TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4414, 13 May 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

[from our own correspondents.] Auckland, Wednesday.

' A' return of work done in the Auckland gaol during the year shows productive work, £3865 4a. 9d.unproductive, £lOl4 125.; expenditure, £5387. The annual report points out the want of a library and chapel. The visiting justice reports that small sentences, especially of" drunkards and vagrants, cause an increase in the number of criminals. Education seems to have no great deterrent influence. Out of a total of 964 prisoners 373 were drunkards, j A man named John Green had his thigh ■broken to-day, while discharging coal from the barque Ilapido. Mr. E. Isaacs has been elected to the City Council, defeating Mr. George Staines by nearly 700 of a majority. 1 The Provincial Council is debating an address in reply. The discussion is likely to last over to-night. Dunedin, Wednesday. Both the Guardian and Times contain leading articles oh the financial; condition of Auckland, with special reference to Sir George Grey’s speech. The Guardian says in the course of its remarks :—Thanks to Sir George Grey’s candor, we learn that' the total revenue of the province is £15,000 a-year, apart from the goldfields, which yield £10,500. The utter absurdity of perpetuating the mockery of a State Government' and Legislature in a district .where the total revenue is somewhat less than that of a tenth-rate English town, must be apparent to all who will take the trouble to think upon the subject. Yet Sir George, willingly and wilfully blind to the lesson which these figures convey, coolly asserts that the province has been greatly wronged .in its revenues, and asks that justice shall be done to Auckland. Well, for once we cordially agree with Sir George Grey. By all means let justice be done to Auckland, and to all provinces similarly situated; and it can best and most effectually be done by blotting . them out of the map of New Zealand. It is quite time that the curtain should fall on the ridiculous burlesque of State Government, when all the revenue collected, apart from special taxation on a great industry, is just £15,000 ; barely sufficient, if, indeed, it is sufficient, pay the salarics of officials, whose existence is necessitated by the absurdity of independent provincial departments—mere fungi, begotten of tho very rottenness which they tend to foster and create. The sums spent, or ratherwasted, in this direction alone would suffice to make many a mile of much wanted road, and to remove from tho province the stigma of being unable to educate its people without resort to special

taxation. If anything were necessary to confirm many wavering politicians in their opposition to the continuance of the present system, his Honor Sir George Grey, Superin. ..tendent of Auckland, has supplied it. Let any unprejudiced man read his address, and mark how pitiful is the picture which he draws of the condition of the province, a province, be it remembered, which has fed fat on the troubles and the necessities of the colony ; a province which for many long years was petted and pampered with public money, because it was the Seat of Government, the abode of viceroyalty, and the home of, many,able and energetic men who lent their assistance to develop its resources and facilitate its progress ; a province which reaped, all the enormous benefits and a few of the losses resulting from successive Maori wars. Yet notwithstanding all these advantages, in what a miserable condition is it now. If Sir George Grey is to be credited, its trade and commerce are depressed, its settlers are unable to stagger under the burden of taxation which they only bear in common with the people of other districts. Its laborers are so impoverished that -they are “ deprived of many comforts.” Its children are uneducated ; its Government in a condition of pauperism. Are these the results of provincial institutions ? We do not say they are. We believe the picture to be overcharged, and the position to be vastly exaggerated ; but to say the least, and allowing a considerable discount on Sir George’s statements (which one of the Auckland members bluntly and unkindly describes as “ bunkum ”), it must be admitted' that here, if ever, there is a clear Case made out for the interference of the General Government; here is this spoiled ricketty deformed bantling of a province unable to walk alone, although the eldest of the colonial family, whining , and puling because it is not so strong as its little brothers, and demanding that they shall be shorn of their own lawful property in order that the pampering process may be perpetuated. Of a verity, we thank Sir George Grey for removing from our minds all and every doubt of the propriety of abolishing the northern provinces. The people there cling to it with the same despairing affection as shipwrecked mariners would cling to a broom or a hencoop, oblivious of the fact that by so doing they but prolong their misery ; but we can assure them that they need not reckon upon any further spoiling of the southern provinces now that their chosen Superintendent has in his blundering Way let daylight in on their pauperised condition. There can no longer be any question as to the propriety of insisting on the transfer of the administration of their affairs to, more capable hands. The Times, at the close of a long article, says We do not wish to speak too hardly of Sir George Grey’s very noble undertaking in trying to get what he holds to be its rights for the province of Auckland ; we must, however, say that there are few signs of wisdom about the quasi policy he announces. It is something less than creditable, after deploring the condition of things, to say. “ He still believed that either by. adjustment, payment of interest on the public debt, or some similar means, a method must be found for making reparation to the public of the province for the 'wrongs inflicted upon them, and in recognition of their rights to participate in the future in the benefits of a land fund.” “They were being treated as children.” This is not the language of a statesman; indeed, it gives good reason for the rumor, “Your demands are extortionate, your requirements cannot be met, your land fund is a mockery and a delusion, you are being treated as children because you behave as children.” His definite proposals about the best means of increasing the revenue of his province are on a par with his other statements in some way not to be defined too carefully—the rich are to be made to pay taxes to an extent “ which would bear some relation to the value of their property,” while the masses of the people are to be relieved from the heavy burden “ which impedes their industry and limits their comforts.” When Mr. Bradlaugh spouts at Coger’s Hall, much the same amiable sentiments flow forth in a perennial stream from his mouth ; but we have not heard that the people of England have been bettered in their condition by his philanthropy. To skin the wealthy, while handing the proceeds of that operation to the poor, is a proposal of great acceptability to the masses; —neither the means nor the men for undertaking so gigantic an act of rapine have as yet been found. In the more modified sense in which we suppose Sir George means us to accept his words, it is notable that, except by means of an income tax (of all taxes the most unfortunate), no means have been found of readjusting the taxation of any country so as exactly to fit the backs of those who have to bear it. We trust that after next session of the Assemby the Auckland people will “understand their future financial prospects more clearly than they can at present,” There is room for it.

At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce this afternoon . the question was brought forward of increasing the dues by £BOO a year, to pay interest and sinking fund on money borrowed .for the improvement of the harbor of Dunedin. It was resolved to endorse the recommendation of the Harbor Board, that dues shall be increased both at Port Chalmers and Dunedin for this object, on both imports and exports. The Port Chalmers people are greatly excited about it, and have resolved to call a monster meeting on the subject, to protest. , A large meeting of miners and tradesmen has been held at Naseby for the purpose of forming a company to test the auriferous character of the main bottom in the neighborhood. The proposed capital is £SOOO, in five thousand pound shares. A thousand shares were at once taken up. Fatal results have followed from drinking impure water at Maryville, near Oaversham. A family named Walter, recently arrived in the colony, for domestic purposes have been in the habit of using water that flowed down the hillside, near their house. Last-week three members of the family were taken suddenly seriously ilk A girl, aged nine years, succumbed on Friday. The father and another daughter are only now recovering. 1 The bazaar in aid of St. Matthew’s organ fund is so far a great success. It was opened by the Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby. ; The principal business this afternoon in the Provincial Council was the’ hundreds and deferred payment resolutions, which passed without debate. In introducing the latter, the Provincial Secretary made a: vigorous speech, condemning as a blot upon our representative system that a crotchetty individual, to whom the circumstances of the province were unknown, should have the power to impede settlement.

On the Harbor Board Ordinance Mr. MoDermid divided the Council on the first two clauses, with the result of, in the one case, 33 ayes, and in the other, 36 ayes against two noes.

Mr. Bastings gave notice that the Board should consist of six members, to be chosen by the Provincial Council, three from the Council and three from outside that body. •’ Mr. Turnbull, the Provincial Treasurer, makes his financial statement to-night. Crossan was brought up at the Police Court to-day for a grievous assault on Mrs. Jeffrey, deceased. He was committed for trial.

On sending another neglected child to the Industrial School to-day, the Bench remarked that they did not know what would be done with these children soon, as the school was now crowded. A large number of the children who have recently been sent there are the children of new arrivals.

[Per Press Agency.] Auckland, Wednesday. The Dauntless, from Fiji, brings the following items of news There is great mortality among the children at Levuka. About 500 natives died at Koro Island lately. A gentleman from Rewa gave a very bad account of the fearful ravages the measles is malting throughout that district. He says it is hardly possible to realise the abject misery that exists. Children of tender yearn, whoso parents lay victims in the complaint, lie bundled together without food. Starvation steps in to harass the patient should his constitution master the disease, and the last end of the unfortunate sufferer is rendered all the more painful.

Whale fishing has been commenced by a local party. Two tons of sugar, arrived at Levuka from the Eewa works, and realised £2B per ton. The measles has somewhat abated. Natives are arriving at Levuka with produce. The distillation of rum has commenced in the Fiji group. Levuka at present is full of planters. All speak hopefully of the future if the land question is speedily settled.

The landlord of the Clarence Hotel has been fined £lO for selling liquor on Sunday. G-. E. Lee has been elected for the City West, and E. Stuart for North Suburban. Napier, Wednesday. Peter Dalziel has been elected for Mapaka. Taukanga, Wednesday. The measles are killing Maori children by the score at Matata, and along the East Coast. The natives are paralysed by superstitious notions, and are adopting no measures to cure, but are letting the children die like sheep. .

Wanganui, Wednesday. Gr. Cawood, wife of a well-to-do farmer, near Marton, took an overdose of laudanum yesterday afternoon, having previously locked the door. The husband on breaking the door open found her dead in bed. She was a young woman, and usually very lively, but had lately been in bad health and low-spirited. She was taking laudanum by medical advice. Circumstances point to suicide. She came from Wairarapa, where she has a large number of relatives in comfortable circumstances. An inquest will be held. Blenheim, Wednesday.

About fifty persons were present at Mr. Moorhouse’s meeting at Grovetown. A vote of thanks was passed, pledging the meeting to use every exertion to secure Mr. Moorhouse’s return.

Nelson, Wednesday. It has been decided to bold a race meeting on the Queen’s Birthday. . Among the events will be a steeplechase of 50 sovs., added tc a sweep of 3 sovs. Also a hurdle race of 20 sovs.

Christchurch, Wednesday. Tlie weather is still wet.

In the Provincial Council last night, the Secretary of Public Works made a long statement of the estimated expenditure during the ensuing year. The estimates include buildings and works, re-votes, £215,980 ; : new votes, £85,169 ; Municipalities and Boad Boards, revotes, £22,878 ; new votes, £15,000 ; Immigration, £3OOO ; Eailway Works, re-votes, £142,244 ; new votes, £163,180 ; Government Offices, re-vote, £14,540. By not proceeding with the erection of the museum additions, and by using one wing of the normal schools for college purposes, instead of erecting a college, and by cutting down other items in the unexpended vote of last year, the Government hope to effect a saving of £70,446, and as £186,000, previously voted for works now in progress, will not have to be paid during the current year, the estimated cash deficit, 31st March, 1876, was reduced to £24,584, though the actual deficit, including the deferred liability of £186,000, would be £110,584. The debate on the estimates was postponed until this evening. The Government policy is generally approved, and it is expected they will be able to command a good working majority. Yesterday the boats of the Eliza Adams caught a small whale off Akaroa Harbor, after an exciting chase of some hours. All the Canterbury salmon ova have turned out worthless. Ltttelton, Wednesday. The Lady Jocelyn has recovered her anchor, and was towed down to the lower anchorage this afternoon by the s.s. Wellington. Bain has been falling in torrents all day, and there are no signs of improvement at present. Dunedin, Wednesday. 1 It has been definitely decided that the ball to the Governor shall take place on Friday, in the University Hall. A public meeting of the citizens -will be held on Monday re widening Prinoes-street. All the papers contain letters protesting against such scandalous misappropriation of the ratepayers’ money.

Mr. Walter, the defeated candidate last year, and Mr. Beeves, M. 8.0., are announced as candidates for the Mayoral chair this year. The Governor lunches with the members of the Provincial Council on Thursday. The Marchioness opens St. Mathew’s Church bazaar at two o’clock to-day. ■ The compositors of the daily papers have given the proprietors notice of an advance of one penny per thousand, commencing on the 26th inst. The proprietors are not expected to accede to the demand.

This morning a deputation waited by agreement upon the Colonial Secretary and the Commisioner of Customs in reference to the reduction or total abolition of the gold duty by the province of Otago. There were present Messrs. V. Pyke, Bradshaw, J. C. Brown, and Stewart, M.H.R.’s, and six members of the Provincial Council. Mr. J. 0. Brown having explained that the object of the deputation was to arrive at an understanding between the two Governments, as to how the wishes of the Provincial Council could be legitimately carried out, Mr. Pyke stated the position of the question, and handed to the Colonial Secretary a copy of an intimation from the Provincial Government to the president of the Miners’ Association, which appeared to throw the onus of the obstruction upon the Colonial Government. X)r. Pollen stated that the Colonial Government did not wish to dictate to the province what should be done with its own revenue. The gold duty was land revenue, and as such provincial revenue. What the Colonial Government objected to was, he said, special legislation. What the province chose to do in appropriating its own revenue did not concern the Colonial Government. The Colonial Government were prepared to say “aye” or “no” to a distinct issue put to them. At present no such issue was before them. The deputation then withdrew.