The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1198, 21 January 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1870.

„ — The estimate which a man forms, aud in any way publishes, of himself and hia doings, is ordinarily open to suspicion. If favorable, the surmise naturally arises that the truth has not been told. If unfavorable, there will be in the minds of onlookers the lurking query as to whether the worst has been made known. The report of the squabble between his Honor the Superintendent of Otago, and his 1 Executive, appearing in the Otngo Daily Times of 14th inst., warrants the question involved in the latter supposition. We were some time since taken to tusk (after a fashion) by a correspondent, for having, as he supposed, omitted to keep himself and the public posted up as to the phase of the Ec-union question in Otago. To this we reply that all of interest in connection with the question had been published • the fact being, that beyond the speech of the mover of the Ec-union question, iv which he had plainly shown to the Council that in bringing about A re-union between Southland aud Ofcago, the latter would make a very good bargain, little or no attention had been given to the subject. What was true then, is true now. The question appears in Otago to be practically shelved. That which was insufficient to engage the marked attention of a Council to which it was specially referred, is not likely to form a very prominent topic outside during a recess. This shyness of the subject, which our own politicians assured us would become with Otago an all-absorbing matter of interest, may be explained on other grounds than its abstract merits. Otago is at this moment too much occupied with its own affairs, and apparently dreading breakers ahead. So little love is evidently felt for the existing system of government, and so little apparent confidence in public men, that it seems scarcely credible that we can be contemplating the identical system in which we were recently so feelingly and urgently counselled provincially to merge ourselves. The recent dispute between the Superintendent of Ofrgo and his Executive, reminds us of the quarrel between our late Executive and the then Superintendent, which led to the sudden conversion to re-unionist principles of the dismissed functionaries. In both cases their Honors appear to have had slightly the advantage. In the latter, the Executive was summaril7 dismissed ; i in the former, the Executive suggested their own dismissal from office, while his Honor was of opinion that they ought to resign. Notwithstanding this suggestion of dismissal by the Otagan Executive, the prevalent opinion deduced from their general conduct is, that there is manifest on their part a disposition to retain "office at all hazards, and at any sacrifice of consistency." Whether our late Executive was thus prepared cannot now be known, and their summary dismissal from office forbids speculation thereon. The occasion of the late Otagan display appears to have been the appointment of a Treasurer — Mr Gillies having been a second time appointed Treasurer by the Executive, with a view to the assertion of their constitutional right to make the appointment. He has been refused acceptance by his Honor, and thereupon occurred the suggestions referred to above, relative to dismissal and resignation. The Executive has however, given way, and Mr G-illtes has a second time resigned, and Mr Duncan*, who had previously declined the appointment, has accepted it. The question of individual fitness for the Treasurership of Otago i 3 one which, under no circumstances whatever, can materially affect Southland — or. this portion of the Middle Island — should it be re-united to Otago ; but there is one thing in connection with the appointment itself that is worth passing notice. The " new blood" of the Provincial Council of Otago does not appear to have been recognised in any recent appointments, and liberalism and progress need scarcely be expected. The " old identity" element is for the present predominant. The moral aspect of the j matter cannot be better given than by a quotation from the Otago Daily Times : — *. " This burlesque of responsible Government, however, cannot fail to disgust the public. It is impossible to feel respect for either men or measures under such a system of administration as thafc which we possess. The desire to retain office is so palpably the mainspring of their conduct that nothing can be expected from our rulers. They can have no hesitation in sacrificing the- public interests to their own, at any moment, and under any circumstances. At the same time, the spectacle presented by the Superintendent and his 'responsible advisers 'is the reverse of dignified. It represents a form of administration unknown in any other country, and unfitted to answer the ordinary purposes of government. Responsible government is ridiculous unless its principles are carried out in practice. The first of those principles is that the Executive are responsible to the Legislature, and not to the head of the Government ; and consequently that he is bound to act by tbeir advice in all things. The successful working of responsible government I depends entirely on the observance of this principle. But this is just the principle which we ignore. On the strength of his being an elective officer, the Superintendent is allowed to set aside his ' responsible advisers' whenever he pleases. It would be better to have adopted the American plan of government, and to bave made the Executive merely heads of departments, without seats in the Legislature, and without responsibility to it. The position of the Superintendent would then be one of dignity and power combined. At present, it has very little of either. The position of the Executive is not much better. If His Honor does not choose to take their advice, he can dispense with it* if they

offer any resistance to his wishes, he can either summon them before the Council or dismiss them. ISTo one can deny that some reform of this most absurd and anomalous state of things is necessary. The only question is what should be the precise nature of the reform. If, for instance, the Executive were appointed and dismissed by the Provincial Council, they would be in a position to carry out their policy without any fear of losing office by a stray vote in a division, or by incurring the displeasure of the Superintendent. They wouid thus be independent of every power but that of the Legislature, and their removal from office could only take place on a distinct vote of want of confidence. As the vice of our present system is that they have n^ j independence at all, such a reform as this j would at least render good government , possible." j The strongest opponents of the Provincial system need desire no more cogent arguments thau those furnished by the above quotation. The inference is unavoidable thafc a system of administration described by those who live under it as one under whioh it is " impossible to feel respect for either men or measures " is unworthy to be strengthened or perpetuated.

Referring to the important question alluded to at the interview between his Honor the Superintendent and a deputation of settlers — elsewhere reported — touching the interpretation of a certain clause of the " Waste Land Act, 1865," we may state that, after careful perusal of the Act, we think it would be a very unfortunate circumstance if it could be construed to entitle any government to expend, it might be, three or four thousand pounds in any one year, thus leaving throe or four years totally unprovided for. The spirit and intention of the Act clearly indicate that this j amount is a provision for unforseen accidents to roads, bridges, #c., in addition to the estimated appropriation for every year, not one year with another. We only regret that the amount is not larger. We cannot conceive any better purpose to which the land could be applied than for the benefit of the settlers, in keeping open the roads, &c, which are so liable to be injured by floods from time to time. The propriety ofthe Government's saving a year's acreage, if not required, and expending two thousand acres the following, if needed, is apparent, but we fail to perceive the authority to forestall, and would recommend the Waste Land Board to re-consider its decision.

At tbe commencement of tbe present year, tbe fee payable on registered letters was reduced from Is to 6d eacb. This alteration will doubtless induce many more to adopt the precaution of having letters of value properly entered, than have hitherto been in tbe babifc of doing so, and there is therefore little likelihood of the revenue suffering by the concession. If tbe rulers of the wires would follow suit with regard to shorfcd istance telegrams, tbey would afc once study the interests of the Colonial Treasury and of the public. Tbe presenfc exorbitant tarriff operates, we are assured, mosfc injuriously in both respects, besides rendering unpoDular a Government service which, properly worked, would he mosfc liighly prized, and liberally patronized. In the Resident Magistrate's Court on tbe 20th insfc., Jame3 Telfer was brought up charged with baying obtained a saddle from Mr A. M'lntyre under false pretences. From tbe evidence it appeared that prisoner bad purchased the saddle from M'lntyre for £5 10s, paying £2 on account, and giving him an order on Mr Mitchell, of Edendale Station, for tbe balance, stating that Mr Mitchell bad some £9 or £10 of his in hand, and thafc if tbe order were sent up by mail ifc would he all right. Plaintiff accordingly forwardsd the order, which was returned with the remark that no money belonging to prisoner waß in Mr Mitchell's possession. After bearing the evidence of plaintiff and Mitchell, Mr Wade stated, for tho defence, that prisoner, being an illiterate person, did nofc understand tbat it was an order he had signed, but thought ifc simply an acknowledgment for the debt, such as an I. O. U., and denied any intention to cheat M'lntyre. His Worship said Mr Wade had certainly made tbe best of a very bad case, bufc be was convinced the prisoner knew full well what be was doing wbea he signed the order. He should deal with tbe case summarily, and inflict a penalty of two months' imprisonment with hard labor. The Orefci Railway is nofc finished yefc, bufc it is being pushed on as rapidly as possible. Much greater delay was caused hy the rotten state ol all tbe bridges than was at first anticipated. Both tbe Makarewa and Taipo bridges have to be almost entirely renewed, with the exception ofthe piles, a few of these only requiring to be replaced. The former structure is now so far towards completion that the engine can cross ifc, and yesterday we took advantage of a train going up, to have a run as far as fche rails are laid. We found great things had been done 6ince our former trip. The line is now completely finished as far as the Makarewa, 7£ mile*., from tbeuce the irons are laid 3£ miles further, 1(""£ miles in all, or just to the further edge of Ryal Bush, while the formation gang are some distance ahead of tbat again. In a month afc the farthest we should hear of Winton being reached. Whether any sort of magnetic sympathy exists between individuals and inanimate objects spiritualists may besfc explain, bufc a singular cii cumstauco mentioned to U3 by Capfc. Gibson would Eeotn to establish some mysterious connection between Mr Durbridge and tbe vessel wrecked in fche Straits the other day. It appears that some considerable time ago the Laughing Water was lying in Nelson harbor, where M.r Durbridge saw ber, and immediately took a fancy fco her singular name. That gentleman soon after went to the Thames diggings and took up a claim, which he christened after the brig, and now she has come and laid her timbers to bleach on the beach, almost afc bis door, at the very opposite end of the island, as if she had a conscious desire to be buried near to one "who had formed a sort of attachment to her at firat sight. A correspondent, -writing from the Mataura, says : — The settlers of the district will be glad to learn that J. Turnbull, Esq., J.P., of Tuturau, has purchased from W. Steuart, Esq., of Blackmount, tbat well-known imported bull, "Phenomenon." "Phenomenon" is by "Elegance," out of "England's Beauty" (vide Nelson Stud Book) ; he is therefore one of tho best bred animals in fche Southern portion of New Zealand, and was purchased at a high figure, with a view of improving the herd in this rising district, and settlers will no doubt ere long see tbe advantage of following in the wake of their worthy brother settler, wbo 1 may say has bad for some time back a lingering regard for this highly prized beast, bufc could not until now induce the late owntr to part with bis treasure. I may also add that Mr Turnbull is one of the best judges of tbis class of stock in the colony, ' baying figured in that cap «city at some of the large shows afc Kangaroo Point (Tasmania), and Balmain (N.S.W.)

The prosrrcss of road-miking operations in tbe vicinity of Long Bush is said to interfere annovingly with tbe wool traffic, some of tbe team?ters asserting that it, does so more than is necessary. The complaint is that after the road is formed, and tha ditches due, the metal or gravel is piled in tbe centre, and allowed to lie for measurement for some considerable time. As tbe side drains confin"! th** drays to tbe roadway, and tbat is soft from being but newly formed, they are in great danger of capsizing, whenever tbey are obliged to diverge in the smallest degree from tbe crown, tbe risk being: greatest in passing the heaps; indeed, tbe other day a seven horse team, laden with about thirty bales of wool, tipped clean over, and all but into a perfect, canal of water. The 'drivers say that were tbe gravel measured and spread as soon as laid down. it. would greatly facilitate tbe traffic, without interfering with the progress of tbe work. The culverts, newly formed across the road in several places, should be gravelled over properly at the earliest possible moment after their completion, as the wheels of the heavy waggons sink pnsfc hope of extrication, without digging, in crossing on the 'clay. No doubt tbe engineer requires only to havo tbe subject brought under , bis notice, to at once remedy the evil as far as possible. At an extraordinary meeting of tbe Directors of the Lonirwood Water Race and Ground Sluicing Company. held at the Commercial hotel, Riverton, on tbe evening of fre 17t.b inst., for tbe pnrpos** of opening tenders for leading the race, an offer of £110 from Messrs M'Gregor and Co. — being the highest — was conditionally accepted. We bave received a copy oft.be Tar' naki Almanac for 1870. It contains, as a distinguishing feature, well-executed ensrrnvings of tbe Omata and Bell Block stockades, with the snow-capped summit of Mount Egmont in tbe rear. Well-written treatises on " our industries ." " our birds," and " our insects " are also embodied, and the soil, climate, and capabilities of tbe Province are fully set forth. Taken altogether, both as regards its appearance and tbe amount of information contained, it reflects great credit on tbe publisher and compiler — Mr Seffern, proprietor of tbe Taranaki Herald. At a inquest held on tbe body of the old man who was found dead in a paddock at Morton Mains — as reported in our last issue— tbe jury returned the following verdict : — " That deceased died suddenly on tbe 15th January in a paddock near Maloney's Busb, Morton Mains Station, while in a state of delirium tremens from excessive drinking." The name of tbe deceased was given as John Hinks alias John Vandom. At tbe meeting of tbe shareholders of the Southland Coal Prospecting Association, held in Prince of Wales Hotel on the evening of Tuesday last, there was rather a meagre attendance, Tlie sub-committee appointed at the previous meeting to communicate with tbe owners of land in tbe neighborhood of the Taipo Bridge, near Ryal Bush, brought up tbeir report, along with written offers from the gentlemen in question, which being considered satisfactoiy, ifc was resolved tbat proper agreements should be prepared and operations commenced as speedily as possible to test if coal exists in tbe locality named. It may be as well to state thafc three sections of Government land, in the immediate vicinity of the bridge above referred to, have been temporarily reserved from sale, and thafc a large area on both sides of tbe railway line will be secured by the Association . Of course tbe proposed agreements are intended to be binding on the freeholders in the event of coal being discovered ; if a contrary result should be experienced they will entirely lapse so far as the shareholders are concerned. The committee of tbe Invercargill Caledonian Gathering seem to have managed their affairs very successfully, as at the meeting held at the Clarendon Hotel on Tuesday night, ifc was found tbat a respectable balance remained to their credit after satisfying all claims. A donation of £10 was made to the Provincial Hospital, and a handsome gold locket was presented to Mr Neil Ferguson in recognition of his valuable services as Secretary. A vote of thanks to the treasurer, Mr D. Webster, concluded the business for another year. The Illustrated New Zealand Herald for January is embellished by a number of interesting woodcuts, and tbe letter-press cannot fail to be ap preciated by home readers. The Queenstown correspondent of the Cromwell Argus says tbat " a brewery is shortly to be erected there, and tbe gentleman who has taken tbe affair in hand (a Mr Surman, of Riverton) thinks highly of this district as a field for the new industry. Certainly, if the number of beer drinkers be anything to go by, he ought to have no reason to lack custom. In Queenstown alone he will have some seven or eight ** publics" to supply, besides an extensive outlying district. Of course, a great deal will depend on the quality of tbe article brewed. Information has reached Waikouaiti of a little girl, four and a half years old, tbe daughter of Mr J. W. Murdoch, 8.M., being lost in the Goodwood bush. From tbe Clyde papers we learn that the late storm was felt severely there. Tbe whole of the valley was one broad sheet of water, and the Dunstan Times expresses its feare thafc the farmers will be heavy losers. The bay harvest is cut in tbe Lake district, and the other two crops — wheat and oats — are rapidly ripening. Some of tbe wheat fields are already yellow, although a few of the oat patches are backward. The sensational story which lately went the round of the press, about a woman who was said to have been seen afc the Kaikoras armed with a revolver, and carrying under her arm a child wifch its throat; cut, turns out; to have been a hoax. Mr G. Duncan has been appointed Provincial Treasurer of Otago. The Otago Daily Times of the 14th inst. sayß tbat tbe remains of Mr Balfour, which were picked up one mile north of Timaru on Saturday lasfc, were brought down the previous day in tbe steamer Wainui, under the charge of Captain I Gibson, Harbor Master of Lyttelton. In accordance with the wish of Mrs Balfour, tbey are to be interred in the Dunedin Cemetery, alongside tbe body of the late Mr Paterson. who was a friend and school-mate of Mr Balfour. Mrs Balfour left Wellington for England lasfc Sunday, in the ship Halcione. A deputation from the Dunedin Chamber o c Commerce baying waited on the Chief Postmaster for tbe purpose of ascertaining whether any arrangement had been made for forwarding the nexfc English mail to Melbourne, elicited the information that an agreement had been made fixing the sailing of the Tararau from Port Chalmers for the 24th inst. The Lyttelton Times of tbe 14fch insfc. understands that a telegram has been received by the proper authorities, to the effect that the sentence on Smyth has been commuted to penal servitude for life. We regret to learn from our exchanges that the wheat crop in many of the districts in tha Province of Hawke's Bay has been completely destroyed by rust, supposed to have been induced by tlie unusually wet summer. The New Zealand Herald gives the following account of a fatal accident afc Eaipara, Auckland. Ifc appears that a gentleman of the name of Whitley had gone to Manugaturoto to inspect a farm which he thought of purchasing, and on his return up the Kiawhaka river, a squall struck the boat ho was in and upset it, precipitating the whole party, four in number, into tbe water. Mr Whitley and two others were drowned. The fourth, Mr Rosser, succeeded in clinging to the ' boat until rescued by some neighboring settlers. Wo have pleasure in intimating to our lady readers what must be gratifying intelligence, that tbe latesfc fashionable news announces that the French Empress decrees that high puffs and grissettes shall no longer exist. Long braids looped at the back and falling to the shoulders arc here- , k after " the style."

The Hokitika Star of the Evening gives the following paragraph : — Four newspapers have lately been started in Auckland. Some of the journals in the Auckland and Thames Distriots are supported altogether by tbe assistance tbey aive to mines through their local and leading columns, As much as twenty pounds are frequently paid for a local paragraph, written in favour of any particular mine. So sensitive is the puMic feeling upon the subject of quarte reefs, that any paper has the power to write one entirely out of the market in a few days, even though tbe claim is of intrinsic value. One paragraph in a paper has been known fco cause the shares in a reef to fall twenty-five per cent within an hour after its publication, and in another oase to cause ifc to rise to the same extent. It is said that one weli-known newspaper proprietor has made ten thousand pounds within the last eight; months, by the notices he bas given of the richness, presenfc or prospective, of certain mining claims, tbe share? of which bad been placed in the hands of brokers ; others he had succeeJed in shutting out of the market. The power excercised by the press' appears to bs enormoui. Tbe following letter from Messrs Ot. and J. A. "Noble, the well known flax-brokers, to^ Messrs Dalgetv, Dijcroz, and Co.. has been published in the LrftteUon Times :— " In our note of sales of New Zealand flax, handed you yesterday, we quoted a very strong market ; tbis we confirm, bufc we think some caution is necessary lest these hi^b rates should lead to ultimate disappointment in future shipments, as we do nofc think they can be maintained for any large supplies. This fibre, although we think very favourably of it, at a moderate price, is now only on its trial for roping purposes, either by itself or for mixing with' Manilla hemp, and there is a considerable doubt as to its preservative qualities in the water ; we bave some reports which are nos favorable, still there is tbe element of a good business, and afc prices ranging for the better qualities from £35 to £43 per ton, the consumption (while Manilla hemp maintains its present high rates) will be very large ; we think there may be some better mode of preparing it, asm its present state tbe fibre is dry and harsh, and its natural strength mucb deteriorated ; tbe mode of preventing this can only be obtained by those who are working it, who will be able to experiment on small parcels, we would suggest tbe rotting process, but care must be taken not to steep too long, and to use clean water in the preparing; some samples we have seen dressed partly wifch oil, this renders ifc very soft and silky, bufc also renders ifc more liable to spontaneous combustion in ito transit to this country ; for its present uses colour and brightness are the main objects to be attained. There is considerable irregularity in tbe baleing ; in the same mark the bales of tbe late shipments range from 1 cwt to 5 cwfc ; a uniform weight of about 2 cwfc would be much better, and these might be screwed into a much less compass than has been done hitherto for saving of freight" According to arrangement, a meeting took place in the Club Hotel, on "Wednesday forenoon, relative to the shipwrecked crew of the " Laughing Water," which was well attended. His Honor the Superintendent occupied the chair, and briefly alluded to the object of the meeting. Mr M'Pherson, as treasurer of the former Wreck Committee, intimated that a considerable balance of tbe money raised at the time the_ " General Grant's" crew were here, wis still available, and thought it could be legitimately expended in supplying the wants of tbe sufferers by the present catastrophe. After several gentlemen had expressed their opinions as to what should be done, and the besfc wav of doing it, the following mr« tion by H. M'Culloch, Esq., seconded by Captain Biles, was carried unanimously, viz. : — That a committee, consisting of his Honor the Superb--tendent, Messrs Dalgliesh, Blacklock, M'Pherson, Wade, Pratt, H. T. Ross, Wm. Russell, Osborne, Brodrick, Macrorie, and the mover, be appointed to ascertain what further sum might be required for the proper relief of the shipwrecked crew, and to raise the same by public subscription. Mr M'Pherson was requested to act as treasurer, and Mr Macrorie was appointed secretary. Mr Osborne suggested to the Committee that they should not forget to reimburse Messrs Daniel and Durbridge the greater portion of the expense^ they had so wiib'ngly put themselves to in providinjj for the immediate wants of the poor people, as it would be unfair to expect those gentlemen to bear more' than their average share of the necessary contributions. Mr Daniel, who happened to be present, at once declined to receive a single shilling by way of refund, saying that he only wished he could give the poor fellows more, tlte Blacklock suggested, as the vessel was bound for Otago, tbe Dunedin people mi^ht be willing to assist, and that they should have the opportunity of doing so. Ifc was also thought the General Government should bo appealed to. Captain Gibson, who was presenfc, stated that the money collected by the diggers, and at Riverton, h<*d, after paying all their expenses — what little they were charged — been divided amongst the men, and amounted to about £3 per heal. Most of the men, he said, were anxious to go back to Newcastle, and all, with tbe exception of two, were British subjects. After some further conversation, the meeting was terminated by a vofce^of thanks to tbe chairman, the committee" meeting: immediately thereafter to arrange further proceedings. I A correspondent of the Nelson Examiner makes the following suggestion wifch regard to the shipment of flax and wool.— The reluctance of shipowners fco take flix on board, and the high rate of insurance demanded operate unjustly, but under present arrangements unavoidably, on the careful and conscientious manufacturer equally with tbe reckless one, and prejudice the commercial interests of tbe colony as a whole. Would there be any difficulty or any objection tJ establishing Government inspection at thevarious ports, to be paid for by a small fee per bale ? The trifling expense would probably prevent grave disasters, and would soon be recouped to the | shippers of the product by the reduction _ in insurance on certified flax whicn would certainly ensue. It would also meet the requirements of the buyer at home, who does not care to buy water as well as flix. If tbe plan worked well, it would in time be extended to wool, the ship. menfc of which in a damp condition has more than once been the cause ol fires at sea." We learn from the Wellington Independent j thafc there is every prospect that the local steam navigation company wid not be aUowed entirely to lapse, a provincial committee having been formed, whose object is to start a new company, offering, in the first place, to purchase the plant of the N.Z.S.N. Company at an equitable price, or, failing that, to purchase new vessels, with all the latest improvements. Should the offer for the purchase of the plant of the N.Z.S.N". Company be accepted, shareholders will be invited to exchange their shares on favorable terms. With the experience gained in the working of the present company ifc may fairly be concluded that there is every prospect of the new company being a success, and with the example of the Wanganui Company, whose last report shows a most favorable state of affairs, it is not too much to augur* under an energetic management, a similar success.