OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4423, 24 May 1875, Page 2

OUR AUCKLAND LETTER.

(Prom Odr Own Correspondent.) Auckland, May 18. PROVINCIALISM. . The election of Sir George Grey to the office of Superintendent waß expected .to accomplish great things for the province. So far, however, the expectations remain unfulfilled. The rejoicings which • ushered in his advent to office have scarcely died away ere there are sounds of mourning. Even the red-hot ultraprovincial party begin to realise the fact that the decease of the provincial system is inevitable. The late Hnancial Statement of Mr. Header Wood has caused a revulsion of feeling. The awkward fact is demonstrated that the pecuniary resources of the province are only equal to carrying on the mere machinery of Government, leaving no margin for public works and necessary improvements. Already the miningcommunities and the country districts are crying still louder than ever for the abolition of the effete provincial system. Goodness knows what is to become of those portions of the province during the ensuing six months. The unopposed election of Sir George Grey to the _ Superintendency must not be regarded as indicating that a majority of the people are in favor of the continuance of the present system. The thing was principally arranged by a ring of- capitalists and old identities, and those who regard provincialism with hostility considered the abolition of provincialism, so certain, that they did not think it w.orfli while to oppose Sir George Grey, seeing'that the question must be definitely settled in a few months hence. I think I shall not be far wrong in predicting that the naked facts revealed in Mr. Wood's Financial Statement will raise a storm of indignation in the country districts. All along, even when the finances of the province were in a comparatively flourishing condition, the Waikato, the Northern districts, and the Thames, complained that the revenue raised in those portions of the province was principally spent in the metropolis, and that they did not receive anything like their fair .proportion of the money. The winter is coming on, there are roads urgently needed in' the country districts, miners are rushing hither and thither, and clamouring for roads to every little " rush," the Board of Education is heavily in debt, and yet not a shilling will be available. Of course every one expects, in some vague way, that aid will come from the General Government, and a great many have unbounded faith in Sir George Grey's ability to raise money by some occult means. But the scales have fallen from the eyes of many who erstwhile were most sanguine. Sir George Grey's speech gave a most dismal view- of the condition and prospects of the province, and suggested no remedy. Those who reposed unbounded faith in him appeared to think that, like the Heathen Chinee, he had some great winning card concealed in his sleeve, and they awaited the Financial Statement. It has been delivered, and the last hope is shattered. The idol of clay is breaking up. A few still point to the forthcoming session of the General Assembly as the panacea for Auckland's troubles, and all sorts of rumors are afloat as to the mighty things which our Superintendent is incubating. lam inclined to.the belief that Sir George Gro; and Mr. Reader Wood have some deep design in presenting the financial condition of the province in the very worst possible colors. It will afford a strong ground of appeal to the General Government and the Assembly, and at the worst will be an excuse for an ad miserecordiam cry. Mr. Reader Wood concluded his Financial Statement by stating that aid must come from the General Government; how, he could hot even guess. The Echo says if this is all the present Executive can suggest, the sooner we make up our minds to decently bury provincialism the better, .and the Cross has sounded the knell of provincialism at every_ opportunity. OUR FINANCIAL POSITION. The bare fact is, that at the end of June the province will be in a state of impecuniosity. The estimated sums receivable up to the 30th June are as follows : Capitation allowance .. .. .. £3,200 Confiscated lands .. ... .. 700 Goldflelds revenue .. .-. .. 1,209 Licenses ' .. 11,500 Loan sinking fund .. .. .. 600 Pilotage .. .. 350 £17,550 The liabilities'to be met within the same period are : - Liabilities to bank : ..-•-.. v. £9,912 Payments to departments .. .. 7.000 £16,912 ■ As I telegraphed you, the Estimates are only for six months, viz.; till December 31, the Superintendent being desirous of awaiting the action of the General Assembly. . The anticipated'receipts : for the six months are as follow : Landfund.. .. .'. ■„ ■. .; £I,OOO Capitation and special allowance .. 9,000 Goldflelds revenue 6,000 Pilotage .. .. .. .. .. 500 Waterrates ' .. .. .. .- 300 Licenses .. .. '■ .. - .. .. 500 Sheep Act.. . .. • .. .. .. . 300 Slaughter-house... .. .. ~ ' 600 Miscellaneous ... ... .. .. 1,000 Revenue .. .. .. .. ' ..£19,200 From Loan For Public Works .. • .. .. £3,000 For new slaughter-house .. .. 2,500 Sale slaughter-house site .. .. 1,100 £6600 The estimated expenditure is as follows : Executive .. .. .. .. £1,200 0 0 Legislative.. ..•'.. .. 635 0 0 Waste Lands 495 0 0 Public Works .. 2,630 0 0 Police 3,943 10 0 Belief 2,000 0 O Hospitals .. 2,000 0 0 Lunatic Asylum 2,800 0 0 Gaols 3,250 0 0 Goldflelds' department .. .. 1,750 0- 0 Harbors .. .... .. 3,000 0 0 Total .£23,703 0 0 rn addition, there are the following miscellaneous items : Inspection weights and measures £l5O 0 0 Inspection slaughter-house .. 60 0 0 Inspection of sheep 500 0 0 Government analyst .. .. 150 0 0 Laboratory .. .. .. .. 50 0 0 Land and insurance 175 0 0 Dispensary .. 100 0 0 Ferries .. 250 0 0 Steam services 1000 0 0 Public Health Act 200 0 0 Repairs buildings 300 0 0 . Printing, &c 500 O O Contingencies 760 0 0 New slaughter-house .. .. 2500 0 O Interest .. .. .. .. 115 10 0

Total £6790 10 0 You will see from these figures, therefore, that without- including the £3BOI 17s. 7<3. of Special Orders, already voted, the expenditure is estimated to amount to £30,494, against a possible receipt of £25,800. I think it will be found that some of the items of receipts have been underestimated, especially that of "Land Fund, £IOOO. As to education there is a probability that at the end of the ensuing six months»it will come to a sudden standstill. The education commissioners have received about £II,OOO out of the poll tax, which realised £12,000. £SOOO has been borrowed from the bank, and £SOOO

has been received out of provincial revenue, but at the very least £IO,OOO will be required for the ensuing six months, and by levying another rate for the whole year and still remaining in debt, the Board may contrive to pull through, but I think it is very questionable whether the required amount will be forthcoming. The tax is exceedingly unpopular, and the next will be resisted to the utmost. Altogether things look gloomy.

SIB GEORGE GREY’S POLICY. > I have been enabled to learnongoodauthonty some of the points of the new policy which it is understood Sir George. Grey wiU introduce in the General Assembly. It is said he has been in correspondence with Mr. Rolleston, and the remains of the old Stafford party, and that the basis of an opposition has been agreed upon. The Southern party would accept no proposals for general action - which threatened to disturb the land compact of 1856, and this Sir George Grey has promised ■: ■ to concede. The party will in the first instance seek to return to the old system under which the provinces received a moiety of the Customs revenue, mid failing in that, will endeavor to mike the abolition of the provinces general throughout the colony. The system of triennial parliaments,. an elected Upper House, and other constitutional changes, will be proposed, Au attempt will also be made to question even the legal status of the Governor in si-e colony, and it may be argued that his present, position involves a distinct responsibility bv the Imperial Government for the loans. I believe also you may look out for a special organ being started in Wellington to represent tins party during the session. It is argued that the Governor acted unconstitutionally in refusing to forward the petition of Sir George Grey to the. Crown, and you will see that the matter will form the subject i of a discussion in the House. The party which has enlisted under Sir George Grey's banner is not numerous. It includes Mr. Dignan, the lately elected member for City West, Mr. Header Wood, Mr. O’Korke, ' and several other Auckland members, and a considerable number of Middle Island members ; but it is far‘from being a majority of i the House, and the adhesion of several of the Canterbury and Otago members is so clogged with conditions that a split on one or more , grounds appears not improbable. The few facts I have given you above are thoroughly reliable. ■ . MUNICIPAL MATTERS. We have recently witnessed au election in which more than ordinary interest was centered. - Mr. H. Isaacs’s visit to England rendered a seat vacant, and the first candidate ‘ was Mr. George Staines, a prominent dema- ■ i gogue, who deiigbteth: to dub himself the “People’s Champion.” At first it was believed that he would have a walk over, but Mr. E. Isaacs, a brother of the retiring member, came into the field, and by those capa:i I ble of-judging,- Mr. Staines’s prospects were -considered blighted. Poor Staines repre- *' 'Wnted that the “chosen people” were already' - too strong in the Council, threw himself upon the sympathies of the ’omy ’anded, and attempted to create a diversion by insinuating that Mr. Phillips, the Town Clerk, and a co-religionist of Mr. Isaacs, was travelling ; outside his proper functions by canvassing for • that gentleman. On the day of the poll Staines eschewed his usual mode of wooiug ■ : o ’ the sweet voices of the free and independent, ~ viz.,, unlimited supplies of beer and bread and ' cheese, and compelled his admirers to come on shanks’s pony to the polling place, the Mechanic’s Institute. He also abstained from bill-posting, or any other appeal to the ratepayers, giving out that he had conscientious scniples° about such electioneering expedients, ' and would take his stand entirely upon his spotless virtue, Ms, unblemished reputation, and his great merits as a popular champion. ’Mr. Isaacs, on the other hand, appealed to the voters on ever hoarding, boarding, and wall, in pink, wHte, and yellow posters ; made a careful canvass, provided carriages, and generally exerted himself to win. In fact, he appears to have taken all the steps usual in contests of a far more important nature. It is said, that he was actuated by a fear of the disgrace of being beaten by a man like George Staines. However, the consequence was that the “ People’s Champion” was beaten utterly by I ‘a majority of-nearly 700 votes. He did not take his defeat at all kindly, but Mt out allround in his address when the poll was. declared, charging bis promised supporters’ with threachery, and representing himself as “ sold like a lamb to the slaughter.” The - comparison of George Staines to is intensely funny. Imagine a little maid saying “ Drink, pretty creature, drink,” to George. She would not need to ask Mm twice. George says he is disgusted with politics, which are a delusion and a snare, and the city may go to eternal smash before be will condescend to offer himself again. the provincial secretary, Sir. John Sheehan, has not yet put in an appearance: He has been -absent, enwed in legal business in connection witn Satire land claims, at Napier. It is •aid he finds tM» class of business so prostable that he intends to abandon provincial politics. Meanwhile, a question has been asked in the Council as to the time he has devoted to his duties as Provincial Secretary, and the amount he has received.—[Our telegrams inform us of Air. Sheehan’s arrival— Ed.] WILLIAMSON FOND. I have heard nothing of the Williamson testimonial fund, as no report has been made by the committee, but it is understood that a considerable sum has been collected. It is knom that the late Mr. John Williamson left little provision for his family, and the Council propose to vote £IOOO for his widow. The amount will he placed on the Estimates, and w sure to be voted.—[lt has since been voted—Ed.J EDUCATION.

Mr. Dargaville tabled a motion for granting 100,000 acres of land as an educational endowment, but withdrew it after a diacuHnion. native land pxjbchase. In consequence of the statements contained in the Superintendent’s speech, regarding the character of the Lands wrchajed bythe General Government out of the £250,000 set apart for the purpose, a select committee has been appointed to inquire into the matter, and £3OO has been placed on the Estimates for tne purpose. It is understood that this committee •will prolong its inquiries until after the close of the present session, and that their report will form the basis of an attack on the General Government in the Assembly. THE GOLDFIELDS. Of course I know that what I am going to say now mil he called rank heresy by a section of the Auckland Press; I expect to be set down as a sort of Judas Iscariot, a traitor in the camp, and all the rest of it, but truth compels me to say some ugly things. In the first place, then, let hone of your readers be allured either by telegrams or newspaper articles, respecting the rushes in all sorts of directions which we hear of daily. First, there is a general flutter, jubilation, and exodus to Ohmemuri, Telegrams, pigeongrams, and correspondent’s letters teem with glowing accounts of “splendid prospects,” “good shows,” gold “showing freely” in high levels, low levels, and no levels at all; of specimens calculated to yield tens of ounces to the ton of stone ; of buildings going up, shares selling, and a kind of pyrotechnic display of brilliant colors. By-and-bye we are told that Dan Leahy, or Lanky Bill, is doing something mysterious in another distant quarter, that pieces of gold-hearing stone are being exhibited to a favored few, that moonlight flitting and pegging-out is the rage ; that somebody has either struck a reef, or confidently expects to do so by driving a few feet further in a particular direction, and so forth. Then came rumors of litigation and inaction, of jumping, ahd then of a new rush elsewhere. The public eye is dazzled with a grand kaleidisoopic view of rushes and.finds, You have barely time to begin to study too closely the actual results of one rush before your attention is diverted by another. By this means the newspapers contrive to keep things moving, to get up little effvervescent sensations, and to turn an honest penny. One wonders where all the big capital letters come from. You cannot take up a paper without seeing some large black headings about “Important News” from some-

where or other, “ Splendid Bind,” &c." In this way Paeroa, Mackaytown, Waitekauri, Tairua, Parin’, and other places have been played, and there is an ample stock of cards left yet. We are told of mysterious sales of gold, but none of them are authenticated. We hear of wonderful finds in a vague sort of way, but the discoverers are said to he jealous of any one sharing in their untold wealth, and therefore reticent; hut somehow or other the gold returns are not a whit increased, in fact they have fallen off. The miners have been on a will-o’-the-wisp chase of the fickle goddess, the winter is coining on, the roads and tracks will be impassable in wet weather, and general loss and discontent, if not worse, must he the result. The newspapers are much to blame for feeding this gold-fever, instead of encouraging steady industry ; and the temptation to speculation in .business sites has.a good deal to answer for also. , Don’t let any of your readers be gulled.. Wait a bit. The places in which these wonderful discoveries are said to have been made are extensive enough to absorb the entire population of the., colony. There is no fear of all the ground being taken up. ’, .'FAREWELL TO SIR O. A. ARNEY. There was a very large muster of friends on the wharf to bid farewell to Sir G. A. Arney, who goes home to attend to the affairs of his brother, who is ill. It is hardly likely that he will ever return to Hew Zealand. People at a distance cannot understand the esteem and regard in wMch he was held by all classes of the community. At the farewell demonstration the Bar was largely represented, and all the leading citizens of Auckland were present. Addresses, identical in terms, were presented by Sir George Grey on behalf of the inhabitants, by the Mayor, and by the chairman of the Harbor Board. Sir George Arney appeared to be very deeply affected in Ms reply. A STORM IN A TEA CUP. _ The matron and manager of the institutions the Old Women’s Refuge and Old Men’s Refuge are at war. It was found on examination by the relieving officer some time ago that Mr. and Mrs. Mack, the manager and matron, had a singular way of losing bedding and other articles supplied by the Government, and on this and other grounds forthwith the old ladies, who regard the ' Old Women’s Refuge as their peculiar property, raised a howl of indignation. Matters came to such a pass that the ladies removed the furniture, and the Government thereupon threw the home upon the Ladies’ Benevolent Society, and withdrew a considerable proportion of the rations they had been in the habit of supplying. The ladies continue to carry on the Old AYomeu’s Refuge, but the Government substituted a Mr. Staunton, formerly a colorsergeant in the army, for Mr. Mack as manager of the Old Men's Refuge. The woman, Mrs. Mack, who is a perfect virago in temper, and has been several times threatened with dismissal and reprimanded for _ unrestrained passion and ill-treatment of patients, not to mention impertinence to the relieving officer, appears to have been encouraged by the ladies to fresh acts of hostility against Mr. Staunton, which have culminated in a charge laid by the woman in the Police Court, Mr. Staunton being bound over to keep the peace, PROVINCIALISM AT THE THAMES. When I wrote the above respecting the probable feeling of the Thames people in perusing the Financial Statement, I had not seen an extract from the Thames Advertiser, which I now append :—The Advertiser reviews Mr. Reader Wood’s Financial Statement, in which it sees the death knell of provincialism. It says Canterbury and Otago are not so wealthy as they thought, but “Auckland is neither more nor less than dead-broke. She is down past all hope of being put up again.” The functions of the Provincial Government, it argues, are gone, for it has no money to spend on public works. It winds up its remarks as follows : —“Surely every living thing, and especially every governmental organisation, ought to have decent excuse for being in existence. At the end of the six months there will be a deficiency; of some £7OOO or £3OOO in the education scheme alone.Never had treasurer a more melancholy story to tell, and—when Sir George looks at the figures, he must see that all hope of; preserving the province is gone. Let him frankly acknowledge this, and he will find abundant work still in seeing that this part of the colony is nqt left in a disadvantageous position as it has been hitherto, mainly by the operation of provincialism—for if that system had not existed there-would have been no such tMng as the laud-compact of 1856, which gave aU the Southern Island to the province there. And when the provinces are interred, which ought to be done as soon as possible, the best efforts of our best men will have to be devoted to the colony, or it will soon be in a plight not much better than the province of Auckland is now.”