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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4472, 20 July 1875, Page 2

AVe have received a cartload of , suggestions, in one form or another, in reference to the legislation of the General Assembly in the approaching session. Every one has a hobby of his own, which he would like to have embodied in an Act of Parliament. The feeling is a natural one, and perhaps most of these fugitive ideas would be as valuable to the country at large, if elaborated in detail, ns those .which will assume the shape and substantiality of statute law. One or two of them, however, deserve to be placed on record, if only in the columns of a newspaper, in the hope that they may influence the minds of those engaged in the work of legislation. A correspondent writing on the unsatisfactory state of public school instruction, urges the necessity for establishing a bureau of education, and abolishing the various “ central boards." The educational machinery of the colony would then be under a responsible Minister, who would be able to conduct the department much more economically and efficiently than it can possibly be done under

the multiform systems and authorities now in operation. Were this suggestion acted upon, it would follow that the teaching in the provinces should be assimilated, and a uniform system of standards and examinations established as at Home. In the matter of official expenditure in the several provinces, there would be a saving, for there would only be district inspectors, the administrative staff being concentrated at Wellington. We think this subject should be very thoughtfully considered by the Assembly. Education is starved in one part of the colony and crammed in another part, while it is mismanaged in all. The question of education is closely allied with provincial abolition, but it may be considered apart from that “burning question” if need be. For ourselves, we agree with our correspondent.—Another suggestion is, that the harbors of New Zealand should be made free ports;—a most desirable thing to do, if it could be carried out. And we really do not see why the obstacles should not be removed. It would certainly involve considerable expenditure, but the impetus it would give to commerce would be enormous. Narrow views, however, are likely to defeat any such statesmanlike proposal as this, and those who have fingers in the very small pies of local bodies charged with the management of the harbors of New Zealand, might be expected to oppose such a useful measure of abolition tooth and nail. The Marine department, however, would require remodelling before it could be entrusted with the control of the harbors of the colony. We say this in no disparagement of the gentleman employed in that department, but as a simple matter of fact, about which there can be no two opinions. The marine branch should be in the hands of nautical men, and the scientific branch should have something more than a half-share—and that, as an Irishman might say, the smallest half—in an engineer. Then again the weather-prophet should not be left pretty much alone to do all kinds of work, and do it all well, at the imminent risk of breaking down. The forecasts, by Captain Edwin, have been wonderfully correct, and testimony is forthcoming from all parts of the colony of their value to seafaring men. We are satisfied, from concurrent testimony, that much valuable property, and more valuable lives, have been saved by the timely warnings given by Captain Edwin’s storm signals. This branch of the Marine department, at all events, should be strengthened, and the system of storm signals already established should be perfected by the purchase of proper instruments, and the employment of a competent staff under the control of the very able and zealous officer who has conducted it so far successfully.—Another correspondent suggests the revision of the “ New Zealand Pilot,” the work of some of the ablest men of the day in the Koyal Navy. Doubtless it requires revision, many hidden dangers having been discovered since that work was compiled ; but to be of any value, it should be undertaken with care and deliberation. A Koyal Commission should be appointed to take all the evidence procurable, classify it, and have power to expend money to verify the evidence if necessary. This done, and a scientific resurvey of the coast made, the Admiralty would doubtless adopt the work ; otherwise it would be valueless, and the money spent on the revision would be wasted. —One correspondent suggests that immigration should be stopped in the interest of labor, another inveighs against the stoppage of freeimmigratiouin the interest of capital. . From his own standpoint each one may be right; but everything depends upon the money available for immigration, and the absorbing power of the country. Should there be a pressure for labor, no doubt free immigration will be resumed ; but the completion of many of the public works will release a great deal of labor next season, which will then be available, without any violent disturbance in the rates of wages. We need not burden our readers with summarising the arguments of correspondents on the provincial question. Suffice it that we have not received any suggestion in favor of Superintendentalism. Advocates of the abolition of the provinces go in strongly for local administration and substantial revenue. In this they are decidedly right.—A solitary correspondent, and the last, suggests that the session will be a short one, but on this point we have no opinion. It all depends.

A correspondent from the country writes to us, suggesting that the Market-house in Cubastreet should be turned to its proper use. The time has come, he thinks, when Wellington should have a regular market for the sale of vegetables, country produce, &o. “ Would not a good market be a boon to the people of the city,” he adds, “and a place where they would find a number of their necessaries of life at nearly fixed rates, instead of having to wander here and there, from Thorndon to Te Aro, in search of particular articles.” There is a great deal in this suggestion. The fact that the market-house was built before it was required is no reason why it should not pay at present, if conducted under proper regulations. Both buyers and sellers would find it to their advantage to support a market which would create something like uniformity of prices. The want of a market in this city, no doubt tends to create the prevalent scarcity of vegetables and dairy produce, because the producer has no means of availing himself directly of the demand. He cannot hawk about his produce; and as the number of dealers likely to buy it is limited to a few, he must take whatever they may offer for it. This is the natural consequence of the want of a regular market. Its disadvantages were not so much felt some years ago, but now, when the town population has so largely increased, it has become a very serious matter indeed. The health and comfort of the people are directly concerned, not to speak of their pockets. We have no doubt if there was a fixed market, held at stated hours, in a water-tight building, where the producers could rent stalls, and sell their butter, eggs, poultry, vegetables, &c., to the consumers, without the intervention of middlemen, who now absorb all the profit, the cost of these necessaries of life to consumers would be reduced, while producers would get far better prices. Wo commend this subject to the consideration of the public. The plan has worked admirably in other places, and we do not see why Wellington should be an exception.

The Resident Magistrate’s Courthouse is not a credit to Wellington, indeed it is doubtful whether a worse courthouse is to bo found in any city or respectable town on this side of the line, and if the Government have any intention to make alterations in the Supreme Courthouse, we would urge the desirableness of at the same time doing a little for the improvement of the inconvenient hall that serves for a Resident Magistrate’s Court. With the limited space at command, perhaps not a great deal can be done. The Resident Magistrate will still have to do without a retiring room, and be compelled to sit on the bench in the empty open court for three or four hours each day, scorched on one side by an unpleasantly close fire, and frozen on the other by the chill blasts which come rushing through numerous rooms. The clerks will have to remain in an apartment not large enough, as the vulgar phrase goes, to “ swing a cat ” in, and stumble through their work as best they can. But there is no reason why these evils should not be abated to a certain extent. At a very small outlay the court might be made much more comfortable, not only _ for the magistrates, but also for the barristers and other persons whom business compels to be continually present. The barristers might be accommodated with a better table than the diminutive ricketty affair which now graces the court. This is rather small for two to sit at, but if a third gentleman happens to bo waiting for a case to come on, he must clear out from the table, and with brief-bag on his shoulder and text-book in hand, find standing room in some convenient corner. _ Reporters are treated with equal consideration. They have a space about 3ft. by 14ft. allotted to them; and as the only way to get to this charming spot is to hustle through the greasy crowd that usually congregates in court, occasionally this is a feat which for its successful performance requires not a little energy and physical power. And when he has reached the goal of his hopes, in a state of perspiration, the volume

of warm breath from tobacco-chewers and beerdrinkers, who politely lean on the rail just above his head, induces unspeakable happiness —and in silence he prays for the welfare of the Minister of Justice.