The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1874.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 192, 14 August 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1874.

It has been reported of one of the members of the Assembly that he regarded the appearance of tbe comet which is now faintly visible io the southern heavens as indicating a disturbed state of the political atmosphere. On being told that the session was likely to prove ehort in duration, and peaceful in character, he pointed to tbe Bky and sagely remarked — Comela fulrit, helium erit. We are foot prepared to assert that our proceedings in New Zealand are looked upon in the celestial world as being of sufficient importance fo warrant a comet being sent on a special mission fur the purpose of indicating coming events, but we must give tbe member alluded to \the credit of having turned the visit of the fiery stranger to good account, and we are also disposed to congratulate hip upon having established his reputation as a very true and reliable prophet. Tbe serenity of the Legislative Chamber has been rudely disturbed, and lasf night the first shot was fired in a battle tbat promises to be as severe as any that has yet occurred within those wails. It is a battle that will be watched with the keenest interest throughout tha colony, for upon the result of it depends the existence of our much ioved and much bated provincial institutions. Let us not be blind tb the full meaning, or the natural consequences of the passing, of Mr Vogel's resolutions. It is true that professedly they are aimed at the North Island provinces only, but it is impossible to suppose that the abolition of Provincial Governments in the Nortb can be other than the precursor of the sweeping away of those in the South. This/ ie tbe view that we believe will be taten by the large majority, if not the whole, of tbe members of the House of Representatives, and hence the severe struggle that is likely to take place upon the question. At tbe time of writing these lines we are ignorant of what Mr Yogel proposes to substitute for the present form of Governments, but, if he ia ' prepared with any really feasible scheme, we must confess that we are inclined to wish him good luck in his campaign against Provincialism. Just now we are looking at the matter from a Nelson point of view, and we are unable to see that our experiences of j Provincial institutions are such as to render them very dear to up. In days j gone by they may have proved useful, I but for some years past their attractions have been gradually fading away, and I even now, under our new form of government, we cbh Bee nothing tbat is loveable, but much that is repugnant, ! in tbem. For several years we have been existing— and that is all, and now we are economising — and that is all. We can reduce the number of Wardens on the goldfields, snd confine the supply of tin teapois to tbe immigrants in the depot within very narrow limits, but beyond tbat we seem unable to stir. Nothing is doing, nothing is likely to be done that could not be just as well done without that costly piece of machinery entitled the Provincial Government. Look at our Provincial Council. It meets, it talks, it passes resolutions, and it annually t makes two or three new laws, but can«anybody who takes up and studies the Blue Book in which are recorded the proceedings of cix or seven weeks, refrnin i from wondering how the members have passed that time, or from asking himself whether the game is worth the candle ? In some respects, indeed, we are disposed to go still further, and to assert that we are positively injured by our present mode of Provincial Government, because, in carrying it I out, differences on local matters arise between our members of Parliament | which become so bitter aud so serious tbat they cannot be left behind, but are carried over %6 Wellington and there give rise to such pitiable exhibitions as that which recently amused the House and was characterised by one of of the Otago members as a "Nelson, free fight." And in this way our power and influence in the General Assembly is materially weakened. We really shall feel deeply indebted to Mr Yogel if he can show us how to get rid of our present system of Provincial Governments. We have Municipal Corporations in the town, and Road Boards in the country, who are well able to look after local interests, and we believe that the work of legislation may be safely left to the General Assembly. To Mr Vogel's statement of the scheme of government he proposes for the North Island we shall look forward with much eagerness, and should it be such as can be rendered applicable to our own circumstances we believe that he will find a very large number of supporters in Nelson, if he will come boldly forward with a proposal to abolish Provincial Governments altogether. We will conclude with an extract from a speech made on the occasion of the "Nelson free fight" by Mr Luckie, who at one time had a large number of admirers and supporters in Nelson, And Mr Luckie, be it remembered, was an ardent provincialist. Hansard reports him to have said : — It seemed to him that the discussion which hud just taken .place between three honourable gentlemen filling high official positions in provinces in the Middle Island, indicated - something like»n approach to the end. There was an assumption of semi-regal dignity to an extent which would indicate what he believed the people at large would bait with satisfaction r an approach to the end of Provincial Institutions as they were now carried on. The farcical element had been laraely introduced, and it waa absurd to find the dis-

putations of Provincial Cabinets, professing mock responsibility, arising in the House. Where was the thing to end ? How was it possible to get out of the muddle into which three or four gentlemen intimately connected with Provincial Governments, admitted the system had been placed ? * •* ■ * There was a great deal in the system which, instead of being of value, was a burden to the colony, and which was tending to lead the Provinces more and more rapidly into that slough ot difficulty out of which the House and the General Government would sooner or later have to extricate them,

■ ■" " ' ■ Nelson Vabiety Tboupe. — We remind our readers of tbe entertainment to ba given at the Oddfellows' Hall' to-night by this company of local amateurs. Volunteebs. — The usual monthly inspection of the town companies took place la?t night, when we noticed the Artillery Cadets on parade for tbe first time, who appeared to be a smart iot of lads. After inspection, the volunteers, numbering over 150, marched up to Immigration Depot in tbe Waimea road, headed by the band of the J Artillery Company. On arrival there the band played a few lively airs to welcome our new friendß, and then the whole marched back to town. City Council. — A meeting of the Council was held yesterday evening, when Mr Goulstone attended with the gas and waterworks accounts as corrected by the Government, and alter his explanation it was resolved on the motion of Cr Burn, that the Council accept the offer made by the Government. On the motion of Cr Burns, it was resolved, that Mr Goulstone be requested to assist the Mayor in formally completing the arrangements necessary for the transfer. — The Town Cieik was instructed to call the attention of the Government to the dangerous slate of tbe sea wall at the junction of tbe road round the rocks with the Port Road. One among many instances of summary notice to quit, givea by the unceiemonious sea-waves, during the late gale, occurred, says the Westport Times, at the house of Mr Moody, in Kennedy street. Mr M. aod bis spouse had remained up until twelve o'clock watching the tide, and taking such little precautions as suggested them- , selves to prevent any possible damage ,by an influx of water. At last they went to bed, thinking the danger past for a time, but had scarcely got there when a big wave or roller came dashing in the front door, surging underneath the floor, and heaping the furniture of the house pell mall. The inmates made hasty exit, glad to find shelter until daylight ;iu another dwelling. * Some of the fads and figures contained in the geieral summary just laid before Parliament of the import and export returns for tbe year 1873, (says tbe N. Z Times) are highly suggestive of neglected opportunities. It is evident from them that the colonists have not yet begun to help themselves in maoy branches of industry for which they have opportunities, and that there are numerous directions in which capital and labor might combine, to supply a colonial demand, and in which tbey no doubt will associate when skilled and rough labor bring a less price in the labor market than they now do. We see, for example, that figuratively, coals havAbeen carried to Newcastle to a v.erV considerable extent. Tha^quantity imported, and it all came from Newcastle, New South Wales— for if the small coast shipments are included, their valne is comparatively infinitesimal—was 108,203, tons, valued afc £187,833. And this while New Zealand has in the Province of Neison and also in Westland as fine steam coal as could possibly be desired . with coal fit for household purposes in almost every province and district of the two islands. At Greymouth a spirited attempt has been made to use the remarkable deposit of steam and gas coal there, and the fire-clay that is found with it; and the Ngakawhau miners have spent a large sum, aud have 'fairy proved a most valuable mine, but one which for the present they are unable to work profitably for want of a harbor. Greymouth can never hope to see large vessels entering and leaving its harbor, engaged in the coal trade of the coast as well as of Australia snd the Eastern Seas : but she may and does expect to supply the other markets of the colony by means of small vessels, and by their help to load larger vessels iv some convenient harbor* — Nelson or. Wellington — where a depot might be established. But Nature has denied a port to the West Coast other than tbat of the Buller River; and when the ruilway from Westport to the. Mount Apchfort coalfield is constructed, or f new port established iv Golden Bay to enable the coals in the Collingwood district to he shipped, we may hope tp see the figures set down as representing the value of imported coal very much reduced. "JSgles" writes in the Australasian : — Curiosity led me into an auotion room the other day whilst the first of the new teas were being sampled by the trade. The trade had been invited to take samples, and I must say that some of the trade availed themselves of the invitation in its largest and most libera! sense. Iv one instance every package was laid under contribution so seriously that I inquired subsequently if this curious investigator of the new musters had bought the whole cargo. "Bought the cargo ! He never bid for a line. These samples will all be sold across his counter. A tea sampling is always £5 in his pocket." And from personal observation the estimate | is moderate.