The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 118, 19 May 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1874.

To-night the Council will go into Committee on the Estimates, and from the debates that have already taken place it is likely that considerable alterations will be attempted in the appropriations proposed by the Govern* ment, but whether n majority of the Council, though apparently desirous of effecting some changes, will be unanimous in deciding in what direction they shall be made yet remains to be seen. That a large amount of discontent and dissatisfaction prevails is beyond all doubt, but tho reason for its existence has not yet been clearly stated. No one likes the present state of afiairs, but no one absolutely charges tbe present Government with having brought it about, nor has there yet been a remedy proposed for it. The feeling in favor of a responsible Executive seems to be slightly on the increase, for the promoters of it are really in earnest in advocating it as a panacea for all the ills the body politic is suffering from or subject to, and earnest men are generally successful in j the end. We think, however, that they will be greatly disappointed when they have attained the object of their, desire, and that, at the next session, even should the Executive come down to the Council with a full Bense of their responsibility to that body, they will not be in a position to state that a more satisfactory state of things exists, ! unless, in the meantime, the loan has been obtained. The real cause for the | dissatisfaction that has been expressed with tbe Estimates, is, we believe, the want of funds, and not so much the manner in which it is proposed to appropriate them. The Government as well as the Council see the necessity for many public works, but they are met by one insuperable difficulty — an t enipty treasury. There is a talk of reducing the departmental expenditure. This has often been attempted before now, but even the most* ardent of the economists and would be reformers have failed to discover how it is to be effected. Supposing, howevet, ttoat greater success should attend their efforts, what is the probable extent of the reductions to be* made ? The most sanguine, we should imagine, would be delighted did it reach to a couple of thousand pounds. How far this will go towards removing the present diesatisfaction may be, understood when it is remembered that there are* already on the Notice Paper applications for over £4000 to be placed on the supplementary estimates. If someone would rise up amongst us and tell us how to swell the contents of the treasury chest he would do more to allay the existing discontent than can be done by a hundred speeches and votes on the method of disbursing the small amount that is now to be found in it. Mr. Edward Adams having passed his examination before Mr Justice Johnston, has been admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

Our telegrams Yesterday informed us that Mr O' Conor bad been returned unopposed as a member for Westport in the place of Mr Fisher resigned. Although we offered a strong opposition to Mr O'Conor as a candidate for the Superintendency, we look upon him as a very useful member of the Council, and shall be glad to see him in his old seat in the Chamber. Bankruptcy. — The Gazelle of this morning contains notifications that Lawrence Dron, laborer, has filed a declaration of his inability to meet bis engagements with his creditors, and that William Stavert, merchant, has assigned all his estate and effects to John Sharp, James Beattie, and Henry Buckeridge. The Kennedy family are performing to crowded houses in Auckland. A number of horses purchased in Australia by the Defence Minister for the Armed Constabulary arrived at Auckland by the Wonga Wonga. They do not (says the Herald) appear at present in good condition, but have good frames, and have the advantage of being unbroken, which will enable them to te trained for any purpose they may be required. They will be sent to the Waikato forthwith. We take the following items from the Inangahua Herald of Tuesday : — The reef newly struck in the Just-in-Time, at Boatman's, presents every indication of a well defined body of stone, and contains a show of gold in the face equal to anything that has been obtained in that mine. It will be recollected that the crushing of this "company's stone gave a result far exceeding anything either previously or since obtained in the district.- — We are informed by Mr Ricbard Reeves, auctioneer, that he has disposed of the Westland Crushing . Company's plant for the sum of £1400 sterling. The sale was effected privately, and he is not at liberty to disclose the purchaser, but we believe it is for the Ingiewood Company. — A leader a foot in. tbickDess has been struck in the United Band of Hope tunnel, and the contractors are in expectation of intercepting the main reef at every shift. The waggon, containing the new boiler for the Energetic Company, reached Reefton on Sunday. The Wellingtoi Independent has an article upon Fiji, in which if refers to tbe many valuable products of these islands, and concludes thus: — Settlement will proceed here, and with it trade will extend. The trade New Zealand should secure. Tho late voyages of the Mongol and City of Melbourne have proved that Fiji is within four days steaming of Auckland. That port, therefore, should be the depot of the trade of Fiji, as well as many of the other Islands of the Pacific. This Colony can supply the wants of Fiji as cheaply and more rapidly than any of the Australian ports. We now import direct from home, and commerce therefore is no longer traraelled with the profits of Melbourne and Sydney middlemen. The Bhips this country now employs in the London and Glasgow trades are of the best class, and make as rapid runs as those of the Australian colonies; and as back freights are now assured, the rate of freights is as moderate as it is to Sydney or Melbourne. The harbors of New Zealand are as accessible and commodious as those of the sister colonies, and there is nothing in the fiscal laws of New Zealand to place artificial restrictions — such as those which are found in Victoria— in the way of a large and exclusive trade with the islands of tbe Polynesian sea. Nor is the prospect of a good and growing trade much marred by the possibility of New Caledonia becoming a penal colony of France. Even if it had not become so, the developement of that group would have been, slow, for the French are bad colonists. In 'La Belle France,' they excel in many things; in a colony, especially in such a Cayenne as New Caledonia will become, they are not successful. A free French Colony would never have competed with New Zealand for the commerce of tbe islands of the South Pacific, nor would it have become a large consumer of exports from this country. As a great penal settlement, requiring large supplies of things it can never provide for itself while it remains a huge prison; on the contrary, it may be a large customer with New Zealand. 'All things work together for good ' — for the encouragement of the idea which has taken root amongst us as to the importance of cultivating tbe South Sea trade, and we hope the opportunity will be seized. A comparison of what was performed by the rival services in carrying the February mails from Australia to England is, says the Sydney Morning Herald, not unfavorable to that established by this colony. The R.M.S. Tartar left here on February 15, and the whole, of her mails were delivered in London on the 6th instant. The Ello.a sailed hence on the 23rd of February, and the mails via Brandisi only reached London on the 13th iost. The Southampton portion will not be due tor eight days after. New South Wales has therefore obtained for a sixpenny rate, a course of post within one day of being as short as that which oost ten pence, and seven days' shorter than that for which Victoria pays sixpence. These remarks will apply with even greater force to New Zealand, inasmuch as the outward letters via Brindisi would be six days, longer going from this colony, or the difference of time in transit to Melbourne from here two day 8 earlier than they are in Sydney.