OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7, 22 November 1861, Page 5 (Supplement)

OTAGO

(From the Special Correspondent of the Sydney

Morning Herald.}

Otago, I think, has a great future in store for it. The plentiful supply of water from end to end of it, and its great pastoral and agricultural capabilities, must make it very prosperous, independent of its mineral resources. And when these are estimated, when it is considered that, although possibly limited in Dumber, there are some richly auriferous tracts of land, which must afford employment for a lengthened period, and that other metals and minerals are likely to be discovered, I think I am not wrong in predicting that Of ago is destined to occupy a prominent position among the colonies of this hemisphere. The great object of its inhabitants, together with those of the provinces of Nelson and Canterbury, should be to procure a separation from the Northern Island, and their establishment into a distinct colony. The interests of the two islands are not common, and I have seen quite enough of the system of double government (provincial and general) to arrive at the conclusion that it is liable to insuperable difficulties at any moment. It works at present more through toleration than any other cause. The jurisdictions would be constantly connicting, did not the General Government delegate to the Provincial Government powers, which in strictness, it has no right to exercise In fact, there is a sort of understanding that, if the local Government feels necessitated to outstep its functions, the General Government will indemnify it. It is easy to see that this understanding, which may continue lor a while in a quiet, peaceful community, unused to political struggles, is liable to rupture, nay more, is certain to be upset when the emoluments of public office, and the excitement of public life, open the way to the stormy absorbing conflicts which seldom fail to grace the arenas on which the battles of politics are fought. The return of a hostile member to the General assembly will make the opposite party wonderfully scrupulous about allowing a local Government to overstep its powers. Ministerial questions Avill be raised on it, impeachments attempted, ill-defined jurisdictions be urged in palliation, and each Government find itself hampered in every direction. If the Southern Island be formed into a separate colony and the provincial governments be maintained, probably the powers will be differently divided, especially those relating to the collection and expenditure of the revenue. Whilst on the subject I ma}^ mention that the tariff in existence here, and which is fixed by the General Government, is a monstrously unjust and unequal one, utterly wanting in system.

Sydney could, and should, establish relations with New Zealand that would mutually benefit each to an extent it is impossible to realise. The obvious means to cement this bond of union is one that would answer a double purpose, connect the two colonies together, and besides, offer immense advantages to each colony separately. Need I say I allude to establishing a line of communication with " the world's great highway," the Isthmus_ of Darien. With fast steamers to Panama, iNew Zealand would be brought within thirty-two days of England, and Sydney within thirtyeight days ; and this is only one -of the advantages to be gained. Is it nothing that a prompt line of communication' will open to the enterprise of New South Wales and New Zealand, the markets of the west coast of North and South America, and establish relations between them, the results of which it is difficult to over-estimate? The feeling in New Zealand is strongly favourable to the line I have mentioned, both as a payable speculation in itself and for the advantages that would accrue from it. I heard a gentleman of large property declare that he would invest every sixpence of his available means in it. A joint guarantee from New South Wales and New Zealand, of minimum profit, as well as a guaranteed subsidy, would induce capitalists to start the undertaking without delay.

New Mateital for Crinoline.—A story that is true, and is too good to be lost, is the following:—A few days ago the good ship Atalanta, Captain Sparely, sailed from Southampton, with a cargo of 400 female emigrants, bound for Melbourne. The ship was two or three days in the Downs, and on the third day, just as the pilot was preparing to take leave, off the Needles, it was reported to the captain that a great quantity of what the sailor's call "spun yarn " or " fine line," but which really mean 3 rope, of about the thickness of your finger, was minsiug. This rope had been stowed away in the lower deck, where the berths had been fitted up. Search was made for it in vain, and, as the captain could not put to sea on such a voyage without the requisite supply, great was his rage and dissapointment at the robbery. The passengers' accommodation was then minutely searched for traces of the missing rope, when the Captain's wife discovered that the whole of it had been taken by the girls, and worked up into crinolines. The consequence was that the captain had to delay his voyage, and send to Southampton for a fresh supply; but whether the young ladies were mulcted in the costs we are unable to say.

The following is said to he an inscription on an American tombstone :—" Sacred to the memory of Johnathan Thompson, a pious Christian and an affectionate husband. His disconsolate widow continues to carry on the tripe and trotter business at the same place as before her bereavement."

A new pretender disputes the throne of Abyssinia with the Emperor Theodore.