New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1872.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 55, 10 February 1872, Page 11

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1872.

The numerous bush fires which have occurred during the past month, the fact of their having been wilfully and deliberately ignited, and the extensive damage they have caused, are, whether considered singly or together, matters of sufficient moment to demand the immediate and serious attention of the Provincial Legislature. In previous years damage has been done by bush fires, but never till the present season, have they, as a rule, been deliberately lighted so early as Januai-y. We are aware that bush land to be cleared requires first to be burnt, and that if this operation be put off until too late in the season it cannot he effectually accomplished, or perhaps not be accomplished at all; but there is no reason why fallen bush should be deliberately fired in January, or why, when this is about to be done, it should not be compulsory for the party to whom it belongs to give sufficient notice to his neighbors as to his intentions. In future, any person igniting bush so early as January, or found igniting it at any time without giving legal notice to his neighbors, ought to be proceeded against criminally; while at the same time care should be taken that parties injured be not deprived of any legal remedies they possess at present against those from whom they have sustained damage. We have received from the publisher a copy of the " Wellington Almanac, Directory, and Diary, for 1872. 1 ' As usual it is full of valuable information, but this year it appears to contain more of the kind than has ever been the case before. No house in the province is properly furnished that is not supplied with a copy of this publication. The quantity of information it contains, on all kinds of subjects, is something marvellous, considering the space it occupies ; and, taken altogether, it may be safely pronounced one of the cheapest and most useful publications that have ever been issued from the New Zealand press. We notice one omission in the Memorabilia for the past year. Ibis professes to comprise a chronological record of all the noteworthy events which had taken place during that period, but it does not mention the date of the first issue of the New Zealand Mail ; while it does state in the calendar the date when the Lon-

don " Times" was established. Possibly the v compiler did not look upon the former event as being noteworthy ; but we venture to hope that, for New Zealand readers, the date of the

establishment of the New Zealand Mail will prove as interesting a piece of information, as to readers generally is that relating to the date on which the " leading journal of Europe" was established. We must add, that this almanac is beautifully printed, in clear tyne, and reflects great credit upon all those who assisted in its publication.

It was announced in the Grazette last week that six blocks of land in the Manawatu district had been reserved and set aside for sale on deferred payments. Four of these blocks comprise on the average about 5000 acres each and the other two are much larger, consisting of 10,000 and IG,OOO acres respectively. Could not a Small Farm Association be formed either here or in England for securing one of these blocks on the favorable terms offered by the Government ? From a remark dropped at a recent interview, it appears that the New South Wales Government make themselves acquainted with the criticisms and recommendations of the press, and consult together as to the value of any suggestions thrown out, or the best mode of obviating any objections that may seem to have force. It would be wise if a similar course were followed here, both as regards the land and the immigration policy of the Government.

Sir David Monro recently, at Nelson, when criticising the railway scheme of the Government, with his usual pomposity and self-satis-faction, observed that the Colonial Treasurer had calculated that in the third year from its introduction it would return revenue in addition to its working expenses of £IO,OOO. "We are now," said he, " well into the second year and not a railway was commenced ;" leaving it to be inferred how sadly out Mr Vogel had been in his reckoning. The second statement does not prove the Treasurer's calculation to be inaccurate, but it shows that the late Speaker confounds a railway proposal with a railway itself, and that more care and caution in the matter of railway construction on the part of the Government is being taken than he and his party are deposed to give them credit for. This Knight of the Nelson Fleece it appears is not satisfied with designating the railway scheme a reckless one, but he is wrath with the Government for not making it one in reality, by reversing the maxim of looking before leaping. The Provincial Secretary, in confirmation of a truth we have so long insisted upon, recently stated that the altered position of the province, compared with what it was twelve months ago, was only another illustration that the country was more in want of good administration than talk. Its improved prospects were owing to a sounder administration, and to the avoidance of that great stumbling block of New Zealand—too much legislation. Guiceiardini, the celebrated Italian historian and statesman, gives some very good advice for the regulation of private, which would prove equally wi3e and serviceable in public life. He says "men should not be blamed for being a long time in taking a resolution, as in general he who decides quickly errs rather than he who denies stoutly. But what is to be blamed is slowness of execution after a resolution is taken, since it may be said that always hurts and never helps except by accident." These wise measures of the great Italian have been turned topsy-turvy by the statesmen of New Zealand. They occupy no time in taking a resolution, and in adopting measures of the greatest magnitude and importance; and there they stop. Their execution is as slow as their resolution has been precipitate. It is quite time that this mode of proceeding was reversed. Let them in future be slotf and deliberate in legislation, and prompt and active in administration ; let them take time in coming to a resolution, or in passing any measure of importance, and then lose no time in its execution. This will be found the wisest course whether in private or public life.