New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1871. THE WEEK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 31, 26 August 1871, Page 11

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 1871. THE WEEK.

We must enter our emphatic protest against the time of the House being wasted, the public business retarded, and a mischievous discussion precipitated by any such abstract propositions as those tabled by Mr Macandrew, If the Provincial Councils of the four provinces of the Middle Island had expressed themselves favorable to such a sweeping organic change as that advocated by him ; if his propositions had received the approval of the leading men of the Middle Island; if they had been supported at public meetings held by the several provinces interested; or if largely signed petitions in their favor had been forwarded to the House, if only from the province Mr Macandrew represents, there would be some excuse for his motion. The Middle Island has no g#-'ranees which cannot be redressed by the General Assembly, and least of all the Province of Otago. If the other provinces of the Middle Island desire to be absorbed in that of Otago we have no objection ; but in that case it must be satisfied with the free exercise of those powers conferred on the several provinces of New Zealand by the Constitution Act. There has, however, been no indication by the Provincial Councils, by tbe press, by public meetings, or by public petitions, that they desire anything of the kind, nor was the question put prominently from tbe hustings at their late general elections. The House has much too urgent business on hand to permit itself to be transformed just now into a debating society. We cannot for a moment believe that it will consent to consider this long string of resolutions seriatim, but will get rid of them at once by some hon. member moving the previous question. It is not by legal enactments, but by natural growth, that such changes as those advocated by Mr Macandrew can be effected.

An Agricultural Association has been established in the Wairarapa, and the first meeting of the members took place on Thursday at Greytown, when the rules, which hac\ been carefully drawn up, were adopted, and the office-bearers elected. The objects of the Association are to improve the system of agriculture ; to correspond with kindred societies ; to encourage the introduction of improved implements and methods of culture j to collect and disseminate information; to distribute prizes at periodical exhibitions. An Association of the kind must, if properly supported, prove beneficial, not only to the Wairarapa, hut to the whole province.

We understand that a Sheep Act will be introduced during the present session, which has been carefully drafted ; but which from all we can learn is better adapted to meet the requirements of the Middle Island than the circumstances of this province. As the bill has been pronounced unsuited to the province of Auckland, probably it will be thought advisable to confine its operations to the southern provinces. The penalties of previous Scab Acts, when inflicted, have seldom been enforced. We regret to learn that the scab is rapidly spreading in the Wairarapa district. It has afforded us much pleasure to record at short intervals the formation of several lodges and tents in connection with the Odd Fellows and Foresters’ Societies. Three lodges in connection with the former, and two tents in connection with the latter, have been recently opened in the Wairarapa. These selfgoverning and self-reliant institutions deserve more notice than what has yet been accorded to them by Parliament and the press. They

may be considered adult schools, as well as

provident societies, and we are glad to find that they are becoming so popular. Tbe following information taken from the statistical tables published for the information of the General Assembly will be interesting to many of our country readers. The total value of the wool exported from the province Wellington in 1868 was £205,095 ; in 1869 it was £169,488 ; and in 1870 it rose to £239,318, beating in this respect all the provinces except Otago and Canterbury. The total value of the wool exported from New Zealand in 1870 was £1,703,944. The total value of New Zealand produce exported from the colony was £4,544,682. The chief exports consisted of gold, wool, kauri gum, and flax, the latter of which was valued at £132,578. Wool, flax> tallow, butter, and skins constitute the chief exports of the province of Wellington. The total value of her exports in 1870 was £299,126> or upwards of £IOO,OOO more than their declared value the preceding year. Wellington in 1866 imported goods of the value of £756,405 ; in 1870 the value of her imports had fallen off to £493,822. The total value of the imports of the colony for 1870 was £4,639,015. These returns, on the whole, show gratifying signs of progress.