NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4459, 5 July 1875, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH. JUNE-JULY, 1875. Per transmission uy »■; Taranaki from Wellington, iC 'on the Cth,.and the A.S.N Cods dcamer Mikado on the 6th Juhj.jrom Auckland via San Francisco. T K Monday, July 0.The political atmosphere is a little more settled just now than it has been for a considerable time past. Parliament is to meet for the despatch of business on the 20th instant, and the lull of expectancy has succeeded to the political ferment for ■which the “ abolition resolutions of last session are mainly responsible. _ Even bir George Grey has made no sign during the past week ; previously, in June, however, he kept up a running fire oi telegrams and letters, to say nothing of his very caustic criticism of the Government in replies to deputations, which interviewed him at the Thames on a variety of local matters. The truth is, Sir George has had a mild kind of a victory m his latest controversy with the Colonial Secretary, on a trifling question ot accounts, and being fairly entitled to score a point, we suppose he is Satisfied to let the game of cross purposes he has played since his election stand unfinished until after the session. It is always during the recess that Sir George Grey makes himself unpleasantly _in official correspondence. Be that as it may, however, there is just now no 4c burning “ question ” between the Superintendents and the General Government. The Provincial Councils have finished up their business for the year, to the intense relief of every one. The exhibition of selfishness, and reckless disregard for Colonial interests which these minor legislatures exhibited, alienated from them many persons who were disposed to think that ' improving them out of existence was a harsh and impolitic course. Now, it is oenerally admitted that the sooner they are abolished the better. The credit of the colony demands internal consolidation. But the provincial magnates are determined to die hard. In Otago, the device was adopted of appropriating two years revenue, or thereabouts, in advance. Ordinances were passed authorising the construction of branch railways where they are not wanted at present, in the hope of attaching the landowners and resident settlers to the provincial form of Government, which promised them such direct pecuniary advantage, thus securing a provinoialist majority at the approaching general election, Even Taranaki, by its Council, clings to the skirts of the patched provincial garment, until its sapient councillors are informed what system of government is to supersede it. Taranaki, whose entire revenue does not exceed the salary of the manager, of a first-class manufacturing firm in England, has its provincial parliament, with its Speaker and Clerk, and the Executive is “responsible” to the Council, a no-confidence vote having been actually proposed last session. When it is stated that £4OO was the amount voted for the Education for the year, the grandeur of its provincial institutions may be imagined.: The Superintendental party will, no doiibt, make play in the Assembly, with the view of remitting the question of constitutional amendment to the constituencies.

Two members of the House of Representatives addressed . their constituents since our last summary. Both of them declared in favor of total, in preference to partial abolition of Provincial Government. Mr. Harrison, of Greymouthy voted against the resolutions last session, but would support a general measure for the colony; Mr. Bradshaw, of Wakaia, (Otago,) voted for the resolutions, lout held himself free to vote against, the Bill if the details did not please him. A Dunedin paper took this gentleman to task for_ trimming. ; The land fund will decide his vote, as it will decide the votes of a good many more. The contest for, Mr. Seymour’s seat of Wairau, resulted in the return of Mr. Ward, a local candidate, over Mr. W. S. Moorhouse, Mayor of Wellington, and a politician, of colonial reputation. His Excellency the Governor during the nast month paid' a visit to Nelson, and was received with the welcome which in [all parts of this colony has been invariably accorded to her-Majesty’s representative. But it is saying no more than the hare truth to mention that, wherever the Marquis of Normanby has yet proceeded in Hew Zealand, he has awakened a feeling of personal cordiality that has resulted in the welcome given him, in his official position, being extended into an earnest hearty reception of himself, for himself. Nelson was in this respect no exception to the general rule, and his Excellency and the Marchioness of Normanby left that province with an esteem for themselves, as themselves, firmly planted there. As in other places, too, which he visited, the Governor saw in Nelson evidences of those resources which •will contribute towards the position New Zealand will yet attain, and which, in the case of Nelson, if more latent than in other localities, are none the less real and substantial. From no part of . the colony have symptoms appeared that the absorbing powers of the country in the way of immigration are approaching , exhaustion. Wherever immigrant vessels have arrived their passengers have found ready and remunerative employment, and in. Otago in especial the demands for labor in the country, exclusive of the requirements of public works, are still unsatisfied. Wellington is not behindhand in this inspect, the balance of the Hannibal’s immigrants having "been engaged immediately after a As in many a previous monthly record, we have to tell the pleasant news of further proofs that Sir Donald McLean s conduct of the Native Department is bearing daily good fruit. Rewi, who in the old war times * was bravest of the brave against ns; who, at Orakau, without water and. almost without food held with 300 men a hastily constructed pa, against 3000 soldiers under Brigadier-General Cakey, replying"to offers o£ surrender that he would fight oh for over (ake ako ake)Rewi lias practically acknowledged the impotence of, that sullen silence which in later‘days has usurped the place' of active hostility ; has visited Tauranga, and from the steps of the Government buildings has preached a new gospel of peace and friendship to the Queen. The scarred and seamed old warrior, in doing this, has testified to the credit due to the Native Minister for having made the saying, i; no more native wars,” not a prophecy of hope, but a statement of well ascertained fact. At the Mokau too, near the district m which the good old grey-haired missionary Wiiiteley was cut down by those whom he looked on as his children, the natives are anxious, for peace and intercourse with the palicha. Before and over since the White fjkffa massacre, this has been a hot-bed for

Maori discontent, an Alsatia of the wildest and most lawless spirits ; hut now even these are giving way, and by our notices elsewhere, it will be seen that they are desirous of opening up trade with those from whom they have so long held aloof, and of reciving the benefits conseclient thereon. At the head-quarters ot Hauhauism, where the Maori king lives beyond the line of confiscated land, his subjects are trading with us, and daily telegrams announce the bringing down, as in byegone times, of large quantities of supplies for sale to the white man. _ In other parts of our summary will be found details of many marks of oursooial and industrial- progress, and of the numerous and noticeable improvements in buildings which are now being effected m every portion of the-capital. In industries, manufactures, places for holy worship, public institutions, alike the same substantial marks of progress are to be noticed, and in houses for the accommodation of our constantly increasing population there is on every side a wonderful increase, coupled with advanced care for domestic comfort. The Theatre Royal lias been occupied during the month by the Hoskins-Gol-yllle company, by whom plays of sterling worth and standard reputation have been produced. Recently there have been added to the company Mr. and Mrs. Darrell (Mrs. Robert Heir) and Mr. and Mrs. Douglas, and it is no exaggeration to say that the productions within the past fortnight have been attended by a completeness and strength of cast that would, on this account, have made them noticeable almost anywhere.