TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES.

Southland Times, Issue 946, 6 May 1868, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES.

» ■ Wellington, Priday. — Auckland dates are to the 25th April. The, Governor is still at the Bay of Islands. The reception of the natives was a poor affair, owing to so many having gone to Hokianga, where there was a disturbance between the Arawas and ISTgapuhis. The intended great meeting at Waitangi proved a failure. A half-caste named Russell has been elected a member for the General Assembly. — Saturday — The Appropriation Act having expired, the provincial salaries were unpaid yesterday, nor can the current expenses be paid un • til the Council meets on the 12th instant. The Provincial Government has intimated to the Town Boards that in anticipation of the usual votes, grants in aid will be placed, on the forthcoming estimates. — In the rifle match between two elevens, representatives against Wellington 1 , resulted 420 to 263. There will not be a steamer for the South till Wednesday.

!. Kelson, Sunday.— -Mr Stafford addressed his constituency last night. The housegg was, crowded, but Stafford met a , cold reception. After complaining about certain strictures^ in the local press, he alluded to the £240,000 saving he had made in the Government expenditure. He declared, in fact, that be had saved £255,000, taking care to explain that his figures referred to the savings on the ordinary estimates first sent down by Mr Weld. The subsequent supplementary estimates were reduced by the Treasurer of Mr Weld's administration. Stafford claims to have saved the amount stated ;iu one year, although four months of the financial year hrd passed, and he had only eight months to do it in. In proof of his statement, he referred to bluebooks, and added that he had taken office untrammelled, and not because he undertook to effect saving. He had mada no j promise — only indicated his opinion. In | reply to various questions by the Com- | mittee of the Reform League, he stated ! that the land fund of one province would not be liable for deficiency or defalcation of any^ other province. That the pensions of retiring officials now amounted to about £1000 a year, and might ultimately rise to £3000 or £4000, or even to £7000, or £8000 annually. That the revenue for the year was ample. That the colony paid its way without overdraft. , That provinces were paid what was due to them. That although the Customs revenue had fallen off at the rate per annum of £60,000 to £80,000, yet Government saved money by keeping within estimates ; he believed the wants of the colony would be fully met. He considered the Public Debts Act had not been sufficiently explained, and referred to the case of Southland, in which the Grovernment undertook her liabilities and impounded her land fund. This course in that instance received praise, while the Public Debts Act impounding the land and general revenue as security for interest was censured. All undertaken by the colony by that Act was to pay 20s in the pound, for the debts of the provinces. When their debentures fell due, the colony dare not refuse to meet their engagements. The Assembly, through the Ministry and Governor, were responsible for the debts of the provinces. The colony, which was a party to provincial loans, could not dare refuse to be guarantee for debts — the fact that debentures were sold under par was nothing, as they fluctuated in value. But each province had promised to pay 20s in the pound, and the colony was bound to pay it if it wished to retain its credit, whether the debentures were sold below or above par, ythe colony was bound to pay value when the became due. He denied that the Bank of New Zealand benefitted by the Act ; it took debentures at par, and held about £300,000 worth when the act was passed. The act made it quite voluntary on both sides ; it was quite optional for the Grovernment and holders of stock to consent or not ; if no arrangement took place under the Act, matters were in exactly the same position as before. He then referred to the doings of the committee of the Nelson financial reform league, praised four papers, published by members, but considered that to be useful they must do something more practical. Alluded to the reductions he had made, and said — "The people do not like economy in Grovernment, though they talk and : write about it, but they like extravagance." He impugned "Wellington and Canterbury for forcing the Panama route on the colony, and accused the Governments that succeeded his former administration of extravagance in steam communication, He advocated an income tax, and said only one member favorable to it succeeded in being elected to the Assembly, and only two newspapers throughout the eopny ndvocated the imposing of it. Things were now changing ; numbers of papers were becoming more, favorable to an income tax ; and he hoped his Government would introduce a measure imposing it next session. On the Local Government Bill he said most probably a bill similar in purpose would be introduced next session, as it was absurd to expect to stop the demand of outlying localities for self-government. Auckland and Southland were progressing. The finance of the colony would be a very difficult matter, for four or five years to come. — Mr Luckie then addressed the meeting, and was warmly received. He opposed Stafford on the Public Debts Act, and showed that a loss had accrued to the colony. The state of the provincial debentures in the market a year ago proved that capitalists did not consider the colonial credit pledged for them. Auckland's debentures had been unsaleable and were worth only 70 last year ; they were now selling at 106. The public of ISTew Zealand, by the operation of this Act and the mis-management in its conversion, were paying from 30 to 40 per cent beyond the original market value. He referred to Mr Stafford's spying some few years ago that Fitzherbert was as unfit as a new born babe to be Colonial Treasurer, and yet he had appointed him to that office, and sent him home to negotiate the loan under the loan bill. He also alluded to Mr Staffords promise, securing to the provinces the three-eights of the Custom duties, which was followed the same year by Mr Jollies proposal to take away the Customs from the provinces. — Stafford did not carry the meeting with him, and it broke up without even giving a vote of thanks. — The meeting was -one of the largest ever held in Nelson. Dbnedin, Monday. — ' The Celestial Queen arrived on Saturday evening. The salmon ova, supposed to be in good condition, has been sent on to the Waivvera "Wellington, Monday. — A man named Henry Smith drowned himself in a well, through depression at loosing his leg by an accident. Government Survey Office caught fire ; — was extinguished by pulling off roof and down chimney. Dunedin, Tuesday. — Salmon ova arrived *at Molyneux safely.