TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4412, 11 May 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[from our own correspondent.] ' Dunedin, Monday. On Saturday "Volunteer Richardson was the winner of. the National Rifle Association Medal. To-day no less than eight children were sent to the Industrial School. They were all new arrivals, and had been deserted by their fathers and mothers. There were three of one family and five of another. They said the old immigration barracks were now pulled down, and if their children were not taken care of they would starve. There is a very pretty quarrel between the arbitrators and the City Council. The latter agreed to give five hundred guineas for the arbitration, and they now want £836 7s. 6d., which the Council declare they will not pay. The Governor held' an undress levee to-day. The Harmonic Society give their first concert to-night. The Choral Society talk about building a hall for themselves. A fire in Hudson's bakery last night is supposed to be the work of an incendiary. The Governor's Ball Committee this afternoon agreed to secure either the University Hall or the drill-shed. A Chinaman named Ah Jin hanged himself at Arrowtown on Saturday. A deputation waited on the Superintendent to-day, and laid before him. the resolutions recently passed at Port Chalmers complaining of the action of the Harbor Board. The Superintendent said he would lay the whole matter before the Executive. [Per Press Agency:] Gkahamstown, Monday. The Taiiua Goldmming Company prospectors held a meeting on Saturday night, and authorised the purchase and erection of a four-stamper battery. The work done in the shaft discloses more riches. Eight and a-half dishes of dirt gave two and a-half ounces of loose gold, and as much more was left in the quartz the whole ground has been re-pegged, and a great deal of litigation is expected. Two parties have pegged portions, and in a third case- a 'party is a solicitor, and claims to be put in possession of the ground, the prospectors not having marked out their ground with pegs of the description provided for in the Act. The wife* of Thomas Lowndes, a boatman, died suddenly on Saturday. The jury returned a verdict that the cause of death was disease of the heart, accelerated by intemperance. New Plymouth, Monday.

The Government sold on Saturday the shop and allotment in the centre of the town purchased from Mr. Weyergang for railway purposes. The allotment has 22 feet frontage, with 26 feet depth, and fetched' £SOO. Mr. Ainsley, the present occupier, was the purchaser. The bidding was brisk. The original allotment was 30 feet frontage, and was at one time offered to the Government for £550, but refused, and therefore taken by "Weyergang into court, where he obtained £BSO. Alexandra, Monday.

Major Mair's residence was burnt down this morning. Part of the furniture was saved. The property was insured for £4OO. There is no accounting for the, origin of the fire, which commenced upstairs. The river still remains remarkably low. There is no native news. Napier, Monday.

Mr. Onnond was elected for Hastings, Mr. J. L. Herrick for Hampden, Mr. E. Towgood for Petane —all unopposed. Mr. Ormond said that at the close of last session he had announced that he would retire from, the Superintendency, and then he fully meant to do so. Since then proposals were made in the Assembly for the abolition of the provinces, and next session an effort would be made to carry them out. He was in favor of the change being made in the form of local self-government. Many friends, including recently - elected M.P.O.'s, asked him to continue in office for the present, and he consented; if it was the wish of the Council, but would hold himself free to retire if there was no change. If done away with in a year, he would be in a position to wind up provincial affairs in Hawke's Bay. He denied the statements made at Clive by Mr. Buchanan, that he had influenced the route which the railway should take. He had done all he could to push on the Hawke's Bay railways, but left the line of route to the engineers. He also replied to other statements of Mr. Buchanan, and said the worst kind of lie was one with just a little truth in it. He considered Mr. Buchanan had adopted a very unmanly course in makingaspersions against him in his (Mr. Ormond's) absence. Mr. Buchanan's statement that Mr. Bennett was a Government nominee for Clive was utterly untrue. At Petane, Mr. Towgood dwelt on the wants of the district, particularly of a bridge at the Spit, and advised the residents to memorialise Sir Donald McLean, as member for the district in the Assembly, asking him to get £SOOO placed on the Estimates next year for the purpose. He pointed out the great advantage of inner harbor improvements. W. E. McLean sold on 'Saturday Tasmanian mares and geldings at £27 to £SO ; light hacks, £5 to £lO ; trap horses, £7 to £ls.

There was heavy rain last night, and it is blowing hard this morning. Nelson, Monday.

A man named Ed. Marshall, an acoouutant, was found dead iu Colliugwood-street last night, Supposed cause, heart disease. Blenheim, Monday.

Mi'. Moorhouse addresses the electors of Wairau this evening at Blenheim, and during the week in the country districts. Christchdkch, Monday.

The question of erecting a new theatre has been again revived. It is rumored on good authority that the lessees of the present building, with Mr. Hoskins and several local gentlemen of influence, intend erecting a new theatre on the present site. J. E. Brown, M.H.R, has consented to offer himself as a candidate for the seat in the Provincial Council vacated by Mr. T. W. Maude. It is likely that Judge Gresson will be asked to contend the vacancy. The Kowai Pass Races on Friday were very poor. The Maiden Plate was won easily by Mr. Redwood's colt Chief, 2 years, by Towton. A telegram received on Saturday afternoon from Timaru Btates that the brig Princess Alice went ashore on the rocks at 6.30 a.m., and the brig Cyrene at 10.30 a.m. ; where they are likely to become total wrecks. No lives were lost by either wreck. The colonial insurance companies are large losers. The Cyrene and Princess Alice were both insured with the New Zealand Insurance Company; the former for £-1500, and the latter for £2OOO. But that company has largely re-insured with other colonial offices. The cargo and freight from America of the Cyrene were insured at London Lloyds for £SOOO. Dunedin, Monday.

There was an unusually lively debate in the City Council on Saturday, on an alleged attempt of the arbitrators of the Princes-street widening claims to make an overcharge of fees. It appears that when it was thought the City Council might attempt to invalidate the awards by not paying the fees claimed by the arbitrators, the manse tenants sacrificed a sprat to catch the mackerel ; that is to say, they went at once and gave cheques for the full amount of fees. Who gave them information as to the Corporation's intentions nobody knows, but the Mayor trusted it was not a member of the Council.

It is expected the Provincial Treasurer will deliver his financial statement on Wednesday. The library of the late Mr. Wilson Gray was disposed of by public auction on Saturday, by Messrs. McLandress and Hepburn. It consisted mostly of legal text books, with a sprinkling of well-selected miscellaneous works. There was a numerous attendance of buyers, most of whom were of the legal profession. The bidding on the whole was spirited. _ Loud cries for help were heard last night in the vicinity of the wharves, and on making for the direction from which the sounds came, it was found that a man had fallen over the Jetty-street wharf and was clinging to the piles. The night-watchman and one or two others obtained a boat, and brought tho unfor-

tunate fellow ashore in a somewhat exhausted condition.

Ihe following handicaps are declared for the Tradesman's Races on the Queen's Birthday:— Hurdle Race : Medora, 12st. ; Ivanhoe, list. Tradesman's Handicap: Castaway, 9st. 121b5.; Atlas, 9st.; Right Bower, Sst. 61bs.; Envy, Bst. 51bs.; King Phillip, Bst. 21bs. ; Sonnambula, Sst. 61b. Birthday Handicap : Castaway, 9st. 91bs. ; Right Bower, Bst. 41bs.; King Phillip, Bst.; Tambourini, Bst.; Kathleen, 7st. The mangled remains of a man were found in Arthur-street quarry this morning; supposed to be French, cook of a ship. Inquest to-morrow.

The Goldfields Secretary received a teleeram to-day stating that a ton of quartz from the newly-discovered reef at Macetown had yielded sozs. 2dwts. 12grs. This was considered very encouraging for the Arrow district.

The third half-yearly meeting of the National Insurance Company was held this afternoon. Pifty shareholders were present. The chairman (Mr. Larnach) recapitulated the business done by the company since its formation, and referred to its highly satisfactory condition. The adoption of the report having been proposed and. seconded, Mr. R. Leary, as representing a large number of shareholders, moved as an amendment that £12,500 (being 2s. 6d. per share) be added to the capital account, in lieu of being carried to the reserve fund as proposed. A company showing such handsome profits as tlie National could surely afford a large dividend. The money, if carried to the capital account, would still be retained, and would be available for many purposes which may be required. Mr. Dunning seconded the amendment. In answer to a question, Mr. Leary explained that what he meant was that of the £30,000 proposed to be carried to the reserve fund, £12,500 should be carried to the capital account. This would not affect the dividend. The chairman added that the matter had been under consideration before the report was drawn up, and it was thought more desirable to get the reserve fund up to £30,000 before making an appropriation in the manner indicated. The directors had in view, on some future occasion, to increase the capital account as Mr. Leary had indicated. Mr. Leary demanded that a ballot should be taken on his proposal, as he wanted to give some six or seven people whom he represented, and who were not personally present, an opportunity of recording their votes. Mr. Reeves asked if it was proposed to amalgamate with the New Zealand Insurance Company ; and Mr. Kennedy having stated that he should oppose any proposal of the kind, a ballot was taken, the amendment being negatived by 3 to 1. Messrs. W. J. M. Larnaeh and Robert Wilson (the retiring directors), were re-elected. Mr. R. A. Low was elected a director in place of Mr. Richard Oliver. Messrs. A. C. Begg and W. Morris were re-elected auditors.

SIR GEORGE GREY'S OPENING SPEECH. Auckland, Monday. The Superintendent opened the Council at 3 o'clock this afternoon. In his speech he referred with regret to the death of Mr. Williamson, and hoped to be able during the session to make some fitting recognition of his services and devotion, which were unsurpassed by those of any other man in the colony. He hoped to be able to promote the happiness and prosperity of the province. The prosperity of the State depended largely on finance, and upon the maintenance of integrity and punctuality in dealings with the public and with individuals. He had therefore directed special attention to the financial position of the province, and found that the provincial revenue little exceeded £15,000 a year, and the goldfields' revenue £10,500 ; from General Government they should be entitled to £17,500 ; the capitation arid special allowance, and the land revenue, amount to £2OOO. But such large reductions were made by the General Government that they could not reckon on receiving two-thirds while the provincial re pernio was so small. A large revenue, Provincial and General, amounting to £309,056, was raised in the province, malting the taxation £4 12s. a head of the entire population; so that each small farmer or laborer, with a wife and four children, contributed £27 12s. yearly from taxation towards revenue. He considered the condition of the laborer one of hardship, taxation being on the necessaries of life, and so falling heavily on the poor, who were impoverished by this indirect taxation. The Governor was deprived of many comforts which his providence entitled him to get. Small provision was made from this taxation for education. He next referred to the £40,000 advance from the General Government. Twelve thousand pounds of that advance had been paid, but the Government refused to carry out the agreement entered into, on the ground that only £24,000 were to be paid in one year, as if it were an annual grant. He wished the Council to consider whether it should accept any surther sums upon account of this advance, as it involved a sacrifice of half the land revenue in the first two years, as repayment, and the wiole thereafter until the advance was repaid, thus causing a diminution in the revenue in future years. Such advances mislead the public, who appeared to receive a boon, while it would merely cause increased indebtedness and dependence. No doubt the province had been greatly wronged in its revenues, and he thought it better, instead of begging for advances to be repaid, they should quietly but manfully require justice to be done to the inhabitants of Auckland. An immediate stop should be put to extravagant expenditure, which is effecting our ruin; and our financial rights, of spending ourselves the main part of our revenue secured to u 3 by the Constitution Act, should be at once restored to the province. By another enactment of the General Government £50,000 was granted to the Pumping Association. The Government now desired to make this a charge on the province. Papers connected with it would be laid on the table for the Council to decide whether it shall assume that liability, and annually vote such portions as the association require. Of the £60,000 voted for roads north of Auckland, only £IO,OOO had been placed at the disposal of the province. As the Council were aware, the Assembly voted £250,000 for the purchase of a landed estate from the natives of the province. The provincial authorities had never been consulted in the purchases made, and knew nothing of the remuneration given to the land purchasers, but the province had been given 123,936 acres. Out of this, 108,000 had been inspected for the purpose of determining the character of the land of which the Provincial Government had become possessed, and it was found that only 2699 acres were really good agricultural land ; 5674 acres second-class; and 96,180 acres were of no agricultural value whatever. Considerable portions of the land acquired were also embarrassed by native leases to Europeans for cutting timber, &c. Keviewing the whole position, they had the extraordinary spectacle of Auckland, with all its manifold resources, industries, and population for raising a large revenue, yet making little or no progress. The causes were not difficult to discover. Of all the provinces of the colony Auckland alone possessed no land fund, notwithstanding that the foresight of the Imperial Government had created a landed estate for the benefit of the European natives of the colony. This fact had impoverished and ruined multitudes of industrious families. The claim of Auckland upon the land fund was a subsisting living right. No wrongful acts of one set of representatives could lastingly deprive the people of their rights. He still believt|| that either by the adjustment of paymenjjijl interest on the public debt, or by some sirtiSf means, a method must be found for making reparation to the people of the province for the wrong inflicted upon them, and in recognition of their rights to participate in future in the benefits of the land fund, although those may now be small. Prom the purchases made they would see that there was no hope that any land fund of importance would ever be derivod from the expenditure of the £250,000. To rely on this as a mode of extricating the province from its difficulties would be unwise,. as in the case of the loans mentioned which he thought should not be recognised, they were being treated as children, He preferred to-

rest on actual tight*. ' I* tho largo dobt owing were cluiniod on the land fuiul, settlement ■would be BtbpTwd. Tim in tevwts of tho humbler classes would* bo sacrifked in another form, whilst tlioßO most' lirgely to bo benefited would 'escape. Ho next alludedin detail to the revenue of £309,096, derived from the province, and ondesvorod to show that after all owing for gaols and courts of had been paid. .£250,000 was taken - from the province-.t0.-bo. spent elsewhere. It was a difficult thing to remedy. He then, reviewed. the revenue of the colony, showing that of the estimated total of £1,450,000, interest absorbed .£850,000, leaving but a bare margin; for .making reductions, and although a large saving might and should be effected from aa extravagant system, yet this divided among the provinces ' would reduce by very little the burdens of the inhabitants. It might be, said that additional taxation must be imposed, but the limit of profitable taxation had already been reached in the direction already adopted. If was very doubtful if further taxation in that direction would much increase tho revenue, whilst certainly it would greatly diminish the comforts and progress of the inhabitants of the province. The income realised from the railroad when completed would do much towards paying interest on the debt, but the cost of maintenance and repairs would, for several years, be so large compared with the possible traffic that but a very small margin of profit, if any; would be available for public purposes. The plan that appeared to hold out the greatest hope of a considerable increase in the revenue was to attempt, by largely reducing the present system of taxation, to lower the cost of clothing and prime necessaries of life. This would relieve the mass of the population from the heavy burdens which now impeded their industry, and limited their comforts. The small farmers and inhabitants of the country districts would then be able to carry on their operations freed from some of the burdens by which they were now overweighted. But even when this was done it would still be necessary to have recourse to a system of taxation by which the wealthy would be required to contribute to the necessities of the State to an extent which would bear some proportion to the value of their property. He believed that in this way a larger revenue would be realised from the Customs and ordinary taxation than now obtained under the present heavy rates of duty, and that commerce and trade would revive and increase, whilst the amounts obtained from taxes to which ! those realising large fortunes were forced to contribute, would form a valuable addition to the revenue. Referring to immigration, he contrasted the number of immigrants sent to Auckland with those sent to Otago and Canterbury, and thought them small as compared with the liability incurred on their account. The Governor had recently, by order, restricted the powers of legislation conferred upon Provincial CouncEs by the Constitution Act; but he was not satisfied that these orders could be lawfully issued, and had raised doubts on that point which had caused the orders to be suspended, pending the solution of the question. The correspondence on the subject would be laid before them. Any representations by the Council relative to Mr. "Vogel's abolition resolutions, would receive due consideration. The system of education was working well ; the cost during the year was £21,000. The subject would be brought before them hereafter in greater detail. He proposed to ask them to make provision for ordinary provincial services, for a period of six months from lßt July to 31st December, 1875. In the meantime the General Assembly would have met, and they would better understand future financial prospects than they could at present. The legislation they would be asked to perform would be but small, consisting chiefly of amendments of Act 3.