THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 200, 21 September 1878, Page 2

THE WEEK.

Two telegrams received during the week read rather strangely when placed in juxcaposition. One came from Hokitika, stating that the Education Board were in an unsatisfactory financial position, and reduced to such straits that they would be compelled to reduce the salaries of their teachers uuless assisted by Government, which assistance was afterwards refused. The second was from Wellington, and contained a report of Mr Sheehan's "Native Statement." In this he said, "Over £13,000 was spent last year on Native schools, and tbis year the Government would spend £14,500, and they proposed to establish boarding schools. They would increase the salaries of the masters all round so as to secure the best teachers." It strikes me the Maories are getting the best of it. They are to be doubly represented in the House, that is to say, they are to send to it special representatives of their own race, and are also to have equal privileges with the Europeans in the electoral districts in which they reside. They are also to hf ve highly paid masters in the Native schools, while the white men are compelled to reduce the salaries of the teachers of their children. It's good to be a Maori,

Newspaper readers must have observed that the Banks have of late displayed unusual eagerness to obtain deposits, and to increase their business generally. Au anecdote in connection with this has reached my ears, and I have received permission to relate it. Jones — not the one whose chimney caught fire the other day, but another had by thrift and economy contrived to put by a matter of some seven pound ten, which he had lodged in a Savings Bank. Mrs J., seeing the Bank biddings in the papers had been extremely desirous that he should withdraw their little store from the Savings Bank and put it into one of the advertising ones, but Jones would not hear of it, and, moreover, ho strictly forbade her to mention the fact of their having a small sum at deposit, because, he said, "If those gentlemen, whose names we see at the foot of the notices were to hear that I had got seven pound ten at interest they'd never let me have an}' peace until one of them had got hold of it." So the matter was, as Jones thought, settled, but unfortunately Mrs J. had a woman's tongue, and for the life of her she couldn't keep a secret. One evening when Jones went home to tea he saw there was something disturbing her but what it was she wouldn't Bay. Next morning at break-

fast time he observed the same symptoms, »ut she uttered not a word, until suddenly there was beard at the door the cry " Baker —any orders to-day?" At the "sound she fell back in her chair in such a nervous state of trepidation that Jones was compelled to go out and briug in the bread himself. When she saw him returning with a loaf she gave vent to a great sigh oi ! relief and snid, " Oh dear, was it only^the baker?" "Only the baker," replied Jones, "of course it was; who did you think it. was? What s.v the matter with you?" " Oil," she said, " 1 may as well make a clean breast of it. Day before yesterday I was talking to Mrs Brown, when unluckily 1 let slip something about that seven pound ten, and when she got a clue she wouldn't let me alone until 1 had told her all. I have been miserable ever since, thinking about what you told me how you'd b j tormented if oucc the bankers got to hear of it, and I felt certain they would, for I know she can't keep a secret. Then when that man came just uow — he's a new one, I can tell by his voice— l thought he called out ' Banker! any orders to-day?' and I made sure it was one of them come to see about the money.*' Jones laughed, aud hoped the fright she had received would be a lesson to her for the future to keep her own counsel

A recent Ministerial announcement has suggested to me a few simple questions and answers, which I give in the following form : —

A SHORT CATECHISM,

[Dedicated to the people of Nelson.'] Question: What and where is New Zealand? Answer: A British colony in the South Pacific Ocean that at one time comprised the whole of the territory lying between lat. 35 and 47 south and long, i O7 and IGB east. Q. You say "at one time '' comprised; lias the colony been deprived of any part of it? A. Yes, all that portion lying between the 41st and 43rd degrees of latitude and 171st and 174 degrees of longitude, which was previously known as the provinces of Nelson and Marlborough. Q. To what Foreign Power has this district been ceded, and how did it become possessed of it? A. To no Foreign Power, It has been simply erased from the maps to be seen in the Public Works department, and so converted into a sort of " No Man's Land." Q. Do you mean to siy it has been voluntarily surrendered by the Colonial Government, and that they retain no interest in it? A. To a certain extent they do. They have reserved to themselves the power of drawing taxes from it, while washing their hands of all responsibility in the way of opening it up and connecting it with the rest of the colony. Q. Of whom does the Government consist tiiat has resolved upon such a course? A. The Premier is Sir George Grey, and the Minister for .Public Works, Mr Macaudrew. Q. But are not those men possessed of liberal ideas and great ability, and inspired with a desire to advance the interests of the colony? A. So it is said'. Sir George Grey's mission on earth is to benefit the whole human race, and to lower the price of children's frocks; Mr Macandrew's to promote the welfare of New Zealand. Q. Then how do you account for the position they have taken up in this matter? A. Easily. The "human race," to securing whose welfare Sir George proposes to devote his life, includes only those communities in which clectora arc plentiful; and the price of children's frocks is to a large extent to be made dependent upon the number of representatives their parents can send to Parliament. In these respects the excluded district is unfortuuatc. Q. This is only half an explanation; what about Mr Macandrew who, you admit, has the welfare of New Zealand at heart? A. This loo,i» easily explaired. Although in many respects a large-minded man, and shrewd and clever to a degree, his views with regard to New Zealand are much circumscribed. Q. In what way? A. He assigns to New Zealand different boundaries to those which are marked on the uiapj and accepted as such >>y other colonists. Q. How do you mean? A. He honest y, firmly, and tenaciously believes that New Zealand means Otago; in other words that it is bounded on the north by the northern boundary of Otago, on the East by the eastern boundary of Otago, on the south by the southern boundary of Otago, and on the west by the western boundary of Otago. Q. How is such a statement as this borne out by the fact that he proposes to spend a considerable sum of money on public works in other parts of the colony? A. It must be remembered that he does not stand alone. There are others who believe New Zealand to be a larger couutry than Mr Macandrew thinks it, and he lias to recognise the fact that he cannot loose the purse strings without their permission. Therefore he argues in this way:— So many hundreds of thousands are required for my purpose, or, in other words, to be expended in Otago, but in order that I may get these 1 must be prepared to lay out a large sum in otber places. Looking over the map and studying the census returns he ascertains whence cone the largest number of members, and totheui he says, "I mean to expend a lot of money in your districts, but I also want a handsome amount for mine. Do you understand?" And they understand. Q. And the territory spoken of as lying between the 41st and 43rd parallels of latitude, and the 171st and 174th of longitude does not supply n large number of members? A. No. Q. And consequently has not much chance of having its wants attended to? A. No. Q. And will not participate in the progress of those oiher districts to winch its o,vn taxation contributes? A. No. Q. And will not share in the benefits thai are to accrue to the human race from the access to power of the present Premier? A. No. Q. And in the place of being prosperous, contended, happy, and loyal to the great chief in whose advent to power it so largely assisted, its progress will be checked, its trade diverted into other channels, and discontent and dissatisfaction will prevail' A. Yes. Q. And what is likely to be the feeling excited towards itself by the Government which thus isolated and ruined this unfortunate district? A. One of bitter animosity. ¥.