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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4169, 31 July 1874, Page 4

More waste of time ! Yesterday, Mr. Wakefield had a “field day" in the House. He had placed a notice of motion on the paper of not the least importance or value at the present moment, and which he had not the slightest hope of carrying, on the subject of the best line of railway from Wellington harbor into the interior, and in moving it he quoted extensively from the opinions and experience of engineers as far back as the time of Julius Agricola, passing down swiftly from the time of that ancient engineer, and again crossing the track of Robert Stephenson,from whichhehad started, and from whose life he quoted extensively ; suddenly coming down again to the supposed ' character of the invention which Mr. Handyside, C. 8., has proceeded to England to endeavor to patent, and passing from the Ngahauranga rapidly over the Eimutaka to the Sierra Nevada, and back again by way of England to an old Maori track across a saddle between a point of the coast of Wellington and the valley of the Upper JTutt, by a new route, which he desired a surveyor should be sent to examine, in company with some of the gentlemen on the Maori Ministerial bench, but the name of whom was not distinguishable by the Pakehaa in the gallery. After favoring the House with a variety of calculations as to the heights of nameless passes, he found his way back to Ngahuranga, by a rocky path, over which the member's appeared to be unable to follow him; for the ten or twelve members who remained to hear his sketch of the engineering advantages of the airy-line he sketched for a distance of a hundred and twenty miles, 'seemed to be unusually busy with their correspondence, or the books before them. After going through an elaborate calculation of the expense of constructing some rival, but imaginary lines to connect Wellington with some place in the interior, and of the cost of carrying goods and minerals over his sky-lines, estimated in the most minute manner on the experience of other countries, and at the expense of the patience of members, the representative of Christchurch City East at last reached a terminus—somewhere.—and happily stopped there. Whether it was on the Rimutaka, in the far Wairarapa, or at the bottom of a coal-hulk in the waters of Port Nicholson or Port Chalmers, it is impossible to tell. A division, however, was called for, at the close of a remarkably brief debate, in which Messrs. Carrington and Pyke alone took part. To negative the motion by an overwhelming majority, however, detained hon. members some minutes beyond the hour of adjournment. Two hours were never more utterly wasted in the General Assembly of New Zealand. Among the papers laid before Parliament by the Minister for Native Affairs was an approximate census of the Maori population, compiled by the officers who represent the Government in the Native districts. From it we find that the total number of the Native race is estimated at 46,016, of whom there are 43,408 in the North Island, and only 2608 in the South Island. In both Islands the males exceed the females in number, the excess of the former in the North Island being 3870, and in the latter 226. The totals in the different districts were ;—Mangonui, 2071 ; Hokianga, 2796 ; Bay of Islands, 2839 ; Whangarei, 511 ; Kaipara, 1313 ; Auckland, 195 ; Waiuku, 216 ; Wairoa and Waiheke, 81 ; Lower Waikato, 383 ; Upper Waikato; 4394 ; Raglan and Kawhia, 2163 ; Hauraki, 1664 ; Tauranga, 1245 ; Maketu, 2955; Opotiki, 1948; Urowera —Ruatahuna, 342 ; Manugapohatu, 158 ; Waikarewhana, 126 ; Ahikerera, 58—total of Ureweras, 684 ; Waiapu, 2453 ; Turanga, 1390 ; Hawke’s Bay (Wairoa), 3481 ; South of Tangoio River, H. 8., 1870 ; Taupo, 850; Wairarapa, 742; Taranaki, 2761; Wanganui, 1010 ; Upper Wanganui River, 2005 ; Bangitikei, 584 ; Otaki and Porirua, 653 ; Wellington, 161 ; Canterbury, 558 ; Marlborough, 452 ; Nelson, 440 ; Westland, 96 ; Otago (including Ruapuko and Stewart’s Island), 1062. Mr. James Maoassey, of Dunedin, and plaintiff in the case of Maeassey v. Bell, has addressed a letter to the Daily Times, with a voluminous appendix, with the purpose, as ho says, of removing some misconceptions which may arise from remarks made by the Hon. Mr. Vogel in introducing a Bill “to regulate the production and inspection of telegrams for the purposes of judicial investigation.” The appendix consists of copies of several orders of the Supreme Court which were made in the judicial district of Otago “ long before the case of Maeassey v. Bell had been heard of.” • <> q’ 0 sa y nothing of what may have transpired* in other Provinces,” Mr. Maeassey claims to have shown that five cx parte judicial order's, for the inspection of telegrams, had been made in that Province alone, and he furnishes copies of the subpoena and affidavit upon which the Judge’s last order for inspection was made, with the object of showing that those were expressly limited to certain specified telegrams. He concludes by saying : —“ Tire subpoena did not therefore require the production of any telegram between Messrs. Ward and Turton after the action had been

commenced, or the latter gentleman had become the solicitor for the defendant, Mr. Bell. The order was rescinded after the trial, when it could be productive of no good. It was rescinded without argument; but having been granted ex parte, as previous orders had been, it was deemed open to objection upon that ground. I have felt myself called upon to say this much, lest the observations of the Hon. Mr. Yogel, should be misinterpreted ; and I trust that nothing which I have penned can be construed as an unfair comment upon, or interference with, any proceeding now pending before the Supreme Court.” Fuok a letter of the Agent-General to the Premier, dated London, 2nd June, we observe that a ship would sail from London for Canterbury on the 15 th inst., with 287 immigrants, which would complete the number of 6000 immigrants desired by Canterbury for the period ending with the present year. Two ships would leave in the present month for Otago—one on the Bth from London, and one on the 15th from Glasgow. These vessels would carry 70S immigrants, which would complete a like number of 6000 desired by that Province for the year. Three vessels would sail for Wellington on July 15, July 31, and August 18—with 1099 souls, making up the number of 1099 desired for this Province for the same period. Eight ships would leave England for Auckland between the Bth of July and the 28th of October, conveying 2631 immigrants. 1869 had been forwarded up to the end of June, and those to sail in that period would make up that Province’s total of 1500. For Hawke’s Bay, four vessels would be despatched between the 17th of July and the 11th of October, taking 1231, to complete the number of 2000 souls required by that Province. Five ships would be despatched between the sth July and 18th November, for Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland, carrying 1659 souls, only 341 persons having been despatched to those Provinces up to the end of June, though they asked for 2000. It was intended, if possible, to despatch 'three ships for Taranaki, in August, September, and October, to take out 600 immigrants; but the AgentGeneral reported that great difficulty was experienced in finding owners of vessels willing to send them to New Plymouth, and it was thought not improbable that the immigrants intended for Taranaki would have to be landed either at Wellington or Nelson. The AgentGeneral further reports that the same objection was taken by the owners of ships as regards making Picton the port of arrival. A summary of the business of the office shows that 12,545 persons had been despatched to the Colony through the Agent-General's office between the Ist of March and 31st of May ; that 4340 would be despatched in June, leaving a balance of 8215, to make up the total of 25,000 immigrants ordered for the Colony. To convey that balance to the, Colony would require twenty-six ships.

Attention has lately heen directed to the facilities for fishing and fish-curing to he found in some, if not all, of the Sounds on the West Coast of Otago, and there seems some prospect of such enterprises being undertaken in these remote localities, with other kindred enterprises calculated to promote the ultimate settlement of a supposed inhospitable coast. An important step in that direction has been the act of the Waste Lands Board of' Otago in granting to Messrs. Harding .and Co., of Dunedin, a lease of 2000 acres of land for twenty-one years, on certain conditions, for the express purpose of utilising the fish which abound in the waters connected with the territory which they are thus permitted to occupy. Objection was taken to the action of the Waste Lands Board, on the ground that the application for a lease for fishing purposes was a subterfuge, and that the real intention was to procure some area of the timber-producing country of which the Coast eminently consists, hut this objection does not appear to have been upheld by the Board, and the lessees are understood to be making arrangements for the early commencement of their operations. In view of this, and with the knowledge that Captain McLean, of the steamship Otago, had lately paid an enforced visit to Dusky Sound, Messrs. Harding and Co. sought to fortify themselves in their own opinion by obtaining his, and he has given it, to this effect : —“ In reply to your favor of bills day’s date, requestiny my opinion as to the facilities afforded in Dusky Sound and parts adjacent for a fishery settlement, I have to say that the Sound is a most delightful spot, and parts of it are a perfect paradise to live in, llelative to anchorage and shelter, the largest ships in the world could be anchored with the greatest safety. There are many varieties of fish, and timber for domestic and fish-curing purposes is plentiful. There is an abundance of fresh water, and when a portion of the timber > and scrub is cleared, there will be .access to some fine land for cultivation. This is in the immediate vicinity of Facile Harbor.” It is scarcely necessary to say that Captain McLean is not the first authority on tho same subject, for a greater and earlier commander than he, Captain Cook, gave a close- and accurate description of the Sound, as his first laud-fall in New Zealand, and many less observant visitors have since pronounced Dusky Sound to be one of the most attractive of all the surrounding Sounds by its natural beauties, its superior shelter, and its practical resources on land, and in its waters. It has not, it is true, been found to have even such slightly promising coal seams as those of Preservation Inlet, but its central situation among the Sounds makes it a place from which the pioneer and the prospector may extend his researches over a wide area of country, and one established depot there might prove to be the nucleus of extensive settlement, and' is certainly much moro likely to become so than the more secluded situation of Martin’s Bay, where tho first attempt has been made to settle the western sea-board of the Province. As we anticipated, the publication of tho correspondence between His Dxcellcucythe Governor of this Colony and Sir George Bowen, with ministerial memoranda appended, has brought something like a hornet’s nest about tbo ears of Mr. Francis. .Tbo Argus of the ICtli inst. reprinted the first portion of this from mucolumns, and concluded of the fact by stating—“ As the New Zealand Times promises to publish the remainder of tho correspondence, and as it is at present incomplete, we refrainat this stage" from making any comments upon it.” Oh the 17th, tho matter was, discussed in the leading columns of our contemporary, and the documents were said to “ completely exonerate Sir James Fergusson from the imputation of transgressing the limits of ids authoi-ity as a constitutional Governor.” Mr. Francis’s contribution to the controversy was said 'by the Argus to be “sadly deficient in candor and courtesy, and helped to justify the animadversions to which the hrusepicrie of diplomatic intercourse between, our own Ministry and the Governments of other Colonies has unfortunately exposed us.” In describing tho circumstances that occasioned the penning of Mr. Francis's “petulantmemorandum, which, in his cooler moments, he must regret ho ever wrote,” our contemporary says that “ in his letter to Sir George Bowen, Sir James Fergusson expressly stated that the writer had been moved by his advisers to take such steps as might procure the rescinding of the obnoxious proclamation, while pointing out its obvious illegality .” Of Mr. Francis’s further memorandum, tho remark is mado that “its tone and substance can only bo excused by assuming that it was written under feelings of temporary pique aud irritation, excited by the consciousness that Mr. Francis and bis colleagues had inadvertently advised Sir George Bowen to issue an illegal proclamation; and that their amour propre had been. wounded by the promptitude with which Sir James Fergusson had hit so palpable a blot.” Of a further memorandum forwarded by tho hon. gentleman, it is remarked,—“ Mr. . Francis, however, seems to have altogether overlooked, tho fact that something’far more important, namely, the supremacy of tho law, would be jeopardised if tho Governor of any British Colony consented to attach his signature to any proclamation Ins responsible advisers might lay before him’without first satisfying himself, as to the legality of tho document.” Tho Argus concludes by saying that it would not have revived tho subject

were it hot that it is due to Sir James Fergusson to acquit him, fully and unreservedly, of any intention of overstepping the limits of his authority and functions as a constitutional Governor ; : while the opportunity must not be passed by of recommending to our Colonial statesmen the exercise of more of the suavUer in modo in their intercourse with the Governors and Governments of other Colonies.” In a subsequently published article the Argus raises the question whether a Governor should sign illegal documents, when these are placed before him by Iris responsible Ministers. A decision to the contrary is given in very decided terms. Our contemporary says; “ But if the illegality were apparent, we have no doubt that the Governor cannot by any acceptance of advice free himself from the responsibility that justly attaches to him. Without such responsibility the office of Governor would be a mere delusion, and it would be sufficient for all practical purposes to employ a junior clerk to sign Her Majesty’s name to all public documents. Nor is this view in the least inconsistent, as Mr. Francis seems to suppose, with the very fullest exercise of Parliamentary government. The whole theory and practice of that government, as it has been developed in England, relates to those wide discretionary powers which, within the limits of law, belong to the Crown. They have nothing to do with questions of legality. No amount of Ministerial advice, backed up by a unanimous House of Commons, could ever at any period of our history, have justified the levying of a sixpenny rate without. the authority of an Act of Parliament.” The article we quote from concludes with the remark ; “ We agree with Sir James Fergusson that he committed no breach of official etiquette in corresponding, in the circumstances, with our Governor. It is easy to conceive how such a correspondence might become a matter of necessity.” Judging, from the letters last received from the Agent-General, there is trouble “looming in the future” with Messrs. Brogden and Sons. In a letter from that firm, dated the 25th of March last, to Dr. Featherston, they present a claim for some £35,000 from the Government of this Colony, in connection until the immigrants they introduced into New Zealand. They hold that the adoption of the system of free* immigration, to meet the requirements of the labor market in the Colony, had so altered the condition of things “ that it will now be impossible” for them “ to enforce further recoveries” from their workmen of the amounts of the promissory notes given by them to the firm for their passages out. “ Under the circumstances,” they say they must now “press our claims for the remission of passage expenses, and all other disbursements in connection with our emigration." They state that they sent out 1299 workingmen for the service of the firm, but that, as they were advised by the mail then to hand, only seventy-six remained in their employ. The remainder had been seduced from the service by the temptation of higher wages, to be obtained from other employers. They strengthen their claim by reminding the Agent-General “ much pressure was put upon them” by him to commence sending out immigrants ; that all the details were carried out under his advice ; that the immigrants shipped were sent out to the ports he selected; and that they can only regard themselves as having been agents for the Government, to which they must look to be “ freed from any loss.” They also state to the AgentGeneral that “ the Government has recently invited the Legislature to condone the penalties in the case of Mr. Webb’s contract, on the ground that the Colony had been benefited by the San Francisco mail service,” and on the same ground they ask relief, for their “claim is no trifling one.” The letter of the firm closes with the following remarks : —“lt cannot be for the advantage of any country to first urge responsible persons to undertake work at the instance of the Government, assure them throughout that the means taken for their reimbursement are sufficient, and then to leave them without remedy for the large outlay they have incurred, while the country reaps all the advantage.” The connection of the East and West Coasts of the Middle Island by railway, is a subject in which' some active interest is still being taken ; and in the west it has been stimulated by the reference made by the Minister of Works to the main trunk line running through the Buller and Grey Valleys, and into the Amuri, by the best route procurable. The reference to the Amuri, and Northern Canterbury, has suggested to some of the residents of Hokitika that, although the result of Mr. Browning’s survey is not yet made public, the Government is not convinced as to the propriety of adopting the route which was most favored locally, and there has been a consequent disposition to “ catch at straws.” The last straw is the statement that “ some unknown person recently reported that he had found a break in the ranges, promising an easier pass into Canterbury than any yet discovered,” but the misfortune is that the personas not only unknown, but has disappeared from the sight of the local Railway Committee. The presumption is that the unknown has “ left to prosecute Iris explorations a little further before making the whereabouts of the supposed discovery public,” and it is to bo hoped that both the presumption and the prospector may prove correct ; but all the pioneering; surveying, and scientific deductions, so far tend to throw doubt upon the chance of any more accessible pass being discovered than those of the Amuri and Hurunui.