COLONIAL ITEMS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 81, 23 August 1873, Page 3

COLONIAL ITEMS.

(FROM THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN PRESS AGENCY.) AUCKLAND. August 15. Mr. Buckland reports fat sheep in small supply, at 4d per lb ; fat cattle, 24s to 26s per lOOlbs.; store merino wethers, 10s; fat lambs, 14s 6d to 17s 6d. TAURANGA. Mr. Hannon, coach contractor, says that the bad state of the road prevents him running the coach through to Napier.

BLENHEIM. The Rangitoto is uninjured, save the loss of the funnel. It is expected she will be afloat in a few days. WELLINGTON. August 12. It is believed that Mr. Vogel’s proposals for provincial borrowing are conditional upon the provinces being reduced to the status of Municipal Corporations, which are empowered to borrow for specific works, but only upon specific securities, such as rates, tolls, or rentals of lands. It is generally rumored that Mr. Stafford is likely to supersede Dr. Featherston. Mr. Vogel and Mr. Stafford are very much together. In the House, Mr. Ormond has given notice that he would ask leave to bring in a Bill, entitled “ The Hawke’s Bay Superintendeney Bill.” The object of this measure is to introduce into the constitution for Hawke’s Bay, on the request of the electors, an alteration similar to that about to be introduced in Taranaki by Major Atkinson’s Bill—the Superintendent to be elected by the people, and occupy a seat in the Council ex officio. Mr. Vogel made a Ministerial statement. The Government had decided to withdraw the Electoral Bill. They proposed next session to abolish the qualification conferred upon the possessors of miners’ rights, and to establish an educational qualification. Individuals could then either qualify as at present, or under the educational system ; but could only have one vote for one district. With reference to the tariff, he said the Government had, on enquiry, found that it would bring in an excessive revenue ; and they proposed to reduce it to a unform rate of 10 per cent., with the following exceptions:—Lead, copper, brass (bars and sheets), common sheet iron, saddle-trees, book-binders’ cloth, and writing paper. On sugar candy, they would impose a

duty of 2d per lb., and on malt and hops, 6d per lb. Cordage would be exempt, but twine would be subject to a duty of 1U per cent. Mr. Reynolds said that the difference between the old system and the 10 per cent, duties proposed would be about £12,000.

August 14. In House to-day, Mr. Ormond presented a petition from Josiah Hamlin, praying for an inquiry, and setting forth that he had sustained loss from the suspension of his license as interpreter, in connection with transactions between Mr. Brandon and the Taupo natives. The House went into committee on the Tariff Bill. • Mr. Bell made a speech on the general question He approved of ad valorem duties; though they should also have property and income taxes. Mr. Swanson suggested the imposition of an export duty on wool. Mr. Vogel said there was no necessity, nor the smallest prospect of a necessity, for the taxes suggested. This year the expenditure was probably the heaviest of any year. The colony could easily borrow double or treble the amount which it had already borrowed. The clauses were passed with very little discussion. On the schedule being put, Mr. Vogel moved that the articles charged 15 per cent., be made 10 per cent. Mr. Johnston moved as an amendment that they be charged 7i per cent. In the House, last evening, Mr. Fitzherbert spoke till past midnight, with but half-an-hour’s interval. The House was very empty during the latter part. He expressed his admiration of Mr. Vogel’s irrepressible force of character, and referred to Mr. Richardson as a most indefatigable officer. He thought, however, that the former was leading the country into disastrous mistakes, and that the department of the latter gave them absolutely nothing for their money. The General Government asked the provinces to make bricks while they abstracted the straw. He said the provinces should have loans authorised by the Assembly, as heretofore. The proposal to take security on land to double the value of railways, showed that the Government was prepared to realise at a sacrifice. It was the most audacious proposal ever submitted to the House, and meant simply that the Government would take all the present landed estate of the Middle Island, and all that of the North Island, present and prospective. The Government, should give over all land to the provinces, with it the duty of settling immigrants on it. He said that the reference to immigration in the Statement was cursory and flippant, as well as showing insincerity. Scarcely anything had been done but what was due to the efforts of Superintendents. He referred specially to Otago and Hawke’s Bay, and asked what would be the position of those provinces if the Government persisted in their proposals. Auckland might possibly keep out of the Bankruptcy Court eighteen months, while Hawke’s Bay might squeeze out a little more territorial revenue and stave off insolvency for a brief period. Mr. Carrington’s speech in the Taranaki Superintendency question suggested to his mind the line. “ Pity the sorrows of a poor old man.” Wellington was living from hand to mouth; Canterbury was killing the goose with the golden egg; and the rest of the South Island, were the land fund abstracted, would be still worse off. The colony, at the same time, in taking the land, would be taking possession of a white elephant. With reference to the loan, he said that four per cent., with a minimum of £9O 10s meant in reality £4 16s lOd while hawking colonial securities retail in the Australian markets would do immense mischief in the London market.

The Premier said that, as it was important to push through the Tariff Bill, he would only deal with a few of the points raised by Mr. Fitzherbert ; he would have many other opportunities of dealing with the remainder. Mr. Fitzherbert was very fond of creating bugbears for the stock exchange. For once, however, he was wrong in his arithmetic. The 4 per cent., loan was not raised at £4 16s lOd, but £4 10 4d, and the difference over a period of years amounted to several thousands. The sale of debentures in Australia, instead of depressing the home market, had really raised the price in London. All that the Stafford-Fitzherbert Government of last year had done in the matter of immigration was to caneel Mr. Ormond’s order to send immigrants to settle on Tauranga lands. The provincial borrowing proposals were not at present under discussion, but the construction of works would stand on their own merits, which construction Mr. Fitzherbert would prevent if he could by means of log-rolling. The policy of the Government was to construct a chain of arterial communication through the colony, fostering at the same time desirable local works. Mr. Fitzherbert, on the other hand, would go in for all manner of public works indiscriminately. The latter might be a policy in advance of the former, but was open to a disastrous check, which the former was not.

In the Upper House to-day, the Speaker said that the Hon. Mr. Chamberlain had complained to him of being intimidated by Mr. Stevenson, of Auckland, who had told him that, if he voted against the Auckland improvements, Mr. Reed, editor of the Evening Star, would write a leader against him. On the resumption of the debate for a committee to consider the question of reconstruction of the Legislative Council, the Hon Dr. Grace remarked that he was opposed to the electoral basis.

Colonel Whitmore opposed the motion on the ground that it was uncalled for by public opinion. Several other members also spoke against the motion, which was negatived by 19 to 12. It is currently rumored in political circles that it is the intention of the Premier to go home after the session to negotiate further loans. A return has been laid on the table, shewing the annual cost, in each electoral district, of forming and revising the electoral roll for the year 1872-73, together with such classification as shews how the expenditure was incurred. The total amount is £2,995.

Mr. Stafford flatly contradicts the rumor that he is a candidate for the Agent-Generalship. [FROM THB AUCKLAND STAR’S CORRESPONDENT.] SEPARATION MOVEMENT. August 14. I can reliably state that a movement is afoot towards insular separation, with the federation of Otago and Canterbury. Southern members are communicating with Auckland members on the subject. The proposal is first to remove the seat of Government South, thereafter the members are pledged to separation, with Auckland as the Northern capital. Auckland members require that both event* shall be coincident. The movement lias not yet assumed a defined shape, but is unquestionably real, and is said to be favorably entertained by almost all except Wellington.