hyde, held there on Wednesday last before H. W. Robinson, Esq., R.M., the only additional evidence elicited was that the missing man, and the women, were under the influence of liquor, but not drunk. Hepburn told the women, when at the junction of the track and the road leading to the river crossing, that as Mardling would be in bed he would ford the river and bring over the boat. Mrs. Mardling tried to persuade him not to venture; but ho went, taking a lamp with him, and carrying a pair of gum boots across his shoulders; As she did not see the light shortly afterwards she supposed that he must have fallen. It was also stated that he had on several occasions previously, forded the river on foot, but not when it was so high. Although the river has been dragged, and the banks searched by the police and others, no trace of the body or the lamp or boots have been found. We are indebted to Sub-Inspector M'Cluskej*,- who conducted the inquiry, for the above information.

Another new township is about: to -spring op in the "Waitaki Plain. The name oi tliis additional centre of population is to be Duntroon, and the'site is on the west Bank of the Maerewhenua, on the opposite side (and Very nearly adjacent) to the terminus of the Awomoko railway. The ground forms a portion, of the extensive property of the Hon. .Robert Campbell. lithographic plans are already in circulation, and it is expected that the sale of the sections will take place in October. Being 30 near the ter minus of -a-railway, of the extension of which there exists little er no probability for years to come, there can be little doubt that Duntroon will have an unusually successful career. Already are the Oamarn people on the alert to secure the best sites, and report also has it that some of the present residents at Maerewhenua are contemplating a removal thitherward. A special meeting of the Naseby Municipal Council was held On Monday . evening last. Present—His Worship the Mayor and full Council. The meeting had been called by the Mayor in compliance with a requisition signed by Crs. George, Newmarch, Itowlatt, and Greer. The business was—To consider the advisability of altering the usual hour of meeting. It was proposed by Cr. George, and seconded by Cr. Newmarch, "That in future the ordinary meetings of the council be held at four p.m., instead of as at present, half-past eight." After a long discussion the question was put to the vote. There voted for the proposed change Crs. George, Newmarch, and llowlatt j against—- | Crs. Brookes, Craig, and Greer. The Mayor I said he knew it wa3 difficult to arrange the | hour to suit every Councillor, and regretted | he was placed in the unpleasant position of having to give a casting vote. He confessed it was more convenient to himself to attend at night than in the middle of the day, and as the question was left to him to decide, he should vote against the motion, although the T own Clerk may be inconvenienced, as stated by Cr. Kowlatt. The meeting then broke up.